There’s already grounds for impeachment using the emoluments clause. But it won’t happen until enough Repugs in Congress calculate it’s in their political interest to impeach. Actual principles or ethics or what’s written in the constitution won’t matter before that moment.
Too right I did Ad – what a fabulous game. Now life can get back to a bit of normality with earlier nights. Thank goodness I’m retired and can have a wee lie in.
Just remember this: After Trump’s presidential decree banning people from several countries, hundreds – possibly thousands – of civil rights workers and pro bono lawyers descended almost spontaneously on US airports to fight for peoples rights.
What the United States needs is mass public protest. Ongoing. If they leave it to the cowards and fools in Congress, Trump will continue doing what he’s doing.
The people of Romania showed the way in 1989 when they overthrew the U.S.-backed dictator Ceaușescu by doing THIS day after day after day….
In good taste substituting ‘the US’ for “The Democrats” in that article’s title, relentless protest offers the high prospect of ‘self-interest first’ GOP representatives turning on the unhinged Trump and reverting to pre-convention positions.
Trump’s personal God fantasies may not be impacted by that of course – he’s lived a lifetime of encouragement to hubris – and he may well “continue doing what he is doing regardless”, but electoral effect would be profound with potential loss of the much vaunted control of both houses – emoluments impeachment looming ?
Already the loathsome draft dodger Trump is vulnerable to the reputational damage GOP “loser” war hero McCain seems intent on doing him. Assisted, weirdly, by psychotic behaviour Trump neither resists nor his dark inner circle can control. In time the damp squibs Ryan and McConnell will fall into line.
US checks and balances may well save the day within two years, if only by dint of coiffed idiots feeling electoral heat. Someone should get the message to the “late great Abraham Lincoln” (Trump’s absurd reference during the campaign) that all is not lost.
You mean talking bollocks that keep media from covering what he is actually doing, or doing studffg that is also nonsense overturned in courts. If Trump is not a senile old git, then what is he is up to coz he’s highly effective at keep media enthralled.
Take abortion, we know the predominant Catholic scotus wont be willing to out pope the pope, so the whole abortion is over scare is a joke. Similarly the border crap, Obama saw more s.American migrants return home that Trump will be hard pressed to match him. Similarly Muslim countries is largely a temporary smoke and mirrors policy. Its about wjat Trump is is doing.
You don’t keep up James ? Already there are 2-3 million more Americans who voted for Clinton than voted for Trump. Trump with already the lowest approval rating of any new president for a long time…….The Chickenhawk Dubya (another outrageous down to $$$ draft dodger) being the last as I recall.
You claim to be a serious commentator James. How come you’re blind to those patently salient factors, US Constitution, and the imminence of mid-terms, James ? Pretty weak arse that, For a ‘serious commentator’.
‘The Orange Being Squeezed’ too much for you what ? Like Actoid Steve Wathall somewhere above. Ooooh, sorry ’bout that. You better get outa Jonestown quick James. Before “I’m Peach……Mint”. Two years baby. Two years.
Yes Morrissey…….what a disgracefully mindless, artless, hag ! “Just returned from Israel….” was the tip-off. A hag who cares not a fig for the children of Gaza murdered and mutilated by the Eastern European NatziYahoo (whom The Orange is extra buddy buddy with). Encouraged in that by annual $US 3,000,000,000 US military aid. A curse on the bloodthirsty hag. And them who pay the ‘baby’ bounty !
Regarding the Labour / Green ‘State of the Nation’ speeches and the path forward?
Constructive criticism from the future ‘fiery’ and ‘fierce’ Independent MP for Mt Albert – Penny Bright 🙂
(AKA ‘Pullya Bennefitt 😉
Where are Labour and the Green’s clear policies prioritising the implementation and enforcement of the Public Records Act 2005 – which would transform transparency and accountability in our corrupt, polluted tax haven New Zealand, which SO needs a massive ‘clean up’?
“Where the people lead – the politicians will follow…”
Want to see some REAL policies that will help to ‘Roll back Neo-liberal Rogernomic$’?
(1) Every public office and local authority must create and maintain full and accurate records of its affairs, in accordance with normal, prudent business practice, including the records of any matter that is contracted out to an independent contractor.
…”
“So, how come we don’t know exactly where billion$ of taxpayer and ratepayer public monies are being spent on private sector consultants and contractors at NZ central and government level?”
“What has anyone from Transparency International New Zealand had to say about the endemic and entrenched bribery and corruption revealed in the unprecedented bribery and corruption conviction of just ONE corrupt ‘public official’ and just ONE corrupt contractor – where the bribes totalled $1.2 million over 7 years?
(Where are the Press Releases from Labour and the Greens condemning this entrenched bribery and corruption, and what needs to be done to fix this problem?)
“Reasons for the Verdict of Fitzgerald J”
CRI-2015-044-001286
[2016]NZHC2970
THE QUEEN v STEPHEN JAMES BORLASE (&) MURRAY JOHN NOONE
“How many thousands of ‘public officials’ and private contractors are there across NZ central and local government?”
“As a genuinely (politically fiercely) independent, self-funded proven
‘anti-corruption campaigner’ and Independent candidate for the 2017 Mt Albert by-election here is my ACTION PLAN:
“ACTION PLAN TO ENSURE ‘OPEN, TRANSPARENT AND DEMOCRATICALLY ACCOUNTABLE’ NZ GOVERNMENT AND JUDICIARY”:
……..
nonono penny labour/greens will not release policy until nearer the election it needs to be carefully timed and in small understandable bits
what we should be demanding is where is nationals because they never release any policy and because they don’t want to defend there record the yellow cowards wont front in mt Albert
With National not standing, and Greens simply using it as rehearsal for their Auckland-wide campaign, Penny this could be your chance to scoop up all those National Party votes, all those Act votes, join them together with the NZFirst and Socialist votes, and … you’ll be like Liberty at the Barricades leading your People to Victory!
Victory is within your grasp Penny!
Penny Bright you really could win this thing you know.
Think of all the respect you’ll have when you win!
All that pay!
All those people you currently have to rail against, they will cower before you and fear your wrathful policies.
What shock on Guyon Espiner’s face.
Like another Trump, but right here, right now.
You’ll be an MP! For 6 months at least!
Then you can go into coalition with whomever you want!
Become a Minister of Local Government! From Day 1!
Then you can make them do all that you’ve ever wanted.
There’s so little time.
It’s going to be amazing to see you up there, at last.
hi pm and maui,
re police pursuits; all the power rests with the authorities, sobriety, training, support(both on the ground and with the ‘comms’ team) etc.
the idea of being comfortable that someone dies, as a result of being in a persued car, is abhorrent and very cold.
in a related incident recently in australia, i listened to a senior police officer describe what had unfolded.
we heard all about the environment and driving conditions, about the drivers behaviour and attitude, extensive details of the victims including a baby, and a single line, late in the statement informing us it was a police pursuit.
The idea that only people in authority are responsible for their actions is a pernicious one. When you drive a car, you and no other are responsible for what you do with that car. That is the number one most important fact about driving that a beginning driver needs to learn. If your car ends up speeding through a red light and hitting two other vehicles, you, the person who was driving it, are the only one who could have determined a different course of events.
The Police can try and find ways to minimise the carnage that fuckwits like this cause, but minimise it is the most we can hope for and for fuck’s sake let’s not pretend Fuckwit-Behind-The-Wheel had no agency in the matter. It would be nice if failing to stop was a severe aggravating factor in sentencing, as it would put the responsibility where it properly lies.
When one of these ambulatory turds kills himself without killing or maiming anyone else, I do regard that as a good outcome because it’s taken him off the road before he gets to kill anyone else. That’s not “cold,” it’s “realistic.”
For all the lovelies who want to “turn Labour left”, here’s a great little contest to test that out on:
On the one side is super-racist EU fracturing Euro killing Marine Le Pen, on the rise and ready to strap on the Presidential Knee Pads with Donald Trump, and on the other side, the Socialists have chosen Benoit Hamon, a staunchly leftwing rebel outsider who wants to:
– introduce a universal basic income
– legalise cannabis and
tax robots, among other things.
im pro gardens in school and such , and feeding those whose parents are unable or willing to do it is a must , but i will not trust a bunch of office wallas to feed my kid .
What we really need is to come at it from several directions , educating parents on healthy choices , improving incomes so parents can do it themselves, education around the great contraception out there now (which i believe is having an effect)
Alternatively, the school kitchens could be managed by a school employee and the parents help cook as a community effort.
But even if serco (or compass) provided the meals, if you’re that snickety you’d probably just feed your kids anyway. One less school meal to make.
The point is that your kids might be fine, but a lot of families are struggling. All kids need to be fed in school. How would your system best balance those conflicting facts?
It’s not snickerty to feel its my kid so it’s my responsibility , in this day and age breeding is optional ,which i know makes me sound right wing as fuck. but i did say up thread that it is a problem that has to be attacked from many angles for many years.
the simplest system would be for the school to get a number of how many need feeding in their school and have an existing outfit like a cafe make the lunches , a sandwich , a nut/ muesli bar and some fruit isn’t a big ask.
Funding it is the thorny question.
Breeding might be optional (depending on how trumpy our own govt gets). Changing circumstances aren’t.
Local catering might work for 20 or thirty (but there’d still be a base cost in organising it), but not one of the schools with hundreds of high-dep students.
the simplest system would be for the school to get a number of how many need feeding in their school and have an existing outfit like a cafe make the lunches , a sandwich , a nut/ muesli bar and some fruit isn’t a big ask.
No, that is the most inefficient, time consuming, privacy invasive method available that will be used to denigrate and abuse both the parents and the children.
“. For one thing, I’ve seen what schools think kids should be eating. “Healthy” food nazis can leave my kids alone.”
And yet you put your kids in the same system in order to teach them how they should be thinking. How does that sit with you?
(BTW, I don’t think either is a problem, if you are prepared to spend your time – and meals – with them, showing another choice).
It had its moments. We did eventually get the school to stop passive-aggressively punishing them for not attending religious education classes, and they got earfuls from me every time Life Education Trust came round to tell them that recreational drug use is wrong and ruins your life. But that’s par forf the course – no parent is 100% happy with what the school tells their kids.
Heh. The god-botherers had their “Life Choices” program going at my kids’ school while I was coaching the chess players. None of the keen chess players were religious types, so we decided to do a second session in the “Life Choices” time slot. All of a sudden we had a lot more chess enthusiasts. Including the son of the woman running the “Life Choices”.
Well done Andre ! Chortle inducing indeed. The God-Botherers can be such oppressive, fear peddling, manipulative arseholes. If ya been brought up right (as I was) then ya have the good stuff without the need for all that shit.
I know a guy who’s a spectacularly artful (and resilient in the face of institutional bullying) young lawyer. Doesn’t buy any of that wankery, In The Law or in the bible-banging area. His commanding ethic is this…….”In my life I try to hurt no-one !”
The “option” of religious classes gets me too. Especially when you consider over the course of a year that adds up to around 36 hours. And yet, schools are diligently opposing any child missing time during the school year to go overseas.
I remember the attitude when I was at primary, with teachers being delighted with the students return, and getting them up to tell the class about their travels.
Preparing healthy lunches is not easy. Particulalry when there is no refridgeration for yoghurts etc. It is just another thing to be done at the end of a busy working day usually by mothers. Even if the children do it themselves the have to buy the stuff in and supervise the younger children. When my children were growing up I would happily have paid extra in taxes so they could have a healthy cooked lunch at school. I would still pay higher taxes so all children could have this.
School meals happened in Europe because in the coldest parts of winter (worse than here) kids could not just sit outside and eat sandwiches, nor (more importantly) walk home and back for lunch. (Most Mums were at home in early times.)
Here, we have never needed that. But I like the insightful comments above: I agree that a wise society would provide decent food for its children at school.
I don’t know anything about Benoit Hamon bar the expected piece of slur in ‘The Guardian’.
But let’s say a comparison to Corbyn is about right. So Hamon will broadly advocate policies that are in line with social democratic ideals rather than liberal democratic ideals.
That’s what the SNP did – and won. And then won again. And again.
The parties that stuck with liberal democratic policies lost. And then lost again. And again.
And just like in the UK with Corbyn, the liberals within the left in France, are gunning for Hamon (that includes a fair proportion of the mainstream media – y’know, outlets like ‘The Guardian’)
What were the policies advocated by Trudeau in Canada? Well, a liberal politician from a party called, ‘The Liberal Party’, dumped liberal democratic policies, ran on a social democratic platform and won. Meanwhile, the ‘New Democratic Party’, who for some reason known only to themselves (maybe they were taking a leaf from NZ Greens?) abandoned a social democratic platform, well they tanked.
In the US, Sanders ran on what could best be described as a social democratic platform and very nearly took the Democrat leadership.
Win or lose for Hamon, the tide is well on the turn Ad. And if you’re wedded to liberalism, then you’re going to be all washed up with the rest of them. And here’s the thing, you don’t have to be an anarchist or autonomous Marxist or whatever shade of radical to stand against liberalism. Social Democrats would and do too. People who have no political knowledge find the social democratic message appealing (you did notice that Trump essentially twisted a lot of Sanders’ rhetoric, aye?) Anyway – the numbers of disillusioned liberals is only set to grow. So think about it.
And then come on over here and join with all us ‘lovelies’ 😉
Except I think you’re just a little ahead of yourself kicking over ash looking for coals.
There’s the remote possibility that there will be no further wins by hard-right movements. Maybe Brexit and Trump are its global high points. Maybe the global mainstream media will become so enraged that the opposition to the hard right governments around the world will itself become a gobal upwelling. Maybe, like Federer, the purest and the most elegant moves will win against the odds again.
The above is highly unlikely.
As I pointed out, there’s some great global contests coming up.
Our own in New Zealand is definitely one of the most globally interesting match-ups, due to the strength of the Greens compared to any other democracy. A win would be the closest since the Realos of the German Green Party got into a proper coalition anywhere. I think the approach we have here is the right one. The standard left needs reviving, agreed. But Labour doesn’t want to lose its historical identity, nor let go of its usefully unresolved internal neuroses.
So reviving Labour with an exterior political entity in a proposed coalition is both dignified and effective. Reviving the country with the same is the right approach.
I sincerely hope that arrangement is effective this year.
…there will be wins by ‘hard-right’ movements until and unless liberals step aside.
Liberalism is dead. How does it shuffle into the dustbin of history?
Well, either liberals try to cling to power (by sledging social democrats and anything else to their left while continually playing the fear card) and incidentally enable the ‘hard -right’ or opportunistic populists….which spells the end to liberalism.
Or liberals step aside – take down the barricades they keep constructing against the left and…yeah, that spells the end to liberalism too.
The only question that needs to be asked is, just how misanthropic are they?
So far, the answer hasn’t been anything anyone’d be wanting to write home about.
Wrathall is a science-denying chump as well. He made a laughing stock of himself in 2010 when he made a complaint to the BSA, which found it lacked any merit whatsoever….
Interesting interpretation there Mo, especially given these paragraphs:
[19] At the outset, we do not accept TVNZ’s finding that human induced global climate change is uncontroversial. Likewise, the related issue of whether the observed sea level rise on Tuvalu is due to climate change is also disputed.
[20] However, in our view, this item clearly focused on the experiences and perspectives of the local people, exploring their reactions to the changes in their environment, the ways in which they were adapting to those changes, and how they felt about the possibility of leaving their homeland if it became uninhabitable. It did not attempt to explore the possible causes for those changes. The Authority has previously determined that presenting personal views on, and experiences with, climate change in the Pacific, did not amount to a discussion of a controversial issue of public importance (see Clancy and TVWorks1).
[21] Because the programme did not discuss a controversial issue of public importance, we do not consider that it was necessary, in the interests of balance, for the programme to explicitly state that the rising sea levels could be explained by natural processes, as argued by Mr Wrathall.
The four people on the BSA are not scientists, and they bent over backwards to be nice to our Jew-hating, Arab-baiting friend. That spurious exercise of somehow “balancing” one sound view against one harebrained view is a mandated exercise, no matter how ridiculous it might be. It results in the sort of blather you have so astutely pointed out.
Four scientists would have simply thrown his complaint in the bin, along with the rest of the day’s offerings from flat-earthers, moon-landing deniers, 9/11 Truthers and Elvis-spotters.
And since 2010, sea-level has continued to rise at a non-alarming 3 mm/year (~30 cm/century). And yet the alarmists continue to predict metres of rise this century. Who’s denying science?
Real world observations should be objective (assuming they’re not being altered to ‘hide the decline’ or similar, but the conclusions and related hypotheses emanating from those observations are surely debatable.
Richard, all you are demonstrating is that simply you don’t appear to understand the basic physics of greenhouse gases.
After all if you did then you’d actually be able to point out the basic points that you have a problem with – using some maths and links to the relevant science. Even a poorly trained quack should be able to figure out the basic physics.
Since you don’t, then I’d presume that your political religious beliefs tend to dominate over your scientific abilities.
On the subject of ‘objective’ measurements. You really are talking simple minded crap. These are measurements done over the whole world over very long periods of time and using a wide variety of measurement technique. They have inherent error in location, in time, in technique, to the methods of recording and storing them, and simply because weather and even climate is chaotic and subject to local changes outside of human caused climate changes.
And that is just the less important in-air measurements. The ocean measurements that are of more significance are pretty sparse both geographically and in the water column.
Almost every earth science measurement is only valid statistically, and even that is only because there are a lot of them made.
Your call for a ‘objective’ measurements just seems to confirm that you have an inability to understand even the most basic principles of measurements in earth sciences.
Here are some “real world observations” for you Steve. http://www.climatecentral.org/news/study-reveals-acceleration-of-sea-level-rise-20055
While the current rate of sea level rise is around 3 mm / year, that is accelerating from an average rate of around 1.7 mm / year over the past century. Up until the recent past – most sea level rise was driven by our warming oceans, however we now see the sudden collapse of the Greenland ice shelf and the WAIS notably the Larsen A, B and C https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-study-shows-antarctica-s-larsen-b-ice-shelf-nearing-its-final-act
These both have the potential to raise sea level by metres.
The real world observations back up the predictions and support the science.
Time for you and Richard to get real.
You are a cretinous fool whose knowledge of the sciences equates with that of the mythical village idiot. It is typical of many right wingers like yourself who are too dumb to know just how dumb they/you are. We’ve all been associated with them.
Intelligent people recognise their intellectual limitations and are capable of being persuaded with logic, sound reason and expert knowledge. But oh no, not dumb a**es like you. Unlike others on this site I don’t waste my time with detailed facts and figures because I know your ilk are way too stupid to understand.
It was this sort of arrogant we-know-best attitude, as expressed in Anne’s post – from Hillary Clinton, her backers in the media and the Washington elite – that put people off voting for her, with the obvious result.
Wrathall was too ignorant to realize it, but what he endorsed was the modern version of this cartoon, which appeared in the Viennese paper Das Kleine Blatt in 1939….
So the Jews fleeing pre-WWII Germany had 50+ majority-Jewish countries to go to, then tried to set up Jewish law as superior to local law when they were accepted, and many of them carried out terrorist acts in the name of Judaism in their host countries. Your analogy is asanine.
A vanishingly small minority, with nowhere near the number of victims as people killed by family members, buses, right wing economic policy, or homegrown bigots.
So I liked a tweet by Bosch Fawstin? An ex-Muslim mohammed cartooner who jihadists tried to murder in Garland TX. As he was born a muslim, I must be racist against him, and then he changed his race, right?
I think this is a small piece of genus, building on Stephanie’s consistent message over the last few months of treating all the minor causes of the left as if the only way to win any election for the left is through treating the causes of your colleagues with respect, and acting on forming solidarity.
Wouldn’t worry so much about that one word typo, Ad. Much more concerning is the sentence within which it resides – one of the less coherent passages to emerge from your finger tips in recent years.
And the message I’ve managed to wrestle from that messy grammatical entanglement – that we should all be respectful of each others’ particular ideological proclivities – sits rather awkwardly next to your unbearably smug little piss-take (upthread) against Labour’s Left-leaning … what did you call them again ? … oh that’s right … “Lovelies”.
I’ll resist commenting on the irony of an affluent, privileged, middle class Liberal Centrist with Clintonista tendencies having the temerity to call other people “Lovelies”. 🙂
Infused, I would doubt your informant is a Labour supporter. Chris Bishop is not turning up to events ‘in his own time’, or doing charity work out of the goodness of his heart. He is just being a National Party list MP (with lots of National Party money) who wants to be an electorate MP. He does such things so people think he cares. Labour’s Ginny Anderson will easily outclass him though in the election as she has integrity, intelligence and a much better message for the local electorate.
I wrote a big reply to this, but in the end, I don’t really give a shit. I was just comparing how Labour is losing solid support, easily, when it shouldn’t be. And how Little comes across on TV isn’t genuine.
Ethica you obviously do not live in the Hutt. Chris Bishop will easily win Hutt South by over 1,000 votes and also increase the Party Vote. No wonder Mallard chickened out. Chris was brought up in the Hutt and is well known by the locals. He is very hard working . He will probably be PM one day. Many of the Standard posters live in a socialist bubble getting confirmation bias from their twitter feed. Get out and listen to people. No one outside the bubble could tell you anything about the content of the launch. It’s only success was confirming that a vote for Labour or Greens means the same thing. Choose a colour. Any colour. The MOU is great for the Greens but will be disastrous for Labour. I suspect Labour will not get any list seats and that Little will be out of a job. I wish there was a betting market for the election, I understand the real world.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
I have a friend who voted for Chris Bishop and National last time. He’s a minimum wage retail worker. He was rewarded by losing his compulsory work breaks, losing a guaranteed day off at Easter, and an increase in his rent and other expenses. He feels betrayed and won’t make that mistake again.
I have a street who voted Mallard and Labour last time. They like young Chris. Your mate cannot blame Chris Bishop. You give me one anecdote and I’ll give you a hundred. Chris Bishop is winning over at least one person a day. Labour candidate vote – 365 x 3 , Bishop +365 x 3. So easily a 1,000 majority, more like 2,000 plus majority.
Yeah we know about your fabulosity FusedAnus. And your post-truth ‘math’. Like the one Sunday afternoon 2014 when singlehandedly you won over 93.7% of riders on a Pomare-Wellington unit, to Trump (sorry….. Keydashian). For fear of stressing your cheesecutter I don’t mention your spectacular hit rate with puzzled Countdown shoppers up The Valley. You truly are heroic in your struggle to persuade yourself you’re significant, FusedAnus. Got a way to go to match ‘young’ Kellyanne Conway though ma bro’.
Trump to spend more time with the Queen?
Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to assure everyone that a new petition calling for him spend even more time with the Queen during his state visit now has more than five million signatures.
😈
Well one despot to another…
White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, was asked by the press pool for a link to the online petition.
He explained, “This is just typical of you fake news organisations, just typical, trying to take down our new President.
“Of course there is a real petition with five million names on it, yes there is, shut up!
“A guy on Twitter said it, so it must be true, why would he lie?”
Spicer refused to confirm whether the ‘guy on Twitter’ was President Trump.
Days until achieving MAJORITY disapproval from @GallupReagan: 727Bush I: 1336Clinton: 573Bush II: 1205Obama: 936Trump: 8. days. pic.twitter.com/kv2fy0Qsbp— Will Jordan (@williamjordann) January 29, 2017
(AP) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte asked the United States on Sunday not to store weapons in local camps under a defense pact, saying his country may get entangled if fighting erupts between China and the U.S.
Duterte said in a news conference that he would consider abrogating a 2014 defense pact that allows U.S. forces to temporarily station in designated Philippine camps if the Americans build weapon depots in those encampments.
“They’re unloading arms in the Philippines now,” Duterte said, identifying three areas where U.S. forces were supposedly bringing in their armaments, including the western Philippine province of Palawan, which faces the disputed South China Sea.
“I’m serving notice to the armed forces of the United States, do not do it, I will not allow it,” Duterte said in the televised news conference after meeting top military and police officials.
Yeah, he’s jumped ship, China is his friend now, dislike to corruption and drug users and dealers, the human rights commission is trying to have him charged with murder for pushing a suspected corrupt official out of a helicopter and then boasting about his action, Just Another Nut Job.
It is gratifying to see so many upset with the mango Mussolini’s banning Muslim immigrants into the states.
I struggle to grok this though – aren’t many, even on this site, not wanting too many immigrants here due to a perceived lack of land, resources and so on.
Is it that he is banning an identifiable group via religion – could be ethnicity, sexuality, ablement etc rather than the attempted reduction of immigrants.
Sure he has dressed it up with all sorts of – keeping extremists out da da da dah
but how do people reconcile this? or have I just got it completely wrong.
For the record I don’t believe in the assumptions within my second paragraph.
It’s not a muslim immigration ban, it’s a travel ban on people associated with seven muslim majority countries. So it affects visitors, people that have already completed their immigration procedures and even those who have gone as far through the process as getting their green card for permanent residence and have already made the US their home. There’s also the tidbits of information suggesting Trump wants to apply a religious test and is attempting to disguise that.
Overall, from his past statements it’s clear he wants to reduce immigration into the US from pretty much all groups (except smokin’ hot white females). But it appears he is going about by singling out groups and applying restrictions to that smaller group. First he’s coming for Syrians/Libyans/Iraqis/Iranians… then he’s coming for… That’s a lot more severe and chilling than changing policies in a ethnicity/religion blind way with the goal of reducing overall immigration sometime in the future.
Just a few of my problems with current immigration policies into New Zealand are:
that it admits many people into a situation where they are extremely vulnerable to exploitation and are competing with (and crowding out) our locals for entry-level opportunities,
we don’t have policies and processes in place to ensure our infrastructure keeps up with the demands imposed by a rapidly increasing population (resulting in things like the housing problems),
our welfare state settings are extraordinarily generous to some groups of immigrants at the same time as they are punitive towards locals.
For me, it’s separate to the general immigration debate.
I believe Trump has made a ruling based on religion, likely moderated by personal business interests, that in particular targets refugees (the most vulnerable and in need group of immigrants there is).
That’s beyond the questions of resources and national identity that people raise when debating about whether net migration should be half a percent or five percent of the population.
I believe Trump has made a ruling based on religion,
If they’re lying and the order was drafted by his inner circle, overriding objections and failing to coordinate with officials, I reckon he’s made a ruling based on provocation.
Senior admin official says top congressional staff members on immigration were involved in drafting of exec order.— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 29, 2017
Not one GOP lawmaker or staffer we've talked to will confirm this. Hill Rs say they didn't know what was in order until it went public https://t.co/aVjILPCXsu— John Bresnahan (@BresPolitico) January 29, 2017
Not irreconcilable. Immigrants, students, and refugees are welcome here as far as I’m concerned but NZ’s infrastructure is underfunded and unable to cope so that communities are now under stress. The Nats refuse to take the tax from the high earners, the people who benefit the most from cheap foreign labour. A different model needs to be found, one where central government is held responsible for the effects of its policy settings.
On RNZ this morning Little said there will be no electorate deals between Labour/Greens. Could this decision cost them the election? I think it could well do, unless they have a ‘cunning plan’ to do deals under the table to allay the outcries of foul play by the hypocritical Right.
Regardless, it is time Labour got real and stopped thinking it is a 40 – 50% party. The tide has gone right out on ‘third way’ lefties trying to play at being kind free-marketeers.
If, on the other hand, Little is trying to cosy up to NZF by shafting the Greens again in the vain hope of a coalition with Peters, Marks and Jones, then he is a bloody misguided dreamer.
Electorate deals are pointless, since it’s the party vote that counts and neither of these parties is at risk of not making the threshold.
There’s conceivably some point in electorate deals that would combat National’s hangers-on (Dunne and Seymour), but Dunne’s the only one that could possibly be at risk from a Green/Labour deal – even then, National voters are as capable of strategic voting as anyone else, so there wouldn’t be much point.
“There was never a gap of ideas. What there was, just as in the 1930s, was a social democratic party too keen to ingratiate itself with the establishment and a deep division between good, decent people – between liberals, Marxists, feminists, greens etc. Whereas the bigots unite behind toxically simplistic stories, progressives tend to fight against one another and thus fall prey to the Nationalist International.”
In regard to drivers and their responsibility;
Police in a pursuit also must consider the public, a duty of care, if you will.
Just cause a driver is fleeing don’t give carte Blanche to per sue.
Being comfortable with the notion that the police bear no responsibility, reeks of an authoritarian mindset.
Fisiani is my handle. It is a noble Chitumbuka name. Do you think you are being humorous to be faecal obsessed? Is that what passes for constructive criticism? Such references are never moderated. I can only assume that such schoolboy attempted humour is actually tolerated and approved. That explains the abject failure of the Left.
Its a law like gravity: whenever a right-wing government is elected, they start attacking democracy. And now, after talking to their Republican and Tory and Fidesz chums at the International Democracy Union forum in Wellington, National is doing it here, announcing plans to remove election-day enrolment. Or, to put it ...
Yesterday Winston Peters focussed his attention on the important matter at hand. Tweeting. Like the former, and quite possibly next, orange POTUS, from whom he takes much of his political strategy, Winston is an avid X’er.His message didn’t resemble an historic address this time. In fact it was more reminiscent ...
Buzz from the Beehive A significant decline in natural gas production has given Resources Minister Shane Jones an opportunity to reiterate his enthusiasm for the mining and burning of coal. For good measure, he has praised an announcement from Genesis Energy that it will resume importing coal. He and Energy ...
“Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The political parties are legally obliged to make ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Here is my subjective ranking on a “most-left” to “most-right” scale of most of our major NZ Universities, with some anecdotal (and at times amusing) evidence to back up the claim.Extreme Left Auckland University of TechnologyEvidenceThe ...
Eric Crampton writes – I hadn’t thought about this one until a helpful email showed up in my inbox.It’s pretty obvious that income tax thresholds should automatically index with inflation – whether to anchor the thresholds in percentiles of the income distribution, or to anchor against a real ...
Jacqui Van Der Kaay writes – Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National ...
Gary Judd writes – The Dean of the law school at the Auckland University of Technology is someone called Khylee Quince. I have been sent her social media posting in which she has, over the LawNews headline “Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Maori studies for ...
Cleo Paskal writes – WASHINGTON, D.C.: ‘Many of us have received phone calls from [the opposing camp] telling them if they join the camp they will be given projects for their wards and $300,000 [around US$35,000] each’, says former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani. The elections in Solomon Islands aren’t ...
With hindsight, it was inevitable that (a) Hamas would agree to the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar and that ( b) Israel would then immediately launch attacks on Rafah, regardless. We might have hoped the concessions made by Hamas would cause Israel to desist from slaughtering thousands more ...
Placards and mourners outside the Kilbirnie Mosque following the Christchurch terror attack: MSD has terminated the Kaiwhakaoranga service, which has been used by 415 families since the attacks. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The Government’s pledge to only cut ‘back office’ staff rather than ‘frontline’ services is on increasingly shaky ground, with ...
There’s been a few smaller public transport announcements over the last week or so that I thought I’d cover in a single post. Fareshare I’ve long called for Auckland Transport to offer a way to enable employer-subsidised public transport options. The need for this took on even more importance ...
Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National Minister Matt Doocey, reflects poorly on Genter and ...
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 ...
Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
Chris Trotter writes – Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…Gary Judd KC writes – I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
Is the economy in another long stagnation? If so, why?This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be ...
The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
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. ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
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 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Debbie Passey, Digital Health Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Algorithms have become integral to our lives. From social media apps to Netflix, algorithms learn your preferences and prioritise the content you are shown. Google Maps and artificial intelligence are nothing without ...
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PNG Post-Courier Papua New Guinea’s deputy opposition leader James Nomane has accused the government of “reckless economic management” that has forced devaluation to manage loan repayments in foreign currency and placate the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Prime Minister James Marape “must stop lying to the people of Papua New Guinea”, ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to ...
RNZ News As Israel presses ahead with strikes in Rafah and seizing the Rafah crossing from Egypt, aid agencies are sounding the alarm of a “catastrophic humanitarian situation”. Rafah was “significant” because it was the only part in Gaza that had not been terribly damaged by the conflict, United Nations ...
With funding set to be scrapped for the Hamilton-Auckland commuter train, Te Huia enthusiast Georgie Dansey argues for it to be thrown a lifeline. It’s 5.45am and the chain of my crappy old bike falls off slugging up the one hill in Hamilton. I contemplate yeeting the bike into the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Cooke, Honorary Fellow, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland We feel ecological grief when we lose places, species or ecosystems we value and love. These losses are a growing threat to mental health and wellbeing globally. We all see ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shauna Brail, Associate Professor, Institute for Management & Innovation, University of Toronto A shift to hybrid and remote work continues to affect worker presence in Toronto’s downtown.(Shutterstock) Downtown Toronto, the core of Canada’s largest city, continues to reel from the lingering ...
Responding to an Auditor-General's report slamming failures in the administration of the 2023 General Election, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: ...
Productivity apps now make up a big chunk of the software market. But do they work? And why do they all have AI integrations?Despite being firmly on the record as a physical planner fan, I sometimes dream of something better than my pretty diary and its scrawled, ugly, interior ...
The Taxpayers’ Union says the Beehive need to lead by example, following reports of more than $50,000 spent upgrading video conferencing equipment and furniture in the Prime Minister’s office. Taxpayers’ Union Campaign Manager, Connor Molloy, ...
An objective list of the 50 most powerful people in New Zealand, as judged by the Spinoff Editorial Board. It’s power list season, baby, and we want in on the action. Sure, there’s the rich list and the powerful “c-suite” list and the young people with power (hmmm) but here, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thalia Anthony, Professor of Law, University of Technology Sydney ShutterstockThis article contains information on deaths in custody and the names of deceased people, and describes ongoing colonial violence towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. First Nations people in Australia ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Simpson, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Macquarie University Netflix Baby Reindeer’s phenomenal success has much to do with its writer and lead, Richard Gadd, who plays Donny in a tender semi-autobiographical account of sexual abuse, harassment and stalking. Gadd’s story has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Collins, Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle KarolinaGrabowska/Pexels If you didn’t have food allergies as a child, is it possible to develop them as an adult? The short answer is yes. But the reasons why are much ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Moon, Professor of History, Auckland University of Technology Ans Westra, self-portrait, c. 1963. National Library ref AWM-0705-F They try but invariably fail – those writers who believe they are capable of encapsulating in prose or verse the essence of ...
Stewart Sowman-Lund looks at the growing concern around the world in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. What’s all this? When Covid-19 arrived on our shores in early 2020, some argued we were too slow, or crucially, ill-prepared for a pandemic. So ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Franco Montalto, Professor of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering and Director, Sustainable Water Resource Engineering Laboratory, Drexel University Water runs into a storm drain in a Los Angeles alley on Aug. 19, 2023, during Tropical Storm Hilary.Citizen of the Planet/Universal Images ...
The inquest into the death of Gore toddler Lachlan Jones has turned up a new witness who says he saw two teenagers and a small child in a high vis vest in the area where the boy’s body was found the day he died. Lachie’s body was discovered face up ...
Stories from the tenancy trenches, featuring spider infestations, cupboard rats and same-sex discrimination. Lucy’s brother was living in a damp 1930s building in Mt Eden where “he had to tie the cupboard doors closed so the rats didn’t get in”. Although he shared custody of his six-year-old son, his property ...
Simeon Brown, Chris Luxon, and Wayne Brown climbed into a hole and announced a plan to solve Auckland’s water woes. This is how it’ll work. New Zealand’s pipes are munted. They’re cracked and leaking, and struggling to handle all the extra poos excreted by our rising population. It’s a big, ...
Opinion: ‘Reference-class forecasting’ is at the heart of improving pricing a project and identifying the expected timeframe but it doesn’t appear to be in use here The post ‘Think fast and act slowly’ is failing big projects appeared first on Newsroom. ...
What do a sombrero in Argentina and cognitive driving tests have in common? Don’t worry, we’re not setting up a bad joke. Hinengaro Clinic dementia clinician Gregory Winkelman has the answer on today’s episode of The Detail. “We ask a patient’s spouse or son or daughter: If you went to ...
Wellington long jumper Phoebe Edwards is back and she’s having fun again. Until this year, Edwards, a top athlete in her teens, had never competed as a senior athlete in New Zealand. In March, the 26-year-old won a national long jump title in a lifetime best of 6.28m after ...
After replacing a fifth of their caucus in just four months, the Greens’ opportunity to reset, reshuffle and refocus on the Government is quickly slipping away The post Persistent Green Party scandals delay caucus reset appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 8 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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 ...
By Robin Martin, RNZ News reporter A New Zealand local authority, Whanganui District Council, has passed a motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, condemnation of all acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides of the conflict and the immediate return of hostages. It comes as ...
Asia Pacific Report The Aotearoa chapter of the Women’s International league for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) has appealed to the New Zealand government to call out Israel over the “cruel and barbaric use of force” in Gaza and demand a permanent ceasefire. The league’s open letter was sent to Prime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government will invest $566 million over a decade on data, maps and other tools to promote exploration and development in Australia’s resources industry. The project will fund “the first comprehensive map of what’s ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University The Victorian budget offered more of the same on Tuesday, with the only change being how the budget papers were packaged. The usual shrink wrap was gone, hinting at savings in the pages ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Coalition is demanding extensive amendments to the government’s legislation targeting non-citizens who refuse to co-operate with their removal. In a dissenting report to the senate inquiry into the legislation, the Coalition says it ...
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The March results are reported against forecasts based on the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2023 (HYEFU 2023), published on 20 December 2023 and the results for the same period for the previous year. ...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/countries-where-trump-does-business-are-not-hit-by-new-travel-restrictions/2017/01/28/dd40535a-e56b-11e6-a453-19ec4b3d09ba_story.html?utm_term=.b09227cac545
‘Business’ in their personal ‘swamp’ will be the undoing of this unhinged creep and his entitled spawn.
There’s already grounds for impeachment using the emoluments clause. But it won’t happen until enough Repugs in Congress calculate it’s in their political interest to impeach. Actual principles or ethics or what’s written in the constitution won’t matter before that moment.
I understand your rueful tone Andre.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/paul-ryan-trumps-refugee-ban-does-not-target-muslims/2017/01/28/e0cf1fe4-e56e-11e6-a547-5fb9411d332c_story.html?tid=pm_politics_pop
Anyone see Federer v Nadal last night?
Seriously awesome tennis.
Too right I did Ad – what a fabulous game. Now life can get back to a bit of normality with earlier nights. Thank goodness I’m retired and can have a wee lie in.
You will have plenty of time for “a we lie in” when you pop your cogs
Ha, ha PP, I get your drift, but I can’t cope with 2am mornings like I used to :).
Just remember this: After Trump’s presidential decree banning people from several countries, hundreds – possibly thousands – of civil rights workers and pro bono lawyers descended almost spontaneously on US airports to fight for peoples rights.
It warms the heart.
What the United States needs is mass public protest. Ongoing. If they leave it to the cowards and fools in Congress, Trump will continue doing what he’s doing.
The people of Romania showed the way in 1989 when they overthrew the U.S.-backed dictator Ceaușescu by doing THIS day after day after day….
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/07/21/article-0-001FD8F400000258-293_468x325.jpg
Be very worried. Trump will continue doing what he is doing regardless.
+1
Mid-term US House of Representatives elections are less than two years away, Same with the Senate as to a third of its members.
http://www.salon.com/2016/11/15/look-to-2018-the-midterm-elections-could-be-the-most-important-one-for-the-democrats-yet/
In good taste substituting ‘the US’ for “The Democrats” in that article’s title, relentless protest offers the high prospect of ‘self-interest first’ GOP representatives turning on the unhinged Trump and reverting to pre-convention positions.
Trump’s personal God fantasies may not be impacted by that of course – he’s lived a lifetime of encouragement to hubris – and he may well “continue doing what he is doing regardless”, but electoral effect would be profound with potential loss of the much vaunted control of both houses – emoluments impeachment looming ?
Already the loathsome draft dodger Trump is vulnerable to the reputational damage GOP “loser” war hero McCain seems intent on doing him. Assisted, weirdly, by psychotic behaviour Trump neither resists nor his dark inner circle can control. In time the damp squibs Ryan and McConnell will fall into line.
US checks and balances may well save the day within two years, if only by dint of coiffed idiots feeling electoral heat. Someone should get the message to the “late great Abraham Lincoln” (Trump’s absurd reference during the campaign) that all is not lost.
You mean talking bollocks that keep media from covering what he is actually doing, or doing studffg that is also nonsense overturned in courts. If Trump is not a senile old git, then what is he is up to coz he’s highly effective at keep media enthralled.
Take abortion, we know the predominant Catholic scotus wont be willing to out pope the pope, so the whole abortion is over scare is a joke. Similarly the border crap, Obama saw more s.American migrants return home that Trump will be hard pressed to match him. Similarly Muslim countries is largely a temporary smoke and mirrors policy. Its about wjat Trump is is doing.
But there are millions of Americans that voted for him and agree with it.
You don’t keep up James ? Already there are 2-3 million more Americans who voted for Clinton than voted for Trump. Trump with already the lowest approval rating of any new president for a long time…….The Chickenhawk Dubya (another outrageous down to $$$ draft dodger) being the last as I recall.
You claim to be a serious commentator James. How come you’re blind to those patently salient factors, US Constitution, and the imminence of mid-terms, James ? Pretty weak arse that, For a ‘serious commentator’.
‘The Orange Being Squeezed’ too much for you what ? Like Actoid Steve Wathall somewhere above. Ooooh, sorry ’bout that. You better get outa Jonestown quick James. Before “I’m Peach……Mint”. Two years baby. Two years.
James
One in five eligible voters voted for trump, I’m sure you can do the maths, four out of five didn’t vote for trump, that’s hundreds of millions.
Is Arianna Huffington the stupidest person in America?
Here she is being schooled, with two other fools, by one of the smartest….
Yes Morrissey…….what a disgracefully mindless, artless, hag ! “Just returned from Israel….” was the tip-off. A hag who cares not a fig for the children of Gaza murdered and mutilated by the Eastern European NatziYahoo (whom The Orange is extra buddy buddy with). Encouraged in that by annual $US 3,000,000,000 US military aid. A curse on the bloodthirsty hag. And them who pay the ‘baby’ bounty !
more government sanctioned corruption emerging (emerging at least to those not directly affected)
http://www.interest.co.nz/opinion/85690/how-eqc-has-avoided-being-stung-rising-land-values-cameron-preston-has-back-story
Regarding the Labour / Green ‘State of the Nation’ speeches and the path forward?
Constructive criticism from the future ‘fiery’ and ‘fierce’ Independent MP for Mt Albert – Penny Bright 🙂
(AKA ‘Pullya Bennefitt 😉
Where are Labour and the Green’s clear policies prioritising the implementation and enforcement of the Public Records Act 2005 – which would transform transparency and accountability in our corrupt, polluted tax haven New Zealand, which SO needs a massive ‘clean up’?
“Where the people lead – the politicians will follow…”
Want to see some REAL policies that will help to ‘Roll back Neo-liberal Rogernomic$’?
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1701/S00171/the-2016-corruption-perception-index-isnt-worth-the-paper.htm
“If New Zealand was truly ‘the least corrupt country in the world’ – shouldn’t we arguably be the most transparent?
So – why isn’t the Public Records Act 2005, being properly and lawfully implemented and enforced?
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2005/0040/latest/DLM345729.html
“17 Requirement to create and maintain records
(1) Every public office and local authority must create and maintain full and accurate records of its affairs, in accordance with normal, prudent business practice, including the records of any matter that is contracted out to an independent contractor.
…”
“So, how come we don’t know exactly where billion$ of taxpayer and ratepayer public monies are being spent on private sector consultants and contractors at NZ central and government level?”
“What has anyone from Transparency International New Zealand had to say about the endemic and entrenched bribery and corruption revealed in the unprecedented bribery and corruption conviction of just ONE corrupt ‘public official’ and just ONE corrupt contractor – where the bribes totalled $1.2 million over 7 years?
(Where are the Press Releases from Labour and the Greens condemning this entrenched bribery and corruption, and what needs to be done to fix this problem?)
“Reasons for the Verdict of Fitzgerald J”
CRI-2015-044-001286
[2016]NZHC2970
THE QUEEN v STEPHEN JAMES BORLASE (&) MURRAY JOHN NOONE
https://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/cases/r-v-borlase-reasons/@@images/fileDecision
“How many thousands of ‘public officials’ and private contractors are there across NZ central and local government?”
“As a genuinely (politically fiercely) independent, self-funded proven
‘anti-corruption campaigner’ and Independent candidate for the 2017 Mt Albert by-election here is my ACTION PLAN:
“ACTION PLAN TO ENSURE ‘OPEN, TRANSPARENT AND DEMOCRATICALLY ACCOUNTABLE’ NZ GOVERNMENT AND JUDICIARY”:
……..
Read on – if you dare 😉
Penny Bright
PROVEN ‘anti-privatisation / anti-corruption campaigner’.
Future ‘fierce’ and fiery Independent MP for Mt Albert 🙂
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
[lprent: I can’t see the relevance of this comment to the post. Don’t do it again.
BTW: The PB immitation was pretty good. ]
nonono penny labour/greens will not release policy until nearer the election it needs to be carefully timed and in small understandable bits
what we should be demanding is where is nationals because they never release any policy and because they don’t want to defend there record the yellow cowards wont front in mt Albert
With National not standing, and Greens simply using it as rehearsal for their Auckland-wide campaign, Penny this could be your chance to scoop up all those National Party votes, all those Act votes, join them together with the NZFirst and Socialist votes, and … you’ll be like Liberty at the Barricades leading your People to Victory!
Victory is within your grasp Penny!
Penny Bright you really could win this thing you know.
Think of all the respect you’ll have when you win!
All that pay!
All those people you currently have to rail against, they will cower before you and fear your wrathful policies.
What shock on Guyon Espiner’s face.
Like another Trump, but right here, right now.
You’ll be an MP! For 6 months at least!
Then you can go into coalition with whomever you want!
Become a Minister of Local Government! From Day 1!
Then you can make them do all that you’ve ever wanted.
There’s so little time.
It’s going to be amazing to see you up there, at last.
At Last!
6 months of an MP salary should just about cover the outstanding rates bill.
hi pm and maui,
re police pursuits; all the power rests with the authorities, sobriety, training, support(both on the ground and with the ‘comms’ team) etc.
the idea of being comfortable that someone dies, as a result of being in a persued car, is abhorrent and very cold.
in a related incident recently in australia, i listened to a senior police officer describe what had unfolded.
we heard all about the environment and driving conditions, about the drivers behaviour and attitude, extensive details of the victims including a baby, and a single line, late in the statement informing us it was a police pursuit.
even the police aren’t happy with the situation.
The idea that only people in authority are responsible for their actions is a pernicious one. When you drive a car, you and no other are responsible for what you do with that car. That is the number one most important fact about driving that a beginning driver needs to learn. If your car ends up speeding through a red light and hitting two other vehicles, you, the person who was driving it, are the only one who could have determined a different course of events.
The Police can try and find ways to minimise the carnage that fuckwits like this cause, but minimise it is the most we can hope for and for fuck’s sake let’s not pretend Fuckwit-Behind-The-Wheel had no agency in the matter. It would be nice if failing to stop was a severe aggravating factor in sentencing, as it would put the responsibility where it properly lies.
When one of these ambulatory turds kills himself without killing or maiming anyone else, I do regard that as a good outcome because it’s taken him off the road before he gets to kill anyone else. That’s not “cold,” it’s “realistic.”
The New Zealand Herald: getting it wrong for 79 years
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/new-zealand-herald/1938/9/30/11
For all the lovelies who want to “turn Labour left”, here’s a great little contest to test that out on:
On the one side is super-racist EU fracturing Euro killing Marine Le Pen, on the rise and ready to strap on the Presidential Knee Pads with Donald Trump, and on the other side, the Socialists have chosen Benoit Hamon, a staunchly leftwing rebel outsider who wants to:
– introduce a universal basic income
– legalise cannabis and
tax robots, among other things.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/29/french-socialists-leftwing-rebel-benoit-hamon-elysee-manuel-valls-francois-hollande-presidency
Let’s see how that one works out.
Seems to me we can get a big clue on whether there’s any value in turning Labour left from Joe Carolan’s vote count in the Mt Albert by-election.
hi ad, not too sure what you are getting at here.
“lovelies”?
can you want labour to turn left without being a lovely?
do you have a pejorative term for the status-quo ists who don’t want to scare the horses, i am doing ok thanks?
france is france, probably better to look at left policies in this country, put them up the flagpole and see who salutes them.
eg 100% free education,
feed all children in schools,
communioty gardens in schools,
ftt, hone heke tax or robin hood tax……
I don’t want someone else feeding my child in school , my child my responsibility .
does that mean no child could be fed in a school?
would you be happy for your child to assist growing, preparing and cooking in order to feed other children?
im pro gardens in school and such , and feeding those whose parents are unable or willing to do it is a must , but i will not trust a bunch of office wallas to feed my kid .
What we really need is to come at it from several directions , educating parents on healthy choices , improving incomes so parents can do it themselves, education around the great contraception out there now (which i believe is having an effect)
Why not?
And don’t just say that it’s your responsibility. You’d be paying the taxes to provide the food so your responsibility is covered.
would you trust serco to feed your loved ones ?
Alternatively, the school kitchens could be managed by a school employee and the parents help cook as a community effort.
But even if serco (or compass) provided the meals, if you’re that snickety you’d probably just feed your kids anyway. One less school meal to make.
The point is that your kids might be fine, but a lot of families are struggling. All kids need to be fed in school. How would your system best balance those conflicting facts?
It’s not snickerty to feel its my kid so it’s my responsibility , in this day and age breeding is optional ,which i know makes me sound right wing as fuck. but i did say up thread that it is a problem that has to be attacked from many angles for many years.
the simplest system would be for the school to get a number of how many need feeding in their school and have an existing outfit like a cafe make the lunches , a sandwich , a nut/ muesli bar and some fruit isn’t a big ask.
Funding it is the thorny question.
Breeding might be optional (depending on how trumpy our own govt gets). Changing circumstances aren’t.
Local catering might work for 20 or thirty (but there’d still be a base cost in organising it), but not one of the schools with hundreds of high-dep students.
No, that is the most inefficient, time consuming, privacy invasive method available that will be used to denigrate and abuse both the parents and the children.
Is that a reason or just a fear?
Of course, I’d have the food brought in from local farms and prepared by local people but that’s me.
Food from local farms?
A Hereford heifer and a truck of turnips?
last time I looked farms didnt grow bread or muesli bars.
Last time I looked I make my own bread and muesli bars from stuff produced on farms.
Not bloody likely.
I don’t want someone else feeding my child in school…
Yes. For one thing, I’ve seen what schools think kids should be eating. “Healthy” food nazis can leave my kids alone.
French school lunches look pretty good.
“. For one thing, I’ve seen what schools think kids should be eating. “Healthy” food nazis can leave my kids alone.”
And yet you put your kids in the same system in order to teach them how they should be thinking. How does that sit with you?
(BTW, I don’t think either is a problem, if you are prepared to spend your time – and meals – with them, showing another choice).
It had its moments. We did eventually get the school to stop passive-aggressively punishing them for not attending religious education classes, and they got earfuls from me every time Life Education Trust came round to tell them that recreational drug use is wrong and ruins your life. But that’s par forf the course – no parent is 100% happy with what the school tells their kids.
Heh. The god-botherers had their “Life Choices” program going at my kids’ school while I was coaching the chess players. None of the keen chess players were religious types, so we decided to do a second session in the “Life Choices” time slot. All of a sudden we had a lot more chess enthusiasts. Including the son of the woman running the “Life Choices”.
Well done Andre ! Chortle inducing indeed. The God-Botherers can be such oppressive, fear peddling, manipulative arseholes. If ya been brought up right (as I was) then ya have the good stuff without the need for all that shit.
I know a guy who’s a spectacularly artful (and resilient in the face of institutional bullying) young lawyer. Doesn’t buy any of that wankery, In The Law or in the bible-banging area. His commanding ethic is this…….”In my life I try to hurt no-one !”
What more could you ask ?
The “option” of religious classes gets me too. Especially when you consider over the course of a year that adds up to around 36 hours. And yet, schools are diligently opposing any child missing time during the school year to go overseas.
I remember the attitude when I was at primary, with teachers being delighted with the students return, and getting them up to tell the class about their travels.
Preparing healthy lunches is not easy. Particulalry when there is no refridgeration for yoghurts etc. It is just another thing to be done at the end of a busy working day usually by mothers. Even if the children do it themselves the have to buy the stuff in and supervise the younger children. When my children were growing up I would happily have paid extra in taxes so they could have a healthy cooked lunch at school. I would still pay higher taxes so all children could have this.
Your child is required by law to be present at school for around seven hours a day, five days a week.
In every other government institution – you either receive remuneration, or are given meals – ie. hospital, prison – sometimes both.
If we are keeping children in school for this length of time, and good nutrition is a requirement for achievement – then that is easy fix isn’t it?
The community aspect of shared lunches, as well as the physical and learning benefits would only be of benefit to schools and wider communities.
It might even save money, if the cost of providing meals is deducted from working for families etc.
School meals happened in Europe because in the coldest parts of winter (worse than here) kids could not just sit outside and eat sandwiches, nor (more importantly) walk home and back for lunch. (Most Mums were at home in early times.)
Here, we have never needed that. But I like the insightful comments above: I agree that a wise society would provide decent food for its children at school.
Yes gsays. France is France, and it will turn right because of the migrant problem.
Sure, lets just keep on with the current middle of the road NZ Labour Party, UK New Labour, and DNC policies.
And hows that been working out??
I don’t know anything about Benoit Hamon bar the expected piece of slur in ‘The Guardian’.
But let’s say a comparison to Corbyn is about right. So Hamon will broadly advocate policies that are in line with social democratic ideals rather than liberal democratic ideals.
That’s what the SNP did – and won. And then won again. And again.
The parties that stuck with liberal democratic policies lost. And then lost again. And again.
And just like in the UK with Corbyn, the liberals within the left in France, are gunning for Hamon (that includes a fair proportion of the mainstream media – y’know, outlets like ‘The Guardian’)
What were the policies advocated by Trudeau in Canada? Well, a liberal politician from a party called, ‘The Liberal Party’, dumped liberal democratic policies, ran on a social democratic platform and won. Meanwhile, the ‘New Democratic Party’, who for some reason known only to themselves (maybe they were taking a leaf from NZ Greens?) abandoned a social democratic platform, well they tanked.
In the US, Sanders ran on what could best be described as a social democratic platform and very nearly took the Democrat leadership.
Win or lose for Hamon, the tide is well on the turn Ad. And if you’re wedded to liberalism, then you’re going to be all washed up with the rest of them. And here’s the thing, you don’t have to be an anarchist or autonomous Marxist or whatever shade of radical to stand against liberalism. Social Democrats would and do too. People who have no political knowledge find the social democratic message appealing (you did notice that Trump essentially twisted a lot of Sanders’ rhetoric, aye?) Anyway – the numbers of disillusioned liberals is only set to grow. So think about it.
And then come on over here and join with all us ‘lovelies’ 😉
That would be … lovely.
Except I think you’re just a little ahead of yourself kicking over ash looking for coals.
There’s the remote possibility that there will be no further wins by hard-right movements. Maybe Brexit and Trump are its global high points. Maybe the global mainstream media will become so enraged that the opposition to the hard right governments around the world will itself become a gobal upwelling. Maybe, like Federer, the purest and the most elegant moves will win against the odds again.
The above is highly unlikely.
As I pointed out, there’s some great global contests coming up.
Our own in New Zealand is definitely one of the most globally interesting match-ups, due to the strength of the Greens compared to any other democracy. A win would be the closest since the Realos of the German Green Party got into a proper coalition anywhere. I think the approach we have here is the right one. The standard left needs reviving, agreed. But Labour doesn’t want to lose its historical identity, nor let go of its usefully unresolved internal neuroses.
So reviving Labour with an exterior political entity in a proposed coalition is both dignified and effective. Reviving the country with the same is the right approach.
I sincerely hope that arrangement is effective this year.
This is the bit you’re missing Ad…
…there will be wins by ‘hard-right’ movements until and unless liberals step aside.
Liberalism is dead. How does it shuffle into the dustbin of history?
Well, either liberals try to cling to power (by sledging social democrats and anything else to their left while continually playing the fear card) and incidentally enable the ‘hard -right’ or opportunistic populists….which spells the end to liberalism.
Or liberals step aside – take down the barricades they keep constructing against the left and…yeah, that spells the end to liberalism too.
The only question that needs to be asked is, just how misanthropic are they?
So far, the answer hasn’t been anything anyone’d be wanting to write home about.
I posted mid last year on the decline of the liberal order.
Well ahead of you.
Is that a willy comparison comment?
Wrathall is a troll.
Ignore his Islamophobia.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
His Twitter page is a place populated by all sorts of right wing intolerance.
https://twitter.com/stevehwrathall
Note his enthusiastic approval of an ancient theme.
Wow. Amazing similarities between Nazi propaganda and the current US administration.
Wrathall is a science-denying chump as well. He made a laughing stock of himself in 2010 when he made a complaint to the BSA, which found it lacked any merit whatsoever….
https://bsa.govt.nz/decisions/2548-wrathall-and-television-new-zealand-ltd-2010-076
Interesting interpretation there Mo, especially given these paragraphs:
[19] At the outset, we do not accept TVNZ’s finding that human induced global climate change is uncontroversial. Likewise, the related issue of whether the observed sea level rise on Tuvalu is due to climate change is also disputed.
[20] However, in our view, this item clearly focused on the experiences and perspectives of the local people, exploring their reactions to the changes in their environment, the ways in which they were adapting to those changes, and how they felt about the possibility of leaving their homeland if it became uninhabitable. It did not attempt to explore the possible causes for those changes. The Authority has previously determined that presenting personal views on, and experiences with, climate change in the Pacific, did not amount to a discussion of a controversial issue of public importance (see Clancy and TVWorks1).
[21] Because the programme did not discuss a controversial issue of public importance, we do not consider that it was necessary, in the interests of balance, for the programme to explicitly state that the rising sea levels could be explained by natural processes, as argued by Mr Wrathall.
The four people on the BSA are not scientists, and they bent over backwards to be nice to our Jew-hating, Arab-baiting friend. That spurious exercise of somehow “balancing” one sound view against one harebrained view is a mandated exercise, no matter how ridiculous it might be. It results in the sort of blather you have so astutely pointed out.
Four scientists would have simply thrown his complaint in the bin, along with the rest of the day’s offerings from flat-earthers, moon-landing deniers, 9/11 Truthers and Elvis-spotters.
And since 2010, sea-level has continued to rise at a non-alarming 3 mm/year (~30 cm/century). And yet the alarmists continue to predict metres of rise this century. Who’s denying science?
There’s a debate among scientists about the likely future sea level rise. That is science.
So that makes the person denying it, you.
However if the debate is about the veracity of the global warming hypothesis itself, that’s apparently science denial.
Yes, it is apparent that people who deny real world observations are pathetic and ridiculous. Or is it Quantum Physics you think you can debunk?
Predictions are not “real world observations” by definition. The non-alarming sea level rise is a real world observation.
Real world observations should be objective (assuming they’re not being altered to ‘hide the decline’ or similar, but the conclusions and related hypotheses emanating from those observations are surely debatable.
Richard, all you are demonstrating is that simply you don’t appear to understand the basic physics of greenhouse gases.
After all if you did then you’d actually be able to point out the basic points that you have a problem with – using some maths and links to the relevant science. Even a poorly trained quack should be able to figure out the basic physics.
Since you don’t, then I’d presume that your political religious beliefs tend to dominate over your scientific abilities.
On the subject of ‘objective’ measurements. You really are talking simple minded crap. These are measurements done over the whole world over very long periods of time and using a wide variety of measurement technique. They have inherent error in location, in time, in technique, to the methods of recording and storing them, and simply because weather and even climate is chaotic and subject to local changes outside of human caused climate changes.
And that is just the less important in-air measurements. The ocean measurements that are of more significance are pretty sparse both geographically and in the water column.
Almost every earth science measurement is only valid statistically, and even that is only because there are a lot of them made.
Your call for a ‘objective’ measurements just seems to confirm that you have an inability to understand even the most basic principles of measurements in earth sciences.
Here are some “real world observations” for you Steve.
http://www.climatecentral.org/news/study-reveals-acceleration-of-sea-level-rise-20055
While the current rate of sea level rise is around 3 mm / year, that is accelerating from an average rate of around 1.7 mm / year over the past century. Up until the recent past – most sea level rise was driven by our warming oceans, however we now see the sudden collapse of the Greenland ice shelf and the WAIS notably the Larsen A, B and C https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-study-shows-antarctica-s-larsen-b-ice-shelf-nearing-its-final-act
These both have the potential to raise sea level by metres.
The real world observations back up the predictions and support the science.
Time for you and Richard to get real.
You are a cretinous fool whose knowledge of the sciences equates with that of the mythical village idiot. It is typical of many right wingers like yourself who are too dumb to know just how dumb they/you are. We’ve all been associated with them.
Intelligent people recognise their intellectual limitations and are capable of being persuaded with logic, sound reason and expert knowledge. But oh no, not dumb a**es like you. Unlike others on this site I don’t waste my time with detailed facts and figures because I know your ilk are way too stupid to understand.
Are you a Trump supporter?
http://www.salon.com/2016/09/30/idiocracy-now-donald-trump-and-the-dunning-kruger-effect-when-stupid-people-dont-know-they-are-stupid/
It was this sort of arrogant we-know-best attitude, as expressed in Anne’s post – from Hillary Clinton, her backers in the media and the Washington elite – that put people off voting for her, with the obvious result.
The Wrathall kid has been asking for it for a long time.
Apart from that… listen to who is talking. You’re arrogance on this site is legendary!
https://thestandard.org.nz/punching-nazis-and-practicing-resistance/
🙂
Wrathall was too ignorant to realize it, but what he endorsed was the modern version of this cartoon, which appeared in the Viennese paper Das Kleine Blatt in 1939….
http://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/scalefit_630_noupscale/564b63a41f00002400f3cf97.jpeg
So the Jews fleeing pre-WWII Germany had 50+ majority-Jewish countries to go to, then tried to set up Jewish law as superior to local law when they were accepted, and many of them carried out terrorist acts in the name of Judaism in their host countries. Your analogy is asanine.
many of them
A vanishingly small minority, with nowhere near the number of victims as people killed by family members, buses, right wing economic policy, or homegrown bigots.
Blow harder.
I thought so. You’re as anti-Jewish as you are anti-Arab.
I’m not at all surprised.
And often have you spoken against Zionism, Mo?
No, I haven’t spoken against Zionism, but I’ve often spoken against the massive crimes of the Israeli government.
So I liked a tweet by Bosch Fawstin? An ex-Muslim mohammed cartooner who jihadists tried to murder in Garland TX. As he was born a muslim, I must be racist against him, and then he changed his race, right?
You don’t know what you think, actually, because you don’t read seriously or in depth.
You’re a fool.
Check out Stephanie Rodgers’ ode to Mr Bradbury; all quotes from his own words on his own blog, apart I suspect from the very last paragraph:
https://bootstheory.wordpress.com/2017/01/30/unity-a-poem-inspired-by-martyn-bradbury/
I think this is a small piece of genus, building on Stephanie’s consistent message over the last few months of treating all the minor causes of the left as if the only way to win any election for the left is through treating the causes of your colleagues with respect, and acting on forming solidarity.
And on that she is perfectly on the money.
Genius. Not ‘genus’.
Excuse me.
Wouldn’t worry so much about that one word typo, Ad. Much more concerning is the sentence within which it resides – one of the less coherent passages to emerge from your finger tips in recent years.
And the message I’ve managed to wrestle from that messy grammatical entanglement – that we should all be respectful of each others’ particular ideological proclivities – sits rather awkwardly next to your unbearably smug little piss-take (upthread) against Labour’s Left-leaning … what did you call them again ? … oh that’s right … “Lovelies”.
I’ll resist commenting on the irony of an affluent, privileged, middle class Liberal Centrist with Clintonista tendencies having the temerity to call other people “Lovelies”. 🙂
Oh no, I am far less lovely than you.
Your loveliness is radiant.
May it shine.
Love.
“Lovelies”
Is that a class thing?
Isn’t it usually something said about flamboyant actor/theatrical types?
I have a lefties I work with (damm annoying) he said that speech turned him off. He’s American born and said Andrew came across fake as hell.
He’s a 10yr labour supporter
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
[lprent: This is rather weak as it carries absolutely no actual argument related to the post. It simply looks like made up hearsay.
Your followup comment looked like a advertisement for a National list MP and was completely unrelated to the post.
I’d suggest that doing such obvious diversion comments like these is not the safest thing you could do on this site. ]
To add he’s been impressed by Chris bishop who’s turned up to alot of his events in his own time. Blew him away. He does alot of non profit work.
Donno if he will vote Nats but interesting.
This is one of the most genuine, believable and authentic things I have ever read.
roflnui.
Sounds to me like he works for Mr Thiel’s.
Infused, I would doubt your informant is a Labour supporter. Chris Bishop is not turning up to events ‘in his own time’, or doing charity work out of the goodness of his heart. He is just being a National Party list MP (with lots of National Party money) who wants to be an electorate MP. He does such things so people think he cares. Labour’s Ginny Anderson will easily outclass him though in the election as she has integrity, intelligence and a much better message for the local electorate.
I wrote a big reply to this, but in the end, I don’t really give a shit. I was just comparing how Labour is losing solid support, easily, when it shouldn’t be. And how Little comes across on TV isn’t genuine.
Says you, a right winger.
Infused with stupidity!!!!
Socialist Party in US doubles in numbers since Trump won.
http://inthesetimes.com/article/19795/socialisms-trump-bump-democratic-socialists-america
Democratic Socialist Party of America and Socialist Party USA (more leftwing) have both doubled their supporters and the ACLU and Planned Parenthood have had big increases too.
Ethica you obviously do not live in the Hutt. Chris Bishop will easily win Hutt South by over 1,000 votes and also increase the Party Vote. No wonder Mallard chickened out. Chris was brought up in the Hutt and is well known by the locals. He is very hard working . He will probably be PM one day. Many of the Standard posters live in a socialist bubble getting confirmation bias from their twitter feed. Get out and listen to people. No one outside the bubble could tell you anything about the content of the launch. It’s only success was confirming that a vote for Labour or Greens means the same thing. Choose a colour. Any colour. The MOU is great for the Greens but will be disastrous for Labour. I suspect Labour will not get any list seats and that Little will be out of a job. I wish there was a betting market for the election, I understand the real world.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
[lprent: See https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-30012017/#comment-1293479
And please make an effort to hit the Reply button. ]
Fisiani, are you Chris Bishop?
You are seriously underestimating Ginny Anderson.
Pretty sure he’s overseas. So I doubt it.
Hensley, don’t bother. Some of these people really have no idea. Mallard left for exactly this reason.
Chris has been out there 7 days a week for going on 2-3 years now. I don’t know how he does it to be honest.
“Chris has been out there 7 days a week for going on 2-3 years now. I don’t know how he does it to be honest.”
Just read all the Bishop stuff and this last bit provides a challenge I can’t resist …
7 days a week for going on 2-3 years? I thought God rested after a certain number of days.
I have a friend who voted for Chris Bishop and National last time. He’s a minimum wage retail worker. He was rewarded by losing his compulsory work breaks, losing a guaranteed day off at Easter, and an increase in his rent and other expenses. He feels betrayed and won’t make that mistake again.
I have a street who voted Mallard and Labour last time. They like young Chris. Your mate cannot blame Chris Bishop. You give me one anecdote and I’ll give you a hundred. Chris Bishop is winning over at least one person a day. Labour candidate vote – 365 x 3 , Bishop +365 x 3. So easily a 1,000 majority, more like 2,000 plus majority.
cool story, bro
Yeah we know about your fabulosity FusedAnus. And your post-truth ‘math’. Like the one Sunday afternoon 2014 when singlehandedly you won over 93.7% of riders on a Pomare-Wellington unit, to Trump (sorry….. Keydashian). For fear of stressing your cheesecutter I don’t mention your spectacular hit rate with puzzled Countdown shoppers up The Valley. You truly are heroic in your struggle to persuade yourself you’re significant, FusedAnus. Got a way to go to match ‘young’ Kellyanne Conway though ma bro’.
Trump to spend more time with the Queen?
Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to assure everyone that a new petition calling for him spend even more time with the Queen during his state visit now has more than five million signatures.
😈
Well one despot to another…
Yeah, leave our pumpkin pinochet alone, or else!.
“Who’s cleaning house?” Conway said. “Which one is going to be the first one to get rid of these people that said things that just aren’t true?
http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/johnwright/conway_calls_for_firing_of_journalists_who_talked_smack_all_day_long_about_donald_trump
Next up, special courts.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jan/24/journalists-charged-felonies-trump-inauguration-unrest
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/27/journalist-inauguration-arrest-charges-dropped-evan-engel
Wonder what the princes will say about that…….given the Pussy Grabber’s claim re…….you know……his chances with their mum ?
heh
https://twitter.com/williamjordann/status/825781634330980352
Duterte’s saner the Trump.
MANILA, Philippines
(AP) – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte asked the United States on Sunday not to store weapons in local camps under a defense pact, saying his country may get entangled if fighting erupts between China and the U.S.
Duterte said in a news conference that he would consider abrogating a 2014 defense pact that allows U.S. forces to temporarily station in designated Philippine camps if the Americans build weapon depots in those encampments.
“They’re unloading arms in the Philippines now,” Duterte said, identifying three areas where U.S. forces were supposedly bringing in their armaments, including the western Philippine province of Palawan, which faces the disputed South China Sea.
“I’m serving notice to the armed forces of the United States, do not do it, I will not allow it,” Duterte said in the televised news conference after meeting top military and police officials.
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/politics-government/article129470414.html
Yeah, he’s jumped ship, China is his friend now, dislike to corruption and drug users and dealers, the human rights commission is trying to have him charged with murder for pushing a suspected corrupt official out of a helicopter and then boasting about his action, Just Another Nut Job.
It is gratifying to see so many upset with the mango Mussolini’s banning Muslim immigrants into the states.
I struggle to grok this though – aren’t many, even on this site, not wanting too many immigrants here due to a perceived lack of land, resources and so on.
Is it that he is banning an identifiable group via religion – could be ethnicity, sexuality, ablement etc rather than the attempted reduction of immigrants.
Sure he has dressed it up with all sorts of – keeping extremists out da da da dah
but how do people reconcile this? or have I just got it completely wrong.
For the record I don’t believe in the assumptions within my second paragraph.
It’s not a muslim immigration ban, it’s a travel ban on people associated with seven muslim majority countries. So it affects visitors, people that have already completed their immigration procedures and even those who have gone as far through the process as getting their green card for permanent residence and have already made the US their home. There’s also the tidbits of information suggesting Trump wants to apply a religious test and is attempting to disguise that.
Overall, from his past statements it’s clear he wants to reduce immigration into the US from pretty much all groups (except smokin’ hot white females). But it appears he is going about by singling out groups and applying restrictions to that smaller group. First he’s coming for Syrians/Libyans/Iraqis/Iranians… then he’s coming for… That’s a lot more severe and chilling than changing policies in a ethnicity/religion blind way with the goal of reducing overall immigration sometime in the future.
Just a few of my problems with current immigration policies into New Zealand are:
that it admits many people into a situation where they are extremely vulnerable to exploitation and are competing with (and crowding out) our locals for entry-level opportunities,
we don’t have policies and processes in place to ensure our infrastructure keeps up with the demands imposed by a rapidly increasing population (resulting in things like the housing problems),
our welfare state settings are extraordinarily generous to some groups of immigrants at the same time as they are punitive towards locals.
Thanks Andre, McFlock and Muttonbird
I did wonder if I was being a bit precious – I still have twinges around this but I think I’ll sit and read more before I spout off.
For me, it’s separate to the general immigration debate.
I believe Trump has made a ruling based on religion, likely moderated by personal business interests, that in particular targets refugees (the most vulnerable and in need group of immigrants there is).
That’s beyond the questions of resources and national identity that people raise when debating about whether net migration should be half a percent or five percent of the population.
If they’re lying and the order was drafted by his inner circle, overriding objections and failing to coordinate with officials, I reckon he’s made a ruling based on provocation.
Not irreconcilable. Immigrants, students, and refugees are welcome here as far as I’m concerned but NZ’s infrastructure is underfunded and unable to cope so that communities are now under stress. The Nats refuse to take the tax from the high earners, the people who benefit the most from cheap foreign labour. A different model needs to be found, one where central government is held responsible for the effects of its policy settings.
On RNZ this morning Little said there will be no electorate deals between Labour/Greens. Could this decision cost them the election? I think it could well do, unless they have a ‘cunning plan’ to do deals under the table to allay the outcries of foul play by the hypocritical Right.
Regardless, it is time Labour got real and stopped thinking it is a 40 – 50% party. The tide has gone right out on ‘third way’ lefties trying to play at being kind free-marketeers.
If, on the other hand, Little is trying to cosy up to NZF by shafting the Greens again in the vain hope of a coalition with Peters, Marks and Jones, then he is a bloody misguided dreamer.
Both parties are well over the threshold, so no problem for them.
Might screw Mana, though.
Electorate deals are pointless, since it’s the party vote that counts and neither of these parties is at risk of not making the threshold.
There’s conceivably some point in electorate deals that would combat National’s hangers-on (Dunne and Seymour), but Dunne’s the only one that could possibly be at risk from a Green/Labour deal – even then, National voters are as capable of strategic voting as anyone else, so there wouldn’t be much point.
The new member of the National Security Council.
(video inside)
https://twitter.com/JessikaJayne/status/825911923485048834
“There was never a gap of ideas. What there was, just as in the 1930s, was a social democratic party too keen to ingratiate itself with the establishment and a deep division between good, decent people – between liberals, Marxists, feminists, greens etc. Whereas the bigots unite behind toxically simplistic stories, progressives tend to fight against one another and thus fall prey to the Nationalist International.”
https://yanisvaroufakis.eu/2017/01/25/the-establishment-is-in-denial-interviewed-in-english-text/
a united european left or a belated vision?
https://diem25.org
In regard to drivers and their responsibility;
Police in a pursuit also must consider the public, a duty of care, if you will.
Just cause a driver is fleeing don’t give carte Blanche to per sue.
Being comfortable with the notion that the police bear no responsibility, reeks of an authoritarian mindset.
Fisiani is my handle. It is a noble Chitumbuka name. Do you think you are being humorous to be faecal obsessed? Is that what passes for constructive criticism? Such references are never moderated. I can only assume that such schoolboy attempted humour is actually tolerated and approved. That explains the abject failure of the Left.