And nevermind that the examples given in the article are of of social liberalism (anti-guns, pro-gay, anti-war, pro-divorce, anti-racist, ‘peaceful conflict resolution’, rather than actual radical left class-based policies). Pretty much all the examples given are more centrist, based in notions of individual civil rights. No mention of income inequalities, collectivist politics…. And many are ones embraced by some neoliberals.
They’re also a bunch of socialists, making a buck by pandering to whatever the masses will fork out for never crosses their minds. Commercialism is an antonym of Hollywood.
No doubt he will run a principled campaign before falling on his sword and ceding the seat to ACT. He will of course be rewarded for his loyalty to the right wing cause and I doubt that anyone one else will bother seeking the nomination it being the poisoned chalice that it is.
It is a plan so cunning you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel …
So cunning he will probably end up pinning a deer tail on his own arse and running through the bush during hunting season.
Whispers behind closed doors, playing people against each other without their knowing, deception and lies, saying one thing when there is another in play. I imagine all of this goes on in this duplicitous world of politics.
And people hassle travellerev about conspiracies.
Conspiracies are the bread and butter of sections of the planet.
I thought that in light of John Key’s support for the Zionist cause it would be prudent to place a link to an interview with one of my heroes Rabbi Weitz who calls the state of Israel the work of Satan and who prays for the speedy dissolve of the state of Israel and a return to the peaceful cohabitation of Muslims, Jews and Christians which until 1948 the start of the Nakba was the norm. He and his fellow Interviewees have a few things to say about Anti-Semitism too.
John D,
You should really go back to the library and start reading up on history.
On a personal note I have lived all my life amongst a great variety of Muslims (Moroccan, Tunisian, Turkish, Iraqi, Iranian, Kurd, Egyptian to name a few) and never ever over a period of more than 30 years have I ever encountered a shred of animosity towards Christians, Jews or other religions until after the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq and even then it was few and far between.
My mother travelled alone through Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan and had no problem whatsoever with the people she met. She was respected, invited, fêted, cherished and aided in her journey to India where she met up with her husband who was working for the WHO at the time. And that was the norm for their behaviour towards women at the time.
Ahmadinajad has very cordial relations with the Jews living in Iran (he donates to the Jewish hospital for example) as well as many Jewish organisations in Europe and the US. Here is what he really said about Israel before it was twisted in the MSM.
If you had any idea how ignorant and racist your comment was I’d hope you would hang your head in shame.
Come to think of it I’m not surprised really that while you expect Muslims to “integrate” into the Western world because of the cultural mayhem which would ensue if they didn’t you find it totally acceptable for Westerns not to do the same because “Our” civilisation is “Superior” to “theirs” (Fill in the people we are currently or in the past “saving” from their own “inferior” culture). Your ancestors after all “civilized” New Zealand.
Yes you are correct. I do regard our culture as superior to theirs.
We have equal opportunities (or try to) for women. We have gay rights. We have..etc etc.
Islam is locked in the 7th century. They take the words of the Koran literally. Any discussion of it is taboo.
You sad sack of shit. At least we’ve established that you are a racist. So now for the reality check.
No 1/ Iran. Over 50% of all students are female. On some universities % 70 % of all students are female. What do they study? Applied Physics seems to score high on their list of preffered studies. Not beautician, fashion design or other nampy pampy studies preferred by females in this country but serious Beta studies traditionally the territory of the Pakeha male if he gets around to actually going to an university. Why do they do these studies? Because unhindered by the macho crap of the thicko NZ male they are actually valued workers in the Iranian industry and their input is greatly valued.
No2/ Before the coalition of the killing destroyed Iraq over 50% of the workforce was female. They were doctors, judges and lawyers and they were free to build careers most women in this country can only dream off. Why? Because Healthcare (1800 free healthcare centres reduced to less than half) , Education and daycare for children was free. Women could walk the streets 24/7 safe and sound as they were considered equal to men before the invasion (One of Sadam’s idiocyncracies) You asswipe. Our “superior” culture destroyed that with 4.5 billion years worth of Depleted Uranium and the biggest most imperial army this world has ever seen. The result? Women are wearing the veil again, Religious groups are fighting each other again and poverty and mortality has gone through the roof as all their free institutions have been privatized and cut back by their “imperial” rulers.
No3/ At this moment we are bombing Libya. We are liberating them with humanitarian kinetic military action. (Also known as bombing the shit out of them). Libya was a country with the lowest debt, free healthcare, free education and a guaranteed basic income for everybody as a result of Gaddafi’s financial politics of returning the oil revenues over to his people. He did not believe in the central banking system and as a result his country had no international debts and that is what the international money men didn’t like. that is why we are bombing the shit out of them.
Our “superior” culture is the most barbaric, imperialistic and ignorant culture on the face of this planet. You Moron. Not them. Us.
Here is what Ayla Anwar has to say about imbeciles like you and what they have done to her country:
Iraq has become a disaster area, a health hazard…the levels of toxicity and pollution are so high, none are allowed to measure.
The new Iraq is the Democracy of toxicity and contamination…it is the new democracy where you wish for a quick easy bullet instead of a long agonizing tumor.
OK so you hate Arabs, many of you do. I never really understood where your inferiority complex came from…must be the language barrier, like the radical language barrier…
Oh how I saw you gloat, and you’ve been gloating for 8 years now, gleefully, nastily, slyly, you gloated….and you mocked…you mocked with your airs of intellectual knowledge…what knowledge you garbage, you have no knowledge…you are a self seeking, self promoting, sensationalists third grade columnists, writers, bloggers, activists, and the rest…
You miserable ignorant bastard. You miserable white middle class, male Pakeha ignoramus. “Shame on you, shame on you” and the whole arrogant lot of you who think that you just because you’re white and have a dick have superior civilisation.
I am white and middle class yet I applaud everything you have just said. (Well save for the ad hominem attacks perhaps). I too was once uninformed but my eyes have been opened and my only hope is that more people stop believing the fallacies that we are exposed to on a daily basis. It is certainly not an enjoyable journey going down the rabbit hole – downright scary in fact, but it most certainly is enlightening. I truly hope the world and more importantly NZ, becomes a better place as people wake up to what is truly going on.
Good to meet a fellow traveller.
I get so angry with guys like him I loose my cool but if you see the amount f interaction between us you will also see it took awhile before I got there.
You miserable ignorant bastard. You miserable white middle class, male Pakeha ignoramus. “Shame on you, shame on you” and the whole arrogant lot of you who think that you just because you’re white and have a dick have superior civilisation
This fucked up comment gets past moderation?
You sad, fucked up, left-wing, Islamofacist-apologist
[and from here it goes pretty crazy. Some really foul language. John D, you can disagree with ev, a lot of people do, you can make moderate use of strong language and say things that might offend within reason, but you can’t go nuts like that]
[lprent: Please label the moderation with who left it.
I think that John D still hasn’t read (or more likely understood) the policy on robust discusion vs pointless insults ]
Islam is locked in the 7th century. They take the words of the Koran literally. Any discussion of it is taboo.
Hmmmm. Given that middle east investors are now cornerstone shareholders of key US tech and banking corporations, i think that your characterisation is simply asinine, just like you are.
Hell, if we were as good as Islam in the 7th century we’d all be a hell of a lot better off. Equal treatment of everybody including the environment, massive research bringing about technology to help people, democracy that makes ancient Athens look dictatorial…
Sure, it fell to the authoritarians as almost all civilisations have but they do seem to be working their way back. As for us? Well, we’ve always been dictatorial, sexist, war-like and generally oppressive. To justify all this psychopathy we’ve built up the illusion that we were better, fairer and more civilised. When we came across a civilisation that actually was better, fairer and more civilised we attacked with extreme prejudice. Still do today.
Very true. Amazing female theologians at the time too. A true liberation theology, which is by the way how a lot of people still see it. It being the fastest growing religion in third world countries.
The John D’s of this world are going to get it very hard at the rate it’s going
I have a friend who was living in Dubai recently. He was living with his girlfriend (engaged).
Stopped by a routine traffic patrol, the cop asked to see their papers, and it was seen that they were living together.
This is illegal in Dubai.
The woman was instantly deported. The man was jailed for three months, then lashed, then deported.
Whilst in jail, the man met an Indian who had been in a minor traffic accident 30 years previously. Because he was involved in an accident with an Arab, it was deemed to be his fault.
Because he didn’t have the “blood money” to pay the Arab out, he languished in jail for 30 years.
I have also seen the appalling conditions that Indian workers have to endure in Dubai. Many are killed in construction accidents, and this never gets reported.
I have lots of friends of many races. I certainly don’t consider myself “racist” by any stretch of the imagination.
I do, however, find regimes (such as Iran) that tolerate stoning of women and executions of homosexuals to be unacceptable.
I know that there are tolerant parts of Arabia (such as Syria). I don’t know about Iraq, I didn’t support the war there, and since I haven’t been there I can’t really comment.
Your statement that “I admit that I am racist and I hate Arabs” is completely unsupported by my comments above.
That’s OK, We’ll bomb the shit out of them and that will sort that.
If it’s OK with you John I’m going to stop this for now because it just doesn’t go anywhere and if you can’t see that what you describe doesn’t in anyway justify the war crimes we perpetrate on the Afghans, Pakistanis, Iraqis and Libyans then that still makes you a racist sad sack of shit. Have a nice day.
The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner)
It seems OK for travellerev to call me a racist, a “sack of shit”, and for people to swear at me. OK, I did lose my rag last night, for which I apologise.
I don’t approve of the military intervention in the Middle East. It’s all about power and oil, and the same is being played out in Libya.
What I object to is this political correctness that forbids any criticism of Islamic fundamentalism. (I am equally critical of Christian fundamentalism and the Bible Belt, btw)
We are not going to get anywhere unless we acknowledge that there are issues to be dealt with on all sides.
Adam Kokesh is another one of my heroes. He is an Iraq veteran and one of the first veterans to speak out against the wars as illegal wars of aggression with the winter soldier protests.
He and his fellow soldiers went to Iraq and Afghanistan in the aftermath of the events of 911 in order to defend their country against the “terrorists” and to protest their freedoms only to come back to a country in which even dancing in a public space was forbidden. Here is what happened when he in his new position as a reporter and presenter at RT (Russian TV) participated in a flash dance event at the Lincoln memorial.
And this is what he had to say about it in his first interview after the event.
Excellent. There is no doubt in my mind that it is time for the moneylenders to take a back seat. They are loans after all, with a risk of default, hence various interest rates. The Greek, and other, people need to say to the moneylenders “fuck off and wait”. They need to say “we need our money for ourselves first, and once that is in order we will get your money back to you then (at zero interest)”.
Such action may well send shockwaves, which will shudder when they hit, as shockwaves do. But after that we will all just keep on keeping on.
Time for the moneylenders of the world to back off.
It is staggering to me that a guy who seems to be aware about the MSM partial blindness to certain issues is so blind to the obvious propaganda the MSM is espousing about Muslims and Arabs, Persians, Pashtuns and Semites other than Jews.
Racist because most Muslims are brown people with funny names, eating funny food and it is easy to believe whatever anybody tells you about them.
Most Europeans hated Jews for a long time and many of them still do. Just because they live in Europe doesn’t make your friends any less prejudiced, racist and ignorant.
Neither do I but I do defend the right of people to defend themselves against invasions of their territory and illegal wars of aggression and conquest by the international robber barons. See here, here and here for example
Let me ask you a question: If this country had been invaded say 10 years ago by the Iraqis and you had family living in Iraq al that time would you expect you family in Iraq to be angry with the government and the people invading your country? Or would you expect them to shut up and take it up the backside while you are being killed in your own country?
Because you see that is what is happening. Afghanis and Pakistanis and Muslims from all over the Muslim world living in the UK are hearing back from their families in the invaded countries how their families are being bombed by drones and killed with Depleted Uranium and they are angry.
Just like, I imagine, your family would be if they heard you and yours were bombed to smithereens by the war crimes of the country they are living in and just like your family they don’t want to bend over and take it lying down.
If the people who invaded my country replaced a brutal undemocratic regime and offered me the opportunity to partake in the decision making of my country via a democratic process, I think I would take the opportunity to enagage rather than to spend my time fighting the ‘evil oppressors’.
Are you stating you would prefer senseless killing rather than positive non violent opposition and engagement?
Just so you don’t think I’m ignoring you here’s a link about what an Arab woman thinks of the Western occupation of her country.
And if it’s OK with you I’ll leave my interaction with you at that. You are so young so ignorant and so full of yourself still that I prefer to wait for say a couple of decennia to let time and a few female rejections to mellow you out and perhaps by then you could get some sensible clothes instead of that ludicrous cowboy hat and coat you were wearing in the te Papa museum last year.
It was Sarcasm J, Sarcasm, I thought of actually pointing it out at the time but I thought you were smarter than that. No i don’t want to introduce these punishments in New Zealand although a few Act members would probably love too.
But why would a Muslim living in England from say Pakistan whose family was bombed to smithereens by the invading forces illegally bombing villages with unmanned drones not be entitled to protest against these monstrosities perpetrated against his countryman or expect foreigners in his country integrate just like you expect them to so the same.
You see it is this apparent discrepancy in your willingness to accept that what is good for the goose is good for the gander that is the racism you suffer from.
You see
How did these people hear about their families being bombed to smithereens?
Was it was when they were being delivered an anti-west hate sermon at the East London Mosque, or was it on one of their recent trips to Pakistan, to attend Al Qaeda training?
Regardless of who most Muslims are doesn’t mean that having a dislike for Muslim theology is racist. I can have serious concerns over Christian theology and it doesn’t mean I’m anti-European.
I support Muslims who accept and integrate into the culture of their host country. When you have ghettos of disenfranchised youths, as are springing up all over Europe now, you are on the path to cultural and societal oblivion.
Me too, and while we’re at it I think that any foreigner in any country should adapt to the existing culture and integrate and so if as a foreigner you are caught adulterating in a Muslim country and stoning is the accepted punishment he or she should accept that punishment and if drinking is not allowed and women should not drive cars than it speaks for itself that we should not commit to those vices and trespasses.
We, like we expect, from immigrants from other cultures would not want to destroy other peoples cultures like we would expect them to respect ours, now would we.
Beheadings for sabotage of our economic sovereignty and selling off state treasures for the personal gain of friends and family would seem entirely appropriate.
Beheadings for sabotage of our economic sovereignty and selling off state treasures for the personal gain of friends and family would seem entirely appropriate.
Cool. Maybe we can start a campaign?
I’d definitely be into this.
“A Beehive Beheading”. I’m sure it would get better ratings than “Citizen A”
They need to say “we need our money for ourselves first, and once that is in order we will get your money back to you then (at zero interest)”.
Nope, they just need to tell them to fuck off and then remind them that when you loan someone money that you’re taking a risk that you won’t get it back and that the risk just came due.
The economy would be fine. Run a little slower but it’d still be there.
Consider, with Peak Oil now confirmed which means growth is out, how do you think we’re going to pay the debt anyway? Especially when you consider it’s compounding aspect due to interest.
Anyone know what food pukeko’s might eat? There’s a bunch of them wandering around near my work. Would be nice to drop something off by the roadside on my way in. Dripping, like wax-eyes?
I only recently found out why Pukekos frequent motorway verges and often become road kill. Apparently they eat small stones and gravel from the roadside to help digest their diet of ‘juicy lovely grass and other vege’. Your Pukes, Lanthanide my have a bit of indigestion and are looking for some gravelly relief!
Another brilliant refreshing article from Tapu Misa. This time it is a John Key: “that’s after claiming 6000 people would be put out of their jobs as a result of such a rise, and that the Department of Labour had said so – which wasn’t quite true.” (Who would have guessed?) http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10728872
OK, one last hero for today: Cynthia McKinny. Black, female, leader of the Green party in the US and former Congress women known for confronting Rumsfeld about the lost trillions at the Pentagon.
She is in Tripoli, Libya this moment to share with the Libyans the “kinetic humanitarian events” perpetrated on the more than 2 million civilians of that city.
This is what she has to say about the murders of Gaddafi’s family members.
First interview on radionz today is about Christchurch contractors not getting paid. Few things if I remember rightly –
1 The EQC call centre is in Queensland.
2 One contractor has been waiting for a payment of $54,000 since September earthquake for replacing windows in an apartment block which required cherry pickers, expensive machinery.
He says that he has never been contacted from EQC, but that is surprising. Perhaps he is talking about recent months. He has made numerous calls to Oz and feels he is starting to pick up the Aussie twang. He says he only gets patsy answers.
3 EQC couldn’t come on to programme but stated as previously that they pay within 21 days if GST number is right and the invoice shows costs apportioned properly as to time and materials.
The contractors feel that the EQC is understaffed and this in itself results in delays and inefficiencies apart from any faults in EQC practices.
4 The above contractor has got in touch with Gerry the Butt but but couldn’t get an answer till he sent his email in bold red letters. Pity that even with his Powers he seems to be gerrybuilt when he should be using them to assist EQC to get more staff to deal with the unchecked details that result in the no-payment which is stifling the recovery.
5 Unpaid workers have been continuing going to work, crawling inside and on top of roofs of unstable buildings doing practical and helpful work which is unsafe in itself, so that safety can be provided for the occupants and surrounds, but have not been paid sometimes for a month because of lack of payment to their employers from the EQC.
6 The red zone contractors are thought to be getting paid all right. Gerry the Butt always does seem to have been more interested in the centre of Christchurch and its businesses rather than the rest of the struggling public. They are SEP, too miniscule for the great men at the forefront of the Christchurch earthquake management to give their immediate attention, ‘Just wait till we are ready to attend to you’ is their message.
Hopefully Roger Sutton will sort it out once he’s on board. It certainly seems like an early impediment to a fast effective recovery if you lose the goodwill from many of the people who’ll be doing the heavy lifting for the next 2-3 years.
He does seem to have a magical ability to make ‘things’ happen, although exactly what it is seems to be a sticking point – recovery of Pike River victims comes to mind (“cost is no barrier”). He also seems to usually get involved too late – where were you 3 months ago on this issue, Key? Or last December?
My adult son had his flat redstickered. He put in his itemised claim for a modest contents insurance claim on the 24 February. No response. No payout to help him get started again. So not only the big players unpaid but the little ones also.
hey it looks like the gunnas are in control at the moment. wee gunna do this and we gunna do that but somehow al they do is get their makeup done for the next piccie in the dompost social pages.
Thanks Bunji… Murray McCully treating NZAID as a business model, to support economic development (and use aid to profit NZ) rather than the poor. Excellent article by Terence Wood deconstructing this ideology of aid distribution.
“However, it is worth stressing that a projected 65 seats is not bulletproof. The House is forecast to have 123 MPs, so you will need 62 to govern. On the plus side ACT and United Future look like they can deliver a further four seats. On the negative side, there is the possibility NZ First makes 5%.”
Since when do independent commentators in a national daily use words like – “on the plus side ” and “On the negative side” – in the context of a balanced report. The plus and negative from whose point of view, Farrar? You are not talking to the blue rinse brigade only. (Obviously, from now on you probably will be).
At least Granny now have a weird apologia at the foot of the page:
“David Farrar is affiliated to the National Party and is a centre right blogger.”
Affiliated? Are National a gang? Will Farrar be able to go to Whangaz wearing his colours?
If you call destroying livelihoods via derivative trading “theft”, they’re probably worse than the stereotypical “gang”
count amongst their most valued members an ‘elite’ 1% of the population
some of them seem to regard themselves outside the law
use of front organisations and/or “affiliates” (e.g. the penguin, Brethren)
Points against:
violence is not usually used – that’s what their economic policies are for
[lprent: Are you trying to get those dumbarses from the anti-terrorism squads watching this site? Based on their reaction to the idea of catapulting objects I get the idea that they have no sense of proportion or a sense of humor. They’ll assume you misspelt. (After reading the material on operation 8 it is hard to treat treat those clowns with any respect) ]
“The welfare system should send a clear message that if you could work and support yourself, then you must, [Mr Key] said” http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5075404/Ministers-to-consider-controversial-welfare-plans
Here we go again. The flaw in the logic is that people can be capable of working, but unable to find a job due to National’s stunning management of the economy.
So, Mr Key, if someone is capable of working, and keen to work, and there are no impediments to them doing work, but they can’t find a job because National have managed to get unemployment soaring, should they be eligible for a benefit?
I will play the broken record again.
Perhaps if they allowed Kiwis to work say at the RWC and did not manipulate vista extensions for tourists to work. Pity AC when the govt imposes its own impediments on letting those who do want to work !!! and for a govt dept to actively go out promoting this. A case I believe to reintroduce repealling S59, and give allow MP’s to be smacked for corrective means 😉 http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/visit/rugby/
Key’s mentor from Singapore, the businessrotundtable visits from Pinochet’s economic advisor and the GG designate parlaying with all. We now have a military man paraded in front of us as some sort of role model for the young; the message is: go get dressed in your flaks and go out to play with America, carrying the associated appendages that’ll get ya coming back in a body bag, all for the egomaniac leader of the new neo-nz.
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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 ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
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. ...
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 ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The Reserve Bank is now assuming Australians will see no interest rate cuts this year – and quite possibly none before the next federal election, due next May. That’s ...
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 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vanita Yadav, Senior Research Fellow, Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University Brett Boardman/Belvoir The complex and grappling issue of violence against women takes centre stage in the soul-stirring solo dance drama Nayika: A Dancing Girl. During a dinner conversation ...
Disruption to patient care from a nationwide junior doctors strike is bordering on unsafe, a senior doctor claims, despite what health officials say. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Diepstraten, Senior Research Officer, Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute Ground Picture/Shutterstock The anti-cancer drug abemaciclib (also known as Vernezio) has this month been added to the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to treat certain ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic McAfee, Postdoctoral researcher, marine ecology, University of Adelaide Robbie Porter, OzFish Unlimited Around Australia, hundreds of people are coming together to help a once-prized, but decimated and largely forgotten marine ecosystem. They’re busy restoring Australia’s native oyster and mussel reefs. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sara Webb, Lecturer, Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology Austin Human/Unsplash How does Earth stop meteors from hitting Earth and hurting people? –Asher, 6 years 11 months, New South Wales Alright, let’s embark on a meteor ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rory Mulcahy, Associate Professor of Marketing, University of the Sunshine Coast Professional sports organisations regularly promote and develop initiatives to support diversity, equity and inclusion. While sport has the power to change attitudes by sparking conversations about political issues and social ...
Comment: The weekly Monday post-Cabinet press conference is a useful forum for observing Christopher Luxon and how he is developing into the job of Prime Minister. He attempts to convey the impression of a man of action, speaking fast, delivering memorised National Party strategies in a connect-the-slogans kind of way, ...
Double votes, missing ballot boxes, tired tech and stressed staff: how tick-tallying went astray at last year’s election. Cast your mind back to November 2023, that bleary-eyed post-election period duringwhichwewaited, andwaited, for a coalition deal to be hammered out. A distraction from the hotel-hopping of our ...
International audiences are starting to discover what New Zealand already knew about After the Party.When After the Party aired in New Zealand last year, the response was fast and furious. In his preview for Rec Room, Duncan Greive said it was a “gritty, wrenching and highly confronting” series. By ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shahram Akbarzadeh, Convenor of the Middle East Studies Forum (MESF), and Acting Director the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University Iran’s leadership has been a direct beneficiary of the months-long war in Gaza. With every missile that Israel fires ...
Claire Mabey reviews the haunting and sexy debut novel from Sinéad Gleeson, who is about to touch down in Aotearoa for a string of live events.When Irish writer Sinéad Gleeson was in Aotearoa in 2018 with her spectacular collection of essays, Constellations, she told me she was working on ...
PNG Post-Courier Bougainville Affairs Minister Manasseh Makiba has described the Post-Courier’s front page story yesterday regarding a meeting between Bougainville and national government leaders as “sensationalised” and without substance. The Autonomous Bougainville Government (AGB) had warned it might use “other avenues to gain its independence” should the PNG government “continue ...
Where some saw the worst press conference given by the government to date, Anna Rawhiti-Connell recognised girl maths game.Nicola Willis, recently exasperated by comparisons to Ruth Richardson, said she was “a bit sick of being compared with every female finance minister that’s ever been out there.”Some think that’s ...
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. ...
Jamie Arbuckle, the district councillor who became an MP but decided to keep getting paid for both roles, will instead donate one salary to charity. ...
Adding gender to the Human Rights Act would simply make the implicit explicit. So why is it so controversial? Paul Thistoll explain. At present, Aotearoa’s 1993 Human Rights Act (HRA) includes sex, marital status, religious belief, ethical belief (meaning a lack of religious belief), colour, race, ethnicity or national origin, ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, an 18-year-old who’s studying and working in hospo shares their approach to spending and saving. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.Gender: Transmasc Age: 18 Ethnicity: Pākehā/Māori Role: Student, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Kelsey, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Resources Minister Shane Jones has reportedly asked officials for advice on whether oil and gas companies could be offered “bonds” as compensation if drilling rights offered by ...
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Sickening faux news from the Herald this morning. Sesame St, MASH, Happy Days part of vast left wing conspiracy. Never mind the fact that US politics is further right than ACT
And nevermind that the examples given in the article are of of social liberalism (anti-guns, pro-gay, anti-war, pro-divorce, anti-racist, ‘peaceful conflict resolution’, rather than actual radical left class-based policies). Pretty much all the examples given are more centrist, based in notions of individual civil rights. No mention of income inequalities, collectivist politics…. And many are ones embraced by some neoliberals.
Ah yes, the hidden anti-gun, anti-violence agenda of Hollywood.
They’re cunning, aren’t they.
They’re also a bunch of socialists, making a buck by pandering to whatever the masses will fork out for never crosses their minds. Commercialism is an antonym of Hollywood.
Commercialism is an antonym of Hollywood
What the?
I am now convinced that PeteG and I occupy different dimensions.
I think he was being sarcastic in this particular case, following on from felix’s comment.
Oh yes, pro-gay Hollywood. That’s the reason so many gay stars come out of the closet.
How can anyone not like Mash the greatest programme ever.
How bizarre!
Simon Lusk’s cunning plan is now falling into place.
Former Banks staffer and Auckland City Councillor Aaron Bhatnagar has put his hand up for the Epsom nomination for the ACT National Party.
No doubt he will run a principled campaign before falling on his sword and ceding the seat to ACT. He will of course be rewarded for his loyalty to the right wing cause and I doubt that anyone one else will bother seeking the nomination it being the poisoned chalice that it is.
It is a plan so cunning you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel …
So cunning he will probably end up pinning a deer tail on his own arse and running through the bush during hunting season.
Whispers behind closed doors, playing people against each other without their knowing, deception and lies, saying one thing when there is another in play. I imagine all of this goes on in this duplicitous world of politics.
And people hassle travellerev about conspiracies.
Conspiracies are the bread and butter of sections of the planet.
We’ve gone from a Nation of laws to a nation of powerful men making secret laws.
No, no conspiracies here. Yeah right! Every time the government goes into urgency they are conspiring against We the people”!!!
These days with this government in power it’s more like that every time they sit down they’re conspiring against We the People.
I thought that in light of John Key’s support for the Zionist cause it would be prudent to place a link to an interview with one of my heroes Rabbi Weitz who calls the state of Israel the work of Satan and who prays for the speedy dissolve of the state of Israel and a return to the peaceful cohabitation of Muslims, Jews and Christians which until 1948 the start of the Nakba was the norm. He and his fellow Interviewees have a few things to say about Anti-Semitism too.
The stated aim of the Islamofascists is the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people. (and the rest of us infidels too)
John D,
You should really go back to the library and start reading up on history.
On a personal note I have lived all my life amongst a great variety of Muslims (Moroccan, Tunisian, Turkish, Iraqi, Iranian, Kurd, Egyptian to name a few) and never ever over a period of more than 30 years have I ever encountered a shred of animosity towards Christians, Jews or other religions until after the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq and even then it was few and far between.
My mother travelled alone through Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan and had no problem whatsoever with the people she met. She was respected, invited, fêted, cherished and aided in her journey to India where she met up with her husband who was working for the WHO at the time. And that was the norm for their behaviour towards women at the time.
Ahmadinajad has very cordial relations with the Jews living in Iran (he donates to the Jewish hospital for example) as well as many Jewish organisations in Europe and the US. Here is what he really said about Israel before it was twisted in the MSM.
If you had any idea how ignorant and racist your comment was I’d hope you would hang your head in shame.
Why was my comment racist? Islam is not a race.
And have you been to Bradford recently? There the Muslims spit on the whiteys for not wearing a veil.
Yes of course, because that racist comment makes it OK.
Come to think of it I’m not surprised really that while you expect Muslims to “integrate” into the Western world because of the cultural mayhem which would ensue if they didn’t you find it totally acceptable for Westerns not to do the same because “Our” civilisation is “Superior” to “theirs” (Fill in the people we are currently or in the past “saving” from their own “inferior” culture). Your ancestors after all “civilized” New Zealand.
Yes you are correct. I do regard our culture as superior to theirs.
We have equal opportunities (or try to) for women. We have gay rights. We have..etc etc.
Islam is locked in the 7th century. They take the words of the Koran literally. Any discussion of it is taboo.
If this makes me racist, then so be it.
Over to you, Guardian reader.
John D,
You sad sack of shit. At least we’ve established that you are a racist. So now for the reality check.
No 1/ Iran. Over 50% of all students are female. On some universities % 70 % of all students are female. What do they study? Applied Physics seems to score high on their list of preffered studies. Not beautician, fashion design or other nampy pampy studies preferred by females in this country but serious Beta studies traditionally the territory of the Pakeha male if he gets around to actually going to an university. Why do they do these studies? Because unhindered by the macho crap of the thicko NZ male they are actually valued workers in the Iranian industry and their input is greatly valued.
No2/ Before the coalition of the killing destroyed Iraq over 50% of the workforce was female. They were doctors, judges and lawyers and they were free to build careers most women in this country can only dream off. Why? Because Healthcare (1800 free healthcare centres reduced to less than half) , Education and daycare for children was free. Women could walk the streets 24/7 safe and sound as they were considered equal to men before the invasion (One of Sadam’s idiocyncracies) You asswipe. Our “superior” culture destroyed that with 4.5 billion years worth of Depleted Uranium and the biggest most imperial army this world has ever seen. The result? Women are wearing the veil again, Religious groups are fighting each other again and poverty and mortality has gone through the roof as all their free institutions have been privatized and cut back by their “imperial” rulers.
No3/ At this moment we are bombing Libya. We are liberating them with humanitarian kinetic military action. (Also known as bombing the shit out of them). Libya was a country with the lowest debt, free healthcare, free education and a guaranteed basic income for everybody as a result of Gaddafi’s financial politics of returning the oil revenues over to his people. He did not believe in the central banking system and as a result his country had no international debts and that is what the international money men didn’t like. that is why we are bombing the shit out of them.
Our “superior” culture is the most barbaric, imperialistic and ignorant culture on the face of this planet. You Moron. Not them. Us.
Here is what Ayla Anwar has to say about imbeciles like you and what they have done to her country:
You miserable ignorant bastard. You miserable white middle class, male Pakeha ignoramus. “Shame on you, shame on you” and the whole arrogant lot of you who think that you just because you’re white and have a dick have superior civilisation.
Rev,
I am white and middle class yet I applaud everything you have just said. (Well save for the ad hominem attacks perhaps). I too was once uninformed but my eyes have been opened and my only hope is that more people stop believing the fallacies that we are exposed to on a daily basis. It is certainly not an enjoyable journey going down the rabbit hole – downright scary in fact, but it most certainly is enlightening. I truly hope the world and more importantly NZ, becomes a better place as people wake up to what is truly going on.
Cheers.
Good to meet a fellow traveller.
I get so angry with guys like him I loose my cool but if you see the amount f interaction between us you will also see it took awhile before I got there.
You miserable ignorant bastard. You miserable white middle class, male Pakeha ignoramus. “Shame on you, shame on you” and the whole arrogant lot of you who think that you just because you’re white and have a dick have superior civilisation
This fucked up comment gets past moderation?
You sad, fucked up, left-wing, Islamofacist-apologist
[lprent: Please label the moderation with who left it.
I think that John D still hasn’t read (or more likely understood) the policy on robust discusion vs pointless insults ]
Hmmmm. Given that middle east investors are now cornerstone shareholders of key US tech and banking corporations, i think that your characterisation is simply asinine, just like you are.
Hell, if we were as good as Islam in the 7th century we’d all be a hell of a lot better off. Equal treatment of everybody including the environment, massive research bringing about technology to help people, democracy that makes ancient Athens look dictatorial…
Sure, it fell to the authoritarians as almost all civilisations have but they do seem to be working their way back. As for us? Well, we’ve always been dictatorial, sexist, war-like and generally oppressive. To justify all this psychopathy we’ve built up the illusion that we were better, fairer and more civilised. When we came across a civilisation that actually was better, fairer and more civilised we attacked with extreme prejudice. Still do today.
Very true. Amazing female theologians at the time too. A true liberation theology, which is by the way how a lot of people still see it. It being the fastest growing religion in third world countries.
The John D’s of this world are going to get it very hard at the rate it’s going
I have a friend who was living in Dubai recently. He was living with his girlfriend (engaged).
Stopped by a routine traffic patrol, the cop asked to see their papers, and it was seen that they were living together.
This is illegal in Dubai.
The woman was instantly deported. The man was jailed for three months, then lashed, then deported.
Whilst in jail, the man met an Indian who had been in a minor traffic accident 30 years previously. Because he was involved in an accident with an Arab, it was deemed to be his fault.
Because he didn’t have the “blood money” to pay the Arab out, he languished in jail for 30 years.
I have also seen the appalling conditions that Indian workers have to endure in Dubai. Many are killed in construction accidents, and this never gets reported.
I have lots of friends of many races. I certainly don’t consider myself “racist” by any stretch of the imagination.
I do, however, find regimes (such as Iran) that tolerate stoning of women and executions of homosexuals to be unacceptable.
I know that there are tolerant parts of Arabia (such as Syria). I don’t know about Iraq, I didn’t support the war there, and since I haven’t been there I can’t really comment.
Your statement that “I admit that I am racist and I hate Arabs” is completely unsupported by my comments above.
That’s OK, We’ll bomb the shit out of them and that will sort that.
If it’s OK with you John I’m going to stop this for now because it just doesn’t go anywhere and if you can’t see that what you describe doesn’t in anyway justify the war crimes we perpetrate on the Afghans, Pakistanis, Iraqis and Libyans then that still makes you a racist sad sack of shit. Have a nice day.
The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner)
It seems OK for travellerev to call me a racist, a “sack of shit”, and for people to swear at me. OK, I did lose my rag last night, for which I apologise.
I don’t approve of the military intervention in the Middle East. It’s all about power and oil, and the same is being played out in Libya.
What I object to is this political correctness that forbids any criticism of Islamic fundamentalism. (I am equally critical of Christian fundamentalism and the Bible Belt, btw)
We are not going to get anywhere unless we acknowledge that there are issues to be dealt with on all sides.
I find it rather amusing that, when Pākehā argue for integration, they do it in English…
Adam Kokesh is another one of my heroes. He is an Iraq veteran and one of the first veterans to speak out against the wars as illegal wars of aggression with the winter soldier protests.
He and his fellow soldiers went to Iraq and Afghanistan in the aftermath of the events of 911 in order to defend their country against the “terrorists” and to protest their freedoms only to come back to a country in which even dancing in a public space was forbidden. Here is what happened when he in his new position as a reporter and presenter at RT (Russian TV) participated in a flash dance event at the Lincoln memorial.
And this is what he had to say about it in his first interview after the event.
Oh oops, that would be to PROTECT their freedoms of course.
This amused me. Forget the astroturfers. Beware of Microsoft…
Here’s the non-facebook link: http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2011/05/semantic_analysis
100,000 protesting in Athens right now
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/100000-protesting-athens-right-now
Excellent. There is no doubt in my mind that it is time for the moneylenders to take a back seat. They are loans after all, with a risk of default, hence various interest rates. The Greek, and other, people need to say to the moneylenders “fuck off and wait”. They need to say “we need our money for ourselves first, and once that is in order we will get your money back to you then (at zero interest)”.
Such action may well send shockwaves, which will shudder when they hit, as shockwaves do. But after that we will all just keep on keeping on.
Time for the moneylenders of the world to back off.
VTO,
I love ya!
When the PIIGS fails, and the Euro project is close behind, this will have profound effects on the world economy.
It is staggering that the MSM is completely blind to this.
It is staggering to me that a guy who seems to be aware about the MSM partial blindness to certain issues is so blind to the obvious propaganda the MSM is espousing about Muslims and Arabs, Persians, Pashtuns and Semites other than Jews.
Just because I don’t adopt your revisionist view of the world makes me blind?
I don’t get my information about Muslims from the MSM, I get it from my friends in Europe.
Members of the British National party are they?
Racist because most Muslims are brown people with funny names, eating funny food and it is easy to believe whatever anybody tells you about them.
Most Europeans hated Jews for a long time and many of them still do. Just because they live in Europe doesn’t make your friends any less prejudiced, racist and ignorant.
Members of the BNP? No, just the regular blacks, whites, Chinese and Jews who live in the country.
I don’t support Islamic fundamentalism.
Neither do I but I do defend the right of people to defend themselves against invasions of their territory and illegal wars of aggression and conquest by the international robber barons. See here, here and here for example
Let me ask you a question: If this country had been invaded say 10 years ago by the Iraqis and you had family living in Iraq al that time would you expect you family in Iraq to be angry with the government and the people invading your country? Or would you expect them to shut up and take it up the backside while you are being killed in your own country?
Because you see that is what is happening. Afghanis and Pakistanis and Muslims from all over the Muslim world living in the UK are hearing back from their families in the invaded countries how their families are being bombed by drones and killed with Depleted Uranium and they are angry.
Just like, I imagine, your family would be if they heard you and yours were bombed to smithereens by the war crimes of the country they are living in and just like your family they don’t want to bend over and take it lying down.
If the people who invaded my country replaced a brutal undemocratic regime and offered me the opportunity to partake in the decision making of my country via a democratic process, I think I would take the opportunity to enagage rather than to spend my time fighting the ‘evil oppressors’.
Are you stating you would prefer senseless killing rather than positive non violent opposition and engagement?
Hi Cowboy hat boy,
Just so you don’t think I’m ignoring you here’s a link about what an Arab woman thinks of the Western occupation of her country.
And if it’s OK with you I’ll leave my interaction with you at that. You are so young so ignorant and so full of yourself still that I prefer to wait for say a couple of decennia to let time and a few female rejections to mellow you out and perhaps by then you could get some sensible clothes instead of that ludicrous cowboy hat and coat you were wearing in the te Papa museum last year.
You know when you’ve won a debate when the other person resorts to ridiculous personal insults rather than to deal with the points raised.
BTW is this sort of behaviour by travellerev acceptable to The Standard moderators?
LOL. Whatever. Cowboy hat boy, Whatever.
It was Sarcasm J, Sarcasm, I thought of actually pointing it out at the time but I thought you were smarter than that. No i don’t want to introduce these punishments in New Zealand although a few Act members would probably love too.
But why would a Muslim living in England from say Pakistan whose family was bombed to smithereens by the invading forces illegally bombing villages with unmanned drones not be entitled to protest against these monstrosities perpetrated against his countryman or expect foreigners in his country integrate just like you expect them to so the same.
You see it is this apparent discrepancy in your willingness to accept that what is good for the goose is good for the gander that is the racism you suffer from.
You see
How did these people hear about their families being bombed to smithereens?
Was it was when they were being delivered an anti-west hate sermon at the East London Mosque, or was it on one of their recent trips to Pakistan, to attend Al Qaeda training?
Over to you, Guardian Reader.
John D you are a joke. A bad one, but a joke nonetheless.
Regardless of who most Muslims are doesn’t mean that having a dislike for Muslim theology is racist. I can have serious concerns over Christian theology and it doesn’t mean I’m anti-European.
Well said Gosman.
I support Muslims who accept and integrate into the culture of their host country. When you have ghettos of disenfranchised youths, as are springing up all over Europe now, you are on the path to cultural and societal oblivion.
Me too, and while we’re at it I think that any foreigner in any country should adapt to the existing culture and integrate and so if as a foreigner you are caught adulterating in a Muslim country and stoning is the accepted punishment he or she should accept that punishment and if drinking is not allowed and women should not drive cars than it speaks for itself that we should not commit to those vices and trespasses.
We, like we expect, from immigrants from other cultures would not want to destroy other peoples cultures like we would expect them to respect ours, now would we.
Great comment travellerev
No we wouldn’t want to stop beheadings, stonings etc. Not at all, in fact we should introduce them into NZ.
Might spice up Saturday night telly.
Beheadings for sabotage of our economic sovereignty and selling off state treasures for the personal gain of friends and family would seem entirely appropriate.
Beheadings for sabotage of our economic sovereignty and selling off state treasures for the personal gain of friends and family would seem entirely appropriate.
Cool. Maybe we can start a campaign?
I’d definitely be into this.
“A Beehive Beheading”. I’m sure it would get better ratings than “Citizen A”
Nope, they just need to tell them to fuck off and then remind them that when you loan someone money that you’re taking a risk that you won’t get it back and that the risk just came due.
We need to be doing the same thing.
Yes that will do wonders for our international credit rating and ability to purchase oil and run the economy …
The economy would be fine. Run a little slower but it’d still be there.
Consider, with Peak Oil now confirmed which means growth is out, how do you think we’re going to pay the debt anyway? Especially when you consider it’s compounding aspect due to interest.
Anyone know what food pukeko’s might eat? There’s a bunch of them wandering around near my work. Would be nice to drop something off by the roadside on my way in. Dripping, like wax-eyes?
Various grasses. Juicy lovely grass and other vege. But not rolled up grass unless looking for some post-consumption amusement…
I only recently found out why Pukekos frequent motorway verges and often become road kill. Apparently they eat small stones and gravel from the roadside to help digest their diet of ‘juicy lovely grass and other vege’. Your Pukes, Lanthanide my have a bit of indigestion and are looking for some gravelly relief!
Thanks for that one, JB. I was wondering about that but my chooks need the same so that makes perfect sense.
Certainly where they’re trekking is along the side of a road that has lots of gravel and loose stones, almost like a river.
They are happy to share bread with ducks. Awesome birds Pukeko’s. Little velociraptors fiercely defending their tribe if need be. Love em.
Another brilliant refreshing article from Tapu Misa. This time it is a John Key: “that’s after claiming 6000 people would be put out of their jobs as a result of such a rise, and that the Department of Labour had said so – which wasn’t quite true.” (Who would have guessed?)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10728872
So much for the recession helping keep a lid on carbon emissions.
Yes and 4 G8 nations have dumped Kyoto.
We’re DOOMED!!!!!
Yes, correct, we are.
Well, John D might actually get away OK, but his grandkids are fucked.
OK, one last hero for today: Cynthia McKinny. Black, female, leader of the Green party in the US and former Congress women known for confronting Rumsfeld about the lost trillions at the Pentagon.
She is in Tripoli, Libya this moment to share with the Libyans the “kinetic humanitarian events” perpetrated on the more than 2 million civilians of that city.
This is what she has to say about the murders of Gaddafi’s family members.
First interview on radionz today is about Christchurch contractors not getting paid. Few things if I remember rightly –
1 The EQC call centre is in Queensland.
2 One contractor has been waiting for a payment of $54,000 since September earthquake for replacing windows in an apartment block which required cherry pickers, expensive machinery.
He says that he has never been contacted from EQC, but that is surprising. Perhaps he is talking about recent months. He has made numerous calls to Oz and feels he is starting to pick up the Aussie twang. He says he only gets patsy answers.
3 EQC couldn’t come on to programme but stated as previously that they pay within 21 days if GST number is right and the invoice shows costs apportioned properly as to time and materials.
The contractors feel that the EQC is understaffed and this in itself results in delays and inefficiencies apart from any faults in EQC practices.
4 The above contractor has got in touch with Gerry the Butt but but couldn’t get an answer till he sent his email in bold red letters. Pity that even with his Powers he seems to be gerrybuilt when he should be using them to assist EQC to get more staff to deal with the unchecked details that result in the no-payment which is stifling the recovery.
5 Unpaid workers have been continuing going to work, crawling inside and on top of roofs of unstable buildings doing practical and helpful work which is unsafe in itself, so that safety can be provided for the occupants and surrounds, but have not been paid sometimes for a month because of lack of payment to their employers from the EQC.
6 The red zone contractors are thought to be getting paid all right. Gerry the Butt always does seem to have been more interested in the centre of Christchurch and its businesses rather than the rest of the struggling public. They are SEP, too miniscule for the great men at the forefront of the Christchurch earthquake management to give their immediate attention, ‘Just wait till we are ready to attend to you’ is their message.
Hopefully Roger Sutton will sort it out once he’s on board. It certainly seems like an early impediment to a fast effective recovery if you lose the goodwill from many of the people who’ll be doing the heavy lifting for the next 2-3 years.
Edit: Never mind, John Key has put his oar in it already, so something will start happening: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/5071405/Pay-up-EQC-told-by-firms
He does seem to have a magical ability to make ‘things’ happen, although exactly what it is seems to be a sticking point – recovery of Pike River victims comes to mind (“cost is no barrier”). He also seems to usually get involved too late – where were you 3 months ago on this issue, Key? Or last December?
My adult son had his flat redstickered. He put in his itemised claim for a modest contents insurance claim on the 24 February. No response. No payout to help him get started again. So not only the big players unpaid but the little ones also.
hey it looks like the gunnas are in control at the moment. wee gunna do this and we gunna do that but somehow al they do is get their makeup done for the next piccie in the dompost social pages.
Watch out! They will come gunna ing for you randal!
Good guest post on NZAID at Public Address.
Thanks Bunji… Murray McCully treating NZAID as a business model, to support economic development (and use aid to profit NZ) rather than the poor. Excellent article by Terence Wood deconstructing this ideology of aid distribution.
The Penguin gives a political analysis of the polls.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/blogs/david-farrar-by-the-numbers/5072622/Sixty-five-seats-is-not-bulletproof
“However, it is worth stressing that a projected 65 seats is not bulletproof. The House is forecast to have 123 MPs, so you will need 62 to govern. On the plus side ACT and United Future look like they can deliver a further four seats. On the negative side, there is the possibility NZ First makes 5%.”
Since when do independent commentators in a national daily use words like – “on the plus side ” and “On the negative side” – in the context of a balanced report. The plus and negative from whose point of view, Farrar? You are not talking to the blue rinse brigade only. (Obviously, from now on you probably will be).
At least Granny now have a weird apologia at the foot of the page:
“David Farrar is affiliated to the National Party and is a centre right blogger.”
Affiliated? Are National a gang? Will Farrar be able to go to Whangaz wearing his colours?
Heh – intriguing:
Points that support National being called a gang:
If you call destroying livelihoods via derivative trading “theft”, they’re probably worse than the stereotypical “gang”
count amongst their most valued members an ‘elite’ 1% of the population
some of them seem to regard themselves outside the law
use of front organisations and/or “affiliates” (e.g. the penguin, Brethren)
Points against:
violence is not usually used – that’s what their economic policies are for
Ah, but the threat of violence is never far from the lips of the likes of Collins, eh?
i gunna get me a gum too!
[lprent: Are you trying to get those dumbarses from the anti-terrorism squads watching this site? Based on their reaction to the idea of catapulting objects I get the idea that they have no sense of proportion or a sense of humor. They’ll assume you misspelt. (After reading the material on operation 8 it is hard to treat treat those clowns with any respect) ]
“The welfare system should send a clear message that if you could work and support yourself, then you must, [Mr Key] said”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5075404/Ministers-to-consider-controversial-welfare-plans
Here we go again. The flaw in the logic is that people can be capable of working, but unable to find a job due to National’s stunning management of the economy.
So, Mr Key, if someone is capable of working, and keen to work, and there are no impediments to them doing work, but they can’t find a job because National have managed to get unemployment soaring, should they be eligible for a benefit?
I will play the broken record again.
Perhaps if they allowed Kiwis to work say at the RWC and did not manipulate vista extensions for tourists to work. Pity AC when the govt imposes its own impediments on letting those who do want to work !!! and for a govt dept to actively go out promoting this. A case I believe to reintroduce repealling S59, and give allow MP’s to be smacked for corrective means 😉
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/visit/rugby/
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5075056/Govenor-General-receives-military-award-from-Singapore
It’s all coming together nicely.
Key’s mentor from Singapore, the businessrotundtable visits from Pinochet’s economic advisor and the GG designate parlaying with all. We now have a military man paraded in front of us as some sort of role model for the young; the message is: go get dressed in your flaks and go out to play with America, carrying the associated appendages that’ll get ya coming back in a body bag, all for the egomaniac leader of the new neo-nz.
Climate Change vs John Key
http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2011/05/climate-change-vs-john-key.html
In a recent survey conducted by the WWF, 73% of New Zealanders believe that the Government should prioritise increased development of renewable energy to provide electricity and transport fuel in New Zealand. Only 18% said the government’s energy strategy should prioritise more exploration and mining for fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas.
Brian is having a laugh on his site tonight… more Chardonnay anyone?
http://brianedwardsmedia.co.nz/2011/05/i-devise-a-failsafe-recipe-for-full-employment-lowering-the-minimum-wage-with-thanks-to-john-key/