—The below response (cut and paste from pre written material), via Nikki Kaye…
“There is currently no conclusive evidence that depleted uranium poses a significant threat to health or the environment. In 2005, the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee considered a petition to ban depleted uranium, and concluded that there was no consensus in the international scientific community as to the effect of depleted uranium on human health, but that New Zealand should continue to monitor the international research on the health consequences of its use. For this reason, the Government supports continued monitoring and research into the effects of depleted uranium, but will not take further action without clear scientific evidence.
Whenever New Zealand Defence Force personnel are deployed in theatres of operations where depleted uranium munitions may have been used, more stringent health monitoring has been untaken on those personnel. To date, there have been no adverse health effects identified in NZDF personnel. Most reports also conclude that any health and environmental risks associated with depleted uranium can be controlled with simple counter-measures by national authorities such as monitoring, clean-up operations where depleted uranium has been used, and further research.
New Zealand is closely following studies by international agencies on the potential health impacts of depleted uranium, and The Government will continue to monitor international developments, reports and studies on depleted uranium and potential health risks. New Zealand also supports a United Nations General Assembly resolution passed last year encouraging Member States to facilitate and Monitor studies and research on depleted uranium by relevant international organisations.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
The IAEA has participated with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Health Organisation (WHO) in several international appraisals of depleted uranium, with the objective of these assessments being to draw conclusions regarding the toxic and radiological safety of depleted uranium, and to make recommendations to mitigate the hazards of the population and the environment.
In general, the results of these assessments indicated that the existence of depleted uranium residues dispersed in the environment does not pose a radiological hazard to the population of the affected regions. The IAEA estimated that annual radiation doses from depleted uranium would be very low and of little radiological concern, with cases of prolonged skin contact with depleted uranium or fragments being the only possible exposure pathway leading to significant risks. Provided access to where these fragments exist remain restricted, the likelihood that members of the public come into such contact is low.
An IAEA assessment came to the same conclusion in Southern Iraq in 2010, and provided recommendations for safe management of fragments of depleted uranium.
I hope you find this information useful, thank you again for your email.”
The response came back within 24 hours of the original email, which suggests that there is someone/something monitoring her inbox, and spewing back this garbage, as I would be surprised if it were NK, even though I have had responses which I can tell are actually from her previously.
Either way whether cut and pasted by her hand, or by someone else, it is her endorsement of the vote she cast againse the bill, and then this attempt to vindicate her choice.
NK is the chair of the education and science select committe, so the email signature states…
This is truly staggering that we are into such dangerous territory now, with the blatant bowing to those who control NATO, which we have recently signed up for…
I will post my response to her on open mike tomorrow, and ecourage people to get onto any and all NACT members, and those who voted this bill down, and in no uncertain words let them know that this is beyond reproach!
Either way whether cut and pasted by her hand, or by someone else, it is her endorsement of the vote she cast againse the bill, and then this attempt to vindicate her choice.
Kevin, Freedom and others who have fallen under the spell of the anti-depleted uranium jihad and have not taken the time to do actual scientific research as opposed to a YouTube or Google look up where everyone just repeats the same lies that first were presented in about 1992 – some are sincere lovers of peace, but others are just con artists who seek to profit from the lies or are professional propagandists. Sadly, I expect that MP Phil Twyford has had his compassionate side mislead by these people as well.
The Phil Twyford Private Member’s bill is full of false and misleading information. There has been an active worldwide campaign against depleted uranium since Saddam Hussein’s regime decided to kill two birds with one stone. They did not like the fact that their vaunted Soviet built tanks could be killed by US/UK tanks at long range with a single shot of a depleted uranium kinetic energy penetrator round from the main gun of the M1 Abrams Tank or the UK’s Challenger Tank. They also did not want to be subject to the UN Sanctions that ended the Gulf War. As a result, all birth defects and cancers were blamed on that horrid radioactive weapon, depleted uranium. How many readers of this have ingested some DU today? All of you! Why, because DU is naturally occuring Uranium-238, and every being on this planet ingests, drinks in or breathes in a fraction of a microgram of U-238 every day of their life. Uranium is a toxic chemical if you take in too much of it and the first sign of a toxic dose is kidney failure, something that surprisingly has seldom been alleged by any of the people who claim to have been made ill by claimed depleted uranium contamination. The toxic radioactive dose of U-238 is unlimited according the IAEA’s Dangerous Quanitities of Radioactive Material (D-values) page 11 http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/EPR_D_web.pdf
If anyone would like to write to me, I will gladly correspond with you about my independent research (paid by no one) over the past seven plus years. I even tried to make MP Twyford aware of grave errors in his Bill when he first presented it in 2010 but his comments during the first reading on June 27th and his comments about the Maaori Party since then have led me to believe that he cares little about facts and just wants to believe that he is making a better world. You can write me at owner at the Yahoo group that is linked to this comment. There are a number of public links at this Yahoo group to actual scientific reports by the IAEA and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and others.
PS – Kevin, there is overwhelming evidence that depleted uranium has not been used in Afghanistan and I would be glad to discuss that with you.
John Armstrong in today’s Herald. The man must write speeches for the Nats.
Some interesting points though. “There is no indication Labour has woken up to the fact that some of the targets – such as boosting child immunisation rates, lifting the numbers getting trade qualifications and tackling youth crime – amount to an invasion of its traditional domains.”
JA is part of the NACT spin machine as is O’sullivan/Roughan etc not much intelligence or rigour just CT authored rhetoric presented as if it’s objective comment.
It’s a large reason they got back in as the sheeple take this crap as wise opinion rather than paid for advertorial pieces from the 4th estate dinosaurs.
The Armstrong piece demonstrates National’s way of doing things.
1. Announce big and important targets (so it looks as if you care and are doing important things)
2. “?”
3. Success (or er.. Profit) – see “Underpants Gnomes” for reference.
No interim goals or benchmarks – nothing to measure progress against, and no responsibility. They will claim the incidental wins as their own and ignore the failures that they perpetrated.
Hmmm… speaking of underpants gnomes – I need some coffee.
And some more interesting reading…..From the Nation: NAFTA on steroids. The Americans are also worried about the Trans Pacific Partnership. Here’s an article about the damaging effects the TPP will bring to democracy, from an American perspective. I couldn’t agree with their applause for New Zealand though. Even the Nats accept, after much persuading, that loosening Pharmac’s role would be bad for them, not to mention us as people. The article seems to allude to our govt being principled.
A pity really, with its older forgotten sibling, TVNZ6, was an anchor for a new improved digital TV era. But its fate was more or less sealed on election night 2008. If you want to get anything that is remotely public service, you have to fork out for Sky, which IMO is crap for what you pay for. You dont have to worry about missing anything because it would be on again in a few days/weeks/months.
“You don’t have to worry about missing anything because it would be on again in a few days/weeks/months.”
Years. I am seeing repeats of the repeats of the repeats I saw repeated 3 to 4 years ago.
And I agree it is crap and I have told sky as soon as I can download good stuff via the infernalnet they can shove it right up where the sun doesn’t shine.
Like everybody else I got a letter advising me what a WUNDERFUL JOB they were doing and how I can now look at about 50 million channels (complete with adverts every 5 minutes) of the Olympics.(Couldn’t give a toss about the Olympics), and how fortunate as a sky subscriber I already have HD and don’t need to do anything else when all television goes digital in NZ.
Because of this utopia that Sky is supplying my fee has to go up by about 6%. for the same crap I have seen for years.
This is why Channel 7 has been killed off. It was a threat to Keys fat cat mate’s future advertising revenue,
Trotter is right, the left today seems to be more worried about racial minorities and gay marriage than public ownership, the welfare state, workers rights and poverty.
I have no problem with that. Sure it’s a minor issue compared to some others but it is also easy to do and shows that the new government will be doing and not just saying which has been the problem of left governments for the last few decades. Now the real test comes, now they need to enact legislation to start to undo the damage that neo-liberalism has done.
As a right winger I have no problem with gay marriage, in fact I’d say it should be a non-event. Supporting marriage and (hopefully) fidelity should be looked as something good for society as a whole, I’d have thought.
You mean the French government is only capable of passing a single law at any one time? They only have one ministry/department operating at any one time and all the rest go on holiday?
Or … oh noes, their first *announcement* of policy was something that hetero white middle-class Waitakere Myths couldn’t benefit from? Gosh, how terrible.
Not like people ‘fought’ to have the state and church removed as ‘licensing’ authorities over relationships. But hey. Nothing like a bit of ‘progressive’ conservatism to galvanise folks.
Trotter is right, the left today seems to be more worried about racial minorities and gay marriage than public ownership, the welfare state, workers rights and poverty.
Agreed! (I’m delighted too, that someone here other than me said it first! 🙂 )
The housing crisis in Christchurch really shouldn’t be allowed to happen. But I believe that the government is allowing this to happen to enrich private landlords, who are the only ones who will benefit from a housing crisis.
The changes to state housing underlines this. Throwing thousands of vulnerable tenants out of state housing and off waiting lists, will only add to a large pool of people in the private rental market chasing a scare number of homes, and thus lead to rents being pushed up, for even grotty dives.
creating another housing bubble something the right always try to blame on the left.
the only people who benefit are the banks and the don’t tax me capital gaingsters
Maori are lodging a claim on water, and the left shoudnt really support this. Water is a public ownership owned by everyone, not a private asset owned by the few.
And, yeah, water is owned by the whole community and not just one small sector of it. Go that route and we will see massive deprivation for the sector that doesn’t own it.
160 odd years ago, Maori may have stated they owned the water that was laying around on what they refer to as their land.
The water came from rainclouds they do not have any claim to.
The water that arrives today may have come from clouds that travelled from Antartica airspace so I am at a loss to understand Maori logic that is their water.
Fartrain the money ended up in Anglo Saxon hands mainly.
Now in courts that has been proven and Maori have been generous to us by accepting
between 1 and 3% seettlements.
Fartrain I smell the politics of envy from you and your cohorts and it stinks.
You must be joking! NZlaenders have paid BILLIONS in the last few years out of their meager pay packets and have forgone proper healthcare, increase on minimum wages, pensions etc. It seem you are one of those who only will be happy when the pakehas are in rags and begging on street corners.
feigning Weka the settlements haven’t past $2billion and are closer to $1 billion.
envy.
Some Maori tribes have turned their 1to3% settlements into very large portfolios
jealous
Stop being an ignoranting idiot and get your facts right before you
promote your redneck racist attitudes.
Feigning Weka, wrong name – Foreign Waka, as in we are all foreign (just a degree on seperation in years) and came on a Waka.
http://www.nzcpr.com/guest275.htm excerpt from NZ Centre of Political Research:
..total redress agreed to and mostly paid to February 1 this year is $2.455-billion. The Treaty Negotiations Vote in last year’s Budget contains a multi-year appropriation of $1.4-billion for the five-year period 2011 to 2015. Since we listed a total of $2.079-billion last July, if that $1.4-billion Budget appropriation were added to our last year’s total, expected redress would reach $3.479-billion.
Envy? Jealous? Of what? I think that the majority of Maoris know very well that the money comes from working people who struggle all the same. The claim however is directed to the crown, or the Queen, so to speak. This seems to pass you by and my assertion is that you have a mighty handout mentality.
Maori were promised the same rights as British citizens but were these rights were under mined
By shonkey traders taking full advantage of Maori illiteracy .
Maori have a Different value system than Tory Anglo Saxons.
It depends on the substance of the Maori claim. People everywhere should have access to clean water as a basic human right. It should be a public utility not a source of monopoly power for a wealthy elite.
Maori have access to schools? Yes? Illiteracy is an issue of neglect within the family, so don’t roll this on to someone else. By what my experience is, Maori do have the same rights. In fact, there are many more benefits available to Maori than to any other race. This seem to be based on a legislated “affirmative action” model stemming from the Treaty, albeit equality was a key word.
As to the use of water – we all need to drink water in order to survive. And this should be freely accessible.
However, it is also clear that the drawing of ground water for irrigation has to have strict monitoring if not levies imposed as any depletion will lower the water table and salinate the ground water. This would make it unusable – forever. I doubt that the value system is very different on that point.
* Do try to limit your Americanisms. “Different than” is an Americanism New Zealanders (including Don Brash) use, as they hear it on TV., but even some Americans admit it’s actually wrong…
Maori 160 odd years ago had concepts of land and land ‘ownership’ distinctly different than European concepts then, or Pakeha concepts how. Until you understand what those differences are, and how Maori treaty rights have been undermined because of those differences (amongst other things) then you are ignorant and you have no basis on which to express an opinion.
Instead of indulging in Maori bashing, why not educate yourself? You might be surprised at how interesting and useful Maori views about land are.
The Greens want to commodofy water because Russel Norman believes in a curious version of market theory that says putting a price on water will magically clean up our waterways.
I would much prefer it to be put under Maori guardianship/ownership/protection to prevent that sort of nonsense in the future..
I would much prefer it to be put under Maori guardianship/ownership/protection to prevent that sort of nonsense in the future..
Would this be similar to the Maori guardianship/ownership/protection of our fisheries, using poorly paid foreign fisher labour in appalling and dangerous working conditions?
Which politician would have pushed the Police to behave so over-the-top with Mr Dotcom?
Groser is 100% Pure on the American approach to Trade. He will concede to the intrusive anti-sovernitu terms the Americans have in the TPP.
The little man should not be in-charge of Trade any more than he should be in charge of Climate Change. He is a 100% Pure Liability.
“Which politician would have pushed the Police to behave so over-the-top with Mr Dotcom?”
I think the immigration minister.
I have noticed that Collins has not repeated her mistake (covering up incompetence as she did with the CEO and Chairman of ACC) with Judge Winklemann’s ruling re Dotcom. Collins knows she has to tread carefully because Dotcom has the cash when it comes to litigation.
When it comes to Collins fixing ACC I feel that she will not walk the talk. An inquiry is required and then RECOMMENDATIONS from claimants/their legal advisor and non ACC health professionals could be implemented.
What did Collins do to implement Bazley’s recommendations into police culture?
There was an independent report criticising the police dragging their heels and all I heard from Collins was tut tut, they need to be hurried along.
Which politician would have pushed the Police to behave so over-the-top with Mr Dotcom?
Groser is 100% Pure on the American approach to Trade. He will concede to the intrusive anti-sovereignty terms the Americans have in the TPP.
The little man should not be in-charge of Trade any more than he should be in charge of Climate Change. He is a 100% Pure Liability.
I listened to the tail end of the debate in parliament on Wednesday evening where Richard Prosser of NZFirst gave a quick fire but detailed resume of the dangers of depleted uranium from his experience having being involved in the missile business.
It is to New Zealand’s detriment that the debate on this bill did not make waves in the media because the implications of cross shipping yellowcake uranium through New Zealand from Australia is fraught with potential dangers that New Zealand is underprepared to deal with in the event of an accident or worse terrorist activity.
Second to that is the exposure New Zealand Military are exposed to in Afghanistan and Iraq where depleted uranium has been deployed in an armour piercing capability thereby exposing all in close proximity to possible toxic dust.
Depleted uranium is considered in the same light as Agent Orange of the Vietnam era with the same insidious genetic damage and prevalence of cancers.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/5876622/Radioactive-uranium-passing-through-NZ-ports
Large amount of yellowcake uranium is being shipped in and out of NZ ports since 1996. This material is regarded as useful for manufacturing of weapons.
Health effects to prolonged exposure include chromosome aberrations, cancers of the lung, mouth, larynx, bronchial, bone, connective tissue, kidney and liver.
People reading the Christchurch Press re the CTV rescue 22/3 Feb this morning?? Truly tragic for trapped survivors.
In the account of a husband in cell phone and physical (voice/tapping) contact with his trapped wife, he feels he locates her exact position. The news doesn’t, apparently, galvanise rescuers.
He is removed from the site and, hours later, his wife and others die. The article asks why efforts were not made to cut a hole through the concrete slab trapping her, as well as why her location was not protected from approaching fire.
Lessons, responsibility, compensation… Post Pike River etc, let’s hope.
Thanks to whoever mentioned this documentary by John Pilger… The War on Democracy I have only been watching it in small pieces, so many crimes against democracy and the Venezuelan people are documented.
It is as if writers as watchdogs are extinct, or in thrall to a sociopathic zeitgeist, convinced they are too clever to be duped. Witness the stampede of sycophants eager to deify Christopher Hitchens, a war lover who longed to be allowed to justify the crimes of rapacious power. “For almost the first time in two centuries”, wrote Terry Eagleton, “there is no eminent British poet, playwright or novelist prepared to question the foundations of the western way of life”. No Orwell warns that we do not need to live in a totalitarian society to be corrupted by totalitarianism. No Shelley speaks for the poor, no Blake proffers a vision, no Wilde reminds us that “disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man’s original virtue”. And grievously no Pinter rages at the war machine, as in American Football:
Hallelujah.
Praise the Lord for all good things…
We blew their balls into shards of dust,
Into shards of fucking dust…
Into shards of fucking dust go all the lives blown there by Barack Obama, the Hopey Changey of western violence. Whenever one of Obama’s drones wipes out an entire family in a faraway tribal region of Pakistan, or Somalia, or Yemen, the American controllers in front of their computer-game screens type in “Bugsplat”. Obama likes drones and has joked about them with journalists. One of his first actions as president was to order a wave of Predator drone attacks on Pakistan that killed 74 people. He has since killed thousands, mostly civilians; drones fire Hellfire missiles that suck the air out of the lungs of children and leave body parts festooned across scrubland.
We could do with a few more like Pilger. Hitchens became the darling of the lifestyle left because he was a militant atheist, not because he stood against abuses of power. If I had my time over again, I’d like to be a journalist like Pilger. Being a theoretical physicist doesn’t bring the opportunity to change much that matters.
Thanks to whoever mentioned this documentary by John Pilger… The War on Democracy I have only been watching it in small pieces, so many crimes against democracy and the Venezuelan people are documented.
I found it in my local VideoEzy a few months back, which is amazing! I look for documentaries, but it’s one of the very few they have.
It’s so awesome, that I actually cried!
Obama likes drones and has joked about them with journalists.
I heard one referred to, bizarrely, on the BBC news today as ‘an unmanned plane’. I suppose that’s a new eupehmism… it made me feel sick!
I see where the uniforms for the NZ Olympic team have been designed and manufactured overseas. The contract was awarded to the NZ arm of Rodd and Gunn and conditions of awarding this contract should have been that it must be designed and manufactured in this country. Instead it was designed in Australia, and manufactured in China, Turkey and Italy. We have plenty of creative talented people in this country and it is outrageous that these people were overlooked. No doubt it was all about price, but what price do you place on national pride and sovereignty.
Rodd and Gunn sell overpriced crap that falls to bits anyway. As far as I can see, that’s entirely appropriate for overhyped corporate sport. The uniforms are stylistically bad from what I can see as well, although it’s not easy to judge from how they look on anorexic models how they’ll look on athletes.
This reminds me of the Red Sock campaign when the Americas Cup was on. A south island manufacturer offered these socks and sponsorship.
The next America’s Cup campaign they decided to run the same Red Sock promotion, but this time had them made in CHINA. No consideration for the guy who came up with the original idea, or for the company in NZ which could have manufactured them. Bloody disgusting and I hope the outlet running this promotion ended up lots of unsold stock.
Gordon Campbell has a good article up about efficiency and how it’s being used to undermine our society.
It really is a scam. The word “efficiency”is merely the sauna to which the crusty old policies of slashing wages and limiting the role of government are sent, to provide them with an illusion of health. Which is why it can be quite amusing to stop, smell the roses and look back at what has been peddled in the past as the hallmarks of efficiency. A classic example can be found is this celebrated 2005 speech by then-Treasury Secretary John Whitehead, in which he sang loud and long about enhanced efficiency in ways that are now embarrassing, given what has gone down since 2005. Because what seemed like efficiency – to Treasury at least – became a seedbed for criminality.
See? With bailouts for Spain and Italy now all but inevitable, if you leave Germany out of the picture for the moment, you’re left with no-one at all to pay for those bailouts. Not even a complete and immediate move towards a fiscal, banking and political union would do anything to resolve Europe’s financial quagmire if Germany is not present.
In other words: it all comes down to Germany. Berlin is on the hook for everything. The required funding for the EFSF and ESM emergency funds would, with Spain and Italy moving into roles as debtors instead of creditors, have to come from Germany to the tune of what would fast approach 50% or so.
Does anyone think that is realistic? That Germany can make the markets truly, as in for more than a day or so, believe it has that kind of money lying around, and is wiling to gamble it? Or is it perhaps more likely that, if the Germans would even try it, the markets would turn on Berlin the next morning? If you look at bunds right now, there’s no doubt they’re perceived as a safe haven. But what are the chances that perception would last if Merkel agreed to take on the Savior Of All Of Europe part?
Really do wish these indebted nations would just default and get it over with but it seems that the banksters are in control and are taking as much wealth as they can before reality comes calling.
Really do wish these indebted nations would just default and get it over with
Not so easy in this globalised financial network TPTB have locked us all into. But yeah, its all going to fall over sooner or later, and the more we do the routine ‘pretend and extend’ the harder the fall will be in the end.
It won’t be long and the stoic Germans will march on parliament. There are many who are fed up of being ask to carry all of Europe. It all seem to have the same predicament as the situation after the signing of the Versailles contract. If Germany looses its economic footing, things will get very bad.
Crosby Textor have given The NZ Women’s Weekly exclusive access to John Key’s person photo album. Seems to solve his issue of the 1981 tour
They look a bit hinky to me Link 1
In a decision made public today, the UN Human Rights Committee ruled that diplomatic assurances against torture did not provide an effective safeguard against ill-treatment in the case of an asylum seeker transferred from Sweden to Egypt by CIA operatives in December 2001. The committee decided that Sweden’s involvement in the US transfer of Mohammed al-Zari to Egypt breached the absolute ban on torture, despite assurances of humane treatment provided by Egyptian authorities prior to the rendition.
Look on the bright side, even before The Olympics have started an ‘African runner’ has claimed asylum, the rest of the World is already here so I’m sure there will be a house and numerous hand outs waiting for this freeloader, isn’t it great to live in a country with no borders and that puts everyone before it’s own people? I was seriously thinking of getting away from it all but it wouldn’t surprise me if I got home and found my house had been turned into a mosque or an Eastern European family had moved in, such is life.
I was thinking of moving to England to start an Eastern European mosque for gay africans. Just post your address and I’ll make sure I do it at your place. I promise to even fold your BNP flags nicely for you.
My house.
Nice area with no ‘Polski skleps’, Mosques or asylum ‘overspill’ (as in most parts of the country are full but they still let the freeloaders in). YET.
I see the torch is in Westminster now, that bunch of traitors deserve the Guy Fawkes treatment.
Ahem mods, are the openly racist droolings of this fool acceptable now?
Strange to put such ramblings in a 3 week old post. For my part, I’m inclined to keep an eye on him(?) rather than just ban, insofar as such comments serve to highlight the banal stupidity of racism and so serve a perverse purpose. Of course, another moderator may disagree 😉 [B]
So not supporting uncontrolled immigration, believing the EU is rotten to the core, expecting migrants to respect their host nation and suggesting asylum seekers/refugees go to the first safe country rather than travelling half way across the world to an already overcrowded country constitue bigotry? Common sense, more like.
Tell you what NZ is roughly the same size as UK but with a fraction of our population, let’s dump 4 Million low wage or benefit dependent migrants who take a lot more than they contribute on you, throw in countless asylum seekers who of course need taxpayer funded hand outs not to mention state housing, bow down to muzzie terrorists (taxpayer funded of course) who you can’t deport, yuman rites and all that, hand out Millions to countries that openly despise you, outsource millions of jobs, decimate heavy industry, attack workers rights and promote alien cultures at the expense of your own.
All of this while having no control of your borders.
You might want ot give a cite for those astonishing numbers there.
A full half of the UKs population is low wage or benefit dependent migrants?
Reckon you should look more at your bankers and pollies of the source of your problems, that at the people those tossers to tell you to look at. Ya big mugg.
“So not supporting uncontrolled immigration, believing the EU is rotten to the core, expecting migrants to respect their host nation and suggesting asylum seekers/refugees go to the first safe country rather than travelling half way across the world to an already overcrowded country constitue bigotry?”
Not necessarily, but the heat it seems to generate in you is a bit of a pointer.
I was more referring to the bigoted shit you wrote before about how a nice area is one with no mosques or polacks though.
(I’d have thought that was obvious from the order of the comments)
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Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
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—The below response (cut and paste from pre written material), via Nikki Kaye…
“There is currently no conclusive evidence that depleted uranium poses a significant threat to health or the environment. In 2005, the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee considered a petition to ban depleted uranium, and concluded that there was no consensus in the international scientific community as to the effect of depleted uranium on human health, but that New Zealand should continue to monitor the international research on the health consequences of its use. For this reason, the Government supports continued monitoring and research into the effects of depleted uranium, but will not take further action without clear scientific evidence.
Whenever New Zealand Defence Force personnel are deployed in theatres of operations where depleted uranium munitions may have been used, more stringent health monitoring has been untaken on those personnel. To date, there have been no adverse health effects identified in NZDF personnel. Most reports also conclude that any health and environmental risks associated with depleted uranium can be controlled with simple counter-measures by national authorities such as monitoring, clean-up operations where depleted uranium has been used, and further research.
New Zealand is closely following studies by international agencies on the potential health impacts of depleted uranium, and The Government will continue to monitor international developments, reports and studies on depleted uranium and potential health risks. New Zealand also supports a United Nations General Assembly resolution passed last year encouraging Member States to facilitate and Monitor studies and research on depleted uranium by relevant international organisations.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
The IAEA has participated with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Health Organisation (WHO) in several international appraisals of depleted uranium, with the objective of these assessments being to draw conclusions regarding the toxic and radiological safety of depleted uranium, and to make recommendations to mitigate the hazards of the population and the environment.
In general, the results of these assessments indicated that the existence of depleted uranium residues dispersed in the environment does not pose a radiological hazard to the population of the affected regions. The IAEA estimated that annual radiation doses from depleted uranium would be very low and of little radiological concern, with cases of prolonged skin contact with depleted uranium or fragments being the only possible exposure pathway leading to significant risks. Provided access to where these fragments exist remain restricted, the likelihood that members of the public come into such contact is low.
An IAEA assessment came to the same conclusion in Southern Iraq in 2010, and provided recommendations for safe management of fragments of depleted uranium.
I hope you find this information useful, thank you again for your email.”
fucking incredible
i double dare Nikki Kaye to type three little words* into any image search engine and then try to spout that bullshit ever again
* depleted uranium iraq
The response came back within 24 hours of the original email, which suggests that there is someone/something monitoring her inbox, and spewing back this garbage, as I would be surprised if it were NK, even though I have had responses which I can tell are actually from her previously.
Either way whether cut and pasted by her hand, or by someone else, it is her endorsement of the vote she cast againse the bill, and then this attempt to vindicate her choice.
NK is the chair of the education and science select committe, so the email signature states…
This is truly staggering that we are into such dangerous territory now, with the blatant bowing to those who control NATO, which we have recently signed up for…
I will post my response to her on open mike tomorrow, and ecourage people to get onto any and all NACT members, and those who voted this bill down, and in no uncertain words let them know that this is beyond reproach!
Appalling! Idiot woman…
Kevin, Freedom and others who have fallen under the spell of the anti-depleted uranium jihad and have not taken the time to do actual scientific research as opposed to a YouTube or Google look up where everyone just repeats the same lies that first were presented in about 1992 – some are sincere lovers of peace, but others are just con artists who seek to profit from the lies or are professional propagandists. Sadly, I expect that MP Phil Twyford has had his compassionate side mislead by these people as well.
The Phil Twyford Private Member’s bill is full of false and misleading information. There has been an active worldwide campaign against depleted uranium since Saddam Hussein’s regime decided to kill two birds with one stone. They did not like the fact that their vaunted Soviet built tanks could be killed by US/UK tanks at long range with a single shot of a depleted uranium kinetic energy penetrator round from the main gun of the M1 Abrams Tank or the UK’s Challenger Tank. They also did not want to be subject to the UN Sanctions that ended the Gulf War. As a result, all birth defects and cancers were blamed on that horrid radioactive weapon, depleted uranium. How many readers of this have ingested some DU today? All of you! Why, because DU is naturally occuring Uranium-238, and every being on this planet ingests, drinks in or breathes in a fraction of a microgram of U-238 every day of their life. Uranium is a toxic chemical if you take in too much of it and the first sign of a toxic dose is kidney failure, something that surprisingly has seldom been alleged by any of the people who claim to have been made ill by claimed depleted uranium contamination. The toxic radioactive dose of U-238 is unlimited according the IAEA’s Dangerous Quanitities of Radioactive Material (D-values) page 11
http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/EPR_D_web.pdf
If anyone would like to write to me, I will gladly correspond with you about my independent research (paid by no one) over the past seven plus years. I even tried to make MP Twyford aware of grave errors in his Bill when he first presented it in 2010 but his comments during the first reading on June 27th and his comments about the Maaori Party since then have led me to believe that he cares little about facts and just wants to believe that he is making a better world. You can write me at owner at the Yahoo group that is linked to this comment. There are a number of public links at this Yahoo group to actual scientific reports by the IAEA and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and others.
PS – Kevin, there is overwhelming evidence that depleted uranium has not been used in Afghanistan and I would be glad to discuss that with you.
John Armstrong in today’s Herald. The man must write speeches for the Nats.
Some interesting points though. “There is no indication Labour has woken up to the fact that some of the targets – such as boosting child immunisation rates, lifting the numbers getting trade qualifications and tackling youth crime – amount to an invasion of its traditional domains.”
JA is part of the NACT spin machine as is O’sullivan/Roughan etc not much intelligence or rigour just CT authored rhetoric presented as if it’s objective comment.
It’s a large reason they got back in as the sheeple take this crap as wise opinion rather than paid for advertorial pieces from the 4th estate dinosaurs.
The Armstrong piece demonstrates National’s way of doing things.
1. Announce big and important targets (so it looks as if you care and are doing important things)
2. “?”
3. Success (or er.. Profit) – see “Underpants Gnomes” for reference.
No interim goals or benchmarks – nothing to measure progress against, and no responsibility. They will claim the incidental wins as their own and ignore the failures that they perpetrated.
Hmmm… speaking of underpants gnomes – I need some coffee.
More insider information on national here.
http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/John_Key
That’s given us a chuckle for the morning!
LOL = well worth a read on a cold Sat morning – especially after stupidly reading Armstrong and Roughan on the Herald site.
Mind you, I was surprised at Fran O’Sullivan’s column today – calling for an independent enquiry into the police conduct of the raid on Dotcom.
And some more interesting reading…..From the Nation: NAFTA on steroids. The Americans are also worried about the Trans Pacific Partnership. Here’s an article about the damaging effects the TPP will bring to democracy, from an American perspective. I couldn’t agree with their applause for New Zealand though. Even the Nats accept, after much persuading, that loosening Pharmac’s role would be bad for them, not to mention us as people. The article seems to allude to our govt being principled.
http://www.thenation.com/article/168627/nafta-steroids#
TVNZ 7 winds up today.
A pity really, with its older forgotten sibling, TVNZ6, was an anchor for a new improved digital TV era. But its fate was more or less sealed on election night 2008. If you want to get anything that is remotely public service, you have to fork out for Sky, which IMO is crap for what you pay for. You dont have to worry about missing anything because it would be on again in a few days/weeks/months.
Oh well, at least I have torrents.
“You don’t have to worry about missing anything because it would be on again in a few days/weeks/months.”
Years. I am seeing repeats of the repeats of the repeats I saw repeated 3 to 4 years ago.
And I agree it is crap and I have told sky as soon as I can download good stuff via the infernalnet they can shove it right up where the sun doesn’t shine.
Like everybody else I got a letter advising me what a WUNDERFUL JOB they were doing and how I can now look at about 50 million channels (complete with adverts every 5 minutes) of the Olympics.(Couldn’t give a toss about the Olympics), and how fortunate as a sky subscriber I already have HD and don’t need to do anything else when all television goes digital in NZ.
Because of this utopia that Sky is supplying my fee has to go up by about 6%. for the same crap I have seen for years.
This is why Channel 7 has been killed off. It was a threat to Keys fat cat mate’s future advertising revenue,
The left sweeps to power in France, gaining control of all branches of government for the first time, well ever, and that is the first thing they do?
Gay Marriage!
Trotter is right, the left today seems to be more worried about racial minorities and gay marriage than public ownership, the welfare state, workers rights and poverty.
I have no problem with that. Sure it’s a minor issue compared to some others but it is also easy to do and shows that the new government will be doing and not just saying which has been the problem of left governments for the last few decades. Now the real test comes, now they need to enact legislation to start to undo the damage that neo-liberalism has done.
As a right winger I have no problem with gay marriage, in fact I’d say it should be a non-event. Supporting marriage and (hopefully) fidelity should be looked as something good for society as a whole, I’d have thought.
You mean the French government is only capable of passing a single law at any one time? They only have one ministry/department operating at any one time and all the rest go on holiday?
Or … oh noes, their first *announcement* of policy was something that hetero white middle-class Waitakere Myths couldn’t benefit from? Gosh, how terrible.
How can they benefit? It’s in furking France for gods sake!!!
I’m sure France has its equivalent “waaaa, the nasty gays and wimminz are takin’ our jobs!” leftwing whingers.
Not like people ‘fought’ to have the state and church removed as ‘licensing’ authorities over relationships. But hey. Nothing like a bit of ‘progressive’ conservatism to galvanise folks.
Agreed! (I’m delighted too, that someone here other than me said it first! 🙂 )
This is the new plan.
http://www.make-everything-ok.com/
The housing crisis in Christchurch really shouldn’t be allowed to happen. But I believe that the government is allowing this to happen to enrich private landlords, who are the only ones who will benefit from a housing crisis.
The changes to state housing underlines this. Throwing thousands of vulnerable tenants out of state housing and off waiting lists, will only add to a large pool of people in the private rental market chasing a scare number of homes, and thus lead to rents being pushed up, for even grotty dives.
creating another housing bubble something the right always try to blame on the left.
the only people who benefit are the banks and the don’t tax me capital gaingsters
Maori are lodging a claim on water, and the left shoudnt really support this. Water is a public ownership owned by everyone, not a private asset owned by the few.
even John key says no-one owns water,
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10783913
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/news/nbnat/2038498866-Water-ownership-a-no-brainer—Key
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/6655601/Water-ownership-hearing-threatens-asset-sales
etc
for how much longer he says that ???
Until he can sell it.
And, yeah, water is owned by the whole community and not just one small sector of it. Go that route and we will see massive deprivation for the sector that doesn’t own it.
160 odd years ago, Maori may have stated they owned the water that was laying around on what they refer to as their land.
The water came from rainclouds they do not have any claim to.
The water that arrives today may have come from clouds that travelled from Antartica airspace so I am at a loss to understand Maori logic that is their water.
Rob
Easy “Just follow the money”.
Fartrain the money ended up in Anglo Saxon hands mainly.
Now in courts that has been proven and Maori have been generous to us by accepting
between 1 and 3% seettlements.
Fartrain I smell the politics of envy from you and your cohorts and it stinks.
You must be joking! NZlaenders have paid BILLIONS in the last few years out of their meager pay packets and have forgone proper healthcare, increase on minimum wages, pensions etc. It seem you are one of those who only will be happy when the pakehas are in rags and begging on street corners.
feigning Weka the settlements haven’t past $2billion and are closer to $1 billion.
envy.
Some Maori tribes have turned their 1to3% settlements into very large portfolios
jealous
Stop being an ignoranting idiot and get your facts right before you
promote your redneck racist attitudes.
Estimate of the “Maori economy” = $36.9B of value.
http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/in-print/our-publications/fact-sheets/the-maori-economy/download/tpk-maorieconomy-2012.pdf
Feigning Weka, wrong name – Foreign Waka, as in we are all foreign (just a degree on seperation in years) and came on a Waka.
http://www.nzcpr.com/guest275.htm excerpt from NZ Centre of Political Research:
..total redress agreed to and mostly paid to February 1 this year is $2.455-billion. The Treaty Negotiations Vote in last year’s Budget contains a multi-year appropriation of $1.4-billion for the five-year period 2011 to 2015. Since we listed a total of $2.079-billion last July, if that $1.4-billion Budget appropriation were added to our last year’s total, expected redress would reach $3.479-billion.
Interestingly the same number pops up in this report:
http://www.getfrank.co.nz/editorial/nz-politics/treaty-transparency-settlements-1989-2012
Envy? Jealous? Of what? I think that the majority of Maoris know very well that the money comes from working people who struggle all the same. The claim however is directed to the crown, or the Queen, so to speak. This seems to pass you by and my assertion is that you have a mighty handout mentality.
Maori were promised the same rights as British citizens but were these rights were under mined
By shonkey traders taking full advantage of Maori illiteracy .
Maori have a Different value system than Tory Anglo Saxons.
It depends on the substance of the Maori claim. People everywhere should have access to clean water as a basic human right. It should be a public utility not a source of monopoly power for a wealthy elite.
But it’s ok if that wealthy elite is Maori.
Maori have access to schools? Yes? Illiteracy is an issue of neglect within the family, so don’t roll this on to someone else. By what my experience is, Maori do have the same rights. In fact, there are many more benefits available to Maori than to any other race. This seem to be based on a legislated “affirmative action” model stemming from the Treaty, albeit equality was a key word.
As to the use of water – we all need to drink water in order to survive. And this should be freely accessible.
However, it is also clear that the drawing of ground water for irrigation has to have strict monitoring if not levies imposed as any depletion will lower the water table and salinate the ground water. This would make it unusable – forever. I doubt that the value system is very different on that point.
NB – Anglo-Saxons are Germans, and calling white gentile people Anglo-Saxons, is another dill-brained American* habit. It’s as absurd as saying ‘caucasian’ instead of Pakeha, as the police and media do now.
http://raaw.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/caucasian/
and
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2011/01/stop-using-the-word-caucasian-to-mean-white/
* Do try to limit your Americanisms. “Different than” is an Americanism New Zealanders (including Don Brash) use, as they hear it on TV., but even some Americans admit it’s actually wrong…
Maori 160 odd years ago had concepts of land and land ‘ownership’ distinctly different than European concepts then, or Pakeha concepts how. Until you understand what those differences are, and how Maori treaty rights have been undermined because of those differences (amongst other things) then you are ignorant and you have no basis on which to express an opinion.
Instead of indulging in Maori bashing, why not educate yourself? You might be surprised at how interesting and useful Maori views about land are.
Such as how Taniwha’s know to appear at the most convenient time?
I think you are confusing Taniwha with Trolls OneTrack.
The Greens want to commodofy water because Russel Norman believes in a curious version of market theory that says putting a price on water will magically clean up our waterways.
I would much prefer it to be put under Maori guardianship/ownership/protection to prevent that sort of nonsense in the future..
Would this be similar to the Maori guardianship/ownership/protection of our fisheries, using poorly paid foreign fisher labour in appalling and dangerous working conditions?
Oh really? I’d say they would sell to the Chinese in a heartbeat, then lease back for the 3x the sale price on the condition they couldnt complain
Which politician would have pushed the Police to behave so over-the-top with Mr Dotcom?
Groser is 100% Pure on the American approach to Trade. He will concede to the intrusive anti-sovernitu terms the Americans have in the TPP.
The little man should not be in-charge of Trade any more than he should be in charge of Climate Change. He is a 100% Pure Liability.
“Which politician would have pushed the Police to behave so over-the-top with Mr Dotcom?”
I think the immigration minister.
I have noticed that Collins has not repeated her mistake (covering up incompetence as she did with the CEO and Chairman of ACC) with Judge Winklemann’s ruling re Dotcom. Collins knows she has to tread carefully because Dotcom has the cash when it comes to litigation.
When it comes to Collins fixing ACC I feel that she will not walk the talk. An inquiry is required and then RECOMMENDATIONS from claimants/their legal advisor and non ACC health professionals could be implemented.
What did Collins do to implement Bazley’s recommendations into police culture?
There was an independent report criticising the police dragging their heels and all I heard from Collins was tut tut, they need to be hurried along.
Which politician would have pushed the Police to behave so over-the-top with Mr Dotcom?
Groser is 100% Pure on the American approach to Trade. He will concede to the intrusive anti-sovereignty terms the Americans have in the TPP.
The little man should not be in-charge of Trade any more than he should be in charge of Climate Change. He is a 100% Pure Liability.
I listened to the tail end of the debate in parliament on Wednesday evening where Richard Prosser of NZFirst gave a quick fire but detailed resume of the dangers of depleted uranium from his experience having being involved in the missile business.
It is to New Zealand’s detriment that the debate on this bill did not make waves in the media because the implications of cross shipping yellowcake uranium through New Zealand from Australia is fraught with potential dangers that New Zealand is underprepared to deal with in the event of an accident or worse terrorist activity.
Second to that is the exposure New Zealand Military are exposed to in Afghanistan and Iraq where depleted uranium has been deployed in an armour piercing capability thereby exposing all in close proximity to possible toxic dust.
Depleted uranium is considered in the same light as Agent Orange of the Vietnam era with the same insidious genetic damage and prevalence of cancers.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/5876622/Radioactive-uranium-passing-through-NZ-ports
Large amount of yellowcake uranium is being shipped in and out of NZ ports since 1996. This material is regarded as useful for manufacturing of weapons.
Health effects to prolonged exposure include chromosome aberrations, cancers of the lung, mouth, larynx, bronchial, bone, connective tissue, kidney and liver.
Sure Ben Vidgeon referenced this among other things in the 2 state secrets books he wrote many years ago!
People reading the Christchurch Press re the CTV rescue 22/3 Feb this morning?? Truly tragic for trapped survivors.
In the account of a husband in cell phone and physical (voice/tapping) contact with his trapped wife, he feels he locates her exact position. The news doesn’t, apparently, galvanise rescuers.
He is removed from the site and, hours later, his wife and others die. The article asks why efforts were not made to cut a hole through the concrete slab trapping her, as well as why her location was not protected from approaching fire.
Lessons, responsibility, compensation… Post Pike River etc, let’s hope.
Thanks to whoever mentioned this documentary by John Pilger… The War on Democracy I have only been watching it in small pieces, so many crimes against democracy and the Venezuelan people are documented.
Pilger may be the last real journalist left in the world…
We could do with a few more like Pilger. Hitchens became the darling of the lifestyle left because he was a militant atheist, not because he stood against abuses of power. If I had my time over again, I’d like to be a journalist like Pilger. Being a theoretical physicist doesn’t bring the opportunity to change much that matters.
I found it in my local VideoEzy a few months back, which is amazing! I look for documentaries, but it’s one of the very few they have.
It’s so awesome, that I actually cried!
I heard one referred to, bizarrely, on the BBC news today as ‘an unmanned plane’. I suppose that’s a new eupehmism… it made me feel sick!
I see where the uniforms for the NZ Olympic team have been designed and manufactured overseas. The contract was awarded to the NZ arm of Rodd and Gunn and conditions of awarding this contract should have been that it must be designed and manufactured in this country. Instead it was designed in Australia, and manufactured in China, Turkey and Italy. We have plenty of creative talented people in this country and it is outrageous that these people were overlooked. No doubt it was all about price, but what price do you place on national pride and sovereignty.
Under the free-market gods? None.
Rodd and Gunn sell overpriced crap that falls to bits anyway. As far as I can see, that’s entirely appropriate for overhyped corporate sport. The uniforms are stylistically bad from what I can see as well, although it’s not easy to judge from how they look on anorexic models how they’ll look on athletes.
This reminds me of the Red Sock campaign when the Americas Cup was on. A south island manufacturer offered these socks and sponsorship.
The next America’s Cup campaign they decided to run the same Red Sock promotion, but this time had them made in CHINA. No consideration for the guy who came up with the original idea, or for the company in NZ which could have manufactured them. Bloody disgusting and I hope the outlet running this promotion ended up lots of unsold stock.
Gordon Campbell has a good article up about efficiency and how it’s being used to undermine our society.
Angela Merkel is Playing You For Fools
Really do wish these indebted nations would just default and get it over with but it seems that the banksters are in control and are taking as much wealth as they can before reality comes calling.
Not so easy in this globalised financial network TPTB have locked us all into. But yeah, its all going to fall over sooner or later, and the more we do the routine ‘pretend and extend’ the harder the fall will be in the end.
It won’t be long and the stoic Germans will march on parliament. There are many who are fed up of being ask to carry all of Europe. It all seem to have the same predicament as the situation after the signing of the Versailles contract. If Germany looses its economic footing, things will get very bad.
RWNJ commentators let their feelings show.
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/06/28/CBC-Walks-Out-On-The-Vote
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2900923/posts
http://libertysflame.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=30947
http://libertysflame.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=30827
Crosby Textor have given The NZ Women’s Weekly exclusive access to John Key’s person photo album. Seems to solve his issue of the 1981 tour
They look a bit hinky to me
Link 1
Plus other things he was up to…..
Link 2
Link 3
Sure thats not Kris Fa’foi? I thought he had some past memory lapses?
A man for all people!
Ever wonder why Assange doesn’t trust the Swedish authorities not to ship him straight to the USA (or worse)?
http://www.hrw.org/news/2006/11/09/sweden-violated-torture-ban-cia-rendition
Look on the bright side, even before The Olympics have started an ‘African runner’ has claimed asylum, the rest of the World is already here so I’m sure there will be a house and numerous hand outs waiting for this freeloader, isn’t it great to live in a country with no borders and that puts everyone before it’s own people? I was seriously thinking of getting away from it all but it wouldn’t surprise me if I got home and found my house had been turned into a mosque or an Eastern European family had moved in, such is life.
I was thinking of moving to England to start an Eastern European mosque for gay africans. Just post your address and I’ll make sure I do it at your place. I promise to even fold your BNP flags nicely for you.
Sure it’s:
My house.
Nice area with no ‘Polski skleps’, Mosques or asylum ‘overspill’ (as in most parts of the country are full but they still let the freeloaders in). YET.
I see the torch is in Westminster now, that bunch of traitors deserve the Guy Fawkes treatment.
Stalin.
Ahem mods, are the openly racist droolings of this fool acceptable now?
Strange to put such ramblings in a 3 week old post. For my part, I’m inclined to keep an eye on him(?) rather than just ban, insofar as such comments serve to highlight the banal stupidity of racism and so serve a perverse purpose. Of course, another moderator may disagree 😉 [B]
Ah, gotcha, you believe in freedom of speech but only if you agree with what is being said.
Freedom of speech =/= freedom to bizarrely troll other people’s blogs with no moderation.
You have a problem with what I said there, DS? Am I not allowed to voice my opinion on your horrible bigotry?
O NOEZ MY FREEDOMZ IZ BEING OPPRESSED ON!!!
So not supporting uncontrolled immigration, believing the EU is rotten to the core, expecting migrants to respect their host nation and suggesting asylum seekers/refugees go to the first safe country rather than travelling half way across the world to an already overcrowded country constitue bigotry? Common sense, more like.
Tell you what NZ is roughly the same size as UK but with a fraction of our population, let’s dump 4 Million low wage or benefit dependent migrants who take a lot more than they contribute on you, throw in countless asylum seekers who of course need taxpayer funded hand outs not to mention state housing, bow down to muzzie terrorists (taxpayer funded of course) who you can’t deport, yuman rites and all that, hand out Millions to countries that openly despise you, outsource millions of jobs, decimate heavy industry, attack workers rights and promote alien cultures at the expense of your own.
All of this while having no control of your borders.
You might want ot give a cite for those astonishing numbers there.
A full half of the UKs population is low wage or benefit dependent migrants?
Reckon you should look more at your bankers and pollies of the source of your problems, that at the people those tossers to tell you to look at. Ya big mugg.
He’s probably just trying to introduce himself nicely because Key has headhunted him as our next Human Rights Commissioner.
“So not supporting uncontrolled immigration, believing the EU is rotten to the core, expecting migrants to respect their host nation and suggesting asylum seekers/refugees go to the first safe country rather than travelling half way across the world to an already overcrowded country constitue bigotry?”
Not necessarily, but the heat it seems to generate in you is a bit of a pointer.
I was more referring to the bigoted shit you wrote before about how a nice area is one with no mosques or polacks though.
(I’d have thought that was obvious from the order of the comments)