“For more on the situation in Venezuela, we go to the BBC’s Orla Guerin.”
RNZ National, Thursday 31 January 2019, 6.15 a.m.
Emotion merchant Orla Guerin is “emotional” as always. Her voice throbs as she summons up an approximate imitation of earnest solicitude and sincerity. It’s clear who she’s been told to portray as the hero in this Washington-directed farce: “The authorities turning up the heat on Venezuela’s young Opposition leader….”
RNZ National Morning Report host Susie Ferguson (herself a former BBC “reporter”) ends the one minute coverage of Venezuela for the morning: “That’s the Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido talking to Orla Guerin.”
Venezuela has been an object of ridicule and loathing on New Zealand’s state broadcaster for years now….
I don’t know where you get the impression I “adore” the democratically elected leader of Venezuela. I acknowledge that both he and Chávez before him were far from perfect, and made many mistakes. I was particularly incensed by Chávez’s ideological assault against El Sistema, Venezuela’s world-renowned music program. He attacked it on the barbaric and ridiculous ground that classical music was a middle class thing.
I was astonished and alarmed to see Chávez grandstanding in the U.S., ostentatiously delivering free fuel to the poor areas of some U.S. cities in order to show up the neglectful Bush administration. That always seemed like a provocative and foolish thing to do. He—and now Maduro—also did little or nothing about diversifying the country’s economy—leaving it prey to pirates like the Bush gang and its obedient vassals in the E.U., Canada, Australia, Israel and the fascist regimes of Central and South America.
They’ve been pretty damned hopeless—but they’ve never been involved in the destruction of another country, leave alone four or five. And let’s not forget that the plight of the country, the suffering and the violence, is due mainly to the extreme right-wing, democracy-hating Venezuelan insurrectionists, and the aggressive and totally illegal “sanctions” imposed by U.S. regimes, mounting in ferocity and pitilessness following the failed coup of 2002.
You either support the rule of law and democratic elections, Gabby—or you meekly give in and reluctantly support Trump, Pence, Pompeo, Bolton, and Abrams.
What d’you reckon will happen when a government takes every measure it can to destroy legitimate opposition morrie? Including creating a new legislature to do an end run around the elected one?
“Legitimate” opposition? These are the insurrectionists that fought and lost the 2002 coup. They boycott elections because they know they will never get a large enough vote to win or to even cut a deal.
Venezuela’s elections in 2013 and 2018 were praised by all observers. Not the insurrectionists and their U.S. backers, but by all people who observed the elections. They were certainly far cleaner than the U.S. elections of virtually any year. (And, no, it wasn’t those Evil Masterminds, the RUSSIANS, it was the Republican gerrymanderers and the army of corrupt officials who disenfranchised hundreds of thousands, probably millions, of mainly African American and Latino voters.)
The Communists routinely boycotted elections as a matter of strategy in many countries. Did that invalidate all those Western European elections?
Not always. But it certainly was in this case. As one of the opponents of Maduro in last year’s election, Henri Falcón, explained: “Electoral boycotts almost never work. In country after country, opposition forces that abandoned the field of electoral competition have lost ground and allowed rulers to consolidate power.”
National effectively boycotted the Epsom seat in several recent elections, so as to enable a member of the ACT cult to get a seat. They did something similar to help Peter Dunne in Ohariu. Do those boycotts invalidate New Zealand’s last three or four elections?
The elections in Venezuela in 2013 and 2018 were cleaner and more transparent than any U.S. federal election. In 2013, even Forbes magazine could not deny that. Nothing changed in the intervening years, other than the extreme right’s self-inflicted massive injury of the boycott.
Hosking dresses like a man with serious insecurity and self esteem problems.
And for Hawkesby, well that was a petulant and child-like rant. It didn’t do the Nats any favours at all which I’m sure was the purpose of the article.
She would fit right in as one of the cast in that Brit programme “Benidorm”. And yes, clothing choices are up to each person’s preference, but when KH tosses the first stone……
Yet another puerile and vitriolic rant by a Nat aligned MSM lackey. The CT backed instructions went out about 2 weeks ago I reckon – it’s “Dirty Politics” in its most virulent form from now until the next election.
Edit: Even questioned the presence of baby, Neve. She’s seven months old for God’s sake and needs her Mum. Dad might have work commitments as the moment.
Here it is:
Jacinda Ardern’s baby Neve was also there – I don’t know why, I’m not sure if other people’s kids were there, but let’s not call that weird because we’ll be lynched.
Nasty piece of work.
Wonder what her teenage brats are up to these days.
If her teenage offspring turn up half normal they’ll be doing okay. Some regularly scream about kids being to be taken off their parents to get them out of abusive environments. The sort of people who strenuously support Mike Hosking.
Is it right to leave kids in environments with polluted outlooks of their parents?
Morrissey……please put up that freaky photograph of Hosking in his ripped jeans, seemingly pointless chains, and something resembling a wannabe tough boy leather jacket……the one you posted a couple of years ago.
More things to make you go hmmmm. Steve Munchkin has possible financial links to rooskies, lifts sanctions on rooskies, rooskies hire former Drumpf transition staffer.
As the arguments about taxation culminate in the release of the tax report either today or tomorrow, the human cost of a low tax economy needs to be remembered. Richardson and Garner need to get of their high horses and go to Hospital Hill in Napier. There used to stand Napier Hospital. Closed in 1995 to pay for Bill Birchs tax cuts. It has been demolished now, but for 2 decades it stood as a reminder of where tax cuts after tax cut will enventually get us.
We need a capital gains tax. What is left of our health system need it.
We have a capital gains tax. Bridges has promised to remove it, but we don’t know how much tax revenue that will lose. (Yes there are many exemptions from treating capital gains as income – the family home being well-known.) National increased revenue from tax on capital gains by its “bright line” test which said that gains from the quick sale of property will automatically be regarded as taxable income unless there were special reasons – Bridges now wants to cut out all tax on capital gains – whoopee for those involved in buying and selling companies for a profit . . .
if you bought shares when some of the SOEs were sold, you have done quite well, but it would be good if you didn’t have to pay tax on those gains – does Bridges have a cunning plan to help a few blind trusts for retiring National politicians?
Yes. English intended to drive the Public Health system into ruin so that Presto. The Private system can ride in to pick up the broken bits that can be turned into profit. Just as in Britain it is happening so, right now.
We must have a Health system like the Americans. Right?
Yes, American’s spend the most on health care in the world and have one of the worst most expensive and inequatitable systems. I think something like 40% of American’s don’t even have access to health care and they are paying through the nose for that!
Happy to say, NZ health system is still very good, like our educations system, but you can see how the privatisation and routing and lowering of standards, while making it free (in real terms) to 4 million tourists per year and hundreds of thousands of the world living here who don’t require to pay any extra in real terms (because even if you are supposed to pay, you don’t really have to) or have private health insurance before entering the country, so the quality issues are being subtly and not so subtly pushed… We now seem to have as many people in NZ per year in NZ using all the roads, medical and hospitals and services as those who permanently live here…
The government might be aiming to stabilise migration, but decreasing immigration seems to be “in the ‘too hard basket” for now. Hope they keep their eye on the long-term ‘ball’.
“privatisation and routingrorting and lowering of standards” (just once, for info only)
Thanks Drowsy. But under Labour/NZ First/Greens last year sounds like immigration and work permits INCREASED (not stabilised) dramatically, according to TDB, 4 million tourists, 129,000 new migrants and 150,000 temporary work permits, combined they nearly equal the resident population of NZ.
Meanwhile reports of apparently work shortages seem to be lies… as local workers in constructions are having to lay off people because their wages have become too low and small (local) builders are shut out of the contracts as it becomes about who you know and lowest cost …
NZ has a quality construction issue which after lazy immigration, is the 2nd biggest problem facing the housing crisis. As fast as our Rogernomics market based construction solutions build them, they need remedial work and can’t be lived in, throwing more people out to rent who should be home owners living in their homes, and then the construction firms themselves are liquidated…
If a company is liquidated there should be proper penalties for the directors including not being able to be a company director for at least a decade… and personal fines.
Perhaps then the firms would be more choosy and of a higher standard and less likely to liquidate at the first sign of trouble so they don’t have to pay their workers and subcontractors…
It seems that being undercut by so many overseas players with deep pockets is a factor. Who knows how many of them are bringing in overseas workers and profiting from underpaying them (like the listed NZ firms) and getting payments for the job…. meanwhile the big players are able to hoover up all the housing contracts…
Also poor plans being approved by council have also been a factor…
The problem is that the firms bringing in the low cost labour and tourists are having their profits subsidised by Kiwi taxpayers who have to pay for the hospitals and schools and roads and wastewater that all these cheaper workers and tourists need, meanwhile throwing our local firms paying better wages under the bus and putting them out of work, or the standards have fallen so low with construction with planning, labour and materials that the new buildings need remedial work almost immediately and the tourist ventures are more likely to be overseas owned with substantial overseas labour to run them… so it’s a Ponzi… because it is not sustainable.
Labour and Auckland council wants more taxes on the middle classes because they are easy targets, National is seizing it’s chances to squeeze back into power… all in all very depressing…
If user pays were user pays, then shouldn’t those using the services and bringing in the workers have to pay big bucks for the visas, have a bond if their workers leave so are not actually doing the work, have a much higher threshold for being able to bring someone in, (aka pay at the top end of the pay scale for the so called ‘experience’) so that there is money to pay for the hospitals and schools and roads and waster water of their overseas workers and 4 million tourists are not subsidised by the tax payers on NZ who are also being shunted off the hospital waiting lists or spending 4 hours in traffic each day or can’t swim in their water ways because their is too much pollution.
Like wise the ‘private’ educational institutions many of whom are just conduits for residency of low quality poorly educated people, who suddenly sport a ‘masters’ they bought from a NZ institution mostly private who gets $20k per year from them.
Unlike the more well known international universities in the top 100 universities in the world, increasingly in NZ we are devaluing our tertiary institutions with paid degrees that accepts anybody with the cash… regardless of their educational ability or inability.
Unlike the more well known international universities in the top 100 universities in the world, increasingly in NZ we are devaluing our tertiary institutions with paid degrees that accepts anybody with the cash… regardless of their educational ability or inability.
Sounds good. So, what you’re saying is that NZ universities have been lowering their entry criteria and have a special category for cashed-up no-hopers. I couldn’t find any evidence for this though …
YES. And if memory still serves, wasn’t there some question about NAT’S investing in Ryman’s?? and that policy looked tailormade ????? Someone may recall.
@ianmac Re the article by Graham Adams on Noted.
I did not note any perception in the article.
Just the usual selective bias cherry picking info
and juxtaposition to ” prove” a point
Some one else comes along and through similar
cherry picking juxtaposition proves the opposite.
Does get tiresome .
No shortage of cherry pickers in this country.
There are thousands on social media 🙂
Please don’t go. You and your contributions here have been long and valued by me, and I know, many others.
I and some others (Anne, Redlogix) have been having a conversation this morning over on the post on “The world cannot afford billionaires” about behaviours here and related matters. Go and have a read – just check the sidebar as the links are there eg Anne to me, me to me, Redlogix to me etc. Hope that may help change your mind.
Re Rata, I am not going to criticise him or her as he/she has the same rights to comment here as me, provided he/she complies with the rules in the TS’ Policy.
However, since this new personality appeared recently, I have been a bit bemused by his/her postings and personally I decided the best thing to do was just ignore. IMHO he/she really does not post enough substance to bother replying to or attempting any debate on the issues raised. There is not much point when there are so many other more interesting interactions going on here.
And thank you for posting that link. I meant to do so on Sunday (?) when I first read it and we were discussing that issue on MS’s post on the $100,000 donation. So we need you to stay!!!!
veutoviper. I have a huge sense of humour (though my wife only laughs sometimes) and I was really just grinning to myself as I wrote my response to rata. I thought he was trying to be too clever so responded in that vein. I am not leaving TS. Some serious ideas here but I like the sort of response people like Robert sometimes give us too. Brightens the day.
And yes I read your plan of how a blog should run. Good stuff.
Churchill as Minister of defence in 1914 refused credit to Turkey to enable for them to regain their repaired naval ships. The result was that Turkey was powerless to withstand pressure from Germany. The Germans “gave” a ship to Turkey, raised a Turkish flag on her, then sent her in to the Black Sea to shell a Russian town. Thus, Churchill’s decision tipped Turkey into being our enemy. Well done Winston.
Churchill is one of the few people about whom I am very ambivalent. He did great things and he did terrible things, and most of his actions all came from the same place and attitude. He connected with people from all classes and was a considerate officer in the trenches, but he also set tanks and cavalry on workers. And so many other juxtapositions.
Pretty much everyone with an opinion on him is correct, lovers and haters all.
It’s perhaps worth noting that his descendants continue to wreak havoc among the underprivileged. His horrible grandson Rupert Soames was in charge of that awful Serco shitshow.
“Non a l’Eurovision 2019 en Israel!”
Move Eurovision From Israel, Peter Gabriel and Leading U.K. Artists Urge BBC
Signatories to letter say venue must change because of ‘Israel’s systematic violation of Palestinian human rights’; BBC rejects call
Haaretz, Jan. 30, 2019
Some 50 British cultural figures, including musician Peter Gabriel and actress Julie Christie, signed a letter published on Tuesday in the Guardian calling on the BBC to push for the locale of this year’s Eurovision song contest to be changed because of “Israel’s systematic violation of Palestinian human rights.”
The BBC rejected the call, saying it was ‘inappropriate to use the BBC’s participation for political reasons.’
“The European Broadcasting Union chose Tel Aviv as the venue over occupied Jerusalem – but this does nothing to protect Palestinians from land theft, evictions, shootings, beatings and more by Israel’s security forces,” read the letter.
“The BBC is bound by its charter to ‘champion freedom of expression,'” the figures said. “It should act on its principles and press for Eurovision to be relocated to a country where crimes against that freedom are not being committed.”
Also among the dozens of signatories were filmmakers Mike Leigh and Ken Loach, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, and musician Roger Waters.
Earlier this month, protesters in France stormed the stage after a performance by Netta Barzilai, who won the song contest in 2018, carrying a sign saying “Non a l’Eurovision 2019 en Israel!” (No to Eurovision 2019 in Israel).
I would think letting Israel host the Eurovision Song Contest would be a form of punishment for them, but they aren’t sharp enough to know the difference.
Hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in Israel? Surely this in itself is an admission that Israel is not part of the Middle East, but an artificial Western colony, in the Middle East
Who knew Ports of Auckland were privately owned… maybe they think that they are because of the stupid COO structure but unless they were sold off by Auckland council they are still an asset owned by the ratepayers of Auckland or are supposed to be even if they are under the Rogernomics structure…
Pretty sure Ports of Auckland will face climate change issues, but of course keep head head in sand and collect bonuses…
Govt needs to fill gaps on climate infrastructure cost
Lyttleton “Port and Ports of Auckland were not included in this report as they privately-owned.”
It is hard to believe that this sentence was written by an actual journalist. As well as being factually incorrect, it is grammatically incorrect as well.
If they spoke this sentence out loud, you would wonder if they were mentally challenged.
The old economics’ engines of imperialism are outdated. Further more, no one can out China, China.
Technology, and the unstoppable nature of the demands of a increasingly multi-polar nature to world economic growth, along with those practicalities to sustainable resource management, requires the economics of Quantity, whether that be the numbers of segregated financial gains or overall volumes traded, transition to the economics of Quality ( the value systems of the less direct tangibles in the co-operative life styles of the societal demand & supply being developed – which NZ is starting upon to the terms of the Govt’s first wellbeing budget).
If shit like this doesn’t drive Lenin to rise from his grave to strangle the kleptocratic gangsters occupying the Kremlin, then nothing will.
Russia’s Justice Ministry has proposed exempting officials in “exceptional circumstances” from anti-corruption regulations in new draft legislation, following a plan set by Russian President Vladimir Putin last year.
Russia ranks among the world’s most corrupt countries, with Transparency International’s annual corruption perceptions index ranking it in 138th place this year out of 180 countries.
[…]
The Justice Ministry did not provide examples of the “exceptional circumstances” that would allow officials to escape punishment. Russia’s Vedomosti business daily reported Monday that the ministry would provide specific examples of exemptions to anti-corruption laws after public discussions of the proposal wrap up on Feb. 8.
The measures to amend the legislation were proposed by Putin in an anti-corruption plan he signed in June 2018.
Ilya Shumanov, the deputy head of Transparency International Russia, told the publication that the amendments provide loopholes for officials to avoid responsibility.
“There’s not a single rational explanation for the use of exceptional circumstances when an official couldn’t declare a conflict of interest,” Vedomosti quoted Shumanov as saying.
Really interesting case study of “conversion disorder”, previously referred to as mass hysteria
The diplomats withdrawn from the Cuban embassy with injuries caused by a mysterious “”sonic or microwave weapon developed by the Soviets” turned out to have been bothered by crickets
I’m feeling the same , the cicadas are crazy noisy this year.
an excerpt
” In terms of locations under pressure, embassies are strong candidates, especially when a considerable number of the staff are undercover spies. One C.I.A. agent told me that these low-grade panics happen a lot. Writing in The New Yorker in 2008, the novelist and former British spy, John le Carré, made the case that spies are susceptible to a unique form of hysteria. ”
The unknown cause struck a building of people here in NZ recently. Ambulances etc. Then the kids who smelt compost?
(I heard my first cicada for the season yesterday here in sunny Marlborough.)
Kia ora The AM Show technical you are correct mark officially a heatwave is 5 days of 5 degrees above the normal level of heat. But I say our temperature should be measured in the full Sun then we will get the actual temperature that will be 5 degrees higher than what is been reported. Why my you ask that Eco Maori is advocating this change well its to warn the vulnerable elderly people.
People under the bridge the actual temperature they will be exposed to when outside with no nice air conditioning whare /house like the wealthy can afford and minimise any deaths caused by the heat wave records are still being broken. Also that neanderthal from America that you and duncan were waving your little flags for has been suppressing any media around Papatuanukue from taking about climate change. I also know that for accuracy of the Papatuanukue temptures by metrologist the whole Papatuanukue will have to change and measure the actual temperature in the midday Sun to minimise un factual temperature readings
The Tawhirirmate wind of change is getting under big businesses skirts that its is not on that management get more money than they can spend and the people making the company’s dividends are just serviving. West Pack bank giving there workers the living wages. The AM Show is a cracked record replaying Kiwi build every day that’s a typical neanderthal trait repeat repeat can not think of a intelligent positive topic I see this trait in other Neanderthals. All intelligent people can work out whats bullshit and what’s fact 97 % of OUR scientist have proven that climate change is a fact but thee neanderthal goes with the 3% of scientists that have a conflict of interest and the oil barrons spinning and deny climate change. Your man in New York is not quite accurate the polar freezing that’s hitting New York at the minute was predicted by the 97% of scientists that neanderthals chose to ignore years ago . The cause of New York freezing is directly linked to the polar ice caps melting and that phenomenon is causing the Polar Vortex to wabble hence the polar vortex now covers thousands of miles of more land in that region than in normal condition. I did look at the story now for accuracy but I read this prediction last year.??????????.Bruce Stick LEASE HOLD LAND to foreigners. But for THE Average KIWIS that system of leaseing land will make us much more poorer Make it that foreigners only being able to lease land this will protect the average KIWIS living standards. judy why didn’t you talk about the duopoly of buildings suppliers in Aotearoa when you weren’t warming the opposition seats O that’s why the old men hogging the dividends from those 2 big companies are nationals main political donator /BRIBES Who shorted the housing market this phenomenon has been traveling throughout the Western Society’s housing markets being shorted so the wealthy can reap the capital gains. The neanderthal that are shorting housing market in the west cannot think past there own well-being or even their tamariki future.
The banks make enough profits to cover paying their employees a living wage especially when they charge life insurance policy holders 4 million people have some cover 25% in fees that’s the highest charges in the Western Papatuanukue.? Advertiseing Alcohol????. Its the cleaners the security guards that will be better off with the bank finally paying the living wage. Bull trades are getting $25 a hour +. What a the lower paid workers get has know collaborations or a effective on what the higher skilled worker earns at all. Ka kite ano. P.S know mark all commercial organisations will use most things to gain customers. The bankers don’t like – – – – Ana to kai
What Eco Maori is upset about this system is it lies to Maori & PI people the professionals say they don’t know why we have these health problems . Thats discrimanation there who cares about them If they die so be it they are infiror dosen’t matter. How is the system lieing these professionals know for a fact that SUGAR and ALCOHOL is one of the main causes of many health deases that kill US off before we get to 55 years old hence the longevity gap .The system lets business surround poorer communitys with shop’s selling these EVIL prouducts sugar and alcohol and gambling bars as well WTF. If one goes to a wealthy suburb you won’t see outlets flogging this shit for many miles. You see the innocent Tangata think we would not sell someone a prouduct that would cause there life to be shortened by 20 years so the white man would not do this they trust the system to have there best interest at heart YEA RIGHT .The capitilist system is buyer be ware on price and the effects of the prouduct has on ones health. Even if the system knows the prouduct kill’s people early one still has to prove its a FACT in the UNJUSTICE system before it becomes fact or have millions of dollars of studys dune to prove the facts that the professionals know is a fact but say nothing to keep there dividens flowing into there hip pockets from the companys that flogg this SHIT. Thats OUR reality WHANO
Western medicine says many Māori and most Pasifika people are obese. Some people are angry about the system that ‘fat-shames’ them in this way. Others are focused on finding solutions that actually work. Carmen Parahi reports.
Gina Sausau is vital, her body is strong, she fizzes with enthusiasm.
The 31-year old encourages others – mainly Māori and Pasifika people – motivating them with her words and inspiring them into action.
Yet three years ago, she was a different, physically and mentally heavier woman.
The health sector and the measures they’re using for Māori and PI is not working. They don’t take into consideration our culture. Everything they’re doing to combat obesity is not going to work.”
The New Zealand Health Survey 2017/18 found nearly a third of Kiwis are obese. Those living in deprived areas, where Māori and Pasifika peoples are often over-represented, were 1.6 times as likely to be obese.
Letele wants the Government to put a cap on the number of fast food joints allowed to operate in low socio-economic areas.
“Go and look around Mangere and parts of West Auckland. You won’t see that in Remuera or Mission Bay. We’re being targeted but we’re falling for it.
“Our kids are walking to school eating fizzy and pie. We’re bombarded with it, that’s the issue for me. We get less money, it’s just hard.” Ka kite ano links below P.S Alcohol is loaded with sugar
Well Whanau Eco Maori has been reasearching our history our tipuna’s .
I seen storys back in 1840 of maori complaining about not getting the same money for poaka as his Europeen neighbours they got $2 a poaka and maori only got $1 so one can see that this discriminational behaviour would have flowed through all froms of commerce in the New Zealand systems for 250 years. Quickly eroding Tangata Whenua money whenua and mana this is the compounding effect in reverse
A compounding effect is if my 6 X greatgrand father Jose put $2 in a bank acount it would be worth $2 million at the minute. So one can see that this Europeen behaviour to Tanagta Whenua O Aotearoa has had a devestating effect on Maori wealth how well if my 6x greatgrandfather Jose had $2 million in assets back then it would eroded down to $2 at the minute . (Kia Kaha Wahine Eco Maori Tau tokos you all they way)
First milestone for Mana Wahine claim at Waitangi Tribunal
A claim lodged by Te Rūnanga o Ngā Toa Awhina – the rūnanga of the Public Service Association – to address employment inequities suffered by Māori women has now been officially registered by the Waitangi Tribunal as claim Wai 2864.
“It’s fantastic the Tribunal will hear our claim. It calls out the Crown for its failure to address injustices that have relegated generations of wāhine Māori to low paid jobs with working conditions that leave them extremely vulnerable,” said Georgina Kerr, one of four PSA members who lodged the claim on behalf of Te Rūnanga o Ngā Toa Awhina.
This includes the failure of the education system to adequately prepare wāhine Māori for meaningful employment, the failure to eliminate bias and discrimination in the workplace, and the failure to consistently fund services that should be enhancing the lives of Māori wāhine and their whānau.
PSA Kaiwhakarite Māori Marcia Puru said “many wāhine Māori have been chronically disadvantaged by these breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi. That has to stop”.
Latest figures from the State Services Commission show while Pākehā women in the Public Service earn 13% less than their male counterparts, wāhine Māori earn 22% less than Pākehā men. Ka kite ano links below
“An 82-year-old woman believes a trio of the unruly tourists scammed her out of almost $9000, claiming they would fix her roof but left a hole in her ceiling….
Leonard (the 82 year old woman) told Newshub that she recognised one of the three from the rowdy British tourist group when she saw photos.
The group caught the attention of worldwide media after a seemingly innocuous litter incident at Takapuna Beach erupted into a North Island tale of thefts, unpaid bills and general nuisance behaviour….
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
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Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
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 ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
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. ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karleen Gribble, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University richardernestyap/Shutterstock Parents are often advised to burp their babies after feeding them. Some people think burping after feeding is important to reduce or prevent discomfort crying, or to ...
Workers at a major ASB contact centre in Auckland have voted to take strike action and withdraw their labour following disappointing pay negotiations with the employer and an "offer" to workers that would leave them worse off than the previous year. ...
The Labour Party is demanding Peters be stood down, saying "he's embarrassed the country" with a "totally unacceptable" attack on a prominent AUKUS critic. ...
The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance, whose members were victims of a China-backed cyber attack, is discussing forming a standing committee to deal with foreign influence. ...
The PSA is concerned that the voluntary redundancies being offered to staff by Stats NZ will impact on the agency’s ability to deliver on its core functions. ...
Results ranged from surprisingly yum to soul-destroying. I love cooking. The kitchen is a hearth of culinary creation, of sensory delights, of gastronomic poetry. I also can’t afford anything nice. Why does a pack of instant noodles and some milk cost ten bucks? I love you, Aotearoa, but I miss ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor Police in Solomon Islands are on high alert ahead of the election of the prime minister today. The two candidates for the top job are former foreign affairs minister Jeremiah Manele at the head of the Coalition for National Unity and Transformation, which is ...
He’s fine but it feels like I’m losing a friend and it’s making me bitter. How do I say ‘enough is enough’? Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzHey Hera,I’ve recently moved in with a girlfriend, her partner Steve, and his friend. We all live in a lovely little house. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Chartres, Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney shutterstockAhmet Misirligul/Shutterstock You go to the gym, eat healthy and walk as much as possible. You wash your hands and get vaccinated. You control your health. This is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacqueline Hendriks, Research Fellow and Lecturer, Curtin University Children and young people may be seeing news headlines about men murdering women or footage of people rallying to call for action. Perhaps they or their friends have even gone to the protests. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Balanzategui, Senior Lecturer in Media, RMIT University ABC “Bluey mania” shows no sign of abating. Bluey’s season finale, The Sign, was the most viewed ABC program of all time on iView. A “hidden” follow-up episode, aptly named The Surprise, created ...
Labour market figures came in softer than the Reserve Bank had forecast, but they won’t be enough to move the needle on interest rates, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Unemployment ...
The campaign will engage the community and encourage submissions on the bill to the New Zealand government by the closing submission deadline of Friday 31st of May 2024 4pm. ...
The paper raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand's political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency plays in that. ...
The Urban Habitat Collective was an attempt to built an innovative new form of apartment building in Wellington. Here’s why it failed, and why the idea could still work, writes co-founder Bronwen Newton. When we started the Urban Habitat Collective in November 2018, we thought we were starting a revolution, ...
Two decades ago this week, a controversial law that attempted to define ownership of the foreshore and seabed prompted a formidable display of outrage and kōtahitanga as 15,000 marched to parliament. Jamie Tahana looks back.‘Hīkoi, hīkoi,” they chanted by the thousands as the biggest Māori march in a generation ...
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Terence O’Brien had the rare and no doubt undesired distinction of rising to one of the most exalted positions in New Zealand diplomacy, then being unceremoniously recalled to Wellington without explanation just when his career was at its zenith. What is perhaps more surprising is that he appears to have ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 2 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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Rongotai MP Julie Anne Genter has apologised in Parliament after National accused her of intimidating and attacking one of its ministers in the House. ...
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ANALYSIS:By Olli Hellmann, University of Waikato When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day today on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also to mark a defining event for national identity. The battle of Gallipoli against ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark A Gregory, Associate Professor, School of Engineering, RMIT University The telecommunications industry faces a major shakeup following the release of the post-incident report on last November’s 12-hour Optus outage. Telecommunications companies will have to share more information with customers during future ...
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“For more on the situation in Venezuela, we go to the BBC’s Orla Guerin.”
RNZ National, Thursday 31 January 2019, 6.15 a.m.
Emotion merchant Orla Guerin is “emotional” as always. Her voice throbs as she summons up an approximate imitation of earnest solicitude and sincerity. It’s clear who she’s been told to portray as the hero in this Washington-directed farce: “The authorities turning up the heat on Venezuela’s young Opposition leader….”
RNZ National Morning Report host Susie Ferguson (herself a former BBC “reporter”) ends the one minute coverage of Venezuela for the morning: “That’s the Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido talking to Orla Guerin.”
Venezuela has been an object of ridicule and loathing on New Zealand’s state broadcaster for years now….
https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2019/01/rory-carroll-takes-advantage-of-simon.html
https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/01/two-democratic-heroes-two-very.html
And Susie Ferguson seems to have no other modus operandi than the frivolous once-over-lightly:
https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/01/come-back-kim-hill-urgently-oct-19-2013.html
You seem to be quite the Nick Manuro fanboi morrie, what’s your adoration based on?
I don’t know where you get the impression I “adore” the democratically elected leader of Venezuela. I acknowledge that both he and Chávez before him were far from perfect, and made many mistakes. I was particularly incensed by Chávez’s ideological assault against El Sistema, Venezuela’s world-renowned music program. He attacked it on the barbaric and ridiculous ground that classical music was a middle class thing.
I was astonished and alarmed to see Chávez grandstanding in the U.S., ostentatiously delivering free fuel to the poor areas of some U.S. cities in order to show up the neglectful Bush administration. That always seemed like a provocative and foolish thing to do. He—and now Maduro—also did little or nothing about diversifying the country’s economy—leaving it prey to pirates like the Bush gang and its obedient vassals in the E.U., Canada, Australia, Israel and the fascist regimes of Central and South America.
They’ve been pretty damned hopeless—but they’ve never been involved in the destruction of another country, leave alone four or five. And let’s not forget that the plight of the country, the suffering and the violence, is due mainly to the extreme right-wing, democracy-hating Venezuelan insurrectionists, and the aggressive and totally illegal “sanctions” imposed by U.S. regimes, mounting in ferocity and pitilessness following the failed coup of 2002.
You either support the rule of law and democratic elections, Gabby—or you meekly give in and reluctantly support Trump, Pence, Pompeo, Bolton, and Abrams.
What d’you reckon will happen when a government takes every measure it can to destroy legitimate opposition morrie? Including creating a new legislature to do an end run around the elected one?
“Legitimate” opposition? These are the insurrectionists that fought and lost the 2002 coup. They boycott elections because they know they will never get a large enough vote to win or to even cut a deal.
Venezuela’s elections in 2013 and 2018 were praised by all observers. Not the insurrectionists and their U.S. backers, but by all people who observed the elections. They were certainly far cleaner than the U.S. elections of virtually any year. (And, no, it wasn’t those Evil Masterminds, the RUSSIANS, it was the Republican gerrymanderers and the army of corrupt officials who disenfranchised hundreds of thousands, probably millions, of mainly African American and Latino voters.)
The Communists routinely boycotted elections as a matter of strategy in many countries. Did that invalidate all those Western European elections?
Boycotting is a dumbarse strategy morrie. I’m not recalling the praise of last year’s election though. Who were the praisors? Don’t count yourself.
Boycotting is a dumbarse strategy…
Not always. But it certainly was in this case. As one of the opponents of Maduro in last year’s election, Henri Falcón, explained: “Electoral boycotts almost never work. In country after country, opposition forces that abandoned the field of electoral competition have lost ground and allowed rulers to consolidate power.”
National effectively boycotted the Epsom seat in several recent elections, so as to enable a member of the ACT cult to get a seat. They did something similar to help Peter Dunne in Ohariu. Do those boycotts invalidate New Zealand’s last three or four elections?
The elections in Venezuela in 2013 and 2018 were cleaner and more transparent than any U.S. federal election. In 2013, even Forbes magazine could not deny that. Nothing changed in the intervening years, other than the extreme right’s self-inflicted massive injury of the boycott.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesleadershipforum/2013/05/14/venezuelas-election-system-holds-up-as-a-model-for-the-world/#4bb2eec671e2
Kate Hawkesby’s childish column berates Labour MPs for their clothes. Hmm, given her husband’s and her own choices, it was rather hypocritical.
To be fair for a 67 year old the make up artists do
a decent job on Mike Hosking.
Hosking dresses like a man with serious insecurity and self esteem problems.
And for Hawkesby, well that was a petulant and child-like rant. It didn’t do the Nats any favours at all which I’m sure was the purpose of the article.
Yes, our ripped jean, hairsprayed hero, Mr Hosking, and Katie’s “Ibiza nightclub” look are real fashion gems…
She would fit right in as one of the cast in that Brit programme “Benidorm”. And yes, clothing choices are up to each person’s preference, but when KH tosses the first stone……
Reality @ (2.2.1) … OMG Benidorm 🙂
Compared to KH, that show oozes class plus!
Does she not approve of clothes?
The popinjay and his flibbertigibbet
Enough +1
You beat me to it Reality:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=12198959
Yet another puerile and vitriolic rant by a Nat aligned MSM lackey. The CT backed instructions went out about 2 weeks ago I reckon – it’s “Dirty Politics” in its most virulent form from now until the next election.
Edit: Even questioned the presence of baby, Neve. She’s seven months old for God’s sake and needs her Mum. Dad might have work commitments as the moment.
Here it is:
Nasty piece of work.
Wonder what her teenage brats are up to these days.
How DARE people out of the office dress like they’re out of the office. It’s creeping communism gone mad.
Yeah Gabby, as she says weird as..
I’ll get in first before some dim-witted rwnj rabbits on about conspiracy theories;
The reference to CT backed instructions… is tongue in cheek. Got it?
+1
Crime against Humanity lashes out at its perceived crime against fashion
Anne @ (2.4) …
If KH had any idea and you’d think she would being a mother, she’d realise the reason baby Neve is there, Jacinda is most likely still breastfeeding!
KH comes across to me as dripping with envy and spite!
KH comes across to me as dripping with envy and spite!
Absolutely. She, and her other half, are so up themselves they can’t bear to think anyone is more intelligent and attractive than they are.
Every so often KH does produce a reasonable piece but I’m beginning to think its more by good luck than good management.
If her teenage offspring turn up half normal they’ll be doing okay. Some regularly scream about kids being to be taken off their parents to get them out of abusive environments. The sort of people who strenuously support Mike Hosking.
Is it right to leave kids in environments with polluted outlooks of their parents?
Hosking’s wife. What would you expect?
Morrissey……please put up that freaky photograph of Hosking in his ripped jeans, seemingly pointless chains, and something resembling a wannabe tough boy leather jacket……the one you posted a couple of years ago.
http://showstudio.com/img/contributors/1601-1800/1739_480n.jpg?1380037109
Her seventh to last paragraph sums it up.
“Nothing to see here”.
Nothing to read here, either, in this article
And if she can’t actually see what is happening at a retreat for a party in government’s caucus, then she is blind.
And if she thinks that she will get close to what is happening in politics, then taking pot shots at politicians over their casual dress won’t help.
Perhaps that is why she writes the shite. She can’t hack the real stuff, so instead hacks trivia.
More things to make you go hmmmm. Steve Munchkin has possible financial links to rooskies, lifts sanctions on rooskies, rooskies hire former Drumpf transition staffer.
https://www.salon.com/2019/01/30/with-sanctions-lifted-trump-transition-member-gets-board-position-on-russian-oligarchs-company/
Just a little spasiba and there’s more where that came from.
As the arguments about taxation culminate in the release of the tax report either today or tomorrow, the human cost of a low tax economy needs to be remembered. Richardson and Garner need to get of their high horses and go to Hospital Hill in Napier. There used to stand Napier Hospital. Closed in 1995 to pay for Bill Birchs tax cuts. It has been demolished now, but for 2 decades it stood as a reminder of where tax cuts after tax cut will enventually get us.
We need a capital gains tax. What is left of our health system need it.
We have a capital gains tax. Bridges has promised to remove it, but we don’t know how much tax revenue that will lose. (Yes there are many exemptions from treating capital gains as income – the family home being well-known.) National increased revenue from tax on capital gains by its “bright line” test which said that gains from the quick sale of property will automatically be regarded as taxable income unless there were special reasons – Bridges now wants to cut out all tax on capital gains – whoopee for those involved in buying and selling companies for a profit . . .
Ed1 yes business would like that.
if you bought shares when some of the SOEs were sold, you have done quite well, but it would be good if you didn’t have to pay tax on those gains – does Bridges have a cunning plan to help a few blind trusts for retiring National politicians?
Bill English’s role in the destruction of a world class health system in this country has been forgotten. Which is a pity.
Yes. English intended to drive the Public Health system into ruin so that Presto. The Private system can ride in to pick up the broken bits that can be turned into profit. Just as in Britain it is happening so, right now.
We must have a Health system like the Americans. Right?
Yes, American’s spend the most on health care in the world and have one of the worst most expensive and inequatitable systems. I think something like 40% of American’s don’t even have access to health care and they are paying through the nose for that!
Happy to say, NZ health system is still very good, like our educations system, but you can see how the privatisation and routing and lowering of standards, while making it free (in real terms) to 4 million tourists per year and hundreds of thousands of the world living here who don’t require to pay any extra in real terms (because even if you are supposed to pay, you don’t really have to) or have private health insurance before entering the country, so the quality issues are being subtly and not so subtly pushed… We now seem to have as many people in NZ per year in NZ using all the roads, medical and hospitals and services as those who permanently live here…
The government might be aiming to stabilise migration, but decreasing immigration seems to be “in the ‘too hard basket” for now. Hope they keep their eye on the long-term ‘ball’.
“privatisation and
routingrorting and lowering of standards” (just once, for info only)Thanks Drowsy. But under Labour/NZ First/Greens last year sounds like immigration and work permits INCREASED (not stabilised) dramatically, according to TDB, 4 million tourists, 129,000 new migrants and 150,000 temporary work permits, combined they nearly equal the resident population of NZ.
Meanwhile reports of apparently work shortages seem to be lies… as local workers in constructions are having to lay off people because their wages have become too low and small (local) builders are shut out of the contracts as it becomes about who you know and lowest cost …
Smaller Christchurch building companies struggling to find work
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/381149/smaller-christchurch-building-companies-struggling-to-find-work
Chch builders out of work as rebuild construction dries up
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018680157/chch-builders-out-of-work-as-rebuild-construction-dries-up
Meanwhile a lot of money spent on middle men touting to place overseas workers into NZ…
New Zealand Job Openings for Filipinos, No Placement Fee Country, and Manpower Agency List
https://mattscradle.com/new-zealand-job-openings-for-filipinos/
NZ has a quality construction issue which after lazy immigration, is the 2nd biggest problem facing the housing crisis. As fast as our Rogernomics market based construction solutions build them, they need remedial work and can’t be lived in, throwing more people out to rent who should be home owners living in their homes, and then the construction firms themselves are liquidated…
If a company is liquidated there should be proper penalties for the directors including not being able to be a company director for at least a decade… and personal fines.
Perhaps then the firms would be more choosy and of a higher standard and less likely to liquidate at the first sign of trouble so they don’t have to pay their workers and subcontractors…
It seems that being undercut by so many overseas players with deep pockets is a factor. Who knows how many of them are bringing in overseas workers and profiting from underpaying them (like the listed NZ firms) and getting payments for the job…. meanwhile the big players are able to hoover up all the housing contracts…
Also poor plans being approved by council have also been a factor…
Big builder Corbel Construction in liquidation
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12170789
Leaky building repairs drag on: $24m bill yet 81 townhouses still uninhabitable
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12098276
Auckland construction company folds, 55 staff laid off, more failures predicted
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11909184
The problem is that the firms bringing in the low cost labour and tourists are having their profits subsidised by Kiwi taxpayers who have to pay for the hospitals and schools and roads and wastewater that all these cheaper workers and tourists need, meanwhile throwing our local firms paying better wages under the bus and putting them out of work, or the standards have fallen so low with construction with planning, labour and materials that the new buildings need remedial work almost immediately and the tourist ventures are more likely to be overseas owned with substantial overseas labour to run them… so it’s a Ponzi… because it is not sustainable.
Labour and Auckland council wants more taxes on the middle classes because they are easy targets, National is seizing it’s chances to squeeze back into power… all in all very depressing…
If user pays were user pays, then shouldn’t those using the services and bringing in the workers have to pay big bucks for the visas, have a bond if their workers leave so are not actually doing the work, have a much higher threshold for being able to bring someone in, (aka pay at the top end of the pay scale for the so called ‘experience’) so that there is money to pay for the hospitals and schools and roads and waster water of their overseas workers and 4 million tourists are not subsidised by the tax payers on NZ who are also being shunted off the hospital waiting lists or spending 4 hours in traffic each day or can’t swim in their water ways because their is too much pollution.
Like wise the ‘private’ educational institutions many of whom are just conduits for residency of low quality poorly educated people, who suddenly sport a ‘masters’ they bought from a NZ institution mostly private who gets $20k per year from them.
Unlike the more well known international universities in the top 100 universities in the world, increasingly in NZ we are devaluing our tertiary institutions with paid degrees that accepts anybody with the cash… regardless of their educational ability or inability.
Sounds good. So, what you’re saying is that NZ universities have been lowering their entry criteria and have a special category for cashed-up no-hopers. I couldn’t find any evidence for this though …
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/applications-and-admissions/entry-requirements/undergraduate-entry-requirements.html
You can make a donation but I don’t believe they give you an academic degree for that, just a receipt for IRD.
https://www.giving.auckland.ac.nz/en/Home.html
YES. And if memory still serves, wasn’t there some question about NAT’S investing in Ryman’s?? and that policy looked tailormade ????? Someone may recall.
+1 millsy
Reality drew attention to a very interesting column on Noted. It is very perceptive written by Graham Adams. It gives a insight into the words of Jacinda, the background to Paula, Jamie Lee, and Sarah. Worth reading for its own sake.
Thanks Reality.
https://www.noted.co.nz/currently/politics/sarah-dowie-jami-lee-ross-parliaments-star-crossed-lovers-who-crossed-each-other/
Thanks ianmac.
Filed for future reference.
@ianmac Re the article by Graham Adams on Noted.
I did not note any perception in the article.
Just the usual selective bias cherry picking info
and juxtaposition to ” prove” a point
Some one else comes along and through similar
cherry picking juxtaposition proves the opposite.
Does get tiresome .
No shortage of cherry pickers in this country.
There are thousands on social media 🙂
Your cynicism rata, could be applied to all and every point of view especially where no scientific evidence is available but even then bias can twist.
So by your rule there is no value in exploring any idea ever. How boring.
Sorry The Standard has been killed off by Rata. Goodbye all.
Rata would have improved his ‘argument’ with examples and evidence.
Ianmac
Please don’t go. You and your contributions here have been long and valued by me, and I know, many others.
I and some others (Anne, Redlogix) have been having a conversation this morning over on the post on “The world cannot afford billionaires” about behaviours here and related matters. Go and have a read – just check the sidebar as the links are there eg Anne to me, me to me, Redlogix to me etc. Hope that may help change your mind.
Re Rata, I am not going to criticise him or her as he/she has the same rights to comment here as me, provided he/she complies with the rules in the TS’ Policy.
However, since this new personality appeared recently, I have been a bit bemused by his/her postings and personally I decided the best thing to do was just ignore. IMHO he/she really does not post enough substance to bother replying to or attempting any debate on the issues raised. There is not much point when there are so many other more interesting interactions going on here.
And thank you for posting that link. I meant to do so on Sunday (?) when I first read it and we were discussing that issue on MS’s post on the $100,000 donation. So we need you to stay!!!!
Same sentiments from me ian.
veutoviper. I have a huge sense of humour (though my wife only laughs sometimes) and I was really just grinning to myself as I wrote my response to rata. I thought he was trying to be too clever so responded in that vein. I am not leaving TS. Some serious ideas here but I like the sort of response people like Robert sometimes give us too. Brightens the day.
And yes I read your plan of how a blog should run. Good stuff.
I am pleased you were grinning to yourself – but I didn’t laugh because I thought you were serious! Agree re Robert’s responses.
And my other comments were not a plan – just thoughts.
Stay please ianmac. Your posts are always interesting and informative.
Another interesting snapshot of how perceptions of women’s and men’s performance varies even when doing the same job.
https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2019/01/theres-a-bigger-difference-between-6-and-10-than-you-think/
50 years ago the Beatles played their rooftop concert.
It was their last appearance together as a band.
Ace.
Lennon and McCartney = the greatest composers of popular music since Mozart
This utube clip has had over 205 million views….
Cough cough, Bob Dylan, cough cough.
Cough, cough, Michael Maybrick, cough cough.
Cough, cough, Irving Berlin, Hal David and Burt Bacharach, Gerry Goffin, Ellie Greenwich, Paul Kelly….
Yeah…nah.
If I hummed tunes, the 50+ masses would excel at identifying the Beatles numbers. The Beatles ownership of popular music is waning but what a run.
C’mon Morrisey, I could whistle 30 Beatles tunes and you’d identify every one of them.
Thanks for that…is so easy to forget how timelessly good they were/are
Idiot Piers Morgan upset when historian points out that
Churchill was responsible for the starvation of millions of Bengalis.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/piers-morgan-in-furious-row-with-msp-over-tweet-labelling-churchill-a-white-supremacist-mass-a4051366.html
https://winstonchurchill.hillsdale.edu/did-churchill-cause-the-bengal-famine/
Churchill as Minister of defence in 1914 refused credit to Turkey to enable for them to regain their repaired naval ships. The result was that Turkey was powerless to withstand pressure from Germany. The Germans “gave” a ship to Turkey, raised a Turkish flag on her, then sent her in to the Black Sea to shell a Russian town. Thus, Churchill’s decision tipped Turkey into being our enemy. Well done Winston.
Churchill is one of the few people about whom I am very ambivalent. He did great things and he did terrible things, and most of his actions all came from the same place and attitude. He connected with people from all classes and was a considerate officer in the trenches, but he also set tanks and cavalry on workers. And so many other juxtapositions.
Pretty much everyone with an opinion on him is correct, lovers and haters all.
He certainly contained multitudes.
It’s perhaps worth noting that his descendants continue to wreak havoc among the underprivileged. His horrible grandson Rupert Soames was in charge of that awful Serco shitshow.
‘
“I know Churchill is a monster. But he is our monster”
Clement Attlee
Starts off badly as it’s possible to start off, by endorsing a less than mediocre book by that numbskull Boris Johnson, for pity’s sake.
The “Churchill Project” is going to be about as rigorous as a Mike Hosking three minute radio rant.
It is all referenced and appears to be in direct contradiction to the piece you have chosen to troll with.
It starts off by endorsing Boris Johnson. Any organization with so little judgment is neither serious nor credible.
The sort of stupidity and bureaucracy we have come to expect from NZ officials…
Kaikoura homeless sent 260km away as housing units sit empty
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018680086/kaikoura-homeless-sent-260km-away-as-housing-units-sit-empty
“Non a l’Eurovision 2019 en Israel!”
Move Eurovision From Israel, Peter Gabriel and Leading U.K. Artists Urge BBC
Signatories to letter say venue must change because of ‘Israel’s systematic violation of Palestinian human rights’; BBC rejects call
Haaretz, Jan. 30, 2019
Some 50 British cultural figures, including musician Peter Gabriel and actress Julie Christie, signed a letter published on Tuesday in the Guardian calling on the BBC to push for the locale of this year’s Eurovision song contest to be changed because of “Israel’s systematic violation of Palestinian human rights.”
The BBC rejected the call, saying it was ‘inappropriate to use the BBC’s participation for political reasons.’
“The European Broadcasting Union chose Tel Aviv as the venue over occupied Jerusalem – but this does nothing to protect Palestinians from land theft, evictions, shootings, beatings and more by Israel’s security forces,” read the letter.
“The BBC is bound by its charter to ‘champion freedom of expression,'” the figures said. “It should act on its principles and press for Eurovision to be relocated to a country where crimes against that freedom are not being committed.”
Also among the dozens of signatories were filmmakers Mike Leigh and Ken Loach, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, and musician Roger Waters.
Earlier this month, protesters in France stormed the stage after a performance by Netta Barzilai, who won the song contest in 2018, carrying a sign saying “Non a l’Eurovision 2019 en Israel!” (No to Eurovision 2019 in Israel).
https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2019/01/peter-gabriel-move-eurovision-from.html
I would think letting Israel host the Eurovision Song Contest would be a form of punishment for them, but they aren’t sharp enough to know the difference.
Hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in Israel? Surely this in itself is an admission that Israel is not part of the Middle East, but an artificial Western colony, in the Middle East
Ha ! Staging Miss Universe in Moscow ‘pisses all over’ that,
Sounds like something Trump might have been involved in.
He was certainly “involved” in a few beauty contests in the U.S.
“I sorta get away with things like that….”
Who knew Ports of Auckland were privately owned… maybe they think that they are because of the stupid COO structure but unless they were sold off by Auckland council they are still an asset owned by the ratepayers of Auckland or are supposed to be even if they are under the Rogernomics structure…
Pretty sure Ports of Auckland will face climate change issues, but of course keep head head in sand and collect bonuses…
Govt needs to fill gaps on climate infrastructure cost
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/381388/govt-needs-to-fill-gaps-on-climate-infrastructure-cost
Hi Save, (from the RNZ link you supplied)
It is hard to believe that this sentence was written by an actual journalist. As well as being factually incorrect, it is grammatically incorrect as well.
If they spoke this sentence out loud, you would wonder if they were mentally challenged.
https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/international/362616-uk-finance-industry-to-shrug-off-brexit-and-grow—hammond
https://www.theherald.com.au/story/5879428/hard-brexit-could-be-hard-on-aussie-farm-export-plans/
The old economics’ engines of imperialism are outdated. Further more, no one can out China, China.
Technology, and the unstoppable nature of the demands of a increasingly multi-polar nature to world economic growth, along with those practicalities to sustainable resource management, requires the economics of Quantity, whether that be the numbers of segregated financial gains or overall volumes traded, transition to the economics of Quality ( the value systems of the less direct tangibles in the co-operative life styles of the societal demand & supply being developed – which NZ is starting upon to the terms of the Govt’s first wellbeing budget).
A Brexit of that for example,
https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/high-earners-pay-to-rise-seven-times-faster-than-average-in-2019-37766793.html
isn’t really that different to the outcomes on societal market forces to a free trade deal with expansionist China perhaps.
If shit like this doesn’t drive Lenin to rise from his grave to strangle the kleptocratic gangsters occupying the Kremlin, then nothing will.
Russia’s Justice Ministry has proposed exempting officials in “exceptional circumstances” from anti-corruption regulations in new draft legislation, following a plan set by Russian President Vladimir Putin last year.
Russia ranks among the world’s most corrupt countries, with Transparency International’s annual corruption perceptions index ranking it in 138th place this year out of 180 countries.
[…]
The Justice Ministry did not provide examples of the “exceptional circumstances” that would allow officials to escape punishment. Russia’s Vedomosti business daily reported Monday that the ministry would provide specific examples of exemptions to anti-corruption laws after public discussions of the proposal wrap up on Feb. 8.
The measures to amend the legislation were proposed by Putin in an anti-corruption plan he signed in June 2018.
Ilya Shumanov, the deputy head of Transparency International Russia, told the publication that the amendments provide loopholes for officials to avoid responsibility.
“There’s not a single rational explanation for the use of exceptional circumstances when an official couldn’t declare a conflict of interest,” Vedomosti quoted Shumanov as saying.
https://themoscowtimes.com/news/russia-moves-decriminalize-unavoidable-corruption-following-putins-proposal-64316
Really interesting case study of “conversion disorder”, previously referred to as mass hysteria
The diplomats withdrawn from the Cuban embassy with injuries caused by a mysterious “”sonic or microwave weapon developed by the Soviets” turned out to have been bothered by crickets
I’m feeling the same , the cicadas are crazy noisy this year.
an excerpt
” In terms of locations under pressure, embassies are strong candidates, especially when a considerable number of the staff are undercover spies. One C.I.A. agent told me that these low-grade panics happen a lot. Writing in The New Yorker in 2008, the novelist and former British spy, John le Carré, made the case that spies are susceptible to a unique form of hysteria. ”
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/01/the-real-story-behind-the-havana-embassy-mystery
Strangely the Guardian is still pumping this fake news story
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/31/canada-cuts-staff-in-cuba-embassy-after-mystery-illness-strikes-again
The unknown cause struck a building of people here in NZ recently. Ambulances etc. Then the kids who smelt compost?
(I heard my first cicada for the season yesterday here in sunny Marlborough.)
BlandLiarSarah@Swamp:
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2019/01/30/sarah-sanders-cbn-god-wanted-trump-president-sot-ebof-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/?fbclid=IwAR3l6s7xPK_cJ5IG8T8ezT2GisvaHi7u_72N-bW7zM6lloituzZn2LpUv7k
Guess Nancy Pelosi’s fucked then……
God’s will Trumps all, North and South.
Kia ora The AM Show technical you are correct mark officially a heatwave is 5 days of 5 degrees above the normal level of heat. But I say our temperature should be measured in the full Sun then we will get the actual temperature that will be 5 degrees higher than what is been reported. Why my you ask that Eco Maori is advocating this change well its to warn the vulnerable elderly people.
People under the bridge the actual temperature they will be exposed to when outside with no nice air conditioning whare /house like the wealthy can afford and minimise any deaths caused by the heat wave records are still being broken. Also that neanderthal from America that you and duncan were waving your little flags for has been suppressing any media around Papatuanukue from taking about climate change. I also know that for accuracy of the Papatuanukue temptures by metrologist the whole Papatuanukue will have to change and measure the actual temperature in the midday Sun to minimise un factual temperature readings
The Tawhirirmate wind of change is getting under big businesses skirts that its is not on that management get more money than they can spend and the people making the company’s dividends are just serviving. West Pack bank giving there workers the living wages. The AM Show is a cracked record replaying Kiwi build every day that’s a typical neanderthal trait repeat repeat can not think of a intelligent positive topic I see this trait in other Neanderthals. All intelligent people can work out whats bullshit and what’s fact 97 % of OUR scientist have proven that climate change is a fact but thee neanderthal goes with the 3% of scientists that have a conflict of interest and the oil barrons spinning and deny climate change. Your man in New York is not quite accurate the polar freezing that’s hitting New York at the minute was predicted by the 97% of scientists that neanderthals chose to ignore years ago . The cause of New York freezing is directly linked to the polar ice caps melting and that phenomenon is causing the Polar Vortex to wabble hence the polar vortex now covers thousands of miles of more land in that region than in normal condition. I did look at the story now for accuracy but I read this prediction last year.??????????.Bruce Stick LEASE HOLD LAND to foreigners. But for THE Average KIWIS that system of leaseing land will make us much more poorer Make it that foreigners only being able to lease land this will protect the average KIWIS living standards. judy why didn’t you talk about the duopoly of buildings suppliers in Aotearoa when you weren’t warming the opposition seats O that’s why the old men hogging the dividends from those 2 big companies are nationals main political donator /BRIBES Who shorted the housing market this phenomenon has been traveling throughout the Western Society’s housing markets being shorted so the wealthy can reap the capital gains. The neanderthal that are shorting housing market in the west cannot think past there own well-being or even their tamariki future.
The banks make enough profits to cover paying their employees a living wage especially when they charge life insurance policy holders 4 million people have some cover 25% in fees that’s the highest charges in the Western Papatuanukue.? Advertiseing Alcohol????. Its the cleaners the security guards that will be better off with the bank finally paying the living wage. Bull trades are getting $25 a hour +. What a the lower paid workers get has know collaborations or a effective on what the higher skilled worker earns at all. Ka kite ano. P.S know mark all commercial organisations will use most things to gain customers. The bankers don’t like – – – – Ana to kai
What Eco Maori is upset about this system is it lies to Maori & PI people the professionals say they don’t know why we have these health problems . Thats discrimanation there who cares about them If they die so be it they are infiror dosen’t matter. How is the system lieing these professionals know for a fact that SUGAR and ALCOHOL is one of the main causes of many health deases that kill US off before we get to 55 years old hence the longevity gap .The system lets business surround poorer communitys with shop’s selling these EVIL prouducts sugar and alcohol and gambling bars as well WTF. If one goes to a wealthy suburb you won’t see outlets flogging this shit for many miles. You see the innocent Tangata think we would not sell someone a prouduct that would cause there life to be shortened by 20 years so the white man would not do this they trust the system to have there best interest at heart YEA RIGHT .The capitilist system is buyer be ware on price and the effects of the prouduct has on ones health. Even if the system knows the prouduct kill’s people early one still has to prove its a FACT in the UNJUSTICE system before it becomes fact or have millions of dollars of studys dune to prove the facts that the professionals know is a fact but say nothing to keep there dividens flowing into there hip pockets from the companys that flogg this SHIT. Thats OUR reality WHANO
Western medicine says many Māori and most Pasifika people are obese. Some people are angry about the system that ‘fat-shames’ them in this way. Others are focused on finding solutions that actually work. Carmen Parahi reports.
Gina Sausau is vital, her body is strong, she fizzes with enthusiasm.
The 31-year old encourages others – mainly Māori and Pasifika people – motivating them with her words and inspiring them into action.
Yet three years ago, she was a different, physically and mentally heavier woman.
The health sector and the measures they’re using for Māori and PI is not working. They don’t take into consideration our culture. Everything they’re doing to combat obesity is not going to work.”
The New Zealand Health Survey 2017/18 found nearly a third of Kiwis are obese. Those living in deprived areas, where Māori and Pasifika peoples are often over-represented, were 1.6 times as likely to be obese.
Letele wants the Government to put a cap on the number of fast food joints allowed to operate in low socio-economic areas.
“Go and look around Mangere and parts of West Auckland. You won’t see that in Remuera or Mission Bay. We’re being targeted but we’re falling for it.
“Our kids are walking to school eating fizzy and pie. We’re bombarded with it, that’s the issue for me. We get less money, it’s just hard.” Ka kite ano links below P.S Alcohol is loaded with sugar
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/110265031/the-stigma-of-a-system-that-
fat-shames-mori-and-pasifika-people
Some Eco Maori Music for the minute.
Well Whanau Eco Maori has been reasearching our history our tipuna’s .
I seen storys back in 1840 of maori complaining about not getting the same money for poaka as his Europeen neighbours they got $2 a poaka and maori only got $1 so one can see that this discriminational behaviour would have flowed through all froms of commerce in the New Zealand systems for 250 years. Quickly eroding Tangata Whenua money whenua and mana this is the compounding effect in reverse
A compounding effect is if my 6 X greatgrand father Jose put $2 in a bank acount it would be worth $2 million at the minute. So one can see that this Europeen behaviour to Tanagta Whenua O Aotearoa has had a devestating effect on Maori wealth how well if my 6x greatgrandfather Jose had $2 million in assets back then it would eroded down to $2 at the minute . (Kia Kaha Wahine Eco Maori Tau tokos you all they way)
First milestone for Mana Wahine claim at Waitangi Tribunal
A claim lodged by Te Rūnanga o Ngā Toa Awhina – the rūnanga of the Public Service Association – to address employment inequities suffered by Māori women has now been officially registered by the Waitangi Tribunal as claim Wai 2864.
“It’s fantastic the Tribunal will hear our claim. It calls out the Crown for its failure to address injustices that have relegated generations of wāhine Māori to low paid jobs with working conditions that leave them extremely vulnerable,” said Georgina Kerr, one of four PSA members who lodged the claim on behalf of Te Rūnanga o Ngā Toa Awhina.
This includes the failure of the education system to adequately prepare wāhine Māori for meaningful employment, the failure to eliminate bias and discrimination in the workplace, and the failure to consistently fund services that should be enhancing the lives of Māori wāhine and their whānau.
PSA Kaiwhakarite Māori Marcia Puru said “many wāhine Māori have been chronically disadvantaged by these breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi. That has to stop”.
Latest figures from the State Services Commission show while Pākehā women in the Public Service earn 13% less than their male counterparts, wāhine Māori earn 22% less than Pākehā men. Ka kite ano links below
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1901/S00144/first-milestone-for-mana-wahine-claim-at-waitangi-tribunal.htm
Some Eco Maori Music for the minute
Was it really the “unruly tourists?”
“An 82-year-old woman believes a trio of the unruly tourists scammed her out of almost $9000, claiming they would fix her roof but left a hole in her ceiling….
Leonard (the 82 year old woman) told Newshub that she recognised one of the three from the rowdy British tourist group when she saw photos.
The group caught the attention of worldwide media after a seemingly innocuous litter incident at Takapuna Beach erupted into a North Island tale of thefts, unpaid bills and general nuisance behaviour….
…The police arrived shortly after, saying they had tracked the car’s registration to a motel but that they had not yet made any arrests.”
https://www.nzherald.co.nz//nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12199489&ref=clavis