The last five days

Written By: - Date published: 5:53 pm, September 25th, 2014 - 63 comments
Categories: election 2014, labour, Satire - Tags:

A train is travelling through a nasty thunderstorm. It’s an express train; it’s late at night, and it’s travelling fast. The bad weather unnerves the driver. He’s had several close calls already. He squints through the small window in the cab, at the curve ahead ahead. He’s travelling too fast, he can’t recover. The brakes scream on – but it’s too late. The train derails, slides off the tracks, and crumples instantly into a heap of twisted metal, slammed up against the embankment.

Rescue workers make their way to the accident site. The paramedics arrive first, then the firefighters and the police officers. It’s major news – the TV news crews all arrive quickly. Newspapers. Bloggers.

An odd thing starts to happen. Instead of helping the survivors and securing the scene, the rescue crew start fighting amongst themselves. How did the crash happen? Was it was the driver’s fault? What was the main cause of the accident?

By now, there’s a decent sized crowd looking on. But it gets worse – no one can agree. The paramedics, the firefighters, and the police – not one of them seems to be in charge of the recovery. They’re still bickering about what happened. Worse still, some of the emergency services have decided to tweet their frustrations.

In the few remaining carriages the survivors are wet, sick, and cold. It’s still raining, and they’re injured – some severely. Their rescuers keep arguing about where to start.

The paramedics are convinced that it’s important to shift the blame to the driver before they start the rescue. But the driver has suffered major trauma – he’s incoherent and struggling to remember what happened. If they could reach him, they might see that while he will survive, it’s obvious that he will never be able to drive trains again.

train crashA few of the quieter rescuers are huddled together – they want to assess the damage and focus on recovery. They’ve trained for this. They don’t want to run into the wreck and pull out whoever they see just in case they get hurt themselves. But they’re worried if they don’t cooperate, there’s a growing risk it will get much worse.

The journalists start asking questions – are the rescue crews having trouble cooperating because they’re all from different services? Some of the senior officers have been around for a long time – is this why they’re not cooperating? By the time the survivors are pulled out, it’s clear that some will not make it.

It’s morning now, the day after the crash. There’s no shortage of work to do. Some of the train carriages are salvageable, but it will require a massive recovery effort.

The whole community will need to pitch in to clean this up.

 

Sophia

63 comments on “The last five days ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Chooky 1
    25 September 2014 at 5:55 pm

    sounds like caucus fighting to blame and get rid of Cunliffe…after a bad Labour crash…

    • SHG 1.1
      25 September 2014 at 6:14 pm

      PLUS ONE INSIGHTFUL

    • tricledrown 1.2
      25 September 2014 at 10:20 pm

      Cunliffe is not the problem!
      A growing economy
      Dot Con Fucked up allowing the whole left to be blamed including the hager book>
      Key sacking Collins looked good!
      terrorist raids across the ditch helped Keys Spying excuses!
      National party Ads were very good and painted labour and the left as incompetent which stuck because of of Dotcom,s dumbarse political naivity!
      Then the right wing media had all the running!
      labour has to go back to pressing the flesh at ground level!
      Working with the greens on the same wavelength and policy so National can’t divide and conquer!
      On the positive side the Internet Mana Party has disappeared giving one less stick that the right can attack labour with!
      labour have to stick with Cunliffe like they did with Helen Clark!
      No more self destructing!
      Cunliffe performed very credibly and his popularity continued to grow during the elections !
      Robertson is to much of a politician Shearer can’t match it with Key Adern is to fresh!

      • Naki man 1.2.1
        26 September 2014 at 12:45 pm

        I agree with 99% of your comment
        ” Dotcom,s dumbarse political naivity!”
        Quite funny really Dotcon spent $millions trying to remove National
        from government and helped them to a landslide victory.

  2. karol 2
    25 September 2014 at 6:15 pm

    But who was the driver? Was the driver actually in control, or were some of his staff trying to tell him how he should be driving.

    how do you know the driver will never be able to drive trains again, if the emergency services have not been able to get to him and do a full diagnosis of his injuries?

    • Skinny 2.1
      25 September 2014 at 6:49 pm

      No Karol they actively plotted against the leader undermining him where ever they thought they could get their man air time, thus securing a easier transition when the train crash eventuated. I got the heads up all was not as it seemed, and plenty within the caucus were sitting on their hands. I sent an Invitation to DC only for it not to reach him, his PR staff were bewildered. So I say those pricks in Wellington had interests outside of actually winning the election. On reflexion you only had to look at who was at the leaders election night HQ, or should I say who wasn’t there.

      I suggest the Wellington brigade be depowered by switching the powerbase to South Auckland home of the real grunt workers within Labour.

      As far as I’m concerned we will fight to change Labour but not to strengthen the beltway but to undo them. Then I’m out off to start another political force more true to the values that represent us.

    • lurgee 2.2
      25 September 2014 at 6:51 pm

      I think you need to digest this part:

      Instead of helping the survivors and securing the scene, the rescue crew start fighting amongst themselves. How did the crash happen? Was it was the driver’s fault? What was the main cause of the accident?

      By now, there’s a decent sized crowd looking on. But it gets worse – no one can agree.

      Though as you’re a Green voter (as am I) I think we’re more the cows in the field nearby, mooing impotently.

      • karol 2.2.1
        25 September 2014 at 7:26 pm

        I was commenting mostly on this bit:

        But the driver has suffered major trauma – he’s incoherent and struggling to remember what happened. If they could reach him, they might see that while he will survive, it’s obvious that he will never be able to drive trains again.

    • J Mex 2.3
      25 September 2014 at 10:04 pm

      I think what actually happened was this:

      There was an enormous train crash. The rescue workers turned up to assess the damage. The media arrive as well. The train driver was giving a stand up chat… “What an amazing train! Did you see how fast it was going around the track!!! [tries to high five people] “Can I get a ‘Choo Choo’!”, “Let’ s go build a fasttttter one… ”

      The onlookers are confused. Maybe this guy wasn’t even on the train??? Wiser heads dismiss this. He is clearly the driver – ” he is still clutching a broken steering wheel FFS! ”

      OK. He’s obviously got a head injury from the impact that is affecting his judgement. He is talking complete nonsense. Just smile and give him a cup of tea.

      But will SOMEONE PLEASE confiscate his keys.

    • Murray Olsen 2.4
      26 September 2014 at 1:25 am

      The rest of the crew were actively sabotaging the train and disconnected the corner signals, as well as perforating the brake lines. The driver might have noticed this, but he was too busy sabotaging the Hone class locomotive that he thought might take away his passengers.

  3. greywarbler 3
    25 September 2014 at 6:16 pm

    Sounds like 9/11 – the various crew were on different phones, wavelengths. Or Pike River, those in charge were frozen under regulations on proper procedure when handling boiling water for morning and afternoon teas and couldn’t find the disaster guidelines.

    Don’t know how to apply it to the NZ election. Are first class getting out and being given limousines home while third class are pinned down and weeping?

    Isn’t there a site control manager? The train driver in a wreck is important, but the injured are also. We are not in a wreck with mortally injured people expiring. Don’t see it as a viable analogy.
    edited

  4. SPC 4
    25 September 2014 at 6:28 pm

    It’s those voters dependent on the Labour Party for good governance who will get hurt if the party crashes and burns at an election.

    • SPC 4.1
      25 September 2014 at 6:42 pm

      Many hold Cunliffe’s reaction to the result on election night against him. It’s not the defeat but the reaction to the defeat argument to how the party survives the crash. Leading to the notion that if we just blame the driver then he can no longer drive again.

      Others are blaming the selection system for the driver being a driver in the first place to take control of party democracy back to caucus by holding the rescue hostage to the caucus getting their way on this.

  5. Ant 5
    25 September 2014 at 6:33 pm

    What about that shiny Green train over there? It’s just about to leave. 😀

    • Sans Cle 5.1
      25 September 2014 at 9:34 pm

      Am on that train………out of my car and into public transport……….it’s not a gravy train like the shiny blue one over there!

  6. Marksman33 6
    25 September 2014 at 6:40 pm

    Was the train Chinese built or Spanish built ? either way, after much discussion, The driver is to blame. That’s the Kiwi way.

  7. newsense 7
    25 September 2014 at 6:46 pm

    So the caucus were passengers? Sounds about right looking at their party vote tallys.
    An old fashion sailing ship with 7 skippers would be a better analogy.

    • lurgee 7.1
      25 September 2014 at 6:52 pm

      Instead of helping the survivors and securing the scene, the rescue crew start fighting amongst themselves. How did the crash happen? Was it was the driver’s fault? What was the main cause of the accident?

      By now, there’s a decent sized crowd looking on. But it gets worse – no one can agree.

      She’s talking about you, there.

  8. newsense 8
    25 September 2014 at 6:48 pm

    Or if I read it better they were never on board?

  9. Hanswurst 9
    25 September 2014 at 6:58 pm

    Surely for this analogy to work, the driver would also have to be the director of the emergency response crews. Perhaps the problem wasn’t so much the driver’s capabillites, as that he was constantly forced to answer his mobile while driving, having to co-ordinate the responses when senior emergency services staff inexplicably managed to start fires in their own offices.

  10. Blue 10
    25 September 2014 at 7:03 pm

    Some people in the train company engineered the crash for the insurance money, knowing they could pin all the blame on the driver.

    • Skinny 10.1
      25 September 2014 at 7:18 pm

      +1 You got that right!

      • Chooky 10.1.1
        25 September 2014 at 8:49 pm

        lol…well I dont think they were there to help the driver

        ..it was maybe a doomed train to begin with….with no warrant of fitness …and ripping along on a poorly maintained track…with an ill-tempered , uncooperative , undisciplined crew who mostly resented the nominated driver
        ….and it met a perfect storm of unforeseen events, (with adverse hasty decision consequences mounting up)…. and engineered maleficence.

        • Sans Cle 10.1.1.1
          25 September 2014 at 9:30 pm

          Wasn’t the crash due to privatisation of the rail, then buying it back, once asset stripped and needing significant reinvestment?

    • Thinker 10.2
      26 September 2014 at 6:06 am

      not sure if I’ve copied this asa hyperlink or not, but your story reminded me of this…

      http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Train_Robbery_(1963)

  11. the pigman 11
    25 September 2014 at 7:23 pm

    Cute analogy, vividly conveyed.

    At the end of the day, it sounds like just another Wellington staffer/Robertson Young Labour acolyte calling for Cunliffe’s head.

    Funny thing to do, though, characterising the Labour caucus as “rescue workers”. Don’t you think?

    • weka 11.1
      25 September 2014 at 7:25 pm

      Maybe they were the other train staff. Who instead of looking after each other and the passengers, set about blaming each other and trying to manipulate who was going to be next train driver.

      But then there is the problem of who the passengers are. Membership? Voters?

      The rescue crew should be those outside who want to help Labour in trouble.

  12. weka 12
    25 September 2014 at 7:23 pm

    Heh, just this afternoon I described to someone that following politics on line this week is like watching a train wreck in slow motion (ref Labour party).

    • Sans Cle 12.1
      25 September 2014 at 10:57 pm

      You know what? Last Sunday week (pre election) I was thinking we were in for a week of a train wreck for National, given Greenwald’s allegations! I know HOW (complicit media, public “believing” his declassified docs, even though they had nothing to do with Greenwald’s allegations) Key managed to avoid a mess…….but it still beggars belief that one week later, we see this! Truly astonishing. …..and what a bloody week makes in politics!

  13. newsense 13
    25 September 2014 at 7:25 pm

    @ lurgee sure why not? How about this : the train hit a storm and lost its payload because every officer decided to protect their own carriage and detached it from the train, because if they saved their cargo they might get a driving gig. They lost a lot of cargo. They didn’t tell the driver who used all his skill to bring the train safely to the destination as best as he could. Despite the carriages who didn’t detach holding a lot of cargo, the driver gets the blame for the lot and the detachees start to viscerally attack his judgement as they jockey to take
    over as driver. The driver has worked for the railways for a long time and been a reasonable driver in the short time he’s had the wheel. Many voices blame him, but many who need the cargo and are making do with less remember him from over the years and still back him.

  14. Tigger 14
    25 September 2014 at 7:38 pm

    The media are stoking this fire?

    Did they incite such discord after 2002 (when National got less vite than Labour just did)? Of course not!

    Ignore the pundits, regroup and stop leaking.

    Oh, and to those who are planning g to be leader – if you’re a straight white male then you don’t have my vote. Had three in a row – time for change.

  15. ropata 15
    25 September 2014 at 8:27 pm

    later on the accident investigation reveals that the track was greased with whale blubber, the instructions to the driver had been garbled by sinister hackers, and the brake cables were rusted by a strange blue acid of reptilian origin

  16. philj 16
    25 September 2014 at 9:27 pm

    xox
    Or is it more like the Erebus flight disaster when Captain Collins (deceased) gets blamed for crashing into the mountain after been given faulty map coordinates? Cunners is the fall guy for a massive systemic failure imo.

    • KJT 16.1
      25 September 2014 at 9:46 pm

      Except it was Collins job to check the waypoints. No matter where they came from.

      Unlike Cunliffe, who was shafted in the air by his senior officers.

      You don’t trust the shore staff with your navigation.

    • Chooky 16.2
      25 September 2014 at 10:10 pm

      philj + KJT +100..and the driver/pilot could not check the coordinates because he was too busy watching his back…and flying into a whiteout storm

      …He was flying blind and at speed, totally reliant on the navigators’ coordinates ….which were wrong

  17. Redzone 17
    25 September 2014 at 9:35 pm

    A bit too Tangiwai for my liking!. But for the sake of the metaphor..

    Old driver has been sharfted by noisy disloyal ticket collectors and never got (allowed to get?) his full license anyway. Unfortunately there is too much baggage strewn around too. Other old driver couldn’t drive without tripping up . Lost his licence and so no use reinstating him. Anyway theres a train at the UN station apparently. Beltway driver is well stuck in the beltway. Competent but not the right choice. New Napier rookie apprentice drivers time has yet to come.

    No. Need fresh new driver that travels without serious baggage and can bring new perspective. Will also collaborate with the electrified green commuter train. That’s jacinda. Time to step up.

    • Anne 17.1
      25 September 2014 at 10:12 pm

      Not enough experience Redzone. Don’t burn her out before her time has come. She’s tough, but still has a way to go. Needs some extensive cabinet experience under her belt. Keep her for the future – when she’s ready for the job.

  18. tricle up 18
    25 September 2014 at 9:47 pm

    Move centre to left doesn’t mean you have to change the pilot ..

  19. newsense 19
    25 September 2014 at 9:47 pm

    meanwhile, back in the ‘National is getting a very secure hold on the country’ world http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2014/09/dirty-politics-continues-as-usual.html

    and NZ isn’t concerned because that Labour guy turned out to be completely useless and hopeless, even his mates don’t like him and they’re all the same anyway right?

  20. newsense 20
    25 September 2014 at 9:47 pm

    meanwhile, back in the ‘National is getting a very secure hold on the country’ world http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2014/09/dirty-politics-continues-as-usual.html

    and NZ isn’t concerned because that Labour guy turned out to be completely useless and hopeless, even his mates don’t like him and they’re all the same anyway right?

  21. Millsy 21
    25 September 2014 at 10:30 pm

    Heh. I think the rescuers should include everyone involved in the train company, not just the conductors. Cooperate and have a good think, maybe. Get on with the task at hand.

  22. rain33 22
    25 September 2014 at 10:32 pm

    If you insist on analogies…The carriages were laden with many great things as the red train left the station. However, early on in its journey the train failed to ignore warnings from the gathering crowds along its way that the train was maybe on the wrong track. Insisting they were most definitely on the correct track, they closed all the windows and increased their speed, dangerously careering along the tracks at times.

    There were several other trains heading to the same station, but all the trains followed different routes to get to their final destination. The cargo in the wagons of the lovely red train was starting to spoil, but it went unnoticed by the driver and his crew as they were all up the front, and had forgotten about their precious cargo. Even though the cargo was fresh and lovely when it left the station, unless it was attended to during the journey, it would quickly spoil…and sadly it would not be delivered to all the people waiting for the lovely red train to arrive at the station.

    Meanwhile a flash blue train arrived at the station, with all its cargo intact and luscious. The people with tickets for the blue train were very excited when they saw the quality of the cargo. The people with tickets for the red train were looking down the tracks for any sign of their lovely red train..but alas it was nowhere to be seen.
    “Don’t worry…apparently there are wonderful things in the red train” said a red ticket holder. But then the rain came down, the tickets got soggy, and still no sign of the red train. “These tickets are useless now” said a red ticket holder. “By the time it arrives, its cargo will have spoiled and will be of no use to us” …. “Who’s the driver of the red train?!” a frustrated ticket holder yelled out. “Who cares” was the reply “I’m not buying anymore red tickets…their cargo might be wonderful, but if they cant deliver it to us then it is useless”. “I’m going to check out one of those blue or green tickets…their train is already at the station…apparently their cargo is nowhere near as good, but they looked after it and delivered to their ticket holders” …”ticketmaster!!”

    Now the owners of the red train were very disappointed. Their train was a wreck, their cargo would go to waste as it could not be delivered. The driver, the crew and the owners were all very angry and were arguing among themselves about who was mostly to blame. But sadly everyone seemed to have forgotten about the red ticket holders back at the station. Sensing an opportunity, the blue train threw some scraps to the red ticket holders. The red ticket holders were very wary of the other blue train, but they decided scraps would have to do. Their red train had failed to deliver its precious cargo, and they were very hungry…so they didn’t much care why.

  23. dale 23
    26 September 2014 at 2:12 am

    The red train started out a little empty, but with a good new driver that had seen many large networks in despairs and helped out where he could. He was making a pretty good job of filling the train, but it was not easy as some of the longer term workers wouldn’t help with the loading. So at the next stop he asked if they wanted a new driver and to his despair they said yes. All the passengers already on the train chose the new driver. But the train wasn’t anywhere near full and the passengers waiting got a little anxious about the new driver. They had seen him before making toot toot noises and pretending to play with the controls a long time ago even telling the then she driver that some other boys were doing it but they weren’t. The waiting passenger’s looked on as the new driver picked up a very big and unstable carriage because it had paid a deposit. Then in his excitement to collect the waiting passengers he didn’t read the warning signs and then the weight of the fat unstable carriage took over and crashed the train. And spilled its cargo. Bloody books and traitors nasty lies everywhere.
    Then came the blue train…………

    • Hanswurst 23.1
      26 September 2014 at 5:44 am

      The red train started out a little empty, but with a good new driver […].

      You lost me right there.

  24. lurgee 24
    26 September 2014 at 6:01 am

    After the crash, a strange idea emerges that the crash would have been avoided if the train had driven on only one track – the left, or the right.

  25. Charles Temworth. 25
    26 September 2014 at 6:44 am

    Grant Robertson and his backroom nastiness(the actual real divisive eliment within Labour) wont change anything for Labour Trickle down is correct Cunliffe performed very well stuf the media they just want drama and are paid for by National cronies.

  26. David H 26
    26 September 2014 at 11:52 am

    No analogies needed

    1: Labour lost weeks/months before the election date. Election day was the official date of death.

    2: Labour will continue to lose until they have politicians that are there for the good of the party, and not for their own personal gain. You call them ABC this is wrong it should be ABW (Anything but winning).

    3: Labour will continue to crash and burn until the destructive element is rooted out and evicted.

    4: Labour have to be so mistake free that they cannot be attacked. and if they do or don’t dump the Leader they are damned my the media.

    5: Labour NEED to ban Gower Obrien Sabin Dann and any other jonolist who has hearing issues.

    6: Dump disruptive members to the back bench.

    7 Impress on new members the importance of showing a united party to the media, so no leaking like the ABW club.

    Then I might just think about giving my valuable vote back to them.

  27. dale 27
    26 September 2014 at 9:28 pm

    Hanswurst. David Shearer.

  28. JRyan 28
    28 September 2014 at 11:08 pm

    The left lost simply because of low tactics that blew right back in their face. One gets back what you give out. KDC is poison and swallowing his propaganda and delight of potentionally ramming a lance into National was seen for what it was. Low, dirty politics. Nasty. Maybe try and run a clean campaign, let policy be the sword.

    • joe90 28.1
      28 September 2014 at 11:36 pm

      These low tactics – cite please?.

    • Colonial Viper 28.2
      29 September 2014 at 12:02 am

      You clearly know that “Dirty Politics” was run out of the 9th floor, just down the corridor from John Key’s office.

      But you are giving John Key a pass on it. Why?

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    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 ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • Poll results and Waitangi Tribunal report go unmentioned on the Beehive website – where racing tru...
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Listening To The Traffic.
    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 ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • Comity Be Damned! The State’s Legislative Arm Is Flexing Its Constitutional Muscles.
    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 ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • Ending The Quest.
    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 ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • Will political polarisation intensify to the point where ‘normal’ government becomes impossible,...
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Tuesday, April 30
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:30am on Tuesday, May 30:Scoop: NZ 'close to the tipping point' of measles epidemic, health experts warn NZ Herald Benjamin PlummerHealth: 'Absurd and totally unacceptable': Man has to wait a year for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Worst poll result for a new Government in MMP history
    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 ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Pinning down climate change's role in extreme weather
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Serving at Seymour's pleasure.
    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 ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Webworm LA Pop-Up
    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 ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • “Feel good” school is out
    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 ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • 6 Months in, surely our Report Card is “Ignored all warnings: recommend dismissal ASAP”?
    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 ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago

  • Bread, and how it gets buttered
    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 ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
    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 ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Justice for Gaza?
    The New York Times reports that the International Criminal Court is about to issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over their genocide in Gaza: Israeli officials increasingly believe that the International Criminal Court is preparing to issue arrest warrants for senior government officials on ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • If there has been any fiddling with Pharmac’s funding, we can count on Paula to figure out the fis...
    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”. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • FastTrackWatch – The case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Monday, April 29
    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 ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on Iran killing its rappers, and searching for the invisible Dr. Reti
    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 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 days ago

  • Auckland Rail Electrification 10 years old
    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 ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Coalition's dirge of austerity and uncertainty is driving the economy into a deeper recession
    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 ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Disability Funding or Tax Cuts.
    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 ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Of the Goodness of Tolkien’s Eru
    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 Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    3 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #17
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Pastor Who Abused People, Blames People
    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 ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • Vic Uni shows how under threat free speech is
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Winston remembers Gettysburg.
    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 ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • 25
    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 ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Is Antarctica gaining land ice?
    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? ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Policing protests.
    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 → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago

  • Open letter to Hon Paul Goldsmith
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: FastTrackWatch – The Case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    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. ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • Luxon gets out his butcher’s knife – briefly
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • More tax for less
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Real News vs Fake News.
    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 ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Another way to roll
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Simon Clark: The climate lies you'll hear this year
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Cutting the Public Service
    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 ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    5 days ago

  • Luxon’s demoted ministers might take comfort from the British politician who bounced back after th...
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • This is how I roll over
    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 ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • The Waitangi Tribunal is not “a roving Commission”…
    …it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisition   NOTE – 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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Is Oranga Tamariki guilty of neglect?
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Three Strikes saw lower reoffending
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Luxon’s ruthless show of strength is perfect for our angry era
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • 'Lacks attention to detail and is creating double-standards.'
    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 KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • One Night Only!
    Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • What did Melissa Lee do?
    It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #17 2024
    Open access notables Ice acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment: In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Maori Party (with “disgust”) draws attention to Chhour’s race after the High Court rules on Wa...
    Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • Who’s Going Up The Media Mountain?
    Mr Bombastic: Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago

  • “That's how I roll”
    It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • “Comity” versus the rule of law
    In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Aotearoa: a live lab for failed Right-wing socio-economic zombie experiments once more…
    Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder. In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    1 week ago

  • Water is at the heart of farmers’ struggle to survive in Benin
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére Sosou Market gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Minister acknowledges passing of Sir Robert Martin (KNZM)
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Speech to New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Parliament – Annual Lecture: Challenges ...
    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.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Accelerating airport security lines
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Community hui to talk about kina barrens
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Kiwi exporters win as NZ-EU FTA enters into force
    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. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Mining resurgence a welcome sign
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill passes first reading
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government to boost public EV charging network
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Residential Property Managers Bill to not progress
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Independent review into disability support services
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Justice Minister updates UN on law & order plan
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Ending emergency housing motels in Rotorua
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Trade Minister travels to Riyadh, OECD, and Dubai
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Education priorities focused on lifting achievement
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • NZTA App first step towards digital driver licence
    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). ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Supporting whānau out of emergency housing
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Tribute to Dave O'Sullivan
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Speech – Eid al-Fitr
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government saves access to medicines
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Pharmac Chair appointed
    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. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Taking action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    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, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New sports complex opens in Kaikohe
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Diplomacy needed more than ever
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
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