Archive for March, 2010
Hartevelt on bashing the yoof
Written By: - Date published: 10:02 am, March 7th, 2010 - 26 comments
A contact at the Ministry of Transport tells me that 15 year old drivers have been involved in only a handful of fatal crashes, 1 to 1.5% of the total, in recent years and they’re not all the 15 year old’s fault. But no, National’s solution is to prevent all 15 year olds from driving. Dumb. It’s a carpet-bombing approach to policy
Open mike 07/03/2010
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 7th, 2010 - 12 comments
Open mike is your post. It’s open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…
NZ Fabian Society lectures
Written By: - Date published: 5:03 pm, March 6th, 2010 - 15 comments
This looks to be a fascinating set of lectures. I’ll be going – will you?
Economic orthodoxy continues to fail New Zealand. This failure is systemic, not cyclical. Despite this, prevailing political and economic orthodoxy has become almost immune from scrutiny. It seems that policymakers have yet to comprehend that the status quo will inevitably lead to economic collapse.
Come on Granny
Written By: - Date published: 3:57 pm, March 6th, 2010 - 11 comments
Come on Granny Herald. You’re almost there…
Key supports return to commercial whaling
Written By: - Date published: 12:23 pm, March 6th, 2010 - 46 comments
In January, we were told that John Key had some secret plan to end whaling. Now, we learn that Key wants to let commercial whaling resume. Since 1986, commercial whaling has been banned by international law. Japan carries out its whaling under the guise of scientific research. Key promised that he was working on ending […]
Armstrong and class interest
Written By: - Date published: 10:56 am, March 6th, 2010 - 28 comments
The poor don’t need tax cuts for the top 12% to to inspire them to want to get out of poverty. Poverty is inspiration enough. But thepoor cannot all become rich. To function capitalism needs poverty. There’s got to be lots of people doing the shitty, dangerous, hard jobs for cheap. And the wealth will always flow to the elite few who own capital or defend their interests.
O’Sullivan and Garrett, strange bedfellows?
Written By: - Date published: 10:37 am, March 6th, 2010 - 6 comments
Fran O’Sullivan is a pro-business liberal or libertarian, David Garrett is a knuckle brain conservative. But actually, they’re not so far apart. It seems both believe in freedom for the rich and control over the poor. Incredibly O’Sullivan goes into bat for Garrett over his sterilisation comments.
John Key lies about “surgical” mining
Written By: - Date published: 9:01 am, March 6th, 2010 - 25 comments
Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee is refusing to rule out landscape-scarring mining on our most precious conservation land. This makes a liar of John Key who promised the government was considering “surgical mining”.
Open mike 06/03/2010
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 6th, 2010 - 15 comments
Open mike is your post. It’s open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…
Ashcroft – “dead horse pong gets worse”
Written By: - Date published: 9:22 pm, March 5th, 2010 - 15 comments
Only days ago, British Conservative leader David Cameron told journalists they were “flogging a dead horse” when asking about Tory deputy chair Lord Ashcroft’s donations and tax status. Now new information has come to light about destruction of documents, tax avoidance, and offshore funding of the Conservative party.
Labour says ‘hands off Radio NZ’
Written By: - Date published: 12:29 pm, March 5th, 2010 - 5 comments
The campaign to save Radio New Zealand from funding cuts and commercialisation is going well. Well attended rallies have been held in Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch. The Facebook group, which now has 17,800 members and is close to overtaking the John Key supporters’ group, has attracted a lot of media attention. Now Labour have put their […]
On Gattung’s revisionist history of Telecom
Written By: - Date published: 10:57 am, March 5th, 2010 - 15 comments
Over at Scoop, Gordon Campbell takes Theresa Gattung to task for her revisionist history of Telecom in the Dominion Post this morning.
More than anything, her latest outburst reveals her clanging naivety and complete inability to take personal responsibility for her failures.
Mickysavage on Tolley’s standards meetings
Written By: - Date published: 10:55 am, March 5th, 2010 - 10 comments
mickysavage reports on Anne Tolley’s meeting in West Auckland. He relates her complete inability to understand the issues. He concludes that national standards was a dog whistle policy that in action will actually only consist of spending $50 million a year on reports with pretty graphs and standardising grading for writing. Everything else is already standardised. There will be no improvements in education standards.< more>
Legitimate spending vs rorts
Written By: - Date published: 10:33 am, March 5th, 2010 - 32 comments
It’s pretty rare that I agree with John Key but he got it right when he voiced concern that journalists are attacking MPs for legitimately using their budgets to do their jobs. Do we really want to force parties to rely on private funding for communicating their positions? That makes politics a rich man’s game. There are plenty of actual rip-offs and rorts for the media to root out.
Drinking Liberally presents the Roger Award
Written By: - Date published: 9:57 am, March 5th, 2010 - 3 comments
The first Drinking Liberally of the year in Wellington is next Thursday and it looks to be a good one. The Roger Award will be presented. Should be great fun. The Roger Award is presented each year by the Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa and Gatt Watchdog to the worst transnational corporation operating in […]
Listening to the evidence on national standards
Written By: - Date published: 7:37 am, March 5th, 2010 - 14 comments
All available evidence and expert opinion suggests that National Standards, as the government intends to introduce them in our primary schools, won’t work. They may even do damage. Will Key and Tolley ever take heed of the evidence, or is this just a blind ideological crusade? Bring on Diane Ravitch…
Open mike 05/03/2010
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 5th, 2010 - 16 comments
Open mike is your post. It’s open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…
Nats kill another crim rehabilitation scheme
Written By: - Date published: 12:20 am, March 5th, 2010 - 16 comments
For just $2.4 million a year, the Prisoners’ Aid and Rehabilitation Society and its 500 volunteers help 25,000 inmates and ex-inmates with rehabilitation and readjustment each year. Their efforts help turn people away from crime. But the Nats cancelled the funding. All they believe in is putting the boot in harder even though it doesn’t stop crime.
Alternate forms of protest
Written By: - Date published: 5:41 pm, March 4th, 2010 - 27 comments
Now this is pretty damn funny and just adds to todays absurdities over the waste of money on rugby world cup TV in 2011. Veteran Springbok Tour protester John Minto has found himself at the centre of a new Eden Park storm, with a controversial plan to name a nearby $3 million road after him.
Will the supercity transition authority now want to stop community boards from naming streets?
Gender gap alive and well
Written By: - Date published: 4:51 pm, March 4th, 2010 - 6 comments
Next Monday is International Women’s Day (8 March). I know a few readers will ask Do we still still need to worry? According to Asha-Rose Migiro, UN Deputy Secretary-General, the answer is yes. Among the areas where progress has lagged is in tackling the scourge of violence against women…
Obey the moderator
Written By: - Date published: 4:09 pm, March 4th, 2010 - 6 comments
This is the shortened and lyrical version of the policy.
Where are Hide & Key on Garrett comments?
Written By: - Date published: 2:28 pm, March 4th, 2010 - 99 comments
Colin Espiner reports that Rodney Hide has gone into his shell as outrage over David Garrett’s appalling sterilisation comments builds. Since Irish broke the story of Garrett’s comments yesterday, it has spread like wildfire through the blogosphere and the msm. And nowhere will you find a reaction from anyone in ACT or from their coalition partners.
Collins and the fist of the state
Written By: - Date published: 12:08 pm, March 4th, 2010 - 39 comments
An ugly side of the Right, one that a lot of people thought was long defeated, has reemerged in recent weeks. Yesterday we had David Garrett’s ‘sterilise the poor because they might become criminals or breed criminals’ and last week we had arguably more disturbing comments from Judith Collins about how she wanted to restore “fear” of the Police.
Glorious school building opened by honourable leader
Written By: - Date published: 10:20 am, March 4th, 2010 - 62 comments
Beloved Leader of People’s Constitutional Monarchy of New Zealand, Honourable John Key, attended glorious opening of school building on Tuesday.
Several youths were overcome by the glory of Honourable Leader’s appearance as were several members of the press corps.
World Cup TV fiasco
Written By: - Date published: 8:58 am, March 4th, 2010 - 18 comments
How’s this for insanity: the finals in the World Cup will be broadcast live on four free to air channels as well as Sky. That’s pretty much the definition of overkill and it has got to have cost a bomb, thanks to the Government’s disastrous handling of the issue.
Open mike 04/03/2010
Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 4th, 2010 - 24 comments
Open mike is your post. It’s open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…
ACT tearing itself apart
Written By: - Date published: 1:38 am, March 4th, 2010 - 26 comments
ACT policies are electoral poison, and the inevitability of that growing realisation seems to be creating strains that are tearing the party apart. Heather Roy’s speech to ACT’s conference suggests that last year’s failed leadership coup is far from over…
National’s vision: employment without dignity
Written By: - Date published: 3:23 pm, March 3rd, 2010 - 52 comments
National’s latest proposals to strip away workers’ protections against unfair dismissal must surely put to bed any idea that this is a moderate, centrist government.
The proposals are a breach of National’s election promises and go further than even the ECA. They are a charter for employment without dignity.
Garrett: Sterilise the poor
Written By: - Date published: 2:59 pm, March 3rd, 2010 - 98 comments
ACT MP David Garret has called for a programme to sterilise the “likes” of Chris Kahui and Maxine King. By which we can only assume he means poor, brown, people. Sack him.
150k comments and rising…
Written By: - Date published: 2:41 pm, March 3rd, 2010 - 4 comments
Well the discussion keeps going on, and as you know I like marking these occasions as the database steadily grows (and my backup nightmares keep increasing). The 150,000’th accepted* comment was by Lanthanide here at just after midday. He was explaining the real world politics to someone who preferred their own myths. When the 100,000th […]
Camels, Eyes, Needles
Written By: - Date published: 11:38 am, March 3rd, 2010 - 24 comments
If you agree that money is power, and that power corrupts, then it follows having a lot of money may be a corrupting influence. So imagine the compounding effects of having a lot of money and being like, a Bishop, or a PM. Self-proclaimed Bishop Brian Tamaki is having a few problems at the moment […]
- Qantas warns of 1.5 million annual passenger drop for Auckland if fees continue
Substantial price increases at New Zealand’s largest airport generate excess profits according to the Commerce Commission The post Qantas warns of 1.5 million annual passenger drop for Auckland if fees continue appeared first on Newsroom. ...5 days ago - Book of the Week: She wrote about all her lovers
When I was a much younger woman I wrote letters each week to my mother. I had moved away from one town to another, leaving her behind, and the almost daily conversations I had had with her all my married life had become toll calls. I was ashamed of the ...5 days ago
- Paedophile priests dumped in the Pacific
The legacy of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy and the tactic of moving abusers to new dioceses without addressing the problem has been well-documented for decades. But the latest story is close to home – Catholic clergy or missionaries accused of sexual abuse, who were transferred to the Pacific Islands.Some ...5 days ago
- Wins and pitfalls for lenders in CCCFA overhaul
Simplifying lending laws proposes opportunities for the financial sector, but also potential pitfalls for lenders.Last week Commerce Minister Andrew Bayly released more details on the scope of his second stage of reforms to the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 (better known as the CCCFA).Once legislated, these changes will ...5 days ago
- Greens accuse Australian police of ‘excessive force’ against anti-war protesters at arms expo
Asia Pacific Report The Victorian Greens have demanded an independent inquiry into Australian police tactics and alleged excessive use of force today against antiwar protesters at the Land Forces expo in Melbourne. State Greens leader Ellen Sandell said her party had lodged a formal protest to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption ...5 days ago - Government funding schools up to $5000 for structured literacy resources
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Tara Ward power ranks week one of Celebrity Treasure Island. Spring has sprung, the sun is shining and Celebrity Treasure Island is back on our screens. A brand new season of the New Zealand reality series began this week, with 18 brave celebrities washing up on an isolated Coromandel beach ...5 days ago - Ngāti Whātua challenges Kaipara District Council over decision to abolish Māori ward
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- Six National Anti-Corruption Commission probes involve current or former parliamentarians
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Six of the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s current investigations involve the conduct of current or former parliamentarians, according to statistics about its work released on Wednesday. While the NACC refers to six corruption investigations, it ...5 days ago
- Minister has ‘constructive’ meeting with group concerned about trans women in sport
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- Parliament votes to extend gift card expiry dates
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- What is reproductive health leave and why do we need it?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle O’Shea, Senior Lecturer, School of Business, Western Sydney University LightField Studios/Shutterstock Time off work to deal with IVF, menopause, gender transition treatments, vasectomies and other reproductive health issues would be enshrined in all workplace awards if a national union campaign ...5 days ago
- Trump and Harris trade insults and competing visions: 3 experts give their verdicts on the US presid...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Shortis, Adjunct Senior Fellow, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University Judging debates usually comes down to picking a winner or loser. Seeking a more nuanced approach to the first presidential debate between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat ...5 days ago
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All but three of 45 councils which established the seats without a public referendum elected to retain the wards. ...5 days ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Shortis, Adjunct Senior Fellow, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University Emma Shortis is senior researcher in international and security affairs at The Australia Institute, an independent think tank. Matthew Ricketson does not work for, consult, own shares ...5 days ago
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Judith Collins says it will help people find information about government agencies. ...5 days ago
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By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk New Caledonia’s domestic carrier Air Calédonie is set to launch a biweekly international connection to neighbouring Vanuatu. The new link is set to start operating from October 3 with two return flights, one on Mondays and the other on Thursdays. The ...6 days ago
- How can everyone be part of the AI revolution?
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- Is it possible to keep your voice and your soul while writing for an international market?
Sascha Stronach (Kāi Tahu), author of The Dawnhounds and The Sunforge, on fighting US editors on matters of New Zealand slang. I had two knockdown dragout fights with my US publisher: they wanted to call me “a bold and important voice in Māori fiction”; they thought “moggy” sounded like ...6 days ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William A. Stoltz, Lecturer and expert Associate, National Security College, Australian National University Jenari/Shutterstock The intensifying great power competition between the People’s Republic of China and the United States has meant the possibility of future war in the Indo-Pacific region has ...6 days ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phoebe Williams, Paediatrician & Infectious Diseases Physician; Senior Lecturer & NHMRC Fellow, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock Three children in far north Queensland have recently become unwell with meningococcal disease, a life-threatening infection caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. ...6 days ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda Lotz, Professor of Media Studies, Queensland University of Technology Stock-Asso/Shutterstock This is the third piece in a series on the Future of Australian media. You can read the first piece in the series here and the second piece here. ...6 days ago
- One person working on short-term fixes to NZ’s disaster coordination system
The National Emergency Management Agency has just one person dedicated to working on a short-term fix of the disaster coordination system that let people down during Cyclone Gabrielle. ...6 days ago
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