Relationships are a prerequisite for a culture of respect for human rights to flourish, but they don’t guarantee them. If nobody is listening, or worse, those concerned have conflicting interests then Human Rights are ignored and sidelined.
Debt in moderation is good for a country. But when families can’t afford milk how can being the premium milk producer matter to every day Kiwis?
Consistent with the study of Senatorial trading activity, we find stocks purchased by Representatives also earn significant positive abnormal returns (albeit considerably smaller returns). A portfolio that mimics the purchases of House Members beats the market by 55 basis points per month (approximately 6% annually).
Between this stuff, the revolving doors, the computer traded ticket clippers and the lack of any real reform, I’m starting to suspect that this cake might be a bit fictional.
Anybody going to follow up on the $2.4 million untendered gift of taxpayers’ money to a ‘Christian’ parenting group in the Budget? Sounds like that donation to a National Party-aligned Pacific business in the Budget last year.
Anyone else notice how she bounces to her feet when answering questions in the House, especially when she has a smart rejoinder to deliver. One of these days her upper body may continue on up and whack her in the face.
The GOP, just like our own conservatives (National, Act, mP), are only there to transfer public wealth into the hands of themselves and their rich mates.
Greywolf Mining want to exploit/explore Golden Bay for oil, gas and coal. But as TV3 have said they are a bit more of a grey ghost not a grey wolf – why?
emails bounce
the chinese company listed as a partner on the website is not their partner
hard to find company offices
are greywolf a sham – just another dirty company involved in dirty business? IMO yes. But who is going to make the money – that’s the trail to follow.
Cynthia McKinney is one of my heroes. She is black, educated and of a high moral fiber. It was she who confronted Rumsfeld about the child slave ring run by Dynacore, the missing trillions of the Pentagon budget and travelled to the Gaza strip two years ago on one of the boats trying to break the siege.
She travelled to Libya to see with her own eyes what is happening there. She wrote a Counterpunch piece about the “kinetic, humanitarian” action called Feast of Blood.
Alex Jones is also one of my heroes. Considered by many a vile, redneck, truther birther, teapartier, nutcase but as he is one of the most outspoken anti war activists who calls out both Bush and Obama and their puppet masters on their lie based illegal wars of aggression and resource robbery he has to be one of my heroes even if I don’t agree with his gun toting, anti abortionist views to name a few.
Today only here is the link to the page which contains a link to his radio show in which he interviews US Congress woman McKinny who at this moment is in Tripoli Libya awaiting the nightly “kinetic, humanitarian” bombings.
So for those of you who thought that the intervention was a good use of NATO and the US army I would challenge you to listen to this interview between Cynthia McKinny, black (sort of) leftist black women (She is the leader of the American green party) and white male Texas, gun toting, birther 911 truther Alex Jones and educate yourself. (A word of warning; The radio show is about three hours and streaming so you might have to wait for the interview to air again.)
THE HEADLINE…. ************************************************************
Obama: UK, US lead fight for peace and just world
************************************************************ http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3227321.htm
National Party MP Tau Henare has shown what a complete douche bag he is once again on his Twitter feed. The Jackal doesn’t like to see such atrocious behaviour like this and has therefore included Tau Henare in the Parliament’s Wall of Shame.
In October 2005, Taito Philip Field lost his ministerial posts following controversies around allegations that he had improperly used his influence as an MP to receive material gain.In October 2005, Taito Philip Field lost his ministerial posts following controversies around allegations that he had improperly used his influence as an MP to receive material gain.
Phil Heatley announced his resignation from his portfolios on 25 February 2010, citing further problems with his ministerial credit card spending. Mr Heatley said his decision to quit came after he had looked closely at his ministerial credit card expenses for the past 18 months.
Unless you are especially interested in charting the tortured and unhappy progress of crazed far-right lunatics, you probably haven’t heard of PHILIPPE KARSENTY, a minor-league French fringe-dweller. Karsenty is a conspiracy theorist who has become the darling of the
Israeli extreme right, following his determined effort to cast doubt on the veracity of television film of a routine killing by Israeli troops of a Gazan boy on Sunday, September 30, 2000.
Karsenty has as much respect amongst sane and honest people as a flat earther, a moon-landing “skeptic”, a 9/11 Truther, or a global warming denier. As you will see in the video (Part 3) this is very much a sore point for Kasenty. Luckily for him however, he had the perfect interlocutor, an empty vessel called JAMIE GLAZOV, when he appeared on the very first edition of FrontPage Close-Up…. http://frontpagemag.com/2010/12/09/the-premiere-of-frontpage-close-up-with-jamie-glazov/
Part 1
Jamie Glazov: “We are honored to have as our guest a HERO of our time: Philip Karsenty, who exposed the infamous Mohammed Al-Dura hoax. Mr Karsenty, what support are you receiving for exposing what is obviously a lie and a hoax?”
Philippe Karsenty: “This is a case for democracy. You need to have media which are conveying the truth, not lying. … It was a state- sponsored blood libel. …Chirac decided to demonize Israel.”
Karsenty then launches into a hysterical denunciation of Charles Enderlin. This is problematic, because Enderlin, like so many of the most trenchant and courageous opponents of Israeli criminality, is Jewish, so he can’t simply be smeared with the routine “anti-Semitism”
baloney. But Karsenty is obviously incapable of thinking of any other strategy, and so he says, risibly, that Enderlin was “responsible for the blood libel.” He derides Enderlin for complaining about the way that fanatical Zionists attacked him, and forced him out of his apartment.
Glazov continues: “The wounds on the father are not gunshot wounds. The boy himself has never been found. Is that correct? How is it possible to be shot fifteen times and for there to be no blood?” The answer, of course, is easy: it’s all “incitement against Israel”.
Glazov then tries to pour cold water on the exhaustively documented fact that Israeli troops routinely fire thousands of bullets at unarmed protestors. It just doesn’t make SENSE, he reasons:”If you said that an American policeman shot for 45 minutes just to kill someone, it wouldn’t make sense. Brainwashing makes them believe that Israelis would shoot at them for 45 minutes. French intellectuals won’t listen to Holocaust-deniers, and they won’t listen to us. Their
main argument is to refuse to debate.”
Part 2
Maybe, just maybe, you’re extremely indulgent, and inclined to give anyone a fair go. Perhaps you need more evidence that Glazov is not only a denier of evidence, but a crank and a fool? Well then, please watch the first thirty seconds of Part 2: Glazov assures us that not only do our eyes deceive us when we watch film of the Mohammed al-Dura killing, but that global warming is a hoax.
Karsenty returns to talking about the shooting video, and raves on and on: “Ten years of insane lies… Israel has been poorly treated by the U.S. over the years….No matter how many facts you will prove, this is about deeply entrenched Jew-hatred. …More lies and more lies and more lies. What you have to understand is that the lies didn’t stop after the death of Mohammed al Dura. Lies about the Lebanon war, the Gaza war, the so-called peace flotilla, lies, lies, lies. There is no anti-
Semitism, it’s anti-Israel. Be clear. There is no anti-Zionism, it’s anti-Semitism.”
Part 3
Jamie Glazov assures Karsenty that “forensic scientists have delegitimized the evidence of this shooting. Beyond reasonable doubt!” Karsenty: “Our worst opponents in this were extreme left
Jews.”
Glazov is obsessed with the fact that not one Palestinian has supported Karsenty. “You have Jews on the side of Palestinians,” he points out. “So why don’t some Palestinians support you?” Karsenty expresses his indignation that French intellectuals don’t respect his intellect. He rails against “Jewish journalists” who “demonize and bash Israel”. It’s all “brainwashing. Brainwashing is the worst thing that can happen.”
Part 4
Karsenty: “I know that I have the truth. We are moving forward. We will win at the end. Because nobody can fight against the truth.”
Glazov: “Let’s say that tomorrow the boy and the father show up. Do you think the world will apologize to you?”
Karsenty: “Of COURSE some boys die in the middle east, of COURSE some die. It doesn’t make sense, when you think of the rules of engagement of the Israeli soldiers.”
Glazov: “You’re not waiting for an apology for this faked report?”
Karsenty: “I tell you, the truth will come out some day. It’s so obvious.”
———————————————-
Note that nearly the whole video is a free-ranging denunciation of critics of Israel. The “hoax” is not dealt with in any detail. Karsenty does not present even one piece of evidence to back up his
outlandish claims.
If you want a contrast to this lunacy, you can watch a measured report, by a reputable and highly respected TV station, on the killing of Mohamed Al Dura HERE…
I wish my connection allowed me to see videos Morrissey, but thank you for the summary… I used look at Frontpagemagazine occasionally, but it was no good for my BP. What a bunch of nutmegs!
In summary, Physicians and Scientists for Global Responsibility New Zealand are talking out of their arses on a recent bit of research. While I don’t like the term scaremongering, it’s the easiest and simplest way of describing their claims, which basically ignore any prior research on the toxicity of glyphosphates and modified Cry toxins from bt bacteria, and basic toxicology 101. i.e. that toxicity is in the dosage and mechanisms of action and that mere presence alone isn’t a indicator of impending doom.
And their support of various pseudo-science groups, such as NZ based anti-fluoridation groups, an alt-med group masquerading as “health-choice”. Plus ye olde anti-1080 kiddies who don’t understand basic organic chemistry and lack of any actively publishing NZ GMO researchers makes Nick rather suspicious about their ability to interpret teh literature without making first year mistakes.
And one thing I forgot to add is a link to the successor to the NZ Institute of Gene Ecology, The Centre for Integrated Research in Biosafety based out of Canterbury uni, staffed by people who are actually trained and currently researching issues to do with GMO’s. Who TVNZ should have gone to for an opinion on this instead…
Here’s some fantastic CGI videos. Although, you do have ask just what happened to all the traffic that those roads are supposed to be transporting went to. Perhaps they all disappeared with the oil…
On Afternoons today, Jim-I-so-value-and-admire-the-Penguin-Mora has quoted the blog as a source for information and valid comment today. What it does seem to suggest is that Jim dwells in the sewers for some of his browsing.
Peak Oil was in 2006 Dr Fatih Birol on National Radio yesterday http://www.youtube.com/user/oilcrash1?feature=mhee#p/a/u/1/k22q5KZibtI
Dr. Fatih Birol is Chief Economist and Head of the Economic Analysis Division of the Paris-based International Energy Agency. He is organiser and director of the World Energy Outlook series, the IEA’s flagship publication. He is also responsible for providing regular briefing to the Executive Director and Governing Board of the IEA on the economic impact of energy market and industry developments.
Gerry Brownlee New Zealand Minster of Energy and Resources signed off on this statement on 1 June 2010
“The Government’s position on peak oil, therefore, continues to be that oil production will not change significantly until 2030, or until some date beyond this. ”
Brownlee signed off his credibility in that statement showing how out of touch and blinkered and plain dim he is!Mind you life is a lot less stressful being a Donkey, but! he’s paid a lot of money to wake up, care and be alert as to NZ’s future prospects or threats to those prospects.
Infratil – a company that is a likely buyer of our energy companies/ public infrastructure, creating a deliberately provocative distraction in the form a of stupid sign to try and get us to forget about a bullshit budget and the lies and corruption that is going on right in front of our eyes.
CLIMATE CHANGE UPDATE IN IMAGES 2022I am just wondering how hot is too hot before we commit to real global action to reduce our emissions and save our climate and natural environment. The images below are what has occurred in the northern hemisphere summer and it is likely we will ...
Salman Rushdie has been stabbed while on stage in New York where he was about to give a talk. He is now undergoing surgery. The British novelist has lived under death threats since the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against him in 1989 and put a $3 ...
Two-and-a-half years on, the Government’s merged mega-polytechnic, the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology – Te Pūkenga, is facing a deficit which is double the planned one. Will Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora (HNZ) be facing similar troubles in December 2024?Why did the Government centralise the 20 ...
A couple of months ago, in response to a Newsroom piece about what endemic covid means for Aotearoa, I asked Treasury and the Ministry of Health what advice they'd produced on the impacts of "long covid" on the economy and health system. Treasury responded quickly, admitting that they hadn't been ...
On The Way Out: Gaurav Sharma has clearly had enough of Parliament and is more than ready to return to his life as a medical professional. What he has been willing to do on the way out, however, is draw aside the curtain, if only for a moment, and let ...
The Empire Within Which Bullying Never Ceased: The bitter truth about Great Britain’s “public” schools (and their many imitators in the Empire’s far-flung dominions) is that they were consciously designed to produce a very particular kind of imperial administrator. These men needed to be courageous, but not compassionate; clever, but ...
A most amazingly air-tight conspiracy Not research, but research-related. Skeptical Science reader John G. writes to point out an omission in our collection of rebuttals: "You are failing to rebut a prevailing narrative which blames a Globalist Elite for promoting CC as part of The Great Reset."Thank you John, ...
The travails of National MP Sam Uffindell are bad news for the National party in more ways than one. The obvious question is as to how an applicant with such a disreputable history could have secured the nomination as the National candidate in the Tauranga by-election. National’s vetting procedures seem ...
The “A View from Afar” podcast with Selwyn Manning and I resumed after a months hiatus. We discussed the PRC-Taiwan tensions in the wake of Nancy Pelosi’s visit and what pathways, good and bad, may emerge from the escalation of hostilities between the mainland and island. You can find it ...
A ballot for one member's bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Crown Minerals (Prohibition of Mining) Amendment Bill (Eugenie Sage) The bill is pitched as protecting conservation land, and it does immediately do that. But it also goes further, doing exactly what it ...
Sam Uffindell’s defenders keep reminding us that he was only 16 at the time of the King’s College incident, and haven’t we all done things in our teens that, as adults, we look back on with shame and embarrassment? True. Let’s be honest. Haven’t we all at one time or ...
Our media insists on telling us that Ukraine is a unified country suffering aggression from its neighbour the Russian Federation. But it is hardly unified. A violent civil war has raged there since the overthrow of the democratically elected government in February 2014. This civil war arose from deep ...
If National causes yet another by-election to be held in Tauranga, not only will it cost the taxpayers another unnecessary $1m for the taxpayers after Simon Bridges called it quits earlier in the year, but National will also pay a big price in terms of its reputation and integrity. A ...
Representing Pakeha Racism: The important thing to remember about Rob Muldoon, and the racist policies with which his name is associated, is that he drew his power from the hundreds-of-thousands of anxious, angry, and yes – racist – Pakeha who voted for him, and that his most effective campaign slogan was: “New Zealand the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The U.S. Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act by a single vote on Sunday, August 7. The bill, headed to the House of Representatives within days, includes by far the largest and most consequential measures to reduce domestic climate pollution in the nation’s ...
I remember feeling anxious before making the phone call, although not at anxious I might have expected. But what sticks most in my mind is how the phone call ended. It was the late 1990s. I was deputy editor of the NZ Listener and I had to ring a guy ...
National is dripping “blue blood” again. The revelations over Sam Uffindell’s violent assault indicate that the National Party under Christopher Luxon hasn’t quite shed the toxicity and internal damage of the last few years. The crises besetting the party have recently been well documented in journalist Andrea Vance’s new book ...
Most of us believe in redemption and atonement… But the timing, the nature and the semantics of Sam Uffindell‘s apology for his role in a gang that beat a younger kid (reportedly) with wooden bed legs, has left much to be desired. The victim seems pretty clear about the motivation ...
Yesterday the news broke that newly elected National MP Sam Uffindell was asked to leave private Auckland school King’s College at the end of his fifth form year after being part of a group that viciously beat a younger student one night. There are many elements to this latest political ...
You’ve got to wonder why the National Party knowingly hid information from the public about their newest MP, Sam Uffindell. Surely they must’ve realised that their secret would eventually leak into the public domain. New Zealand is far too small for cover-ups of this kind to be effective.Despite his violent ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk With high energy prices and increasing urgency to reduce fossil fuel burning, it makes sense to get the most out of every gallon of gasoline or kilowatt-hour of electricity. A previous post showed that charging an EV costs around $1.41 per gallon ...
Back in the 1990s, Tony Blair rebranded The British Labour Party as “New Labour”, to try and draw a line under past failures. It’s as if Christopher Luxon is attempting to follow suit, and launch “New National” at the moment – a party that’s fresh-looking, has made some big breaks ...
Back in June Sam Uffindell was elected to parliament in the Tauranga by-election. Turns out he's a bully who beat a kid with a bed-leg at school: The National Party’s newest MP, Sam Uffindell, was asked to leave his exclusive boarding school after viciously beating a younger student late ...
The Justice Committee has called for submissions on the Electoral Amendment Bill. Submissions are due by Wednesday, 31 August 2022, and can be made at the link above. The bill improves disclosure of party finances, lowering the declaration threshold to $5,000 and requiring parties to disclose their annual financial statements. ...
Laughing With The Poor Folks - Or At Them? Christopher Luxon took rapper LunchMoney Lewis’s lyrics at their face value. “Bills”, as heard by Luxon, is a cri-de-cœur from a hard-working man determined to pull himself and his family up by their own bootstraps. It simply wouldn’t occur to him ...
On the rare occasions when it ever gets asked, the public keeps rejecting tax cuts as such, as a policy priority. It keeps saying it wants tax levels to either stay the same or be increased, so that public services can be maintained, or even (perish the thought) improved. In ...
Europe has been baking in a heatwave, of course. Not so much this part of the world, which benefits by still being in Winter (though let’s just say I am not looking forward to January 2023). Not that it’s been a particularly cold Winter – we haven’t had one ...
The Wagner Group is a private military company – effectively mercenaries. It has been used for the military activity of the Russian Federation in various parts of the world. Currently, it is operating in Ukraine and apparently has a reputation as a very brave and effective force in the ...
I have said this in other forums, but here is the deal: PRC military exercises after Pelosi’s visit are akin to male gorillas who run around thrashing branches and beating their chests when annoyed, disturbed or seeking to show dominance. They are certainly dangerous and not to be ignored, but ...
From July 7 to 26 we tried something new on our Facebook page by sharing one Cranky Uncle cartoon each day for 20 days in a row. There were two reasons for doing this: firstly, we wanted to ensure that at least one post would get published each day while I was ...
Too many commentators on current price pressures have not understood that this time it is very different from the 1970s. Their prescriptions may accelerate inflation.The New Zealand economy is experiencing an external price shock arising from the Covid pandemic and the Ukrainian invasion compounded by related supply chain difficulties. It ...
During the years of the Key government one hardy perennial of political journalism was that whenever the Labour Opposition would suggest a policy alternative to the status quo, the hard bitten response from the Gallery realists would be “But how’re you gonna pay for it?” National in Opposition has been ...
In The Wizard’s Garden: George Dunlop Leslie, 1904IT ALL SEEMS so long ago now, and, to be fair, in human terms, 48 years is a long time. New Zealand was a different country in 1974. Someone unafraid of courting controversy might say it had achieved “Peak Pakeha”. Although the Labour Government of ...
Proximate Cause: Tellingly, it was Helen Clark who was seated close by when, earlier this week, Jacinda Ardern delivered a speech carefully crafted to keep New Zealand’s dairy exports heading China’s way. Photo by PolitikPURISTS WOULD ARGUE that New Zealand’s foreign policy should not be determined by who its Prime Minister ...
We have a new clip out of The Rings of Power. It sees Galadriel and the affectionately nicknamed Gigwit* venturing into dark places in search of evil. At fifty-odd seconds, it also constitutes the longest single piece of show dialogue we have seen thus far. *An acronym. “Galadriel Is ...
Rising To The Challenge: Te Pāti Māori is reassuring the angry and the alienated that in 2023 voting will make a difference. Aotearoa is changing. Pakeha – especially young Pakeha – are changing. The racism is still there, of course, heightened, it would seem, by the prospect of Labour, the ...
"CAGW." A thing? With its provocative title and remarks grounded in respected published research, the perspective Climate Endgame: Exploring catastrophic climate change scenarios just published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has caused a few ripples reaching into popular media. "Endgame" and "catastrophic" lean hard in the direction of "pay ...
In the past there's been a few interesting data points about the New Zealand Intelligence Community's desire to covertly manipulate public opinion through media and academic mouthpieces. In 2015 the Council for Civil Liberties revealed the existence of an NZIC "Strategic Communications Group" tasked with persuading the public that spying ...
Inflation is through the roof, and "coincidentally" so is oil company profiteering. UN Secretary-General António Guterres calls it what it is: grotesque: The UN secretary general, António Guterres, has described the record profits of oil and gas companies as immoral and urged governments to introduce a windfall tax, using ...
What on earth is going on with the main opposition parties at the moment? Both National and ACT have been making numerous flip-flops and miscommunications, clearly indicating that they aren’t a viable alternative to the current Labour led Government.Of particular note is the duplicitous reasoning given for why they support ...
A ballot for two member's bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Housing Infrastructure (GST-sharing) Bill (Brooke van Velden) Prohibition on Seabed Mining Legislation Amendment Bill (Debbie Ngarewa-Packer) Ngarewa-Packer's bill looks likely to start a shitfight with Labour, and not just because the ...
As you might have noticed, I have an on-going interest in working my way through old and intellectually influential reading material. Occasionally I even share my thoughts on it, which allows me to take a break from my generally-dominant Tolkien analysis. Well, today I thought I would take a ...
Golriz Ghahraman's Electoral (Strengthening Democracy) Amendment Bill will probably face its first reading today. And three months after it was introduced - pissing on the "as soon as practicable" requirement of Standing Order 269 - it has received a section 7 report from Attorney-General David Parker stating that its proposed ...
There's an interesting select committee report out today, from the Petitions Committee on the Petition of Conrad Petersen: The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA). The petitioner raises some concerns about the slowness of the IPCA process and its lack of oversight, and suggests some solutions. The committee doesn't seem keen ...
Today is a Member's Day, but likely to be a boring one. There's no general debate today, and instead the House will move right into the third reading of the Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu Representation) Bill, which will add unelected, inherently conflicted Ngai Tahu representatives to ECan. Then there's ...
That gormlessly glum picture of Christopher Luxon in Samoa graphically tells us what kind of image New Zealand would be projecting abroad if there’s a change of government next year. The glumness is understandable. For months, National and ACT had been dog whistling to the bigots who oppose the creation ...
There is no corruption in New Zealand. At least that’s what authorities want the public to believe. For decades now our system of political finance regulation has been portrayed as highly rigorous, ensuring our politicians cannot be bought. Unfortunately, that’s just not true. Although politicians and officials have claimed tight ...
Pundits have come out of the woodwork to defend the Greens co-leader, after he was stripped of his leadership last week by unhappy party members. The defences have all stuck to basically the same script: Shaw is a successful leader and minister who’s handed the party big victories in politics ...
Meghan Murphy talks with Batya Ungar-Sargon the author of Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy. The book charts the trajectory of journalism in the US as it shifted from being a blue collar occupation producing the penny press for the masses, to a profession for Ivy League university ...
Co-Leaders? The uncomfortable truth is: not the Army, not the Police, not the Spooks, and not even a combination of all three, could defeat the scale and violence of White Supremacist and Māori Nationalist resistance which the imposition of radical decolonisation – or its racism-inspired defeat – would unleash upon ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob Henson and Jeff Masters Torrents of rain that began before dawn on Tuesday, July 26, gave St. Louis, Missouri, its highest calendar-day total since records began in 1873. And the deadly event is just the latest example of a well-established trend ...
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A couple of weeks ago the High Court exposed a loophole in our electoral donations law, enabling corrupt parties to take in unlimited amounts of secret money and explicitly sell policy to the rich. Pretty obviously, this is unacceptable in a country which wants to call itself a democracy, and ...
This morning, National’s deputy leader Nicola Willis managed to get top of the bulletin news coverage by pointing out that some Kiwis living abroad might receive the government’s cost of living payment. Quelle horreur. What is the problem here? Inflation is a global problem, and Kiwis living abroad may be ...
Beyond Fixing? The critical question confronting New Zealanders is whether we any longer have the resources to repair our physical and human infrastructure?WHO WILL MAKE the New Zealand of the next 50 years? We had better hope that, whoever they are, they make a better job of it than those ...
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Rule-Breaker? It is easy to see why poor James Shaw found himself brutally deposed as the Greens’ co-leader. By seeking the responsibilities of leadership – and exercising them – he violated the first rule of Green Party governance. Then, by accepting the limitations of the Green Party’s electoral mandate (7.8 ...
After the incredibly sad story about the deaths of over 50 Ukrainian POWs in a Ukrainian missile attack on the prison they were housed in (see Over 50 POWs killed. A military accident or a cynical war crime?)I came across the heartwarming story about another Ukrainian POW. It’s about a ...
British mercenary Aiden Aslin, now a prisoner in the Donetsk People’s Republic, expressed real concern that he may die from the Ukrainian shelling of Donetsk. He has experienced many missile attacks that came close to the prison.Is he still alive? Understandably, we are always shocked about the losses ...
Politics is largely reported as theatre: tragedy and comedy, thriller and farce. Andrea Vance captures it all very successfully in Blue Blood. But it is the politics of personality, not of policy – of the impact of government on the people’s wellbeing. Even so, we can see from the book ...
This year the government finally got its clean car feebate scheme into place. But there's a problem: it's been too successful: Transport Minister Michael Wood will shortly review the cost of the fees and rebates in the Government's "feebate" scheme after the runaway success of the policy has meant ...
Given how the pandemic has disrupted the sporting calendar, no-one would begrudge our elite athletes their chance to compete at international level. What with the war in Ukraine and the cost of living, there are also not many ‘good news” stories out there. So… I suppose the strenuous efforts the ...
Everybody Having A Say: Democracy commands us to look outward; it demands our trust; it tells us what is expected of our humanity; it elevates the collective above the self; it celebrates the things we have in common; it defines our morals and values; it calculates what we owe one ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to ensure that as a nation which produces enough food to feed 40 million people, everyone in New Zealand can put an abundance of nourishing, nutritious kai on the table. ...
Following months of work by the Green Party and community and environmental organisations, Parliament will have the opportunity to pass legislation to protect public conservation land and waters from mining. ...
New evidence released today by Alcohol Healthwatch shows there’s never been a better time for Parliament to pass Green Party MP Chlöe Swarbrick’s Alcohol Harm Minimisation Bill. ...
We’re helping more Kiwis into work, to help support whānau, grow our skilled workforce and secure our economy for future generations. During our time in Government, we’ve delivered record low unemployment rates, as well as a steady fall in the number of New Zealanders receiving a main benefit, and we’re ...
The Green Party once again calls on the Government to ban bottom trawling on all seamounts following the release of an industry white paper on so-called ‘sustainable’ trawling. ...
Urgent reform is essential to ensure disabled people have equal access to the care and support they need, the Green Party says in response to a new report that challenges politicians to fix the current system. ...
COVID-19 is here to stay and so the Government needs to put in place long-term protection measures, including mandatory ventilation standards, the Green Party says. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to overhaul the Recognised Seasonal Employers scheme in the wake of revelations of shocking human rights violations. ...
The Green Party is calling for a cross-party commitment to guaranteeing at least a living wage and safe working conditions to people seeking employment, instead of continuing benefit sanctions. ...
The Green Party is once again calling on the Government to announce its support for a moratorium on deep sea mining, and to support a member’s bill going to select committee. ...
The Government must take steps to ensure that the way we build our homes is helping to meet New Zealand’s climate change targets, the Green Party said. ...
The Government’s employment initiatives led by the Ministry of Social Development must guarantee liveable incomes and fair working conditions, the Green Party says. ...
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During her time as Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern has navigated New Zealand through unprecedented times. Through it all, she’s become known as someone who leads with kindness, compassion and strength, while keeping the wellbeing of Kiwis at the heart of her approach. To celebrate five years of Jacinda leading the ...
Since taking office in 2017, our Government has worked hard to lift wages and make life more affordable for New Zealanders, as we move forward with our plan to grow a secure economy for all. ...
The Government must use the opportunity of the Electoral Amendment Bill in Parliament to close the loophole in the political donations regime, the Green Party says. ...
Thanks to political pressure from the Green Party and the more than 900 personal stories of birth injury and trauma delivered to Minister Sepuloni, more injuries have been added to the ACC birth injuries bill. ...
Supporting New Zealanders is at the heart of our approach as a Government, and we’re working hard to tackle the big issues Kiwis are facing. While long term challenges like child poverty won’t be solved overnight, we’re putting in place policies that make a real difference for New Zealanders. Here ...
As-salamu alaykum, Tena tatou katoa, Thank you all for being here today. To the Afghan human rights defenders and your family members, welcome to Aotearoa. And thank you Your Excellency for hosting us all here at Government House. We have with us today from Afghanistan, human rights advocates, journalists, judges, ...
It’s my great pleasure to be able to speak with you about a really positive move for the Build-to-Rent sector. As you know, we announced changes last year to help steer property investors way from the existing pool of housing and toward solving New Zealand’s grave housing shortage - by ...
· Tax changes aimed at growing quality, secure rental supply · New and existing build-to-rent developments exempt from interest limitation rules in perpetuity, when offering ten-year tenancies · Exemption to apply from 1 October 2021. The Government is encouraging more long-term rental options by giving developers tax incentives for as ...
The Government has marked another milestone in its push for better rural connectivity, welcoming the delivery of Rural Connectivity Group’s (RCG) 350th tower. Waikato’s Te Ākau, which sits roughly 50 kilometres out of Hamilton is home to the new tower. “The COVID 19 pandemic has highlighted the ever-increasing importance of ...
Biosecurity co-operation topped the agenda when Australia and New Zealand’s agriculture ministers met yesterday. Australia’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Murray Watt met with his New Zealand counterpart, Damien O’Connor, Minister of Agriculture, Biosecurity, and Rural Communities in a conference call, which had particular focus on foot and ...
People could spend less time in hospital, thanks to a smart new remote device that lets patients be monitored at home, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “Technology has the potential to really change the way we do things – to do things that are better for patients and at the ...
Concrete steps to clarify inclusive, evidence-informed teaching practices Strengthen capability supports along the professional pathway Enhance partnerships between the education system and whānau, iwi, communities Embed equitable additional learning supports and assessment tools that help teachers effectively notice and respond to the needs of students Improved student achievement is a ...
Aotearoa New Zealand has committed to strengthen global prevention, preparedness and responses to future pandemics with seed funding for a new World Bank initiative, Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We cannot afford to wait until the next pandemic. We must all play our part to support developing countries ...
A law change to ensure that forestry conversions by overseas investors benefit New Zealand has passed its final reading in Parliament. Previously, overseas investors wishing to convert land, such as farm land, into forestry only needed to meet the “special forestry test”. This is a streamlined test, designed to encourage ...
International tourism recovery well underway with higher level of overseas visitor arrivals than previously expected UK and US card spend already back at pre-COVID levels Visitors staying in New Zealand longer and spending more compared to 2019 Govt support throughout pandemic helped tourism sector prepare for return of international ...
The Ministry for Ethnic Communities has released its first strategy, setting out the actions it will take over the next few years to achieve better wellbeing outcomes for ethnic communities Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities Priyanca Radhakrishnan announced today. “The Strategy that has been released today sets out ...
The Prime Minister has officially opened the Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre today saying it is a huge asset to the region and to the country. “This is a world class facility which will be able to host national and international events including the world championships. With a 10-lane Olympic ...
The Associate Minister of Education, Aupito William Sio, has today announced the recipients of the Tulī Takes Flight scholarships which were a key part of last year’s Dawn Raids apology. The scholarships are a part of the goodwill gesture of reconciliation to mark the apology by the New Zealand Government ...
96% of estimated menstruating students receive free period products 2085 schools involved 1200 dispensers installed Supports cost of living, combats child poverty, helps increase attendance Associate Minister of Education Jan Tinetti today hailed the free period products in schools, Ikura | Manaakitia te whare tangata, a huge success, acknowledging ...
The Tourism Industry Transformation Plan outlines key actions to improve the sector This includes a Tourism and Hospitality Accord to set employment standards Developing cultural competency within the workforce Improving the education and training system for tourism Equipping business owners and operators with better tools and enabling better work ...
Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications Dr David Clark welcomes Google Cloud’s decision to make New Zealand a cloud region. “This is another major vote of confidence for New Zealand’s growing digital sector, and our economic recovery from COVID 19,” David Clark said. “Becoming a cloud region will mean ...
A package of changes to NCEA and University Entrance announced today recognise the impact COVID-19 has had on senior secondary students’ assessment towards NCEA in 2022, says Associate Minister of Education Jan Tinetti. “We have heard from schools how significant absences of students and teachers, as a result of COVID-19, ...
Te Reo Māori tauparapara… Tapatapa tū ki te Rangi! Ki te Whei-ao! Ki te Ao-mārama Tihei mauri ora! Stand at the edge of the universe! of the spiritual world! of the physical world! It is the breath of creation Formal acknowledgments… [Your Highness Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II and Masiofo] ...
The Government’s commitment to combatting firearms violence has reached another significant milestone today with the passage of the Firearms Prohibition Order Legislation Bill, Police Minister Chris Hipkins says. The new law helps to reduce firearm-related crime by targeting possession, use, or carriage of firearms by people whose actions and behaviours ...
Minister for Veterans, Hon Meka Whaitiri sends her condolences to the last Battle for Crete veteran. “I am saddened today to learn of the passing of Cyril Henry Robinson known as Brant Robinson, who is believed to be the last surviving New Zealand veteran of the Battle for Crete, Meka ...
Legislation to repeal the ‘Three Strikes’ law has passed its third reading in Parliament. “The Three Strikes Legislation Repeal Bill ends an anomaly in New Zealand’s justice system that dictates what sentence judges must hand down irrespective of relevant factors,” Justice Minister Kiri Allan said. “The three strikes law was ...
Work is under way on preliminary steps to improve the Government’s support for survivors of abuse in care while a new, independent redress system is designed, Public Service Minister Chris Hipkins says. These steps – recommended by the Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry – include rapid payments for ...
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Online Forum 77 years ago today, an atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. Three days earlier, on the 6th of August 1945, the same fate had befallen the people of Hiroshima. Tens of thousands died instantly. In the years that followed 340,000 ...
An agreement signed today between the New Zealand and United States governments will provide new opportunities for our space sector and closer collaboration with NASA, Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash said. Stuart Nash signed the Framework Agreement with United States Deputy Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman. The signing ...
An agreement signed today between New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the United States’ Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will strengthen global emergency management capability, says Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty. “The Government is committed to continually strengthening our emergency management system, and this Memorandum of Cooperation ...
New Zealand will remain at the Orange traffic light setting, while hospitalisations remain elevated and pressure on the health system continues through winter. “There’s still significant pressure on hospitals from winter illnesses, so our current measures have an ongoing role to play in reducing the number of COVID-19 cases and ...
Streets will soon be able to be transformed from unsafe and inaccessible corridors to vibrant places for all transport modes thanks to new legislation proposed today, announced Transport Minister Michael Wood. “We need to make it safe, quicker and more attractive for people to walk, ride and take public transport ...
More young minds eyeing food and fibre careers is the aim of new Government support for agricultural and horticultural science teachers in secondary schools, Agriculture and Rural Communities Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. The Government is committing $1.6 million over five years to the initiative through the Ministry for Primary ...
Kākāpō numbers have increased from 197 to 252 in the 2022 breeding season, and there are now more of the endangered parrots than there have been for almost 50 years, Conservation Minister Poto Williams announced today. The flightless, nocturnal parrot is a taonga of Ngāi Tahu and a species unique ...
The relationship between Aotearoa New Zealand and Malaysia is to be elevated to the status of a Strategic Partnership, to open up opportunities for greater co-operation and connections in areas like regional security and economic development. Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta met her Malaysian counterpart Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah today during a ...
With additional trains operating across the network, powered by the Government’s investment in rail, there is need for a renewed focus on rail safety, Transport Minister Michael Wood emphasised at the launch of Rail Safety Week 2022. “Over the last five years the Government has invested significantly to improve level ...
The Foreign Minister has wrapped up a series of meetings with Indo-Pacific partners in Cambodia which reinforced the need for the region to work collectively to deal with security and economic challenges. Nanaia Mahuta travelled to Phnom Penh for a bilateral meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers and Aotearoa New Zealand, ...
Kia ora koutou Firstly, thank you to the President of the Criminal Bar Association, Fiona Guy Kidd QC, for her invitation to attend the annual conference this weekend albeit unfortunately she is unable to attend, I’m grateful to the warm welcome both Chris Wilkinson-Smith (Vice-President, Whanganui) and Adam Simperingham (Vice-President, Gisborne) ...
Extension of Aotearoa Touring Programme supporting domestic musicians The Programme has supported more than 1,700 shows and over 250 artists New Zealand Music Commission estimates that around 200,000 Kiwis have been able to attend shows as a result of the programme The Government is hitting a high note, with ...
Minister of Defence Peeni Henare will depart tomorrow for Solomon Islands to attend events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal. While in Solomon Islands, Minister Henare will also meet with Solomon Islands Minister of National Security, Correctional Services and Police Anthony Veke to continue cooperation on security ...
The Government is partnering with Ngāi Tahu Farming Limited and Ngāi Tūāhuriri on a whole-farm scale study in North Canterbury to validate the science of regenerative farming, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. The programme aims to scientifically evaluate the financial, social and environmental differences between regenerative and conventional practices. ...
52.5% of people on public boards are women Greatest ever percentage of women Improved collection of ethnicity data “Women’s representation on public sector boards and committees is now 52.5 percent, the highest ever level. The facts prove that diverse boards bring a wider range of knowledge, expertise and skill. ...
I am honoured to support the 2022 Women in Governance Awards, celebrating governance leaders, directors, change-makers, and rising stars in the community, said Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. For the second consecutive year, MPP is proudly sponsoring the Pacific Governance Leader category, recognising Pacific women in governance and presented to ...
Today Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash turned the sod for the new Whakatāne Commercial Boat Harbour, cut the ribbon for the revitalised Whakatāne Wharf, and inspected work underway to develop the old Whakatāne Army Hall into a visitor centre, all of which are part of the $36.8 million ...
New Zealanders are not getting a fair deal on some key residential building supplies and while the Government has already driven improvements in the sector, a Commerce Commission review finds that changes are needed to make it more competitive. “New Zealand is facing the same global cost of living and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Big business wants a “catch up boost” to permanent migration, with at least two thirds of the places going to skilled workers, In proposals for next month’s jobs and skills summit, the Business Council ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Wes Mountain/The Conversation, CC BY-ND Australia’s top economists are divided about how to tackle ballooning inflation of 6.1% that’s forecast to climb to a three-decade high of 7.75% by ...
ANALYSIS:By Shailendra Singh of the University of the South Pacific In Fiji’s politically charged context, national elections are historically a risky period. Since the 2022 campaign period was declared open on April 26, the intensity has been increasing. Moreover, with three governments toppled by coups after the 1987, 1999 ...
RNZ Pacific The Queen’s Representative in the Cook Islands, Sir Tom Marsters, has confirmed Mark Brown as the Prime Minister. In a statement issued from Mark Brown’s office, Sir Tom said he was “satisfied” that Mark Brown had the majority of the MPs elected to Parliament. Following the final count ...
Former list MP Aaron Gilmore, who resigned in 2013 after he used his position as a threat to a hotel employee, says there has been "outrageous behaviour" by those in Parliament. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pasi Sahlberg, Professor of Education, Southern Cross University Federal Education Minister Jason Clare and his state colleagues met in Canberra on Friday.Lukas Coch/AAP Last Friday, Australia’s state and federal education ministers met with emotional teachers, who spoke of working on weekends ...
Despite an 11th-hour rush of nominations for this year's local body elections, Local Government New Zealand says the numbers could still be too low. ...
A political analyst says people who would have voted for Leo Molloy in Auckland's mayoral election may now turn to Efeso Collins, because both candidates have working-class appeal. ...
Podcast - After one of the fastest political downfalls in New Zealand's history, Political Reporter Katie Scotcher examines how both major parties now face bullying accusations. ...
The government has unveiled what it is calling a radical plan to overhaul reading, writing and maths teaching after two decades of sliding literacy rates. ...
ANALYSIS:By Russel Norman, executive director of Greenpeace Aotearoa Only people power can ensure genuine enduring progress on climate and people need to know the truth if they are to act on it. For that reason greenwashing is the enemy of progress on climate and where you stand on ...
PNG Post-Courier Papua New Guinea’s Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai says he will seek a further extension from the Governor-General for the return of writ for Southern Highlands provincial seat which has faced protracted delays in counting. He said any discussions and talks of “failing” an election and calling for a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Madeline Taylor, Senior Lecturer, Macquarie University Shutterstock Australia’s energy ministers on Friday voted to make emissions reduction a key national energy goal, in a major step forward in the clean energy transition. Federal, state and territory energy ministers agreed to ...
Labour MP Gaurav Sharma has launched another broadside at his own party, posting a lengthy statement on social media that details his interactions with Parliamentary Service and the Labour whips. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Wadham, Director, Open Door: Understanding and Supporting Service Personnel and their Families, Flinders University The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has released its interim report after more than 1,900 submissions and 194 witnesses. It includes recommendations considered so urgent ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mathieu O’Neil, Associate Professor of Communication, News and Media Research Centre, University of Canberra GettyImages Donald Trump derided any critical news coverage as “fake news” and his unwillingness to concede the 2020 presidential election eventually led to the January 6, 2021 ...
The Government’s esteem for science and science-based research findings can be gauged from a press statement released by the Ministry for Primary Industries. The statement gives a progress report on a New Zealand Forest Services’ partnership with a marae-based tree-growing project and its grant of nearly $500,000 over two years ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stan Karanasios, Associate professor, The University of Queensland Rob Hampson/Unsplash On August 9 2022, Australia’s COVIDSafe app was officially decommissioned, and all its features removed. People were encouraged to uninstall the app. Reports of its closure have made international news. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Professor Paddy Nixon talk about this week in politics. They discuss Australia’s relationship with China as tensions rise over Taiwan, the inquiry into ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominique Allen, Associate Professor, Monash University Photo by Sora Shimazaki/Pexels, CC BY You might have heard of jobseekers being asked to complete a “personality test” as part of a job application, or been through the process yourself. The questions can ...
Buzz from the Beehive Some readers might be surprised to learn from Associate Finance Minister David Parker that the law has been changed to ensure forestry conversions by overseas investors benefit New Zealand. Did the law previously allow forestry conversions by overseas investors that would be to ...
The government is giving long-term build-to-rent developments a tax break in a bid to increase secure rental supply for tenants for at least 10 years. ...
Aucklanders now have a clear choice between continuing the failing status quo or choosing a candidate who can fix Auckland, Mayoral candidate Wayne Brown says. “They can choose more of the same from current councillor Efeso Collins, or a new proactive ...
Pacific Media Watch newsdesk The head of the Solomon Islands state-owned broadcaster has defended its role in the face of the government tightening control — a move that critics say is squarely aimed at controlling and censoring the news. The government said last Friday that the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation ...
What a difference less than a week can make: National lurching from success to controversy and Labour facing its own bombshell, Political Editor Jane Patterson writes. ...
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Te Pāti Māori co-leader and list MP based in Te Tai Hauāuru will this weekend share in the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Pātea Māori club anthem, Poi E. “Iwi of Taranaki and Ngāti Ruanui will be reminiscing ...
Labour's Whip's office says it has always acted in good faith with Hamilton West MP Gaurav Sharma, after he made explosive allegations about bullying. ...
Today, XR Whakatū are blocking the Trafalgar St to launch “The People” in the form of Te Tiriti based peoples assemblies as their candidate for this year's local body elections. “The climate and ecological crisis proves our political system ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Mehigan, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Canterbury Getty Images However you look at it, the National Party has selected someone who once committed an act of criminal violence to represent the Tauranga electorate in parliament. It’s an unfortunate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patricia Davidson, Vice-Chancellor, University of Wollongong Shutterstock Demand for health care is soaring as the population ages, medical treatments become more widely available and more people live with chronic and complex illnesses. However, there is global shortage of health professionals ...
A sexual abuse survivor group SNAP says the Government’s decision to allow faith-based institutions like the Catholic Church to continue providing redress to survivors would just re-traumatise Catholic Church survivors. SNAP’s national leader, Christopher ...
The 2022 round of the Rainbow Wellbeing Legacy Fund (RWLF) will see $299,999 in grants being distributed to programmes with a focus on mental health in rainbow communities thanks to a partnership with Foundation North. Foundation North, the community trust ...
The Government continuing to push through a Wairarapa treaty settlement without addressing serious flaws in it, is a slap in the face to natural justice and rank hypocrisy from the Crown. That’s the submission today to Parliament’s Maori Affairs ...
The rental price indexes measure the changes in prices that households pay for housing rentals. Key facts Monthly change In July 2022 compared with June 2022: the index for the stock measure of rental property prices rose 0.2 percent the index for the ...
Climate Change Minister James Shaw has been found wanting, after his response to a letter from Groundswell NZ lacked any evidence that New Zealand agriculture is contributing to climate warming, Groundswell NZ emissions spokesperson Steve Cranston ...
New research from HelloFresh bites into the nation’s changing diets and reveals what’s impacting the way we eat Leading meal-kit provider, HelloFresh serves up fresh research that explores New Zealand’s changing diets, revealing how eating ...
“The marked increase in violent youth crime has been long predicted and is being met by a chorus of excuses instead of admitting the soft youth system is a demonstrable failure,” says Darroch Ball Leader of Sensible Sentencing Trust. “Its time to ...
Morning Report - This week RNZ and Stuff's political editors Jane Patterson and Luke Malpass discuss the accusations by Labour's Gaurav Sharma, and those against National's Sam Uffindell. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Myles Menz, Lecturer, Zoology and Ecology, James Cook University Christian Ziegler Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Author provided Migratory insects number in the trillions. They’re a major part of global ecosystems, helping to transport nutrients and pollen across continents ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Toole, Associate Principal Research Fellow, Burnet Institute As monkeypox vaccination programs roll out and health authorities release information about how to reduce the spread of the virus, progress on another aspect of the outbreak is lagging: its name. On June 14, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Marc Pell/Unsplash, CC BY The world’s focus is sharply fixed on achieving net-zero emissions, yet surprisingly little thought has been given to what comes afterwards. In our new paper, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn Alders, Honorary Professor, Australian National University Foot-and-mouth disease now poses a high threat to Australia. This highly contagious livestock virus is sweeping Indonesia – the closest it’s been to Australia since the 1980s. A large outbreak here could cause decimate the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anita Wreford, Professor Applied Economics, Lincoln University, New Zealand Sanka Vidanagama/NurPhoto via Getty Images New Zealand’s national adaptation plan, launched last week, offers the first comprehensive approach to how communities can prepare for the inevitable impacts of a changing climate. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Larissa McLean Davies, Professor of Teacher Education, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Today, state and federal education ministers will meet in Canberra to discuss the teacher shortage. In their first in-person meeting for more than a year, they will ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Harrington, Senior Lecturer in English and Cultural Studies, University of Canterbury HBO HBO’s fantasy series Game of Thrones dominated television and pop culture discourse for much of a decade. Its upcoming prequel series, House of the Dragon, is similarly ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The federal Liberals are in a parlous state, after an election that was not just lost to Labor but where “teals” stripped them of a batch of traditional seats. In coming months the Liberal ...
By Leah Tebbutt, RNZ News reporter A number of Māori wāhine have put their hat in the ring to become mayor at this year’s Aotearoa New Zealand local body election across the motu in October. Georgina Beyer is believed to be the first and only Māori woman ever elected as ...
By Concy Simon of the PNG Post-Courier Leadership of Papua New Guinea has “gone to the dogs” represented by a rapid increase in prices of goods and services and the “worst national election” ever, says a lawyer. Lawyer Goiye Kondago made the crtiticism during the official declaration of Kerenga Kua ...
COMMENTARY:By Barbara Dreaver, 1News Pacific correspondent Even from the grainy black and white footage of American soldiers wading towards shore while under fire, you can see and sense the fear, resignation and determination in that moment. The Battle of Midway in World War II may have been won, but ...
Cook Islands PressBy Jason Brown Tens of thousands of Cook Islanders celebrated 57th Constitution Day events these last weeks. Not just in the homeland, but overseas as well, with communities across New Zealand, Australia and beyond celebrating language, dance, culture and other arts. How many in all might be ...
A Labour backbencher has launched an extraordinary broadside, claiming MP-on-MP bullying is rampant within Parliament and facilitated by those supposed to prevent it. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rod Sims, Professor in the practice of public policy and antitrust, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock Public interest journalism is essential to a well-functioning society, even for those who do not watch or read it. It holds ...
The Greens will continue to push for climate friendly, affordable transport options as part of a new cross-party Parliamentary inquiry into the future of inter-regional passenger rail in New Zealand. “Investing in rail is a great way to connect our ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Huw Griffiths, Senior Lecturer in English Literature, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/ STCReview: Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, directed by Kip Williams for Sydney Theatre Company With their new production, Kip Williams and the Sydney Theatre ...
National Party's leader and deputy leader say details of Sam Uffindell's flat are "not great" and "yuck", and the party will continue improving its candidate selection processes. ...
David Timbs from Peter Timbs Butchers has decided not to run in this year’s local body election. Mr Timbs initially said he would be running for council but has now put his support behind independent candidate Ali Jones who is running for the Innes ...
Buzz from the Beehive Tourism Minister Stuart Nash has been busy in the past 24 hours, joining the PM for the opening of a new aquatic centre, enthusing about data from the latest visitor statistics and announcing a new industry strategy. The Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities Priyanca ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle O’Shea, Senior Lecturer, School of Business, Western Sydney University A record number of female Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander athletes represented Australia at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. While embracing their role model status, it is worth considering the weighty ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marnie Blewitt, Head, Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute leah hetteberg/unsplash What if we could inherit more than our parents’ genes? What if we could inherit the ability to turn genes on and off? These possibilities have come ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanne Orlando, Researcher: Digital Literacy and Digital Wellbeing, Western Sydney University Shutterstock This week, one Sydney high school made headlines for banning mobile phones during school hours. Phones can come to school but must stay in locked pouches allowing teachers ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Allen Cheng, Professor in Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Monash University People could have caught the virus from wild shrews.Shutterstock A new virus, Langya henipavirus, is suspected to have caused infections in 35 people in China’s Shandong and Henan provinces. It’s related to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dallas Rogers, Head of Urbanism and Associate Professor of Urban Studies, School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney The redevelopment of the 22-hectare Barangaroo precinct on Sydney Harbour has long been a masterclass in poor urban development governance and lack ...
The Aotearoa Vapers Community Advocacy (AVCA) is encouraging Kiwis to make a submission on the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill by 24 August. They say getting tough on tobacco is well overdue. Now with Parliament’s ...
Relationships are a prerequisite for a culture of respect for human rights to flourish, but they don’t guarantee them. If nobody is listening, or worse, those concerned have conflicting interests then Human Rights are ignored and sidelined.
Debt in moderation is good for a country. But when families can’t afford milk how can being the premium milk producer matter to every day Kiwis?
Plutocracy watch:
http://www.bepress.com/bap/vol13/iss1/art4/
Between this stuff, the revolving doors, the computer traded ticket clippers and the lack of any real reform, I’m starting to suspect that this cake might be a bit fictional.
Anybody going to follow up on the $2.4 million untendered gift of taxpayers’ money to a ‘Christian’ parenting group in the Budget? Sounds like that donation to a National Party-aligned Pacific business in the Budget last year.
The Petulant Bean may have some serious questions to answer over this perceived abuse of procedure.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/5055820/Queries-over-2-4m-parenting-contract
Anyone else notice how she bounces to her feet when answering questions in the House, especially when she has a smart rejoinder to deliver. One of these days her upper body may continue on up and whack her in the face.
And when is that privacy act business going to get resolved?
The last I heard ‘that privacy case’ is going to court – sometime after the election.
Good grief. The court should issue damages based on how much we’ve paid Bennett in the interim.
The US deficit: ( The GOP should shut up about it if they had any self respect edition)
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/05/chart-bush-policies-dominant-cause-of-debt.php?ref=fpblg
The GOP, just like our own conservatives (National, Act, mP), are only there to transfer public wealth into the hands of themselves and their rich mates.
Greywolf Mining want to exploit/explore Golden Bay for oil, gas and coal. But as TV3 have said they are a bit more of a grey ghost not a grey wolf – why?
emails bounce
the chinese company listed as a partner on the website is not their partner
hard to find company offices
are greywolf a sham – just another dirty company involved in dirty business? IMO yes. But who is going to make the money – that’s the trail to follow.
http://mars2earth.blogspot.com/2011/05/murky-mining-attempt.html
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/5053379/Mining-firms-credentials-brought-into-doubt
Cynthia McKinney is one of my heroes. She is black, educated and of a high moral fiber. It was she who confronted Rumsfeld about the child slave ring run by Dynacore, the missing trillions of the Pentagon budget and travelled to the Gaza strip two years ago on one of the boats trying to break the siege.
She travelled to Libya to see with her own eyes what is happening there. She wrote a Counterpunch piece about the “kinetic, humanitarian” action called Feast of Blood.
Alex Jones is also one of my heroes. Considered by many a vile, redneck, truther birther, teapartier, nutcase but as he is one of the most outspoken anti war activists who calls out both Bush and Obama and their puppet masters on their lie based illegal wars of aggression and resource robbery he has to be one of my heroes even if I don’t agree with his gun toting, anti abortionist views to name a few.
Today only here is the link to the page which contains a link to his radio show in which he interviews US Congress woman McKinny who at this moment is in Tripoli Libya awaiting the nightly “kinetic, humanitarian” bombings.
So for those of you who thought that the intervention was a good use of NATO and the US army I would challenge you to listen to this interview between Cynthia McKinny, black (sort of) leftist black women (She is the leader of the American green party) and white male Texas, gun toting, birther 911 truther Alex Jones and educate yourself. (A word of warning; The radio show is about three hours and streaming so you might have to wait for the interview to air again.)
Here is the Youtube link to the first part of the interview edited out of the radio program
What is worth less and can be sacrificed?
Lives or Profits?
http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/the-real-danger-to-air-passengers-is-not-the-ash-cloud-ndash-its-these-men-2289097.html
Obama: UK, US lead fight for peace and just world
THE HEADLINE….
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Obama: UK, US lead fight for peace and just world
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http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3227321.htm
THE REALITY BEHIND THE HEADLINE….
http://www.travelersdigest.com/war_pics/knife_torture.jpg
http://www.wired.com/images/slideshow/2008/02/gallery_abu_ghraib/abu.jpg
http://moviereviewh2one2.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/abu-ghraib-tm.jpg
http://rexcurry.net/dog-torture-terrorism-abu-ghraib1b.jpg
http://files.blog-city.com/files/A05/141484/p/f/abughraib1.jpg
http://infowars.net/pictures/news_files/Nov05/281105AbuG.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1J11lnNV_GI/RsWpTZL9o7I/AAAAAAAAAXg/EfdENAgD_M8/s1600/Iraqi%2BCivilians.jpg
Parliament’s Wall of Shame #3
http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2011/05/parliaments-wall-of-shame-3.html
National Party MP Tau Henare has shown what a complete douche bag he is once again on his Twitter feed. The Jackal doesn’t like to see such atrocious behaviour like this and has therefore included Tau Henare in the Parliament’s Wall of Shame.
In October 2005, Taito Philip Field lost his ministerial posts following controversies around allegations that he had improperly used his influence as an MP to receive material gain.In October 2005, Taito Philip Field lost his ministerial posts following controversies around allegations that he had improperly used his influence as an MP to receive material gain.
Phil Heatley announced his resignation from his portfolios on 25 February 2010, citing further problems with his ministerial credit card spending. Mr Heatley said his decision to quit came after he had looked closely at his ministerial credit card expenses for the past 18 months.
Like your walls of shame – good job.
Loon Watch No. 1: Philippe Karsenty
Unless you are especially interested in charting the tortured and unhappy progress of crazed far-right lunatics, you probably haven’t heard of PHILIPPE KARSENTY, a minor-league French fringe-dweller. Karsenty is a conspiracy theorist who has become the darling of the
Israeli extreme right, following his determined effort to cast doubt on the veracity of television film of a routine killing by Israeli troops of a Gazan boy on Sunday, September 30, 2000.
Karsenty has as much respect amongst sane and honest people as a flat earther, a moon-landing “skeptic”, a 9/11 Truther, or a global warming denier. As you will see in the video (Part 3) this is very much a sore point for Kasenty. Luckily for him however, he had the perfect interlocutor, an empty vessel called JAMIE GLAZOV, when he appeared on the very first edition of FrontPage Close-Up….
http://frontpagemag.com/2010/12/09/the-premiere-of-frontpage-close-up-with-jamie-glazov/
Part 1
Jamie Glazov: “We are honored to have as our guest a HERO of our time: Philip Karsenty, who exposed the infamous Mohammed Al-Dura hoax. Mr Karsenty, what support are you receiving for exposing what is obviously a lie and a hoax?”
Philippe Karsenty: “This is a case for democracy. You need to have media which are conveying the truth, not lying. … It was a state- sponsored blood libel. …Chirac decided to demonize Israel.”
Karsenty then launches into a hysterical denunciation of Charles Enderlin. This is problematic, because Enderlin, like so many of the most trenchant and courageous opponents of Israeli criminality, is Jewish, so he can’t simply be smeared with the routine “anti-Semitism”
baloney. But Karsenty is obviously incapable of thinking of any other strategy, and so he says, risibly, that Enderlin was “responsible for the blood libel.” He derides Enderlin for complaining about the way that fanatical Zionists attacked him, and forced him out of his apartment.
Glazov continues: “The wounds on the father are not gunshot wounds. The boy himself has never been found. Is that correct? How is it possible to be shot fifteen times and for there to be no blood?” The answer, of course, is easy: it’s all “incitement against Israel”.
Glazov then tries to pour cold water on the exhaustively documented fact that Israeli troops routinely fire thousands of bullets at unarmed protestors. It just doesn’t make SENSE, he reasons:”If you said that an American policeman shot for 45 minutes just to kill someone, it wouldn’t make sense. Brainwashing makes them believe that Israelis would shoot at them for 45 minutes. French intellectuals won’t listen to Holocaust-deniers, and they won’t listen to us. Their
main argument is to refuse to debate.”
Part 2
Maybe, just maybe, you’re extremely indulgent, and inclined to give anyone a fair go. Perhaps you need more evidence that Glazov is not only a denier of evidence, but a crank and a fool? Well then, please watch the first thirty seconds of Part 2: Glazov assures us that not only do our eyes deceive us when we watch film of the Mohammed al-Dura killing, but that global warming is a hoax.
Karsenty returns to talking about the shooting video, and raves on and on: “Ten years of insane lies… Israel has been poorly treated by the U.S. over the years….No matter how many facts you will prove, this is about deeply entrenched Jew-hatred. …More lies and more lies and more lies. What you have to understand is that the lies didn’t stop after the death of Mohammed al Dura. Lies about the Lebanon war, the Gaza war, the so-called peace flotilla, lies, lies, lies. There is no anti-
Semitism, it’s anti-Israel. Be clear. There is no anti-Zionism, it’s anti-Semitism.”
Part 3
Jamie Glazov assures Karsenty that “forensic scientists have delegitimized the evidence of this shooting. Beyond reasonable doubt!” Karsenty: “Our worst opponents in this were extreme left
Jews.”
Glazov is obsessed with the fact that not one Palestinian has supported Karsenty. “You have Jews on the side of Palestinians,” he points out. “So why don’t some Palestinians support you?” Karsenty expresses his indignation that French intellectuals don’t respect his intellect. He rails against “Jewish journalists” who “demonize and bash Israel”. It’s all “brainwashing. Brainwashing is the worst thing that can happen.”
Part 4
Karsenty: “I know that I have the truth. We are moving forward. We will win at the end. Because nobody can fight against the truth.”
Glazov: “Let’s say that tomorrow the boy and the father show up. Do you think the world will apologize to you?”
Karsenty: “Of COURSE some boys die in the middle east, of COURSE some die. It doesn’t make sense, when you think of the rules of engagement of the Israeli soldiers.”
Glazov: “You’re not waiting for an apology for this faked report?”
Karsenty: “I tell you, the truth will come out some day. It’s so obvious.”
———————————————-
Note that nearly the whole video is a free-ranging denunciation of critics of Israel. The “hoax” is not dealt with in any detail. Karsenty does not present even one piece of evidence to back up his
outlandish claims.
If you want a contrast to this lunacy, you can watch a measured report, by a reputable and highly respected TV station, on the killing of Mohamed Al Dura HERE…
I wish my connection allowed me to see videos Morrissey, but thank you for the summary… I used look at Frontpagemagazine occasionally, but it was no good for my BP. What a bunch of nutmegs!
The pleasure is all mine.
Too lazy to copy and redo the links:
In summary, Physicians and Scientists for Global Responsibility New Zealand are talking out of their arses on a recent bit of research. While I don’t like the term scaremongering, it’s the easiest and simplest way of describing their claims, which basically ignore any prior research on the toxicity of glyphosphates and modified Cry toxins from bt bacteria, and basic toxicology 101. i.e. that toxicity is in the dosage and mechanisms of action and that mere presence alone isn’t a indicator of impending doom.
And their support of various pseudo-science groups, such as NZ based anti-fluoridation groups, an alt-med group masquerading as “health-choice”. Plus ye olde anti-1080 kiddies who don’t understand basic organic chemistry and lack of any actively publishing NZ GMO researchers makes Nick rather suspicious about their ability to interpret teh literature without making first year mistakes.
And one thing I forgot to add is a link to the successor to the NZ Institute of Gene Ecology, The Centre for Integrated Research in Biosafety based out of Canterbury uni, staffed by people who are actually trained and currently researching issues to do with GMO’s. Who TVNZ should have gone to for an opinion on this instead…
And just to try and drive people to distraction, here’s the instructional video for an origami kiwi. Muwahahaha
Here’s some fantastic CGI videos. Although, you do have ask just what happened to all the traffic that those roads are supposed to be transporting went to. Perhaps they all disappeared with the oil…
On Afternoons today, Jim-I-so-value-and-admire-the-Penguin-Mora has quoted the blog as a source for information and valid comment today. What it does seem to suggest is that Jim dwells in the sewers for some of his browsing.
Even worse, it suggests he believes as well.
Peak Oil was in 2006 Dr Fatih Birol on National Radio yesterday http://www.youtube.com/user/oilcrash1?feature=mhee#p/a/u/1/k22q5KZibtI
Dr. Fatih Birol is Chief Economist and Head of the Economic Analysis Division of the Paris-based International Energy Agency. He is organiser and director of the World Energy Outlook series, the IEA’s flagship publication. He is also responsible for providing regular briefing to the Executive Director and Governing Board of the IEA on the economic impact of energy market and industry developments.
Gerry Brownlee New Zealand Minster of Energy and Resources signed off on this statement on 1 June 2010
“The Government’s position on peak oil, therefore, continues to be that oil production will not change significantly until 2030, or until some date beyond this. ”
Its the end of the world as we know it …
Brownlee signed off his credibility in that statement showing how out of touch and blinkered and plain dim he is!Mind you life is a lot less stressful being a Donkey, but! he’s paid a lot of money to wake up, care and be alert as to NZ’s future prospects or threats to those prospects.
Can we afford an increased minimum wage? Yes!
Can we afford capitalists? No!
Originality, creativity and innovation captured in one word for Wellingtonians:
Wellywood
Movies aren’t even made in Hollywood any more.
Infratil – a company that is a likely buyer of our energy companies/ public infrastructure, creating a deliberately provocative distraction in the form a of stupid sign to try and get us to forget about a bullshit budget and the lies and corruption that is going on right in front of our eyes.
Fuck the sign.