“Details of the campaign, to be launched soon in the lead-up to the referendum on MMP on election day in November, have been leaked to the Sunday Star-Times”
Given that such journalism rarely results in any critical reporting on war efforts, is this part of the payback to Joyce/Key for the debt bailout/leniency?
So if we can throw someone out of the country for something out of their control, a disease reappearing, then can we throw migrants on visas who have say anorexia? Or was it the case that immigration decided that it did not like the individual in question, maybe the 700,000 dollars that he invested was from crime or something? That there is some other reason that he must go? Would he have a case of slander? I means if a decision is made about a substance of a matter that you actually have no control over, disease onset in the future, then you have been slandered? Do they teach good government in NZ? That its bad form to discriminate by asking the wrong question of individuals, do we only uphold group rights in NZ? If you are discriminated if you are a member of some group?
This one. Interestingly, Immigration NZ tells it differently than how it was told in the news. The news seems to have left out a bit that he hadn’t been granted permanent residency.
Thanks DTB Some observations.
1 Someone who buys into a garage is hardly an entrepreneur even if it fits into the criteria that the immigration service have set.
2 $25,000 isn’t a huge amount to spend on an operation. And he is a working man, so adding to country’s revenues.
3 There weren’t promises that he could stay but sometimes local people should have a say in whether someone is providing added value to their region. Immigration seems typically to be very rigid – the Minister should have some leeway figure each year to allow some extras to the quota if worthy.
I accept only a stupid plonker would sign up to a scheme and they invest three
quarters of a million dollars in NZ where they stand to be chucked out 7? years later.
I just think that a bureaucracy that creates such a system, where a man will
be thrown out when something out of their control (return of an illness), is
far more disastrous on the image of NZ.
It shows a lack of care for future migrants.
Any policy should decide at the airport gate if they are going to stay
or not, if they bring in that much money into the country.
As for the notice, rather sad, that he only brought a garage misses
the point he made it a successful business.
Do we want migrants just to pass through if they make a buck?
Surely if they stay and they are expected to take up roots here, its
unethical to expect them to sell off and leave after 7? years.
If the policy was to support the economy it fails, designed to fail
and send the wrong message.
A Sunday Star Times article by Sarah Harvey, quotes Stuart Carr from Massey University’s Poverty Research Groupsome Massey Uni research and David Cunliffe on the pay inequalities in NZ. This particularly refers to a dual pay system, whereby, as in poorer countries, senior execs/management are flown into NZ to work on higher wages than equivalent staff in NZ. It also gives the eg of Trans-Tasman Quantas-Jetconnect airline workers, with the Aussies being paid more than the Kiwis for the same job.
But Labour spokesman David Cunliffe told the Sunday Star Times that New Zealand was looking “more and more like a developing country every day, and not even a particularly good developing country”.
[…]
It has found throughout the world, expatriates are often paid a lot more money for doing the same job as their local counterparts.
“It is happening increasingly in New Zealand because the gap between Australia has opened up now,” said Carr.
[…]
Carr said a difference in pay between Aussies and Kiwis led to morale in the workplace being undermined.
[…]
Carr is applying for funding to do further research on the effect of a high executive pay on the rest of the workers in New Zealand organisations.
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/26/2011 16:50 -0400
So far the only good news to accompany the Fukushima catastrophe has been that for all the fallout, the radiation has been mostly contained due to Northwesterly winds which have been blowing any radioactivity mostly out and into the Pacific (coupled with relatively little rainfall), as well as the dispersion of irradiated cooling water which promptly enters the Pacific after which it is never heard of or seen again (there is at least a several year period before 3 eyed tuna fish feature prominently in restaurants across the country). This may be changing soon now that Super Typhoon Songda, which according to Weather Underground will form shortly as a Category 5 storm with 156+ mph winds, will take a northeasterly direction and 2 days later will pass right above Fukushima. The good news: by the time it passes over Fukushima, Songda will be merely a Tropical storm. The bad news: by the time it passes over Fukushima, Songda will be a Tropical storm. As the latest dispersion projection from ZAMG shows, over the next two days the I-131 plume will be covering all of the mainland. Although judging by how prominent this whole topic is in the MSM lately, it seems that conventional wisdom now agrees with Ann Coulter that radioactivity is actually quite good for you.
lol, I assume you’re referring to Quinn’s accidental moment of candour.
You see the vid? Wallace asked him straight up are scantily clad women are just “asking for it”.
He heard that just fine and that’s the question he answered. What else he heard or didn’t hear has no bearing on how he answered that question, Chris, unless you think there’s a way of interpreting the question that I haven’t thought of yet in which case do please share your insights.
Paul Quinn has significant hearing loss (according to Willie J and John T) so if he says he didn’t hear the question properly (and in a crowded noisy bar thats quite possible) and having Russell Norman back him up I’d say he didn’t hear the question properly
As I said when it comes down to telling the truth who do you believe, Trev “american bag men” the Muss or Russell Norman
Me I’ll believe the Greenie because he hasn’t been proven a liar yet
And for the record scantily clad women dont ask for it, drunk women dont ask for it, rape victims never ask for it
However if I ever have daughters I’d be letting them know that getting blotto probably increases the chances of rape happening because there are guys out there who deliberatly target drunk women
Quinn never said he didn’t hear the question I referred to, the one about women asking for it by dressing like sluts.
He said he didn’t hear the preceding monologue on the subject of Slutwalk.
Do you understand the difference? Whether or not he heard the monologue is irrelevant, as the question (which he answered directly) was unambiguous.
For you to defend Quinn, you need to find an alternate interpretation of the question asked. The question he answered directly, as put to him, and which he has NOT complained he didn’t hear.
Shame on the SST’s Imogen Neale – her article ‘alarm bells over legal highs as rehab bills hit parents’ is one of the worst pieces of journalism I have ever seen.
Allowing the totally discredited gateway drug myth to go unchallenged…and other such bullshit statements like “it’s a smooth transition from a synthetic joint to a P pipe”
As you may have noticed I take a special interest in law and order issues esp in conjunction with drugs and mental health.
I have already speculated that the Rats will try and ignore the elements of the law commission report that focuses on decriminalization and destigmatization of recreational drugs, choosing instead to use the pretense of drug courts (one of four recommendations) and a broad brush ‘treatment’ approach to drug users (ignoring alcohol of course – note the article on the same page claiming the we aren’t drinking that. much after all… Yeah right)
This article went a long way towards confirming my suspicions that the Rats will continue to demonize the herb, chuck tons of corrections and health dollars towards their fundie mates and rubbish god bothering drug programs and do their damnedest to chuck as many weekend smokers and occasional pill takers into rehab as possible. Treatment centers, not prisons, we said no more prisons…
It is 2011 for fucks sake NZ the war on drugs is and always was a lie – first cotton and now booze trying to protect their profit.
Dick heads like Tom Claunch should know better, and prob would if he wasn’t so busy trying to drum up business with his histrionics.
Fran you are again cheerleading for the totalitarian govt that is China
The Chinese goverment is not investing in New Zealnd it is investing in China’s future and if we do as you say we will have no future.
The truth is that China is not a democracy – it is a brutal, totalitarian dictatorship that has two faces. One you see on TV and the other you do not see from within its own borders.
….
The Commonwealth of Nations has applied sanctions against Fiji and suspended its membership until it sets a path to return to democracy from a military dictatorship. Without hesitation China has injected funds into Fiji to maintain this government in place.
“So what if they buy . . .”
Do you want to be ‘owned’ by China? Already Key has refused to meet the Dalai Lama for fear of the Chinese dictators. Actually I don’t care about that. I should but I don’t.
The Chinese got really p***** off when Norway gave the Nobel peace prize to the imprisoned Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. They shouldn’t have done, but they did. Norway’s fresh salmon exports to China dropped 70 per cent in the first four months of the year after that prize was awarded and never recovered.
I hope the Chinese mafia are not injecting funds into the current lot of puppets on the government benches.
If so, we are well and truly screwed, and the time is nigh to export ourselves, our kids and our future out of the country.
Interesting. Can you explain his argument. Or are you too stupid to understand it.
I will give you a hint. It involves the mix of technologies the Chinese are planning on using to increase their power supply. Even a idiot could figure it out from that…. Right?
A book reviewed this morning on Chris Laidlaw Radio nz on the Titanic disaster is a great piece of investigative history and family saga. Called ‘And the Band Played On’ the book was prompted by the death of the author’s 21 year old father, a violinist in the orchestra who with the others kept playing heard by those in lifeboats moving away from the ship despite the noise from boilers exploding as the ship sank.
Insight of of dismissive attitudes to the lower classes show up. His body was recovered and put on ice in the hold of a rescue ship, which had coffins available but only for the first class. Women and children did get priority, but here the first class get priority again. The violinists parents received a bill for his brass buttons from the shipping company, his pay was stopped at the time of the sinking, and his parents wanting his body, were charged ordinary freight rates for transport back home. One of the executives of the company was amongst those in the lifeboats, no heroic gesture as with Astor.
The story of the violinists family and how the Titanic affected it is riveting but there is much other stuff that didn’t receive coverage by the media at the time because they concentrated on the survivors’ stories. For instance the Titanic sister ship Olympia was due to sail from Southampton shortly after the sinking. Most of the 500 seamen due to work had lost friends or relations and they noted that Olympia too lacked sufficient lifeboats and withheld their labour till this was rectified. They were imprisoned for this.
See the centenary of the Titanic next year. I to enjoyed this interview and also the interview on Freud’s psychoanalysis, (in particular transference) on after 11 am. I have never agreed on Freud’s sexual psychoanalytical theory. Freud was also way off with the harmful impact that sexual assault causes.
And the capitalists keep telling us how great capitalism is. If we hadn’t stood up and demanded better wages, work conditions etc, we’d still be getting imprisoned for doing what’s right and I’m sure we’d still be getting told to die so that the rich could live – oh, that’s right, we do. That comes through loud and clear in the bene-bashing of National and Act.
In the book review that Prism raised, if you had a tatoo and a foreign name, you had the highest chance of being ditched at sea with the body retrieval. One wonders why they even went to the effort to check the body, only to throw it back in again. Interesting how they defined social class back then, todays equivalent is bene bashing.
DTB I think the latest evidence of the divide between classes is being played out over the Pike River deaths and the unwillingness to expend money there in a timely fashion to get the men out. I think that everybody knows there are class divisions here, who mix with a similar group and who are excluded always.
Does need to be pointed out more though. Once people realise that one group gets better treatment than everybody else at everybody else’s expense then there should be more support to move to a more egalitarian society.
‘Such questions and such challenges to the legitimacy and prerogatives of the ruling class must never be allowed. Whenever events threaten to run out of control in this way, action will be taken to ensure that the privileges and power of the ruling class continue without interruption. Whatever else may be open to question or challenge, the power, the privileges and the prerogatives of the ruling class may never be threatened in a serious way.’
Whatever else may be open to question or challenge, the power, the privileges and the prerogatives of the ruling class may never be threatened in a serious way.’
Hmm not the way I remember the French Revolution happened 🙂
CV, I think the American and French revolutions are up there but on the whole the privileged do manage to keep their position and wealth through subtle, not-so-subtle bullying and by getting the common folk to partipate in their own “slavery” the American Dream being one of the more blatant examples. As long as people think they have a chance at the brass ring then why should they try to be fair or think of others, not saying this applies to all, but still to a good many people. Like racism people often try to mask their hate by saying it’s more a question of class rather than colour and with class or money distinctions if people don’t have enough they’re lazy or whatever the sin du jour is.
It seems many NZers are exhausted at keeping their heads above water and therefore their appetite for action is somewhat dulled or they’ve been seduced into thinking they can make it like John Key on a $50 a week tax cut that never seems to reach them but they hang in there hoping it will arrive one day. Hatred of their own class is inculcated through bene bashing though they secretly fear they may be next on the scrap heap. Maybe it’s a hangover of British reserve from times past but I read Gordon Campbell’s book ‘The Passionless People’ some years ago and believe it would be good if NZers could get a healthy dose of anger, enough to effect some real change and restoring the former national attitude of giving someone a fair go because it seems a distant memory to me. It sickens me now to think of kids missing out because their parents cannot make a go of things and I see it in my job more now a parent’s sense of helplessness and not being good enough – it sucks mightily.
An interesting article and one that follows my assertion that capitalism has been designed to enrich the few and everyone else’s expense. And I agree with him about the rules, the ones that matter, are there to control the many and don’t apply to the few.
They are intentionally designed to protect the elites and to control everyone else. The elites may and will disregard them as they choose.
Most of the 500 seamen due to work had lost friends or relations and they noted that Olympia too lacked sufficient lifeboats and withheld their labour till this was rectified. They were imprisoned for this.
I had not known this, so thanks! That sounds very interesting. (I missed Laidlaw)
Vicky
There is a new catch phrase that is setting the Feminist
blogosphere a buzz. It’s called “Mansplaining” it was
first used a couple of years ago, but in the past six
months it has taken off, and is widely and wrongly used
in debates.
Mansplaining means you are beginning condensing,
patronizing and feel that you are correct because you
are the man in the conversation.
How utterly ridiculous that concept is. It takes any
robust debate down to the gutter level, and is equivalent
to little kids who would scream out “Your
an idiot” during arguments with their classmates.
If there is a debate on any subject, it doesn’t have to be
political, it could even be about Apples or Pears, if you
have a different opinion, a different point of view with
a poster, and that poster is female and you are
male, the word “MANSPLAINER” will be shouted
from the rooftops from anyone who disagrees
with your point of view.
For example just the other day there was a debate on the
always interesting “hand mirror” site, about if the Hamilton Casino
is being honest about wanting to open 24/7 to attract high
end punters from Asia, or are they really after, the local’s
money, which could lead to social economic problems.
I took the view that they are after the Visiting Asian Market,
while the poster “Stargazer” believe this wasn’t the case and
they were after the local market, thus causing problems for
the local community.
Well, let the Mansplaining comments begin, apparently I was
Mansplaining, and then I was Mansplaining again by explaining
that I just have a different point of view.
Of course it wasn’t a case of mansplaining, I was just
pointing out my thoughts on the subject, like the
poster “Stargazer” was pointing out their’s.
I wonder how the posters would of commented if I had
of been a female? they couldn’t use the term Mansplainer,
and that is where using the term Mansplainer falls down.
You are basically saying any male that is debating a female
on any given topic is a Mansplainer, and that is not even close to
reality.
Oh for the record, I thought the poster
“Stargazer” was male, although it didnt matter to me what gender
she was.
Yes I checked it out on your website. It certainly made me laugh. Try and put it in context, lad, there’s a dear.
For a very small section of all these thousands of years, from the time women were silly enough to allow you men any freedoms, and you started raping, battering, killing in order to control them, women have actually had a say over their own lives. Wow.
There is also, I hate… to tell you, Brett Dale, a lot of truth to this mansplaining as being patriarchal and condescending.
Ride it out; women still love the male race, I daresay.
Regarding this morning’s Q&A with Sam Morgan…. Can anyone remember the Dwarf ever asking any previous guest if they pay income tax? (And wow, imagine if it became a regular question?)
Sure Holmes presented it as if the question came from an unnamed viewer but all i got was alarm bells that ‘they’ are seeding some sort of smear campaign against a very long overdue project.
Am I the only person from the Left who is sick of Mat McCarten’s continuous attacks on Phil Goff. I’m beginning to think that he is a closet Tory. If he is a Leftie as he claims why is he not attacking the Nats and ACT instead of telling us that Labour/Goff will not win . Tell enough people the same old tale and they will start to believe it. His column in todays Herald is full of anti- Labour codswallop ,and I for one have had enough,
McCarten and Trotter are attacking Phil Goff because they want some fantasy of the labouring man back. The labouring man has found google; he actually drinks wine just as often as he drinks beer; he even in most cases understands (at least I hope so) that women are actually human beings and that they are not the enemy – the rightwing, neo-conservative pinochet NActs are.
Meanwhile, McCarten wants more votes for Harawira and Trotter just hates women; mind you, Trotter was correct when he stated that women had let the side down by voting for Key over the Herceptin bribe. I hope women’re a bit more discerning this year.
There is another possible aspect to their anti-Goff stance. Both McCarten and Trotter seem to me to be first and foremost very pro-themselves. They’ve been preaching the ‘get rid of Phil Goff’ line for so long they need to keep reinforcing it because their individual egos couldn’t cope with being seen to be wrong.
I like McCarten; he has done a huge amount of work for workers under the Unite Union flag, but he is attacking Goff and by that attack, Labour and Progressive and the Greens. He needs to think about his end goal. NActMU will be loving it. I will be wondering what they have promised McCarten (no he would never take a bribe to sell out the worker) but Trotter; that’s quite a different story.
@Jum
Yes, I’ve also had a lot of time for McCarten in the past. Much of his commentary has been sound and insightful. The same goes for Trotter. This makes it even harder to understand why they have chosen to be so vitriolic towards Goff. They, more than most, would know exactly the difficulties Goff and Labour face after 9 years in govt., and then thrown on the scrap heap by a bunch of wealthy NAct charlatans. I go back to my original comment and can only wonder whether their respective reputations in the current National (and Key) aligned media-world has become more important to them.
Goff will not win the election for Labour. How many times does this have to be repeated ? Most here seem to be in denial. It has been said enough to become a reality.
Think NZ as a company, heavily in debt, ripe for takeover and asset stripping.
Now think John Key as CEO going to China, asking China to do the chopping.
Here, NZ on a plate, now feed on it damn it.
People who have too much debt, companies who have too much debt,
are paying interest or profits, to foreigners. And that can’t continue,
it just makes it harder to get out of, and so why is Key rushing to
dig us even further in?
Its simple, our exports are wanted globally, so why not raise taxes and
let a few , more Crafers go to the wall. There are lots of farm workers
who would love to run their own farms but can’t afford it. Government
should buy Carfers and offer low interest loans like it does to
first time home owners.
Its just shocking how lazy, how little National will do to help NZ get ahead.
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Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff is calling on all political parties to support the new Member’s Bill from Labour’s workplace relations and safety spokesperson Camilla Belich MP that would ensure negligent companies are held accountable when their employees ...
A historian with an uncanny track record of predicting US election winners tells RNZ's Sunday Morning that President Biden looks to be on track for another term, but things could still go very wrong for him. ...
Ngaio Marsh House is one of Christchurch’s best kept secrets – and contains more than a few mysteries of its own.Trust Ngaio Marsh to leave more than a few mysteries scattered through her house long after her departure. For a start, there’s the curious concrete portal in the garden, ...
Appointment viewing has been lost to the mists of time, but memories of Montana Sunday Theatre can still be conjured by hitting play on a particular piece of classical music. “You’re not going to be able to sell it.” Over 30 years on, Karen Bieleski still recalls how the task ...
Performance Review King Luxon sat behind His massive polished oak desk. It is Performance Review time. There is a knock on the door. “Enter!” says the King. In steps Minister of Disabilities and Carer Pedicures, Penny Simmonds. “I can explain everything …” she begins. “Fine,” says King Luxon, pressing the ...
The pair opened their first fully collaborative exhibition, Nina for Flowers, last Saturday. Gabi Lardies visited their studio to find out who Nina is and what working together was like.‘It didn’t start out like, ‘This is a show about Nina,’” says Josephine Jelicich, gripping a thermos of peppermint tea. ...
Thank you, Dr Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner, for your brilliant invention. I’m another mid-20s Kiwi who had an OE last year. I hopped on my bicycle where France meets the Atlantic and cycled east. I pedalled through the Loire Valley, down rivers lined with willows and ancient wisteria-draped chateaus. I relished ...
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
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“Details of the campaign, to be launched soon in the lead-up to the referendum on MMP on election day in November, have been leaked to the Sunday Star-Times”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5069779/Anti-MMP-plan-leaked
Turkey’s promoting Thanksgiving!
And the NZ Herald has recently made David Farrar it’s polical commenter. What is the role of NZ Herald going to be in this campaign?
“NZ Herald” – they should be honest and call the paper National’s Herald.
So Rachel Smalley is going to do a stint for TV3, embedded in Afghanistan with frontline troops:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv/5069906/TV3s-Smalley-heading-into-war-zone
Given that such journalism rarely results in any critical reporting on war efforts, is this part of the payback to Joyce/Key for the debt bailout/leniency?
So if we can throw someone out of the country for something out of their control, a disease reappearing, then can we throw migrants on visas who have say anorexia? Or was it the case that immigration decided that it did not like the individual in question, maybe the 700,000 dollars that he invested was from crime or something? That there is some other reason that he must go? Would he have a case of slander? I means if a decision is made about a substance of a matter that you actually have no control over, disease onset in the future, then you have been slandered? Do they teach good government in NZ? That its bad form to discriminate by asking the wrong question of individuals, do we only uphold group rights in NZ? If you are discriminated if you are a member of some group?
Haven’t caught up with this yet ZeeBop. Can you put the name and where reported so we can follow up the background in your comments.
This one. Interestingly, Immigration NZ tells it differently than how it was told in the news. The news seems to have left out a bit that he hadn’t been granted permanent residency.
Thanks DTB Some observations.
1 Someone who buys into a garage is hardly an entrepreneur even if it fits into the criteria that the immigration service have set.
2 $25,000 isn’t a huge amount to spend on an operation. And he is a working man, so adding to country’s revenues.
3 There weren’t promises that he could stay but sometimes local people should have a say in whether someone is providing added value to their region. Immigration seems typically to be very rigid – the Minister should have some leeway figure each year to allow some extras to the quota if worthy.
I accept only a stupid plonker would sign up to a scheme and they invest three
quarters of a million dollars in NZ where they stand to be chucked out 7? years later.
I just think that a bureaucracy that creates such a system, where a man will
be thrown out when something out of their control (return of an illness), is
far more disastrous on the image of NZ.
It shows a lack of care for future migrants.
Any policy should decide at the airport gate if they are going to stay
or not, if they bring in that much money into the country.
As for the notice, rather sad, that he only brought a garage misses
the point he made it a successful business.
Do we want migrants just to pass through if they make a buck?
Surely if they stay and they are expected to take up roots here, its
unethical to expect them to sell off and leave after 7? years.
If the policy was to support the economy it fails, designed to fail
and send the wrong message.
A Sunday Star Times article by Sarah Harvey, quotes Stuart Carr from Massey University’s Poverty Research Groupsome Massey Uni research and David Cunliffe on the pay inequalities in NZ. This particularly refers to a dual pay system, whereby, as in poorer countries, senior execs/management are flown into NZ to work on higher wages than equivalent staff in NZ. It also gives the eg of Trans-Tasman Quantas-Jetconnect airline workers, with the Aussies being paid more than the Kiwis for the same job.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5069769/Pay-inequality-costing-Kiwi-workers
It had to happen
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/super-typhoon-songda-projected-pass-over-fukushima-nuclear-power-plant
Super Typhoon Songda Projected To Pass Over Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/26/2011 16:50 -0400
So far the only good news to accompany the Fukushima catastrophe has been that for all the fallout, the radiation has been mostly contained due to Northwesterly winds which have been blowing any radioactivity mostly out and into the Pacific (coupled with relatively little rainfall), as well as the dispersion of irradiated cooling water which promptly enters the Pacific after which it is never heard of or seen again (there is at least a several year period before 3 eyed tuna fish feature prominently in restaurants across the country). This may be changing soon now that Super Typhoon Songda, which according to Weather Underground will form shortly as a Category 5 storm with 156+ mph winds, will take a northeasterly direction and 2 days later will pass right above Fukushima. The good news: by the time it passes over Fukushima, Songda will be merely a Tropical storm. The bad news: by the time it passes over Fukushima, Songda will be a Tropical storm. As the latest dispersion projection from ZAMG shows, over the next two days the I-131 plume will be covering all of the mainland. Although judging by how prominent this whole topic is in the MSM lately, it seems that conventional wisdom now agrees with Ann Coulter that radioactivity is actually quite good for you.
sad news i heard today Gil Scott Heron has sadly passed away. Most well know poem
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gil_Scott-Heron
Yeah man.
Message to the messengers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68lk5T78mUU
We Beg Your Pardon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDCfEkopryo&feature=related
Work for peace:
So has Trev the Muss lost the plot? Or does he really believe this will win Labour votes?
I mean when it comes to telling the truth I’d take Russell Normans word over Trevs and publicly challenging someone to a bike race?
Or is it a mid-life crisis?
lol, I assume you’re referring to Quinn’s accidental moment of candour.
You see the vid? Wallace asked him straight up are scantily clad women are just “asking for it”.
He heard that just fine and that’s the question he answered. What else he heard or didn’t hear has no bearing on how he answered that question, Chris, unless you think there’s a way of interpreting the question that I haven’t thought of yet in which case do please share your insights.
Paul Quinn has significant hearing loss (according to Willie J and John T) so if he says he didn’t hear the question properly (and in a crowded noisy bar thats quite possible) and having Russell Norman back him up I’d say he didn’t hear the question properly
As I said when it comes down to telling the truth who do you believe, Trev “american bag men” the Muss or Russell Norman
Me I’ll believe the Greenie because he hasn’t been proven a liar yet
And for the record scantily clad women dont ask for it, drunk women dont ask for it, rape victims never ask for it
However if I ever have daughters I’d be letting them know that getting blotto probably increases the chances of rape happening because there are guys out there who deliberatly target drunk women
You miss the point Chris.
Quinn never said he didn’t hear the question I referred to, the one about women asking for it by dressing like sluts.
He said he didn’t hear the preceding monologue on the subject of Slutwalk.
Do you understand the difference? Whether or not he heard the monologue is irrelevant, as the question (which he answered directly) was unambiguous.
For you to defend Quinn, you need to find an alternate interpretation of the question asked. The question he answered directly, as put to him, and which he has NOT complained he didn’t hear.
Can you?
Quite simply an attempted media beat up by Labour to try to gain some traction, which isn’t working
I’ll take that as a “no” then, unless you’d like another crack at it.
Shame on the SST’s Imogen Neale – her article ‘alarm bells over legal highs as rehab bills hit parents’ is one of the worst pieces of journalism I have ever seen.
Allowing the totally discredited gateway drug myth to go unchallenged…and other such bullshit statements like “it’s a smooth transition from a synthetic joint to a P pipe”
What a hack, do your fucking job lady.
Why the media waste any ink at all on the SST is beyond me, can you give us a Link to the story please Campbell.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/5069901/Parents-alarmed-by-legal-high-drugs
As you may have noticed I take a special interest in law and order issues esp in conjunction with drugs and mental health.
I have already speculated that the Rats will try and ignore the elements of the law commission report that focuses on decriminalization and destigmatization of recreational drugs, choosing instead to use the pretense of drug courts (one of four recommendations) and a broad brush ‘treatment’ approach to drug users (ignoring alcohol of course – note the article on the same page claiming the we aren’t drinking that. much after all… Yeah right)
This article went a long way towards confirming my suspicions that the Rats will continue to demonize the herb, chuck tons of corrections and health dollars towards their fundie mates and rubbish god bothering drug programs and do their damnedest to chuck as many weekend smokers and occasional pill takers into rehab as possible. Treatment centers, not prisons, we said no more prisons…
It is 2011 for fucks sake NZ the war on drugs is and always was a lie – first cotton and now booze trying to protect their profit.
Dick heads like Tom Claunch should know better, and prob would if he wasn’t so busy trying to drum up business with his histrionics.
Finally Fran opens up the comments section. Good reading for Labour strategists for new ideas. Some are more terrifying than others…
I hope the Chinese mafia are not injecting funds into the current lot of puppets on the government benches.
If so, we are well and truly screwed, and the time is nigh to export ourselves, our kids and our future out of the country.
But Jim Hansen thinks the Chinese are cool.
after all, “climate change” is the biggest moral challenge of our time, and we can’t let mere mortals run the show.
Interesting. Can you explain his argument. Or are you too stupid to understand it.
I will give you a hint. It involves the mix of technologies the Chinese are planning on using to increase their power supply. Even a idiot could figure it out from that…. Right?
Good to see Fran getting down on her knees for the Politburo, long and slow….
Hmmmmm….
Come on darl, what did you get in return? A directorship just like Petain and Laval?
Quisling.
A book reviewed this morning on Chris Laidlaw Radio nz on the Titanic disaster is a great piece of investigative history and family saga. Called ‘And the Band Played On’ the book was prompted by the death of the author’s 21 year old father, a violinist in the orchestra who with the others kept playing heard by those in lifeboats moving away from the ship despite the noise from boilers exploding as the ship sank.
Insight of of dismissive attitudes to the lower classes show up. His body was recovered and put on ice in the hold of a rescue ship, which had coffins available but only for the first class. Women and children did get priority, but here the first class get priority again. The violinists parents received a bill for his brass buttons from the shipping company, his pay was stopped at the time of the sinking, and his parents wanting his body, were charged ordinary freight rates for transport back home. One of the executives of the company was amongst those in the lifeboats, no heroic gesture as with Astor.
The story of the violinists family and how the Titanic affected it is riveting but there is much other stuff that didn’t receive coverage by the media at the time because they concentrated on the survivors’ stories. For instance the Titanic sister ship Olympia was due to sail from Southampton shortly after the sinking. Most of the 500 seamen due to work had lost friends or relations and they noted that Olympia too lacked sufficient lifeboats and withheld their labour till this was rectified. They were imprisoned for this.
See the centenary of the Titanic next year. I to enjoyed this interview and also the interview on Freud’s psychoanalysis, (in particular transference) on after 11 am. I have never agreed on Freud’s sexual psychoanalytical theory. Freud was also way off with the harmful impact that sexual assault causes.
Treetops – I can see that your mother and father have caused you stress and hindered your development. Please pay in large notes on the way out.
I gather you did not listen to the psychoanalysis interview. I based my comments in 10.1 on the interview.
And the capitalists keep telling us how great capitalism is. If we hadn’t stood up and demanded better wages, work conditions etc, we’d still be getting imprisoned for doing what’s right and I’m sure we’d still be getting told to die so that the rich could live – oh, that’s right, we do. That comes through loud and clear in the bene-bashing of National and Act.
In the book review that Prism raised, if you had a tatoo and a foreign name, you had the highest chance of being ditched at sea with the body retrieval. One wonders why they even went to the effort to check the body, only to throw it back in again. Interesting how they defined social class back then, todays equivalent is bene bashing.
DTB I think the latest evidence of the divide between classes is being played out over the Pike River deaths and the unwillingness to expend money there in a timely fashion to get the men out. I think that everybody knows there are class divisions here, who mix with a similar group and who are excluded always.
Does need to be pointed out more though. Once people realise that one group gets better treatment than everybody else at everybody else’s expense then there should be more support to move to a more egalitarian society.
Draco
Class divide indeed – you might like this:
http://powerofnarrative.blogspot.com/2009/02/its-not-sex-its-never-sex.html
‘Such questions and such challenges to the legitimacy and prerogatives of the ruling class must never be allowed. Whenever events threaten to run out of control in this way, action will be taken to ensure that the privileges and power of the ruling class continue without interruption. Whatever else may be open to question or challenge, the power, the privileges and the prerogatives of the ruling class may never be threatened in a serious way.’
Hmm not the way I remember the French Revolution happened 🙂
CV, I think the American and French revolutions are up there but on the whole the privileged do manage to keep their position and wealth through subtle, not-so-subtle bullying and by getting the common folk to partipate in their own “slavery” the American Dream being one of the more blatant examples. As long as people think they have a chance at the brass ring then why should they try to be fair or think of others, not saying this applies to all, but still to a good many people. Like racism people often try to mask their hate by saying it’s more a question of class rather than colour and with class or money distinctions if people don’t have enough they’re lazy or whatever the sin du jour is.
It seems many NZers are exhausted at keeping their heads above water and therefore their appetite for action is somewhat dulled or they’ve been seduced into thinking they can make it like John Key on a $50 a week tax cut that never seems to reach them but they hang in there hoping it will arrive one day. Hatred of their own class is inculcated through bene bashing though they secretly fear they may be next on the scrap heap. Maybe it’s a hangover of British reserve from times past but I read Gordon Campbell’s book ‘The Passionless People’ some years ago and believe it would be good if NZers could get a healthy dose of anger, enough to effect some real change and restoring the former national attitude of giving someone a fair go because it seems a distant memory to me. It sickens me now to think of kids missing out because their parents cannot make a go of things and I see it in my job more now a parent’s sense of helplessness and not being good enough – it sucks mightily.
An interesting article and one that follows my assertion that capitalism has been designed to enrich the few and everyone else’s expense. And I agree with him about the rules, the ones that matter, are there to control the many and don’t apply to the few.
I had not known this, so thanks! That sounds very interesting. (I missed Laidlaw)
Vicky
There is a new catch phrase that is setting the Feminist
blogosphere a buzz. It’s called “Mansplaining” it was
first used a couple of years ago, but in the past six
months it has taken off, and is widely and wrongly used
in debates.
Mansplaining means you are beginning condensing,
patronizing and feel that you are correct because you
are the man in the conversation.
How utterly ridiculous that concept is. It takes any
robust debate down to the gutter level, and is equivalent
to little kids who would scream out “Your
an idiot” during arguments with their classmates.
If there is a debate on any subject, it doesn’t have to be
political, it could even be about Apples or Pears, if you
have a different opinion, a different point of view with
a poster, and that poster is female and you are
male, the word “MANSPLAINER” will be shouted
from the rooftops from anyone who disagrees
with your point of view.
For example just the other day there was a debate on the
always interesting “hand mirror” site, about if the Hamilton Casino
is being honest about wanting to open 24/7 to attract high
end punters from Asia, or are they really after, the local’s
money, which could lead to social economic problems.
I took the view that they are after the Visiting Asian Market,
while the poster “Stargazer” believe this wasn’t the case and
they were after the local market, thus causing problems for
the local community.
Well, let the Mansplaining comments begin, apparently I was
Mansplaining, and then I was Mansplaining again by explaining
that I just have a different point of view.
Of course it wasn’t a case of mansplaining, I was just
pointing out my thoughts on the subject, like the
poster “Stargazer” was pointing out their’s.
I wonder how the posters would of commented if I had
of been a female? they couldn’t use the term Mansplainer,
and that is where using the term Mansplainer falls down.
You are basically saying any male that is debating a female
on any given topic is a Mansplainer, and that is not even close to
reality.
Oh for the record, I thought the poster
“Stargazer” was male, although it didnt matter to me what gender
she was.
It matters to some people though.
Brett Dale,
Yes I checked it out on your website. It certainly made me laugh. Try and put it in context, lad, there’s a dear.
For a very small section of all these thousands of years, from the time women were silly enough to allow you men any freedoms, and you started raping, battering, killing in order to control them, women have actually had a say over their own lives. Wow.
There is also, I hate… to tell you, Brett Dale, a lot of truth to this mansplaining as being patriarchal and condescending.
Ride it out; women still love the male race, I daresay.
Nice to see Jum loves the male ace.
Dad4Justice
I said ‘race’ lad, not ‘ace’ – check your spelling.
You will also note I said ‘women will’ not Jum will – I prefer to judge case by case. Check your facts you woman and Labour hater, you.
wow – you come running here because people at the HandMirror were mean to you?
That’s pretty sad, dude.
Mansplaining?
Try this Harry Enfield video for a laugh
Regarding this morning’s Q&A with Sam Morgan…. Can anyone remember the Dwarf ever asking any previous guest if they pay income tax? (And wow, imagine if it became a regular question?)
Sure Holmes presented it as if the question came from an unnamed viewer but all i got was alarm bells that ‘they’ are seeding some sort of smear campaign against a very long overdue project.
nah, it comes from Sam Morgan saying that he paid no income tax back in 2010
http://www.3news.co.nz/Sam-Morgan-Im-no-tax-evader-/tabid/421/articleID/152420/Default.aspx
thanks, i must have missed that story, I still consider it was out of line, a tacked on question irrelevant to the topic
Am I the only person from the Left who is sick of Mat McCarten’s continuous attacks on Phil Goff. I’m beginning to think that he is a closet Tory. If he is a Leftie as he claims why is he not attacking the Nats and ACT instead of telling us that Labour/Goff will not win . Tell enough people the same old tale and they will start to believe it. His column in todays Herald is full of anti- Labour codswallop ,and I for one have had enough,
Yes pink postman. With friends on the Left such as Matt McCarten and Trotter, who needs enemies!
Agree, PP. Why is McCarten following the US line in presidential style personality politics?
McCarten and Trotter are attacking Phil Goff because they want some fantasy of the labouring man back. The labouring man has found google; he actually drinks wine just as often as he drinks beer; he even in most cases understands (at least I hope so) that women are actually human beings and that they are not the enemy – the rightwing, neo-conservative pinochet NActs are.
Meanwhile, McCarten wants more votes for Harawira and Trotter just hates women; mind you, Trotter was correct when he stated that women had let the side down by voting for Key over the Herceptin bribe. I hope women’re a bit more discerning this year.
Maybe its because that Goff is actually useless and is not going to win this year, no matter how you try and spin it.
In saying that, Labour had its oppurtunity to oust him and blew it. So it looks like that Labour is heading to a record defeat.
Not that there is anyone else to vote for. The Greens, or Hone and his rickety bandwagon. Hardly inspiring.
There is another possible aspect to their anti-Goff stance. Both McCarten and Trotter seem to me to be first and foremost very pro-themselves. They’ve been preaching the ‘get rid of Phil Goff’ line for so long they need to keep reinforcing it because their individual egos couldn’t cope with being seen to be wrong.
Anne,
I like McCarten; he has done a huge amount of work for workers under the Unite Union flag, but he is attacking Goff and by that attack, Labour and Progressive and the Greens. He needs to think about his end goal. NActMU will be loving it. I will be wondering what they have promised McCarten (no he would never take a bribe to sell out the worker) but Trotter; that’s quite a different story.
@Jum
Yes, I’ve also had a lot of time for McCarten in the past. Much of his commentary has been sound and insightful. The same goes for Trotter. This makes it even harder to understand why they have chosen to be so vitriolic towards Goff. They, more than most, would know exactly the difficulties Goff and Labour face after 9 years in govt., and then thrown on the scrap heap by a bunch of wealthy NAct charlatans. I go back to my original comment and can only wonder whether their respective reputations in the current National (and Key) aligned media-world has become more important to them.
Goff will not win the election for Labour. How many times does this have to be repeated ? Most here seem to be in denial. It has been said enough to become a reality.
don’t try and pretend you are an alchemist who can magick something up by repeating a right wing incantation.
I think this is high time Standard, McCarten, Trotter, Goff, the Progressives (Anderton?) and the Greens got round the table !
Failing that the chances are that your children could be talking very polite Chinese to their new overlords!!!!
Bernard Hickey on the governments policy of increasing the value of the NZ$ on the international markets.
Think NZ as a company, heavily in debt, ripe for takeover and asset stripping.
Now think John Key as CEO going to China, asking China to do the chopping.
Here, NZ on a plate, now feed on it damn it.
People who have too much debt, companies who have too much debt,
are paying interest or profits, to foreigners. And that can’t continue,
it just makes it harder to get out of, and so why is Key rushing to
dig us even further in?
Its simple, our exports are wanted globally, so why not raise taxes and
let a few , more Crafers go to the wall. There are lots of farm workers
who would love to run their own farms but can’t afford it. Government
should buy Carfers and offer low interest loans like it does to
first time home owners.
Its just shocking how lazy, how little National will do to help NZ get ahead.