Allied with murderers

Written By: - Date published: 10:25 am, April 7th, 2010 - 41 comments
Categories: afghanistan, crime, iraq, war - Tags: ,

Wikileaks has revealed footage shot from a US Apache helicopter in Iraq in 2007. If you can bear to watch it, you’ll see and hear the crews of the two helicopters involved callously murder a dozen Iraqi civilians with all the seriousness and gravity of kids playing a video game. They even laugh when a Humvee runs over one of the bodies.

This incident has only come to light because two Reuters staff were amongst those murdered.

There is no reason to think the incident was in any way exceptional. The military personnel certainly don’t seem to act like they are doing anything that they and their colleagues haven’t done repeatedly throughout their occupation of Iraq. No military personnel received any punishment for their actions that day and their superiors covered for them, lying that insurgents had been killed.

We know, of course, that National desperately wanted us in on this Boy’s Own adventure.

Now, we’ve got to wonder what kind of atrocities are being carried out by the Americans in conjunction with our SAS presence in Afghanistan. Every time you read of some wedding convey being shot up or a houseful of ‘insurgents’ being bombed remember this video and remember that our soldiers are now part of the combat force that is committing these barbaric acts.

41 comments on “Allied with murderers ”

  1. sean14 1

    “We know, of course, that National desperately wanted us in on this Boy’s Own adventure.”

    So are you angry at National for continuing a Labour policy, or do you think that barbaric acts were only committed after National was elected?

    • Bright Red 1.1

      um. National wanted into Iraq. Labour didn’t.

      And Labour stopped sending SAS to Afghanistan years ago because they didn’t think their deployment was justified. Do you support having them there now?

      • The Baron 1.1.1

        Oh come now – both parties have supported some form of deployment in both theatres.

        If there is blood on NZ hands, then that blood is shared by both Nats and Labour. It is pretty bloody rich to try pretend that Labour’s original deployments are significantly different from National’s decisions to stand by those commitments.

        And for the record, yes – I do want our SAS in Afghanistan. Our guys are the best; this is what they do. And propping up a crappy regime is better off than letting the place turn back to the far worse barbarism that it was previously. It’s not as if we leave then all the Afghanis will start holding hands and singing kumbaya is it.

        • Rich 1.1.1.1

          That’s one of the reasons I’d never do any work for Labour, or vote for them unless they were the only option in an FPP election.

          • Armchair Critic 1.1.1.1.1

            The choice of one party would suck, but not quite as much as having your chance to voted legislated away, in the face of a whole swag of less anti-democratic alternatives. Which is what National just did, and that’s another reason why I won’t be voting for them in 2011. How about you?
            And on the subject of the post, I support reconstruction deployments and peace keeping deployments, irrespective of whichever political party is in government. The slaughter of civilians turns my guts.

      • sean14 1.1.2

        Labour sent troops into Iraq in 2003. If the National party are allied with murderers, then so are the Labour party.

    • I see the divert and confuse crowd are out early. Next thing we will have an Iraqi magically appear and criticise the left for not understanding the “real” situation in Iraq.

      The film is appalling. Iraq used to be a highly civilised country with an excellent education and health system.

      Then the US destablisied it by supporting Saddam Hussein into power for geopolitical reasons, then it ignored him while he gassed the kurds amongst other atrocities, and then finally took him out after he threatened to upset the world oil markets.

      Greg Palast has an interesting take. The US had a plan “A”, which involved sending in a squad, assassinating Hussein, and having a friendly puppet then put into power. Total cost, small, time taken, a few days.

      They went with plan B which involved military occupation, rewriting the constitution, privatisation and sale to their mates of pretty well all of Iraq’s business and infrastructure. The occupation would cost trillions and take years and the locals would have to be terrified. This incident should be seen in that context.

      • Gus 1.2.1

        Mick. Sometimes its just better to be thought a fool than to speak out and have it confirmed.

  2. felix 2

    I hope nobody is pretending that this video comes as any sort of surprise.

    • Jenny 2.1

      felix

      “I hope nobody is pretending that this video comes as any sort of surprise.”

      The surprise is, that it was leaked.

      The MSM know instinctively what not to cover, the habits of self censorship have become so ingrained, that even now the MSM are doing their damnedest to ignore this story or play it down.

      As this story broke, compare the headlines from the Mainstream Media website Stuff, with that of the Alternative Media website Scoop

      When it comes to the differences, the headlines say it all.

      Editors’ picks, stuff.co.nz, April 7, 2010

      Editors’ Picks
      Tiger on the green, cell phone in hand
      Woosh Wireless plunges to record loss of $38m
      Relatives tried to smuggle dead man on plane
      Crash diplomat fell with Pinochet
      Key ‘on his own’ at nuclear summit
      Marineland may end up being used as a bus centre
      Carter hails ‘debunking’ of food miles argument
      Crusaders still hunting for top gear
      ‘Love motel’ opposed on North Shore

      Editors’ picks, scoop.co.nz, April 7, 2010

      EDITORS PICKS
      1. Wikileaks: US Soldiers Gun Down Reuters News-Crew
      2. Michael Colins: Wikileaks Press Conference Coverage
      3. Wellington.Scoop: council tries to hide its 5.5% rates increase
      4. 3News: Suicide Bombers Target Embassies In Iraq, Kill 42
      5. Francis A. Boyle – Harvard’s Gitmo Kangaroo Law School
      6. Pacific Scoop: Profile – Chatting With Albert Wendt
      7. Out Now: Werewolf X

  3. Pascal's bookie 4

    I’m not all that fussed by this one. Much play is made of the ‘language’. Christ. These guys are called in to engage an enemy force. That’s the schemata they’ve got in their heads, and their training and human nature pretty much dictate how their reactions are going to play out.

    What blame exists falls higher up the chain than the trigger pullers IMHO.

    On the other hand, in another case which has recieved far less attention because there is no war porn tape…

    Glen Greenwald covers it pretty well here

    This ISAF release describes those damn Afghan honour killing bastards what our brave lads are fighting.

    This rejects reoprts of a coverup, smearing a journo while admitting their original story was bs.

    This one admits that yeah, those dead women were killed by us.

    This Times piece by the reporter that busted the coverup, wraps it up with reporting about what else the investigation had to say, re special forces cutting the bullets out of the victims. (and remember who was initially blamed for these deaths – the family)

    COIN is real hard.

    These sorts of coverups are aimed at us, not Afghans. The locals sure as shit won’t be buying any of it. That’s strategic failure.

    When the way the war is actually being fought, run directly counter to the stated strategy, and that fact is being hidden from us by hamfisted propaganda; it’s time to leave.

    • Bright Red 4.2

      “I’m not all that fussed by this one. Much play is made of the ‘language’.”

      I’m more concerned about the way they murdered 12 people with no cause than the words they said.

    • Draco T Bastard 4.3

      As much as the troops are there to engage in war there is also the fact of misidentification. When the troops identified the cameras as AK47s there was no way they could make that call – all they could see was the straps. The fact that the people killed were walking openly down the street with a helicopter obviously circling above them should have told the pilot and gunner that they weren’t “insurgents”.

      Same when they called that one had an RPG. There was no way that that could possibly be positively identified as it was only the shadow of an item. An RPG would have stood out if it was being carried previously.

      Is misidentification a hazard of war? Of course it is – while under fire and having to take cover. These guys weren’t in that situation. They were in a relaxed position with the people under observation and all they had to do for positive identification was circle around a bit more.

      But the big issue is actually the cover up. That should never happen and the MSM should be holding the Pentagon to account rather than mindlessly reporting the press release.

    • Bill 4.4

      I don’t think wikileaks is expecting the likes of you or I to be too fussed by the video, PB.

      But the majority of people do not read through the the likes of the articles you linked to…and wouldn’t, even if you put it down in front of them… and have unrealistic ideas of war alongside a deep trust in the basic worthiness of the information given them by ‘official’ or conventional sources.

      These same people tend to believe our society and the people who occupy its higher echelons embody a basic goodness ( bar a few bad apples)…that wars are engaged in for ‘good’ reasons…ie morally good reasons and that they themselves belong on the ‘good’ side of a world divided into good and bad.

      The video is intended for them. And that was why I was heartened to see it carried by TV3 last night.

      • Pascal's bookie 4.4.1

        I agree completely.

        All I meant is that the focus on service men who believe themselves to be engaging an enemy, and ‘acting like they are in a video game’ is off putting and distracting.

        Wikileaks did that. They acknowledge that there were armed people in the broader group. If they wanted to editorialise, which is again fine, I thnk it would have better to focus less on the guys asking for permission to shoot, and more on the guy that gave permission, and the rules of engagement that were driving that decision. Then, if there’s time, relate that to how it fits with the ‘hearts and minds’ COIN strategy that we are supposed to be using.

        “Soldiers in combat dehumanise enemy in gunsights” should not be news to anyone. And trying to make it news, or highlight it as a reason to be opposed to any particular war just seems ‘off’ to me.

        I’m not sure why my reaction is this, but I guess it’s something to do with the idea that as citizens we shouldn’t criticise (wrong word), service personel for doing what we sent them to do, in the way we trained them to do it. I think it’s a cop-out that only feeds the unrealistic myths that you talk about.

        Other’s mileage varies of course, which is fine.

        It just pisses me off that so much more attention had gone on this, tragic and awfull, incident, than on others. This incident gets coverage because journo’s were involved and there is video.

  4. nzfp 5

    Willie Apiata,
    I thought he was a “Tangata Whenua” of Aotearoa whose tupuna fought a war of resistance against an expansionist colonial power (Britiain). Apiata is in Afghanistan killing the “Tangata Whenua” of Afghanistan who – according to the UN – have a legitimate right to resistance to illegal occupying colonial expansionist forces. Apiata is a hippocrite.

    The “Collateral Murder” video upset me. It made me disappointed with the US for voting for Bush and Obama and for not doing enough to stop their nations insanity. As the Nuremburg trials taught us, everyone from the trigger puller to Bush bears responsibility for this. That means Apiata to Key bear responsibility for Apiata’s actions, and we all collectively bear the guilt until we stop our SAS engaging in big boys adventures on someone elses land.

    • pollywog 5.1

      Some Maori have always been mercenary in their support of whoever can give them the best deal and a good stoush…

    • Pete 5.2

      “It made me disappointed with the US for voting for Bush and Obama and for not doing enough to stop their nations insanity.”

      While I don’t disagree with either, it might help to put into context what happened on the ground in Iraq when the war began, and when the ‘reconstruction’ forces were put into place. At its heart it was Bush and his father’s buddies who were giving jobs to their mates, with no experience in war or reconstruction, and who wanted to be seen to be making decisions (regardless of the cost) – e.g. disbanding the Iraqi army, despite what creating a huge population of trained and armed people unemployed would do, and that it meant that ammunition dumps were open for plunder by so-called insurgents – that is just one example off the top of my head. Same goes for the decision not to declare marshal law, and the bone-headedness of so-called de-Ba-athification – even though most public servants called themselves Ba’ath simply so they could support themselves and their familes during Saddam’s reign.

      I strongly recommend “No End In Sight” for a bit more information on why the American forces are in the quagmire they are, despite having good personnel involved (albeit not enough) and having sound intelligence (that was actively over-ridden by Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and their cronies), and the poor decisions that were the result of arrogance from those put in charge (and the arrogance of the people who put them in charge).

      That said Obama really has his work cut out for him thanks to the Republican idiots involved and the spineless Democrats that were complicit in the war beginning in the first place.

  5. Jim Nald 6

    This is damning news. We don’t care which party did whatever, or didn’t.
    Just stop NZ’s involvement now.

  6. todd 7

    Anybody interested should read The Forever War,its written by a NY times journalist who spent 7 years in Afganistan and Irag.Compelling reading about the real life way war is fought.

  7. Harold 8

    Check this contrast regarding the video: Al Jazeera vs CNN http://i.imgur.com/NVih0.jpg

  8. There is something sickening about watching this video, and I believe it should be compulsory viewing. This is not because it shows war crimes or murder, but for me this is what the reality of war is about. This is War. We may prefer soldiers to fight in an ethical and fail proof manner when they are identifying targets, but this sense of disproportionate force is surely just the reality when the the sides are so unevenly weighted.

    Surely this is the sort of behavior that happens in any war zone. The US Army is covering this up not to sace the arses of a few of its soldiers, they are happy enough to spit them out when needed as with the Abu Ghraib tortures. The Army doesn’t want to let this out because it is the mundane normality of war, and if the public sees too much of this kind of stuff, they will start to turn against the very idea of it.

  9. It makes me feel sick when Key now parades news about the SAS – provided of course it’s good, heroic news that he thinks somehow reflects his own magnificence.
    He’ll be a lot quieter when the news involves dead NZ troopers or local civilians, not because he’d give a fuck about dead NZ troopers or local civilians, but because that might not make for quite such good PR.

    • Murray 10.1

      What a stupid pathetic statement. (The Sprout) Wasnt it HC and Labour that used to parade VC winner Apiata any chance they got.

      • Nope. You’ve got a lock on the stupid and the pathetic, Murray. I can only find two occasions where Apiata and Clark met at all and he went back to work PDQ after getting his gong. The closest they’ve been since then is at number 1 and 2 on a ‘greatest living kiwi’ poll.

        • Murray 10.1.1.1

          The stupid and pathetic is more about the comment (not because he’d give a fuck about dead NZ troopers or local civilians). That,s just childish stuff.

          • the sprout 10.1.1.1.1

            God you’re a drongo Murray.

            i don’t recall Clark making a song and dance in the media about our SAS every opportunity she could. indeed i seem to recall her making a point of not talking about them.

            unlike Key who desperately needs to surround himself with any heroes he can in the pathetic and stupid hope that some of the public admiration might rub off on him. that, Murray, is sickening.

      • Draco T Bastard 10.1.2

        Another RWNJ trying to reinvent reality.

  10. Peter Johns 11

    Oh cry me a river, [one more like that PJ and I will take great pleasure in banning you — r0b]
    We should be more concerned about Maori child violence in NZ instead of bleating on about Iraq.

    • Wow! Just up thread I mentioned that Helen Clark and Willie Apiata were 1 and 2 in a ‘greatest living kiwi’ poll and up pops the bloke who came last. Spooky or what?

  11. big bruv 12

    “and remember that our soldiers are now part of the combat force ”

    More than happy to remember it and more than happy that they are there doing our small part.

    We should have done more, but that is another argument altogether.

    • nzfp 12.1

      Well golly gee big bruv, don’t let us stop you. According to war correspondent “Dahr Jamail” the US military is experiencing it’s highest rates of suicide ever. I’m sure a guy like you would be readily welcomed into the US army, you could increase the IQ of both the US and NZ at the sme time.

    • IrishBill 12.2

      Have you ever been in the army Bruv? Or are you just another chickenhawk?

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    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    1 day ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    1 day ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    3 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    3 days ago
  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    3 days ago
  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    3 days ago
  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    4 days ago
  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    5 days ago
  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    5 days ago
  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    6 days ago
  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago
  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    6 days ago
  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 hour ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    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 - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
    The Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Focus on outstanding minerals permit applications
    New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.  “While there are no set timeframes for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research Call
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