And then there was….

Written By: - Date published: 12:08 pm, June 29th, 2018 - 38 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, International, journalism, Media, Politics, Propaganda, Syria, uk politics, useless - Tags: ,

You may recall a few months back when it seemed the world was all in a lather about an alleged  chemical attack on the suburb of Douma and the poisoning of the Skripals.

“Everyone” knew what had happened in the case of Douma and “everyone” knew who was behind the poisoning of the Skripals. So certain was the knowledge, that Syria was bombed because chemicals had been used in Douma, and Russian diplomats from across the western sphere of influence were expelled because the Russian government was responsible for the Skripal’s poisoning. All that was missing was the evidence in the first instance and a suspect or suspects in the latter. Mere, somewhat pesky details that would be provided at some later date.

Well the Skripals were hospitalised at the beginning of March and Douma furore blew up at the beginning of April.

Today, after reflecting that I’d heard nothing on either of these two issues for quite some while, and wondering what findings, evidence or progress might have been reported on both issues, I did me a google news search. There was not a lot there

Buried at the foot of a piece from two days ago on the OPCW being given powers to apportion blame for chemical weapons attacks, there’s this…

The OPCW has yet to report into whether it found samples of chemical weapons in an alleged chemical attack in Douma in April that led to the reported deaths of more than 70 people.

Hang on! It has yet to report on whether it has found samples?! Should we take that as “We found nuffin, but we’re still looking?” I’ll just note in passing, the  change in language from the Guardian. Now they talk of “an alleged chemical attack” which is a huge shift away from the ‘dead cert’ language they’ve used previously. I’m not going to dig through all the screaming headlines of a few months ago that proclaimed how hastily buried bodies were going to be dug up, and how the exact location of the chemical attack was known, or the reporting that claimed to show unexploded chemical ordinance.

The fact is that after almost three months, the OPCW cannot say that it has any samples being subjected to analysis. A country was bombed off the back of reports that chemical weapons were used. That’s kinda big. And no samples.

On the Skripal front, there is nothing much being reported either. On the 6th of June, the Guardian announced progress in that investigators, in true ‘plod’ form, had finally figured poison must have been smeared on the doorhandle of Skripals house no more than 24 hours before they was taken ill. That bears repeating. After three months, investigators were able to conclude that a door handle had been spiked with a hugely toxic chemical agent, at some point in time between people coming into or out of a house and not falling ill, and subsequently entering or exiting a house and falling ill. Astonishing!

The thing is, there’s no need to provide evidence of any chemicals in the case of Douma, or to progress the case around the Skripals. Populations were to be played for political purposes. Populations were successfully played for political purposes. That’s the real story right there. And no mainstream media are going to be running that story; they are a part and parcel of the game, acting hand in glove with governments. And they are dutifully playing their final part in the role they’ve chosen or been assigned, and hauling aside that lidded cover to the memory hole where stories like Douma and the Skripals are shoved.

38 comments on “And then there was…. ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. xanthe 1
    29 June 2018 at 12:41 pm

    Glad to see you holding the mass media misdirection up to the harsh light of actual facts (or lack of same) Bill keep this up please

    • AsleepWhileWalking 1.1
      29 June 2018 at 5:03 pm

      +1

      God knows how much aid money had been siphoned to boot, while in the background Doctors on the ground stated equivocally no attack happened.

      Shoddy stuff.

    • Bearded Git 1.2
      29 June 2018 at 9:17 pm

      +1000 nice work Bill

  2. RedLogix 2
    29 June 2018 at 1:31 pm

    Bill we’ve been on opposites of a few threads here over the years, but by no means all. In common with the shootings on the other thread, we’re witnessing the media feed us incomplete, misleading or hugely selective stories far too often. Especially in the immediate aftermath of this type of dramatic event where everyone seems to scramble to control narrative as quickly as possible, with little regard to truth.

    Everyone is doing this; I’m not taking a necessarily partisan pov on this. The onus is on us to be a lot more measured in what information we accept.

    What they are doing is exploiting the human tendency, when faced with the unknown, to ‘lock in’ the first explanation that aligns with our pre-formed expectations. The more dramatic and emotional the event, the stronger this tendency is.

    It’s an evolved mechanism that works very well in scenarios that are simple and direct. For instance a proto-human when faced for the first time by a large creature never seen before, will be startled and fearful of the unknown quantity before them. But observing this creature has large incisor teeth and sharp claws, features seen before on other predators, very quickly convinces our hero that it’s time to get the hell away from this thing without waiting around to find out more. In this case the pattern recognition was probably accurate, and quite rightly caution and fear will remain the default response to this new threat from here on in.

    But faced with the complex, nuanced and layered stories in this modern world, this kind of reflexive, fixed response is sub-optimal. We should be more on guard to ensure these instinctive behaviours that served us well in deep evolutionary time, are not so readily exploited by those with an agenda they aren’t willing to be open about.

    • Bill 2.1
      29 June 2018 at 2:22 pm

      The onus is on us to be a lot more measured in what information we accept.

      Thing is, running alongside all the other “war on’s”, it’s like there’s a war against intelligence.

      (And then I deleted the few paragraphs about the problems created by people who might be characterised as ideologues (always dangerous), given it deserves a post)

  3. patricia bremner 3
    29 June 2018 at 1:32 pm

    Press always ready to jump on a band waggon.
    Corrections? Yeh/Nah!!

  4. TootingPooularFront 4
    29 June 2018 at 2:23 pm

    The Douma incident and the absence of any corroborating evidence are pricisely why the OPCW must be turned into a political, prosecutorial organisation – so that the absence of evidence does not stop US/UK/France from pursuing their petty political goals (looking good in opinion polls, etc.).

  5. Adrian Thornton 5
    29 June 2018 at 2:24 pm

    I notice that Kim Hill didn’t get into Russia gate or Douma when she interviewed Seymour Hersh last week, which isn’t really surprising if you heard what could only be described as ‘encouraging’ interview she did with Guardian reporter and author Luke Harding on his book ‘Collusion’ , look it up yourself if you want to waste your time.

    It is a real shame I was such a big fan of Kim in the past, unfortunately she has become a bit of a reactionary politically and quite a bore.

    But if you don’t want to waste your time check out this interview with Harding…it’s one of my favourites.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIGSCXrlVBg

    I know I bang on and on about this, but The Guardian is IMO the Trojan Horse on the Left, it is very dangerous organization because it has the ability and the will to divide the Left at the most crucial times, which it has done without hesitation on several occasions over the psat fews years when it’s neoliberal ideology has called on it to do so.

    • Bill 5.1
      29 June 2018 at 2:53 pm

      The Guardian is and always was a liberal newspaper, not a left wing newspaper. It might be unsettling to reflect that it’s the closest resemblance to anything left wing in what’s generally termed the msm, but that state of affairs is to be expected. The Guardian doesn’t “split the left”. What it does is introduce the idea that ‘liberal’ is somehow ‘progressive’ or ‘left’.

      And that permits wholesale attacks on, or dismissal of progressive ideas or ideas of the left. (So even Corbyn’s quite tame social democratic politics belong among the fossilised remains at Lyme Regis, Sanders should have gone home early, Maduro’s a cunt and there is no possible institutional explanation for Trump)

      Unfortunately, there are plenty of people (liberals) who go along with all that guff while deluding themselves and others that they are somehow progressive or of the left. (Just read the threads hereabouts 😉 )

      • Adrian Thornton 5.1.1
        29 June 2018 at 3:13 pm

        Have to disagree with you there Bill, I have plenty of friends and acquaintances, and have spoken to la hell of a of people over years in my bookshop who regard themselves as left and/or progressive that take the opinion/political slant of the Guardian very seriously, you could say they are ‘guided’ somewhat by what The Guardian spew out…I saw it with my own eyes during both Bernies and Corbyn’s campaigns.

        I know that more than half the people I just mentioned would have felt more favorably towards both, had not they been taken in by constant Guardian negative spin….that is what I call dividing the Left…maybe you could term it ‘ the soft left’ or ‘middle left’ something like that, but politically that is an important block of voters who have a lot of connections and power.

        • Bill 5.1.1.1
          29 June 2018 at 3:46 pm

          Hmm. Reckon I’d leaning towards “conservative liberal” on your “soft left/middle left”.

          The ACT party types (or beyond) are radical liberal, and it graduates across to something like the current NZ Labour Party being the conservative liberals.

          Then there’s the social democrats (eg – Corbyn) who would seek to straddle the liberal/left divide.

          And yes, there is a schism on the left too, between authoritarians of different degrees and non-authoritarians and all the tangled shit that leads to.

          Maybe it’s the failure to distinguish between liberal and left that leads to so many liberals (ie – conservative liberals) to self identify as left and yet come out swinging against the half way house of social democracy?

          • Adrian Thornton 5.1.1.1.1
            30 June 2018 at 1:28 pm

            I have just been having this conversation about this with some friends lately, I was scaring them with my view that the Left should co opt the term ‘conservative’ for our own use.
            My argument being that being a Socialist today (for me anyway) is a lot about advocating for a higher level of social/community/political ethical behaviour, to aim at a much higher level civic’s etc..so it is a reactionary position to what is actually being rewarded by liberalism from both the Right and Centre..so you could say (in a modern sense) socially conservative…and even if my terminology is all up the fuck, who cares, why not start co opting the term for our purposes?

            Of course in this conversation, I assume we all understand that sexual orientation, abortion etc are battles that have already been won, so are historical as far as the term conservative goes.

            As far as your last statement goes..’failure to distinguish between liberal and left’ I believe that many of these “conservative liberal” (I quite like that term) are exactly the people that are swayed by The Guardian , but could just as easily be swayed to the Left, given the right information from the right sources at the right time, hence my beef with The Guardian..who do exactly that, but as we know, but in the wrong direction….so divide (at least part of) the Left vote.

            • Bill 5.1.1.1.1.1
              30 June 2018 at 1:46 pm

              I agree that conservative liberals could be brought left. But I’m also aware that some conservative liberals have a kind of quasi religious attachment to the status quo.

              I’m also aware that some who sit way out beyond ACT could be brought to the left if their eyes could be opened to the fact that “the market” isn’t neutral and acts against their better judgement around liberty.

              As for sexual orientation and such like, I don’t give a monkey’s how liberal or conservative any person is, just like I don’t care about any person’s religion or whatever….unless and until they seek some way to impose their position on others.

    • Ed 5.2
      29 June 2018 at 4:36 pm

      The capture of the Guardian by neoliberal interests was quite a coup for the establishment.
      It is now more dangerous than the Times or the Daily Fail.

  6. Lettuce 6
    29 June 2018 at 2:27 pm

    The whole Skripal affair was cooked up and overblown to halt Tezza May’s rapidly plunging approval ratings due to her totally inept handling of the Brexit mess and her cold indifference to the victims of the Grenfell disaster.

    It looks a lot like the alleged “chemical attacks” in Douma and elsewhere in Syria are just another part of the concerted effort for regime change led by the usual suspects; the US, Israel, the Saudis and those good old “moderate” head-chopping jihadist rebels.

    • Wayne 6.1
      29 June 2018 at 4:47 pm

      The US, especially under Trump, has long given up on the idea of regime change in Syria.

      The US and NATO response over Douma wasn’t about changing the regime, but rather saying to Assad (and also to Putin), don’t cross redlines on chemicals. The response was very precisely targeted.

      Still the long-term future of Syria is not really clear. The Kurds seem to control much of the northwest, a variety of groups in the northeast, and Assad the rest. Assad will eventually get the northeast.

      But the Kurds might be a different story. Will Turkey accept autonomous Kurd government in northwest Syria and northwest Iraq?

      Only if they thought that was the best path to deal with their own Kurdish issue, that is if the Kurds have northwest Syria and Iraq maybe they will accept Turkish control in Turkey, especially since Turkey is the principal outlet for the Syrian and Iraq Kurds. A bit like the deal with Armenia, which is now the full repository of Armenian nationalism.

      • adam 6.1.1
        29 June 2018 at 6:29 pm

        One can hope that is the deal made for the Kurds. My fear is the kurds will get it in the neck – again.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 6.1.1.1
          29 June 2018 at 6:49 pm

          If the USA betrays the Kurds there will be a genocide in Rojava. Trump will facilitate it. But of course our loving allies Vladimir and Bashar will never allow it. As everyone knows, they’ve been victims of The Guardian and their Liberal/Fascist propaganda for decades.

          The Guardian is actually the Illuminati, Buzz Aldrin and HAARP rolled into one. That’s why it’s important to murder journalists.

          • adam 6.1.1.1.1
            30 June 2018 at 2:39 am

            I’d say get some sleep, but I’m not sure that would help.

            I’m pretty sure I said to you at the time, let’s wait for the truth to come out. I’m still happy to wait, are you?

            But you gotta wonder if this is the “jumping the shark” moment for the corporate media on Syria.

            How many more illegal bombing can the west do, and have any credibility left one wonders? It getting stretched thin these days. But I suppose if you are into conspiracy theories, then any old codswallop can be digested in the defence of liberalism.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 6.1.1.1.1.1
              30 June 2018 at 7:49 am

              The people who murder and send co-ordinated death threats to journalists are certainly into conspiracy theories, Adam.

              After all, who can blame them? Journalists are guilty of covering up war crimes and print made up stories about poison and chemical weapons: read the OP /sarc.

              • adam …
                30 June 2018 at 11:51 am

                You’re grasping at straws, this post is about the media drawing conclusions before the facts are in, and investigations not being forthcoming.

                You seem to be embracing some sort of theory that anyone who questions the official “we got a theory, lets run with it” narrative – is wrong. I’d argue that is the worst type of reporting. One who runs with assumptions, generally makes an ass of someone along the line.

                Who on the left is threatening journalist again?

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  30 June 2018 at 12:08 pm

                  Oh I agree: making one’s mind up about things on day one, with limited information and a head full of bias, is a mistake. What a good thing no-one here does anything like that /sarc

                  The right accuses journalists of being lügenpresse. It’s a real pity when elements of the left echo such sentiments.

                  • adam …
                    30 June 2018 at 12:29 pm

                    Who, name names. You playing the whispers game, and these circumspect allegations is not helpful.

                    I read most on the left saying that the corporate media, have an agenda, and push a propaganda line. Like no one in their right mind, would argue that RT does not have an agenda and is projecting propaganda.

                    But really not seen anyone call them the lying press, BS on some stories – most definitely. Approaching the media with scepticism by many, well, I bloody well hope so.

                    Then again, let’s get back to your allegations. Run with some names and examples from them, would be helpful. If you going to go making some allegations, back it up.

                    Otherwise, just going to run with you got nothing, so you’re making shit up.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      30 June 2018 at 12:44 pm

                      As I said, read the OP.

                      no mainstream media are going to be running that story; they are a part and parcel of the game, acting hand in glove with governments.

                    • adam …
                      30 June 2018 at 2:12 pm

                      Yeap, you got nothing.

                      “Populations were successfully played for political purposes. That’s the real story right there. And no mainstream media are going to be running that story”

                      Pulling stuff out of context to fit your agenda, I get it, we all do it.

                      But running the line that the author is saying lügenpresse, is a pretty big leap. Even for you.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      30 June 2018 at 2:27 pm

                      Sure, Adam, journalists “play” people because they’re “hand in glove with government”, but that isn’t an accusation of deliberate dishonesty at all /sarc.

                      Keep telling yourself that.

                      [OAB. One lie I might have let slip. But when you’ve come back in and sought to underscore or reinforce the first lie by spouting a second one in the context of attacking an author… Goodbye] – Bill

                    • In Vino …
                      30 June 2018 at 7:10 pm

                      Bill – please clarify what you mean by ‘Goodbye’.
                      Banned for this day, or forever?

        • RedLogix 6.1.1.2
          29 June 2018 at 10:06 pm

          @adam

          Yes I agree. For reasons I won’t elaborate on here, I’ve long believed the Kurds will play a crucial role in the eventual resolution of the catastrophic mess which is the Middle East. In historic terms I’d call them the innocents and it’s my sense this will play out in a manner we cannot yet predict.

          Sorry to be obscure; it’s mostly my gut feeling.

      • Lettuce 6.1.2
        29 June 2018 at 6:42 pm

        Trump has indeed expressed his desire to get out of Syria and avoid dragging the US into another Middle East quagmire (it looks like he’s going down that road with Iran instead).

        However, Trump’s new Neocon chickenhawks Bolton and Pompeo are very much committed to regime change in Syria. They would love to add it to the failed states in the region that no longer pose any threat to Israel such as Iraq, Libya and Sudan.

      • Tricledrown 6.1.3
        29 June 2018 at 9:08 pm

        Wayne Putins puppet/muppet has already agreed to not solving any crisis keep the arms and munitions flowing
        Trump and we won’t expose you.

  7. One Anonymous Bloke 7
    29 June 2018 at 3:31 pm

    When the next bit of information about the Skripal investigation is released we’ll know a bit more. Can’t be bothered arguing about it.

    Remind me how long Russian and Syrian troops had in Douma before the OPCW. Of course, they’d never cover up evidence, even though they obey orders from governments, because reasons.

  8. Brigid 8
    29 June 2018 at 4:15 pm

    May, Macron et al, and the BBC, Guardian, CBS shills will not display one iota of embarrassment either.
    It doesn’t matter that they appear fools to those who care to challenge the rhetoric. The job is done.
    Therefore there will be more to come.

  9. adam 9
    29 June 2018 at 6:27 pm

    This piece worries me, I remember having an argument with some friends that ended with this piece and us agreeing that having to wait 3 to 4 weeks – whilst long, was OK.

    https://www.news.com.au/world/middle-east/chemical-weapons-experts-complete-douma-mission/news-story/9b1b772315c766f53f9847cc60abb8af

    But what really worries me, is if you do a search for funerals for the Doluma Gas attack – you get this piece from the Torygraph.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/21/bodies-douma-gas-victims-secretly-buried-desperate-bid-preserve/

    What you don’t get is the what you normally get about funerals in Syria. Maybe it’s because I’ve been exposed to how the Kurds operate. They are open and honest about funerals. But on these so call gas attacks, the lack of funerals is troubling, me thinks someone is covering somthing up.

  10. One Two 10
    29 June 2018 at 10:22 pm

    Both ‘stories’ were BS from day one…

    The percentage of BS which so many willingly give their energies too, must be close to 100%…

    Manufacturing stories or exposing stories to extract the desired response has never been distributed to such a wide and willing audience…

    Fabricated world…the land of make believe has been producing the narratives which ensure the bigger picture propagates…

    Order out of chaos…order…or just chaos…

  11. dukeofurl 11
    30 June 2018 at 11:19 am

    Now and then there are snippets of news about the use of ‘restricted weapons by the US in the Middle East

    A bazooka type weapon that fires napalm type substance that ‘turned up in Afghanistan’
    https://www.wired.com/2009/05/us-incendiary-weapon-in-afghanistan-revealed/

    That came from a wikileaks article on US inventories in the Country
    Using this number it can be identified as the M202A1 “FLame Assault SHoulder weapon” or FLASH.
    Scarily the napalm like compound is thickened triethylaluminum (TEA), a liquid which spontaneously combusts in air and burns at high temperature.

    ‘The Geneva Protocol does not ban flame or incendiary weapons, but prohibits them from being used on or near concentrations of civilians.’

    More well known was the US military using White Phosphous artillery shells , both in Fallujah in 2004 and more recently in destroying ISIS controlled cities like Raqqa
    In 2004 they claimed the phosphorus was for creating ‘smoke’ but the troops on the ground were calling the artillery barrages ‘shake and bake’
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/06/09/u-s-led-forces-appear-to-be-using-white-phosphorous-in-populated-areas-in-iraq-and-syria/?noredirect=on

    In Iraq the USAF denied using napalm, but it emerged that was only because they were using ‘thickened jet fuel’ instead of thickened petrol
    https://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2003/030810-napalm-iraq01.htm

    Apparently the newer version causes less environmental damage

  12. Philg 12
    1 July 2018 at 5:40 pm

    Thanks for posting Bill. It’s good to be reminded of the poisoning case and the outcome, or no outcome. The poor quality MSM is a major concern.

  13. Jenny 13
    3 July 2018 at 12:39 pm

    I think what you are missing here Bill, (either consciously or unconsciously) is all of this is going on behind a background of mass fascist style extermination being rained on the Syrian population by the Assad regime. Of which there is more than enough evidence of.

    As horrible as it is, the West’s preoccupation with gas weapons and their possession and use by the Assad regime, obscures the fact that most of the aerial genocide has been committed with high explosives dropped on civilian cities and towns.

    Syrians describe ‘unbearable’ situation as pro-government forces bomb Daraa
    Zouhir Al Shimale, Middle East Eye – Thursday, 28 June 2018

    Tens of thousands flee as regime-allied airstrikes pound southern Syria
    The Japan Times – Friday, June 29, 2018

    At least 270,000 Syrians flee latest deadly regime offensive
    Kareem Khadder and Judith Vonberg, CNN – Monday, July 2, 2018

    The tens of thousands of civilians fleeing the Assad genocide piling up against the closed borders of Israel and Jordan represent a massive and building humanitarian crisis.

    In Jordan, in response to the emerging humanitarian disaster, ‘Open the borders’ has become a top trending hashtag on social media

    Jordanians urge government to take in Syrians fleeing Daraa
    Middle East Eye – Friday, 29 June, 2018

    No such public campaign has emerged in the racist Zionist state of Israel which has an understanding with the Assad regime, and a reputation for massacring civilians on its borders.

    More than 270,000 displaced by southern Syria fighting, UN says
    Times of Israel – Monday, 2 July, 2018

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    There have been 53 New Zealand Parliaments so far. The 39th of them was elected in 1978. It was a parliament of 92 MPs, most of them men. The New Zealand Music Awards that year named John Rowles Male Vocalist of the Year and — after a short twelve months ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Labour still protecting the status quo
    Aotearoa has a cost of living crisis. And one of the major drivers of this crisis is the supermarket duopoly, who gouge every dollar they can out of us. Last year, the Commerce Commission found that the duopoly was in fact anti-competititve, giving the government social licence to fix the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on National’s myths about the desolated state of the economy
    Familiarity breeds consent. If you repeat the line “six years of economic mis-management” about 10,000 times, it sounds like the received wisdom, whatever the evidence to the contrary. Yes, the global pandemic and the global surge in inflation that came in its wake occurred here as well – but if ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Hapless Hipkins and his racism
    Michael Bassett writes – Without so much as batting an eyelid, Chris Hipkins told an audience on Saturday that there had been “more racism” in this election campaign than ever before. And he blamed it on the opposition parties, National, Act and New Zealand First. In those ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: The ‘recession’ has been called off, but some households are still struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates. Brian Easton writes – Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Richie Poulton's lament
    “You can't really undo what happens during childhood”, said the director of the Dunedin longitudinal study. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Richie Poulton, the director of the world-leading Dunedin longitudinal study showing how devastating poverty in early life is, died yesterday. With his final words, he lamented the lack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • North-western downgrades
    This is a guest post from reader Peter N As many of us know, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi are well into progressing works on the northwestern interim “busway” with services to kick off in just over a month from now on Sunday 12th November 2023. Some of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
    Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • Another mother of a budget
    A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    4 days ago

  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    5 days ago

  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago

  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    6 days ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    7 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    1 week ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 week ago

  • Youth justice programme expands to break cycle of offending
    The successful ‘Circuit Breaker’ fast track programme designed to stop repeat youth offending was launched in two new locations today by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis. The programme, first piloted in West and South Auckland in December last year, is aimed at children aged 10-13 who commit serious offending or continue ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago

  • Major milestone with 20,000 employers using Apprenticeship Boost
    The Government’s Apprenticeship Boost initiative has now supported 20,000 employers to help keep on and train up apprentices, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced in Christchurch today. Almost 62,000 apprentices have been supported to start and keep training for a trade since the initiative was introduced in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Government supporting wood processing jobs and more diverse industry
    The Government is supporting non-pine tree sawmilling and backing further job creation in sawmills in Rotorua and Whangarei, Forestry Minister Peeni Henare said.   “The Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan identified the need to add more diversity to our productions forests, wood products and markets,” Peeni Henare said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Government backing Canterbury’s future in aerospace industry
    The Government is helping Canterbury’s aerospace industry take off with further infrastructure support for the Tāwhaki Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete, Infrastructure Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced. “Today I can confirm we will provide a $5.4 million grant to the Tāwhaki Joint Venture to fund a sealed runway and hangar ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Updated forestry regulations increase council controls and require large slash removal
    Local councils will have more power to decide where new commercial forests – including carbon forests – are located, to reduce impacts on communities and the environment, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “New national standards give councils greater control over commercial forestry, including clear rules on harvesting practices and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
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