Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi …

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, February 17th, 2021 - 144 comments
Categories: Andrew Little, australian politics, jacinda ardern, scoundrels - Tags:

Some international news yesterday as Jacinda Ardern chose to use decidedly undiplomatic speech to address Australia’s removal of its citizenship from a Jihadi bride leaving her as New Zealand’s problem, even though her link to New Zealand was tenuous and she was for all intents and purposes Australia’s problem.  And even though Ardern had previously asked Scomo to be careful with the issue.

From Radio New Zealand:

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has lashed out at Australia for dumping responsibility for a woman and two young children detained at the Turkish border on New Zealand.

The 26-year-old detainee – described by the Turkish government as an Islamic State terrorist – was caught trying to enter Turkey illegally from Syria.

Ardern said the woman, who had dual citizenship, left for Australia when she was six and travelled to Syria from Australia on an Australian passport.

Ardern said she directly raised the matter with the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and asked that they work together to resolve the issue.

“I was then informed in the following year that Australia had unilaterally revoked the citizenship of the individual involved. You can imagine my response.

“Since then we have continually raised with Australia our view that their decision was wrong, we continue to raise that view.

“My concern however, now, is that we have a situation where someone is now detained with two small children,” she said.

Legally the woman’s citizenship now only lies with New Zealand.

“I never believed that the right response was to simply have a race to revoke people’s citizenship, that is just not the right thing to do.”

We will put our hands up when we need to own the situation. We expected the same of Australia, they did not act in good faith.”

“If the shoe was on the other foot we would take responsibility, that would be the right thing to do, and I ask of Australia that they do the same,” she said.

She said New Zealand officials would be working to do welfare checks of those involved, and would be engaging with Turkish authorities.

“Regardless of their circumstances, regardless of whether have committed offences and particularly we have obligations when they have children involved.

“I would argue Australia holds those obligations too.”

There are some pretty fundamental human rights at stake.  Just check the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights if you need proof.  Protected rights include this one:

Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.”

And these two:

Everyone has the right to a nationality …

No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Of course Australia has not been the best at recognizing international human rights and respecting the rights of an individual.  Just read any of the Standard posts about Peter Dutton to realize this is another example of weaponised brutality for political advantage.

And Australia’s immigration policies and practiced cruelty has caused problems for the relationship with New Zealand in the past.  It was just 12 months ago when Ardern told Morrison that Australia should not deport to New Zealand its people and its problems.

A couple of years ago Andrew Little also stood up to them.  This is what I wrote at the time:

The Australians are upset with Andrew Little and are throwing Donald Trump type tantrums to show their displeasure.

What has he done to attract their displeasure?  He accused the Australian Government of having a deportation policy with what appears to have a venal, political strain.

The policy relates to a 2014 law change which increased the Minister of Immigration’s powers to cancel the visas of Kiwis, including those who have lived in Australia for extended periods of time who are deemed to be not of “good character”.

The change of policy has meant that many kiwis have been thrown into custody, separated from family and removed to a country they may not have any links with.

The cases are numerous but include a 17 year old held in an adult detention centre for non violent offending in breach of International Treaties protecting young people, as well as the case of Ko Hapua and Lee Tepuia, both who were deported because they belonged to motorcycle gangs that were not actually illegal.

Tepuia’s case in particular is jaw dropping.  He had lived in Australia since 2005 and his youngest daughter was an Australian.  His forcible removal from his wife and four children has had a devastating effect on him.

And he kept winning in Court yet despite this Dutton kept cancelling his visa and not telling him why.

When you also consider the appalling treatment that refugees have been subject to in Nauru you get an overwhelming feeling that people are being harassed and humiliated by Dutton and Co for political gain.

And there was this earlier attempt to implement the power to remove an Australian’s citizenship even if it was the only citizenship that they had.  I wrote this in 2016:

In Tony Abbott’s Australia there was a recent attempt to attack a fundamental human right, that of citizenship by granting the Minister of Immigration the right to withdraw an individual’s Australian citizenship, even if it was the only citizenship the individual had.

It was a covert attempt from within Abbott’s cabinet and was quickly shut down by others with a proper comprehension of the importance of citizenship and human rights.

It was not a general power, it was to be applied only against those suspected of terrorism related offences.  But the fact that it was even considered, and the leaking of transcripts of what was said in Cabinet, suggests that Abbott’s tenure as Prime Minister may again be on the ropes.

The proposal was raised by Immigration Minister, Peter Dutton.  Remarkably there was no policy paper to present and senior members of Cabinet including the Deputy Prime Minister were not aware that the idea was being proposed before it occurred.  It was brought up at the end of a cabinet meeting with no paperwork.

The Sydney Morning Herald ran this story which included these remarkable quotes from within the cabinet meeting in question:

Malcolm Turnbull attacked the measure:

This is an extraordinary proposition … [a] person’s citizenship is of enormous importance, intrinsic to themselves. Take me. The only people who’ve lived in Australia longer than my family are Aboriginal. I have no other identity. Are we seriously saying some minister could take my citizenship?

Only if you’re a terrorist, was the rejoinder. “Only if you are someone the minister thinks is a terrorist,” Turnbull corrected.

You know that things are particularly freaking weird when Barnaby Joyce opposes something ultra conservative.  But that is what happened in this case.

It is not only the screaming egregious breach of human rights that is what is wrong here.  It is also the trashing of New Zealand Australian diplomatic relations while engaging in egregious breaches of human rights that is the kicker.

National is backing Australia’s view.  I am pretty sure that if Judith Collins was in control the Jihadi’s bride’s kiwi citizenship would be taken off her.  The consequences to her two young children are irrelevant.

We should not be surprised.  Australia’s handling of the rights of kiwis who have spent the vast majority of their lives in Australia and who have been treated with contempt has caused significant damage to the Aotearoa Australia relationship.  This particular incident is the cherry on the top.

144 comments on “Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi … ”

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  1. Ad 1
    17 February 2021 at 7:52 am

    Oranga Tamariki, time to fly in cape and all …

    • bwaghorn 1.1
      17 February 2021 at 12:12 pm

      Yip bring back the kids and leave the jihadi bride in Turkey, they'll be better off without her and it sends a message to any other thicko that thinks being a terrorist breeding unit is a good idea.

      • Incognito 1.1.1
        17 February 2021 at 12:58 pm

        You approve of uplifting those children because they are at risk when cared for by their mother?

        • bwaghorn 1.1.1.1
          17 February 2021 at 4:29 pm

          What sort of life will a kid raised by a terrorist get,? filled with hate is all they'll get . Plus it will send a message.

          • Incognito 1.1.1.1.1
            17 February 2021 at 6:05 pm

            Fair enough. Now all New Zealand Government has to do is to find some loving foster parents and they’ll live long and happy ever after. How hard can it be?

  2. Treetop 2
    17 February 2021 at 7:55 am

    I would like to know if the mother knew her Australian citizenship would be revoked before she left Australia?

    It is not straight forward when it comes to the welfare of the children and which country has the say over the welfare of the children.

    What is the status of the children when it comes to international law?

    A person cannot be denied entry to their country of birth unless there is legislation for this.

    • mickysavage 2.1
      17 February 2021 at 8:07 am

      Possibly not. I presume that the children are Syrian nationals but they would have a ery strong case to be given New Zealand residence given the circumstances.

      • Treetop 2.1.1
        17 February 2021 at 8:24 am

        The residence of the children needs to be determined.

        The children appear to be Syrian, they are fatherless and their father's were from Switzerland. The mothers is widowed and has NZ citizenship.

        1. Can the mother ask for entry into Switzerland?

        2. Has the mother asked for entry to NZ for her children?

        3. Can Australia revoke entry for her children?

        • Treetop 2.1.1.1
          17 February 2021 at 8:39 am

          Correction Sweden and not Switzerland.

        • Craig H 2.1.1.2
          17 February 2021 at 3:49 pm

          If the mother has NZ citizenship by birth or grant (based on media coverage, she was born here so probably has citizenship by birth), the children are eligible for NZ citizenship by descent, so that's probably the practical answer.

    • Muttonbird 2.2
      17 February 2021 at 10:05 am

      Left in 2014. Law came in 2015. Amended in 2018. I think.

  3. Johnr 3
    17 February 2021 at 7:59 am

    Thanks for that collation.

    Further evidence of a detestable race of people

  4. Pat 4
    17 February 2021 at 8:22 am

    From all accounts the PMs displeasure with Australia dosnt even rate in Oz…a non event.

    • Morrissey 4.1
      17 February 2021 at 8:24 am

      Nonsense. Jacinda Ardern is extremely popular in Australia, and her mauling of the unlikeable Morrison will play very well indeed.

    • David 4.2
      17 February 2021 at 9:18 am

      It was the 27th item when I scrolled down the Sydney Morning Herald website yesterday evening so yep, guess it’s largely gone unnoticed in Australia. The law allowing her dual citizenship to be revoked was passed in 2015. Depending on which media you listen to her citizenship was revoked in 2019 or 2020. Old news over there.

      • Pat 4.2.1
        17 February 2021 at 9:23 am

        Yep , couple family members in two states hadnt heard a thing about it and shrugged ….NZ barely gets a mention in OZ media and nobody cares

    • Gabby 4.3
      17 February 2021 at 1:29 pm

      Well it wouldn't would it. Anyway her displeasure seems more at ScoMoFo and his Ilk.

  5. Ad 5
    17 February 2021 at 8:26 am

    No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

    So it would be very hard to say that the Australian government's move to deprive this person of their citizenship was arbitrary. They did it with specific legislation which sets out those extreme conditions and the evidence required for that deprivation of citizenship.

    And by electing to have dual citizenship the person certainly ensured they had options to change nationality.

    I would feel a whole lot more comfortable if our Prime Minister said that before the person steps foot inside this country, they will have an SIS file a foot thick and that the system will follow her penumbra-like.

    In this century, no other country in the southern hemisphere has had to deal with terror threats like we have, and no other intelligence community has failed to deal with it. And yes, they have to look in multiple directions at once. No, they don't have to disclose all that evidence. The PM has had a full legislative rehearsal to be able to anticipate this current situation and passed on it.

    This has all the hallmarks of building to be an Ahmed Zaoui. The applicant will generate local advocates who will play the our emotive media like a black grand piano. Our state should test this person as long as it needs to.

  7. Sabine 7
    17 February 2021 at 9:19 am

    Well removing one civil status was legal and considered a punishment for certain crimes.

    btw, i would like to point out that Trump in the US also looked at ways to remove birth right citizen ship and gained citizenship from people whom he and his regime disapproved of. And one could consider the removal of voting rights to be part of that punishment.

    In Germany we called people like that 'vogelfrei' and while that can mean in a positive as 'free as a bird' in the negative it also meant that this person could be killed, harmed, abused etc without any recourse to local lawenforcment and or help.

    It was and could be again a good tool to keep people in place, and a good tool to get rid of competition, nuisances etc and generally the populace would not give a care if the headline ain't large enough for them to see it.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_death#:~:text=Under%20the%20Holy%20Roman%20Empire,common%20form%20of%20civil%20death.

    [Content deleted because it contained too many links that triggered Auto-Moderation]

    • Sabine 7.1
      17 February 2021 at 9:57 am

      this might be an excellent read to some on the origin of the term Vogelfrei und Staatenlos.

      https://www.amazon.com/Homo-Sacer-Sovereign-Meridian-Aesthetics/dp/0804732183

      Agamben opines that laws have always assumed the authority to define "bare life" – zoe, as opposed to bios, that is 'qualified life' – by making this exclusive operation, while at the same time gaining power over it by making it the subject of political control. The power of law to actively separate "political" beings (citizens) from "bare life" (bodies) has carried on from Antiquity to Modernity – from, literally, Aristotle to Auschwitz. Aristotle, as Agamben notes, constitutes political life via a simultaneous inclusion and exclusion of "bare life": as Aristotle says, man is an animal born to life (Gk. ζῆν, zen), but existing with regard to the good life (εὖ ζῆν, eu zen) which can be achieved through politics.[38] Bare life, in this ancient conception of politics, is that which must be transformed, via the State, into the "good life"; that is, bare life is that which is supposedly excluded from the higher aims of the state, yet is included precisely so that it may be transformed into this "good life". Sovereignty, then, is conceived from ancient times as the power which determines what or who is to be incorporated into the political body (in accord with its bios) by means of the more originary exclusion (or exception) of what is to remain outside the political body—which is at the same time the source of that body's composition (zoe).[39] According to Agamben, biopower, which takes the bare lives of the citizens into its political calculations, may be more marked in the modern state, but has essentially existed since the beginnings of sovereignty in the West, since this structure of ex-ception is essential to the core concept of sovereignty.[40]

      The extract is from wikipedias article about the author of the Homer Sacer Project.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgio_Agamben#Homo_Sacer:_Sovereign_Power_and_Bare_Life_.281995.29

      The laws that give us rights today are fairly new around 300 – 400 odd years, and only ever as good as the one who applies them.

      • RedLogix 7.1.1
        17 February 2021 at 10:32 am

        That's genuinely interesting sabine. In the Anglo world we have the word 'outlaw' that seems related to this.

        We don't use that word much nowadays because the state has become so all-encompassing it leaves no space for the outlaw to exist – but the concept remains.

  8. RedLogix 8
    17 February 2021 at 9:46 am

    Frankly I only have to contemplate the hellish depths and insane criminality of ISIS for a few seconds to conclude NZ should revoke her citizenship as well – the Syrian's can have her. International law my arse, some actions just put you in another category.

    We recently tracked down and prosecuted a 100yr old who had worked as a Nazi camp guard – what exactly is so different about this atrocity that has occurred under our noses in our lifetime? This particular woman chose to leave Australia illegally, to join a psychopathically violent and criminal terror cause, and now she gets to live with the consequences.

    Every single person who was ever associated with ISIS should be tracked down, convicted and placed into lifetime incarceration somewhere very remote, secure and hellish. I honestly don't care how brutal that sounds.

    But otherwise what Ad said. That our media will deflect and minimise this horror, to play us like violins with the 'helpless woman and children' card, is evidence only of our moral weakness and cupidity.

    • Muttonbird 8.1
      17 February 2021 at 10:14 am

      I suspect her contribution to global terrorism does not add up to a tiny fraction of 1% of that which the Australian born and bred, white-supremacist, and mass murderer gave the world.

      • RedLogix 8.1.1
        17 February 2021 at 10:26 am

        Classic deflection. Her personal choice was to leave Australia illegally (they had tough counter terrorism laws in place already in 2014) and associate herself with an organisation the UN had declared to be terrorists. That alone confers culpability here.

        If she seeks merciful treatment – and I do believe in that – then she should go and beg forgiveness from the Yazidi community first. Only they really have the right to redeem her and give her sanctuary.

        • Muttonbird 8.1.1.1
          17 February 2021 at 11:33 am

          Just like the mosque murderer, she was radicalised in Australia, not Syria, so there's that. Australia might want to have a look their own significant contribution to terrorism.

          • RedLogix 8.1.1.1.1
            17 February 2021 at 11:57 am

            Just like the mosque murderer, she was radicalised in Australia,

            I'm not so sure about our ChCh murderer – all the accounts I read suggest the radicalisation occurred during his travels in Europe, Turkey and Pakistan. His family clearly stated that he came back from his OE's a dramatically changed person.

            As for our ISIL 'bride' – the Australian govt cannot be in any manner held responsible for her radicalisation. That would be entirely absurd proposition.

            If you want to find the 'blame' for these people's actions – you're looking in all the wrong places.

            • Muttonbird 8.1.1.1.1.1
              17 February 2021 at 12:23 pm

              The mosque shooter was a racist well before traveling. It's what happens in Australia. Excusing him and claiming it was Europe what did it is pretty gross really.

              Australia has an embarrassing history with intolerance and racism. Queensland regularly elects far right wing racists to government. I think Australia has deep seated issues as a society and is where radicalised terrorists are born. Worse, their immigration policy of recent years shows they refuse to learn anything.

              Interesting from David Fisher here:

              In 2015, the prospect New Zealanders were among those who had travelled to marry fighters was raised by NZ Security Intelligence Service director-general Rebecca Kitteridge, who told MPs that since 2014 “New Zealand women [had been] travelling to Iraq and Syria”.

              It later emerged none of the dozen women known of by the NZSIS left from New Zealand. Instead, they had travelled from Australia.

              It shows that Australia does nurture and export terrorism, be it Islamic or white supremacist. A regular industry they have going on there.

              https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/isis-bride-grew-up-in-australia-now-theyre-sending-her-to-new-zealand/BIZEGW4EIUD4FPC46KKUDURRH4/

              • RedLogix …
                17 February 2021 at 1:00 pm

                The mosque shooter was a racist well before traveling. It's what happens in Australia.

                So now you've shifted the goalposts from 'radicalising' to 'all Australians are by default racists'.

                Have you any idea how barkingly bigoted that sounds?

                • Muttonbird …
                  17 February 2021 at 1:04 pm

                  Australia is full of racists, especially Queensland.

                  • RedLogix …
                    17 February 2021 at 1:15 pm

                    So you've shifted all the blame onto Australia and in the meantime not one peep from you in condemnation of ISIL.

                    I think everyone can see how that reads.

    • Gabby 8.2
      17 February 2021 at 10:33 am

      Did we revoke the centenarian's citizenship?

    • mickysavage 8.3
      17 February 2021 at 11:35 am

      What do we do with this class of stateless undesirables? And shouldn't we ascertain what her role actually was before rendering her stateless?

      As a side question how do you think we should respond if Australia renounced the citizenship of the mass murderer currently incarcerated in Aotearoa?

      • RedLogix 8.3.1
        17 February 2021 at 11:48 am

        I fully accept you wrote the OP in good faith and with good intentions. That I've expressed the other side of the case does not detract from the legitimate questions you ask.

        I think you've known me long enough to have some clue that I have a particular experience with (albeit not directly) with the dark side of Islamic fundamentalism and that does not make me a disembodied, dispassionate observer here. So I plead guilty to presenting the case for the prosecution here.

        And this is what should happened here – as with the post WW2 Nazis – a UN backed Court with the scope, power and resources to fully investigate the ISIL regime and account for everything that happened. That would be ideal.

        Short of that it looks like we're stuck with this person, and we might as well get her and her children back to NZ and quit whining to the Australians about it.

        As for your second question – well yes the Australians (like any nation) have the sovereign capacity to revoke his citizenship. But frankly what practical difference would it make in the circumstances?

      • bwaghorn 8.3.2
        17 February 2021 at 12:17 pm

        Given that the terrorist aussie we have in our jail will never see the outside again it wont matter if aussie removed his citizenship.

      • alwyn 8.3.3
        17 February 2021 at 2:20 pm

        She is not stateless Micky.

        She has New Zealand citizenship. That is her state. The only way she can become stateless is if our Government was to cancel her citizenship. I realise that our PM is pretty angry but surely she is not actually planning to attempt to do that?

        As far as the Mosque murderer goes can you tell us what other citizenship does he have? The Australian law doesn't, at least as far as I am aware, allow them to make someone stateless.

    • Craig H 8.4
      17 February 2021 at 3:55 pm

      In theory NZ could have revoked her citizenship (section 16(a) of the Citizenship Act allows for it) leaving her as Australian, but being kind souls, we didn't. It's not just a matter of being annoyed about the treatment leaving her solely as a Kiwi, it's also that we had the same option, but chose not to follow it out of some (apparently misguided) trust that Australia would continue discussions about her status.

      • RedLogix 8.4.1
        17 February 2021 at 4:48 pm

        Ta. That's useful new information.

        Do we have any examples of this provision being used? And if so in what circumstances – genuine curiosity.

        • Craig H 8.4.1.1
          18 February 2021 at 8:04 am

          Not from a quick search since it's mostly targeted at people who become citizens of another country and go to war against NZ (acts contrary to NZ's interests is the test). Would be a bit of a stretch here to declare the acquisition of Australian citizenship and assisting Isis as contrary to our interests (in that she didn't obtain Australian citizenship for that purpose), but could be tested if a minister was keen.

  9. Anne 9
    17 February 2021 at 9:57 am

    I note that what one can see of the children, they looked well dressed and cared for. That should count for something during the deliberations into the woman's future and the future for those children. I sincerely hope so.

    • RedLogix 9.1
      17 February 2021 at 10:00 am

      The children I have considerable sympathy for, as for any human I would hope for them to have been born into better circumstances, with far better prospects.

      But then I have to ask myself in what way are they any different to hundreds of millions of other similarly unfortunate children in the world at this moment – and can NZ rescue them all?

      • Anne 9.1.1
        17 February 2021 at 10:16 am

        …what way are they any different to hundreds of millions of other similarly unfortunate children in the world at this moment – and can NZ rescue them all?

        They're no different and each individual child is an absolute tragedy. But where a special circumstance prevails – such as in this case – where we may be able to give two of them a fighting chance we should grab it with both hands.

        • RedLogix 9.1.1.1
          17 February 2021 at 10:37 am

          In this case I think the Aussie have well and truly outplayed us. In 2015 they put in place a lawful mechanism to revoke citizenship in these extreme circumstances. Whereas NZ did nothing.

          Well it looks like we now get to suck it up and own her and her children. That's the pragmatist in me speaking – good for her children, but frankly I think she's escaping a justice she richly deserves.

          • aom 9.1.1.1.1
            17 February 2021 at 10:41 am

            So, you are the self-appointed judge, jury and executioner eh RedLogix. Oh to be so sinless and omnipotent!

            • RedLogix 9.1.1.1.1.1
              17 February 2021 at 10:55 am

              I'm not going to be part of deflecting from, minimising or otherwise letting the crimes of ISIL gurgle down the memory hole.

              Their crimes are well documented, and that pathological ideology still capable of resurgence.

              • aom …
                17 February 2021 at 1:56 pm

                You are deflecting – the issue was one woman, she is not ISIL! So, you are the self-appointed judge, jury and executioner eh RedLogix?

                Usually justice is served after a crime has been committed. It is not a crime to travel, have a relationship or marriage with whomever one choses or to have children. Has it even been established that the woman even left Australia illegally?

                • Muttonbird …
                  17 February 2021 at 2:12 pm

                  Now, now. RL has had "a particular experience with with the dark side of Islamic fundamentalism".

                  A Muslim scratched his car in the Coolangatta Macca's car park.

                  • RedLogix …
                    17 February 2021 at 2:26 pm

                    Ah no. You think you're being clever when in reality – and I don't use this word all that often – you're actually being profoundly offensive.

                    But then I haven't explained the background, so you get a pass on this. While I'm a lot more open about my life than many participants choose – there are still some spaces I will keep private from low minds and prying bigots.

                • RedLogix …
                  17 February 2021 at 2:30 pm

                  It wasn't a crime to be a Nazi camp guard at the time either.

                  • Incognito …
                    17 February 2021 at 2:47 pm

                    A most questionable statement but, if correct, it raises the question why a 100-year-old former Nazi guard was recently charged if it was not for merely having been a guard.

                    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS-Totenkopfverb%C3%A4nde

                    • RedLogix …
                      17 February 2021 at 2:57 pm

                      As I said elsewhere – she actively chose to go to Syria – in order to provide moral, ideological support, and a sexual commitment, to aid and abet ISIL.

                      Male recruits all took up guns – she eagerly sought out and took up the role assigned to her by the terrorists. Equal culpability even if she wasn't firing bullets or slitting throats.

                    • Incognito []
                      17 February 2021 at 3:18 pm

                      Yes, you’re repeating yourself there – I can read.

                      So, to summarise, this New Zealand woman has aided and abetted ISIL but not committed any other direct or indirect crimes against humans or humanity as far as you know? Will she be charged, when, where, by who, and what for? Irrespectively, you want to inflict the most brutal punishment on her (cf. @ 8) whilst having considerable sympathy for her children (cf. @ 9.1)?

                      You don’t think this imposes a major moral and complex conflict on/for Aotearoa-New Zealand and/or on you personally?

                      Is there such a thing in New Zealand Criminal Law for “[e]qual culpability” with regard to accomplices in a crime?

                    • solkta …
                      17 February 2021 at 3:05 pm

                      There must be lots of old German women that you could spend this time chasing.

                    • Incognito []
                      17 February 2021 at 3:14 pm

                      Some do

                    • RedLogix …
                      17 February 2021 at 3:10 pm

                      If they had actively applied for roles in say the Gestapo and had actively supported that organisation's goals and methods – then yes.

                      Why does their gender render them immune?

                      Still if I had my way I’d be chasing Polish women – much more interesting in my experience.

                    • Incognito []
                      17 February 2021 at 3:24 pm

                      Gestapo?? Have you now moved on from Nazi camp guards to Gestapo? Why?

                      What role(s) had the woman applied for and how exactly did she actively support ISIL’s goals and methods?

                      Who stated that their gender renders them immune?

                    • solkta …
                      17 February 2021 at 3:18 pm

                      But she hasn't, to the best of our knowledge, done the equivalent of a job in the gestapo.

                    • RedLogix …
                      17 February 2021 at 3:41 pm

                      Ah this is getting dumb.

                      If you fucking leave your home country, illegally as far as I aware – and travel to a fucking war zone, with the express intention of joining and supporting an organisation known to be engaged in psychopathically violent crimes, terror and genocide – then I don't care if all you did was wash fucking tea-towels.

                      What part of aiding and abetting don't you guys get?

                      And in my view ISIL in many respects made the Gestapo look like nice guys. Your 'equivalence' gambit is pathetic.

                    • solkta …
                      17 February 2021 at 3:57 pm

                      Best you give yourself a pass for a cup a tea.

  10. Stephen D 10
    17 February 2021 at 10:35 am

    The National Party’s politics is interesting here. Has there ever been votes in NZ by supporting Australia? Usually the other way round.

  11. Barfly 11
    17 February 2021 at 10:59 am

    Well the Australian Government is doing a great job of shoving over to us criminal , undesirable, damaged individuals who have been created in Australia's society – not because it's right (it's not) but because they can.

    Now we are pretty much stuck with this shit (and it is shit) so the NZ Government really should create an excessively funded wrap around agency to deal with these people who have been foisted upon us – I am talking mandatory counselling , monitoring, work assistance ,work training, housing assistance, assistance with community groups and frankly any other assistance we can give these people and I believe the Government should heavily over resource this agency so that the negative impact of the Australian Government actions on New Zealand Society can be minimised. Obviously such an agency would be expensive to create and maintain so I suggest the Agency be funded by an additional tax on Trading Banks of 1-2% (co-incidentally, of course, almost all Australian owned)

    Oh and this agency should be announced with enormous publicity and fanfare – NZ Banks profit 2019 $5.7 billion so I m talking $57- $114 million funding . I imagine Scomo will be so happy

    devil

  12. Reality 12
    17 February 2021 at 11:03 am

    Wonder if Jacinda reminds Morrison of the responsibility Australia has in creating these terrorists in the first place. Including their Australian Christchurch mosque murderer. Whatever the outcome, I applaud Jacinda for her frank comments. Australians are brash and inclined to think they can walk all over New Zealand.

  13. Brendan 13
    17 February 2021 at 12:31 pm

    Right we are stuck with her (whenever she gets sent back to NZ). Australia is not going to take her back.

    So what are we going to do with her? No point getting grumpy.

    The death penalty is out, so what resources are we going to use to make sure she not doing 25 years to life in a few years time. (at even greater expense).

    • Muttonbird 13.1
      17 February 2021 at 12:36 pm

      From David Fisher's article again:

      "The adult, a 26-year-old woman named S.A. was identified as a Daesh [Isis] terrorist wanted with a 'blue notice'."

      Intelligence expert Dr Paul Buchanan, of 36th Parallel Assessments, said the blue notice indicated Aden was sought for information rather than acts of terrorism.

      "It doesn't mean she's been doing anything bad. Walking across the border with kids would seem to indicate she was a camp follower or concubine."

      You want the death penalty for that? Getting a bit hysterical I think.

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/isis-bride-grew-up-in-australia-now-theyre-sending-her-to-new-zealand/BIZEGW4EIUD4FPC46KKUDURRH4/

      • RedLogix 13.1.1
        17 February 2021 at 1:31 pm

        "It doesn't mean she's been doing anything bad. Walking across the border with kids would seem to indicate she was a camp follower or concubine."

        Fisher is pretty good usually – but on this occasion he's missed the obvious – this woman actively chose to leave Australia in order to become involved in ISIL. This was no 'unfortunate turn of events' in her life, she went in order to provide moral, ideological and sexual commitment to the terrorists involved.

        If she had been a male she would have been holding a gun – her gender does not absolve or minimise her involvment here.

        Edit: Or as Poisson puts it more precisely below – ‘aiding and abetting’.

        • Gabby 13.1.1.1
          17 February 2021 at 1:40 pm

          Dumb kids do dumb kid stuff. If their daddy owns a vineyard or they're good at footie they get away with it.

    • Incognito 13.2
      17 February 2021 at 12:41 pm

      What crimes and atrocities has the woman in question committed?

      • Poission 13.2.1
        17 February 2021 at 12:47 pm

        Aiding and abetting a known terrorist organisation by providing support is unlawful under security council resolutions for the last twenty years

        • Incognito 13.2.1.1
          17 February 2021 at 12:50 pm

          Thanks.

          And the punishment for those actions are determined in which Court and subsequently executed by which jurisdiction/authority?

          • Poission 13.2.1.1.1
            17 February 2021 at 12:58 pm

            Turkey would be the obvious jurisdiction,however Sultan Erdogan was their foremost supporter.

            https://twitter.com/MaxAbrahms/status/954352501989535744

            maybe we should send them to their victims such as the Kurds,having had to suffer tremendous crimes.

            • Incognito 13.2.1.1.1.1
              17 February 2021 at 1:02 pm

              maybe we should send them to their victims such as the Kurds [my emphasis]

              You mean, NZ should allow them back and then send them to the Kurds? Problem solved?

              • Poission …
                17 February 2021 at 1:03 pm

                Too many airmiles (think of the planet) just walk them back over the border.

                • Incognito …
                  17 February 2021 at 1:05 pm

                  I like your pragmatic way of thinking and together with future amnesia (cue: Key and Mapp) it is a sure recipe for a happy and content life.

            • RedLogix 13.2.1.1.1.2
              17 February 2021 at 1:06 pm

              And while Erdogan surely played his part – we shouldn't overlook the role that Saudi Wahhabism had in creating ISIS in the first place.

              The rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has become somewhat of a revelation to the international community over the last several months. Commencing with the desertion from Al-Qaeda, to the self-proclamation of Caliph by its leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, and finally the surge in Iraq and Syria, each move has occurred without a countervailing effort. In order to conceptualize the mentality of ISIS and its motivation, look no further than inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to examine how its puritanical Wahhabi doctrine has enabled the ideology of ISIS and terrorist groups alike, and will continue to do so for potential Islamic extremist groups in the future.

              Eventually Saudi itself had to go into damage control mode and wound up fighting back against it's bastard creation that had so wildly run amok – but it's still important to understand the pathological ideologies involved and where they came from.

        • Gabby 13.2.1.2
          17 February 2021 at 1:41 pm

          Unless you're Yankistan of course.

        • aom 13.2.1.3
          17 February 2021 at 2:12 pm

          Have sexual intercourse and having children been determined as a crime now? Love to be an observer at that trial!

  14. RedBaronCV 14
    17 February 2021 at 2:27 pm

    Can't say I agree at any level with the Australian decision but I assume she is an NZ citizen by birth and therefore the children are eligible to be registered as NZ citizens by descent – although they may have a claim to birth citizenship elsewhere? So I guess this falls into the suck it up category unless we turn and go down the road of not allowing people to be dual nationals – which is still the case for some countries. And maybe even try to sort out long term guest workers in Australia – though that might have to wait for an Australian labour government.

    What I don't get if why Labour is expending political capital on this – it's not something we can do much about – unlike a lot of other local issues.

    • Pat 14.1
      17 February 2021 at 3:14 pm

      "What I don't get if why Labour is expending political capital on this – it's not something we can do much about – unlike a lot of other local issues."

      Thats a good question….deflection from other issues they are under pressure on perhaps…and Aussies are always an easy target that unites the nation.

    • Muttonbird 14.2
      17 February 2021 at 3:23 pm

      It is related to a very serious local issue:

      The case has brought quick parallels with Australia's ejection to New Zealand of criminals born here but who grew up there.

      Their growing numbers has brought a scale, sophistication and threat of violence to organised crime in New Zealand that outstrips the operation of traditional New Zealand criminal networks.

      Australia quite literally produces and exports violence and crime to its supposed close friend and partner.

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/isis-bride-grew-up-in-australia-now-theyre-sending-her-to-new-zealand/BIZEGW4EIUD4FPC46KKUDURRH4/

      • DukeEll 14.2.1
        17 February 2021 at 3:27 pm

        No it doesn't. they're criminals who fall foul of all Aussie laws. which has a knock on effect.

        If we had similar legislation and aussies who lived her did that, we could rid ourselves of undesirables too

        • Muttonbird 14.2.1.1
          17 February 2021 at 3:48 pm

          Also from the above article:

          Islamic Women's Council national coordinator Aliya Danzeisen linked Australia's action over the 26-year-old with its 501 programme that stripped passports from New Zealand-born criminals and sent them back over the Tasman.

          "What's on my mind is the concept of country's responsibilities for the people they have helped rear. If Australia was in partnership with New Zealand, they would be assisting with supporting people and addressing these issues of radicalisation.

          "Australia just keeps sending people back to us. It smacks of injustice and a lack of partnership."

          Australia gleefully abdicates responsibility for the people they have helped rear. And Australia's pretence of partnership is a lie.

          • DukeEll 14.2.1.1.1
            17 February 2021 at 4:25 pm

            Soooo… go and become a terrorist and be a support person helping to fight against the aims and morals of the country that sheltered and educated you for 20 years and it's all ok and welcome back to a country that doesn't have to take you?

            • Muttonbird 14.2.1.1.1.1
              17 February 2021 at 5:07 pm

              What aims and morals are these? Becoming increasingly nationalist and using your friend and neighbour as a dumping ground for crime?

              • DukeEll …
                17 February 2021 at 5:17 pm

                being an australian citizen and adhering to australian law? would you like it if someone who wasn't a citizen of New Zealand committed crimes and anti social behaviour and got to stay here regardless of if they could be living elsewhere?

                How do you feel about peter thiel?

                • RedLogix …
                  17 February 2021 at 5:58 pm

                  I mostly agree with you DE, but I think the Australian policy would be seen as more reasonable if there was a cut off after living more than 10 yrs in Australia and/or it could be proven that they have no family in NZ.

                  And especially if they arrived in Aus as children under say 10yrs old.

                  I agree many of the 501's are crims who don't garner much sympathy, but there are also some pretty tragic stories of the policy being implemented with no regard to circumstances and NZ winds up having broken people dumped at our airports with no support and little hope of ever building a life here.

                  Even worse when they finish up being separated from family who're all established in Australia. Everyone knows that for all intents and purposes many of these people are really Australians and their govt is exploiting a loophole to NZ's detriment and increasing dismay.

                  • DukeEll …
                    17 February 2021 at 7:21 pm

                    I agree with the roll over. I think that’s unfair to say you can’t ever becc be a full citizen or a priority system.

                    but isis is not a roll over clause or humanitarian cause. It’s repudiation of the laws of the country that reared you, Au or NZ. If she didn’t have kids I’d say let her rot

                    • RedLogix …
                      17 February 2021 at 7:56 pm

                      Yup – I pretty much agree with both of those paras.

                      The irony here is that while the OP brings our attention to the citizenship status of one woman who in my view deserves little of our sympathy – there are many 100's thousands of kiwis living in Australia who aren't really citizens of either nation.

                      Technically the SCV444 allows them to live in Aus 'indefinitely' – but falls short of granting them full rights as permanent residents. While at the same time as the years go by their connections to NZ may well diminish or vanish altogether and the NZ passport they're holding has little to no relevance to their lives.

                      It's a slow burning issue that neither govt wants to really come to grips with – but eventually some sensible compromise must be achievable. A 10yr automatic rollover seems a decent place to start.

      • RedBaronCV 14.2.2
        17 February 2021 at 3:59 pm

        As I understand it these other criminals are not actually australian citizens? To me this is part of a much larger issue of long term guest workers from NZ who are in Australia for many years and unable to get citizenship plus the benefits from it. Plus we have the issue of the "two years and residency"now I'm off to Australia crowd to deal with.

        Does Australia produce bigger better brighter criminals? Looks like it does – but unless we revert to "no dual citizenship" we will still have the ISIS issue and we will still have the criminal issue unless we reduce our number of long term guest workers over there.

    • Pat 14.3
      17 February 2021 at 4:22 pm

      It is the timing thats odd….Australia notified her in 2019 and revoked citizenship last year…why does the PM choose now to express public outrage??

      • DukeEll 14.3.1
        17 February 2021 at 4:26 pm

        Expedience

        • Muttonbird 14.3.1.1
          17 February 2021 at 5:05 pm

          Umm, because she was arrested entering Turkey?

          • Pat 14.3.1.1.1
            17 February 2021 at 5:09 pm

            So she was

          • DukeEll 14.3.1.1.2
            17 February 2021 at 5:19 pm

            why isn't she then turkeys issue? or syria? she's been living there almost as long as she lived in New Zealand

            • Muttonbird 14.3.1.1.2.1
              17 February 2021 at 5:23 pm

              What?

              Pat asked why the PM 'chose now' to express outrage. You claimed it was expedience and I corrected you.

              • DukeEll …
                17 February 2021 at 5:28 pm

                that's not correcting me. it's offering an opinion. Our government was informed at the same time.

                they simply hoped she'd stay in syria

                • Muttonbird …
                  17 February 2021 at 5:33 pm

                  No doubt they did hope she'd stay in Syria, but fully expected she wouldn't which is why they brought it up with the Australian government previously.

                  Then Scumo stabbed us in the back.

                  The only reason it is news now is that she tried to leave Syria and was arrested.

              • Pat …
                17 February 2021 at 6:21 pm

                and thank you…I had completely forgotten about her arrest…I am getting too cynical where this Gov is concerned.

  15. DukeEll 15
    17 February 2021 at 3:07 pm

    It seems to go over everyone's head that Australia has removed the dual citizenship.

    If this lady had been born in Australia, she could only be an Australian Citizen.

    Australian's might be reactionary and conservative and on the border of nationally racist, but there immigration policy is clear cut and their adherence to it through bipartisanship leads to that. You might not like it but you can't fault it.

    Australia is far more multi-cultural than New Zealand. there are far more Asian, eastern European and Middle eastern names in all walks of life there than in New Zealand.

    We prevent foreign ownership, basically preventing ownership until nominal citizen ship. Australians prevent bastards becoming citizens. fair call

    • RedLogix 15.1
      17 February 2021 at 3:16 pm

      Australia is far more multi-cultural than New Zealand. there are far more Asian, eastern European and Middle eastern names in all walks of life there than in New Zealand.

      Thank you for saying this. Having lived and worked in Aus for the past 8 years I'm consistently disappointed at how little so many kiwis actually know about the place. It's not perfect by any stretch – but the teensy little soapbox so many kiwis like to climb on and preen their moral superiority is a bit sad imo.

      • DukeEll 15.1.1
        17 February 2021 at 3:25 pm

        I was in Australia on a fortnightly basis for years. Security guards at the airport wearing Hijabs, Restaurant owners conversing in Farsi or vietnamese. Business owners we were trying to cajole into buying our exports being either of lebanese or greek extraction. large businesses too.

        Sydney / Melbourne / Perth / Brisbane are all little londons. you have been far less likely to hear an aussie accent in the metropolitan area than you would hear a kiwi accent in anywhere in auckland.

        My uncle is a dual national, he knows as he is NZ first and Aus as dual, he is living in Austrtalia by the grace of Australian laws. something 99.5% of dual nationals living in Australia accept and enjoy. getting wound up about the .5% of fuckwits who think it's a free pass seems awfully strange.

        • shanreagh 15.1.1.1
          17 February 2021 at 7:22 pm

          Goodness where do you live? I live in Wellington's southern suburbs and a more multi cultural place I have yet to be in. In our street of 15 houses a few years ago, we had a minority of born in NZ citizens, even now there are French X 2, South African X 2 Samoan X2, Turkish X2. We have Italian restaurants, Vietnamese, Indian (south & North) Chinese in the nearby suburbs.

          Big cities are usually multi cultural. The real test is in small town NZ just as it is in small town Australia.

          It does not surprise me in the slightest that Scomo has been/is a bit slippery. They have a different psyche from NZers.

          • DukeEll 15.1.1.1.1
            17 February 2021 at 7:26 pm

            I live in Auckland’s CBD. I use to live in wellington. If the street my Flat was on wasn’t filled with embassies you could have called it tip Top mighty white.

  16. ken 16
    17 February 2021 at 4:05 pm

    Are there classes of citizenship?

    If you have dual citizenship, do you have primary and secondary citizenship?

  17. mosa 17
    17 February 2021 at 7:42 pm

    Yeah were mates when it suits them then we are just a pawn in their domestic political battles when they need a common enemy to pick on and blame for everything that's wrong with Australia.
    That is the extent of how much they value this " special " relationship "
    The last National government encouraged and re enforced this bullying against our own people who left to better their lives with a chance of making it with decent pay and conditions and boy did the Ockers demand their pound of flesh in the form of federal and state taxes but no entitlements befitting an Australasian citizen an ANZAC brother with that special mateship they always wax lyrical about. Key did what he does best groveling to the Yanks or the treacherous Aussies. He was happy to use the many leaving kiwis escaping the oppressive neo liberal slavery he was all about protecting as a campaign issue in 2008 but soon forgot all that when Kiwis ended up prostituting their services with no safety net and stood by while Australia shit all over their so called brothers!!
    We stood up once against one of the most powerful countries on earth on the principles of our own independent foreign policy in 1985-87 and the sense of pride that stemmed from that has been like everything else sold and traded away. That is almost treason in my book.

  18. RedLogix 18
    20 February 2021 at 11:11 am

    And just in case anyone is still interested – it looks like Turkey is going to deport the woman to NZ.

    • Muttonbird 18.1
      20 February 2021 at 11:17 am

      Phew. You dodged a bullet there.

      • Muttonbird 18.1.1
        20 February 2021 at 12:41 pm

        But then perhaps not.

        The story has changed over the course of the morning and now states it is unclear where she is being deported to.

        I doubt whether NZ would let her end up on Manus Island.

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    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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