Caption contest
Written By:
- Date published:
10:31 am, January 3rd, 2014 - 110 comments
Categories: brand key, class war, crosby textor, john key, Minister for Overseas Holidays, Minister for Photo-ops, same old national, slippery, spin, us politics -
Tags: obama
Celebrity golf! Which one will get voted off the island first!?
Meanwhile the world burns, the poor struggle, workers are exploited and increasingly insecure, and the wealth gap continues to be a blight on our country. It seems to brighter future is in Hawaii, for the bankster-supporting elites.
110 comments on “Caption contest ”
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- Special Lotto draw raises $11.7 million for Cyclone Gabrielle recoveryInternal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds has thanked generous New Zealanders who took part in the special Lotto draw for communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Held on Saturday night, the draw raised $11.7 million with half of all ticket sales going towards recovery efforts. “In a time of need, New Zealanders ...3 days ago
- Government delivers a $3 million funding boost for Building Financial Capability servicesThe Government has announced funding of $3 million for providers to help people, and whānau access community-based Building Financial Capability services. “Demand for Financial Capability Services is growing as people face cost of living pressures. Those pressures are increasing further in areas affected by flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle,” Minister for ...5 days ago
- Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao – new Chair and memberMinister of Education, Hon Jan Tinetti, has announced appointments to the Board of Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao. Tracey Bridges is joining the Board as the new Chair and Dr Therese Arseneau will be a new member. Current members Dr Linda Sissons CNZM and Daniel Wilson have ...5 days ago
- Scholarships honouring Ngarimu VC and the 28th (Māori) Battalion announcedFifteen ākonga Māori from across Aotearoa have been awarded the prestigious Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships and Awards for 2023, Associate Education Minister and Ngarimu Board Chair, Kelvin Davis announced today. The recipients include doctoral, masters’ and undergraduate students. Three vocational training students and five wharekura students, ...5 days ago
- Appointment of Judge of the Court of Appeal and Judge of the High CourtHigh Court Judge Jillian Maree Mallon has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, and District Court Judge Andrew John Becroft QSO has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Mallon graduated from Otago University in 1988 with an LLB (Hons), and with ...5 days ago
- NZ still well placed to meet global challengesThe economy has continued to show its resilience despite today’s GDP figures showing a modest decline in the December quarter, leaving the Government well positioned to help New Zealanders face cost of living pressures in a challenging global environment. “The economy had grown strongly in the two quarters before this ...5 days ago
- Western Ring Route CompleteAucklanders now have more ways to get around as Transport Minister Michael Wood opened the direct State Highway 1 (SH1) to State Highway 18 (SH18) underpass today, marking the completion of the 48-kilometre Western Ring Route (WRR). “The Government is upgrading New Zealand’s transport system to make it safer, more ...5 days ago
- Briefings to Incoming MinistersThis section contains briefings received by incoming ministers following changes to Cabinet in January. Some information may have been withheld in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982. Where information has been withheld that is indicated within the document. ...5 days ago
- Teaming up for a stronger, more resilient FijiAotearoa New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta reaffirmed her commitment to working together with the new Government of Fiji on issues of shared importance, including on the prioritisation of climate change and sustainability, at a meeting today, in Nadi. Fiji and Aotearoa New Zealand’s close relationship is underpinned by the Duavata ...6 days ago
- Investment in blue highway a lifeline for regional economies and cyclone recoveryThe Government is delivering a coastal shipping lifeline for businesses, residents and the primary sector in the cyclone-stricken regions of Hawkes Bay and Tairāwhiti, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan announced today. The Rangitata vessel has been chartered for an emergency coastal shipping route between Gisborne and Napier, with potential for ...6 days ago
- Next steps developing clean energy for NZThe Government will progress to the next stage of the NZ Battery Project, looking at the viability of pumped hydro as well as an alternative, multi-technology approach as part of the Government’s long term-plan to build a resilient, affordable, secure and decarbonised energy system in New Zealand, Energy and Resources ...6 days ago
- Statement from the Prime Minister on Stuart NashThis morning I was made aware of a media interview in which Minister Stuart Nash criticised a decision of the Court and said he had contacted the Police Commissioner to suggest the Police appeal the decision. The phone call took place in 2021 when he was not the Police Minister. ...7 days ago
- CPTPP Trade Ministers coming to AucklandThe Government’s sharp focus on trade continues with Aotearoa New Zealand set to host Trade Ministers and delegations from 10 Asia Pacific economies at a meeting of Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Commission members in July, Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor announced today. “New Zealand ...7 days ago
- Govt approves $25 million extension for cyclone-affected businesses$25 million boost to support more businesses with clean-up in cyclone affected regions, taking total business support to more than $50 million Demand for grants has been strong, with estimates showing applications will exceed the initial $25 million business support package Grants of up to a maximum of $40,000 per ...7 days ago
- More than 160,000 new Kiwis to call NZ home80 per cent of 2021 Resident Visas applications have been processed – three months ahead of schedule Residence granted to 160,000 people 84,000 of 85,000 applications have been approved Over 160,000 people have become New Zealand residents now that 80 per cent of 2021 Resident Visa (2021RV) applications have been ...7 days ago
- Scholarships propel Kiwi students to NASAThe Government continues to invest in New Zealand’s burgeoning space industry, today announcing five scholarships for Kiwi Students to undertake internships at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California. Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash congratulated Michaela Dobson (University of Auckland), Leah Albrow (University of Canterbury) and Jack Naish, Celine Jane ...7 days ago
- New Zealand to attend regional security meeting in AustraliaThe Lead Coordination Minister for the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into the Terrorist Attack on the Christchurch Mosques travels to Melbourne, Australia today to represent New Zealand at the fourth Sub-Regional Meeting on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Security. “The Government is committed to reducing the threat of terrorism ...7 days ago
- Health and safety action plan for portsThe health and safety practices at our nation’s ports will be improved as part of a new industry-wide action plan, Workplace Relations and Safety, and Transport Minister Michael Wood has announced. “Following the tragic death of two port workers in Auckland and Lyttelton last year, I asked the Port Health ...7 days ago
- Bikes and scooters to be exempt from FBTBikes, electric bikes and scooters will be added to the types of transport exempted from fringe benefit tax under changes proposed today. Revenue Minister David Parker said the change would allow bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, electric scooters, and micro-mobility share services to be exempt from fringe benefit tax where they ...1 week ago
- Foreign Affairs Minister to reaffirm our close relationship with FijiForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will hold bilateral meetings with Fiji this week. The visit will be her first to the country since the election of the new coalition Government led by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sitiveni Rabuka. The visit will be an opportunity to meet kanohi ki ...1 week ago
- New legislation to streamline Cyclone recoveryThe Government is introducing the Severe Weather Emergency Legislation Bill to ensure the recovery and rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle is streamlined and efficient with unnecessary red tape removed. The legislation is similar to legislation passed following the Christchurch and Kaikōura earthquakes that modifies existing legislation in order to remove constraints ...1 week ago
- Cost of living package: More bread and butter support for Kiwi familiesApproximately 1.4 million people will benefit from increases to rates and thresholds for social assistance to help with the cost of living Superannuation to increase by over $100 a pay for a couple Main benefits to increase by the rate of inflation, meaning a family on a benefit with children ...1 week ago
- Freeing up more government bandwidth and money to focus on the cost of living$1 billion in savings which will be reallocated to support New Zealanders with the cost of living A range of transport programmes deferred so Waka Kotahi can focus on post Cyclone road recovery Speed limit reduction programme significantly narrowed to focus on the most dangerous one per cent of state ...1 week ago
- State of National Emergency to end for Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s BayThe remaining state of national emergency over the Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay regions will end on Tuesday 14 March, Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty announced today. Minister McAnulty gave notice of a national transition period over these regions, which will come into effect immediately following the end of the ...1 week ago
- Government delivers on Dawn Raids commitmentThe Government is today delivering on one of its commitments as part of the New Zealand Government’s Dawn Raids apology, welcoming a cohort of emerging Pacific leaders to Aotearoa New Zealand participating in the He Manawa Tītī Scholarship Programme. This cohort will participate in a bespoke leadership training programme that ...1 week ago
- New plan to increase productivity and high wage jobs across advanced manufacturing sectorIndustry Transformation Plan to transform advanced manufacturing through increased productivity and higher-skilled, higher-wage jobs into a globally-competitive low-emissions sector. Co-created and co-owned by business, unions and workers, government, Māori, Pacific peoples and wider stakeholders. A plan to accelerate the growth and transformation of New Zealand’s advanced manufacturing sector was launched ...1 week ago
- Aotearoa New Zealand supports Pacific countries to combat animal disease New Zealand will provide support for Pacific countries to prevent the spread of harmful animal diseases, Associate Minister of Agriculture Meka Whaitiri said. The Associate Minister is attending a meeting of Pacific Ministers during the Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry in Nadi, Fiji. “Highly contagious diseases such as African ...2 weeks ago
- Government delivers better public transport for ChristchurchThe Public Transport Futures project will deliver approximately: 100 more buses providing a greater number of seats to a greater number of locations at a higher frequency Over 470 more bus shelters to support a more enjoyable travel experience Almost 200 real time display units providing accurate information on bus ...2 weeks ago
- The long road to Paris' rebound
One of New Zealand’s brightest young netball talents, Paris Lokotui has returned to the court 10 months after a knee reconstruction. Now she hopes her tough journey back paves a better way for other Māori and Pasifika players. Paris Lokotui remembers the moment time stood still. The 21-year-old was playing ...2 hours ago - Cyclone Gabrielle: Why many in Muriwai can't move on
A month on from Cyclone Gabrielle, many residents in Muriwai are still living in limbo, unable to return to their homes "I can't look back because it's too sad. I can't look forward because it is too daunting." Kat Corbett's Muriwai home remains out-of-bounds more than a month after ...2 hours ago - TOP and the not terribly Teal Deal
TOP leader Raf Manji talks to Nikki Mandow about going teal, and the opportunity for a party that’s pro-business and pro-environment ...2 hours ago - Govt should explain why it rejected our advice – Climate Commission
The Climate Change Commission's chair says the Government's decisions to ignore its advice could weaken the country's most important climate policy. ...2 hours ago - Central Otago subdivision buyers lose the plot
A wave of council rule rewrites drives section buyers to give up and look elsewhere ...2 hours ago - Beware of coconut oil salesmen
Coconut plantations are far from being ‘natural’ environments, coconut oil is high in saturated fats, and, despite the advertising, most of the global supply of coconut oil doesn’t come from the Pacific Islands either Opinion: Coconut oil has gained a halo as a natural health product, with claims it can ...2 hours ago - New Orleans’ lesson on fallible flood defences: Let's not ‘build back better’
Post-cyclone, where we rebuild and where we don't is the first challenge ...2 hours ago - Sympathy cards and the lessons of birds
An author on the death of a baby and "a calm respectful grace" The normal world was out there. The clocks and the jobs and the traffic and the mortgages and the death. Especially the death. Death in suburbia means funerals with piped fake Celtic music despite the fact ...2 hours ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 22 March
Loading...(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...3 hours ago - Daily crossword, Wednesday 22 March
...3 hours ago - Some Pacific nations ‘won’t survive’ if NZ and world drop the climate ball
By Hamish Cardwell, RNZ News senior journalist There is “is much to win by trying” to take action on climate change — that is a key finding in a major new international climate report the UN chief is calling a “survival guide for humanity”. It is something of a mic ...8 hours ago - Hipkins and Luxon hit the road: A taste of campaign 2023
A pōwhiri, a pie, and a grilling from primary school kids: Today was the day the boy from the Hutt who grew up to be prime minister went home for a visit. ...11 hours ago - How can Australia pay $368 billion for new submarines? Some of the money will be created from thin a...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Australia’s decision to buy three nuclear-powered submarines and build another eight is so expensive that, for the A$268 billion to $368 billion price tag, we could give a million dollars ...12 hours ago
- Australia’s 116 new coal, oil and gas projects equate to 215 new coal power stationsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Denniss, Adjunct Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Australia has 116 new coal, oil and gas projects in the pipeline. If they all proceed as planned, an extra 1.4 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases would be released into ...13 hours ago
- Chris Hipkins and Justin Trudeau discuss 'shared priorities'Prime Minister Chris Hipkins spoke with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau this afternoon. ...13 hours ago
- Public Sector Managers Growing At Twice The Rate Of Frontline Workers
Figures unearthed by the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union reveal that the growth in public sector managers is almost twice that of frontline social, health and education workers. Since 2017, the frontline workforce for social services, health and education ...14 hours ago - What Australia could learn from New Zealand about Indigenous representationSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic O’Sullivan, Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, and Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University A referendum will be held later this year to enshrine a First Nations’ Voice to Parliament into the Australian constitution. ...14 hours ago
- Taoist rituals via video call and Tarot readings over WeChat: China’s spiritual market is going di...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Haoyang Zhai, PhD Candidate, The University of Melbourne Alexander Schimmeck/Unsplash Since its inception in 1921, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has officially promoted an atheist and materialist ideology. But belief systems in China are making a comeback – and ...14 hours ago
- Scott Robertson appointed the next All Black coach (after the current one)
Scott Robertson has been announced successor to Ian Foster as head coach of the All Blacks, completing a controversial and highly idiosyncratic appointment process. He will assume the role in 2024, following the world cup at the end of this year. The contract for the breakdancing current coach of the ...14 hours ago - Concerns Expressed For Anti-Trans Activist Plans For New Zealand VisitMulticultural New Zealand (MNZ) has expressed concern about events scheduled to take place in Auckland and Wellington on March 25th and 26th, respectively. The events will feature British anti-transgender activist, Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull. MNZ is ...15 hours ago
- Race Relations Day To Focus On Empowering Inspirational Leadership From YouthRace Relations Day is celebrated annually in New Zealand on March 21st to promote and celebrate diversity, inclusivity, and harmony among different cultural, ethnic, and religious groups. As part of Race Relations Day 2023, Multicultural New Zealand ...15 hours ago
- Mayor Wayne Brown’s Comments Concerning Says Library AssociationAuckland Mayor Wayne Brown’s suggestion to make council budget cuts by reducing staffing hours and replacing librarians and library assistants with volunteers is concerning says New Zealand’s library association. “Limiting access to the valued ...15 hours ago
- Google and Microsoft are bringing AI to Word, Excel, Gmail and more. It could boost productivity for...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mohiuddin Ahmed, Senior Lecturer in Cyber Security, Edith Cowan University Shutterstock Google and Microsoft are on a mission to remove the drudgery from computing, by bringing next-generation AI tools as add-ons to existing services. On March 16, Microsoft announced an ...15 hours ago
- Wayne Brown’s interviews since being elected mayor, rankedThe Auckland mayor’s decision to keep the media at arm’s length makes every interview he does grant a rare and exciting event, like a new Avatar movie. Stewart Sowman-Lund ranks them all from least to most exciting. Wayne Brown has a well-reported lack of affection for the media. In his ...16 hours ago
- Papuan liberation group calls for more ‘serious’ global efforts to end violenceTabloid Jubi in Jayapura The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has called on the international community to “pay serious attention” to the escalated violence happening in West Papua. Head of ULMWP’s legal and human rights bureau, Daniel Randongkir, said that since the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) ...16 hours ago
- IPCC report: world must cut emissions and urgently adapt to climate realitiesANALYSIS: By Bronwyn Hayward, University of Canterbury This decade is the critical moment for making deep, rapid cuts to emissions, and acting to protect people from dangerous climate impacts we can no longer avoid, according to the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The synthesis report ...16 hours ago
- Labour now leads National across five pollsAcross five of the latest polls for which results are published, Labour now has an edge over National. A new Talbot Mills poll, as reported by the Herald, has Labour up four points to 37%, with National down two points to 34%. The results, which draw on fieldwork across the first ...16 hours ago
- WWF Calls For The Government To Accelerate Action To Phase-out Fossil Fuels, Slash Emissions, And Re...Statement from Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb, WWF-New Zealand CEO Today's IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Synthesis Report (AR6) highlights that an accelerated phase-out of fossil fuels is the best way to avoid the planet overshooting 1.5°C and risking total climate ...17 hours ago
- A day in the life of a children’s librarianThe first in a two-part series revealing insights into the working life of a librarian. For privacy reasons, all names – including place names – have been changed. Te Whare Pukapuka o Poutama is a composite library. It’s 9.30AM on a mid-January Monday, high summer, school holidays. Kaitiaki Pukapuka ...17 hours ago
- Our mysterious night parrot has terrible vision – but we discovered it might be able to hear like...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elen Shute, Researcher, Flinders University One bird bucks the stereotype of Australia’s raucous parrots – the mysterious and critically endangered night parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis). Rather than flying around in noisy flocks or eating fruit in trees, the night parrot roosts all day ...17 hours ago
- No, gamblers don’t ‘need’ cash. Our research isn’t an argument against cashless gaming refor...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sally Gainsbury, Deputy Director, Gambling Treatment and Research Clinic, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, University of Sydney shutterstock The Perottett government’s promise to introduce mandatory “cashless gambling” in New South Wales by 2028 – something for which anti-gambling activists and public-health ...17 hours ago
- Funding For Roads At Lowest Levels In A DecadeLocal Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is warning that the state of our roads could be the next infrastructure crisis if the Government does not adequately fund maintenance costs. LGNZ commissioned a report by one of the country’s leading economists, Brad ...17 hours ago
- Police Minister Ginny Andersen vows to focus on community safetyGinny Andersen, who was named in the role yesterday, says she will be working every day to make sure New Zealanders feel safer. ...17 hours ago
- Consumer Pulse: Kiwis Tighten Spend As They Face Financial StressToday Canstar is proud to release its second Consumer Pulse report, which delves into the financial worries, hopes and dreams of more than 20,000 New Zealanders over the past two years. The report, released annually, tracks Kiwis’ finances and reveals ...17 hours ago
- Australia’s electric vehicle numbers doubled last year. What’s the impact of charging them on a ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thara Philip, E-Mobility Doctoral Researcher, The University of Queensland The number of electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia doubled in 2022 and Tesla’s Model 3 emerged as the best-selling mid-size car, the first time an EV has held this title. Despite these headlines, ...17 hours ago
- A Greyhound Will Face Full Tail Amputation Following A Race Meeting In ChristchurchSAFE is again urging the Government to ban greyhound racing sooner rather than later, following a raft of severe injures in Christchurch yesterday. Sugar rose suffered a severe tail injury yesterday at Addington raceway. Her tail was partially amputated ...18 hours ago
- PM Chris Hipkins speaks to media after visiting his old primary schoolPrime Minister Chris Hipkins is speaking to media following a visit to his old primary school. ...18 hours ago
- Industry Lobbying Influence A Major Brake On Government Action – GreenpeaceIn the wake of revelations that Chris Hipkins' chief of staff, Andrew Kirton, lobbied against the Container Return Scheme on behalf of the liquor industry shortly before the scheme was scrapped by the Prime Minister, Greenpeace is calling for the scheme ...18 hours ago
- Why peace negotiations haven’t gained any traction in the Ukraine war – and how the stalemate co...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Komesaroff, Professor of Medicine, Monash University Libkos/AP/AAP A year after Russia’s invasion, Ukraine is in ruins. At least 8,000 civilians have died, with millions displaced. Generations of infrastructure have been destroyed. Large tracts of the environment and agricultural land ...18 hours ago
- Watch live: PM Chris Hipkins speaks to media after visiting his old primary schoolPrime Minister Chris Hipkins is speaking to media following a visit to his old primary school. ...18 hours ago
- The Opportunities Party Announces A $1.5b Investment In Our Future Generations With The Teal DealThe Opportunities Party have proposed a new Teal Deal between taxpayers and young Kiwis - which includes fully-funded healthcare and public transport, and a Kiwisaver kickstarter in exchange for national civic service. Raf Manji, Leader of The Opportunities ...18 hours ago
- Why is it so hard to combine biking with public transport in Auckland?There are plenty of practical ways the city could make multi-modal transport more accessible – but have they all been consigned to the too-hard basket? How can Auckland start mitigating its impact on the climate crisis? Our biggest city’s sustainable solution must start with transport, its number one source of ...19 hours ago
- Parliament Must Seize Chance To Unlock Natural Health Products’ Billion-dollar PotentialLong overdue legislation to unlock the economic and export potential of natural health products must not accidentally add more red tape that harms the growing sector and consumers, industry body Natural Health Products New Zealand told Members of ...19 hours ago
- Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Shining a bright light on lobbyists in politicsAnalysis by Dr Bryce Edwards. Political Roundup: Shining a bright light on lobbyists in politics Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Four out of the five people who have held the top role of Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff since 2017 have been lobbyists. That’s a fact that should worry anyone who ...19 hours ago
- Chernobyl was history’s worst nuclear disaster. Now it’s teaching geologists about the history o...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Denis Fougerouse, Research Fellow, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences and The Institute for Geoscience Research (TIGeR), Curtin University Shutterstock Thirty-seven years ago, on April 26 1986, the reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant suffered a catastrophic meltdown. In ...19 hours ago
- NZ Chiropractors Voice Opposition To Therapeutic Products BillThe New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association (NZCA) will today (21st March 2023) tell Parliament’s Health Select Committee that the profession opposes the proposed Therapeutic Products Bill in its entirety in its present form and in particular its ...19 hours ago
- The Bulletin: Multiple options for avoiding worst of climate breakdownThe final Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on the climate crisis came out this morning. The report contains no new science but is a summary of eight years of research by hundreds of scientists and the last three IPCC reports published in August 2021, February and April 2022 ...20 hours ago
- Police accept IPCA report into incident at Tauranga CourtBay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson: Police accept the findings by the Independent Police Conduct Authority into an incident involving an officer who tasered a man in the cells at Tauranga District Court in February 2019. ...20 hours ago
- Womad review: Summer finally gets a festival worth shouting aboutFew festivals have escaped the summer of 2023 unscathed. Before the sun blessed Womad with a rare guest appearance, the Taranaki festival got a drenching too. According to my pink and blue wristband, we were partying like it was “2022”. That was the first sign that things haven’t been going ...20 hours ago
- https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2303/S00159/.htm...20 hours ago
- PVA To Appear At The Health Select Committee Today To Express ‘Grave Concern’ About Therapeutic ...Patient Voice Aotearoa’s Dr Malcolm Mulholland will today at 3.30 appear before the Health Select Committee to voice opposition to parts of the Therapeutic Products Bill on behalf of Kiwi patients. “The Bill threatens to obstruct access to unfunded ...20 hours ago
- Banking Union Calls For Levy On Bank ProfitsFIRST Union, the union for bank workers across New Zealand, is supporting calls for an immediate inquiry into bank profits and proposing a levy on excess profits to fund the establishment of a Ministry of Green Works . The March 2023 KPMG Financial ...20 hours ago
- Prime Minister Chris Hipkins responds to revelations chief of staff led lobbying firmPrime Minister Chris Hipkins says there is a need for "transparency and vigilance" around lobbyists and their relationships with politicians. ...20 hours ago
- IPCC report: the world must cut emissions and urgently adapt to the new climate realitiesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bronwyn Hayward, Professor of Politics, University of Canterbury Earth Negotiations Bulletin, CC BY-ND This decade is the critical moment for making deep, rapid cuts to emissions, and acting to protect people from dangerous climate impacts we can no longer avoid, ...21 hours ago
- Why isn’t cervical screening free for everyone?There is a growing campaign to remove the costs associated with cervical screening in Aotearoa. Alex Casey explains. What’s all this then? In July, Aotearoa is getting a big shiny new cervical screening programme after years and years and years of delays. The dreaded three-yearly smear test will be exchanged ...22 hours ago
- Satellites and space junk may make dark night skies brighter, hindering astronomy and hiding stars f...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Heim, PhD researcher, University of Southern Queensland ESA Since time immemorial, humans around the world have gazed up in wonder at the night sky. The starry night sky has not only inspired countless works of music, art and poetry, ...22 hours ago
- Labor is odds-on for a narrow victory in NSW election, but it is far from a sure betSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andy Marks, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Strategy, Government and Alliances, Western Sydney University Bianca de Marchi/AAP A gambler would probably feel the odds favour a Labor win at the upcoming New South Wales election. But, as Scott Morrison proved in 2019, underdog ...22 hours ago
- How bad is vaping and should it be banned?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Lee, Professor at the National Drug Research Institute (Melbourne), Curtin University nery zarate/unsplash, CC BY-SA Vaping regularly makes headlines, with some campaigning to make e-cigarettes more available to help smokers quit, while others are keen to see vaping products ...22 hours ago
- NZ universities are not normal Crown institutions – they shouldn’t be ‘Tiriti-led’Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic O’Sullivan, Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, and Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University Shutterstock As part of its aspiration to be “Tiriti-led”, the University of Otago has embarked on a consultation ...22 hours ago
- Gen Z grew up in a world filled with ugly fashion – no wonder they love their CrocsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emily Brayshaw, Honorary Research Fellow, University of Technology Sydney 1MilliDollars/Unsplash In 2017, Julia Hobbs of British Vogue declared Crocs “have an unrivalled ability to repel onlookers and induce sneers”. But over the two decades since the notoriously ugly shoes were ...22 hours ago
- Is it time for more transparency on lobbyists?A new investigation on the role of lobbyists raises fresh questions about whether we need better disclosure of who they are and who they work for, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...23 hours ago
- Why Grater Goods is using equity crowdfunding to expandFlip Grater decided to give up her career in music to pursue her other passion of vegan delicatessens. Now, her meat-free versions of chorizo, pastrami, and turkey have launched her business and landed her products in foodstuffs supermarkets. She talks to Simon Pound about Grater Goods’ rapid success, and expanding ...23 hours ago
- IPCC Report Shows 2023 Is A ‘Now Or Never’ Climate Election“This is it; 2023 will be the last opportunity New Zealand has to get a government that will confront the climate emergency with the urgency it demands,” says the Green Party’s co-leader and climate change spokesperson, James Shaw. Speaking after ...24 hours ago
- IPCC Report A Wake-up Call For Hipkins As Climate Election ApproachesToday the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the IPCC, released its ‘synthesis report’, summarising six previous reports. Greenpeace says that the latest report confirms the industrial drivers of climate change, its dire planetary impacts, and ...1 day ago
- Prime Minister’s chief of staff Andrew Kirton led lobbying firm that fought against reforms now bi...Prime Minister's chief of staff came directly from leading a lobbying firm that argued against alcohol reforms that have now been ditched. ...1 day ago
- Mahesh Muralidhar Selected As National’s Candidate In Auckland CentralPhase One Ventures chief executive Mahesh Muralidhar has been selected by local party members as National’s candidate in Auckland Central for the 2023 General Election. “I want to thank our local party members for backing me to campaign for ...1 day ago
- An incident at Blueskin Bay
On the holy terror and absolute love of parenting Picked up by Octavia outside the book shop, the kid and I clambered into the back, to the soundtrack of classic hits from what seemed to be a tape she was playing. We were thankful to get in. The sun ...1 day ago - Guyon Espiner reveals the banal and bleak machinations of government lobbyistsA new investigative series from RNZ reveals just how broken the government communications machine is, writes Duncan Greive. Investigative journalist Guyon Espiner is peeling back the lid on the world of external lobbyists and corporate affairs strategists employed by the public sector. His new series, being published on RNZ this ...1 day ago
- What you need to know about the anti-trans campaigner heading to New ZealandFresh from a Melbourne rally that attracted neo-Nazi supporters, British anti-transgender rights speaker Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull is scheduled to appear at two events in Aotearoa. So what’s the lowdown? Another controversial international speaker wants to visit New Zealand, and, as expected, reaction has covered the full spectrum from outrage to support. ...1 day ago
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HawaiiKey marches to Americas tune.
John, I trust you will beat David in the election. Good luck.
[lprent: Already banned – adding another IP. ]
That was not a post by the one and only fisiani
[lprent: Ah yes… Thank “santi”. ]
I know what you saying we johnny.nsa joke.
Unidenfified person seen with another world leader.
Niiiice
President Barack Obama plays golf with an unidentified guest
karol, I made a very snide remark about Key and Obama earlier in the piece, holidaying in Hawaii together. What a joke.
Caption: “Unidentified newbie horrifies Obama by displaying too much pasty flesh.”
Two competitors in the annual Upper Class Twit of the Year practice for the Synchronised Walking event.
Synchronised Spies..
See, Left and Right can get along together. Worth another 100,000 votes for John….
I am NOT the LEAST surprised, as that is exactly what I had expected “Golden Boy Johnny” (aka the ‘Slippery Slimy Schemer’) to get up to during his Hawaiian retreat!
But I am waiting for some photos of him with some Hollywood greats, with the CEO of Monsanto, of other multinationals (IT, pharmaceuticals and so), and perhaps some great “banksters” also to surface.
Lest we be surprised, this is what the much MSM cheered “Leader Maximo” is all about! And who has shares and owns Mediaworks, APN, Fairfax and Sky TV? Who now sits on the boards of TVNZ and Radio NZ? Who of them in private media and entertainment will write out fat cheques for the National Party, and who will front talk back and the TV screens leading up to the general election 2014? Let us wait and see, I suspect we can already make some presumptions with at least a moderate validity.
Yes. Because the PM can’t have a holiday.
Yes(?). Because the PM can’t have a holiday in NZ when he’s required in Hawaii to receive his next set of instructions.
FIFY
This must be why the left get no traction. Posting bullshit like this.
Don’t you dare call our Key bullshit!! Get it right!! He’s a lapdog, FFS!!
fender – you are so beautiful, that makes me almost cry.
as for infused, methinks totally confused, bitter and twisted, like someone’s ill-gotten little sibling, who got forgotten in the Christmas rush, and ended up with just a raspberry at the bottom of their Christmas stocking – sad. Still, J.K. might give them a lollypop to suck on when he gets home, just like the one J.K. got to suck on in Hawaii with President Obama.
😀
Yes (?). Because he’s played many stages has John Boy.
Prime Mincer
Prime Mournister
Prime Mashie
Prime Monster next ?
If he’s on holiday, why the front page promo photos?
Are you really that stupid?
Because like most fluff, people gobble it up. You being one.
Same crap with the batch.
All you’ve done, once again, is give Key & National more lime light and show NZ that the tall poppy syndrome is still in full swing.
I don’t care, it just blows me away you guys still going on about this, fluff, then cry foul when the left can’t gain any traction. Look in the mirror.
Until the left can appreciate their adversary’s strengths, they will always be a step behind. This sort of meaningless spite repels a lot of left of centre voters. For pity sake just focus on the issues and leave the ranting behind. My personal view is that there are a lot of middle ground voters who are waiting to be wooed with credible policies, and many of these don’t like personality politics. Key is probably the most popular PM ever, so the continual snide attacks are playing to his strengths, and continuing to portray the left as bitter.
So the relentless personal attacks on Helen Clark turned off voters and made National less electable?
You missed the main point of my comment. Key is very popular- there is no point playing to his strengths. Because he is so popular the attacks rebound on the messenger. Helen Clark had lost a lot of her mana so personal attacks were more effective. Having said that I found them very distasteful (just in case you were wondering).
Labour spent too much time and resource focussing their efforts on attacking and discrediting Key. Far better to go after him another way. That is what I am saying.
Bullshit.
The personal attacks against Helen Clark have been consistent from at least the 1980s onwards, through all phases of her political career, including the height of her popularity.
They are also far, far more vicious and nasty than anything Key is ever likely to endure.
Can confirm that is correct. I was there. It actually began before she won the Mt Albert candidature in 1980 when a covert campaign was waged to prevent her from being selected. However, they didn’t take into account the membership – some 400 of them were present at the meeting – who voted overwhelmingly for Helen.
Was that from within Labour? I get the feeling some Labourites (the Tamihere-types for instance), still have not got over their angst at having had a woman PM.
Yes karol. They were part of the right wing faction in Labour and most followed Roger Douglas and Richard Prebble and joined ACT.
All the parties attack the leaders of other parties one way or another (Key on Norman for instance). John Key’s smiley photo ops are the Nats’ main election pitch – therefore should be exposed.
There’s also a difference from MPs & their staff attacking other MPs/PM and non-party people making a few jokes.
Agree with the basic point your making Pete. Don’t know about the mana and Helen Clark. I’d suggest that being a woman, she was always in danger of being an easy target for easy vitriol that was very unlikely to back fire.
That, and I’m over ‘the bagging’ of Key. It’s fcking boring. People aren’t stupid. This swanning around being all rich and blokey blokey is just possibly wearing thin.
Except, just maybe – drowning man thrown life belt of counter productive slagging?
Ah come on Bill it’s a wee bit of fun. Like
“Obama shows Key how to really f*&k over indigenous culture, playing golf with Hawaiian nuts”
“Kiwi’s shocked to discover Prime Minister is really white dough”
” New Zealand Prime Minister told ‘Dam those legs are white, never heard of a spray tan?’ “
During a game of golf was the management of Dotcom mentioned?
Hey there Barry – does ya like mā shirt….
I’d completely forgotten about that little incident.
“Fuck sake John Boy, stop whining ! Even if the tracking device does malfunction I’ve still got some balls left…….”
Interesting that at time of writing a slight majority of the respondents to the Stuff Poll about what it all means have gone with – “Nothing – two rich guys playing an elitist sport”.
Golf carts park on the left because they realise these two only slice it to the right..
For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of a round of golf with President Obama I suppose I should point out that he only slices the ball to the LEFT, not the right.
He plays left-handed golf you see. Not a bad golfer for someone who gets as little practice as he does.
“He plays left-handed golf you see.”
Scandalous. This must be that gigantic bombshell Donald Trump was going on about..
I had to check the date on this item, just to make sure that it wasn’t 1 April.
Trump certainly is more than a little bit nuts isn’t he?
I wonder if he ever came out with anything? He probably announced, to a fanfare of trumpets, that that evil man Obama had once sworn at his daughter’s puppy for chewing one of his slippers.
Actually Trump makes Mike Williams seem almost sane. Remember how Mike was going to drop a “neutron bomb” on John Key during the 2008 campaign. That fizzer was just as successful as Trump’s little effort here.
This one gave me a laugh though.
Mike does sound “a little bit nuts” when he “agrees with Matthew (Hooton)” every other day, but it’s certainly unfair to say he could make Trump seem sane.
Others will know exactly what Mike went searching for but I suspect “that fizzer” was just a lack of concrete evidence involving Keys part in the 1987 attack on the NZ dollar , or some other shady banker related goings on. With his dishonest face and ability to tell lies I’m sure there is plenty NZers are yet to learn about Key.
“Scratch me Barack and I’ll keep kissing YA”
“As Key holed with a 9 iron on the 11th green, a few kiwi’s pondered a potential false flag event”
‘President humors his poodle!’
The odd couple.
Obama: ” I said get me a round with Lydia Ko, not an idiot nobody knows!!!”
The odd couple.
Very odd , and if truth be told unsettling and quease inducing.
obama to key:..
‘did you get the latest memo from ‘the boys’ in zurich as well..?
..they are getting a bit antsy about all that anti-poverty stuff..
..eh..?
..we’ll have to crack down on that..nip that in the bud..’
phillip ure..
obama to key:
‘so then i told him:..’you will do what i fucken say..or i will drone you’..
..he nearly shat his pants..and then did what i ordered..’
key:..’heh..!’..
phillip ure..
Key keeps well to the right of Obama.
Key is a far-left socialist compared to Obama.
obama to key:..
‘so..how did the boys go with the insurrection-suppression exercise in little ol’ noo zeeland?’
key:..’good..good..it’s all sorted..we’ll be able to get the whole country locked down in about 72 hrs..
..should the peasants get restless..’
obama:.’heh!’..
..key:..those urban-insurrection-suppression armoured vehicles helen clark bought are a godsend..
..they mean we can get quickly to.. and crush ..any ‘brushfires’..’
obama:..’heh..!..good..!..good work..!..
..i’ll tell the boys in zurich you have done well..’
..key:..(shuffling-feet)..’aww!!..thanks barry!’
phillip ure..
obama to key:
‘you into swinging..?..a little bit of holiday ebony and ivory..?..’
key:..’i’ll check with the missus’..
phillip ure..
Not funny, phillip.
really..?..um..!..why not..?
..how exactly is that ‘out of bounds’..?
joke breakdown:..
..’swinging’..golf..get it..?
..a little riff on a michael jackson/paul mccartney duet..?
..and the surprise/humour of the unexpected..
..it’s a three-fer..!
..and i wd submit..at least as funny as others’ contriibutions on this thread..
phillip ure..
Hey Barry, put it there bro, à trois.
obama:..
“..you’re wearing the black-hat..
..and i’m wearing the white one..”
(key:..’yeah..!..funny that..’..(thinks:..’fuck..!..this guy is boring..!..is that all he’s got..?)..’
phillip ure..
funnier.
key to obama:..
‘see..i can march in lockstep with you..!’..
obama:..’yeah..ok..just make sure you keep it up..’
key:..’oh!..i will barry..i will..!..i promise..!..
..and can i please come to the white house again this year..?..
..it’s an election year for me..and it’s gonna be close..’
..obama:..’ok’…
..key:..’thanks barry..!..thanks..!’..
phillip ure..
Yes we can.
….. hear what everyone in those golf carts are saying.
…. manage the goosestep.
Goosestep? Why would they want to imitate socialists? Oh, right.
‘The master spends some time with his faithful lapdog’
Key demonstrates his concern for those living under bridges in his usual fashion.
@ brian..
..is that simon ‘bridges’ you speak of..?
phillip ure..
Interesting to note that my caption was censored. I have no idea why? Here’s another shot down the fairway.
“As Key holed with a 9 iron on the 11th green, a few kiwi’s wondered about a false flag”
[lprent: First time comments from a new identity are always moderated. That depends when a moderator is around and during holiday periods, the answer to that is “rarely”. You have to get one comment approved by a moderator before your comments are passed without mandatory moderation. We have this little tool called “approve with probation” that helps us on the marginal cases. ]
“I’m spending shitloads more than my predecessor”
“Yeah, me too”
obama to key:..
“..you remember we’ve got that big meet with the zurich boys tomorrow..eh..?
..you and helen..and me and george w…they have demanded that we all be there..
..dunno what that is about..but i guess they’ll let us know then..
..and..do you want a un-job too..?.john..?…when they finally throw you out..?
..you’ve earned it..”
phillip ure..
Now, about that those health care reforms…
obama:..what is the pot-crop on maui like this year..?..”
key:..’choice..!..’..
obama:..’heh!..send me some..’
obama:..’will you legalise in new zealand..?’
key:..nah..!..the booze-lobby won’t have a bar of it..(geddit..?..geddit.?..’bar’..?..)
..obama:..’heh..!..’
key:..’they are screaming that it would hurt their bottom-line..
..and they are big contributors…
..and it is an election year..
.so..nah..!..there’ll be no pot-legalising on my watch..’
phillip ure..
“What’s taking you so long? Just hit the blasted ball!”
“David is up there watching me from the clubhouse. I want to make this a perfect shot!”
“Forget it. You just don’t stand a chance in hell of hitting him this year from anywhere, let alone from here!”
“Key Apes President”
“See, I am a bit like Obama”
Nice work, “ape” jokes involving Obama are always funny
“I’ve never felt whiter” b obama
President Obama with unidentified caddy st exclusive Hawaiian golf club
Key to Obama. “Where’s the camera’s, where’s the Camera’s, Please,please tell me where the Camera’s, are so I can get my good side in.”
‘
Who is the black guy with John Key?
I’m sure we left Vladimir around here somewhere, hope he’s not hiding in the bunker again.
Well, John, now we have solved World Peace, what do you know about The Meaning Of Life?
John, do you think you could get me invited to play a round at Millbrook?
John Key enjoys a holiday using his own money!
BO plays with his white slave.
[to self] goddammit! I’d really wanted to suck up by dressing exactly like him, but my cap is dark blue!
Obama: Ah, John, I really need to use the… you know, the bathroom.
Key: …akshully… ah, well, we don’t have any.
Obama: What?!
John, I thought I’d have more in common with the left of your political spectrum but your Mr Cunliffe thought golf was an updated people’s car.
Obama on spotting Key on the golf course, mutters to himself : Fuck, not him again!
Xox
Key:-
“Racewalking REALLY is cool, Barack! “
“Talk birdie to me, BO”
“The eagle has landed! The eagle has landed!…Oops! I mean the hawk!’
Ya doesn’t look like I’ll be getting a third term either.
“Hey Johnny, can you make a hole in one?”
“Sure! How deep do you want it?”
Barack, my people come from Hawaii Key, and soon I must go to them and continue my reign.
Obama kept on teeing off first as Key had no honour at all.
Key hires Obama mimic to play golf … following advice from PR company that polling looks bad for him.
When Johnny comes marching home again blah blah blah
Ditto
When Johnny comes marching home again he’ll write more lies with his fountain pen
Hurrah hurrah home to Dixie land
Alwyn Obama has played 150 rounds of golf since becoming president.
151 Now
The kind of photo Keys new photographer was supposed to capture.
“Hmmmmm, how about….
“Hail to the PM we have chosen for the nation,
Hail to the PM! We salute him, one and all.
Hail to the PM, as we pledge cooperation
In proud fulfillment of a great, noble call.
Yours is the aim to make this bright country brighter,
This you will do, that’s our strong, firm belief.
Hail to the one we selected as Prime Minister,
Hail to the PM! Hail to the Chief!”
Obama to key “I’ve lost my balls”
Key to Obama “I never had any”
Key saying to Obama can we change the name of our home state back to its original name(Hawaiikey).
Yes we can.
Obama to Hawaiikey one “we” problem the Can problem ,you expect me to Go Behind the Bushes.
By the way do you have the Key to the john.
How are the allwhites going this year we johnny not so good.
The allblacks are doing really well though.
Photo courtesy of the GCSB and the FBI.
How many GCSB and FBI are in the golf carts?
Key to Dotcom “I said twos company threes a crowd, go and hide in the trees.
I won, please send chocky fish to Amy Adam’s electorate office for me to pick up……….
Obamas
Humming Nilsons me and my shadow.
Keys: ” Yes Mr President, Anything!”
Obama: “Yet I haven’t asked you to do anything yet John!”
Keys: “Of Course Mr President”
Obama: ” After that unfortunate security incident in South Africa, its been decided by my Security advisors I need my own 24/7 Signer, who has to be able to Sign in complete bollocks”
Keys: “Oh I am very fluent in absolute bollocks, ask any one back home!”
Obama: “Yet your allegedly Prime Minister of New Zealand, wont they miss you?”
Key: ” I am hardly ever there, they wont even notice Mr President”
Obama: ” Your Hired! Now make yourself useful and clean my balls!
JK: “Will you please render Kim Dotcom to Guantanomo Mr President?”
BO: “Hmm, only if you ratify the TPPA, hand over the GCSB, and give away more stuff to Hollywood moguls… and let me win this round of course”
JK: “Sure thing boss, anything to be re-elected”
Belly laughing.
SHG
Your talking of brownoseofKey.
Abreviated brownosofky.