Chester Borrows goes to trial, Barry Soper goes to pieces

Written By: - Date published: 7:26 am, November 22nd, 2016 - 208 comments
Categories: accountability - Tags: , ,

When you injure someone with your car there are consequences – Chester Borrows to face trial over protest incident (RNZ)

The MP for Whanganui, Chester Borrows, is headed to trial over a charge of careless use of a motor vehicle causing injury.

It follows an incident at a protest against the Trans Pacific Partnership, in Whanganui in March, in which two people allege they were injured.

Video here (after 15 second ad of course).

The idea of a fine upstanding old white man standing trial for this incident is just too much for fine upstanding old white man Barry Soper – Chester Borrows’ case belongs to rubbish bin. The piece drips misogyny and hate –

If you’d said to the elderly female, placard waving protesters in Wanganui last March that Donald Trump was going to be their saviour they’d have thrown up.

They were about the same demographic who came out in the final weeks of the nasty Presidential election campaign, accusing him of being an octopus, a man who couldn’t keep his hands to himself and who, because of his fame, felt he could kiss and grab them and get little opposition.

And then –

Three women got in front of it as it inched towards them and one put on an Academy award winning performance, shrieking she was injured and was put on a gurney and taken away in an ambo. She later said she was traumatised, she’d suffered injury to the soft tissue in her leg, more likely the soft tissue injury was already there, between her ears.

Shame on you Barry Soper, and shame on The Herald for publishing that steaming pile of crap.

Note from the RNZ piece “No trial date has been set and wide-ranging suppression orders remain in place.” No Right Turn on the suppression orders. This post is only for the discussion of facts which are already in the public domain. In particular, no names should be mentioned. If in doubt, comments will be edited.

208 comments on “Chester Borrows goes to trial, Barry Soper goes to pieces ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Incognito 1
    22 November 2016 at 7:45 am

    So, is Soper saying that he would have done the same thing?

    Is Soper saying that Chester Borrows was justified in his actions because who he was and because the alleged victims were of ‘lower standing’ or at least showed behaviour unbecoming of a decent law abiding citizen of NZ?

    I feel a bit nauseous just thinking about Soper …

    • The Real Matthew 1.1
      22 November 2016 at 1:29 pm

      This incident was the most fabricated event of the year.

      The intent to cause a scene where there wasn’t one. The fabrication of injury. The breathless shrieking. This whole thing is just hilarious except the Police have somehow taken the bait and are prosecuting.

      Our Police force is racist. They leave the Maori gangs alone despite entrenched involvement in criminal activities and focus on white revelers having a few drinks at the gallops.

    • John r 1.2
      22 November 2016 at 8:34 pm

      Soper!! Is he the guy the press gallery nicknamed ALMOST SOBER, referring to the spelling similarity naturally.

    • rsbandit 1.3
      23 November 2016 at 9:35 am

      Someone certainly deserves an amateur dramatics award for “best trier”

  2. North 2
    22 November 2016 at 7:50 am

    Super Soper’s in a lather. Comforted no doubt by [NW: no need for that]. They really are the most inglorious pair.

  3. Sanctuary 3
    22 November 2016 at 8:23 am

    Aging white male establishment insider who works as a journalist supports aging white male establishment insider who works as a politician. Both are also puzzled by outcome of US election, failed to predict Brexit and think TPP is common sense.

  4. Gabby 4
    22 November 2016 at 9:00 am

    Sopie wouldn’t have bumped into the odd fellow road user himself at all, would he? Mind you, if he has a journalist’s liver, he mightn’t know.

  5. m.gray@massey.ac.nz 5
    22 November 2016 at 9:13 am

    Soper makes me sick he is very self opinionated just like his mate Hoskings who airs his own political views while we pay his salary with our taxes. The problem is these people have too much of a voice and we have to listen to there bullshit that they actually believe thanks to our mainstream media

  6. Puckish Rogue 6
    22 November 2016 at 9:16 am

    This is a nothing incident and should have been thrown out by the judge

    • KJT 6.1
      22 November 2016 at 9:18 am

      Just like it is when it is a brown teenager. Right?

      • Puckish Rogue 6.1.1
        22 November 2016 at 9:38 am

        ?

        • lprent 6.1.1.1
          22 November 2016 at 9:54 am

          I believe that he is comparing you to the Sensible Sentencing (Unless You Are White) Trust fellow travellers and the case of Bruce Emery.

          http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10690408

          Tagger-killer Bruce Emery will walk free from prison less than two years after being convicted of fatally stabbing a teenage boy.

          Last night, the Sensible Sentencing Trust welcomed his imminent release and said he should never have gone to jail – a view condemned as “disgraceful” by Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei.

          It appears that Barry Soper has the similar views about elderly women.

          • Puckish Rogue 6.1.1.1.1
            22 November 2016 at 11:18 am

            Ah ok, basically there have always been issues with people getting released early

            I tend to go with the longer sentence so I’m actually against him getting released early

            Do the crime do the time

            • lprent 6.1.1.1.1.1
              22 November 2016 at 1:45 pm

              Apparently the Sensible Sentencing Trust disagrees, although when I last looked at their reasoning it read like barely concealed racism.

              Certainly they didn’t appear to think that what looked like an outright premeditated murder to me was worth bothering with a trial… And yet they spend most of the rest of their time promoting stronger sentencing for anyone who isn’t a old white man.

        • Draco T Bastard 6.1.1.2
          22 November 2016 at 11:40 am

          If it was a brown/poor person being charged would you be saying the same thing?

          Or, to put it another way, if it had been a brown/poor person they would have been in court within the week and they would have been found guilty and get the three month jail term.

      • North 6.1.2
        22 November 2016 at 9:52 am

        Brown teenager ? The charge wouldn’t be careless driving causing injury (maximum penalty 3 months imprisonment). It’d be assault with a weapon (maximum penalty 5 years imprisonment).

    • Naki man 6.2
      22 November 2016 at 9:27 am

      They should charge the stupid women with wasting police time.

    • Jenny Kirk 6.3
      22 November 2016 at 9:32 am

      No Puckish Rogue it wasn’t a “nothing incident”.

      There is clear video footage showing the Borrows car moving into the women, just as the women were starting to move away from blocking it. And one of the women had her foot run over by a wheel of the car, and it obviously hurt. You could see the pain in her face.

      • Puckish Rogue 6.3.1
        22 November 2016 at 9:47 am

        Its a waste of police time and the courts resources, the only reason its got this far is because of who Chester Barrows is

        “You could see the pain in her face” Oh please she was stoked with what happened, got her an interview with reports and everything

        • lprent 6.3.1.1
          22 November 2016 at 9:56 am

          Ah yes. I can just see that helping to cure a crushed foot.

          Chester Burrows obviously committed a deliberate attack with a vehicle.

          • Bob 6.3.1.1.1
            22 November 2016 at 10:04 am

            “Ah yes. I can just see that helping to cure a crushed foot”
            How could her foot possibly have been ‘crushed’, it was her left foot which was in the middle front of the car that was “injured”, pretty sure there are no wheels there to ‘crush’ her foot, so was it ‘crushed’ by the bumper?

            • Draco T Bastard 6.3.1.1.1.1
              22 November 2016 at 11:44 am

              How could her foot possibly have been ‘crushed’,

              Because it got run over by a car.

              • Bob …
                22 November 2016 at 11:51 am

                Not in that video it didn’t

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  22 November 2016 at 12:12 pm

                  In that video it did and the doctors found damage to the foot consistent with it being run over by a car.

                  • McFlock …
                    22 November 2016 at 12:20 pm

                    Obviously she avoided the car, then while waiting for the ambulance she stamped really hard on her foot to simulate the injury with nobody noticing.

                • mauī …
                  22 November 2016 at 12:36 pm

                  The protestor who is lined up infront of the left front wheel and who looks like she can’t put any weight on her left leg after the car goes past. That video. What video are you watching?

          • Stunned Mullet 6.3.1.1.2
            22 November 2016 at 10:37 am

            Kudos to you Lynn – two comments and no mention of a penis or bottom.

            • lprent 6.3.1.1.2.1
              22 November 2016 at 1:48 pm

              I generally reserve those for when I am moderating and for the particularly stupid troll. They reflect where I think that the recipient of my moderating remarks keeps their intelligence, because otherwise how could they explain causing me the aggravation of having to moderate their comment.

        • North 6.3.1.2
          22 November 2016 at 10:06 am

          PR you need to sit in the public gallery in courts in Northland if you’re concerned about waste of resources. There is an astonishing double standard in favour of established, non-brown, ‘proper’ people which is starkly evident and about which you have no knowledge at all.

          Instead you support emphasising that double standard in favour of the established, non-brown, ‘proper’ people.

          • Puckish Rogue 6.3.1.2.1
            22 November 2016 at 10:46 am

            Sorry but I’m a bit busy down in Christchurch but next time I have leave I’ll make sure to pencil in a visit a court in northland

            I can only comment on the cases I hear about

            • North 6.3.1.2.1.1
              22 November 2016 at 11:29 pm

              For my sins I’m damn near daily exposed to a worrying frequency of such cases PR. Destruction of people and families because they’re brown. So you can sniff your perfect air if you like but that doesn’t make institutional racism/classism go away.

              Neither you nor I are victims of it so where the fuck do we get off saying what’s happening in the hearts and souls of the victims of it. Very fucking wise people we are with how ‘they’ should feel under it……..” That’s definitive???

              “At the end of the [fucking] day…….” it’s the stuff that’s in our hearts and souls that determines how we all meet the world. From the youngest to the oldest. Fucking “Have a a beer with me……”, facile and flakey as it is ………ain’t no good for hearts and souls. No?

          • JanM 6.3.1.2.2
            22 November 2016 at 3:13 pm

            I’ve lived in Northland now for about 4 years, and it dawns on me more each day that it’s run like a personal fiefdom by ‘old white men’. It’s like the American deep south – it would be funny if it wasn’t so awful. I sense they’re slowly losing their grip, though

            • Lara 6.3.1.2.2.1
              22 November 2016 at 4:19 pm

              Me too. And they’re hopelessly incompetent and arrogant.

              Ugh. Can’t stand that aspect of Northland.

              • North …
                23 November 2016 at 12:03 am

                Eleven years in the Mid-North for me. In a public role engaging with mostly Tangatawhenua……..I’ve given heaps and I’ve been given heaps more actually. That’s explicable against the ahua here where most everybody puts in what they can. It’s a magnificent social model. As shown at Te Puea. And as shown at the marae in Kaikoura right now. Apologies that I don’t know the name. Could Google but you’ll appreciate my meaning without that……..

                That is Maori. About which as a Pakeha New Zealander I am absolutely admiring and delighted and honoured frankly to sit with!

                When you’re up this way on your next hols’ PR, do the courts, And maybe also some learning and understanding. About life beyond you.

    • Tricledrown 6.4
      23 November 2016 at 3:34 pm

      Using a car as a weapon 4years in jail.

  7. Robert Guyton 7
    22 November 2016 at 9:18 am

    There was a passenger in Borrows’ car at the time.

  8. Bob 8
    22 November 2016 at 9:20 am

    If you watch the video and read the article (on NewsHub) you can see why Soper has no sympathy for the women. “She says she couldn’t believe Mr Borrows at no point stopped his vehicle and insists there was no intention to form a blockade.”, bullshit! The car comes down the drive and she and her friends deliberately gather in front of it, she was also complaining her left foot was injured, how? Her left foot was in front of the car nowhere near the wheels…did she kick the bumper?
    Point made, fair dues for getting publicity for her cause, but taking this to the courts for her own actions (she watched the car move towards her, gathered her friends in front of it and made no attempt to move out of the way when the Police told her to move before she was “hit”.), I tend to agree with Soper on this one (with the exception of the weird Donald Trump rant…)

    • One Anonymous Bloke 8.1
      22 November 2016 at 9:35 am

      Meanwhile, on Earth, the Police not “the woman”, are the ones who’ve laid charges and brought the case before the courts.

      Point made, fair dues, you are determined that she forced Mr. Borrows to drive into her. He had no choice in the matter at all, eh.

      • Bob 8.1.1
        22 November 2016 at 9:53 am

        “the Police not “the woman”, are the ones who’ve laid charges and brought the case before the courts”
        Only after receiving a complaint: “He had called the police and he expected them to talk to him again because a complaint had been laid.”
        http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/78241305/Police-queries-after-allegation-MP-Chester-Borrows-drove-over-protesters-foot

        “you are determined that she forced Mr. Borrows to drive into her. He had no choice in the matter at all, eh”
        Funny how you only see it from that side, of course she was ‘forced’ to gather in front of a moving vehicle and stand there even while being told by Police to move.

        • dukeofurl 8.1.1.1
          22 November 2016 at 10:13 am

          As they were on the public footpath the law says the onus is on the car driver to give way.
          Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004
          Giving way when entering or exiting driveway
          (1)A driver entering or exiting a driveway must give way to a road user on a footpath, cycle path, or shared path …

          http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2004/0427/latest/DLM303078.html

          Must give way. he didnt even do that. Im surprised he wasnt charged with failing to stop after an accident.

          • Bob 8.1.1.1.1
            22 November 2016 at 10:41 am

            They were impeding the passage of other users on a path:

            Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004
            11.1A Use of shared path
            no user may unduly impede the passage of any other user, whatever priority the sign or marking gives.

            http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2004/0427/latest/DLM2510854.html#DLM2510854

            • One Anonymous Bloke 8.1.1.1.1.1
              22 November 2016 at 11:06 am

              That settles it: they impeded their passage for the due and lawful purpose of political protest.

              • Bob …
                22 November 2016 at 11:41 am

                So if Chester Burrows claims he was protesting against the protests then he should get off scott free by your reasoning? You can break the law as long as it is for the due and lawful purpose of political protest?

            • Tophat 8.1.1.1.1.2
              22 November 2016 at 11:53 am

              Two wrongs don’t make a right. What Chester did was simply illegal. if anyone else in the incident committed a crime, they should also be charged. However…

            • William 8.1.1.1.1.3
              22 November 2016 at 12:14 pm

              You’re full of bullshit, and/or not intelligent enough to understand the legislation you refer to.
              A shared path may be used by pedestrians, cyclists, riders of mobility devices or riders of wheeled recreational devices, NOT motor vehicles. The footpath Chester Borrows exited across is not a shared path.
              And you’ve chosen to quote the last clause, which only applies where signs indicate priority.

              For completeness I’ll quote the full section;

              11.1A Use of shared path

              (1) This clause applies to a path that—

              (a) may be a cycle path, a footpath, or some other kind of path; and

              (b) may be used by some or all of the following persons at the same time:

              (i) pedestrians:

              (ii) cyclists:

              (iii) riders of mobility devices:

              (iv) riders of wheeled recreational devices.

              (2) A person using the path—

              (a) must use it in a careful and considerate manner; and

              (b) must not use it in a manner that constitutes a hazard to other persons using it.

              (3) A rider of a cycle, mobility device, or wheeled recreational device on the path must not operate the cycle or device at a speed that constitutes a hazard to other persons using the path.

              (4) If a sign or marking on the path gives priority to pedestrians or cyclists, the following rules apply on the path:

              (a) pedestrians, riders of mobility devices, and riders of wheeled recreational devices must give priority to cyclists if the sign or marking gives priority to cyclists:

              (b) cyclists must give priority to pedestrians, riders of mobility devices, and riders of wheeled recreational devices if the sign or marking gives priority to pedestrians:

              (c) no user may unduly impede the passage of any other user, whatever priority the sign or marking gives.

              ————————-
              None of that applies to the motor vehicle Chester Borrows was driving when he exited across a footpath

              • Bob …
                22 November 2016 at 1:53 pm

                Read the full thread, I was replying to:

                “4.4 Giving way when entering or exiting driveway
                (1) A driver entering or exiting a driveway must give way to a road user on a footpath, cycle path, or shared path (as described by clause 11.1A(1)).”
                http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2004/0427/latest/DLM303078.html

                Which directly links to 11.1A

                “The footpath Chester Borrows exited across is not a shared path.”
                What is it then? The legislation sates:

                Use of shared path
                “(1) This clause applies to a path that—
                “(a) may be a cycle path, a footpath, or some other kind of path

                “None of that applies to the motor vehicle Chester Borrows was driving when he exited across a footpath”
                Correct, it applies to the protester who was blocking the footpath, that’s my point

                • William …
                  22 November 2016 at 5:32 pm

                  I most certainly had read the full thread. I’d also read & understood the legislation you’re having trouble with.

                  A shared path is a specially designated path that may be used by more than one of the listed types of users. There will be signage to indicate it is shared and who may share it. Most footpaths are not shared paths, they are for pedestrians only.

                  For example a shared path that both pedestrians & cyclists can use has a sign showing a striding pedestrian & a cycle. See half way down this page for an image

                  https://www.drivingtests.co.nz/resources/regulatory-signs-in-new-zealand/

                  It is possible to have a road where both pedestrians & motor vehicles are legally allowed to be but that is called a shared zone e.g. lower Cuba Street in Wellington.

                  As far as I’m aware, the footpath in Whanganui that the women were on is not a shared path, therefore none of 11.1A is applicable. Even if it was, it applies between allowed users, pedestrians would have to have been given priority. They don’t seem to have been blocking cyclists or mobility devices etc so your quoting of “no user may unduly impede the passage of any other user, whatever priority the sign or marking gives” is a nonsense.

                  Hopefully our paths never cross because you’ve demonstrated a woeful understanding of traffic rules, I would fear for my safety.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke …
                    22 November 2016 at 5:35 pm

                    Burn.

                  • Chris …
                    23 November 2016 at 1:13 am

                    Maybe Borrows will be using Bob’s analysis in his defence? Will be interesting to see. Don’t forget, though, that Borrows is a lawyer. This might give him the edge. That said, he’s also a cop. So what we’ve got is someone who’s a lawyer and a cop. I think that in situations like this it’s usually the cop who wins out. That pretty much leaves us with a stupid lawyer. My money’s on you, William.

                  • Bob …
                    23 November 2016 at 11:32 am

                    So what you are saying is it is currently legal for pedestrians to stand on a footpath blocking a driveway, and they have no obligation under current law to move?

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      23 November 2016 at 12:57 pm

                      Wilfil ignorance – is that a defense under the law?

                    • William …
                      23 November 2016 at 1:58 pm

                      Good afternoon Mr Phelps. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to come to the realization that you don’t have the necessary intelligence to understand simple legislation. Trying to explain it to you has been an impossible mission.

                    • Psycho Milt …
                      23 November 2016 at 2:18 pm

                      Given your superior intelligence and understanding of NZ legislation, I invite you also to test it by standing in the car park exit of your local supermarket and obstructing the vehicles trying to leave it. Should you remain unmolested by angry drivers long enough for the cops to turn up, you can see whether they also share your interpretation of the law. I’m pretty confident you’ll find they don’t.

                    • McFlock …
                      23 November 2016 at 2:22 pm

                      . Should you remain unmolested by angry drivers long enough for the cops to turn up, you can see whether they also share your interpretation of the law.

                      But that’s the thing – if the molestation by angry drivers is physical and causes physical harm, those angry drivers will also be arrested, alongside the person obstructing the public way (the latter might even only get a ticket).

                      Burrows is no different. He’s lucky he used a car and it came under traffic legislation – if an “angry driver” gets out of the car and thumps someone else, they get done for assault.

                    • William …
                      23 November 2016 at 3:01 pm

                      Psycho Milt, all I have done is point out that Bob has tried to rely on a section of a law (11.1A) that is completely irrelevant to Borrows’ case. That section only applies between allowed users of a shared path.
                      I see down thread you have raised the same point as him when you state “The law that says you’re not allowed to obstruct a footpath is mentioned further up: Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004, 11.1A Use of shared path.” That’s nonsense, and if you can’t understand that I extend my derogatory comments to you.

                      As to blocking an entrance, I won’t be doing that because I’ve never argued the protesters had an absolute right to do so. However, I’m certain that if someone did do that the police would not charge them with a breach of 11.1A.

                    • Psycho Milt …
                      23 November 2016 at 3:10 pm

                      But that’s the thing – if the molestation by angry drivers is physical and causes physical harm, those angry drivers will also be arrested, alongside the person obstructing the public way (the latter might even only get a ticket).

                      Sure. And the same applies to Borrows in this case. You’re not allowed to get out of your car and physically throw an obstructive arsehole out of the way, and you’re not allowed to push one out of the way with your car. Good so – it’s as it should be, but at the same time the whole shitfest could be avoided if arseholes didn’t try and obstruct a vehicle entrance.

            • Scott 8.1.1.1.1.4
              22 November 2016 at 3:47 pm

              Yes, but this wasn’t a “shared path” – that is like a cycle land that is also the footpath, those sort of things where those people interact, not cars.

              You left out (1)(b) from the definition (1(a) and 1(b) are cumulative):

              (1)This clause applies to a path that—
              (a)may be a cycle path, a footpath, or some other kind of path; and
              (b)may be used by some or all of the following persons at the same time:
              (i)pedestrians:
              (ii)cyclists:
              (iii)riders of mobility devices:
              (iv)riders of wheeled recreational devices.

              I don’t think the police ought to have charge him – it was nothing, and if she ended up with a bruise on her foot then maybe that’s what you get when you jump out in front of moving cars and yell abuse at the driver.

              Having said that, Borrows should have just stopped and let the police move her. So I only have so much sympathy for him.

            • North 8.1.1.1.1.5
              23 November 2016 at 12:30 am

              It’s against the law for cars to use footpaths as a location to shove people and cause injury as they please. Ain’t that clear enough for you? Fuck you’re running right counter to even the Magna Carta.

          • Psycho Milt 8.1.1.1.2
            22 November 2016 at 12:43 pm

            As they were on the public footpath the law says the onus is on the car driver to give way.

            The onus is on a car driver to give way to a pedestrian walking on the footpath, and the onus is on pedestrians not to deliberately obstruct a vehicle trying to leave a driveway or carpark. There is no “give way” issue here.

            • Robert Guyton 8.1.1.1.2.1
              22 November 2016 at 12:57 pm

              “Onus”? Your two scenarios are not equally weighted, and that’s why we have a rule. There’s a difference of result and the far more serious one, injury to the soft-bodied pedestrian by the hard-bodied car, means that rule is far heavier for the car (or rather its driver). In this case, it’s the driver who has to answer the charge, rather than the pedestrian. And he is.

              • Psycho Milt …
                22 November 2016 at 1:24 pm

                “Not equally weighted” doesn’t mean one’s legal and the other isn’t. Obstructing a vehicle is just as illegal as running over the foot of someone obstructing your vehicle. Relative seriousness of the offending is reflected in the available sentences, but it is nevertheless offending in both cases.

                In any case, the comment was about the idiocy of making a “failure to give way” claim in this context. “Give way” rules are about who gets to go first, not about how you’re allowed to respond to people deliberately obstructing your vehicle.

                • Robert Guyton …
                  22 November 2016 at 2:26 pm

                  “…it is nevertheless offending in both cases”
                  Burrows is being prosecuted because of the (alleged) offending you refer to. We seem to be on the same page there. If the police bring charges against the women for the offending you describe, we’ll have something else to add to the debate. I wonder why they didn’t? Something about the seriousness of the respective (alleged) offenses?

                  • Psycho Milt …
                    22 November 2016 at 3:35 pm

                    As I wrote yesterday, I think there was no reason to charge anyone for anything in that incident, but with Borrows being an MP and an ex-cop they didn’t want to risk claims he’d been let off with something due to his position, so he gets a court appearance.

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      22 November 2016 at 3:48 pm

                      That could be it, PM, but if it’s a matter of transparency for the public’s sake, why are the details to be suppressed?
                      I/S isn’t impressed by the suppression order.

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      22 November 2016 at 3:50 pm

                      ” I think there was no reason to charge anyone for anything in that incident” … there is, though, the matter of the woman’s injury …

                    • Psycho Milt …
                      22 November 2016 at 5:10 pm

                      … if it’s a matter of transparency for the public’s sake, why are the details to be suppressed?

                      Well, it was the Police who decided to charge him – suppressing the details was the choice of a judge (and judges seem to be altogether way too keen on suppression).

                      …there is, though, the matter of the woman’s injury …

                      With all due respect to her, big whoop. She was doing something foolish and ended up with a sore foot – I’ve had children whose lack of good sense gave them worse injuries, and no-one needed to appear in court over it. If Borrows wasn’t a public figure the cops would have settled for telling both of them not to be so stupid in future.

                    • McFlock …
                      22 November 2016 at 5:17 pm

                      Hmmm.

                      I wonder if the suppression was not so much over Burrows as it was over the victim? ISTR that normally court reports in the paper are “Marshal Arthur Wellesly, soldier, appeared before Justice Blucher charged with assaulting Napoleon Bonaparte on 18 June near Waterloo…” and that sort of thing.

                      Given that “privacy act is for chumps” Bennett was in the car, maybe there were concerns about dirty politics affecting the case…

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      22 November 2016 at 5:25 pm

                      re: the suppression order.

                      A wild guess: the provenance of the alleged threat to Borrows’ passenger might reveal a little more ‘social networking’ than our ‘security apparatus’ is currently charged with?

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      22 November 2016 at 6:33 pm

                      …something about Bennett’s involvement…
                      As a “figure of standing” charged with making good decisions on behalf of her constituents…shouldn’t she have advised Borrows to stop? What’s her obligation in such a situation and what responsible behaviour did she show?

                    • KJT []
                      23 November 2016 at 4:08 pm

                      As the police routinely arrest, and as a minimum, give accommodation for the night, to passengers in cars breaking speed limits, Basher should have been charged as an accessory.

            • dukeofurl 8.1.1.1.2.2
              22 November 2016 at 1:29 pm

              What onus on the pedestrian ?
              The law clearly says the car MUST give way, where is the law that says they must not obstruct ?
              You are thinking of protests that occur on roadways.
              And if they had been held up for say 30 sec by the protesters, thats nothing out of the ordinary for cars leaving driveways

              • Psycho Milt …
                22 November 2016 at 3:43 pm

                The law that says you’re not allowed to obstruct a footpath is mentioned further up: Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004, 11.1A Use of shared path. If you’ve developed the view that the law gives you the right to deliberately obstruct vehicles trying to exit a driveway, it could come back to bite you, because there is no such right.

                And if they had been held up for say 30 sec by the protesters, thats nothing out of the ordinary for cars leaving driveways

                Really? I can’t say I’ve ever had a pedestrian deliberately obstruct my car for 30 seconds when I’ve been leaving a driveway or car park, and any who do so in future aren’t likely to get much past ten seconds before they get an earful. The commandment “Don’t be a dick” applies as much to pedestrians as everyone else.

                • dukeofurl …
                  22 November 2016 at 5:42 pm

                  Anybody leaving a driveway has the footpath users and the traffic using the road to consider. Its how it works.
                  And no this footpath wasnt a shared path , eg pedestrians and cyclists

                  The law states must give way only applies to drivers crossing the footpath.
                  Obstruction doesnt seem to come up as far as footpaths and the traffic laws go, it mostly covers vehicles obstructing footpaths or entrances.
                  Council bylaws may cover that, but they are ranked lower than road laws.

                  • Psycho Milt …
                    22 November 2016 at 6:47 pm

                    I suggest you test this theory by going out tomorrow morning and obstructing the car park exit of your nearest supermarket. I’m sure the cops who come to issue you with a fine will be riveted to hear your case for your right to obstruct a footpath.

                • Robert Guyton …
                  22 November 2016 at 6:29 pm

                  Psycho Milt – ” I’ve had children whose lack of good sense gave them worse injuries, and no-one needed to appear in court over it.”

                  Hmmm… let me ask, if your child had received an injury as the result of a man purposefully and avoidably driving into them, would you still say that no one needs to appear in court?

                  • Psycho Milt …
                    22 November 2016 at 6:51 pm

                    That would depend on whether my child had deliberately and avoidably obstructed a vehicle trying to exit a driveway. If they had, they might well get a sore arse to go along with the sore foot (while on the subject of everyday criminal activity).

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      22 November 2016 at 6:58 pm

                      I see. I’m assuming you are making a joke, a merry jape to show your devil-may-care approach to political correctness, or what ever. If your child had deliberately obstructed a vehicle trying to exit a driveway and that driver had deliberately run your child over, you’d “give them a sore arse to go along with…” whatever injury they’d been dealt? You’re an interesting fellow, Psycho.

                    • Psycho Milt …
                      22 November 2016 at 9:43 pm

                      Is there evidence that Borrows “deliberately” ran someone over, or is that just a bit of casual libel on your part?

                    • Muttonbird …
                      22 November 2016 at 9:50 pm

                      Is there evidence that Borrows “deliberately” ran someone over

                      There’s enough for him to stand trial so there must be some.

                    • Psycho Milt …
                      22 November 2016 at 10:37 pm

                      There’s enough evidence to charge him with not being careful enough, hence the charge “careless use of a motor vehicle causing injury.” No-one’s presented any evidence that he “deliberately” ran someone over, which would be a much more serious offence.

                    • Muttonbird …
                      22 November 2016 at 10:38 pm

                      You are grasping there. I’ll leave you to it.

                    • Psycho Milt …
                      23 November 2016 at 6:12 am

                      So, yes just casual libel then.

                    • Muttonbird …
                      23 November 2016 at 6:24 am

                      I’m not a lawyer but to me, ‘careless use of a motor vehicle causing injury’ is someone being negligent of care but not deliberate in their actions with respect to any injury caused.

                      I reckon Borrows’ action was deliberate in it’s carelessness knowing injury would likely to be caused.

                      One judge has said there’s a case to answer here. You seem to think there isn’t.

                    • Psycho Milt …
                      23 November 2016 at 7:34 am

                      There’s a case of carelessness to answer for, yes. However, Robert Guyton’s claim is that Borrows made a conscious decision to run someone over (and if you think that isn’t what “deliberately run [X] over” means, you need a dictionary). It’s a claim with no evidence yet presented for it.

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      23 November 2016 at 7:45 am

                      Psycho Milt – I’ve searched and searched but still can’t find where I’ve said what you claim I’ve said. Could you please show me? If I’ve done so, I’d better clear it up. cheers.

                    • Muttonbird …
                      23 November 2016 at 8:19 am

                      So we agree it was reckless. Now there is the difference between recklessness unintentionally causing injury, and recklessness intentionally causing injury.

                      I’m saying Borrows’ action was the latter. I do hope the judge sees it the same way.

                    • Psycho Milt …
                      23 November 2016 at 8:43 am

                      Robert: it’s in your analogy in the comment at 6:58 above: If your child had deliberately obstructed a vehicle trying to exit a driveway and that driver had deliberately run your child over…

                      The analogy is clearly about Borrows running over a protester’s foot, so you’re saying that Borrows deliberately ran the protester over – either that or it’s a false analogy.

                      Muttonbird: we’re certainly not agreed, because “reckless” is different from “careless” in the context of traffic offences, and Borrows hasn’t been charged with reckless use causing injury.

                      Also: you have no idea what his intent was, and just declaring him to have intentionally run someone over is libellous.

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      23 November 2016 at 9:00 am

                      Oh, an analogy
                      I see.

                    • Psycho Milt …
                      23 November 2016 at 9:23 am

                      Yes, an analogy. In this case, a false one, by the sound of it.

            • North 8.1.1.1.2.3
              23 November 2016 at 12:57 am

              God you’re ignorant PM.

              The only defence to what Borrows did is in s.48 of the Crimes Act…….self defence or defence of another. Google it……..”NZ Legislation Crimes Act 1961 s.48″.

              And to make you feel even more silly read s.8 and s.38 of the Land Transport Act 1998. And then read some case law as to the never changing (for five decades) definition of ‘careless driving’. You do all of that and you’ll agree with me that the appropriate charge (particularly were the driver a teenage brown person)………would be ‘assault with a weapon’.

              Do all of that and hey presto you won’t any longer have a sense that Chester laddie is suffering a miscarriage of justice here. The prick drove the car, a weapon, AT people. Deliberately. So don’t give me your poulava about anyone meant to give way to anyone. Completely irrelevant in all the video recorded circumstances.

              • Psycho Milt …
                23 November 2016 at 6:17 am

                And yet he’s only been charged with careless use of a motor vehicle causing injury. Perhaps if the lawyers involved weren’t so ignorant and instead shared the depth of legal knowledge, training and experience you can bring to the table, he’d be charged as you’ve specified, but sadly people as expert as yourself are hard to come by.

                Also: if you read the thread, the “poulava” about give way rules is dukeofurl’s – I merely point out that give way rules are irrelevant in this case.

        • DH 8.1.1.2
          22 November 2016 at 10:32 am

          Bob. A complaint doesn’t automatically lead to a prosecution, the Police have considerable discretion here;

          From the SOLICITOR-GENERAL’S PROSECUTION GUIDELINES

          The Test for Prosecution

          5.1 Prosecutions ought to be initiated or continued only where the prosecutor is satisfied that the Test for Prosecution is met. The Test for Prosecution is met if:

          5.1.1 The evidence which can be adduced in Court is sufficient to provide a
          reasonable prospect of conviction – the Evidential Test; and

          5.1.2 Prosecution is required in the public interest – the Public Interest Test.

          5.2 Each aspect of the test must be separately considered and satisfied before a decision to prosecute can be taken. The Evidential Test must be satisfied before the Public Interest Test is considered. The prosecutor must analyse and evaluate all of the evidence and information in a thorough and critical manner.

          • Bob 8.1.1.2.1
            22 November 2016 at 10:53 am

            “A complaint doesn’t automatically lead to a prosecution, the Police have considerable discretion here”

            True, but the two Police officers clearly visible at the protest made no attempt to stop Mr Burrows, and they didn’t get on their radios for anyone to chase him down, so they clearly weren’t overly concerned at the time. The prosecutions seems to have come as a result of the complaint rather than the initial offense.

          • dukeofurl 8.1.1.2.2
            22 November 2016 at 12:09 pm

            You are using the regulations for crown prosecutions which are done by crown solictors under the Crimes Act.

            This prosecution is under the Land Transport Act, commonly referred to as Traffic Offences – which arent criminal offences.

            You will see from the context of the SG Guidelines that its giving a standardised rules for what are otherwise fairly independent crown prosecutors and lower level criminal offences which are prosecuted by police.
            http://www.crownlaw.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Prosecution-Guidelines/prosecution-guidelines-2013.pdf

            In effect DH you are using the wrong bureaucratic mumbo jumbo as this isnt a criminal offence

            • dukeofurl 8.1.1.2.2.1
              22 November 2016 at 12:22 pm

              Ive looked at the Police Prosecution Service Guidelines which clearly state the SG guidelines are for Criminal cases, while the ‘principles flow into non criminal cases like traffic
              http://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/publications/pps-statement-of-policy-and-practice.pdf
              Getting to the heart of it ( page 13)

              ‘The first test for prosecution is consideration of the evidence. If the case does not pass the evidential sufficiency test it will not proceed no matter how important or serious it may be. If the case does pass the evidential sufficiency test, the prosecutor should proceed to the second test and decide whether a prosecution is required in the public interest.’

              and when we get to the public interest side there is a long list ( much more than the SG) where the impact on the victim is considered amoung others.

              An offence which has caused injury, in which the offender did not stop to render assistance, would almost always be prosecuted.

              Its a fact of court life, that a large number of traffic prosecutions/infringements seem to be trivial, but offenders realise that and plead guilty and dont use some flim flam about[redacted to comply with court suppression] to try and get away with it.

            • North 8.1.1.2.2.2
              23 November 2016 at 1:18 am

              And you dukeofurl are celebrating a complete misunderstanding of the position and appear resultingly to be a dick.

              To the extent that the Crown Guidelines reflect principle well based in The Rule of Law and the way of proceeding in a free society they apply also to determinations as to what were once called “summary” prosecutions.

              Would you have it any other way ? To think that in the “summary” jurisdiction it is all fine and dandy to proceed on a lesser set of principles. “We’ll just charge him/her and really fuck them up even if ultimately we can’t sheet it home!”

              You’re not at your best dukeofurl.

            • North 8.1.1.2.2.3
              23 November 2016 at 1:51 am

              Dear Duke of Url……..manifestly it is a fucking criminal offence. It carries a sentence of imprisonment. For fuck’s sake man. This is not a game, a pathetic, ignorant, mouthing off scenario.

    • North 8.2
      23 November 2016 at 12:21 am

      Yeah well you be ‘the judge’ Bobby Boy. Clearly you have absolutely no understanding of The Rule of Law. It’s not Maori law, it’s not activists’ law, it’s not John Key or Gerry Brownlee law, It’s fucking English law. It’s called ‘prima facie case’. God you dork me out Bob.

  9. Robert Guyton 9
    22 November 2016 at 9:21 am

    A “nothing” incident?
    Then what was the judge who ruled that there will be a trial thinking?

    • Puckish Rogue 9.1
      22 November 2016 at 9:50 am

      Probably the same thing as the judge who decided KDCs missus was a more believable witness than Lady Banks

      I didn’t think I needed to point this out to you but judges aren’t infallible, the judge got this wrong

      • Robert Guyton 9.1.1
        22 November 2016 at 10:04 am

        But you’ve got it right?
        Curious…
        What makes you so sure about this, Pucky?
        What insight do you have that we don’t. I’m genuinely interested to know.

        • KJT 9.1.1.1
          22 November 2016 at 10:34 am

          Pucky thinks protesters should be shot on sight.

          Only he is too scared to say it except in this roundabout way.

          What month does he select for running over protester season.
          Or should it be all year around?

        • Puckish Rogue 9.1.1.2
          22 November 2016 at 10:36 am

          Are you going to ask that of every person that states their opinion on this matter?

          • North 9.1.1.2.1
            23 November 2016 at 1:22 am

            Only the ones as ignorant as you PR. You’ve got this childish notion that judges who don’t quail at it being Ches’ and Paula are somehow Mexicans.

      • AB 9.1.2
        22 November 2016 at 12:55 pm

        “Lady Banks”. Full-on sycophancy now. As though old Banksy’s knighthood osmotically confers trustworthiness on his partner.
        Craven, just craven worship of authority.

        • Puckish Rogue 9.1.2.1
          22 November 2016 at 1:18 pm

          Call it what you like but the judge got that very wrong and had she not have the money to fight the ruling she’d still have the smear against her name

          • wellfedweta 9.1.2.1.1
            22 November 2016 at 10:45 pm

            …all because the judge couldn’t detect a liar when he saw one. You’re right, they are far from infallible.

    • Scott 9.2
      22 November 2016 at 4:03 pm

      I think there was good reason for the Police to decline to prosecute, but after they have made that decision there is pretty limited scope for the judge to chuck it out. The time for the Judge to exercise his discretion might be at sentencing where a nothing event like this (and I think it is) might end up with a discharge without conviction.

      • North 9.2.1
        23 November 2016 at 1:24 am

        Read s.107 of the Sentencing Act Scott. And the case law. And in default of that shut the ignorant funk up!

        • Scott 9.2.1.1
          23 November 2016 at 10:45 am

          If you have a point, make it.

          I am aware of s107, and the case law.

          • North 9.2.1.1.1
            23 November 2016 at 1:02 pm

            Then you will know Scott that s.107 is the gateway to the discretion to order discharge without conviction under s.106. If s.107 is not met, viz. the consequences of a conviction whether direct or indirect are NOT shown to be out of all proportion to the gravity of the offending, then the court has no jurisdiction to even consider the exercise of the s.106 discretion . The law is explicit in that regard.

            What then are the consequences which in your view are out of all proportion Scott ? I mean consequences outside of Borrows being ‘important’, his feeling embarrassed, his political supporters feeling miffed, and his being ‘inconvenienced’ by 6 months disqualification.

            They are not on their own consequences a court will weigh. They are routine. New Zealand courts enter convictions every day which cause embarrassment, miffed feelings and inconvenience. There’s the proof that those consequences on their own are not enough to get through the s.107 gateway.

            So I’m asking you to advance the other consequences which would open the gate.

            • Scott 9.2.1.1.1.1
              23 November 2016 at 1:55 pm

              I’d expect a judge inclined to grant a discharge would (wrongly in my book) be happy to pin it on the effects on overseas travel for employment related purposes.

              That is rubbish in my book, but you and I both know that it happens on an almost daily basis.

              I also had in mind that people with a serious conviction (and I think the maximum penalty on this charge is over two years) may be barred form being ministers, but in searching I could not find that quickly.

              Should he get a s106? No. Will he? Probably (if it comes to that at all).

              • KJT …
                23 November 2016 at 3:56 pm

                The rugby player defence?

                • Scott …
                  23 November 2016 at 4:45 pm

                  A version of it yes. It also applies to students, posh housewives, anyone with an important sounding job, other sportspeople… basically any time the judge things it is much ado about nothing. (which I don’t like but I’m a realist)

              • North …
                23 November 2016 at 9:00 pm

                No Scott. The maximum penalty is 3 months imprisonment. Which is a factor in assessing the gravity of the offending to then be weighed against post-conviction consequences of which there is “……a real and appreciable risk.” to quote dictum in a relatively recent Court of Appeal decision.

                Which gives renewed life to my earlier comment (can’t find it)…….if it weren’t Ches’ and it were a teenage brown boy……the charge would have been assault with a weapon (maximum 5 years imprisonment). With the result that that aspect would weigh notably more heavily in the balance, requiring that more striking and weighter consequences would need to be shown to establish disproportionality.

                It’s a question of how the two factors, gravity and consequences, stack up in the balance.

                And what do we get in this discussion ? Some right wingers whose appalling arrogance advises them that in a court of law their wahanui ‘opinion’ rules. So Keydashian !

                Not to say that a s.106 won’t be granted if sought. We all know that the dilemma of rationalising different treatment as between rich white people and poor brown people is very frequently overcome.

  10. dukeofurl 10
    22 November 2016 at 9:31 am

    The reason for the rush was so that Paula Bennett was exposed as a jafa fake had to catch her flight after a meeting to talk about her accomplishments promote herself

  11. Robert Guyton 11
    22 November 2016 at 9:39 am

    If I were a National Party strategist, I’d be smiling in a self-satisfied way about this development. As the story progresses, the protesters (irrational, shrill Lefties) will be demonized and pilloried and Borrows’ (nicest, most decent Righty), lionized. I’d commission Soper to write an inflammatory piece (testing, testing) as a starting point for this process and hope that the leading Lefty blog would take it up 🙂 The “Borrows” story would serve as the perfect distraction and could be fanned into life easily at any time. It’s perfectly divisive.

    • Puckish Rogue 11.1
      22 November 2016 at 9:52 am

      You make a very good point but it shouldn’t have even got to this stage in the first place

      • dv 11.1.1
        22 November 2016 at 11:41 am

        YesPR, Burrows should not of run over them in the first place.

        • Puckish Rogue 11.1.1.1
          22 November 2016 at 11:55 am

          The protestors should have followed polices directions to move before they were “run over”

          • Robert Guyton 11.1.1.1.1
            22 November 2016 at 12:15 pm

            Perhaps they should have, but that doesn’t negate the law that says that you can’t drive your car at a person and hit them. Does it.

            • dv 11.1.1.1.1.1
              22 November 2016 at 12:20 pm

              Or backup and move to the side.

            • Puckish Rogue 11.1.1.1.1.2
              22 November 2016 at 12:42 pm

              Correct however they didn’t drive the car at the protestors, the protestors deliberately got in the way of the car and failed to follow police instructions

              • Robert Guyton …
                22 November 2016 at 12:52 pm

                Incorrect, Pucky and hairsplitting for the sake of diversion. In any case, the judge will decide and it seems one already has ruled that there’s a case to answer. Do you wonder why he didn’t make the claim you have and let ol’ Chester off? (cause he knows the law, that’s why).

                • Puckish Rogue …
                  22 November 2016 at 1:13 pm

                  Judges are not infallible, they (as I understand it) interpret the law and if judges aren’t infallible (and they’re clearly not) then they can be wrong and if they can be wrong then the judge can be wrong in this situation

                  I didn’t take you to be the type to just accept anything someone says if the have a title, I guess I was wrong

                  • adam …
                    22 November 2016 at 1:44 pm

                    P.R. I love how when a judge gets it right as you see it, you praise the justice system – then bang on that we should all respect the law. But when a judge then get it wrong as you see it, you bang on about judges being infallible. Dude, your inconsistency is showing…

              • North …
                23 November 2016 at 1:26 am

                So says the honourable Judge of fuck all, PR. There’s a video don’t forget.

        • Scott 11.1.1.2
          22 November 2016 at 4:09 pm

          to DV: He didn’t “run over” anyone. At most it was a minor thing (she claimed to have a bruised foot, nothing more).

          In any event you assume he caused any injury at all. It is an allegation, and having watched the video several times it is far from clear that he did cause her an injury.

          Having said that, the silly bugger should have stopped and let the cops get rid of her.

    • dukeofurl 11.2
      22 November 2016 at 10:01 am

      Sounds like Jason Ede is back in the Beehive, but not writing draft stories for bloggers, but doing it for the MSM.

    • Psycho Milt 11.3
      22 November 2016 at 12:52 pm

      If I were a National Party strategist, I’d be smiling in a self-satisfied way about this development. As the story progresses, the protesters (irrational, shrill Lefties) will be demonized and pilloried and Borrows’ (nicest, most decent Righty), lionized.

      Yep. It’s hard to feel sympathy for someone who tries obstructing a vehicle and gets a sore foot out of it. I expect there’ll be plenty of right-wing blog outrage to go round.

      • Robert Guyton 11.3.1
        22 November 2016 at 3:17 pm

        It is, yes, Psycho Milt, hard to feel sympathy for the injured woman. It’s just too easy to lampoon her; the drama, noise, theatrics. The thing is though, deciding to drive your car onto her and continuing on your way after doing so, is even more difficult to sympathise with, don’t you think?

        • In Vino 11.3.1.1
          22 November 2016 at 7:25 pm

          Actually, going by the attitude of some in this thread, perhaps it could be argued that Borrows has a case for prosecuting the woman protestor for causing possible damage to his tyre (or bumper) by posing her robust body in a stationary position in front of his weak, fragile, moving car… If one party is stationary, having stopped, guilt usually goes onto the party that failed to stop.

    • Chris 11.4
      23 November 2016 at 1:31 am

      Key’s office probably ordered it. The nats have always seen Borrows as fodder, and Borrows is probably fine about taking one for the team. He ain’t losing his seat over it, and they’ve probably organised the not guilty verdict over a beer at Northern Club.

  12. Robert Guyton 12
    22 November 2016 at 9:55 am

    If he’d obeyed the law it wouldn’t have.

  13. Ad 13
    22 November 2016 at 10:08 am

    Will be a fun stretch of ‘Discharge without conviction’.

    Make more sense as a first time offender to get a fine, and be done with it.

    Really, really dumb if he doesn’t plead guilty right off bat.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 13.1
      22 November 2016 at 11:08 am

      Yep. Should’ve done that right from the start: get it over and done with.

    • McFlock 13.2
      22 November 2016 at 12:15 pm

      pretty much.
      He won’t be kicked out of parliament for it, and it’s obviously a voter draw for some tories around here.

    • Scott 13.3
      22 November 2016 at 4:11 pm

      If he plead guilty I expect he’d be eligible for diversion. But you don’t get that without a guilty plea.

      Regardless of that though, or even if she is making it up, he should have just stopped and let the cops clear the way. That was just silly.

  14. Tarquin 14
    22 November 2016 at 10:21 am

    A fine piece of acting, much better than anything on Shortland Street. Should be a shoe in for NZ’s got talent.

  15. tc 15
    22 November 2016 at 10:35 am

    soper and his partner typify the red neck lowbrow dog whistling you’ll be hearing alot more from in the run up to election 17.

    Mediwonks are probably setting up a vehicle now for the likes of these beltway bleaters to run an agenda thru 2017.

  16. mpledger 16
    22 November 2016 at 11:58 am

    I have no idea how injured or not the women were but it can’t be allowed for cars to ram protesters or anyone for that matter. It sets a precedent.

    If he gets away with this then next time someone could be fatally injured because a politician think that what they do is so important that they are allowed to drive into people.

    I hope the judge takes into account that these were middle aged/elderly women and comes down like a ton of bricks because they are more vulnerable to injury (compared to a fit, young man).

  17. framu 17
    22 November 2016 at 2:02 pm

    Im intrigued by all the righties on this topic basically saying that you dont have to even try and stop your car if someone happens to appear on the road in front of you

    weird outlook you all have – really weird

    would you all change your tune if it had been some kids instead of some “bloody protestors”?

    • Bob 17.1
      22 November 2016 at 4:51 pm

      “would you all change your tune if it had been some kids instead of some “bloody protesters”?” Definitely, but I doubt someone’s kids would be deliberately obstructing your car while being told by the Police to move out of the way.

    • Psycho Milt 17.2
      22 November 2016 at 5:15 pm

      Im intrigued by all the righties on this topic basically saying that you dont have to even try and stop your car if someone happens to appear on the road in front of you

      Can you point to an example of that? The only right-wingers I’ve noticed on the thread have been Puckish Rogue, Bob and James, and none of them have made that claim.

  18. save nz 18
    22 November 2016 at 2:24 pm

    Sounds like the police have had enough after looking like political lackys after Nicky Hager illegal search. Good on them for bringing it to trial.

  19. Mrs Brillo 19
    22 November 2016 at 2:52 pm

    I think I see those women’s real crime, in the eyes of the old white guys.

    The women got old and grey and STILL refused to sit quietly at home solving their family’s problems.

    Instead they let themselves be seen in public while sticking up for their country.

    Politics! Old sheilas?!
    Don’t they know that politics are old coots’ affairs, not old biddies?

    Don’t they know old women are meant to be invisible?

    They were to Chester Borrows. They are to Barry Soper.
    Of course they have only one functioning eye each.

    • Puckish Rogue 19.1
      22 November 2016 at 3:47 pm

      • Mrs Brillo 19.1.1
        22 November 2016 at 5:51 pm

        It’s just one tired old cliche after another with you, isn’t it?
        Try for some originality, petal, if you want anyone to listen to you.
        Although I don’t think you do – you’re all transmit and no receive.
        Like a lot of older blokes.

  20. The New Student 20
    22 November 2016 at 4:05 pm

    This is worse than seagulls squabbling over leftover chips.

    You can always choose to NOT drive a vehicle into somebody. Why is that so difficult for you people? Entitled much?

    • Puckish Rogue 20.1
      22 November 2016 at 4:17 pm

      You can also choose to NOT stand in front of a moving vehicle.

      • McFlock 20.1.1
        22 November 2016 at 4:21 pm

        Indeed. Stand somewhere safe, like a footpath – oh, wait…

        • Puckish Rogue 20.1.1.1
          22 November 2016 at 4:26 pm

          Absolutely correct, you should never avoid a vehicle when you’re on the footpath.

          • McFlock 20.1.1.1.1
            22 November 2016 at 4:39 pm

            Exactly, they should avoid you, according to traffic law.

            If the wrong people give way, it causes confusion. You can fail a driving test by giving way when you have right of way, just as you can by failing to give way at the appropriate time.

            What Burrows should have done was wait five seconds for the cops to remove the protestors obstructing the footpath. Tory entitlement didn’t let that option occur to him, though

            • Bob 20.1.1.1.1.1
              22 November 2016 at 4:58 pm

              Of course! Them Tories should just wait for the Police to clear their way! Protesters, continue your unlawful behavior until a Police office kindly moves you to the side.

              • McFlock …
                22 November 2016 at 5:11 pm

                Well, yes.

                Doesn’t running over someone’s foot seem to you to be a bit of an overreaction to a slight pause in your driving?

                It’s not like he needed to call and hope they’d turn up within an hour (like normal people have to do) – the cops were literally a few feet away. Fucksake, I’ve been in similar situations with genuinely hostile folks (not just a couple of picketers) at some public events. You look over at the cop, raise an eyebrow, and they get off their chuff and move the individuals back. I’ve also been on the other side, and cops are pretty good at moving people on.

                Oh, and also cops have the power to use force and arrest people. Burrows didn’t.

          • North 20.1.1.1.2
            23 November 2016 at 1:41 am

            You’ve so misread this whole thing PR. You wouldn’t mind giving me a list of the roads you customariy travel and the footpaths you cross would you ? I’ll warn my Nana.

      • Robert Guyton 20.1.2
        22 November 2016 at 5:40 pm

        “Choose” – yes, that’s the issue. The protester chose to stand where she did and has suffered a consequence. Borrows chose to drive ahead despite her presence and is suffering a consequence of the action he chose.

      • Chris 20.1.3
        23 November 2016 at 1:49 am

        So if you do choose to stand in front of a vehicle moving towards you and the driver has time to stop before hitting you but doesn’t, are you saying it’s not an offence because you chose to stand there?

        • Puckish Rogue 20.1.3.1
          23 November 2016 at 8:31 am

          So if you see a car coming towards you and you have ample time to move before getting hit but don’t move, are you saying you’re not partially to blame for getting hit?

          • Chris 20.1.3.1.1
            23 November 2016 at 10:04 am

            Are you now asking whether there’s partial blame rather than whether something’s an offence? I’m talking about whether it’s an offence, not whether there’s partial blame. If a driver has time to stop but doesn’t then are you saying the pedestrian is partially criminally liable?

          • Robert Guyton 20.1.3.1.2
            23 November 2016 at 10:20 am

            So what? “Partial blame”…pffffft

          • North 20.1.3.1.3
            23 November 2016 at 1:12 pm

            So wrong PR.

  21. james 21
    22 November 2016 at 5:01 pm

    As one of the “official right wingers” on here – I reckon the judge made the correct decision.

    I also think if he is found guilty – then when sentencing that they take into account the contibuty actions of the lady involved – because yes – she did contribute to the situation.

    But – she made the complaint – and deserves her day in court.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 21.1
      22 November 2016 at 5:15 pm

      They say that everything before the but is bullshit.

      I agree with the things before the but. All of them.

      I don’t care for the things after the ‘but’ because they reduce the issue to the complainant, rather than the principle. And it’s the principle that matters: ‘when kindness is lost there is justice’.

  22. Rosemary McDonald 22
    22 November 2016 at 11:12 pm

    I’m hearing an echo…

    file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/2004%20Report%20on%20Police%20handling%20of%20a%20picket%20at%20Port%20of%20Lyttelton%20in%201999%20(1).pdf

    For those of you who don’t remember this tragedy…industrial action at the Port in Lyttleton in late 1999. Man drove through picket line and hit and killed activist Christine Clarke. Charges were laid and a prosecution was successful. Conviction was eventually overturned and the killer walked free.

  23. Ross 23
    23 November 2016 at 7:06 am

    To be fair to Soper, his Wellington apartment was trashed by the quake last week. I suspect it’s affected him more than we might have expected! (His wife was crying on camera as she showed viewers the apartment’s interior.) He shouldn’t be doing any work while his mind is somewhere else.

  24. Paul 24
    23 November 2016 at 7:45 am

    Soper is a contemptible little man.
    He would write anything to get his pay cheque.

  25. Pasupial 25
    23 November 2016 at 10:23 am

    NRT has a good point here that I haven’t seen addressed in this thread:

    Borrows isn’t a minor, there’s no significant privacy interest, the events have been widely reported on. Instead, it simply looks like the judge is trying to spare someone powerful, a former Minister for the Courts, from additional public embarrassment. But that’s not what the court’s suppression powers are for, and their abuse in this fashion undermines the social licence for suppression throughout the entire justice system.

    http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2016/11/an-abuse-of-suppression.html

  26. Pete 26
    23 November 2016 at 10:48 am

    I’m surprised people are getting at Soper.

    Anyone who comes up with that stuff are unwell.

Links to post

CommentsOpinions

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

FeedsPartyGovtMedia

  • Media Link: “AVFA” on the politics of desperation.

    In this podcast Selwyn Manning and I talk about what appears to be a particular type of end-game in the long transition to systemic realignment in international affairs, in which the move to a new multipolar order with different characteristics … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 hours ago
  • The cost of flying blind

    Just over two years ago, when worries about immediate mass-death from covid had waned, and people started to talk about covid becoming "endemic", I asked various government agencies what work they'd done on the costs of that - and particularly, on the cost of Long Covid. The answer was that ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 hours ago
  • Seymour vs The Clergy

    For paid subscribers“Aotearoa is not as malleable as they think,” Lynette wrote last week on Homage to Simeon Brown:In my heart/mind, that phrase ricocheted over the next days, translating out to “We are not so malleable.”It gave me comfort. I always felt that we were given an advantage in New ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    8 hours ago
  • Unstoppable Minister McKee

    All smiles, I know what it takes to fool this townI'll do it 'til the sun goes downAnd all through the nighttimeOh, yeahOh, yeah, I'll tell you what you wanna hearLeave my sunglasses on while I shed a tearIt's never the right timeYeah, yeahSong by SiaLast night there was a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    10 hours ago
  • Could outdoor dining revitalise Queen Street?

    This is a guest post by Ben van Bruggen of The Urban Room,.An earlier version of this post appeared on LinkedIn. All images are by Ben. Have you noticed that there’s almost nowhere on Queen Street that invites you to stop, sit outside and enjoy a coffee, let alone ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    11 hours ago
  • Hipkins challenges long-held Labour view Government must stay below 30% of GDP

    Hipkins says when considering tax settings and the size of government, the big question mark is over what happens with the balance between the size of the working-age population and the growing number of Kiwis over the age of 65. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    12 hours ago
  • Your invite to Webworm Chat (a bit like Reddit)

    Hi,One of the things I love the most about Webworm is, well, you. The community that’s gathered around this lil’ newsletter isn’t something I ever expected when I started writing it four years ago — now the comments section is one of my favourite places on the internet. The comments ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    13 hours ago
  • Seymour’s Treaty bill making Nats nervous

    A delay in reappointing a top civil servant may indicate a growing nervousness within the National Party about the potential consequences of David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill. Dave Samuels is waiting for reappointment as the Chief Executive of Te Puni Kokiri, but POLITIK understands that what should have been a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    14 hours ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #36

    A listing of 34 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 1, 2024 thru Sat, September 7, 2024. Story of the week Our Story of the Week is about how peopele are not born stupid but can be fooled ...
    Skeptical Science
    23 hours ago
  • Time for a Change

    You act as thoughYou are a blind manWho's crying, crying 'boutAll the virgins that are dyingIn your habitual dreams, you knowSeems you need more sleepBut like a parrot in a flaming treeI know it's pretty hard to seeI'm beginning to wonderIf it's time for a changeSong: Phil JuddThe next line ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Six.

    The “double shocks” in post Cold War international affairs. The end of the Cold War fundamentally altered the global geostrategic context. In particular, the end of the nuclear “balance of terror” between the USA and USSR, coupled with the relaxation … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 day ago
  • Buried deep

    Here's a bike on Manchester St, Feilding. I took this photo on Friday night after a very nice dinner at the very nice Vietnamese restaurant, Saigon, on Manchester Street.I thought to myself, Manchester Street? Bicycle? This could be the very spot.To recap from an earlier edition: on a February night ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies, Excerpt Five.

    Military politics as a distinct “partial regime.” Notwithstanding their peripheral status, national defense offers the raison d’être of the combat function, which their relative vulnerability makes apparent, so military forces in small peripheral democracies must be very conscious of events … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago
  • Leadership for Dummies

    If you’re going somewhere, do you maybe take a bit of an interest in the place? Read up a bit on the history, current events, places to see - that sort of thing? Presumably, if you’re taking a trip somewhere, it’s for a reason. But what if you’re going somewhere ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Home again

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Dead even tie for hottest August ever

    Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:The month of August was 1.49˚C warmer than pre-industrial levels, tying with 2023 for the warmest August ever, according ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 7

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the debate about how to responde to climate disinformation; and special guest ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Have We an Infrastructure Deficit?

    An Infrastructure New Zealand report says we are keeping up with infrastructure better than we might have thought from the grumbling. But the challenge of providing for the future remains.I was astonished to learn that the quantity of our infrastructure has been keeping up with economic growth. Your paper almost ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    3 days ago
  • Councils reject racism

    Last month, National passed a racist law requiring local councils to remove their Māori wards, or hold a referendum on them at the 2025 local body election. The final councils voted today, and the verdict is in: an overwhelming rejection. Only two councils out of 45 supported National's racist agenda ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Homage to Simeon Brown

    Open to all - happy weekend ahead, friends.Today I just want to be petty. It’s the way I imagine this chap is -Not only as a political persona. But his real-deal inner personality, in all its glory - appears to be pure pettiness & populist driven.Sometimes I wonder if Simeon ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Government of deceit

    When National cut health spending and imposed a commissioner on Te Whatu Ora, they claimed that it was necessary because the organisation was bloated and inefficient, with "14 layers of management between the CEO and the patient". But it turns out they were simply lying: Health Minister Shane Reti’s ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • The professionals actually think and act like our Government has no fiscal crisis at all

    Treasury staff at work: The demand for a new 12-year Government bond was so strong, Treasury decided to double the amount of bonds it sold. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, September ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 6-September-2024

    Welcome to another Friday and another roundup of stories that caught our eye this week. As always, this and every post is brought to you by the Greater Auckland crew. If you like our work and you’d like to see more of it, we invite you to join our regular ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    3 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies; Excerpt Four.

    Internal versus external security. Regardless of who rules, large countries can afford to separate external and internal security functions (even if internal control functions predominate under authoritarian regimes). In fact, given the logic of power concentration and institutional centralization of … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    3 days ago
  • A Hole In The River

    There's a hole in the river where her memory liesFrom the land of the living to the air and skyShe was coming to see him, but something changed her mindDrove her down to the riverThere is no returnSongwriters: Neil Finn/Eddie RaynerThe king is dead; long live the queen!Yesterday was a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Bright Blue His Jacket Ain’t But I Love This Fellow: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power E...

    My conclusion last week was that The Rings of Power season two represented a major improvement in the series. The writing’s just so much better, and honestly, its major problems are less the result of the current episodes and more creatures arising from season one plot-holes. I found episode three ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    4 days ago
  • Who should we thank for the defeat of the Nazis

    As a child in the 1950s, I thought the British had won the Second World War because that’s what all our comics said. Later on, the films and comics told me that the Americans won the war. In my late teens, I found out that the Soviet Union ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #36 2024

    Open access notables Diurnal Temperature Range Trends Differ Below and Above the Melting Point, Pithan & Schatt, Geophysical Research Letters: The globally averaged diurnal temperature range (DTR) has shrunk since the mid-20th century, and climate models project further shrinking. Observations indicate a slowdown or reversal of this trend in recent decades. ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • Media Link: Discussing the NZSIS Security Threat Report.

    I was interviewed by Mike Hosking at NewstalkZB and a few other media outlets about the NZSIS Security Threat Report released recently. I have long advocated for more transparency, accountability and oversight of the NZ Intelligence Community, and although the … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • How do I make this better for people who drive Ford Rangers?

    Home, home again to a long warm embrace. Plenty of reasons to be glad to be back.But also, reasons for dejection.You, yes you, Simeon Brown, you odious little oik, you bible thumping petrol-pandering ratfucker weasel. You would be Reason Number One. Well, maybe first among equals with Seymour and Of-Seymour ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • A missed opportunity

    The government introduced a pretty big piece of constitutional legislation today: the Parliament Bill. But rather than the contentious constitutional change (four year terms) pushed by Labour, this merely consolidates the existing legislation covering Parliament - currently scattered across four different Acts - into one piece of legislation. While I ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Nicola Willis Seeks New Sidekick To Help Fix NZ’s Economy

    Synopsis:Nicola Willis is seeking a new Treasury Boss after Dr Caralee McLiesh’s tenure ends this month. She didn’t listen to McLiesh. Will she listen to the new one?And why is Atlas Network’s Taxpayers Union chiming in?Please consider subscribing or supporting my work. Thanks, Tui.About CaraleeAt the beginning of July, Newsroom ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Inflation alive and kicking in our land of the long white monopolies

    The golden days of profit continue for the the Foodstuffs (Pak’n’Save and New World) and Woolworths supermarket duopoly. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 5:The Groceries Commissioner has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The thermodynamics of electric vs. internal combustion cars

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler I love thermodynamics. Thermodynamics is like your mom: it may not tell you what you can do, but it damn well tells you what you can’t do. I’ve written a few previous posts that include thermodynamics, like one on air capture of ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Three.

    The notion of geopolitical  “periphery.” The concept of periphery used here refers strictly to what can be called the geopolitical periphery. Being on the geopolitical periphery is an analytic virtue because it makes for more visible policy reform in response … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Venus Hum

    Fill me up with soundThe world sings with me a million smiles an hourI can see me dancing on my radioI can hear you singing in the blades of grassYellow dandelions on my way to schoolBig Beautiful Sky!Song: Venus Hum.Good morning, all you lovely people, and welcome to the 700th ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • I Went to a Creed Concert

    Note: The audio attached to this Webworm compliments today’s newsletter. I collected it as I met people attending a Creed concert. Their opinions may differ to mine. Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Government migration policy backfires; thousands of unemployed nurses

    The country has imported literally thousands of nurses over the past few months yet whether they are being employed as nurses is another matter. Just what is going on with HealthNZ and it nurses is, at best, opaque, in that it will not release anything but broad general statistics and ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • A Time For Unity.

    Emotional Response: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addresses mourners at the tangi of King Tuheitia on Turangawaewae Marae on Saturday, 31 August 2024.THE DEATH OF KING TUHEITIA could hardly have come at a worse time for Maoridom. The power of the Kingitanga to unify te iwi Māori was demonstrated powerfully at January’s ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change: Failed again

    National's tax cut policies relied on stealing revenue from the ETS (previously used to fund emissions reduction) to fund tax cuts to landlords. So how's that going? Badly. Today's auction failed again, with zero units (of a possible 7.6 million) sold. Which means they have a $456 million hole in ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Two.

    A question of size. Small size generally means large vulnerability. The perception of threat is broader and often more immediate for small countries. The feeling of comparative weakness, of exposure to risk, and of potential intimidation by larger powers often … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Nicola Willis’s Very Unserious Bungling of the Kiwirail Interislander Cancellation

    Open to all with kind thanks to all subscribers and supporters.Today, RNZ revealed that despite MFAT advice to Nicola Willis to be very “careful and deliberate” in her communications with the South Korean government, prior to any public announcement on cancelling Kiwirail’s i-Rex, Willis instead told South Korea 26 minutes ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Satisfying the Minister’s Speed Obsession

    The Minister of Transport’s speed obsession has this week resulted in two new consultations for 110km/h speed limits, one in Auckland and one in Christchurch. There has also been final approval of the Kapiti Expressway to move to 110km/h following an earlier consultation. While the changes will almost certainly see ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago
  • What if we freed up our streets, again?

    This guest post is by Tommy de Silva, a local rangatahi and freelance writer who is passionate about making the urban fabric of Tāmaki Makaurau-Auckland more people-focused and sustainable. New Zealand’s March-April 2020 Level 4 Covid response (aka “lockdown”) was somehow both the best and worst six weeks of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • No Alarms And No Surprises

    A heart that's full up like a landfillA job that slowly kills youBruises that won't healYou look so tired, unhappyBring down the governmentThey don't, they don't speak for usI'll take a quiet lifeA handshake of carbon monoxideAnd no alarms and no surprisesThe fabulous English comedian Stewart Lee once wrote a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Five ingenious ways people could beat the heat without cranking the AC

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Daisy Simmons Every summer brings a new spate of headlines about record-breaking heat – for good reason: 2023 was the hottest year on record, in keeping with the upward trend scientists have been clocking for decades. With climate forecasts suggesting that heat waves ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago
  • No new funding for cycling & walking

    Studies show each $1 of spending on walking and cycling infrastructure produces $13 to $35 of economic benefits from higher productivity, lower healthcare costs, less congestion, lower emissions and lower fossil fuel import costs. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • 99

    Dad turned 99 today.Hell of a lot of candles, eh?He won't be alone for his birthday. He will have the warm attention of my brother, and my sister, and everyone at the rest home, the most thoughtful attentive and considerate people you could ever know. On Saturday there will be ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Open Government: National reneges on beneficial ownership

    One of the achievements of the New Zealand’s Open Government Partnership Fourth National Action Plan was a formal commitment from the government to establish a public beneficial ownership register. Such a register would allow the ultimate owners of companies to be identified - a vital measure in preventing corruption, money ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt One.

    This project analyzes security politics in three peripheral democracies (Chile, New Zealand, Portugal) during the 30 years after the end of the Cold War. It argues that changes in the geopolitical landscape and geo-strategic context are interpreted differently by small … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago
  • Tea and Toast

    When the skies are looking bad my dearAnd your heart's lost all its hopeAfter dawn there will be sunshineAnd all the dust will goThe skies will clear my darlingNow it's time for you to let goOur girl will wake you up in the mornin'With some tea and toastLyrics: Lucy Spraggan.Good ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • NLTP 2024 released – destroying pipeline of shovel ready local projects

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Waka Kotahi yesterday released the latest National Land Transport Plan (NLTP) for 2024-27. The NLTP sets out what transport projects will be funded for the next three years, including both central and local government projects. As expected given the government’s extremely ideological transport policy, it’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago
  • Can Brown deliver his roads

    The Government’s unveiling of its road-building programme yesterday was ambitious and, many would say, long overdue. But the question will be whether it is too ambitious, whether it is affordable, and, if not, what might be dropped. The big ticket items will be the 17 so-called Roads of National Significance. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago
  • New paper about detecting climate misinformation on Twitter/X

    Together with Cristian Rojas, Frank Algra-Maschio, Mark Andrejevic, Travis Coan, and Yuan-Fang Li, I just published a paper in Nature Communications Earth & Environment where we use the Computer Assisted Recognition of Denial and Skepticism (CARDS) machine learning model to detect climate misinformation in 5 million climate tweets. We find over half ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago
  • Excerpting “Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies.”

    In the late 2000s-early 2010s I was researching and writing a book titled “Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Chile, New Zealand and Portugal.” The book was a cross-regional Small-N qualitative comparison of the security strategies and postures of three small … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago
  • Hating for the Wrong Reasons: Of Rings of Power, Orcs and Evil

    A few months ago, my fellow countryman, HelloFutureMe, put out a giant YouTube video, dissecting what went wrong with the first season of Rings of Power (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ6FRUO0ui0&t=8376s). It’s an exceptionally good video, and though it spans some two and a half hours, it is well worth your time. But ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: “Least cost” to who?

    On Friday the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment released their submission on National's second Emissions Reduction Plan, ripping the shit out of it as a massive gamble based on wishful thinking. One of the specific issues he focused on was National's idea of "least cost" emissions reduction, pointing out that ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Israeli Lives Matter

    There is no monopoly on common senseOn either side of the political fenceWe share the same biology, regardless of ideologyBelieve me when I say to youI hope the Russians love their children tooLyrics: Sting. Read more ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Luxon Cries

    Over the weekend, I found myself rather irritably reading up about the Treaty of Waitangi. “Do I need to do this?” It’s not my jurisdiction. In any other world, would this be something I choose to do?My answer - no.The Waitangi Tribunal, headed by some of our best legal minds, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Just one Wellington home being consented for every 10 in Auckland

    A decade of under-building is coming home to roost in Wellington. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday September 2:Wellington’s leaders are wringing their hands over an exodus of skilled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Container trucks on local streets: why take the risk?

    This is a guest post by Charmaine Vaughan, who came to transport advocacy via her local Residents Association and a comms role at Bike Auckland. Her enthusiasm to make local streets safer for all is shared by her son Dylan Vaughan, a budding “urban nerd” who provided much of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    1 week ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #35

    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, August 25, 2024 thru Sat, August 31, 2024. Story of the week After another crammed week of climate news including updates on climate tipping points, increasing threats from rising ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago
  • An Uncanny Valley of Improvement: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power, Episodes 1-3 (Season ...

    And thus we come to the second instalment of Amazon’s Rings of Power. The first season, in 2022, was underwhelming, even for someone like myself, who is by nature inclined to approach Tolkien adaptations with charity. The writing was poor, the plot made no sense on its own terms, and ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • Alcohol debris and Crocodile Tears

    I write to you this morning from scenes of carnage. Around the floor lie young men who only hours earlier were full of life, and cocktails, and now lie silent. Read more ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • When Do We Look Away?

    Hi,The first time I saw something that made me recoil on the internet was a visit to Rotten.com. The clue was in the name — but the internet was a new thing to me in the 90s, and no-one really knew what the hell was going on. But somehow I ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago
  • The decades just fly by

    You turn your back for a moment and a city can completely transform itself. It was, oh, just the other day I was tripping up to Kuala Lumpur every few months to teach workshops and luxuriate in the tropical warmth and fill my face with Char Kway Teow.It has to ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • 2024 Reading Summary: August

    Completed reads for August: Aesop’s Fables (collection), by Aesop Berserk: Volume XXV (manga), by Kentaro Miura Benighted, by J.B. Priestly Berserk: Volume XXVI (manga), by Kentaro Miura Berserk: Volume XXVII (manga), by Kentaro Miura Berserk: Volume XXVIII (manga), by Kentaro Miura Berserk: Volume XXIX (manga), by Kentaro Miura ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • Is recent global warming part of a natural cycle?

    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with John Mason. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is recent global warming part ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago
  • White Noise

    Now here we standWith our hearts in our handsSqueezing out the liesAll that I hearIs a message, unclearWhat else is there to decide?All that I'm hearing from youIs White NoiseLyrics: Christopher John CheneyIs the tide turning?Have we reached the high point of the racist hate and lies from Hobson’s Pledge, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • The Death Of “Big Norm” – Exactly 50 Years Ago Today.

    Norman KirkPrime Minister of New Zealand 1972-1974Born: 6 January 1923 - Died: 31 August 1974Of the working-class, by the working-class, for the working-class.Video courtesy of YouTubeThese elements were posted on Bowalley Road on Saturday, 31 August 2024. ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • Claims and Counter-Claims.

    Whose Foreshore? Whose Seabed? When the Marine and Coastal Area Act was originally passed back in 2011, fears about the coastline becoming off-limits to Pakeha were routinely allayed by National Party politicians pointing out that the tests imposed were so stringent  that only a modest percentage of claims (the then treaty ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand Honours Maori King ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • The Principles of the Treaty

    Hardly anyone says what are ‘the principles of the treaty’. The courts’ interpretation restrain the New Zealand Government. While they about protecting a particular community, those restraints apply equally to all community in a liberal democracy – including a single person.Treaty principles were introduced into the governance of New Zealand ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • The Only Other Reliable Vehicle.

    An Elite Leader Awaiting Rotation? Hipkins’ give-National-nothing-to-aim-at strategy will only succeed if the Coalition becomes as unpopular in three years as the British Tories became in fourteen.THE SHAPE OF CHRIS HIPKINS’ THINKING on Labour’s optimum pathway to re-election is emerging steadily. At the core of his strategy is Hipkins’ view ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • A Big F U to this Right Wing Government

    Open to all - deep thanks to those who support and subscribe.One of the things that has got me interested recently is updates about Māori wards.In April, Stuff’s Karanama Ruru reported that ~ 2/3 of our 78 councils had adopted Māori wards in NZ.That meant that under the Coalition repeal ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago

  • Action to grow the rural health workforce

    Scholarships awarded to 27 health care students is another positive step forward to boost the future rural health workforce, Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “All New Zealanders deserve timely access to quality health care and this Government is committed to improving health outcomes, particularly for the one in five ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Pharmac delivering more for Kiwis following major funding boost

    Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed the increased availability of medicines for Kiwis resulting from the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When our Government assumed office, New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Sport Minister congratulates NZ’s Paralympians

    Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop has congratulated New Zealand's Paralympic Team at the conclusion of the Paralympic Games in Paris.  “The NZ Paralympic Team's success in Paris included fantastic performances, personal best times, New Zealand records and Oceania records all being smashed - and of course, many Kiwis on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Government progresses response to Abuse in Care recommendations

    A Crown Response Office is being established within the Public Service Commission to drive the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care. “The creation of an Office within a central Government agency was a key recommendation by the Royal Commission’s final report.  “It will have the mandate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Passport wait times back on-track

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says passport processing has returned to normal, and the Department of Internal Affairs [Department] is now advising customers to allow up to two weeks to receive their passport. “I am pleased that passport processing is back at target service levels and the Department ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New appointments to the FMA board

    Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister has today announced three new appointments and one reappointment to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) board. Tracey Berry, Nicholas Hegan and Mariette van Ryn have been appointed for a five-year term ending in August 2029, while Chris Swasbrook, who has served as a board member ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • District Court judges appointed

    Attorney-General Hon Judith Collins today announced the appointment of two new District Court judges. The appointees, who will take up their roles at the Manukau Court and the Auckland Court in the Accident Compensation Appeal Jurisdiction, are: Jacqui Clark Judge Clark was admitted to the bar in 1988 after graduating ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government makes it faster and easier to invest in New Zealand

    Associate Minister of Finance David Seymour is encouraged by significant improvements to overseas investment decision timeframes, and the enhanced interest from investors as the Government continues to reform overseas investment. “There were about as many foreign direct investment applications in July and August as there was across the six months ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New Zealand to join Operation Olympic Defender

    New Zealand has accepted an invitation to join US-led multi-national space initiative Operation Olympic Defender, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. Operation Olympic Defender is designed to coordinate the space capabilities of member nations, enhance the resilience of space-based systems, deter hostile actions in space and reduce the spread of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits to ‘stamping out’ foot and mouth disease

    Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says that a new economic impact analysis report reinforces this government’s commitment to ‘stamp out’ any New Zealand foot and mouth disease incursion. “The new analysis, produced by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, shows an incursion of the disease in New Zealand would have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Improving access to finance for Kiwis

    5 September 2024  The Government is progressing further reforms to financial services to make it easier for Kiwis to access finance when they need it, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.  “Financial services are foundational for economic success and are woven throughout our lives. Without access to finance our ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Prime Minister pays tribute to Kiingi Tuheitia

    As Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII is laid to rest today, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has paid tribute to a leader whose commitment to Kotahitanga will have a lasting impact on our country. “Kiingi Tuheitia was a humble leader who served his people with wisdom, mana and an unwavering ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Resource Management reform to make forestry rules clearer

    Forestry Minister Todd McClay today announced proposals to reform the resource management system that will provide greater certainty for the forestry sector and help them meet environmental obligations.   “The Government has committed to restoring confidence and certainty across the sector by removing unworkable regulatory burden created by the previous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • More choice and competition in building products

    A major shake-up of building products which will make it easier and more affordable to build is on the way, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Today we have introduced legislation that will improve access to a wider variety of quality building products from overseas, giving Kiwis more choice and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Joint Statement between the Republic of Korea and New Zealand 4 September 2024, Seoul

    On the occasion of the official visit by the Right Honourable Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand to the Republic of Korea from 4 to 5 September 2024, a summit meeting was held between His Excellency President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea (hereinafter referred to as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Comprehensive Strategic Partnership the goal for New Zealand and Korea

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol. “Korea and New Zealand are likeminded democracies and natural partners in the Indo Pacific. As such, we have decided to advance discussions on elevating the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • International tourism continuing to bounce back

    Results released today from the International Visitor Survey (IVS) confirm international tourism is continuing to bounce back, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey says. The IVS results show that in the June quarter, international tourism contributed $2.6 billion to New Zealand’s economy, an increase of 17 per cent on last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government confirms RMA reforms to drive primary sector efficiency

    The Government is moving to review and update national level policy directives that impact the primary sector, as part of its work to get Wellington out of farming. “The primary sector has been weighed down by unworkable and costly regulation for too long,” Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.  “That is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Weak grocery competition underscores importance of cutting red tape

    The first annual grocery report underscores the need for reforms to cut red tape and promote competition, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “The report paints a concerning picture of the $25 billion grocery sector and reinforces the need for stronger regulatory action, coupled with an ambitious, economy-wide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government moves to lessen burden of reliever costs on ECE services

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says the Government has listened to the early childhood education sector’s calls to simplify paying ECE relief teachers. Today two simple changes that will reduce red tape for ECEs are being announced, in the run-up to larger changes that will come in time from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Over 2,320 people engage with first sector regulatory review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says there has been a strong response to the Ministry for Regulation’s public consultation on the early childhood education regulatory review, affirming the need for action in reducing regulatory burden. “Over 2,320 submissions have been received from parents, teachers, centre owners, child advocacy groups, unions, research ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government backs women in horticulture

    “The Government is empowering women in the horticulture industry by funding an initiative that will support networking and career progression,” Associate Minister of Agriculture, Nicola Grigg says.  “Women currently make up around half of the horticulture workforce, but only 20 per cent of leadership roles which is why initiatives like this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government to pause freshwater farm plan rollout

    The Government will pause the rollout of freshwater farm plans until system improvements are finalised, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard announced today. “Improving the freshwater farm plan system to make it more cost-effective and practical for farmers is a priority for this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Milestone reached for fixing the Holidays Act 2003

    Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden says yesterday Cabinet reached another milestone on fixing the Holidays Act with approval of the consultation exposure draft of the Bill ready for release next week to participants.  “This Government will improve the Holidays Act with the help of businesses, workers, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • New priorities to protect future of conservation

    Toitū te marae a Tāne Mahuta me Hineahuone, toitū te marae a Tangaroa me Hinemoana, toitū te taiao, toitū te tangata. The Government has introduced clear priorities to modernise Te Papa Atawhai - The Department of Conservation’s protection of our natural taonga. “Te Papa Atawhai manages nearly a third of our ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Faster 110km/h speed limit to accelerate Kāpiti

    A new 110km/h speed limit for the Kāpiti Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS) has been approved to reduce travel times for Kiwis travelling in and out of Wellington, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • IVL increase to ensure visitors contribute more to New Zealand

    The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) will be raised to $100 to ensure visitors contribute to public services and high-quality experiences while visiting New Zealand, Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Matt Doocey and Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka say. “The Government is serious about enabling the tourism sector ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Delivering priority connections for the West Coast

    A record $255 million for transport investment on the West Coast through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will strengthen the region’s road and rail links to keep people connected and support the region’s economy, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “The Government is committed to making sure that every ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Road and rail reliability a focus for Wellington

    A record $3.3 billion of transport investment in Greater Wellington through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will increase productivity and reduce travel times, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Delivering infrastructure to increase productivity and economic growth is a priority for our Government. We're focused on delivering transport projects ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Record investment to boost economic and housing growth in the Waikato

    A record $1.9 billion for transport investment in the Waikato through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will create a more efficient, safe, and resilient roading network that supports economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “With almost a third of the country’s freight travelling into, out ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Building reliable and efficient roading for Taranaki

    A record $808 million for transport investment in Taranaki through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will support economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Taranaki’s roads carry a high volume of freight from primary industries and it’s critical we maintain efficient connections across the region to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Supporting growth and resilience in Otago and Southland

    A record $1.4 billion for transport investment in Otago and Southland through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will create a more resilient and efficient network that supports economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Transport is a critical enabler for economic growth and productivity in Otago ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Delivering connected and resilient roading for Northland

    A record $991 million for transport investment in Northland through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will strengthen the region’s connections and support economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “We are committed to making sure that every transport dollar is spent wisely on the projects and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Top of the South to benefit from reliable transport infrastructure

    A record $479 million for transport investment across the top of the South Island through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will build a stronger road network that supports primary industries and grows the economy, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “We’re committed to making sure that every dollar is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government delivering reliable roads for Manawatū-Whanganui

    A record $1.6 billion for transport investment in Manawatū-Whanganui through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will strengthen the region’s importance as a strategic freight hub that boosts economic growth, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Delivering infrastructure to increase productivity and economic growth is a priority for our Government. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Restoring connections in Hawke’s Bay

    A record $657 million for transport investment in the Hawke’s Bay through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will support recovery from cyclone damage and build greater resilience into the network to support economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “We are committed to making sure that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Transport resilience a priority for Gisborne

    A record $255 million for transport investment in Gisborne through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will support economic growth and restore the cyclone-damaged network, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “With $255 million of investment over the next three years, we are committed to making sure that every transport ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Prioritising growth and reduced travel times in Canterbury

    A record $1.8 billion for transport investment Canterbury through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will boost economic growth and productivity and reduce travel times, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Christchurch is the economic powerhouse of the South Island, and transport is a critical enabler for economic growth and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Supporting growth and freight in the Bay of Plenty

    A record $1.9 billion for transport investment in the Bay of Plenty through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will boost economic growth and unlock land for thousands of houses, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Transport is a critical enabler for economic growth and productivity in the Bay of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Getting transport back on track in Auckland

    A record $8.4 billion for transport investment in Auckland through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will deliver the infrastructure our rapidly growing region needs to support economic growth and reduce travel times, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Aucklanders rejected the previous government’s transport policies which resulted in non-delivery, phantoms projects, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-09-09T07:18:20+00:00