An Interesting read…
How Mark Zuckerberg’s Altruism Helps Himself.
Zuckerberg set up a limited liability company, which has reaped enormous benefits as public relations coup and will help minimize his tax bill.
Chap here set up charity kidscan or something which got fairly small contributions before being sold off, but while he owned it he funnelled $15? million through it over a few years, using it as a holding account for funds he invested in his own businesses which went bust. I wonder whether he was being altruistic, he said he was. The charity got the interest on the money till it was used on his ventures.
zuckerberg – sucker mountain or sugar mountain? Some names are uncannily suitable.
When KidsCan started – I had a quick look at the charities commission website for it after seeing a very large, brand new KidsCan vehicle on the motorway. I’m was also a bit dubious about the simplistic fix for kids in poverty of a raincoat and shoes. (Neither of them well made.)
In their posted accounts online, a significant amount of money went to a specific promotions company, which when I checked had names associated with the charity.
My view was: good business acumen, failed moral compass.
Molly
My feeling is that the real need in the community today brings out the human fleas to utilise the resource of a mass of poverty stricken people eager to catch on to help or charity offered. But sometimes the helpers are looking to nurture their own ends. Ouch. I’ve got a flea at the moment – I know how it bites but hope to be able to soon nip it in the bud so to speak.
I have noticed the numbers of charities being started up. In a society where the majority in a satisfactory financial state show little interest in fairness to all, it makes me suspicious as to the reasoning of those behind charities. Cynical, but I consider that is well-based when one looks at the stories behind those ending up in Court where we hear the background.
When people have very little they lack the resources to examine every offer, and are in the awkward position of being offered charity from apparent sympathetic people which may be offered in unhelpful ways, and with ulterior motives.
Oh dear, the terrible Labour Party headed by the completely unelectable Jeremy Corbyn has just won a by-election in Oldham with daylight second after all of the MSM predicted a close race or a loss. How could those papers get it so wrong. And the candidate was anti-airstrikes as well. Maybe poor Jeremy is not so unelectable after all.
That’s not quite how it worked out.
It looks like voters in Oldham went to the polling booths to elect their very popular council leader ( who went to some lengths during the campaign to distance himself from Corbyn) as a Labour mp in spite of the fact that most of them aren’t that taken with the leader of the parliamentary Labour party.
Only if you believe what trash they write in the Guardian/Mail/Telegraph. Pre polling day, Corbyn was dragging the Labour Party to certain defeat or at his very best a narrow win. Labour in fact increased their share of the vote by over 7% while Tories dropped under 10%. Corbyn has been the whole focus of Ukips and the Tories campaign with leaflets and adverts attacking him relentlessly. The result has shocked the so called well informed pundits who as usual have their heads that far up their arse they don’t know what day it is.
to David Clark MP on NZ taxpayers gifting $2.6 million abattoir:
I don’t know what Clark said exactly, but the NZ Herald writes: “Labour Party trade and export growth spokesperson David Clark said it was time the Government stopped pouring taxpayer money into the Saudi businessman’s pocket.”
A despicably weak complaint. I think Clark should have said,
“It is an abomination that National extracts $2.6 million from the poorest among us to bribe a Saudi multi-millionaire.”
Because of GST, even the poorest New Zealander is forced to contribute to that $2.6 million. That’s what needs to be emphasized.
Agree with you that it is weaksauce, but its also typical Labour small target weaksauce. $2.6M is 1/10 of a miniscule flag referendum and less than 0.01% of the Government budget.
So it really is a double criticism – watered down criticism of the spending of an insignificant sum.
No worries, BM. Each to their own. I’m old enough to have seen off a lot of my heroes. Strummer, Cobain, Jeffrey Lee Pierce, Lux Interior and Lou Reed for example. I can add Scott Weiland to the list now.
“Legal compliance notice
Tonight I was served with a court order notice instructing me to “take down or disable material from the blog Your NZ that mentions or identified [person’s name] or [company name], or any of it’s associated companies directly or indirectly” and “introduce a full time moderator systems so that no comment that is harmful to said person is placed on the blog “Your NZ”.
This should send a chill up the New Zealand blogosphere.”
I don’t know whether to take this seriously or not.
[Edited as per court order] / December 4, 2015
Press release of [Edited as per court order] 4 November 2015 concerning the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015
First Interim Injunction against unmoderated mainstream
“bully boy blog” Your NZ.
The Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015 [HDCA], the brain child of ex Justice Minister Judith Collins, had its first test in a District Court application today with the Court granting [Edited as per court order] application for an interim injunction [CIV-2015- 004-001653] against previous Dunedin Mayoral candidate Peter Donald George, aged 60, of 9 Babsie Road, Ravensbourne, of unknown occupation.
“Peter Georges behaviour, in abusing people, and inciting other people to come on to his blog to abuse people, and to lie, and fabricate the most serious criminal allegations against innocent persons that he nor his fellow bloggers have ever met, needed to be brought under control by the processes of justice” said Mr [Edited as per court order]
The Courts interim ruling by District Court Judge Gary Harrison takes immediate effect as against Mr George and his blog site “Your NZ”. It provides that Mr George is restrained from mentioning the names of Mr [Edited as per court order], his employer, or any of the employers associated companies, on his blog “Your NZ”, and that Mr George is restrained from directly or indirectly communicating with Mr [Edited as per court order], or any employees of Mr [Edited as per court order]employer, or any of the companies associated with Mr [Edited as per court order]employer. The second part of the ruling is that Mr George has to, with immediate effect, remove all direct and indirect references to Mr [Edited as per court order], his employer, and any of the employers associated companies. The third and final ruling is that Mr George has to, with immediate effect, introduce a full time moderator system so that no comment that is harmful to those protected by the Courts orders, is “placed on the Blog “Your NZ”.
“I felt that the Court understood that Mr Georges articles were fiction, fabrication, and falsehood, designed to grab readership, and incite malice, in order to harm persons inclusive of myself, and those associated with me. I took particular umbrage at an attempt by Mr George to blackmail my employer into terminating my employment, and I felt that Mr George needed to be reeled in” said Mr [Edited as per court order]
Mr [Edited as per court order]intends to prosecute Mr George under s22 of the HDCA seeking that Mr George receives the maximum penalty for his actions. The maximum penalty for causing harm to a person is a $50,000 fine, or imprisonment for a maximum term of 2 years. Mr [Edited as per court order]believes his application and orders were the first under the new Act. In keeping with the new age of communication, and the content of the order, Mr [Edited as per court order]intends serving Mr George by posting the order on Mr Georges website, which will be, for the last time in its history, as of today unmoderated.
“Numerous friends and associates that were reading the hateful and hurtful fabrications of Mr George have agreed to stump funds to assist me bring Mr George to justice, and that I feel that serving the Courts orders online by posting them on his blog, in his comments section, is somehow appropriate in the circumstances. I would appreciate it if my employer, who has stood by me, is not mentioned in the media” said Mr [Edited as per court order].
Should Mr George not immediately obey the Courts orders, Mr [Edited as per court
order]will apply to the Court to have Mr George imprisoned for contempt, and prosecuted for non- compliance which could see Mr George, if he were convicted, serve a maximum term of imprisonment of 6 months. Mr [Edited as per court order]is unsure whether Mr George could operate his blog from a prison cell.
“Mr George has attacked the likes of Cameron Slater and other bloggers for years, when in fact it has been his behaviour that has been, by far, the worst. The statutorily enforced moderation of blog site comments should be made law in an immediate amendment to the HDCA, with the addition that the website owner is liable for any comments that are posted after moderation. If these additions were to become law, the significant expense to date will have been worth it” said Mr [Edited as per court order].
Mr [Edited as per court order]is not available for comment.
“Mr George has attacked the likes of Cameron Slater and other bloggers for years, when in fact it has been his behaviour that has been, by far, the worst.
Dear oh dear… Mr[Edited as per court order] sound like a bullying, vengeful right-wing nut job associated with Mr Cameron Slater. Irritating though he can be, I have empathy with “Mr George” on this matter. I don’t read his site so can’t comment on who Mr [etc. etc.] is.
Yep. I’ve seen these cowards make similar threats online, weka. When challenged, they feign innocence. eg. they would say the second one really meant ‘it was late, and we were just recommending you go to bed’.
Well done. Lolz at the numpties. I’m almost at the point of feeling sorry for PG (unless this is a double blind to get the blogosphere to care about him 😉 ).
Yeah. ms, if your reading this you might want to pop over to PG’s and have a look. I thought about putting a post up, but I think there may be some issues associated with a well known NZ based racist and misogynist fantasist site.
I may have my issues with Pete, but this is just bullying.
Basically Petes managed to point out some uncomfortable ‘coincidences’ connecting whaleoil, the blog with the Latin name and various individuals like the brothers grimmy and a used car salesman who has apparently taken out the order.
It appears that considerable effort has been put in in the last month or so tof manipulate a situation where such an order would be granted.
I have never seen eye to eye with Pete George but what’s gone/going on there has ramifications for all blogs including this one and he needs support.
Yep. Pete is someone who just wants to make the world a better place. Most of the time I disagree with his proposed paths but I am convinced that he wants to improve things.
He also manipulates information (does this fairly regularly about ts and associates) in order to spin in a certain direction that is pretty close to lying at times.
I don’t agree with taking court action over that, and it’s ridiculous using the ridiculous HDCA, but it doesn’t surprise me that a someone has taken exception to PG’s paricularly practice of skewing the truth.
That’s a separate issue from his politics and far more damaging.
Yes, PeeGee was digging into the [r0b: deleted] associations, but then he made a really dumb error … he phoned [r0b: deleted] employer and insisted [r0b: deleted] be fired or his employer would start to get negative press on his blog [r0b: I believe that is an unsubstantiated alegation] … the injunction resulted from the threat to harm his employer unless they fired him … so he’s just a dumb arse LOL
[r0b: Details deleted – really don’t want all this daft mud wrestling crossing over to this blog.]
PG’s description of the conversation is quite different.
It is also completely out of character for him to have made those kinds of statements.
However the allegations read exactly like the fantasies of Marc Spring (I have a number of them on file), and the bullshit that dimwit Nottingham invents when doing ‘legal’ work (distasteful stupidity). The court of appeal judgement on Cameron Slater’s ‘new evidence’ makes the latter quite plain.
The NRA holding the Statue of USA Liberty hostage. She is no longer at liberty in the name of freedom. Mad.
There is a funny mad clip of someone being held at gunpoint in a comedy from Mel Brooks. This is the one from Blazing Saddles where the townspeople are paralysed – caught between confronting their normal racist ideas, and the scene of their black sheriff holding himself hostage. (He gets away from the gunman safely. Cleavon Little was Sheriff Bart.)
good counter article…..the data may be skewed and manipulated, and would also spend time confirming the counter but think the primary point of the original article is valid…..how can we (the world as represented at Paris) seriously seek to mitigate A.C.C. while similtanously ignoring population growth?
Cunliffe is in no doubt some of the blame lies with the Government.
“It is clear there is a system failure,” he says, pointing to the glowing Education Evaluation Reviews NZQA handed to providers later found to have gamed the system. In the case of MACT, two NZQA inspectors spent two days at the trust before reporting in August 2013 that they were “highly confident in educational performance and highly confident in capability in self-assessment”. A TEC review, commissioned just 14 months later, found multiple failings in the delivery of the two courses MACT taught, including overcharging the taxpayer $2.7 million during 2013 and 2014.
…
The dependence on whistle-blowers “just shows that we have got a broken monitoring system”, says Cunliffe. “It’s an honesty box system, the monitoring agents don’t conduct any audits and don’t share data. NZQA appears not to want to know about the robustness of some of the self-assessment. There are repeated examples where they have given people a reasonably clean bill of health when they have later been shown to be rorting blind.”
Joyce insists the monitoring system is working just fine, describing it as “much more accountable” than it has ever been. “While there have been and will be some issues with individual institutions, the system is robust and delivering strong results for students.”
But can those results be trusted? At many of the institutions reviewed by TEC the answer was: “clearly not”. Hundreds of students have had their qualifications withdrawn.
A whistleblower who worked as a quality assurance officer at a South Island polytechnic told the Herald it was common practice to cheat external performance reviews.
“You could fudge the moderation system. I did it plenty of times because my employers would require me to do that. You would go through and find the best samples for NZQA. There was one time I refused to do it and that was where I started getting into shit.”
The whistleblower, who had previously worked for NZQA, is no longer in the industry. She left, she says, in disillusionment after discovering similar practices at other providers.
After this scandal and the latest bribes to a Saudi businessman, I expect a tsunami of bullshit and distractions heading our way next week
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The Green Party echoes a call for banks to divest from entities linked to Israel’s illegal settlements in Palestine, and says Crown Financial Institutions should follow suit. ...
Te Whatu Ora’s finances have deteriorated under the National Government, turning a surplus into a deficit, and breaking promises made to New Zealanders to pay for it. ...
The Prime Minister’s decision to back his firearms minister on gun law changes despite multiple warnings shows his political judgement has failed him yet again. ...
Yesterday the government announced the list of 149 projects selected for fast-tracking across Aotearoa. Trans-Tasman Resources’ plan to mine the seabed off the coast of Taranaki was one of these projects. “We are disgusted but not surprised with the government’s decision to fast-track the decimation of our seabed,” said Te ...
At Labour’s insistence, Te Whatu Ora financial documents have been released by the Health Select Committee today showing more cuts are on the way for our health system. ...
Fresh questions have been raised about the conduct of the Firearms Minister after revelations she misled New Zealanders about her role in stopping gun reforms prior to the mosque shootings. ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford still can’t confirm when the Government will deliver the $2 billion worth school upgrades she cut earlier this year. ...
Labour acknowledges the hundreds of workers today losing their jobs as the Winstone Pulp mill closes and what it will mean for their families and community. ...
In Budget '24, the National Government put aside $216 million to pay for a tax cut which mainly benefitted one company: global tobacco giant Philip Morris. Instead of giving hundreds of millions to big tobacco, National could have spent the money sensibly, on New Zealand. ...
Te Whatu Ora’s financials from the last year show the Government has manufactured a financial crisis to justify making cuts that are already affecting patient care. ...
Over 41,000 Palestinian’s have been murdered by Israel in the last 12 months. At the same time, Israel have launched attacks against at least four other countries in the Middle East including Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran. “You cannot play the aggressor and the victim at the same time,” said ...
Associate health minister Casey Costello has made a fool of the Prime Minister, because the product she’s been fighting to get a tax cut for and he’s been backing her on is now illegal – and he doesn’t seem to know it. ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee’s inquiry into climate adaptation is something that must be built on for an enduring framework to manage climate risk. ...
The Government is taking tertiary education down a worrying path with new reporting finding that fourteen of the country’s sixteen polytechnics couldn’t survive on their own,” Labour’s tertiary education spokesperson Dr Deborah Russell says. ...
Today the government announced a $30m cut to Te Ahu o Te Reo Māori- a programme that develops te reo Māori among our kaiako. “This announcement is just the latest in an onslaught of attacks on te iwi Māori,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Rawiri Waititi. ...
The Government has shown its true intentions for the public service and economy – it’s not to get more public servants back to the office, it’s more job losses. ...
The National Government is hiding the gaps in the health workforce from New Zealanders, by not producing a full workforce plan nearly a year into their tenure. ...
Today, the Crown Mineral Amendment Bill was read for the first time, reversing the ban on oil exploration off the coast of Taranaki. It was no accident that this proposed law change was read directly after the Government started to unravel the ability of iwi and hapū Māori to have ...
Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Justice, Tākuta Ferris, has hit out at the Government, demanding the Crown prove its rights to the foreshore, following the Marine and Coastal Area Amendment Bill, passing its first reading. "Māori rights to the foreshore pre-exist the Declaration of Independence, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and ...
The one-stop-shop Fast-track Approvals Bill, and the 149 projects listed in the Bill, will help rebuild our struggling economy and kick-start economic growth across the country, Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop says. “Since 2022, New Zealand has battled anaemic levels of economic growth. If we want Kiwi kids to stop ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today announced the appointment of Sir Brian Roche as the next Public Service Commissioner. “I am delighted to appoint Sir Brian to this crucial leadership position,” Mr Luxon says. “Sir Brian is a highly respected New Zealander who has held significant roles across the public and ...
Forestry Minister Todd McClay today announced the establishment of a Forestry Sector Reference Group to drive better outcomes from the Forestry Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Registry. “We are committed to working with the forestry sector to provide greater transparency and engagement on the forestry ETS registry as we work to ...
New Zealand’s fuel resilience is being strengthened to ensure people and goods keep moving and connected to the world in case of disruptions, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says. “Fuel security is a priority for the Coalition Government. We are acutely aware of how important engine fuels are to our ...
The Government will reform New Zealand’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) system to provide significant regulatory relief for businesses, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says. “Cabinet has approved an AML/CFT reform work programme which will ensure streamlined, workable, and effective regulations for businesses, law enforcement, and ...
Significant reforms are underway in the building and construction portfolio to help enable more affordable homes and a stronger economy, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “If we want to grow the economy, lift incomes, create jobs and build more affordable, quality homes we need a construction sector that ...
Minister Responsible for the GCSB and Minister of Defence Judith Collins will travel to Singapore and Brussels for Singapore International Cyber Week and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting. New Zealand has been invited to attend the NATO meeting alongside representatives from the European Union and the ...
Toitū ngā pōito o te kupenga a Toitehuatahi! A Government commitment to restoring the health and mauri of the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana will enhance the area for generations to come, Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka says. Cabinet recently agreed to pass the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill into law, ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour says the Government has committed to action on overseas investment, where the country’s policy settings are the worst in the developed world and holding back wage growth. “Cabinet has agreed to the principles for reforming our overseas investment law. At the core of these principles ...
The annual East Asia Summit (EAS) held in Laos this week underscored the critical role that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plays in ensuring a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. "My first participation in an EAS has been a valuable opportunity to engage ...
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says the feedback from the health and safety roadshow will help shape the future of health and safety in New Zealand and grow the economy. “New Zealand’s poorly performing health and safety system could be costing this country billions,” says Ms van ...
The Government has released the independent Advisory Group’s report on the 384 projects which applied to be listed in the Fast-track Approvals Bill, and further detail about the careful management of Ministers’ conflicts of interest, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says. Independent Advisory Group Report The full report has now been ...
The Government Policy Statement (GPS) on electricity clearly sets out the Government’s role in delivering affordable and secure electricity at internationally competitive prices, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand’s economic growth and prosperity relies on Kiwi households and businesses having access to affordable and secure electricity at internationally competitive prices. ...
The Government has broadly accepted the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care whilst continuing to consider and respond to its recommendations. “It is clear the Crown utterly failed thousands of brave New Zealanders. As a society and as the State we should have done better. ...
The brakes have been put on contractor and consultant spending and growth in the public service workforce, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “Workforce data released today shows spending on contractors and consultants fell by $274 million, or 13 per cent, across the public sector in the year to June 30. ...
The Crown accounts for the 2023/24 year underscore the need for the Government’s ongoing efforts to restore discipline to public spending, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Financial Statements of the Government for the year ended 30 June 2024 were released today. They show net core Crown net debt at ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will chair negotiations on carbon markets at this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) alongside Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and Environment, Grace Fu. “Climate change is a global challenge, and it’s important for countries to be enabled to work together and support each other ...
A new confirmation of payments system in the banking sector will make it safer for Kiwis making bank transactions, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “In my open letter to the banks in February, I outlined several of my expectations of the sector, including the introduction of a ...
Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour is pleased to see Pharmac continue to increase availability of medicines for Kiwis with the Government’s largest ever investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When our ...
The Government has released its long-term vision to strengthen New Zealand’s disaster resilience and emergency management, Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced today. “It’s clear from the North Island Severe Weather Events (NISWE) Inquiry, that our emergency management system was not fit-for-purpose,” Mr Mitchell says. “We’ve seen first-hand ...
Today’s cut in the Official Cash Rate (OCR) to 4.75 per cent is welcome news for families and businesses, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “Lower interest rates will provide much-needed relief for households and businesses, allowing families to keep more of their hard-earned money and increasing the opportunities for businesses ...
Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop has asked Sport NZ to review and update its Guiding Principles for the Inclusion of Transgender People in Community Sport. “The Guiding Principles, published in 2022, were intended to be a helpful guide for sporting bodies grappling with a tricky issue. They are intended ...
The Coalition Government is restoring confidence to the rural sector by pausing the rollout of freshwater farm plans while changes are made to ensure the system is affordable and more practical for farmers and growers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “Freshwater farm plans ...
The latest report from the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and Stats NZ, Our air 2024, reveals that overall air quality in New Zealand is improving, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Statistics Minister Andrew Bayly say. “Air pollution levels have decreased in many parts of the country. New Zealand is ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts has announced the appointment of Stuart Horne as New Zealand’s Climate Change Ambassador. “I am pleased to welcome someone of Stuart’s calibre to this important role, given his expertise in foreign policy, trade, and economics, along with strong business connections,” Mr Watts says. “Stuart’s understanding ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti and Associate Health Minister Casey Costello have announced a pilot to increase childhood immunisations, by training the Whānau Āwhina Plunket workforce as vaccinators in locations where vaccine coverage is particularly low. The Government is investing up to $1 million for Health New Zealand to partner ...
The Government is looking at strengthening requirements for building professionals, including penalties, to ensure Kiwis have confidence in their biggest asset, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says “The Government is taking decisive action to make building easier and more affordable. If we want to tackle our chronic undersupply of houses ...
The Government is taking further action to tackle the unacceptable wait times facing people trying to sit their driver licence test by temporarily extending the amount of time people can drive on overseas licences from 12 months to 18 months, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The previous government removed fees for ...
The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring New Zealand is a safe and secure place to do business with the launch of new cyber security resources, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Cyber security is crucial for businesses, but it’s often discounted for more immediate business concerns. ...
Investment in Apprenticeship Boost will prioritise critical industries and targeted occupations that are essential to addressing New Zealand’s skills shortages and rebuilding the economy, Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston say. “By focusing Apprenticeship Boost on first-year apprentices in targeted occupations, ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has announced a funding boost for Palmerston North ED to reduce wait times and improve patient safety and care, as well as new national standards for moving acute patients through hospitals. “Wait times in emergency departments have deteriorated over the past six years and Palmerston ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has announced a funding boost for Palmerston North ED to reduce wait times and improve patient safety and care, as well as new national standards for moving acute patients through hospitals. “Wait times in emergency departments have deteriorated over the past six years and Palmerston ...
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia! If it’s good for the people, get on with it! A $35 million Government investment will enable the delivery of 100 affordable rental homes in partnership with Waikato-Tainui, Associate Minister of Housing Tama Potaka says. Investment for the partnership, signed and announced today ...
This week’s inaugural Ethnic Xchange Symposium will explore the role that ethnic communities and businesses can play in rebuilding New Zealand’s economy, Ethnic Communities Minister Melissa Lee says. “One of my top priorities as Minister is unlocking the economic potential of New Zealand’s ethnic businesses,” says Ms Lee. “Ethnic communities ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters are renewing New Zealand’s calls for restraint and de-escalation, on the first anniversary of the 7 October terrorist attacks on Israel. “New Zealand was horrified by the monstrous actions of Hamas against Israel a year ago today,” Mr Luxon says. ...
Kia uru kahikatea te tū. Projects referred for Fast-Track approval will help supercharge the Māori economy and realise the huge potential of Iwi and Māori assets, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says. Following robust and independent review, the Government has today announced 149 projects that have significant regional or national ...
The Fast-track Approvals Bill will list 22 renewable electricity projects with a combined capacity of 3 Gigawatts, which will help secure a clean, reliable and affordable supply of electricity across New Zealand, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “The Government has a goal of doubling New Zealand’s renewable electricity generation. The 22 ...
The Government has enabled fast-track consenting for 29 critical road, rail, and port projects across New Zealand to deliver these priority projects faster and boost economic growth, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “New Zealand has an infrastructure deficit, and our Government is working to fix it. Delivering the transport infrastructure Kiwis ...
The 149 projects released today for inclusion in the Government’s one-stop-shop Fast Track Approvals Bill will help rebuild the economy and fix our housing crisis, improve energy security, and address our infrastructure deficit, Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop says. “The 149 projects selected by the Government have significant regional or ...
A new multi-purpose recreation centre will provide a valuable wellbeing hub for residents and visitors to Ruakākā in Northland, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. The Ruakākā Recreation Centre, officially opened today, includes separate areas for a gymnasium, a community health space and meeting rooms made possible with support of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lizzy Lowe, Vice Chancellor’s Research Fellow in Ecology and Entomology, Edith Cowan University If you notice a tiny, strikingly coloured spider performing an elaborate courtship dance, you may have seen your first peacock spider. New species of peacock spider are discovered ...
The coalition would return to government, but both Christophers - Luxon and Hipkins - have lost popularity, according to the latest 1News-Verian poll. ...
The coalition would return to government, but both Christophers - Luxon and Hipkins - have lost popularity, according to the latest 1News-Verian poll. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julia Powles, Associate Professor of Law and Technology; Director, UWA Tech & Policy Lab, Law School, The University of Western Australia Since 2019, the Australian Department for Industry, Science and Resources has been striving to make the nation a leader in “safe ...
A View from Afar – In this episode of A View From Afar political scientist Paul Buchanan and host Selwyn Manning analyse how the state of Israel has gone rogue, attacking United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. At this juncture it is clear this is an intentional attack. ...
Exclusive: New leadership hires at the Human Rights Commission were contrary to recommendations made by the independent panel tasked with leading the process, documents released under the Official Information Act reveal.On a quiet Friday afternoon in August, justice minister Paul Goldsmith announced the appointment of three leadership roles at ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Eldridge, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, Swinburne University of Technology Dmitrii Pridannikov/Shutterstock Heat can do amazing things to change your hairstyle. Whether you’re using a curling wand to get ringlets, a flat iron to straighten or a hair dryer to style, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Lecturer In Nutrition & Dietetics, University of the Sunshine Coast Queensland Premier Steven Miles has announced free school lunches if Labor is re-elected at the state’s upcoming election on October 26. The A$1.4 billion policy would cover primary students ...
By New Zealand Parliament failing to adequately address political corruption, Parliament fails to ensure a culture of integrity is led from the top. Human rights will always be better protected in countries that can demonstrate political integrity and transparency. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kellie Toohey, Associate Professor Clinical Exercise Physiology, Southern Cross University Ivan Samkov/Pexels When you think of lung cancer treatment, what comes to mind – chemotherapy, radiation, surgery? While these can be crucial, there’s another powerful tool that’s often overlooked: exercise. Our ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sasha Grishin, Adjunct Professor of Art History, Australian National University Installation view of OA_RR, 2016-2017 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia Photo Kate Shanasy Is Reko Rennie Australia’s equivalent of Keith Haring? Both Rennie, a Melbourne-based Aboriginal artist who celebrates ...
Alex Casey returns to a New Zealand classic on its 30th birthday. Just yesterday I walked a track through Christchurch’s Victoria Park and boy was it pleasant. The sunlight beamed through the canopy of trees, providing welcome warm zones in the cool forest air. Everyone grinned goofily as they passed ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The United States presidential election will be held on November 5. In analyst Nate Silver’s aggregate of national polls, Democrat Kamala Harris ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Newspoll, conducted October 7–11 from a sample of 1,258, gave the Coalition a 51–49 lead, a one-point gain for the ...
Pete Douglas tunes in for Matt Heath’s first week in his new job on Newstalk ZB. There are two ways to view Newstalk ZB. One is that it is a boomer hellscape, full of ads for retirement care facilities, patronised by a pitchfork-wielding mob desperate to jump on the blower ...
The LIVE Recording of A View from Afar podcast will begin today, Monday at 12:45pm October 14, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, 7:45pm (USEST). In this episode of A View From Afar political scientist Paul Buchanan and host Selwyn Manning I will analyse how the state of ...
WWF-New Zealand’s CEO, Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb, says the news is a devastating blow for all those who’ve worked to revive the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana and protect it for future generations. ...
Last week, Robot Rampage hosted its Arena Grand Opening in Auckland. Gabi Lardies was there to check out the fighters.Robots are dangerous. Really dangerous. I did not realise robots were so dangerous until I saw them fight to the death in a bulletproof glass and iron cage. Most of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mia Cobb, Research Fellow, Animal Welfare Science Centre, The University of Melbourne Bigzumi/Shutterstock When you hear about “science focused on how dogs can live their best lives with us” it sounds like an imaginary job made up by a child. However, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Shaw, Professor of Politics, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University Getty Images Nearly a year on from its formation, it’s clear a three-party coalition is not quite the same as the two-party versions New Zealand is accustomed to. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Blackwell, Research Fellow (Indigenous Diplomacy), Australian National University It’s one year since the failed referendum to enshrine a First Nations Voice to Parliament in the Australian Constitution. The vote represents a moment of deep sadness and frustration for many First ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Glenn Savage, Associate Professor of Education Policy and the Future of Schooling, The University of Melbourne As Australian students begin the final term of 2024, governments are in the middle of a bitter standoff over public school funding for next year. ...
In Muriwhenua, iwi are working hard to maintain a vital connection to Ninety Mile Beach, Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe. There is a whakataukī where I come from in the Far North: “Ko Herekino tapoko rau, he iwi mākutu”, which roughly translates to “Herekino of a hundred valleys and a tribe skilled in ...
An Interesting read…
How Mark Zuckerberg’s Altruism Helps Himself.
Zuckerberg set up a limited liability company, which has reaped enormous benefits as public relations coup and will help minimize his tax bill.
https://www.propublica.org/article/how-mark-zuckerbergs-altruism-helps-himself?utm_campaign=sprout&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=1449178700
Chap here set up charity kidscan or something which got fairly small contributions before being sold off, but while he owned it he funnelled $15? million through it over a few years, using it as a holding account for funds he invested in his own businesses which went bust. I wonder whether he was being altruistic, he said he was. The charity got the interest on the money till it was used on his ventures.
zuckerberg – sucker mountain or sugar mountain? Some names are uncannily suitable.
When KidsCan started – I had a quick look at the charities commission website for it after seeing a very large, brand new KidsCan vehicle on the motorway. I’m was also a bit dubious about the simplistic fix for kids in poverty of a raincoat and shoes. (Neither of them well made.)
In their posted accounts online, a significant amount of money went to a specific promotions company, which when I checked had names associated with the charity.
My view was: good business acumen, failed moral compass.
Molly
My feeling is that the real need in the community today brings out the human fleas to utilise the resource of a mass of poverty stricken people eager to catch on to help or charity offered. But sometimes the helpers are looking to nurture their own ends. Ouch. I’ve got a flea at the moment – I know how it bites but hope to be able to soon nip it in the bud so to speak.
I have noticed the numbers of charities being started up. In a society where the majority in a satisfactory financial state show little interest in fairness to all, it makes me suspicious as to the reasoning of those behind charities. Cynical, but I consider that is well-based when one looks at the stories behind those ending up in Court where we hear the background.
When people have very little they lack the resources to examine every offer, and are in the awkward position of being offered charity from apparent sympathetic people which may be offered in unhelpful ways, and with ulterior motives.
Read his bio or just watch fincher and zorkins ‘the social network’. The zuckerberg is all about the zuckerberg.
Oh dear, the terrible Labour Party headed by the completely unelectable Jeremy Corbyn has just won a by-election in Oldham with daylight second after all of the MSM predicted a close race or a loss. How could those papers get it so wrong. And the candidate was anti-airstrikes as well. Maybe poor Jeremy is not so unelectable after all.
It seems being “hard left” appeals to the electorate. Someone wake up the Nashs etc in the NZ Labour Party and let them know.
They know but their job seems to be to ensure that Labour keeps on the narrow, failed, neo-liberal path.
Like they’d listen to real evidence.
That’s not quite how it worked out.
It looks like voters in Oldham went to the polling booths to elect their very popular council leader ( who went to some lengths during the campaign to distance himself from Corbyn) as a Labour mp in spite of the fact that most of them aren’t that taken with the leader of the parliamentary Labour party.
Only if you believe what trash they write in the Guardian/Mail/Telegraph. Pre polling day, Corbyn was dragging the Labour Party to certain defeat or at his very best a narrow win. Labour in fact increased their share of the vote by over 7% while Tories dropped under 10%. Corbyn has been the whole focus of Ukips and the Tories campaign with leaflets and adverts attacking him relentlessly. The result has shocked the so called well informed pundits who as usual have their heads that far up their arse they don’t know what day it is.
Yep just thinking about a post …
So when is the Government of the USA going to declare the NRA a terrorist organisation?
1,052 mass shootings in 1,066 days
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2015/oct/02/mass-shootings-america-gun-violence
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/04/day-after-san-bernardino-republicans-line-up-to-crush-gun-control-efforts
Like the graphic above?
Exactly! The NRA holds the USA and the Republicans in particular hostage.
When will the US Goverment declare itself a terrorist organisation
Killed millions , maimed and abused hundreds of millions
Well yes – that too! 🙁
But I was thinking in terms of their internal policies ….
Mind you the gun barons have to make their killing.
to David Clark MP on NZ taxpayers gifting $2.6 million abattoir:
I don’t know what Clark said exactly, but the NZ Herald writes: “Labour Party trade and export growth spokesperson David Clark said it was time the Government stopped pouring taxpayer money into the Saudi businessman’s pocket.”
A despicably weak complaint. I think Clark should have said,
“It is an abomination that National extracts $2.6 million from the poorest among us to bribe a Saudi multi-millionaire.”
Because of GST, even the poorest New Zealander is forced to contribute to that $2.6 million. That’s what needs to be emphasized.
Agree with you that it is weaksauce, but its also typical Labour small target weaksauce. $2.6M is 1/10 of a miniscule flag referendum and less than 0.01% of the Government budget.
So it really is a double criticism – watered down criticism of the spending of an insignificant sum.
Another one gone.
Gutted.
Shit, no more Velvet Revolver either.
Sister morphine might have been more apt.
Probably, but that one’s a classic sign off.
And I’ll be honest I was never a great fan.
No worries, BM. Each to their own. I’m old enough to have seen off a lot of my heroes. Strummer, Cobain, Jeffrey Lee Pierce, Lux Interior and Lou Reed for example. I can add Scott Weiland to the list now.
And yet Don Henley lives. What gives?
RIP brother
On YourNZ
“Legal compliance notice
Tonight I was served with a court order notice instructing me to “take down or disable material from the blog Your NZ that mentions or identified [person’s name] or [company name], or any of it’s associated companies directly or indirectly” and “introduce a full time moderator systems so that no comment that is harmful to said person is placed on the blog “Your NZ”.
This should send a chill up the New Zealand blogosphere.”
sorry but http://www.donotlink.com/ isn’t working.
http://yournz.org/2015/12/04/fit-in-or-fuck-off/#comment-66054
I don’t know whether to take this seriously or not.
Dear oh dear… Mr[Edited as per court order] sound like a bullying, vengeful right-wing nut job associated with Mr Cameron Slater. Irritating though he can be, I have empathy with “Mr George” on this matter. I don’t read his site so can’t comment on who Mr [etc. etc.] is.
“In our opinion @tereoputake a court injunction is the least of your worries.”
A wee attempt at intimidation on twitter.
who from?
Lordy Findem. (I think the ‘real’ name goes into the spam trap here).
They followed up with ‘say goodbye to all the nice people’, which I assume they hope I see as a death threat.
Yes, and the first tweet looks like a threat of violence too.
Yep. I’ve seen these cowards make similar threats online, weka. When challenged, they feign innocence. eg. they would say the second one really meant ‘it was late, and we were just recommending you go to bed’.
looks like PG hasn’t cleaned up completely…
http://uniformresourcelocatorelongator.com/aHR0cDovL3lvdXJuei5vcmcvdGFnL21hcmMtc3ByaW5nLw%3D%3D%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
see also this comment at kiwiblog
http://uniformresourcelocatorelongator.com/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5raXdpYmxvZy5jby5uei8yMDE1LzEyL2dlbmVyYWxfZGViYXRlXzRfZGVjZW1iZXJfMjAxNS5odG1sI2NvbW1lbnQtMTYyOTc0Mg%3D%3D%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
Well done. Lolz at the numpties. I’m almost at the point of feeling sorry for PG (unless this is a double blind to get the blogosphere to care about him 😉 ).
Yeah. ms, if your reading this you might want to pop over to PG’s and have a look. I thought about putting a post up, but I think there may be some issues associated with a well known NZ based racist and misogynist fantasist site.
I may have my issues with Pete, but this is just bullying.
Basically Petes managed to point out some uncomfortable ‘coincidences’ connecting whaleoil, the blog with the Latin name and various individuals like the brothers grimmy and a used car salesman who has apparently taken out the order.
It appears that considerable effort has been put in in the last month or so tof manipulate a situation where such an order would be granted.
I have never seen eye to eye with Pete George but what’s gone/going on there has ramifications for all blogs including this one and he needs support.
From twitter:
Lauda Finem @Laudafinem 44m44 minutes ago
In our opinion @tereoputake a court injunction is the least of your worries.
From twitter:
Lauda Finem @Laudafinem 44m44 minutes ago
In our opinion @tereoputake a court injunction is the least of your worries.
Lauda Finem @Laudafinem 5m5 minutes ago
Say good-bye to all the lovely people @tereoputake and @Wendyjg1 – @MarcSpring @PeteDGeorge @nzherald @NewstalkZB
Yep. Pete is someone who just wants to make the world a better place. Most of the time I disagree with his proposed paths but I am convinced that he wants to improve things.
He also manipulates information (does this fairly regularly about ts and associates) in order to spin in a certain direction that is pretty close to lying at times.
I don’t agree with taking court action over that, and it’s ridiculous using the ridiculous HDCA, but it doesn’t surprise me that a someone has taken exception to PG’s paricularly practice of skewing the truth.
That’s a separate issue from his politics and far more damaging.
Yes, PeeGee was digging into the [r0b: deleted] associations, but then he made a really dumb error … he phoned [r0b: deleted] employer and insisted [r0b: deleted] be fired or his employer would start to get negative press on his blog [r0b: I believe that is an unsubstantiated alegation] … the injunction resulted from the threat to harm his employer unless they fired him … so he’s just a dumb arse LOL
[r0b: Details deleted – really don’t want all this daft mud wrestling crossing over to this blog.]
Even with the deletions that’s a hefty allegation 🙁
PG’s description of the conversation is quite different.
It is also completely out of character for him to have made those kinds of statements.
However the allegations read exactly like the fantasies of Marc Spring (I have a number of them on file), and the bullshit that dimwit Nottingham invents when doing ‘legal’ work (distasteful stupidity). The court of appeal judgement on Cameron Slater’s ‘new evidence’ makes the latter quite plain.
The NRA holding the Statue of USA Liberty hostage. She is no longer at liberty in the name of freedom. Mad.
There is a funny mad clip of someone being held at gunpoint in a comedy from Mel Brooks. This is the one from Blazing Saddles where the townspeople are paralysed – caught between confronting their normal racist ideas, and the scene of their black sheriff holding himself hostage. (He gets away from the gunman safely. Cleavon Little was Sheriff Bart.)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_JOGmXpe5I
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/04/climate-change-population-crisis-paris-summit
Interesting read but I think also worth reading the linked critics of the book article.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/jul/09/stephen-emmott-population-book-misanthropic
good counter article…..the data may be skewed and manipulated, and would also spend time confirming the counter but think the primary point of the original article is valid…..how can we (the world as represented at Paris) seriously seek to mitigate A.C.C. while similtanously ignoring population growth?
Who says population growth is being ignored? Can’t they use Google properly or something?
Another Steven Joyce rort:
The $25 million student funding scandal
After this scandal and the latest bribes to a Saudi businessman, I expect a tsunami of bullshit and distractions heading our way next week