Daily review 05/04/2024

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, April 5th, 2024 - 148 comments
Categories: Daily review - Tags:

Daily review is also your post.

This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Don’t forget to be kind to each other …

148 comments on “Daily review 05/04/2024 ”

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  1. SPC 1
    5 April 2024 at 5:37 pm

    "Stevig tot aan de beet"

    Hou op met mij te bijten

    Hallo, mijn naam is Dante

    Jaagt de hond

    https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/04/05/police-and-defence-dogs-upper-hutt-to-host-international-event/

  2. SPC 2
    5 April 2024 at 5:43 pm

    AI has solved the problem of a shortage of IT workers.

    https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/04/05/where-have-all-the-it-jobs-gone-report-identifies-a-culprit/

    So when will the upgrade of government IT systems go more smoothly?

  3. weka 3
    5 April 2024 at 7:14 pm

    This is fascinating, and such a good explanation of the culture wars. But it needs to be understood in context, so I will attempt a precis (sorry, it ended up being long).

    The hosts of Triggernometry are two right wing intellectual men. The reason lefties like me watch their show is because they are one of the few places where the interviews are about eliciting belief and meaning rather than simply using polemic or clickbait rhetoric for whatever politics/position.

    They interview people with a wide range of beliefs and politics, from across the political spectrums.

    The young man they are interviewing is of a different age demographic and milieu. He's most recently been working for an online LW media outlet, but has worked with both the left and right (including far right). I don't quite get him, and in the past have thought he was a grifter and a bit of a dick. But here he is showing more mature analsysis.

    He came to fame recently because he interviewed right wing media personality and trans identified male (trans woman) India Willoughby. Willoughby has a gender recognition certificate and often insists they are literally a woman. They're on twitter and there is a lot of fighting between IW and gender critical people, including JK Rowling.

    In the interview with the young man, Willoughby claimed that they had made a complaint to the police about JKR misgendering them on tweets and this was a hate crime. This was a few weeks before the Scottish Hate Crime law came into being on April 1 (JKR lives in Scotland). The police declined to investigate.

    But the statement they had done this was a big scoop for the young man, and he threw it out onto twitter into everyone's faces in a stupid way and got an understandably negative response (those tweets now deleted by his media org afaik).

    JKR responded on twitter a number of times because lines were being crossed and the young dude got a lot more than he bargained for. He ended up tweeting to JKR that she was a putrid c*nt. He appears to have been having a melt down rather than simply being a fuckwit.

    Not too long after that he unreservedly apologised and took responsibility, deleting the tweets. JKR accepted his apology gracefully and asked everyone to back off. Young dude disappears for awhile.

    In this video, he is talking about all of that, comes across as quite naive, the Triggernometry guys are going kind of light on him but pull him up on a few things.

    At the time stamp he says how since then lefties he knows have been telling him that JKR is a cunt and he shouldn't have deleted his tweets. Then all three of them are sitting there talking about the dynamic of why the left now think it's ok to call a woman a cunt, that it is extremely misogynistic. Compare this with the resounding silence from the left at all the misogynistic shit being thrown at gender critical women for the past decade.

    He also points out very well that both sides no longer consider the people on the other side human, and that this is going to go very badly.

    What women now understand very very well is that RW men will stand up for them (to an extent) and LW men won't.

    This in a nutshell is why the left is losing the culture wars. Most of the liberal left is still running round thinking that our politics are more important than people. He tangata, he tangata is lipservice and only applicable to people we like and agree with.

    Meanwhile, the structure of the traditional left/right spectrum is breaking down. I see so many women on social media (more than I can count) talking about now being politically homeless (UK, US and NZ). They have picked a side that is anti-left. And the liberal left's response is don't let the door hit you on the way out bigots, while at the same time not understanding that we are now outnumbered and outgunned.

    https://youtu.be/mnrCsdOe1c4?t=1943

    There about 5 minutes relevant to what I just said (maybe more, I'm still watching).

    • Nic the NZer 3.1
      5 April 2024 at 8:08 pm

      People right across the political spectrum get sucked into media narratives. In fact given the advent of the internet and particularly social media taking over news we probably have a smaller range of narratives as individual's than the 90's.

      Fundamentally the left and right are about as susceptible to moral panics as each other.

      The only winning strategy with culture wars is not to play.

      • weka 3.1.1
        5 April 2024 at 8:17 pm

        It's a nice idea, but women simply aren't going to walk away from the sex/gender wars, so the issue becomes how to convert the culture war side of that into useful debate and political rapprochement.

        The next bit in that video is talking the social media manipulation and also MSM. The young dude working at Byline has spend a number of years going out and doing actual reporting without an agenda on issues like why a steel works is closing down. And still getting millions of views.

        MSM were cutting that kind of reporting and often the MSM didn't know why the steel works was closing. But he just went and talked to workers and people who lived there who explained it and that no-one else was talking to.

        It was inspiring. I need to go look up some of his past work. It's very pertinent given the cuts to NZ journalism and news.

        • Visubversa 3.1.1.1
          5 April 2024 at 9:36 pm

          Well, now that the Labour Party is employing Shaneel Lal, I am seriously considering the cancellation of the automatic payment to the Party I have done for over 40 years.

          • weka 3.1.1.1.1
            5 April 2024 at 9:59 pm

            have to admit that if he had been hired by the Greens I'd be feeling the same. My commitment to strategic voting only stretches so far.

            Let's be grateful that his social media history probably rules him out of ever becoming an MP.

          • David 3.1.1.1.2
            6 April 2024 at 9:07 am

            Seriously, Labour have employed Shaneel Lal? Wow that’s crazy I certainly get the feeling he would be a highly unsuitable candidate for any position of power.

            • Molly 3.1.1.1.2.1
              6 April 2024 at 11:31 am

              The Labour Government had already employed him during the last six years as an advisor to the Ministry of Education.

              I'm assuming the current cropping of government employers may have ended that contract, making his employment with Labour a shift rather than a new decision.

              https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaneel-lal-489190194/details/experience/

              • SPC …
                6 April 2024 at 11:37 am

                So anyone working in a public service job is working for the *** (party) government and an employee in an MP's office is working for the party of the MP?

                • Shanreagh …
                  6 April 2024 at 11:56 am

                  I'm joining you in your Farcebook-like response SPC to say

                  'Not necessarily'

                • Molly …
                  7 April 2024 at 11:01 am

                  No, of course not. You are right.

                  More accurately: The recent clearout of consultants MAY have meant that he was available for work. His advocacy and consultancy work, MAY have meant – like others in the same situation – that he reached out to his existing network for employment. Which MAY have included members of the Labour Party.

            • Robert Guyton 3.1.1.1.2.2
              6 April 2024 at 12:01 pm

              More unsuitable that Uffindell? Or less?

          • SPC 3.1.1.1.3
            6 April 2024 at 10:07 am

            Employed by a Labour MP.

            I wonder if a National Party member ever considered ending party membership because a homosexual/lesbian was employed by an MP?

            • Robert Guyton 3.1.1.1.3.1
              6 April 2024 at 11:37 am

              How many National Party members ever considered ending party membership because of … anything at all?

              • SPC …
                6 April 2024 at 11:44 am

                That party is the ultimate self interest cartel. Middle class just wants a tax cut (no CGT, no estate taxes), a lower MW (lower employment cost), less spent on poor people (welfare/state housing etc).

            • Shanreagh 3.1.1.1.3.2
              6 April 2024 at 11:40 am

              Is there some reason you are missing the point here SPC? It has nothing to do with his sexuality but everything to with his character/personality which is wanting.

              Shaneel Lal was in large part responsible for the massing of people in Albert park in March 2023 that prevented women from speaking. Notably (some) the political left seem captured by the phrase 'transwomen are women' (tip they remain male in every single cell in their male bodies)

              The image of PM Hipkins fluffing about trying to answer the question from Sean Plunket on 'what is a woman?' is hard to remove from one's mind. The image of foul mouthed tweets from Lal also.

              Shaneel Lal & cohorts are in large part reponsible for the rise in the questioning of routine biology.

              So I am not sure what he brings unless there is some sort of mana in bringing some sort of anti woman, anti science person to Labour. It certainly keeps up the 'good work' enabling many to wonder what is going on with the left in NZ and to laugh at us.

              Anyway we are not concerned about Nat party. Their have been many 'own goals' from the Nats with their MPs.

              Somehow many thought that the Labour Party would not be doing such a thing. That Labour had an eye on the optics, that Labour had learned something from the inept handling of the LWS protests at Albert Park.

              It is the Labour Party that many are stratching their heads about in the employement of Lal. It shows to many how far away the Labour Party has strayed from any pretence that women, as a whole, are important to them.

              • Robert Guyton …
                6 April 2024 at 11:47 am

                To suggest that "the Labour Party has strayed from any pretence that women, as a whole, are important to them." is odd, imo. The Labour Party, I assume, will be acutely aware that women are important to them – do you think they've decided, "Nah, we don't need them/their votes" Pretence? Hardly. They weren't pretending in the first place, so how could they have strayed? Have you noticed, I presume you have, that there are women in the Labour Party? Do you assume they are voiceless? Doesn't seem that way to me.

                • Shanreagh …
                  6 April 2024 at 12:03 pm

                  Really?

                  So how come the employment of Lal seems to have gone unremarked on?

                  How come Hipkins was so gauche and surprised with the question from Plunket. His minders were so blind to the fact that 'something' was building up that they did not see the need to brief the PM

                  How come Labout as a whole has not condemned the violence meted out towards women at Albert Park?

                  All I am saying is that Lal seems on the face of it to bring little to the party and what he does bring, should be weighed against his generally anti social views in other walks of life. With 100s of competent policy analysts etc being shed from the PS since the election there should have been a better pool to choose from.

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    6 April 2024 at 12:06 pm

                    "How come Hipkins was so gauche and surprised with the question from Plunket. His minders were so blind to the fact that 'something' was building up that they did not see the need to brief the PM"

                    You're absolving Hipkins for his poor response, and blaming his minders?

                    Fair enough. Hadn't heard anyone stand up for Hipkins as you have here, Shanreagh – good for you!

                • weka …
                  6 April 2024 at 12:07 pm

                  It might be odd to you Robert, but those of us that have been following the gender/sex wars for a long time and been involved in figuring out and addressing the concerns of women, we understand perfectly.

                  NZ Labour have a long history now of sex denialism, prioritising the perceived rights of trans identified men over women, and of their MPs failing in their duty to represent their representing women's interests as a whole.

                  Within the Labour Party membership, there are many women who don't support GII over women's rights, and it's been very hard for them to speak because of No Debate.

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    6 April 2024 at 12:09 pm

                    " we understand perfectly."

                    So it seems. And you will tolerate no dissent or questioning of your perfect understanding.

                    • Shanreagh …
                      6 April 2024 at 12:18 pm

                      Robert do tell us how women are wrong in our understanding?

                      How can we improve/expand the knowledge of what is affecting women of the Left.

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      6 April 2024 at 12:24 pm

                      Shanreagh – what could anyone say to a group that already "understands perfectly"?

                      If ever there was a discussion-killer, it's that!

                  • SPC …
                    6 April 2024 at 12:21 pm

                    The party in government when people were able to identify by gender on drivers licenses and passports was National.

                    The National and ACT parties voted for the self ID legislation and do not propose to make any change.

                • Drowsy M. Kram …
                  6 April 2024 at 1:21 pm

                  Young NZer of the Year 2023 employed by Labour Party – now that would be a headline to stir the blood. Has anyone else heard the same? Time to purge Labour of its trans taint.

                  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaneel_Lal#Other_work

                  Online campaign against trans-rights author Shaneel Lal takes baffling and slightly menacing turn [14 Aug 2023]
                  Asked whether he had a responsibility to check claims such as these before tweeting them, Plunket said his comment was a wind up, stating: “I think it’s Twitter”.

                  I’ve heard that Shaneel Lal has been employed as an executive assistant for Labour MP Jenny Salesa. Has anyone else heard the same? [X – 25 March 2024]

                  Caught up in a wind up? I winder…

                  • weka …
                    6 April 2024 at 1:25 pm

                    context:

                    No Debate means that progressive gender critical voices have largely been silence. That leaves a vacuum for the reactionaries and the right to drive the narrative. Unfortunately that also means that the evidence is poorly presented.

                    • Drowsy M. Kram …
                      6 April 2024 at 1:44 pm

                      No debate has been an issue, but I'm not seeing much evidence of it here and now – not seeing much evidence at all, actually.

                      If Labour severed/repudiated its links to the tainted trans in question, would that help? Doubt it – some taints do linger. Maybe time will tell.

                    • weka []
                      6 April 2024 at 1:55 pm

                      when you say here and now, do you mean TS? Or in the Labour Party? Or NZ?

                    • Drowsy M. Kram …
                      6 April 2024 at 1:59 pm

                      TS – it's a great platform for debate. Is the Labour Party employing a tainted trans? Someone must know – it'll leak soon…

                • Tabletennis …
                  6 April 2024 at 3:22 pm

                  "The Labour Party, I assume, will be acutely aware that women are important to them – do you think they've decided" ah, we don't need them/their votes"

                  Robert could it be you have been too busy with other things, or poss not interested what the Labour Party thought about the women's vote…

                  Some History :
                  The Women's Rights Party was the result of one active member splitting away from the Labour Party ….their party vote was 2,513 at the last election.
                  Also many (men and women) voted for NZF in the last election, thinking they would hold to their promise to address the 'genderism' language that had infiltrated NZ Govenment Departments.

                  "Genderism"= the denial of sexed bodies, among other things
                  Remember NZ claims to be secular society.

              • SPC …
                6 April 2024 at 11:49 am

                So it is the politics of the advocacy for the group the person is part of, not their identity or sexuality …

                You oppose the cause and want no one in support of that cause to be a member of or employed by the Labour Party. I get it all right.

                • weka …
                  6 April 2024 at 11:59 am

                  First you suggest that a lesbian considering stopping her long AP to the Labour Party over the hiring of Lal is because she is homophobic.

                  Secondly, after it's been explained, you now say it's about objection to the 'cause', even after Shanreagh specifically said it was about Lal and his character.

                  If you still don't understand the point here I suggest you ask for clarification rather than making shit up.

                  • Shanreagh …
                    6 April 2024 at 12:05 pm

                    Thanks Weka, agree this is much better said than I would have said.

                  • SPC …
                    6 April 2024 at 12:16 pm

                    First you suggest that a lesbian considering stopping her long AP to the Labour Party over the hiring of Lal is because she is homophobic.

                    Show me where I did that.

                    • weka …
                      6 April 2024 at 1:10 pm

                      Visubversa: thinking about cancelling my AP because Labour employed Lal

                      SPC: "I wonder if a National Party member ever considered ending party membership because a homosexual/lesbian was employed by an MP?"

                      At the least, you are blatantly misrepresenting visub's point. At worse you are suggesting that her reasons were because the Lab MP had employed someone who is queer.

                      If you didn't mean the latter, now is your chance to clarify.

                    • SPC …
                      6 April 2024 at 1:53 pm

                      No I was not.

                      I was comparing someone on the left considering leaving a left wing party because an MP hired a transgender activist to someone on the right leaving a right wing party because an MP hired someone who was a homosexual/lesbian rights activist.

                      That this requires an explanation is how absurdly difficult it is to debate this issue on the site.

                    • weka []
                      6 April 2024 at 2:03 pm

                      ok, that’s kind of what I was thinking. This is how I interpreted that:

                      RW person quits National over them hiring a gay rights activist = homophobia

                      therefore if a LW person quits Labour over them hiring a trans rights activists, this equates to transphobia.

                      The problem here is this:

                      1. it’s not quitting over a TRA (although that might be an issue too). It’s quitting over this particular TRA because of who he is and what he has already done
                      2. Lal’s brand of TR activism is deeply misogynistic. Gay rights historically hasn’t been about removing other people’s rights, nor transgressing other people’s boundaries.

                      I will also point out that rather than saying gay rights activist, you in fact said gay person,

                      “I wonder if a National Party member ever considered ending party membership because a homosexual/lesbian was employed by an MP?”

                      Which is where the confusion probably started.

                      So complain all you like about having to explain things, but I will just reinforce the fact that too many people currently think they can do short comments and then complain when people get the wrong end of the stick.

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      6 April 2024 at 2:04 pm

                      "That this requires an explanation is how absurdly difficult it is to debate this issue on the site."

                      QFT

                    • SPC …
                      6 April 2024 at 2:11 pm

                      You replied to my comment of 11.49am, so the elaboration of my 10.07 comment had already occurred.

                      So what form of transright's activism is not misogynist, if you are claiming it is Lal's version that is?

                • weka …
                  6 April 2024 at 1:12 pm

                  You oppose the cause and want no one in support of that cause to be a member of or employed by the Labour Party. I get it all right.

                  I can't speak for Shanreagh, but on the face of it this is just stupid. It's also wilfully ignorant, when the rest of us know that the problem is Lal.

                  • SPC …
                    6 April 2024 at 1:58 pm

                    If it is not Lal being a transgender rights activist, what is the character issue?

                    • David …
                      6 April 2024 at 2:22 pm

                      His (Shanel lal) character issue can be put down to the type of attitude that screams “Im right, you’re wrong” and “how dare you contradict me”. If he was a regular straight white dude had a regular professional job as say a manager with staff, working in finance then he would be highly problematic. But he is politically to the left and has very a fixed ideology that he won’t accept being questioned, let alone challenged. Because “we” mustn’t upset the guy, “we”go down the wrong path because “we” are scared of being denounced as being impure.

                      Surely this should be seen as a warning for us all

                      Only the almighty is perfect and beyond reproach. If we as an individual reach the stage when we are unquestionably right, our time in this world has com to an end. Mortal men who challenge the gods inevitably end up as despots.

                    • weka …
                      6 April 2024 at 2:35 pm

                      Lal was very instrumental in the violence that happened at LWS Auckland. In the week leading up he was running terf = nazi lines, on national television, and egging on the people that eventually became a mob.

                      He's a misogynist. After the event, he used victim-blaming rhetoric about women who had been subjected to violence, on this Linkd In
                      e
                      https://www.linkedin.com/posts/shaneel-lal-489190194_posie-parker-arrived-at-albert-park-and-caged-activity-7045280513665769473-5DK9/?trk=public_profile_like_view

                      He uses lies in his activism, he's a loose unit in that sense and that make him a liability for any political party.

                      https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/301012719/activist-shaneel-lal-made-inaccurate-claim-about-posie-parker-media-watchdog-finds

                      In that interview he also made out that KJK was a reactionary nutjob by saying that she thinks people are being murdered and put into a blender. In fact in one of her videos she referred to a known case in the UK where that was done to a 14 year old girl who was probably kidnapped by grooming gangs (which KJK also talked about and is also a known thing).

                      So here is Lal completely misrepresenting a political opponent and a political situation. It's just stupid having someone like that working politics.

                    • David []
                      6 April 2024 at 3:06 pm

                      It’s interesting that he used “nazi” to describe a group of woman who he disagrees with. He is so unaware of his own ideological character, that he doesn’t realise the similarities between himself and the character of those Germans caught up with the undying belief of the nazi ideology in the 1930’s.

          • Robert Guyton 3.1.1.1.4
            6 April 2024 at 12:03 pm

            We must now dredge through the employees of every party in order to decide who we will vote for – exhausting, but necessary!!

            • Shanreagh 3.1.1.1.4.1
              6 April 2024 at 12:10 pm

              Well speaking very generally you can get a good idea of the cause by the people those espousing the cause choose as employees. This is not a Public Service employment but a time limited, hopefully, political employment.

          • Robert Guyton 3.1.1.1.5
            6 April 2024 at 2:29 pm

            "Well, now that the Labour Party is employing Shaneel Lal"

            Was there a link to accompany/support your claim, Visubversa?

            It's customary/required here on TS. Not sure how your comment slipped through the net.

            • weka 3.1.1.1.5.1
              6 April 2024 at 2:47 pm

              It's customary/required here on TS. Not sure how your comment slipped through the net.

              The only time people are pre-emptively required to provide a link up front is when they quote.

              Sometimes we also ask people to provide links as part of backing up arguments. As per the Policy,

              What we’re not prepared to accept are pointless personal attacks, or tone or language that has the effect of excluding others. We are intolerant of people starting or continuing flamewars where there is little discussion or debate. This includes making assertions that you are unable to substantiate with some proof (and that doesn’t mean endless links to unsubstantial authorities) or even argue when requested to do so. Such comments may be deleted without warning or one of the alternatives below may be employed. The action taken is completely up to the moderator who takes it.

              In this case, that Lal has been employed by a Labour MP has been discussed enough that you will find this from a simply google or TS search.

              The mods take a very dim view of people misrepresenting TS policy and moderation.

              If you want to know about something, ask. Please stop hassling people about this.

              You are clearly not understanding how this works despite repeated explanations. I'm sick of explaining it over and over. If I see you making asides about the moderation that undermines moderation, I will moderate.

              • Drowsy M. Kram …
                6 April 2024 at 7:00 pm

                In this case, that Lal has been employed by a Labour MP has been discussed enough that you will find this from a simply google or TS search.

                Robert might have been seeking evidence that supports the oft-discussed belief that Lal is, or has been, employed by a Labour Party MP.

                According to my sources (Google), there's no question Lal was a member of Ministerial Youth Advisoty Group (Education) – starting at age 17.

                Lal advised the Minister of Education, Chris Hipkins for three years [from 2017] as a member of the Minister's youth advisory group. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaneel_Lal#Other_work

                Ministerial Youth Advisory Group
                Learn about the Ministerial Youth Advisory Group and its members
                …
                If you have questions about the Youth Advisory Group, email: youth.voice@education.govt.nz

                Lal has sat on Amnesty International's Youth Task Force. Lal has served as a Global Youth Leader for Open Government Partnership. In 2019, Lal was selected by Jenny Salesa to represent Manukau East in the New Zealand Youth Parliament.
                https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaneel_Lal#Other_work

                General Debate Speech Shaneel Shavneel Lal Youth Parliament 2019 [YouTube – 3 and a half minutes]

                I'd like to know whether Lal is, or has been, employed (in the usual sense of the word) by the Labour Party or by a Labour party MP. How hard can it be to provide evidence – surely it would have been leaked by now?

                Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, but the rush to accept Lal's employment by Labour as a (convenient?) truth is to no-one's credit, imho.

                https://twitter.com/KatrinaBiggs2/status/1772003178458026063 (9:50 am)

                https://twitter.com/kaiviti_cam/status/1772005922786992586 (10:01 am)

                Cam Slater – ffs. Btw, this is not intended as harassment – I want the truth.
                “You can’t handle the truth!“

                • weka …
                  6 April 2024 at 7:47 pm

                  Chris Hipkins recently confirmed it in an interview with Sean Plunket. That is now behind a paywall but the following day (I think) Plunket said this,

                  https://youtu.be/BTCSEKdkf-A?t=111

                  If someone can't find something and wants evidence, all anyone has to do is ask. Just like you did.

                  • Drowsy M. Kram …
                    6 April 2024 at 11:45 pm

                    Thanks weka for that link to a video of Ovens' interview with Plunkett.

                    "Jill Ovens on Shaneel Lal’s position in the Labour Party"

                    [@ 0:22] And at the end of the interview I [Plunkett] quizzed him [Hipkins] about the employment by the Labour party of a man called Shaneel Lal…

                    [@1:52] He [Hipkins] also defended the employment of Shaneel Lal as an executive assistant and policy researcher in the Labour party – we understand in the office of the MP Jenny Salesa, for whom he was a youth MP some years ago.

                    [@ 3.00] Jill, were you surprised yesterday, on the anniversary of Albert Park, to hear that Shaneel Lal was – had been employed by the Labour party.

                    [@ 6:31] Would you go back [to the Labour party] if Shaneel Lal was still working for the Labour party at Parliament?

                    The title of that YouTube video seems to leave no room for doubt that Lal holds a "position" in the Labour party (perhaps, "we understand", as a policy researcher in Salesa's office) – Ovens' says [@ 3:48] "it wouldn't be surprising if she [Lal] worked through that [Salesa's] office".

                    Which is all well and good, but please forgive me for wanting to hear what Hipkins said, rather than what Plunkett said Hipkins said, and Ovens' reaction to what Plunkett said Hipkins said.

                    Also, please accept that I'm not saying Hipkins didn't confirm Lal is employed as an executive assistant and policy researcher in the Labour party – it's just that I haven't personally seen/heard Hipkins confirm this, or read a transcript of what Hipkins said, so I don't know.

                    Lastly, weka, if you can confirm that Hipkins said what Plunkett said he said on Plunkett's platform, then that would be good enough for me.

                  • Drowsy M. Kram …
                    7 April 2024 at 10:11 am

                    Brilliant link weka – Lal "is working for one of our [Labour's] MPs" – ta.

                  • joe90 …
                    7 April 2024 at 10:24 am

                    Anderson is hard core anti left,

                    Anderson wants to put women back on the urinary leash, too.

                    • weka …
                      7 April 2024 at 11:29 am

                      you've no idea how fucking enraging it is that the liberal left have forced the situation to the point were left wing gender critical feminists like myself have to rely on him for evidence.

                      No Debate handed power to him directly.

    • adam 3.2
      5 April 2024 at 10:19 pm

      One more reason why I really loath the liberal left weka. They are just pathetic, no better than the liberal right. Two sides of a very destructive coin.

      • weka 3.2.1
        5 April 2024 at 10:29 pm

        thing that fucks me off is that the right seem to have the best thinkers atm. I watch/listen and find myself nodding and then they say something that just reminds me how terrible their world view is lol.

        • David 3.2.1.1
          6 April 2024 at 9:28 am

          The left certainly has a lot of good thinkers, however they have to be very careful with what they say and how they say it.

        • Incognito 3.2.1.2
          6 April 2024 at 10:44 am

          I find that many Right views & opinions sound very similar to generative AI: persuasive, compelling, and convincing (bordering on manipulative if/when wielded in certain situations targeting certain receptive audiences). However, at the same time they tend to circle around in variations of the same (neoliberal/economic) themes underpinning and congruent with their ideological framework, lack creativity and originality, and fall into traps of self-referential and self-fulfilling claims & conclusions similar to the intrinsic bias and hallucinating of gen-AI. They also tend to show considerable weakness in debating of moral and ethical dilemmas with their one-size-fits-all approach to personal and corporate freedoms that is dichotomous and uncompromising by default.

          • Shanreagh 3.2.1.2.1
            6 April 2024 at 11:20 am

            They also tend to show considerable weakness in debating of moral and ethical dilemmas with their one-size-fits-all approach to personal and corporate freedoms that is dichotomous and uncompromising by default.

            This was not always the approach of the right. Every now and again you catch a glimpse of the 'old right'. Chris Finlayson being one thinker from the Right.

            Since the neo-lib times the Right seems to view everything through an economic lens. This to me is why they now lack any declared aspirations for the betterment of NZ & NZers that does not hark back to some sort of $$$ approach. It has been bred out of them. I am not sure the current lot is capable of lifting their eyes higher than some sort of economic shop till.

            • Robert Guyton 3.2.1.2.1.1
              6 April 2024 at 11:32 am

              Finlayson can be arrogantly dismissive. If you're okay with that, he's a great guy to talk with 🙂

              • Shanreagh …
                6 April 2024 at 11:51 am

                This is not what I am meaning at all. How many thinkers are 'difficult' from the point of view of others?

                I'd venture to say that every single person who has made a foray into public life with beliefs that are not the bog standard stuff will have upset someone along the way. That someone has then gone on to to say, 'but he is so rude', 'he is so dismissive'.

                This is a great quote from GB Shaw from 'Man & Superman'. It uses the meaning of 'reasonable' of compliant, of seeing no need to question..etc

                George Bernard Shaw said “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”

                In my world we'd protect thinkers even with their foibles, by looking at the content & generally not their personal characteristics.

                • Robert Guyton …
                  6 April 2024 at 11:57 am

                  Sure. I've spoken kanohi ki te kanohi with Chris Finlayson – I didn't find him difficult, but recognised his bias and his style.

                  You write,

                  "In my world we'd protect thinkers even with their foibles, by looking at the content & generally not their personal characteristics."

                  Do you clasp then, Shaneel Lal to your bosom?

                  They're clearly a thinker,

                  • Shanreagh …
                    6 April 2024 at 12:12 pm

                    Lal a thinker? You must be joking. His tweets would disabuse anyone of that notion, his inability to recognise the views/rights of others, his unabashed violence of thought/speech.

                    The claim to a be thinker falls by an examination of the content that I have seen.

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      6 April 2024 at 12:18 pm

                      I haven't looked, tbh.

                      Doesn't interest me much. Do you worry they'll become a powerful influence through their new position?

                      This is deeply worrying. Our own Trump in the making, you think?

                  • Traveller …
                    6 April 2024 at 7:20 pm

                    I'll be gentle.

                    Before labelling someone a 'thinker', you really should do your homework.

                    1. On a discussion on Marae, about of all things freedom of expression, Lal said this “due to the transgender agenda, cisgender women are being kidnapped, blended and put into meat for human consumption”. The BSA clipped Lal's wings. Misleading claim over Posie Parker views breached accuracy standard (bsa.govt.nz)

                    2. On Twitter, Lal posted this comment “Dear Threaders, Can we agree that we won’t tolerate TERFs on Threads. They've made the lives of trans people living hell on almost all platforms. Let’s not allow their hatred to poison this app too. Requested with love.” Lal doesn't show much love for women who happen to be gender critical. Why are people threatening to boycott Spark NZ? | Stuff

                    3. In an article in the Herald (Shaneel Lal: Politicians need to lighten up – NZ Herald), Lal again inviked the term 'TERFS', describing them as "self-proclaimed women’s rights activists".

                    I'll leave it there because I promised to be gentle. But just in case you're willing to look at some of the tweets Shanreagh refers to below, you can see them at MEDIAWATCH: Can Shaneel Lal really claim people are critical because of topless photos? | The Daily Blog.

                    Charming.

          • Robert Guyton 3.2.1.2.2
            6 April 2024 at 11:30 am

            Agree with Incognito, I.

          • David 3.2.1.2.3
            6 April 2024 at 12:25 pm

            The same can be said about some on the left. Inflexible political ideology is similar to a one eyed Canterbury supporter. It’s the psychology of the individual, it’s kinda okay with your favourite sports team, but it’s not okay with governing the country.

            Maybe we (the public or society in general) need more open discussion about how we debate issues, it seems to me that the bullies are in control and have a greater say than those of us who wish to fully understand ideas. Mind you I come from an engineering background, before my current career. I could design a product or a system that worked perfectly on paper, but we built the prototypes, refined the designs, to ensure the the product could actually be manufactured, and would actually do what it was designed to do. One thing that I would come across, were the guys who believed that they were brilliant, but were completely unaware of their lack of technical competence. Rather than admitting that their knowledge was lacking in certain areas, they would deliberately undermine and attack their more competent colleagues. I think this was the first time that I’d heard about narcissistic personality disorders. So I’m wondering if people who hold ideologically rigid beliefs have risen to their level of incompetence and are unwilling to accept that they are wrong, or have something to learn, in order to protect their fragile self belief of themselves. One thing these guys had in common was their victimhood, they always blamed others for their failings, they were also masters at manipulating others to come to their side, even when we had absolute proof that the design could not possibly work. Sorry a bit off topic…

            • Incognito 3.2.1.2.3.1
              6 April 2024 at 1:11 pm

              Yeah, the second long paragraph was not a strong analogy, IMO, and going off-topic a wee bit.

              I don’t consider Left and Right ideologies as equivalent on a simple linear axis (e.g. one of the two axes of political compasses) or, simplistically, the other side of the coin (which is an example of dichotomous thinking). In addition, there are distinct differences, IMO, in how adherents and advocates (and activists) of various ideologies interpret and apply their respective sets of values, beliefs, and ideas.

              I’d say that some ideologies are intrinsically more open, more inclusive, more flexible, and more compromising, for example, than others.

          • weka 3.2.1.2.4
            6 April 2024 at 1:47 pm

            I'm starting to think there is this emerging class of righties whose politics are primarily involved in establishing truth and honesty. They're quite different from the right wing who favour misrepresentation or say Dirty Politics. In addition to Kisin and Foster from Triggernometry, I would say Peter Boghossian is the same (and would be interested to hear what you think of his Street Epistemology work if you look at it).

            I don't find them running the kinds of AI-esque arguments that you are meaning, and my admiration is for their technique and not their politics. Outside of TS, I don't see a lot of space for holding to truth and honesty in LW spaces, although that is no doubt also a reflection of the online spaces I am in. But for the most part, the left seem more occupied with ideology than truth.

            This is the reason for the overlap between people like Triggernometry and the left/centre left GC people. Both sides know not just that humans can change sex is a lie, but that the lie is a really big, important one in terms of denying material reality.

            • joe90 3.2.1.2.4.1
              6 April 2024 at 3:20 pm

              I'm starting to think there is this emerging class of righties whose politics are primarily involved in establishing truth and honesty.

              Not sure Kisin and Foster are establishing truth and honesty by platforming some of the worst people on the planet – anti-Islam activist Carl Benjamin, who happens to hate women and Jews and loves Tommy Robinson, actual fascist Sebastian Gorka, a self-proclaimed member of Hungarian Nazi group the Order of Vitéz and supporter of the banned fascist cosplay paramilitary group Magyar Gárda, professional Islamophobe and promoter of the great replacement racist conspiracy theory Douglas Murray, Jordan Peterson, Nigel Farage, Melanie Phillips, Andy Ngo, Chris Rufo, etc.

              • weka …
                6 April 2024 at 5:27 pm

                establishing might not be the best word, I will think on that.

                Just starting to listen to one of the CB interviews now. Here's Risin at the start,

                One of the things that I always liked about our conversations is that when you first came on the show we probably didn't agree on much. We've probably moved somewhat since, towards some of the views that you had, or maybe we unearthed some of the views we already had over time. But one of the things I always appreciated about you is your willingness to engage with people in conversation who have different opinions.

                So CB is far right. I don't think that bothers RW men as much as it bothers us on the left. So that interview doesn't mean that the techniques they use aren't about honesty and truth.

                If the left's response is to go 'nazi sympathiser', that will convince people on the left, many on the centre left, and even some centrists and centre right. It's not going to make use the majority.

                Which is to say, condemn the far right, for very good reasons I assume we both know. But if you also take out the centre right in that critique, how will the left ever win? That's not a rhetorical question, I really want to know what the strategy is. Almost no-one ever says.

        • Robert Guyton 3.2.1.3
          6 April 2024 at 11:40 am

          That may seem so to you, weka, but they don't and they never have. If you find yourself nodding, check to see if you are still awake.

          • weka 3.2.1.3.1
            6 April 2024 at 12:13 pm

            How many Triggernometry episodes have you watched Robert? Which ones?

            • Robert Guyton 3.2.1.3.1.1
              6 April 2024 at 12:15 pm

              How many episodes of Nate Hagens have you watched, weka? Which ones?

              • weka …
                6 April 2024 at 1:18 pm

                in the absence of a straight answer, I'll take that as you having watched none of them. Odd then that you feel qualified to state that they are never good critical thinkers.

                The irony is that your response is a classic example of the particular approach of the liberal left to this issue. Why bother making an actual argument when you can just make ideological and unevidenced assertions? The reason that Kisin and Foster are so good at what they do is that they eschew that form of debate and instead favour seeking truth by communicating, ideas exchange, and digging into issues. It's also why they can interview such a wide range of people and still be interesting despite their RW politics. Making an assertion about something is really the lowest form of debate by comparison.

                But thanks for providing such a good example of the problem.

                Also, as I pointed out in my original comment, those three RW men were easily able to pin point, name and explain the misogyny, whereas the liberal left are no longer able to do that and either actively or passively support the misogyny instead.

                • Robert Guyton …
                  6 April 2024 at 2:12 pm

                  " Odd then that you feel qualified to state that they are never good critical thinkers."

                  I stated that??

                  Please provide quote and link. You'll have noticed, no doubt, that my comment is in response to yours here:

                  3.2.1

                  5 April 2024 at 10:29 pm

                  which doesn't mention Triggernometry at all, so far as I can see.

                  Perhaps you've jumped the gun/have a hair-trigger?

                  Keen to hear your response.

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    6 April 2024 at 3:19 pm

                    ?

                  • weka …
                    6 April 2024 at 5:18 pm

                    Weka: long comment about a Triggernometry episode and their ability as RW men to recognise gross misogyny while the left is ignoring or sanctioning same misogyny.

                    Adam (in response to that long comment):

                    One more reason why I really loath the liberal left weka. They are just pathetic, no better than the liberal right. Two sides of a very destructive coin.

                    Weka (in response to Adam and in reference to the Triggernometry comment):

                    thing that fucks me off is that the right seem to have the best thinkers atm. I watch/listen and find myself nodding and then they say something that just reminds me how terrible their world view is lol.

                    Robert (in response to weka's response to Adam):

                    That may seem so to you, weka, but they don't and they never have. If you find yourself nodding, check to see if you are still awake.

                    Weka: how many episodes of Triggernometry have you watched Robert?

                    Robert: doesn't answer and diverts

                    Weka: that's no episodes then. And,

                    Odd then that you feel qualified to state that they are never good critical thinkers.

                    🤷‍♀️

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      6 April 2024 at 5:31 pm

                      "Robert (in response to weka's response to Adam):"

                      No, weka, my response (check the numbers 3.2.1.3) was to 3.2.1 –

                      weka3.2.1

                      5 April 2024 at 10:29 pm

                      "thing that fucks me off is that the right seem to have the best thinkers atm. I watch/listen and find myself nodding and then they say something that just reminds me how terrible their world view is lol."

                      You're pinging me for refusing to answer a question from you about something I'd not even come near to mentioning, alluding to, knowing about!

                      What gives?

                    • weka []
                      6 April 2024 at 5:43 pm

                      Yes, and my response at 3.2.1 was to Adam at 3.2

                      Adam 3.2
                      Weka 3.2.1
                      Robert 3.2.1.3 (.3 because others had already replied to me)

                • Tabletennis …
                  6 April 2024 at 3:51 pm

                  heart thank you Weka, indeed, as you say Triggernometry and Street Epistemology work with Peter Boghossian are interesting; to see random people either stick to their initial point of view or slowly changing as they get more information… and the questions become more challenging as they go.

                  • weka …
                    6 April 2024 at 4:53 pm

                    I love PB's work. That whole thing about getting people to think about their beliefs in a situation that is non-confrontational, he is really good at it.

                    (he also made a tit of himself this week by picking a fight with feminists online and then doubling down. Like he took a lid off and all his own beliefs came out. Interesting and weird in a man who is so good at remaining neutral in other situations).

                  • weka …
                    6 April 2024 at 4:54 pm

                    Might see if I can find a good Street Epistemology to put on up TS. Let me know if you have any in mind.

                    • Tabletennis …
                      6 April 2024 at 5:57 pm

                      Here are but two suggestion:

                      Wokeness & Aliens w/ Michael Shellenberger & Michael Shermer | Spectrum Street Epistemology

                      Bestselling authors and esteemed public intellectuals Michael Shermer and Michael Shellenberger discussed a number of topics ranging from religion to alien life.

                      Genspect Founder Stella O'Malley & The Gay of the Year, Menno Kuijper | Spectrum Street Epistemology

                      Stella, a psychotherapist and author, and Menno, a video creator who is gay, both share a similar gender-critical viewpoint. Though, they disagree on some points, notably on whether the term "trans people" should even be used. This leads to a discussion on the importance of language, especially regarding trans issues. Finally, they discuss autogynephilia and consent.

      • Robert Guyton 3.2.2
        6 April 2024 at 11:38 am

        No one should loathe " the liberal left weka."

        They're the opposite of loathsome, Adam 🙂

        • weka 3.2.2.1
          6 April 2024 at 1:21 pm

          the liberal left is a term I use to name the subset of the left who have abandoned class analysis in favour of identity politics. I prefer it because the term identity politics is weaponised by the left. It also references that the elevating of liberty over community.

          Adam probably has a somewhat difference usage, with more emphasis on historical leftist critique of political liberalism and class.

          Either way, if you take it to mean left wing people who are socially liberal, you are wrong.

        • SPC 3.2.2.2
          6 April 2024 at 4:15 pm

          It is the terminology used by the right to attack those liberal on social policy, if they are also left wing (social democratic and or socialist), adopted by others – whom someone called the "haters and wreckers", who divide against others on the left, because their cause is more important.

          • weka 3.2.2.2.1
            6 April 2024 at 4:59 pm

            that's confused. The haters and wreckers phrase was Helen Clark's in response to Māori protest over the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

            If those of us on the left cannot name dynamics within the left without being called haters and wreckers, who exactly is doing the dividing here?

            Within feminism we name liberal feminism to distinguish it from other kinds of feminism. This matters because the mainstream tends to think liberal feminism = feminism.

            Likewise, the conflating identitarian politics with leftism in general. Ime the right don't use the term liberal left when criticising identity politics, they just call it the left. Which is in accurate because identity politics doesn't usually concern itself with the labour movement or class analysis.

            • adam 3.2.2.2.1.1
              6 April 2024 at 6:25 pm

              At the end of the day it's because the liberal left can't handle it being pointed out they are frauds. They have wreaked the socialist program. They have embraced identitarian politics and the destruction that has wrought. They have supported hard right economics for the last 40 odd years – with all the harm that has caused.

              And yet any one who calls them on their bullshit is ""haters and wreckers", who divide against others on the left"

              Time to get the house in order, and sweep out the bullshitters, fakes and lairs.

              But for many that is just too hard. To hard to face up to the fact the people they embraced as an ally – were in fact, not.

              SPC you may not like me and that is fine – but I'm at least honest enough with myself to know your not the enemy. But you have bedded down with people who are. And like our Great Grand parents we need to remove ourselves from those who offer up all the right words, and empathetic language, when their actions do not match their words.

              • SPC …
                6 April 2024 at 9:39 pm

                One can make the case that the 4th Labour government undertook a neo-liberal market reform. MP's were misled into thinking that not managing an economy for the nation state peoples well-being was bringing a backwater colony into the wider global market world. That this and the anti-nuclear policy and Treaty moves (that National continued with) made for a progressive modernisation of our society.

                They should have focused on the gains from the 1983 CER, maintained ownership of assets and state capability and like Oz, operated within the constraint of keeping unemployment low.

                Yet the 5th Labour government protected state housing – restored income related rents, provided tertiary debt relief for local workers, supported low income families, increased the MW and invested in retirement saving for those over 65. These all continue.

                Yeah they and the 6th one have together left undone, a "FPA", expanding sickness into ACC, a more significant increase in state (income related) housing, and failed to protect people with a rent freeze, or realised the appropriate tax system to reduce inequality etc.

                Sure Labour incrementalism, not being NACT – incumbency first is stifling. Labour party members can own that fight.

                I've never voted Labour (voting pre MMP was absurd), I've always preferred Greens.

                Greens and this TPM will ensure a future Labour led government has some backbone.

            • SPC 3.2.2.2.1.2
              6 April 2024 at 8:35 pm

              If every group, that thinks their one issue is more important than the common cause, did what the 2005 era Maori MP's did – what would be left of Labour?

              The National Party does not do that, they seek to be the largest party – the Labour was last that that in 2005.

              TPM is back into the centre-left fold from its centrist dalliance with National (2005-2017), but there have long been calls for the “environmentalists” in the Green Party to do as they did.

              the liberal left is a term I use to name the subset of the left who have abandoned class analysis in favour of identity politics. I prefer it because the term identity politics is weaponised by the left. It also references that the elevating of liberty over community.

              I doubt that the either the liberal left, or socially liberal right have abandoned class analysis – it still determines how they vote.

              The liberal left vote Labour (and Greens) because of their support for a more economically just and environmentally responsible government.

              Adam probably has a somewhat difference usage, with more emphasis on historical leftist critique of political liberalism and class.

              There is a middle class division between classic liberals – those who prefer social democracy (and side with working class Labour) and those who prefer conformity with the capitalist market order (National and worse).

              There are others who want a well regulated economy and well managed governance. Those who either support, or do the work of technocrat moderation of whatever the the left and right parties in governments do.

              Those who reject either groups from the "working class team" are in reality advocating for a small more pure party to wait for system failure before being electable. Then comes the change …

              • weka …
                6 April 2024 at 8:47 pm

                I doubt that the either the liberal left, or socially liberal right have abandoned class analysis – it still determines how they vote.

                How so? Plenty of people vote for as you say their support for a more economically just and environmentally responsible government. That doesn't inherently involve class analysis. Plenty of people still voting for parties that will protect the capital gains in property they own for instance. Or who want a nicer version of neoliberal capitalism.

              • weka …
                6 April 2024 at 8:51 pm

                If every group, that thinks their one issue is more important than the common cause, did what the 2005 era Maori MP’s did – what would be left of Labour?

                I don’t really see how that follows on from what I said. Also, I’m fine if Labour splinters into several parties at this point. We’re in an electoral stalemate that will continue to block climate action. We’re approaching the point where anything will be better than that.

                But I don’t think what I am saying is equivalent to every group making their own issue more important than the common cause. In fact, the only people doing that are the genderists who use No Debate, that is literally what they are doing. The rest of us are all just bringing out issue to the table to be worked through.

                (unless you were referring to adam, who does take a more radical approach).

                • adam …
                  6 April 2024 at 10:39 pm

                  unless you were referring to adam, who does take a more radical approach

                  Thanks weka, that is correct.

                  I'm sure I'm not the only person who is sick and tired of having to listen to people say they believe in a socialist vision, and yet they keep supporting far right economics. Tear apart social movements and moan nothing can be done, apart from very small incremental change. Then support class war, by doing sweet bugger all to fight against austerity.

                  They they will cancel anyone who disagree with their take on the dumb as fuck cultural wars, or the purity of their identify politics.

                  Yes I put class first, simply because the poor in this country have been getting fucked by the liberal left and the liberal right in this country for the last 40 years.

                  They are not the friend of working people.

      • Robert Guyton 3.2.3
        6 April 2024 at 12:13 pm

        Adam loathes the liberal left; "they are pathetic".

        *Cheers, Adam.

        *wonders why Adam's here

        • adam 3.2.3.1
          6 April 2024 at 4:00 pm

          Why, because I'm not a liberal, never have been, and never liked them.

          Social democrats on the other hand are good people.

          As are free communists and anarchists.

          You know the left – before liberals pranced around pretending they gave two shits about the poor, the down trodden and hard working people. Or more over, pretended they were left wing. When they are nothing more the the usual worshipers of cupidity. And shit stirrers who play silly little mind games – and other Bullshit like cultural wars.

          Maybe you might want to ask yourself why your here Robert Guyton, and if your one of the liberals or someone who is actually on the left rather than a tool for the Tory wankers?

          • Robert Guyton 3.2.3.1.1
            6 April 2024 at 4:42 pm

            It's clear you're neither liberal, nor Left, adam, hence my question and in answer to your suggestion that I ask myself why I'm here, though it was somewhat garbled, I have and I liked my answer!

            • weka 3.2.3.1.1.1
              6 April 2024 at 5:04 pm

              what makes you think Adam is not left? He's been writing on TS for a very long time from a left anarchist and class analysis perspective in a NZ and international context (at least in my view that's where he is). How is that not left?

              He is also socially liberal (liberal with a small l, as opposed to being a liberal in the sense of liberalism), eg around issues like gay rights.

              Do you understand the differences between Liberalism and leftism? It's a bit confused at times in NZ because historically the middle classes in particular have called themselves liberal, when they mean small l socially liberal, not Liberalists.

              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism

              • Robert Guyton …
                6 April 2024 at 5:13 pm

                Good question, weka! Is this also a good question?

                Robert Guyton…

                6 April 2024 at 2:12 pm

                To your question, I wrote liberal with a lower-case "l". I used the upper-case "L" for the Left I believe Adam (lower-case "a"), isn't.

                • weka …
                  6 April 2024 at 5:30 pm

                  Adam is clearly socially liberal in the sense of supporting gay rights kind of NZ liberal values. What I call small l liberal. You've given zero reasons for saying he is not liberal.

                  He rejects Liberalism. So do many leftists. Rejection of Liberalism doesn't mean someone is not left. You've given zero reasons for saying he is not left.

            • adam 3.2.3.1.1.2
              6 April 2024 at 5:48 pm

              Are you being obtuse on purpose Robert?

              Love how you throw dirt, like other liberals here – Gosman and Puckish rouge comes to mind – you never really say what you mean.

              A liberal is someone who supports liberalism as representing their political world view. Like many on the left I reject liberalism as a economic/political system and the people who support it.

              Wow so supporting, economic freedom, freedom of association, workers rights, the rights of women, gays, indigenous rights, disabled self determination and opposing authoritarianism in all it's forms – is what – right wing now?

          • Robert Guyton 3.2.3.1.2
            6 April 2024 at 4:47 pm

            "worshipers of cupidity" though, sounds intriguing!

            Care to elucidate, Adam?

            • adam 3.2.3.1.2.1
              6 April 2024 at 5:54 pm

              I thought it was pretty much as clear as you can get.

              But if your having problems here is a link to a dictionary definition of cupidity.

              • Robert Guyton …
                6 April 2024 at 6:18 pm

                "worshipers of cupidity" is "as clear as you can get"?

                Not to me, without elucidation from you, Adam – do you mind?

                Referring me to a dictionary for just one of those words is… kinda rude, I reckon.

                • adam …
                  6 April 2024 at 6:28 pm

                  What don't you understand in particular? What from what I said is unclear to you?

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    6 April 2024 at 6:33 pm

                    The meaning of "worshippers of cupidity" 🙂

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    7 April 2024 at 7:53 am

                    I followed your advice, adam, in order to understand what you wrote,

                    "worshipers of cupidity" – it sounded to me like an established phrase with a specific meaning.

                    I found, "Cupidity is a greedy desire for money and possessions."

                    "Worshippers" of cupidity then, worship the greedy desire. I imagined they might have worshipped money and possessions.

                    Is that what you meant?

                    • gsays …
                      7 April 2024 at 8:23 am

                      The sages tell us the love of money is the root of all evil.

                      Kinda resonates with a lot of what we see around us.

                      Inequality growing, the 'haves' have a lot more the have nots have two, three, four jobs, welfare for some of the others that are working.

                      Some have a few properties and can sleep well at night while others scurry about paying their mortgage and paying the interest. In fact, these landlords band together and get someone to advocate for them, as if they don't have a big enough advantage.

                      https://www.nzpif.org.nz/

                      https://www.landlords.co.nz/

                      Warning, you may want to shower after looking at those links. The 2nd one has a few photos of some 'stupid cupids'.

                    • adam …
                      7 April 2024 at 1:32 pm

                      Indeed

          • Phillip ure 3.2.3.1.3
            6 April 2024 at 6:54 pm

            Wot adam said..in previous two comments..

    • Grey Area 3.3
      6 April 2024 at 8:16 am

      Thanks for the link, Weka. I'll try and have a look but I seem to have backlog of clips like this.

      I've been trying to get my head around the intersection of trans rights and women's rights for some tine.

      I got myself into a potential spot recently when in another online space I asked the writer of an opinion piece whether they felt trans rights can erode women's rights. The person didn't reply. But another commenter said that was the same stance taken in the past in discussions about women's rights and men's rights and asked me to provide examples of trans rights eroding women's rights.

      I thought uh oh this isn't going to end well. I'm not reallly equipped for this and while I drafted a reply I haven't answered.

      I find the space confusing but essentially I feel women are being asked/forced to give up their rights for trans people. Women need safe spaces and trans people need safe spaces but why is it women have to be the ones to let people into their spaces, some of whom make some of them feel unsafe? (I realise that mostly it's people wanting to identify as female rather than the reverse).

      Competitive sports is another example. I'm guilty of over-simplifying things on occasion but I feel women should not have to compete against anyone who has the physiological advantage of starting life as a biological male. To me it's wrong and unfair.

      I saw one cycling body overseas has now decided to have a women's elite category and an open elite category where anyone can compete as a way of adressing this particular issue.

      • weka 3.3.1
        6 April 2024 at 1:32 pm

        it's definitely a good idea to practice care in those conversations, especially if you are using your RL name.

        Also good is having the points and evidence ready. It's not going to convince the ideologues, but my experience is that many people will respond to thoughtful commentary backed up with evidence.

        For instance, on sport, there are TRA lines about there being no evidence that TW have an advantage over women. This is patently nonsense (most people understand the physical disparities between women and men), but there is also a lot of very good analysis and research to back this up.

        I will try and link some of the people to follow. Having a twitter account is very useful, but a FB account might suffice.

        • Grey Area 3.3.1.1
          6 April 2024 at 7:08 pm

          Kia ora Weka, is X post-Musk still useful, I thought he'd turned it right and gutted it.

          I'd appreciate more links, but as I said on the "Strike" thread my energy is primarily focused elsewhere, where I believe I can actually make a difference in the life of my immediate whanau, my local community and wider afield.

          As to practising care that's why I decided to put things in reverse and back away. I'm not going to convince the person who invited me to step into a yawning, black hole and give examples of how trans rights can erode women's rights. I would rather use my energies elsewhere.

          The Standard continues to disappoint me personally about actually helping us to stand up and fight back against the awful government we have rather than just complaining about it, but I think I appreciate why you hang in there.

          • weka 3.3.1.1.1
            8 April 2024 at 11:16 am

            have to admit I find it pretty challenging here at times because of that reason. Debate is an important part of change, but we also need strategy, planning and action.

            I'm still trying to work out how I can write here about climate and the things we can do and what if we changed and things worked out, in a way that people will read and engage with.

    • David 3.4
      6 April 2024 at 8:58 am

      I’ve watched Triggernometry a bit as well. I wouldn’t call them right wing, not the way I see it anyway. I like how they listen and seek to understand different ideas and viewpoints without having a political spin.
      I have no idea if you if you have seen the interview with a woman who is a evolutionary psychologist. It’s really interesting about how human nature evolved and to a certain extent the part of our brains that controls our automatic behaviour is designed to help humans survive in the wilds of Africa. She points out interesting differences between men and women as well as the evolutionary reasons for the behaviour, surprisingly it has nothing to do with politics.

      • weka 3.4.1
        6 April 2024 at 1:36 pm

        they're definitely right of centre in terms of politics. They're just socially liberal righties.

        I also really like how they listen and seek to understand different ideas. The impression I get is that they're secure in their politics and unafraid of ideas they disagree with. So refreshing.

    • Psycho Milt 3.5
      6 April 2024 at 3:04 pm

      Then all three of them are sitting there talking about the dynamic of why the left now think it's ok to call a woman a cunt…

      I can't even express how depressing it is to watch right-of-centre interviewers explaining to left-wing men that using 'cunt' as an insulting term for a woman is deeply misogynist and especially so when used against women taking a stand for women's rights.

    • gsays 3.6
      7 April 2024 at 8:42 am

      You illustrate well, one of the problems the left, especially liberal left has.

      Instead of being able to post the link with a couple of sentences, there needs to be an explanation to avoid the 'thought terminating cliches' that emit from liberals when an idea that challenges their beliefs is expressed.

      Rather put their fingers in their ears and say 'I can't hear you.'

      Similar with Joe Rogan. He sits there and asks questions and gets answers. My best understanding is he had some Covidly controversial guests on. That got Neil Young and others upset. That denies a whole body of work that contains very interesting and challenging information from other guests. I understand Rogan now has 4 times the audience of anyone else on You Tube. (no link, sorry, my son showed me an image on his fone last night).

      Edison Research shared the top ten podcasts among US women. Unusually for a podcast chart, Joe Rogan is at number two! Podcasts with women hosts take five of the top ten spots.

      https://podnews.net/update/joe-rogan-audience-size

      Similar to The Canadian Psychologist That Dare Not Speak His Name, I've learnt truckloads from him, but constant misrepresenting of his statements have other's beliefs trump facts.

      • weka 3.6.1
        7 April 2024 at 10:07 am

        just to check if we are on the same page, what are your critiques of Rogan and JP? (critique of each).

        • gsays 3.6.1.1
          7 April 2024 at 10:32 am

          I have found Joe Rogan fairly politically neutral (especially for an American in that it is a polarising country) or at least that is how he appears. His guests however are from all over the shop.

          JP, I feel is an old school conservative, in that he values the family, freedom of speech etc. He is a critic of the extreme left. What I learn from him comes from 30 years lecturing and is fact/evidence based.

          The reason why I commented on yr thread is that I see both getting misrepresented in their views.

          I think there is a Venn diagram vibe to JP and others. I guess you share one with him calling out trans activism and the Canadian compulsion of speech/preferred pronouns but will be on opposite sides considering his views on, say, gender pay gap.

          It's the cancelling I find self defeating and irritating, just because a wee tid bit jars with one's view of the world.

          His explanation of the monogamy 'issue' in 2018 is worth the time IMO.

          Links are NYT article, a Guardian scribe's upset at said article and JP's "On the New York Times and “Enforced Monogamy" .

          https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/18/style/jordan-peterson-12-rules-for-life.html

          https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2018/may/23/jordan-peterson-public-intellectual-isnt-clever-violent-men-monogamy

          https://www.jordanbpeterson.com/media/on-the-new-york-times-and-enforced-monogamy/

          In the Guardian there is a lot of selective quoting and emphasis of attacking the messenger rather than the message.

          Edit. I will include this as I have found it profound from all parties. Sorry I haven’t found the original without a third party’s insights but they bear hearing. 15 minutes and following the Cathy Newman interview.

  4. adam 4
    5 April 2024 at 10:15 pm

    Gotta wonder if 13,000 Children is enough for you all?

    You want more?

    Here is the story of just one who was murdered by the IDF and the far right Israeli government.

    https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/the-death-of-amr?r=rfd6&triedRedirect=true

    • Belladonna 4.1
      5 April 2024 at 11:09 pm

      Every child's death is a tragedy to their family.

      We all wish the fighting would stop. Now.

      But it won't.

      Nothing you, or I or even the NZ government can do, will persuade or influence the Israeli government to stop this war.

      Where is the pressure to force Egypt to open the Gaza border for humanitarian reasons?

      Amr's family were trying to raise international capital – in order to fund the extortionate prices Egyptian organizations are charging to even be considered for an Egyptian permit.

      From your link….

      On the day before he was killed, Amr managed to get a phone connection — telecommunications are often cut — to speak to his sister in Canada.

      “Please get us out of here,” he pleaded.

      The Egyptian firm Hala, which means “Welcome” in Arabic, provided travel permits for Gazans to enter Egypt for $350, before the Israeli assault. Since the genocide began, the firm has raised the price to $5,000 for an adult and $2,500 for a child. It has sometimes charged as much as $10,000 for a travel permit.

      Hala has offices in Cairo and Rafah. Once the money is paid — Hala only accepts U.S. dollars — the name of the applicant is submitted to Egyptian authorities. It can take weeks to get a permit. It would cost around $25,000 to get Amr’s family out of Gaza, double that if they included his widowed aunt and three cousins. This was not a sum Amr’s relatives abroad could raise quickly. They set up a GoFundMe page here. They are still trying to collect enough money.

      Egypt has adamantly refused to accept Gazan refugees. The "Palestinian cause" is more important than children's lives.

      Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, however, has been adamant in refusing to allow humanitarian corridors or the entry of large numbers of Palestinians into Sinai. He has called it a “red line” that, if crossed, would “liquidate the Palestinian cause”.

      https://theconversation.com/why-egypt-refuses-to-open-its-border-to-palestinians-forcibly-displaced-from-gaza-223735

    • Drowsy M. Kram 4.2
      6 April 2024 at 11:44 am

      Gotta wonder if 13,000 Children is enough for you all?

      To my way of thinking, there has been a disappointingly large amount of hand-wringing by 'concerned' people everywhere – it's been going on for months.

      Recent examples of refugee groups accepted by NZ include long-term detainees in Australian offshore camps, and some of those affected by conflict in Afghanistan and Russia's 'special operation' in Ukraine. Perhaps our govt should take a more ptoActive stance towards Gaza refugees – there’s still time, imho.

      Urgent Debate — Gaza Crisis—Government Response [26 March 2024]

      No Exit in Gaza [1 April 2024]
      Now, 30 years later, 2.3 million Palestinians are trapped in Gaza, but unlike Bosnia, there is no place within that small, densely populated territory that even purports to be safe. Following the Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli forces have laid waste to vast areas, reducing much of the housing to rubble, with more than 31,000 people estimated killed, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, the majority women and children.

      Most of Gaza's population has been displaced, many ordered to evacuate one area only to be bombed, starved and forced to flee again—and again. More than 1 million people who have fled to Rafah on Gaza's far southern border with Egypt live in fear as an Israeli military ground operation on Rafah and another mass evacuation looms.

      The Plight of Palestinian Refugees, Explained [5 Jan 2024]
      Palestinians are the world's largest stateless community. Here's everything you should know about their complicated plight as refugees.
      …
      In addition to the more logistical reasons, she [Anne Irfan, a lecturer and expert in displacement with a focus on Palestinian refugee history and the modern Middle East] adds there is a “deep suspicion” that what’s happening in the Gaza Strip is “cover for a second ‘Nakba,’” referencing the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the late 1940s.

      “None of these states want to be complicit in that,” Irfan notes.

      Asked whether there’s the possibility that these countries simply don’t want the responsibility of caring for more Palestinian refugees, Norman, of Rice University, says “that certainly plays into it.” This especially applies to Egypt, given the country’s history with regard to Palestinians.

      “I think there's both that historic context of not wanting to sort of be the ones to actually deal with the Palestinian issue in terms of physically hosting people,” Norman says. “But then there's also Egypt’s politics around immigration and refugees that are not just Palestinians now.”

      But, she adds, the messy politics of hosting Palestinian refugees extends beyond Egypt.

      “Name a country where it's not going to be politically contentious,” Norman says.

      I didn't realise that ~80% of the humans living in the Gaza Strip are refugees.

      Wouldn't it be a true Act of (Christian) kindness if our CoC govt made efforts to facilitate the evacuation of a few Gaza refugees to Aotearoa NZ. Any day now.

      NZ government urged to help evacuate Palestinians from Gaza
      [21 March 2024]
      "Other countries are doing this… Canada and Australia are getting people out. It's tricky, but it's not impossible."

      https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/support-israel-gaza-conflict/

      Double standard claims over special visas for Gaza refugees [1 March 2024]
      The immigration minister [Stanford] is being accused of double standards as families of those stuck in Gaza plead for the government to issue special visas so their loved ones can escape the warzone.
      …
      She [Katrina Mitchell-Kouttab – a Palestinian from the New Zealand Arab Association] said other countries have been evacuating families since the start of the war – so the move wouldn’t be unprecedented.

      “I know of a family – within three days of the war, the Japanese government got them out pretty quickly.”

      • adam 4.2.1
        6 April 2024 at 4:04 pm

        Interesting both commentators seem to think throwing people off their land is the solution.

        White settler mentality/programming?

  5. Belladonna 5
    6 April 2024 at 4:25 pm

    Not the solution, a solution.

    Interesting that you, apparently, would rather people continued to be killed, than offer them the chance to emigrate.

    The people involved (cf Amr, which you linked to initially), would seem to disagree.

    ….

    Religious fundamentalist mentality/programming?

    • Belladonna 5.1
      6 April 2024 at 5:49 pm

      NB: Mods. Don't know why this reply (at 5) didn't 'nest' as a response to 4.2.1
      Reading/writing on a desktop PC.
      No biggie if it was just one of those mysterious internet things (or even, gasp, user error).
      But just in case others are experiencing this.

      • Incognito 5.1.1
        6 April 2024 at 6:38 pm

        No idea either. The comment_parent = 0, i.e., it was a stand-alone comment and not a reply to another comment. You did edit it but that wasn’t the cause either. So, I put it down to human error 😉

    • adam 5.2
      6 April 2024 at 6:05 pm

      The solution is stopping the murder of civilians and ending the conflict. But you say it can't be stopped. And that sending them to other places, off their land is the way to keep them alive. It is, but the cost of that is the permanent loss of their land, and livelihood.

      I would have thought as a kiwi, at the very least you might have some idea what it means to be removed from your land. And the difficulty once removed from your land of ever getting it back.

      • Belladonna 5.2.1
        6 April 2024 at 6:29 pm

        Yes. Better in exile, building a new life, than dead.

        Although, not in the mind of religious extremists.

        Most Kiwis have come to terms with the fact that they will never regain ancestral land. They build new lives. And create a future for their kids, rather than dwelling in the past. We are a nation of immigrants.

        • adam 5.2.1.1
          6 April 2024 at 6:57 pm

          So Māori don't exist? Or the experience of Māori is – what exactly?

          What religious extremists? My friends who are Christians in Gaza, are not extremists. They just don't want to lose their homeland, and what it means for them to live in a land which holds meaning to them. Meaning in a spiritual and historical sense. A place which connects them to family and what it means to be a Christian in the holy lands.

          Friends in Sydney and Perth, struggle with being so far removed from the place of their birth. The mental health of the children of my friends is not great, and the suicide rates amongst the young male refuges, are bloody depressing.

          Alive yes, but in a fulsome sense of being alive. I'm not totally convinced.

          • Belladonna 5.2.1.1.1
            7 April 2024 at 11:31 am

            So the Irish diaspora doesn't exist. Or the African Americans?

            Newsflash. None of those people want to go 'home' – they've built new lives elsewhere – with a better future for their kids. And while the first generation struggles (all immigrants do) – the subsequent generations are part of the new country. They have heritage from their home – but become part of the new place. Their new home. And where this fails, and you have enclaves of immigrants, you end up with serious social problems in the new country.

            Given that there are less than 1,000 Christians in Gaza, I find it astonishing that you have many friends among this group.
            https://www.newarab.com/analysis/will-gazas-christian-community-survive-israels-war
            And, most of them want to immigrate:
            “The general thought among all Palestinian Christians now is to immigrate, after their homes and businesses were destroyed, and since there is no political horizon signalling an end to this crisis,”

            I'm assuming that you were referring to an 'attitude' of white settler ideology – rather than specifically calling me a white settler.
            I reciprocated with the 'religious extremist' attitude. I'm sure you're familiar with it in other contexts: "Better dead than XXX" (fill in type of person as you please)

            And, it really doesn't matter what you or I or the president of Egypt thinks is 'better' for the people in Gaza. They want to leave (cf your original link to Amr). Since they have no rosy-tinted glasses view that Israel is going to stop any time soon.

            Bottom line. Alive is better than dead.

            • adam 5.2.1.1.1.1
              7 April 2024 at 2:00 pm

              Totally agree the last of the Palestinian Christians are going to leave. With a even smaller population on the west bank looking to move, we are seeing the end of Palestinian Christians in the Holy Lands in our life time.

              The largest population of Palestinian Christians is in Sydney, with next highest grouping being Perth. I'd also like to point out that when I say Christian – I mean those who actively adhere to Christianity, and those who consider themselves cultural Christians. That drags the numbers up a bit.

              A link for expanding on that, and it's a bloody good organization that will take donations, that will help people after they have left Gaza.

              https://palestinianchristians.org.au/

              I think we basically agree, alive is better. My problem is two fold: The end of Cultural traditions extending back millennia, and the fact that their is no political solution. Exacerbated by one side hell bent on total death and destruction of the other.

              And no I was not calling you a white settler, but the underlying influence as a set of ideas it has on society in general.

              • Belladonna …
                8 April 2024 at 8:19 am

                And no I was not calling you a white settler, but the underlying influence as a set of ideas it has on society in general.

                And the same holds true for the religious fundamentalist philosophy. Which is entirely relevant in discussing the Middle East.

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    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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