Daily Review 06/06/2018
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5:26 pm, June 6th, 2018 - 15 comments
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Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...14 hours ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
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The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...2 days ago - Bernard’s last Saturday Soliloquy for 2024
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...2 days ago - Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Saturday, December 21
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AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...5 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
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Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...7 days ago
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- Thank You
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Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...1 week ago - Chris Penk’s Hate Parade
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All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...1 week ago
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...2 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...3 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...3 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...4 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...4 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...4 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...5 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...5 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...5 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...5 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...6 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...6 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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Manager of CBA Bank in Aus sacked and company fined $750 million, so our banks are squeaky clean ?
And our troops in Iraq are just training…
Adam,
I am pretty sure that is exactly what the training team (about 170 in total) are doing (and only doing).
There are some intelligence officers (very small number) in coalition headquarters who are obviously not training. These headquarters are vast affairs with literally hundreds of people from virtually every western defence force on duty at any point in time.
There is a vast amount of intelligence material that has to be collated and presented in a coherent manner to enable the commanders to make operational decisions. Collating and organising that information is what the intelligence officers will be be doing. For instance which ISIS people are where, and what are their likely intentions.
So no kiwi General ording the dropping of bombs, nor an active SAS in country.
My sources paint a different picture than yours wayne. In a way I hope your right, but even us being active in intelligence is somthing which I don’t support. This was a illegal war, and why we thought to join it at a latter date, dumbfounds me.
“My sources” sure 🙂
pretty sure
You’re not convinced either, Wayne…
Nice ratepayer bailout for the failed Bella Vista development. Tauranga residents should be furious about this, all of who are now having to pay for slack right-wing policy.
As I understand it this was yet another catastrophe brought about by zero regulation by the Tauranga council who preferred to allow cowboy developers and builders to self regulate on key sign-offs.
This behaviour is staple for the last National government who love to cut red tape whenever they see it. The leaky building crisis was brought about by the National government previous to this one.
Let’s be clear here. The way to building safe and strong future communities is not to cut red tape and allow greedy bogans to check their own work.
You have to wonder what the mp for Tauranga’s role in all this hands-off governance is. What’s his name now? I forget…
https://www.stuff.co.nz/bay-of-plenty/104480340/jilted-bella-vista-homeowners-to-learn-their-fate-after-tauranga-council-meeting
Obviously no one learn’t anything from the leaky homes crisis ?
Deregulation means no check on scam unless the industry body has a backbone. Capitalism evolves a backbone, not yet. Plastic in food anyone?
So when are we gonna hear in depth personal accounts of the effects of meth hysteria? So far I’ve seen ONE.
Its nice what’s his name who earns $46k/mth finally fronted. Possibly because we now all know he earns 46kpm
A good day for Grant Robertson when noted National party journalist Jenna Lynch described the annual post-budget interrogation.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/06/grant-robertson-signs-blank-cheque-to-tackle-mycoplasma-bovis.html
White Man Behind A Desk – Renting
https://youtu.be/ZH8ssoRdMV8
The wonderful Nellie McKay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz6OuSq5Oys&ab_channel=NellieMcKay
LYRICS:
i want clean water (you’re being ridiculous)
i like fresh air (you’re being absurd)
i guess i oughta (guys don’t be assholes)
forget to care (better than petulance)
i dig plant farmers (narcissists)
not GMOs (it’s not that big a deal)
& marijuana (it needs further study)
just let it grow (there you go again)
who will provide
rara ridiculous
haha you’re hopelessly naive
to believe in a world that exists
lala we’re having fun
wawa disaster capitalists
& the system’s not broken it’s fixed
i won’t encourage (what is it this time)
the TPP (it’s not all bad)
or health insurance (it’s working it’s working)
insanity (just give it time)
no private prisons (how you gonna pay for it)
or public hell (two sides to every story)
give war provisions (they know what they’re doing)
a fat farewell (what about the terrorists)
who will provide
rara ridiculous
haha you’re hopelessly naive
to believe in a world that exists
yaya we’re having fun
chacha the incrementalist twist
but the system’s not broken it’s fixed
you shoulda listened to your kids
not corporate nationalists
nor fortunate fantasists who ill disguise their proto-fascist fist
you can’t remember who to blame
those you hate or those you agree with
but the latter is hard to resist
missing ballots / lack of coverage
shortened hours / smears & bomb scares
closed primaries / endless waitlines / big money bribes
call election day beforehand
now stop the count
Bernie you gotta admit she won fair and square right?
i’ll give you a very short answer: NO
i want my daughter (you’re being ridiculous)
to grow up strong (you just hate women)
but endless slaughter (what about Trump)
ain’t feminism (you just want Trump)
no border trauma (I’m baffled I just don’t understand)
or muslim bans (be quiet)
i wish Obama would stop bombing them (there you go again)
who will survive
rara our parents said
haha our grandparents & friends
as they echoed establishment press
wawa you sold us out
& now you wonder why we’re pissed
cause our future’s not broken it’s fixed
So …. what about Dan …. Guess some of you caught the RNZ interview this am of the
mess ? And possible outcome ….
http:/http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018648038/northcote-debate-dan-bidois-shanan-halbert/www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018648038/northcote-debate-dan-bidois-shanan-halbert
Was amused to hear Dan say that business owners in the electorate are worried about a rise in the minimum wage.
With many, many houses in this electorate valued at over $1M, and cold, damp shabbily-built rubbish going for $750k, I can’t see many minimum wage workers affording to buy one in the electorate they work in.
No worries though, perhaps those business owners can put their employees into the rentals they own, and charge them high rents? Pay them peanuts with one hand and take the peanuts away with the other, via rents.
Seems like a beautiful, vertically-integrated machine for exploitation – so innocent-looking in its viciousness it might have come straight from the mind of John Key.