I see Bridges isn’t above using Venezuela to try to attack the government on education of all things. This is a sector which Kiwi’s were once proud of. National’s ham-fisted deregulation has stained that once great institution – free access to education, and turned it into a scam-riddled and corrupt borderlands where immigrants are led to believe they have access to NZ residency, and where faceless and shady business types pretend to offer worthwhile diploma’s to hopeful by unsuspecting young people.
[ ‘ National’s ham-fisted deregulation has stained that once great institution – free access to education, and turned it into a scam-riddled and corrupt borderlands where immigrants are led to believe they have access to NZ residency, and where faceless and shady business types pretend to offer worthwhile diploma’s to hopeful ‘BUT’ unsuspecting young people.’ ]
The goal is to destroy Venezuela, then throw it in everyone’s face to ‘prove’ that you cannot even try to have an economy or society that ensures the wellbeing of all citizens.
Only the status quo is possible.
Higher marginal tax rates? Venezuela
Public ownership of natural resources? Venezuela
Etc
Etc.
They are doomed from any win in 2020. And any thereafter.
Deal with it.
And do you really think the coalition will not rally to points of weakness?
Go read Sun Tzu.
You owe it to yourself .
The neo liberal far right wing era is over. People want and expect more from paid and salaried politicians than the 35 year old rort they have lived under.
The only penny that has dropped is the ‘clunk’ of your hopeful wishes,- you can play round with math’s and stats as much as you want but public opinion is another thing entirely.
And nothing you do, or wish to do is going to change the future, no matter how wishful you may be. The ChiNational party has had its innings, fucked up badly, pissed off many and ripped of even more.
Now why do you suppose we would want to go back to that?!!?
BM reminds me of one of those old public dunny doors from last century that had pennies dropped in the slot. What was written on the back of those doors would make more sense that him.
“I don’t think they can, which means they’re reliant on their coalition partners getting over the line…” – you mean like in the 2017 general election? What happened then?
Ad, given that National is operating a policy of trying to win back power by driving NZF and the Greens below 5% and hoovering up their re-distributed votes, should you really be talking up their prospects? Their chances of pushing the Greens below 5% are minimal.
“and hoovering up their re-distributed votes”.
If you are going to comment on out voting system why don’t you learn how it works?
There are no “re-distributed” votes. People who vote for parties who don’t reach the 5% cut-off (and don’t win an Electorate) are just like those who don’t bother to vote at all. Their votes are simply ignored.
OK, as a long-time pedant myself, I grant you the votes are only “effectively” re-distributed, not actually re-distributed. However, the thing about “effectively” is that its effect isn’t that different from “actually.”
Collins is a dirty politics member. Bridges is wet behind the ears.
Neither would make corporal.
Less than the the other corporal of the NSDAP.
——————————–
[ ‘ Mont Pelerin shared the same “conservative revolution” philosophy as the Nazis. It also shared some of the same personnel. For instance, Max von Thurn und Taxis was a sponsor of von Hayek and his new society. Thurn und Taxis’ family had founded another society in southern Germany before World War 1, which was composed entirely of aristocrats, known as the Thule Society.
Thule in turn formed a special “workers division” known as the “National Socialist German Workers Party” (NSDAP). The NSDAP, into which an Austrian corporal named Adolf Hitler was recruited, later became better known by the abbreviated version of its name, the “Nazis.” In 1989, Max von Thurn und Taxis attended a meeting of his Mont Pelerin Society in Christchurch, New Zealand, to judge, first hand, the results of the “worlds most radical free market revolution.]
My suspicion is that all the pretenders are waiting for someone to tip their hand with enough time to have a leadership arena bout and then give the victor a honeymoon period just in time for the election (but not so long that someone else has another go).
With the shit that’s been thrown at him and the fact he’s survived and moving forward is testament to the man’s fortitude and skill.
Ardern, on the other hand, is weaker than old woman’s wee’s with many people saying she’s currently getting managed because she can’t handle the pressure and her mental state is shot to bits.
Yeah, I was impressed by the way Bridges managed to squash any controversy that resulted from his transport costs being leaked a couple of days early. Most deft political manoeuvring I’ve seen in years. That could have gone totally pearshaped if he’d started a monomaniacal witch hunt that ended up burning his bag man and bumping the career of an emerging MP, without Bridges even being completely sure the bagman made the original leak in the first place.
[‘ Ardern, on the other hand, is weaker than old woman’s wee’s with many people saying she’s currently getting managed because she can’t handle the pressure and her mental state is shot to bits ‘ ]
Shes still a relatively young woman, who has given birth , and is dealing with the problems of running a country at the same time .
What a remarkable person she is.
Are you stupid,… are you dense?,… are you in fact a moron? Has the sky fallen ? , Has global catastrophe happened ? Has the NZ economy imploded? Have little green men from Mars taken over… are you a wanker?
That’s me supposing that. And he turned 50 last year. Also a supposition.
These guesses are against TRP’s and VV’s new rules of engagement where commenters must not bring past references or off forum references into commentary, but do you know what?
I think it’s a stupid rule and I don’t give a fuck.
Yeah well I’m 55 years of age, don’t give a rats shit, couldn’t care less about ideologies, don’t know and don’t care who TRP or VV are and furthermore,- if a wanker is gonna spout off and be a wanker then they are fair game.
And far right wing wankers are fair game. Even if their names are ‘Brett’.
WHY?
Because they cost people their lives.
I would’ve thought people had learnt by now. Obviously not. And that tells me they are newbies. Newbies without any knowledge of history, without any notion of progressive science, without anything barring a primeval inclination towards self preservation. Like a bacterium.
The shit’s his own shit BMmer and I’ll grant you he wears it well.. You got anyone to manage your mental state or are you just self medicating? Many people say your liver could do with a break.
The Crown already owns the polytechs anyway. So can do with them what they see fit. The tertiary education system is a basket case anyway. It needs some form of central direction.
Bridges will be very disturbed to find that until 1961, the country’s universities were actually colleges of the University of New Zealand. So unless Maduro and Chavez have invented time travel, I doubt that there was anything Bolivarian about it.
yes Bridges is incredible, what a general, what a major, what a captain, what a leader, what a tactician, what a navigator, what a coherent easily understood articulate and good looking chap, what a bloke. Has to be the best potential PM this country has ever had.
Anybody that would believe that would have to be the biggest dumb-arse fuckwit on the planet. But may he forever stay as the National leader cos they got no hope with the no hoper.
ANALYSIS Most of the tax revenue from a capital gains tax would come from middle income Kiwi families, businessman Troy Bowker has claimed.
But, for that to be true, the investment company chief executive must have a rather unusual definition of what a “middle income” actually is.
So when are people going to take these “news” stories and how they are presented to task. Something stood out so clearly to me on a drive home yesterday from one of the newly reconstructed “talk-back” stations.
In a “comment” piece on the blurb from Matthew Hooten claming ructions between coalitons partners that would lead to a “divorce” the announcer introdiuced the person to comment as “Shane Te Pou, who is on the executive counsel of the Labour Party”, Mr Te Pou then proceeded to echo, support and agree with Hooten’s light of fancy. The announcer after the interview again referred to “Shane Te Pou, who is on the executive council of the Labour Party”.
Now I recalled events that made me sure that Mr Te Pou has not had anything to do with the Labour Party, more than al least a couple of years I thought. On checking when I arrived home that is the case, in fact it seems he has quite a personal beef with them.
Hooten’s “story” is an opinion piece, Te Pou’s relationship as referenced by the announcer does not exist but does give the wide impression to listeners that the “ructions, divisions” or whatever was being alleged by Hooten were given validity by the comments of an “insider”.
I have read the run down on making complaints and I am not making a complaint about the opinions, that looks a vexed process and likely to fail in most cases.
I have made a complaint re the presentation and tone of comment on the “opinion” it was totally misleading due to a deliberate or reckless statement by the announcer on who was making the comment.
Labour should be taking some action against Te Pou for misleading or misinformation. The way that anyone who has had dealings with Labour can hang onto that experience and wave it like a banner entitling them to be heard as wise informants is perplexing.
In the Nelson Mail they have included Phil Quin as a commenter. WTF. Wasn’t his standing considerably dirtied in recent times, if not blackened. As you say Rapunzel it takes time to look up the factual and attack the fudging by a sloppy, disingenuous media, and when Labour doesn’t do it itself you wonder how much time can individuals find to do their job of keeping the shebang honest.
In my opinion Penny Bright was trying to do that, confronting the Power and Political Machine. The human body and mind can only take a certain level of punishment though. She died earlier than otherwise and felt the illness came on because of the stress of the challenge she made and the consequences to her.
Only unless he told Williams that it is down to Williams’ quick off the mark attitude to portray the thoughts of the likes of Hooten – I don’t think it was Te Pou but Williams not doing his homework. In that case it is due to the media outlet employee and I have laid a complaint with the station based on the misinformation that set the tone for a discussion about Hooten’s Herald piece. I think it is a valid complaint I am not challenging the “opinions” passed but that the description of the status of Te Pou certainly placed connotations on his “opinion” that don’t apply ie that a Labour “insider” was placing validity on there being divisions within the current govt.
Not quite sure where Williams comes into it. Was he running the opinion piece on the talk-back show?
Hooten’s piece appeared in the Herald you say. And Te Pou commented on
that passing himself off as a Labour insider, and I think they should be asking questions directly to him about his casual assumption of greatness. Perhaps they could take the bulls by the horns, and cut their horns off, or at least interrogate them publicly in debates.
Because of the glibness of some of these great ‘know-alls’ and their ability to entertain while they pass their verbal candyfloss, the debates would be interesting to the public. Provided that Labour could match the glibness, but with some honesty and factualness it would kill two birds with one stone. Winston Peters comes to mind, as a standard for a worthy adversary for the floating egos; the ‘HalfMen of Oh’.
Sorry yes Peter Williams former TVNZ now runs a morning talk show, – between 10am -11 he outlined the people he had asked on to comment re Hooten’s Herald story, I think – but was driving – that Hooten was otherwise busy but he had comment due from someone else.
Immediately prior and after Te Pou’s question/answer/comment with him in which Te Pou basically agreed there was or would be “trouble at mill’ he referred to him as “on the executive counsel of the Labour Party”.
I was puzzled as I thought I knew otherwise, and subsequently cofirmed I did, it did affect the impressions of the “interview” and definitely added credence to a rift from someone whose point of view could be nothing more than a wishful opinion.
I am waiting till Mon, or at the latest till Tues, as I have had no response – a tad early for that but not for a confirmation that they have received my complaint. Williams is very lose with many of his comments, not too much listening has shown that. Te Pou’s “status/credentials” were preamble and followup to the conversation, I am pretty sure it is his error and therefore the responsibility comes back on the station.
He had taken much pleasure in a topic on “kids long hair/beards in school” having backed his point of view 80% to 20% saying that that would “reflect” the “make-up” of “our audience, quite peculiarly leaning towards his own very clear biases.
It would be a help if you made sure you used the right name and details when talking about complaints like this. You referred to Hooton and when you said Williams I thought you meant Mike Williams who Hooton was sharing a discussion with on Mondays Radionz for a long time.
Perhaps bullet or number the details so that it is easy for someone else to follow them. Often people don’t read more than the first two lines of a block of words, and draw their conclusions from them, wrongly usually.
Sorry – I should know from my job that another can not see inside someone else’s head so:
1. Hooten had an item in the Herald on Friday regarding the coalition having divisions that may result in a “divorce”.
2. Peter Williams on his radio talkback programme highlighted that he would have comment on the Hooten Herald item.
3. Sometime between 10am and 10.45am yesterday morning Peter Williams announced that he would have comment on that item but that Matthew Hooten was unavailable and he would be having Shane Te Pou of, on or from “the executive council of the Labour Party”.
4. He had the interview and again referred to Shane Te Pou as being on, from or of “the executive council of the Labour Party”.
5. At no point did Peter Williams refer to Shane Te Pou as “formerly” on, from or of “the executive counsel of the Labour Party”. Shane Te Pou himself did not mention in what capacity he was speaking or commenting from.
6. I laid a complaint on the basis that the origin of the comments made on the Matthew Hooten item were inaccurate and made that comment and the context and inference of it misleading.
ANALYSIS Most of the tax revenue from a capital gains tax would come from middle income Kiwi families, businessman Troy Bowker has claimed.
But, for that to be true, the investment company chief executive must have a rather unusual definition of what a “middle income” actually is.
“Newshub understands National is working on a strategy to crash Mr Peters vote below the 5% threshold so he’s not an option for either party”.
“We’ve also been told caucus has come up with a magic number – 47% – that’s what National thinks it needs to get into government if it can successfully destroy NZ First”.
destroy NZ First….now thats a cunning plan eh who would think of that other than the brilliant tactician Simon NO Bridges. The originality of the plan is stunning. Thats it Winston is finished.
Winston IS finished. The oldies he last smoozed have mostly passed on. The new set of oldies realise he is a lying narcissist and we all know shane jones is a wanker. Good luck guys keeping your coalition partner from hell.
What a load of fake news that was, no one spoke to her, she just made all that up.
Newshub is the trashiest news outlet in NZ.
BTW, National doesn’t have to destroy NZ First they’re doing such a good job by themselves.
Peters is despised after backing the UN migration plan.
They’ll struggle to make 2% in 2020.
The political media (which is the majority of it) lacks market forces and is hypnotised by it’s own industry combined with modern technological reach – the political media thinks it is the economy and the society.
It is not.
The decreasing vote numbers, & then the last election it’s echo chamber got voted against by majority of the vote. If it was a market based sector of society, it would adjust and it’s echo chamber would become more bi-partisan but that is very difficult for it to do.
The mandate of the govt. by the vote is not to be governed by the same echo chamber, if it does otherwise it will be voted out of office.
It is a dis-connection from demand and supply problem, & as such a drain to the society, a manifestation of the ever present danger of anarchism & irrationalism pushing back against civilisation.
And Peters is,… literally the sticking point for the B M’S of this world…. after decades of abuse and haranguing, the ChiNationals party’s plan of doing away with Peters and NZ First have come to its full negative fruition… he and his party are stronger then ever…
Meanwhile the ChiNational party has some explaining to do with the inclusion of an erstwhile former Chinese spy trainer as an MP and the Jaime Lee Ross disclosures of MP’s positions for cash favoring Chinese over Indians ….
The racist party, the sell out party , the party of the salaried self interested…
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A listing of 28 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 13, 2025 thru Sat, April 19, 2025. This week's roundup is again published by category and sorted by number of articles included in each. The formatting is a ...
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Ruth IrwinExponential Economic growth is the driver of Ecological degradation. It is driven by CO2 greenhouse gas emissions through fossil fuel extraction and burning for the plethora of polluting industries. Extreme weather disasters and Climate change will continue to get worse because governments subscribe to the current global economic system, ...
A man on telly tries to tell me what is realBut it's alright, I like the way that feelsAnd everybody singsWe are evolving from night to morningAnd I wanna believe in somethingWriter: Adam Duritz.The world is changing rapidly, over the last year or so, it has been out with the ...
MFB Co-Founder Cecilia Robinson runs Tend HealthcareSummary:Kieran McAnulty calls out National on healthcare lies and says Health Minister Simeon Brown is “dishonest and disingenuous”(video below)McAnulty says negotiation with doctors is standard practice, but this level of disrespect is not, especially when we need and want our valued doctors.National’s $20bn ...
Chris Luxon’s tenure as New Zealand’s Prime Minister has been a masterclass in incompetence, marked by coalition chaos, economic lethargy, verbal gaffes, and a moral compass that seems to point wherever political expediency lies. The former Air New Zealand CEO (how could we forget?) was sold as a steady hand, ...
Has anybody else noticed Cameron Slater still obsessing over Jacinda Ardern? The disgraced Whale Oil blogger seems to have made it his life’s mission to shadow the former Prime Minister of New Zealand like some unhinged stalker lurking in the digital bushes.The man’s obsession with Ardern isn't just unhealthy...it’s downright ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is climate change a net benefit for society? Human-caused climate change has been a net detriment to society as measured by loss of ...
When the National Party hastily announced its “Local Water Done Well” policy, they touted it as the great saviour of New Zealand’s crumbling water infrastructure. But as time goes by it's looking more and more like a planning and fiscal lame duck...and one that’s going to cost ratepayers far more ...
Donald Trump, the orange-hued oligarch, is back at it again, wielding tariffs like a mob boss swinging a lead pipe. His latest economic edict; slapping hefty tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada, has the stench of a protectionist shakedown, cooked up in the fevered minds of his sycophantic ...
In the week of Australia’s 3 May election, ASPI will release Agenda for Change 2025: preparedness and resilience in an uncertain world, a report promoting public debate and understanding on issues of strategic importance to ...
One pill makes you largerAnd one pill makes you smallAnd the ones that mother gives youDon't do anything at allGo ask AliceWhen she's ten feet tallSongwriter: Grace Wing Slick.Morena, all, and a happy Bicycle Day to you.Today is an unofficial celebration of the dawning of the psychedelic era, commemorating the ...
It’s only been a few months since the Hollywood fires tore through Los Angeles, leaving a trail of devastation, numerous deaths, over 10,000 homes reduced to rubble, and a once glorious film industry on its knees. The Palisades and Eaton fires, fueled by climate-driven dry winds, didn’t just burn houses; ...
Te Pāti Māori are appalled by Cabinet's decision to agree to 15 recommendations to the Early Childhood Education (ECE) sector following the regulatory review by the Ministry of Regulation. We emphasise the need to prioritise tamariki Māori in Early Childhood Education, conducted by education experts- not economists. “Our mokopuna deserve ...
The Government must support Northland hapū who have resorted to rakes and buckets to try to control a devastating invasive seaweed that threatens the local economy and environment. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill that would ensure the biological definition of a woman and man are defined in law. “This is not about being anti-anyone or anti-anything. This is about ensuring we as a country focus on the facts of biology and protect the ...
After stonewalling requests for information on boot camps, the Government has now offered up a blog post right before Easter weekend rather than provide clarity on the pilot. ...
More people could be harmed if Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey does not guarantee to protect patients and workers as the Police withdraw from supporting mental health call outs. ...
The Green Party recognises the extension of visa allowances for our Pacific whānau as a step in the right direction but continues to call for a Pacific Visa Waiver. ...
The Government yesterday released its annual child poverty statistics, and by its own admission, more tamariki across Aotearoa are now living in material hardship. ...
Today, Te Pāti Māori join the motu in celebration as the Treaty Principles Bill is voted down at its second reading. “From the beginning, this Bill was never welcome in this House,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader, Rawiri Waititi. “Our response to the first reading was one of protest: protesting ...
The Green Party is proud to have voted down the Coalition Government’s Treaty Principles Bill, an archaic piece of legislation that sought to attack the nation’s founding agreement. ...
A Member’s Bill in the name of Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter which aims to stop coal mining, the Crown Minerals (Prohibition of Mining) Amendment Bill, has been pulled from Parliament’s ‘biscuit tin’ today. ...
Labour MP Kieran McAnulty’s Members Bill to make the law simpler and fairer for businesses operating on Easter, Anzac and Christmas Days has passed its first reading after a conscience vote in Parliament. ...
Nicola Willis continues to sit on her hands amid a global economic crisis, leaving the Reserve Bank to act for New Zealanders who are worried about their jobs, mortgages, and KiwiSaver. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andy Marks, Vice-President, Public Affairs and Partnerships, Western Sydney University Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have had their fourth and final leaders’ debate of the campaign. The skirmish, hosted by 7News in Sydney, was moderated by 7’s Political ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The fourth election debate was the most idiosyncratic of the four head-to-head contests between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Apart from all the usual topics, the pair was charged with ...
Reporters Without Borders Donald Trump campaigned for the White House by unleashing a nearly endless barrage of insults against journalists and news outlets. He repeatedly threatened to weaponise the federal government against media professionals whom he considers his enemies. In his first 100 days in office, President Trump has already shown ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne While last week’s Morgan and YouGov polls had Labor continuing its surge, Newspoll is steady for the fourth successive week at 52–48 ...
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone Donald Trump is committing genocide for Israel after publicly admitting to being bought and owned by the Adelsons. All the worst shit happens right out in the open. You don’t need to come up with any ...
COMMENTARY:By Mandy Henk When the US Embassy knocked on my door in late 2024, I was both pleased and more than a little suspicious. I’d worked with them before, but the organisation where I did that work, Tohatoha, had closed its doors. My new project, Dark Times Academy, was ...
Transport Minister Chris Bishop said it would "provide better value for money by maximising private sector investment while keeping the taxpayers' contribution to a minimum". ...
The inquiry focused on vaccines and mandates; the lockdowns; and tools such as testing and tracing. The coalition government had also widened the scope of the inquiry to seek feedback on issues such as the social and economic impact of lockdowns. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will launch another push on health on Sunday, announcing a re-elected Labor government would set up a free around-the-clock 1800MEDICARE advice line and afterhours GP telehealth service. The service would ...
To sleep, perchance to dreamIn the shadowy chambers of Lord Winston,The great clock strikes thirteen.All remains untouched, covered with dust,As it has done since the 1970s,In a simple world where boys were boys,Ladies were mini-skirted and compliant ladies,And Italian law students ruled the streetsIn their wide lapel zoot suits.King Lux ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will launch another push on health on Sunday, announcing a re-elected Labor government would set up a free around-the-clock 1800MEDICARE advice line and afterhours GP telehealth service. The service would ...
Asia Pacific Report Activists for Palestine paid homage to Pope Francis in Aotearoa New Zealand today for his humility, care for marginalised in the world, and his courageous solidarity with the besieged people of Gaza at a street theatre rally just hours before his funeral in Rome. He was remembered ...
By Susana Suisuiki, RNZ Pacific presenter The doors of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican have now been closed and the coffin sealed, ahead of preparations for tonight’s funeral of Pope Francis. The Vatican says a quarter of a million people have paid respects to Pope Francis in the last ...
By Susana Suisuiki, RNZ Pacific presenter The doors of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican have now been closed and the coffin sealed, ahead of preparations for tonight’s funeral of Pope Francis. The Vatican says a quarter of a million people have paid respects to Pope Francis in the last ...
Once or twice a week, Dr Margaret Henley rolls up the door on a windowless storage locker in central Auckland, pulls her plastic chair up to a picnic table and sifts through the history of netball in New Zealand.She works alongside netball archivist and statistician Todd Miller, together trawling through ...
Corin DannThe time is 7:36am on Wednesday, April 23, and you’re listening to Morning Report, New Zealand’s voice of the educated left on good incomes. I’m joined now by acting Prime Minister Winston Peters. Good morning Mr Peters.Winston PetersIt was, until I saw you. I much prefer your brother.Corin DannLiam ...
When Professor David Krofcheck got an email congratulating him on winning the Oscar of the science world, he dismissed it as a hoax.“I thought it was a scam, I thought it was a phishing email,” recalls Krofcheck, nuclear physicist at Auckland University.“Yeah right, I’ve won the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in ...
Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was.I’ve been re-watching Girls lately, the HBO classic that perfectly captures millennial women in the most painful way. I highly recommend it especially if you haven’t watched it before. Every character on the show is deeply flawed and frustrating in their own ...
With the double-header long weekend comes a welcome chance to escape streaming slop, writes Alex Casey. Over Easter I texted my husband Joe a sentence that perhaps nobody in human history has ever texted: “hurry up geostorm is starting”. No punctuation, no capitalisation, not because I was trying to ...
April 27 is Moehanga Day, the anniversary of the day in 1806 when Ngāpuhi warrior Moehanga became the first Māori to visit England. This is his story. The wooden ship sailed down the River Thames, past smoke stacks and brick factories, until it reached a wharf in industrial south London. ...
Heidi Thomson on how her husband’s illness and Daniel Kalderimis’s book Zest have enhanced her understanding of George Eliot’s great novel.Sometimes a book finds you at just the right time. In early December my husband John had a stroke. At the time we were both reading George Eliot’s Middlemarch, ...
The musician, actor and star of upcoming documentary Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua – Two Worlds takes us through his life in television. Musician Marlon Williams has been on our My Life in TV wish list ever since he revealed during his My Boy tour that he wrote ‘Thinking ...
When she walked dripping into the lounge, hair wet from the shower, she took one look at Hamish and dropped her towel.He was holding her phone.—How long has it been going on for?His blue eyes blazed. She wanted to pluck them out and blow on them gently, cool them off. ...
A citizens’ assembly of 100 Porirua locals has provided the city council with more than a dozen recommendations about how to tackle climate change and make sure the region is resilient to worsening extreme weather events.Ranging from expanding access to renewable energy and incentivising the planting of native trees through ...
Comment: Democracy globally is in crisis. Around the world we are seeing the rise of nationalism and declining trust in democratic institutions. Politicians, even in Aotearoa, undermine the authority of core institutions like the media and the courts, which are critical for a functioning democracy. To live well together, in ...
Journalist Rod Oram, who died last year, would have been delighted to see the commitment to addressing climate change shown by the 23-year-old winner of a prize established in his memory.Mika Hervel, a student at Victoria University of Wellington, is today named winner of the Rod Oram Memorial Essay Prize, ...
COMMENTARY:By Nour Odeh There was faint hope that efforts to achieve a ceasefire deal in Gaza would succeed. That hope is now all but gone, offering 2.1 million tormented and starved Palestinians dismal prospects for the days and weeks ahead. Last Saturday, the Israeli Prime Minister once again affirmed ...
An ocean conservation non-profit has condemned the United States President’s latest executive order aimed at boosting the deep sea mining industry. President Donald Trump issued the “Unleashing America’s offshore critical minerals and resources” order on Thursday, directing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to allow deep sea mining. The ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In this election, voters are more distrustful than ever of politicians, and the political heroes of 2022 have fallen from grace, swept from favour by independent players. A Roy Morgan survey has found, for ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor The former head of BenarNews’ Pacific bureau says a United States court ruling this week ordering the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) to release congressionally approved funding to Radio Free Asia and its subsidiaries “makes us very happy”. However, Stefan Armbruster, who has ...
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on April 25, 2025. Labor takes large leads in YouGov and Morgan polls as surge continuesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and ...
Ummmm,,,,, OK then…
Phil Schneider – Deadmen Tell No Tales – YouTube
I see Bridges isn’t above using Venezuela to try to attack the government on education of all things. This is a sector which Kiwi’s were once proud of. National’s ham-fisted deregulation has stained that once great institution – free access to education, and turned it into a scam-riddled and corrupt borderlands where immigrants are led to believe they have access to NZ residency, and where faceless and shady business types pretend to offer worthwhile diploma’s to hopeful by unsuspecting young people.
And Bridges brings up Venezuela…what a cunt.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/382045/national-leaks-far-reaching-changes-in-vocational-training
“And Bridges brings up Venezuela…what a cunt.”
More like deluded fuckwit. Where’s the equivalence in that.
[ ‘ National’s ham-fisted deregulation has stained that once great institution – free access to education, and turned it into a scam-riddled and corrupt borderlands where immigrants are led to believe they have access to NZ residency, and where faceless and shady business types pretend to offer worthwhile diploma’s to hopeful ‘BUT’ unsuspecting young people.’ ]
Old news.
And fixed the typo.
Thank you. Too triggered to proof read!
Cheers, bro .
No worries MB. Your anger is righteous and on the button.
Had to laugh at the desperate Bridges drip getting his lines from Gosman..
Now THAT is desperate!
The visual correlative of a Gosman post:
https://i.imgur.com/cg7Pbe8.gif
The goal is to destroy Venezuela, then throw it in everyone’s face to ‘prove’ that you cannot even try to have an economy or society that ensures the wellbeing of all citizens.
Only the status quo is possible.
Higher marginal tax rates? Venezuela
Public ownership of natural resources? Venezuela
Etc
Etc.
Bridges is far better than I first thought.
I was harsh on the man, to begin with, but he’s got some serious smarts and is working to a plan.
2020 is looking like a National win, to be honest.
All comes down to tax.
And whether either Greens or NZF can get 5%.
And whether either Greens or NZF can get 5%.
That’s exactly it.
To make certain of victory Labour has to outpoll National, can Labour do that though?
I don’t think they can, which means they’re reliant on their coalition partners getting over the line, so what does a labour voter do?
Go Labour or go Green or NZ First?
I expect Bridges to rule out working with NZ First, so that means the left wing vote will be split three ways.
How crazy is that, nine years of National, 3 years of some hodge podge shit then back to National outright for the foreseeable future.
Looking bleak for the left wing.
The ChiNational party has no friends.
They are doomed from any win in 2020. And any thereafter.
Deal with it.
And do you really think the coalition will not rally to points of weakness?
Go read Sun Tzu.
You owe it to yourself .
The neo liberal far right wing era is over. People want and expect more from paid and salaried politicians than the 35 year old rort they have lived under.
Fella, those “mates” of yours are an albatross around Labours neck,
They’ll drag Labour under to its doom
Hardly.
And those ‘mates’ of mine are no more than yours.
Basically you are all tactics and no strategy.
You talk through a hole in your arse.
Ha Ha, has the penny finally dropped?
The only penny that has dropped is the ‘clunk’ of your hopeful wishes,- you can play round with math’s and stats as much as you want but public opinion is another thing entirely.
And nothing you do, or wish to do is going to change the future, no matter how wishful you may be. The ChiNational party has had its innings, fucked up badly, pissed off many and ripped of even more.
Now why do you suppose we would want to go back to that?!!?
And yeah … hahaha
ugh.
BM reminds me of one of those old public dunny doors from last century that had pennies dropped in the slot. What was written on the back of those doors would make more sense that him.
“I don’t think they can, which means they’re reliant on their coalition partners getting over the line…” – you mean like in the 2017 general election? What happened then?
You got a penny up your arse BMmer?
And whether either Greens or NZF can get 5%.
Ad, given that National is operating a policy of trying to win back power by driving NZF and the Greens below 5% and hoovering up their re-distributed votes, should you really be talking up their prospects? Their chances of pushing the Greens below 5% are minimal.
“and hoovering up their re-distributed votes”.
If you are going to comment on out voting system why don’t you learn how it works?
There are no “re-distributed” votes. People who vote for parties who don’t reach the 5% cut-off (and don’t win an Electorate) are just like those who don’t bother to vote at all. Their votes are simply ignored.
OK, as a long-time pedant myself, I grant you the votes are only “effectively” re-distributed, not actually re-distributed. However, the thing about “effectively” is that its effect isn’t that different from “actually.”
Yes. Bridges is far better than Collins.
I always preferred Collins, but Bridges is a very good tactician.
I reckon he’d make a brilliant General.
Collins is a dirty politics member. Bridges is wet behind the ears.
Neither would make corporal.
Less than the the other corporal of the NSDAP.
——————————–
[ ‘ Mont Pelerin shared the same “conservative revolution” philosophy as the Nazis. It also shared some of the same personnel. For instance, Max von Thurn und Taxis was a sponsor of von Hayek and his new society. Thurn und Taxis’ family had founded another society in southern Germany before World War 1, which was composed entirely of aristocrats, known as the Thule Society.
Thule in turn formed a special “workers division” known as the “National Socialist German Workers Party” (NSDAP). The NSDAP, into which an Austrian corporal named Adolf Hitler was recruited, later became better known by the abbreviated version of its name, the “Nazis.” In 1989, Max von Thurn und Taxis attended a meeting of his Mont Pelerin Society in Christchurch, New Zealand, to judge, first hand, the results of the “worlds most radical free market revolution.]
New Right Fight – Who are the New Right?
http://www.newrightfight.co.nz/pageA.html
Do your homework , B M ….
Name one thing he has done apart from survive.
I’m not even sure he’s managed that.
My suspicion is that all the pretenders are waiting for someone to tip their hand with enough time to have a leadership arena bout and then give the victor a honeymoon period just in time for the election (but not so long that someone else has another go).
We’ll see what happens in six months or so…
With the shit that’s been thrown at him and the fact he’s survived and moving forward is testament to the man’s fortitude and skill.
Ardern, on the other hand, is weaker than old woman’s wee’s with many people saying she’s currently getting managed because she can’t handle the pressure and her mental state is shot to bits.
So nothing as I suspected.- Simon bridges has no clothes, Simon bridges has no clothes…
Jesus, you’re a dense prick Mars, bit pointless engaging with you.
Name one thing I dare you
This is a good game.
Are you speculating on the Prime Minister’s mental health?
That’s brave, Brett.
Is that right Thai guy?
Oh, are you a Planet Rugby Forum user too, Brett? What’s your handle?
I think trolling the Prime Minister’s mental health state would be frowned upon even there.
Now, as per Marty’s request, please name one thing Bridges has done apart from survive.
There are three questions in there for you, Brett. See if you can answer even one.
“I reckon he’d [Bridges] make a brilliant General.” – best laugh of the evening BM; honest.
But if you must liken Bridges to a General, then I reckon one of these might be closer to the mark.
https://www.britannica.com/list/9-worst-generals-in-history
lol
Yeah, I was impressed by the way Bridges managed to squash any controversy that resulted from his transport costs being leaked a couple of days early. Most deft political manoeuvring I’ve seen in years. That could have gone totally pearshaped if he’d started a monomaniacal witch hunt that ended up burning his bag man and bumping the career of an emerging MP, without Bridges even being completely sure the bagman made the original leak in the first place.
B M your a wanker.
[‘ Ardern, on the other hand, is weaker than old woman’s wee’s with many people saying she’s currently getting managed because she can’t handle the pressure and her mental state is shot to bits ‘ ]
Shes still a relatively young woman, who has given birth , and is dealing with the problems of running a country at the same time .
What a remarkable person she is.
Are you stupid,… are you dense?,… are you in fact a moron? Has the sky fallen ? , Has global catastrophe happened ? Has the NZ economy imploded? Have little green men from Mars taken over… are you a wanker?
Yes , .. you are in fact a wanker.
Enough said.
And apparently,… your first name is ‘Brett’…
That figures…
That’s me supposing that. And he turned 50 last year. Also a supposition.
These guesses are against TRP’s and VV’s new rules of engagement where commenters must not bring past references or off forum references into commentary, but do you know what?
I think it’s a stupid rule and I don’t give a fuck.
Yeah well I’m 55 years of age, don’t give a rats shit, couldn’t care less about ideologies, don’t know and don’t care who TRP or VV are and furthermore,- if a wanker is gonna spout off and be a wanker then they are fair game.
And far right wing wankers are fair game. Even if their names are ‘Brett’.
WHY?
Because they cost people their lives.
I would’ve thought people had learnt by now. Obviously not. And that tells me they are newbies. Newbies without any knowledge of history, without any notion of progressive science, without anything barring a primeval inclination towards self preservation. Like a bacterium.
Do we need to be ruled by simple bacteria?
I think not.
Showing your true colours on here muttonbird.
Your complete lack of respect for the mods instructions which they implemented to stop your shitty behaviour and improve the standard.
But “noooooo” you “don’t give a fuck” and deliberately break the rules and start bring in non relevant personal information about the person.
Would have done the same if it was lprent who issued the instruction? Or is it just TRP and VV who you have no respect for ?
Ha, ha ha BM. What a load of crap your talking about jacinda. She always comes across as calm clear and collected.
But keep pumping for Simon. He’s Labour’s biggest asset….
Btw National must be desperate to bring in julie Bishop…….
The shit’s his own shit BMmer and I’ll grant you he wears it well.. You got anyone to manage your mental state or are you just self medicating? Many people say your liver could do with a break.
Like General Pinochet?
Or perhaps General Tapioca. Bridges’ delivery reminds me a lot of General Tapioca.
or Kernal I know nothing Klink……
Bridges is far better than Collins.
Er, I guess so. But only in the sense of “Gonorrhea is far better than syphilis.”
lols
*to be honest.
There’s always a first time. 😆
Oi !!! Cunts are useful…. simon bridges def aint useful.
Bringing up Venezuela will isolate Mr no mates even further from Winston.
Awww simon you are so clever 🙂 LMFAO!!
not when they are syphilitic.
ROFL !!! LMAFO !!!
Nicely said Charlie, cracking up laughing here.
The Crown already owns the polytechs anyway. So can do with them what they see fit. The tertiary education system is a basket case anyway. It needs some form of central direction.
Bridges will be very disturbed to find that until 1961, the country’s universities were actually colleges of the University of New Zealand. So unless Maduro and Chavez have invented time travel, I doubt that there was anything Bolivarian about it.
Precisely, Millsy. Bridges seems to have no knowledge whatsoever about New Zealand’s education system.
He’s reduced to fake news which is not a good sign.
yes Bridges is incredible, what a general, what a major, what a captain, what a leader, what a tactician, what a navigator, what a coherent easily understood articulate and good looking chap, what a bloke. Has to be the best potential PM this country has ever had.
Anybody that would believe that would have to be the biggest dumb-arse fuckwit on the planet. But may he forever stay as the National leader cos they got no hope with the no hoper.
Yes – long may he stay on as leader of the ChiNational party !!!
Hail High Priest Bridges !!!
CGT
A stuff opinion piece on it purporting to be informed.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/110432452/wealthiest-kiwis-would-pay-vast-majority-of-capital-gains-tax
ANALYSIS Most of the tax revenue from a capital gains tax would come from middle income Kiwi families, businessman Troy Bowker has claimed.
But, for that to be true, the investment company chief executive must have a rather unusual definition of what a “middle income” actually is.
So when are people going to take these “news” stories and how they are presented to task. Something stood out so clearly to me on a drive home yesterday from one of the newly reconstructed “talk-back” stations.
In a “comment” piece on the blurb from Matthew Hooten claming ructions between coalitons partners that would lead to a “divorce” the announcer introdiuced the person to comment as “Shane Te Pou, who is on the executive counsel of the Labour Party”, Mr Te Pou then proceeded to echo, support and agree with Hooten’s light of fancy. The announcer after the interview again referred to “Shane Te Pou, who is on the executive council of the Labour Party”.
Now I recalled events that made me sure that Mr Te Pou has not had anything to do with the Labour Party, more than al least a couple of years I thought. On checking when I arrived home that is the case, in fact it seems he has quite a personal beef with them.
Hooten’s “story” is an opinion piece, Te Pou’s relationship as referenced by the announcer does not exist but does give the wide impression to listeners that the “ructions, divisions” or whatever was being alleged by Hooten were given validity by the comments of an “insider”.
I have read the run down on making complaints and I am not making a complaint about the opinions, that looks a vexed process and likely to fail in most cases.
I have made a complaint re the presentation and tone of comment on the “opinion” it was totally misleading due to a deliberate or reckless statement by the announcer on who was making the comment.
Labour should be taking some action against Te Pou for misleading or misinformation. The way that anyone who has had dealings with Labour can hang onto that experience and wave it like a banner entitling them to be heard as wise informants is perplexing.
In the Nelson Mail they have included Phil Quin as a commenter. WTF. Wasn’t his standing considerably dirtied in recent times, if not blackened. As you say Rapunzel it takes time to look up the factual and attack the fudging by a sloppy, disingenuous media, and when Labour doesn’t do it itself you wonder how much time can individuals find to do their job of keeping the shebang honest.
In my opinion Penny Bright was trying to do that, confronting the Power and Political Machine. The human body and mind can only take a certain level of punishment though. She died earlier than otherwise and felt the illness came on because of the stress of the challenge she made and the consequences to her.
Only unless he told Williams that it is down to Williams’ quick off the mark attitude to portray the thoughts of the likes of Hooten – I don’t think it was Te Pou but Williams not doing his homework. In that case it is due to the media outlet employee and I have laid a complaint with the station based on the misinformation that set the tone for a discussion about Hooten’s Herald piece. I think it is a valid complaint I am not challenging the “opinions” passed but that the description of the status of Te Pou certainly placed connotations on his “opinion” that don’t apply ie that a Labour “insider” was placing validity on there being divisions within the current govt.
Not quite sure where Williams comes into it. Was he running the opinion piece on the talk-back show?
Hooten’s piece appeared in the Herald you say. And Te Pou commented on
that passing himself off as a Labour insider, and I think they should be asking questions directly to him about his casual assumption of greatness. Perhaps they could take the bulls by the horns, and cut their horns off, or at least interrogate them publicly in debates.
Because of the glibness of some of these great ‘know-alls’ and their ability to entertain while they pass their verbal candyfloss, the debates would be interesting to the public. Provided that Labour could match the glibness, but with some honesty and factualness it would kill two birds with one stone. Winston Peters comes to mind, as a standard for a worthy adversary for the floating egos; the ‘HalfMen of Oh’.
Sorry yes Peter Williams former TVNZ now runs a morning talk show, – between 10am -11 he outlined the people he had asked on to comment re Hooten’s Herald story, I think – but was driving – that Hooten was otherwise busy but he had comment due from someone else.
Immediately prior and after Te Pou’s question/answer/comment with him in which Te Pou basically agreed there was or would be “trouble at mill’ he referred to him as “on the executive counsel of the Labour Party”.
I was puzzled as I thought I knew otherwise, and subsequently cofirmed I did, it did affect the impressions of the “interview” and definitely added credence to a rift from someone whose point of view could be nothing more than a wishful opinion.
I am waiting till Mon, or at the latest till Tues, as I have had no response – a tad early for that but not for a confirmation that they have received my complaint. Williams is very lose with many of his comments, not too much listening has shown that. Te Pou’s “status/credentials” were preamble and followup to the conversation, I am pretty sure it is his error and therefore the responsibility comes back on the station.
He had taken much pleasure in a topic on “kids long hair/beards in school” having backed his point of view 80% to 20% saying that that would “reflect” the “make-up” of “our audience, quite peculiarly leaning towards his own very clear biases.
It would be a help if you made sure you used the right name and details when talking about complaints like this. You referred to Hooton and when you said Williams I thought you meant Mike Williams who Hooton was sharing a discussion with on Mondays Radionz for a long time.
Perhaps bullet or number the details so that it is easy for someone else to follow them. Often people don’t read more than the first two lines of a block of words, and draw their conclusions from them, wrongly usually.
Sorry – I should know from my job that another can not see inside someone else’s head so:
1. Hooten had an item in the Herald on Friday regarding the coalition having divisions that may result in a “divorce”.
2. Peter Williams on his radio talkback programme highlighted that he would have comment on the Hooten Herald item.
3. Sometime between 10am and 10.45am yesterday morning Peter Williams announced that he would have comment on that item but that Matthew Hooten was unavailable and he would be having Shane Te Pou of, on or from “the executive council of the Labour Party”.
4. He had the interview and again referred to Shane Te Pou as being on, from or of “the executive council of the Labour Party”.
5. At no point did Peter Williams refer to Shane Te Pou as “formerly” on, from or of “the executive counsel of the Labour Party”. Shane Te Pou himself did not mention in what capacity he was speaking or commenting from.
6. I laid a complaint on the basis that the origin of the comments made on the Matthew Hooten item were inaccurate and made that comment and the context and inference of it misleading.
The Tax Working Group has completed its final report.
CGT A stuff opinion piece on it purporting to be informed.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/110432452/wealthiest-kiwis-would-pay-vast-majority-of-capital-gains-tax
ANALYSIS Most of the tax revenue from a capital gains tax would come from middle income Kiwi families, businessman Troy Bowker has claimed.
But, for that to be true, the investment company chief executive must have a rather unusual definition of what a “middle income” actually is.
and
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/110427516/government-urged-to-delay-capital-gains-tax-by-accounting-body?rm=m
Simon has a cunning plan.
“Newshub understands National is working on a strategy to crash Mr Peters vote below the 5% threshold so he’s not an option for either party”.
“We’ve also been told caucus has come up with a magic number – 47% – that’s what National thinks it needs to get into government if it can successfully destroy NZ First”.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/02/national-discusses-sinking-winston-peters-vote-at-caucus-retreat.html
Yep, have the Nats learned nothing, or are they just very, very slow to learn?
They tried this last time when Paula Bennet leaked Winston Peters’ superannuation overpayment and it backfired spectacularly.
What will they try this time? An unpaid water bill? Will they leak his TAB account?
no no no titi ,…its a GREAT plan…shooosh
Citation*. Since you say it as fact. Bennet has not been found to have leaked the expenses.
Fake news muttonbird – not even a good try.
destroy NZ First….now thats a cunning plan eh who would think of that other than the brilliant tactician Simon NO Bridges. The originality of the plan is stunning. Thats it Winston is finished.
https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/2/5/y/u/z/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.710×400.13qn4z.png/1427755244442.jpg
Winston IS finished. The oldies he last smoozed have mostly passed on. The new set of oldies realise he is a lying narcissist and we all know shane jones is a wanker. Good luck guys keeping your coalition partner from hell.
What a load of fake news that was, no one spoke to her, she just made all that up.
Newshub is the trashiest news outlet in NZ.
BTW, National doesn’t have to destroy NZ First they’re doing such a good job by themselves.
Peters is despised after backing the UN migration plan.
They’ll struggle to make 2% in 2020.
Penny won’t drop….sign stuck on Vacant
Classic!
The political media (which is the majority of it) lacks market forces and is hypnotised by it’s own industry combined with modern technological reach – the political media thinks it is the economy and the society.
It is not.
The decreasing vote numbers, & then the last election it’s echo chamber got voted against by majority of the vote. If it was a market based sector of society, it would adjust and it’s echo chamber would become more bi-partisan but that is very difficult for it to do.
The mandate of the govt. by the vote is not to be governed by the same echo chamber, if it does otherwise it will be voted out of office.
It is a dis-connection from demand and supply problem, & as such a drain to the society, a manifestation of the ever present danger of anarchism & irrationalism pushing back against civilisation.
Simon believes he can destroy NZF and get 47% of the votes.
What else does Simon believe?…
And Peters is,… literally the sticking point for the B M’S of this world…. after decades of abuse and haranguing, the ChiNationals party’s plan of doing away with Peters and NZ First have come to its full negative fruition… he and his party are stronger then ever…
Meanwhile the ChiNational party has some explaining to do with the inclusion of an erstwhile former Chinese spy trainer as an MP and the Jaime Lee Ross disclosures of MP’s positions for cash favoring Chinese over Indians ….
The racist party, the sell out party , the party of the salaried self interested…
Not a good look, B M….
( oh – and the obligatory ‘ hahahaha’ )
ugh.
Garner’s state of the nation speech! What an idiot.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/02/duncan-garner-what-jacinda-ardern-should-say-during-her-speech-on-the-economy.html
Rowley Birkin QC – Terrific Snowstorm – YouTube