Daily Review 09/03/2017

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1. Sanctuary 1

   9 March 2017 at 6:14 pm

   Greedy brown fat cats prefer class war to the solidarity of identity politics…

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/90257182/maori-king-endorses-waikatotainui-chairman-to-political-battle
   • Anne 1.1

     9 March 2017 at 6:32 pm

     The bloody cheek of it! I’ve met Nanaia. She has to be one of our most under-rated MPs. She’s intelligent, competent and has the ability to relate to a diverse range of people. She isn’t an attention seeker and she works quietly and effectively behind the scenes.

     If I was Nanaia I would want to give that fly-by-nighter, Tuku Morgan a punch in the face. He’s the instigator here. A venomous “greedy brown Tom” who is in it for what he and his cohorts can get out of it.

     Edit: If this is the kind of politics the M. P. endorse then I hope they’re knocked out of parliament later this year.
     • BM 1.1.1

       9 March 2017 at 6:39 pm

       What’s a “greedy brown Tom”?
       • Jenny Kirk 1.1.1.1

         9 March 2017 at 10:12 pm

         an Uncle Tom. and I totally agree with you, Anne. power-seeking sexist rant from Tuku and his mouthpiece, the King.
     • James 1.1.2

       9 March 2017 at 8:03 pm

       The bloody cheek of it. Having his own view and endorsing somebody anne doesn’t agree with.
       • BM 1.1.2.1

         9 March 2017 at 8:17 pm

         Yes, don’t those damn darkies realise we know best? how dare they have their own thoughts and ideas !!!!
         • Barfly 1.1.2.1.1

           10 March 2017 at 1:10 am

           hey so cool you are there for “Mr $89 underpants”
           • reason 1.1.2.1.1.1

             10 March 2017 at 8:38 am

             Around 90% of Maori have seen no money or benefits from Treaty settlements for the past ripp-offs by dishonest white settlers …

             And then we have the Tuku morgans ….. who put a $89 pair of undies for himself ahead of other uses for Maori money…

             Simple proof the guys a wanker … big on greed and self-entitlement …… BM & James should vote for him…. there is an affinity between the three which cuts across race.
   • gsays 1.2

     9 March 2017 at 6:44 pm

     Hi sanctuary,I would have thought as class was a bigger group than an individual’s idea of their identity,there was a greater chance of solidarity within a class.
     • Anne 1.2.1

       9 March 2017 at 6:47 pm

       I think you are mis-reading what Sanctuary means by “class”.
       • gsays 1.2.1.1

         9 March 2017 at 7:38 pm

         Hi Anne,I have to confess I must be a bit dodge on identity politics too.
         My understanding is that it is quite particular and framed by how you view yrself. Often at odds with how others view you.

         Genuinely a bit lost, not agitating at all.
         • Anne 1.2.1.1.1

           9 March 2017 at 7:44 pm

           …not agitating at all.

           I realised that. 🙂 I think Sanctuary was talking in terms of “class” as in say… the so called ‘entitled’ upper class (in which some M.P. members seem to see themselves) and the rest of the Maori population who are working class.
           • gsays 1.2.1.1.1.1

             9 March 2017 at 7:58 pm

             Perhaps the contrast of entitled vs working isn’t as striking when all identify as Maori.
         • weka 1.2.1.1.2

           9 March 2017 at 8:25 pm

           “My understanding is that it is quite particular and framed by how you view yrself. Often at odds with how others view you.”

           Nope. But I’m not surprised, the debate around IP is pretty fractured now and not conducive to understanding. Unless you hang out with people that value IP 😉
           • gsays 1.2.1.1.2.1

             9 March 2017 at 8:35 pm

             I realise u are probably sick to the back teeth of engaging with ignorami (plural?) on this subject, but getting a handle on IP is proving elusive.

             True, I don’t mingle with folk who have heard of IP.
             • weka …

               9 March 2017 at 10:18 pm

               It’s because there is an increasing stoush over ownership of the term and thus what it means varies hugely depending on who you talk to. Carolyn has gotten to the point of finding it a useless term. I vacillate between abandoning it and reclaiming it.

               I’ll have a think about writing a definition in a context that will make sense here. Would make an interesting post (although I might have to turn the comments off 😈 )
               • gsays …

                 10 March 2017 at 5:39 am

                 The Adam Curtis 4 part series century of the self looks at the work of Anna Frued (niece of Sigmund).
                 The rise of marketers in the age of consumerism took this work and exploited us by telling us we were special, our needs were important, our fears are legitimate and here is a product to meet those fears, needs and wants.

                 IP comes across as a natural consequence of this conditioning.
                 Rather than look at what we have in common, we look for what sets us apart.

                 I look forward to a post.
                 Would be ironic to have no comments….
     • Carolyn_nth 1.2.2

       9 March 2017 at 6:50 pm

       There’s an intense fight this coming election over the Māori seats. So, if it’s about social class, it’d about the amounts of working class within those electorates.
       • gsays 1.2.2.1

         9 March 2017 at 7:40 pm

         I pondered this earlier, and perhaps it is a Westminster view that has left/right, instead of what is best for Maori.
         • Carolyn_nth 1.2.2.1.1

           9 March 2017 at 7:44 pm

           I mean, that all people enrolled in Māori electorates will be Māori – obviously. Many are also likely to identify as working class. But working class solidarity within the Māori electorates is not likely to outnumber those whose primary identification is as Māori.
           • gsays 1.2.2.1.1.1

             9 March 2017 at 8:02 pm

             Spot on, well.said.
   • mauī 1.3

     9 March 2017 at 8:08 pm

     Rahui Papa has the makings of a superb Māori politician I reckon. I hope he beats Labour in this one.
     • gsays 1.3.1

       9 March 2017 at 8:10 pm

       Hi Maui, is it because he ain’t labour or you regard him as a better prospect than ms Mahuta?
       • mauī 1.3.1.1

         9 March 2017 at 8:35 pm

         I think/feel he’s the better candidate that’s all, although to be fair I don’t know a lot about Mahuta, and that maybe partly because of Mahuta’s reserved style. The impression I get of Papa is that he’s a great communicator with natural leadership skills and brings a prescence whenever he speaks. I also like how he knows his history.

         He features on this interesting video discussion about the New Zealand Wars if youre interested to get an idea of the fella.
         http://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/media-take/S03E004/media-take-extended-series-3-episode-6
         • gsays 1.3.1.1.1

           9 March 2017 at 8:53 pm

           Cheers, will give it a lookalike.
           Btw I do enjoy media take.
   • Muttonbird 1.4

     10 March 2017 at 5:34 am

     National are trying to divide Maori just like they have divided the rest of New Zealand.
     • Sanctuary 1.4.1

       10 March 2017 at 7:29 am

       Maori are doing a pretty good job of doing that all by themselves.
   • Maz 1.5

     10 March 2017 at 8:45 am

     I totally agree Anne. An ungracious and disrepectful comment indeed. Tuku has an obliging media following. No surprises there, given that anything that portrays Labour in a negative light will be highlighted by our faithful National abiding news casters.

     That the now ‘backbencher is devoid of mana’ shows that he and his king place politics over and above familial associations. To say this publicly about a whanau, hapu and iwi member says less about them and much more about her. A personal attack of this nature will not be taken lightly and I hope Maori vote en masse to ensure they don’t make it into Parliament.
     • Anne 1.5.1

       10 March 2017 at 10:05 am

       That the now ‘backbencher is devoid of mana’…

       She’s not on the back bench. She’s on the front bench of course. And she will be a senior minister in the Lab/Green coalition government. That’s the big lie Tuku Morgan is peddling. I can’t believe the majority of Maori will fall for his sexist crap.
2. Xanthe 2

   9 March 2017 at 6:37 pm

   #completely disgusted with tv1 news report on vault7, drop in shill piece lies about status of assange, lies about source of DNC leak, zero fact check , un filtered propaganda!

   Outraged!
3. Carolyn_nth 3

   9 March 2017 at 6:42 pm

   This interview on Checkpoint tonight, with a female high school student in Wellington, is pretty damning – not just of school boys’ behaviour, but of men’s behaviour too:

   A protest is being planned for outside Wellington College, to call on the school and New Zealand to address rape culture. A Wellington high school student tells Checkpoint why she plans to attend.

   She said the behaviour/comments reported to have been posted by Wellington school boys on facebook, was no surprise to herself or girls she knows. She says it’s a daily experience for her to have boys and men to make rape-type comments to her in the street.

   She says that she thinks many men need to look at their own behaviour, because school boys are just copying them.

   This interview was followed by an author who has written about rape culture, pretty much confirming what the above high school student said.

   The author of Raising Boys, Steve Biddulph, tells Checkpoint why so many boys, and men, act in a way that some students from Wellington College have come under fire for.

   Some feedback to Checkpoint says it is part of our culture where a PM can harass a woman by pulling her ponytail, and critics get told to lighten up.
   • gsays 3.1

     9 March 2017 at 7:54 pm

     Grim listening Caroline, I will stick my neck out and suggest that part of the problem is pornography, from tv and media advertising through to music videos and the free hard core stuff available on any phone/laptop.
   • Cinny 3.2

     9 March 2017 at 8:09 pm

     Thanks for the link Carolyn, is bloody shocking that this is still happening. Makes me think how are these boys being taught to treat women.. maybe via advertising, music videos, gaming and porn so easily and freely available online?

     Wondering where the male role models are within the Government?

     Surely the male leaders of our country should be setting an example for young men to follow, or are they part of the problem?

     On the up side I’ve certainly seen some wonderful male role models within the opposition parties.

     Interesting story regarding ‘rape culture’.

     Was at a party, this guy was hitting on all the women there, even the ones who had partners.
     It was inappropriate.
     So the men took care of that situation, as women DO NOT get hassled at parties, such are the values of the men there towards women. This man was given a very very very stern talking to and removed from the party.
     The next day the women from the party were called to gather at the party hostesses home, the touchy feely man in question was taken to the women, all clean shaven and in his sunday best and made to apologise to them all.

     Some men do have strong values about respecting women. And it’s nice to know they are sharing their knowledge, lead by example and all that

     The whole situation impressed me so very much, kudos to those men at the party for their respect of women, they always look after and look out for the women at parties.

     Biker party, great night had by all, it was a great night because we felt safe, it was the bikers that cemented that feeling of safety by the way they dealt with the situation.

     Now that’s how to get the chicks 😀 stick up for them. Lesson to be learned there 😀
     • gsays 3.2.1

       9 March 2017 at 8:27 pm

       Good story cinny,
       I am more concerned about the male role models in the home than in the government.
       • Carolyn_nth 3.2.1.1

         9 March 2017 at 9:05 pm

         Yes. On Checkpoint the author talked about the importance of men in the homes being good role models, but also about them needing to have “honest” discussions with their sons about ways to behave with women that are not damaging to the women.

         The 16 year old student from Wellington College says she gets the same sorts of comments from men in the street, as from school boys: comments that promote rape culture. And from some men as old as John Campbell ie in their 50s.
       • Cinny 3.2.1.2

         9 March 2017 at 9:38 pm

         For sures. I wonder if some parents really know what their kids are watching, it’s learned behaviour, whether it be on a screen or real people interacting around them.
         And it’s the girls too, they see skanky chicks in music videos gyrating in sweet FA and rolling around on the floor and mimic it. And if no one puts them right and explains to them why it’s not acceptable in a way they understand, they will continue to do so.
         My youngest watched the 9 – 12 yr olds from a local dance school do a performance at a community event, these young girls were dressed in gold hot pants and tiny crop tops, loads of sexual moves including dry humping the floor. Then my youngest tries to copy them dang.
         I’m no prude that’s for sure, but crikey wtf, young dance teacher, brought up with sexual music video’s, dang any local perverts would have been in bliss.

         Documentaries at home that encourage discussion seems to bring results at our house, lolz I’ll blindside their friends with one next sleepover lmao.
     • Carolyn_nth 3.2.2

       9 March 2017 at 8:55 pm

       Yes, good story, Cinny.

       The TV1 news focused on the pornography angle quite a bit tonight. They presented the example of Auckland Grammar where they are having lessons about the problems with pornography. Some of the AG boys talked about it.
       • In Vino 3.2.2.1

         9 March 2017 at 9:27 pm

         Sorry, but as one who started secondary teaching in 1970, I think you are both off-beam.
         The attitude is started at home in the parents, and grows from there. It always has been so. I remember at secondary school in the early 1960s hearing boys talk that kind of talk. No social media, so no publicity.
         This will annoy you even more (maybe): those bad parent types are producing more offspring than good parents do. So the problem gets worse.
         Blaming social media and pornography is just the kind of mindless distraction that our neo-liberal masters want you to be distracted by. It suits them.
         I still teach, and can assure you that well-parented children handle social media without harm, and probably avoid excessive exposure to pornography, without being harmed by the exposure their curiosity may have led them to.
         Same with violence. The vicious cycle all starts with what parents unconsciously teach their kids in early years. Violence in video games or pornography have harmful effects only on people who are already infected with that harm, from parental input. Good children from good parents are incorruptible.
         Otherwise, the harm is already done. Squealing about pornography and violence is squealing for an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. Too late.
         We need good parenting, not a ban on porn or bash-up games.
         I just wish I knew how to bring it about. Social justice, a decent living wage for all, and full employment would be much more worth fighting for. But that will not suit our neo-liberal regime.
         So I guess we will get more squealing about porn and violence..
         • Cinny 3.2.2.1.1

           9 March 2017 at 9:54 pm

           Interesting ty In Vino especially with your background in teaching and seeing things unfold over the years.

           Maybe we need a parenting channel on the TV rather than a shopping channel? Actually.. that’s not a bad idea. Government funded using a medium that gets obvious results, good old television the drug of a nation.

           The differences today are important, i remember one porno magazine that did the rounds, or someone trying to hire a porno video, sheez it was a big deal, required major planning, including how to watch it, whose got a VCR, they were super fancy.
           But now days it’s all there and free online. I do think that makes a difference. Grand Theft Auto is a long way removed from Pac Man. There is a ban on porn and bash up games as well as guns in our house. JS

           How do you think we could improve parenting in NZ to create change and break the cycles In Vino?
         • Carolyn_nth 3.2.2.1.2

           10 March 2017 at 4:14 pm

           In Vino: Sorry, but as one who started secondary teaching in 1970, I think you are both off-beam.</i.

           Really? And where did I particularly condemn pornography? – I merely said it was addressed. And in my previous comment I also referred to the discussion where parents as role models was also addressed.

           Blaming social media and pornography is just the kind of mindless distraction that our neo-liberal masters want you to be distracted by. It suits them.

           What a muddle of ideas you’ve thrown out.

           I’m interested, though, that it is pornography again that is in the firing line with respect to misogyny.

           2nd wave feminist tended to be highly critical of pornography – long before the neoliberal shift kicked in. And during the 1990s, with 3rd wave feminism, there was a tendency for many feminists to embrace pornography (or was it erotica?) that was claimed to be produced by and for women.

           Actually, the expansion of pornography/erotica into digital media coincided with the neoliberal shift. Like all forms of media, it proliferated with the ability to more easily reproduce such productions. Pornography has probably been caught up in the acceleration of the commodification of everything, rather than being something separate from, or oppositional to neoliberalism.

           I don’t know much about the content of pornography. But there were 2 issues raised by the Auckland Grammar teaching:

           1. It was claimed pornography objectifies women, and treats them as less than human.

           2. It was claimed some guys get addicted to pornography, and then become unable to maintain sexual relationships with real women.

           On 1: I am critical of any media content that consistently objectifies women and/or demeans or demonises any section of society: and that includes whenever it happens within G-rated cartoons, sports broadcasts, serious documentaries, mainstream TV dramas, 6pm evening news… and pornography/erotica.

           And I think the dominant narratives in most of our media tend to reinforce rape culture. And inter-related with that, is the role models adults set for young people.

           On 2: I don’t know anything about addiction to pornography. There seems to be concerns these days about addictions to all kinds of things. I’ll pay attention to anything on addiction that is solidly backed up by research.
       • Cinny 3.2.2.2

         9 March 2017 at 10:01 pm

         That was excellent, wows good on AG, and the discussion it brought about with those young lads, so important. And a subject no doubt many parents would feel rather uncomfortable discussing with their own kids and visa versa, brilliant way to tackle the issue.

         Hows that… 60% of boys watch porn weekly, dang. Good on you Auckland Grammar for seeing it as a possible mental health issue meaning it fits within their curriculum, maybe all NZ secondary schools should look at doing the same.
         • reason 3.2.2.2.1

           11 March 2017 at 1:07 am

           Cinny … what percentage of teenage boys do you think Masturbate each week?? …. hint … they wake up with a hard on each day….

           I’m presuming their porn watching would be central to their wanking …

           And while we can criticize the lazy spotty Herberts …. for not using their grey matter and imaginations more ….

           If you invented a lap top or Tablet that can come into the shower … they will be batting at over 90% in the porn watching stakes.

           Electrocution not blindness …. from all that wanking …would be the modern mothers warning.

           More seriously …. respectful loving relationships, between them and others in their family home….. gives All young people the best chance when the Hormones start hitting them…. and their own relationships and interactions of a sexual nature begin.

           Speaking As a male to Mothers ….. do not underestimate the hormonal and mood swings that teenage boys can go through …. Testosterone is not a easy hormone.
           • Cinny 3.2.2.2.1.1

             12 March 2017 at 9:20 am

             Thank you for your honesty, some things I just simply forget being a woman, like the morning hardon, I really appreciate you being straight up with me, it helps me to understand .

             I wonder how many teens have the privacy and safety they need. Like for masturbation with out shame. Cause that’s really important for a number of reasons, as well as having understanding relationships and conversations, rather than turning a blind eye because it feels uncomfortable discussing the human body, and it’s functions.
             And the privacy and safety in that respect would be hard to find in some homes. But the internet however, that can be found in most homes. One with out the other could become toxic.

             Maybe if we had Parenting TV, it could be a topic for after 8:30pm. These things so need to be talked about, so we can all learn, and they need to be talked about frankly and maturely to help find the best outcomes for our youth.

             Such a complex topic. Had a very frank conversation with my man about it yesterday, so many facets, not just the boys but how internet porn can lead to massive confusion for girls too.
             It lead us to discussing the education system, we felt that it needs to be changed to include subjects that have only become relevant in the last twenty years with the internet etc as well as subjects that should have been made compulsory years ago like personal finance, how the government works etc etc
4. Pataua4life 4

   9 March 2017 at 6:43 pm

   Thanks Anne.
   You just reminded me why I will never vote left.
   • Anne 4.1

     9 March 2017 at 6:51 pm

     No skin off my nose.
     Cos, like, you know… the men have every right to tell the woman MP to “step aside” for them – especially on International Women’s Day!
     • Pataua4life 4.1.1

       9 March 2017 at 6:53 pm

       You should try to be happy more. 🙂
       • Anne 4.1.1.1

         9 March 2017 at 7:14 pm

         I’m never happy with arrogant, misogynist males who try to put down an admired and respected politician because she happens to be a woman and is willing to stand up and speak for the many disenfranchised people within Maoridom. The people, I might add, for whom the Tuku Morgans of this world don’t give a damm.
         • James 4.1.1.1.1

           9 March 2017 at 8:09 pm

           I love it when people go “ooooh it’s because she’s a woman”. Without giving any consideration that there could be any other reason for it.

           Perhaps if you read what he said –

           “We all deserve no less than the best leadership on offer.

           “She’s going right back to the backbench now. To me, she’s got no mana in there now,” King Tuheitia said of Labour MP Nanaia Mahuta’s demotion in the party.”

           So perhaps it’s her demotion in labour that had something to do with it.

           Of course the only reason Andrew little demoted her was because she’s a woman right?
           • James 4.1.1.1.1.1

             9 March 2017 at 8:13 pm

             It’s not like this is a surprise- it’s just little read it all wrong.

             http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/74597088/andrew-little-dismisses-impact-of-nanaia-mahuta-demotion-on-maori-support
             • Jenny Kirk …

               9 March 2017 at 10:21 pm

               Yeah, James, Little forgot to take into account the inherent sexism and heirachical being of some of the so-called the top Maori. (sarc)
               Because maybe he hadn’t encountered it before, and probably wasn’t aware it existed – because he lives in a world where women are treated equally and with respect.
               • Antoine …

                 9 March 2017 at 11:58 pm

                 If this sort of stuff is what Maori politics is about, Im glad Im not Maori
               • James …

                 10 March 2017 at 7:47 am

                 Mabey he just thought she wasn’t that good at her job ?
5. Bill 5

   9 March 2017 at 6:54 pm

   Just read this … https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/09/us-sends-hundreds-of-marines-to-syria-to-support-fight-against-isis

   Who invited them in? The Syrian government? (I don’t think so.) What you call that…deploying troops to wage war a foreign country without the express permission or invitation of the government of said country? (Answers on a postcard)

   Also sending troops to Kuwait. Could hazard a guess that the Kuwaiti government might have ‘invited’ them.
   • One Two 5.1

     9 March 2017 at 7:47 pm

     With each move the violent remnants of ‘western hegemony’ relegates itself to the unwritten history books

     The chaotic events now unraveling at such an accelerated pace, indicate to me that humanity is in the midst of tectonic shifts ….

     Which way the shift ultimately goes is unclear IMO, but it is with certainty I say the following

     Climate Change is not the most pressing issue facing all living beings…in fact CC is relatively a ‘non event’ when compared the imminent threat of complete and utter destruction wrought with WMDs, be they military, financial or technical…

     How many more years can the current trajectory be continued before the destructive tipping point is reached, one way or the other..

     The timeline is nearer term than any other threat humanity has ever faced

     Within a decade I would say…
     • Bill 5.1.1

       9 March 2017 at 7:59 pm

       Well, all I know is that the US (NATO member) has illegally deployed armed troops to Syria (allegedly to protect Rojavans) – the same Rojavans that Turkey (NATO member) has illegally deployed troops inside Syria to fight against.

       So even ignoring all other spaghetti strands that make for the situation in Syria, I wonder if anyone can tell me how that possibly ends well?
       • gsays 5.1.1.1

         9 March 2017 at 8:08 pm

         The shareholders in the munitions and arms companies get a return.
         If the folk on the ground are with private companies then there are contracts being paid.

         Don’t be fretting about civilians, international protocols or any of that lefty stuff. There is money to be made.
       • One Two 5.1.1.2

         9 March 2017 at 8:23 pm

         More or less what ‘gsays’ responded with…although I do not believe it is about money

         The circumstances which come from the situation you describe are ‘another brick in the wall’

         The multiplier effect ensures an ever accelerating decline to whichever outcome the ‘masses’ allow to eventuate…

         I see from your comments on various subjects that you don’t observe events in a vacuum…

         They are each and every one a contributer to the multiplier effect
     • Jenny Kirk 5.1.2

       9 March 2017 at 10:26 pm

       You could be right, OneTwo.
       Whenever I see the destruction of cities and countries – almost daily on TV news, I wonder how much longer this will continue and what will become of all those millions of people unhoused, and unfed, with the loss of their lands and their livelihoods – where will they all end up, how will they all end up ? ? And does the western world ever think about what the end destruction of places, cities, countries really means ?
       • One Two 5.1.2.1

         10 March 2017 at 12:25 pm

         Hi Jenny

         IMO if people of ‘the west’ do not take the actions required to halt the actions of their captured governments..

         Sooner than later what ‘we’ allowed to happen abroad, will happen inside ‘our” own boarders, and in ways similar or more destructive than is seen now

         Violence will always lead to escalated violence…

         This is inevitable, as is the threat of continue decemation as the war machine expands around the globe at an increasingly rapid pace!
   • grumpystilskin 5.2

     9 March 2017 at 8:15 pm

     Speaking of Syria, I found this to be very interesting and well worth a watch.
     Journalist Eva Bartlett: “I’m Back From Syria. The Media Is Lying To You!”
     
     • Bill 5.2.1

       9 March 2017 at 9:12 pm

       An excellent journalist disseminating crucial information reduced to using outlets associated with David Icke…
6. Cinny 6

   9 March 2017 at 7:31 pm

   It’s going to be all on like Donkey Kong at the Nelson Trolley Derby this weekend.

   Green Party candidate Matt Lawrey will be racing against outgoing government minister Dr Custard.

   Heats start at 11am this Saturday 11th March, Collingwood St, Nelson

   Lawrey for the win!
7. joe90 7

   9 March 2017 at 7:36 pm

   Ctrl + f for video.

   Google’s computer vision technology is now so good it’s able to find specific objects within a video or group of videos.

   […]

   With the tool, you can search one or more videos using keywords and get back a list of results showing you where in the video you can find the objects relevant to your search terms. You can see a bit of Google’s demo of the software onstage at Cloud Next in the video below.

   http://mashable.com/2017/03/08/google-video-intelligence-api/#dL0VTPgM_8qo
8. keepcalmcarryon 8

   9 March 2017 at 7:40 pm

   New Zealand continues being sold off at pace by the Nats

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/90260050/overseas-investment-office-approves-sharp-increase-in-foreign-land-ownership

   “Foreigners snapped up 362,000 hectares of freehold farm or forestry land and 103,000 ha of leasehold land in 2016, a hefty increase from the year before and higher than the average over the last 10 years.”

   “Economist Bill Rosenberg, who conducted the research, said statistics on sales of land to overseas interests were poorly recorded and incomplete.

   “Our best estimate is that in 2011 at least 8.7 percent of New Zealand farmland including forestry, or 1.3 million ha, was foreign-owned or controlled and it could have reached 10 percent.”

   This was despite former Prime Minister John Key’s assertion in 2014 that foreigners owned only 2 per cent of farm and forestry land.

   Rosenberg said CAFCA’s opposition to foreign ownership of land was based on the fact it was “the bedrock of our international competitive advantage” and the benefits were often overstated.

   For example, a KPMG report recently showed US investors, who were the largest between 2013-15, invested $4.5 billion, but over the same period they removed $3.2b from New Zealand.”
9. Carolyn_nth 9

   9 March 2017 at 9:11 pm

   Just online from NZ Herald’s Matt Nippert – he just tweeted that the OIAs on Peter Thiel have just started coming through.

   Billionaire Peter Thiel’s secret Kiwi spy links revealed

   New Zealand spy agencies and our elite Special Air Service soldiers have long-standing commercial links with a controversial big-data company founded by surprise Kiwi Peter Thiel, the Herald can reveal.

   An investigation into Thiel’s links to New Zealand has found his firm Palantir Technologies has counted the New Zealand Defence Force, the Security Intelligence Service and the Government Communications and Security Bureau as clients with contracts dating back to at least 2012.

   The revelation caused Kennedy Graham, Green Party spokesman for intelligence and security matters, to call for a delay to the passage of the New Zealand Intelligence and Security Bill, which today passed its second and penultimate reading.

   Graham said the New Zealand-Palantir connection was “potentially huge” and raised more questions than it answered.

   More at the link.

   And it’s worth reading Nippert’s tweets on it, too.
   • Cinny 9.1

     9 March 2017 at 10:12 pm

     WOW! That’s massive. Excellent investigative journalism going on there by Mr Nippert. And thanks Dr Kennedy.

     Thanks for the links Carolyn. Will be expecting to see this all over the media in the morning as well it needs to be addressed on the weekend political shows.
   • veutoviper 9.2

     10 March 2017 at 8:02 am

     I am really pleased that the background to Thiel and his connections to Palantir is finally coming out. Good on Matt Nippert for his perseverance on this issue.

     Just saying that I have been pushing the Palantir connections for quite some time here on TS.

     My most recent comment on Open Mike on 4 March seems to have gone unnoticed so will repeat here.

     https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-04032017/#comment-1306356

     “Peter Thiel Update

     I rarely pass by here these days, but thought some here might be interested in this March 3 article.

     https://theintercept.com/2017/03/02/palantir-provides-the-engine-for-donald-trumps-deportation-machine/

     I commented on the Thiel posts a few months ago* when it was revealed that he had been given NZ citizenship some years ago. My concern re Thiel was his connections to Palantir with its connections to the Five Eyes spy network, the GCBS etc. – and to US regulatory authorities ($B worth of contracts).

     https://thestandard.org.nz/peter-thiels-citizenship-and-consequent-questions-of-corruption/#comment-1293097

     There are also links to several other interesting recent articles on Thiel at the end of the Intercept article.

     *Shock – It was only at the end of Jan! Feels like a year ago. The Trump effect.”

     My earlier comment 1293097 at the end of Jan is quite long so will not repeat it here, but it contains quite a number of links to other (US) articles on Palantir and its connections to US government (intelligence and other regulatory) agencies that came out after Thiel’s connections to Trump became known.

     This comment is not intended as a “I told you so”. Simply that I have been following the Palantir connections to NZ for some years. A bit of a personal fixation.
     • Carolyn_nth 9.2.1

       10 March 2017 at 8:23 am

       Good that someone’s keeping watch on it.

       Nippert is one of the better journalists at NZ Herald.
       • veutoviper 9.2.1.1

         10 March 2017 at 12:47 pm

         Absolutely agree re Matt Nippert. I gather that David Fisher is also helping on this issue.

         The Palantir connection has been an interest of mine right back to when their name came up in relation to the GCSB and SIS, and the changes to intelligence gathering legislation. Key was up to his ears in the connection IMHO.

         Anyway i used to ‘live’ on TS as a reader and occasional commenter, but only pass by from time to time these days and saw your post. Cheers.
         • Tautoko Mangō Mata 9.2.1.1.1

           10 March 2017 at 1:58 pm

           Interesting to reread Karol’s post of June 13th, 2013 titled Networks of influence: Key, Peter Thiel & the GCSB
           • Tautoko Mangō Mata 9.2.1.1.1.1

             10 March 2017 at 2:15 pm

             Sorry, I omitted the link to the above
             https://thestandard.org.nz/networks-of-influence-key-peter-thiel-the-gcsb/

             I also found this in my rereadings of Wayne’s comment 13.2.1 below Karol’s post. (my bold)

             Karol, two interesting posts.

             Yes the PM does interact with this group of people. In many respects they are his generation or close to it. He is much more networked into this global group than any other prior NZ PM. His prior job and the level he rose to ensures that. He was involved in the most globally networked part of the economy; global finance and IT. The latter by degrees of connection and their need for huge infusions of capital in order to grow at often exponentional rates

             And a significant number of them are really interested in NZ, often for quite eccentric reasons – the billionaires who visit NZ in their private jet and then bike around NZ as an expression of their oneness with nature – work that one out if you can!

             So he is certainly going to know those who come to NZ especially if they are from the US, where he PM did a lot of his work. In Peter Theil’s case he has actually become a citizen.

             There are quite a few who have exclusive hideaways in Queenstown area and Bay of Islands.

             Yes, it is a bit of an unusual part of the zeitgist, but there you are.
10. The decrypter 10

    9 March 2017 at 10:45 pm

    Part one —–of many.

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