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notices and features - Date published:
6:00 pm, September 9th, 2015 - 58 comments
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The current rise of populism challenges the way we think about people’s relationship to the economy.We seem to be entering an era of populism, in which leadership in a democracy is based on preferences of the population which do not seem entirely rational nor serving their longer interests. ...
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The fact that Tony Abbott’s racist government has taken 12 000 refugees while we can make only 600 is shameful for Key.
Key’s reason for the low emergency intake is that NZ lacks the infrastructure and services required to accomodate more in a way which provides decent outcomes for both refugees and for the country.
This is a frank admission that infrastructure and services have have not been updated sufficiently under his watch.
That is simply an excuse.
The infrastructure could be built.
Easily.
Indeed, but social services have been gutted by his ideology and to reverse that would be an admission the ideology is wrong.
The new buildings at the Mangere centre are coming on line. Makes you think the Government could keep the old resources running for a while and that way they could really increase the number of refugees they could deal with.
“That is simply an excuse.
The infrastructure could be built.
Easily.”
They should put Gerry Brownlee in charge of that.
Or Murray McCully the master builder who built a fantastic fancy sheep farm in Saudi Arabia somewhere in the centre of the Sahara desert for only $11.5 million to house about 900 sheep, many of which sadly or happily entered their sheep heaven before even reaching their destination. I suspect none have survived now and have probably been long turned into ‘Dum Biryani’ gracing many a dining table of Sheiks and sultanas under sunset and al kuhool. Salaam!…good luck with that.
Recipe:
http://sharmilazkitchen.com/hyderabadi-dum-biryani/
Thanks Clem I like the look of that recipe. With al kuhool.
In John Campbell’s first piece of journalism since being sacked by TV3 a few months back, this morning on National Radio he interviewed people at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre.
There were two interesting pieces of new information in his piece:
1. NZ is the only country in the world that has a single centre that all refugees go to when they first enter the country. They stay for 6 weeks before being moved on to one of a few cities in NZ (Christchurch was notably absent; only Nelson from the South Island was included).
2. They can currently accommodate 150 refugees at a time, but a $5M upgrade that is already underway will take this capacity to 190 mid next year. This upgrade was included in National’s 2014 budget.
thanks, that’s useful.
Yes, I agree. The government should have supported, allowed and passed the two proposed motions by Labour and the Greens (immediate extra 750 emergency intake, and permanent increase to at least1,000 per year instead of the current 750).
We do have a vacuous and crap of a government here.
————
On a related matter, I read two articles today giving a different perspective on this refugee/immigrant issue in Europe where Germany is taking in over 800,0000 and the super wealthy/sparsely populated Gulf countries where the intake is practically zero:
[1] Migrant crisis: Why the Gulf states are not letting Syrians in
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34173139?ocid=socialflow_twitter
[2] Germany: Moral leader or misguided?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34185970
————
The golf region countries and the US are heavily involved of creating the situation in the first place. If such an undertaking is planed, there is also collateral damage calculated.
These states don’t really care about people, people are expendable. I mean -really truly.
Saudi Arabia is the cradle of the Wahhabism, developed into an extreme form of Islam. The European parliament has identified this faith as the main source of terrorism. Perhaps this is not explained in the Anglo Saxon world.
For a refugee to settle in Saudi Arabia or Qatar would be akin to going into a lions den.
As for the US, I don’t have much respect for their dictatorship by the rich. So far 1500 refugees were allowed into the US. That says it all.
“The golf region countries”
Why would anyone reject such regions? Unless one doesn’t have a bag, may be.
Key, Obama and Trump would jump at the chance.
there’s a ranch in Texas that should be housing more than a few…
suspect they may confuse that for one in Cuba
A Quiz for you:
Adam has posted earlier today, that today, 9 September, is Bernie Sander’s birthday.
http://thestandard.org.nz/sanders-leads-clinton/#comment-1068642
Name the following people who were also born on 9 Sept:
[A] A celebrated writer, a recognized moralist and a distinguished social reformer born in Yasnaya Polyana and is regarded as a great literary giant.
[B] A kiwi model turned actor, born in Glenfield, and who starred in a film with Daryl Hannah.
[C] American businessman and entrepreneur born in Indiana and who sold his business for $2 million dollars in 1964, i.e, 51 years ago.
Latest Colmar Brunton once again places combined Oppo support ahead of Govt support.
So much for the Key/National “defying gravity”/”as popular as ever”/”far more popular than the Third Term Clark Govt” meme being pushed by the Herald on Sunday and dutifully regurgitated by Jane Clifton in this week’s Listener.
(See my scrutiny of their claims here …….. http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-06092015/#comment-1067612 )
Quite a bit of angst was expressed on the Left-leaning blogosphere when the latest Roy Morgan and Herald-DigiPolls came out, suggesting the Nats were up on 50-51%. Like I said at the time, wait for the 2 TV polls.
Tragically, though (and all-too-predictably) One News Pol Editor Corin Dann’s analysis is woefully misplaced: “National is continuing to ride high in the polls…the result will be a big confidence boost to National and John Key……..National doesn’t appear to be suffering in the polls……..on these numbers, National would appear to be as strong as ever……..Key’s personal approval ratings also continue to ride high……..”
Ahhh, Corin, please understand that almost the entire Government/Right Bloc vote now coalesces tightly around National. 47% just aint enough. The Oppo Bloc is on 51%……….
….you know……..a majority.
The Oppo Bloc is up about 7 points on the 2014 Election, the Right Bloc down about 5 points.
The Nat vote is “holding up” because of that collapsed support for their Little Helpers on the Right.
(Note to Mr Pete George and one or two Tories on KiwiBlog………Yes, I’m well aware that NZF support for a Labour Govt isn’t guaranteed. We’ll take that as read. Is more likely than not however)
How about you send this comment to Corin Dann for his edification and education swordfish. He will be so grateful to you for putting him on the right track. 🙂
Seriously why don’t you. Give the little p***k a sharp poke in the eye. To be fair, he’s not as bad as Gower – or maybe he is but more subtle about it.
If these two truly believe the shit they sometimes talk then their knowledge and comprehension of political polls in particular falls woefully short of acceptable and they should be kicked out of their respective positions.
A number of our journalists/political commentators are not at all intelligent, learned or objective, and more importantly not fair or objective. Some of them, like Hosking and Henry are permanently attached to Key’s bottom jowls, while some others seem to be longing to join those two sucklers.
Here is the thing:
National at the last election had a party support of 1,131,501 votes=47.04%
Labour/Greens then had a party support of
LABOUR=604,534 votes, 25.13%
Greens =257,356 votes, 10.70%
A combined vote of 861,890=35.83%
A poor result with a lag from National of 269,611 votes or 11.24%
Now today’s poll shows that Nats are at 47%
And Labour and Greens have 32%+12%=44%
Labour has improved by 7% and the Greens by over 1%.
Compared to the election result, National have “improved” by 0% on their own, while Labour and the Greens have actually IMPROVED by 44%-36%=8%!
And get this:
The gap between National Vs Lab/green which was at 11% at last election just 11 months ago, is now ONLY 3% ! That is quite a big improvement actually. Isn’t it?
So what the bloody hell is wrong with the NZH and Corin Dann! Did they not check the figures, have made an inadvertent error or are they playing dirty politics?
…are they playing dirty politics?
Pretty much the latter in that they grasp at anything which shows National and Key in a good light because they are tribal National. Simple as that. They choose to ignore the well known fact that prime ministers always get a much larger vote over the opposition leader because they are the prime minister and therefore better known. It’s hard for us political addicts to comprehend, but there’s a mass of people out there of all ages who only know the name of the prime minister. So, when they are confronted with the question “who would you like as PM” they say the only name they know which is currently John Key. They’re not going to own up to the fact they don’t know who the other leaders are.
That’s why the gap always narrows in the three months leading up to an election because for the first time some of those people discover the names of the other leaders in contention.
+1
Clemgeopin, I think that is a very big call you announced there?
You stated what Dann’s characteristics – you have not said what he has done. I am not convinced, that your opinion on Dann is fair, do you have any sources that can back up what you said?
In this respect, if you think Dann is not so competent, what about the agenda of New Zealand’s media?
Yes, I accept that I was rather too severe in my criticism of Corin Dann which was prompted by his headline in the transcript, which said,
” What rough patch? National and Key riding high in ONE News Colmar Brunton Poll”
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/what-rough-patch-national-and-key-riding-high-in-one-news-colmar-brunton-poll-q09860.html
To me, a more objective and fairer headline would be something like:
“National has made zero progress from its election result”
“Labour and the Greens have steadily increased their party vote by 8%”
or,
“Labour and the Greens narrow a 11% gap from National to just 3% in under eleven months”
Why do you think the media or specifically TVNZ, has broadcasted this news story in this manner. It has convinced me that TVNZ is playing a game of bias, yes I have read and watch the link that you shared with me. Thank you.
Thinking about the headlines you provided, yes I can see your version of your truth. I strongly believe that this does extend my questioning of TVNZ’s agenda. You really think it’s Dirty Politics? Clemgeopin, maybe you are thinking a bit too much, with all due respect.
But is political journalist, fair though?
Honestly – I do appreciate your statistics and mathematics. I am sure TVNZ and Dann do not.
Golden question – why haven’t they done what you did?
Political journalism – it’s not fair isn’t it?
Now you have mentioned the New Zealand Herald, what’s that all about?
If it is not dirty politics, then the report at least shows that these journalists do not seem to take Key or National to task/in depth questioning for even very serious scandals such as Saudi sheep, Pony tail pulling, Asset sales, Airport gate jumping, Misuse of money and Government Porkies etc).
In other words the journos seem to be afraid or prejudiced in favour of the RW.
They paint National in a positive way and Labour in a negative way. That is wrong/dishonest for any objective journalist with integrity to do.
Strongly agree. I think its prejudice rather than fear. Yes, I can agree with your ideas on this press’s favour for the right wing. It was on the back of my mind.
It is a wrong and dishonest for any objective journalist without integrity.
So journalism is not fair. News is not fair.
I think the example that you provided does explain it all and what you said about “What rough patch? National and Key riding high in ONE News Colmar Brunton Poll”.
What about pro-Labour, or pro left wing news press? Would they paint National in a negative way and Labour in a positive way.
Would that lack in integrity in political journalism? I think so.
Like I said earlier, I do think its prejudice rather than fear that shapes news and journalism’s agenda.
It is obvious that Dirty politics has and will play a major roll in retaining Key and National as the governing body in NZ.
Broadcasters, whether on radio or TV are on the whole biased in favour of right-wing parties. They in effect are scared to lose their jobs, eg John Campbell, if they are seen to be rocking the boat. We in NZ do not have an effective Fourth Estate, to stave-off political corruption.
Dreadful reporting by Dann.
Just another paid puppet.
Another contemptible sell out.
Cheers, Paul and Anne.
Colmar Brunton also finds Pessimism on the economy unusually high at 45%, optimism has plunged to 33%. Until the July poll, optimism had massively outstripped pessimism throughout 2014 and 2015.
As for Dann’s assertion that “Key’s personal approval ratings also continue to ride high”
Key’s on 40% Preferred PM in this Colmar Brunton poll, his post-2014 Election average in the TV polls is 41% and his average over the last 4 TV polls is just a smidgen above 39%.
Compare that to his average Preferred PM ratings in the Colmar Brunton and Reid Research Polls over recent years:
52% in 2011, 51% in 2009, 48% in 2010, 45% last year.
He’s currently receiving very similar ratings to Helen Clark at the same point in her third term.
Far too often this steady fall in support for Key is overlooked or downplayed by journalists placing all the analytical focus on the gap between Key and Little.
The detailed Reid Research ratings on a whole lot of diverse measurements surrounding leadership attributes reinforce this evidence of a slow but relatively steady fall from grace for our hyperactive PM.
Dann is lying for his corporate masters.
And whom would the corporate masters be? A certain media domain? government organization?
Grammar police here. It’s which not whom.
That’s today’s University education for you.
Comma after ‘which’. Grammar Armed Defenders Squad here
Yes, possibly, but the omitted comma is a Summary Offences matter, whereas the which / whom error falls under the Crimes Act.
There is no such thing as the Summary Offences and there is no such thing as the Crimes Act.
That must have fooled generations of criminal lawyers in NZ. But I really suspect that you are just some kind of delusional dickhead who is inadequate at explaining their ‘logic”. In other words some kind of a nutter.
Summary Offenses Act 1981
Crimes Act
I’d point out that it usually isn’t wise to be noticed by me as either when I am moderating. I find that they equate to “troll” and I like seeing how low they can be crushed. Read the policy.
You are less likely to have such problems if you explain your ideas clearly. While the other commentators may ridicule your ideas and demonstrate their flaws, they can’t really humiliate you and then ban you the way that I can.
Keys popularity “a figment of the imagination” stumped up with bullshit figures
Stuff reports that “Serco facing more than $1m in fines for Mt Eden prison failings”.
The so-called “fines” are in fact reductions in the potential performance bonuses it can earn under its contract.
Wouldn’t a fine be financial penalty it has to actually pay rather than simply a reduction in the bonuses it can earn as part of its service contract?
Interestingly I saw the same story first leading on the National Herald mobile app before it disappeared.
“Homeopathy conference ends in chaos
An alternative medicine conference has ended with dozens of delegates being hospitalised after taking hallucinogenic drugs.
The patients, aged between 24 and 56, were found suffering from delusions, breathing problems, increased heart rates, and cramps, with some in a serious condition, Deutsche Welle reported.
Broadcaster NDR described the patients as “staggering around, rolling in a meadow, talking gibberish and suffering severe cramps”. ”
😆 suffering from delusions..staggering around, rolling in a meadow, talking gibberish and suffering severe cramps 😆
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/71907286/homeopathy-conference-ends-in-chaos
This doesn’t sound like regular homeopaths to me, nor naturopaths but more probably the description “alternative medicine practitioners” would be right. I wonder if correct meaning has been lost in translation.
From stuff report.
The Association of German Healing Practitioners (VDH), which represents homeopaths as well as other naturopaths, quickly distanced itself from the incident.
In a statement, it said none of its representatives were at the conference.
“The organisers of this obscure conference are unknown to us and such events will not be tolerated by our Association,” a spokesperson said.
The drug is classed as relatively new and not widely available. In New Zealand it is a Class C controlled substance, meaning it is banned.
I’m guessing there are multiple translation and media reporting issues.
Interesting that nsd is so guillible.
@weka
Just as well the drug they were poisoned with caused heart and breathing irregularities and severe cramps as no one would have guessed there was anything wrong with them if the only symptoms were delusions, talking gibberish and rolling around in a meadow.
Ok, nasty and guillible.
You wanted to slur homeopathy and homeopaths and presumably people who go to them. You picked something off the internet that is obviously hugely problematic in terms of both information and reliability and you posted it on a political blog.
Or maybe you just lack the critical thinking skills when it comes to things you have large bias against.
Or maybe you thought it was funny, ha ha those idiotic homeopaths being poisoned.
Seriously, it’s hard to know what you were thinking when you posted that, but I’d guess prejudice underlies all of it.
@Weka… there, there diddums.
Go and have some herbal tea diluted 1:100,000,000.
and there we have the sum of your ability to debate. Get to the point of not being able to discuss the issues and your true nature is revealed.
“Get to the point of not being able to discuss the issues and your true nature is revealed.”
Oh the irony 😆
Ah!!!! but at the end of the Stuff article that you posted it says :-
“The Association of German Healing Practitioners (VDH), which represents homeopaths as well as other naturopaths, quickly distanced itself from the incident.
In a statement, it said none of its representatives were at the conference.
“The organisers of this obscure conference are unknown to us and such events will not be tolerated by our Association,” a spokesperson said.”
So not actually a Homeopathic Conference at all and the cause
was 2C-E a drug banned in NZ and in Germany.
Are you trying to be scaremonger? Try a bit more water in your
favourite tipple, it might help or is it the Electric Puha, whatever.
On the other hand perhaps Specsavers might be the answer.
This is a hit by Big Pharma on alt. medicine cos alt. medicine threatens the capitalistic status quo! Just look at the TPPA!!! People could have died! There are even RWNJs making jokes about how the patients overdosed because they forgot to take their medicine. Not funny!
John Skelton’s “Speke Parott”
If you ever thought you could go back in time and speak the lingo 😈
Did anyone else notice this burred in the business section of the Herald?
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/employment-relations/news/article.cfm?c_id=189&objectid=11509633
My guess a wet bus ticket and a strongly worded, tusk tusk.
The future people, as long as we have a Tory government hell bent of scaring the middle class out of existence.
Yeah, pretty much. What needs to happen is that these exploiters have everything taken from them, they get jailed for several years and they’re never allowed to own a business or be in a management position ever again.
@Adam thanks for reminding me I saw the headline but missed reading the article. Scumbags like that should be deported.
Indian bosses are noted to be one of the worse to exploit their workers. Just examine what happens in their, so-called democratic homeland. Money is their god without doubt.
Robert Reich article plus trailer for his film titled “Inequality for all”
“A Crisis of Public Morality, Not Private Morality
America’s problems have nothing to do with what happens bedrooms, or whether women are allowed to end their pregnancies.
Our problems have everything to do with what occurs in boardrooms, and whether corporations and wealthy individuals are allowed to undermine our democracy.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-reich/a-crisis-of-public-morali_b_8105366.html
And finally for some good news:
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/sep/09/adelaide-joins-race-to-become-worlds-first-carbon-neutral-city
KEY “Hair today gone tomorrow” lets hope