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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 😆
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.
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.
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.
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!
My guess a wet bus ticket and a strongly worded, tusk tusk.
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.
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.
A food rescue organisation has had to resort to an emergency plea for donations via givealittle because of uncertainty about whether Government funding will continue after the end of June. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Wednesday, January 22: Kairos Food ...
Leo Molloy's recent "shoplifting" smear against former MP Golriz Ghahraman has finally drawn public attention to Auror and its database. And from what's been disclosed so far, it does not look good: The massive privately-owned retail surveillance network which recorded the shopping incident involving former MP Golriz Ghahraman is ...
The defence of common law qualified privilege applies (to cut short a lot of legal jargon) when someone tells someone something in good faith, believing they need to know it. Think: telling the police that the neighbour is running methlab or dobbing in a colleague to the boss for stealing. ...
NZME plans to cut 38 jobs as it reorganises its news operations, including the NZ Herald, BusinessDesk, and Newstalk ZB. It said it planned to publish and produce fewer stories, to focus on those that engage audience. E tū are calling on the Government to step in and support the ...
Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed that inflation remains unchanged at 2.2%, defying expectations of further declines, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “While inflation holding steady might sound like good news, the reality is that prices for the basics—like rent, energy, and insurance—are still rising. ...
I never mentioned anythingAbout the songs that I would singOver the summer, when we'd go on tourAnd sleep on floors and drink the bad beerI think I left it unclearSong: Bad Beer.Songwriter: Jacob Starnes Ewald.Last night, I was watching a movie with Fi and the kids when I glanced ...
Last night I spoke about the second inauguration of Donald Trump with in a ‘pop-up’ Hoon live video chat on the Substack app on phones.Here’s the summary of the lightly edited video above:Trump's actions signify a shift away from international law.The imposition of tariffs could lead to increased inflation ...
An interesting article in Stuff a few weeks ago asked a couple of interesting questions in it’s headline, “How big can Auckland get? And how big is too big?“. Unfortunately, the article doesn’t really answer those questions, instead focusing on current growth projections, but there were a few aspects to ...
Today is Donald J Trump’s second inauguration ceremony.I try not to follow too much US news, and yet these developments are noteworthy and somehow relevant to us here.Only hours in, parts of their Project 2025 ‘think/junk tank’ policies — long planned and signalled — are already live:And Elon Musk, who ...
How long is it going to take for the MAGA faithful to realise that those titans of Big Tech and venture capital sitting up close to Donald Trump this week are not their allies, but The Enemy? After all, the MAGA crowd are the angry victims left behind by the ...
California Burning: The veteran firefighters of California and Los Angeles called it “a perfect storm”. The hillsides and canyons were full of “fuel”. The LA Fire Department was underfunded, below-strength, and inadequately-equipped. A key reservoir was empty, leaving fire-hydrants without the water pressure needed for fire hoses. The power companies had ...
The Waitangi Tribunal has been one of the most effective critics of the government, pointing out repeatedly that its racist, colonialist policies breach te Tiriti o Waitangi. While it has no powers beyond those of recommendation, its truth-telling has clearly gotten under the government's skin. They had already begun to ...
I don't mind where you come fromAs long as you come to meBut I don't like illusionsI can't see them clearlyI don't care, no I wouldn't dareTo fix the twist in youYou've shown me eventually what you'll doSong: Shimon Moore, Emma Anzai, Antonina Armato, and Tim James.National Hugging Day.Today, January ...
Is Rwanda turning into a country that seeks regional dominance and exterminates its rivals? This is a contention examined by Dr Michela Wrong, and Dr Maria Armoudian. Dr Wrong is a journalist who has written best-selling books on Africa. Her latest, Do Not Disturb. The story of a political murder ...
The economy isn’t cooperating with the Government’s bet that lower interest rates will solve everything, with most metrics indicating per-capita GDP is still contracting faster and further than at any time since the 1990-96 series of government spending and welfare cuts. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short in ...
Hi,Today is the day sexual assaulter and alleged rapist Donald Trump officially became president (again).I was in a meeting for three hours this morning, so I am going to summarise what happened by sharing my friend’s text messages:So there you go.Welcome to American hell — which includes all of America’s ...
This is a re-post from the Climate BrinkI have a new paper out today in the journal Dialogues on Climate Change exploring both the range of end-of-century climate outcomes in the literature under current policies and the broader move away from high-end emissions scenarios. Current policies are defined broadly as policies in ...
Long story short: I chatted last night with ’s on the substack app about the appointment of Chris Bishop to replace Simeon Brown as Transport Minister. We talked through their different approaches and whether there’s much room for Bishop to reverse many of the anti-cycling measures Brown adopted.Our chat ...
Last night I chatted with Northland emergency doctor on the substack app for subscribers about whether the appointment of Simeon Brown to replace Shane Reti as Health Minister. We discussed whether the new minister can turn around decades of under-funding in real and per-capita terms. Our chat followed his ...
Christopher Luxon is every dismal boss who ever made you wince, or roll your eyes, or think to yourself I have absolutely got to get the hell out of this place.Get a load of what he shared with us at his cabinet reshuffle, trying to be all sensitive and gracious.Dr ...
The text of my submission to the Ministry of Health's unnecessary and politicised review of the use of puberty blockers for young trans and nonbinary people in Aotearoa. ...
Hi,Last night one of the world’s biggest social media platforms, TikTok, became inaccessible in the United States.Then, today, it came back online.Why should we care about a social network that deals in dance trends and cute babies? Well — TikTok represents a lot more than that.And its ban and subsequent ...
Sometimes I wake in the middle of the nightAnd rub my achin' old eyesIs that a voice from inside-a my headOr does it come down from the skies?"There's a time to laugh butThere's a time to weepAnd a time to make a big change"Wake-up you-bum-the-time has-comeTo arrange and re-arrange and ...
Former Health Minister Shane Reti was the main target of Luxon’s reshuffle. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short to start the year in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate: Christopher Luxon fired Shane Reti as Health Minister and replaced him with Simeon Brown, who Luxon sees ...
Yesterday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced a cabinet reshuffle, which saw Simeon Brown picking up the Health portfolio as it’s been taken off Dr Shane Reti, and Transport has been given to Chris Bishop. Additionally, Simeon’s energy and local government portfolios now sit with Simon Watts. This is very good ...
The sacking of Health Minister Shane Reti yesterday had an air of panic about it. A media advisory inviting journalists to a Sunday afternoon press conference at Premier House went out on Saturday night. Caucus members did not learn that even that was happening until yesterday morning. Reti’s fate was ...
Yesterday’s demotion of Shane Reti was inevitable. Reti’s attempt at a re-assuring bedside manner always did have a limited shelf life, and he would have been a poor and apologetic salesman on the campaign trail next year. As a trained doctor, he had every reason to be looking embarrassed about ...
A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, January 12, 2025 thru Sat, January 18, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
After another substantial hiatus from online Chess, I’ve been taking it up again. I am genuinely terrible at five-minute Blitz, what with the tight time constraints, though I periodically con myself into thinking that I have been improving. But seeing as my past foray into Chess led to me having ...
Rise up o children wont you dance with meRise up little children come and set me freeRise little ones riseNo shame no fearDon't you know who I amSongwriter: Rebecca Laurel FountainI’m sure you know the go with this format. Some memories, some questions, letsss go…2015A decade ago, I made the ...
In 2017, when Ghahraman was elected to Parliament as a Green MP, she recounted both the highlights and challenges of her role -There was love, support, and encouragement.And on the flipside, there was intense, visceral and unchecked hate.That came with violent threats - many of them. More on that later.People ...
It gives me the biggest kick to learn that something I’ve enthused about has been enough to make you say Go on then, I'm going to do it. The e-bikes, the hearing aids, the prostate health, the cheese puffs. And now the solar power. Yes! Happy to share the details.We ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Can CO2 be ...
The old bastard left his ties and his suitA brown box, mothballs and bowling shoesAnd his opinion so you'd never have to choosePretty soon, you'll be an old bastard tooYou get smaller as the world gets bigThe more you know you know you don't know shit"The whiz man" will never ...
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.The Numbers2024 could easily have been National’s “Annus Horribilis” and 2025 shows no signs of a reprieve for our Landlord PM Chris Luxon and his inept Finance Minister Nikki “Noboats” Willis.Several polls last year ...
This Friday afternoon, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced an overhaul of the Waitangi Tribunal.The government has effectively cleared house - appointing 8 new members - and combined with October’s appointment of former ACT leader Richard Prebble, that’s 9 appointees.[I am not certain, but can only presume, Prebble went in ...
The state of the current economy may be similar to when National left office in 2017.In December, a couple of days after the Treasury released its 2024 Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update (HEYFU24), Statistics New Zealand reported its estimate for volume GDP for the previous September 24 quarter. Instead ...
So what becomes of you, my love?When they have finally stripped you ofThe handbags and the gladragsThat your poor old granddadHad to sweat to buy you, babySongwriter: Mike D'aboIn yesterday’s newsletter, I expressed sadness at seeing Golriz Ghahraman back on the front pages for shoplifting. As someone who is no ...
It’s Friday and time for another roundup of things that caught our attention this week. This post, like all our work, is brought to you by a largely volunteer crew and made possible by generous donations from our readers and fans. If you’d like to support our work, you can join ...
Note: This Webworm discusses sexual assault and rape. Please read with care.Hi,A few weeks ago I reported on how one of New Zealand’s richest men, Nick Mowbray (he and his brother own Zuru and are worth an estimated $20 billion), had taken to sharing posts by a British man called ...
The final Atlas Network playbook puzzle piece is here, and it slipped in to Aotearoa New Zealand with little fan fare or attention. The implications are stark.Today, writes Dr Bex, the submission for the Crimes (Countering Foreign Interference) Amendment Bill closes: 11:59pm January 16, 2025.As usual, the language of the ...
Excitement in the seaside village! Look what might be coming! 400 million dollars worth of investment! In the very beating heart of the village! Are we excited and eager to see this happen, what with every last bank branch gone and shops sitting forlornly quiet awaiting a customer?Yes please, apply ...
Much discussion has been held over the Regulatory Standards Bill (RSB), the latest in a series of rightwing attempts to enshrine into law pro-market precepts such as the primacy of private property ownership. Underneath the good governance and economic efficiency gobbledegook language of the Bill is an interest to strip ...
We are concerned that the Amendment Bill, as proposed, could impair the operations and legitimate interests of the NZ Trade Union movement. It is also likely to negatively impact the ability of other civil society actors to conduct their affairs without the threat of criminal sanctions. We ask that ...
I can't take itHow could I fake it?How could I fake it?And I can't take itHow could I fake it?How could I fake it?Song: The Lonely Biscuits.“A bit nippy”, I thought when I woke this morning, and then, soon after that, I wondered whether hell had frozen over. Dear friends, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Asheville, North Carolina, was once widely considered a climate haven thanks to its elevated, inland location and cooler temperatures than much of the Southeast. Then came the catastrophic floods of Hurricane Helene in September 2024. It was a stark reminder that nowhere is safe from ...
Early reports indicate that the temporary Israel/Hamas ceasefire deal (due to take effect on Sunday) will allow for the gradual release of groups of Israeli hostages, the release of an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails (likely only a fraction of the total incarcerated population), and the withdrawal ...
My daily news diet is not what it once was.It was the TV news that lost me first. Too infantilising, too breathless, too frustrating.The Herald was next. You could look past the reactionary framing while it was being a decent newspaper of record, but once Shayne Currie began unleashing all ...
Hit the road Jack and don't you come backNo more, no more, no more, no moreHit the road Jack and don't you come back no moreWhat you say?Songwriters: Percy MayfieldMorena,I keep many of my posts, like this one, paywall-free so that everyone can read them.However, please consider supporting me as ...
This might be the longest delay between reading (or in this case re-reading) a work, and actually writing a review of it I have ever managed. Indeed, when I last read these books in December 2022, I was not planning on writing anything about them… but as A Phuulish Fellow ...
Kia Ora,I try to keep most my posts without a paywall for public interest journalism purposes. However, if you can afford to, please consider supporting me as a paid subscriber and/or supporting over at Ko-Fi. That will help me to continue, and to keep spending time on the work. Embarrassingly, ...
There was a time when Google was the best thing in my world. I was an early adopter of their AdWords program and boy did I like what it did for my business. It put rocket fuel in it, is what it did. For every dollar I spent, those ads ...
A while back I was engaged in an unpleasant exchange with a leader of the most well-known NZ anti-vax group and several like-minded trolls. I had responded to a racist meme on social media in which a rightwing podcaster in the US interviewed one of the leaders of the Proud ...
Hi,If you’ve been reading Webworm for a while, you’ll be familiar with Anna Wilding. Between 2020 and 2021 I looked at how the New Zealander had managed to weasel her way into countless news stories over the years, often with very little proof any of it had actually happened. When ...
It's a long white cloud for you, baby; staying together alwaysSummertime in AotearoaWhere the sunshine kisses the water, we will find it alwaysSummertime in AotearoaYeah, it′s SummertimeIt's SummertimeWriters: Codi Wehi Ngatai, Moresby Kainuku, Pipiwharauroa Campbell, Taulutoa Michael Schuster, Rebekah Jane Brady, Te Naawe Jordan Muturangi Tupe, Thomas Edward Scrase.Many of ...
Last year, 292 people died unnecessarily on our roads. That is the lowest result in over a decade and only the fourth time in the last 70 years we’ve seen fewer than 300 deaths in a calendar year. Yet, while it is 292 people too many, with each death being ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob HensonFlames from the Palisades Fire burn a building at Sunset Boulevard amid a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The fast-moving wildfire had destroyed thousands of structures and ...
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.The Regulatory Standards Bill, as I understand it, seeks to bind parliament to a specific range of law-making.For example, it seems to ensure primacy of individual rights over that of community, environment, te Tiriti ...
Happy New Year!I had a lovely break, thanks very much for asking: friends, family, sunshine, books, podcasts, refreshing swims, barbecues, bike rides. So good to step away from the firehose for a while, to have less Trump and Seymour in your day. Who needs the Luxons in their risible PJs ...
Patrick Reynolds is deputy chair of the Auckland City Centre Advisory Panel and a director of Greater Auckland In 2003, after much argument, including the election of a Mayor in 2001 who ran on stopping it, Britomart train station in downtown Auckland opened. A mere 1km twin track terminating branch ...
For the first time in a decade, a New Zealand Prime Minister is heading to the Middle East. The trip is more than just a courtesy call. New Zealand PMs frequently change planes in Dubai en route to destinations elsewhere. But Christopher Luxon’s visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, January 5, 2025 thru Sat, January 11, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
The decade between 1952 and the early 1960s was the peak period for the style of music we now call doo wop, after which it got dissolved into soul music, girl groups, and within pop music in general. Basically, doo wop was a form of small group harmonising with a ...
The future teaches you to be aloneThe present to be afraid and coldSo if I can shoot rabbits, then I can shoot fascists…And if you tolerate thisThen your children will be nextSongwriters: James Dean Bradfield / Sean Anthony Moore / Nicholas Allen Jones.Do you remember at school, studying the rise ...
When National won the New Zealand election in 2023, one of the first to congratulate Luxon was tech-billionaire and entrepreneur extraordinaire Elon Musk.And last year, after Luxon posted a video about a trip to Malaysia, Musk came forward again to heap praise on Christopher:So it was perhaps par for the ...
Hi,Today’s Webworm features a new short film from documentary maker Giorgio Angelini. It’s about Luigi Mangione — but it’s also, really, about everything in America right now.Bear with me.Shortly after I sent out my last missive from the fires on Wednesday, one broke out a little too close to home ...
So soon just after you've goneMy senses sharpenBut it always takes so damn longBefore I feel how much my eyes have darkenedFear hangs in a plane of gun smokeDrifting in our roomSo easy to disturb, with a thought, with a whisperWith a careless memorySongwriters: Andy Taylor / John Taylor / ...
Can we trust the Trump cabinet to act in the public interest?Nine of Trump’s closest advisers are billionaires. Their total net worth is in excess of $US375b (providing there is not a share-market crash). In contrast, the total net worth of Trump’s first Cabinet was about $6b. (Joe Biden’s Cabinet ...
Welcome back to our weekly roundup. We hope you had a good break (if you had one). Here’s a few of the stories that caught our attention over the last few weeks. This holiday period on Greater Auckland Since our last roundup we’ve: Taken a look back at ...
Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partnerSometimes I feel like my only friendIs the city I live in, The City of AngelsLonely as I am together we crySong: Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, Flea, John Frusciante.A home is engulfed in flames during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area. ...
Open access notablesLarge emissions of CO2 and CH4 due to active-layer warming in Arctic tundra, Torn et al., Nature Communications:Climate warming may accelerate decomposition of Arctic soil carbon, but few controlled experiments have manipulated the entire active layer. To determine surface-atmosphere fluxes of carbon dioxide and ...
It's election year for Wellington City Council and for the Regional Council. What have the progressive councillors achieved over the last couple of years. What were the blocks and failures? What's with the targeting of the mayor and city council by the Post and by central government? Why does the ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to stand firm and work with allies to progress climate action as Donald Trump signals his intent to pull out of the Paris Climate Accords once again. ...
The Green Party has welcomed the provisional ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, and reiterated its call for New Zealand to push for an end to the unlawful occupation of Palestine. ...
The Green Party welcomes the extension of the deadline for Treaty Principles Bill submissions but continues to call on the Government to abandon the Bill. ...
Complaints about disruptive behaviour now handled in around 13 days (down from around 60 days a year ago) 553 Section 55A notices issued by Kāinga Ora since July 2024, up from 41 issued during the same period in the previous year. Of that 553, first notices made up around 83 ...
The time it takes to process building determinations has improved significantly over the last year which means fewer delays in homes being built, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “New Zealand has a persistent shortage of houses. Making it easier and quicker for new homes to be built will ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden is pleased to announce the annual list of New Zealand’s most popular baby names for 2024. “For the second consecutive year, Noah has claimed the top spot for boys with 250 babies sharing the name, while Isla has returned to the most popular ...
Work is set to get underway on a new bus station at Westgate this week. A contract has been awarded to HEB Construction to start a package of enabling works to get the site ready in advance of main construction beginning in mid-2025, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“A new Westgate ...
Minister for Children and for Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour is encouraging people to use the resources available to them to get help, and to report instances of family and sexual violence amongst their friends, families, and loved ones who are in need. “The death of a ...
Uia te pō, rangahaua te pō, whakamāramatia mai he aha tō tango, he aha tō kāwhaki? Whitirere ki te ao, tirotiro kau au, kei hea taku rātā whakamarumaru i te au o te pakanga mo te mana motuhake? Au te pō, ngū te pō, ue hā! E te kahurangi māreikura, ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says people with diabetes and other painful conditions will benefit from a significant new qualification to boost training in foot care. “It sounds simple, but quality and regular foot and nail care is vital in preventing potentially serious complications from diabetes, like blisters or sores, which can take a long time to heal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Hume, Lecturer In Theatre (Voice), Victorian College of the Arts, The University of Melbourne A24 The Brutalist has drawn attention this week for its use of artificial intelligence (AI) to refine some of the actors’ dialogue. Emilia Pérez, a ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa’s writers, and other guests. This week: Jenny Pattrick, playwright of Hope, which runs at Circa Theatre from January 25 – February 23.The book I wish I’d writtenHow to choose? Let’s say ...
SPECIAL REPORT:By Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson and Lilomaiava Maina Vai The Speaker of the House, Papali’i Li’o Taeu Masipau, decisively addressed a letter from FAST, which informed him of the removal of Fiame along with Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Tevaga Ponifasio, Leatinu’u Wayne Fong, Olo Fiti Vaai, Faualo Harry Schuster, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Marie Brennan, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Waikato Shutterstock/KV4000 Every day, about 48.5 tonnes of space rock hurtle towards Earth. Meteorites that fall into the ocean are never recovered. But the ones that crash on land can spark debates ...
New year, same friendly local politics podcast. The political year kicked off with a dramatic reshuffle that sees Shane Reti removed from health in favour of Simeon Brown, James Meager made minister for the fiefdom that is the South Island and Nicola Willis in the renamed role of minister for ...
Alex Casey and Tara Ward assemble a list of demands for James Meager, the first minister for the South Island. South islanders, rejoice, for there is now one man dedicated to ensuring that each and every 1,260,000 of us has our voices heard in parliament. This week Rangitata MP James ...
COMMENTARY:By Steven Cowan, editor of Against The Current New Zealand’s One News interviewed a Gaza journalist last week who has called out the Western media for its complicity in genocide. For some 15 months, the Western media have framed Israel’s genocidal rampage in Gaza as a “legitimate” war. Pretending ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the government has been taking the problem of economic growth seriously, and its work on that so far has been "significant". ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marta Yebra, Professor of Environmental Engineering, Australian National University Picture this. It’s a summer evening in Australia. A dry lightning storm is about to sweep across remote, tinder-dry bushland. The next day is forecast to be hot and windy. A lightning strike ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanne Orlando, Researcher, Digital Literacy and Digital Wellbeing, Western Sydney University Wachiwit/Shutterstock Roblox isn’t just another video game – it’s a massive virtual universe where nearly 90 million people from around the world create, play and socialise. This includes some 34 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Lee, Adjunct Professor at the National Drug Research Institute (Melbourne based), Curtin University Dragana Gordic/Shutterstock Anecdotal reports from some professionals have prompted concerns about young people using prescription benzodiazepines such as Xanax for recreational use. Border force detections of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Judy Lundy, Lecturer in Management, Edith Cowan University Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Shutterstock It’s been a significant day for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in the United States. Such initiatives are about providing equality of opportunity and a sense of being valued ...
Filmmaker Ahmed Osman reflects on the many challenges the screen industry is facing this year – and what needs to change. I grew up in front of the TV. For me, it was more than just background noise: it was connection. Shows like bro’Town, Street Legal, and Outrageous Fortune weren’t ...
The government last year created a new Ministry for Regulation, with ACT leader David Seymour in charge, to review regulations and, in Seymour’s words, “to look for red tape to cut.” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kimberley Connor, Postdoctoral Scholar at Stanford Archaeology Center, Stanford University Sydney’s Hyde Park Barracks photographed in 1871, when the building served as a women’s immigration depot and asylum.City of Sydney Archives. Sydney’s Hyde Park Barracks was built between 1817 and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert McLachlan, Professor in Applied Mathematics, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University NASA/Earth Observatory, CC BY-SA It’s now official. Last year was the warmest year on record globally and the first to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This doesn’t mean ...
Analysis - The political year is kicking off with a flurry of gatherings and speeches after the Prime Minister used Wellington Anniversary weekend to get his team in order. ...
There’s been a major shake-up at the Waitangi Tribunal, with more than half of the current members, including some esteemed Māori academics, losing their places to make way for some controversial new appointments.Established in 1975, the Waitangi Tribunal investigates alleged Crown breaches of the promises made to Māori in ...
PFAS chemicals are omnipresent, enduring, and almost certainly in your bloodstream. Here’s a guide to where they come from, why there are concerns about their use and what regulations are in place to help you avoid exposure. Your raincoat, beading with water. The slippery smooth surface of your non-stick pans. ...
Opinion: Austria is poised to become the next European country to fall to the far right. There is only one option for mainstream parties to break this cycle. The post Europe’s far-right dominoes knock down democracy appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Prime Minister Christoper Luxon has turned Finance Minister Nicola Willis into a ‘super minister’ by adding the rebranded economic portfolio to her plate and bolstering her ability to implement change.Luxon announced his decision to appoint Nicola Willis to the role of Minister for Economic Growth as part of a wider ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 22 January appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When I reflect on my life, I look at how everything changed on the evening of June 22, 1970.I was lying in bed when the phone went late one night. My father picked it up. He was on the phone for what seemed like an eternity, and I could tell ...
Opinion: After an exhaustive period of consultation spanning almost two years, the Privacy Commissioner, in the week before Christmas, released the draft version of the Biometric Processing Privacy Code he intends to issue under the Privacy Act.Biometric information, collected through the likes of facial recognition technology, is personal information covered ...
Opinion: With a freshly minted transport minister taking the helm this week, it’s a good time to consider why we lack a fair and objective conversation about transport in New Zealand.The main reason for opposing investment in public transport and rail is that these modes reduce the reliance on and ...
After 23 years following a black line at the bottom of a swimming pool, Aquablack and Olympian Helena Gasson has retired from competitive swimming on her terms.She now wants to share her expertise and give back to the sport after being the only New Zealander to compete at an Oceania ...
A temporary impasse between the executive and the courts over the Marine and Coastal Areas Act has now seen six more Māori groups granted customary rights by the High Court.The judge in the latest case says the courts can’t wait for what might eventuate from Parliament but must decide applications ...
Comment: If you’ve ever wondered how Omni Consumer Products became the government in the 1987 Paul Verhoeven film, Robocop, you’re about to find out. As Donald J. Trump, a convicted felon and a man who tried to violently seize power through a failed coup in 2020, begins his second term ...
After sitting on the back benches as an MP for five terms, Lee was given the ethnic communities, economic development, and media and communications portfolios after the coalition government won the 2023 election. Lee was demoted from Cabinet in April last year, with Luxon stripping her of the media and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra After rejecting calls for months, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese finally summoned a Tuesday national cabinet meeting to discuss Australia’s rising wave of antisemitic attacks and other incidents. This followed the torching of a childcare ...
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