There are more and more signs a crash is coming.
And China’s problems may be at the heart of it.
Anyone wonder why a former grip has been taken of the leadership as the country slides to becoming a one man dictatorship.
Mist people cannot see the iceberg.
The boat is steaming full steam ahead.
And there are not enough lifeboats.
We learn from history that we do not learn from history.
“China’s Coming Financial Meltdown
Anbang Insurance Group is one of China’s largest and most aggressive financial institutions. It is known for its huge customer base, high leverage, and fast-paced deal making.
At least it was until the Friday before last.
That’s when Anbang was taken over by the Communist Chinese government. You can call that takeover, “a bailout with Chinese characteristics.”
It seems there is a bit to the story of the alleged sexual assaults at the young labour camp.
Jacinda hasn’t done her investigation as yet – but Andrew Kirton who has known about this for some time has confirmed that there was “highly inappropriate behaviour” and that he was disappointed that “an incident like this happened”.
Why hasnt this been passed to the police? (Andrew Kirton – would not confirm that it had been).
“The Labour Party is extremely disappointed that young people attending the Young Labour camp were exposed to highly inappropriate behaviour by an individual who was also at the event.
Young Labour has apologised to the young people involved.
We are extremely disappointed that an incident like this happened at a Labour event and we are working to make sure those involved receive any support they need. We are deeply sorry for the distress that’s been caused. It shouldn’t have happened.”
(more at link..)
Its fantastic that they are owning up and apologising – but really? is a “sorry” enough for a sexual assault on multiple 16yo kids?
So you are all for protecting the abusers by allowing this type of behaviour to lie in the shadows and be covered up? Shame on you for trying to shut down the conversation by framing any effort to be critical of the process political.
It’s behaviour like that that allowed saville to flourish at the bbc.
[You are right on the edge. Nothing Ed has said deserves this sort of spin. Wind it back – MS]
Kirton just said on Checkpoint just now they were following a victim led process. The victim needed to be comfortable with it being reported to the police before that step is taken.
Now this is a hard one – and Im trying to be very careful in my reply as not to upset or anger anyone on here – its a serious question.
If you are aware of multiple sexual assaults should a person not have the responsibility to report that to the police (and then the victim/s) could have the opportunity to press charges or not?
If say someone was aware of the roastbusters – and said to the victims ‘you want to go to the police?’ – and then just did nothing if they didn’t?
Could an organisation not put pressure on a young person NOT to go to the police because (whatever)??? and if they do so – is this not enabling the attacker to carry on with the behaviour. (not saying that this is the case – but in general)
Upshot – I really think that it should be with the police – not the party and the police and the victims should decide what to do.
Well, I’ll wait and see how things pan out. It’s possible the victims have been provided with support by the Labour party, and that they are working towards them being comfortable with notifying police.
Police told Checkpoint that would encourage anyone with info who wishes to discuss it with them to go to them.
But, I don’t have a great deal of faith in the police given how they handled allegations from RoastBuster survivors.
I’ve had the misfortune of working in a place where an employee alleged (to many although not the perpetrator) sexual harassment from the boss. Inquiries were made from their psychiatrist and the police.
Result: nothing happens without complainant pushing charges (they didn’t).
I’m not sure the same applies here but it may very well. I understand the Labour Party would stand behind the alleged victims if they chose to push charges which would be fitting IMO.
Upshot – I really think that it should be with the police – not the party and the police and the victims should decide what to do.
Of course, it should, the whole thing pongs of a coverup, seriously these sexual assaults happened over a month ago and the police hadn’t been informed.
“For their parents not to know there must have been pressure applied to these young people to not say anything.”
That’s an assumptive stretch, BM. Do better.
Many people when sexually assaulted don’t want to tell anybody. A lot of that is due to how we treat victims often going on victim bashing sprees through the MSM instead listening and acting appropriately.
“If say someone was aware of the roastbusters – and said to the victims ‘you want to go to the police?’ – and then just did nothing if they didn’t?”
The victims there did go to the police, and no charges were laid. So that provides context for whether there is a obligation to leap-frog over the victims and go to the police without their input. The trial itself can be a trigger for assault victims, so the decision should primarily be theirs.
I would say, that the first instance should be of supporting the complainants – which includes encouraging police contact if appropriate – is a longer process than finding out and immediately making decisions. There has to be some time given to those assaulted to ensure that a police investigation won’t further add to their emotional burden, at that particular time.
Crawl back under the rock you came from [Edit. Best not to go there Adam – MS] (bm) . How about we let the victims make decisions before we start making accusations.
But that all you do make assumptions and abuse people BM.
The political mistakes and BS will be sorted out. Give the people involved some room before you make judgements.
Fuck off, you disgusting, sexual assault enabling old prick.
[3 month ban. I’ve been watching your trolling since the election, and you appear to bring little to the site now. What is not ok is starting a flame war in a topic of this nature where many people are vulnerable. Throwing accusations around, using sexual assault to Labour-bash, it’s all the same kind of nasty, macho bullshit that makes it really hard to have meaningful conversations about rape culture on TS. – weka]
You have made nothing but allegations without substance. You don’t want solutions, your just trying to score points.
If you want solutions, then let the right people do there jobs and help the people who needs help.
As for accusations. I’d like an apology becasue nothing I’ve said has enabled anyone except those who want to get to the truth without political hacks trying to point score.
Fuck off, you’re saying the labour party are the right people to handle and oversee these sexual assaults?
The same Labour party which was running the camps where these sexual assaults happened?
Shame on you Adam, the only thing you’re interested in here is making sure the Labour party doesn’t get splattered by the fall out of what went on at these camps, no concern of the actual victims.
I’ve never said labour party anything, now your just making shit up. Or as we in the trade call it, your lying to score points.
I’ve said let the right people do their job. The right people would be social workers and counselors train for these events.
I don’t give a rats about the labour party – as you well know. Or are you just trying to score points again.
Your the lowest form of low life BM one who will lie to cover their tracks.
As it stands, we don’t know if it is a Sexual Assault as there have been no charges. All we know is a drink male acted like a complete tosser.
So kindly shut up, let the right people do there jobs so we can know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I know a bit much asking a right wing nutjob to be patient so truth can come out.
Because in the real world people, victims take time to come forward. They don’t work to political hack’s wannabe agendas.
*covering it up IF that is so, Mr. Kirton has made a grievous error of judgment. However James, are you aware that 16 year olds do not have to involve their parents, and no one can over ride that right. Only the Police if some one complains to them.
Now, you are inferring drink was supplied by the organisers. IF that is so, another grievous error.
But, worse, Jacinda Ardern was blidsided by this by journalist, because she had no knowledge of it. That was another grievous error.
Personally I think he may lose his position.
Jacinda was rightly angry. She won’t want it ‘covered up”
There are definitely things here that Labour need to be held account for (without looking too deeply, not dealing with the assaults at the time or giving the victims adequate support, the lack of supervision at the social event, the amount of alcohol involved).
You keep asking about the police, so it’s time for you to educate yourself about why the victims of sexual assault often don’t go to the police. You started this thread reasonably well, but it’s not going to be ok to turn this into an opportunity to Labour-bash nor to sensationalise the situation.
My suggestion in general to the men here who want to have a shit fight about this, is to sit down and shut up, and start listening to what women are saying. Women generally understand what the issues are and how to talk about them without making the conversations unsafe or into flamewars.
again – Im trying to be careful here with my reply – and again being very genuine and not basing or anything …
“You keep asking about the police, so it’s time for you to educate yourself about why the victims of sexual assault often don’t go to the police.”
In this instance – Labour knew that assaults had happened (according to AK). It wasn’t just against one person, but several.
which takes me back to my original post:
“If you are aware of multiple sexual assaults should a person not have the responsibility to report that to the police (and then the victim/s) could have the opportunity to press charges or not?”
And given that the party would have an agenda for this NOT to move forward ?
“Could an organisation not put pressure on a young person NOT to go to the police because (whatever)??? and if they do so – is this not enabling the attacker to carry on with the behaviour”. (AGAIN NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS THE CASE).
Upshot – I really think that it should be with the police – not the party and the police and the victims should decide what to do.
WEKA – given the nature of the topic – I want to be clear that this is a genuine question – not playing a silly game.
I don’t actually care what your reckons are James, because you seem to think that your opinion is the important thing here. I don’t know enough about the situation to make a judgement call on whether the police should have been involved or not. Mostly I would want to hear what the victims have to say about that. As I said, imo you need to educate yourself about rape culture and what going to the police means. Either you don’t, and are expressing opinion from a place of ignorance, or you do and you think your opinion should take precedence over the safety of the people assaulted.
As I also said, Labour have not handled this well on a number of fronts. What they do next is going to be important.
“AGAIN NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS THE CASE”
Then why bring it up? At this stage we don’t know what happened. People will speculate, but there are still considered ways to think about this and then there are inflammatory ways.
If the victims were age ten, I’d right with an automatic parent and police referral.
At sixteen they can probably make their own decisions, if they are treated with repect and will be clearly supported in any decision they made. And as long as everything is documented, there’s no rush to force them into any course of action.
The lack of supervision at the event and the alcohol also need to be actively addressed.
‘James’, like you I’m a positive person in ‘real life’, but here the rwnj commentariat (youself, Tanz, BM, Alwyn, chris73, funstigator, indiana, timeforacupoftea, solkta, Stunned mullet, Puckish Rogue, Alan, Tuppence Shrewsbury, Mikes, Antoine, fisiani (a deleted persona that existed only to adulate Honest John Key), et al. [apologies if I’ve got someone wrong]) bring out the worst in me.
Your morals, and those of other rwnjs, strike me as out-of-whack, with ethical behaviour being ‘for others only’. I sometimes fantasise that most of the many rwnjs infesting The Standard (and there must be dozens of them) are actually one person, seated in a windowless room with a computer and an electronic whiteboard that lists various personas’ characteristics, backstories and where they stand on the rwnj spectrum.
‘Your’ incessant ‘twitting’ is particularly disruptive – today alone you’ve ‘contributed’ 20 ‘twits’; are you paid ‘by the twit’, rather than ‘per word’?
On a serious note, would you (’James’) care to share (briefly) the story of how someone who “left school at 15” became a successful “IT guy”, and more. C’mon, James, let your humble desire to help others inspire our struggling teens –
Genuine apologies to ‘mikes’, ‘solkta’ and anyone else I’ve mis-represented in such ‘black and white’ terms – should have taken the time to do more research.
If I could I would ‘de-list’ mikes/solkta, and add ‘infused’ and (the already gone) ‘Son of Don’.
Also, shouldn’t have let ‘James‘ get under my skin, but he was on the verge of wetting himself over the ‘party political’ dimensions of the assaults, while displaying very little concern (genuine or otherwise) for the victims. Plus the whole ‘Tanz vs Anne vs James’ tit-for-tat nonsense.
I’m going to button it for now – thanks (that’s genuine too) to Weka and other Standard authors/mods.
EDIT: OK my original text just disappeared. This is one disabled person talking about their submission to the euthanasia disabled bill before parliament recently.
‘If you are aware of multiple sexual assaults should a person not have the responsibility to report that to the police (and then the victim/s) could have the opportunity to press charges or not?’
Of course – and do you have any reason to think that has not been the case in this instance?
In fact, I would expect, especially in view of the youthfulness of the victims, to be supportive of whatever action they wish to take.
However, in view of the obnoxious attitude you frequently display on this site, I find it very difficult to believe that your concern, in this case, is genuine
“‘If you are aware of multiple sexual assaults should a person not have the responsibility to report that to the police (and then the victim/s) could have the opportunity to press charges or not?’
Of course – and do you have any reason to think that has not been the case in this instance?”
Yes – I do because labour were aware of it and DIDNT report it to the police!
“Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has banned all Government departments from using a firm of private investigators for spying.”
It follows a Newshub investigation that found state-owned insurers Southern Response got the investigators from Thompson and Clark to snoop on victims of the Christchurch earthquake at the taxpayers’ expense.
Ms Ardern says this was “totally inappropriate” and other Government departments should not be using them.”
Now let’s see the government adopt the same approach to Uber, Amazon, AMI, the Australian banks.
Boot them all out.
There’s a difference between using public money to hire private investigators to suppress lawful dissent and the data collection that makes some large tech corporations questionable. Amazon et al don’t have the same duties in respect of the public as a public service.
I imagine that she’d be happy with the process in principle (police do have to investigate groups sometimes) but might consider it an example of particularly poor judgement.
There was an article the other day about why some people confuse the NT sound with the ND sound…I think the former is more common and so our brain assumes that it’s likely to be correct.
There is also no “d” in most (all?) Pacific languages – which came up last week as an explanation as to why Jacinda’s name was spelt with a “t” on banners, media reports etc in some countries visited by the Parliamentary Mission to Samoa, Niue,, Tonga and the Cook Islands last week.
Establish what happened, and support the victims. Yes, there are other concerns (for example, James, with barely concealed glee, considers the story ‘interesting’), but the victims wishes are paramount.
More signs of how climate change is affecting our country.
The Herald calls it weird weather.
Rachel Stewart asks if we’re worried yet.
Catastrophic climate change is here.
“Our barren Alps: Aerial survey shows snow loss ‘incredibly extreme’
After a summer in which which January temperatures were nearly 3C warmer than average, it was expected the glaciers would lose mass and the snowlines would rise. But the results were far more dramatic than any past survey, and showed some of the Alps had barely any fresh snow at all.”
Oh dear, a scandal has broken. Surprise surprise. National would never stoop this low, and they would not hide it from the public and police. Always different when the left do it.
[if you use this as an excuse to bash Labour or the left, you can expect to be banned. Only warning – weka]
eh, what planet are you on ? the chief of defense out rite lied on national tv and now caught out, the innocents in this case lost their lives, yes always different when nats do it.
Well I hope the kids involved get all the support and help they need first and foremost and the guy that did this gets punished accordingly and his name published with victims names and relationship to the crim, if any, suppressed
Apart from anything else, this camp “scandal” business highlights some really, really bad political management from Labour. What on earth was Andrew Kirton thinking when he chose not to inform the PM? What a moron, any half-wit should have been able to work out it isn’t a good look for the PM to hear about such things through the news media.
On the same day you have Jenny Salesa’s office giving a different line to the media on her travel expenses to the PM’s comments at Jacinda news conference.
Both these stories are grist for the mill for our lazy, underfunded, gotcha! MSM.
The only blessing is neither Clare Curran or Poto Williams said something idiotic on the same day.
Labour needs to tighten the messaging discipline big time.
I sense a feeling that “Jacinda should have been told” , I disagree , IMHO it is correct to keep a firewall between the political and organisational sections of the party, Its actually a sign that Kirton might have some smarts.
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It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
"The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
Pacific Media Watch Earthwise hosts Lois and Martin Griffiths. Earthwise presenters Lois and Martin Griffiths on Plains FM 96.9 community radio talk to Dr David Robie, a New Zealand author, independent journalist and media educator with a passion for the Asia-Pacific region. David talks about the struggle to raise awareness ...
Pacific Media Watch Ismail al-Ghoul, an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent who was held for 12 hours at Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital, says Israeli forces rounded up Palestinian journalists at the facility and made them kneel on the ground for hours, while naked and blindfolded. “The occupation forces handcuffed and blindfolded us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute chinasong, Shutterstock Electricity customers in four Australian states can breathe a sigh of relief. After two years in a row of 20% price increases, power prices have finally stabilised. In many places they’re ...
Chumbawamba have reportedly issued the deputy PM a cease-and-desist notice after he used their song 'Tubthumping' before his state of the nation speech. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Lupton, SHARP Professor, Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, UNSW Sydney kitzcorner/Shutterstock The assertion from Queensland’s chief health officer John Gerrard that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio? It can’t be because of the money. In Australia they are paid at rates so low they ...
"Farmers make a point not to tell our urban cousins how to live, yet Chlöe from central Auckland is hell-bent on having her say about farmers," says ACT Rural Communities spokesman Mark Cameron. “On her first day in the House as Green ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Getty Images/Gerald Corsi In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to ...
Uber has argued it does not have as much control over drivers as the unions suggest, and wants a judgment ruling that drivers are employees and not contractors set aside and sent back to the Employment Court. The 2022 ruling followed a three-week hearing in which four drivers sought to ...
What can and can’t be purchased by disabled people or their carers has been slashed in an effort by the Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha to save money. The purchasing guidelines, a set of rules that sets out what can be purchased using the various streams of Government disability funding, ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],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, Tuesday 19 March appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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There are more and more signs a crash is coming.
And China’s problems may be at the heart of it.
Anyone wonder why a former grip has been taken of the leadership as the country slides to becoming a one man dictatorship.
Mist people cannot see the iceberg.
The boat is steaming full steam ahead.
And there are not enough lifeboats.
We learn from history that we do not learn from history.
“China’s Coming Financial Meltdown
Anbang Insurance Group is one of China’s largest and most aggressive financial institutions. It is known for its huge customer base, high leverage, and fast-paced deal making.
At least it was until the Friday before last.
That’s when Anbang was taken over by the Communist Chinese government. You can call that takeover, “a bailout with Chinese characteristics.”
https://dailyreckoning.com/chinas-coming-financial-meltdown/
It seems there is a bit to the story of the alleged sexual assaults at the young labour camp.
Jacinda hasn’t done her investigation as yet – but Andrew Kirton who has known about this for some time has confirmed that there was “highly inappropriate behaviour” and that he was disappointed that “an incident like this happened”.
Why hasnt this been passed to the police? (Andrew Kirton – would not confirm that it had been).
Statement from the Labour Party’s General Secretary Andrew Kirton (http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/03/allegations-of-sexual-assaults-at-young-labour-camp.html)
“The Labour Party is extremely disappointed that young people attending the Young Labour camp were exposed to highly inappropriate behaviour by an individual who was also at the event.
Young Labour has apologised to the young people involved.
We are extremely disappointed that an incident like this happened at a Labour event and we are working to make sure those involved receive any support they need. We are deeply sorry for the distress that’s been caused. It shouldn’t have happened.”
(more at link..)
Its fantastic that they are owning up and apologising – but really? is a “sorry” enough for a sexual assault on multiple 16yo kids?
Ah, so despite your earlier comments,you are politicising this.
I really don’t understand how you avoid getting banned from this site.
Racism yesterday and now using alleged sexual abuse for political gain. You exploit human misery.
Words fail to convey my contempt.
So you are all for protecting the abusers by allowing this type of behaviour to lie in the shadows and be covered up? Shame on you for trying to shut down the conversation by framing any effort to be critical of the process political.
It’s behaviour like that that allowed saville to flourish at the bbc.
[You are right on the edge. Nothing Ed has said deserves this sort of spin. Wind it back – MS]
Read my 2 comment on Open Mike.
I said that the police should investigate and James agreed with me.
Read my comments you nasty troll.
I despise you for the smear you have made against me.
You should be banned for such a statement
I got 3 days for debating Syria.
Your comment about Saville deserves more.
All right.
I do disagree with ed bandying round ban talk because he disagrees with James base position
James has been banned plenty of times.
Everything’s political eddy.
Kirton just said on Checkpoint just now they were following a victim led process. The victim needed to be comfortable with it being reported to the police before that step is taken.
Now this is a hard one – and Im trying to be very careful in my reply as not to upset or anger anyone on here – its a serious question.
If you are aware of multiple sexual assaults should a person not have the responsibility to report that to the police (and then the victim/s) could have the opportunity to press charges or not?
If say someone was aware of the roastbusters – and said to the victims ‘you want to go to the police?’ – and then just did nothing if they didn’t?
Could an organisation not put pressure on a young person NOT to go to the police because (whatever)??? and if they do so – is this not enabling the attacker to carry on with the behaviour. (not saying that this is the case – but in general)
Upshot – I really think that it should be with the police – not the party and the police and the victims should decide what to do.
Well, I’ll wait and see how things pan out. It’s possible the victims have been provided with support by the Labour party, and that they are working towards them being comfortable with notifying police.
Police told Checkpoint that would encourage anyone with info who wishes to discuss it with them to go to them.
But, I don’t have a great deal of faith in the police given how they handled allegations from RoastBuster survivors.
Agreed James-clearly a police matter if the allegations are true.
It would be the same if, for instance, an MP had been assaulting his wife.
Andrew Kirton just said that he understands that the reporting is pretty accurate to what happened (words to that effect)
edit: agree with you on the assault thing – this is NEVER the type of thing that should be handled internally.
My question is, if this happened last month and Ardern has only just found out whats up with party communication?
Surely they have some form of ‘no surprises’ policy?
Also what was Labour thinking supplying copious amounts of alcohol to underage teenagers?
Were the organizers deluded that nothing bad would happen or weren’t aware that they were potentially breaking the law?
Duh.
The left were pretty fast at condemning Key’s penchant for pony tails; time to clean your own house I suggest.
“Also what was Labour thinking supplying copious amounts of alcohol to underage teenagers?”
it looks like people took their own along – not supplied by young labour.
But seems supervision wasnt either.
I’ve had the misfortune of working in a place where an employee alleged (to many although not the perpetrator) sexual harassment from the boss. Inquiries were made from their psychiatrist and the police.
Result: nothing happens without complainant pushing charges (they didn’t).
I’m not sure the same applies here but it may very well. I understand the Labour Party would stand behind the alleged victims if they chose to push charges which would be fitting IMO.
Well, the allegations seem to have been true about the Roastbusters but the police ignored them. They even had outright complaints.
Upshot – I really think that it should be with the police – not the party and the police and the victims should decide what to do.
Of course, it should, the whole thing pongs of a coverup, seriously these sexual assaults happened over a month ago and the police hadn’t been informed.
nor the parents it turns out.
That’s utterly disgraceful.
For their parents not to know there must have been pressure applied to these young people to not say anything.
Heads need to roll.
Can you substitute that allegation BM?
Innuendo in this situations does not help anyone least of all the 16 year olds.
“For their parents not to know there must have been pressure applied to these young people to not say anything.”
That’s an assumptive stretch, BM. Do better.
Are you alleging Labour covered up sexual assault? That’s not an appropriate allegation to be making.
What a load of bollocks.
Many people when sexually assaulted don’t want to tell anybody. A lot of that is due to how we treat victims often going on victim bashing sprees through the MSM instead listening and acting appropriately.
“If say someone was aware of the roastbusters – and said to the victims ‘you want to go to the police?’ – and then just did nothing if they didn’t?”
The victims there did go to the police, and no charges were laid. So that provides context for whether there is a obligation to leap-frog over the victims and go to the police without their input. The trial itself can be a trigger for assault victims, so the decision should primarily be theirs.
I would say, that the first instance should be of supporting the complainants – which includes encouraging police contact if appropriate – is a longer process than finding out and immediately making decisions. There has to be some time given to those assaulted to ensure that a police investigation won’t further add to their emotional burden, at that particular time.
Just listened to the Checkpoint interview.
Labour:
Didn’t tell the police
Didn’t tell the parents of the 16 yo kids
Didn’t tell the PM
But did get advise on how to handle it.
Its starting to look a lot like Andrew Kirton has been trying to cover this up.
Now your just point scoring.
Unseemly.
Do you disagree with me?
BTW – I wrote that after I had just listened to the interview and heard that they had chosen not to inform the parents.
Way to avoid my point.
likewise.
Point scoring, unseemly? you creepy disgusting old shit.
Crawl back under the rock you came from [Edit. Best not to go there Adam – MS] (bm) . How about we let the victims make decisions before we start making accusations.
But that all you do make assumptions and abuse people BM.
The political mistakes and BS will be sorted out. Give the people involved some room before you make judgements.
Fuck off, you disgusting, sexual assault enabling old prick.
[3 month ban. I’ve been watching your trolling since the election, and you appear to bring little to the site now. What is not ok is starting a flame war in a topic of this nature where many people are vulnerable. Throwing accusations around, using sexual assault to Labour-bash, it’s all the same kind of nasty, macho bullshit that makes it really hard to have meaningful conversations about rape culture on TS. – weka]
Oh do grow up BM.
You have made nothing but allegations without substance. You don’t want solutions, your just trying to score points.
If you want solutions, then let the right people do there jobs and help the people who needs help.
As for accusations. I’d like an apology becasue nothing I’ve said has enabled anyone except those who want to get to the truth without political hacks trying to point score.
Fuck off, you’re saying the labour party are the right people to handle and oversee these sexual assaults?
The same Labour party which was running the camps where these sexual assaults happened?
Shame on you Adam, the only thing you’re interested in here is making sure the Labour party doesn’t get splattered by the fall out of what went on at these camps, no concern of the actual victims.
Appalling hypocrisy
I was banned for much much less than this.
How you right wing trolls get away with these levels of abuse beats me.
I’ve never said labour party anything, now your just making shit up. Or as we in the trade call it, your lying to score points.
I’ve said let the right people do their job. The right people would be social workers and counselors train for these events.
I don’t give a rats about the labour party – as you well know. Or are you just trying to score points again.
Your the lowest form of low life BM one who will lie to cover their tracks.
As it stands, we don’t know if it is a Sexual Assault as there have been no charges. All we know is a drink male acted like a complete tosser.
So kindly shut up, let the right people do there jobs so we can know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I know a bit much asking a right wing nutjob to be patient so truth can come out.
Because in the real world people, victims take time to come forward. They don’t work to political hack’s wannabe agendas.
https://thestandard.org.nz/chris-bishops-use-of-snapchat-causes-problems/#comment-1446809
The hypocrisy, as per normal, is coming from the RWNJs as they attack for political point scoring rather than giving a fuck about the victims.
Question for moderators?
So BM can make allegations with no substaine.
Then rather than answer those allegations, all he has chosen to do abuse me with no substance.
No debate, just abuse.
No he can’t, he’s out for 3 months. You can see why in my moderator note above.
Thank-you weka.
Amongst other things, there will be slightly less willy waving for 3 months.
Thanks for responding weka.
I just left for a bit, had enough of the accusations, and rubbish from BM.
just as an aside – I thought it was against the rules to use peoples real name if they choose to use a handle?
Stephen was a reference from Django Unchained.
Sorry – I didnt not make that link
Very unseemly.
We agree – get the police to complete a thorough investigation.
Ardern should have been informed earlier. kirton’s for the high jump, I suspect.
*covering it up IF that is so, Mr. Kirton has made a grievous error of judgment. However James, are you aware that 16 year olds do not have to involve their parents, and no one can over ride that right. Only the Police if some one complains to them.
Now, you are inferring drink was supplied by the organisers. IF that is so, another grievous error.
But, worse, Jacinda Ardern was blidsided by this by journalist, because she had no knowledge of it. That was another grievous error.
Personally I think he may lose his position.
Jacinda was rightly angry. She won’t want it ‘covered up”
“However James, are you aware that 16 year olds do not have to involve their parents, and no one can over ride that right.”
However Patricia are you aware that if you are aware of multiple sexual assaults of 16yo kids – you can just go to the police.
“”Only the Police if some one complains to them.”
Yep – and Labour CHOSE NOT to let the police know about the attacks.
“But, worse, Jacinda Ardern was blidsided by this by journalist”
Sorry – that is not worse than what has happened.
There are definitely things here that Labour need to be held account for (without looking too deeply, not dealing with the assaults at the time or giving the victims adequate support, the lack of supervision at the social event, the amount of alcohol involved).
You keep asking about the police, so it’s time for you to educate yourself about why the victims of sexual assault often don’t go to the police. You started this thread reasonably well, but it’s not going to be ok to turn this into an opportunity to Labour-bash nor to sensationalise the situation.
My suggestion in general to the men here who want to have a shit fight about this, is to sit down and shut up, and start listening to what women are saying. Women generally understand what the issues are and how to talk about them without making the conversations unsafe or into flamewars.
again – Im trying to be careful here with my reply – and again being very genuine and not basing or anything …
“You keep asking about the police, so it’s time for you to educate yourself about why the victims of sexual assault often don’t go to the police.”
In this instance – Labour knew that assaults had happened (according to AK). It wasn’t just against one person, but several.
which takes me back to my original post:
“If you are aware of multiple sexual assaults should a person not have the responsibility to report that to the police (and then the victim/s) could have the opportunity to press charges or not?”
And given that the party would have an agenda for this NOT to move forward ?
“Could an organisation not put pressure on a young person NOT to go to the police because (whatever)??? and if they do so – is this not enabling the attacker to carry on with the behaviour”. (AGAIN NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS THE CASE).
Upshot – I really think that it should be with the police – not the party and the police and the victims should decide what to do.
WEKA – given the nature of the topic – I want to be clear that this is a genuine question – not playing a silly game.
I don’t actually care what your reckons are James, because you seem to think that your opinion is the important thing here. I don’t know enough about the situation to make a judgement call on whether the police should have been involved or not. Mostly I would want to hear what the victims have to say about that. As I said, imo you need to educate yourself about rape culture and what going to the police means. Either you don’t, and are expressing opinion from a place of ignorance, or you do and you think your opinion should take precedence over the safety of the people assaulted.
As I also said, Labour have not handled this well on a number of fronts. What they do next is going to be important.
“AGAIN NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS THE CASE”
Then why bring it up? At this stage we don’t know what happened. People will speculate, but there are still considered ways to think about this and then there are inflammatory ways.
If the victims were age ten, I’d right with an automatic parent and police referral.
At sixteen they can probably make their own decisions, if they are treated with repect and will be clearly supported in any decision they made. And as long as everything is documented, there’s no rush to force them into any course of action.
The lack of supervision at the event and the alcohol also need to be actively addressed.
‘James’, like you I’m a positive person in ‘real life’, but here the rwnj commentariat (youself, Tanz, BM, Alwyn, chris73, funstigator, indiana, timeforacupoftea, solkta, Stunned mullet, Puckish Rogue, Alan, Tuppence Shrewsbury, Mikes, Antoine, fisiani (a deleted persona that existed only to adulate Honest John Key), et al. [apologies if I’ve got someone wrong]) bring out the worst in me.
Your morals, and those of other rwnjs, strike me as out-of-whack, with ethical behaviour being ‘for others only’. I sometimes fantasise that most of the many rwnjs infesting The Standard (and there must be dozens of them) are actually one person, seated in a windowless room with a computer and an electronic whiteboard that lists various personas’ characteristics, backstories and where they stand on the rwnj spectrum.
‘Your’ incessant ‘twitting’ is particularly disruptive – today alone you’ve ‘contributed’ 20 ‘twits’; are you paid ‘by the twit’, rather than ‘per word’?
On a serious note, would you (’James’) care to share (briefly) the story of how someone who “left school at 15” became a successful “IT guy”, and more. C’mon, James, let your humble desire to help others inspire our struggling teens –
Let’s do this 😉
“On a serious note, would you (’James’) care to share (briefly) the story of how someone who “left school at 15” became a successful “IT guy”
Sure. Normal school wasn’t for me.
Self taught – worked extremely hard for a very long time.
Had a natural leaning for IT and an ability to understand business issues and use technology to slove them.
Nice that you have such an interest in me. personally I don’t give you a second thought.
‘James’, thanks for those details, I’ll pass them on. Still on your ‘flame wars’ and ‘personal insults’ hobbyhorse – congrats.
Not putting a second thought into your replies would explain why they make no sense.
I am impressed by your preternatural awareness of envy, jealousy, bitterness and misery in others. Do you know anyone who doesn’t envy you?
Your welcome.
However I said that I don’t give you a second thought (as opposed to my replies as you said).
Said in regard to you obviously having a bit of a crush on me of late (bless).
Anyway- have work in the morning and have to head to the city – so I’m off to bed.
Have a pleasant evening.
‘James’, fascinating that your extra-sensory perceptions now extend to detecting those that have a crush on you – how’s that working out for you?
Don’t understand how you can get up in the morning, what with all those admirers crushing on you – I’m jealous.
Sadly, it seems you have a major crush on The Standard of late. Will just have to grimace and bear it.
You’ve definitely got me wrong, I’ve voter Labor my entire life.
They got solkta wrong too. Probably others.
Genuine apologies to ‘mikes’, ‘solkta’ and anyone else I’ve mis-represented in such ‘black and white’ terms – should have taken the time to do more research.
If I could I would ‘de-list’ mikes/solkta, and add ‘infused’ and (the already gone) ‘Son of Don’.
Also, shouldn’t have let ‘James‘ get under my skin, but he was on the verge of wetting himself over the ‘party political’ dimensions of the assaults, while displaying very little concern (genuine or otherwise) for the victims. Plus the whole ‘Tanz vs Anne vs James’ tit-for-tat nonsense.
I’m going to button it for now – thanks (that’s genuine too) to Weka and other Standard authors/mods.
EDIT: OK my original text just disappeared. This is one disabled person talking about their submission to the euthanasia disabled bill before parliament recently.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/national-video/news/video.cfm?c_id=1503075&gal_cid=1503075&gallery_id=189737
‘If you are aware of multiple sexual assaults should a person not have the responsibility to report that to the police (and then the victim/s) could have the opportunity to press charges or not?’
Of course – and do you have any reason to think that has not been the case in this instance?
In fact, I would expect, especially in view of the youthfulness of the victims, to be supportive of whatever action they wish to take.
However, in view of the obnoxious attitude you frequently display on this site, I find it very difficult to believe that your concern, in this case, is genuine
“‘If you are aware of multiple sexual assaults should a person not have the responsibility to report that to the police (and then the victim/s) could have the opportunity to press charges or not?’
Of course – and do you have any reason to think that has not been the case in this instance?”
Yes – I do because labour were aware of it and DIDNT report it to the police!
This is more like it.
“Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has banned all Government departments from using a firm of private investigators for spying.”
It follows a Newshub investigation that found state-owned insurers Southern Response got the investigators from Thompson and Clark to snoop on victims of the Christchurch earthquake at the taxpayers’ expense.
Ms Ardern says this was “totally inappropriate” and other Government departments should not be using them.”
Now let’s see the government adopt the same approach to Uber, Amazon, AMI, the Australian banks.
Boot them all out.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/03/pm-jacinda-ardern-bans-private-investigators-behind-southern-response-spying.html
Boot out Amazon?
Yeah – that would work – Can you imaging the outcry when everybodys netflix stops working (along with all the other businesses who rely on Amazon)
There’s a difference between using public money to hire private investigators to suppress lawful dissent and the data collection that makes some large tech corporations questionable. Amazon et al don’t have the same duties in respect of the public as a public service.
I would like to know the prime minister’s opinion on the police collecting data around an (a?) euthanasia meeting.
Ok for the state to snoop around the citizenry but not a private company.
I imagine that she’d be happy with the process in principle (police do have to investigate groups sometimes) but might consider it an example of particularly poor judgement.
Funny you should put it like that.
I thought it absolutely lacked principle and agree with you that it was poor judgement.
I’m sure Jacinta doesn’t want any investigations (private or otherwise) into the goings on in her Party. This is the tip of the iceberg apparently…
Jacinta? the rest of your comment is wrong too.
There was an article the other day about why some people confuse the NT sound with the ND sound…I think the former is more common and so our brain assumes that it’s likely to be correct.
There is also no “d” in most (all?) Pacific languages – which came up last week as an explanation as to why Jacinda’s name was spelt with a “t” on banners, media reports etc in some countries visited by the Parliamentary Mission to Samoa, Niue,, Tonga and the Cook Islands last week.
Tim Murphy (Newsroom.co.nz) has just tweeted that”
“hearing word that there may have been issues at previous Labour Youth camps …..”
Oh…. that Tim Murphy? The one who thought he had a “Mother of all stories ” about Winston? That guy?????
The story gets more interesting:
Tim Murphy (Newsroom.co.nz):
‘sexual abuse counselling’ service Andrew Kirton mentions for victims was made available yesterday – Sunday – before the Monday story.
WOW !!!
I’m quite concerned by your excitement.
There are victims here.
You know that, don’t you?
Establish what happened, and support the victims. Yes, there are other concerns (for example, James, with barely concealed glee, considers the story ‘interesting’), but the victims wishes are paramount.
At the bottom of this post are some resources you can use without having to report officially, if you aren’t ready to take that step yet.
More signs of how climate change is affecting our country.
The Herald calls it weird weather.
Rachel Stewart asks if we’re worried yet.
Catastrophic climate change is here.
“Our barren Alps: Aerial survey shows snow loss ‘incredibly extreme’
After a summer in which which January temperatures were nearly 3C warmer than average, it was expected the glaciers would lose mass and the snowlines would rise. But the results were far more dramatic than any past survey, and showed some of the Alps had barely any fresh snow at all.”
https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/102181406/our-barren-alps-aerial-survey-shows-snow-loss-incredibly-extreme
Oh dear, a scandal has broken. Surprise surprise. National would never stoop this low, and they would not hide it from the public and police. Always different when the left do it.
[if you use this as an excuse to bash Labour or the left, you can expect to be banned. Only warning – weka]
Yep Tanz, and the criminal was one drunken yahoo. Not all who were there. One rotten apple perhaps?
It’s only a short read, Tanz, right up your alley…
http://thehandmirror.blogspot.co.nz/2014/08/national-party-alleged-rape-culture.html
Translation:
Songtext von Fredrik Vahle
eh, what planet are you on ? the chief of defense out rite lied on national tv and now caught out, the innocents in this case lost their lives, yes always different when nats do it.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/102179541/docked-wages-the-sticking-point-over-lyttelton-port-strike
What’s this negotiation all about (anyone?)
More “flexible” working hours wanted for less pay. The usual.
“Managers” that cannot figure out how many workers they need each day, want the workers to cover the cost of their inability to do their sums.
Well I hope the kids involved get all the support and help they need first and foremost and the guy that did this gets punished accordingly and his name published with victims names and relationship to the crim, if any, suppressed
Apart from anything else, this camp “scandal” business highlights some really, really bad political management from Labour. What on earth was Andrew Kirton thinking when he chose not to inform the PM? What a moron, any half-wit should have been able to work out it isn’t a good look for the PM to hear about such things through the news media.
On the same day you have Jenny Salesa’s office giving a different line to the media on her travel expenses to the PM’s comments at Jacinda news conference.
Both these stories are grist for the mill for our lazy, underfunded, gotcha! MSM.
The only blessing is neither Clare Curran or Poto Williams said something idiotic on the same day.
Labour needs to tighten the messaging discipline big time.
I sense a feeling that “Jacinda should have been told” , I disagree , IMHO it is correct to keep a firewall between the political and organisational sections of the party, Its actually a sign that Kirton might have some smarts.
Except when a journalist starts asking questions
Thats right! and then (given that whatever action was taken will be attacked) its better she did not know