I see Bryce Edwards on behalf of the Herald has published a direct plea to the NZF Board. Hosking reckons… Farrar reckons… Mapp reckons… a seeming list of right wingers with a vested interest personally or professionally in a Nat/NZF Govt… clearly designed to warn/scare NZF Board
Here is the link.
I agree with Tracey.
Bryce Edwards seems to have copied and pasted the viewers of every right wing propagandist in the article. Shameful for someone who tries to pretend he is independent.
And the Herald editor has added this title.
‘Political Roundup: Signs of a National-NZ First government’
I think that if you read the first paragraph carefully, you’ll see that he is going to do the ‘Signs of a Labour/NZ First Government’ column tomorrow:
“The day has arrived for Winston Peters and New Zealand First to decide which major party to put into power – even if the announcement won’t actually be made today. It really could go either way, but below are ten items that suggest Peters will be inclined to choose National. A follow-up column will look at signs of a Labour-NZ government.”
Nevertheless, his need to bat for both teams this election HAS been annoying.
Agreed!
‘Bothsiderism’ is what got the US media into so much trouble re: Trump.
Bryce has a chronic case of bothsiderism, and I’ll be reading his column tomorrow to see how ‘evenhanded’ he manages to be.
“But I know
You’ve got to stand for something
Or you’re gonna fall for anything
You’ve gotta stand right up for somethin’
Or you’re gonna fall for anything”
“I think that if you read the first paragraph carefully, you’ll see that he is going to do the ‘Signs of a Labour/NZ First Government’ column tomorrow”
Shows how well come people read. Too busy jumping to conclusions and running conspiracy lines.
Bryce has become more temperate in his analyses the more exposure he has in the MSM. A pity, but understandable. He lost some credibility ( in the MSM) when he openly declared his left leaning bias. He has clearly learned “to get along you have to play along” The Headline is misleading and mischievous.
I’m sorry for you (and the rest) but its most likely going to be some form of National/NZFirst and the best the left can hope for is Lab/NZFirst and a severely neutered Greens
National can offer more than Lab/Greens can, National can offer NZFirst the ease of dealing with only one party, National can offer NZFirst an electorate seat, the seats where NZFirst did best are rural and provincial (https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2017/10/best_and_worst_seats_for_nz_first.html) so a natural affiliation with National is already there and by sheer numbers more people voted for National than Labour/Green
Winston wanted a change of government and a National/NZFirst government would certainly be different
The offer of the bet is still open if you’re still keen Mickey
Well yes but if you look at the link provided it backs up what I’m saying and that is NZFirst is most popular in rural and provincial North Island, that National could step away in Northland and gift a seat to NZFirst ala Epsom, its easier to deal with one party than it is two parties and not forgetting the knighthood he’d also recieve
So yes it is just something I “reckon” but its a “reckon” that I reckon will play out…of course if I’m wrong I’ll still be on here so everyone can say how wrong I was
How are we going to solve the crises that face us all?
Le’t start with climate change.
As Rachel Stewart says ‘Climate change is here. The race between human survival and the melting ice sheets is on. With it, urgency is being replaced by a kind of shrugging acceptance that the tipping point has been reached. Now, we wait.
The storms will be more frequent and deadly; the diseases will come thick and fast; the crops will fail and, if humans are still standing at the end of that, the heat will shut our bodies down and we will die.
Oh, and if technology were to save us, where is it? My guess? It doesn’t exist in either a form or a time frame to meaningfully change anything.
Depressed yet? You should be. And when you’re bored with that, maybe stop blaming others for their point of view, and start blaming the real culprits. Picking off fundamentally decent – and basically planetarily powerless – others is a waste of your time. Anger, sadness and fear is best expressed by doing, rather than talking into a vacuum (which, ironically, I’m likely doing here).
The culprits? Oil companies, industrial agriculture, the 1 per cent, over-fishing, neoliberalism, capitalism, Monsanto, Trump, the “free” market (an oxymoron if ever there was one). You know who they are.
Get off the cyber treadmill of judgment and virtue signalling, and dismount your fat donkey and make a change in the world. Maybe there’s still time?’
That’s awfully weak from you, chris73. You know when you see “climate change” it means ” destructive man-made-climate-change”, don’t you? If not, you’re of no use in the discussion; if you do know that and are pretending not to understand, you should be ashamed of yourself.
Typical Nat. Believes someone will always go for “what’s in it for them”.
That’s is why they are so confused by the Greens. Members decide policy, so Green politicians cannot be bribed.
Whats in it for Winston is that instead of having to go through two sets of negotiations to get something through he only has to negotiate with one which means he has more power to enact the changes he campaigned on
But hey at least the Greens, and their supporters, get to feel pure and superior so theres that I suppose
He’ll also get shunted into the background if he goes Labour/Greens, it’s going to be Jacinda, Jacinda Jacinda, Peters will be as impotent as a 72-year-old man who still likes to drink and smoke excessively.
All this is pointless speculation through Skinny, the man at the centre of all the action, Peters personal confident and seer has said this all a sham, Peters made his mind up and he’s going Labour/Green this whole charade is just a fuck you to National and the people of NZ.
One of the answers to the Fermi Paradox is that all previous civilisations that could have reached the stars wiped themselves out with their technology before they were mature enough to understand the downsides of the technology.
Mankind seems to be on this path due idiots like you.
He’ll also get shunted into the background if he goes Labour/Greens,…
He’ll not only get shunted into the background if he goes with National, but he and his party will get shunted out of parliament. Key’s “top drawer” will have nothing on what they have in store for him the day he falls foul with them over some shitty decision.
If he goes with National… so much for all the “we will make our choice based on what is best for NZ” crap we have had to endure in recent days.
If he goes with Labour I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt but won’t be holding my breath.
ACT got into Parliament just long enough to convince almost everyone that they are loony tunes.
Just like 84, 87 Labour, their predecessors. Without the nudge, nudge, wink, wink, in Epsom their vote would be below 0.02%
I’m sorry for you (and the rest) but its most likely going to be some form of National/NZFirst and the best the left can hope for is Lab/NZFirst and a severely neutered Greens
I feel sorry for you because you’re so full of shit from trying to defend a hopeless ideological position.
National can offer more than Lab/Greens can,
No they can’t – not without breaking National and destroying NZ1st.
Winston wanted a change of government and a National/NZFirst government would certainly be different
That’s just it – it wouldn’t be. Or, to be more precise, it would be the same as the 1996 National/NZ1st government and I don’t think anyone but especially NZ1st want a repeat of that.
Actually I accept your bet. If Labour forms the next Government you are to donate $100 to the Salvation Army, if it is National I will donate $100 to http://www.dogwatch.nz/
I am pretty sure Bryce Edwards does not write his columns to order. In any event he indicated he was going to do the same thing for the Labour option.
As far as I can see he was just expressing his opinion.
Incidentally I thought Chloe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson turning up at the demo was a rather good illustration of the risk I was alluding to. I would have thought the sensitivity of negotiations (3 NZF MP’s are ex Regular Force Army officers) would have given them pause for thought before they did that.
So, all those young people who protested against the Vietnam War were dangerous subversives eh Wayne? All those young people who protested against the Springbok Tour were unwashed hippies and gangsters? All those young people who protested against the proliferation of nuclear weapons were Commie loving losers? Funny thing… all those young people were proven to be right on every count Wayne. Time may well prove these young people are right too.
Its the sort of thing intelligent, thinking young people do because they still have their lives ahead of them and they want to make the world a better place. Maybe they go too far sometimes but that’s the nature of being young and passionate. And hang it all, one of those young people back in the 60s and 70s ended up as prime minister and went on to became one of the most powerful and admired women on the international stage.
She is an MP whose party is in the middle of sensitive coalition negotiations.
I would have thought it obvious that will have an effect on the things you can do.
It was not a general comment about demonstrating generally.
However if that is what the Greens want to do, well I guess they can.
You think her Party didnt know she was going to be there? You think NZF doesnt know there are anti war people in Greens? You really do struggle to understand anyone who does not behave as you do or doesnt see the world as you do.
I would have thought the sensitivity of negotiations (3 NZF MP’s are ex Regular Force Army officers) would have given them pause for thought before they did that.
Hopefully they’ll understand that producing and buying weapons for profit is a bad idea and they’ll do something about it.
I guess you are being ironic, given that Ron Mark, for instance, would not meet any reasonable definition of being a pacifist.
In any event all the responses to my post affirm the wide gulf between Green thinking and NZF thinking. Your defences of Chloe’s and Marama’s actions show that they are likely to do exactly what happened in 2002 with the Alliance. It is also zero awareness of coalition negotiations, because the immediacy of direct action and virtue signalling trumps all. In 2002 most of the Alliance MP’s, including Ministers, walked away from government over Afghanistan. That was one of the main reasons for an early election in 2002.
So Chloe and Marama have nicely highlighted a real risk facing a left coalition which includes the Greens, which Bryce Edwards noted as the very first risk.
I am also pretty sure NZF fully understands the need for a defence force that has effective combat capabilities. They will have zero agreement with the Greens on this issue.
I guess you are being ironic, given that Ron Mark, for instance, would not meet any reasonable definition of being a pacifist.
Don’t have to be a pacifist to realise that production and selling of weapons for a profit is bad for society and that a government should produce all their own weapons from the countries R&D and resources.
So Chloe and Marama have nicely highlighted a real risk facing a left coalition which includes the Greens, which Bryce Edwards noted as the very first risk.
Because having a political party that holds to solid principles is a real risk – to those without any.
I am also pretty sure NZF fully understands the need for a defence force that has effective combat capabilities. They will have zero agreement with the Greens on this issue.
And there you go spouting more ignorant BS and scaremongering.
** Priority must be given to non-violent means of resolving conflict.
** When armed forces are deployed this must be sanctioned by the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
** The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) should be capable of performing across a range of operations: from peacekeeping, disaster relief and resource protection through to defensive combat operations
** The NZDF must not maintain or use weapons that create long lasting risks to civilian populations and/or the environment
** The work carried out by the armed service personnel, and the sacrifices they are required to make must be recognised and respected
** Enlistment in the armed forces must be on a voluntary basis
I’m pretty sure that NZ1st and the Greens can come to some agreement to meet all of those.
It is clear Wayne has found himself a new trough writing articles and going on tv with his reckons. Sadly it means his macho patriarchal and the “world is for everyone how it is for him” views will get more oxygen…
Mainly he was expressing your opinion, and farrars etc.
Incidentally two MPs standing up for what their supporters believe is the point of representation. What did you march for Wayne, pre and post politics?
Hopefully the 3 ex force NZF MPs have a better understanding of the right to freedom expression our forces fight for than you do.
Behind those shades, do his eyes constantly rove? Do they swivel in a practiced arc, covering the field, seeking anomalies, looking for clues? Do his eyes twinkle when Jacinda shines: hugs a grandmother, squeezes a returned soldiers crabbed hand, brushes a baby’s cheek with her eyelashes? Or are they steely grey, boring into the minds of would-be hecklers and nay-sayers, anticipating trouble, predicting outcomes? He’s a Mysterion, Mr Bearded-Guy, he’s hip, he’s hipster, he’s… big!
Lovers of Love, f#!k it! It’s time to join the Rugby Voluntary Fire Brigade, or whatever the f the gnats do to score points. If they have that much money backing, and so little talent. It’s time, from the inside, I say. Hey any backing for a James and Bond, on say $10,000pa? !-p
Sorry folks but I have a sinking feeling the old bugger will be getting between the sheets with National. Winnie was always a dodgy fella, attention seeking, full of himself and loving playing to the gallery. My partner was going to vote for him and thank the lord he saw the stupidity of his ways and gave him the slip. He may say he is NZ First but I feel it in my bones that he is going over to the dark side and we will have another 3 years of misery.
I shall be quite happy to apologise and say I made a big mistake if it goes the other way. Whatever happens the major party will have a hell of a job keeping him in check. He is an impossible person to get on with and there will be nothing but tears for the other major party whoever has the misfortune to accept him on board.
Thank-you for that Redlogix. An inspiring woman. Perhaps the best words are the last words:
… from Margaret Mead. She is reported to have said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
This year, the bigger news on the recycling front has been the decision that China announced a few months ago to end its role in the recycling of many categories of “foreign garbage” (mainly plastic and mixed paper waste) as of January 1, 2018.
I haven’t seen anything else about that but it will affect us.
As for here… roughly speaking, and as this article indicates, New Zealand has a high level of local recycling of glass, and about a 50% capacity in recycling some forms of plastic. The rest of our plastic waste and all of our paper and card waste gets sold and shipped to Asia, primarily to China –where it has left in its wake some serious environmental problems related to unsafe forms of disposal.
Which means that the cost of importing shit from China (“As Bloomberg News concluded: “Foreign garbage is really just China’s recycling coming home.””) is about to get far more expensive as we start having to deal with the rubbish that we’ve taken to ignoring.
The Europeans have pioneered the idea that all manufacturing must encompass the entire life cycle of ALL materials goods. Nothing gets sent to waste; if you made it, then at the end of it’s useful life, then you have to take it back and re-use all of it in some manner.
So we’ve been using the out of sight out of mind approach and that will have to change. Good. To often our type of society just pretends and expects every other single country to carry our shit. Time to really become self sufficient instead of bullshitting ourselves and everyone else kiwis.
Yes , … it speaks of a people taking a pride in their nation , – and you cant fault that. And if there’s one thing to admire about the common American people its pride in their way of life. And its not a bad way at all , though it has received far too much bad PR and criticism with those with an agenda.
Its always sad when global media works towards an agenda bought and paid for by those who originate that agenda , – to the detriment of the common people of all lands.
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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has congratulated President Joe Biden on his inauguration as the 46th President of the United States of America. “I look forward to building a close relationship with President Biden and working with him on issues that matter to both our countries,” Jacinda Ardern said. “New Zealand ...
A major investment to tackle wilding pines in Mt Richmond will create jobs and help protect the area’s unique ecosystems, Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor says. The Mt Richmond Forest Park has unique ecosystems developed on mineral-rich geology, including taonga plant species found nowhere else in the country. “These special plant ...
To further protect New Zealand from COVID-19, the Government is extending pre-departure testing to all passengers to New Zealand except from Australia, Antarctica and most Pacific Islands, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “The change will come into force for all flights arriving in New Zealand after 11:59pm (NZT) on Monday ...
Bay Conservation Cadets launched with first intake Supported with $3.5 million grant Part of $1.245b Jobs for Nature programme to accelerate recover from Covid Cadets will learn skills to protect and enhance environment Environment Minister David Parker today welcomed the first intake of cadets at the launch of the Bay ...
The Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Mark Brown have announced passengers from the Cook Islands can resume quarantine-free travel into New Zealand from 21 January, enabling access to essential services such as health. “Following confirmation of the Cook Islands’ COVID ...
Jobs for Nature funding is being made available to conservation groups and landowners to employ staff and contractors in a move aimed at boosting local biodiversity-focused projects, Conservation Minister Kiritapu Allan has announced. It is estimated some 400-plus jobs will be created with employment opportunities in ecology, restoration, trapping, ...
The Government has approved an exception class for 1000 international tertiary students, degree level and above, who began their study in New Zealand but were caught offshore when border restrictions began. The exception will allow students to return to New Zealand in stages from April 2021. “Our top priority continues ...
Today’s deal between Meridian and Rio Tinto for the Tiwai smelter to remain open another four years provides time for a managed transition for Southland. “The deal provides welcome certainty to the Southland community by protecting jobs and incomes as the region plans for the future. The Government is committed ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has appointed Anna Curzon to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). The leader of each APEC economy appoints three private sector representatives to ABAC. ABAC provides advice to leaders annually on business priorities. “ABAC helps ensure that APEC’s work programme is informed by business community perspectives ...
The Government’s prudent fiscal management and strong policy programme in the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic have been acknowledged by the credit rating agency Fitch. Fitch has today affirmed New Zealand’s local currency rating at AA+ with a stable outlook and foreign currency rating at AA with a positive ...
The Government is putting in place a suite of additional actions to protect New Zealand from COVID-19, including new emerging variants, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “Given the high rates of infection in many countries and evidence of the global spread of more transmissible variants, it’s clear that ...
$36 million of Government funding alongside councils and others for 19 projects Investment will clean up and protect waterways and create local jobs Boots on the ground expected in Q2 of 2021 Funding part of the Jobs for Nature policy package A package of 19 projects will help clean up ...
The commemoration of the 175th anniversary of the Battle of Ruapekapeka represents an opportunity for all New Zealanders to reflect on the role these conflicts have had in creating our modern nation, says Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Kiri Allan. “The Battle at Te Ruapekapeka Pā, which took ...
Babies born with tongue-tie will be assessed and treated consistently under new guidelines released by the Ministry of Health, Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Around 5% to 10% of babies are born with a tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, in New Zealand each year. At least half can ...
The prisoner disorder event at Waikeria Prison is over, with all remaining prisoners now safely and securely detained, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says. The majority of those involved in the event are members of the Mongols and Comancheros. Five of the men are deportees from Australia, with three subject to ...
Travellers from the United Kingdom or the United States bound for New Zealand will be required to get a negative test result for COVID-19 before departing, and work is underway to extend the requirement to other long haul flights to New Zealand, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. “The new PCR test requirement, foreshadowed last ...
With criticism from National piling on over the property market, the prime minister has detailed when the government will make housing announcements. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marco Rizzi, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Western Australia Some Australians could be receiving a COVID-19 vaccine within weeks. Amid the continued spread of the virus and emergence of highly contagious variants, the federal government has accelerated the start of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Australia’s Threatened Species Strategy — a five-year plan for protecting our imperilled species and ecosystems — fizzled to an end last year. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Lecturer, General Dentist & PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland Baby teeth, or milk teeth, act like lighthouses to guide the adult ones to their correct destination. A baby tooth will become wobbly and fall out because the adult tooth ...
Business is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he’s joined by Simon Coley, co-founder of All Good and Karma Drinks.Bananas are one of the ...
Tackling topics such as rugby and body image, Stuff’s latest podcast shines a much-needed light on Aotearoa’s complex relationship with masculinity, writes Trevor McKewen, author of the book Real Men Wear Black.I wasn’t sure what to think when two episodes of the new local podcast He’ll Be Right landed in ...
The Rainforest Alliance reveals that 68%* of Kiwis say the COVID-19 pandemic has made them more conscious about environmental and social sustainability issues. Seventy two percent* state that they have been trying to make more sustainable purchasing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tama Leaver, Professor of Internet Studies, Curtin University The inventor of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners-Lee, has raised concerns that Australia’s proposed News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code could fundamentally break the internet as we know it. His concerns ...
ANALYSIS:By Scott Lucas, University of Birmingham Politics doesn’t have to be a raging fire destroying everything in its path Two weeks after the storming of the US Capitol by the followers of his predecessor, in the middle of an out-of-control pandemic that has killed more than 400,000 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Cantrell, Lecturer, Creative Writing & English Literature, University of Southern Queensland Described as “the world’s greatest storyteller”, Roald Dahl is frequently ranked as the best children’s author of all time by teachers, authors and librarians. However, the new film adaptation of ...
Peak housing body, Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) welcomes the updated Public Housing Plan announced today by Minister Woods, and the commitment by this Government to fix New Zealand’s housing crisis. The 8,000 additional homes are a significant ...
Having recently walked much of the South Island stretch of Te Araroa, Kirsten O’Regan reflects on the magnificent landscapes and interesting characters she encountered along the way.On our 36th day of walking, we climb through the fire-blackened hills above Ohau, stopping to examine heat-disfigured trail markers. Fresh green shoots have ...
Miss Torta in central Auckland is putting the spotlight on a snack that’s commonplace in Mexico, but until now relatively unknown in New Zealand.You’ve heard of a torta, but what is it, exactly? Well, depending on the cuisine it can mean a flatbread, cake, tart, sweet pie, savoury pie or ...
Two of three ministerial statements from the Beehive have been released in the name of the PM over the past two days. The more important, insofar as it involves political action that will affect the wellbeing of significant numbers of Kiwis, was the release of the government’s Public Housing Plan ...
Jacinda Ardern has reminded Labour MPs "ongoing vigilance" will be required in 2021 to avoid another Covid outbreak, admitting she held her breath over the summer break. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zareh Ghazarian, Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences, Monash University Despite many young Australians having a deep interest in political issues, most teenagers have a limited understanding about their nation’s democratic system. Results from the 2019 National Assessment Program – Civics and ...
Pinged $65 for overstaying 10 minutes in a parking block? Put away your hard-earned cash and read this first.Hopefully, by now, I’ve already established myself at The Spinoff as the resident tightarse, determined to avoid all unfair and unnecessary punishments (see: oversize baggage charges). Today, I’m focusing my attention on ...
Nuclear weapons states and their allies risk reputational ruin if they flout a new UN Treaty, Carolina Panico argues The United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons will come into force this month, on January 22, 2021, turning nuclear weapons into illegal objects. It is an achievement that ...
How does one turn into a rabid extremist over the description of a children’s bike? Emily Writes looks at Facebook comments so you don’t have to.You’ve been there, I know it. You’re scrolling along, trying to avoid QAnon conspiracy theories and Trump apocalypse memes when a story catches your eye. ...
Joe Biden is now the President of the United States and many people across America and throughout the world will consequently be breathing more easily. But while the erratic, unpredictable and irresponsible years of the Trump Presidency may be over, ...
Tough border testing for New Zealand honey imports to Japan is re-igniting the conversation about the use of the weed killer glypohsate in New Zealand. ...
The Taxpayers Union should be aware of the law and of the history of ACC. The ACC is a legal system introduced in 1974 to replace the common law right of accident victims to sue for damages for personal injury sustained as a result of negligence ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Denis Muller, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancing Journalism, University of Melbourne Terrorism, political extremism, Donald Trump, social media and the phenomenon of “cancel culture” are confronting journalists with a range of agonising free-speech dilemmas to which there are no easy answers. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Associate Professor of the Sydney Pharmacy School, University of Sydney You’ve just come from your monthly GP appointment with a new script for your ongoing medical condition. But your local pharmacy is out of stock of your usual medicine. Your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deanna D’Alessandro, Professor & ARC Future Fellow, University of Sydney On Wednesday this week, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was measured at at 415 parts per million (ppm). The level is the highest in human history, and is growing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Renwick, Professor, Physical Geography (climate science), Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington It might be summer in New Zealand but we’re in for some wild weather this week with forecasts of heavy wind and rain, and a plunge in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zareh Ghazarian, Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences, Monash University Despite many young Australians having a deep interest in political issues, most teenagers have a limited understanding about their nation’s democratic system. Results from the 2019 National Assessment Program – Civics and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle O’Shea, Senior Lecturer, School of Business, Western Sydney University Last week, the McIver’s Ladies Baths in Sydney came under fire for their (since removed) policy stating “only transgender women who’ve undergone a gender reassignment surgery are allowed entry”. The policy was ...
There are good grounds for optimism after the guardrails of American democracy held firm through to Joe Biden's inauguration today as President, writes Stephen Hoadley Pessimism abounds about the perilous condition of American democracy. Commentators and headline writers proffer memes such as ‘broken and divided nation’, ‘the threat from within’. ...
*This article was originally appeared on RNZ and is republished with permission. Donald Trump will forever be remembered as the president who was impeached twice - and for his rhetoric that struck a chord so deep in America that it will take years to dissipate. Donald Trump leaves Washington with the lowest approval ...
A new plan shows how and where the Government will build 8,000 new state housing places it funded in Budget 2020, Marc Daalder reports Jacinda Ardern has kicked off the political year with a major announcement, promising hundreds of new state housing places in regional centres across the country. With ...
This is the full transcript of President Joe Biden's speech after being sworn in at his inauguration this morning in Washington DC Chief Justice Roberts, Vice President Harris, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Vice President Pence, and my distinguished guests, my fellow Americans, this is America's day. This ...
Analysis: President Donald Trump has left the White House, and his deputy chief of staff confirms he is withdrawing his candidacy to lead the OECD. New Zealander Christopher Liddell withdrew his nomination to be Secretary-General of the powerful 37-member OECD and was one of the last members of the Trump Administration to depart ...
Kate Wills is facing stage four cancer with the same fierce approach she takes into her ocean swimming - never say can't. Even on the mornings Kate Wills feels wretched from her fortnightly chemotherapy treatment, she drags herself up at 5am and goes swimming. “I have to. It’s my job – to ...
Some costs associated with meetings speak for themselves, others are less conspicuous. Victoria University of Wellington's Val Hooper lays those costs out, making suggestions on where we can rein them in. Meetings – when last did we count the costs? And so it’s back to work and one of the ...
Andrew Paul Wood assesses the best-selling picture book by Grahame Sydney It's no great secret the commercially very successful Grahame Sydney has a long-standing beef that his work doesn’t receive more critical and institutional approval. I sympathise about the lack of critical attention, but I can understand why. The Discourse™ ...
This story was produced in collaboration with the Center for Public Integrity and Columbia Journalism Investigations. It was originally published by Public Integrity, Mother Jones, The Arizona Republic and Orlando Sentinel. It is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the ...
Analysis: It has been easy to ignore anyone daring to criticise or even question any aspect of the government’s Covid-19 response. Their voices have rarely been heard, and when they have been raised they have been quickly and decisively howled down by the favoured coterie of academics. ...
Welcome to The Spinoff’s US presidential inauguration live blog: inauguration news, analysis and reaction, updated through Wednesday and Thursday. The inauguration ceremony begins at 5.15am Thursday, NZ time, and Joe Biden takes the oath of office around 6am. 7.25am: And what about Trump?In the early hours of this morning, NZ ...
In 10 x 100, we survey a group of 100 people via Stickybeak and ask them 10 questions. Last month we quizzed Wellingtonians. Today, we ask NZ drivers how they’ve found a holiday period without international tourists, and what they get up to while they’re on the road.Across Aotearoa roads ...
Emmanuel Macron's anti-separatist policies have garnered backlash from the international Muslim community. Now, a global coalition has complained to the UN. ...
Summer reissue: Join Michèle A’Court, Alex Casey and Leonie Hayden as they go on an odyssey of women’s rage, and find out how we can channel our anger into good. First published September 15, 2020.Independent journalism depends on you. Help us stay curious in 2021. The Spinoff’s journalism is funded by ...
By Lorraine Ecarma in Cebu City The University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) will continue to stand against any threats to human rights, chancellor Clement Camposano has declared in response to the termination of a long-standing accord preventing military incursion on campus. In a Facebook post, Camposano said the academic ...
ANALYSIS:By Jennifer S. Hunt, Australian National University Every four years on January 20, the US exercises a key tenant of democratic government: the peaceful transfer of power. This year, the scene looks a bit different. If the last US presidential inauguration in 2017 debuted the phrase “alternative facts”, the ...
By Lulu Mark in Port Moresby In spite of Papua New Guinea’s mandatory mask-wearing requirement under the National Pandemic Act 2020, many public servants attending a dedication service in Port Moresby have failed to wear one. They were issued masks before entering the Sir John Guise Indoor Complex but took ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Moro, Associate Professor of Science & Medicine, Bond University How do scabs form? — Talila, aged 8 Great question, Talila! Our skin has many different jobs. One is to act as a barrier, protecting us from harmful things in the ...
US President Donald Trump is pardoning former White House adviser Steve Bannon, who is accused of fraud in a case involving funds for the border wall. ...
Joel Little with Lorde, Dera Meelan with Church & AP, Josh Fountain with Maala and Randa and Benee – producers make good songs great. Now a new fund from NZ on Air is putting the focus on them.Six months ago it looked like the music industry was on the brink ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Denise Buiten, Senior Lecturer in Social Justice and Sociology, University of Notre Dame Australia On average, one child is killed by a parent almost every fortnight in Australia. Last week, three children — Claire, 7, Anna, 5, and Matthew, 3 — were ...
This commendable and realistic decision again underlines that it is the police, not government, who are largely responsible for the reduction in cannabis prosecutions over the past 15 years, writes Russell Brown.The news that New Zealand police have discontinued the annual Helicopter Recovery Operation, which has, each summer for more ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ilan Noy, Professor and Chair in the Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington We will not be able to put the COVID-19 pandemic behind us until the world’s population is mostly immune through vaccination ...
Welcome to The Spinoff’s US inauguration live blog: inauguration news, analysis and reaction, updated throughout Wednesday and Thursday, NZ time. Reach me at catherine@thespinoff.co.nz.4.00pm: What will Trump be doing tomorrow?It’s pretty well known by now that outgoing president Donald Trump intends to throw out the rulebook when it comes to ...
The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is calling out Mayor Phil Goff for his undignified comment that the claim made by Councillor Greg Sayers asking why Auckland Council is funding yoga classes is “bullshit.” Yesterday, Councillor Greg Sayers penned ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Melbourne At 4am Thursday AEDT, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be inaugurated as president and vice president of the United States, replacing Donald Trump and Mike Pence. What follows is ...
*This article was originally published on RNZ and is republished with permission. New Zealanders flocked to beaches and lakes this summer, but it wasn't enough to fill the gap left by international tourists in other regions. The tourism industry is struggling to fill a $6 billion hole left by international tourists ...
Summer reissue: Chef Monique Fiso joins us for a chat about Hiakai – her acclaimed Wellington restaurant, and the title of her stunning new book.First published November 3, 2020.Independent journalism depends on you. Help us stay curious in 2021. The Spinoff’s journalism is funded by its members – click here to learn ...
A new trough was brought to our attention this morning, although ethnicity will limit the numbers of eligible applicants. If you are non-Maori, it looks like you shouldn’t bother getting into the queue – but who knows?We learned of the trough from the Scoop website, where the Kapiti ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Britta Denise Hardesty, Principal Research Scientist, Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, CSIRO Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing costs economies up to US$50 billion globally each year, and makes up to one-fifth of the global catch. It’s a huge problem not only for the ...
Police stopping major cannabis eradication operations has given the green light to drug dealers and gangs to expand operations, make more profit, and continue to wreak havoc on the most vulnerable in our society, says Sensible Sentencing Trust. ...
Varieties of merino wool footwear are emerging faster than Netflix series about British aristocracy. Michael Andrew takes a look at the rise of the shoe that almost everyone – including his 95-year-old grandma – is wearing.Some might say it all started with Allbirds. After all, to the average consumer, it ...
A new report from New Zealand’s Independent Monitoring Mechanism (IMM) highlights the realities and challenges disabled people faced during the COVID-19 emergency. The report, Making Disability Rights Real in a Pandemic, Te Whakatinana i ngā Tika ...
The Maritime Union is questioning the reasons provided for ongoing delays at the Ports of Auckland. Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Craig Harrison says there is a need for an honest conversation about what has gone wrong at the ...
As New Zealand faces a dire shortage of veterinarians, a petition has been launched urging the Government to reclassify veterinarians as critical workers so we can Get Vets into NZ. “New Zealand desperately needs veterinarians from overseas to counter ...
New Zealand is fast developing a reputation as a South Pacific vandal, says Greenpeace, as the government continues to fight against increased ocean protection. At the upcoming meeting of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO), ...
The Department of Internal Affairs and Netsafe are urging parents and caregivers to be mindful of the online content their tamariki may be consuming in the lead up to the inauguration of president-elect of the United States of America Joe Biden ...
Care is at the centre of Auckland Zoo’s mandate, and it’s clear to see when you witness the staff doing their day-to-day jobs up close. Leonie Hayden went behind the scenes to talk to two people who would do anything for the animals they look after. “We were having this ...
The Game Animal Council (GAC) is applying its expertise in the use of firearms for hunting to work alongside Police, other agencies and stakeholder groups to improve the compliance provisions for hunters and other firearms users. The GAC has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Verica Rupar, Professor, Auckland University of Technology “The lie outlasts the liar,” writes historian Timothy Snyder, referring to outgoing president Donald Trump and his contribution to the “post-truth” era in the US. Indeed, the mass rejection of reason that erupted in a ...
The internet ain’t what it used to be, thanks to privacy issues, data leaks, censorship and hate speech. But a group of New Zealanders are working on a way to give power back to the people. A flood of headlines over the last week made it clear: the internet has become ...
I see Bryce Edwards on behalf of the Herald has published a direct plea to the NZF Board. Hosking reckons… Farrar reckons… Mapp reckons… a seeming list of right wingers with a vested interest personally or professionally in a Nat/NZF Govt… clearly designed to warn/scare NZF Board
got a link?
Here is the link.
I agree with Tracey.
Bryce Edwards seems to have copied and pasted the viewers of every right wing propagandist in the article. Shameful for someone who tries to pretend he is independent.
And the Herald editor has added this title.
‘Political Roundup: Signs of a National-NZ First government’
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11932157
Yup. There is no attempt at balance either in the headline or the content.
Did Bryce go to TDB, The Standard? Nah.
Wonder how much Bryce depends on the Herald’s pay?
I think that if you read the first paragraph carefully, you’ll see that he is going to do the ‘Signs of a Labour/NZ First Government’ column tomorrow:
“The day has arrived for Winston Peters and New Zealand First to decide which major party to put into power – even if the announcement won’t actually be made today. It really could go either way, but below are ten items that suggest Peters will be inclined to choose National. A follow-up column will look at signs of a Labour-NZ government.”
Nevertheless, his need to bat for both teams this election HAS been annoying.
Thanks for spotting.
I agree about Edwards.
It’s like he’d write 10 reasons against Climate Change and 10 reasons for it…
‘If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything.’
Peter Marshall
Agreed!
‘Bothsiderism’ is what got the US media into so much trouble re: Trump.
Bryce has a chronic case of bothsiderism, and I’ll be reading his column tomorrow to see how ‘evenhanded’ he manages to be.
Yes, Bryce will coming with reasons for increasing dairy farming next.
Now, that is a challenge! Let me see:
1) boost GDP
2) the cows look pretty…?
3) a disproportionate number of All Blacks are bred by dairy farmers…?
4) nope, nothing else is coming to mind…
*gulp*
I always thought it was John Mellencamp:
“But I know
You’ve got to stand for something
Or you’re gonna fall for anything
You’ve gotta stand right up for somethin’
Or you’re gonna fall for anything”
Tomorrow, lol.
“I think that if you read the first paragraph carefully, you’ll see that he is going to do the ‘Signs of a Labour/NZ First Government’ column tomorrow”
Shows how well come people read. Too busy jumping to conclusions and running conspiracy lines.
You misquoted
He actually wrote
“A follow-up column will look at signs of a Labour-NZ government. ”
Can you post the link.
Yes – safe to see that was a typo – and was going to be
“Signs of a Labour-NZ First government”
there was a typo in the article.
Have searched and cannot find the followup yet.
Possibly the followup was an afterthought or a freudian slip?
“A follow-up column will look at signs of a Labour-NZ government.”
Really? you searched?
I think it shows a distinct lack of even basic research skills.
Here you go – Ill give you a link and do it for you. took all of 2 secs to find
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11932628
Wow, that’s even worse than I was expecting.
Bryce has become more temperate in his analyses the more exposure he has in the MSM. A pity, but understandable. He lost some credibility ( in the MSM) when he openly declared his left leaning bias. He has clearly learned “to get along you have to play along” The Headline is misleading and mischievous.
Cheers and
I’m sorry for you (and the rest) but its most likely going to be some form of National/NZFirst and the best the left can hope for is Lab/NZFirst and a severely neutered Greens
National can offer more than Lab/Greens can, National can offer NZFirst the ease of dealing with only one party, National can offer NZFirst an electorate seat, the seats where NZFirst did best are rural and provincial (https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2017/10/best_and_worst_seats_for_nz_first.html) so a natural affiliation with National is already there and by sheer numbers more people voted for National than Labour/Green
Winston wanted a change of government and a National/NZFirst government would certainly be different
The offer of the bet is still open if you’re still keen Mickey
But you are a National fan boy so you would say that, wouldn’t you?
Well yes but if you look at the link provided it backs up what I’m saying and that is NZFirst is most popular in rural and provincial North Island, that National could step away in Northland and gift a seat to NZFirst ala Epsom, its easier to deal with one party than it is two parties and not forgetting the knighthood he’d also recieve
So yes it is just something I “reckon” but its a “reckon” that I reckon will play out…of course if I’m wrong I’ll still be on here so everyone can say how wrong I was
How are we going to solve the crises that face us all?
Le’t start with climate change.
As Rachel Stewart says ‘Climate change is here. The race between human survival and the melting ice sheets is on. With it, urgency is being replaced by a kind of shrugging acceptance that the tipping point has been reached. Now, we wait.
The storms will be more frequent and deadly; the diseases will come thick and fast; the crops will fail and, if humans are still standing at the end of that, the heat will shut our bodies down and we will die.
Oh, and if technology were to save us, where is it? My guess? It doesn’t exist in either a form or a time frame to meaningfully change anything.
Depressed yet? You should be. And when you’re bored with that, maybe stop blaming others for their point of view, and start blaming the real culprits. Picking off fundamentally decent – and basically planetarily powerless – others is a waste of your time. Anger, sadness and fear is best expressed by doing, rather than talking into a vacuum (which, ironically, I’m likely doing here).
The culprits? Oil companies, industrial agriculture, the 1 per cent, over-fishing, neoliberalism, capitalism, Monsanto, Trump, the “free” market (an oxymoron if ever there was one). You know who they are.
Get off the cyber treadmill of judgment and virtue signalling, and dismount your fat donkey and make a change in the world. Maybe there’s still time?’
So you’re saying the Greens should untie themselves from Labour to make changes, well I agree with you on that
No I was asking you how we solve Climate Change.
Not sure what you mean by solving it, the climate has always changed and it always will change.
How we solve climate change as caused by industrial capitalism.
I am assuming you read Rachel Stewart’s piece.
If not you could watch this.
That’s awfully weak from you, chris73. You know when you see “climate change” it means ” destructive man-made-climate-change”, don’t you? If not, you’re of no use in the discussion; if you do know that and are pretending not to understand, you should be ashamed of yourself.
Its a pointless question, if I knew the answer I’d be away doing it as I’m guessing anyone else would be as well
Wow, you’re free with the give-aways aren’t you.
Its a very valid reason don’t you think
Just as corrupt as all the other reasons you’ve given for Winston going with National.
Typical Nat. Believes someone will always go for “what’s in it for them”.
That’s is why they are so confused by the Greens. Members decide policy, so Green politicians cannot be bribed.
Whats in it for Winston is that instead of having to go through two sets of negotiations to get something through he only has to negotiate with one which means he has more power to enact the changes he campaigned on
But hey at least the Greens, and their supporters, get to feel pure and superior so theres that I suppose
Greens understand that there is no point in power, if they become an insipid pale Green imitation of Labour and National.
He’ll also get shunted into the background if he goes Labour/Greens, it’s going to be Jacinda, Jacinda Jacinda, Peters will be as impotent as a 72-year-old man who still likes to drink and smoke excessively.
All this is pointless speculation through Skinny, the man at the centre of all the action, Peters personal confident and seer has said this all a sham, Peters made his mind up and he’s going Labour/Green this whole charade is just a fuck you to National and the people of NZ.
How are we going to solve the problem of Climate Change?
Well it’d be a good start if the Greens ever thought about being in power so they could enact some policies
No point being in power if you ally with a party that adopts policies that seek to destroy the environment.
Makes my blood boil Ed after watching the vid. Smith is a slippery sod. Wonder if he will continue in Conservation.
Massive big terraforming machines powered by fusion operating at the north and south poles
Proven technology BM, not stuff from science fiction.
Ok, No idea then.
Still, think technology will save our arses though, so just relax and party on Ed! it’s all going to work out in the end.
Hey, let’s gamble the earth on BM’s reckons!
One of the answers to the Fermi Paradox is that all previous civilisations that could have reached the stars wiped themselves out with their technology before they were mature enough to understand the downsides of the technology.
Mankind seems to be on this path due idiots like you.
I’m sure your children and grandchildren will thank you for gambling their future away so recklessly.
Well if Skinny says it then it must be true 🙂
Yep, it’s not like he’s a raging name-dropping blowhard who lives in his own fantasy world.
Lol that’s you, you dick
He’ll also get shunted into the background if he goes Labour/Greens,…
He’ll not only get shunted into the background if he goes with National, but he and his party will get shunted out of parliament. Key’s “top drawer” will have nothing on what they have in store for him the day he falls foul with them over some shitty decision.
If he goes with National… so much for all the “we will make our choice based on what is best for NZ” crap we have had to endure in recent days.
If he goes with Labour I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt but won’t be holding my breath.
You do forget National is looking for a settled and stable coalition partner, they were hoping Act would be that but it just hasn’t panned out.
It’s in both Nationals and NZ Firsts best interest to make this work.
I suspect that would be difficult considering how National eats its partners.
ACT got into Parliament just long enough to convince almost everyone that they are loony tunes.
Just like 84, 87 Labour, their predecessors. Without the nudge, nudge, wink, wink, in Epsom their vote would be below 0.02%
I thought it was in Greens interest and NZs to work with Nats.
Thanks for being so kind and thoughtful, chris73.
One tries ones best
I feel sorry for you because you’re so full of shit from trying to defend a hopeless ideological position.
No they can’t – not without breaking National and destroying NZ1st.
That’s just it – it wouldn’t be. Or, to be more precise, it would be the same as the 1996 National/NZ1st government and I don’t think anyone but especially NZ1st want a repeat of that.
We’ll find out soon enough
I hate to say it Christopher, but you are right. Winston will go with National.
He used to reference the standard all the time but does so quite rarely now even though our stats are second only to Kiwiblog.
Still want the bet?
Oath. Just choose a good charity.
Actually I accept your bet. If Labour forms the next Government you are to donate $100 to the Salvation Army, if it is National I will donate $100 to http://www.dogwatch.nz/
Done and this way everyone wins no matter the result
you want to double that chris….i’m in for $100 if you will go $200
Hundreds enough for me
Wuss
I think he might have tumbled to the fact that Standardistas tumbled to him a long time ago.
I am pretty sure Bryce Edwards does not write his columns to order. In any event he indicated he was going to do the same thing for the Labour option.
As far as I can see he was just expressing his opinion.
Incidentally I thought Chloe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson turning up at the demo was a rather good illustration of the risk I was alluding to. I would have thought the sensitivity of negotiations (3 NZF MP’s are ex Regular Force Army officers) would have given them pause for thought before they did that.
So, all those young people who protested against the Vietnam War were dangerous subversives eh Wayne? All those young people who protested against the Springbok Tour were unwashed hippies and gangsters? All those young people who protested against the proliferation of nuclear weapons were Commie loving losers? Funny thing… all those young people were proven to be right on every count Wayne. Time may well prove these young people are right too.
Its the sort of thing intelligent, thinking young people do because they still have their lives ahead of them and they want to make the world a better place. Maybe they go too far sometimes but that’s the nature of being young and passionate. And hang it all, one of those young people back in the 60s and 70s ended up as prime minister and went on to became one of the most powerful and admired women on the international stage.
It would seem so.
No one is more Tory than Dr Wayne Mapp. Psychartrist, and ex-defence minister. He probably shits blue 🙂
Psychiatrist?
She is an MP whose party is in the middle of sensitive coalition negotiations.
I would have thought it obvious that will have an effect on the things you can do.
It was not a general comment about demonstrating generally.
However if that is what the Greens want to do, well I guess they can.
I can see why someone sticking to their principles baffles you. Wayne!
You think her Party didnt know she was going to be there? You think NZF doesnt know there are anti war people in Greens? You really do struggle to understand anyone who does not behave as you do or doesnt see the world as you do.
Chloe and Marama don’t stand on ceremony and pretentiousness like some old staid farts in the National party.
They see a need , – they answer to it.
Get bloody real ‘Wayne ‘ and stop being a wanker.
BTW ; enjoyed your article in the NZ Herald ,.. it was interesting and informative.
Hopefully they’ll understand that producing and buying weapons for profit is a bad idea and they’ll do something about it.
I guess you are being ironic, given that Ron Mark, for instance, would not meet any reasonable definition of being a pacifist.
In any event all the responses to my post affirm the wide gulf between Green thinking and NZF thinking. Your defences of Chloe’s and Marama’s actions show that they are likely to do exactly what happened in 2002 with the Alliance. It is also zero awareness of coalition negotiations, because the immediacy of direct action and virtue signalling trumps all. In 2002 most of the Alliance MP’s, including Ministers, walked away from government over Afghanistan. That was one of the main reasons for an early election in 2002.
So Chloe and Marama have nicely highlighted a real risk facing a left coalition which includes the Greens, which Bryce Edwards noted as the very first risk.
I am also pretty sure NZF fully understands the need for a defence force that has effective combat capabilities. They will have zero agreement with the Greens on this issue.
Don’t have to be a pacifist to realise that production and selling of weapons for a profit is bad for society and that a government should produce all their own weapons from the countries R&D and resources.
Because having a political party that holds to solid principles is a real risk – to those without any.
And there you go spouting more ignorant BS and scaremongering.
Defence and Peacekeeping Policy
I’m pretty sure that NZ1st and the Greens can come to some agreement to meet all of those.
Not on Wayne’s watch.
It is clear Wayne has found himself a new trough writing articles and going on tv with his reckons. Sadly it means his macho patriarchal and the “world is for everyone how it is for him” views will get more oxygen…
So you think that cowtowing to arms dealers in order to win political power is a more honourable activity for our politicians?
Mainly he was expressing your opinion, and farrars etc.
Incidentally two MPs standing up for what their supporters believe is the point of representation. What did you march for Wayne, pre and post politics?
Hopefully the 3 ex force NZF MPs have a better understanding of the right to freedom expression our forces fight for than you do.
I agree also, Edwards is just another Herald RW Ninja commentator like Hoskings etc etc etc they even keep throwing Prebble into the mix.
Prebble
and…..
Hide
Roy
Seymour
Franks
The number of ACT voices in the media is totally out of proportion to its voter base.
It is the ‘party’ of the 0.5 %.
However, its presence in the corporate media is in proportion to its wealth.
That 0.5 % own about 50% of New Zealand.
Just another reason to take control of the airwaves and establish a democratic grassroots media.
+111
Does this imbalance offend Wayne’s sensibilities?
Isn’t Jacinda’s security man the greatest? One look from him and I would confess immediately even having done nothing wrong.
How does he manage to breathe with all that hairy growth on his upper lip?
That beard is spectacular ! – and it should be mandatory. All officers should be required to wear one.
Behind those shades, do his eyes constantly rove? Do they swivel in a practiced arc, covering the field, seeking anomalies, looking for clues? Do his eyes twinkle when Jacinda shines: hugs a grandmother, squeezes a returned soldiers crabbed hand, brushes a baby’s cheek with her eyelashes? Or are they steely grey, boring into the minds of would-be hecklers and nay-sayers, anticipating trouble, predicting outcomes? He’s a Mysterion, Mr Bearded-Guy, he’s hip, he’s hipster, he’s… big!
Be funny if, like a horse, he can sleep standing up eyes closed behind those shades. Someone should test him by feinting a punch at his face.
Yeah!
You?
HA! … there’s a reason for the dark shades being used by Police, security and gang members …
Its so they can sleep and not get hassled by the public…
Want the truth ?… he’s bored , on duty yet alert, looking for anything unbecoming and in full contact with with comms via his earpiece.
And doing a good job by all looks.
Solidarity, bro 🙂
https://i.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/opinion/95138963/southlanders-have-their-say-environment
My week so far.
fucking brilliant! One of my favourite pieces of music.
What are the numbers though?
bars
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar_(music)
Yes Joe. Perfect animation to perfect music.
New Zealand First hold music. Warning 80’s synths follow
Lovers of Love, f#!k it! It’s time to join the Rugby Voluntary Fire Brigade, or whatever the f the gnats do to score points. If they have that much money backing, and so little talent. It’s time, from the inside, I say. Hey any backing for a James and Bond, on say $10,000pa? !-p
Sorry folks but I have a sinking feeling the old bugger will be getting between the sheets with National. Winnie was always a dodgy fella, attention seeking, full of himself and loving playing to the gallery. My partner was going to vote for him and thank the lord he saw the stupidity of his ways and gave him the slip. He may say he is NZ First but I feel it in my bones that he is going over to the dark side and we will have another 3 years of misery.
I shall be quite happy to apologise and say I made a big mistake if it goes the other way. Whatever happens the major party will have a hell of a job keeping him in check. He is an impossible person to get on with and there will be nothing but tears for the other major party whoever has the misfortune to accept him on board.
Hang in there Kate !
There’s life in the old ‘ bugger’ yet and he might just give everyone here a pleasant suprise!
Hehe… ‘ Whatever happens the major party will have a hell of a job keeping him in check ” … ya reckon he’s a naughty toddler that needs a leash …L0L !
An excellent read on the art of effective politics from a very personal perspective:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11932458
Thank-you for that Redlogix. An inspiring woman. Perhaps the best words are the last words:
So very true.
This article from Gordon Campbell got posted up earlier. I want to address this part:
I haven’t seen anything else about that but it will affect us.
Which means that the cost of importing shit from China (“As Bloomberg News concluded: “Foreign garbage is really just China’s recycling coming home.””) is about to get far more expensive as we start having to deal with the rubbish that we’ve taken to ignoring.
China’s recycling foreign garbage ?
Well , – huh !, – that’s a slap in the face to our ‘Free Trade Deal ‘ with them , isn’t it …!
No wonder we don’t get to buy land and houses over there !
So that’s what they really think of us !
‘ Foreign garbage ‘ , indeed !
Pleased today to see a bin at the Supermarket for soft plastic, plastic shopping bags, biscuit wrapping, all to be recycled. Great progress?
Its called the scrapheap of society by certain politicians…
🙂
Bloomberg nails it.
The Europeans have pioneered the idea that all manufacturing must encompass the entire life cycle of ALL materials goods. Nothing gets sent to waste; if you made it, then at the end of it’s useful life, then you have to take it back and re-use all of it in some manner.
This needs to become a global rule.
+111
Recycling is the only way an industrial society has to maybe becoming sustainable.
So we’ve been using the out of sight out of mind approach and that will have to change. Good. To often our type of society just pretends and expects every other single country to carry our shit. Time to really become self sufficient instead of bullshitting ourselves and everyone else kiwis.
That diplomatic protection squad guys beard is awesome – its iconic !
Like this guy !
Cry, Cry, Cry – Johnny Cash – YouTube
I have a fondness for this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH7no9FCDoQ
Yes , … it speaks of a people taking a pride in their nation , – and you cant fault that. And if there’s one thing to admire about the common American people its pride in their way of life. And its not a bad way at all , though it has received far too much bad PR and criticism with those with an agenda.
Its always sad when global media works towards an agenda bought and paid for by those who originate that agenda , – to the detriment of the common people of all lands.
George Soros and his ilk has much to answer for.
Live right now.
Rowley Birkin QC – At his best! – YouTube
Video for rowley birkin qc▶ 1:31