We must look after her – a consummately valuable being at a time of crisis both planetary and local. Best way is to actively engage in kindness her word and outreach not only in the weeks ahead but always as the emerging mode of being a Kiwi.
“Troubled times, she says, are “precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.
“I know the world is bruised and bleeding,” she adds, “and though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge — even wisdom. Like art.””
The contrast between Jacinda Ardern’s empathy and presence, and Simon Bridges this morning on Radio NZ, plus reports of Paula Bennett as Police Minister watering down the recommendations on gun reform is very telling. Glad we have this government dealing with this horrific issue!!
Simon Dallow reported on One News just now that an 18 year old guy has been charged with inciting violence in Christchurch. Mention was made of him inciting extreme violence online, and posting a photo of one of the mosques with the caption `target acquired’.
This looks like proof of an online proof of an online support system for the shooter – and possible proof of involvement of a Christchurch alt-right cell, as suggested the other day by Paul Buchanan.
In his Herald commentary Hosking joins Trotter in promoting the lone wolf theory. Inasmuch as reports on the shooting as it happened informed us that hundreds of online supporters were cheering him on during his live stream, it seems these two have adopted an untenable position.
However the Herald elsewhere clarified that the other three arrested at the time were not implicated. Merely carrying firearms. Probably regular viewers of tv crime shows.
no, apparently one was volunteering to “help” the police and someone else was picking their kid up from school with the gun as protection.
More than one typre of gun nut around that day.
He might have been the pointy end of the pyramid, but it might be an education to find out how he funded trips around the world, a flat, and a firearms collection when he “obsessively” worked out.
I’ve had a quiet day today reading lots of thoughts and opinions of people. Been great to read non older paler maler views (sorry TS dudes) so i thought I’d put a couple of links up from different voices. They’re angry, emotional, real and deep and will hopefully create a wider tapestry of views for us all.
Thank you. I especially liked this one – debating racist is a waste of time and energy.
“… An article that tries again to show the link between mainstream, fashionable Muslim-bashing and its violent manifestations on the right. An article that fillets the semantic tricks played to stop Muslims ever being complete victims: the line that Islam is not a race; the use of women’s and LBGT rights as a rhetorical stick to beat Muslims with; the cant about freedom of speech, political correctness and the danger of identity politics; the whataboutery and the strawmanning….
…It is time to stop pleading. It is time to call things what they are and not temper or apologise for the strength of the allegations, to call people racists, opportunists and complicit hatemongers even if they do grace our prestigious publications and seats of governance. It is time to do what they always accuse you of doing anyway, and “shut down the debate”.”
Yes – I have read harrowing accounts of race and religion hatred towards our Muslim brothers and sisters today. I think, up to now, I haven’t really understood their pain and alienation in our country. I feel very sad and upset by that and I determined that I will make amends by listening more, supporting more and acting more.
By Khaled Diab
Khaled Diab is a journalist and writer. He is the author of “Islam for the Politically Incorrect” and “Intimate Enemies.”
March 16
If a terrorist were to claim that their attack was intended to “add momentum to the pendulum swings of history, further destabilizing and polarizing Western society,” you might be excused in thinking the perpetrator was an Islamic extremist. But these are the words of a white supremacist and crusader.
[…]
These two hateful ideologies — white supremacy and radical Islamism — may regard themselves as polar opposites, but their worldviews resemble the other. Both are paranoid, exhibit a toxic blend of superiority and inferiority toward the other, are scornful of less extreme members of their own communities, and are nostalgic for an imagined past of cultural dominance.
[…]
A contempt for “Western” modernity is another trait shared by Islamists and the Christian far right. “The Europeans worked assiduously in trying to immerse (the world) in materialism, with their corrupting traits and murderous germs, to overwhelm those Muslim lands that their hands stretched out to,” believed al-Banna. Unintentionally echoing the founding father of political Islam, Tarrant is convinced that the West has become a “society of rampant nihilism, consumerism and individualism.”
[…]
This disdain for many aspects of modernity translates into an overwhelming yearning for a supposedly more glorious and pure past and a nostalgia for bygone imperial greatness when the world was at their command — for the days of European empire or Islamic caliphates.
The thinking and the feelings that may be behind the swirl of social media and blogging from upset and angry men and women – is it like this in their minds?
From Joe90’s link: This disdain for many aspects of modernity translates into an overwhelming yearning for a supposedly more glorious and pure past and a nostalgia for bygone imperial greatness when the world was at their command — for the days of European empire or Islamic caliphates.
Is there a nostalgia for past colonial might of Britain behind Brexit? Is it nostalgia and wishful thinking and an inability to face the world that you actually helped create, driving the extreme resentment? Disruption in others’ lives and land has been caused by unwise attacks and invasion, by or enhanced by outsiders, causing infrastructural, societal and agricultural damage that causes people to be uprooted and flee into your own domain by people who are now outsiders in your country?
Is it resentment from the grunts in the armed forces who haven’t got much out of the maneouvres and fighting, perhaps damage to their bodies and minds that is not recompensed; in the end their personal lives, and their local and nationwide economy has become poorer.
Not what you expected after all the fighting and strain on personal life and health, and then the refugees from the war you have just fought and been damaged in, they come to live in your town and end up with more help than you have received, and the other men in the town aren’t given the same opportunities and help. How do you feel seeing them prosper with deep commitment to each other? Has your society got deep commitment to you and giving you similar opportunities to flourish? You feel that you are now an annoyance to your authorities, a burden, not respected, not appreciated for putting yourselves in the way of harm, under orders and direction. Then you and your cohort seem to be consigned to being second-rate people at home.
Is that a line of thinking that would fire up and keep hot, the anomic males, in a society where employment statistics are so all encompassing that they start at one hour of paid employment a week. That may be useful for stable comparisons for the Stats Department, but measuring full-time numbers at one job of 40 hours would indicate the real situation. (If someone can give me the line of clicks I have to make to get that for the nation and for each region per quarter, and annually, I would appreciate it.)
“Some dealers get around the law by importing parts that are interchangeable between MSSAs and ‘A category’ rifles. “This enables domestic assembly and the assembler to later purchase parts such as a large-capacity magazine or pistol grip without a licence, and to turn the assembled ‘A category’ semi-automatic into a MSSA,” the police told the minister.”
Dude has attitude: “The Queensland independent senator laughed off threats from Scott Morrison, saying: “I hope it’s not too painful. What’s he going to do? Flog me with his lace hanky?”
Hmm, an admirer of Fraser. Apologist for Tarrant the other day. Questioner of the Islam texts yesterday and WTF ever was the shite you tried pull in open mike only hours ago something like racist complaints aren’t real cos Islam isn’t a race cos some judges said so.
Lawyer smarts aye. So reasonable and inquiring aren’t you.
You made a call on the Quran after reading 1 verse of it in Tarrants manifesto – WTF is wrong with you?
At best you are extremely ignorant. I’m leaning towards sociopathic game playing POS.
I think Dennis Frank is trying to be objective. But it comes over as unconcerned, even accepting. And the idea of taking bits out of the holy bibles of any religion because they seem to encourage violence is pointless to put forward. I read Dennis saying this the other day, and consider it both unwise to express at the present, and not useful as a suggestion for any time. It would arouse much anger and claims of interference in the religion and not deal with the problem. The beliefs in peoples’ minds are what need to be exposed to the air and discussed. I
Then there is the role modelling from parents and others in the person’s life. And what faction do they identify with, and is it a positive one? Is there a lack of a reasoned pathway for future life, and a lack of reasoned discussion on how to make a satisfactory life with what you have and could work towards, using your own talents.
This is what is needed, not merely redacting words out of an important, sacred document. Counselling the person when young to help them understand themselves and their talents. This would be a start to the person forming a plan for their future, knowing their strong and weak points, and being able to grow those talents and make a living from them, being appreciated as a worthwhile person. This would not lead to a pathway for that individual shooting at people in deep resentment and anger.
Dennis is not objective. He’s still doing it and he’ll keep doing it as the feedback of a bunch of people means nothing to the sound of his own word heavy nonsense and vile stirring.
Take the rosy glasses off, watch the pattern repeat.
Always playing the victim, simultaneously always on attack. And not that clever it’s mostly gibberish. Lefties vs righties, but he’s in the center. The problem with all of you is…
Look closer. Gibberish with a pin in it. Who he scratches doesn’t matter, as long as he does it. Gets to be victim again, takes the gibberish he’s made up of why that is to the next blog.
I’m glad he did it, but in classical heroism terms Abdul Aziz is pretty hard to beat – attacks armed mass murderer with a credit card reader and beats him so badly he runs off like a yellow dog – give that man a VC! And honorary membership of our armed forces if that’s a prerequisite – he was defending New Zealand – our people are our country.
i can understand why military folk may feel that.
there is an arguement to be had that when these awards were enacted, the was no notion of a ‘civilian’ on a murderous spree with military planning, gear and objectives.
Aziz’s courage can be said to eclipse military bravery as it was a very one sided encounter, in that he was essentially unarmed.
“Peter Dutton has accused the Greens of being “just as bad” as extreme right-wing nationalist senator Fraser Anning, claiming both are seeking to extract political advantage from the Christchurch terror attack. On Monday the home affairs minister equated the Greens holding him accountable for stoking anti-Islamic sentiment with Anning’s comments blaming the attack on Muslim immigration.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/18/peter-dutton-claims-greens-just-as-bad-as-fraser-anning-on-christchurch-attack
“Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi responded that it was “vile” to say the comments were in any way equivalent, while Labor leader in the Senate Penny Wong accused him of “normalising hate speech. Since the attack on Friday the Greens have gone on the front foot with leader Richard Di Natale renewing calls for a parliamentary code of conduct to stamp out hate speech and Faruqi, the first Muslim senator in Australia, criticising conservative politicians for stoking hatred. “It is politicians like Peter Dutton who have actually contributed to creating an atmosphere where hate is allowed to incubate in our society,” Faruqi told Radio National. “They can’t shrug off their responsibility.”
I’m feeling solidarity with the Oz Greens on their stance. I get that the conservatives are just trying to represent their constituents, as democracy requires of them, but their style of doing so does seem offensive. That said, I’m a centrist not a rightist.
About Oz and insults and ingrained racism against anyone of colour – Aborigines, Muslims – and anyone who wants to make change in social habits.
Oz pollie Fraser Anning says that mother of the boy who threw an egg at him should have slapped him. I’m inclined to believe that the same prescription should have been handed out to this hoity-toity ass.
Background: He and his wife own a number of hotels. He comes from landowner family with a number of properties. He is the great-grandson of a British pastoral squatter who went to Australia to acquire land. He and several of his sons soon expanded from one to amalgamating more properties.
Next bit is telling: His family was involved in the frontier conflict as they forcibly took the land from the local Aboriginal people. In response to the spearing of cattle, the Annings would ride out with firearms, attack Aboriginal campsites and capture young boys who survived in order to use them as labour on their cattle and sheep stations.[8] The Annings at times also requested the services of the local Native Police paramilitary unit to assist in clearing “blacks” off their runs.[9] Frank Hann, another pastoralist in the region who regularly participated in extrajudicial punitive raids on Aboriginals, described in his diary in 1874 how he saw “Anning just come back from hunting blacks”.[10]…
On 4 June 2018, Anning joined Katter’s Australian Party, becoming the party’s first senator;[20] however, he was expelled in October 2018 for his inflammatory rhetoric concerning immigration, including his mention of a “final solution” to the problem….
On 14 August 2018, Anning delivered his maiden speech to the Senate. In it, he called for a plebiscite to reintroduce racial and religious discrimination in immigration policy, especially with regard to excluding Muslims. He criticised “cultural Marxism”, “safe schools and gender fluidity garbage” and the abuse of the external affairs power of the Australian constitution. He also spoke in support of the right of civilians to own firearms, and the Bradfield Scheme irrigation proposal.[43]
His speech included a reference to a “final solution”, the English equivalent of the term used by the Nazi Party during preparation and execution of the Holocaust during World War II[21] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser_Anning
He is a vile man, and comes from a family that has apparently little conscience and sense of fairness. It is interesting to know something about the person’s background to see what path they took in forming their views.
They call Fraser Anning the “accidental” senator.
Just 19 people voted for Anning at the 2016 election. Nineteen.
He got into parliament anyway, gaining a $207,106 taxpayer-funded salary and a platform from which to spew his dangerous bile.
Yes kjt and stuff will no longer advertise guns. This is a good sign……..trade me no longer selling them either. Hats off to an industry I view with contempt
To be fair Trade Me had thought about what was the right thing to do in advertising guns. One they had banned the outright blunderbusses, and second they had decided that it was reasonable to offer a trading place for legal guns amongst the public in an open environment which would encourage people to do so openly and honestly.
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
Bryce Edwards writes – 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 show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played.“Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I- Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
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 show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka KotahiThe fact that a ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st CenturyThe SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims StuffSteve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
David Farrar writes – We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how labour went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promiseThe result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
“I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
.“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
“It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet – is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
Bob Edlin writes – And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ HeraldThomas CoughlanSimeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
TL;DR:Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it: We want our country to be a ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading → ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The government is omitting general Treaty references from 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 public service on Treaty ...
What was that judge thinking?Peter Williams writes – That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop:Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
"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 ...
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 ...
Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
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The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has hosted members of the Green Party Caucus at Tuurangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawahia. The audience follows the King’s Hui-aa-Motu on 20 January, where more than 10,000 people gathered to discuss national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dr Rachael Potter, Research Associate and Lecturer in Work and Organisational Psychology, University of South Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Pregnant women and workers with children are often unfairly treated by their bosses and colleagues, despite laws to protect against workplace discrimination ...
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He’s bringing ‘Sophie’ back, yeah. Goodshirt’s ‘Sophie’ music video is one of the most instantly recognisable New Zealand music videos of all time. Featuring a woman listening to the song on headphones while her entire house is burgled behind her, the video won the New Zealand music award for Best ...
The stature of NZ Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern has entered the stratosphere. She is unique:
https://twitter.com/MuslimIQ/status/1107065936358592514
Toronto Star
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/australia/2019/03/17/after-massacre-new-zealand-leader-shows-resolve-empathy.html
We must look after her – a consummately valuable being at a time of crisis both planetary and local. Best way is to actively engage in kindness her word and outreach not only in the weeks ahead but always as the emerging mode of being a Kiwi.
well said, Ant.
couldnt agree more.
“Troubled times, she says, are “precisely the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.
“I know the world is bruised and bleeding,” she adds, “and though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge — even wisdom. Like art.””
https://www.tonimorrisonsociety.org
Great words. Lead us to the activity to follow to turn them into substance.
The contrast between Jacinda Ardern’s empathy and presence, and Simon Bridges this morning on Radio NZ, plus reports of Paula Bennett as Police Minister watering down the recommendations on gun reform is very telling. Glad we have this government dealing with this horrific issue!!
Simon Dallow reported on One News just now that an 18 year old guy has been charged with inciting violence in Christchurch. Mention was made of him inciting extreme violence online, and posting a photo of one of the mosques with the caption `target acquired’.
This looks like proof of an online proof of an online support system for the shooter – and possible proof of involvement of a Christchurch alt-right cell, as suggested the other day by Paul Buchanan.
In his Herald commentary Hosking joins Trotter in promoting the lone wolf theory. Inasmuch as reports on the shooting as it happened informed us that hundreds of online supporters were cheering him on during his live stream, it seems these two have adopted an untenable position.
However the Herald elsewhere clarified that the other three arrested at the time were not implicated. Merely carrying firearms. Probably regular viewers of tv crime shows.
no, apparently one was volunteering to “help” the police and someone else was picking their kid up from school with the gun as protection.
More than one typre of gun nut around that day.
He might have been the pointy end of the pyramid, but it might be an education to find out how he funded trips around the world, a flat, and a firearms collection when he “obsessively” worked out.
Yes – where was this cunt’s money coming from? Time to make use of that unpleasantly intrusive anti-terrorism legislation.
Yes it’s a question investigators must be considering; reportedly he didn’t have a job and there was no obvious family money we know about.
It will be interesting to find out where this trail leads.
Very interesting. Let’s make sure that investigation is undertaken!
Apparently his father died a few years ago and he got an inheraitence. But how was he living in a state house (IIRC)?
Trotter’s lone wolf stuff is because he’s feeling guilty as hell for the whole free speech coalition around Southern and Molyneaux.
He was told exactly who these people are, what they say and what they promote.
I’ve had a quiet day today reading lots of thoughts and opinions of people. Been great to read non older paler maler views (sorry TS dudes) so i thought I’d put a couple of links up from different voices. They’re angry, emotional, real and deep and will hopefully create a wider tapestry of views for us all.
https://overland.org.au/2019/03/today-we-mourn-tomorrow-we-organise/
https://www.vice.com/en_nz/article/8xy34p/i-am-a-muslim-new-zealand-woman-and-i-am-as-angry-as-i-am-sad
Thanks, marty. I read the overland piece earlier in the day. Good stuff.
Be good to see any other recommended articles from other people too – any recommendations mate?
Chloe Swarbrick put up this comment from Mukseet of Massey:
https://www.facebook.com/chloeNZgreens/photos/a.326710637664582/872328433102797/?type=3&theater
Thanks that was awesome.
These are all worth a look, IMHO:
4 lessons for NZ, opinion from Al Jazeera, and two pieces from the Guardian on debating racists and the terror/technology link
Thank you. I especially liked this one – debating racist is a waste of time and energy.
“… An article that tries again to show the link between mainstream, fashionable Muslim-bashing and its violent manifestations on the right. An article that fillets the semantic tricks played to stop Muslims ever being complete victims: the line that Islam is not a race; the use of women’s and LBGT rights as a rhetorical stick to beat Muslims with; the cant about freedom of speech, political correctness and the danger of identity politics; the whataboutery and the strawmanning….
…It is time to stop pleading. It is time to call things what they are and not temper or apologise for the strength of the allegations, to call people racists, opportunists and complicit hatemongers even if they do grace our prestigious publications and seats of governance. It is time to do what they always accuse you of doing anyway, and “shut down the debate”.”
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/18/christchurch-islamophobes-media-anti-muslim
From the other day:
Saziah Bashir – Christchurch mosque terror attacks a dark day of grief, shock and unspeakable heartbreak
Anjum Rahman – Islamic Women’s Council repeatedly lobbied to stem discrimination
Thank you arkie – so important those voices.
The Vice article is a tough, sobering read.
Yes – I have read harrowing accounts of race and religion hatred towards our Muslim brothers and sisters today. I think, up to now, I haven’t really understood their pain and alienation in our country. I feel very sad and upset by that and I determined that I will make amends by listening more, supporting more and acting more.
WaPo op-ed.
By Khaled Diab
Khaled Diab is a journalist and writer. He is the author of “Islam for the Politically Incorrect” and “Intimate Enemies.”
March 16
If a terrorist were to claim that their attack was intended to “add momentum to the pendulum swings of history, further destabilizing and polarizing Western society,” you might be excused in thinking the perpetrator was an Islamic extremist. But these are the words of a white supremacist and crusader.
[…]
These two hateful ideologies — white supremacy and radical Islamism — may regard themselves as polar opposites, but their worldviews resemble the other. Both are paranoid, exhibit a toxic blend of superiority and inferiority toward the other, are scornful of less extreme members of their own communities, and are nostalgic for an imagined past of cultural dominance.
[…]
A contempt for “Western” modernity is another trait shared by Islamists and the Christian far right. “The Europeans worked assiduously in trying to immerse (the world) in materialism, with their corrupting traits and murderous germs, to overwhelm those Muslim lands that their hands stretched out to,” believed al-Banna. Unintentionally echoing the founding father of political Islam, Tarrant is convinced that the West has become a “society of rampant nihilism, consumerism and individualism.”
[…]
This disdain for many aspects of modernity translates into an overwhelming yearning for a supposedly more glorious and pure past and a nostalgia for bygone imperial greatness when the world was at their command — for the days of European empire or Islamic caliphates.
http://archive.li/WWVw9
Thanks mate
The thinking and the feelings that may be behind the swirl of social media and blogging from upset and angry men and women – is it like this in their minds?
From Joe90’s link: This disdain for many aspects of modernity translates into an overwhelming yearning for a supposedly more glorious and pure past and a nostalgia for bygone imperial greatness when the world was at their command — for the days of European empire or Islamic caliphates.
Is there a nostalgia for past colonial might of Britain behind Brexit? Is it nostalgia and wishful thinking and an inability to face the world that you actually helped create, driving the extreme resentment? Disruption in others’ lives and land has been caused by unwise attacks and invasion, by or enhanced by outsiders, causing infrastructural, societal and agricultural damage that causes people to be uprooted and flee into your own domain by people who are now outsiders in your country?
Is it resentment from the grunts in the armed forces who haven’t got much out of the maneouvres and fighting, perhaps damage to their bodies and minds that is not recompensed; in the end their personal lives, and their local and nationwide economy has become poorer.
Not what you expected after all the fighting and strain on personal life and health, and then the refugees from the war you have just fought and been damaged in, they come to live in your town and end up with more help than you have received, and the other men in the town aren’t given the same opportunities and help. How do you feel seeing them prosper with deep commitment to each other? Has your society got deep commitment to you and giving you similar opportunities to flourish? You feel that you are now an annoyance to your authorities, a burden, not respected, not appreciated for putting yourselves in the way of harm, under orders and direction. Then you and your cohort seem to be consigned to being second-rate people at home.
Is that a line of thinking that would fire up and keep hot, the anomic males, in a society where employment statistics are so all encompassing that they start at one hour of paid employment a week. That may be useful for stable comparisons for the Stats Department, but measuring full-time numbers at one job of 40 hours would indicate the real situation. (If someone can give me the line of clicks I have to make to get that for the nation and for each region per quarter, and annually, I would appreciate it.)
This report of the gunshop owner’s campaign against the cops also includes a link to the ActionStation petition: https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/18-03-2019/gun-city-owner-defends-sale-of-murder-weapons-as-ardern-pledges-reforms/
“Some dealers get around the law by importing parts that are interchangeable between MSSAs and ‘A category’ rifles. “This enables domestic assembly and the assembler to later purchase parts such as a large-capacity magazine or pistol grip without a licence, and to turn the assembled ‘A category’ semi-automatic into a MSSA,” the police told the minister.”
Quote of the century – (referring to the attack on Anning)
“It’s like Nazi Germany but with chickens!” First Dog on the Moon.
Dude has attitude: “The Queensland independent senator laughed off threats from Scott Morrison, saying: “I hope it’s not too painful. What’s he going to do? Flog me with his lace hanky?”
Hmm, an admirer of Fraser. Apologist for Tarrant the other day. Questioner of the Islam texts yesterday and WTF ever was the shite you tried pull in open mike only hours ago something like racist complaints aren’t real cos Islam isn’t a race cos some judges said so.
Lawyer smarts aye. So reasonable and inquiring aren’t you.
You made a call on the Quran after reading 1 verse of it in Tarrants manifesto – WTF is wrong with you?
At best you are extremely ignorant. I’m leaning towards sociopathic game playing POS.
I aint joking Dennis. What have you got to say for yourself regarding:
Sympathising with Tarrant
Admiring Fraser
Taking one verse from the context of a terrorists ramblings and thinking you’ve got a point to make about the victims religion
Finding judgment to align with your warped view Islamophobia isn’t racism thus isn’t a crime – and using this as a ‘told you so’ moment here on TS
Being a general POS who plays the victim card for being sworn at while spouting nasty divisive shit.
Like I’ve said all along. The sociopaths hide in plain sight. Their favorite past time is stirring up shit.
You have quoted the terrorist, Fraser, the judges, anyone else you admire in all this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMabpBvtXr4
Thanks WTB – Dennis’s comments were bothering me too for the same reasons you express so well.
No problem. I wish I was wrong.
Dame Anne Salmond has this (kind of) guys number too.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12213747
I also say Dennis is, to use a metaphor:
The woman at the pub who plays guys against each other.
He does this by running between blogs reporting on what’s been said.
“They say you’re all ignorant”
“They say you’re a pack of snowflakes”
But always reasonable, aye.
I think Dennis Frank is trying to be objective. But it comes over as unconcerned, even accepting. And the idea of taking bits out of the holy bibles of any religion because they seem to encourage violence is pointless to put forward. I read Dennis saying this the other day, and consider it both unwise to express at the present, and not useful as a suggestion for any time. It would arouse much anger and claims of interference in the religion and not deal with the problem. The beliefs in peoples’ minds are what need to be exposed to the air and discussed. I
Then there is the role modelling from parents and others in the person’s life. And what faction do they identify with, and is it a positive one? Is there a lack of a reasoned pathway for future life, and a lack of reasoned discussion on how to make a satisfactory life with what you have and could work towards, using your own talents.
This is what is needed, not merely redacting words out of an important, sacred document. Counselling the person when young to help them understand themselves and their talents. This would be a start to the person forming a plan for their future, knowing their strong and weak points, and being able to grow those talents and make a living from them, being appreciated as a worthwhile person. This would not lead to a pathway for that individual shooting at people in deep resentment and anger.
Dennis is not objective. He’s still doing it and he’ll keep doing it as the feedback of a bunch of people means nothing to the sound of his own word heavy nonsense and vile stirring.
Take the rosy glasses off, watch the pattern repeat.
Always playing the victim, simultaneously always on attack. And not that clever it’s mostly gibberish. Lefties vs righties, but he’s in the center. The problem with all of you is…
Look closer. Gibberish with a pin in it. Who he scratches doesn’t matter, as long as he does it. Gets to be victim again, takes the gibberish he’s made up of why that is to the next blog.
Rinse and repeat.
Analling’s a right wanker sure enough franky.
The teenager who smashed the egg on his head has been formerly nominated for Australian of the Year.
I’m glad he did it, but in classical heroism terms Abdul Aziz is pretty hard to beat – attacks armed mass murderer with a credit card reader and beats him so badly he runs off like a yellow dog – give that man a VC! And honorary membership of our armed forces if that’s a prerequisite – he was defending New Zealand – our people are our country.
your call for a VC is hard to ignore Stuart.
seems highly appropriate.
I think military folk might say it would have to be the George Cross, but I don’t think VCs would be ashamed of Aziz’s company – rather the reverse.
i can understand why military folk may feel that.
there is an arguement to be had that when these awards were enacted, the was no notion of a ‘civilian’ on a murderous spree with military planning, gear and objectives.
Aziz’s courage can be said to eclipse military bravery as it was a very one sided encounter, in that he was essentially unarmed.
Bravo re egg boy becoming Australian of the year
The egg boy says that the money collected for him, will go to the Christchurch Fund. Pretty good for a 17 year old.
FDOTM – a wonderful take down of Andrew Bolt.
Is it possible to deport David Moffat?
It would be a great way to say that, despite the UN Compact, nations can still have a no ass….. rule.
Another result. Whaleoik abandons final appeal against Blomfield: https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/111379428/whale-oil-blogger-cameron-slater-abandons-appeal-against-defamation-court-ruling
“The court is yet to decide how much money Slater will have to pay Blomfield in damages.”
RIP Mr Surf Guitar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SzlYNI8EoE
“Peter Dutton has accused the Greens of being “just as bad” as extreme right-wing nationalist senator Fraser Anning, claiming both are seeking to extract political advantage from the Christchurch terror attack. On Monday the home affairs minister equated the Greens holding him accountable for stoking anti-Islamic sentiment with Anning’s comments blaming the attack on Muslim immigration.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/18/peter-dutton-claims-greens-just-as-bad-as-fraser-anning-on-christchurch-attack
“Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi responded that it was “vile” to say the comments were in any way equivalent, while Labor leader in the Senate Penny Wong accused him of “normalising hate speech. Since the attack on Friday the Greens have gone on the front foot with leader Richard Di Natale renewing calls for a parliamentary code of conduct to stamp out hate speech and Faruqi, the first Muslim senator in Australia, criticising conservative politicians for stoking hatred. “It is politicians like Peter Dutton who have actually contributed to creating an atmosphere where hate is allowed to incubate in our society,” Faruqi told Radio National. “They can’t shrug off their responsibility.”
I’m feeling solidarity with the Oz Greens on their stance. I get that the conservatives are just trying to represent their constituents, as democracy requires of them, but their style of doing so does seem offensive. That said, I’m a centrist not a rightist.
About Oz and insults and ingrained racism against anyone of colour – Aborigines, Muslims – and anyone who wants to make change in social habits.
Oz pollie Fraser Anning says that mother of the boy who threw an egg at him should have slapped him. I’m inclined to believe that the same prescription should have been handed out to this hoity-toity ass.
Background: He and his wife own a number of hotels. He comes from landowner family with a number of properties. He is the great-grandson of a British pastoral squatter who went to Australia to acquire land. He and several of his sons soon expanded from one to amalgamating more properties.
Next bit is telling:
His family was involved in the frontier conflict as they forcibly took the land from the local Aboriginal people. In response to the spearing of cattle, the Annings would ride out with firearms, attack Aboriginal campsites and capture young boys who survived in order to use them as labour on their cattle and sheep stations.[8] The Annings at times also requested the services of the local Native Police paramilitary unit to assist in clearing “blacks” off their runs.[9] Frank Hann, another pastoralist in the region who regularly participated in extrajudicial punitive raids on Aboriginals, described in his diary in 1874 how he saw “Anning just come back from hunting blacks”.[10]…
On 4 June 2018, Anning joined Katter’s Australian Party, becoming the party’s first senator;[20] however, he was expelled in October 2018 for his inflammatory rhetoric concerning immigration, including his mention of a “final solution” to the problem….
On 14 August 2018, Anning delivered his maiden speech to the Senate. In it, he called for a plebiscite to reintroduce racial and religious discrimination in immigration policy, especially with regard to excluding Muslims. He criticised “cultural Marxism”, “safe schools and gender fluidity garbage” and the abuse of the external affairs power of the Australian constitution. He also spoke in support of the right of civilians to own firearms, and the Bradfield Scheme irrigation proposal.[43]
His speech included a reference to a “final solution”, the English equivalent of the term used by the Nazi Party during preparation and execution of the Holocaust during World War II[21] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser_Anning
He is a vile man, and comes from a family that has apparently little conscience and sense of fairness. It is interesting to know something about the person’s background to see what path they took in forming their views.
This NZ Herald piece should be helpful in forming our ideas about political voting measures and their possible, and dangerous, outcomes.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12213587
How Fraser Anning got into parliament with 0.00 per cent of the vote.
They call Fraser Anning the “accidental” senator.
Just 19 people voted for Anning at the 2016 election. Nineteen.
He got into parliament anyway, gaining a $207,106 taxpayer-funded salary and a platform from which to spew his dangerous bile.
There are not many people who can punch someone in the face in front of cameras and not be charged with assault.
He can’t really argue self defence. Provocation maybe. Possibly ‘haywiz jars taleddle barga’ is extenuation in Strollyer.
Gabby
You triumph at Delphic pronouncements. It’s a cunning ploy to force people to stop and think.
I think the mother should’ve slapped Analling too.
Heard that both Trademe, and Hunting and Fishing, have withdrawn semi auto rifles from sale.
If that is the case, good on them.
Yes kjt and stuff will no longer advertise guns. This is a good sign……..trade me no longer selling them either. Hats off to an industry I view with contempt
To be fair Trade Me had thought about what was the right thing to do in advertising guns. One they had banned the outright blunderbusses, and second they had decided that it was reasonable to offer a trading place for legal guns amongst the public in an open environment which would encourage people to do so openly and honestly.