Daily Review 18/12/2018
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5:30 pm, December 18th, 2018 - 27 comments
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Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...14 hours ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
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AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...5 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
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All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...1 week ago
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...2 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...3 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...3 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...3 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...4 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...4 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...5 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...5 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...5 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...5 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...6 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...6 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
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https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/378521/thompson-and-clark-spied-on-earthquake-victims-inquiry-finds
Time for some people to lose their jobs.
Yep always the same ones being targeted – shows the utter racism and incompetence of the individuals and teams hiring this firm.
So wrong.
The Stasi is here to defend neoliberalism.
Yeah, Thomson and Clark are just like the Ministry of State Security that detained an estimated 250,000 East Germans as political prisoners and arrested, interrogated, beat, tortured and drugged countless thousands more deemed obstructive to the regime and it’s masters in Moscow.
Idiot.
How is it that the government unilaterally investigating organisations that they don’t like not oppressive?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/109456590/public-service-bosses-ignored-warnings-about-thompson–clark-for-years
yep Andrea is pretty clear
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/109458104/southern-response-boss-resigns-before-meeting-with-minister
that was quick….even if overdue
Megan Woods impressively quick to get accountability there. He will have heard her tone on RNZ Checkpoint and realised time was up: https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018676170/megan-woods-disappointed-with-southern-response
Still needs to be investigated.
Stepping down should not stop investigations into wrong doing nor charges if wrong doing is found.
Good comment from Dr Russell Norman – did Simon Bridges direct MBIE to spy on people, or was he just incapable of overseeing his ministry (words to that effect – rough day)
https://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018676175
+ 1 Exactly
she looks manic, not very happy, just manic.
Works for me.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DulhjLvV4AAbKvg.jpg
mark mitchell mp – just who is this dude
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Mitchell_(politician)
https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/21-02-2018/why-aspiring-national-leader-mark-mitchells-war-for-profit-past-matters/
I am concerned about this member – I don’t like him or his attitudes or the things he has done.
Telling text on Evening Checkpoint tonight after discussion about the Petition to review the driving punishment..
“I signed the petition thinking it was an issue worth speaking up about. But then I found it was a Political plan from the National Party and Mark Mitchell. If I had known that I would never have signed it.” (Paraphased)
And also the girl was not from a privileged background and was driving a mercedes with the owner beside her. The victim had gone through a red light on his bike. A bit scary that Mitchell can whip up such a storm on misinformation.
And now the girl is facing death threats. (Of course it is terribly sad for the boy and his family.)
I am inclined to agree with you Marty – thanks.
He is too ambitious – I don’t like that in my politicians 🙂
pride goes before the fall. And while he has a lean and hungry look, Judith is far more experienced at weathering scandals and replying with her own backstabbing. As soon as he looks like a competitor, she’ll knobble him somehow. Maybe “someone” will invent a juicy war crime story and spread it on a blogsite of the tory faithful – impossible to verify, enough accuracy to make denial difficult…
George Galloway notes.
“Under Gaddafi, Libya’s debt was 3% of GDP, after Gaddafi, it’s over 40%, mostly owed to EU & US. Libya had free health care, free education, free housing and subsidies. All Libyans had Jobs and even imported workers from other parts of Africa. Now over 50% are jobless.”
Now they have slavery.
And extremist Jihadis.
Thanks Clinton and Cameron.
You left out the frogs and old mate from Russia for not sticking up for old Gaddafi in his time of need.
Medvedev an old mate of yours?
Thank you Ed. Pilger talks about the “Uncorking of Africa” and the mass migration flows into Europe once Gaddafi was ousted. Also Mark Curtis speaks in a recent interview about how the perpatrators of Europe’s recent terrorist attacks were all trained in ISIS camps in Libya post-Gaddafi. Truly awful.
Manchester bombers included
Oh bugger!! It’s time to re-establish the MoW folks, so much for the big end of town being cheap and cost effective as the free market advocates use to say in the late 80’s to 90’s.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/109454206/auckland-rail-project-contractor-put-up-for-sale-after-administrators-appointed
We’re seeing shit like this all over the world. Governments contracts out to the private sector in one way or another and then the business goes broke due to mismanagement and the government is left in hock.
Governments should not be subject to market forces brought about by failing private business. It’s simply too friggen important. That’s why we had the MoW, Telecom, and state power and many other that got sold off or indirectly privatised and now we’re paying for it.
Time for some serious re-nationalisation.
+1000 long overdue. Shonky couldn’t tell enough porkys to flog off the generators knowing it’s a good deal for the investors and a bad one for the consumers and the state.