The phone conversation between Bridges and Slater came after Slater obtained access to text messages held by Ross.
A spokesman said: “Mr Bridges contacted Mr Slater to make clear that he acted on appropriate medical advice throughout this process.”
The spokesman would not say how long the call was or if other matters were discussed, although said: “It was a brief conversation focused on Mr Ross’ health.”
The phone call was referred to by Slater in a lengthy blog post in which he accused the National Party of arranging publication of the claims by the four women who spoke out about Ross’ behaviour.
Slater wrote: “When I spoke to Simon Bridges on Monday he was continuing to deny a hit job.”
Bridges’ call to Slater came after the Whale Oil blogger wrote a blog post promising retribution on the National Party for what he sees as its role in Ross’ deteriorating mental health and subsequent fall from grace.
First the Exclusive Brethren, dodgy ‘Christians’, but now Seventh-Day?
Millionaire and Seventh Day Adventist church leader Paul Honnor is another to emerge as a link between Ross and Slater, and is also believed to have been involved in co-ordinating support for the now-independent MP.
Honnor has known Slater for more than a decade, supporting the blogger when his security business went into liquidation and providing occasional work since. Honnor was a director of Slater’s company Social Media Consultants Ltd for three years.
Honnor was also a figure of influence in the life of Ross who grew up without a father.
From link Scott GN at #1.
A lot of children grow up without having a father at home and do very well. Better than having an alcoholic father as is often the case in NZ.
I thought that Seventh Day Adventists were more dedicated to their Christianity than to acquiring money and closer to the biblical belief that being rich is a detriment to being a true Christian. Money being Mammon and an earthly obsession.
https://www.openbible.info/topics/being_wealthy 1 Timothy 6:6-10 ESV / 9 helpful votes
Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
James 5:1-6 ESV
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days.
Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. … \ESV English Standard Version (the info says it is more suitable as an evangelical text.)
The last words of Jami-Lee Ross before he disappeared.
There is serious rot in NZ politics, and the way the National Party undertakes it’s activity. There is a greater responsibility to continue exposing the National Party’s activity and the way the leadership conducts itself.
I have not submitted a resignation letter to the Speaker. I intended to do that today. I will instead stay on as an MP to continue speaking out about the internal operations of the National Party. I will no doubt continue being called a liar by Simon Bridges and the National Party. That’s a very good reason to keep telling the truth that I have witnessed first hand since 2011.
joe90and Chris T: as you say… that is precisely why we have not seen him or heard from him. Strange, that. Convenient for whom?
I hope these murky matters will be fully explained in the fullness of time, but in the meantime, it is unreasonable of you to expect nobody to harbour any suspicions at all.
He got help and left to go some where he doesn’t have half the countries media shoving microphones in his face demanding answers to questions which would probably drive him over the edge again.
The dude obviously just needs some space and support some where quiet
Very convenient for the National Party that these questions are not answered
The way the National Party leadership thinks about ethnic diversity
The level of influence over our largest political party from China.
Whether donations need to be publicly funded.
Why and how the National Party promoted JLR despite harassment and bullying allegations.
Is it appropriate for media to publish damning accusations from anonymous sources?
What else was going to be revealed inside National?
How safe are the safeguards when suddenly sanctioning a sitting Member of Parliament into mental health care when they are threatening to destabilise a Party.
“What else was going to be revealed inside National?”
Else?
He hasn’t revealed anything
“How safe are the safeguards when suddenly sanctioning a sitting Member of Parliament into mental health care when they are threatening to destabilise a Party.”
He rolled out on his own accord less than 48 hours later ffs
“joe90and Chris T: as you say… that is precisely why we have not seen him or heard from him”
Because he probably had a serious mental health crisis and needs some time to recuperate? Why some people here think their curiosity should be sated immediately is beyond me. Jesus man, give the guy some fucking room.
I said on here a couple of days before he went in he seemed to be starting to be a bit delusional as he claimed specific evidence that just wasn’t there, and questioned whether his doctor really said he was fine
Ed there is a simple explanation. JLR was beamed up by aliens, who are in the employ of the National Party. His memory of all events potentially damaging to the National Party has been erased. Normal transmission will resume shortly.
Correction : it is the Chinational party,… not the National party.
The National party as we know it ceased to exist when Key took power from 19 November 2008 – 12 December 2016.
Please do get your facts straight.
As for the rest of your smarmy bullshit about ‘aliens’,… the only aliens we should be concerned with are the aliens that are buying their way into the Chinational party.
Yes, it does look as though that is the case. The naivety of some on here – their faith in the process, is surprising. I do think, though, in this particular case, that Ross will get his opportunity. To expose Key’s filth is very important. Key cannot be remembered as a hero of NZ politics.
Already we are seeing how his Dirty Politics legacy was ( and still is ) a blight on NZ politics. He is ,.. and in times in the future , will be remembered as the most corrupt politician we have ever had in the modern era.
And its OK that he has a knighthood,- its good to be able to identify the crooks among us so we can be wary of them.
With respect, “those issues” are NOT solely Parliament’s business.
Why do some oppose discussion about “those issues”, i.e. the issues raised in the three links Ed provided?
To be clear, there is not ONE SINGLE REFERENCE to JLR’s mental health status or treatment in any of the three linked articles. In fact, there’s no mention of JLR AT ALL.
I’m beginning to wonder if Ed’s “Don’t shoot the messenger” refrain might (sometimes) have a grain of truth.
[ I haven’t commented on the Chinese infiltrating our politicians paranoia… ]
And there you go.
And you wouldn’t either. Just like the National party wont.
But WHAT THEY WILL DO ,… is clamp down on someone who will, – and did – like JLR.
Never mind, having a Chinese ex tutor training Chinese nationals on surveillance under the auspices of the CCP’s military shouldn’t raise alarm bells should it ,… hell ! – lets just make him an MP in the National party , – and to hell with those Australians and their paranoia….
OFC Slater and Lusk have an agenda , that’s what I’ve been saying !! L0L !!
We all know what that agenda is, – with Lusk it is to turn off the average voter so they stay home while the right wingers ( who vote more consistently ) vote for the right.
The other agenda is to install their people in positions of influence – aka Collins. And don’t say it isn’t effective because we all know Rodney Hide stood down after being threatened with embarrassing texts… enter Don Brash after that…
I really don’t know where you got that from at all L0L !
And you wouldn’t either. Just like the National party wont.
But WHAT THEY WILL DO ,… is clamp down on someone who will, – and did – like JLR.
Never mind, having a Chinese ex tutor training Chinese nationals on surveillance under the auspices of the CCP’s military shouldn’t raise alarm bells should it ,… hell ! – lets just make him an MP in the National party , – and to hell with those Australians and their paranoia….”
And Labour won’t
I haven’t bothered because for every Nat Chinese Liu there is a Labour Chinese Liu
And it becomes a very boring conversation of throwing names at each other
[ I haven’t bothered because for every Nat Chinese Liu there is a Labour Chinese Liu .And it becomes a very boring conversation of throwing names at each other… ]
OR , … it doesn’t.
Because in Labours case it was demonstrated that the $ 100,000 dollar donation AND the bottle of wine that was supposed to be its equivalence was a fabrication.
But that didn’t stop John Armstrong writing an appalling column demanding David Cunliffes resignation in the NZ Herald and furthering the lie, did it… to which even to this day he has not really apologized for his so-called ‘unbiased and dishonest media editorials ‘ ..
My reply was to Joe90@4.2.2.2.1.1, who mentioned JLR’s mental health a couple of times in his reply to Ed’s 3-link comment @4.2.2.2.1.
I got the impression that Joe90 was implying that Ed’s comment might impact of JLR’s health, and/or that the linked issues were suitable for discussion by Parliament only.
I’ve not kept track of all Ross’ interviews and statements but I believe he’s not made one legitimate reference to having mental health problems.
It’s the National Party and their hangers-on, some media, and even some commenters here who have pushed this line.
When it was announced he was to take leave from parliament he said he’d had a breakdown but that was part of a National Party announcement and obviously agreed to.
Other than that I don’t think he’s referenced his mental state at all. It’s others, including the many amateur psychologists we have on The Standard who have been trying to diagnose him from afar.
Is being critical of the National Party and fighting back against their wicked and underhand ways now proof of mental illness? They and their supporters would certainly like you to think so.
There was some sort of incident at his electorate office or home on the weekend (more than likely prompted by as yet unnamed National Party fixers) but just two nights in Middlemore suggests there was not much to it in terms of a mental health catastrophe, contrary to the bizarre claims from a number of people here saying that was a big deal. It sounds to me like a quick once over and a clean bill of health.
No, there has been not admission from Ross himself there are serious and long lasting problems. But his new enemies have been very active in telling the world he is a sick, sick man who needs ‘time out’
People can say anything to garner effect,… just look at yourself or the National party , – they are masters at making things up.
Anyhow, its a dead subject now because we see the Dirty Politics brigades involvement. And Slater and Lusk?,.. are you now going to try to suggest that they DON’T HAVE an agenda??
Same issue with your other comment sorry. No reply button.
“Was this associated with the announcement he was to take leave from parliament?”
There is something I am getting slightly confused over.
Your comments seem to imply he was lying about the mental breakdown, yet you seem adamant he is telling the truth about any accusations he makes against Bridges.
Do you mind making a choice about how honest he is?
Not lying. He’s certainly been under pressure in the last few weeks, particularly in the last week. I just think that first statement by Ross was scripted and all of them at that point agreed that was the best way forward.
Something then changed. It was when Bridges suggested Ross was the leaker. Perhaps that wasn’t agreed to by all the parties. Ross protested, and then that poisonous bitch Paula Bennett lifted the bedsheets.
I reckon Ross has just accepted the sea change and decided the best thin for the country is to out the practices of this National opposition. I think he’s ashamed of his behaviour not just toward women in his personal relationships but toward the people of New Zealand for the work he used to do for the National Party.
He really wants to get this out and I don’t think we should be preventing him from doing so.
Sure JLR had a time of depression , sure , we all get that.
No problems.
But what we are seeing is :
A ) A personal vendetta against Bridges by JLR ,…
B ) The kick back from National in suddenly producing 4 or more women who they say JLR abused them – a perfectly timed smearing operation
C ) The above response not tied in with historical grievances large enough to air publicly – until of course, JLR pulled the plug on National.
D ) A most peculiar ‘whisking’ away from the public arena of JLR,- which may have been either initiated by :
i ) National to muzzle further revelations that might embarrass them, – particularly with regards to the donations and the preference of Chinese over Indians on the Lists, OR , …
ii ) The above being used by Slater and Lusk as an opportune time to not only garner the ‘ pity vote ‘ for JLR and win people to their cause in having Bridges replaced by Collins.
Whether or not it had some grounds in the former we will not know because neither National or the Dirty Politics crowd are going to admit to anything. And in both groups they have shown amply that both are not above using underhanded strategy’s to further their cause.
Any mention of Jason Ede and people know EXACTLY what the point is here.
And YOU WILL recall that JLR was also on close terms with both Slater and Lusk.
What we are saying is that Mark Mitchell ( ex Police force) knew the most efficient way to have someone sectioned, would have instant access to Police colleagues, and certainly the motive to carry the action out.
No need to talk of roughing anyone up here.
And the bonus for the Dirty Politics brigade is that it could be used in various ways to further their mission to ‘remove politicians ‘ ,… as Lusk so euphemistically calls it…
In this case Bridges ,.. to install Collins.
Its pretty black and white if one wants to approach it logically for motives.
[ The police can’t sanction people. Only a mental health team and medical professionals ]
Stop hedging and beating around the bush. Police have to deal with the mentally ill all the time. And would have ready access to ‘mental health teams and medical professionals’ when needed.
Its a small leap from a Chinational party aligned officer/ex officer to contact via the Police Force those same ‘professionals’- who may also be Chinationally aligned.
[ So now your suggesting the admitting staff and the mental health team who assessed JLR are all in on it too ]
Ultimately , it only takes the head of operations- not the whole team of ‘admitting staff’ and the bottle maker and the cook to do the job,
Don’t play the naive game nor the incredulous one either.
We are dealing with a very mall group here that , if needs be can make arbitrary decisions that the public will never know about via the privacy acts.
And that is where corruption lies. In the hidden spaces. The same spaces that JLR sought to expose. And to which he did. And that threatened more than just Simon Bridges.
Do you really think the Dirty Politics brigade wouldn’t have anticipated Chinationals next move???
You could be right, – but on the strength of the damning evidence JLR did supply about Chinationals racist attitudes and buying places on the List MP’s… we would have to give JLR the benefit of the doubt…
But that doesn’t stop Lusk and Slater angling it to their advantage no matter which way the cards fell.
And their goal is to get rid of Bridges and install Collins.
There are two parties to take into consideration who are involved here, – not just one.
The Chinational party , and the Dirty Politics brigade.
“There was some sort of incident at his electorate office or home on the weekend” Well he was taken from his electorate office, according to his friend who spoke to the media. If it was Mitchell, as Slater & others seem to think due to having been delegated to mind him, then the question is why.
Use of another purported breakdown is the obvious reason. There’s also another possibility. That hinges on who owns or has leased his electorate office. If it is the National Party, Ross lost the right to use it as soon as he resigned from National – unless he has a contract that allows usage on the basis of being an MP. So that would give Mitchell a valid reason to get Ross removed. If Ross resisted, Mitchell could have called the cops to force him out, and suggested they take him in for sectioning…
[ Yep, those issues and JLR’s long term mental health status are Parliament’s business. His political future is his party’s business. JLR’s current mental health status and whereabouts are his, and his family’s business, not your’s, mine or Bradbury’s… ]
Soooo,… by that logic we could say that a mentally ill person who broke into a house at 3 am and killed the occupants and who was let go by the mental health services to commit such an act doesn’t deserve any public interest…
OK, … that’s an extreme ( but all too common occurrence after Shipley disbanded the mental health institutions ) example but what you are implying is that those who hold public office as elected officials are not to be held up to public interest, public scrutiny and knowing who did what , which officials were involved and why – and also their political allegiances ,and finally …HOW did they achieve it .
Seems like a recipe for allowing any old piece of shitty corruption to slip through the floorboards, eh mate.
Interesting Ed, thanks. Who facilitated JLR’s involuntary admission to hospital? His statements are damning and (true or not) highly damaging to the National party, and in particular to the leader of the opposition.
JLR probably hasn’t disappeared, but he has disappeared from general public view (good for him).
JLR probably isn’t silent, but he hasn’t personally made any further public statements (good for him).
“It dawned on me, ‘I know this script, I helped write this script.’ At that point, I felt bad for what I did to Todd. But that’s the modus operandi of the National Party – when people become a liability you push them out the door.”
IMO it’s important to keep recent statements by the former 7th-ranked National party MP in the public eye, so as to encourage open discussion about their validity [as Chris T@4.2.2.1 hopes, JLR’s statements could be the result of delusional thinking; Chris T might know something about that!], meaning and significance. Know Your Opposition!
It dawned on me, ‘I know this script, I helped write this script.’ At that point, I felt bad for what I did to Todd. But that’s the modus operandi of the National Party – when people become a liability you push them out the door.
That is a telling quote.
A decent detective would start there.
Jimmy Dore is compulsive viewing.
As a commentator puts it.
This is a consequence of having a Capitalistic-consumerist-materialist world view. And a toxic ideology of Infinite growth on a finite planet without the necessary moral constraints.
‘The facts are stark and undeniable: It’s five minutes to midnight on climate change. Politicians who drag their feet are out of excuses, writes @martinwolf_ economics editor of @FinancialTimes’
It is five minutes to midnight on climate change. We will have to alter our trajectory very quickly if we wish to have a good chance of limiting the global average temperature rise to less than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. That was a goal of the Paris agreement of 2015. Achieving it means drastic reductions in emissions from now. This is very unlikely to happen. That is no longer because it is technically impossible. It is because it is politically painful. We are instead set on running an irreversible bet on our ability to manage the consequences of a far bigger rise even than 2C. Our progeny will see this as a crime.
Yep ed. Imo white supremacists love colonisation because it covers up for their inadequacies past and present. Like many indigenous peoples I’ve come to the conclusion that most of the problems we have today are because of greedy self centred colonizers. They have fucked this world big time and ironically themselves too. Dumbarses.
You think the Maoris were the only ones subjected to colonization?
And don’t go bothering to blame it all on the English or white guilt either , mate. That’s not going to wash . It was common to all cultures to subjugate weaker ones.
Got any sympathy for the Tibetans in regards China as well , bud?
Or do you support the ChiNational party’s stance of doing deals with the CCP ?
And as far as the Maoris go ,- many tribes benefited by the material gains of Europeans – so they sided with them. A classic case is those Maori tribes who sided with the British to avenge age old tribal rivalry’s. There were those who eagerly fought against the Waikato Maoris for example ,- leading British troops right to their opponents back door.
Just like the Scots did to each other.
And BTW – my clan is Clann Gunn – the ‘MacGregor’s ‘ of the North . And they held their land for century’s by the sword until the Highland Clearances, mate..
Interesting the dumbarses that think all progress is euro. Lol of course that is what you’d expect and a good cover to continue their attempted domination of others. Sad that they even get a platform for their noise. But I suppose when you try to bully people you need a place to do that.
Progress these days is global. All cultures, all races.
Right now I look around the space I am in, people from China, Poland, Panama, Colombia, Trinidad, Australia, Canada, Chile, Korea, Sth Africa … just this one small operations room.
I know what you think and it is that thinking I oppose. You may dress up your views with long winded and pretty words but we both know the truth and have done for the 10 years we’ve opposed each other’s views on this subject.
“The European colonial expansion built the foundations of the modern world.”
That’s what you said.
To me that smacks of pillow smoothing. You claim heritage to all the progess but it is a made up narrative. It is accumulated human knowledge not based on dubious ethnicity.
You have broken the agreement twice and gone back on your word. Indigenous peoples are used to that so thanks for the repeated lesson.
Anyway on reflection. I can’t be bothered red. You think what you like and I will too. I’ll comment if I feel the need as will you. I’ll try not to get personal but our history has made it personal for me. I know you’re just who you are. I don’t think you’re a demon. I am sorry for all the deliberately hurtful things i have said to you. We’re gonna be dead soon enough. Peace.
Those who push the line white people = evil oppressors, brown people = angelic victims might stop to note that the fig leaf of political purity from which you think to hide … has rather wilted.
And they should stop typing on this white supremacist colonising internet thing they so despise.
Oh dear to all those who thought all the Dirty Politics wee darlings were not involved…
Slater and Lusk at it again.
[ Bridges’ call to Slater came after the Whale Oil blogger wrote a blog post promising retribution on the National Party for what he sees as its role in Ross’ deteriorating mental health and subsequent fall from grace … ]
In Bridges’ case he really needs to put a finger in the dyke. It’s too late to save himself, but if JLR keeps spilling the beans the whole party’s prospects will go out with the tide.
It says a lot about the intellectual heft of the party that took a donor to explain that to the folk in the middle of the fight. None of the fools and crooks in parliament were up to it, and neither was Goodfellow.
But donors don’t get wealthy by losing their rag, and they don’t stay wealthy by letting their political vehicles disappear in a shitfight between a few of their muppets.
Particularly if they are backed by a powerful govt like the CCP,..who give their blessing to their ex pats to act as moles in country’s of interest in the 5 eye group.
Something that the weak , craven ChiNational party would never admit to.
Yup. And in the meantime we have the Coalition – and in fact they’ve been working their tails off – probably harder than any NZ government in my lifetime. But we need thirty years of that, at least, for things to come right.
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This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
Is the economy in another long stagnation? If so, why?This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be ...
The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Debbie Passey, Digital Health Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Algorithms have become integral to our lives. From social media apps to Netflix, algorithms learn your preferences and prioritise the content you are shown. Google Maps and artificial intelligence are nothing without ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Josephine Barbaro, Associate Professor, Principal Research Fellow, Psychologist, La Trobe University Unsplash We’ve come a long way in terms of understanding that everyone thinks, interacts and experiences the world differently. In the past, autistic people, people with attention deficit hyperactive disorder ...
PNG Post-Courier Papua New Guinea’s deputy opposition leader James Nomane has accused the government of “reckless economic management” that has forced devaluation to manage loan repayments in foreign currency and placate the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Prime Minister James Marape “must stop lying to the people of Papua New Guinea”, ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to ...
RNZ News As Israel presses ahead with strikes in Rafah and seizing the Rafah crossing from Egypt, aid agencies are sounding the alarm of a “catastrophic humanitarian situation”. Rafah was “significant” because it was the only part in Gaza that had not been terribly damaged by the conflict, United Nations ...
With funding set to be scrapped for the Hamilton-Auckland commuter train, Te Huia enthusiast Georgie Dansey argues for it to be thrown a lifeline. It’s 5.45am and the chain of my crappy old bike falls off slugging up the one hill in Hamilton. I contemplate yeeting the bike into the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Cooke, Honorary Fellow, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland We feel ecological grief when we lose places, species or ecosystems we value and love. These losses are a growing threat to mental health and wellbeing globally. We all see ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shauna Brail, Associate Professor, Institute for Management & Innovation, University of Toronto A shift to hybrid and remote work continues to affect worker presence in Toronto’s downtown.(Shutterstock) Downtown Toronto, the core of Canada’s largest city, continues to reel from the lingering ...
Responding to an Auditor-General's report slamming failures in the administration of the 2023 General Election, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: ...
Productivity apps now make up a big chunk of the software market. But do they work? And why do they all have AI integrations?Despite being firmly on the record as a physical planner fan, I sometimes dream of something better than my pretty diary and its scrawled, ugly, interior ...
The Taxpayers’ Union says the Beehive need to lead by example, following reports of more than $50,000 spent upgrading video conferencing equipment and furniture in the Prime Minister’s office. Taxpayers’ Union Campaign Manager, Connor Molloy, ...
An objective list of the 50 most powerful people in New Zealand, as judged by the Spinoff Editorial Board. It’s power list season, baby, and we want in on the action. Sure, there’s the rich list and the powerful “c-suite” list and the young people with power (hmmm) but here, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thalia Anthony, Professor of Law, University of Technology Sydney ShutterstockThis article contains information on deaths in custody and the names of deceased people, and describes ongoing colonial violence towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. First Nations people in Australia ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Simpson, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Macquarie University Netflix Baby Reindeer’s phenomenal success has much to do with its writer and lead, Richard Gadd, who plays Donny in a tender semi-autobiographical account of sexual abuse, harassment and stalking. Gadd’s story has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Collins, Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle KarolinaGrabowska/Pexels If you didn’t have food allergies as a child, is it possible to develop them as an adult? The short answer is yes. But the reasons why are much ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Moon, Professor of History, Auckland University of Technology Ans Westra, self-portrait, c. 1963. National Library ref AWM-0705-F They try but invariably fail – those writers who believe they are capable of encapsulating in prose or verse the essence of ...
Stewart Sowman-Lund looks at the growing concern around the world in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. What’s all this? When Covid-19 arrived on our shores in early 2020, some argued we were too slow, or crucially, ill-prepared for a pandemic. So ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Franco Montalto, Professor of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering and Director, Sustainable Water Resource Engineering Laboratory, Drexel University Water runs into a storm drain in a Los Angeles alley on Aug. 19, 2023, during Tropical Storm Hilary.Citizen of the Planet/Universal Images ...
The inquest into the death of Gore toddler Lachlan Jones has turned up a new witness who says he saw two teenagers and a small child in a high vis vest in the area where the boy’s body was found the day he died. Lachie’s body was discovered face up ...
Stories from the tenancy trenches, featuring spider infestations, cupboard rats and same-sex discrimination. Lucy’s brother was living in a damp 1930s building in Mt Eden where “he had to tie the cupboard doors closed so the rats didn’t get in”. Although he shared custody of his six-year-old son, his property ...
Simeon Brown, Chris Luxon, and Wayne Brown climbed into a hole and announced a plan to solve Auckland’s water woes. This is how it’ll work. New Zealand’s pipes are munted. They’re cracked and leaking, and struggling to handle all the extra poos excreted by our rising population. It’s a big, ...
I knew Taika Waititi quite well when he was a kid. His mother lived in a tall narrow house in Aro St, and my youngest sister had a similar house two doors along. They were both single mums, they each had a son aged seven. Taika and my nephew Stepan ...
Opinion: “As time passes, knowledge of the circumstances of the August 2016 outbreak will fade and its immediate impact will be lost.” This statement is from the 2017 report of the Official Inquiry into the Havelock North campylobacteriosis outbreak. The then National-led government established the inquiry after the outbreak left ...
Opinion: Nicholas Khoo looks at two key points in the high-stakes foreign policy pact debate – and asks if NZ can engage with as little drama as possible. The post Where to next for the Aukus ruckus? appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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Herald is reporting that Bridges has called Cameron Slater to defend his actions in dealing with Jami-Lee Ross.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12148042
Oh Simon! That’s a tool that will turn in your hand.
Oh dear…
You can’t get much lower on the food chain than Slater, but it’s good to see Bridges knows his place.
Looks like the civil war hasn’t ended yet.
Fantastic.
millionaire and 7th day Adventist Church leader Paul Honnor is likely to be an intermediate in all this, as mentioned in Herald story.
First the Exclusive Brethren, dodgy ‘Christians’, but now Seventh-Day?
Millionaire and Seventh Day Adventist church leader Paul Honnor is another to emerge as a link between Ross and Slater, and is also believed to have been involved in co-ordinating support for the now-independent MP.
Honnor has known Slater for more than a decade, supporting the blogger when his security business went into liquidation and providing occasional work since. Honnor was a director of Slater’s company Social Media Consultants Ltd for three years.
Honnor was also a figure of influence in the life of Ross who grew up without a father.
From link Scott GN at #1.
A lot of children grow up without having a father at home and do very well. Better than having an alcoholic father as is often the case in NZ.
I thought that Seventh Day Adventists were more dedicated to their Christianity than to acquiring money and closer to the biblical belief that being rich is a detriment to being a true Christian. Money being Mammon and an earthly obsession.
https://www.openbible.info/topics/being_wealthy
1 Timothy 6:6-10 ESV / 9 helpful votes
Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
James 5:1-6 ESV
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days.
Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. … \ESV English Standard Version (the info says it is more suitable as an evangelical text.)
WTF is Bridges thinking???
He’s not thinking…he’s hoping,…against hope
The last words of Jami-Lee Ross before he disappeared.
Then silence…..
He didn’t disappear, he was admitted to a treatment facility.
Not silence
He was admitted to a mental institution
joe90and Chris T: as you say… that is precisely why we have not seen him or heard from him. Strange, that. Convenient for whom?
I hope these murky matters will be fully explained in the fullness of time, but in the meantime, it is unreasonable of you to expect nobody to harbour any suspicions at all.
Convenient for him I would think
He got help and left to go some where he doesn’t have half the countries media shoving microphones in his face demanding answers to questions which would probably drive him over the edge again.
The dude obviously just needs some space and support some where quiet
Very convenient for the National Party that these questions are not answered
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/10/24/waatea-news-column-national-party-meltdown-the-questions-that-need-asking/
“What else was going to be revealed inside National?”
Else?
He hasn’t revealed anything
“How safe are the safeguards when suddenly sanctioning a sitting Member of Parliament into mental health care when they are threatening to destabilise a Party.”
He rolled out on his own accord less than 48 hours later ffs
He has revealed $100,000 donations and a preference by National leadership for Chinese to be put on the List after they donate money over Indians.
Now,… why would that be , I wonder?…
I think even you know the answer.
Here’s a nice word to throw in at party’s.
Geopolitics.
That is clear Evidence.
“joe90and Chris T: as you say… that is precisely why we have not seen him or heard from him”
Because he probably had a serious mental health crisis and needs some time to recuperate? Why some people here think their curiosity should be sated immediately is beyond me. Jesus man, give the guy some fucking room.
I hope you are right, and I have not been harping on…
But note that you yourself used the word ‘probably’. My comment stands.
Then no more words…..
And no exposure of the ‘serious rot’ in the National Party.
Nothing in his tapes proved there was any
I said on here a couple of days before he went in he seemed to be starting to be a bit delusional as he claimed specific evidence that just wasn’t there, and questioned whether his doctor really said he was fine
Then.
Silence.
Ed there is a simple explanation. JLR was beamed up by aliens, who are in the employ of the National Party. His memory of all events potentially damaging to the National Party has been erased. Normal transmission will resume shortly.
Correction : it is the Chinational party,… not the National party.
The National party as we know it ceased to exist when Key took power from 19 November 2008 – 12 December 2016.
Please do get your facts straight.
As for the rest of your smarmy bullshit about ‘aliens’,… the only aliens we should be concerned with are the aliens that are buying their way into the Chinational party.
Eh , bud.
Oh dear, clearly sarcasm is lost on you. Obviously you are a blind follower of the latest conspiracy theory. Never mind, Key really did eat babies.
Ross will expose within the national party what ever he believes needs exposing. If it doesn’t stack up then so be it. Simple.
Or he will be prevented from exposing the ‘rot’.
‘Important’ people have been threatened.
They don’t like that.
Yes, it does look as though that is the case. The naivety of some on here – their faith in the process, is surprising. I do think, though, in this particular case, that Ross will get his opportunity. To expose Key’s filth is very important. Key cannot be remembered as a hero of NZ politics.
And he wont.
Already we are seeing how his Dirty Politics legacy was ( and still is ) a blight on NZ politics. He is ,.. and in times in the future , will be remembered as the most corrupt politician we have ever had in the modern era.
And its OK that he has a knighthood,- its good to be able to identify the crooks among us so we can be wary of them.
Halve the dose, Eddie. Cut the damn pill in half.
“Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action”
Donghua Liu
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11247424
Jian Yang
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2017/09/13/46657/national-mp-trained-by-chinese-spies
Anne-Marie Brady
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12127928
Yep, those issues and JLR’s long term mental health status are Parliament’s business. His political future is his party’s business.
JLR’s current mental health status and whereabouts are his, and his family’s business, not your’s, mine or Bradbury’s.
^ What he said
Again – just give the guy some breathing room and stop demanding answers. If he wants to talk he’ll talk
With respect, “those issues” are NOT solely Parliament’s business.
Why do some oppose discussion about “those issues”, i.e. the issues raised in the three links Ed provided?
To be clear, there is not ONE SINGLE REFERENCE to JLR’s mental health status or treatment in any of the three linked articles. In fact, there’s no mention of JLR AT ALL.
I’m beginning to wonder if Ed’s “Don’t shoot the messenger” refrain might (sometimes) have a grain of truth.
Aren’t we allowed to discuss the creeping influence of the Chinese state on our country’s decision making?
Don’t ask me – apparently posting links and discussing this topic might (somehow) impact on JLR’s recovery. Go figure.
I was meaning to ask John Selway.
Of course not , Ed!
It might raise too many embarrassing questions.
So back to your beer and reality TV, thank you very much.
@Ed
“That was a diversion, Wild Kapito.”
To you, I have no doubt it was
I just can’t be bothered bringing up every Labour issue to counter yours.
Mainly because I am not naive enough to think both sides are not as bad as each other
Bollocks,… naive you are not, duplicitous you are.
Like all far right wing young Chinationals, … if in danger of losing the argument,… deny , deny , deny.
Obviously. They are not.
Labour had a someone who was bullying staff. It was bought out into the open. If proven that person will be gone.
National. Hide, hide, deny.
Don’t see that culture of bullying, dishonesty, entitlement, arrogance, lies, and winning at all costs, in the other parties.
Though it suits National to have people believe that. So only those who are happy with that culture. Vote!
Who is muzzling discussion?
People like you?… or perhaps trying to ridicule those that do pose pertinent questions…
I’m just pointing out there is no evidence in his evidence, when people keep saying how the bloke has shown corrupt activity in his ex party.
If you think that is muzzling, we have seriously different definitions of the word
I haven’t commented on the Chinese infiltrating our politicians paranoia
Sorry
There is no reply button on your other post
“And Slater and Lusk?,.. are you now going to try to suggest that they DON’T HAVE an agenda??”
Of course not
They are both arseholes
[ I haven’t commented on the Chinese infiltrating our politicians paranoia… ]
And there you go.
And you wouldn’t either. Just like the National party wont.
But WHAT THEY WILL DO ,… is clamp down on someone who will, – and did – like JLR.
Never mind, having a Chinese ex tutor training Chinese nationals on surveillance under the auspices of the CCP’s military shouldn’t raise alarm bells should it ,… hell ! – lets just make him an MP in the National party , – and to hell with those Australians and their paranoia….
OFC Slater and Lusk have an agenda , that’s what I’ve been saying !! L0L !!
We all know what that agenda is, – with Lusk it is to turn off the average voter so they stay home while the right wingers ( who vote more consistently ) vote for the right.
The other agenda is to install their people in positions of influence – aka Collins. And don’t say it isn’t effective because we all know Rodney Hide stood down after being threatened with embarrassing texts… enter Don Brash after that…
I really don’t know where you got that from at all L0L !
Is Brady paranoid?
“And there you go.
And you wouldn’t either. Just like the National party wont.
But WHAT THEY WILL DO ,… is clamp down on someone who will, – and did – like JLR.
Never mind, having a Chinese ex tutor training Chinese nationals on surveillance under the auspices of the CCP’s military shouldn’t raise alarm bells should it ,… hell ! – lets just make him an MP in the National party , – and to hell with those Australians and their paranoia….”
And Labour won’t
I haven’t bothered because for every Nat Chinese Liu there is a Labour Chinese Liu
And it becomes a very boring conversation of throwing names at each other
@ Chris T
[ I haven’t bothered because for every Nat Chinese Liu there is a Labour Chinese Liu .And it becomes a very boring conversation of throwing names at each other… ]
OR , … it doesn’t.
Because in Labours case it was demonstrated that the $ 100,000 dollar donation AND the bottle of wine that was supposed to be its equivalence was a fabrication.
But that didn’t stop John Armstrong writing an appalling column demanding David Cunliffes resignation in the NZ Herald and furthering the lie, did it… to which even to this day he has not really apologized for his so-called ‘unbiased and dishonest media editorials ‘ ..
That was a diversion, Wild Kapito.
Yes Ed,… but the childlike retort of ‘they do it- why cant we’? deserves to be put in perspective. Esp when the Chinational party is concerned.
My reply was to Joe90@4.2.2.2.1.1, who mentioned JLR’s mental health a couple of times in his reply to Ed’s 3-link comment @4.2.2.2.1.
I got the impression that Joe90 was implying that Ed’s comment might impact of JLR’s health, and/or that the linked issues were suitable for discussion by Parliament only.
I could be wrong – if so then I apologise.
There is evidence.
I’ve not kept track of all Ross’ interviews and statements but I believe he’s not made one legitimate reference to having mental health problems.
It’s the National Party and their hangers-on, some media, and even some commenters here who have pushed this line.
When it was announced he was to take leave from parliament he said he’d had a breakdown but that was part of a National Party announcement and obviously agreed to.
Other than that I don’t think he’s referenced his mental state at all. It’s others, including the many amateur psychologists we have on The Standard who have been trying to diagnose him from afar.
Is being critical of the National Party and fighting back against their wicked and underhand ways now proof of mental illness? They and their supporters would certainly like you to think so.
There was some sort of incident at his electorate office or home on the weekend (more than likely prompted by as yet unnamed National Party fixers) but just two nights in Middlemore suggests there was not much to it in terms of a mental health catastrophe, contrary to the bizarre claims from a number of people here saying that was a big deal. It sounds to me like a quick once over and a clean bill of health.
No, there has been not admission from Ross himself there are serious and long lasting problems. But his new enemies have been very active in telling the world he is a sick, sick man who needs ‘time out’
How convenient…
“I’ve not kept track of all Ross’ interviews and statements but I believe he’s not made one legitimate reference to having mental health problems.”
So him saying he had a mental breakdown on National TV was a figment of the countries imagination?
People can say anything to garner effect,… just look at yourself or the National party , – they are masters at making things up.
Anyhow, its a dead subject now because we see the Dirty Politics brigades involvement. And Slater and Lusk?,.. are you now going to try to suggest that they DON’T HAVE an agenda??
Give us all a break.
Was this associated with the announcement he was to take leave from parliament?
Same issue with your other comment sorry. No reply button.
“Was this associated with the announcement he was to take leave from parliament?”
There is something I am getting slightly confused over.
Your comments seem to imply he was lying about the mental breakdown, yet you seem adamant he is telling the truth about any accusations he makes against Bridges.
Do you mind making a choice about how honest he is?
Not lying. He’s certainly been under pressure in the last few weeks, particularly in the last week. I just think that first statement by Ross was scripted and all of them at that point agreed that was the best way forward.
Something then changed. It was when Bridges suggested Ross was the leaker. Perhaps that wasn’t agreed to by all the parties. Ross protested, and then that poisonous bitch Paula Bennett lifted the bedsheets.
I reckon Ross has just accepted the sea change and decided the best thin for the country is to out the practices of this National opposition. I think he’s ashamed of his behaviour not just toward women in his personal relationships but toward the people of New Zealand for the work he used to do for the National Party.
He really wants to get this out and I don’t think we should be preventing him from doing so.
Sure JLR had a time of depression , sure , we all get that.
No problems.
But what we are seeing is :
A ) A personal vendetta against Bridges by JLR ,…
B ) The kick back from National in suddenly producing 4 or more women who they say JLR abused them – a perfectly timed smearing operation
C ) The above response not tied in with historical grievances large enough to air publicly – until of course, JLR pulled the plug on National.
D ) A most peculiar ‘whisking’ away from the public arena of JLR,- which may have been either initiated by :
i ) National to muzzle further revelations that might embarrass them, – particularly with regards to the donations and the preference of Chinese over Indians on the Lists, OR , …
ii ) The above being used by Slater and Lusk as an opportune time to not only garner the ‘ pity vote ‘ for JLR and win people to their cause in having Bridges replaced by Collins.
Whether or not it had some grounds in the former we will not know because neither National or the Dirty Politics crowd are going to admit to anything. And in both groups they have shown amply that both are not above using underhanded strategy’s to further their cause.
Any mention of Jason Ede and people know EXACTLY what the point is here.
And YOU WILL recall that JLR was also on close terms with both Slater and Lusk.
Remember Key and English were threatened.
Yep, Ed. That’s when they sent Mitchell to his offices, where he was forced to sleep, to rough him up.
Uh, it’s more likely he was here because his wife booted him out.
And you’re saying Mitchell went and roughed him up? Where do you get this shit from?
Robin Westenra has an interesting theory on his site.
@ JohnSelway
What we are saying is that Mark Mitchell ( ex Police force) knew the most efficient way to have someone sectioned, would have instant access to Police colleagues, and certainly the motive to carry the action out.
No need to talk of roughing anyone up here.
And the bonus for the Dirty Politics brigade is that it could be used in various ways to further their mission to ‘remove politicians ‘ ,… as Lusk so euphemistically calls it…
In this case Bridges ,.. to install Collins.
Its pretty black and white if one wants to approach it logically for motives.
The police can’t sanction people. Only a mental health team and medical professionals
@JohnSelway …
24 October 2018 at 10:55 pm
[ The police can’t sanction people. Only a mental health team and medical professionals ]
Stop hedging and beating around the bush. Police have to deal with the mentally ill all the time. And would have ready access to ‘mental health teams and medical professionals’ when needed.
Its a small leap from a Chinational party aligned officer/ex officer to contact via the Police Force those same ‘professionals’- who may also be Chinationally aligned.
So now your suggesting the admitting staff and the mental health team who assessed JLR are all in on it too
JohnSelway …
24 October 2018 at 11:08 pm
[ So now your suggesting the admitting staff and the mental health team who assessed JLR are all in on it too ]
Ultimately , it only takes the head of operations- not the whole team of ‘admitting staff’ and the bottle maker and the cook to do the job,
Don’t play the naive game nor the incredulous one either.
We are dealing with a very mall group here that , if needs be can make arbitrary decisions that the public will never know about via the privacy acts.
And that is where corruption lies. In the hidden spaces. The same spaces that JLR sought to expose. And to which he did. And that threatened more than just Simon Bridges.
Do you really think the Dirty Politics brigade wouldn’t have anticipated Chinationals next move???
You could be right, – but on the strength of the damning evidence JLR did supply about Chinationals racist attitudes and buying places on the List MP’s… we would have to give JLR the benefit of the doubt…
But that doesn’t stop Lusk and Slater angling it to their advantage no matter which way the cards fell.
And their goal is to get rid of Bridges and install Collins.
There are two parties to take into consideration who are involved here, – not just one.
The Chinational party , and the Dirty Politics brigade.
So convenient.
“There was some sort of incident at his electorate office or home on the weekend” Well he was taken from his electorate office, according to his friend who spoke to the media. If it was Mitchell, as Slater & others seem to think due to having been delegated to mind him, then the question is why.
Use of another purported breakdown is the obvious reason. There’s also another possibility. That hinges on who owns or has leased his electorate office. If it is the National Party, Ross lost the right to use it as soon as he resigned from National – unless he has a contract that allows usage on the basis of being an MP. So that would give Mitchell a valid reason to get Ross removed. If Ross resisted, Mitchell could have called the cops to force him out, and suggested they take him in for sectioning…
“His Party’s business” He resigned from National remember.
Are you saying they are like “Hotel California”??
@ Joe90
joe90 4.2.2.2.1.1
24 October 2018 at 8:45 pm
[ Yep, those issues and JLR’s long term mental health status are Parliament’s business. His political future is his party’s business. JLR’s current mental health status and whereabouts are his, and his family’s business, not your’s, mine or Bradbury’s… ]
Soooo,… by that logic we could say that a mentally ill person who broke into a house at 3 am and killed the occupants and who was let go by the mental health services to commit such an act doesn’t deserve any public interest…
OK, … that’s an extreme ( but all too common occurrence after Shipley disbanded the mental health institutions ) example but what you are implying is that those who hold public office as elected officials are not to be held up to public interest, public scrutiny and knowing who did what , which officials were involved and why – and also their political allegiances ,and finally …HOW did they achieve it .
Seems like a recipe for allowing any old piece of shitty corruption to slip through the floorboards, eh mate.
Whose side are you on , boy?
Announcing that Ed has a (mental health) condition which requires medication….
While guarding the discussion surrounding JLR and mental health conditions…
That’s Joe90.
A class act.
Quite, a low blow from JoeImmaturity28.
Who are you again?
@Joe90
Settle down and take your own advice, sonny.
For petes sakes.
Interesting Ed, thanks. Who facilitated JLR’s involuntary admission to hospital? His statements are damning and (true or not) highly damaging to the National party, and in particular to the leader of the opposition.
JLR probably hasn’t disappeared, but he has disappeared from general public view (good for him).
JLR probably isn’t silent, but he hasn’t personally made any further public statements (good for him).
IMO it’s important to keep recent statements by the former 7th-ranked National party MP in the public eye, so as to encourage open discussion about their validity [as Chris T@4.2.2.1 hopes, JLR’s statements could be the result of delusional thinking; Chris T might know something about that!], meaning and significance. Know Your Opposition!
https://medium.com/@TuskVentures/opposition-research-and-start-ups-know-your-opposition-know-yourself-know-everything-193e2175aee5
That is a telling quote.
A decent detective would start there.
Jimmy Dore is compulsive viewing.
As a commentator puts it.
More valuable reading.
‘The facts are stark and undeniable: It’s five minutes to midnight on climate change. Politicians who drag their feet are out of excuses, writes @martinwolf_ economics editor of @FinancialTimes’
https://www.ft.com/content/b1c35f36-d5fd-11e8-ab8e-6be0dcf18713
This probably is quite good stuff Ed, but you might want to be a little wary of the writer.
“Five minutes to midnight” was a recurring theme of Hitler’s speeches, according to Alistair Cooke, who attended a few in his role as a reporter.
To those on this site who seem to think that the Us, Europe and the West are on the side of the angels.
The European colonial expansion built the foundations of the modern world. We weren’t angels, we were people both good and bad.
Indeed. Human beings, not angels.
Yep ed. Imo white supremacists love colonisation because it covers up for their inadequacies past and present. Like many indigenous peoples I’ve come to the conclusion that most of the problems we have today are because of greedy self centred colonizers. They have fucked this world big time and ironically themselves too. Dumbarses.
We’re all colonisers one way or t’other marty.
Rubbish.
Oh really ?
The Genocide – Moriori Genocide
https://moriorigenocides.weebly.com/the-genocide.html
The Highland Clearances – Historic UK
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-Highland-Clearances/
The Highland Clearances – The Scotsman
https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/the-highland-clearances-1-465248
Last exit from the Kalahari: the slow genocide of the Bushmen/San …
https://www.opendemocracy.net/ecology-summits/article_267.jsp
You think the Maoris were the only ones subjected to colonization?
And don’t go bothering to blame it all on the English or white guilt either , mate. That’s not going to wash . It was common to all cultures to subjugate weaker ones.
Got any sympathy for the Tibetans in regards China as well , bud?
Or do you support the ChiNational party’s stance of doing deals with the CCP ?
And as far as the Maoris go ,- many tribes benefited by the material gains of Europeans – so they sided with them. A classic case is those Maori tribes who sided with the British to avenge age old tribal rivalry’s. There were those who eagerly fought against the Waikato Maoris for example ,- leading British troops right to their opponents back door.
Just like the Scots did to each other.
And BTW – my clan is Clann Gunn – the ‘MacGregor’s ‘ of the North . And they held their land for century’s by the sword until the Highland Clearances, mate..
Liberalism and revisionism .
Yuck.
Try actually reading you might understand the point. Or watch ed’s video.
But the white supremists will push back
Interesting the dumbarses that think all progress is euro. Lol of course that is what you’d expect and a good cover to continue their attempted domination of others. Sad that they even get a platform for their noise. But I suppose when you try to bully people you need a place to do that.
Progress these days is global. All cultures, all races.
Right now I look around the space I am in, people from China, Poland, Panama, Colombia, Trinidad, Australia, Canada, Chile, Korea, Sth Africa … just this one small operations room.
Look outwards man.
I know what you think and it is that thinking I oppose. You may dress up your views with long winded and pretty words but we both know the truth and have done for the 10 years we’ve opposed each other’s views on this subject.
“The European colonial expansion built the foundations of the modern world.”
That’s what you said.
To me that smacks of pillow smoothing. You claim heritage to all the progess but it is a made up narrative. It is accumulated human knowledge not based on dubious ethnicity.
You have broken the agreement twice and gone back on your word. Indigenous peoples are used to that so thanks for the repeated lesson.
Anyway on reflection. I can’t be bothered red. You think what you like and I will too. I’ll comment if I feel the need as will you. I’ll try not to get personal but our history has made it personal for me. I know you’re just who you are. I don’t think you’re a demon. I am sorry for all the deliberately hurtful things i have said to you. We’re gonna be dead soon enough. Peace.
Those who push the line white people = evil oppressors, brown people = angelic victims might stop to note that the fig leaf of political purity from which you think to hide … has rather wilted.
And they should stop typing on this white supremacist colonising internet thing they so despise.
Idi Amin – the Amazin’ Man song – YouTube
National’s leader Simon Bridges rings Dirty Politics … – NZ Herald
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12148042
Oh dear to all those who thought all the Dirty Politics wee darlings were not involved…
Slater and Lusk at it again.
[ Bridges’ call to Slater came after the Whale Oil blogger wrote a blog post promising retribution on the National Party for what he sees as its role in Ross’ deteriorating mental health and subsequent fall from grace … ]
So you think JLR’s issues are just bullshit cooked up by Slater and Lusk?
What are you actually implying?
Probably the opposite to what you have been trying to imply…
Pretty scary that yet another National Party leader is now in phone contact with Cameron Slater. Why on earth do they do it?
Lots of reasons.
But time for a music break.
AC/DC – Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (from Live at River Plate …
In Bridges’ case he really needs to put a finger in the dyke. It’s too late to save himself, but if JLR keeps spilling the beans the whole party’s prospects will go out with the tide.
It says a lot about the intellectual heft of the party that took a donor to explain that to the folk in the middle of the fight. None of the fools and crooks in parliament were up to it, and neither was Goodfellow.
But donors don’t get wealthy by losing their rag, and they don’t stay wealthy by letting their political vehicles disappear in a shitfight between a few of their muppets.
Particularly if they are backed by a powerful govt like the CCP,..who give their blessing to their ex pats to act as moles in country’s of interest in the 5 eye group.
Something that the weak , craven ChiNational party would never admit to.
Yup. And in the meantime we have the Coalition – and in fact they’ve been working their tails off – probably harder than any NZ government in my lifetime. But we need thirty years of that, at least, for things to come right.
Whaleoil says watch eleven o’clock. whatever that means.
The end of history:
Do you one better… just WHAT does lurk out there in the woods ???
Bigfoot Chases Car in Colorado (ThinkerThunker) – YouTube
That painting up the top really is excellent work! The smiles on each Republican seem so genuine you’d think it was a photo. I presume the one with his back to us is Abe Lincoln, but I don’t recognise the one above Nixon – anyone know who it is?
Dude with the walrus moustache and beige vest? Teddy Roosevelt.
Is that Pootee lurking in the background behind him?
Here’s the story: http://time.com/5198306/andy-thomas-donald-trump-presidents-painting/
Theodore Roosevelt
Cool, thanks guys…