Just thinking aloud for a moment reading the words… foreign political donations….. makes me think of jlr and all of his recent questions in parliament.
Pssst pauline, are these some of your mates on the youtube?
BREAKING: One Nation has referred Al-Jazeera to ASIO and the federal police for "interfering in Australian elections". More to come on @australian on this bizarre story … https://t.co/K36XDqnoAt
“Senior One Nation figures James Ashby and Steve Dickson claim they had been “on the sauce” drinking scotch for “three or four hours” when discussing seeking a $20m donation from the National Rifle Association to the far-right Australian party.”
Getting on the piss and seeking $20 million from the NRA to water down Australian gun laws sounds like something James Ashby would be proud of.
🤔Ashbygate, profiteering through One Nation ad materials, the One Nation Plane, the alleged sexual relations with 15yr boy, several alleged assualts including a politician, and now the NRA. How can this person be allowed anywhere near our democracy? https://t.co/qIfmRLHXY3
Almost overlooked: You say the Jews are defending Mossad! That is a nasty smear on the Jews – OMG, from the NZ Jewish Council themselves! Ahmed Bhamji is the man, respect to the Masjid E Umar!
And over at stuffed we have that wee poodle Tracy Watkins standing on a bar stool.
Just what is Tract Watkins “sincerely hoping” for here when she says:
“Once the realities of domestic politics intrude – and they have already, after a week-long political truce – those expectations may run far ahead of what Ardern can realistically deliver. Because the extraordinary political circumstances that allowed her to announce new gun laws with near-unanimous support will likely never occur again – we sincerely hope……….”
But if it keeps on rising it will eventually turn cold and become an icicle and then it will fall back to earth and melt away to nothing. Ahhh… not sure what that’s got to do with the price of fish but never mind. It’s late.
Watkins and the rest of the Press Gallery have been reduced to bit players in the last week and a half, they will be wanting to rectify that and have normal service resumed ASAP.
And your answer is ‘ conservative’. Which really should translate not as ‘ conservative ‘ at all. Far more accurate to name her as she is : a neo liberal radical liberalist, a globalist.
… ‘ She was a founding member of the group Conservatives for an Australian Head of State ‘…
This is how the far right wing will launch their attacks on our Prime Minister. By couching her as a recipient of good favor by NZ First and Winston Peters,… which may be true to an extent ,… but certainly and by no means detract’s from the excellent job she is doing.
Is Judith jealous ???
PS : Here’s a clue…
———————————
Sloan said the New Zealand election was “surprising” considering the “success of the previous National Party governments” under former prime ministers John Key and Bill English. She said they “artfully” steered us through the global financial crisis and Christchurch earthquakes.
It’s The Australian. She’s preaching to the choir. Best to just ignore this bullshit.
With the NSW election out of the way it won’t be long now before Morrison calls the Federal polls. Prospects look terrible for the government and their media backers are starting to lose it.
None of it will matter in the long run though WK. Ardern is forging a bond now with the electorate that leaves the commentariat sidelined and grasping for relevance. I’ve stopped worrying.
The Ockers have got their knickers in a knot ’cause the good ol’ Kiwi dollar is up around 95c AUD, and was dollar for dollar a couple of weeks ago. NZD’s rightful place being AUD 80c or less.
Unfortunately for the poor Ockers it’s all their problem, NZD’s cross rates to most major currencies are in sort of normal ranges. Not happy times over the ditch
Yes, I nearly choke on my smoked Chicken roll at lunch today while reading that garbage from old Judith and I normally don’t read anything by her outside the finance section, and even then it’s usually a passing glance as it’s usually a load of bollocks most the time.
Most commentators and most of the journalists in the Oz or in most old Mates paper know 4/5ths of F*** all about MMP and if I had changed $5 since being in Oz since 98 for explaining MMP, the last election and why NZ has MMP I’ll flying about in MkVc Spritfire with my mid to late1930’s Bentley, SS or 3 wheel Morgan in the Hanger with couple of farms in Oz and NZ by now.
They think Key is god and old Bill is a saint over here in the Fourth Estate especially outside of the The Age, SMH and the ABC.
Sometimes I have to bite my tongue 😛 when reading the Oz paper in morning while have a coffee or tea at my local cafe.
Most commentators and most of the journalists in the Oz or in most old Mates paper know 4/5ths of F*** all about MMP and if I had changed $5 since being in Oz since 98 for explaining MMP, the last election and why NZ has MMP I’ll flying about in MkVc Spritfire with my mid to late1930’s Bentley, SS or 3 wheel Morgan in the Hanger with couple of farms in Oz and NZ by now.
You ol petrolhead!
Think of the planet – get a Tesla.
Rest assured Macro, the plant is safe for as I didn’t win $70m Oz lotto last night and I don’t think a Tesla will handle the NT environment as everything up here is big up here in the NT. Even the road trains and the other type of train (the Choo Choo one) have a few problems with the wildlife as the majors roads, rail line outside of Darwin or the major populated areas are unfenced.
Plus I haven’t seen a Tesla car or let alone any charging stations either around Darwin area, but I’ve seen an awful lot of those bloody big gas/ desiel guzzler Yankee 4wd Ute’s / pickup wagons of late and god only knows why the heck you want one of those big wide monsters anyway as they nexts to being bloody useless off road in the wet season.
LOL yeah I’m well aware of those road trains impressive! – I have family in Perth so have visited the West a few times and a friend in Queensland is one of those inveterate outbackers – they just did 10,000 km round the North – can’t for the life of me think why! Actually another mate of mine has a Tesla – and I have been having trouble with the 10th commandment ever since. I shall just have to make do with my hybrid.
Today it was mow the lawns at the bach day -not realising it was also beach hop day. OMG! Literally thousands of yank Tanks – fortunately they were going in the opposite direction. But I spent the day contemplating on the premiss that we really are an adolescent, if not infantile, species.
Having said that – I have a lasting recollection of a ’33 Bentley blatting around the Dunlop tyre factory in Upper Hutt one evening after work had finished for the day. My sis grazed her horse in the paddock next to the factory and I happened to be there when this Bentley arrived. The sound from its large copper pipe exhaust reverberating off the factory walls still lingers in my mind. I was an adolescent then and that sort of thing impressed.
Oh and I’ve got to sit in the cockpit of a Mosquito and been up close and personal to a Spit. Another mate is an ex warbird pilot.
You lucky sod for getting a sit in a mossie, my late NZ grandparents had a Austin 7 Saloon Vintage car which they drag me and younger brother when he was older a enough around NZ and hence my love of the 1930- 40’s cars and planes. But I’ve managed got to having sit in a Panzer 4 and Tiger 1 in the UK a few yrs, but buggers wouldn’t let me out of the hanger after I both started them. That same trip I also got an off limits tour of HMS Victory and would stay with me for a very long time.
hmmmm nice! 2020 delivery and 12,000 pre ordered so maybe not next year. 🙁 but certainly the way to go A range of 200 miles is ok but you would not be taking into the outback very far unfortunately.
Yeah, really needs an i3 style range extender. Workhorse were planning to put one in their w-15, but IIRC last I saw they’ve dropped it. California regs.
Now that is more like it! What was the prob with the regs? A 400 mile range would be very useful. One charge between Auckland and Wellington – making it very do-able.
There’s different regs for petrol-powered range extenders in Cal. Don’t remember exactly what they are, but they’re complicated. They’re the cause of US-spec i3s having to run the battery down to 5% before the range extender can kick on, and the fuel tank being software limited to 7 litres, so the range extender is more a limp-home tool. Whereas euro spec i3s you can tell the range extender to kick on anytime and maintain battery state of charge, and use the full 9 litres of fuel.
That vid is kinda old, it was from before the decision to not have the range extender. The 400 miles was basically 80 miles pure electric plus 320 miles petrol-powered range extension.
Look’s like they nicked a Landrover Defender and just plonked a electic motor in, with hi ho sliver of we go but a of range of 200km aren’t going to get you far in Oz or anywhere else for that matter unless you are Western Europe.
Yes I’ll watched it, as I would be interesting to know how big the engine bay is and wondering to see if it’s possible to retro fit an electric motor into my Landie in the future once the technology advances IRT to range and 4wd.
I have an on-line acquaintance from another site who has retrofitted an old toyota starlet with an electric motor and uses it for local running. It’s been his main mode of transport for some years now. He’s very excited about the new tesla batteries as even a smaller one of them will give him a much extended range. He lives just up the road in the Coromandel and his son attends the local ATC but we haven’t got to meet although he and my eldest used to travel together to Waikato Uni for lectures.
I’ve been watching Tesla IRT it’s batteries of late and have been quite impressed at what they are doing atm. It’s one of the reasons why i has to push the Minister of Finance to spend a little bit more on our on grid Solar System so we can make seemless transition to off grid in the future.
I’ve got fantasies of converting my Defender. Been looking out for a wrecked i3 REx to rob the powertrain and battery out of. Actually bid on one a while back, but it was an easily repairable one so someone else was willing to pay a lot more than I was.
Get rid of the diesel engine and gearbox, stick about a 3:1 single stage reducer on the electric motor, and run it straight into the transfer box. Then I’d have a useful highway speed range, and a useful crawler range.
The electric motor is roughly the same size as the gearbox, so the whole engine bay would be free for controller, range extender etc, and the battery pack would go in the back on the floor. Or maybe below the floor between the chassis rails if I could be bothered tearing it down to package it all in a bit better.
Thank god I’m not the only lunatic around here thinking of converting his Landie to a all electric drive Landie.
I was think of putting the battery system where the fuel tank would’ve been, but between the chassis rails seems a good idea.
My other concern is I have a separate stand alone battery system with Red Arc converter thingy for my fridge and freezer which only put in for very long trips when the local shop isn’t down the road so to speak. I’m wondering if that may need replacing when I go all electric?
I don’t think you’d need replace your existing electronic goods. As long as you’ve got a rough guess of total power output then you should know how much range and usage and storage you’ll need. My neighbour bought a second hand Tesla Model S battery pack online and that’s got enough storage to run his two person house, washer, solar cloth dryer, gadgets, water pump, it’s enough storage to run for three days with out recharging and electric vehicles are, at least the Tesla range is really customisable so you can increase the storage by what ever you want really. Base models are $30k US where as just a year ago they where over a $100k. So the more EVs sold the cheaper they’re getting.
This was the powerful routinely humiliating the powerless ….complete misunderstanding of the law my arse.
An investigation into illegal internal examinations of female prisoners at an Auckland jail brought back horrific memories for the victims, an independent watchdog says.
Auckland University sociologist Professor Tracey McIntosh spoke to prisoners and told Stuff there appeared to have been “a complete misunderstanding” of the law at the Auckland Region women’s jail at Wiri.
She said for her independent oversight role when Corrections investigated claims of illegal, intrusive physical searches of female inmates, the prisoners were brought in to see her and a senior Corrections staffer one by one.
To be able to charge loads of fees
To be able to make parents buy devices they cannot afford
To pander to internation students
To kick out ‘dumb kids’ that make their schools look bad
**TO RUN SCHOOLS AS A TRADEABLE BUSINESS COMMODITY AND NOT A PUBLIC SERVICE**
To be honest, I trust civil servants to run schools than the red faced reactionary bourgeois hacks that control most boards of trustees, and have their own little networks.
The Hubs are going to shine some light on all the corruption and nepotism that goes on in our education system, and some people dont like that.
All the Ruskies need to do is tweet “troops” and out go the lights in Venezuelan again. Hmmmm, James Bond says twice is a coincidence. Who remembers what 007 says about three times?
Guaido just confirmed he is behind the power outage!
“There will be no continuation of electricity in Venezuela until Maduro is removed.”
Looks like a US/Ruski cyber-tech-war over Venezuela. Most likely the power grid has a virus, which unreportedly drops the three phase down to one.
Last month I wrote my blog on covid-19 pointing out the in our pre Alert Level 4 days that a subject no one had heard here months ago was now dominating the media. An amazing feature of this crisis is how quickly it has swept every other issue aside worldwide. ...
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Image credit:Diamond Harbour School Blogs I notice a few regulars no longer allow public access to the site counters. This may happen accidentally when the blog format is altered. If your blog is unexpectedly missing or ...
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Foreign Minister Winston Peters says getting New Zealanders back home and other travellers out of the country is "a nightmare for our embassies, consuls, and staff around the world".Speaking to NewstalkZB's Mike Hosking, the Foreign Minister said that he gave a clear message to people travelling overseas that they ...
The domestic travel ban has been lifted for stranded foreign tourists trying to get to international airports to fly home, after the Coalition Government announced a plan to help the tens of thousands of foreigners stranded here. Foreign Minister Rt. Hon. Winston Peters spoke with RNZ's Susie Ferguson said foreign ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters believes the country is rediscovering its resilience and self-reliance through its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.He says he is heartened that the mass majority of New Zealanders are following lockdown rules and that the government looking at the future, including paying to keep much ...
New Zealand can emulate the success of the US after the Great Depression by exploiting our own resources to turn the economy around quickly, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says. Mr. Peters told Magic Talk that New Zealand has an opportunity to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic a "superior, ...
All 45 New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel are either on their way back to New Zealand, or already in the country, according to Defence Minister Ron Mark."Twenty-eight personnel arrived back in New Zealand last week and are in isolation at the Royal New Zealand Air Force base in ...
The COVID-19 situation in New Zealand is moving fast - and to avoid what we've seen overseas - the Government's response must be to move fast too. We're committed to keeping New Zealanders safe and well-informed every step of the way. ...
We know people are feeling anxious about COVID-19. While the situation is serious, New Zealand has a world-class health system and we’re well-prepared to keep New Zealanders safe. ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is encouraging New Zealanders overseas to stay where they are amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "We are reaching a point where the best option for most New Zealanders offshore is to shelter in place, by preparing to safely stay where they are.” "This includes following the instructions ...
Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Foreign Minister Winston Peters is encouraging the tens of thousands of New Zealanders travelling overseas to consider sheltering in place, in light of COVID-19. “Since 18 March, we have been warning New Zealanders offshore that the window for flying ...
Ground-breaking law has passed that will decriminalise abortion and ensure women and pregnant people seeking abortions have compassionate healthcare. ...
The Green Party says that the measures announced by the Government today will help families and businesses to prioritise our collective health and wellbeing in the response to COVID-19. ...
The New Zealand Government has made arrangements to charter a flight for New Zealanders stranded in Peru to depart the country, following agreement with the Chilean government to allow the necessary transit through Chile, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters announced today. “Like many travellers around the world at the moment, ...
Hospital preparations for COVID-19 are well advanced says Health Minister David Clark. “Hospitals across New Zealand are repurposing buildings and training staff to get ready for COVID-19 patients. This gives me confidence that we are well prepared for any potential increase in COVID-19 patients needing hospital level care,” said David ...
The Government will be introducing legislation to make changes to the Companies Act to help companies facing insolvency due to COVID-19 to remain viable and keep New Zealanders in jobs. The temporary changes include: Giving directors of companies facing significant liquidity problems because of COVID-19 a ‘safe harbour’ from insolvency ...
The Government’s plan to cushion the blow of COVID-19 by supporting incomes, jobs and businesses, and position the economy to recover has been backed by another international report. International credit rating agency Moody’s today reaffirmed its highest Aaa credit rating on New Zealand, saying the economy is expected to remain ...
National sports organisations have been given certainty of funding to ensure they can remain viable through the COVID-19 pandemic, Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson announced today. “The global spread of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on sport and recreation in New Zealand, including the cancellation or postponement of ...
Changes have been made to allow butchers to process pork, only for supply to supermarkets or other processors or retailers that are open, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has announced. “We carefully weighed the risk of allowing butchers to open their shops for retail customers, but the risk of spreading COVID-19 ...
Essential workers who take leave from work to comply with public health guidance are being supported with a leave scheme to ensure they will continue to receive income, say the Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Iain Lees-Galloway and Minister for Social Development, Carmel Sepuloni. A number of essential businesses ...
A Government WhatsApp channel has been launched to help make information more easily accessible and shareable in the fight against COVID-19. Govt.NZ, which is free to use on any mobile device, will carry information and news for the public, businesses, healthcare providers, not for profits and local government. It can ...
The Government has announced a plan to enable the safe, orderly exit of tens of thousands of stranded foreign nationals from New Zealand during the current COVID-19 Alert Level 4 restrictions, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters has said. “When we moved into lockdown a week ago, the ...
Health Minister Dr David Clark says the Government is delivering on its commitment to support general practice doctors and nurses, and pharmacies on the front-line of our fight against COVID-19. "For us to overcome COVID-19, we need community health services such as general practice and community pharmacy to step up ...
Justice Susan Thomas has been appointed Chief High Court Judge, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. She replaces Justice Geoffrey Venning who has resigned from the position. David Parker paid tribute to Justice Venning, who he said had stewarded the High Court very capably over the last five years. “On behalf ...
Businesses can start applying to their banks for loans under the Business Finance Guarantee Scheme set up to support the New Zealand economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re moving quickly to protect New Zealand businesses, jobs and the economy during this unprecedented global economic shock,” Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. ...
Work is underway looking at measures to speed up consents for development and infrastructure projects during the recovery from COVID 19, to provide jobs and stimulate our economy. Environment Minister David Parker said the COVID-19 pandemic is a serious global crisis that will have a wide ranging and lasting impact ...
Advance payments will be made to transport construction industry contractors to retain the workforce and ensure it is ready to quickly gear up to build projects which will be vital to New Zealand’s COVID-19 economic recovery, Transport Minister Phil Twyford announced today. He said keeping the workforce required to build ...
The Government has tasked a group of industry leaders to seek out infrastructure projects that are ready to start as soon as the construction industry returns to normal to reduce the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford and Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones say. The Infrastructure ...
Work to scale up the health system in preparation for COVID-19 was today outlined by Health Minister David Clark, as he reported back to the new Epidemic Response Committee. “We are well placed to contain the spread of COVID-19. We have taken early and decisive action at our borders, and ...
The Government is refining its COVID-19 essential business guidance to include the distribution of news publications for communities which are hard to reach. The Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media, Kris Faafoi, said the move was in recognition of the importance for New Zealanders who might be harder to ...
The Government is ensuring supermarkets can open on Easter Sunday so we can buy groceries, but stay closed on Good Friday allowing workers to take a break. This provides a balanced approach and ensures we avoid large queues that two days closure may cause. “Supermarkets will be able to open ...
Following the successful conclusion of the Building Partner Capacity (BPC) mission at Taji, New Zealand defence personnel are returning to New Zealand from Iraq, in accordance with the Cabinet decision made in June 2019, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Ron Mark announced today. “New Zealand is very ...
The State of National Emergency to help stop the spread of COVID-19 has been extended for a further seven days, Minister of Civil Defence Peeni Henare said. The initial declaration on March 25 lasted seven days and can be extended as many times as necessary. “Since we went into isolation ...
New Zealand’s ability to go hard and go early in the fight against COVID-19 has been underpinned by strong Government finances and the growing economy heading into this global pandemic, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. The Treasury today released the Crown financial statements for the eight months to the end ...
Health Minister Dr David Clark says 36 new intensive care beds at Christchurch Hospital’s new Hagley building are being fast tracked so they are available for treatment of COVID-19 patients. The Ministry of Health is working with contractor CPB and Canterbury DHB to enable access to the hospital’s ICU, ...
The Government has fast-tracked up to $1 million to help Air New Zealand move urgent freight to and from New Zealand, with the first flight to Shanghai leaving tonight, Transport Minister Phil Twyford announced today. Phil Twyford says it’s crucial that trade in vital goods such as medical supplies and ...
New Zealand will temporarily remove tariffs on all medical and hygiene imports needed for the COVID-19 response. Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi said today that the New Zealand Customs Service will apply tariff concessions to all diagnostic reagents and testing ...
Minister of Finance Grant Robertson has clarified that the changes to the wage subsidy scheme announced yesterday mean that employers should be passing on the full subsidy to workers, except in the case where the person’s normal income is less than the level of the subsidy. “We still want employers ...
Medical face masks from the national reserve supply are now being distributed to District Health Boards, while at the same time local production is being ramped up. Yesterday more than 640,000 masks were sent to DHBS – that is an immediate two week supply, with more to follow in coming ...
The Government has made modifications to the wage subsidy scheme to ensure people don’t lose their jobs during the national lockdown. These changes will soften the impact of COVID-19 on workers, families and businesses, and position them to exit the lockdown and look to recovery, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. ...
Farmers whose herds were culled in response to the outbreak of Mycoplasma bovis will be able to minimise the tax treatment of their income in some circumstances. Revenue Minister Stuart Nash says Cabinet has agreed to change the law. It means farmers may be eligible to spread their income over ...
A $27 million dollar package, effective immediately, is being provided to social sector services and community groups to ensure they can continue to provide essential support to communities as we stay at home as a nation to stop the spread of COVID-19, Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni announced. “At ...
“The guilty plea today will provide some relief to the many people whose lives were shattered by what happened on March 15,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. “These guilty pleas and conviction bring accountability for what happened and also save the families who lost loved ones, those who were injured, ...
The Prime Minister is holding daily press conferences to update New Zealanders on the Government's response to COVID-19. Links to videos and transcripts of these updates below. These transcripts also include All of Government press conferences led by Director Ministry of Health's Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield. 25 March: Live update from the Prime ...
Frontline Police numbers have broken through the 10,000 mark for the first time in history as officers step forward to keep the community safe during the COVID19 lockdown. “Two Police graduations in Auckland and Wellington in the past week have been conducted in unprecedented circumstances,” Police Minister Stuart Nash said. ...
Urgent legislation has been passed to support the package of economic and social measures needed to recover from the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. “The COVID-19 Response (Taxation and Social Assistance Urgent Measures) Bill will cushion New Zealanders from the worst economic impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Revenue Minister ...
From tomorrow, Government support for farmers and growers affected by drought will be expanded and extended across the country, with access to Rural Assistance Payments (RAPS) available throughout the North Island, parts of the South Island and the Chatham Islands, Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced. “These challenging conditions have ...
Parliament has passed amendments to legislation that give the Secretary of Education stronger powers to act in the fight to limit the spread of COVID-19, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “They are part of a suite of changes passed under the COVID-19 Response (Urgent Management Measures) Legislation Bill,” Chris ...
Canada, Australia, Chile, Brunei and Myanmar have joined forces with New Zealand and Singapore by committing to keep supply chains open and remove any existing trade restrictive measures on essential goods, especially medical supplies, in the face of the Covid-19 crisis. Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker today welcomed ...
Immediate freeze on rent increases Tenancies will not be terminated during the lock-down period, unless the parties agree, or in limited circumstances Tenants who had previously given notice can stay in their if they need to stay in the tenancy during the lock-down period Tenants will still be able to ...
As New Zealand unites to lock-down in the fight against COVID-19, the Finance Minister is urging all businesses and workers to stay connected over the next four weeks. “We understand the extreme pressure many businesses are under right now. I know most business owners think of their workers as family ...
A State of National Emergency has been declared across the country as the Government pulls out all the stops to curtail the spread of COVID-19. “Today we put in place our country’s second ever State of National Emergency as we fight a global pandemic, save New Zealanders’ lives and prevent ...
Mr Speaker I wish to make a Ministerial Statement under Standing Order 347 in relation to the recent declaration of a State of National Emergency. Having considered the advice of the Director Civil Defence Emergency Management, the Minister of Civil Defence declared a State of National Emergency for the whole of ...
After five years, the Final Fantasy VII Remake has finally appeared. Sam Brooks reviews the highly anticipated remake, looking back while leaping forward. Remakes have been around so long as we’ve been making art. We’re used to them, whether they’re new retellings of old myths, covers of old songs, or complete ...
By RNZ News Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern does not want New Zealand to be at level four for “a minute longer than needed”, but says there is no plan to lift it earlier than the planned four weeks. As New Zealand approaches the halfway point of the four-week lockdown, ...
Supercity Mayor Phil Goff says Auckland Airport is entitled to launch a major share issue even if it dilutes the council's own shareholding in a strategic asset Auckland Council will see its shareholding in the city's international airport diluted during a $1.2b equity raising initiative. Auckland International Airport shares traded at $7.20 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew McLachlan, Head of School and Dean of Pharmacy, University of Sydney Researchers testing the head lice drug Ivermectin as a possible treatment for COVID-19 have seen promising results in lab studies. But the research is in its early stages and the ...
In the Covid-19 crisis it seems like it's every country for itself, so where does that leave the European Union? Falling apart like the Roman Empire, says Oliver Hartwich We all know those newspaper segments which feature a previously famous person. And then we read these articles wondering why we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Melbourne This week’s Newspoll, conducted April 1-3 from a sample of 1,508 people, showed a huge boost in Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s approval rating based on his leadership thus far in ...
Analysis: New Zealand has dedicated itself to going hard and going early against Covid-19. When compared with other countries, how did we do? When Jacinda Ardern announced a requirement for everyone entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days, she told the nation what New Zealand's strategy for the months ...
Covid-19 quickly put Vodafone NZ to the test, but CEO Jason Paris - working out of his son's bedroom - tells Rod Oram the telco is in good shape, with the crisis giving it the opportunity "to accelerate to our digital future" Vodafone New Zealand got an early start preparing ...
Inland Revenue (IR) will turn off its computer systems for seven days from this Thursday to implement the latest round of planned transformation changes. All phone and online services will be unavailable from 3pm on 9 April until 16 April. That ...
Taxis drivers working during lockdown are facing challenges to keep themselves and their passengers safe, and rideshare service drivers face extra problems. The Taxi Federation's John Hart says most companies are asking callers who request a taxi whether the travel is allowed under the lockdown rules. "If they don't meet ...
Auckland Airport is the latest big company to rush to strengthen its finances to counter the impact of the Covid-19 virus. The company is to raise more than $1.2 billion through a share issue to big institutional investors and existing shareholders, including the Auckland Council which has a 22 percent ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ilan Noy, Professor and Chair in the Economics of Disasters, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Governments across the world have rolled out extensive financial packages to support individuals, businesses and large corporations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Equally, central ...
Pacific Media Watch From the second week of lockdown in New Zealand, to Covid-19 in the Pacific and an “authoritarianism creep” by governments in the Asia-Pacific region provided a fast-changing landscape on the Pacific Media Centre’s Southern Cross radio programme on 95bFM today. New Zealand had crossed the 1000-case ...
The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union is urging the Government to halt its non-essential legislative agenda, including the Electoral (Registration of Sentenced Prisoners) Bill, until the worst of COVID-19 has passed. Taxpayers' Union spokesperson Islay ...
Fuel sales have dropped dramatically and stocks are building up, creating pressure on storage facilities globally and in New Zealand. Z Energy's chief executive Mike Bennetts told Morning Report that there are many storage tanks throughout the country and at the Marsden Point Oil Refinery. "The issue for us is more about ...
Join us for our eighth live Q&A session with Dr Ayesha Verrall, a senior lecturer at Otago University who specialises in infectious diseases. Ayesha Verrall is an infectious diseases physician and senior lecturer at Otago University's Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine (Wellington). Dr Verrall has been monitoring the spread and impact of Covid-19 ...
SkyCity has broken the law by sacking hundreds of workers as of today with no consultation or discussion. Salaried managers at SkyCity were told on Friday that their jobs would finish today. Their letter of notice states clearly that the decision has already ...
The latest in our new series of charts, graphics and data visualisations by Chris McDowall.This work is entirely funded by the generosity of The Spinoff MembersThese posts collate the most recent statistics and presents them as charts and maps. The Ministry of Health typically publishes data updates in the early ...
Mark Jennings writes on some of the good things to have come out of lockdown - and the tough times that lie ahead. We are well into our second week of lockdown and, for me, our old world already feels strangely remote. I’ve learned that working from home is fine, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Sharpe, Associate Professor in Philosophy, Deakin University Some weeks ago, I got an email from a student who had returned to Northern Italy over Christmas to see family. Unable to return to Australia, they were in lockdown. The hospitals were filling ...
The Taranaki-Whanganui Conservation Board (TWCB) has welcomed its latest victory in a long-running court battle to prevent seabed mining off the Taranaki coast. The TWCB has been working with iwi, seafood and other environmental organisations to ...
If you’re a movie-lover but don’t feel like funnelling more money to a giant global corporation right now, good news: there are plenty of free – and legal – streaming options out there. You just have to know where to look.The number of people with access to linear television is ...
The face mask question is more complicated than it might at first seem, explains Siouxsie Wiles.The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 crisis is only possible because of the support of members. If you can, please consider joining Spinoff Members here. Read Toby Morris’s new Side Eye comic, created with Siouxsie Wiles, here. ...
In times of economic uncertainty, good information can be an invaluable commodity. So we’ve been working on a way to channel it to you.For many people, knowing what to do in our radically changing economy is like trying to figure out what to do when the power in your house ...
3 April 2020: The Auditor-General has written to the chief executives of a range of public agencies about important governance matters to consider during the response to the pandemic. The contents of this letter are useful matters for all chief executives ...
Cries that coronavirus lockdown was interfering with “essential pest control” were scare-mongering not unlike supermarket panic buying says a hunting organisation the Sporting Hunters Outdoor Trust. The comment was in response to an Auckland University ...
The Chief High Court judge’s decision to step down has triggered a question bluntly expressed in a headline on Asian Invasion 2019 – What The Hell Is Going On In The New Zealand Judiciary? First, the blogger says, the judiciary was accepting debate sparked by a newly appointed Supreme Court ...
The daily growth in Covid-19 cases in New Zealand continues to slump as the number of tests carried out yesterday reached a record high, Marc Daalder reports The continuing stagnation in the number of new Covid-19 cases on Monday is encouraging, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said. Monday saw just 67 ...
Laura Jean McKay is hunkered down in Palmerston North but her much-hyped novel The Animals in That Country is out there in the world – earlier than expected, too, because it’s about a strange new flu. Two women stand close to each other in an aisle labelled CANS. They’re young, ...
She’s not a teacher or a fluent speaker – she just wants to practise with you. Join Leonie Hayden as she works through the first four weeks of Scotty Morrison’s Māori Made Easy.Today we’re making it count – from 0 to 1000!Most of us learned tahi, rua, toru, whā when ...
Human rights lawyer Kingsley Abbott warns that Kiwis should not be too complacent about the restrictions being placed upon them In New Zealand, swimming at the beach is prohibited, an activity so entrenched in the Kiwi psyche that for many it is like being asked to go without oxygen. The ...
How is Covid-19 spreading within the country? Newsroom is collating information as it's available to paint a picture of what's happening.The following charts are based on numbers shared at the daily press conference. These may vary from the full day's numbers released in the Ministry of Health's spreadsheet ...
Gareth Morgan believes if current trends continue, the Government could "open the jail" in another week Each week we’re locked up imparts irreparable harm to the economy, people’s livelihoods and not least our health. We all know why it’s been necessary and the Government is to be congratulated for moving ...
The Reserve Bank will buy up local government bonds in a major move to support the smooth functioning of the market in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic The Reserve Bank has heeded the call of economists and the country's largest council to expand its multi-billion dollar asset-purchasing programme to include bonds issued by ...
Today President Trump again touted hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for Covid-19, despite a lack of good evidence that it is safe or effective against the coronavirus. Here’s what we do know about the drug Trump calls a ‘game changer’.On Saturday the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use ...
Simon Bridges supports the start of discussions about a possible exit plan from level-4 restrictions, as long as the government remains focused on enforcing an effective lockdown. ...
PACIFIC PANDEMIC DIARY:By Sri Krishnamurthi, self-isolating in Auckland under New Zealand’s Covid-19 lockdown as part of a Pacific Media Watch series. As New Zealand edges toward the third week of lockdown having passed 1000 cases threshold (1039) with 89 new cases, 12 clusters and one death on day ...
It’s a more complicated issue than simply whether one company should control the majority of the market, writes regulatory law expert Edward Willis.The closure of Bauer Media’s operations in New Zealand, along with many well-loved magazine titles, is devastating. The broad impact of the closure, coupled with the realisation that ...
Pacific Media Watch Authorities are cracking down to try and stop the spread of the coronavirus in Fiji, which already has 12 cases, reports TVNZ One News. Police have arrested more than 240 people in the last two days for breaching curfew. “This level of lawlessness is irresponsible, un-Fijian ...
‘When you reach for the exact same thing day after day, your grasp on everything else in the world loosens.’Read more Lockdown Letters hereAt the end of 2001, my brother JP and I picked cherries and thinned apples at an orchard just outside Blenheim. It was hot and tiring work ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin USA still far from worst. Chart by Keith Rankin. Looking at known cases of Covid19, as for Friday 3 April, we still see the dominance of the jetsetter enclaves – including the tax shelters of Europe. We also see the Norse ‘viking’ cluster of Norway, ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand. Today’s contentPublic health strategy Charlie Mitchell (Stuff): How hard, how early? The numbers behind New Zealand’s quick lockdown David Fisher ...
Alex Casey talks to a physiotherapist about how we can all save our necks and backs from a world of pain while working from home during the lockdown. As we enter another week of lockdown, you might be starting to feel a new twinge at the nape of your neck, or ...
The country's three major IT groups have been left out of the loop by the Government in the race to speed up critical contact tracing of virus carriers. ...
America faces 'Pearl Harbour moment' this week; Trump still promoting anti-malaria drug; Irish PM to work as doctor as wellA million cases is so last week, huge doubt over data: A weekend is a long time for an exponential epidemic to do its mathematical work. Early today, New Zealand time, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suze Wilson, Senior Lecturer, Executive Development, Massey University Imagine, if you can, what it’s like to make decisions on which the lives of tens of thousands of other people depend. If you get things wrong, or delay deciding, they die. Your decisions ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hewson, Professor and Chair, Tax and Transfer Policy Institute, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Climate deniers have been hanging out for the United Nations’ next big summit to fail. In a sense, the coronavirus and its induced policy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Giancaspro, Lecturer in Law, University of Adelaide You’ve lost income because of the coronavirus crisis and finding it hard to pay the bills. What if you can’t pay your rent? The short answer, if you live in Australia, is that rules ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aaron Burton, Lecturer in Media Arts, University of Wollongong Being in isolation might be a great time to try something new. In this series, we get the basics on hobbies and activities to start while you’re spending more time at home. ...
The prime minister has pushed back on comments made by an Australian government minister telling New Zealanders to go home if they have no means of support. ...
For all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level four. The country is shut down, apart from essential services. For updated official government advice, see here.The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is funded by The Spinoff Members. To support this work, join The ...
Safe harbour for directors; Virgin Australia shuts NZ base; Z Energy cancels dividend and talks to banks; Serko bounces on cost cutsSafe harbour: Company directors might be sleeping a little easier now that the Government has provided clarity around the issue of reckless trading or trading while insolvent. The ...
Covid 19 coronavirus: Foreign Minister Winston Peters says up to 100,000 foreign nationals may be heading home; and pressure on Government to bring forward capital projects as part of infrastructure injection. ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Debate over leaving lockdown fires up, how the tax system could change after Covid-19, and concerns as cyclone bears down on Vanuatu.Over the last few days, a debate has started to fire up about leaving level four restrictions, and restarting some ...
For all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level four. The country is shut down, apart from essential services. For updated official government advice, see here.The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is funded by The Spinoff Members. To support this work, join The ...
Queenstown author Jane Bloomfield on a writing compeition which unlocks kids' imaginations during the lockdown. Encouraging young minds to roam wild is what drives myself and nine other children’s authors to run the online story-writing competition, Fabostory. With the current lockdown in place, we invite writers aged 7–13 to unlock ...
The University of Otago's Patrick Boudreau explains how 'adventure psychology' can help you cope with self-isolation Imagine being halfway up a sheer vertical face of rock. Gripping ledges smaller than the width of your iPhone with the tips of your fingers and edge of your toes. If the rock gives ...
After 15 years on the world pro tennis circuit, Marina Erakovic is chasing a new dream in sports medicine and mentoring young tennis stars. Marina Erakovic can’t run anymore. She didn’t really like it anyway, but still, it’s a measure of the toll a 15-year career at the highest level of tennis has ...
Newsroom wanted to find out why so many small shops still don’t want us to use paywave. And the answer hasn’t changed - bank fees. Suddenly, surfaces are scary. Door handles, taps, light switches, lift buttons, eftpos machines. These days they aren't just useful inanimate objects we touch without a ...
Should all New Zealanders wear face masks in public to reduce the spread of Covid-19? Farah Hancock looks at the science. The success of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore in keeping Covid-19 levels low has seen a call for widespread mask-wearing. In the United States, the message from officials has ...
The Global Financial Crisis badly hurt the employment prospects of young people about to enter the workforce. Roger Smyth writes that Covid-19 will have a deeper impact, and the Government needs to respond better this time. Recessions hit the young hardest. Employers stop recruiting. Those without qualifications and those without experience end ...
March 16, 2020 is a day that any share market investor is likely to remember for a long time. That’s the day that the Dow Jones Industrial Average, an index that tracks the top 30 companies listed on US stock exchanges, lost 2997 points, nearly 13 percent of its value. ...
Scientists hope to seek evidence of the coronavirus, or its absence, in wastewater. Mirjam Guesgen explains.The fight against Covid-19 is headed for the sewers, with New Zealand scientists hoping to analyse wastewater samples for signs of the coronavirus.Tests would allow health authorities to see whether New Zealand’s elimination strategy has ...
Since the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment relaxed the rules around the supply of essential non-food items last week, more businesses are announcing that their online stores are up and running. Some things, however, are not what leaps to mind as ‘essential’.Under the new policy allowing essential non-food items ...
By Jane Patterson, political editor of RNZ News Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says it’s too early to claim success against the spread of Covid-19 but 11 days into lockdown, New Zealand has made a good start. At today’s media briefing, Ardern was reluctant to draw too many conclusions from ...
By Stefan Armbruster of SBS News in Brisbane Refugees and asylum seekers in Brisbane have begun daily protests urging for their release after doctors and human rights lawyers flagged fears that a repurposed hotel could become a coronavirus infection hotspot. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the UN Human ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says it's too early to claim success against the spread of Covid-19 but 11 days into lockdown, New Zealand has made a good start. ...
Daily review 26/03/2019 
Last month I wrote my blog on covid-19 pointing out the in our pre Alert Level 4 days that a subject no one had heard here months ago was now dominating the media. An amazing feature of this crisis is how quickly it has swept every other issue aside worldwide. ...11 hours ago
Nick Wilson,1 Ayesha Verrall,1,2 Len Cook,3 Alistair Gray,3 Amanda Kvalsvig,1 Michael Baker,1 (1epidemiologists, 2infectious disease physician, 3statisticians) In this blog, we raise ideas for how New Zealand might optimise testing to both identify cases in the community as part of the COVID-19 elimination strategy, and to confirm when the virus ...11 hours ago
Story of the Week... Editorial of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Claim Review... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... North Atlantic's capacity to absorb CO2 overestimated, study suggests Research into ocean’s plankton likely to lead to ...15 hours ago
The Treaty on Open Skies is one of the most effective mechanisms for preventing war curently in force. By letting countries make surveillance flights over each others' territory, it eliminates fears that they are secretly preparing for war. So naturally, the US is planning to withdraw from it: The Trump ...15 hours ago
. . April 5: Day eleven of living in lock-down… My one day of rest for the week, and an opportunity to mow my lawns – which I’d been delaying for about three weeks. (On the plus side, the damp micro-climate in my back yard yielded three lovely fresh mushrooms ...15 hours ago
Paul Connett is putting all his eggs in one basket. He says “you only have to read four studies” to find community after fluoridation harmful. Image credit: Fluoride Action Network newsletter. For part 1 of this series see Anti-fluoridation propaganda now relies on only four studies. 1: Bashash et al (2018). Paul Connett, ...18 hours ago
As far as anyone can say, New Zeaand still has a general election scheduled for September 19 this year. The election will be accompanied by two referenda, one of which will ask voters:Do you support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill?The official campaign period for the cannabis referendum begins ...18 hours ago
As the world economy slides rapidly towards deep recession there are growing calls for a Universal Benefit coming from some leftists and rightists. Now Finance Minister Grant Robertson is saying it is on the table. This article by a French party Workers Struggle provides analysis of various forms of universal ...1 day ago
This is the advice from the very top of the anti-fluoride movement – Paul Connett, director of the Fluoride Action Network (FAN). Don’t worry about reading up on all the scientific information “You only have ... 1 day ago
Comfortably, in the very first round, with an impressive 56% of the votes.I wonder, did members of the Shadow Cabinet start tweeting their resignations during Starmer's victory speech, or is that only a trick the right pull?It is odd how all the talk of how the next leader "needs to ...2 days ago
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern addressed the nation today about the decline in daylight New Zealand has been experiencing over the previous few months. She said “As many of you will notice, our attempts to stem the dwindling of the daylight over the last few months have been completely ...2 days ago
We must root out the traitors among us! ...3 days ago
Resuming Normal Service: The Republican Party's nominee for in 1920, Warren Harding, promised the American people: “not heroics, but healing; not nostrums, but normalcy; not revolution, but restoration”. If she wishes to remain our prime minister, then Jacinda Ardern will offer New Zealanders the same.HOW EDUCATED AMERICA snickered when the ...4 days ago
I haven’t done a huge amount in the last few days. I’m reading The Poppy War and I’ve sort of poked at a couple of games – I started SOMA but I’m a wimp and I quit while in the first room after the brain scan. I might try it ...4 days ago
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The Covid-19 saga will no doubt produce many twists and turns for us before it is finally brought to an end. But one thing it has shown us – and what comfort it should bring us – is that our country’s government is in good hands. I am not thinking ...6 days ago
The following statement was released on March 28 by the National Network on Cuba, a coalition of 40 groups, based in the United States. In recent weeks, Cuba has deployed hundreds of medical providers to over a dozen countries in Europe, Asia, as well as to their neighbors in Latin ...6 days ago
Yesterday, New Zealand recorded its first Covid-19 related death on the West Coast. Unfortunately this is unlikely to be the only fatality, with the virus now being found in every region of the country.However despite the significant danger, people are still unfortunately breaching lockdown rules.There’s really only one main very ...1 week ago
The CV-19 (COVID) pandemic has seen the imposition of a government ordered national quarantine and the promulgation of a series of measures designed to spread the burden of pain and soften the economic blow on the most strategically important and most vulnerable sectors of society. The national narrative is framed ...1 week ago
From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our Government has striven to provide calm, clear and consistent communication, including daily press conference updates from the Prime Minister. ...1 day ago
Foreign Minister Winston Peters says getting New Zealanders back home and other travellers out of the country is "a nightmare for our embassies, consuls, and staff around the world". Speaking to NewstalkZB's Mike Hosking, the Foreign Minister said that he gave a clear message to people travelling overseas that they ...4 days ago
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The scale of what we face right now is unlike anything we have ever seen before. Overcoming it is our common purpose. ...2 weeks ago
The New Zealand Government has made arrangements to charter a flight for New Zealanders stranded in Peru to depart the country, following agreement with the Chilean government to allow the necessary transit through Chile, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters announced today. “Like many travellers around the world at the moment, ...11 hours ago
Article by Keith Rankin A Plea for Political Commentary with a Semblance of Accuracy
After five years, the Final Fantasy VII Remake has finally appeared. Sam Brooks reviews the highly anticipated remake, looking back while leaping forward. Remakes have been around so long as we’ve been making art. We’re used to them, whether they’re new retellings of old myths, covers of old songs, or complete ...5 hours ago
Supercity Mayor Phil Goff says Auckland Airport is entitled to launch a major share issue even if it dilutes the council's own shareholding in a strategic asset Auckland Council will see its shareholding in the city's international airport diluted during a $1.2b equity raising initiative. Auckland International Airport shares traded at $7.20 ...8 hours ago
While Cabinet is discussing what's needed for NZ to return to alert level three, the PM's made it clear lockdown will run until 22 April. ...8 hours ago
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Analysis: New Zealand has dedicated itself to going hard and going early against Covid-19. When compared with other countries, how did we do? When Jacinda Ardern announced a requirement for everyone entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days, she told the nation what New Zealand's strategy for the months ...10 hours ago
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Inland Revenue (IR) will turn off its computer systems for seven days from this Thursday to implement the latest round of planned transformation changes. All phone and online services will be unavailable from 3pm on 9 April until 16 April. That ...11 hours ago
Taxis drivers working during lockdown are facing challenges to keep themselves and their passengers safe, and rideshare service drivers face extra problems. The Taxi Federation's John Hart says most companies are asking callers who request a taxi whether the travel is allowed under the lockdown rules. "If they don't meet ...11 hours ago
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Queenstown author Jane Bloomfield on a writing compeition which unlocks kids' imaginations during the lockdown. Encouraging young minds to roam wild is what drives myself and nine other children’s authors to run the online story-writing competition, Fabostory. With the current lockdown in place, we invite writers aged 7–13 to unlock ...21 hours ago
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After 15 years on the world pro tennis circuit, Marina Erakovic is chasing a new dream in sports medicine and mentoring young tennis stars. Marina Erakovic can’t run anymore. She didn’t really like it anyway, but still, it’s a measure of the toll a 15-year career at the highest level of tennis has ...22 hours ago
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Fooork! Wonder if pauline has been watching Al Jazeera recently…. llolololollz.
That’s a wickedly excellent photo, perfectly capturing her nature. Kudos to the photographer.
Edit..
Australian PM denounces foreign vote meddling after NRA report
Scott Morrison says laws were made to ‘criminalise taking foreign political donations’ to prevent lobbyists’ influence
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/australian-pm-denounces-foreign-vote-meddling-nra-report-190326032714624.html
Just thinking aloud for a moment reading the words… foreign political donations….. makes me think of jlr and all of his recent questions in parliament.
Pssst pauline, are these some of your mates on the youtube?
…chaser…
Dang!!!!!
Thanks Joe
“Senior One Nation figures James Ashby and Steve Dickson claim they had been “on the sauce” drinking scotch for “three or four hours” when discussing seeking a $20m donation from the National Rifle Association to the far-right Australian party.”
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/mar/26/one-nations-james-ashby-says-he-was-on-the-sauce-when-seeking-20m-from-nra
Getting on the piss and seeking $20 million from the NRA to water down Australian gun laws sounds like something James Ashby would be proud of.
Mr Ashby been linked to physical altercations, dodgy dealings and sexual harassment allegations — some of which date back decades.
https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/the-biggest-james-ashby-scandals-laid-bare/news-story/34dc77f134ab44f5fe4e547be7bc9f27
hopefully the NRA exposure will trip Angry Paula and her white nation party ..
She was fringe anyway …
Most of us would agree with this short video …. and just need to overcome our shyness to express it more.
No.
Natural.
Justice.
Yeah.
Right.
‘natural justice’ in Mainzeal judgment – Stuff.co.nz
https://www.stuff.co.nz/…/former-pm-jenny-shipley-alleges-no-natural-justice-in-main…
Here we go , – more stupidity from the far right.
When will it ever cease?
Big Read: Speargun and mass surveillance – the … – NZ Herald
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12216367
National Party gives platform to ‘Islamophobic’ misinformation via Facebook page in name of free speech
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/111567104/national-party-gives-platform-to-islamophobic-misinformation-via-facebook-page-in-name-of-free-speech
More madness going on.
Jews outraged after mosque leader blames Mossad for Christchurch …
https://www.newshub.co.nz/…/jews-outraged-after-mosque-leader-blames-mossad-for-…
”Their all going mad out there , – stark bloody raving mad ! ” …. said Uncle Hec after listening to the national broadcasts on his wireless…
Your link got redirected to spin about an arrest in Ozzy. Why am I not surprised. Madness is the new norm.
Almost overlooked: You say the Jews are defending Mossad! That is a nasty smear on the Jews – OMG, from the NZ Jewish Council themselves! Ahmed Bhamji is the man, respect to the Masjid E Umar!
Hey folks. It might pay to be wary of the rain. We have a state of emergency declared in Westland and the rain has been half a metre and more to come.
Surface flooding is exacerbated after drought conditions as the ground is hard and largely impervious.
Maureen Pugh’s tweeted about it so obviously Bridges was wrong about her as she can tweet. She’s tweeted about bridges washing out.
Irony, and wild weather.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12216555
Yeah , pretty damn epic weather,… but I’ve got to say,… with Bridges squawking so much lately…. I did think of Bridges being washed out…
Hell ,… lets all play it again for old times sake’s…
Mike Curb Congregation – Burning Bridges (with lyrics) – YouTube
And over at stuffed we have that wee poodle Tracy Watkins standing on a bar stool.
Just what is Tract Watkins “sincerely hoping” for here when she says:
“Once the realities of domestic politics intrude – and they have already, after a week-long political truce – those expectations may run far ahead of what Ardern can realistically deliver. Because the extraordinary political circumstances that allowed her to announce new gun laws with near-unanimous support will likely never occur again – we sincerely hope……….”
That was a disgraceful article from a clearly troubled Watkins. Troubled that she wouldn’t have any controversy to bait the government with.
Well, I guess if Watkins fell off the bar stool, who would notice. Really.
Hot air doesn’t fall; it rises up and makes your nostrils tingle and your eyes water.
But if it keeps on rising it will eventually turn cold and become an icicle and then it will fall back to earth and melt away to nothing. Ahhh… not sure what that’s got to do with the price of fish but never mind. It’s late.
You need ice to keep the fish fresh? 🙂
Watkins and the rest of the Press Gallery have been reduced to bit players in the last week and a half, they will be wanting to rectify that and have normal service resumed ASAP.
Pressure’s on for these Nats. Another in a ‘bitter relationship break up’. This one is a close advisor to Bennett.
National = car crash.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12216533
And just WHO is Judith Sloan ???
Australian economist Judith Sloan rips into ‘ordinary’ Jacinda Ardern …
https://www.newshub.co.nz/…/australian-economist-judith-sloan-rips-into-ordinary-jac…
Here’s the rub :
Judith Sloan – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Sloan
And your answer is ‘ conservative’. Which really should translate not as ‘ conservative ‘ at all. Far more accurate to name her as she is : a neo liberal radical liberalist, a globalist.
… ‘ She was a founding member of the group Conservatives for an Australian Head of State ‘…
This is how the far right wing will launch their attacks on our Prime Minister. By couching her as a recipient of good favor by NZ First and Winston Peters,… which may be true to an extent ,… but certainly and by no means detract’s from the excellent job she is doing.
Is Judith jealous ???
PS : Here’s a clue…
———————————
Sloan said the New Zealand election was “surprising” considering the “success of the previous National Party governments” under former prime ministers John Key and Bill English. She said they “artfully” steered us through the global financial crisis and Christchurch earthquakes.
———————————
There have been several mentions today in various news agencies of ‘speakers ‘ against MMP.
We can see whats being formed against this govt so just be a little vigilant for wolves in sheep’s clothing.
They are gearing up for distraction and an assault on our political system in 2020.
They are howling for vengeance.
Don’t let them have it.
“”I get it: she’s young… ”
Clearly she doesn’t get it at all. Jacinda has what Avasarala has: brains, integrity, and heart. The looks are just a bonus.
It’s The Australian. She’s preaching to the choir. Best to just ignore this bullshit.
With the NSW election out of the way it won’t be long now before Morrison calls the Federal polls. Prospects look terrible for the government and their media backers are starting to lose it.
Maybe, … but sticky little fingers making sticky little texts over the Tasman seem to carry a long way, … mates rates and favours,… so to speak…
None of it will matter in the long run though WK. Ardern is forging a bond now with the electorate that leaves the commentariat sidelined and grasping for relevance. I’ve stopped worrying.
Ever since Dirty Politics I wouldn’t trust em as far as I could kick em.
A Murdoch propagandist and a thoroughly unpleasant person.
The Ockers have got their knickers in a knot ’cause the good ol’ Kiwi dollar is up around 95c AUD, and was dollar for dollar a couple of weeks ago. NZD’s rightful place being AUD 80c or less.
Unfortunately for the poor Ockers it’s all their problem, NZD’s cross rates to most major currencies are in sort of normal ranges. Not happy times over the ditch
Yes, I nearly choke on my smoked Chicken roll at lunch today while reading that garbage from old Judith and I normally don’t read anything by her outside the finance section, and even then it’s usually a passing glance as it’s usually a load of bollocks most the time.
Most commentators and most of the journalists in the Oz or in most old Mates paper know 4/5ths of F*** all about MMP and if I had changed $5 since being in Oz since 98 for explaining MMP, the last election and why NZ has MMP I’ll flying about in MkVc Spritfire with my mid to late1930’s Bentley, SS or 3 wheel Morgan in the Hanger with couple of farms in Oz and NZ by now.
They think Key is god and old Bill is a saint over here in the Fourth Estate especially outside of the The Age, SMH and the ABC.
Sometimes I have to bite my tongue 😛 when reading the Oz paper in morning while have a coffee or tea at my local cafe.
You ol petrolhead!
Think of the planet – get a Tesla.
Rest assured Macro, the plant is safe for as I didn’t win $70m Oz lotto last night and I don’t think a Tesla will handle the NT environment as everything up here is big up here in the NT. Even the road trains and the other type of train (the Choo Choo one) have a few problems with the wildlife as the majors roads, rail line outside of Darwin or the major populated areas are unfenced.
Plus I haven’t seen a Tesla car or let alone any charging stations either around Darwin area, but I’ve seen an awful lot of those bloody big gas/ desiel guzzler Yankee 4wd Ute’s / pickup wagons of late and god only knows why the heck you want one of those big wide monsters anyway as they nexts to being bloody useless off road in the wet season.
LOL yeah I’m well aware of those road trains impressive! – I have family in Perth so have visited the West a few times and a friend in Queensland is one of those inveterate outbackers – they just did 10,000 km round the North – can’t for the life of me think why! Actually another mate of mine has a Tesla – and I have been having trouble with the 10th commandment ever since. I shall just have to make do with my hybrid.
Today it was mow the lawns at the bach day -not realising it was also beach hop day. OMG! Literally thousands of yank Tanks – fortunately they were going in the opposite direction. But I spent the day contemplating on the premiss that we really are an adolescent, if not infantile, species.
Having said that – I have a lasting recollection of a ’33 Bentley blatting around the Dunlop tyre factory in Upper Hutt one evening after work had finished for the day. My sis grazed her horse in the paddock next to the factory and I happened to be there when this Bentley arrived. The sound from its large copper pipe exhaust reverberating off the factory walls still lingers in my mind. I was an adolescent then and that sort of thing impressed.
Oh and I’ve got to sit in the cockpit of a Mosquito and been up close and personal to a Spit. Another mate is an ex warbird pilot.
You lucky sod for getting a sit in a mossie, my late NZ grandparents had a Austin 7 Saloon Vintage car which they drag me and younger brother when he was older a enough around NZ and hence my love of the 1930- 40’s cars and planes. But I’ve managed got to having sit in a Panzer 4 and Tiger 1 in the UK a few yrs, but buggers wouldn’t let me out of the hanger after I both started them. That same trip I also got an off limits tour of HMS Victory and would stay with me for a very long time.
In the wops outside Darwin, this might suit a bit better than a Tesla …
hmmmm nice! 2020 delivery and 12,000 pre ordered so maybe not next year. 🙁 but certainly the way to go A range of 200 miles is ok but you would not be taking into the outback very far unfortunately.
Yeah, really needs an i3 style range extender. Workhorse were planning to put one in their w-15, but IIRC last I saw they’ve dropped it. California regs.
Now that is more like it! What was the prob with the regs? A 400 mile range would be very useful. One charge between Auckland and Wellington – making it very do-able.
There’s different regs for petrol-powered range extenders in Cal. Don’t remember exactly what they are, but they’re complicated. They’re the cause of US-spec i3s having to run the battery down to 5% before the range extender can kick on, and the fuel tank being software limited to 7 litres, so the range extender is more a limp-home tool. Whereas euro spec i3s you can tell the range extender to kick on anytime and maintain battery state of charge, and use the full 9 litres of fuel.
That vid is kinda old, it was from before the decision to not have the range extender. The 400 miles was basically 80 miles pure electric plus 320 miles petrol-powered range extension.
Look’s like they nicked a Landrover Defender and just plonked a electic motor in, with hi ho sliver of we go but a of range of 200km aren’t going to get you far in Oz or anywhere else for that matter unless you are Western Europe.
Yeah it looks like a Landrover – but it is a unique design if u watch the vid.
Yes I’ll watched it, as I would be interesting to know how big the engine bay is and wondering to see if it’s possible to retro fit an electric motor into my Landie in the future once the technology advances IRT to range and 4wd.
I have an on-line acquaintance from another site who has retrofitted an old toyota starlet with an electric motor and uses it for local running. It’s been his main mode of transport for some years now. He’s very excited about the new tesla batteries as even a smaller one of them will give him a much extended range. He lives just up the road in the Coromandel and his son attends the local ATC but we haven’t got to meet although he and my eldest used to travel together to Waikato Uni for lectures.
I’ve been watching Tesla IRT it’s batteries of late and have been quite impressed at what they are doing atm. It’s one of the reasons why i has to push the Minister of Finance to spend a little bit more on our on grid Solar System so we can make seemless transition to off grid in the future.
I’ve got fantasies of converting my Defender. Been looking out for a wrecked i3 REx to rob the powertrain and battery out of. Actually bid on one a while back, but it was an easily repairable one so someone else was willing to pay a lot more than I was.
Get rid of the diesel engine and gearbox, stick about a 3:1 single stage reducer on the electric motor, and run it straight into the transfer box. Then I’d have a useful highway speed range, and a useful crawler range.
The electric motor is roughly the same size as the gearbox, so the whole engine bay would be free for controller, range extender etc, and the battery pack would go in the back on the floor. Or maybe below the floor between the chassis rails if I could be bothered tearing it down to package it all in a bit better.
Thank god I’m not the only lunatic around here thinking of converting his Landie to a all electric drive Landie.
I was think of putting the battery system where the fuel tank would’ve been, but between the chassis rails seems a good idea.
My other concern is I have a separate stand alone battery system with Red Arc converter thingy for my fridge and freezer which only put in for very long trips when the local shop isn’t down the road so to speak. I’m wondering if that may need replacing when I go all electric?
I don’t think you’d need replace your existing electronic goods. As long as you’ve got a rough guess of total power output then you should know how much range and usage and storage you’ll need. My neighbour bought a second hand Tesla Model S battery pack online and that’s got enough storage to run his two person house, washer, solar cloth dryer, gadgets, water pump, it’s enough storage to run for three days with out recharging and electric vehicles are, at least the Tesla range is really customisable so you can increase the storage by what ever you want really. Base models are $30k US where as just a year ago they where over a $100k. So the more EVs sold the cheaper they’re getting.
Speaking of One Nation – Mark Latham, the guy who used to be Australia’s next PM found his way into NSW’s upper house over the weekend.
The Labor government in Queensland has transferred two prisons back into state control from Serco.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-26/queensland-private-prisons-to-be-run-by-state-government/10938192?section=politics
This was the powerful routinely humiliating the powerless ….complete misunderstanding of the law my arse.
An investigation into illegal internal examinations of female prisoners at an Auckland jail brought back horrific memories for the victims, an independent watchdog says.
Auckland University sociologist Professor Tracey McIntosh spoke to prisoners and told Stuff there appeared to have been “a complete misunderstanding” of the law at the Auckland Region women’s jail at Wiri.
She said for her independent oversight role when Corrections investigated claims of illegal, intrusive physical searches of female inmates, the prisoners were brought in to see her and a senior Corrections staffer one by one.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/111569503/womens-prison-scandal-how-abhorrent-searches-came-to-light
Well hello Joe! Good to see you here. Small world isn’t it?
The rich schools oppose the plan to return education to being a public service for the greater good:
http://www.communityschools.org/
They want:
To be able to charge loads of fees
To be able to make parents buy devices they cannot afford
To pander to internation students
To kick out ‘dumb kids’ that make their schools look bad
**TO RUN SCHOOLS AS A TRADEABLE BUSINESS COMMODITY AND NOT A PUBLIC SERVICE**
To be honest, I trust civil servants to run schools than the red faced reactionary bourgeois hacks that control most boards of trustees, and have their own little networks.
The Hubs are going to shine some light on all the corruption and nepotism that goes on in our education system, and some people dont like that.
All right, OK , … lets get hip , baby ,… so hip were all pelvis …
Neil Diamond – You Got To Me 1967 – YouTube
All the Ruskies need to do is tweet “troops” and out go the lights in Venezuelan again. Hmmmm, James Bond says twice is a coincidence. Who remembers what 007 says about three times?
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/385493/russian-air-force-planes-land-in-venezuela-carrying-troops-report
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/venezuela-suffers-blackout-month-190326055858552.html
Guaido just confirmed he is behind the power outage!
“There will be no continuation of electricity in Venezuela until Maduro is removed.”
Looks like a US/Ruski cyber-tech-war over Venezuela. Most likely the power grid has a virus, which unreportedly drops the three phase down to one.