Grant Robinson made a good speech in the house today. His point that the National opposition are now more interested in texts, emails, diary’s and goats above now mentioning the economy in any detail shows they just revel in “bad news”. The economy of course under this new govt is doing wonderfully well by most reports.
The gotcha point scoring idiocy was then immediately backed up by Simon Bridges who stood up yelling and literally barking about how the govt is in “chaos”. It’s plain to see that the National opposition is rudderless, either that or it is being manipulated by an invisible puppeteer who’s identity remains open to conjecture.
Crosby Textor tactics, death by a thousand cuts. Mind you it’s just dogs barking at the moment but the plan would be to keep it up and cause maximum distraction. Especially from how good the economy is going. But then its hard to imagine this opposition lot knowing what a plan was. They will just mindlessly carry on barking, must be time to really howl at Winston by now and keep up the ‘War on Winston’ at all cost.
It’s quite pathetic really. Where is the policy beyond joining Trump’s war on drugs and kicking people out of state housing?
They seem micro-focussed on emails, texts, phone calls, and meetings rather than offering New Zealand what they would do differently.
I expect that’s either because they don’t know what to do beyond barking at cars, or they continue along the same path to inequality, housing, infrastructure, and immigration problem, and a destruction of the environment for the profit of a few.
National have never been a party of ideas, apart from cycle trails and new flags they have always promoted themselves as the party of sound economic management. It must be stinging them that notion has been well and truly debunked.
The cycle trails were a reasonably good idea but lets face it, anyone could think of that. Also, this was promoted by Key in his first days as PM and he failed to do anything at all after that except lie, pull women’s pony tails and do radio gags.
“the self absorbed NZ elite who simply cannot stomach a fair society”
Even worse than that I reckon Muttonb – they cannot stand the mere idea of it. Because let’s face reality, a fair society is pretty damn unlikely to actually happen in more than a token way.
Maybe it’s because of all that tremendously ‘hard work’ our elites are putting in to get that capital gain on their investment properties? It can be exhausting.
There’s been a rebound in business confidence, with most indicators showing some sign of improvement.
The ANZ Bank’s monthly survey shows 38 percent of firms expect general business conditions to deteriorate over the next year, an improvement of 12 percentage points over August’s survey.
Amazing what happens when people actually breathe and realise the sky isn’t going to fall on their heads.
And when they realise what a great PM we have and that they could actually both do very well under her vision and contribute to a better New Zealand at the same time.
And that is the other major chagrin for the National opposition, they have no answer to Jacinda Ardern and what a great leader and PM she is and how she stands tall on the international stage. While she is away promoting NZ they are left to bark at their nemesis. They don’t know what to do except sulk and throw hissy fits. You would think they would have got through most of the stages of grief by now.
Karma that Winstons on the the receiving end of something like this for a change but Bishop never struck me as the type to make allegations like this unless he knew something
Bishop is going for broke after Peters said he would reveal the leakers name…. Now would Bishop have more than a passing interest in who that name might be
I just don’t think it will. We’d know by now if we were ever going to. Bridges will have been smoothing over the situation with the leaker, offering all sorts of concessions (or blackmailing) in return for future loyalty, and we the public having been whipped into a frenzy will end up none the wiser having paid out the thick end of $500K after all the limos, and the time spent in parliament, and the enquiries.
Maybe – I think it will come out because bridges has staked so much on it. He may go the, “we know and we are dealing with it in house’ way but imo too many have gone on their hind legs about this including smiley collins – she will want someone to thrash bridges with as she lines up for eventual leadership of that shit of fools – Gnashinal
From your link in the Herald we have
“I have not called nor had any reason to call Mr Haumaha since the controversy.”
When Winston says things like that one should be suspicious.
After all the statement would be technically true, or at least Winston would claim it was if the sequence of events was.
1. Winston rings Deputy Commissioner Haumaha’s OFFICE, or better still his home, and asks that he please call Winston.
2. Haumaha rings back and Winston assures him that everything is going to be OK.
Winston will claim “I never rang Haumaha, I rang his Office”, or “I rang his family”, or even something as simple as “He rang me”. Whichever is appropriate.
Incidentally what on earth do you mean by “Has Chris Bishop gone rogue?”
If Bishop turns out to have fired a dud I think that will only serve to crystallise in the public’s mind the stupid game of ’gotcha’ politics that National has been pursuing.
I was highly amused the time he held up that ‘NO’ sign: the interviewer happened by chance to have reversed the expected outcome by the way he phrased the question, and by holding that sign up, Winston was in fact damning himself. Not that he noticed..
If the allegation is correct, the impropriety of such a phone call is destructive enough that any deception contained within his reported denial would be almost secondary, and Peters would be irreparably damaged.
On the other hand, if the allegation is not correct, then I’d suggest Chris Bishop has just destroyed his own political career.
Chris Bishop has put a stake in the ground against one of Parliaments greatest survivors. It’s high stakes stuff. For what it’s worth, my money’s on Peters. He’s just far too wily to commit such a stupid mistake.
I’m thinking they’re clutching at any straw in an effort to combat the star treatment Jacinda Ardern is receiving in NY. It doesn’t have to be true… just so long as it feeds into the strategic meme of incompetence and supposed lack of transparency they are endeavouring to foster.
In other words… “Dirty Politics” which is about all they seem to be good at these days.
Even Peter Dunne is having second thoughts about them:
“clutching at straws” like the wee weasel blog trolls that are trying to promote the notion that Jacinda Ardern is somehow not the real leader or PM and that it is really Winston. Its misogyny for all to see.
Nothing will happen because it’s a beltway issue and the number of people who care is limited to a small section of politically activated and bitter National voters.
Have a look at Q2 today. He might only be described as Acting PM but he answers As the PM not FOR the PM. That is why the question asks about “he”.
“Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government’s statements and actions relating to Derek Handley and the Government Chief Technology Officer role?”
Yeah I know it’s Ardern, but let’s be honest it’s in name only
Com’n fella we all know Peters is calling the shots.
This is the downside of MMP in NZ, you need 50% to rule, both of our two main parties are around 40%, Peters is in the box seat and he milks it for all it’s worth.
Labour was far more desperate than National so they sold their soul to Peters.
Peters is the unofficial PM, Ardern is just there for the smile and wave stuff.
It’s govern, not rule. Rule is for kings and queens in the middle ages which is where I suspect a lot of National voters draw their social values from.
Also, Labour and NZF are simply closer on policy than the Nats who are an outlier. Peter’s only crime was to cruelly string the hapless Bingles along before dumping him.
As I understand it National made the mistake of approaching the Coalition negotiations mistakenly thinking THEY were in the box seat on election night and, consequently, didn’t really put enough effort into it.
Labour was desperate if they’d lost Ardern she would have retired and their only ace would have disappeared.
2017, was do or die for Labour, shame they didn’t know Peters had no intention of ever going with National so he could milk Labours desperation for all it was worth.
And here we are today with Ardern being a figurehead PM and the real power behind the thrones Peters calling the shots.
That’s a ridiculous version of events. Labour couldn’t have hoped for much more on the night.
And National weren’t going to ‘give Peters what he wanted’, not because they were principled but because they were too far apart on policy. Winston Peters asked, “had enough?” in his campaign, and said he wanted to put a human face on capitalism in his coalition speech.
The issue was and is that National weren’t, are not, and never will be able to ‘put a human face on capitalism’ because they are uncaring people who work solely for the selfish among us.
BM rewriting history. The gnats tried and failed to take out Peters and he showed them who was boss. Little gnats crawling around begging for a deal – LOL such fun it was and still is to watch the gnat losers wank on – keep it up BM only 4-5 more terms to go.
BM National did the dirty on Peters by releasing his pension info.
National have a long history of shitting on Winston and are crying over not getting his support.
National still have no support party and continuing to piss Peters off is a dumb strategy.
It will put Ardern in a very tight spot, her duty PM misleading Parliament.
If she sacks him Winston will bring down the current Government, if she does nothing but a telling off it reinforces Ardern as a weak PM and a one-term wonder.
So better hope Bishop was full of BS (depending on your political leanings of course!!).
I didn’t think very much of the last Speaker as it happens.
On the other hand the one two before him was the worst that I can remember and I had some time to observe them all the way back to Algie in 1961.
Margaret Wilson was by far the worst.
Her successor, Lockwood Smith, was easily the best. Carter wasn’t great and I don’t think really wanted the job but I think he will be remembered more kindly than Mallard.
Trevor started off OK but he has reverted to his tribal Labour roots.
Bishop hasn’t managed to quote the phone call verbatim. In fact he is very vague about it so unless the call can be proved and the actual words recovered there’s not a case to answer.
It’s a bit like snapchat as I understand it how the content disappears after one viewing…perhaps that’s why it was Bishop’s app of choice when communicating with kids?
BM – you have expertise in weasel words, and I am sure that you will read into it what you want. Be prepared for disappointment: the country is not with you.
Why do you keep putting question marks after everything? You seem to do it whether there is any question or not? Is it because you don’t actually want to give your view? I also notice you put a space between the last letter and the question mark? Why do you do that? You may not want to answer? Or you may want to? Answer that is?
Interesting perspective on Kavanaugh and his alleged (mandatory weasel word) habit of assaulting women: it wasn’t so much trying to get his rocks off or an exercise of power, but more about being a try-hard to win approval from his arsehole group of male buddies.
We are getting there, aren’t we? We’re making the transition towards an all-electric future. We can now leave fossil fuels in the ground and thwart climate breakdown. Or so you might imagine, if you follow the technology news.
So how come oil production, for the first time in history, is about to hit 100m barrels a day? How come the oil industry expects demand to climb until the 2030s? How is it that in Germany, whose energy transition (Energiewende) was supposed to be a model for the world, protesters are being beaten up by police as they try to defend the 12,000-year-old Hambacher forest from an opencast mine extracting lignite – the dirtiest form of coal? Why have investments in Canadian tar sands – the dirtiest source of oil – doubled in a year?
The answer is, growth. There may be more electric vehicles on the world’s roads, but there are also more internal combustion engines. There be more bicycles, but there are also more planes. It doesn’t matter how many good things we do: preventing climate breakdown means ceasing to do bad things. Given that economic growth, in nations that are already rich enough to meet the needs of all, requires an increase in pointless consumption, it is hard to see how it can ever be decoupled from the assault on the living planet.”
Even in China , those brand new coal plants there were supposed to be cancelled by the central government, well the regional governments who build them have different ideas
“259 Gigawatts (GW) of new capacity are under development in China, comparable to the entire U.S. coal fleet (266 GW). This represents a 25% increase in China’s coal power fleet. https://endcoal.org/2018/09/tsunami-warning/
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Staff at the Ministry of Social Development say they are enthusiastic about the government’s $54 million investment in housing the homeless, with many describing it as a welcome change. ...
Today posters have gone up outside ANZ branches across New Zealand to expose ANZ’s sponsorship of an exclusive oil industry group, ‘The Petroleum Club’. The satirical posters play on ANZ’s recent ad campaigns, replacing the banks’ tagline ‘healthy ...
Imagine a country where children look forward to walking or cycling to school, parents arrive home safely, and the journeys we take for work or pleasure do more than leave us alive or uninjured, they also improve our lives. This is happening now in countries ...
Sunday, 18 August, 2019 - Environmental groups and well known New Zealanders are preparing to deliver a 55,000 strong petition to the steps of Parliament tomorrow, calling on the Government to protect the world’s smallest dolphin. ...
The Government’s proposed rescue plan must be strengthened because it is the last chance to save Māui dolphins from extinction and secure the future for Hector’s dolphins, Forest & Bird says. ...
Simon Shepherd: Roads, schools, hospitals, prisons, the building blocks that keep society functioning. And we don't have enough. It's called the infrastructure deficit and will be the focus of a major conference this coming week. The man charged with ...
New Zealand has been issued a stark challenge from Pacific leaders to dramatically upscale its action to address climate breakdown, Oxfam says, after a clear rallying cry from nations at this week’s Pacific Islands Forum. ...
Support for Recreational Dope Going ‘Up in Smoke’ Family First NZ is welcoming yet another poll showing plummeting support for legalising cannabis in New Zealand. The Horizon Research poll shows support for legalising has plummeted from 60% last ...
The prospect of ending wider cannabis prohibition looks increasingly unlikely. Over the last nine months, the percentage of New Zealanders who would vote for legalising the personal use of cannabis has declined at a near linear rate of around 10% per ...
“It’s disappointing that news out of the United States of hospitalisations linked to illegal street drugs is somehow seen as relevant to the New Zealand vaping scene,” says Ben Pryor, Director of Alt New Zealand – the largest Kiwi-owned vaping company. ...
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) welcomes the successful passing of Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill through parliament, by the New Zealand Government. ...
Today’s news from the Electoral Commission has provided the party with the clarity it was seeking around use of the word “Coalition” being used as the brand name of the party. ...
A recently released Otago University study has provided further evidence that low-quality housing is a significant problem in Aotearoa. This has prompted the Chief Executive of the Association of Consulting Engineers (ACENZ) Paul Evans to question “why ...
With the BNZ-Business NZ PMI signaling manufacturing is contracting , the Government needs to seriously consider tax relief, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union . ...
The New Zealand Maori Council has called for an overhaul of the Public Services executive ranks as the Corrections debacle shows mis-management and incompetence at the highest level. Matthew Tukaki, Executive Director of the New Zealand Maori Council has said ...
Findings from the 2018 New Zealand Consumer Survey have been released and the results are in; 48 per cent of respondents consider their purchases based on how ethically employees are treated. ...
The responsibility for the fact that Westland Milk Products is now in the hands of an overseas conglomerate 25% owned by the Chinese government can be laid fair and square at our government's doorstep. ...
As Fonterra is projecting multi million dollar losses for the second year in a row, it is clear the writing is on the wall for dairy as more and more Kiwis turn to plant milks. 22nd August is International Plant Milk Day and there is now a different plant ...
The $65,000 granted to Interislander so it can install electric vehicle chargers on its ferries is the most absurd waste of money yet to be delivered by the “Low Emissions” vehicle fund, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union. ...
Wellingtonians will have the chance to hear international child rights experts from Ireland, Scotland and Samoa speak at the Making Child Rights Real in Aotearoa New Zealand seminar to be held in the city on Wednesday 21 August. ...
Paul Evans, Chief Executive of the Association of Consulting Engineers (ACENZ), is advocating a balanced approach to the development of productive land. ...
CPAG (Child Poverty Action Group) says that new research from the University of Otago provides a solid foundation for why the Government must not delay instating a comprehensive Warrant of Fitness for tenanted homes in Aotearoa-New Zealand, and ...
The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that an officer drove carelessly during a pursuit and that this was the primary cause of a collision with a motorcycle that injured the rider. ...
Responding to the Prime Minister’s commitment of $150 million in funding for climate change response in the Pacific, New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says: “It is no secret that many Pacific nations lack serious oversight when it ...
AUT research not only shows an increase in political affiliation, but that candidates affiliated to a central political party are more likely to win seats in Auckland local government. ...
On the 23rd of August School Strike NZ will join Ollie Langridge in his 100th day of sitting outside of New Zealand Parliament calling for the government to declare a climate emergency. School Strike 4 Climate NZ also demand that Parliament acknowledge ...
You have stood up for what is fair, and I am sure you will speak for over 7 million people who have been muted and rendered voiceless in Indian occupied Kashmir for more than a 10 days now. I am writing to bring to your notice the plight of Kashmiri ...
In the last 10 months alone, 11 petitions have been delivered to Parliament calling for medicines to be funded by Pharmac. Today, another nine petitions have been launched by Patient Voice Aotearoa (PVA) members asking that life changing, saving and extending ...
When we were first working to get Miscanthus approved for import into New Zealand, the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) waived the fee for their work because they thought that having Miscanthus in New Zealand was so very much in the ...
PHARMAC’s recent decision to fund two additional drugs from December this year has been widely welcomed by patients and the general public alike. The drugs, Kadcyla and Ibrance, are used in the treatment of advanced lung and breast cancers and will ...
Animal rights organisation SAFE is urging the Government to include experts and advocates from outside the agriculture industry on its newly announced winter crop grazing taskforce. ...
The Government’s plans to prohibit housing on ‘productive’ farmland will serve as yet another regulatory tax on housing, and is a shameful breach of Jacinda Ardern’s promise to fix housing supply, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union . ...
The latest round of the Ethnic Communities Development Fund opens today, supporting projects that grow the leadership and capability of ethnic groups, improve cultural understanding, and ensure our ethnic communities are a vibrant and celebrated part ...
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is warning of the dangers of hiking excise tax, in response to calls from a former Prime Minister for stronger action on alcohol harm. Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, “It seems inevitable ...
Is a second attempt at merging parts of Stuff and NZ Herald owner NZME planned, with a bid for political intervention to help the media industry? Tim Murphy reports. ...
How the NZ Superfund has drummed up $15 trillion to put pressure on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube giants over livestreaming following the Christchurch terror attacks. ...
Kiwi Jamie Greene has established herself as one of the fittest women on the globe in the fast-growing gruelling sport of CrossFit. And she wants to thank her runner sister for helping drive her. ...
Newsroom is delighted to welcome the University of Otago as our third university partner for the IdeasRoom section exploring issues of importance to society and the country’s future. ...
Who should decide how many more tourists fly into Queenstown and Wanaka? Journalist and former district councillor, Cath Gilmour, argues local residents should, not the airlines. ...
Phil Goff has kept a low profile compared with his headline-grabbing opponent in the early stages of the Auckland mayoral campaign. Hayden Donnell heads along to see if the mayor can win back the spotlight at his campaign launch.The Spinoff local election coverage is made possible thanks to ...
Backed by businessman Eric Watson and launched in a blaze of publicity, online trader Fashbae disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived. Now its founder is traversing the globe in a jeep. Business editor Maria Slade tries to keep up with events.It had it all. A suave multi-millionaire investor and ...
Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk Rioting broke out in Manokwari, West Papua, today as local people – mostly university students – protested against racial abuse of Papuan students in East Java, reports TheJakarta Post. The protesters blocked a number of major streets in the city this morning, cutting down ...
By Ben Bilua in Suva Multimedia skills and innovation are key to adapting to the changing media landscape, said US academic Professor Debora Wenger as newsmakers around the world continue to grapple with challenges arising from the transformation of technology and social media. Speaking to journalists at a regional ...
The new RBNZ seems to crave the limelight and be known for advocacy of new causes, and that has not impressed macroeconomics professor Robert MacCulloch. ...
The prime minister won't meet with Ihumātao protesters before Thursday - the deadline given by the group to stop them marching to her Auckland electorate office. ...
Cabinet ministers will discuss possible law changes to what mail can be received and sent by prisoners, after the accused Christchurch gunman was able to send mail to supporters. ...
The Catholic and Anglican churches are still considering quashing legal agreements that may prevent abuse survivors from giving evidence to the inquiry investigating historical abuse in care. ...
The new joint from the team behind one of Wellington’s favourite craft beer bars is dedicated to minimal-intervention, organic wine – and more exciting things are coming to the heritage building it’s housed in.Before the Cadbury factory opened in Dunedin in 1930, New Zealanders ate Cadbury chocolate made in England. ...
Alex Casey chats to Bree Tomasel about hosting Celebrity Treasure Island NZ, farting in the ZM studio and going viral on the regular. The most important thing you need to know about Bree Tomasel is not the fact that she peed her pants during Celebrity Treasure Island NZ, but the glee ...
Dr Bryce EdwardsAnalysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – The election race is on. The nominations process for local government positions has now closed, and the political campaign is officially underway. But does the public care? Will many of us even vote for any of the various mayoral or council ...
At Eden Park on Saturday night, the Wallabies were on the receiving end of a ruthless players’ revenge, writes Scotty StevensonThe rain came. It always seems to at Eden Park, just as the Wallabies warm up on the pitch, dreaming of ending a drought. It came from the west, the ...
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 content by Dr Bryce Edwards.Local government Michael Fallow (Stuff): Your council – what’s its job description? Dileepa Fonseka and ...
Protesters occupying land at Ihumātao will begin a four-hour hikoi to Mt Albert on Thursday to present a petition calling on the Prime Minister to visit the land. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jamie Walvisch, Lecturer, Monash University This morning an Extinction Rebellion protester was arrested after hanging from a rope over the William Jolly Bridge in Brisbane, blocking all lanes to peak hour traffic. And earlier this month in Brisbane, more than 70 climate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Jobson, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Monash University Many of us enjoy writing in a diary, reading autobiographies or nostalgically reflecting with others about past times. Why is remembering our past so important? Are there downsides? And what can we do ...
Roll Red Roll is a brutal, painfully illuminating documentary on the Steubenville High School rape case, a shocking crime that made headlines worldwide. Emily Writes reviews. This review discusses rape and sexual violenceAugust 11, 2012: two teenage boys rape an unconscious teenage girl as two of their peers watch and ...
By RNZ Pacific Tuvalu’s Prime Minister has condemned the Australian Prime Minister’s conduct at last week’s Pacific Islands Forum, calling Scott Morrison’s attitude “unfortunate” and “neo-colonial,” and questioning Australia’s future in the 18-member body. In an interview with RNZ on Sunday, Enele Sopoaga also threatened to pull Tuvaluan labour from ...
The second hui of the Māori-led inquiry into Oranga Tamariki takes place in Hamilton today. Newsroom, in partnership with Radio Waatea, are broadcasting it live from 1pm. ...
Prolific, award-winning Palmerston North poet Paula Harris somehow manages to be stroppy and properly vulnerable all at once. Here, she writes about her first slam competition – and why she cried all the way home. I am old enough to have given birth to most of the people here.Sure, there’s a ...
High speed rail links between cities could play a massive role in revitalising regional New Zealand, says a visiting transport infrastructure expert. Professor Andrew McNaughton spoke to Alex Braae. Imagine commuting from Hamilton to Auckland, and it only taking an hour to get there. It’s a vision of how the right ...
On the good days, riding a bike is the best. But in Auckland there aren’t nearly enough of those days, and unless decision makers take urgent action, that’s not going to change.This piece originally appeared on Bike AucklandMy first bike crash in central Auckland happened on Symonds Street. I was ...
It's not since 1989 that a mayoralty campaign in the southern city has been so unpredictable - a record 14 candidates have put their names forward. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Mills, Hon Senior Lecturer, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Sydney On the morning of the last Monday in April, 2019, federal election officials opened the doors of more than 500 pre-poll voting centres around Australia, and waited for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Veronica Alfano, Research Fellow, Australian Catholic University Memorising poetry was once common in classrooms. But it has, for the most part, gone out of style. There are good reasons for this. Memorisation can clash with creativity and analytical thought. Rote learning can ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darren Paul Fisher, Head of Directing, Department of Film, Screen and Creative Media, Bond University What do J.J. Abrams, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Shonda Rhimes, David Lynch, Aaron Sorkin, Donald Glover, Jenji Kohan, Jordan Peele, Tina Fey, and Joss Whedon have in common? They ...
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Mayors launch bids to return in Auckland and Wellington, Hamilton’s skyline could change significantly, and support for cannabis legalisation plummets in poll.Two incumbent mayors have launched their re-election campaigns over the weekend, with a bigger fight on their hands than ...
MediaWorks has been lobbying the Government to turn TVNZ 1 into a non-commercial channel to help stem its own financial bleeding. Frustrated, and getting nowhere, it’s decided to change tack. ...
Daily Review 26/09/2018 
by Philip Ferguson This weekend just past marks the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, the most famous of the great 1960s music festivals. It was held over the weekend (Friday-Monday) of August 15-18, 1969. Woodstock was a highpoint of the US ‘counter-culture’, and also the beginning of its end. When exploring the ...16 hours ago
Last week, Australia sabotaged the Pacific Forum by opposing action on climate change. Their Deputy Prime Minister followed that up by saying that Pacific Peoples could always pick Australian fruit - just as they had done in the era of blackbirding. And now, that arrogant, tone-deaf approach has drawn a ...16 hours ago
In the previous two posts, I laid out the context and set the theoretical framework to answer a question: whether indigenous economies should take the LEAP. This final part outlines ways to conceive of practicing mana motuhake within the existing legal system by carving out special jurisdictions that enable Indigenous ...2 days ago
Fully Informed? Labour’s 2017 promises raised expectations that were little short of revolutionary. Unfortunately, they were never adequately shaken through the fiscal sieve. The hard economic work was not done – and it shows. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s critics have long complained that her grasp of the way the New ...2 days ago
You cannot expect to pound communities into the ground day after day, year after year, decade after decade and just expect them to take it lying down. There’s a point at which the place will explode. And we’re faced with some very big ructions on both sides of the Atlantic ...3 days ago
4 days ago
Going Down? Once truth and propaganda become fused in the minds of one’s followers, debate and discussion become redundant. If one’s opponents are all outrageous liars, then engaging with them in any way is pointless. Rather than waste its time, a political party should, instead, target all its messages at ...4 days ago
We need to fundamentally reframe our systems settings to address the drivers causing and underpinning inequality; structural change in systems especially financial. The Equality Network Hui was held in Wellington on 27 June 2019. The hui covered important topics such as child poverty; a living wage; taxation; public health; mental ...5 days ago
The views-per-page for some of my recent postings:Depressing, isn't it? Provide thoughtful and wise commentary on the mainstream of British politics and no-one notices. Make a passing reference to Tommy DICKHEAD Robinson in a thread title and you get hundreds of views. Write something about anti-Semitism and you get another ...6 days ago
The government has announced plans to move the Treaty of Waitangi and other taonga to a new site. Great news! So where are they going? Right next to the old one:The new plan will see a new 22,000-square-metre archive built on the former site of Defence House - the former ...6 days ago
Back in June, StatsNZ went public about a project to track population data on an hourly level by using people's cellphones. It wasn't as bad as it initially looked - they were receiving no individual data, only counts by suburb - but there was still a huge consent problem, so ...6 days ago
Most economists agree that a currently slowing economy could do with some stimulus – and they would also agree that there is no shortage of infrastructure projects which could be brought to productive fruition with help from that stimulus. In view of the current practice of sub-contracting economic policy decisions ...6 days ago
I did an interview on the TVNZ Breakfast Show about the situation in Hong Kong. I tried to frame the issue as a collective action problem between two sides with very different end games. The video is here. Because of time constraints we could not discuss the fact that the ...6 days ago
Image Credit: Wild Rose College A new study reporting the ranges of values for kidney and liver parameters in a healthy population is being actively misrepresented by anti-fluoride campaigners. The Fluoride Action Network’s (FAN) latest ... 6 days ago
Alone, Alone. All, All Alone: Will it be a good or a bad thing, when humanity’s bright blue spacecraft is stricken by the civilisation-destroying problem of Climate Change, that no Huston Control will be standing-by to rescue the crew?“WE HAVE A PROBLEM, HUSTON.” These were the words used by the ...7 days ago
Divided Loyalties: Can the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, be relied upon? That’s what the boys and girls at Foggy Bottom and the Pentagon needed to be reassured about. Because, from the perspective of Washington, it’s looking more and more like Jacinda Ardern and her Labour Party comrades are getting ready ...1 week ago
This handy Queer Theory Glossary is from thetranswidow.com In case you’ve had trouble keeping up with the spate of new queer theory terms, here’s a handy glossary for your reference. Queer – A straight person with an interesting haircut. Non-binary/genderqueer – A chubby young female, typically 16-28, who has ...1 week ago
The winter grazing issue is becoming a highly sensitised one that I hope will not become so politicised that it delays solutions and results in the suicides of some very stressed farmers.Winter grazing has hit the headlines after a determined campaign, including the release of a video of some very ...1 week ago
The Green Part has been accused of lack of transparency in two recent situations. The first was the claimed media lockdown during Green's annual conference and the second was Julie Ann Genter's refusal to release a letter she had sent to Phil Twyford.I do get frustrated when journalist's succumb to ...2 weeks ago
Blowing-Up The House: Is Winston Peters planning to put himself at the head of all those New Zealanders who refuse to countenance the Coalition Government caving-in to the Ihumatao protesters? The most effective way of doing this would be to issue Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with an ultimatum. If she ...2 weeks ago
A Cult, that many actors, politicians, and those with a low IQ are joining is sweeping across civilisation, with one main intention – ending humans reign on Earth. Starting as a well meaning though deeply flawed theory, that the Earth was warming due to mankind emitting greenhouse gasses, it was ...2 weeks ago
There is a military phrase: “Full spectrum dominance”. It refers to the all-encompassing policy to dominate across all spheres of war. Lately, that has come to include the internet – in other words, cyberwarfare initiatives. That is in addition to land, sea, air and the like. Now, if ...2 weeks ago
The IMF issued a Report on the state of the Economy as it is at present. Some of it points out significant issues that certainly warrant attention, but that we know already exist. Some of it is very much tied to the very obvious context of global concerns, that everyone ...2 weeks ago
I'm glad to see the Lib Dems won.I had a moment of terror yesterday thinking that the Conservatives might cling on, due to a combination of Johnson's elevation to the premiership, the apparent uselessness of the Lib Dem candidate (who had failed to be elected in other constituencies) and the ...2 weeks ago
. . Current Leader of the National Party, Simon Bridges gave the usual rah-rah speech to the Loyal & Faithful in Christchurch today (27 July). With National’s party polling and his own personal popularity sliding steadily in the polls, Mr Bridges has not much left to reverse his fortunes. ...2 weeks ago
Those concerned for Langridge’s wellbeing say they hope he’ll change his mind when he sees the ocean coming. The protester who has vowed to stand outside Parliament every day until the Government announces a climate emergency says he accepts that his quest will most likely end in drowning. Ollie Langridge, ...3 weeks ago
Opportunities to dodge tax are shrinking with the completion of a new tax agreement with Switzerland, Revenue Minister Stuart Nash announced today. Mr Nash and the Swiss Ambassador David Vogelsanger have today signed documents to update the double tax agreement (DTA). The previous DTA was signed in 1980. “Double tax ...2 weeks ago
Ongoing drug-test sanctions contradicts Government’s rhetoric on drugs Reports that two-thirds of beneficiaries who fail drug tests are still having their benefit sanctioned contradicts the Government’s so-called health approach to drugs. Auckland ...11 hours ago
Is a second attempt at merging parts of Stuff and NZ Herald owner NZME planned, with a bid for political intervention to help the media industry? Tim Murphy reports. ...1 hour ago
How the NZ Superfund has drummed up $15 trillion to put pressure on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube giants over livestreaming following the Christchurch terror attacks. ...2 hours ago
Kiwi Jamie Greene has established herself as one of the fittest women on the globe in the fast-growing gruelling sport of CrossFit. And she wants to thank her runner sister for helping drive her. ...2 hours ago
Anna Rawhiti-Connell has no desire to see any further degradation of the news media in New Zealand, but something has to change. ...2 hours ago
Newsroom is delighted to welcome the University of Otago as our third university partner for the IdeasRoom section exploring issues of importance to society and the country’s future. ...2 hours ago
Who should decide how many more tourists fly into Queenstown and Wanaka? Journalist and former district councillor, Cath Gilmour, argues local residents should, not the airlines. ...2 hours ago
Phil Goff has kept a low profile compared with his headline-grabbing opponent in the early stages of the Auckland mayoral campaign. Hayden Donnell heads along to see if the mayor can win back the spotlight at his campaign launch. The Spinoff local election coverage is made possible thanks to ...2 hours ago
Backed by businessman Eric Watson and launched in a blaze of publicity, online trader Fashbae disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived. Now its founder is traversing the globe in a jeep. Business editor Maria Slade tries to keep up with events.It had it all. A suave multi-millionaire investor and ...2 hours ago
China is looming large over Hong Kong, and residents know they must fight back now. ...2 hours ago
Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk Rioting broke out in Manokwari, West Papua, today as local people – mostly university students – protested against racial abuse of Papuan students in East Java, reports The Jakarta Post. The protesters blocked a number of major streets in the city this morning, cutting down ...7 hours ago
By Ben Bilua in Suva Multimedia skills and innovation are key to adapting to the changing media landscape, said US academic Professor Debora Wenger as newsmakers around the world continue to grapple with challenges arising from the transformation of technology and social media. Speaking to journalists at a regional ...9 hours ago
The new RBNZ seems to crave the limelight and be known for advocacy of new causes, and that has not impressed macroeconomics professor Robert MacCulloch. ...9 hours ago
Pharmac’s model and budget is under intense scrutiny, as the Government prepares to announce its interim cancer action plan. ...10 hours ago
The prime minister won't meet with Ihumātao protesters before Thursday - the deadline given by the group to stop them marching to her Auckland electorate office. ...11 hours ago
After alleged Christchurch terrorist wrote to a supporter, Jacinda Ardern says our laws may need an update for the digital age. ...11 hours ago
The Commerce Commission's first market study will wade into the complex fuel market - here's what you need to know. ...13 hours ago
The new joint from the team behind one of Wellington’s favourite craft beer bars is dedicated to minimal-intervention, organic wine – and more exciting things are coming to the heritage building it’s housed in.Before the Cadbury factory opened in Dunedin in 1930, New Zealanders ate Cadbury chocolate made in England. ...14 hours ago
A new five-year strategy comes with a new prison population reduction target from the minister. ...14 hours ago
Alex Casey chats to Bree Tomasel about hosting Celebrity Treasure Island NZ, farting in the ZM studio and going viral on the regular. The most important thing you need to know about Bree Tomasel is not the fact that she peed her pants during Celebrity Treasure Island NZ, but the glee ...15 hours ago
The way things are going, Germany may soon be 'the sick man of Europe' again. ...15 hours ago
15 hours ago
At Eden Park on Saturday night, the Wallabies were on the receiving end of a ruthless players’ revenge, writes Scotty StevensonThe rain came. It always seems to at Eden Park, just as the Wallabies warm up on the pitch, dreaming of ending a drought. It came from the west, the ...15 hours ago
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jamie Walvisch, Lecturer, Monash University This morning an Extinction Rebellion protester was arrested after hanging from a rope over the William Jolly Bridge in Brisbane, blocking all lanes to peak hour traffic. And earlier this month in Brisbane, more than 70 climate ...16 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Jobson, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Monash University Many of us enjoy writing in a diary, reading autobiographies or nostalgically reflecting with others about past times. Why is remembering our past so important? Are there downsides? And what can we do ...16 hours ago
Roll Red Roll is a brutal, painfully illuminating documentary on the Steubenville High School rape case, a shocking crime that made headlines worldwide. Emily Writes reviews. This review discusses rape and sexual violenceAugust 11, 2012: two teenage boys rape an unconscious teenage girl as two of their peers watch and ...17 hours ago
By RNZ Pacific Tuvalu’s Prime Minister has condemned the Australian Prime Minister’s conduct at last week’s Pacific Islands Forum, calling Scott Morrison’s attitude “unfortunate” and “neo-colonial,” and questioning Australia’s future in the 18-member body. In an interview with RNZ on Sunday, Enele Sopoaga also threatened to pull Tuvaluan labour from ...17 hours ago
New Zealand's economy is not headed for recession, ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley says. ...18 hours ago
The second hui of the Māori-led inquiry into Oranga Tamariki takes place in Hamilton today. Newsroom, in partnership with Radio Waatea, are broadcasting it live from 1pm. ...18 hours ago
We continue our series on bookstores around New Zealand as Wilma van den Bosch explains how she opened Petronella's in Lake Tekapo. ...19 hours ago
Prolific, award-winning Palmerston North poet Paula Harris somehow manages to be stroppy and properly vulnerable all at once. Here, she writes about her first slam competition – and why she cried all the way home. I am old enough to have given birth to most of the people here.Sure, there’s a ...19 hours ago
The country's wood processors say the international log price war and protected overseas economies are crippling the New Zealand trade. ...19 hours ago
On the good days, riding a bike is the best. But in Auckland there aren’t nearly enough of those days, and unless decision makers take urgent action, that’s not going to change.This piece originally appeared on Bike AucklandMy first bike crash in central Auckland happened on Symonds Street. I was ...21 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Mills, Hon Senior Lecturer, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Sydney On the morning of the last Monday in April, 2019, federal election officials opened the doors of more than 500 pre-poll voting centres around Australia, and waited for ...23 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Hart, Senior Research Fellow, University of Melbourne Last week, federal health minister Greg Hunt announced that more than 60,000 Australians will be asked about their mental health and well-being as part of the Intergenerational Health and Mental Health Study. The mental ...23 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Veronica Alfano, Research Fellow, Australian Catholic University Memorising poetry was once common in classrooms. But it has, for the most part, gone out of style. There are good reasons for this. Memorisation can clash with creativity and analytical thought. Rote learning can ...23 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darren Paul Fisher, Head of Directing, Department of Film, Screen and Creative Media, Bond University What do J.J. Abrams, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Shonda Rhimes, David Lynch, Aaron Sorkin, Donald Glover, Jenji Kohan, Jordan Peele, Tina Fey, and Joss Whedon have in common? They ...23 hours ago
The inverted yield curve is to economists what Voldemort was to Harry Potter - the dark lord whose name should never be mentioned. ...23 hours ago
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Mayors launch bids to return in Auckland and Wellington, Hamilton’s skyline could change significantly, and support for cannabis legalisation plummets in poll.Two incumbent mayors have launched their re-election campaigns over the weekend, with a bigger fight on their hands than ...1 day ago
MediaWorks has been lobbying the Government to turn TVNZ 1 into a non-commercial channel to help stem its own financial bleeding. Frustrated, and getting nowhere, it’s decided to change tack. ...1 day ago
Grant Robinson made a good speech in the house today. His point that the National opposition are now more interested in texts, emails, diary’s and goats above now mentioning the economy in any detail shows they just revel in “bad news”. The economy of course under this new govt is doing wonderfully well by most reports.
The gotcha point scoring idiocy was then immediately backed up by Simon Bridges who stood up yelling and literally barking about how the govt is in “chaos”. It’s plain to see that the National opposition is rudderless, either that or it is being manipulated by an invisible puppeteer who’s identity remains open to conjecture.
+1. The invisible puppeteer is not invisible though. In plain sight are all the self absorbed NZ elite who simple cannot stomach a fair society.
Crosby Textor tactics, death by a thousand cuts. Mind you it’s just dogs barking at the moment but the plan would be to keep it up and cause maximum distraction. Especially from how good the economy is going. But then its hard to imagine this opposition lot knowing what a plan was. They will just mindlessly carry on barking, must be time to really howl at Winston by now and keep up the ‘War on Winston’ at all cost.
It’s quite pathetic really. Where is the policy beyond joining Trump’s war on drugs and kicking people out of state housing?
They seem micro-focussed on emails, texts, phone calls, and meetings rather than offering New Zealand what they would do differently.
I expect that’s either because they don’t know what to do beyond barking at cars, or they continue along the same path to inequality, housing, infrastructure, and immigration problem, and a destruction of the environment for the profit of a few.
National have never been a party of ideas, apart from cycle trails and new flags they have always promoted themselves as the party of sound economic management. It must be stinging them that notion has been well and truly debunked.
The cycle trails were a reasonably good idea but lets face it, anyone could think of that. Also, this was promoted by Key in his first days as PM and he failed to do anything at all after that except lie, pull women’s pony tails and do radio gags.
Even on the cycle trails they back peddled.
The Natzis need to destroy Winston and NZF at all costs otherwise they are toast 2020 ?
“the self absorbed NZ elite who simply cannot stomach a fair society”
Even worse than that I reckon Muttonb – they cannot stand the mere idea of it. Because let’s face reality, a fair society is pretty damn unlikely to actually happen in more than a token way.
Maybe it’s because of all that tremendously ‘hard work’ our elites are putting in to get that capital gain on their investment properties? It can be exhausting.
Slimey is acting the Goat ?
Shouldn’t that be Tahr atm?
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/367336/business-confidence-rebounds-in-latest-survey
Hence the tahr tweet perhaps?
Amazing what happens when people actually breathe and realise the sky isn’t going to fall on their heads.
And when they realise what a great PM we have and that they could actually both do very well under her vision and contribute to a better New Zealand at the same time.
And that is the other major chagrin for the National opposition, they have no answer to Jacinda Ardern and what a great leader and PM she is and how she stands tall on the international stage. While she is away promoting NZ they are left to bark at their nemesis. They don’t know what to do except sulk and throw hissy fits. You would think they would have got through most of the stages of grief by now.
Chicken little ?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12132249
Has Chris Bishop gone rogue?
Karma that Winstons on the the receiving end of something like this for a change but Bishop never struck me as the type to make allegations like this unless he knew something
Chris Bishop knows a thing or two about snapchat.
I see your snapchat and raise you a Youth Labour sex camp scandal
Bishop is an mp. Not the same as a young labour member.
The offender wasn’t a Labour member, but he was invited to the party by a Labour member.
What are you implying Mutton Bird?
Who do you reckon is Basher Bishop’s source chrissy?
Bishop is going for broke after Peters said he would reveal the leakers name…. Now would Bishop have more than a passing interest in who that name might be
Time will tell.
I just don’t think it will. We’d know by now if we were ever going to. Bridges will have been smoothing over the situation with the leaker, offering all sorts of concessions (or blackmailing) in return for future loyalty, and we the public having been whipped into a frenzy will end up none the wiser having paid out the thick end of $500K after all the limos, and the time spent in parliament, and the enquiries.
Maybe – I think it will come out because bridges has staked so much on it. He may go the, “we know and we are dealing with it in house’ way but imo too many have gone on their hind legs about this including smiley collins – she will want someone to thrash bridges with as she lines up for eventual leadership of that shit of fools – Gnashinal
Seems the name is already known. once the report is done pressure will come on bridges to ‘rule out mp X’
Yep and if people want to find out they will. The police leak. The politicians leak. Others leak. This will come out imo
From your link in the Herald we have
“I have not called nor had any reason to call Mr Haumaha since the controversy.”
When Winston says things like that one should be suspicious.
After all the statement would be technically true, or at least Winston would claim it was if the sequence of events was.
1. Winston rings Deputy Commissioner Haumaha’s OFFICE, or better still his home, and asks that he please call Winston.
2. Haumaha rings back and Winston assures him that everything is going to be OK.
Winston will claim “I never rang Haumaha, I rang his Office”, or “I rang his family”, or even something as simple as “He rang me”. Whichever is appropriate.
Incidentally what on earth do you mean by “Has Chris Bishop gone rogue?”
If Bishop turns out to have fired a dud I think that will only serve to crystallise in the public’s mind the stupid game of ’gotcha’ politics that National has been pursuing.
And if he is right, and has the evidence to prove it?
Like Farrar I would like to know whether he held up his “NO” sign.
I was highly amused the time he held up that ‘NO’ sign: the interviewer happened by chance to have reversed the expected outcome by the way he phrased the question, and by holding that sign up, Winston was in fact damning himself. Not that he noticed..
If he is right and has evidence to prove his allegations, then presumably Mr Bishop will present that outside the protection of the House.
Why should he?
That is what Parliamentary Privilege is for.
It’s not as simple as that alwyn.
If the allegation is correct, the impropriety of such a phone call is destructive enough that any deception contained within his reported denial would be almost secondary, and Peters would be irreparably damaged.
On the other hand, if the allegation is not correct, then I’d suggest Chris Bishop has just destroyed his own political career.
Chris Bishop has put a stake in the ground against one of Parliaments greatest survivors. It’s high stakes stuff. For what it’s worth, my money’s on Peters. He’s just far too wily to commit such a stupid mistake.
I’m thinking they’re clutching at any straw in an effort to combat the star treatment Jacinda Ardern is receiving in NY. It doesn’t have to be true… just so long as it feeds into the strategic meme of incompetence and supposed lack of transparency they are endeavouring to foster.
In other words… “Dirty Politics” which is about all they seem to be good at these days.
Even Peter Dunne is having second thoughts about them:
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/09/former-minister-stunned-by-national-backing-trump-s-war-on-drugs.html
How do you reckon Arderns UN position pitch has gone?
Ticked all the boxes? a cert for some Child poverty position?
You reckon she should hold out for an airline directorship BMmer?
maybe in ten or twelve years…
“clutching at straws” like the wee weasel blog trolls that are trying to promote the notion that Jacinda Ardern is somehow not the real leader or PM and that it is really Winston. Its misogyny for all to see.
Has he alleged anything outside the house yet?
Chris @73 desperate tomes call for desperate measures……although by saying that I am not saying bishop is wrong. I don’t know
So what happens if Bishop is correct?
Not much
“So what happens if Bishop is correct?”
Winston would be toast and have misled parliament…again (Glenn donation).
Bishop has gotten Winston to bite and go on record.
Nothing will happen because it’s a beltway issue and the number of people who care is limited to a small section of politically activated and bitter National voters.
In what way would Peters be toast?
Unfortunately, he’s in charge, I can’t really see him sacking himself.
Ardern is in charge.
Lol yeah, Arderns in charge.
You’re a funny man Mutton Bird.
Who is the Prime Minister?
Actually, if you check, it is currently Winston.
Have a look at Q2 today. He might only be described as Acting PM but he answers As the PM not FOR the PM. That is why the question asks about “he”.
“Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government’s statements and actions relating to Derek Handley and the Government Chief Technology Officer role?”
You could say Simon Bridges is the acting leader of the opposition given he’s on single figures support.
Who to replace him with though?
In that case Bridges has made his usual hash of asking the question.
Yeah I know it’s Ardern, but let’s be honest it’s in name only
Com’n fella we all know Peters is calling the shots.
This is the downside of MMP in NZ, you need 50% to rule, both of our two main parties are around 40%, Peters is in the box seat and he milks it for all it’s worth.
Labour was far more desperate than National so they sold their soul to Peters.
Peters is the unofficial PM, Ardern is just there for the smile and wave stuff.
It’s govern, not rule. Rule is for kings and queens in the middle ages which is where I suspect a lot of National voters draw their social values from.
Also, Labour and NZF are simply closer on policy than the Nats who are an outlier. Peter’s only crime was to cruelly string the hapless Bingles along before dumping him.
As I understand it National made the mistake of approaching the Coalition negotiations mistakenly thinking THEY were in the box seat on election night and, consequently, didn’t really put enough effort into it.
They weren’t going to give what Peters wanted.
Labour was desperate if they’d lost Ardern she would have retired and their only ace would have disappeared.
2017, was do or die for Labour, shame they didn’t know Peters had no intention of ever going with National so he could milk Labours desperation for all it was worth.
And here we are today with Ardern being a figurehead PM and the real power behind the thrones Peters calling the shots.
Hardly surprising, he’s a very happy man
^^^
That’s a ridiculous version of events. Labour couldn’t have hoped for much more on the night.
And National weren’t going to ‘give Peters what he wanted’, not because they were principled but because they were too far apart on policy. Winston Peters asked, “had enough?” in his campaign, and said he wanted to put a human face on capitalism in his coalition speech.
The issue was and is that National weren’t, are not, and never will be able to ‘put a human face on capitalism’ because they are uncaring people who work solely for the selfish among us.
BM rewriting history. The gnats tried and failed to take out Peters and he showed them who was boss. Little gnats crawling around begging for a deal – LOL such fun it was and still is to watch the gnat losers wank on – keep it up BM only 4-5 more terms to go.
Silly, aren’t you BM? Some people were also silly enough to think that about Elizabeth 1st for a while back in the day..
BM …..a party political broadcast from the national party via Crosby text or….
Hollow spin memes all you got. Read Gordon Campbell’s latest. I lol post it tomorrow
BM National did the dirty on Peters by releasing his pension info.
National have a long history of shitting on Winston and are crying over not getting his support.
National still have no support party and continuing to piss Peters off is a dumb strategy.
It will put Ardern in a very tight spot, her duty PM misleading Parliament.
If she sacks him Winston will bring down the current Government, if she does nothing but a telling off it reinforces Ardern as a weak PM and a one-term wonder.
So better hope Bishop was full of BS (depending on your political leanings of course!!).
Misleading Parliament is dealt with by the Privileges Commitee not party leaders?
And the supposedly impartial Speaker has to refer the matter to the Committee.
Trevor “impartial”? You have got to be joking.
And I supposed you thought the previous National appointed Speaker was a paragon of virtue in the impartiality stakes?
I didn’t think very much of the last Speaker as it happens.
On the other hand the one two before him was the worst that I can remember and I had some time to observe them all the way back to Algie in 1961.
Margaret Wilson was by far the worst.
Her successor, Lockwood Smith, was easily the best. Carter wasn’t great and I don’t think really wanted the job but I think he will be remembered more kindly than Mallard.
Trevor started off OK but he has reverted to his tribal Labour roots.
Bishop hasn’t managed to quote the phone call verbatim. In fact he is very vague about it so unless the call can be proved and the actual words recovered there’s not a case to answer.
It’s a bit like snapchat as I understand it how the content disappears after one viewing…perhaps that’s why it was Bishop’s app of choice when communicating with kids?
It will put Ardern in a very tight spot, her duty PM misleading Parliament
I’m sure the 900 odd people she got working for her will script the necessary weasel words speech that will exonerate Peters.
BM – you have expertise in weasel words, and I am sure that you will read into it what you want. Be prepared for disappointment: the country is not with you.
Bishop will be toast after this schimoozle he should stick to Snapchat or go back to school ?
Winston will have his bases covered, Natzis are making mountains out of molehills ?
Jacaranda getting rave reviews in the Big Apple ?
Why do you keep putting question marks after everything? You seem to do it whether there is any question or not? Is it because you don’t actually want to give your view? I also notice you put a space between the last letter and the question mark? Why do you do that? You may not want to answer? Or you may want to? Answer that is?
Maybe confused ?
I dunno what your problem is.
I’d suggest if correct, blip start increasing his list of Labour fuckups
Thanks for the caption ms. Appropriate.
Spare a thought everyone for the anguish and feelings of shame he puts his victims through.
What caption? Why that rapist is on here I’ll never know – fuck that guy. Put a picture of all his victims up.
Interesting perspective on Kavanaugh and his alleged (mandatory weasel word) habit of assaulting women: it wasn’t so much trying to get his rocks off or an exercise of power, but more about being a try-hard to win approval from his arsehole group of male buddies.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/09/brett-kavanaugh-allegations-yearbook-male-bonding.html?via=homepage_taps_top
Socialism or barbarism.
Capitalism and extinction.
“While economic growth continues we’ll never kick our fossil fuels habit
We are getting there, aren’t we? We’re making the transition towards an all-electric future. We can now leave fossil fuels in the ground and thwart climate breakdown. Or so you might imagine, if you follow the technology news.
So how come oil production, for the first time in history, is about to hit 100m barrels a day? How come the oil industry expects demand to climb until the 2030s? How is it that in Germany, whose energy transition (Energiewende) was supposed to be a model for the world, protesters are being beaten up by police as they try to defend the 12,000-year-old Hambacher forest from an opencast mine extracting lignite – the dirtiest form of coal? Why have investments in Canadian tar sands – the dirtiest source of oil – doubled in a year?
The answer is, growth. There may be more electric vehicles on the world’s roads, but there are also more internal combustion engines. There be more bicycles, but there are also more planes. It doesn’t matter how many good things we do: preventing climate breakdown means ceasing to do bad things. Given that economic growth, in nations that are already rich enough to meet the needs of all, requires an increase in pointless consumption, it is hard to see how it can ever be decoupled from the assault on the living planet.”
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/sep/26/economic-growth-fossil-fuels-habit-oil-industry
Even in China , those brand new coal plants there were supposed to be cancelled by the central government, well the regional governments who build them have different ideas
“259 Gigawatts (GW) of new capacity are under development in China, comparable to the entire U.S. coal fleet (266 GW). This represents a 25% increase in China’s coal power fleet.
https://endcoal.org/2018/09/tsunami-warning/