Looks like the voters delivered a sensible result, largely ignoring the more radical hype while sensing/going for the need of an general progressive OS Update with the EU.
I did, earlier on, and thought 'well he would say that, wouldn't he?'
If he's innocent, it'll all come out and you may get your duck trophy, but I'm hardly gonna take the word of the accused in a report by Soper as gospel.
Well let us see how it plays out, you may yet be correct, but it is odd how this alleged sexual predator/rapist, with the political connection, gets an interview printed in the herald telling their side of the story. Can't say I've seen that happen before. Is it unprecedented?
If the guy's version is the full and unedited story, then it's personal greivance time for him.
But three formal complaints for being "old fashioned"? If you have to be told three times that your intimate space compass is broken, you aren't learning.
Come on people get a bit of fucking perspective, thank fuck I don't work in an office and especially I don't work in a Wellington public service office, Christ what a horrible working environment.
Your mixed review belongs in a high school drama class. People will spend 8 hours a day at work. This old notion that you shouldn't date co-workers was always a ploy to make people work overtime. Of course people should date co-workers. For most people they may not even get a chance to meet and get to know anyone else properly. So go for it I say. Young, viral people struck by the opposite sex shouldn't advice from bitter old spinster veterans.
Who is talking about dating? That's consensual. At the very least what has been complained about was unwanted intimacy that creeped out the recipient. And that's by the dude's version of events. We didn't hear the other side, other than what Mallard said. The two do not seem to be equivalent, but neither side is talking about colleagues "dating".
Flirting: Verb. Something not relevant to this thread, nor contained in the linked article.
Example:
The discussion so far is whether an unwanted hug, if that's all that was done, constitutes a serious sexual assault or even rape. But for some reason Sam wants to know what "flirting" means.
This guy isn't admitting to sexual advances of any sort. He says it's three misunderstandings.
Your comments have nothing to do with the situation in question.
Did you even read the article or the thread? The only one to say anything was meant to be flirtatious is you.
He said it was an innocent hug in celebration. Not flirting. That he wasn't looking at boobs when he complimented a hairstyle. That the kiss was an innocent peck on the cheek after a visit to his home.
Flirtation doesn't come into any of that in anyone's imagination but yours.
Yeah, McFlock (lol) is crazed. He produced a mixed review and you've got to ask why he does that. This can't be allowed to be the public dialogue. What we are doing is we are going to get pushed back by the establishment and attack for wanting change whether it's financially or politically or morally but we've got to carry on.
Some one like me shouldn't need monitoring, if you look at what I want politically it's not very controversial. What was supposed to happen post John Key was some kind of neoliberal revolution and all McFlock and people like him is doing, I mean why is McFlock being so radical and what is making him so woke and it is the commercial media.
The commercial media is deliberately misrepresenting and deliberately coming along and imagine you're reading the paper and suddenly here's some one you don't know saying you should hate them or love them and that's effectively what the commercial media is doing. And no one should buy into it and as sone as I challenge anyone on a commercial media topic they can't find what Iv said, why Iv said it, what the context was and it all just melts away a week or 2 later when everything has blown over like nothing ever happened. And that's crazy.
And everyone understands that woke people like McFlock are these sorts of moral busybodies that feel the need to come over and give you a piece of there mind because they are offended. That kind of tyranny is the sort of political correctness that has to stop, we have to be able to have these tough conversations because these problems are growing like a cancer in our society like, Rapists don't Spring out of parliament fully formed. That's just a ridiculous result of a long process of injustice to get to the point of a serial rapist and we see with McFlock that he is lashing out because the evidence of a long drawn out process of a serial rapist just doesn't exists.
And so you've got to just take the bullets and grenades and keep going and I'll keep making my little quips Y'know I'm not going to quit because we've got to keep going.
From an evolutionary perspective females generally adopt a passive sexual strategy; they typically put most of their effort into making themselves appear attractive in order to gain the attention of the most desirable males. The core problem is that it also attracts attention from unwanted males.
The problem for males is that unless they initiate some sexual attention, they cannot test whether the attention is unwanted or not.
Societies have solved this problem in various ways; one traditional approach is to segregate the two sexes, another was various forms of courtship rituals and flirtation that placed clear expectations and boundaries on what was acceptable. The general process would be; women would attract, males initiate attention, females select and then males commit.
In addition the relative high biological cost of sex for women meant that traditionally there were strong constraints on female sexual freedom and a strong emotional aversion to unwanted sex. This is why rape was usually considered a crime only somewhat less serious than murder. But in the past 50 years the availability of reliable contraception means that the biological cost of sex for women is now a lot different to that of men, at the same time their evolved emotionalaversion remains unchanged.
Socially this has resulted in a very mixed message; on one hand casual sex is now very commonplace and in particular female sexual freedom has been hugely expanded. At the same time the very high female emotional response to unwanted sex has been unmoored from the biological act of vaginal intercourse and extended to virtually any male sexual attention that is deemed unworthy.
In essence this means that any male attention that a woman does not want or later regrets now falls under this extended definition of 'rape'. It may not look like the old world idea of a violent physical coercion, rather what matters now is how the woman feels about what happened.
Under this greatly expanded definition all male sexual attention is now potentially rape. Which is why any flirtation, touching or a hug is now a criminal act unless the female first signs a legal document of some kind authorising it. While female sexual freedom is promoted, celebrated and expanded at every opportunity, the opposite is happening to all expressions of male sexuality.
In particular this can be seen where anything any women says about any sexual encounter must be intrinsically believed, while anything a male says is always the lies of a self-serving predator. We see this dynamic playing out even on this very thread.
Well I don't think it is wise to select a mate based on how they would satisfy specific traits of ones personality and preferences. My theory is that the perfect mate doesn't exist, at least Iv never seen a perfect relationship in real life.
Just arousing the thought of a sexual act, it could be a carton character, everyone is well aware that a cartoon character are not real, but non the less just arousing the fantasy of a sexual act in males and then utterly rejecting that act results in utter psychological devastation. This may be anecdotal because I am speaking from experience. Never the less cases of mental rejection can be worse than physical rejection or fighting.
In away we don't quite appreciate the logic of humiliation and rejection. The point is not to be brutal but to be perfectly brutal an honest the point is in away, that him NOT raping her or even making love to her, not doing it makes the humiliation even worse.
In my experience of woman who have been raped it is the strong independent woman that take it the hardest. Some woman just find it unbearable to live with the pain. The pain seems to manifest in reality and I am talking about specific woman that I have worked with in the past who was prevented from working in specific situations and I would have to talk to them differently. It's almost like sexual abuse survivors have their own language.
The rape victim that can coup with the trauma understands that her terrifying nightmares will not manifest in reality but rape is a tremendous sin in my opinion. The humiliation, the rejection, the utter terror is tremendous and that's the point and my main point is that psychological rape can be worse than physical rape. The body can heal but the mind lingers.
I always recommend when selecting the ideal date that putting to one side the sex bit is no good for anyone. Asking for and receiving permission to perform sexual acts is perhaps far more fulfilling than the act itself. Of course apart of the fulfilment is the results itself but again at the same time being aware of how powerful the psychological component of sex can be. So I always recommend approaching potential partners as a way of having a bit of fun. Being in a real relationship you talk, make each other laugh while at the same time being comfy in each other's company and not to take any of this to seriously.
Another way both Mallard and I could be correct is that Soper's mate isn't telling the full story, or that the Francis report contained different, more serious, information compared to the original investigation. And that doesn't need linguistic gymnastics like:
"In essence this means that any male attention that a woman does not want or later regrets now falls under this extended definition of 'rape'.
I think it's best to take this sort of nitpicking up with ones parents. Relying on some self professed single person by choice on the Internet is the wrong type of person to be reading up on sex in general.
Is it fucked up and insanity that you think that all that happened was a hug? I don't know what happened, you don't know what happened. Mallard heard of some behaviour he described as "serious assault."
Do you think his judgement is so impaired that on hearing of an innocent hug he formed a conclusion with such certainty that he publicly stated his opinions as he did?
Mallard will have seen the detail of the Francis report. He is probably the only person other than the author herself who knows those details. It can be assumed his comment is based on what he read in that report.
I would go so far as to accuse Soper of a malicious attempt to use the untested 'testimony' of an individual to try and undermine Mallard and his parliamentary position.
And no. I'm not a particular fan of Mallard but I can smell political skulduggery a mile off.
Nothing in the article about any independent investigation into the alleged incident. And the Speaker understood the same man was responsible for the two other claims of serious sexual assault, so perhaps it's a matter for police.
He described it as a great deal more than "serious assault".
He described it as rape. And yes, I do think his judgement is seriously impaired. Just look at the way he behaves in his role as Speaker. He has no idea at all of correct behavior.
I read it BM. I am sure this bloke was not asked to leave without some pretty compelling evidence of serious sexual offending. Trust Barry Soper? Really?
Harassers, stalkers, hoaxers, sexual predators and pathological liars always admit their guilt? Not on your life. These types are able to convincingly convince themselves (and others) they are the victims and not the perpetrators. It is a well documented part of their varying personality and behavioural disorders.
This link is about stalkers but since sexual predatory activity usually includes an element of stalking it would apply:
Sure, if this guy's claims are 100% factual and if those incidents are the entirety of Mallard's claims of "serious sexual assault," he doesn't come out of it looking too flash. Did you consider even for a second waiting until those aren't "if"s before blathering about sociopathic arseholes? For all we know, the "sociopathic arsehole" is the guy you're defending, or someone else entirely. It doesn't kill you to wait for some facts before blustering away on a comments thread.
Some people obviously enjoy looking like reactionary knee-jerk weirdos blinded by partisan animosity. Any excuse to put the boot into the 'lefties'. And yes, Mallard's the Speaker now. But he used to be a leftie, the dirty, dirty Communist.
In his spare time, BM also burns people for witchcraft.
In my opinion Mallard is an idiot to have used the word "rape" even if he is aware of more facts than the rest of us. He doesn't seem to know when to keep his mouth shut. The guy accused should lawyer up and if the allegations have previously been dismissed, he will probably have a very good case against Mallard. Its ironic that the whole thing has been about bullying, as now this 'accused' man will say he has been bullied by Mallard.
Alaska’s wettest region is experiencing an extreme drought for the first time in recorded history, climate scientists say.
The southernmost portion of Southeast Alaska, including Ketchikan, Prince of Wales Island, Wrangell and Metlakatla, has been in a drought for the last two years, said Rick Thoman, a climatologist at the Fairbanks-based Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy.
Last week, though, the drought was updated to a D3, or “extreme” drought, the second-highest category the U.S. Drought Monitor measures. It’s the first time those conditions have ever been recorded in Alaska, according to the Drought Monitor.
Power supply is dwindling, water supplies dwindling, pests rising.
Everything is connected to everything else's everything.
How much of the US non-drought areas have been subject to flooding in the last calendar year? Ask Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Kansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri… off the top of my head…
Did you know 40% of the US populated areas are close to levees? OUCH!
As the planet warms more water is loaded into the atmosphere. Meanwhile weather patterns break down. Some areas will get disproportionately more water, some less.
Flood and drought are to be new norms. Regular weather not so regular.
We just had a summer drought, and now, apparently, an Autumn one. A few more seasons like that our farmers will be struggling to feed their stock let alone profit off them. Of course we pump water to them but it will reach a point townspeople have no water and cows do, on that day it will be entirely justifiable to cut off the farmers.
I have several economic pests still present in my garden, normally winter would have put paid to them. Not this year – they get extra life cycles to populate in greater numbers. It will not take many repeats of this to see plagues of insect pests, especially in areas where we've failed to allow insect diversity, namely, most of NZ.
Nature lies within a biosphere that encompasses the entire planet (and perhaps beyond). All within this system in some manner affect the rest of the system. Alaska's droughts are our concern. You'll see.
We were just discussing over dinner tonight the lengths to which Natrad went to this morning to explain about the hypoplasia and how the inevitable numpties emailled the station full of righteous indignation that an obviously irresponsible mother should be complaining about the wait time for acute pediatric dental treatment.
Sigh.
However. It could very well be the case that the parents who wean their wee mites onto flouro green powerade or cola can be held to blame somewhat for the long wait list as their kids are also in the queue. These parents know better…surely…more sighs.
I wonder how many have the dental hypoplasia? Poor kids, distressing for the parents too no doubt.
Thanks heaps for the link Rosemary.
Was thinking I wonder why my kids teeth didn't go all rotten, but so many many others do. And the only thing I could think of is that fizzy isn't normal at ours, birthdays are exciting cause there is fizzy lolz. We drink milk and water mostly. But then fizzy is cheaper than milk.
A friend's twins had hypoplasia…and I'm not sure about the prevalence. According to the wiki page there are a number of 'causes', but the wee lassie this morning has an older brother with the same condition which implies in that family it is the hereditary form.
There is a huge wait list for pediatric dental treatment and my guess that most of the kiddies are on it because of poor nutrition/sugary drinks and food. I have on more than one occasion seen babes in arms sucking on fizzy and how the hell you get the message through I have no idea. However….the mums of the children with fizzy- rotted teeth will most definitely not be on the wireless complaining about the delay for treatment. Because guilt. And shame.
Cinny…my youngest is twenty seven and I remember the constant messaging about baby teeth and sugar and fizzy and good nutrition and how it all starts in the womb. And about the drugs and the drink and the smoking. I guess its the same today?
Cinny…my youngest is twenty seven and I remember the constant messaging about baby teeth and sugar and fizzy and good nutrition and how it all starts in the womb. And about the drugs and the drink and the smoking. I guess its the same today?
Rosemary, it's not, least I'm pretty sure especially with my youngest when she was a toddler that there wasn't as much info/education about it. My girls are now 14 and 11. I remember seeing little posters at the Dr's and at Plunket showing the sugar content of drinks and that was enough to put me off.
Absolutely convinced it is relative to the cheap cost of sugary drinks v's milk for example. Also all the hidden sugar in muesli bars etc. Reliance on processed food etc. Cheap lollies etc, using sugary food as a reward etc.
Maybe we need sugar warning labels on products with high sugar content. Seems to work with putting people off smoking…
Perhaps an intensive education campaign via social media/tv etc plus in schools would help. It's so sad for the little ones.
Dentists fed up with seeing patients suffering unnecessarily from "third world" tooth conditions are pushing for urgent action to make dental care more affordable.
Dr Assil Russell, the founder of the charity Revive a Smile, said too many people were delaying treatment for preventable dental health problems due to financial barriers.
i think there are different reasons, to expensive for adults, so adults don't have a relationship with a dentist and thus their children aren't taken to one. Childrens teeth, the mistaken believe that it is just 'milk teeth' and thus they regrow, never mind the damage to the gums/bones etc. Lack of transport/childcare etc. For women on a benefit with multiple children regular dental care for the children might fall under 'undesirable for an employement' – same this for regular check ups. Food deserts, places were really the only affordable food is the chinese take away and the 2.5 litre bottle of fizzy for a dollar vs the 4 $+ two litre bottle of milk. Smoking, stress, teeth grinding ( my friends three year old grinds his teeth…!). And then if everyone has no teeth at 45 and lives with a plate, then it also becomes a normal thing.
But i believe that if we can get the adults back to dental care the kids follow. And the government would save a tidy sum in health care, and illness / early death related benefits, lost productivity and such. Preventative healthcare rather then treating symptoms health care.
Are parents not getting reminders/educated on how to care for their little ones teeth?
One of my neighbours in Kuwait was always taking her little boy back to India to have a dentist sort out his rotten teeth. She couldn't understand why his teeth were so shit. My wife figured it probably had something to do with the baby bottles of fruit juice she gave him to bathe his teeth in all day, but parents tend not to welcome others' thoughts on how ur doin it wrong so we never raised it with her. Seems fairly common in this country too.
On a European election night when the Brexit party dominated across the UK, perhaps the most eye-catching story in North West England was the humiliating drubbing suffered by the anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson.
Having claimed for weeks to be on the crest of an international movement – one that elected Donald Trump in the US – the man whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon had expected to “walk into Brussels like Connor McGregor” upon his election.
In the end, Robinson won only 2.2% of the vote – losing his £5,000 deposit – and sneaked out of the election count in central Manchester barely an hour after he had arrived. He tried to put a brave face on it, claiming the establishment had “arranged and organised” for him to be banned from social media to scupper his election bid, but it was a resounding defeat for the founder of the English Defence League
This is a disturbing thing…the CPI in the US is chronically under priced. If the same were true in NZ that would mean both interest rates and core benefits that are set off CPI are both incorrect.
Saw new leader of the oz Labour Party on Tele tonight Anthony albanese. Very Aussie bloke but seemed very genuine, authentic……..fingers crossed.
and on a different note what fools those who buy into Barry’s article about the guy stood down at parliament. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the enquiry that cleared him was a white wash (acknowledge I could be wrong). It wouldn’t have been mallard himself who stood him down, but parliamentary services. Debbie Francis found significant examples of abuse, sexual harassment etc.
btw BM many years ago when I was in my early thirties an older man at work on two occasions came up behind me and bear hugged me……I found it very unpleasant and inappropriate. If it ok for men to do this in the work place, I ask the men on this site what it would be like if a gay bloke (and I say gay, because it then brings the possibility that there is a sexual motivation in it) came up and unexpectedly bear hugged you?
Chris Hipkins should just go and join National. He speaks as one he acts as one. He is well schooled to regurgitate what ever his PR team have been prepping him. There are teachers already below min wage pity that this is is breach of our law
Do you seriously expect a Minister (irrespective of party) to say, "strike action is justified." He represents the government, not the unions. The job of the government is to keep public services in operation, not encourage strikes.
Yes, the Labour Party can and should support strike action, even against its own government.
The role of the mass party of labour is to act as a political wing of the labour movement. This means the party is not simply a parliamentary faction; it is also a social movement. Government ministers sit within the state machine, the trade unions are outside it, and the party spans the gap between the two. The overall political direction of the party should not be determined by the administrative demands of government, but by the needs of the working class as a whole.
To be clear, Labour ministers are there to serve the people, it is not their job to discipline the unions. We really need to do away with the idea that a Labour government is Her Majesty's government, or that Labour should be somehow subordinate to the will of the state.
If a Labour government fails to live up to the expectations of the labour movement, it would be absolutely correct for Labour Party members to hold their ministers accountable. Similarly, if Labour ministers feel that the machinery of state is not responding to their demands, it would be totally acceptable for them to endorse industrial action in order to push aside any resistance to their objectives.
These strikes are not in accordance with the democratic processes, which the unions have been woefully deficient, in providing good representation to their constituencies.
In a political sense, these strikes are of the opposition to the govt. That's not the way to go. Where were they during the previous period?
The incompetence of Unions politically, using England as an example, was the pre-cursor before the Thatcher govt. kicked off 4+ decades of financial neo-liberalism etc so in a political sense, it does seem that the Govt. is not impressed with counter productive unions to their members’ interests.
Perhaps the minister like others in govt are IMO poorly phrasing their thoughts 🤭
Perhaps he should have said something like "he was disappointed that the union and its members has resorted to this action" he had the day to prep for the interview, BUT to say Not Justified. Perhaps those making such poorly thought out comments should see what those within the profession are facing. Thanks to many govts; the work loads of teachers have dramatically increased yet pay does not recognise this additional work. I know the same is for many professions (nurse (pity they were the 1st off in the pay review )etc)
He represents the government, not the unions – So is it the govts "job" to restrict and pay to the min that they can get away ?? That will work for so long and then there is the release of this pent up pressure.
It is one thing for activists in Labour to do as you suggest, quite another for Ministers to do so.
By definition Ministers are Her Majesty's government. Our constitutional government could not operate if it was anything other than that. And you don't want to risk changing that. Which is not the republican issue, but rather that we have a government that acts according to law.
Your complaint is really about Hipkins (or Robertson) not providing more money to settle the strike. The solution for a Labour government is to provide more money, not encourage strike action.
But even Labour governments can't just give unions whatever they want. So if they think they are providing enough, naturally they are going to say strike action is not justified.
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Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
Is the economy in another long stagnation? If so, why?This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be ...
The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Photo by Jari Hytönen on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government is talking up the crucial role of gas as a transition fuel “through to 2050 and beyond”. In a gas strategy to be released on Thursday, the government envisages the fuel’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Next week the government will again next try to get its legislation through to deal with non-citizens who won’t cooperate with efforts to deport them. The bill, which the opposition and crossbench refused to rush ...
A long-term project that will set out an alternative vision for Aotearoa that looks beyond the narrow confines of the policy straight jacket adopted by successive governments. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bree Hurst, Associate Professor, Faculty of Business and Law, QUT, Queensland University of Technology TK Kurikawa/Shutterstock A much-awaited report into Coles and Woolworths has found what many customers have long believed – Australia’s big supermarkets engage in price gouging. What started ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Ghezelbash, Associate Professor and Deputy Director, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Law & Justice, UNSW Sydney The Albanese government wanted to avoid an inquiry into its migration amendment bill. The report, handed down yesterday by a senate committee that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joo-Cheong Tham, Professor, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne Lobbying is at the heart of government. Who has access to and influence over key government officials shapes the decisions governments make – and how they make them. The ability to influence ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Myfany Turpin, Associate Professor, Ethnomusicology, Linguistics and Ethnobiology, University of Sydney The act representing Australia at this year’s Eurovision contest has sadly not qualified for the grand final. Yet for Zaachariaha Fielding and Michael Ross, the duo that makes up Electric Fields, ...
In announcing changes to the school lunches programme, David Seymour said kids would no longer be served ‘woke’ foods. To clear up any confusion, The Spinoff has compiled a guide to the wokeness levels of some common food items. Apple = NOT WOKE Avocado = WOKE Avocado, smashed = EVEN ...
The Minister Responsible for GCSB and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security have been notified of this review, and have been provided a finalised Terms of Reference. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Minglu Chen, Senior Lecturer, Government and International Relations, University of Sydney Robert Way/Shutterstock As the past few years have illustrated so clearly, the Australia-China relationship is complicated. As such, it is crucial for Australians to develop a more nuanced understanding of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mariana Campbell, Research Lecturer, Conservation, Charles Darwin University Marilyn Connell Australian freshwater turtles are facing an alarming trend. Almost half of these species are listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. The Mary River turtle (Elusor macrurus) is one of Australia’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Debbie Passey, Digital Health Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Algorithms have become integral to our lives. From social media apps to Netflix, algorithms learn your preferences and prioritise the content you are shown. Google Maps and artificial intelligence are nothing without ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Josephine Barbaro, Associate Professor, Principal Research Fellow, Psychologist, La Trobe University Unsplash We’ve come a long way in terms of understanding that everyone thinks, interacts and experiences the world differently. In the past, autistic people, people with attention deficit hyperactive disorder ...
PNG Post-Courier Papua New Guinea’s deputy opposition leader James Nomane has accused the government of “reckless economic management” that has forced devaluation to manage loan repayments in foreign currency and placate the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Prime Minister James Marape “must stop lying to the people of Papua New Guinea”, ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Bookseller Confessional, in which we get to know Aotearoa’s booksellers. This week: Jane Arthur, author of Brown Bird, and former bookseller at Good Books.The book I wish I’d writtenI have been working on not comparing myself to others. On accepting that what I can ...
The final decision on the Wellington District Plan makes it official: High-density housing is legal across most of Wellington. Housing minister Chris Bishop has announced his decision on the Wellington District Plan, approving a series of amendments to radically upzone most of Wellington, allowing tens of thousands of new townhouses ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to ...
RNZ News As Israel presses ahead with strikes in Rafah and seizing the Rafah crossing from Egypt, aid agencies are sounding the alarm of a “catastrophic humanitarian situation”. Rafah was “significant” because it was the only part in Gaza that had not been terribly damaged by the conflict, United Nations ...
With funding set to be scrapped for the Hamilton-Auckland commuter train, Te Huia enthusiast Georgie Dansey argues for it to be thrown a lifeline. It’s 5.45am and the chain of my crappy old bike falls off slugging up the one hill in Hamilton. I contemplate yeeting the bike into the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Cooke, Honorary Fellow, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland We feel ecological grief when we lose places, species or ecosystems we value and love. These losses are a growing threat to mental health and wellbeing globally. We all see ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shauna Brail, Associate Professor, Institute for Management & Innovation, University of Toronto A shift to hybrid and remote work continues to affect worker presence in Toronto’s downtown.(Shutterstock) Downtown Toronto, the core of Canada’s largest city, continues to reel from the lingering ...
Responding to an Auditor-General's report slamming failures in the administration of the 2023 General Election, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: ...
Productivity apps now make up a big chunk of the software market. But do they work? And why do they all have AI integrations?Despite being firmly on the record as a physical planner fan, I sometimes dream of something better than my pretty diary and its scrawled, ugly, interior ...
The Taxpayers’ Union says the Beehive need to lead by example, following reports of more than $50,000 spent upgrading video conferencing equipment and furniture in the Prime Minister’s office. Taxpayers’ Union Campaign Manager, Connor Molloy, ...
An objective list of the 50 most powerful people in New Zealand, as judged by the Spinoff Editorial Board. It’s power list season, baby, and we want in on the action. Sure, there’s the rich list and the powerful “c-suite” list and the young people with power (hmmm) but here, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thalia Anthony, Professor of Law, University of Technology Sydney ShutterstockThis article contains information on deaths in custody and the names of deceased people, and describes ongoing colonial violence towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. First Nations people in Australia ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Simpson, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Macquarie University Netflix Baby Reindeer’s phenomenal success has much to do with its writer and lead, Richard Gadd, who plays Donny in a tender semi-autobiographical account of sexual abuse, harassment and stalking. Gadd’s story has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Collins, Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle KarolinaGrabowska/Pexels If you didn’t have food allergies as a child, is it possible to develop them as an adult? The short answer is yes. But the reasons why are much ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Moon, Professor of History, Auckland University of Technology Ans Westra, self-portrait, c. 1963. National Library ref AWM-0705-F They try but invariably fail – those writers who believe they are capable of encapsulating in prose or verse the essence of ...
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Looks like the voters delivered a sensible result, largely ignoring the more radical hype while sensing/going for the need of an general progressive OS Update with the EU.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-26/europe-s-mainstream-holds-as-populists-fail-to-break-through
https://www.ft.com/content/9733a232-7fe1-11e9-b592-5fe435b57a3b
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12234808
I hope Mallard gets done for this.
What a sociopathic arsehole.
Yeah, 'cause alleged sexual predators and rapists always admit their guilt 🙄
Read the article.
I did, earlier on, and thought 'well he would say that, wouldn't he?'
If he's innocent, it'll all come out and you may get your duck trophy, but I'm hardly gonna take the word of the accused in a report by Soper as gospel.
The guy has already been investigated and the allegations were dismissed.
For Mallard to call a hug rape is just insanity and just shows how fucked up everything has become.
Hope he's sued and taken to the cleaners.
Well let us see how it plays out, you may yet be correct, but it is odd how this alleged sexual predator/rapist, with the political connection, gets an interview printed in the herald telling their side of the story. Can't say I've seen that happen before. Is it unprecedented?
Probably personally known to Soper and the article reeked of the 'boys will be boys' excuse.
Men like that just can't understand why women don't like a hug from behind with extra penis.
Could be.
IMO no man hugs a women from behind without permission or consequences. Unacceptable in any circumstance WITHOUT permission.
If the guy's version is the full and unedited story, then it's personal greivance time for him.
But three formal complaints for being "old fashioned"? If you have to be told three times that your intimate space compass is broken, you aren't learning.
None of this makes him a rapist though.
A hug, a peck on the cheek, a compliment.
Come on people get a bit of fucking perspective, thank fuck I don't work in an office and especially I don't work in a Wellington public service office, Christ what a horrible working environment.
Fixed it for you.
Your mixed review belongs in a high school drama class. People will spend 8 hours a day at work. This old notion that you shouldn't date co-workers was always a ploy to make people work overtime. Of course people should date co-workers. For most people they may not even get a chance to meet and get to know anyone else properly. So go for it I say. Young, viral people struck by the opposite sex shouldn't advice from bitter old spinster veterans.
Who is talking about dating? That's consensual. At the very least what has been complained about was unwanted intimacy that creeped out the recipient. And that's by the dude's version of events. We didn't hear the other side, other than what Mallard said. The two do not seem to be equivalent, but neither side is talking about colleagues "dating".
then define flirting
Flirting: Verb. Something not relevant to this thread, nor contained in the linked article.
Example:
Then any guy admitting to risky sexual advances should not fear rape allegations unless you can define what flirting is or is not.
This guy isn't admitting to sexual advances of any sort. He says it's three misunderstandings.
Your comments have nothing to do with the situation in question.
This is crazy. You're quick to disregard flirtatious behaviour and quicker again to nitpick.
Did you even read the article or the thread? The only one to say anything was meant to be flirtatious is you.
He said it was an innocent hug in celebration. Not flirting. That he wasn't looking at boobs when he complimented a hairstyle. That the kiss was an innocent peck on the cheek after a visit to his home.
Flirtation doesn't come into any of that in anyone's imagination but yours.
youre crazy
He's crazy?
Yeah, McFlock (lol) is crazed. He produced a mixed review and you've got to ask why he does that. This can't be allowed to be the public dialogue. What we are doing is we are going to get pushed back by the establishment and attack for wanting change whether it's financially or politically or morally but we've got to carry on.
Some one like me shouldn't need monitoring, if you look at what I want politically it's not very controversial. What was supposed to happen post John Key was some kind of neoliberal revolution and all McFlock and people like him is doing, I mean why is McFlock being so radical and what is making him so woke and it is the commercial media.
The commercial media is deliberately misrepresenting and deliberately coming along and imagine you're reading the paper and suddenly here's some one you don't know saying you should hate them or love them and that's effectively what the commercial media is doing. And no one should buy into it and as sone as I challenge anyone on a commercial media topic they can't find what Iv said, why Iv said it, what the context was and it all just melts away a week or 2 later when everything has blown over like nothing ever happened. And that's crazy.
And everyone understands that woke people like McFlock are these sorts of moral busybodies that feel the need to come over and give you a piece of there mind because they are offended. That kind of tyranny is the sort of political correctness that has to stop, we have to be able to have these tough conversations because these problems are growing like a cancer in our society like, Rapists don't Spring out of parliament fully formed. That's just a ridiculous result of a long process of injustice to get to the point of a serial rapist and we see with McFlock that he is lashing out because the evidence of a long drawn out process of a serial rapist just doesn't exists.
And so you've got to just take the bullets and grenades and keep going and I'll keep making my little quips Y'know I'm not going to quit because we've got to keep going.
@ Sam
From an evolutionary perspective females generally adopt a passive sexual strategy; they typically put most of their effort into making themselves appear attractive in order to gain the attention of the most desirable males. The core problem is that it also attracts attention from unwanted males.
The problem for males is that unless they initiate some sexual attention, they cannot test whether the attention is unwanted or not.
Societies have solved this problem in various ways; one traditional approach is to segregate the two sexes, another was various forms of courtship rituals and flirtation that placed clear expectations and boundaries on what was acceptable. The general process would be; women would attract, males initiate attention, females select and then males commit.
In addition the relative high biological cost of sex for women meant that traditionally there were strong constraints on female sexual freedom and a strong emotional aversion to unwanted sex. This is why rape was usually considered a crime only somewhat less serious than murder. But in the past 50 years the availability of reliable contraception means that the biological cost of sex for women is now a lot different to that of men, at the same time their evolved emotional aversion remains unchanged.
Socially this has resulted in a very mixed message; on one hand casual sex is now very commonplace and in particular female sexual freedom has been hugely expanded. At the same time the very high female emotional response to unwanted sex has been unmoored from the biological act of vaginal intercourse and extended to virtually any male sexual attention that is deemed unworthy.
In essence this means that any male attention that a woman does not want or later regrets now falls under this extended definition of 'rape'. It may not look like the old world idea of a violent physical coercion, rather what matters now is how the woman feels about what happened.
Under this greatly expanded definition all male sexual attention is now potentially rape. Which is why any flirtation, touching or a hug is now a criminal act unless the female first signs a legal document of some kind authorising it. While female sexual freedom is promoted, celebrated and expanded at every opportunity, the opposite is happening to all expressions of male sexuality.
In particular this can be seen where anything any women says about any sexual encounter must be intrinsically believed, while anything a male says is always the lies of a self-serving predator. We see this dynamic playing out even on this very thread.
Holy shit do you two have the wrong end of the stick.
@ McF
At the very least what has been complained about was unwanted intimacy that creeped out the recipient.
I make a coherent case of why both you and Mallard may well be correct in the current social context … and you're still not happy?
This may be the reason why aliens don't talk to us.
@Redlogix
Well I don't think it is wise to select a mate based on how they would satisfy specific traits of ones personality and preferences. My theory is that the perfect mate doesn't exist, at least Iv never seen a perfect relationship in real life.
Just arousing the thought of a sexual act, it could be a carton character, everyone is well aware that a cartoon character are not real, but non the less just arousing the fantasy of a sexual act in males and then utterly rejecting that act results in utter psychological devastation. This may be anecdotal because I am speaking from experience. Never the less cases of mental rejection can be worse than physical rejection or fighting.
In away we don't quite appreciate the logic of humiliation and rejection. The point is not to be brutal but to be perfectly brutal an honest the point is in away, that him NOT raping her or even making love to her, not doing it makes the humiliation even worse.
In my experience of woman who have been raped it is the strong independent woman that take it the hardest. Some woman just find it unbearable to live with the pain. The pain seems to manifest in reality and I am talking about specific woman that I have worked with in the past who was prevented from working in specific situations and I would have to talk to them differently. It's almost like sexual abuse survivors have their own language.
The rape victim that can coup with the trauma understands that her terrifying nightmares will not manifest in reality but rape is a tremendous sin in my opinion. The humiliation, the rejection, the utter terror is tremendous and that's the point and my main point is that psychological rape can be worse than physical rape. The body can heal but the mind lingers.
I always recommend when selecting the ideal date that putting to one side the sex bit is no good for anyone. Asking for and receiving permission to perform sexual acts is perhaps far more fulfilling than the act itself. Of course apart of the fulfilment is the results itself but again at the same time being aware of how powerful the psychological component of sex can be. So I always recommend approaching potential partners as a way of having a bit of fun. Being in a real relationship you talk, make each other laugh while at the same time being comfy in each other's company and not to take any of this to seriously.
Another way both Mallard and I could be correct is that Soper's mate isn't telling the full story, or that the Francis report contained different, more serious, information compared to the original investigation. And that doesn't need linguistic gymnastics like:
I think it's best to take this sort of nitpicking up with ones parents. Relying on some self professed single person by choice on the Internet is the wrong type of person to be reading up on sex in general.
If you think the difference between "flirting" and "sexual assault" is "nitpicking", you've got problems.
The only one with a problem is you, McFlock. Redlogix and I are perfectly capable of having very difficult chit chats.
lols Dunning-Kruger strikes again
Commentating other people's conversation is not necessary either. This is a public place. Everyone can see the risks.
Yup, the risk that men can't tell the difference between them "flirting" with someone and them "sexually assaulting" someone.
If it helps you get over it I can apologise for explaining how and why and in which ways you are crazed, McFlock.
lol
Have a nice day
Is it fucked up and insanity that you think that all that happened was a hug? I don't know what happened, you don't know what happened. Mallard heard of some behaviour he described as "serious assault."
Do you think his judgement is so impaired that on hearing of an innocent hug he formed a conclusion with such certainty that he publicly stated his opinions as he did?
+100
Mallard will have seen the detail of the Francis report. He is probably the only person other than the author herself who knows those details. It can be assumed his comment is based on what he read in that report.
I would go so far as to accuse Soper of a malicious attempt to use the untested 'testimony' of an individual to try and undermine Mallard and his parliamentary position.
And no. I'm not a particular fan of Mallard but I can smell political skulduggery a mile off.
the independent investigation matched his story and he was cleared.
The only political skulduggery is Mallard’s.
Nothing in the article about any independent investigation into the alleged incident. And the Speaker understood the same man was responsible for the two other claims of serious sexual assault, so perhaps it's a matter for police.
He described it as a great deal more than "serious assault".
He described it as rape. And yes, I do think his judgement is seriously impaired. Just look at the way he behaves in his role as Speaker. He has no idea at all of correct behavior.
+1 Allan
No BM. We must let The Al1en signal to that it is okay to display feelings and outrage over this most grievousof accusations. Please Al1en, continue.
A better second attempt at baiting, well at least, less shite than the first deleted go at it. lol
the invitation is an open one.
I read it BM. I am sure this bloke was not asked to leave without some pretty compelling evidence of serious sexual offending. Trust Barry Soper? Really?
Prefer to wait and see.
Ditto ianmac.
Harassers, stalkers, hoaxers, sexual predators and pathological liars always admit their guilt? Not on your life. These types are able to convincingly convince themselves (and others) they are the victims and not the perpetrators. It is a well documented part of their varying personality and behavioural disorders.
This link is about stalkers but since sexual predatory activity usually includes an element of stalking it would apply:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11885134
I hope Mallard gets done for this.
What a sociopathic arsehole.
Sure, if this guy's claims are 100% factual and if those incidents are the entirety of Mallard's claims of "serious sexual assault," he doesn't come out of it looking too flash. Did you consider even for a second waiting until those aren't "if"s before blathering about sociopathic arseholes? For all we know, the "sociopathic arsehole" is the guy you're defending, or someone else entirely. It doesn't kill you to wait for some facts before blustering away on a comments thread.
Some people obviously enjoy looking like reactionary knee-jerk weirdos blinded by partisan animosity. Any excuse to put the boot into the 'lefties'. And yes, Mallard's the Speaker now. But he used to be a leftie, the dirty, dirty Communist.
In his spare time, BM also burns people for witchcraft.
In my opinion Mallard is an idiot to have used the word "rape" even if he is aware of more facts than the rest of us. He doesn't seem to know when to keep his mouth shut. The guy accused should lawyer up and if the allegations have previously been dismissed, he will probably have a very good case against Mallard. Its ironic that the whole thing has been about bullying, as now this 'accused' man will say he has been bullied by Mallard.
A rain forest without rain Just fucking peachy.
Alaska’s wettest region is experiencing an extreme drought for the first time in recorded history, climate scientists say.
The southernmost portion of Southeast Alaska, including Ketchikan, Prince of Wales Island, Wrangell and Metlakatla, has been in a drought for the last two years, said Rick Thoman, a climatologist at the Fairbanks-based Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy.
Last week, though, the drought was updated to a D3, or “extreme” drought, the second-highest category the U.S. Drought Monitor measures. It’s the first time those conditions have ever been recorded in Alaska, according to the Drought Monitor.
https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/weather/2019/05/26/in-southeast-alaska-is-seeing-its-first-extreme-drought-ever-recorded-climatologists-say/
The US DMI only records data since 2000,since then the areas not in drought have increase from 50-60%.
https://twitter.com/RogerPielkeJr/status/1129048193319067648
Yet a rain forest is in drought.
/
Only 2600 mm last year,bit like fiordland yeh.
Yeah of no consequence aye.
Power supply is dwindling, water supplies dwindling, pests rising.
Everything is connected to everything else's everything.
How much of the US non-drought areas have been subject to flooding in the last calendar year? Ask Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Kansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri… off the top of my head…
Did you know 40% of the US populated areas are close to levees? OUCH!
As the planet warms more water is loaded into the atmosphere. Meanwhile weather patterns break down. Some areas will get disproportionately more water, some less.
Flood and drought are to be new norms. Regular weather not so regular.
We just had a summer drought, and now, apparently, an Autumn one. A few more seasons like that our farmers will be struggling to feed their stock let alone profit off them. Of course we pump water to them but it will reach a point townspeople have no water and cows do, on that day it will be entirely justifiable to cut off the farmers.
I have several economic pests still present in my garden, normally winter would have put paid to them. Not this year – they get extra life cycles to populate in greater numbers. It will not take many repeats of this to see plagues of insect pests, especially in areas where we've failed to allow insect diversity, namely, most of NZ.
Nature lies within a biosphere that encompasses the entire planet (and perhaps beyond). All within this system in some manner affect the rest of the system. Alaska's droughts are our concern. You'll see.
Dental care is free to under 18's, so why on earth are toddlers teeth so rotten?
Are parents not getting reminders/educated on how to care for their little ones teeth?
Education drive maybe? Sugar tax?
Something needs to change.
It's not the toddlers fault. far out the pain…. is it too far to label it child abuse in some instances?
Hi Cinny…..if you're referring to this article…
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/390624/toddler-waits-five-months-for-treatment-for-rotten-teeth-abscesses
…then no, you'll have to hold fire with the accusations of child abuse as the wee mite has a condition known as dental hypoplasia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enamel_hypoplasia)
We were just discussing over dinner tonight the lengths to which Natrad went to this morning to explain about the hypoplasia and how the inevitable numpties emailled the station full of righteous indignation that an obviously irresponsible mother should be complaining about the wait time for acute pediatric dental treatment.
Sigh.
However. It could very well be the case that the parents who wean their wee mites onto flouro green powerade or cola can be held to blame somewhat for the long wait list as their kids are also in the queue. These parents know better…surely…more sighs.
I wonder how many have the dental hypoplasia? Poor kids, distressing for the parents too no doubt.
Thanks heaps for the link Rosemary.
Was thinking I wonder why my kids teeth didn't go all rotten, but so many many others do. And the only thing I could think of is that fizzy isn't normal at ours, birthdays are exciting cause there is fizzy lolz. We drink milk and water mostly. But then fizzy is cheaper than milk.
Educational campaign for parents maybes?
A friend's twins had hypoplasia…and I'm not sure about the prevalence. According to the wiki page there are a number of 'causes', but the wee lassie this morning has an older brother with the same condition which implies in that family it is the hereditary form.
There is a huge wait list for pediatric dental treatment and my guess that most of the kiddies are on it because of poor nutrition/sugary drinks and food. I have on more than one occasion seen babes in arms sucking on fizzy and how the hell you get the message through I have no idea. However….the mums of the children with fizzy- rotted teeth will most definitely not be on the wireless complaining about the delay for treatment. Because guilt. And shame.
Cinny…my youngest is twenty seven and I remember the constant messaging about baby teeth and sugar and fizzy and good nutrition and how it all starts in the womb. And about the drugs and the drink and the smoking. I guess its the same today?
Rosemary, it's not, least I'm pretty sure especially with my youngest when she was a toddler that there wasn't as much info/education about it. My girls are now 14 and 11. I remember seeing little posters at the Dr's and at Plunket showing the sugar content of drinks and that was enough to put me off.
Absolutely convinced it is relative to the cheap cost of sugary drinks v's milk for example. Also all the hidden sugar in muesli bars etc. Reliance on processed food etc. Cheap lollies etc, using sugary food as a reward etc.
Maybe we need sugar warning labels on products with high sugar content. Seems to work with putting people off smoking…
Perhaps an intensive education campaign via social media/tv etc plus in schools would help. It's so sad for the little ones.
I vote for any solution that doesn't involve more proliferation of artificial sweeteners.
A little part of me dies when I hear aspartame talked about as a solution.
However that's pro plaugers for you.
well these guy seem to be fed up as well,
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/113026512/dentists-fed-up-with-treating-third-world-conditions-call-for-more-funding-for-dental-care
i think there are different reasons, to expensive for adults, so adults don't have a relationship with a dentist and thus their children aren't taken to one. Childrens teeth, the mistaken believe that it is just 'milk teeth' and thus they regrow, never mind the damage to the gums/bones etc. Lack of transport/childcare etc. For women on a benefit with multiple children regular dental care for the children might fall under 'undesirable for an employement' – same this for regular check ups. Food deserts, places were really the only affordable food is the chinese take away and the 2.5 litre bottle of fizzy for a dollar vs the 4 $+ two litre bottle of milk. Smoking, stress, teeth grinding ( my friends three year old grinds his teeth…!). And then if everyone has no teeth at 45 and lives with a plate, then it also becomes a normal thing.
But i believe that if we can get the adults back to dental care the kids follow. And the government would save a tidy sum in health care, and illness / early death related benefits, lost productivity and such. Preventative healthcare rather then treating symptoms health care.
Are parents not getting reminders/educated on how to care for their little ones teeth?
One of my neighbours in Kuwait was always taking her little boy back to India to have a dentist sort out his rotten teeth. She couldn't understand why his teeth were so shit. My wife figured it probably had something to do with the baby bottles of fruit juice she gave him to bathe his teeth in all day, but parents tend not to welcome others' thoughts on how ur doin it wrong so we never raised it with her. Seems fairly common in this country too.
.
Aww…
https://twitter.com/ThePoke/status/1132773124045463554
On a European election night when the Brexit party dominated across the UK, perhaps the most eye-catching story in North West England was the humiliating drubbing suffered by the anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson.
Having claimed for weeks to be on the crest of an international movement – one that elected Donald Trump in the US – the man whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon had expected to “walk into Brussels like Connor McGregor” upon his election.
In the end, Robinson won only 2.2% of the vote – losing his £5,000 deposit – and sneaked out of the election count in central Manchester barely an hour after he had arrived. He tried to put a brave face on it, claiming the establishment had “arranged and organised” for him to be banned from social media to scupper his election bid, but it was a resounding defeat for the founder of the English Defence League
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/may/27/humiliated-tommy-robinson-sneaks-out-of-election-count-early
Not .😂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4uivPpzCGo
This is a disturbing thing…the CPI in the US is chronically under priced. If the same were true in NZ that would mean both interest rates and core benefits that are set off CPI are both incorrect.
https://talkmarkets.com/content/the-cpi-is-underrepresenting-food-inflation-by-40-heres-the-proof?post=222199
Or check out this in video form if you prefer
that would be a correct assumption, imho.
Saw new leader of the oz Labour Party on Tele tonight Anthony albanese. Very Aussie bloke but seemed very genuine, authentic……..fingers crossed.
and on a different note what fools those who buy into Barry’s article about the guy stood down at parliament. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the enquiry that cleared him was a white wash (acknowledge I could be wrong). It wouldn’t have been mallard himself who stood him down, but parliamentary services. Debbie Francis found significant examples of abuse, sexual harassment etc.
btw BM many years ago when I was in my early thirties an older man at work on two occasions came up behind me and bear hugged me……I found it very unpleasant and inappropriate. If it ok for men to do this in the work place, I ask the men on this site what it would be like if a gay bloke (and I say gay, because it then brings the possibility that there is a sexual motivation in it) came up and unexpectedly bear hugged you?
Chris Hipkins should just go and join National. He speaks as one he acts as one. He is well schooled to regurgitate what ever his PR team have been prepping him. There are teachers already below min wage pity that this is is breach of our law
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/some-teachers-paid-less-than-minimum-wage-after-bureaucratic-blunder
And Hipkins just said this "Strike action is not justified." He is a Labour MP ?? Disgrace IMO for someone from Labour
Do you seriously expect a Minister (irrespective of party) to say, "strike action is justified." He represents the government, not the unions. The job of the government is to keep public services in operation, not encourage strikes.
Yes, the Labour Party can and should support strike action, even against its own government.
The role of the mass party of labour is to act as a political wing of the labour movement. This means the party is not simply a parliamentary faction; it is also a social movement. Government ministers sit within the state machine, the trade unions are outside it, and the party spans the gap between the two. The overall political direction of the party should not be determined by the administrative demands of government, but by the needs of the working class as a whole.
To be clear, Labour ministers are there to serve the people, it is not their job to discipline the unions. We really need to do away with the idea that a Labour government is Her Majesty's government, or that Labour should be somehow subordinate to the will of the state.
If a Labour government fails to live up to the expectations of the labour movement, it would be absolutely correct for Labour Party members to hold their ministers accountable. Similarly, if Labour ministers feel that the machinery of state is not responding to their demands, it would be totally acceptable for them to endorse industrial action in order to push aside any resistance to their objectives.
These strikes are not in accordance with the democratic processes, which the unions have been woefully deficient, in providing good representation to their constituencies.
In a political sense, these strikes are of the opposition to the govt. That's not the way to go. Where were they during the previous period?
The incompetence of Unions politically, using England as an example, was the pre-cursor before the Thatcher govt. kicked off 4+ decades of financial neo-liberalism etc so in a political sense, it does seem that the Govt. is not impressed with counter productive unions to their members’ interests.
Perhaps the minister like others in govt are IMO poorly phrasing their thoughts 🤭
Perhaps he should have said something like "he was disappointed that the union and its members has resorted to this action" he had the day to prep for the interview, BUT to say Not Justified. Perhaps those making such poorly thought out comments should see what those within the profession are facing. Thanks to many govts; the work loads of teachers have dramatically increased yet pay does not recognise this additional work. I know the same is for many professions (nurse (pity they were the 1st off in the pay review )etc)
He represents the government, not the unions – So is it the govts "job" to restrict and pay to the min that they can get away ?? That will work for so long and then there is the release of this pent up pressure.
It is one thing for activists in Labour to do as you suggest, quite another for Ministers to do so.
By definition Ministers are Her Majesty's government. Our constitutional government could not operate if it was anything other than that. And you don't want to risk changing that. Which is not the republican issue, but rather that we have a government that acts according to law.
Your complaint is really about Hipkins (or Robertson) not providing more money to settle the strike. The solution for a Labour government is to provide more money, not encourage strike action.
But even Labour governments can't just give unions whatever they want. So if they think they are providing enough, naturally they are going to say strike action is not justified.