Davidson detained by Israeli navy protesting blockade of Gaza

Written By: - Date published: 12:28 pm, October 6th, 2016 - 145 comments
Categories: International - Tags: , , ,

Marama Davidson

A boat on which Green MP Marama Davidson was a passenger of, bound for Gaza has been intercepted by the Israeli navy.

From Radio New Zealand:

The yacht sailed by a dozen women was intercepted by the Israeli Defence Forces and was being towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

Many of those on board, including Ms Davidson, pre-recorded statements in the event their boat was intercepted.

The Women’s Boat to Gaza activists aimed to peacefully protest at Israel’s decade-long blockade and draw attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Israeli personnel – men and women – boarded the Zaytouna-Olivia which had set sail from Barcelona last month, Reuters reported. A military spokeswoman said no force was required to stop the vessel.

The Green Party has responded.

We are calling on Israel to swiftly release Ms Davidson and the rest of the crew of the Zaytouna-Olivia, and to end the illegal blockade of Gaza,” Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei said.

“This inhumane blockade has been in place for a decade, resulting in plummeting living standards and health services, high unemployment, and severe food insecurity for the people of Gaza.

“More aid is urgently needed to help rebuild the homes, public services and livelihoods that were destroyed in 2014 in the war between Israel and Hamas.

Ms Turei said Parliament expressed support for the Women’s Peace Boat to Gaza and she hoped MPs would join the Green Party’s condemnation of Israel’s actions.

Israel maintains that the blockade is necessary to prevent munitions from being smuggled into Gaza.  But intercepting ships on the high seas has always been problematic if not illegal, even if they do contain munitions.  And clearly this ship is not containing munitions.

There is compelling opinion that the blockade is illegal.  A panel of human rights experts including former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer previously offered the opinion that the blockade was a flagrant contravention of international human rights and humanitarian law.

From Huffington Post:

Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip violates international law, a panel of human rights experts reporting to a UN body said on Tuesday, disputing a conclusion reached by a separate UN probe into Israel’s raid on a Gaza-bound aid ship.

The so-called Palmer Report on the Israeli raid of May 2010 that killed nine Turkish activists said earlier this month that Israel had used unreasonable force in last year’s raid, but its naval blockade of the Hamas-ruled strip was legal.

The Mavi Marmara ship aboard which Israel’s raid of a Gaza-bound flotilla left nine Turkish activists dead. The Palmer Commission report on the May 31, 2010 events was leaked on September 1, 2011.

A panel of five independent UN rights experts reporting to the UN Human Rights Council rejected that conclusion, saying the blockade had subjected Gazans to collective punishment in “flagrant contravention of international human rights and humanitarian law.”

The four-year blockade deprived 1.6 million Palestinians living in the enclave of fundamental rights, they said.

“In pronouncing itself on the legality of the naval blockade, the Palmer Report does not recognize the naval blockade as an integral part of Israel’s closure policy towards Gaza which has a disproportionate impact on the human rights of civilians,” they said in a joint statement.

Meanwhile the situation in Gaza is deteriorating further with unemployment standing at 40% and with the civilian population suffering from extreme hardship.

145 comments on “Davidson detained by Israeli navy protesting blockade of Gaza ”

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  1. Chooky 1
    6 October 2016 at 12:47 pm

    Go Marama Davidson !..and the brave women…and the Greens who are defending her

    …and Great Post thanks!

  2. Nessalt 2
    6 October 2016 at 12:54 pm

    How do you reconcile this statement

    “There is compelling opinion that the blockade is illegal. A panel of human rights experts including former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer previously offered the opinion that the blockade was a flagrant contravention of international human rights and humanitarian law.”

    with this statement

    “The so-called Palmer Report on the Israeli raid of May 2010 that killed nine Turkish activists said earlier this month that Israel had used unreasonable force in last year’s raid, but its naval blockade of the Hamas-ruled strip was legal.”

    Why isn’t Marama protesting the blanket subjugation of woman’s rights by Hamas? you certainly wouldn’t see female Hamas personnel doing anything alongside the males. Even if they would do it better.

    [You are right. I had mistakenly thought Palmer was a member of the review committee not the author of the original report. I have amended the post – MS]

  3. Adrian Thornton 3
    6 October 2016 at 1:02 pm

    Inspiring to see politicians with the strength of their convictions…Labour should take a close look to see what it looks like, as it seems most must have forgotten.

    Here is Norman Finkelstein/Dershwitz on Democracy Now!, debating Dershowitz’s book The Case for Israel, an oldie but a goodie…

  4. alwyn 4
    6 October 2016 at 2:30 pm

    What would happen if the protesters were charged under some Israeli law for which the possible penalty was, say, 3 years in jail?
    If found guilty but then immediately expelled from Israel would it mean she was automatically expelled from the New Zealand Parliament? After all an MP is bounced for being found guilty of an offence for which a penalty of 2 years imprisonment applies, even if they don’t actually get that sentence.
    As far as argument about whether the blockade is, as apparently determined by Palmer, legal or as being illegal as some others seem to believe we would seem to be involved in the activity that Key is routinely charged with.
    The Green Party approach seems to be.
    Your lawyer says one thing but we have found another one who says the opposite.

  5. swordfish 5
    6 October 2016 at 2:33 pm

    Agree with the broad thrust of Metiria Turei’s statement but have a few probs with:
    ” … that were destroyed in 2014 in the war between Israel and Hamas.”

    “War” ??? … “One-sided massacre of civilians” would be closer to the mark.

    Over the past decade, Israel has mounted three major assaults on the 1.8 million Palestinians trapped behind its blockade of Gaza – a population overwhelmingly comprised of refugees, nearly half of them under 15.

    Taken together, Operation Cast Lead (2008-9), Operation Pillar of Defense (2012), and Operation Protective Edge (2014), have resulted in the deaths of some 3,700 Palestinians. Meanwhile, a total of 90 Israelis were killed in the invasions (many military and some from friendly fire).

    In the last of these alone, Israel’s assault killed more than 2000 Palestinians (nearly a quarter of them children), maimed and permanently disfigured many thousands more and displaced close to 100,000, while at the same time wreaking massive damage on Gaza’s infrastructure.

    “The sustained strangulation and repeated bombardment of an impoverished refugee camp”, as one analyst has described these one-sided massacres.

    As Norman Finkelstein has shown, each attack on Gaza was preceded by (1) a pattern of deliberate Israeli provocations leading to (2) retaliation (sometimes Hamas / sometimes independent groups) by means of largely ineffectual rockets, which (3) Israel then exploited as a pretext for massive bombardment and destruction.

  6. save nz 6
    6 October 2016 at 3:11 pm

    Go Marama!

  7. Colonial Viper 7
    6 October 2016 at 4:03 pm

    Actual moral and physical courage from an actual NZ politician. Outstanding.

    (I trust that our SIS informed the Mossad in good time about the presence of the NZ Parliamentarian on the vessel.)

  8. Scott 8
    6 October 2016 at 4:35 pm

    What is the big deal? They will stamp her passport as not welcome back and pop her on a plane home. She is not about to be mistreated in the least.

    Apart from anything else, this is exactly what she wanted to happen. She never had any expectation of making it to Gaza. They all knew full well they would be intercepted and sent home when they embarked on this virtue signally holiday.

    • Morrissey 8.1
      6 October 2016 at 4:39 pm

      The fact she was forcibly, illegally removed from international waters is mistreatment. Certainly, they didn’t murder her like they murdered nine peace activists in 2010. I guess that’s what you mean when you claim she wasn’t mistreated: they didn’t kill her.

      Your contemptuous portrayal of these brave protestors—“virtue signalling”—is an indictment of you.

      • Paul 8.1.1
        6 October 2016 at 4:44 pm

        Making the mistake of listening to the Panel today.
        No perceptive comments to explain why people in South Auckland do not vote.
        Ellen Read demonstrating how the media has no understanding.

        • Wensleydale 8.1.1.1
          6 October 2016 at 5:55 pm

          As a resident of South Auckland, I’ve noticed a number of Vic Crone billboards have had moustaches drawn on them. There’s a noticeable level of contempt, particularly for Crone and Palino.

          • Morrissey 8.1.1.1.1
            6 October 2016 at 6:25 pm

            Crone has made some extremely foolish anti-science statements and Palino still has the stink of being involved in Whaleoil’s dirty tricks brigade. What else would they expect from the people of South Auckland—praise?

            • Wensleydale 8.1.1.1.1.1
              6 October 2016 at 6:49 pm

              Obviously not. It’s just nice to see that people are thinking about this stuff and registering their disapproval, in a variety of ways.

      • Draco T Bastard 8.1.2
        6 October 2016 at 5:19 pm

        +1

      • Groundhog 8.1.3
        6 October 2016 at 6:17 pm

        Actually she breached a legal blockade. And condoned this http://www.timesofisrael.com/rocket-fired-from-gaza-lands-in-sderot-street/.

        • Morrissey 8.1.3.1
          6 October 2016 at 6:22 pm

          Both of your statements are diametrically opposite to the truth. In other words, you’re a liar.

          • Groundhog 8.1.3.1.1
            6 October 2016 at 6:26 pm

            No. Both are true. And the blockade is the direct result of the election of Hamas, a terrorist organisation, and the refusal of Hamas to withdraw from terrorist action against Israel.

            • Morrissey 8.1.3.1.1.1
              6 October 2016 at 6:30 pm

              You are wrong, and you know it.

              As I’ve just commented on another thread, you lack the smarts for this my friend. But even if you were a smooth and accomplished liar of the calibre of Christopher Hitchens, you can’t win by baldly repeating lies.

              • Macro …
                6 October 2016 at 9:09 pm

                you can’t win by baldly repeating lies.
                Oh I don’t know. His hero does it all the time. 😸

              • Groundhog …
                7 October 2016 at 12:32 pm

                So show where I’m wrong. Davidson is grandstanding in support of a terrorist organisation elected by the people she is in solidarity with.

            • Colonial Viper 8.1.3.1.1.2
              6 October 2016 at 6:31 pm

              The problem stems from the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and the subsequent theft of Palestinian land by Jewish paramilitaries.

              And more recently the repeated slaughter of hundreds of Palestinians by the most modern advanced army in the Middle East.

              Hamas seems to be the democratic choice of the Palestinian people and the Israeli Government doesn’t get a say.

              • GregJ …
                6 October 2016 at 6:54 pm

                Hamas seems to be the democratic choice of the Palestinian people

                Only in Gaza in 2006. There have been no Palestinian National Elections since then and Hamas refused to conduct Local Elections in 2012 in Gaza.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  6 October 2016 at 6:56 pm

                  Unfortunately I see Gaza quietly throttled out of existence by Israel within the next 20 years.

                  • GregJ …
                    6 October 2016 at 7:05 pm

                    @CV

                    Something that would suit both Israel and Egypt.

                    I was speaking to an Egyptian lawyer yesterday who thinks Gaza should just be part of Egypt and Gazans allowed to relocate within Egypt if they wish (with compensation payments made by Israel and the Egyptian government to aid in resettlement). He has a very unfavourable view of Hamas, as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, and wants to see it eliminated.

              • Groundhog …
                7 October 2016 at 12:37 pm

                The ‘Palestinian’ land you speak of CV is occupied by Israel as the direct result of military aggression by Israel’s Arab neighbours. Israel withdrew from Gaza, and the ‘Palestinians’ (whatever that means) began sending rockets into Israeli territory. The entire situation sucks, and there is blood on the hands of both sides, but lets not fool ourselves that Hamas want peace.

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  7 October 2016 at 4:02 pm

                  the direct result of military aggression

                  Yes, because that’s how Germany became part of France. No, wait…

            • pete 8.1.3.1.1.3
              7 October 2016 at 1:45 pm

              And the latest brutal assault by Israel on Gaza is just as legal as it is to torch the neighbours home when he throws a lemon over the fence?

              • Groundhog …
                9 October 2016 at 8:03 am

                Pete, if the people who control the terrorists in Gaza haven’t learned by now about Israeli disproportionate response, they never will. If they stop sending rockets into Israel, they will have peace.

        • Colonial Viper 8.1.3.2
          6 October 2016 at 6:28 pm

          A “legal blockade” – did the UN sign off on it or are you making shit up?

          The Government of Israel uses the flimsiest excuses to kill hundreds or thousands of Palestinian civilians.

          How many Israelis have been killed by those home workshop rockets in the last five years?

          • Stunned mullet 8.1.3.2.1
            7 October 2016 at 7:07 am

            Perhaps Israel should get into bed with Putin – then they could bomb garza back into the Stone Age and you would be applauding all the way.

            • Paul 8.1.3.2.1.1
              7 October 2016 at 7:09 am

              That is not what cv is saying.
              You should become a lot more informed about Syria and Israel before talking on the subject. At present it looks like you believe all you are told.
              Read either Fisk, Cockburn, Pilger or Cohen. All experts. Then explain why you know more than them.

          • Groundhog 8.1.3.2.2
            7 October 2016 at 12:39 pm

            Are you suggesting a death count is an appropriate way to apply blame? Are you suggesting Israel should not retaliate because the rockets haven’t killed as many people?

            • Colonial Viper 8.1.3.2.2.1
              7 October 2016 at 12:47 pm

              BTW what has been the Israeli death toll from these garage made rockets in the last ten years?

              Simply put, the Israeli Government uses these rockets as a pretext to inflict a massively disproportionate level of death, suffering and destruction in Gaza.

              Cutting the grass, I think you Israelis call it.

              • Groundhog …
                9 October 2016 at 8:07 am

                “Simply put, the Israeli Government uses these rockets as a pretext to inflict a massively disproportionate level of death, suffering and destruction in Gaza.”

                It’s not a pretext. Self defence is justified. That it is disproportionate is self evident, but if the terrorists who inhabit Gaza stop the rockets, they’ll find a lot less coming back at them.

    • Paul 8.2
      6 October 2016 at 4:40 pm

      You think it’s a holiday, Scott!
      Have you heard of words like solidarity, selflessness, sacrifice?
      Wow, the world would be a better place with more people like you around. Your sense of society is breathtaking.

      • Scott 8.2.1
        7 October 2016 at 9:32 am

        Yes, I think it was an oh look at me, aren’t I righteous, publicity stunt of a holiday that is pointless and perhaps counter-productive.

  9. Venezia 9
    6 October 2016 at 4:46 pm

    Go Marama! Standing up for human rights in the Gaza Strip. Many,many NZers are with her in spirit.

    • Paul 10.1
      6 October 2016 at 5:08 pm

      Have you heard of words like solidarity, selflessness, sacrifice?
      Wow, the world would be a better place with more people like you around. Your sense of society is breathtaking.

  11. Wayne 11
    6 October 2016 at 7:15 pm

    These days the standard position of the progressive left is to be anti-Israel, pro-Hamas and supporters of boycott and divest. Usually calling Israel an apartheid state or worse. Not unsurprisingly the response of the right is to be pro-Israel and anti-Hamas usually calling Hamas terrorists. And in the US to pass laws for all state funds to disinvest from any organisation supporting B&D.
    So basically no dialogue, just abuse of each other as the comments to this post nicely illustrate.
    In my view the constant posturing of outsiders (usually to impress their supporters) in the Israel-Palestine conflict is just making things worse. It reinforces the views of the actual protagonists of the correctness of their position with no need to compromise.
    It would be better to back off a bit. It might then be easier for the Israelis and the Palestinians to actually talk to each other.
    One tiny advantage of the Syrian conflict is that generally the focus has gone off the Israelis and the Palestinians and notwithstanding Marama’s stunt, my understanding that is happening. Hamas has backed off firing rockets and Israel is allowing more stuff through the border crossings. Best to give them space to progress things. One of those situations where quiet diplomacy is much more important than stunts, which in my view are an unhelpful distraction. But no doubt grist to the mill for SJW brigade.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 11.1
      6 October 2016 at 7:29 pm

      Your conflict of interest is showing, Dr. Mapp.

      You have little insight into the “position of the progressive left” other than weak flamebait and projection.

      And boy, do you hate women interfering in your cosy little world. How about you fuck off?

      • left for dead 11.1.1
        6 October 2016 at 7:56 pm

        Here here, my thoughts too.

      • stigie 11.1.2
        6 October 2016 at 8:57 pm

        “How about you fuck off?”

        Dr Wayne Mapp doesn’t deserve that treatment, what a nasty little man you are OAB.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 11.1.2.1
          7 October 2016 at 8:56 am

          If he’s going to run his mouth expressing his flamebait views about the Left he’s going to get it right back in kind. I agree that’s he’s more intelligent than that and sometimes contributes comments of value: he’s obviously capable of lifting his game.

          As for you, get off your knees, hypocrite. What respect did you ever extend to Andrew Little, for example?

          • stigie 11.1.2.1.1
            7 October 2016 at 11:01 am

            Yep, i may not agree with Little’s politics but i would never tell him to “Fuck off”.
            You are still a nasty little man OAB !

            • One Anonymous Bloke 11.1.2.1.1.1
              7 October 2016 at 3:58 pm

              How do you know? To my knowledge he doesn’t go to Failoil or the Sewer and start telling you what you all think.

        • Scott 11.1.2.2
          7 October 2016 at 9:39 am

          Well put stigie.

        • DoublePlusGood 11.1.2.3
          7 October 2016 at 10:39 am

          People who support genocide do deserve that treatment. They are the absolute worst of humanity, entirely deserving of being social pariahs.

      • Chuck 11.1.3
        6 October 2016 at 9:32 pm

        And boy OAB you hate when logic interferes with your unique outlook, the only response you can muster is vile attempts to intimidate.

        • Draco T Bastard 11.1.3.1
          6 October 2016 at 9:44 pm

          Never seen a RWNJ use logic.

          • James 11.1.3.1.1
            7 October 2016 at 7:59 am

            That’s because there are none so blind that they don’t want to see.

            • Draco T Bastard 11.1.3.1.1.1
              7 October 2016 at 8:20 am

              Yep, the RWNJ definitely do not want to see reality as that proves their ideology, their deepest held beliefs in greed and selfishness, wrong.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 11.1.3.2
          8 October 2016 at 8:17 am

          In fact, I’m objecting to Dr. Mapp’s false characterisation of the “progressive Left”.

          As for Hamas and the Israeli government: between them they have levelled the moral high ground and now it is a mass grave. Can you see how offensive it is when Dr. Mapp pretends that peace activism is the same as taking sides?

          • Groundhog 11.1.3.2.1
            9 October 2016 at 8:12 am

            The ‘progressive’ left support terrorists in Gaza. They support the worst excesses of militant islam. They oppose one of the only democracies in the middle east. It really is a bankrupt ideology.

      • Stunned Mullet 11.1.4
        7 October 2016 at 10:55 am

        You may not like Wayne’s views and disagree with them as much as you like but why should he “fuck off” ?

        A bit of even handed moderation on this site would go a long way.

        • stigie 11.1.4.1
          7 October 2016 at 11:20 am

          Correct Stunned Mullet, if it had of been me that said it, im sure i would’ve been banned !

        • One Anonymous Bloke 11.1.4.2
          8 October 2016 at 8:04 am

          It’s really a question of “how” he fucks off. Perhaps he’ll change his behaviour.

    • miravox 11.2
      6 October 2016 at 7:37 pm

      “It would be better to back off a bit. It might then be easier for the Israelis and the Palestinians to actually talk to each other.

      That strategy has worked out well
      From yesterday

      The White House has accused Israel of a betrayal of trust, in an unusually sharp rebuke over its plans to build hundreds of new settlement homes deep in the West Bank.

      Days after Obama approved a $38bn Israeli military aid package and attended former president Shimon Peres’s funeral in Jerusalem, the White House railed at the construction of 300 housing units on land “far closer to Jordan than Israel”.

      Warning that the decision jeopardizes the already distant prospect of Middle East peace as well as Israel’s own security, press secretary Josh Earnest said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s word had been called into question.

      “We did receive public assurances from the Israeli government that contradict this announcement,” he said.

      “I guess when we’re talking about how good friends treat one another, that’s a source of serious concern as well.”

      • swordfish 11.2.1
        7 October 2016 at 6:43 am

        Whenever there’s a lull in violence, Israel’s settlement expansion actually accelerates. They get to have their cake and eat it.

    • Macro 11.3
      6 October 2016 at 9:30 pm

      You know Wayne as well as anyone here that the issue is not with Hamas, but the illegal occupation by Israel of Palestinian land and the consequent subjugation of those people since 1948. For a person raised in the Gaza strip they have never known anything else but subjugation by Israel their whole life. They live in fear all their life, and they know that as children they cannot be safe even when they go to the beach. I will not link to the atrocities of the recent past, they are known well enough.
      Yes of course this is a stunt. I spoke to Marama some time before she left and she was well aware of the likelihood of the boat being intercepted, but naturally hoped that that would not be the case, and that the aid they were bringing would get to where it was needed most.
      This “stunt” focuses the world yet again on the necessity for there to be a resolution to this festering sore that Israel caused 68 years ago. It is through the brave actions of people like Marama that the world progresses towards being a fairer place for all people, not just the “chosen” few.

      • Chuck 11.3.1
        6 October 2016 at 9:38 pm

        “I spoke to Marama some time before she left and she was well aware of the likelihood of the boat being intercepted, but naturally hoped that that would not be the case, and that the aid they were bringing would get to where it was needed most.”

        Then Marama is either lying to you, or just well plan dumb.

        If she really wanted to get some aid through then the land boarder crossing is what she should of used…but we all know it was not about getting any supplies through.

    • Draco T Bastard 11.4
      6 October 2016 at 9:43 pm

      Usually calling Israel an apartheid state or worse.

      They make Hitler look like a child throwing a tantrum. We’re talking 7+ decades of terrorism employed against the Palestinians.

      It would be better to back off a bit. It might then be easier for the Israelis and the Palestinians to actually talk to each other.

      The Israelis have never had any intention of talking to the Palestinians and never will do. Their modus operandi is to shoot first, second and third. Their goal is to drive the Palestinians from Palestine.

      • Stunned Mullet 11.4.1
        7 October 2016 at 8:48 am

        “They make Hitler look like a child throwing a tantrum. We’re talking 7+ decades of terrorism employed against the Palestinians.”

        Really ?

        I know you hold some extreme views DTB but even for you this is way out of left field. Perhaps you need to get out of NZ and do some travel through the middle east to broaden your perspectives.

    • Hanswurst 11.5
      7 October 2016 at 1:51 am

      These days the standard position of the progressive left is to be anti-Israel, pro-Hamas and supporters of boycott and divest. Usually calling Israel an apartheid state or worse. Not unsurprisingly the response of the right is to be pro-Israel and anti-Hamas usually calling Hamas terrorists.

      What you are saying there is that the Right is drumming up anti-Hamas sentiment purely in order to get on the Left’s goat. What an enlightened approach to international relations.

    • One Two 11.6
      7 October 2016 at 3:44 am

      More bullshit

      I’m seeing form through your comments, Wayne…

      Are you also a ‘dual citizen’?

      Perhaps ‘lineage’ such as PM John Key ?

      The violations of international law and slaughtering of specific genetic groups who are trapped in an open air prison, has been going on for decade after decade

      All the while ‘expansion’ has continued in parallel with the genocidal policies and controlled media dutifully running interference

      “Let them get on with it”….

      Bullshitter and genocide enthusiast!

      • Wayne 11.6.1
        7 October 2016 at 9:46 am

        So Draco and One two think Israel commits genocide. And the Hitler comparison from Draco – well that is not something I expected.

        Anyway back to Gaza. Fifteen years ago Gaza was actually on track to viability. It had an international airport, a port, and a lot of infrastructure investment. It was not being attacked by Israel. But the rocket attacks changed all that. And for the last ten years there has been effectively a state of war and a blockade, admittedly a bit of a one-sided war. But for really large scale wars, Syria , Aleppo and Homs have dwarfed anything that has happened to Gaza.

        My understanding is that the two sides (Israel and Palestine) are trying to get things onto a better track.

        Israel accepts Gaza. After all they actually withdrew their forces. The people of Gaza are at no risk of being pushed into the sea.

        In my view the situation that existed 15 to 20 years ago can be re-created.

        • joe90 11.6.1.1
          7 October 2016 at 10:00 am

          The people of Gaza are at no risk of being pushed into the sea.

          Moshe Feiglin, former deputy speaker of the Knesset, has other plans.

          Gaza is part of our Land and we will remain there forever. Liberation of parts of our land forever is the only thing that justifies endangering our soldiers in battle to capture land. Subsequent to the elimination of terror from Gaza, it will become part of sovereign Israel and will be populated by Jews. This will also serve to ease the housing crisis in Israel. The coastal train line will be extended, as soon as possible, to reach the entire length of Gaza.

          http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/15326

        • swordfish 11.6.1.2
          7 October 2016 at 12:42 pm

          Wayne: “Israel accepts Gaza. After all they actually withdrew their forces.”

          I think you’ll find that Sharon’s real goal in pulling the small number of settlers (around 8,000) out of Gaza in 05 was candidly admitted by one of his advisors, Dov Weisglass.

          As Weisglass happily conceded to the Israeli Press, the objective behind Israel’s “disengagement” from Gaza was to silence the growing pressure from the International community to come to a proper peace agreement with the Palestinians and thus, as Weisglass boasted, to firmly place the “peace process” in “formaldehyde”.

          Withdrawal from Gaza would not only save the IDF the hassle of having to look after the tiny number of Jewish Settlers (for example, ensuring they received more than 50% of Gaza’s water resources, despite comprising a tiny – and, of course, illegal – minority of the territory’s population) but, more importantly, the goodwill generated within the international community would also allow Israel the political space it needed to continue its expansion of the vast array of illegal Jewish settlements on the Occupied West Bank with impunity, a far greater prize than a few measly, expensive-to-run communities in Gaza.

          And, of course, the beauty of the plan was that Israel continued to maintain absolute control over Gaza’s land borders, coastline and airspace and the IDF continues to enter Gaza at will. Hence, under International Law, Gaza is still considered to be Occupied by Israel.

          The withdrawal therefore simply reinforced the occupation of Palestinian land by making it much more economically and (at least in Israeli eyes) diplomatically viable.

          Gaza remains very much an imprisoned enclave, suffering what UN envoys (eg former Irish President, Mary Robinson) have described as a massive humanitarian crisis created by both Israel’s crippling blockade and, of course, its periodic, carefully pre-planned massacres of Palestinian men, women and children (always overwhelmingly civilians) – routine carpet-bombing that the sick fuckers of the Israeli elite casually, almost triumphantly, call: “mowing the lawn”. (and you wonder why some people compare them to the Nazis ?)

          As another of Sharon’s close advisors, Arnon Sofer, smirked at the time of the withdrawal in 2005, “……when 2.5 million people live in a closed-off Gaza, it’s going to become a human catastrophe. Those people will become even bigger animals than they are today…”, before going on to say that “we will have to kill and kill and kill. All day, every day.”

          And here’s Weisglass, once again, on Israel’s Gaza sanction regime, restricting food, medicine, electricity and water, “The idea is to put the Palestinians on a diet, but not to make them die of hunger.”

    • DoublePlusGood 11.7
      7 October 2016 at 10:35 am

      SJW? Really? Did you just get here from 4chan, or twitch chat?

      Completely unsurprising to see you supporting the oppressor that killed people, drove them off their land, imprisoned them in the remainder, denies them the resources they need to live, and continues to kill them with the aim of their extirpation.
      Spineless, Wayne.

  12. Dale 12
    6 October 2016 at 10:53 pm

    Well I hope she doesn’t get harmed by a rocket fired from Gaza while she is in Israel.

    • Ross 12.1
      7 October 2016 at 7:40 am

      I hope she doesn’t get raped by the IDF. That’s more likely than being hit by a rocket. But it’s great you’re concerned about her welfare.

      http://thefreethoughtproject.com/idf-chief-rabbi-permits-raping-women/

    • Cinny 12.2
      7 October 2016 at 10:09 am

      Shakes my head, haven’t you heard about the Iron Dome? Rockets hardly ever land on the Israeli side. The air sirens sound scary, but that’s about it.
      During the conflict, some didn’t even worry about the air sirens because they knew any rockets would be intercepted by the Iron Dome, sure is easier to stay put than carry wheelchair bound Granny down from the 3rd floor to the shelter. Just another siren, no worries, yes Granny I know you can’t be bothered with it. True story that one.

      But in Gaza it is a very different story, they have no Iron Dome defence system, just thousands dead by Israeli bombs instead.

      • rsbandit 12.2.1
        7 October 2016 at 10:35 am

        So Palestine need to stop firing. They are fighting something they cannot possibly win, as they are outgunned.

        They need to push all efforts towards a diplomatic compromise. The world will be on their side if they do.

        • DoublePlusGood 12.2.1.1
          7 October 2016 at 11:37 am

          The world keeps pushing them to a compromise where they still have lost everything. That’s why they will continue to fight. They compromised before and that didn’t work.

  13. rspandit 13
    7 October 2016 at 9:52 am

    I despair about how so many of us support Palestine and Hamas.

    Radical Islam is not the friend of women or children.

  14. rsbandit 14
    7 October 2016 at 9:53 am

    I despair why so many on the left support Palestine.

    Radical Islam is not the friend of women and children.

    • Cinny 14.1
      7 October 2016 at 10:05 am

      Dude, you don’t understand the full politics of Israel and Palestine to make such an uneducated statement.

      I don’t understand why Cameron Slater was paid in part by the Israeli government (aka propaganda machine) to go to Israel and report on a conference in Tel Aviv while the conflict in Gaza was happening back in 2014. The conference was canned because of the conflict, but Slater decided to write about Israel instead.

      I’m well aware of what happens there, friends live in Tel Aviv you see, I’ve a better understanding than most of the conflict over there. JS

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11312402

      Let’s have a look at a few stat’s shall we?

      Between 8 July and 27 August, more than 2,100 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip, along with 66 Israeli soldiers and seven civilians in Israel. The UN says the vast majority of Palestinian deaths are civilian.

      I’m against needless death, does that make me right wing, left wing or just human?

      • rsbandit 14.1.1
        7 October 2016 at 10:27 am

        Palestine need to stop and do a deal. They cannot win by fighting. They can only lose.

        Hamas using human shields may help explain the death toll. These numbers also make it clear they can only possibly lose by fighting.

      • Chuck 14.1.2
        7 October 2016 at 10:34 am

        “Between 8 July and 27 August, more than 2,100 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip”

        Hamas making sure Palestinian civilians are put in as much danger as possible…they know they cannot win a war with Israel, so instead they intentionally strive to maximise their own civilian deaths to try and win the PR war.

          • Chuck 14.1.2.1.1
            7 October 2016 at 11:00 am

            Yep spot on…Hamas knows exactly what they are doing.

            You need to take your blinkers off Paul.

            • Cinny 14.1.2.1.1.1
              7 October 2016 at 11:04 am

              You are so very very wrong Chuck on so many levels. It appears that mainstream media has brainwashed you

              • Macro …
                7 October 2016 at 1:28 pm

                I wonder if Chuck has ever read any unbiased history of the Israeli Palestinian conflict and the continuing injustices the people so subjugated have to suffer, and have suffered for nearly 7 decades.
                I wonder if Chuck has any conception of the matter when he blithely says that aid can be brought in by land when the strip is completely surrounded by Israel and the sea frontage is illegally blockaded as well!
                “The blockade has been criticized by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC )[9] and other human rights organizations, a criticism that has been officially supported by United States administrations.[10] In June 2010 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the humanitarian needs in the Hamas-controlled area must be met along with legitimate Israeli security concerns.[11]

                In September 2011, a UN Panel of Inquiry, assigned by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, concluded in the Palmer Report that the naval blockade was legal, based on the right of self-defense during a period of war, and had to be judged isolated from the restrictions on goods reaching Gaza via the land crossings.[12][13] Concerning the restrictions on goods reaching Gaza via the land crossings the Palmer report stated that they were “a significant cause” of Gaza’s unsustainable and unacceptable humanitarian situation.[13][14][15] A Fact-Finding Mission for the UN Human Rights Council (2009) chaired by Richard Goldstone, a former judge of the International Criminal Court, as well as a group of five independent U.N. rights experts concluded that the blockade constituted collective punishment of the population of Gaza and was therefore unlawful.[16][17][18] UN envoy Desmond Tutu, United Nations Human Rights Council head Navi Pillay, the International Committee of the Red Cross and most experts on international law[19][20] consider the blockade illegal.[21][22][23][24][25]” my bold
                https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockade_of_the_Gaza_Strip
                Furthermore – the International Law of the Sea states
                “The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea defines innocent passage as this: Passage is innocent so long as it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State. Such passage shall take place in conformity with this Convention and with other rules of international law.”
                As the boat head to Gaza carrying aid was not travelling to Israel the Israelian Navy carried out an act of Piracy in terms of The Law of the Sea, ( noting that they are not signatories!) along with other rogue states such as kazakhstan, Syria, and South Sudan).

                • Chuck …
                  7 October 2016 at 2:22 pm

                  “The Egyptian government repeatedly stressed that it would like to normalize the opening of the border checkpoint. However, the continued impasse between the Al-Fatah dominated Palestinian Authority and Hamas has thus far prevented any progress in that regard.”

                  “Egyptian authorities frequently open the Rafah border crossing for humanitarian reasons. The administration of Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi repeatedly stressed that Egypt would like to normalize the opening of the border crossing and plans to permanently open the border checkpoint were well underway last year.”

                  http://imemc.org/article/egypt-opens-rafah-border-crossing-to-gaza-for-three-days/

        • joe90 14.1.2.2
          7 October 2016 at 11:25 am

          Hamas making sure Palestinian civilians are put in as much danger as possible

          Gaza city has a population density of 9,982.69/km², greater Gaza is around half that and Auckland’s is 2,600/km2, so where the fuck are people going to go when the IDF drops the likes of white phosphorous on them?.

          https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/25/israel-white-phosphorus-gaza

          • Chuck 14.1.2.2.1
            7 October 2016 at 8:30 pm

            You have answered your own question joe90…

            “so where the fuck are people going to go when the IDF drops the likes of white phosphorous on them?.”

            They have no where to go…so why do Hamas lunch attacks from such a densely populated area?

            The answer is – they do so knowing full well civilians will be hurt and killed by the IDF neutralising the Hamas military targets. Hamas count on TV showing civilian casualties, it is their best weapon against the “Jews”.

    • BG 14.2
      7 October 2016 at 11:23 am

      I think the left hate Israel because the US has keep them alive bacause every nation that surrounds them has a mandate for ‘the complete destruction of the State of Israel.’

      Therefore the old, ‘an enemy of my enemy, is my friend’ adage applies to Israel.

      • joe90 14.2.1
        7 October 2016 at 12:54 pm

        Whereas the right loves Israel because their anti-Semitism demands that without Israel there will be no second coming, Jews won’t convert to christianity and the sky fairy won’t smoke the world with the day of judgement nonsense.

  15. Cinny 15
    7 October 2016 at 10:11 am

    I’m so very proud of Marama, massive kudos to her, a brave woman whom stands up for the rights of others. You are a STAR

    • Chuck 15.1
      7 October 2016 at 2:04 pm

      Might pay to check out the company your hero Marama is keeping…

      http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/215153/a-look-inside-the-latest-gaza-womens-flotilla

      • Cinny 15.1.1
        7 October 2016 at 4:32 pm

        It depends which tabloid one reads as to the view given Chuck… let’s check out the background of the link you supplied…

        Tablet is a daily online magazine of Jewish news, ideas, and culture

        http://www.tabletmag.com/about

        FYI it costs money to comment on their articles, isn’t that interesting..

        “Just in March, Princeton student Joshua Leifer wrote on Medium that: “Tablet Has A Politics Problem.”

        “Tablet uses its tolerant, liberal bent on issues of culture or lifestyle as a counterweight to its staunch, right-wing position on Israeli politics, hiding in plain sight an ideology far to the right of that of its readership. Tablet’s politics, though buried between stories about hamentaschen recipes and potentially Jewish celebrities, amount to justification and support for Israel’s illegal occupation and settlement of the West Bank.”

        http://observer.com/2014/09/hip-but-hawkish-tablet-lurches-rightward-during-gaza-israel-war/

        • Chuck 15.1.1.1
          7 October 2016 at 8:15 pm

          Of course the website is pro Jewish…but its pretty easy to fact check the back ground of the people whom Marama has aligned herself and the NZ Green party with.

          And further up the thread you commented – “I spoke to Marama some time before she left and she was well aware of the likelihood of the boat being intercepted, but naturally hoped that that would not be the case, and that the aid they were bringing would get to where it was needed most.”

          Cinny are you aware that the boat had no aid supplies on it??

          “There was no aid on board. It may have even exacerbated the complex political dynamics between Fatah and Hamas,  contributing to the delay in the Palestinians building a democratic state with liberal values and civic society institutions.”

          http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/85075657/Paul-Moon-David-Cumin-and-Juliet-Moses-Flotilla-became-ship-of-fools

          • Cinny 15.1.1.1.1
            8 October 2016 at 9:31 am

            Dude get your facts straight I did not make the comment

            “I spoke to Marama some time before she left and she was well aware of the likelihood of the boat being intercepted, but naturally hoped that that would not be the case, and that the aid they were bringing would get to where it was needed most.”

            What is Aid? Is aid helping people? Yes it is.

            Your link is the opinion of 3 people, two of whom are members of the New Zealand Jewish Council, one would hardly expect them to be sympathetic of Palestine. Does the Herald ask for their opinion as well… probably not they’ve had fall out’s before with the NZ Jewish Council.

            Two of the women on board were journalists from Al Jazeera, let’s see what info they will share with us when they are able to, after all they were there.

            These are the women on board that leg of the journey

            https://wbg.freedomflotilla.org/participants-on-board-messina-to-gaza

  16. Observer Tokoroa 16
    7 October 2016 at 10:29 am

    .
    .Are the Palestinians Arabs?

    . I can understand Marama working as an activist here in New Zealand to rid us of the Maori crime rate. Thereby saving many lives, many drug addicts and much expense.

    But I cannot imagine why she would want to help the Palestinians when millions of Arabs have the means to assist the Palestinians.

    As a young person, Marama may not realise that the most hounded race in history is not the Palestinians, but the Jews. As a result of what Hitler and the major religions did to the Jews, they have become determined to defend themselves and not be annihilated by a bunch of unruly Arabs. Or by anyone else.

    Marama, avoiding the grievous problems here, has shamed us by letting Arab thugs off the hook whilst rubbishing the great Jewish Race.

    I believe her Party should send a letter of apology to the State of Israel.

    And by the way Marama, I believe the Jews have 23 Nobel Prize winners. Their contribution to the world is way way ahead of any other country.

    The Palestinians don’t contribute much at all. Do they?

    .

  17. Observer Tokoroa 17
    7 October 2016 at 12:42 pm

    .
    .Double plus good, I dislike being accused of stupidity. But I understand you see no value in science. Lots of people do not understand learning and achieving. I do not think you are entitled to blame any race for keeping themselves alive.

    Cinny. No you don’t have to be selective about helping struggling nations. But you do have to lay the responsibility on the people who are causing the struggle. Don’t You?

    The Arabs have no intention of solving the problem, because they want the elimination of Infidels. as You well know.

    Many Arabs live and work in Israel. But you probably don’t want to know that. I think we should work to get our problems here fixed.

    We have massive problems here without telling other countries what to do. Shame eh?.

    .

    • Macro 17.1
      7 October 2016 at 1:36 pm

      🙄

    • DoublePlusGood 17.2
      7 October 2016 at 2:08 pm

      Thanks for totally missing my entire point that Arabs have along history of science, just like Jews. If you wish to avoid accusations of stupidity, you should think more before writing, and try and make your arguments coherent.

    • Cinny 17.3
      7 October 2016 at 6:42 pm

      Sometimes those whom are causing the struggle just need to be educated. Brainwashed people make bizarre decisions. So do those affected by the pressures of loss, in the case of the Palestinians the loss of their homes, lands, lives, I’m sure they took responsibility for their actions when they could, the responsibility of protecting ones home and family.
      But then again sane people can refuse to take responsibility. Look at Judith and Serco.

      Wait up… whom created the struggle? The UN? Palestine? The British? Truman? Ben-Gurion? Moshe Sharett?
      Zionists created this mess to start with and don’t appear to be taking any responsibility for the land grab and deaths resulting from centuries of conflict perpetuated by religion. It’s fucken sad when you think about how much suffering there has been from both sides.
      Any offer of peace should not be a ‘let’s see how much I can get out of it’ kind of offer. Wanting the best for others is a trait that is sadly lacking in humanity. Maybe one day that will change.

      Yes we should get our problems sorted here, but the problem is the current government, who are not very good at taking responsibility for their actions

      All Palestinians are Arabs but not all Arabs are Palestinians.

      Marama has now been deported, looking forward to seeing her back in Parliament, she’s all shades of awesome.

      The fact that she went on the flotilla allowed the issues to be highlighted in the media, and here we all are discussing it. That should always happen, I’m over the media hoodwinking the public into being interested about rugby stars when there are much more important matters to be discussed.

      Parliament is back next week, I wonder what shit the media will spin to distract us from the goings on in the house on Tuesday.

  18. Observer Tokoroa 18
    7 October 2016 at 2:37 pm

    .
    . Double Plus Good

    . I agree that some Arabs throughout their history have been excellent in many fields of endeavour. Most definitely.

    . Where do you think we should send Marama Davidson next ?

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    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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