[…] i thought I would remind you of how you are, in-fact, the only people to enslave your own race. sure white people enslaved others, at least we were united enough not to enslave ourselves.
Although the guy talking about people on hilltops seeing the page and “screaming racism from the top of their lounges” made me smile.
Does it reveal that many Pakeha got where they are today because of their ethnicity rather than their talents? Positive discrimination is such a handicap, eh.
Kia ora whanau – I’d really like you all to stop being so greedy and start sharing the myriad of riches that we have (which are listed above) with all of our Pakeha brothers & sisters. I fully tautoko this party who wish to share in the undeserved lifestyle that we so ungratefully complain about and wish that they could enjoy the bountiful riches that have been bestowed on us by themselves.
When the working class are abandoned and ignored by social democracy and a lot of white/pink people wind up genuinely in the shit, see no way out and are looking for answers/explanations, racism will always come along and offer easy answers; answers that largely blossom from (in the case of NZ) society’s pre-existing and utterly ingrained casual racism.
Both liberal and conservative elites and all governing institutions will, of course, continue to pretend that economic injustice is not an integral part of the market economy and so simply decry the racism. And ‘the best’ of it? Some of the targetted ‘identity politics’ policies of recent years that sought to ameliorate economic disparity while denying the existence of class, is going to be feeding right on back into this shite.
Maybe some chickens are looking to be coming home to roost.
Bill, while I think you may be right that a rising tide lifts all boats, for some identity politics are always going to be more compelling than economics. Far better to accept that and move on rather than this impotent railing, no?
Nothing wrong with identity politics if class is factored in or acknowledged too. And it works the other way too race and gender should be factored in or acknowledged when looking at class.
And if you accept the fact of class being made invisible by politicians and their parties/policies, then the fucking racism that is clearly evident from comments on that fb page is going to continue to fester and grow.
btw. What exactly was it Hone said about housing and how was it reported so that some guy came to be thinking that there was going to be ‘Maori only’ housing? And has that been put to rights and explained amid all the jibing and piss taking that, to be honest, seems to be more about the fb guy’s political naivity and lack of media savvy?
And what about all that racism being expressed in comments and the apparent popularity of those sentiments? Is the idea just to ignore all that cos, y’know, it’s just stupid white trash speak and worth nothing beyond ridicule and superior smirking silences?
Because if that is to be the broad response in NZ, then NZ is setting itself up for some ugly shit some time in the future.
Right now, people are focussed on racism. I’d suggest it be taken seriously and underlying causes addressed and misconceptions challenged. But, y’know, I expect that suggestion and concern to fall on stoney ground. I expect to see a couple of days of ridicule topwards the likes who are commenting on that fb page alongside expressions of dismissive anger from leftists. And then for it to ‘go away’ and allowed to fester until next time around.
What exactly was it Hone said about housing and how was it reported so that some guy came to be thinking that there was going to be ‘Maori only’ housing? And has that been put to rights and explained amid all the jibing and piss taking that, to be honest, seems to be more about the fb guy’s political naivity and lack of media savvy?
From what I remember, and this is only from the MSM and ts, Mana’s first press releases were about housing for Maori. After the reaction to that, they came out and said that the policy would be for all people. I don’t know if that was a policy change, or if they just presented it differently. The thing that struck me at the time was that either Mana were being very naive in how they presented that whole policy (or they didn’t care), or they were very clever (if you look at the timing with the Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election, they sent a clear message of support to Maori, and then a few days later they pacified Pakeha). I don’t know which I think is true.
Nothing wrong with identity politics if class is factored in or acknowledged too. And it works the other way too race and gender should be factored in or acknowledged when looking at class.
And if you accept the fact of class being made invisible by politicians and their parties/policies, then the fucking racism that is clearly evident from comments on that fb page is going to continue to fester and grow.
I agree. I’m not sure quite what you mean about the connection with other identity politics, as I don’t see NACT or Labour as engaging in that majorly other than with some individual policies like gay marriage. That they’re removing class from the debate is definitely happening, and I agree there needs to be a conversation about why so many people agree with the Pakeha Party. The main problem here, on ts, is that that conversation has largely been initiated by vto, who’s race politics are too near the John Ansell end of the spectrum, so the discussions never get passed that. Personally I’d be interested in having the conversation amongst people that are already grounded in acceptance of the Treaty etc.
I think maybe what you are saying is that white, working and underclass men are getting a very hard time and that this needs to be acknowledged and responded to. I agree. The question is how to frame that debate, and how to engage with people who already frame that debate in racist and proto-racist ways.
Let me know if I’ve missed the mark there with how I’ve read your comment.
The Mana housing policy was originally released in a Maori electorate, to Maori voters. The release was targeted at them, which in the circumstances was fair enough. I asked if it would be extended to all people in need of housing and the unequivocal answer was yes. I asked on the day of public release. Even though I think Mana need to learn a lot about using social media, there was no intent for this to be a Maori only policy.
“And ‘the best’ of it? Some of the targetted ‘identity politics’ policies of recent years that sought to ameliorate economic disparity while denying the existence of class, is going to be feeding right on back into this shite.”
Just go to the fb page comments for some examples. The whole ‘Maori are privileged by the education system’ tripe is just one of many you will see being said over and over again.
I can’t take the comments on that page as serious examples of identity politics policies. Can you give some examples of what you mean? eg which education policies. Or were you meaning perception of policies rather than actual policies?
I know that the Clark govt removed much of the funding available directly to Maori community projects, to the great detriment of many grass roots initiatives. That happened in direct response to people complaining about race based funding and Labour being afraid of losing votes. Despite the removal of race based funding, we still hear alot of criticism of things like Whanau Ora, Tariana Turia’s project, despite Whanau Ora funding being open to all ethnic groups.
I’m sure there are some targetted policies, and it would certainly be very useful to know what they are and analyse them. At the moment it looks like another case of us all arguing about something without the facts (not you and I, but the whole country).
Nothing like stunning ignorance to further divide and hurt our country. When we are as weak as we are, pathogens like this silly Pakeha Party can really infect the minds of already deluded folks.
Diving? Well, I ‘d have to say that ultimately John Key is responsible for sending the country into a nose dive, but he has been aided by the likes of Sky Casino, Warner Bro’s, and of course his trusty pals Paula, Hekia, Simon, Peter, John and so on. Then there’s a media that feeds all the petty misinformed jealousies of the fools of this country. It’s a social, moral and economic nosedive. Although if you meant to say divide, it would be all of the above as well.
Oh, and not to mention the increasingly hostile approach of employers in this country. At this rate there will be no turning back to a time of fairness, dignity and trust in the workplace. The NZ workplace has been divided by mistrust and power grabbing by employers. See Helen Kelly’s excellent article as an example of this
Could be good for the Left. Would never get an electorate seat and unlikely to get to 5% of the vote but still take enough support from the same pool of rednecks who would otherwise vote for Keys, so could help push a Left coalition over the line. When things get as tight as they have done in NZ over the last two general elections the slightest variable could make a big difference.
While redneck’s etymology is not clear Wiki offered rural origins, and the modern US usage as ‘used broadly to degrade working class and rural whites that are perceived by urban progressives to be insufficiently liberal’
Your view is unnecessarily narrow, focusing on ‘working'(class) ie origin, rather than on the illiberalism ie attitude, that it connotes for majority users in NZ. You might like to consider the extent to which the term is gendered, too.
I’m sort of with Morrissey on this one. If redneck doesn’t denote prejudice then neither does wetback.
There’s nothing wrong with the term being used to describe a farmer or a manual worker. The problem is when it is foolishly and inappropriately used to mean “bigot”.
The vilest, most ignorant, most illiberal views in this country come from radio loudmouths like Michael Laws and Leighton Smith, a whole raft of complacent newspaper opinionistas, right wing “Think Tank” reptiles like Bob McCoskrie and Bruce Logan, ACT on Campus halfwits, and assorted other bewildered/nasty/lazy/st000pid souls.
Note that nearly all of them are distinguished by their LACK of hard work, and especially by their lack of hard PHYSICAL work. They do not get sunburnt, except when they lie on the beach at a Fiji resort. They are bigots, not rednecks. In fact, I can think of only two bigots who could fairly be described as “rednecks”—John “Hone” Carter and Garth “The Knife” McVicar.
“Redneck”, when used as a term of abuse, is nothing more than a sniffy east coast liberal putdown of ALL working people, who the Eastern liberal establishment, i.e. the Democratic Party, resented because they were unconvinced by the Barack Obamas and Bill Clintons of the late ’60s and early ‘seventies.
You need to stop indolently recycling such abusive, foolish, and inaccurate language.
You’re right. Sorry, that was ignorant of me. I hadn’t realised that the term had that meaning at all. I’d always thought it was limited to white conservative bigots but realise now that’s not the case.
This gives me a great deal of hope. We only have to turn one in four of those pre-Orewa gnat supporters and Labour will once again lead in the polls. But how to do it?
Sadly I can’t help thinking that the current Labour caucus seems more intent on winning over some of the 17% that went to the gnats post Orewa.
theres really only two outcomes i can see from this
1) theyre actually well meaning but deluded – so when they start saying what it is they want politically, every one will go “yeah, youve got that already, whats your point again?”, and their support will atrophy and/or no-one will bother working with them
or
2) they will expose them selves as outright racists and their support will atrophy and/or no-one will want to work with them
either way – i see it as no biggie really. the pefect response to all this “The maori party is a racist party” is “so what?”
If you can get enough people who want to join theres nothing stopping you, go for your life. If you wanted to have a one armed jewish lesbian party theres nothing stopping you if youve got the numbers. If youre just bonkers or dont really have much of a clue – you will expose yourself pretty quickly
there’s more of them than we’d like to think in NZ. Most won’t come out into the sunlight as they prefer to slither around under rocks with their own kind. So they’ll probably stay with the gnats or nzf
Remember, this is exactly the same bullshit that nearly got Don Brash elected in 2005. And he never came up with a single concrete example of “special maori privilege”.
Right now they’re just a couple of idiots, but what they’ve got is momentum. And while a stationary idiot is just an idiot, a rolling mass of idiocy can do a lot of damage.
If that momentum is sustained for much longer, they’ll be approached by smarter, shrewder, more calculating players who will quietly take over behind the scenes and try to translate this momentum into real political support for something.
Maybe Lusk for a faction within National. Maybe Gibbs for the rebirth of ACT. It’s open to anyone really, bunch of angry ignorant voters for the taking.
Shit, it may have already happened for all we know.
There is one good thing that has come out of it. It’s got a lot of people talking, typically people that don’t vote.
Other than that, couldn’t really care less. Knowing their luck, it will become a political party. New Zealand is crazy like that. I think this will appeal to a lot of people.
If the Pakeha party wanted to have a discussion about untangling the causes from the symptoms of poverty in a marginalised and disadvantaged racial group where they reject what we are currently doing and propose something else, that would not necessarily be an inherently racist thing to do.
But the Pakeha Party isn’t interested in that. They just want to have a whine about Maori because somehow they think Maori are already more “privileged”. They have constructed a mental fantasyland where stealing the land off it’s rightful owners, exploiting that stolen wealth for their exclusive enrichment and entrenching their white privilege somehow makes them martyrs.
The question is WHY do they feel like martyrs? Why this constant bubbling up of ignorant but popular racism? Generally speaking this party appeals to a broad range of blue collar and mortgage belt whites who think they see a lazy brown elite getting rich on unearned rents and handouts while their hard work is rewarded with increasingly unaffordable housing, stagnant wage growth and poor job security. They feel they’ve played the capitalist game honestly but the rules have been changed. The concerns of this constituency is completely ignored or belittled by the neo-liberal intelligensia component of our elites who dominate the race debate. Who, actually, does speak for Joe and Jane Six-Pack on Struggle Street?
The political vacuum left by the captured political and intellectual technocrats in the elite cadres of our political establishment is always going to be filled by increasingly incoherent and radical parties of the popular right, just like it is in Europe. This wave will be beaten back, but every time the sea recedes on an Orewa or a Pakeha Party the tide is just that little further up the beach for the established order.
I can nail it for you quite easily. It’s because of the land/money given to Maori tribes and such. Not that there is anything wrong with it, but that this stuff was meant to be tidied up along time ago, but keeps going on and on and on.
Rubbish. Do you honestly believe the dog whistling will stop? Why would the Right give up the opportunity to exploit the divisions it has manufactured?
“Not that there is anything wrong with it, but that this stuff was meant to be tidied up along time ago, but keeps going on and on and on.”
Well yeah, it was meant to be tidied up around 1840 or so, but pakeha chose to ignore that and plough ahead as if they owned the place for the next 150 years, largely to the detriment of maori.
Bit rich to turn around after 150 years and blame maori for it going on and on and on.
You mean a bunch of people who have benefited from an imbalance are upset that the situation is being righted and they want to stop the process before they lose any more of their advantage.
“Not all pakeha are hot under the collar about maori catching up either.
So what?”
The point in this context is that white, working/underclass men (and women I guess) have genuine grievances with how society is treating them. One problem is they’re blaming the wrong target. Telling them they are privileged in comparison to Maori doesn’t solve that, it most likely makes it worse (depending on how it is done).
The other problem is that the people with genuine grievances are merged with the people who are simply just racist. But treating those two groups as the same is a mistake.
The other side of it though is that working class/underclass members of the dominat culture are still privileged over working class/underclass members of minority cultures.
Well the Maori have their own party and what have they done? Got into bed with the very people who stand to do all of the things outlined in this diatribe. You can not expect change if you are not willing to put in the “hard yards” and so far this party just look like a bunch of opportunists.
Really need more anvils dropped in high school and documentaries on Te Treati O Waitangi and NZ history to make people realise just how much the Crown fucked over Maori tribes T_T
Then just click on the lowest “reply” button in that thread. So in this instance you should have clicked on the reply button in the 12:14pm comment by felix.
Your post 19 should have used the reply button. You do that a lot (don’t use the reply button so your comment is out of whack with the rest of the discussion). Just wondered why.
The Pakeha Party: initially I thought it was a clever prank, but apparently not. It’s party purpose-built for Troglodytes, Knuckle-Draggers & Mouth-Breathers: now they’ve found themselves a place to call Home, which is convenient for the rest of us, as it will allow us to keep an eye on ’em.
Australia and other democracies have once again turned to China to solve their economic problems, while the reliability of the United States as an alliance partner is, erroneously, being called into question. We risk forgetting ...
Machines will take over more jobs at Immigration New Zealand under a multi-million-dollar upgrade that will mean decisions to approve visas will be automated – decisions to reject applications will continue to be taken by staff. Health New Zealand’s commitment to boosting specialist palliative care for dying children is under ...
She works hard for the moneySo hard for it, honeyShe works hard for the moneySo you better treat her rightSongwriters: Michael Omartian / Donna A. SummerMorena, I’m pleased to bring you a guest newsletter today by long-time unionist and community activist Lyndy McIntyre. Lyndy has been active in the Living ...
The US Transportation Command’s Military Sealift Command (MSC), the subordinate organisation responsible for strategic sealift, is unprepared for the high intensity fighting of a war over Taiwan. In the event of such a war, combat ...
Tomorrow Auckland’s Councillors will decide on the next steps in the city’s ongoing stadium debate, and it appears one option is technically feasible but isn’t financially feasible while the other one might be financially feasible but not be technically feasible. As a quick reminder, the mMayor started this process as ...
In short in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on March 26:Three Kāinga Ora plots zoned for 17 homes and 900m from Ellerslie rail station are being offered to land-bankers and luxury home builders by agent Rawdon Christie.Chris Bishop’s new RMA bills don’t include treaty principles, even though ...
Stuff’s Sinead Boucher and NZME Takeover Leader James (Jim) GrenoonStuff Promotes Brooke Van VeldenYesterday, I came across an incredulous article by Stuff’s Kelly Dennett.It was a piece basically promoting David Seymour’s confidante and political ally, ACT’s #2, Brooke Van Velden. I admit I read the whole piece, incredulous at its ...
When Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers stood at the dispatch box this evening to announce the 2025–26 Budget, he confirmed our worst fears about the government’s commitment to resourcing the Defence budget commensurate with the dangers ...
The proposed negotiation of an Australia–Papua New Guinea defence treaty will falter unless the Australian Defence Force embraces cultural intelligence and starts being more strategic with teaching languages—starting with Tok Pisin, the most widely spoken language in ...
Bishop ignores pawnPoor old Tama Potaka says he didn't know the new RMA legislation would be tossing out the Treaty clause.However, RMA Minister Bishop says it's all good and no worries because the new RMA will still recognise Māori rights; it's just that the government prefers specific role descriptions over ...
China is using increasingly sophisticated grey-zone tactics against subsea cables in the waters around Taiwan, using a shadow-fleet playbook that could be expanded across the Indo-Pacific. On 25 February, Taiwan’s coast guard detained the Hong Tai ...
Yesterday The Post had a long exit interview with outgoing Ombudsman Peter Boshier, in which he complains about delinquent agencies which "haven't changed and haven't taken our moral authority on board". He talks about the limits of the Ombudsman's power of persuasion - its only power - and the need ...
Hi,Two stories have been playing over and over in my mind today, and I wanted to send you this Webworm as an excuse to get your thoughts in the comments.Because I adore the community here, and I want your sanity to weigh in.A safe space to chat, pull our hair ...
A new employment survey shows that labour market pessimism has deepened as workers worry about holding to their job, the difficulty in finding jobs, and slowing wage growth. Nurses working in primary care will get an 8 percent pay increase this year, but it still leaves them lagging behind their ...
Big gunBig gun number oneBig gunBig gun kick the hell out of youSongwriters: Ascencio / Marrow.On Sunday, I wrote about the Prime Minister’s interview in India with Maiki Sherman and certainly didn’t think I’d be writing about another of his interviews two days later.I’d been thinking of writing about something ...
The Trump administration’s decision to impose tariffs on Australian aluminium and steel has surprised the country. This has caused some to question the logic of the Australia-United States alliance and risks legitimising China’s economic coercion. ...
OPINION & ANALYSIS:At the heart of everything we see in this government is simplicity. Things are simpler than they appear. Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Behind all the public relations, marketing spin, corporate overlay e.g. ...
This is a re-post from Carbon Brief by Wang Zhongying, chief national expert, China Energy Transformation Programme of the Energy Research Institute, and Kaare Sandholt, chief international expert, China Energy Transformation Programme of the Energy Research Institute China will need to install around 10,000 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar capacity ...
Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom/$3, NZ Herald/$, Stuff, BusinessDesk/$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT/$, WSJ/$, Bloomberg/$, New York Times/$, Washington Post/$, Wired/$, ...
With many of Auckland’s political and bureaucratic leaders bowing down to vocal minorities and consistently failing to reallocate space to people in our city, recent news overseas has prompted me to point out something important. It is extremely popular to make car-dominated cities nicer, by freeing up space for people. ...
When it comes to fleet modernisation programme, the Indonesian navy seems to be biting off more than it can chew. It is not even clear why the navy is taking the bite. The news that ...
South Korea and Australia should enhance their cooperation to secure submarine cables, which carry more than 95 percent of global data traffic. As tensions in the Indo-Pacific intensify, these vital connections face risks from cyber ...
The Parliament Bill Committee has reported back on the Parliament Bill. As usual, they recommend no substantive changes, all decisions having been made in advance and in secret before the bill was introduced - but there are some minor tweaks around oversight of the new parliamentary security powers, which will ...
When the F-47 enters service, at a date to be disclosed, it will be a new factor in US air warfare. A decision to proceed with development, deferred since July, was unexpectedly announced on 21 ...
All my best memoriesCome back clearly to meSome can even make me cry.Just like beforeIt's yesterday once more.Songwriters: Richard Lynn Carpenter / John BettisYesterday, Winston Peters gave a State of the Nation speech in which he declared War on the Woke, described peaceful protesters as fascists, said he’d take our ...
Regardless of our opinions about the politicians involved, I believe that every rational person should welcome the reestablishment of contacts between the USA and the Russian Federation. While this is only the beginning and there are no guarantees of success, it does create the opportunity to address issues ...
Once upon a time, the United States saw the contest between democracy and authoritarianism as a singularly defining issue. It was this outlook, forged in the crucible of World War II, that created such strong ...
A pre-Covid protest about medical staffing shortages outside the Beehive. Since then the situation has only worsened, with 30% of doctors trained here now migrating within a decade. File Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories shortest: The news this morning is dominated by the crises cascading through our health system after ...
Bargaining between the PSA and Oranga Tamariki over the collective agreement is intensifying – with more strike action likely, while the Employment Relations Authority has ordered facilitation. More than 850 laboratory staff are walking off their jobs in a week of rolling strike action. Union coverage CTU: Confidence in ...
Foreign Minister Penny Wong in 2024 said that ‘we’re in a state of permanent contest in the Pacific—that’s the reality.’ China’s arrogance hurts it in the South Pacific. Mark that as a strong Australian card ...
Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom/$3, NZ Herald/$, Stuff, BusinessDesk/$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT/$, WSJ/$, Bloomberg/$, New York Times/$, Washington Post/$, Wired/$, ...
In the past week, Israel has reverted to slaughtering civilians, starving children and welshing on the terms of the peace deal negotiated earlier this year. The IDF’s current offensive seems to be intended to render Gaza unlivable, preparatory (perhaps) to re-occupation by Israeli settlers. The short term demands for the ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 16, 2025 thru Sat, March 22, 2025. This week's roundup is again published by category and sorted by number of articles included in each. We are still interested ...
In recent months, I have garnered copious amusement playing Martin, chess.com’s infamously terrible Chess AI. Alas, it is not how it once was, when he would cheerfully ignore freely offered material. Martin has grown better since I first stumbled upon him. I still remain frustrated at his capture-happy determination to ...
Every time that I see ya,A lightning bolt fills the room,The underbelly of Paris,She sings her favourite tune,She'll drink you under the table,She'll show you a trick or two,But every time that I left her,I missed the things she would doSongwriters: Kelly JonesThis morning, I posted - Are you excited ...
Long stories shortest this week in our political economy:Standard & Poor’s judged the Government’s council finance reforms a failure. Professional investors showed the Government they want it to borrow more, not less. GDP bounced out of recession by more than forecast in the December quarter, but data for the ...
Each day at 4:30 my brother calls in at the rest home to see Dad. My visits can be months apart. Five minutes after you've left, he’ll have forgotten you were there, but every time, his face lights up and it’s a warm happy visit.Tim takes care of almost everything ...
On the 19th of March, ACT announced they would be running candidates in this year’s local government elections. Accompanying that call for “common-sense kiwis” was an anti-woke essay typifying the views they expect their candidates to hold. I have included that part of their mailer, Free Press, in its entirety. ...
Even when the darkest clouds are in the skyYou mustn't sigh and you mustn't crySpread a little happiness as you go byPlease tryWhat's the use of worrying and feeling blue?When days are long keep on smiling throughSpread a little happiness 'til dreams come trueSongwriters: Vivian Ellis / Clifford Grey / ...
Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom/$3, NZ Herald/$, Stuff, BusinessDesk/$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT/$, WSJ/$, Bloomberg/$, New York Times/$, Washington Post/$, Wired/$, ...
ACT up the game on division politicsEmmerson’s take on David Seymour’s claim Jesus would have supported ACTACT’s announcement it is moving into local politics is a logical next step for a party that is waging its battle on picking up the aggrieved.It’s a numbers game, and as long as the ...
1. What will be the slogan of the next butter ad campaign?a. You’re worth itb.Once it hits $20, we can do something about the riversc. I can’t believe it’s the price of butter d. None of the above Read more ...
It is said that economists know the price of everything and the value of nothing. That may be an exaggeration but an even better response is to point out economists do know the difference. They did not at first. Classical economics thought that the price of something reflected the objective ...
Political fighting in Taiwan is delaying some of an increase in defence spending and creating an appearance of lack of national resolve that can only damage the island’s relationship with the Trump administration. The main ...
The unclassified version of the 2024 Independent Intelligence Review (IIR) was released today. It’s a welcome and worthy sequel to its 2017 predecessor, with an ambitious set of recommendations for enhancements to Australia’s national intelligence ...
Yesterday outgoing Ombudsman Peter Boshier published a report, Reflections on the Official Information Act, on his way out the door. The report repeated his favoured mantra that the Act was "fundamentally sound", all problems were issues of culture, and that no legislative change was needed (and especially no changes to ...
The United States government is considering replacing USAID with a new agency, the US Agency for International Humanitarian Assistance (USIHA), according to documents published by POLITICO. Under the proposed design, the agency will fail its ...
Hi,Journalism was never the original plan. Back in the 90s, there was no career advisor in Bethlehem, New Zealand — just a computer that would ask you 50 questions before spitting out career options. Yes, I am in this photo. No, I was not good at basketball.The top three careers ...
Mōrena. Long stories shortest: Professional investors who are paid a lot of money to be careful about lending to the New Zealand Government think it is wonderful place to put their money. Yet the Government itself is so afraid of borrowing more that it is happy to kill its own ...
As space becomes more contested, Australia should play a key role with its partners in the Combined Space Operations (CSpO) initiative to safeguard the space domain. Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States signed the ...
Ooh you're a cool catComing on strong with all the chit chatOoh you're alrightHanging out and stealing all the limelightOoh messing with the beat of my heart yeah!Songwriters: Freddie Mercury / John Deacon.It would be a tad ironic; I can see it now. “Yeah, I didn’t unsubscribe when he said ...
The PSA are calling the Prime Minister a hypocrite for committing to increase defence spending while hundreds of more civilian New Zealand Defence Force jobs are set to be cut as part of a major restructure. The number of companies being investigated for people trafficking in New Zealand has skyrocketed ...
Another Friday, hope everyone’s enjoyed their week as we head toward the autumn equinox. Here’s another roundup of stories that caught our eye on the subject of cities and what makes them even better. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Connor took a look at how Auckland ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking with special guest author Michael Wolff, who has just published his fourth book about Donald Trump: ‘All or Nothing’.Here’s Peter’s writeup of the interview.The Kākā by Bernard Hickey Hoon: Trumpism ...
Wolff, who describes Trump as truly a ‘one of a kind’, at a book launch in Spain. Photo: GettyImagesIt may be a bumpy ride for the world but the era of Donald J. Trump will die with him if we can wait him out says the author of four best-sellers ...
Australia needs to radically reorganise its reserves system to create a latent military force that is much larger, better trained and equipped and deployable within days—not decades. Our current reserve system is not fit for ...
Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom/$3, NZ Herald/$, Stuff, BusinessDesk/$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT/$, WSJ/$, Bloomberg/$, New York Times/$, Washington Post/$, Wired/$, ...
I have argued before that one ought to be careful in retrospectively allocating texts into genres. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) only looks like science-fiction because a science-fiction genre subsequently developed. Without H.G. Wells, would Frankenstein be considered science-fiction? No, it probably wouldn’t. Viewed in the context of its time, Frankenstein ...
Elbridge Colby’s senate confirmation hearing in early March holds more important implications for US partners than most observers in Canberra, Wellington or Suva realise. As President Donald Trump’s nominee for under secretary of defence for ...
China’s defence budget is rising heftily yet again. The 2025 rise will be 7.2 percent, the same as in 2024, the government said on 5 March. But the allocation, officially US$245 billion, is just the ...
Concern is growing about wide-ranging local repercussions of the new Setting of Speed Limits rule, rewritten in 2024 by former transport minister Simeon Brown. In particular, there’s growing fears about what this means for children in particular. A key paradox of the new rule is that NZTA-controlled roads have the ...
Speilmeister:Christopher Luxon’s prime-ministerial pitches notwithstanding, are institutions with billions of dollars at their disposal really going to invest them in a country so obviously in a deep funk?HAVING WOOED THE WORLD’s investors, what, if anything, has New Zealand won? Did Christopher Luxon’s guests board their private jets fizzing with enthusiasm for ...
Christchurch City Council is one of 18 councils and three council-controlled organisations (CCOs) downgraded by ratings agency S&P. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories shortest:Standard & Poor’s has cut the credit ratings of 18 councils, blaming the new Government’s abrupt reversal of 3 Waters, cuts to capital ...
Figures released by Statistics New Zealand today showed that the economy grew by 0.7% ending the very deep recession seen over the past year, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “Even though GDP grew in the three months to December, our economy is still 1.1% smaller than it ...
What is going on with the price of butter?, RNZ, 19 march 2025: If you have bought butter recently you might have noticed something - it is a lot more expensive. Stats NZ said last week that the price of butter was up 60 percent in February compared to ...
I agree with Will Leben, who wrote in The Strategist about his mistakes, that an important element of being a commentator is being accountable and taking responsibility for things you got wrong. In that spirit, ...
You’d beDrunk by noon, no one would knowJust like the pandemicWithout the sourdoughIf I were there, I’d find a wayTo get treated for hysteriaEvery dayLyrics Riki Lindhome.A varied selection today in Nick’s Kōrero:Thou shalt have no other gods - with Christopher Luxon.Doctors should be seen and not heard - with ...
Two recent foreign challenges suggest that Australia needs urgently to increase its level of defence self-reliance and to ensure that the increased funding that this would require is available. First, the circumnavigation of our continent ...
Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom/$3, NZ Herald/$, Stuff, BusinessDesk/$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT/$, WSJ/$, Bloomberg/$, New York Times/$, The Atlantic-$, The ...
According to RNZ’s embedded reporter, the importance of Winston Peters’ talks in Washington this week “cannot be overstated.” Right. “Exceptionally important.” said the maestro himself. This epic importance doesn’t seem to have culminated in anything more than us expressing our “concern” to the Americans about a series of issues that ...
Up until a few weeks ago, I had never heard of "Climate Fresk" and at a guess, this will also be the case for many of you. I stumbled upon it in the self-service training catalog for employees at the company I work at in Germany where it was announced ...
Japan and Australia talk of ‘collective deterrence,’ but they don’t seem to have specific objectives. The relationship needs a clearer direction. The two countries should identify how they complement each other. Each country has two ...
The NZCTU strongly supports the OPC’s decision to issue a code of practice for biometric processing. Our view is that the draft code currently being consulted on is stronger and will be more effective than the exposure code released in early 2024. We are pleased that some of the revisions ...
Confidence in the job market has continued to drop to its lowest level in five years as more New Zealanders feel uncertain about finding work, keeping their jobs, and getting decent pay, according to the latest Westpac-McDermott Miller Employment Confidence Index. ...
The Greens are calling on the Government to follow through on their vague promises of environmental protection in their Resource Management Act (RMA) reform. ...
“Make New Zealand First Again” Ladies and gentlemen, First of all, thank you for being here today. We know your lives are busy and you are working harder and longer than you ever have, and there are many calls on your time, so thank you for the chance to speak ...
Hundreds more Palestinians have died in recent days as Israel’s assault on Gaza continues and humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, is blocked. ...
National is looking to cut hundreds of jobs at New Zealand’s Defence Force, while at the same time it talks up plans to increase focus and spending in Defence. ...
It’s been revealed that the Government is secretly trying to bring back a ‘one-size fits all’ standardised test – a decision that has shocked school principals. ...
The Green Party is calling for the compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe, a 77-year-old kaumātua on hunger strike at the Spring Hill Corrections Facility, after visiting him at the prison. ...
The Green Party is calling on Government MPs to support Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence and illegal actions in Palestine, following another day of appalling violence against civilians in Gaza. ...
The Green Party stands in support of volunteer firefighters petitioning the Government to step up and change legislation to provide volunteers the same ACC coverage and benefits as their paid counterparts. ...
At 2.30am local time, Israel launched a treacherous attack on Gaza killing more than 300 defenceless civilians while they slept. Many of them were children. This followed a more than 2 week-long blockade by Israel on the entry of all goods and aid into Gaza. Israel deliberately targeted densely populated ...
Living Strong, Aging Well There is much discussion around the health of our older New Zealanders and how we can age well. In reality, the delivery of health services accounts for only a relatively small percentage of health outcomes as we age. Significantly, dry warm housing, nutrition, exercise, social connection, ...
Shane Jones’ display on Q&A showed how out of touch he and this Government are with our communities and how in sync they are with companies with little concern for people and planet. ...
Labour does not support the private ownership of core infrastructure like schools, hospitals and prisons, which will only see worse outcomes for Kiwis. ...
The Green Party is disappointed the Government voted down Hūhana Lyndon’s member’s Bill, which would have prevented further alienation of Māori land through the Public Works Act. ...
The Labour Party will support Chloe Swarbrick’s member’s bill which would allow sanctions against Israel for its illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territories. ...
The Government’s new procurement rules are a blatant attack on workers and the environment, showing once again that National’s priorities are completely out of touch with everyday Kiwis. ...
With Labour and Te Pāti Māori’s official support, Opposition parties are officially aligned to progress Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in Palestine. ...
Te Pāti Māori extends our deepest aroha to the 500 plus Whānau Ora workers who have been advised today that the govt will be dismantling their contracts. For twenty years , Whānau Ora has been helping families, delivering life-changing support through a kaupapa Māori approach. It has built trust where ...
Labour welcomes Simeon Brown’s move to reinstate a board at Health New Zealand, bringing the destructive and secretive tenure of commissioner Lester Levy to an end. ...
This morning’s announcement by the Health Minister regarding a major overhaul of the public health sector levels yet another blow to the country’s essential services. ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill that will ensure employment decisions in the public service are based on merit and not on forced woke ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ targets. “This Bill would put an end to the woke left-wing social engineering and diversity targets in the public sector. ...
Police have referred 20 offenders to Destiny Church-affiliated programmes Man Up and Legacy as ‘wellness providers’ in the last year, raising concerns that those seeking help are being recruited into a harmful organisation. ...
The Government’s new planning legislation to replace the Resource Management Act will make it easier to get things done while protecting the environment, say Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop and Under-Secretary Simon Court. “The RMA is broken and everyone knows it. It makes it too hard to build ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay has today launched a public consultation on New Zealand and India’s negotiations of a formal comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. “Negotiations are getting underway, and the Public’s views will better inform us in the early parts of this important negotiation,” Mr McClay says. We are ...
More than 900 thousand superannuitants and almost five thousand veterans are among the New Zealanders set to receive a significant financial boost from next week, an uplift Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says will help support them through cost-of-living challenges. “I am pleased to confirm that from 1 ...
Progressing a holistic strategy to unlock the potential of New Zealand’s geothermal resources, possibly in applications beyond energy generation, is at the centre of discussions with mana whenua at a hui in Rotorua today, Resources and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is in the early stages ...
New annual data has exposed the staggering cost of delays previously hidden in the building consent system, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I directed Building Consent Authorities to begin providing quarterly data last year to improve transparency, following repeated complaints from tradespeople waiting far longer than the statutory ...
Increases in water charges for Auckland consumers this year will be halved under the Watercare Charter which has now been passed into law, Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown say. The charter is part of the financial arrangement for Watercare developed last year by Auckland Council ...
There is wide public support for the Government’s work to strengthen New Zealand’s biosecurity protections, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. “The Ministry for Primary Industries recently completed public consultation on proposed amendments to the Biosecurity Act and the submissions show that people understand the importance of having a strong biosecurity ...
A new independent review function will enable individuals and organisations to seek an expert independent review of specified civil aviation regulatory decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Director of Civil Aviation, Acting Transport Minister James Meager has announced today. “Today we are making it easier and more affordable ...
The Government will invest in an enhanced overnight urgent care service for the Napier community as part of our focus on ensuring access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown has today confirmed. “I am delighted that a solution has been found to ensure Napier residents will continue to ...
Health Minister Simeon Brown and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey attended a sod turning today to officially mark the start of construction on a new mental health facility at Hillmorton Campus. “This represents a significant step in modernising mental health services in Canterbury,” Mr Brown says. “Improving health infrastructure is ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has welcomed confirmation the economy has turned the corner. Stats NZ reported today that gross domestic product grew 0.7 per cent in the three months to December following falls in the June and September quarters. “We know many families and businesses are still suffering the after-effects ...
The sealing of a 12-kilometre stretch of State Highway 43 (SH43) through the Tangarakau Gorge – one of the last remaining sections of unsealed state highway in the country – has been completed this week as part of a wider programme of work aimed at improving the safety and resilience ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters says relations between New Zealand and the United States are on a strong footing, as he concludes a week-long visit to New York and Washington DC today. “We came to the United States to ask the new Administration what it wants from ...
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has welcomed changes to international anti-money laundering standards which closely align with the Government’s reforms. “The Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) last month adopted revised standards for tackling money laundering and the financing of terrorism to allow for simplified regulatory measures for businesses, organisations and sectors ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour says he welcomes Medsafe’s decision to approve an electronic controlled drug register for use in New Zealand pharmacies, allowing pharmacies to replace their physical paper-based register. “The register, developed by Kiwi brand Toniq Limited, is the first of its kind to be approved in New ...
The Coalition Government’s drive for regional economic growth through the $1.2 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund is on track with more than $550 million in funding so far committed to key infrastructure projects, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. “To date, the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) has received more than 250 ...
[Comments following the bilateral meeting with United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio; United States State Department, Washington D.C.] * We’re very pleased with our meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio this afternoon. * We came here to listen to the new Administration and to be clear about what ...
The intersection of State Highway 2 (SH2) and Wainui Road in the Eastern Bay of Plenty will be made safer and more efficient for vehicles and freight with the construction of a new and long-awaited roundabout, says Transport Minister Chris Bishop. “The current intersection of SH2 and Wainui Road is ...
The Ocean Race will return to the City of Sails in 2027 following the Government’s decision to invest up to $4 million from the Major Events Fund into the international event, Auckland Minister Simeon Brown says. “New Zealand is a proud sailing nation, and Auckland is well-known internationally as the ...
Improving access to mental health and addiction support took a significant step forward today with Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey announcing that the University of Canterbury have been the first to be selected to develop the Government’s new associate psychologist training programme. “I am thrilled that the University of Canterbury ...
Health Minister Simeon Brown has today officially opened the new East Building expansion at Manukau Health Park. “This is a significant milestone and the first stage of the Grow Manukau programme, which will double the footprint of the Manukau Health Park to around 30,000m2 once complete,” Mr Brown says. “Home ...
The Government will boost anti-crime measures across central Auckland with $1.3 million of funding as a result of the Proceeds of Crime Fund, Auckland Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee say. “In recent years there has been increased antisocial and criminal behaviour in our CBD. The Government ...
The Government is moving to strengthen rules for feeding food waste to pigs to protect New Zealand from exotic animal diseases like foot and mouth disease (FMD), says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. ‘Feeding untreated meat waste, often known as "swill", to pigs could introduce serious animal diseases like FMD and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held productive talks in New Delhi today. Fresh off announcing that New Zealand and India would commence negotiations towards a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, the two Prime Ministers released a joint statement detailing plans for further cooperation between the two countries across ...
Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay signed a new Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) today during the Prime Minister’s Indian Trade Mission, reinforcing New Zealand’s commitment to enhancing collaboration with India in the forestry sector. “Our relationship with India is a key priority for New Zealand, and this agreement reflects our ...
Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay signed a new Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) today during the Prime Minister’s Indian Trade Mission, reinforcing New Zealand’s commitment to enhancing collaboration with India in the horticulture sector. “Our relationship with India is a key priority for New Zealand, and this agreement reflects our ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of two new Family Court Judges. The new Judges will take up their roles in April and May and fill Family Court vacancies at the Auckland and Manukau courts. Annette Gray Ms Gray completed her law degree at Victoria University before joining Phillips ...
Health Minister Simeon Brown has today officially opened Wellington Regional Hospital’s first High Dependency Unit (HDU). “This unit will boost critical care services in the lower North Island, providing extra capacity and relieving pressure on the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and emergency department. “Wellington Regional Hospital has previously relied ...
Namaskar, Sat Sri Akal, kia ora and good afternoon everyone. What an honour it is to stand on this stage - to inaugurate this august Dialogue - with none other than the Honourable Narendra Modi. My good friend, thank you for so generously welcoming me to India and for our ...
Check against delivery.Kia ora koutou katoa It’s a real pleasure to join you at the inaugural New Zealand infrastructure investment summit. I’d like to welcome our overseas guests, as well as our local partners, organisations, and others.I’d also like to acknowledge: The Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and other Ministers from the Coalition ...
It has no insulation, flaking paint, questionable pipes and all my old furniture and artwork. At the auction, bidding was competitive. Embarrassingly, my algorithm knows that I like to browse real estate listings online. The ones I like best are old and tatty, places where the cabinetry in the kitchen ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phillipa C. McCormack, Future Making Fellow, Environment Institute, University of Adelaide A bill introduced to parliament this week, if passed, would limit the government’s power to reconsider certain environment approvals when an activity is harming the environment. It fulfils Prime Minister ...
Lawyers for Climate Action NZ Inc says the Members’ Bill lodged by Joseph Mooney seeking to prohibit tort claims arising from or related to climate change matters raises serious issues for both the environment and the constitutional role of the ...
This bill would have a chilling effect on New Zealanders’ democratic rights and our ability to secure a liveable future for our kids and grandkids, says Greenpeace spokesperson Amanda Larsson. ...
Go easy on the speaker – corralling 123 overgrown children must be every school teacher’s worst nightmare.Echo Chamber is The Spinoff’s dispatch from the press gallery, recapping sessions in the House. Columns are written by politics reporter Lyric Waiwiri-Smith and Wellington editor Joel MacManus.It’s been nearly two weeks ...
Creative projects are good for your wellbeing. And for many, the weekends are the perfect opportunity to get stuck in.New Zealanders love weekend projects. From tinkering with old machinery, to painting, building a shoe cabinet, playing an instrument, or gardening, New Zealanders find a wealth of ways to unleash ...
The visits took place amid a sharp lurch to the right by ruling elites around the world in response to the escalating global economic crisis of capitalism and the US-led drive to imperialist war. New Zealand is embroiled in these developments. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Ellerton, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy and Education; Curriculum Director, UQ Critical Thinking Project, The University of Queensland Siora Photography/Unsplash There is a Fox News headline that goes like this: Transgender female runner who beat 14,000 women at London Marathon ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Corey Martin, Lecturer/Podcast Producer, Swinburne University of Technology Shutterstock Podcasting was once the underdog of the media world: a platform where anyone with a microphone and an idea could share their voice. With low barriers to entry and freedom from ...
Yes, it’s flat, but there’s another crucial reason why so many Christchurch residents ride – the city’s extensive network of cycle lanes. Simon Kingham’s 9km commute, from Beckenham in south Christchurch to the University of Canterbury west of the CBD, is mostly on cycle lanes. “It’s only the first 400 ...
The top US commander in the Indo-Pacific has given a glimpse of a war with China playbook, as US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth heads around the Pacific after revealing actual war plans to a journalist. ...
The Representation Commission has proposed changes to New Zealand’s parliamentary electorates ahead of the 2026 election, writes Madeleine Chapman in today’s extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here.Wellington loses a seat In a suite of proposed changes, the Representation Commission has outlined ...
Planning consultants have told the High Court that tangata whenua in general, and Ngāi Tahu in particular, have substantial influence over freshwater policy and decisions.Tim Ensor, principal planner at Tonkin & Taylor, and Gerard Willis, a director of the firm Enfocus, appeared as Crown witnesses in the weeks-long case taken ...
"These decisions will place the most significant restrictions on New Zealanders movements in modern history," then-PM Jacinda Ardern said in announcing our first Covid lockdown. ...
On Tuesday, the Electoral Commission released its proposed changes to electorate boundaries. Joel MacManus takes a closer look at a few electorates where new maps could mean big political changes. Rongotai Shifts left Julie Anne Genter was a surprise winner on election night when she became Rongotai’s first Green MP ...
Until 2020, it was possible to book a voyage on a cargo ship. Today, it’s virtually impossible, despite being a greener, languid alternative to air travel. Before the time of te Tiriti, there were few passenger ships. Crossing the Pacific in 1830? Usually, only a merchant could take you – ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 26 March appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Opinion: As I sat down to write this, I was struck by a perplexing realisation: there were two very different ways I could frame this same message. I could choose an approach that completely avoided terms such as diversity, equity, and inclusion, an approach that reflects the imposed framework increasingly ...
Riley Chance claims in his angry story in ReadingRoom about the failures of the Public Lending Right (PLR) that the New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA) and its members are happy with and doing nicely from the current PLR system. Au contraire. The lack of any progress to the PLR ...
Brown was able to make grand promises in his 2022 campaign, unconstrained by any real understanding of how the council and its agencies worked The post Which promises is Mayor Brown really keeping? appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Lawrence Smith hates to even say ‘rubbish dump’, even though he works at a place where more than half of Auckland’s waste is tipped.“It is a modern-day engineered landfill,” the chief engineer of Waste Management tells The Detail.Standing next to a noisy canon spraying an odour-killing bleach over the waste ...
The surprise election of Kirsty Coventry as president of the most powerful sports body in the world gives Barbara Kendall goosebumps.“It’s one of the most monumental events in the history of women’s leadership in sport,” she says. “I’m shocked and I don’t think the magnitude of it all will hit ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Tax cuts are the centrepiece of the Albanese government’s cost-of-living budget bid for re-election in May. The surprise tax measures mean taxpayers will receive an extra tax cut of up to A$268 from July 1 ...
If Maori get it they want it to… do what? Cryptic.
First time I’d even heard of these non-factors… now that I do a google search I see that they’ve been getting some oxygen today…
Ah, see, they think “the Maori” isn’t a group of people, but rather a hivemind, like the Borg Collective.
So if The Maori get something, they want The Maori to get it. They’re really supportive, see?
Aha! We should have known there was a non-racist purpose buried within their mashing of the English language.
I liked Toby Manhire’s take at the Listener
“If the Maori get it, we want it to!” Yeah! But want it to what? The missing word, almost certainly, is “thrive”.
http://www.listener.co.nz/commentary/the-internaut/pakeha-party-launched-a-new-voice-for-non-racism/
Unfortunately the very funny wiki page that included mention of Manhire’s satire has been edited and recommended for deletion.
I think Tā moko will look impressive on them.
I see they are looking to change their name already – how about “One Nation” after Pauline Hanson’s Australian party? Seems to suit.
This is obviously pretty poor satire.
[um. no it’s not. you fucken idiot. Zet]
ZET:
Oh I thought it was satire like the “Billionaires for Bush” thing.
That familiar nagging sensation in your head is you being wrong and shooting your mouth off before doing any basic research. Again.
QOT:
It seemed like satire, it’s that bizarre.
Brett. The post isn’t a screen shot of the site page.
Yeah, could do with a better explanation and a link to the FB page.
The fb page is worse than WO:
Although the guy talking about people on hilltops seeing the page and “screaming racism from the top of their lounges” made me smile.
I know, it’s part horror part hilarity
“Hand’s up whos here to laugh and troll?”
For those that haven’t have the pleasure yet
https://www.facebook.com/ThePakehaParty
Yeah I assumed it was a troll page, just because there was way too much U MAD BRO? etc
Beholdth Brett Dale, the man without a brain.
Marvel as he stumbles and makes an ignorant arse out of himself on anything more complex than eating.
Be dazed at the depths of his stupid as he tries and fails to understand relatively simple issues.
And lastly, laugh as he digs himself in deeper Every. Single. Time.
_______________________________
Stick to sports m’kay? At least in that you can successfully bluff to some state of “knowledge”. At least until a true sports geek noms on you.
What is the point of that comment?
This reveals more about you than you might want to actually admit to.
Does it reveal that many Pakeha got where they are today because of their ethnicity rather than their talents? Positive discrimination is such a handicap, eh.
“This reveals more about you than you might want to actually admit to.”
Such as?
Kia ora whanau – I’d really like you all to stop being so greedy and start sharing the myriad of riches that we have (which are listed above) with all of our Pakeha brothers & sisters. I fully tautoko this party who wish to share in the undeserved lifestyle that we so ungratefully complain about and wish that they could enjoy the bountiful riches that have been bestowed on us by themselves.
When the working class are abandoned and ignored by social democracy and a lot of white/pink people wind up genuinely in the shit, see no way out and are looking for answers/explanations, racism will always come along and offer easy answers; answers that largely blossom from (in the case of NZ) society’s pre-existing and utterly ingrained casual racism.
Both liberal and conservative elites and all governing institutions will, of course, continue to pretend that economic injustice is not an integral part of the market economy and so simply decry the racism. And ‘the best’ of it? Some of the targetted ‘identity politics’ policies of recent years that sought to ameliorate economic disparity while denying the existence of class, is going to be feeding right on back into this shite.
Maybe some chickens are looking to be coming home to roost.
Bill, while I think you may be right that a rising tide lifts all boats, for some identity politics are always going to be more compelling than economics. Far better to accept that and move on rather than this impotent railing, no?
Nothing wrong with identity politics if class is factored in or acknowledged too. And it works the other way too race and gender should be factored in or acknowledged when looking at class.
And if you accept the fact of class being made invisible by politicians and their parties/policies, then the fucking racism that is clearly evident from comments on that fb page is going to continue to fester and grow.
btw. What exactly was it Hone said about housing and how was it reported so that some guy came to be thinking that there was going to be ‘Maori only’ housing? And has that been put to rights and explained amid all the jibing and piss taking that, to be honest, seems to be more about the fb guy’s political naivity and lack of media savvy?
And what about all that racism being expressed in comments and the apparent popularity of those sentiments? Is the idea just to ignore all that cos, y’know, it’s just stupid white trash speak and worth nothing beyond ridicule and superior smirking silences?
Because if that is to be the broad response in NZ, then NZ is setting itself up for some ugly shit some time in the future.
Right now, people are focussed on racism. I’d suggest it be taken seriously and underlying causes addressed and misconceptions challenged. But, y’know, I expect that suggestion and concern to fall on stoney ground. I expect to see a couple of days of ridicule topwards the likes who are commenting on that fb page alongside expressions of dismissive anger from leftists. And then for it to ‘go away’ and allowed to fester until next time around.
+1
What exactly was it Hone said about housing and how was it reported so that some guy came to be thinking that there was going to be ‘Maori only’ housing? And has that been put to rights and explained amid all the jibing and piss taking that, to be honest, seems to be more about the fb guy’s political naivity and lack of media savvy?
From what I remember, and this is only from the MSM and ts, Mana’s first press releases were about housing for Maori. After the reaction to that, they came out and said that the policy would be for all people. I don’t know if that was a policy change, or if they just presented it differently. The thing that struck me at the time was that either Mana were being very naive in how they presented that whole policy (or they didn’t care), or they were very clever (if you look at the timing with the Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election, they sent a clear message of support to Maori, and then a few days later they pacified Pakeha). I don’t know which I think is true.
Nothing wrong with identity politics if class is factored in or acknowledged too. And it works the other way too race and gender should be factored in or acknowledged when looking at class.
And if you accept the fact of class being made invisible by politicians and their parties/policies, then the fucking racism that is clearly evident from comments on that fb page is going to continue to fester and grow.
I agree. I’m not sure quite what you mean about the connection with other identity politics, as I don’t see NACT or Labour as engaging in that majorly other than with some individual policies like gay marriage. That they’re removing class from the debate is definitely happening, and I agree there needs to be a conversation about why so many people agree with the Pakeha Party. The main problem here, on ts, is that that conversation has largely been initiated by vto, who’s race politics are too near the John Ansell end of the spectrum, so the discussions never get passed that. Personally I’d be interested in having the conversation amongst people that are already grounded in acceptance of the Treaty etc.
I think maybe what you are saying is that white, working and underclass men are getting a very hard time and that this needs to be acknowledged and responded to. I agree. The question is how to frame that debate, and how to engage with people who already frame that debate in racist and proto-racist ways.
Let me know if I’ve missed the mark there with how I’ve read your comment.
The Mana housing policy was originally released in a Maori electorate, to Maori voters. The release was targeted at them, which in the circumstances was fair enough. I asked if it would be extended to all people in need of housing and the unequivocal answer was yes. I asked on the day of public release. Even though I think Mana need to learn a lot about using social media, there was no intent for this to be a Maori only policy.
“And ‘the best’ of it? Some of the targetted ‘identity politics’ policies of recent years that sought to ameliorate economic disparity while denying the existence of class, is going to be feeding right on back into this shite.”
Can you give some examples Bill?
Just go to the fb page comments for some examples. The whole ‘Maori are privileged by the education system’ tripe is just one of many you will see being said over and over again.
I can’t take the comments on that page as serious examples of identity politics policies. Can you give some examples of what you mean? eg which education policies. Or were you meaning perception of policies rather than actual policies?
I know that the Clark govt removed much of the funding available directly to Maori community projects, to the great detriment of many grass roots initiatives. That happened in direct response to people complaining about race based funding and Labour being afraid of losing votes. Despite the removal of race based funding, we still hear alot of criticism of things like Whanau Ora, Tariana Turia’s project, despite Whanau Ora funding being open to all ethnic groups.
I’m sure there are some targetted policies, and it would certainly be very useful to know what they are and analyse them. At the moment it looks like another case of us all arguing about something without the facts (not you and I, but the whole country).
Between this lot and the Conservative Party, holding Winston 1st to 4.9% ought to be a doddle.
and the Maori Party aren’t racist? Talk about double standards.
No, they aren’t. Glad we could clear that up.
Looks like John Key’s got a coalition partner after all.
+1 Mary.
Nothing like stunning ignorance to further divide and hurt our country. When we are as weak as we are, pathogens like this silly Pakeha Party can really infect the minds of already deluded folks.
What do you think is diving the country now?
“What do you think is diving the country now?”
Diving? Well, I ‘d have to say that ultimately John Key is responsible for sending the country into a nose dive, but he has been aided by the likes of Sky Casino, Warner Bro’s, and of course his trusty pals Paula, Hekia, Simon, Peter, John and so on. Then there’s a media that feeds all the petty misinformed jealousies of the fools of this country. It’s a social, moral and economic nosedive. Although if you meant to say divide, it would be all of the above as well.
Oh, and not to mention the increasingly hostile approach of employers in this country. At this rate there will be no turning back to a time of fairness, dignity and trust in the workplace. The NZ workplace has been divided by mistrust and power grabbing by employers. See Helen Kelly’s excellent article as an example of this
http://thestandard.org.nz/157690/
Could be good for the Left. Would never get an electorate seat and unlikely to get to 5% of the vote but still take enough support from the same pool of rednecks who would otherwise vote for Keys, so could help push a Left coalition over the line. When things get as tight as they have done in NZ over the last two general elections the slightest variable could make a big difference.
Stop calling bigots “rednecks”. That’s an ignorant and elitist term of contempt for working people.
+1
Rebuke uncalled for.
While redneck’s etymology is not clear Wiki offered rural origins, and the modern US usage as ‘used broadly to degrade working class and rural whites that are perceived by urban progressives to be insufficiently liberal’
Your view is unnecessarily narrow, focusing on ‘working'(class) ie origin, rather than on the illiberalism ie attitude, that it connotes for majority users in NZ. You might like to consider the extent to which the term is gendered, too.
I’m sort of with Morrissey on this one. If redneck doesn’t denote prejudice then neither does wetback.
I’m sort of with Morrissey on this one. If redneck doesn’t denote prejudice then neither does wetback.
There’s nothing wrong with the term being used to describe a farmer or a manual worker. The problem is when it is foolishly and inappropriately used to mean “bigot”.
The vilest, most ignorant, most illiberal views in this country come from radio loudmouths like Michael Laws and Leighton Smith, a whole raft of complacent newspaper opinionistas, right wing “Think Tank” reptiles like Bob McCoskrie and Bruce Logan, ACT on Campus halfwits, and assorted other bewildered/nasty/lazy/st000pid souls.
Note that nearly all of them are distinguished by their LACK of hard work, and especially by their lack of hard PHYSICAL work. They do not get sunburnt, except when they lie on the beach at a Fiji resort. They are bigots, not rednecks. In fact, I can think of only two bigots who could fairly be described as “rednecks”—John “Hone” Carter and Garth “The Knife” McVicar.
“Redneck”, when used as a term of abuse, is nothing more than a sniffy east coast liberal putdown of ALL working people, who the Eastern liberal establishment, i.e. the Democratic Party, resented because they were unconvinced by the Barack Obamas and Bill Clintons of the late ’60s and early ‘seventies.
You need to stop indolently recycling such abusive, foolish, and inaccurate language.
You’re right. Sorry, that was ignorant of me. I hadn’t realised that the term had that meaning at all. I’d always thought it was limited to white conservative bigots but realise now that’s not the case.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/redneck
Good on you, Mary. You have provided a lesson in humility and good grace.
Are you watching, Populuxe1?
What this filthy piece of ‘reasonable’ sounding racism reminds me of – whether it’s meant to be satire or not – is that nine years ago the gnat party was at 28%… and then within 2 weeks of Brash’s Orewa speech they surged to 45%
The slippery self-serving neolib that currently heads parliament and who has no idea of what building a nation is all about, has only managed to increase support from Brash’s 45% to 46.5%
This gives me a great deal of hope. We only have to turn one in four of those pre-Orewa gnat supporters and Labour will once again lead in the polls. But how to do it?
Sadly I can’t help thinking that the current Labour caucus seems more intent on winning over some of the 17% that went to the gnats post Orewa.
theres really only two outcomes i can see from this
1) theyre actually well meaning but deluded – so when they start saying what it is they want politically, every one will go “yeah, youve got that already, whats your point again?”, and their support will atrophy and/or no-one will bother working with them
or
2) they will expose them selves as outright racists and their support will atrophy and/or no-one will want to work with them
either way – i see it as no biggie really. the pefect response to all this “The maori party is a racist party” is “so what?”
If you can get enough people who want to join theres nothing stopping you, go for your life. If you wanted to have a one armed jewish lesbian party theres nothing stopping you if youve got the numbers. If youre just bonkers or dont really have much of a clue – you will expose yourself pretty quickly
sunlight – disinfectant etc etc
there’s more of them than we’d like to think in NZ. Most won’t come out into the sunlight as they prefer to slither around under rocks with their own kind. So they’ll probably stay with the gnats or nzf
On the other hand they can do what they like in the voting booth.
Which is to take votes from Key. Will be interesting to see whether they get more of the vote than UntiedFuture like the Legalise Cannabis Party.
Hmm, I dunno framu.
Remember, this is exactly the same bullshit that nearly got Don Brash elected in 2005. And he never came up with a single concrete example of “special maori privilege”.
Right now they’re just a couple of idiots, but what they’ve got is momentum. And while a stationary idiot is just an idiot, a rolling mass of idiocy can do a lot of damage.
If that momentum is sustained for much longer, they’ll be approached by smarter, shrewder, more calculating players who will quietly take over behind the scenes and try to translate this momentum into real political support for something.
Maybe Lusk for a faction within National. Maybe Gibbs for the rebirth of ACT. It’s open to anyone really, bunch of angry ignorant voters for the taking.
Shit, it may have already happened for all we know.
true – caution is neccessary.
but i still like the approach of giving them enough rope as opposed to trying to make them go away
“a rolling mass of idiocy can do a lot of damage.” gold –
Not if it’s vigorously, publicly cluebatted and ‘anvilled from orbit :3
But yeah, you’re pretty much on the ball on this probably being used to resurrect the Kwi/Iwi zombie or shock ACT back into a shambling half-life
This is a good thing – makes it easier to round them up later
The sad thing about the supporters of this party of ignorance, is that many of them think any attention is proof of the validity of their claims.
infused, you’re one of the sponsors aren’t you? Where do you see it going?
Other than that, couldn’t really care less. Knowing their luck, it will become a political party. New Zealand is crazy like that. I think this will appeal to a lot of people.
If the Pakeha party wanted to have a discussion about untangling the causes from the symptoms of poverty in a marginalised and disadvantaged racial group where they reject what we are currently doing and propose something else, that would not necessarily be an inherently racist thing to do.
But the Pakeha Party isn’t interested in that. They just want to have a whine about Maori because somehow they think Maori are already more “privileged”. They have constructed a mental fantasyland where stealing the land off it’s rightful owners, exploiting that stolen wealth for their exclusive enrichment and entrenching their white privilege somehow makes them martyrs.
The question is WHY do they feel like martyrs? Why this constant bubbling up of ignorant but popular racism? Generally speaking this party appeals to a broad range of blue collar and mortgage belt whites who think they see a lazy brown elite getting rich on unearned rents and handouts while their hard work is rewarded with increasingly unaffordable housing, stagnant wage growth and poor job security. They feel they’ve played the capitalist game honestly but the rules have been changed. The concerns of this constituency is completely ignored or belittled by the neo-liberal intelligensia component of our elites who dominate the race debate. Who, actually, does speak for Joe and Jane Six-Pack on Struggle Street?
The political vacuum left by the captured political and intellectual technocrats in the elite cadres of our political establishment is always going to be filled by increasingly incoherent and radical parties of the popular right, just like it is in Europe. This wave will be beaten back, but every time the sea recedes on an Orewa or a Pakeha Party the tide is just that little further up the beach for the established order.
I can nail it for you quite easily. It’s because of the land/money given to Maori tribes and such. Not that there is anything wrong with it, but that this stuff was meant to be tidied up along time ago, but keeps going on and on and on.
“Given”.
An interesting choice of word. The fact is that the land etc has been returned.
Yeah, I’m not arguing that. Like I said, someone just needs to finish it and let the country move on.
Rubbish. Do you honestly believe the dog whistling will stop? Why would the Right give up the opportunity to exploit the divisions it has manufactured?
Yes I do.
“Not that there is anything wrong with it, but that this stuff was meant to be tidied up along time ago, but keeps going on and on and on.”
Well yeah, it was meant to be tidied up around 1840 or so, but pakeha chose to ignore that and plough ahead as if they owned the place for the next 150 years, largely to the detriment of maori.
Bit rich to turn around after 150 years and blame maori for it going on and on and on.
You know what I mean.
Yep, I think I do.
You mean a bunch of people who have benefited from an imbalance are upset that the situation is being righted and they want to stop the process before they lose any more of their advantage.
You’re such a dickhead felix.
I genuinely think that’s what you mean. Pakeha have an advantage and they don’t want to lose it.
If that’s not what you mean then say what you mean.
Not all Pakeha have an advantage, or privilege.
Its insane to think so.
Not all pakeha are hot under the collar about maori catching up either.
So what?
so what????
Felix, is some kid posting under your name?
Yep. The last two comments I’ve posted, a child has posted underneath.
ps the “so what” was because your comment doesn’t mean anything in the context of this discussion, Brett.
“Not all pakeha are hot under the collar about maori catching up either.
So what?”
The point in this context is that white, working/underclass men (and women I guess) have genuine grievances with how society is treating them. One problem is they’re blaming the wrong target. Telling them they are privileged in comparison to Maori doesn’t solve that, it most likely makes it worse (depending on how it is done).
The other problem is that the people with genuine grievances are merged with the people who are simply just racist. But treating those two groups as the same is a mistake.
Yeah that’s a fair point weka.
The other side of it though is that working class/underclass members of the dominat culture are still privileged over working class/underclass members of minority cultures.
” given to Maori tribes and such” GIVEN??!
Well the Maori have their own party and what have they done? Got into bed with the very people who stand to do all of the things outlined in this diatribe. You can not expect change if you are not willing to put in the “hard yards” and so far this party just look like a bunch of opportunists.
The stupid, it burns:
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/pakeha-party-considers-registering-popularity-soars-5502997
Really need more anvils dropped in high school and documentaries on Te Treati O Waitangi and NZ history to make people realise just how much the Crown fucked over Maori tribes T_T
So do something about it. Start a political party, make some noise, rather than just complaining.
T_T
Yes, because pointing out that something is wrong is totes badzors
Envy is a left wing word
And yet the righties keep using it (“envy”) about the left.
As in National referring to the left as “the politics of envy”?
Weka:
Agree.
What, with everything I say?
your post about underclass working men and woman.
Ok. Is there a reason you so often fail to use the reply button?
weka:
It didnt show up in your post.
“It didn’t show up in your post.”
Then just click on the lowest “reply” button in that thread. So in this instance you should have clicked on the reply button in the 12:14pm comment by felix.
P.s. I’m not trying to encourage you.
Thanks for the tip and lack of encouragement.
You are welcome, just do a little extra homework on some issues before you shoot your mouth off, and I’ll encourage you with a +1 or similar.
What?
Your post 19 should have used the reply button. You do that a lot (don’t use the reply button so your comment is out of whack with the rest of the discussion). Just wondered why.
weka:
Your asking me how the internet works???
Lol, no, but I understand now from fender’s comment
To quote The Don,
They’ll be gone by lunchtime…
Can’t even be bothered blogging about them… *yawn*
This is so ridiculous it’s not even funny.
What specifically do these Pakeha want anyway?
To promote their internet business, mostly.
The Pakeha Party: initially I thought it was a clever prank, but apparently not. It’s party purpose-built for Troglodytes, Knuckle-Draggers & Mouth-Breathers: now they’ve found themselves a place to call Home, which is convenient for the rest of us, as it will allow us to keep an eye on ’em.