Hollow Men film to premiere next month
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- Date published:
4:57 pm, June 20th, 2008 - 108 comments
Categories: culture, john key, national -
Tags: alister barry, film, hollow men, nicky hager, the unionist
The Unionist reports Nicky Hager’s book The Hollow Men has been made into a film and will be screening as part of this year’s New Zealand International Film Festivals.
The 98 minute documentary is directed by Alister Barry, whose previous work includes the excellent In a Land of Plenty and Someone Else’s Country, and is reported to include new material:
Nicky Hager told The Unionist this afternoon that viewers would see new material in the film.
‘For someone who has read the book they will get it brought to life in pictures, and they will get some new information which I dug out for the film.’
‘I think that the book is a once-off rare opportunity for people to see how politics really works, and the film will take this to thousands more people, which makes it hugely valuable,’ he said.
According to this NZPA report the idea of the film had been with Alister Barry for some time and he had wanted to take a look at political tactics and spin-doctoring. After Brash’s Orewa speech he decided to look at National, and with the release of Hager’s book “suddenly the research side of things was taken care of.”
Barry says the documentary uses “miles” of archive footage with fresh interviews with academics and journalists and included the rise of John Key as a sub-plot. “You see in the film the emergence of this other person coming in behind Don Brash,” he says.
The film opens in Wellington on July 20.
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- Government investments boost and diversify local economies in lower South Island$2.9 million convertible loan for Scapegrace Distillery to meet growing national and international demand $4.5m underwrite to support Silverlight Studios’ project to establish a film studio in Wanaka Gore’s James Cumming Community Centre and Library to be official opened tomorrow with support of $3m from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery ...2 days ago
- Government future-proofs EV chargingTransport Minister Michael Wood has today launched the first national EV (electric vehicle) charging strategy, Charging Our Future, which includes plans to provide EV charging stations in almost every town in New Zealand. “Our vision is for Aotearoa New Zealand to have world-class EV charging infrastructure that is accessible, affordable, ...2 days ago
- World-leading family harm prevention campaign supports young NZersAssociate Minister for Social Development and Employment Priyanca Radhakrishnan has today launched the Love Better campaign in a world-leading approach to family harm prevention. Love Better will initially support young people through their experience of break-ups, developing positive and life-long attitudes to dealing with hurt. “Over 1,200 young kiwis told ...3 days ago
- First Chief Clinical Advisor welcomed into Coroners CourtHon Rino Tirikatene, Minister for Courts, welcomes the Ministry of Justice’s appointment of Dr Garry Clearwater as New Zealand’s first Chief Clinical Advisor working with the Coroners Court. “This appointment is significant for the Coroners Court and New Zealand’s wider coronial system.” Minister Tirikatene said. Through Budget 2022, the Government ...3 days ago
- Next steps for affected properties post Cyclone and floodsThe Government via the Cyclone Taskforce is working with local government and insurance companies to build a picture of high-risk areas following Cyclone Gabrielle and January floods. “The Taskforce, led by Sir Brian Roche, has been working with insurance companies to undertake an assessment of high-risk areas so we can ...3 days ago
- New appointment to Māori Land Court benchE te huia kaimanawa, ko Ngāpuhi e whakahari ana i tau aupikinga ki te tihi o te maunga. Ko te Ao Māori hoki e whakanui ana i a koe te whakaihu waka o te reo Māori i roto i te Ao Ture. (To the prized treasure, it is Ngāpuhi who ...3 days ago
- Government focus on jobs sees record number of New Zealanders move from Benefits into work113,400 exits into work in the year to June 2022 Young people are moving off Benefit faster than after the Global Financial Crisis Two reports released today by the Ministry of Social Development show the Government’s investment in the COVID-19 response helped drive record numbers of people off Benefits and ...3 days ago
- Vertical farming partnership has upward momentumThe Government’s priority to keep New Zealand at the cutting edge of food production and lift our sustainability credentials continues by backing the next steps of a hi-tech vertical farming venture that uses up to 95 per cent less water, is climate resilient, and pesticide-free. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor visited ...3 days ago
- Conference of Pacific Education Ministers – Keynote AddressE nga mana, e nga iwi, e nga reo, e nga hau e wha, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou kātoa. Warm Pacific greetings to all. It is an honour to host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Aotearoa is delighted to be hosting you ...4 days ago
- New $13m renal unit supports Taranaki patientsThe new renal unit at Taranaki Base Hospital has been officially opened by the Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall this afternoon. Te Huhi Raupō received around $13 million in government funding as part of Project Maunga Stage 2, the redevelopment of the Taranaki Base Hospital campus. “It’s an honour ...4 days ago
- Second Poseidon aircraft on home soilDefence Minister Andrew Little has marked the arrival of the country’s second P-8A Poseidon aircraft alongside personnel at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base at Ohakea today. “With two of the four P-8A Poseidons now on home soil this marks another significant milestone in the Government’s historic investment in ...4 days ago
- Further humanitarian aid for Türkiye and SyriaAotearoa New Zealand will provide further humanitarian support to those seriously affected by last month’s deadly earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, says Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta. “The 6 February earthquakes have had devastating consequences, with almost 18 million people affected. More than 53,000 people have died and tens of thousands more ...4 days ago
- Community voice to help shape immigration policyMigrant communities across New Zealand are represented in the new Migrant Community Reference Group that will help shape immigration policy going forward, Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced today. “Since becoming Minister, a reoccurring message I have heard from migrants is the feeling their voice has often been missing around policy ...4 days ago
- State Highway 3 project to deliver safer journeys, better travel connections for TaranakiConstruction has begun on major works that will deliver significant safety improvements on State Highway 3 from Waitara to Bell Block, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan announced today. “This is an important route for communities, freight and visitors to Taranaki but too many people have lost their lives or ...4 days ago
- Ginny Andersen appointed as Minister of PolicePrime Minister Chris Hipkins has today appointed Ginny Andersen as Minister of Police. “Ginny Andersen has a strong and relevant background in this important portfolio,” Chris Hipkins said. “Ginny Andersen worked for the Police as a non-sworn staff member for around 10 years and has more recently been chair of ...4 days ago
- Government confirms vital roading reconnectionsSix further bailey bridge sites confirmed Four additional bridge sites under consideration 91 per cent of damaged state highways reopened Recovery Dashboards for impacted regions released The Government has responded quickly to restore lifeline routes after Cyclone Gabrielle and can today confirm that an additional six bailey bridges will ...5 days ago
- Foreign Minister Mahuta to meet with China’s new Foreign MinisterForeign Minister Nanaia Mahuta departs for China tomorrow, where she will meet with her counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in Beijing. This will be the first visit by a New Zealand Minister to China since 2019, and follows the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions between New Zealand and China. ...5 days ago
- Education Ministers from across the Pacific gather in AotearoaEducation Ministers from across the Pacific will gather in Tāmaki Makaurau this week to share their collective knowledge and strategic vision, for the benefit of ākonga across the region. New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti will host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers (CPEM) for three days from today, ...5 days ago
- State Highway 5 reopens between Napier and Taupō following Cyclone GabrielleA vital transport link for communities and local businesses has been restored following Cyclone Gabrielle with the reopening of State Highway 5 (SH5) between Napier and Taupō, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan says. SH5 reopened to all traffic between 7am and 7pm from today, with closure points at SH2 (Kaimata ...5 days ago
- Special Lotto draw raises $11.7 million for Cyclone Gabrielle recoveryInternal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds has thanked generous New Zealanders who took part in the special Lotto draw for communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Held on Saturday night, the draw raised $11.7 million with half of all ticket sales going towards recovery efforts. “In a time of need, New Zealanders ...6 days ago
- Government delivers a $3 million funding boost for Building Financial Capability servicesThe Government has announced funding of $3 million for providers to help people, and whānau access community-based Building Financial Capability services. “Demand for Financial Capability Services is growing as people face cost of living pressures. Those pressures are increasing further in areas affected by flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle,” Minister for ...1 week ago
- Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao – new Chair and memberMinister of Education, Hon Jan Tinetti, has announced appointments to the Board of Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao. Tracey Bridges is joining the Board as the new Chair and Dr Therese Arseneau will be a new member. Current members Dr Linda Sissons CNZM and Daniel Wilson have ...1 week ago
- Scholarships honouring Ngarimu VC and the 28th (Māori) Battalion announcedFifteen ākonga Māori from across Aotearoa have been awarded the prestigious Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships and Awards for 2023, Associate Education Minister and Ngarimu Board Chair, Kelvin Davis announced today. The recipients include doctoral, masters’ and undergraduate students. Three vocational training students and five wharekura students, ...1 week ago
- Appointment of Judge of the Court of Appeal and Judge of the High CourtHigh Court Judge Jillian Maree Mallon has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, and District Court Judge Andrew John Becroft QSO has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Mallon graduated from Otago University in 1988 with an LLB (Hons), and with ...1 week ago
- NZ still well placed to meet global challengesThe economy has continued to show its resilience despite today’s GDP figures showing a modest decline in the December quarter, leaving the Government well positioned to help New Zealanders face cost of living pressures in a challenging global environment. “The economy had grown strongly in the two quarters before this ...1 week ago
- Western Ring Route CompleteAucklanders now have more ways to get around as Transport Minister Michael Wood opened the direct State Highway 1 (SH1) to State Highway 18 (SH18) underpass today, marking the completion of the 48-kilometre Western Ring Route (WRR). “The Government is upgrading New Zealand’s transport system to make it safer, more ...1 week ago
- Briefings to Incoming MinistersThis section contains briefings received by incoming ministers following changes to Cabinet in January. Some information may have been withheld in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982. Where information has been withheld that is indicated within the document. ...1 week ago
- Teaming up for a stronger, more resilient FijiAotearoa New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta reaffirmed her commitment to working together with the new Government of Fiji on issues of shared importance, including on the prioritisation of climate change and sustainability, at a meeting today, in Nadi. Fiji and Aotearoa New Zealand’s close relationship is underpinned by the Duavata ...1 week ago
- Investment in blue highway a lifeline for regional economies and cyclone recoveryThe Government is delivering a coastal shipping lifeline for businesses, residents and the primary sector in the cyclone-stricken regions of Hawkes Bay and Tairāwhiti, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan announced today. The Rangitata vessel has been chartered for an emergency coastal shipping route between Gisborne and Napier, with potential for ...1 week ago
- Next steps developing clean energy for NZThe Government will progress to the next stage of the NZ Battery Project, looking at the viability of pumped hydro as well as an alternative, multi-technology approach as part of the Government’s long term-plan to build a resilient, affordable, secure and decarbonised energy system in New Zealand, Energy and Resources ...1 week ago
- Statement from the Prime Minister on Stuart NashThis morning I was made aware of a media interview in which Minister Stuart Nash criticised a decision of the Court and said he had contacted the Police Commissioner to suggest the Police appeal the decision. The phone call took place in 2021 when he was not the Police Minister. ...1 week ago
- CPTPP Trade Ministers coming to AucklandThe Government’s sharp focus on trade continues with Aotearoa New Zealand set to host Trade Ministers and delegations from 10 Asia Pacific economies at a meeting of Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Commission members in July, Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor announced today. “New Zealand ...1 week ago
- Govt approves $25 million extension for cyclone-affected businesses$25 million boost to support more businesses with clean-up in cyclone affected regions, taking total business support to more than $50 million Demand for grants has been strong, with estimates showing applications will exceed the initial $25 million business support package Grants of up to a maximum of $40,000 per ...1 week ago
- Family tree key to Twigg's fifth Olympic bid
Taking her her young family around the world as she rows is a key factor in Emma Twigg's decision to defend her Olympic single sculls title at next year's Paris Olympics. And, Andy Hay writes, the next Emma Twigg could be waiting in the wings at the Maadi Cup next week. ...32 mins ago - Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika looking for 80min performances
The Fijian Drua will need to start and finish well, while Moana Pasifika’s coach wants to see a full 80-minute performance this weekend as the two regional teams continue their Super Rugby Pacific campaigns. The Drua tackle the Highlanders in Dunedin today and Pasifika face the Hurricanes at Mt Smart ...3 hours ago - PNG contractors plead for government to pay up after 12-year waitBy Todagia Kelola in Port Moresby A number of small contractors in Papua New Guinea are still waiting for positive feedback for money owed to them by government agencies after 12 years. A 2015 Post-Courier front page picture showed a man, David Goli, who chained himself at the then headquarters ...3 hours ago
- A new review into how teachers are educated should acknowledge they learn throughout their careers (...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Beryl Exley, Professor, Griffith Institute for Educational Research, Griffith University, Griffith University Shutterstock Last August, the federal government set up an expert panel to look at the continuous improvement agenda in teacher education in Australia. The panel, led by ...10 hours ago
- Analysis: Teachers need a lot of things, another curriculum 'rewrite' isn't one
We all clearly want the best learning outcomes for our nation's children, but there are deep ideological divisions, writes Cathy Buntting. ...11 hours ago - The Winston Peters greatest hits hour
The New Zealand First leader took to the altar of an East Auckland church today to set out his 2023 election agenda. It was, as Stewart Sowman-Lund found out, pretty much what you’d expect. Winston Peters rolled into Howick today with a state of the nation speech that, he claimed ...12 hours ago - Woolworths is getting into telehealth – but patients need to be treated as more than customersSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jon Wardle, Professor of Public Health, Southern Cross University Shutterstock Earlier this week, Australian retail giant Woolworths announced a move into health-care delivery via development of its subsidiary HealthyLife’s online portal. Through this portal, Australians can book a same-day ...12 hours ago
- Winston Peters rails against secret 'woke agenda' in campaign speechNew Zealand First leader Winston Peters - eyeing a political comeback - has used a scene-setting speech in Auckland warning against a "conceited, conniving, cultural cabal". ...13 hours ago
- At the 2023 Adelaide Festival, the best works shimmer with a brutal honesty on incarceration, exile ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William Peterson, Adjunct Associate Professor, Auckland University of Technology The Sheep Song. Tim Standing/Daylight Breaks/Adelaide Festival Few Adelaideans remember a time before the Adelaide Festival. Formed in 1960 as a civic enterprise and financed against loss by prominent Adelaide businessmen, the ...14 hours ago
- Week in Politics: Minor parties could hold unprecedented influence post-electionAnalysis - The Greens lay down a challenge as the minor parties approach an election in which both National and Labour are going to need coalition partners to form a government, writes Peter Wilson. ...14 hours ago
- Repeal Fiji’s media law and start with ‘clean slate’, says CFL chiefBy Arieta Vakasukawaqa in Suva Communications Fiji Ltd (CFL) chair William Parkinson has called for a repeal of Fiji’s Media Industry Development Act 2010 and more discussion on the proposed Media Ownership and Registration Bill 2023. He said this during a public consultation on the review of MIDA Act 2010 ...14 hours ago
- Posie Parker wins the beautiful freedom to make an ugly argument
High Court Justice David Gendall regretfully allows anti-trans activist to enter New Zealand, but warns the expression of her views may be harmful to our vulnerable rainbow community. Jonathan Milne does his best to be civil. Opinion: Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull calls herself Posie Parker. And that's what I'm going to call her. Because she is ...14 hours ago - Guy Montgomery’s Guy Mont Spelling Bee is an absolute joyIt’s about time somebody made a wacky TV show about how bonkers spelling is. Enter comedian Guy Montgomery and his Guy Mont Spelling Bee. The three years since Covid-19 began have been pretty rocky, but one of the best things to come out of the chaos was Guy Montgomery’s Guy ...15 hours ago
- Psychologists Condemn Anti-trans Hate Speech And Urge The Government To Put Hate Speech Laws Back On...
Te Rōpū Mātai Hinengaro o Aotearoa, The New Zealand Psychological Society (NZPsS) stands beside LGBTQIA+ and Takatāpui communities rallying against anti-trans rhetoric in light of the impending visit of Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (Posie Parker). We are ...15 hours ago - Shocking and controversial: MAFS Australia has outrated 1NewsEarlier this month, everybody’s favourite Monster of the Week series Married at First Sight Australia toppled 1News to become the highest rating television show for New Zealand viewers aged 25-54. The controversial reality series garnered an average audience of 137,000, or 6.7% audience share from March 5 until March 11. ...15 hours ago
- Ingredient of the week: FeijoasIt’s the most wonderful time of the year for feijoa lovers – here’s how to make the most of it. Fragrant and sweet, with a delicate jelly centre surrounded by gritty, tangy flesh, all encased in a green sour skin. My parents’ feijoa tree has just dropped its first fruit, ...15 hours ago
- The Friday Poem: ‘Bang a Drum’ by Maggie Rainey-SmithA new poem by poet and novelist Maggie Rainey-Smith. Bang a Drum We’ve hit Gentle Annie passed the pub at Okaramio and on the left, at Wakapuaka there’s Sunnybank where parents left their children An oddly named orphanage manned (ha) by Nuns childless women in black habits, scapula, cowls and ...15 hours ago
- Teachers need a lot of things right now, but another curriculum ‘rewrite’ isn’t one of themSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cathy Buntting, Director, Wilf Malcolm Institute of Educational Research, University of Waikato Getty Images Less than a fortnight after teachers staged a national strike, education was back in the headlines with the National Party’s release of its curriculum policy – ...15 hours ago
- The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending March 24The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton (Te Herenga Waka University Press, $38) Number one in both ...16 hours ago
- High Court Decision The Only Right Result For Nation That Values Free SpeechThe Free Speech Union welcomes the decision of the High Court to reject the application to overrule the decision of the Minister of Immigration to allow Kellie-Jay entry into New Zealand. This was the only right result for a nation that ...16 hours ago
- AI chatbots with Chinese characteristics: why Baidu’s ChatGPT rival may never measure upSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fan Yang, Research Associate at RMIT and Alfred Deakin Institute, Deakin University Baidu’s ERNIE Bot was launched to considerable disappointment. Ng Han Guan / AP On March 16, Baidu unveiled China’s latest rival to OpenAI’s ChatGPT – ERNIE Bot (short for “Enhanced ...16 hours ago
- Ask Fiji military about ‘guns on plane’ claims, says Sayed-KhaiyumBy Meri Radinibaravi in Suva Former attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has told The Fiji Times to ask the Republic of Fiji Military Forces about claims that his bodyguards were allowed to take guns on to Fiji Link flights without proper authorisation. “I understand that there’s some enquiries going on regarding that ...16 hours ago
- Melbourne Now: a vast, sprawling and inspiring exhibition that seems to burst out of its architectur...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sasha Grishin, Adjunct Professor of Art History, Australian National University Installation view of Troy Emery’s work Mountain climber 2022 on display as part of the Melbourne Now exhibition at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Melbourne from 24 March – 20 August ...16 hours ago
- KPIs are for businesses and boardrooms, not children and schoolsNational’s education policy reinforces an old-fashioned and hierarchical curriculum that does lasting harm to many students, writes educational specialist Dr Sarah Aiono. Announcing the National Party’s new education policy this week, leader Christopher Luxon cited a recent NCEA pilot in which two-thirds of students were unable to meet the minimum ...17 hours ago
- Last ditch attempt to stop anti-trans speaker from entering NZ failsAttempts by rainbow groups to stop an anti-trans campaigner entering the country have failed. The High Court has dismissed a judicial review application from Gender Minorities Aotearoa, InsideOUT Kōara and Auckland Pride, aimed at the immigration minister for allowing Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull into New Zealand. As part of the application, the ...17 hours ago
- Urgent hearing under way to determine if anti-trans speaker can enter NZThe High Court is this morning considering an interim order that would prevent an anti-trans campaigner from making it into New Zealand. Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull is expected to arrive on our shores today ahead of two planned rallies in Auckland and Wellington over the weekend. After immigration officials deemed her safe ...18 hours ago
- Statement From Mayor Paula Southgate: Hamilton’s LGNZ MembershipI was disappointed to see yesterday afternoon’s announcement that Auckland has chosen to leave Local Government NZ (LGNZ). Hamilton’s membership of LGNZ is one of collaboration and sharing. Being a member gives us important views from other ...18 hours ago
- Review: The Unruly Tourists is fun, but facileIt’s the most talked about local opera production in years – but does it live up to the chatter? The lowdown You’ve probably heard of the “unruly tourists”, the British family who created a media firestorm as they toured around the country leaving trash and turmoil in their wake. You’ve ...18 hours ago
- Ministry of Health removed trans advice after pressure from activistsAs reported by Newsroom’s Marc Daalder this morning, correspondence released under the Official Information Act shows advice about puberty blockers was removed from the Ministry of Health website “in the hopes it creates fewer queries” from anti-trans campaigners. The line that was removed from the site said puberty blockers “are ...19 hours ago
- Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: NZ needs to distance itself from Australia’s anti-China nucle...Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards. Political Roundup: NZ needs to distance itself from Australia’s anti-China nuclear submarines The New Zealand Government has been silent about Australia’s decision to commit up to $400bn acquiring nuclear submarines, even though this is a significant threat to peace and stability in the Asia Pacific. The ...19 hours ago
- Secondary teachers confirm next strikeSecondary teachers will strike again next week after an agreement on improved pay and working conditions was not reached. The strike will take place on Wednesday, less than two weeks after thousands of educators took to the streets across the country. “PPTA Te Wehengarua members have shown they are serious ...19 hours ago
- Share Your Views On Human Rights Progress In Aotearoa New ZealandTe Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission is encouraging organisations and individuals to share their views on human rights in Aotearoa New Zealand for the government’s upcoming report to the United Nations. The report informs a process ...19 hours ago
- Secondary And Area School Teachers Plan More Industrial ActionSecondary and area school teachers around the country have voted overwhelmingly in favour of more industrial action, including a one day national strike next Wednesday, in support of their collective agreement negotiations. “PPTA Te Wehengarua members ...19 hours ago
- Aaron Hawkins: Auckland Council has turned its back on the rest of the countryAt a time when our need for collective action is stronger than ever, Auckland Council has opted out to save each of its residents just 25c a year, writes former Dunedin mayor Aaron Hawkins. I grew up in rural Southland, in the shadows of the Cut The Cable movement. In ...20 hours ago
- Fishing for data: commercial fishers help monitor rising temperatures in coastal seasSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Jakoboski, Oceanographic Data Scientist, Moana Project’s Te Tiro Moana Team Lead, MetService — Te Ratonga Tirorangi Moana project, CC BY-ND The world’s oceans are buffering us from the worst climate impacts by taking up more than 90% of the ...20 hours ago
- Political editors panel: Schools, lobbying, and trans rightsMorning Report - RNZ and Newsroom's political editors consider National's education pitch, and the political responses to lobbying revelations and Posie Parker. ...20 hours ago
- Free Speech Union Granted Intervening Status In Posie Parker Judicial ReviewThe Free Speech Union will be an intervener this morning as the High Court considers whether Immigration New Zealand's decision to allow Posie Parker (Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull) entry into New Zealand was legal, says Jonathan Ayling, Chief Executive of the Free ...20 hours ago
- Why is this Auckland club clinging to a ‘discriminatory’ dress-code rule?For over a decade, Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club has come under fire for denying entry to people wearing religious headwear. Despite the Human Rights Commission getting involved, it seems the rule remains unchanged. One of the definitions given by the Oxford dictionary for the word cosmopolitan is: “including people from many ...21 hours ago
- Listen: How Labour just hurt the Emissions Trading SchemeChris Hipkins’ dump of Ardern-era policy has potentially jeopardised a major part of the government’s climate change response. In this week’s episode of When the Facts Change, Bernard Hickey talks to climate policy expert Christina Hood from Climate Compass to find out why this month’s Emissions Trading Scheme auction failed and ...21 hours ago
- LGNZ head confused by Wayne Brown’s claim about drunken conferenceThe head of Local Government NZ, the group representing councils across the country, has hit back at claims made by Auckland mayor Wayne Brown. It was his casting vote that saw Auckland Council leave the representative group yesterday evening, with councillors divided on whether or not it was the right ...21 hours ago
- A new study on Australian volcanoes has changed what we know about explosive ‘hotspot’ volcanismSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Al-Tamini Tapu, Geoscientist, The University of Queensland Warrumbungle national park. colinslack/Shutterstock Our new study published in Nature Geoscience on an ancient chain of Australian volcanoes is helping to change our understanding of “hotspot” volcanism. You may be surprised to learn eastern ...21 hours ago
- Time to grow up: Australia’s national security dilemma demands a mature debateSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Sussex, Fellow, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University There’s been a lot of recent shouting about Australia’s national security policy. It began with the Nine newspapers’ “Red Alert” extravaganza, spread over multiple articles. Featuring a graphic of warplanes ...21 hours ago
- Want an easy $400 a year? Ditch the gas heater in your home for an electric split systemSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Goldlust, Adjunct Research Fellow, School of Archaeology and History, La Trobe University Shutterstock Earlier this month, regulators flagged electricity price rises in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Like many people, you’re probably wondering how you can ...21 hours ago
- 4-day work week trials have been labelled a ‘resounding success’. But 4 big questions need answe...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Veal, Adjunct Professor, Business School, University of Technology Sydney Shutterstock A little more than a century ago, most people in industrialised countries worked 60 hours a week – six ten-hour days. A 40-hour work week of five eight-hour days ...21 hours ago
- The gaming audience is ‘queerer than ever’ – so how are game creators responding?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Xavier Ho, Lecturer in Interaction Design, Monash University Sony Entertainment Mainstream games are embracing openly queer characters – and so are many of their players and fans. The Last of Us, the prestige HBO adaptation of the critically lauded ...21 hours ago
- The Bulletin: Let’s Get Wellington Moving consultant costs in the crosshairsThe capital’s transport overhaul will have spent $130 million on consultant fees by the end of next year, Stuff reports. Let’s Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) expects to spend $60 million on outside experts in the coming year, after already spending $38.5m in the past three years and $35m this year. Greater ...22 hours ago
- How Labour just hurt the Emissions Trading SchemeChris Hipkins’ dump of Ardern-era policy has potentially jeopardised a major part of the government’s climate change response. Bernard Hickey talks to climate policy expert Christina Hood from Climate Compass to find out why this month’s Emissions Trading Scheme auction failed and how she feels cabinet have destroyed confidence in ...22 hours ago
- National’s ‘back to basics’ plan to address the literacy crisisChristopher Luxon says the policy is what’s needed to address serious issues with reading, writing and maths in primary schools. Others aren’t so sure, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Back ...22 hours ago
- Flood-affected Aucklanders breathe a sigh of rates relief
Although Auckland Council’s big cleanup following this year’s extreme weather events continues, “things are getting more difficult at this point”. Five weeks after Cyclone Gabrielle, some 7,000 Aucklanders remain impacted by the aftermath of the floods, slips and heavy winds that battered the region in January and February. Auckland Council’s ...24 hours ago - A new motorway took all the traffic away – but don’t write Huntly off just yetA traffic bypass stole 20,000 potential daily visitors from its main streets and local businesses. Three years on, how are the Waikato town’s 9,000 residents coping? The tourism centre is closed – “permanently”, says the sign. The cafe next door, once called River Haven, now with two missing letters making ...1 day ago
- A year on from the death of Levi James, what’s changed for Auckland cyclists?After a 19-year-old was killed while riding his bike on a dangerous stretch of Auckland road, the tragedy became a rallying call to make the city safer for cyclists. Tommy de Silva looks at what’s been achieved in the 12 months since. On March 5, 2022, 19-year-old Levi James was ...1 day ago
- A storm in a lolly jar? The pineapple chew controversy
Can you really call a mass-produced lolly dipped in chocolate "handmade"? The Detail finds out why it's important that products are what they say on the tin. The Potter Brothers saga In 2020, Courtnay Adele - who went on to be a contestant in The Great Kiwi Bake Off - posted a video ...1 day ago - Risk of political violence this election still high – Shaw
Someone could be injured, or worse, during this year’s election campaign, warns James Shaw ...1 day ago - Airport share sales fraught with difficulty – but retaining ownership is costly
The council's proposal to sell Auckland Airport shares is an uncanny throwback ...1 day ago - One small step towards banning ‘forever chemicals’
PFAS in cosmetics enter the environment through the water we drink, the food we eat, and the air we breathe Opinion: New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has proposed a ban on the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in cosmetics as part of its update to the Cosmetic ...1 day ago - Health advice scrubbed due to anti-trans pressure
Pressure from anti-transgender activists led the Ministry of Health to remove health advice regarding puberty blockers from its website. ...1 day ago - Bring back the Ministry of Works
The now defunct ministry is the kind of agency needed to fix our current infrastructure disaster - not Civil Defence and independent sub-contracting and consulting firms. ...1 day ago - Twinkle toes teen runs riot in world sevens
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Should be a good piece of fictional film… cant wait to see the documentary that they make out of Absolute Power though
You keep telling yourself primary source materials like emails, memos and diary entries are fictional Lukas. If it gets you through the night.
Oh, and Absolute Power? You’ll be waiting a long time to see anything made out of that. Last I heard it was being peddled in the Warehouse bargain bin next to Paul Holmes’ CD.
Actually Tane, I believe that is still close to or at number 1 on the NZ best seller list… but if you want to think that it is in the Warehouse bargain bin go ahead… I know for a fact that the Warehouse only a couple of days ago received a shipment of 800 copies of the book.
Will this be captured under the EFA ?
Love that photo.
Look at Key, Smiling away as he goes in for the ASSASSIN STRIKE!!!!!!
HS no.. common sense will prevail…
Lukas
Give us a page number from ‘The Hollow Men’ with “fiction”. You’ve got hundreds of pages to choose from.
Over to you.
While I would not bother with a leftard anti National (because that is what it will be) so called documentary, I do agree with Lukas that a study of the Clark years will be very interesting. As Labour continue to slump in the polls, the demise of this Labour Government will soon be complete.
Once Clark has no power (and the UN do not want her) she will as her legacy leave a destroyed Labour Party. It will not take too long for someone to undertake an examination of the Clark Years and what went on behind the scenes. A lot of information is already out there, but more will come and none of it will be nice.
As for the New film – well who cares about something that happened three years ago when Brash is no longer around. The future is now John Key, who will be sweeping to power and destroying Labour in the process in about four months.
gobsmacked… I wouldn’t know where to begin… It would take me too long to even think of where to start.
Would you like to have a go at dismantling Absolute Power?
Monty – “the demise of this Labour Government will soon be complete.”
.
.
.
I find your lack of faith disturbing.
I’m your FATHER! You KNOW it to be true!
http://www.booksellers.co.nz/bk_bst_current.htm there you go Tane, incase you needed the link?
[Tane: Lukas, it seems my attempt to take the piss has touched a nerve. Don’t worry son, I’m sure Ian’s stoked to be leading 100 Ways to Use Slow Cookers and Crockpots and Short Fat Chick to Marathon Runner.]
Lukas
So you’ve got nothing but smears. Asked for evidence … you instantly cave in.
Apology accepted.
Oh dear, monty. It seems to me that I heard exactly the same song from the right in 2005 – but about Brash and trashing English.
What is it with the right and their favourite brown-nose target for a year (to discard before the next election). How many leaders of the opposition has Helen faced so far? 4 or is it 5 yet? Here this year, gone next year.
The only one I had any respect for was English (and he is notably the only persistent one). Well I did have respect up until the time he released a dickhead press release about the funding on this site. But he is persistent….
…sure mate.
I can assume your rebutal of Absolute Power is in the works then?
Bugger, I would have liked to have seen the film, I really liked Hollow man. Sometimes( only sometimes though) living in the sticks sucks.
Lukas – Have you read the Hollow men? A simple yes or no answer will suffice. Before you say anything I have read both books and absolute power is absolute bullshit. As for the EFA, in another attack on free speech National tried to shut down the play of Hollow men and all they succeded in doing was drawing attention to it. If they try to use the EFA against this documentary all they will do is provide a lot of free publicity for the makers.
Tane- how long was the bible to the left in the best sellers list?
[Tane: wtf???]
QtR- Yes I have. What part do you think is BS?
I’ll answer that. Every single demented line of the damn thing Lukas. In fact the only retards like you believe it shows exactly how demented it is.
Sod thats pretty funny coming from someone who probably lists animal farm as in their top ten movies… bet you like the pigs the best huh?
Y’see lukas – You lack the wit to even make a decent pigfu*king joke. Why don’t you crawl back to your dirty little corner of the web and contemplate why it is that nobody likes you.
typical of you to make it personal eh? play the man not the ball
You’ve not got any balls mate – so what else am I gonna play?
does that make you feel better mate? or are you pitching for another week in solitary at sodblog?
Id love to stay here and be the victim of more of your great “wit” but I have to go and run a youth group… have a great night sod
does that make you feel better mate? or are you pitching for another week in solitary of at sodblog?
“of at”?
Your syntax is collapsing there, lukas. Feeling ok?
Run a youth group? I guess that means you’re one of those luddite christian righties. What a freakshow…
Is it true that the new film of the play of the book of the attempted rort, will show Mr English (the Nat leader in waiting ) as the email leaker ?
sure ‘sod…
helping out troubled youth in Auckland… what a freak show I am… I pity myself.
Ah, Robinsod you’re back, wonderful
Back O/T. All this is is preaching to the converted. So no fresh political traction for Labour. No one is listening, so whats the point?
Lukas/monty
I am still waiting for ‘absolute power’ to bring down The Prime Minister! When do you predict the accusations from Mr Wishart to stick?
OTOH, What happened to Mr Brash? Oh that’s right he resigned because the truth came out, and then he has a little Mea culpa to ice that cake.
We are sitting in Brash’s rented Auckland waterfront apartment where he lives alone, six months after separating from Je Lan, his wife of 18 years. Although one gossip columnist has called the apartment, with its polished blue mock marble floors, a “chick magnet”, the overwhelming impression is less of a bachelor pad than a lonely bolthole.
Eighteen months after Brash stepped down as National’s leader in a blizzard of controversy over leaked emails, an alleged affair with businesswoman Diane Foreman, and a looming challenge from then finance spokesman John Key, Brash is looking back on his sensational political rise and fall.
so I call your bulls*^t, Hager scored a scalp and Mr Wishart looks a fool for his predictions of Ms Clark’s imminent demise because of his gutter allegations, I hope you have enough in betwen the ears to notice the difference.
coge said:
Back O/T. All this is is preaching to the converted. So no fresh political traction for Labour. No one is listening, so whats the point?
Your right no one is listening to Mr Wishart….
OT
Is it just me or are the kiwiblog right coming over to the standard because the echo chamber is getting to dull for them?
Have also noticed a real trend toward calling the Prime Minister a maggot over there. WTF, I may dislike someone personally and dislike the policy but that type of language just reflect poorly on the commenter…
helping out troubled youth in Auckland what a freak show I am I pity myself.
I thought you weren’t gonna stick around to get ridiculed mate. As for troubled youth – I know the sh*t you fill their heads with mate and they are only gonna get more troubled from contact with you.
coge – then you wouldn’t mind it being broadcast on TV then?
Order restored, where have you been hiding Rob?
Have we seen any comments on who funded the making of this film yet?
I would have to say the whole saga just keeps giving doesn’t it?
outofbed
I thought it was Mr Ambitious, he seems to have had a teflon suit for a while..
There is an authenticity about the Hollow Men that cannot be denied. All the attempts by the right to refute the allegations simply add to the substance of Hager’s very straightforward journal of duplicity.
Duplicity: I guess that sums up the Nats.
I hope the film gets seen by a wide audience.
F*ck it’s great having you back Sod 🙂
I think the big point that the ‘Absolute Power’ proponents miss is that a labour government is actually IN POWER at the moment. So if they did have a big super secret evil agenda aiming to take over the country and make us all dance like cossacks and try to equal the steel output of great britain and stuff then they’d be doing it. Instead they’re just carrying on with running the country and improving average peoples lives and telling special interest groups who are already far ahead of the curve to sod off. I was so proud when they told Rio Tinto to get bent over their Tiwai Point posturing.
Empirical evidence shows absolute power is a load of total crap, and equally shows Hollow Men to be largely truth.
Suck it up, righties…
Suck it up, righties
They don’t need to be told Tyrannosaurus – when they lean closer you can smell the mitukeyranium on their breath….
Just a pity that they haven’t quite fathomed that the fallout from their November orgasm fantasia would be identical to that from a Labour victory. Poor sweet tory boys! All a-gnash and amok with frenzied attempts to destroy Labour, in order to usher in…..Labour policies!!!!
Yes! I’m a Slippery man,
A fan of the Slippery cant –
I’ll back the tory plan
To feed the bosses want
I’ll ride the slippery wave
And lick his slippery shoes
I’ll dig old Helen’s grave
And read the bosses’ news
I’ll bash those lazy crips!
And blacks and poofs and shits!
Who took my cook and FUCK!
They even fucked my truck!
And when nice John is in
He’ll absolve us from all sin
And take us back to mum
And cheese and roasts and chum
And me and dad’ll yarn
In the bush untill the dawn
Yes! I’m a Slippery man!
And I live in a slippery land
What a waste of tax payers money. This is not prudent as such a time as this . Fuel is the new Fuck word.My brain hurts SIR.
ak: mitukeyranium – lange would be proud, well done!
dad… seriously, what the F*CK do you smoke?
Port Royal thank you, 50 gram would be nice.
That’s a weird coincidence! 50grams is about how much heroin I’d have to inject to think like you!
Stranger than fiction…
That’s why T -rex is behind bars.
dad! Howzit! I don’t visit the blogs as often as I’d like to (other stuff to do, y’know, yeah I’m a ‘baiter too!) but maaaaate, good to see you still pushing the buttons and so forth.
I’m like ‘sod, dad – I think you’re basically not a bad bloke (heck, talk about persistent and consistent eh what – top marks for hangin in there bud) – and I’ve never seen you tell a deliberate lie (unlike a lot of your tory mates) but anyway dad, onya for stickin to your guns and all that. But seriously mate, you’re backing a loser. The tories have always been the party of the rich and always will be. Face it dad – I’ve been around since way before the ’51 lockout and I’ve kept a pretty good eye on things ever since. Every single move to help the worker or the hard-done-by (like yourself bro)_ has been opposed tooth and nail by the bosses’ party, and even though Slippery John has agreed to nearly all Labour’s policies, I wouldn’t trust the greasy prick for a second mate. For a kick-off, where the fuck has he been for the last twenty-odd years? If he was so concerned for this country, where the hell was he? And if he’s got 50 million bucks, how much haes he give n to charity (or to fathers’ Rights for example?)
No, dad, I was a sucker for Lange a way back – but at least he’d been a freezing worker – but don’t be suked in by this front-man mate, he’s just another greasy salesman for the winebox bastards who’ll suck the cream off us and keep us under their thumbs.
I don’t trust any of them.I have witnessed a nightmare unfold since the 1970’s !!
Goodnight ak.
Research is stuff that can be corroborated. Hager’s book does not meet any internationally accepted research standards because it cannot meet peer review standards. Therefore it is unverifiable.
Research is stuff that can be corroborated.
Ahh no, say rather that corroboration is usually part of the process of research.
Therefore it is unverifiable.
Depends what you mean by ‘unverifiable’. Are you denying the existence or content of the leaked emails? Anyway, Brash is gone, so it sounds pretty verified to me.
OK, so it’s been asserted that works by Hager’s are true and reliable but works by Wishhart are not. So when is ‘Seeds of Distrust’ being made into a play/movie?
OK, so it’s been asserted that works by Hager’s are true and reliable but works by Wishhart are not.
Wrong. It has been asserted that a specific work by Hager is true and reliable (and brought down the deceitful leader of a deceitful party) and that a work by Wishart has had no real impact.
So when is ‘Seeds of Distrust’ being made into a play/movie?
I guess when anyone finds it interesting enough to do so.
rOb
Yet !
Play writers and script writers will still be scribbling their first drafts… Be very afraid….
TRex: 50g of heroin would probably kill you…:-)
r0b: Brash is gone, so it sounds pretty verified to me.
I don’t think you can conclude that. Brash was naive and vulnerable and easily rolled by innuendo. Hagar’s rather paranoid mix of facts and conspiracy theory was, frankly, no more convincing than Wishart’s book – for much the same reason. However, Helen Clark is far too experienced to be even mildly effected by the variable quality of evidence in Absolute Power.
Hagar’s rather paranoid mix of facts and conspiracy theory was, frankly, no more convincing than Wishart’s book
Oh wake up and smell the spin.
Journalists know what’s what. Compare the advance publicity for, and extensive coverage of Hollow Men with the total non event that was Absolute Power. I won’t repeat myself, see:
And now consider the impact of the two books. The Hollow Men brought down Brash — because it’s material was accurate and damning. Absolute Power brought down nothing (except the bank balances of those mug enough to buy it) — because it was a yawn fest.
This is a classic case of readers believing what they want to believe and dismissing what they feel uncomfortable with.
Both books were credible but hardly earth shattering.
Hager showed how a modern political party works. But who out there did not know this is how the dirty world of politics works anyway. Lobby groups exist for a reason and many of them have money to help persuade. It was embarrassing for National but will not have changed anything. Labour and National will still be working in the same way as that book showed.
Wishart’s book is much the same. Nothing new came out of it but everything that he did say stands up to most tests of accuaracy. Noone has really shot his arguments to pieces. Many have dismissed it due to relevency (eg sexuality) but what he says is more or less an accurate description of the PM.
Mad Doctor – I figured that was probably the case… but decided that was still just as consistent with my point 🙂
Me, for one. That guy was trained and spun up to his eyeballs! He was being trained on how to avoid actually answering questions (Clark too probably, but to see all this DOCUMENTED was really something, as opposed to our own speculation!) Brash has since admitted throwing his principles out like he did was wrong, see:
…and all that. Touching, really.
The book, he says
Not so much the play though, apparently.
Absolute Power, from what I gather, is nothing new – simply a synthesis of materials that were in the public domain. The Hollow Men is something else entirely!
I wish people would stop looking at THM as an attack on the (current) National party, just because it’s negative towards Brash. It doesn’t matter that it was three years ago, it is interesting in its own right, and probably still will be at least several years down the line.
I agree Stephen.
I see THM as a fly on the wall account of the inside dealings of any modern political party. This could have been about the American Democrats, Australian Labor or Cameron’s Tory’s. In this case it was the National Party but could easily have been Act or Labour.
You may have been shocked with how the system works but anyone who has been within a sniff of that dirty Beehive will unfortunatley know, for better or worst, this is how it works.
THM is symptomatic of the new breed of tory pollies who know how to run the NZ economic model through their spreadsheet and seehow much fat they can carve off for themselves without offering anyhting in return. r.o.e. is everything but fortunately new zealand is small enough for people to see where their best interests lie. just have to take care that we the people are not swamped by the right wing media and the dominate for fun gang.
How will this be funded?
Did this recieve any taxpayer funds? If so, is this appropriate in election time and should it be counted as election expenses?
Also, why is it that noone on the left takes note that in the opening paragraphs of the book, Hagar clearly states that its likely Labour was up to very similar behavior?
How will this be funded?
Why don’t you take an EFA complaint, Mike?
Maybe you need to get out more? You’ve NEVER seen or heard a ‘lefty’ mention that before???!! Keeeer-yst!
It doesn’t even tell you who to vote for! It’s cataloguing events that were three years ago, comprende!? Maybe we should set up a council to check that no productions made with taxpayer funding are political at all? We’ll call those who make sure that they’re politically correct ‘Commissars’!
“Did this recieve any taxpayer funds? If so, is this appropriate in election time and should it be counted as election expenses?”
Don’t be such a retard Mike.
I guess hospitals should probably stop doing operations during election time too – afterall, that’s tax payer funded and it might give the beneficiaries the impression that the government is doing some good… couldn’t have rumours like that floating around!
Razorlight:
“Many have dismissed it due to relevency (eg sexuality) but what he says is more or less an accurate description of the PM.”
In online debate Wishart has backed down on his “lesbian campaigns”. The fool was patently wrong all along. Davis and Clark had been living together for years before they were married. Also, a friend of mine has witnessed Clark and Davis being very “intimate” at a private function she attended.
Then there’s the fact that Wishart cites mainly anonymous sources for his wild-eyed claims. So if he was able to be so patently one-eyed and wrong about Clark’s sexuality for so long, why should we trust him to pick credible and truthful anonymous sources, and to cite them accurately? Then there’s the point that they can’t be verified, so it’s all just conjecture.
Then there’s Wishart’s tendency to make massive, irrational leaps of logic – i.e. Because Kay Goodard was a feminist Marxist in the 1970s, and was for some time in the early 2000s a policy researcher in the MSD Wishart takes this as evidence of a secretive communist/feminist agenda on the part of the Labour Party. It’s just bonkers.
MikeE,
Did this recieve any taxpayer funds?
Well, we know the play got funding from Creative New Zealand.
I guess hospitals should probably stop doing operations during election time too – afterall, that’s tax payer funded and it might give the beneficiaries the impression that the government is doing some good couldn’t have rumours like that floating around!
Wow, comparing movies with the health system. Must have seen that poll result this morning to get that desperate.
National 54, Labour 30. OUCH!!!
Yes, that’s right Scribe, that was my motivation.
Can you hear my knees knocking?
Knocky knocky knocky
I don’t really care what the polls say right now.
At the end of the day, the significant majority of NZ’ers are far better off under Labour than they will be under National, and as those who have been misled work that out over the next couple of months they…. oh whatever, enjoy your moment.
—
Oh yeah, and Creative NZ??? Those partisan hacks! Call the EFA valkaryes and put an end to this injustice!
Goddamn. I don’t know if my tolerance is just crashing or if the tory brigade has been chowing down on some dumbflakes lately.
T-Rex,
I have no idea if Creative NZ is partisan or not. I just thought it was curious that a government agency would provide funds for a production that is so political. Just as I would find it curious if Creative NZ funded a theatrical version of Absolute Power under a National government.
Public healthcare is the sort of thing my taxpayer money should be used for, not helping bankroll politicised theatre.
Ok that post was fine, it’s probably my tolerance, sorry.
A lot of crap comes out of creative NZ in my opinion, but political commentary is probably towards the “non-crap” end of the spectrum. Still a long long way below flight of the conchords, but hey.
I’d object if they funded this and NOT the equivalent venture based on ‘Absolute Power’, but other than that I’m fine with it.
Public healthcare is the sort of thing my taxpayer money should be used for…
That’s nice for a minute there I thought you were right wing.
Keep spuiking, fellers. Every word you shout just adds to National’s lead. It was this gang of fuckwits who gave National John Key. Don’t you just wish Dr brash was still leader? Are your brains dead, dormant or sclerotic? Did you ever have brains?
[lprent: Another mindless troll? Lift your standard or stay away.
Carry on looking like a troll and you’ll find out what I like doing to rogue programs. ]
Ah yes adolf – I’m sure everyone is keen to take PR advice from a guy who named himself after Hitler. Actually come to think of it bro, why did you name yourself after Hitler? Did you think it was funny?
[lprent: ‘sod, I realize that you tend to get a little ummmm… obsessive about some things. But a persons ‘name’ when it is a actual name? You realize that I’m a bit sensitive about name teasing myself. After all I got regendered by the IRD for 20 years. When I tried to change my gender the buggers audited me.
Much as I hate to say this – I think I’ll get a bit obsessive myself if you pursue this line]
Like I said before, what’s up with people not wanting to fund a play because it wasn’t politically correct? I don’t like where that’s going…
Stephen,
There’s a huge difference between “not politically correct” and partisan.
Something that wasn’t politically correct, e.g. anti-Islam, probably wouldn’t get funding.
Lynn – I think you’ll find Tane has asked this exact question many times. I have also asked it frequently without answer. If the guy didn’t use “Adolf” as a pseudonym with regard to the most famous Adolf of all time then he is free to declare why he chose it. For several months now he has chosen not to. Call it a pig fu*king argument if you want but if somebody calls themselves “pig-fu*ker fiinkensein” then what’s a fella to do?
[lprent: Maybe it isn’t a psuedonym. He does come across as a painfully boring troll, and I’ve never noticed him elsewhere to see if it is just here…. But the name itself isn’t something directly offensive like TDS. I don’t think it is appropiate to direct criticism just on the basis of a name.]
It’s a historic *documentary*, I don’t see what the problem is with having a record of real events out there…would you require the production (film or theatre) to leave some bits out, make up some fake stuff so they would have to say ‘some of this is ficticious’, read out some anti-labour emails for ‘balance’ or what?
The only justification I can think of for not funding it would be that it doesn’t fit the ‘mission’ of the funding body, but since it’s probably something along the lines of inform/confront/entertain, I’m not sure that would work. The government could tell them not to fund anything that has political parties as a significant subject within the production, but I don’t like that sort of censorship either.
It seems to have escaped the intellectual giants of this Labour Party blogsite that their leader’s demise in the polls is happening at about the same time as the sales of Absolute Power are taking off. Funny that.
[lprent: You must be a total fuckwit to ignore my earlier clear warning.
This site is run by me, it is funded by me, and the posts are by volunteers. You seem to have been unable to have read the point in policy. Personally I can’t see any point in having such a moron around. But I suppose we can be charitable – there is an outside possibility you may have a brain in there somewhere.
Take a 2 week ban.]
lprent:
I don’t know if this is the same person but we had a problem with a user who went by the name of Adolf Powell. Was some months ago now but his comments were such that I reported him to his ISP.
The above Adolf is one of the bloggers at No Minister, not a troll 🙂
My issue is this, why should mine (as in a taxpayer) money be used to fund a movie of Mr Hagars book, a book which is highly political and critical of a political party, and is likely to come out at election time, at the exact time where the ruling party have made it harder to campaign against them.
I very much doubt that such a “film” (I’m not going to call it a documentary any more than I’d call something published by Michael Moore, or christian fundamentalists a documentary) would receive enough funding privately to make it go ahead so its a reasonable assumption its sucking off the public tit.
Would a film that is as critical of the government, specifically the labour party (or to a lesser extent NZ First, Greens or United Future) be as deserving of public funding, and if not why not.
I’m a support of ACT, I don’t hide it, but I wouldn’t be pushing for a pro ACT film to recieve public funding (and before you jump to it, yes I know “We’re here to help” recieved public funding as well, and I don’t agree with that on principle either).
Would the readers of the standard support a Pro ACT and anti labour film to be taxpayer funded at election time, and if not why not?
In principle, who the hell cares what it says?? In this case, as i’ve said, it’s a historic documentary of events 3 years ago, so again its political content should not matter one iota. The sources for the book were primary sources, not the secondary stuff that Moore and Wishart, so I don’t have a problem with those either.
As long as it’s good enough i.e. meets the criteria for funding, whatever that is, a production should be funded. I think your larger point is really whether the arts should get public funding, and I think the world would be a much duller place without the arts, but I do also tend to regard it as a bit of a waste.
“and I think the world would be a much duller place without the arts, but I do also tend to regard it as a bit of a waste.”
That’s a really odd sentence. You think money spent on preventing the world from being a much duller place is money wasted???
People who fence stolen goods shouldn’t be allowed to make money off them… Nicky Hager… Pay it back!
G, nice attempt to distract from the real issues, but all indications are that it was a leak from inside National.
G – Nicky Hager makes his money by causing misery for others.
He is a wimp of no credibility.
If you want to see this, check out the NZ Film Festival guides. Looks fairly interesting, but I imagine it will also be in theatres briefly, and on DVD.
Dad4Justice- wasn’t that what Key did as a speculator (of the ilk currently increasing fuel prices by a not insubstantial amount) before buying his Nat Party job?
Matthew Pilott – the whole bloody saga leaves a sour taste in my mouth.
tough titty d4j. you just a sour old nobody anyway!
Dad if you’re such a great parent why are you here night after night?
[no need for that. SP]
So what, Tane? These emails were stolen ~ doesn’t matter by whom ~ and Hagar the Horrible shouldn’t be allowed to profit from it; end of story.
So G, there’s a certain argument that businesses that externalise their costs (e.g. don’t pay the full costs of the environmental damage that they cause) are stealing from the common good. I reckon they shouldn’t be allowed to profit from it; end of story. What do you think G?
There is another argument that businesses that don’t pay fair wages are stealing their employees’ labour. I reckon they shouldn’t be allowed to profit from it; end of story. What do you think G?
There is another argument that businesses that exploit their monopoly position to extract excess profits are stealing from the public. I reckon they shouldn’t be allowed to profit from it; end of story. What do you think G?
There’s even an argument that currency speculation is stealing from the economically vulnerable. I reckon they shouldn’t be allowed to profit from it; end of story. What do you think G?
These emails were stolen
Says Don. Hager says otherwise.
Hager knows how Hager got them . Don wouldn’t have any idea.
Hager would be running a substantial risk if they were stolen. Don risks nothing and stands to gain by making the baseless theft accusation.
Let Occams useful razor do the rest.
“There’s even an argument that currency speculation is stealing from the economically vulnerable”
That argument seems to come from the economically illiterate and financially ignorant. I do not consider you, r0b, to be either of those. I would be disappointed to be proved wrong.
PB,
Emails are property of their writer (or, the organisation they represent). They are not the property of Hagar, or any other individual.
They certainly didn’t come directly from Brash. I doubt they came from, say, the BRT or the Bretheren. Therefore, by definition, they are stolen.
Phil, maybe so, but I seem to remember a bit of discussion about whether Emails could in fact be ‘stolen’ in terms of the crimes act.
In any case you set up a false dichotomy because if Hager is telling the truth, (and we have no reason to doubt him beyond Don’s self seving assertion), then the Emails could have been given to him by individuals within the National Prty organisation who had legitimate copies of their own. Therefore, not necessarily stolen.
Or are you saying that all leaks are by definition thefts? Or just whistleblowers? Are all newspapers and opposition MPs then guilty of recieving? Crikey.
That argument seems to come from the economically illiterate and financially ignorant. I do not consider you, r0b, to be either of those. I would be disappointed to be proved wrong
Well Phil, economics / finance is certainly not my strong suit, though one thing I like about commenting here is that it’s making me learn a bit at least.
In truth, at the moment I can’t tell if my problems in coming to grips with this field are due to my rapidly ageing brain cells or due to the field itself being full of shite. The jury’s still out.
Yeah T-rex I’m torn, but a world with less entertainment is still very liveable, so: away with government funding!
So what, Tane? These emails were stolen ~ doesn’t matter by whom ~ and Hagar the Horrible shouldn’t be allowed to profit from it; end of story.
Let’s assume for a moment someone took the material from Brash.
What was taken, presumably, was copies of emails, memos, diary entries etc. As these were copies no physical material was actually taken – that means it’s Don Brash’s right to the privacy of his emails that you’re concerned about here.
And that’s the crunch – public figures engaging in unethical behaviour have no right to hide this behaviour from the public. That’s why we acccept leaks and whistleblowing as an important part of democracy, and this is accepted by National every time they use a leaked memo to score political points.
So your argument is essentially anti-democratic. I look forward to you criticising National next time they exploit a leaked document for political gain.
Or you can just accept the ‘stolen email’ story was invented by National to distract attention from the contents of the book.
Tane-And that’s the crunch – public figures engaging in unethical behaviour have no right to hide this behaviour from the public.
Unless of course the whistle blower is Ian Wishart or some one from the VWRC right?
Tard.
lukas: you appear to have missed the bit where almost everyone before me has pointed out that Wishart isn’t blowing a whistle, and has no sources to back him up.
If his allegations had any traction then they’d stick, but the results speak for themselves.
Sod-Tard.
That pretty much sums up the way you treat anyone who disagrees with you. Straight to petty name calling.
VE-
lukas: you appear to have missed the bit where almost everyone before me has pointed out that Wishart isn’t blowing a whistle, and has no sources to back him up.
If his allegations had any traction then they’d stick, but the results speak for themselves.
A fair amount of the allegations that Ian made have stuck actually, and have proven to be true. Do you think that it is a bit strange how no one has ever taken Ian to court over all the allegations that he has made?
Lukas:
Not really. I guess it comes down to ‘sods pigf*cker argument. Don’t you think that if the allegations were true there’d be a bit more media coverage, given that the Herald and the Dom seem to have a taste for blood at the moment?
captcha: pres warbasse.
There’s an ‘s’ a few characters too far to the right there. Ironic?
Oh and while I remember- Tane, are you going to retract your statement about Absolute Power being ‘peddled in the bargain bin’?
Lukas you semi-literate munt, I’ve already responded to you:
Tane, I believe that that comment was in response to Absolute Power still being at #1 on the best sellers list (for the last 6 weeks I believe). Oh well…
“Do you think that it is a bit strange how no one has ever taken Ian to court over all the allegations that he has made?”
Mmm of course, because in this country which is supposedly on the verge of becoming like Zimbabwe, the onus is on the prosecutor to prove the allegation to be false, in order to protect free speech. What an awful, despotic concept huh?
I guess you didn’t know that, or you wouldn’t be asking such a question.
Lukas. It was number one in the New Zealand non-fiction catagory. Do you realise how thin the competition is? Like, Tane says – he’s just beating “short Fat Chick to Marathon Runner”.
Big deal.
Hollow Men sold out in a couple of days and it was weeks until many people could get hold of a copy. People were reading it fast to send on to their friends who, who then had to pass it on to the next person. It was an actual literary sensation.
Oh, and it brought down Don Brash, whereas Absolute Power was only brought on yawns.
SP- I could give you details about people not being able to get copies of Absolute Power also. I could also bore you with stories about how numerous book stores failed to keep the embargo on the book as the demand was so high they could not turn away the sales.
Tell me again, how long was Hollow Men at number one? (I really don’t know thats why I am asking)
I don’t know and who cares? I mean number one nz non-fiction, big deal. Look at what second place is and you see what the competition is.
You can go on about it being number 1 until you’re blue in the face – it was still ignored and mocked, and didn’t even make the news.
ye gods, lukas thinks it’s like the music charts. Lukas, while Absolute Power might have as much substance as your average pop #1 these days, and I can see why you think that’s important, perhaps you’d do better to look at the effect of books such as these, which is a bit more relevant.
How many party leaderships has Absolute Power caused to be overthrown?
How often were the two mentioned in the media within, say two years of release?
Lukas, I’m not surprised that booksellers sold AP before the official release date. The ‘fans’ can be quite disturbing and you want to get them out of the shop.
Hollow Men had a real embargo though. Remember? Don Brash tried to stop it being published. Ian Wishart, in his pre release promotion talked up the probability that AP would be banned. How did that work out?
Nice attempt at distraction there, Rob. As far as your understanding of economic theory goes, may I suggest you stick to whatever it is you do during the day… 🙂
The emails were stolen and here’s the proof: many people within the Beehive had copies of Don’s parliamentary emails. There was, however, one email that wasn’t passed on at all: Lindsay Perigo’s email regarding Don’s civil union U-turn.
That was a private email, passed on to no-one.
And it was stolen.
Justify the profiteering of something stolen here, comrades, and you undermine the whole fabric of society.
… and as far as the Police not pursuing this case goes: HA!
How many prima facie cases have they’ve dropped on the Right Honourable Sir Helen Clark?