James Casson and why YOU should Stand for Council

Written By: - Date published: 7:08 pm, March 31st, 2019 - 168 comments
Categories: community democracy, democratic participation, elections, Politics - Tags: , , ,

James Casson is a Hamilton City councillor. He thinks refugees are scum and we should quit mourning those killed in the Christchurch terror attack.

This former copper (second from left) is an idiot, obviously. When one of the most conservative organisations in NZ reckons you’re beyond the pale, you’ve got problems.

And we’ve got problems too.

Unfortunately, Kiwis tend not to care much about our council elections.

Voter turnout is low and there are occasionally fewer candidates than vacant positions.

And indifference leads to the election of jerkoffs like James Casson.

This years local body elections are on October 12.

Candidate nominations cut off on the 16th of August, the same day the rolls close.

Have a think about standing, people. There’s not a single commenter here on the Standard, left or right, who is less worthy of a council seat than the bigot James Casson. Or his equally dimwitted fellow councillor Siggy Henry, for that matter.

This is not just an issue in the, ahem, City of the Future, its NZ wide.

Have a think about standing. If you don’t want to stand, help.

Get involved on your council campaigns at local level.

Volunteer.

It’ll be good practice for the next general election, which, word of warning,  isn’t actually won yet.

 

168 comments on “James Casson and why YOU should Stand for Council ”

  1. Sacha 1

    Worse, Casson was an immigration officer.

    Please do put yourself forward for elected roles on councils and community boards. Voters deserve good people to choose.

    • OnceWasTim 1.1

      Indeed @Sacha.
      They eventually out themselves. Half of MBIE compliance are ex cops – more concerned about being butch and clinging to their stab proof vests than doing anything useful (although that now seems to be changing – if only because they’re an embarrassment as public servants).
      This guy is not alone, and thank Christ there’ll be an inquiry before too long.
      I almost feel sorry for Carolyn Tremain (new CEO of that bugger’s muddle and Joyce/Coleman vanity project MBIE ) ………. ALMOST.

      Shit.Uphill.Push much?

    • Sacha 1.2

      Even worse, the guy apparently is still working in the immigration service.

      • marty mars 1.2.1

        Unbelievable – dude should lose his jobs imo especially that one.

        • RedLogix 1.2.1.1

          The big reason why so many people here say they want to remain pseudonymous is because they’ve fear retaliation from cowardly people on the net finding ways to dox and harass them.

          Or right wing leaning bosses finding ways to make them ‘lose their jobs’.

          • marty mars 1.2.1.1.1

            Hmmm so that is why lol pity he was on the news eh so he put himself out there poor wee fella lol

            Plenty of white supremacists sympathisers will give him a job or he can move to aussie if he doesn’t like it here.

            • RedLogix 1.2.1.1.1.1

              If you were Casson’s employer you would fire him on the grounds you don’t like his opinions.

              • aj

                If his opinions and beliefs are preventing him from doing his job properly, or carrying out the policies in the workplace, yes I would be taking him to one side to ensure that personal beliefs were set to one side when he clocked in. Otherwise he would need to consider his position.

                • RedLogix

                  Almost all people set aside their beliefs when they go to work, they undertake the task in front of them to the best of their ability. There is no evidence that Casson is any different.

                  We also have no evidence that Casson has views that would potentially interfere with his work. We have one foolish and deleted FB post made three years ago in response to an especially appalling terrorist attack, and another questioning how long NZ should continue to direct so much attention to this attack.

                  It’s one of those questions that has no definitive answer; different people will have quite differing views. Many kiwis will are getting on with their work, their lives, holding parties, attending concerts and so on. In the face of appalling tragedy, the legitimate response of many will be ‘keep calm, carry on’. This doesn’t mean they don’t care, but that that they see their best response is to defy the enemies worst attempts to pull us down.

                  Other kiwis will have a much differing sense of what it means to them, and will be engaged in it’s aftermath for months, or years. Some people will not be able to see any end to it. All these are legitimate responses.

                  For all I know Casson may well be a noxious dickhead … I’m not saying anyone here has to like him, or vote for him. But in a civilised society free speech is how people resolve differences of opinion; the moment we start punishing people for ideas we don’t like, we really leave massacre as the likely alternative.

                  • aj

                    I’m just saying the sole judge of that is the employer, it is quite within the employer’s rights, and there are processes to follow should the employer make that decision. There are, for example, instances where action has been taken when an employee has bad-mouthed their employer.

                    • RedLogix

                      Yes. But it’s quite the spectacle watching left wingers loudly undermining employees rights when it’s someone they don’t like.

                  • Sacha

                    “no evidence that Casson has views that would potentially interfere with his work”

                    What, hating migrants and refugees has no bearing on a job in the immigration service?

                    • RedLogix

                      What, hating migrants and refugees has no bearing on a job in the immigration service?

                      Which deliberately and selectively ignores the very real human context in which he made those comments.

                  • Clearly, RL, you know little about employment law.

                    INZ’s HR department would be well within their rights to start an investigation as to whether Casson’s published racist views bring his employer into disrepute and/or whether all decisions he’s made as an immigration officer were consistent with INZ’s policies.

                    If it could be shown that he acted on his racist impulses when dealing with immigrants, he could well be fired immediately.

                    However, if it were found that he had followed the rules, despite his bigotry, I would think a letter of expectation and compulsory tolerance training sessions would be in order.

                    It would also be open to his employer to move him away from a customer facing role to minimise the risk of him going off on a racist rant.

                    None of these processes and outcomes impinge on his employment rights, but they are a reminder that employers have rights as well. And the right to discipline dickheads is one of them.

                    • RedLogix

                      If the IMZ want to hold an investigation, all well and good. Although you’re no fool; in the current climate the outcome is highly predictable. It’s absurdly easy to ‘performance manage’ someone out of a job and you know it.

                      Do you think everything you’ve ever said on the net would stand scrutiny if your employer decided to go looking?

                    • Yes, I’m confident that my main ’employer’ is 100% behind me and my worldview. Though he’s a grumpy sod and wildly unpredictable, so I’d better watch myself.

                      The modern reality is that anything you say on the net can come back to haunt you. It’s around 15 years since I first advised a worker who was accused of a social media faux pas.

                      In that case, it was because her employer was listed in her profile, and, by extension, everything she put on Facebook* potentially reflected on her employer.

                      *It’s that long ago it might have been MySpace!

              • marty mars

                Dont worry you can still set up a give a little page for him.

                • RedLogix

                  If you were Casson’s employer you would fire him on the grounds you don’t like his opinions.

                  • marty mars

                    Maybe hold a candlelight vigil in oz for him.

                    • RedLogix

                      If you were Casson’s employer you would fire him on the grounds you don’t like his opinions.

                      Yes or no?

                    • marty mars

                      T shirts could work – with his photo and his opinions. Double whammy – shows you are supporting him AND monetizing the situation – #becomingavictimwhenyouaren’t

                    • RedLogix

                      I think I’ll leave it there; it’s clear you don’t want to answer the question.

                    • marty mars

                      Would you he so concerned if he was a person of colour? Doubt it – why is that do you think?

                    • RedLogix

                      I’m not much personal concern for Casson himself. I’ve never heard of him before, and I assume he’s a big boy and can look after himself.

                      I’m not defending Casson. I am defending his right to expression free from the fear of punishment for doing so.

                      Edit: if he was a person of colour

                      You may not have been around during the Philip Field debacle. I was one of the few people who made a case in his defense at the time.

                    • Sacha

                      There is no right to expression without consequences. You’re in libertarian la-la land, RL.

                    • marty mars

                      Yeah sure you did – you forget red I was here when you called lew a …

                    • RedLogix

                      @sacha

                      If a moderator here didn’t like your opinion … an opinion expressed reasonably and without incitement to violence … would you be OK with them banning you?

                      If your employer didn’t like you expressing a reasonable political view at work … would you be OK with them firing you?

                      There’s some consequences for you.

                    • Sacha

                      If my business was managing immigration processes, how would hatred of migrants be a “reasonable” view?

                      And I’m not sure why some people seem to get their weiners in a knot at the prospect of social expectations moderating individual expression. Grow up.

                    • RedLogix

                      I have to assume then, in the absence of denial, that you actively approve of the idea that people should be fired for holding views you don’t like.

                      So lets go with that idea. Can you precisely list the correct and acceptable views that permit someone in New Zealand to hold a job? People will want to know.

                      Or do you propose some unspecified and arbitrary process whereby you personally get to make the determination?

                    • McFlock

                      Lord save us from fuckwits who think that if they express it calmly and without rude words it is in no way an incitement to violence to call a vulnerable and peaceful group of people “scum” and a “plague”.

                      Oh shit, thoughts and prayers don’t work. I guess we’re left with punching nazis. Or hugging them, for them that are inexplicably partial to that sort of thing.

                    • RedLogix

                      @McF

                      Lord save us from fuckwits who think that if they express it calmly and without rude words it is in no way an incitement to violence to call a vulnerable and peaceful group of people “scum” and a “plague”.

                      I doubt very much he said those words calmly; quite the contrary do you imagine he had no reason to be angry in the immediate aftermath of this?

                      https://duckduckgo.com/?q=nice+terrorist+attacks&t=brave&iax=images&ia=images

                      People say and sometimes do stupid things when confronted with horrors . We all have said things on the internet we might regret, we got angry, we said something we later realised was stupid or wrong, or could easily be twisted and interpreted in the worst possible light. We vented when we would have been wiser to stfu.

                      It’s from a recognition of my own unlimited capacity for mistakes, which tilts me toward forgiving them in others.

                      Also Matthew 5:44

                    • McFlock

                      I doubt very much he said those words calmly; quite the contrary do you imagine he had no reason to be angry in the immediate aftermath of this?

                      1: was he at least sort of put out by this? I bet not.

                      2: If he was angry, he wasn’t being provocative. That’s where he went to in his anger. Or maybe the events in Nice gave him an opportunity to express his feelings. Neither is good.

                      3: Not too particular to magic books as a source of authority, myself. They’re all much of a sameness.

                    • RedLogix

                      was he at least sort of put out by this?

                      What about the local reaction to this?

                      https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-47653500

                      Pure heroism and fast work from the police 51 schoolchildren were not burned alive. Pay attention … fucking burned fucking alive.

                      This is no hypothetical, it happened just a few days ago. Did anyone here get enraged about this? No because we are all selective in our attention, no-one can possibly care about every bad thing that happens in the world. We go with what is salient to us, and that is different for every human on the planet.

                      Not too particular to magic books as a source of authority,

                      I don’t recommend you run that line past the imam when visiting your local mosque this week. It might be seen as disrespectful.

                    • McFlock

                      51 kids rescued because some nutter was outwitted by those kids? That should indeed receive more prominance.

                      But it doesn’t seem that anyone actually died. So apples with attempted oranges, newsworthy-wise.

                      Hey, disrespectful the term “magic book” might be, but the local imam won’t hear it because he isn’t shoving it in my face as an excuse to hug bigots.

                    • RedLogix

                      some nutter

                      Way to minimise man. He planned it, he removed the hammers that would smash the windows, he locked the doors, he poured the petrol, and in the end he lit it. He intended exactly the same massacre as ChCh. Look at the pic of the burned out bus. Not a nutter, a fucking monster.

                      OK so no-one died and it didn’t make the local news cycle. The obvious point is that no-one here noticed this ghastly event because our attention was elsewhere.

                      Just because we cannot all care about everything all at once, doesn’t mean we’re racists. It mean’s we’re humans.

                    • McFlock

                      Failure makes a huge difference.

                      Just because we cannot all care about everything all at once, doesn’t mean we’re racists. It mean’s we’re humans.

                      That by itself is true. But if we see equivalent events on the other side of the planet and get so emotional at one that we make some pretty repulsive statements about immigration from one section of the world and have no visible reaction to the other event, that’s a big warning for everyone around us.

                    • RedLogix

                      Failure makes a huge difference.

                      OK so these guys look like they had a small success:

                      https://morningstarnews.org/2019/03/christian-woman-raped-killed-as-herdsmen-attack-two-villages-in-nigeria/

                      Again how much attention here? Makes us all uncaring racists for not even noticing? Or it there some threshold of dead bodies below which we don’t have to care?

                      The point is, we are all selective in what matters to us.

              • OnceWasTim

                “If you were Casson’s employer you would fire him on the grounds you don’t like his opinions.”

                No @ RL but if I was his employer (which technically I am), I’d “performance manage” the prick out of there.
                But before I did so, I’d already have reminded him that he is a public servant, and as such he should treat the public with respect regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or political belief.

                I’m not sure what the Public Service Code of Conduct says these days, I just assumed there are things like not engaging in activity or behaviour likely to bring the service into disrepute – you know some of the sorts of things that make even some of his former colleagues feel embarrassed.
                It seems the guy might also need reminding that he’s not making some Julie Christie Reality TV show when carrying out his job.

                OR is all that just a little too quaint for you @ RL?

                Oh, and btw, do you know if his time in Australia was because he was one of those scummy ‘economic refugees’ from NZ as opposed to the ones that are escaping war and violence and human traffickng and rape and the high possibility of getting death?

                • RedLogix

                  No @ RL but if I was his employer (which technically I am), I’d “performance manage” the prick out of there.

                  Same thing; also known as constructive dismissal. The Employment Court would look at your declaration above and immediately determine you had not entered the performance review in good faith.

                  • Minor quibble: that’s not a constructive dismissal. CD’s are where a worker has no choice but to quit because of an employer’s behaviour (eg. sexual harrasment, failure to pay wages etc.).

                    They’re notoriously hard cases to win, because the onus of proof is on the worker, which is the reverse of the usual approach. Normally, the employer has to prove that a dismissal was something a fair and reasonable employer could have done in the circumstances.

                    • RedLogix

                      In this case if an employer had announced on the internet that they were going to “performance manage” the prick out of there” a CD would be a slam dunk. Or alternately an ‘unjustified dismissal’ might apply.

                      But either way the employers self-evident initiation of a review process, with a pre-determined outcome, could only be construed as bad faith.

                      https://www.findlaw.co.nz/articles/4292/constructive-dismissal.aspx

                    • Correct. Though, again, that’s not a constructive dismissal. That requires a resignation, not a sacking. I have come across employers who have emailed their intentions to dismiss staff and, yes, that almost always ends with a finding in favour of the worker.

                      However, the key question here is not what Casson thinks, it’s what he has actually said. He’s left himself wide open for an investigation, with potentially a disciplinary process to follow that may have significantly poor outcomes for him. As I think I noted in the post, the man’s an idiot.

                      Just as an aside, INZ might be considering whether to require him not to stand in the next council elections. I’m not up on the Public Service code of conduct in this area, but I do know serving Police officers require permission before taking on external roles. INZ could quite reasonably say his council work is affecting his job.

                    • RedLogix

                      I’ve no problem with anyone thinking Casson is an idiot. Hell for all I know he really is a noxious dickhead.

                      It was all the authoritarians here demanding he be sacked with zero due process that irk me.

                  • OnceWasTim

                    I know you’ll try and argue till the cows come home @RL, but did you notice the second paragraph?
                    But given it’s MBIE, they probably hadn’t done the pre-requisites – probablytoo busy investigating the possibility of outsourcing their ‘compliance’ activity to Blackwater

      • reason 1.2.2

        An immigration officer in our NZ immigration service ….. that was carrying out sexual assaults on woman visitors to our country …. for political purposes …. during the last National Government

        Two or three Female visitors to kim dotcom were strip searched and humiliated by NZ customs … had their visas shortened ,,,, were detained and delayed …..for pure political harassment…..

        No one has ever been held to account for this ….

        Imagine for a moment that Mike Sabin had succeeded … and made two brave children go away in silence … and he remained in Parliament fighting the third election as Keys tough drug expert on a Law and Order heavy platform ….

        Remember the Witch trials,…. which the meth contamination scam and its ‘dirty scum wrecking our housing stock’ fear-mongering bullshit was

        …. Well that modern witch trial hysteria of false contamination … was not officially debunked …until After the Nacts were gone.

        So imagine if Sabine had remained untainted in Parliament ….. and Key had not run off … and they won the election ….

        Do we think anyone who criticizes or exposes them …. Like a Nicky Hager for instance …..

        Do we think their daughters would be safe coming through New Zealand Customs / Immigration.

        Or would they just stick to molesting the friends of unpopular people ?.

        To sum up James Casson is scum …. can he be sacked as a councilor ?

        I also vote to sack the sleazy Immigration / customs people involved in targeting DotComs female friends …. and sack Jihadi Kittridge while we are at it.

        • reason 1.2.2.1

          p.s a coucilor who thinks the Muslim people in his community are ” Scum” …. does not sound like a suitable councilor …. on discrimination grounds alone.

          It seems he brought his institutional racism along to being a councilor …. in bucket loads.

          • Michelle 1.2.2.1.1

            we have quiet a few racist counsellor in nz people need to get out an vote and lets get rid of these nasty out of date dinosaurs many of them carry baggage from their colonial countries and bring their bullshit here if they don’t like it here they can always f …k of back to mother england or wherever they came from.

  2. One of the problems is renumeration. For instance a typical local board member in Auckland would get around $40,000 per annum. If you do the job properly and attend workshops and community events and consultation and read the discussion papers and reply to emails as well as the compulsory monthly meeting it’s 25 hours a week minimum. The hours are not regular except for the weekly workshops. This excludes a lot of up and coming career minded young people and favours the retired and self employed. Still have a go if you can.

    • arkie 2.1

      Young people I know would love to be earning $40k for 25hrs work. You’re allowed to work outside the Board Member/councillor role and the young people I know are well-practised participants in the ‘gig economy’.

      The thing is that young people don’t often vote in local elections, the retired often do.

      • Macro 2.1.1

        That $40k is for Auckland city – elsewhere it is way lower – but still the same work load. BTW even though people can, and do, work at several jobs. The demands on a council rep are never co-ordinated to happen at the most convenient time for your primary work. Board meetings at 1pm can stretch on way over the time you thought they might end. Bosses expecting you back at 3pm, can get highly pissed off if you arrive back at 4.30pm, because some old grey beard wanted to hold the rest to ransom over some point of order.

        • arkie 2.1.1.1

          That $40k is for Auckland city – elsewhere it is way lower

          No, it’s the same payscale in CHCH at least. I get what you’re saying and I don’t disagree but I know plenty of people that have had to get loans to get degrees to end up working 40hrs to get $40k. It seems like very good pay for 25hrs work.

          • Macro 2.1.1.1.1

            My daughter is currently a Community Board member and is the deputy Chair her renumeration for at least 25 hours per week is a 1/4 of that.

    • Macro 2.2

      Exactly – I know from 2nd hand experience.
      That is why our councils are predominantly greybeards.
      And because there are so many greybeards on our council, it is the main reason I myself am not running, BTW my daughter is currently on the community board.

  3. Macro 3

    Actually we need Mayors like this one.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJCwUwziRvY

    • Muttonbird 3.1

      Careful. Farrar is endorsing this guy. Enough said.

      • Macro 3.2.1

        I don’t know. I’ve watched a couple of his interviews and speeches and he comes across pretty well. I can’t understand why Farrar would want to support him. He is not the old school democrat a la Biden (who BTW has a rather tacky cloud hanging over him at the moment). He became inspired to run for mayor after hearing Bernie Sanders . He has been Mayor for around 10 years now and has turned one of the bottom 10 cities in the US into one of the most progressive. with a growing population. He policies are about equality, the green deal, and social justice. His economic policy is much aligned with Elizabeth Warren (ie social capitalist). He would be the youngest president ever, and the first openly gay. He is certainly gaining huge interest, and raised the necessary funding to be seriously considered on the Dem ticket within hours of declaring his candidacy.

      • Peter 3.2.2

        It’s far more effective to run round screaming how bad everything is and get people onto the whinge train.

  4. Muttonbird 4

    Casson’s modus operandi reminds me of Mark Richardson’s. Do silly stuff for the publicity and be an ultra wanker when you have a platform.

    • tc 4.1

      He’ll fit right in then alongside other self promotion players like the second hand car dealer mayor who won it narrowly up against Nat party stooge southgate last time out.

      They’re soapbox craving narcissists. Councillors are toothless it’s designed that way.

  5. RedLogix 5

    Yes Casson called refugees scum in the context of the Nice truck bomb attacks,

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/17/nice-terror-attack-police-vans-blocking-promenade-withdrawn-hour1/

    84 dead. But mostly white people so there is no excuse for anyone to get angry, worked up and say something silly then …

    • Muttonbird 5.1

      Are you defending Casson’s anti-islamic outburst at the time?

      You must therefore defend any anti-right wing pakeha outburst in the last two weeks.

      • RedLogix 5.1.1

        On the contrary … if you think Casson was out of line, then you may want to reconsider some of the rhetoric around here in that light.

        • Muttonbird 5.1.1.1

          I just don’t think white people need defending. We’ve had it so good for so long.

          • vto 5.1.1.1.1

            That is the most bizarre and ignorant comment

          • marty mars 5.1.1.1.2

            The problem is non ‘white’ people are getting attention and ‘white’ people can’t stand that cos they must ALWAYS be at the centre of the discussion or issue or there is no issue. That is how they perpetuate the system – it is ALWAYS about them. ALWAYS.

    • The Al1en 5.2

      “84 dead. But mostly white people so there is no excuse for anyone to get angry, worked up and say something silly then …”

      Imagine using the deaths of 84 innocent people to try and make a shitty race based political point on a blog site.
      You should be ashamed of yourself, tugger. 🙄

    • marty mars 5.3

      You’re true colour really out there now. Your attempt to minimize those deaths by pushing your ‘white’ agenda is repellent.

      • Muttonbird 5.3.1

        He’s lived in Australia for too long.

      • RedLogix 5.3.2

        Who minimised anything?

        This past week you have been incandescent with rage over the deaths in ChCh. In what manner can you not understand someone being similarly angry over the same thing happening in Nice for exactly the same vile reasons?

        • Muttonbird 5.3.2.1

          Please point to where anyone at all referred to Australians as scum.

        • marty mars 5.3.2.2

          Bullshit – more self serving bleating. Own your stuff ffs be the man you keep reminding us you are. You’re just sick of all ‘noise’ i think – do you agree with this guy?

          • RedLogix 5.3.2.2.1

            No I don’t agree with him. Why would you think I did?

            But as I said, can you not find any scrap of understanding about why someone might feel like that?

            • marty mars 5.3.2.2.1.1

              Well you wrote this 30 minutes after your reply

              “Would have that been such a bad thing?” Sounds like you agree with him. Mourning is over?

              • RedLogix

                Can you not find any scrap of understanding about why someone might feel like that?

                • marty mars

                  So you just changed your mind real quick like.

                  Save your tears for the real victims if you can be bothered remembering them.

                • greywarshark

                  Pathetic the mean spirited little scraps over details of what might have been if something had happened and someone doesn’t have the right attitude about this hypothetical happening. Just FO and keep our minds on what actually happened.

                  Casson who seems a Right a.h. has said let’s move on and i am beginning to hear that elsewhere. There is still a lot going on about it, and we do have to think about other things. But I have the feeling that some don’t want to pay any more attention to it. And that is not on. Even one person shot at the temple would have been a matter of grief. The fifty people makes it a permanent national scandal and stain on the country.

                  We can’t just move on and push it totally to the side. We must keep up with the community building. We mustn’t get involved in stupid hypothetical arguments. It shows a lack of keen judgment, perhaps a failing of a mind declining in an older person? We older persons have to think of that and try to keep those brain cells buzzing looking for new solutions to old problems, and also to new ones. We haven’t time for s…t arguments and I didn’t expect to think about RL like that.

    • joe90 5.4

      The perpetrator was a legal immigrant with a permit to live and work in France and was not known to hold radical or even Islamist views.

      He had a known history of substance abuse and mental health issues, reportedly lived a life of excesses and subsequent investigations showed him to have been inculcated online with his obsessions and hate.

      But hey, let’s be okay with the labeling of refugees, and especially pious Muslim refugees, as scum because white people…..

      • RedLogix 5.4.1

        But hey, let’s be okay with the labeling of refugees, and especially pious Muslim refugees, as scum because white people…..

        Just as well I didn’t say that then isn’t it?

        • Muttonbird 5.4.1.1

          You have apologised for James Casson saying exactly that though.

          • RedLogix 5.4.1.1.1

            There was context to Casson’s FB post, that TRP omitted. It casts what he said in quite a different light.

            In the cold light of day it was wrong, and Casson seems to have deleted it when that became clear to him. But who hasn’t said something stupid in a moment of anger and disgust?

            • Muttonbird 5.4.1.1.1.1

              There’s no ambiguity in Casson’s thought. He hates that we are celebrating and supporting Muslim communities and he hates muslim communities full stop.

              There is no context unless you are desperate to manufacture it.

              • RedLogix

                OK so let’s pretend Nice didn’t happen then. But don’t tell me about minimising or nothing.

                • Muttonbird

                  You and Casson are not wanting to mourn a horrific event in New Zealand because of a similar event in France happened?

                  • RedLogix

                    How about going off and actually reading what Casson is saying. Try not to react to all the things you imagine he means, just take his words at face value and try to work out why he might say them … in good faith.

                    Casson’s argument borrows from the example of the British under the Nazi bombing, consciously choosing as a nation to defy Hitler by ‘keeping calm and carrying on’.

                    In the wake of 9/11 I recall making a similar argument, that the USA and world would have been better served if the American nation had mourned their dead with dignity, cleaned up the collapsed buildings, worked damned hard to improve security … and then told bin Laden “Is that the worst you can do? Because no matter what, you will not drag us down to your level”. And then got on with life.

                    Would have that been such a bad thing? Because instead the USA invaded Iraq in an act of crazed vengeance … and the rest is a history we’re still wading around the bloody entrails of.

        • joe90 5.4.1.2

          You’re right, you didn’t say that.

          You insinuated that the ethnicity of victims influences TS’s reader’s levels of outrage and anger.

          • RedLogix 5.4.1.2.1

            Good so you don’t like insinuations either. Now why do you think being a little bit provocative is something reserved for only certain people here?

            • McFlock 5.4.1.2.1.1

              For crying out loud, either he was having a pretty racist emotional reaction to a terror attack, or he was being provocatively racist. Make your mind up.

              • RedLogix

                This is how hearts get changed:

                https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/why-this-wouldbe-mosque-bomber-converted-to-islam/news-story/a076a64fe5a30f566c393f3d1f971f41

                You’ll notice there was no yelling or blaming of all white people involved.

                • McFlock

                  There was a look of disgust from his daughter.

                  Maybe it takes not just acceptance from the target group. but also a refusal to accept such things from the group one is nominally a member of.

                  Maybe Casson’s emotional reaction to Nice was to be “provocative”? “Rid Europe of these scum” Is certainly that. 🙄

                  • RedLogix

                    Yeah a look from someone he loved. Just that. No yelling, no shaming of whole groups of people … just one individual to another. And a willingness to be honest to himself.

                    It took love not hate.

                    • McFlock

                      “whole groups of people”. Yeah. White supremacists and nazis.

                      And the look was of disgust.

                      That’s how it should be.

                      Because we’ve seen where tolerance gets us.

                    • RedLogix

                      And the look was of disgust

                      And if that was all it was, nothing would have changed.

                      If some random person just treats you with disgust, does that make you more likely to listen to them or turn away?

                      Disgust is the emotion Hitler exploited to vilify and dehumanise the Slavs and Jews. Do imagine that was was ‘how it should be’?

                      Of course not.

                      People are not the one dimensional cutouts so many people here like to portray them as. Wrapped around that one quiet moment of disgust was something else … this man so loved his daughter, he knew he had to change for her sake.

                    • McFlock

                      What you keep ignoring is that the love and acceptance came from the group he hated, invalidating his feelings.

                      Not from the people he felt connected to.

    • Mark 5.5

      84 dead. But mostly white people etc…..

      No. Its all about context and timing.

      When we have just suffered a major terrorist atrocity, it is completely insensitive and inappropriate to draw attention to another terrorist atrocity committed by extremists who claim to be of the same religion as the Christchurch victims. This is obviously in order to try in some way to justify what happened in Christchurch –or at least to try and lessen the outrage over what happened.

      A direct analogy would be if the majority of the victims in Nice happened to be Catholics – would it then be appropriate, in the context of that horrific act, to say mention WWII catholic atrocities by the Catholic Croatian Ustase or draw attention to the role of catholic clergymen in the Rwandan genocide? If one was to do so, it would be rightly seen to be an attempt to diminish the singular horror of the Nice attack, and the person raising such points would rightly be seen to have some sort of nasty agenda.

      All of us, including the vast majority of Muslims, condemn Islamic extremism, but Casson knew full well what he was doing – he is a fuckwit and should be drummed out of office forthwith.

      • RedLogix 5.5.1

        You miss the timing altogether. The offending FB post about immigrants being scum was made 3 years ago in the immediate aftermath of Nice.

        Of course it was stupid, but given how everyone here feels about ChCh this past week, can we not have even the smallest understanding of why he said such an angry thing in the heat of the moment?

        Or is there no forgiveness for the smallest of infractions here?

        As for his point about ChCh, there is validity to the question he poses , ‘how long should we as a nation mourn this?’ Because there is no obvious answer and it’s entirely reasonable to imagine different people will have different answers.

        If we’re going to make simple expressions like this a thought crime, then yes indeed you will transform this country beyond recognition … into something resembling a gulag.

        • Mark 5.5.1.1

          ”You miss the timing altogether…”
          OK. Apologies for that, I got that wrong. I originally thought it was a comment made in the wake of the Christchurch attacks

          “If we’re going to make simple expressions like this a thought crime”

          No one’s making it out to be a thought crime or treating it as such. No one has advocated charging him with anything, let alone flinging him in prison. I myself find the potential penalties for possession of the manifesto wildly excessive.

          But nothing wrong to call him out on his shit and advocate someone taking over his position. The attacks were just two weeks ago. The reaction here is completely proportionate, and less than the US reaction to 9-11.

          No one is saying Casson does not have the right to express his views. But those who don’t like what he says also have the right to attack his views.

          Casson is an elected public official, and if we don’t like even the tenor of what he says, he is fair game, just like people attack Ardern, Bridges, and Peters all the time – and we have every right to get people to try to oust him from his position – using legitimate methods such as encouraging people to stand against him.

          That’s altogether different story from publicly shaming an ordinary member of the public for views expressed that someone caught on camera in a bus or public transport etc.

          • RedLogix 5.5.1.1.1

            Freedom of speech is important because it’s how people settle differences of opinion in a civilised society.

            less than the US reaction to 9-11.

            Which considering what came next, is probably a good thing.

            and we have every right to get people to try to oust him from his position – using legitimate methods such as encouraging people to stand against him.

            All good. Although bear in mind that so far you definitely have BM voting for him 🙂

    • Colin 5.6

      Agree R L it seems so many here have double standards, I Remember the Moslems celibrating the Aircrafts going into the Twin Towers bearing in mind that those killed were a mish mash of all Religions & Races.

      • joe90 5.6.1

        The same

        tRump said he saw thousands of Muslims in New Jersey celebrating the twin tower attack. And he was making shit up, too.

        • Colin 5.6.1.1

          That’s what I mean by one Eyed Joe, Mark has been Brainwashed & has the typical Left wing selective view of events that were factual & can only see his distorted interpretation to suit his cause.

      • Mark 5.6.2

        I Remember the Moslems celibrating the Aircrafts going into the Twin Towers

        That’s likely a bullshit story.

        But what is not bullshit is the number of Americans who cheer on the bombing non-Western countries (John McCain chanting ‘bomb bomb Iran’ ), and even at my office in New Zealand, where some white colleagues at the engineering office I worked were so pleased over the bombing of Iraq during the first Gulf war, and thought it would be great if the place was nuked and actually said so quite openly.

        As an aside, we should all be supporting, or have supported, secular rulers such as Xi, Assad, Saddam, etc all the way back to Nasser, who are trying to drag their respective countries out of backwards, medieval barbarism, and in the case of the first one mentioned making a pretty good fist of it. Assad, one can imagine having a beer with him, and his wife is hot. Saddam is praised by every Iraqi Christian I have ever run into. Don’t know why the fuck the West were so against these relatively civilised rulers – but then of course its because they don’t want non-Western countries to be rich and powerful.

    • Michelle 5.7

      get rid of this nasty piece of work we don’t need people like him in our country ( the Hamilton council memberr)

      • RedLogix 5.7.1

        Assuming Casson is a New Zealand citizen then revoking his citizenship and deporting him would make him stateless.

        What if someone didn’t like you? Same rules apply or are you special for some reason?

        • Michelle 5.7.1.1

          no not same rules I’m tangata whenua he is a nasty import we don’t need

          • RedLogix 5.7.1.1.1

            no not same rules I’m tangata whenua

            So you have rights beyond all other New Zealanders?

            When Don Brash claimed that Maori were demanding special privileges above and beyond all others, everyone attacked him and insisted he was lying.

            Congratulations … you’ve made Don’s lie come true.

            • marty mars 5.7.1.1.1.1

              Go read the treaty then you can talk Māori rights – but you are weak and bigoted in this area imo – best stick to defending white supremacy I’d say.

              • RedLogix

                OK so you’re the expert on the Treaty. Do Maori have specific rights that other citizens don’t?

                For example Michelle above clearly states she is immune to deportation because she is tangata whenua, while all other ‘imports’ are. Do you endorse this view?

                Edit: Oh my bad. I didn’t spot your endorsement at 2:10pm below. So in essence Don Brash was correct?

                • marty mars

                  Lol go hug a white supremacist mate – your bullshit doesn’t sparkle.

                  • RedLogix

                    Evasion.

                    • marty mars

                      You’re so out of touch with this country. Maybe you can do a new immigrant course when you come back. I want those courses to cover the treaty and all sorts of valuable information of the building of this country based on the treaty. You could do with some remedial studies I’d say.

                    • RedLogix

                      Evasion

                    • RedLogix

                      If you agree with Michelle’s interpretation of superior legal rights for Maori then just say so. If you don’t, then say that.

                      It isn’t complicated.

                      I linked to Morgan’s article years ago. In it he poses the specific question in the negative:

                      Why would he prefer Maoridom, as the other treaty signatory, to have no unique rights?

                      This you agree with. Yes?

                    • marty mars

                      Lol yeah nah I’m okay thanks

                    • RedLogix

                      Since you don’t have the courage to own your assertions, I’ll have to do it for you.

                      If there was any country on earth that legally privileged white people over all other ‘imports’ … what would you call it?

                    • Muttonbird

                      Australia?

                    • marty mars

                      Lol

                    • RedLogix

                      Can you link to any current Australian legislation that gives superior legal rights to white people only?

                      And if so, why do you think the Australian Green Party have remained silent on this?

                    • McFlock

                      Immigration policy, and they haven’t.

                    • RedLogix

                      So lets accept that you are correct, that Australia really does have legislation that gives white people superior rights. Especially around illegal immigration as you have helpfully pointed out.

                      In what way is this different to marty’s unambiguous endorsement that Maori have superior legal rights around residency, and unwanted ‘imports’ can be arbitrarily be gotten rid of?

                    • marty mars

                      I didn’t say that whitelogix – please don’t misrepresent me cos that is dishonest.

                    • McFlock

                      Personally I’m against citizenship being revoked in pretty much any case, but I reckon you might find that such an act against e.g. a Tuhoe activist would have some interesting legal arguments before the Waitangi Tribunal, as well as the more general court system to which a Pakeha would be able to appeal.

                      Is that not the case?

                    • RedLogix

                      I didn’t say that whitelogix

                      You have repeatedly insinuated that I am a white supremacist and are now misusing my handle. You are in no position to whine about misrepresentation.

                      If that is not what you meant, then why didn’t you say so hours ago? I gave you every opportunity to make yourself clear.

                    • marty mars

                      why would you think you can get me to do anything? I’m not following your rules of engagement – I am showing by my comments and their content that your perception is not my perception. This is the change that has happened in this country – get used to it.

                    • RedLogix

                      Evasion.

                    • McFlock

                      Give marty a hug. that’ll sort it.

          • vto 5.7.1.1.2

            “no not same rules I’m tangata whenua he is a nasty import we don’t need”

            the second bizarre comment on this thread ….

            where does that even come from

            in this post-mosque-massacre world …

            .. other than the pre-mosque-massacre world

            ignorant

            • marty mars 5.7.1.1.2.1

              Yes you are – try those links I gave whitelogix

              • vto

                No Michelle is ignorant in claiming superior rights.

                This is the problem with supremacists, as everyone has been discussing

                • marty mars

                  So ignorant – whatever, you have learned nothing over the years. Sad. I can’t be bothered with your shuttered vision.

                  • vto

                    marty I have noticed a change in your posting since a long while…

                    the posts made these days contain a large amount of personal, and little to nothing on the actual matters at hand (as this one)

                    I find that quite sad – you seem to have gone backwards..

                    on the actual point – Michelle has no superior rights. Happy to be proved wrong… please show where. (but please dont make it personal)

                    Michelle seems to have supremacist views. Maybe she should be reported. As would others be reported in these days

                    • marty mars

                      You called her ignorant I called you ignorant – perhaps look to your own comments before judging others. I’ve found you get excessively judgmental when you’re under pressure and everyone is under pressure down your way. Seek self support because you deserve it.

      • marty mars 5.7.2

        + 1 yep

  6. BM 6

    I’ll be voting for James.

  7. Mark 7

    Te Reo Putake – excellent post.

  8. Tiger Mountain 8

    Good point TRP, a lot of “ordinary” people are indeed well qualified to be Councillors, or even parliamentarians, but the Local Politics sub section of that world in particular, is rather off putting to nice people with some critical thinking ability and political analysis and ability beyond sucking up and self interest!

    Grim old codgers and supercilious young codgers, with voluminous conflicts of interest and swathes of accumulated patronage, tend to prevail on the low turnouts, with the assistance of local reactionary institutions, particularly in the provinces–Sports Clubs, Business Associations, Lodges, Fed Farmers, Fire Stations, Police Stations and so on.

    Lefties are often reasonably modest people when compared to scenery chomping opportunists such as most ACT politicians, or Jami Lee Ross and Banksie/Pallino type contenders. I know a few in the Far North that should have stood years ago for various positions, my partner did and missed by a few votes and was pleased in hindsight, but Mike Finlayson, a long time NORML advocate, is now on the Northland Regional Council and doing a pretty good job by all accounts. Go for it people, you will definitely do better than the hopeless pillock that prompted this article!

  9. gsays 9

    Ditto from me, TRP.
    Good post.

  10. Maggie 10

    Makes me wish I lived in Hamilton just so I could run. I’d be totally useless of course but with no one to make me look bad who’d notice?

    My mate Chris Simpson took a run at Hamilton back in 2016, nice guy but he’s a hard right so there’s that.

    • tc 10.1

      Lost that but got the Waikato chamber of commerce gig from his club mates. Sinecures for the rwnjs sounds about par.

  11. Poission 11

    there is also that quack siggi moonbat displaying her empathy.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/111670561/hamilton-city-councillor-apologies-for-wearing-antivax-tshirt-to-autism-fundraiser

    Must be all the fluoride in the water robbing them of their bodily fluids.

    • Formerly Ross 11.1

      Yep vaccines are so amazing that no one ever gets measles…how many have contracted it this year?

      • Poission 11.1.1

        I have not seen the measles figures,but I can assure you, the smallpox number is zero.

    • tc 11.2

      Amazing what voluntary voting can bring into the chamber with a high profile campaign and a bs slogan or 3……bit like the 08 general election.

  12. Yeah I should throw me hat in the ring, thinking of heading back down that way sometime, had enough of Auckland and its bullshit,…waddaya reckon ?

    The first thing I’d do is advocate for a day off and buttered scones and a hot cup of tea for everyone in the park.

    There ya go, – practical goodwill and fun and frolicking in the sun , … what more could we all want?

    Tim can keep his concrete mixer,… unless he saw fit to donate it towards making industrial size portions of scones, that is…

    • Macro 12.1

      Luckily for you The Electoral Act states that the provision of a light supper after an election meeting does not constitute the offence of treating. 🙂
      So I guess scones are ok.

      • WILD KATIPO 12.1.1

        Oh you know you LOVE scones… everyone does.

        Washed down with a lovely hot cup of tea.

        🙂

        Even the Electoral Act people.

        • WeTheBleeple 12.1.1.1

          Provided you let the public know who supplied the flour, butter and cream for said scones.

          No dairy shilling.

          No shifty CCP jam donuts.

          We’re watching!

  13. Michelle 13

    Hamilton council have no money and are in big debt due to the v8s so this city aint being run very well and they have counsellers that are racist in a city with a big maori population and one of our biggest tribes Tainui they need to sort james

    • tc 13.1

      Don’t forget the mystery Creek events centre and other albatrosses Julie hardakers legacy represents.

      She flogged off pensioner housing to name just one.

  14. OnceWasTim 14

    FEAR NOT ALL!!!!!!
    James Casson has had an epiphany (suddenly, after evading everyone until he sorted his story out)

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018689059/hamilton-city-councillor-plans-to-visit-his-local-mosque-to-apologise-for-comments

    Worth a listen.
    Earlier in the day, some friends and I were mulling over what his response would be ……… sure enough. We should have written the script.

    And we still do have some resonable/good journalists around …. Alex P being one of them

    Reminded me of the Don Brash playbook (I.e. I’m not Ray Shist, How can I be? I married an Ayeshin)
    In James’ case……some of my best friends are Mooslums

    (/sarc)

  15. Sacha 15

    Interesting just which extremist arseholes some people leap in to defend.

    Don’t recall anyone telling us repeatedly how misunderstood bin Laden was and how it would be so unfair to hold him to account. But a racist white immigration officer from Hamilton provokes defensive comment after comment.

  16. Sacha 16

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/111691036/cr-james-cassons-job-with-immigration-nz-untenable-former-minister

    “It’s that bad. You can’t have someone holding that sort of role dealing with people’s lives and having that attitude,” [immigration advisor and former Immigration Minister, Tuariki] Delamere said.

    “If he is in any way involved in Immigration New Zealand, he has an influence over migrants, he has that sort of attitude, he has no role, as far as I am concerned, there is no role for him, actually, anywhere in government.”

  17. Richard 17

    Have a look at this idiot’s Facebook likes.

    https://www.facebook.com/james.casson.908/likes?collection_token=1271402460%3A2409997254%3A96&next_cursor=AQHR1Gl5TZPkra4oV_CmnKb5bcoCDINzmYqLzUl1fpP6_G5YtNcoN1B4YqCZE-Yg3Sm963Uh6xihMMwKZbIql3xaiA

    There’s:
    – dodgy soft-p0rn – Sexy Velvet Cafe, Brittney Palmer, Ana Cheri, Fords/Titts/Bikes/Ass
    – gun nuts – Black Rifle Coffee Company
    – soft p0rn gun nuts – American Girls with Guns
    – ‘German’ WW2 history – Wehrmacht History, Geschichte der Wehrmacht, German Forces of WW2 in art, WW2 History & Axis, Die Deutsche Luftwaffe, Luftwaffe 1933-45
    &, of course, Vladimir Putin.

  18. Rae 18

    With the state of local body politics it will take a number of people whose surnames start with “A” or “B” to knock this guy out

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    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Government lowering building costs
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