Nutjobs and the UN Global Migration Pact

Written By: - Date published: 8:35 am, December 7th, 2018 - 137 comments
Categories: act, australian politics, Iain Lees-Galloway, International, labour, making shit up, national, nz first, Propaganda, same old national, Simon Bridges, spin, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, United Nations, us politics, winston peters, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

National and ACT have both come out against the UN Global Migration Pact.  National has even started a petition.

Simon Bridges gives the reasons why:

National would pull New Zealand out of the UN’s Global Compact on Migration because of its potential to restrict New Zealand’s ability to set its own migration and foreign policy, National Leader Simon Bridges says.

“National is supportive of global action on major issues and of migration into New Zealand because it brings skills, capital and connections and makes New Zealand a better, more diverse place. And we support the ability for New Zealanders to travel and live and work overseas should they choose.

“But immigration policy is solely a matter for individual countries and must take account of their individual circumstances – and New Zealand’s policies are already held up as international best practice. There is no automatic right to migrate to another country without that country’s full agreement, a view which the United Nation’s Global Compact on Migration, set to be signed next week, seeks to counter.

“While not binding, the Compact could restrict the ability of future governments to set immigration and foreign policy, and to decide on which migrants are welcome and which aren’t. While National is the party most open to immigration, we cannot accept this.

Was this guy really a lawyer?  How can something that is not binding restrict the ability of future governments to set immigration and foreign policy?

His twitter alter ego (is that you Hamish?) also got in on the Act:

So National wants to prevent other Governments from restricting New Zealanders ability to travel but at the same time wants to make sure that New Zealand governments have the ability to restrict other countries’ citizens from travelling to New Zealand.  Help my head hurts.

Such nuttiness is not the preserve of National.  ACT got in on the game as well and claimed that the Pact was an attack on the rights of freedom of speech.  Stephen Berry, ACT’s spokesperson put out a press release saying this:

ACT’s Human Rights Spokesman Stephen Berry says the UN Global Compact for Migration will have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and the freedom of the press.

“ACT has always been an unabashed defender of free speech and a free press. This treaty has grave implications for both.

“The darkest aspect of the Compact is Objective 17 which deals with shaping public perceptions on migration through childhood education, the media, and public information campaigns.

“It implores nations to use ‘awareness-raising campaigns’ to ‘inform public perceptions regarding the positive contributions of safe, orderly and regular migration.’ This provides the perfect opportunity for propagandists at the Human Rights Commission to tell New Zealanders what to do and think.

“The Compact would require New Zealand to ‘enact, implement or maintain legislation that penalises hate crimes’ without specifying exactly what constitutes a hate crime. Countries that have enacted hate speech laws show they are used to silence and bully political opponents. Those who define intolerance are always the last people you would ever want to have such power.

Clearly they cannot tolerate intolerance against intolerance.  Freedom of speech for xenophobes!

Berry is just channelling Stefan Molyneux who claims the Pact is designed to enforce propaganda.

When the Pact was passed in 2016 unanimously by all nations in the world National was in power.  Someone must have signed this off.

Other paranoid right wing administrations have already pulled out of the Pact.  Guyon Espiner reports:

Last week, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said there were concerns the Compact may be used to “undermine Australia’s strong border protection laws and practises”.

“The Compact fails to adequately distinguish between people who enter Australia illegally and those who come to Australia the right way – particularly with respect to the provision of welfare and other benefits,” said Mr Morrison.

And, surprise surprise, the Trump Administration pulled out a while ago.  Again from Espiner:

The United States pulled out at the end of 2017, when then-US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said migration was an issue for domestic policy.

“We simply cannot in good faith support a process that could undermine the sovereign right of the United States to enforce our immigration laws and secure our borders”.

Unfortunately Winston Peters is also showing signs of buckling although at this stage Labour appears to be sound.  From Derek Cheng at the Herald:

Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway and Foreign Minister Winston Peters are considering advice on the compact.

Peters said while it was not a binding agreement, there could eventually be pressure to treat it as binding.

“The only concern we would have is whether or not we were compromising this country’s sovereignty.

“In terms of morale and in terms of integrity, non-binding sometimes means binding. Why would a first-world country in a democracy sign something with no intention of abiding by it?”

Lees-Galloway said there were important values behind the compact, and did not understand National’s position, given that the compact is not legally binding.

“The reason for National’s opposition is quite unclear at this stage. It doesn’t restrict New Zealand in any way. We will continue to set out own immigration laws.”

The rationale for opposing the Pact is frankly bizarre.  As explained by UN Envoy for International Migration Louise Arbour:

The U.N. envoy for international migration said Tuesday she’s “very disappointed” that some countries are reneging on their support for a global compact to promote safe and orderly migration and reduce human smuggling and trafficking — some for “bizarre” reasons.

Louise Arbour said in an interview with The Associated Press that it’s also “puzzling” because the global compact is not legally binding and after its formal adoption next month “there is not a single country that is obligated to do anything that it doesn’t want

…

The former Canadian judge and U.N. human rights commissioner, who will be secretary-general of the Marrakech meeting, said the backtracking on the agreement shows a “disconnect” in some countries between their foreign policies “and some domestic pressures or national concerns that obviously were not being fed into the process.”

“Many of them have expressed it, in frankly, rather bizarre terms,” Arbour said. “Some have said, for instance, we will not sign which is rather strange because there’s nothing to sign. It’s not a treaty. Others have said we will not come. Others have said we don’t endorse the compact.”

But don’t just trust a respected International Jurist.  Read the terms of the treaty.  Particularly this passage:

This Global Compact presents a non-legally binding, cooperative framework that builds on the commitments agreed upon by Member States in the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants. It fosters international cooperation among all relevant actors on migration, acknowledging that no State can address migration alone, and upholds the sovereignty of States and their obligations under international law.

This is pizzagate, black helicopter, world government level nuttiness.  Being willing to trash New Zealand’s positive reputation as a responsible world citizen for political support from right wing nut jobs should not be something that any major political party should consider doing.

https://twitter.com/ArrestJK/status/1070541941677285376

137 comments on “Nutjobs and the UN Global Migration Pact ”

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  1. BM 1
    7 December 2018 at 8:40 am

    Unfortunately Winston Peters is also showing signs of buckling although at this stage Labour appears to be sound. From Derek Cheng at the Herald:

    NZ First wouldn’t make 1% in 2020 if Peters signs up NZ to this, I’d also say Labour will take a big hit.

    • mickysavage 1.1
      7 December 2018 at 8:42 am

      Why?

      Can you point out what effect the pact will have on New Zealand? Hint the whole post is about how it won’t affect our sovereignty one iota.

      • BM 1.1.1
        7 December 2018 at 8:46 am

        If a pile of these “migrants” turn up how do we get rid of them? can we get rid of them?

        • mickysavage 1.1.1.1
          7 December 2018 at 8:52 am

          We use the existing law. The law that says that we set our own immigration policies that is unaffected by this pact. Besides they are migrants, you know people with entry visas. You are confusing them with refugees.

          • BM 1.1.1.1.1
            7 December 2018 at 9:05 am

            Correct me if I’m wrong.

            Just say a boatload/plane load turn up, we say yeah nah, sorry fellas you can’t just turn up in NZ, back home for you.

            They then hire the services of someone like Deborah Manning.
            She argues in court that we cannot send these migrants back home because we’ve signed up to the Global compact and these migrants have a right to be here.

            It’s pretty much a cert that she would win, a precedent would be set and from that point on, it’s open borders.

            • mickysavage 1.1.1.1.1.1
              7 December 2018 at 9:17 am

              Can you point out in the treaty where things are changed?

              And reconcile it with the statement that the pact is a “non-legally binding, cooperative framework”?

            • Tuppence Shrewsbury 1.1.1.1.1.2
              7 December 2018 at 9:17 am

              Jesus BM, don’t point the obvious flaws in the “but it’s not legally binding” argument.

              You’ll be first in court for criticising migrants for making best use of our legal system if you carry on being right

            • Clive Macann 1.1.1.1.1.3
              7 December 2018 at 9:42 am

              I read above ” “Some have said, for instance, we will not sign which is rather strange because there’s nothing to sign. It’s not a treaty. ” Are you saying that is bullshit and there IS something to sign?

            • Draco T Bastard 1.1.1.1.1.4
              7 December 2018 at 3:49 pm

              The pact is about cooperation between states to better manage migrants and refugees both legal and illegal. One of its goals is to make countries better so that people don’t feel the need to flee. In other words, having less refugees and less illegal immigrants.

              One of the things it does not do is override a countries immigration policies thus it has no standing in a court of law.

              So, what you’re spreading there is pure malicious misrepresentation. As you probably got that misrepresentation from National and they would actually know what’s in it then what you’re spreading, whether you know it or not, is lies.

            • McFlock 1.1.1.1.1.5
              7 December 2018 at 10:01 pm

              She argues in court that we cannot send these migrants back home because we’ve signed up to the Global compact and these migrants have a right to be here.

              So a lawyer would argue that a non-binding declaration overrules existing laws? Lawyers can be slippery, but that’s just [edit: incredibly] stupid.

        • Jenny 1.1.1.2
          8 December 2018 at 7:46 pm

          BM 1.1.1
          7 December 2018 at 8:46 am
          If a pile of these “migrants” turn up how do we get rid of them? can we get rid of them?

          How about this BM, before you go round looking for a ‘final solution’, we treat them as human beings.

        • Tricledrown 1.1.1.3
          9 December 2018 at 3:53 am

          Beleagured Maori thats what Maori thought when your ancestors arrived.Belated Migrant your showing how Bowdedown Minion stiring the racial melting pot on behalf of no mates National to destroy NZ first.

      • One Two 1.1.2
        7 December 2018 at 11:05 am

        Why ever sign up to it at all?

    • Draco T Bastard 1.2
      7 December 2018 at 11:14 am

      So, tell me, are you in support of legally determining a maximum number of people in NZ equal to its scientifically determined carrying capacity taking into account being able to feed all those people while also protecting its wildlife?

      • JohnSelway 1.2.1
        7 December 2018 at 12:05 pm

        I’d support that (in principle). GE crops would help us grow large with a much smaller imprint for example. We’d be able to feed a certain number as yield increases while converting old farmland to natural wilderness.

        • Draco T Bastard 1.2.1.1
          7 December 2018 at 12:24 pm

          I certainly think that the number should be revised occasionally as technology improves but I think we need to know what the carrying capacity of NZ is now with current practices.

          • JohnSelway 1.2.1.1.1
            7 December 2018 at 12:36 pm

            I think need to adopt the scientific advances of this day and age. Vertical agriculture utilising GE crops instead of the laughably “better for the environment” organic farming (which is so ill defined as to be useless) and, I think I’ll get push back but I can argue it, nuclear power.

            • Draco T Bastard 1.2.1.1.1.1
              7 December 2018 at 1:45 pm

              Fukushima would indicate that nuclear power in NZ is Bad Idea. There’s a reason why we’re known as The Shaky Isles. That said I do tend to be in favour of nuclear powered ships. Still need an adequate disposal of the nuclear waste before I’d sign on to that as well.

              We need to go to full organic farming and ban the use of artificial fertilisers. It has nothing to do with being “better for the environment” and everything to do with being sustainable. The natural system is a cycle and we need to fit within it rather than trying extricate ourselves from it.

              • JohnSelway …
                7 December 2018 at 5:04 pm

                Completely disagree re: organic farming. This is because ‘organic’ is so I’ll defined and the reality is organic farming uses up land to feed hundreds when GE crops could feed thousands. We can GE crops and have them resistant to many of the bligts and need for artificial fertiliser.

                Also one thing to remember about Fukushima is that is an outlier. It was hit by massive earthquakes and a tsunami and never went into full meltdown. Not an ideal situation for sure but the more modern reactors use what’s called pebble bed technology. There is no faster way to drop emissions without sacrificing our power needs than by using nuclear. Yes it’s a bitter pill but we are running out of immediate options at a time when we really need to have something in place as quickly as possible….and some of the worlds leading environmentalists realise this

                • Dennis Frank …
                  7 December 2018 at 5:18 pm

                  Stewart Brand, for instance. Essential pre-requisite: a working model that is clean & green in all respects. Hasn’t happened yet.

                  Re GE: no problem as long as correctly labelled, so consumers have a reliable choice. Voluntary guinea pigs for science experiments is a good idea, as long as they have free will and choose to be experimented on.

                  • JohnSelway …
                    7 December 2018 at 6:16 pm

                    The problem is GE isn’t properly labeled. GMO free salt for example. Certified organic salt. GMO free seedless grapes.
                    organic and GE labeling is out of control and completely unhelpful to the consumer.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  7 December 2018 at 9:55 pm

                  This is because ‘organic’ is so I’ll defined and the reality is organic farming uses up land to feed hundreds when GE crops could feed thousands.

                  We need to feed the crops. No point in having GE crops if they can’t be fed. Hence my mentioning of banning artificial fertilisers. It’s a cycle:

                  plant >> human >> treatment plants >> forests >> farms >> plant

                  The carrying capacity of the land is limited to the capability of the forests to turn sewage into fertiliser that then runs onto the farms. Better treatment facilities may allow us to by pass the forests but it doesn’t ATM.

                  It’s sustainability that’s the issue.

                  Also one thing to remember about Fukushima is that is an outlier. It was hit by massive earthquakes and a tsunami and never went into full meltdown.

                  Fukushima would be an outlier pretty much anywhere that isn’t on the Ring of Fire. On the Ring of Fire, as NZ is, its guaranteed to happen.

                  Not an ideal situation for sure but the more modern reactors use what’s called pebble bed technology.

                  Pebble bed reactor:

                  The concept was first suggested by Farrington Daniels in the 1940s, said to have been inspired by the innovative design of the benghazi burner by British desert troops in WWII, but commercial development did not take place until the 1960s in the German AVR reactor by Rudolf Schulten.[2] This system was plagued with problems and political and economic decisions were made to abandon the technology.[3] The AVR design was licensed to South Africa as the PBMR and China as the HTR-10, the latter currently the only such design in operation. In various forms, other designs are under development by MIT, University of California at Berkeley, General Atomics (U.S.), the Dutch company Romawa B.V., Adams Atomic Engines, Idaho National Laboratory, and X-energy.

                  I won’t hold my breath.

                  Yes it’s a bitter pill but we are running out of immediate options at a time when we really need to have something in place as quickly as possible

                  Nuclear power isn’t an immediate option as it takes something like ten years to get a reactor up and running. Faster to get wind and solar installed which don’t come with the same safety problems.

                  • KJT …
                    9 December 2018 at 7:11 am

                    NZ is fortunate in that we can meet all our energy needs with renewables, without too much problems. Unlike central Europe in winter. No wind, no sun, and too flat for hydro.

                  • Dave B …
                    9 December 2018 at 9:30 am

                    Fastest would be to install Hele supercritical coal fired plant at Huntly. All consents in place, sitting on three coal fields, all transmission facilities in place. appropriate scale, 50% more electricity from the same amount of coal, clean, efficient, proven. As a base load generator, it would free up hydro to back up wind (and solar).

        • patricia bremner 1.2.1.2
          8 December 2018 at 12:19 am

          Too much round up mate, with GM.

  2. Antoine 2
    7 December 2018 at 8:48 am

    There are votes in this. The left can have them or someone else can

    A.

    • mickysavage 2.1
      7 December 2018 at 8:53 am

      You mean to say there are votes in deliberately misrepresenting the effect of a UN pact? There should be a punishment for this sort of misrepresentation.

      • Antoine 2.1.1
        7 December 2018 at 8:55 am

        > There should be a punishment for this sort of misrepresentation.

        There should not. We live in a country that has freedom of speech. If you want to live in a country where people can be punished for talking about politics (imprisoned? executed?), try North Korea or China.

        A.

        • mickysavage 2.1.1.1
          7 December 2018 at 9:09 am

          Do you think that telling falsehoods is acceptable?

          Are you a parody account?

          • Antoine 2.1.1.1.1
            7 December 2018 at 9:17 am

            Do you think the State should punish everyone who does something you consider ‘unacceptable’?

            You are a little Stalin in the making.

            A.

            • mickysavage 2.1.1.1.1.1
              7 December 2018 at 10:51 am

              You are taking my comment too literally. By “punishment” I mean consequence as in loss of political support.

              • Antoine …
                7 December 2018 at 11:01 am

                Oh, well then, wait til the next poll and see how much National go down over this (hint, not a lot)

                A.

        • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1.2
          7 December 2018 at 11:16 am

          There should not.

          Yes there should. People should not be able to tell lies for political gain.

          We live in a country that has freedom of speech.

          Freedom of speech != freedom to lie

        • Gabby 2.1.1.3
          7 December 2018 at 6:24 pm

          Lying’s ok twonny?

        • patricia bremner 2.1.1.4
          8 December 2018 at 12:22 am

          Lying Spinning and making it up as he goes along in his blue bus, Bridges misses the stop again.
          Not one positive thing to add.
          He’s all for oil and roads, but not for humanity…

          • Dave B 2.1.1.4.1
            9 December 2018 at 9:32 am

            What’s wrong with oil and roads? They are fundamental to our prosperity and wellbeing.

        • KJT 2.1.1.5
          9 December 2018 at 7:13 am

          Politicians who spout outright lies to get votes, should be impeached.
          Wouldn’t have any National MP’s remaining, however, and greatly reduced Labour.

  3. Stunned Mullet 3
    7 December 2018 at 9:22 am

    Fuck the UN.

  4. Dennis Frank 4
    7 December 2018 at 9:35 am

    I agree with MS, but have no problem with the apprehension of the critics either. Nobody ought to assume that rational discussion will prevail. Migration cannot be separated from refugees in the minds of people who feel threatened by an uncontrolled influx of foreigners. Gut revulsion overwhelms rationality.

    We’ve seen how the open borders policy in Europe has produced decisive opposition. A borderless world sounds good in theory, I agree, but in practice it can’t work because too many people aren’t ready for it. It could only ever succeed on the basis of safeguards against invasive toxic cultures. UN decision-makers haven’t a clue how to design such safeguards. Even worse, the buggers aren’t even trying to do that.

  5. Gosman 5
    7 December 2018 at 9:38 am

    This to me is similar to the opposition to the TPPA. The idea that ANY international agreement impacts national sovereignty without a get out is ridiculous idea.

    • Puckish Rogue 5.1
      7 December 2018 at 11:19 am

      Yes this. The amount of times the left talk about being owned by foreign corporations but willingly sign over whatever the UN presents is just mind boggling.

      • mickysavage 5.1.1
        7 December 2018 at 11:31 am

        This is a non binding pact. The document itself says this. It is entirely different to TPPP which did affect sovereignty.

        • Puckish Rogue 5.1.1.1
          7 December 2018 at 11:39 am

          Its non-binding right up until its challenged in court you mean

        • indiana 5.1.1.2
          7 December 2018 at 11:42 am

          Sounds like it’s as binding a the Paris Climate agreement…

        • Gosman 5.1.1.3
          7 December 2018 at 12:20 pm

          All international treaties are non binding in that the require each sovereign party to enforce them within their own jurisdiction UNLESS there is some external enforcement mechanism. Even in that case, short of going to war, there isn’t an awful lot nations can do to enforce the dictates. You might be able to freeze assets or even take assets of the nation not enforcing the agreement but only those assets that are easily accessible. There is nothing stopping nations pulling out of any agreement as evidenced by the US pulling out of the climate change agreement.

  6. Michelle 6
    7 December 2018 at 10:31 am

    national are desperate

    • indiana 6.1
      7 December 2018 at 10:48 am

      Desperate to make sure the current Government doesn’t make a mistake?

      • Drowsy M. Kram 6.1.1
        7 December 2018 at 11:35 am

        Opposition National party MPs say they are “holding the Government to account”, but it’s coming across as an ugly, rancorous mix of ‘hollow and desperate’, so please carry on.

        “It dawned on me, ‘I know this script, I helped write this script.’ At that point, I felt bad for what I did to Todd. But that’s the modus operandi of the National Party – when people become a liability you push them out the door.“

        More than a few ‘mistakes’ needing attention right there.

  7. One Two 7
    7 December 2018 at 11:00 am

    Why sign up to it then?

    SM at 3 is correct…

    The insults are churlish…

    • Puckish Rogue 7.1
      7 December 2018 at 11:47 am

      “Why sign up to it then?”

      I’m guessing because it looks good on your CV when you’re applying to the UN for a job

    • mickysavage 7.2
      7 December 2018 at 12:48 pm

      You will have to ask National. They were in power when New Zealand agreed to the pact.

      • Tuppence Shrewsbury 7.2.1
        7 December 2018 at 3:27 pm

        Is there some proof to this claim aside from Winnie?

        • Draco T Bastard 7.2.1.1
          7 December 2018 at 3:40 pm

          Government won’t commit to pulling out of controversial UN migration agreement

          The decision to develop a compact was first made by UN Member States, including New Zealand, in September 2016.

          Are you and National now trying to say that National wasn’t in government in 2016?

          • Tuppence Shrewsbury 7.2.1.1.1
            7 December 2018 at 4:17 pm

            I wasn’t aware of that. thank you draco.

            shits obviously changed since 2016 with other countries pulling out along the way. So National are allowed to change their mind about the compact now. Shouldn’t be so blinded by previous decisions and declarations you don’t drop them when they aren’t working. Kiwibuild being an obvious example

            • Draco T Bastard 7.2.1.1.1.1
              7 December 2018 at 10:01 pm

              So National are allowed to change their mind about the compact now.

              True but they need to say why and so far they haven’t. They can’t just say shit – they have to point to the clauses that do the damage that they say that the pact does.

  8. tsmithfield 8
    7 December 2018 at 11:45 am

    If an agreement is not legally binding, then why sign it at all?

    Surely, the effect signing such an agreement that is “not legally binding” is that there will be international pressure to meet the expectations we have signed up to, even though technically we may not be legally bound to do so. If that were not the case, then agreements that are not legally binding would be meaningless.

    Therefore, it is quite right that consideration is given to the effect of agreements we sign up to, and not treat it as something trite, whether such agreements are legally binding or not.

    • mickysavage 8.1
      7 December 2018 at 12:49 pm

      It is aspirational. It is even more toothless than the Paris Accord.

      You will have to ask National why NZ agreed to support it.

      The point of this post is that the pact is not the evil power grab that the right say that it is.

      • indiana 8.1.1
        7 December 2018 at 1:12 pm

        How much do you trust what Peters implies?

        https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/109152868/foreign-affairs-minister-winston-peters-calls-out-national-on-uns-global-compact

        Outside the House, McClay rejected any suggestion National had signed up to an agreement in 2016 that had led to this pact.

        He said an agreement had gone through the UN that New Zealand had not spoke out against, but had not actively signed up to – only 15 countries had.

        “We didn’t attend the meetings. All countries in the UN allowed it to go through. It was open for signature, the National Government did not sign it – Peters is wrong, but that happens often.”

      • tsmithfield 8.1.2
        7 December 2018 at 1:14 pm

        “It is aspirational. It is even more toothless than the Paris Accord.”

        So, perhaps it is a “foot in the door” strategy. This agreement may just be the opening gambit for all we know.

        So, if it is just aspirational and toothless as you say, then why even bother with it at this stage? Why not give it a few years and see if those aligned with the agreement move further in this direction than we are comfortable with.

        My understanding is that National didn’t agree to it. They just didn’t actively oppose it, which is a bit different.

      • shadrach 8.1.3
        7 December 2018 at 3:41 pm

        For the record, National agreed to a generalised compact around migration.

        “In September 2016 the General Assembly decided, through the adoption of the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, to develop a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration.”
        https://refugeesmigrants.un.org/migration-compact

        The text of the current ‘agreement’ was not finalised until 13 July 2018. National, and indeed all political parties, have every right to object to the wording, now that it is available.

  9. Antoine 9
    7 December 2018 at 11:48 am

    If Peters was still in Opposition he’d be getting stuck into this boots an’ all.

    A.

    • In Vino 9.1
      7 December 2018 at 12:41 pm

      He’s already got stuck in, Antoine. He has pointed out this this paper was instigated by National Govt in 2016, and that National is now opposing a paper originated by National. Clever, huh? Check it out on the Daily Blog.

      • Antoine 9.1.1
        7 December 2018 at 12:58 pm

        I don’t read the Daily Blog and have no wish to do so, and what I meant, as you well know, is that if he was in Opposition he would have vigorously opposed joining the Pact.

        A.

        • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1.1
          7 December 2018 at 1:46 pm

          So, there are records of him doing so in 2016?

          I’ve only skimmed the pact so far but I don’t see anything that would upset Winston in it.

        • In Vino 9.1.1.2
          7 December 2018 at 3:44 pm

          How very fastidious of you Antoine. It amazes me that you bother coming to this site.. And can you answer Draco’s question?

          • Antoine 9.1.1.2.1
            7 December 2018 at 9:56 pm

            I have largely given up on arguing with Draco

            A.

            • OnceWasTim 9.1.1.2.1.1
              7 December 2018 at 10:32 pm

              What about arguing with him just a little eensie teensie bit with a little
              a.
              Doesn’t have to be bigly.
              I’m sure he’ll love the littley challenge
              ?
              .owt

              • Antoine …
                8 December 2018 at 12:27 am

                Can I just comment that you write like a drooling imbecile. Even worse than Gabby. I am sure there is some good reason for it however

                A.

  10. OnceWasTim 10
    7 December 2018 at 5:07 pm

    “Was this guy really a lawyer? ”
    I’m afraid so @ Mickey, but I think it was under some positive discrimination/affirmative action plan. And a prosecutor at that.
    Subsequently, he’s been taking lessons from Paula Bennett in the art of pulling up ladders. I think they’re considering finding ways of having the art included in the school curriculum – maybe even making it a paper for study in one of the sciences at tertiary level.
    The biggest stumbling block though is that there doesn’t seem to be enough interest from international students, so the plan is to get it picked up by one of the universities first before rolling it out to the private tertiary sector.
    Bakshi Singh and Jian Yang are already looking at marketing opportunities in India and China for international students to come and study “Lawyering and Ladder Pulling” in the hope it might boost our declining rankings.

  11. Antoine 11
    8 December 2018 at 12:35 am

    The time and money the Government spent on this Global Migration Pact, could better have been spent on figuring out how to cut immigration to this country, like they promised they were going to do last year.

    Why do we even need to be in a Global Migration Pact. It sounds creepy and I have not yet seen a decent case for what benefits it will deliver us.

    A.

    • Antoine 11.1
      8 December 2018 at 12:47 am

      (Where’s SaveNZ when you need him?)

      • veutoviper 11.1.1
        8 December 2018 at 8:06 pm

        Try ‘her’?

        • Antoine 11.1.1.1
          9 December 2018 at 5:40 am

          You know that she is a she, or you are indicating that I should not assume that a person of unknown gender is necessarily male?

          I assumed a he from the tone of voice but am happy to be corrected.

          A.

    • Gabby 11.2
      8 December 2018 at 9:39 am

      Our cafe scene will become ever more vibrant twonny. Our indigenous organised crime scene will be invigorated by the bracing effects of competition. Our driving will be enlivened by delightfully diverse interpretations of the keep left rule.

    • Tricledrown 11.3
      9 December 2018 at 4:00 am

      So Antione migration is down by 20,000 a year and your still not happy yet your master of debate simple Soimon reckons its damaging the economy cutting low value unskilled workers and students.

      • Antoine 11.3.1
        9 December 2018 at 5:42 am

        If you are referring to Simon Bridges, he’s not mine and I lay no claim to him.

        Where do you get the 20,000 stat? (genuine question)

        A.

  12. Dave B 12
    8 December 2018 at 12:08 pm

    Since Australia is rejecting this Compact, so hould NZ; otherwise Australia will likely review the right of free passage to Australia for Kiwis.

    • Jenny 12.1
      8 December 2018 at 9:05 pm

      Dave B 12
      8 December 2018 at 12:08 pm
      Since Australia is rejecting this Compact, so hould NZ; otherwise Australia will likely review the right of free passage to Australia for Kiwis.

      The trouble with that statement Dave, is that you seem to think that free migration should only be enjoyed between the inheritors of British colonialism and imperialism.

      Yes there is free passage between the two white majority settler nations of Australia and New Zealand. But why, you might ask yourself, is this right not extended to our other close Pacific neighbours. (You know the, (non-white), Polynesian peoples that used freely roam the whole face of the Pacific before the arrival of European Empires into the region).

      Oh yeah, that’s right the Pacific Island nations are not white majority nations, so why should they expect the same free passage as us.

      All migration controls are based on racism and notions of racial purity and superiority, and manufactured fear of ‘the other’.

      Some of first modern immigration controls in the world, were imposed by Britain to control the immigration of Jews fleeing persecution in Europe.

      Think about that for a moment.

      • solkta 12.1.1
        8 December 2018 at 9:09 pm

        Polynesian peoples that used freely roam the whole face of the Pacific before the arrival of European Empires into the region

        What bollocks. When Europeans arrived these here islands were divided up between Iwi with alliances only between some of them. Too much roaming would lead one to be another’s dinner.

        • Jenny 12.1.1.1
          8 December 2018 at 10:50 pm

          Solkta, interesting (as well as repugnant) that you use the charge of cannibalism to justify 21st Century discriminatory immigration polices

          The racist meme that Polynesians were/are savage cannibals is not just thrown up to humiliate and oppress and marginalise indigenous peoples, but also to justify the racist imperialist and colonialist policies of the Western Colonial powers, from slavery, to genocide, to cultural genocide, to racist migration control laws imposed by the Western Imperial states.

          You can be sure that the accusation of them being savage cannibals was used to justify the systematic genocidal extermination of the native population of Tasmania.

          But who are the real savages?

          European imperial conflicts have piled up such mountains of bodies that they have to buried by bulldozers.

          In your view imperial invasion, war, genocide, blackbirding, was all necessary to bring enlightenment to the savage cannibals.

          Frankly, I find your views disgusting and racist.

          • solkta 12.1.1.1.1
            9 December 2018 at 7:53 am

            In your view imperial invasion, war, genocide, blackbirding, was all necessary to bring enlightenment to the savage cannibals.

            Now where the fuck did i say this? All i was doing was pointing out that you were talking absolute bullshit. Cannibalism was a thing. I made a bad joke about it to emphasise my point that Maori were staunchly territorial. Nothing there is a justification for colonialism.

            Now why don’t you get some integrity and admit that your statement:

            Polynesian peoples that used freely roam the whole face of the Pacific before the arrival of European Empires into the region

            is false.

            • joe90 12.1.1.1.1.1
              9 December 2018 at 10:05 am

              is false.

              Nope.

              The great Pacific wayfarers were masters of the earth’s largest ocean.

              Although there are a few theories about how the Polynesians spread out among the islands, there is linguistic, anthropological, and DNA evidence to support that the first Polynesians originated from seafaring Austronesians, who trace their prehistoric origins (somewhere between 5,000 and 3,000 years ago) back to present-day Taiwan. From there they spread through the entire Polynesian Triangle, a huge part of the Pacific Ocean including over 1,000 islands, with the three main “points” at New Zealand, Hawaii, and Easter Island. Lacking instruments like compasses or astrolabes, wayfinders were still able to navigate and discover islands thousands of miles away, then return exactly to their points of origin. This allowed Polynesians to migrate to and travel between island groups with relative ease, expanding their population across an area that spans a total distance of 10 million square miles of water, slightly larger than the size of Canada.

              http://nautil.us/blog/dragons-memory–navigating-the-globe-using-only-your-wits

              • solkta …
                9 December 2018 at 10:14 am

                Not sure if you have grasped the context of this discussion Joe. It is not about how Polynesian’s migrated across an uninhabited Pacific but rather whether having done this and settled all across that after many generations they then became territorial. Maori were staunchly territorial and wars between Iwi over the boundaries of those territories were common place.

                • joe90 …
                  9 December 2018 at 10:26 am

                  Yup, but they had nothing on staunchly territorial W/E Europe.

                  https://ourworldindata.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Bubble-and-lines-FINAL-03.png

                  • solkta …
                    9 December 2018 at 10:37 am

                    Still beside the point that Jenny was trying to make. She has been trying to suggest that before European contact Polynesians were free to live anywhere they wanted.

                    • joe90 …
                      9 December 2018 at 10:46 am

                      European contact brought external compulsion, and put an end to their self determination.

                    • solkta …
                      9 December 2018 at 10:55 am

                      Yes it did. Still beside the point that their self determination determined who from what Iwi and Hapu could live where.

                    • joe90 …
                      9 December 2018 at 11:36 am

                      Jenny’s original premise was that Polynesian peoples [that used] freely roam[d] the whole face of the Pacific before the arrival of European Empires into the region. You shifted the goal posts, these here islands, to intimate that Jenny’s premise was false.

                      ~Fin~

                    • solkta …
                      9 December 2018 at 11:49 am

                      Well these here islands are part of the Pacific eh. So whole face of the Pacific is false, eh. AND the whole fucking point of her babble is to talk about NZ immigration policy.

                    • Jenny …
                      9 December 2018 at 10:40 pm

                      solkta …
                      9 December 2018 at 11:49 am
                      Well these here islands are part of the Pacific eh. So whole face of the Pacific is false, eh. AND the whole fucking point of her babble is to talk about NZ immigration policy.

                      I was talking about immigration, it was you Solkta who brought up the dirty racist meme of cannabilism to try and explain the disparity between the free passage between white Majority settler nations Australia and New Zealand and the rest of Oceania.

                      “Too much roaming would lead one to be another’s dinner.” Solkta

                      I pointed out that this same racist meme has been used to justify all sorts of horrors and crimes, up to and including genocide, committed by the Western Imperialist nations against the people of the Pacific. Exposing your ignorance, you describe this as “babble”.

                      The crimes and horrors of imperialism dwarf by sheer magnitude and savagery any recorded acts of ritual cannibalism practiced by warring Polynesians. Whenever you are challenged racists like you have thrown up this accusation again and again to humiliate and oppress Maori and Pacifica and Aboriginal people and commit all sorts of horrible racist crimes against them.

                      Solkta I have no hesitation in saying that you are an insensitive and ignorant racist who has got himself in too deep, and has no idea what he is talking about. I am somewhat surprised that despite the deeply racist and offensive nature of your original statement you didn’t cop a ban.

                    • solkta …
                      9 December 2018 at 11:01 pm

                      Fuck off Jenny, just fuck off.

                      Cannibalism as part of traditional Maori custom is a fact. It doesn’t really bother me personally as i find it only slightly more disagreeable than eating pig or dog meat.

                      You are the one who is ignorant, trying to claim that tribal societies were not territorial, and it would seem also denying cannibalism. Get yourself an education.

                    • Jenny …
                      11 December 2018 at 12:20 am

                      solkta …
                      9 December 2018 at 11:01 pm
                      Fuck off Jenny, just fuck off.

                      Cannibalism as part of traditional Maori custom is a fact. It doesn’t really bother me personally as i find it only slightly more disagreeable than eating pig or dog meat.

                      You are the one who is ignorant, trying to claim that tribal societies were not territorial, and it would seem also denying cannibalism. Get yourself an education.

                      So you are profane as well as racist. Who would have guessed it.

                      As to claiming the tribal societies were not territorial or denying cannibalism.

                      I made no such claims.

                      You are using a false equivalence to justify discrimination based on race.

                      Years ago I was watching TV and an old documentary came on.

                      It was in black and white and must have been made in the 1950s at a time when World War Two was still a traumatic recent past.

                      The story was of a young Jewish man in his twenties who had survived the concentration camps as a child and had come of age after the war and had made his way to America and settled there. The story begins when he makes a journey back to his home town and his old neighborhood in Germany to try and and make sense of the traumatic events that shaped his childhood.

                      A Jewish man had been accused of molesting a little blond German girl. There was a huge sensational trial, that Nazis made great propaganda use of to demonise the Jews. At the end of this show trial the man was found guilty and sentenced to the concentration camps and to his death. Haunted by what had happened to his community in the aftermath of this trial. This young man felt that he desperately needed to know if this man was guilty or not. But no one would talk to him. His Jewish neighbours, his Jewish school friends, his family, the whole community in the wake of this trial had been rounded up and sent to the gas chambers. He was the only survivor. In his old home street he encountered the, now grown women, who as a child had been allegedly molested, and asked her if it was true. She refused to answer and fled from his desperate questions. Finding no answers, from his former German friends and neighbours, he eventually approached the judge who had presided over the trial. The judge agreed to talk to him. He asked the judge; Was the man guilty? The judge replied that he appeared to be. He asked the judge why he had let the trial be used by the Nazis to demonise a whole community of people. The judge claimed that he had nothing to do with that. The young man pointed out that the Judge had had a huge swastika hanging on the wall behind him thoughout the trial. The judge rather weakly said, but every one did, it was just the way it was..

                      The point of this story Dave, is that like the charge of cannabilism that racists like you thow up to slander Polynesians, (especially Maori) the nazis in their propaganda used this case of child molestation to slander the Jews as sexual deviants, as somehow, sub-human. Not entitled to the same rights as “Aryans”

                      Just as you seem to think that people from Polynesia should not have the same freedom of passage to this country as people from White majority Australia because, – cannabilism.

                      You claim that you were just making a joke. I don’t think it was funny. Like most racist jokes you would not tell it in person to someone of Maori descent.

                      If you go back far enough Dave you will find cannabilism was practiced by most peoples at some time in the their past it is only racists like you with an axe to grind against Maori and Polynesians who continually and repeatedly throw this accusation up as if it was uniquely their failing. Even if this was true. Which it is not. As I have pointed out, the crimes of European colonial and imperial powers have created mountains of corpses, in their invasions and rival imperial warfare atrocities dwarfing anything Polynesians ever did. As so called enlightened Europeans we didn’t eat these corpses, we burnt them, or bulldozed them into mass graves.

                    • solkta …
                      11 December 2018 at 8:34 am

                      As to claiming the tribal societies were not territorial or denying cannibalism.

                      I made no such claims.

                      You say at 13.1.1 below:

                      For millions of years human beings have freely roamed the whole face of the planet, it is only since the rise of imperialism and colonialism in the 19th Century that these powers sought to impose control of human migration and travel.

                      And at 12.1 above:

                      (You know the, (non-white), Polynesian peoples that used freely roam the whole face of the Pacific before the arrival of European Empires into the region).

                      If you go back far enough Dave

                      You are not replying to Dave. Though you did put words in his mouth too.

                      I haven’t made any statement on open immigration for Pasifika people versus Australian people. All i have done here is point out that restricting migration was not something new that came with colonisation.

                      Your powers of miscomprehension are truly stunning. Have a nice day.

      • KJT 12.1.2
        9 December 2018 at 7:16 am

        I think you should ask a Tongan about that.

      • Dave B 12.1.3
        9 December 2018 at 9:38 am

        I dont need to think about that for a moment – I agree there should be greater freedom of entry for Polynesian peoples. From your posts, Jenny, you seem to specialise in putting words in other people’s mouths so that you can excoriate them for views they do not hold..

        • Jenny 12.1.3.1
          9 December 2018 at 11:15 pm

          Hi Dave, you accuse me of putting words in other people’s mouths, did you not read Solkta’s statement?

          “Too much roaming would lead one to be another’s dinner.” Solkta

          Don’t you agree that this comment is deeply offensive and racist?

          Yes I have excoriated him for it, do you think it was not deserved?

          Surely Dave you are aware of the history of this charge of cannibalism, and its use to justify the genocidal crimes of Western colonialism and imperialism throughout the world, not just here in the Pacific but even against the indigenous peoples of North America and Africa?

          Are you not surprised and sickened that such an argument should be used in a debate about immigration inequality in the 21st Century?

    • Hami Shearlie 12.2
      20 December 2018 at 1:46 am

      I absolutely agree, Dave B! I wrote to the Prime Minister asking what they would do, I was told they had not made their minds up – but this was just a few days before the signing was due to happen – so that was obviously not true – I mentioned our relationship with Australia and how it might be negatively affected by signing this pact – I just fail to see how signing this will benefit our country in the slightest considering all our main trading partners have not signed it – still, it makes Jacinda look good for a cushy UN job in the future – can’t understand Winston going along with this though – his party will be toast. One of the most chilling aspects of this is the part mentioning the state control of the media regarding this subject. And the fact that although the rights of the migrants are mentioned constantly, the rights of the native born people of the countries signing up seem to be zero, when we are the suckers who will be paying for this forever in so many ways! I would have thought the safety of women and children in our country would have been important to this government considering the violence meted out to German, French, and Swedish women and children by these third world migrants who ended up there and all over Europe, which I also mentioned in my letter – funny how the progressive left talk loudly about the rights of women regarding pay equity etc, but fall silent when people of a certain ideology are concerned – they must not be offended, that is of paramount importance, way ahead of kiwis well being and safety! Considering the yellow jacket anti globalist movement sweeping over Europe right now, in fact, right outside the EU headquarters in Brussels, it is obvious that our Prime Minister is just not politically savvy enough to have steered the country away from this foolish document! She and Winston have just given the National Party an enormous club to beat them with, which they will do until the next election, when sadly, this Government will be gone. And they gained nothing for doing this. They should have read all the comments people made in the newspapers about this, arrogance has come upon them very early!

  13. Jenny 13
    8 December 2018 at 7:54 pm

    I spotted a protest sign in a rally against Trump’s persecution of immigrants, it read:

    MIGRATION IS A HUMAN RIGHT

    Simple but true.

    • solkta 13.1
      8 December 2018 at 7:59 pm

      Is it true? We should have to let anyone and everyone come here?

      • Jenny 13.1.1
        8 December 2018 at 10:53 pm

        Why not?

        For millions of years human beings have freely roamed the whole face of the planet, it is only since the rise of imperialism and colonialism in the 19th Century that these powers sought to impose control of human migration and travel.

        Divide and rule.

        Imperialism defined in three words.

        • Antoine 13.1.1.1
          9 December 2018 at 5:41 am

          You have no comprehension of what open borders would do to NZ.

          I have lived in countries where tens of millions of people would gladly migrate to NZ tomorrow if they could.

          A.

        • solkta 13.1.1.2
          9 December 2018 at 8:03 am

          Again you talk absolute crap. The only situation in which humans were able to “freely roam” was when there were no other humans yet in that area. Your assertion that tribal societies were not territorial is just nonsense.

          • JennyHow to get there? 13.1.1.2.1
            15 December 2018 at 8:29 am

            I never made such an assertion.

            • solkta 13.1.1.2.1.1
              16 December 2018 at 11:45 am

              For millions of years human beings have freely roamed the whole face of the planet, it is only since the rise of imperialism and colonialism in the 19th Century that these powers sought to impose control of human migration and travel.

    • Dave B 14.1
      9 December 2018 at 1:32 pm

      What happened to idealist John Lennon will happen to nations if they adopt open borders. Look at the mess now in countries such as Sweden, Belgium, France, Germany, UK due to uncontrolled immigration. Italy, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia have got the message, and remain safe and peaceful

      • Jenny 14.1.1
        9 December 2018 at 11:48 pm

        Dave B 14.1
        9 December 2018 at 1:32 pm
        What happened to idealist John Lennon will happen to nations if they adopt open borders…..

        Dave B channeling the menacing message of the European Identitarians and Donald Trump.

        • Dave B 14.1.1.1
          10 December 2018 at 5:42 pm

          Utter Nonsense. Jenny seems to specialise in drawing false comparisons, in an attempt to pin derogatory labels on those who do not agree with her dewy eyed vision of the world. There are literally thousands of articles in media sources of every type which detail the consequences of uncontrolled migration in the countries I mentioned and others; with which she can open her eyes to what is happening in the real world. Not to say that we should close our hearts and borders to the genuine victims of terrorism and discrimination, such as Asia Bibi and surviving Iraqi Yazidis. That is what our refugee quota exists for. The Global Migration Pact is a cynical ploy by a subgroup of UN members, to push an open borders agenda by backdoor means; and should be totally rejected.

          • Jenny 14.1.1.1.1
            10 December 2018 at 9:25 pm

            There are literally thousands of articles in media sources of every type which detail the consequences of uncontrolled migration in the countries I mentioned and others;…..

            Dave B

            Really?

            How about putting up a link to some of these “thousands of articles” then, Eh Dave?

            My guess is that won’t do this. And the reason that you won’t do this Dave, is that the source of most of this type of xenophobic anti-immigrant propaganda, comes from extreme Right Wing, racist, and even fascist sources. And none of it is based in fact.

            However, contrary to what you claim, there are many articles from reputable media sources that prove the exact opposite to all the racist propaganda about immigrants published on the racist and fascist websites, that you would have to cite in an effort to prove your claims.

            The Myth of the Criminal Immigrant

            Anna Flagg – New York Times, March 30, 2018

            The Trump administration’s first year of immigration policy has relied on claims that immigrants bring crime into America. President Trump’s latest target is sanctuary cities.

            “Every day, sanctuary cities release illegal immigrants, drug dealers, traffickers, gang members back into our communities,” he said last week. “They’re safe havens for just some terrible people.”

            As of 2017, according toGallup polls, almost half of Americans agreed that immigrants make crime worse. But is it true that immigration drives crime? Many studies have shown that it does not.

            Immigrant populations in the United States have been growing fast for decades now. Crime in the same period, however, has moved in the opposite direction, with the national rate of violent crime today well below what it was in 1980.

            In a large-scalecollaborationby four universities, led by Robert Adelman, a sociologist at the State University of New York at Buffalo, researchers compared immigration rates with crime rates for 200 metropolitan areas over the last several decades. The selected areas included huge urban hubs like New York and smaller manufacturing centers less than a hundredth that size, like Muncie, Ind., and were dispersed geographically across the country……

            ……In general, the study’s data suggests either that immigration has the effect of reducing average crime, or that there is simply no relationship between the two, and that the 54 areas in the study where both grew were instances of coincidence, not cause and effect. This was a consistent pattern in each decade from 1980 to 2016, with immigrant populations and crime failing to grow together…..

            ……This analysis is one of the most comprehensive longitudinal studies of the local immigrant-crime relationship. It spans decades of metropolitan area data, incorporating places with widely differing social, cultural and economic backgrounds, and a broad range of types of violent crime.

            Areas were chosen to reflect a range of immigrant composition, from Wheeling, W.Va., where one in 100 people was born outside the United States, to Miami, where every second person was. Some areas were home to newly formed immigrant communities; other immigrant pockets went back generations. Controlling for population characteristics, unemployment rates and other socioeconomic conditions, the researchers still found that, on average, as immigration increases in American metropolises, crime decreases.

            Undocumented immigrants commit less crime than native-born citizens
            Christopher Ingraham – Washington Post, June 19, 2018

            …..the social-science research on immigration and crime is clear: Undocumented immigrants are considerably less likely to commit crime than native-born citizens, with immigrants legally in the United States even less likely to do so. A number of studies published in the past several months clearly illustrate the consensus.

            Is Illegal Immigration Linked to More or Less Crime?
            Robert Farley – FactCheck.org June 27, 2018

            I am tired of spoon feeding you Dave, so you are gonna have to read this one for yourself. You might find it enlightening.

            However the challenge still stands Dave, put up a link even just one of the, “literally thousands of articles in media sources of every type which detail the consequences of uncontrolled migration in the countries I mentioned and others”, that you claim exist. Let us see the source of these claims.

  15. Daveb 15
    15 December 2018 at 2:49 pm

    Is there any hope for people like you, Jenny? You appear to want to risk the wellbeing of our society for confused and ill-informed ideological reasons. You present puff opinion pieces written by people living in their privileged bubbles of existence while ignoring the facts all around you. Facts, Jenny, Facts! From Berlin to London Bridge, Strasbourg to the esplanade at Nice, from the Bataclan to Madrid, from the 70+ Swedish suburbs where the police no longer go to St Etienne du Rouvray (a halal celebration), and on and on, the consequences, direct and indirect, of poorly controlled borders are everywhere present. As any farmer knows, good fences make for good neighbours. We are involved in a long running risk mitigation exercise- one we cannot win completely, but one we must try to manage as best we can for all our sakes. NZ has a good immigration process, and to put it at risk from this subversive U.N. Migration Pact is foolishness of the first order.

    • Draco T Bastard 15.1
      15 December 2018 at 3:26 pm

      NZ has a good immigration process, and to put it at risk from this subversive U.N. Migration Pact is foolishness of the first order.

      FWICS, we actually have a fairly bad immigration system that’s open to abuse from people who shouldn’t get immigration status to government opening the taps to push up inflation.

      That said, as has shown time and time again, the UN pact doesn’t actually influence our own laws. What it’s there to promote is better cooperation and coordination between nations so that there’s better ways to deal with the issues that arise such as illegal immigration.

      To put it another way: You’re talking out your arse.

      • JennyHow to get there? 15.1.1
        15 December 2018 at 5:31 pm

        “Nutjobs and the UN Global Migration Pact”

        Hi Dave, Do you think that Micckysavage might have been referring to you?

        Despite being challenged to do so, you have not provided one single attribution

        Why is that Dave?

        Is it because your xenophobic rant has been lifted straight from the pages of some vile Right Wing anti-immigrant hate group website?

        Let me guess

        Brietbart news?

      • Dave B 15.1.2
        17 December 2018 at 7:51 pm

        Takes one to know one, I guess, Draco.
        Frau Doktor Merkel, for one, thinks the Pact will be legally binding on all countries whether they signed or not, as soon as a vote in the UN is taken; which could be this week.
        https://voiceofeurope.com/2018/12/they-lied-the-un-migration-pact-is-legally-binding-and-could-be-valid-for-all-countries/
        Maybe the vote can be vetoed at Security Council level, or maybe she is wrong, I really wouldn’t know.
        But it makes little difference. If NZ signs then it will be cited in every immigration case in front of the courts, and will become established before long by case law precedent.
        There are always shortcomings in systems, and you are right, such shortcomings have occurred in NZ’s immigration system, as witness the Karel Sroubek case.
        However, overall I think it is pitched at the right level, and we do not need it screwed up by the Global Migration Pact, which would also, incidentally, remove the right of free speech.

    • JennyHow to get there? 15.2
      15 December 2018 at 4:30 pm

      Hi Dave

      No quotes? No links? No facts? No Sources?

      You are obviously quoting from some vile Right Wing source so odious and discredited that you can’t refer to it.

      Either that, or directly from your fevered xenophobic imagination.

      Stop trying to scare yourself

    • Hami Shearlie 15.3
      20 December 2018 at 1:55 am

      Jenny’s attitude reminds me of a young couple who went on cycling tour all over North Africa etc, they wanted to prove the news reports wrong and they wanted to show that people in those countries were just like us, kind and friendly – so the young vegans set out on their bikes all starry eyed, yet all their blog posts talked about was how badly they were treated by the people there, one man tried to run them over, one screamed racist because they wouldn’t buy his drugs, and so on everywhere they went , until finally they were both murdered and their sad blog stopped. A couple of Scandanavian women climbers were murdered in North Africa just the other day, some say they were beheaded, probably raped too. The idea that all cultures are equal is insane, pity these poor young people had to die to find that out! A young journalist was scornful of all the negative reports of no go zones in Sweden, so he was challenged to go there to find out for himself – he went, and was very lucky to get out of there unhurt – his views since then are markedly different – sometimes for people like Jenny, the only way to learn the truth is by doing, some of us are happy to learn by looking and listening to those who have been there!

  16. Straight Arrow 16
    19 December 2018 at 8:33 pm

    Suppose some place like Indonesia decides it is too crowded and the way to handle it is to empty its prisons and send the prisoners to NZ? Would they be welcomed? That is what Mexico did to the U.S.

    and

    Sri Lanka has declared a State of Emergency partly related to the 300 Rohingyas who abducted 100 Hindus on August 25, 2017 and killed 92 of them. Eight people who survived the assassination were all women,
    who later got converted to Islam, circumcised and were FGM’d. So suppose Sri Lanka thinks the Global Pact could be used to send all their Rohingyas to NZ? Would they be welcomed? https://tinyurl.com/y82pquuu

    and

    Suppose Jacinda decides to take in 500,000 mixed religion people from the world and have them repopulate the South Island. Would anyone object?

    and

    Mohammed ordered his followers to practice Hijrah, “Jihad by emigration”. Suppose they set their sights on NZ and want to move her en masse and enforce their religion and Shariah law on Kiwis as they have done elsewhere? Would they be welcome?

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  • Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas? A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing and Fixing the Issue
    The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    7 hours ago

  • How to Remove Tree Sap from Car A Comprehensive Guide
    Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    7 hours ago

  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
    The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    7 hours ago

  • Can You Jump a Car in the Rain? Safety Precautions and Essential Steps
    Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    7 hours ago

  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    13 hours ago

  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    Skeptical Science
    15 hours ago

  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    16 hours ago

  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    17 hours ago

  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    19 hours ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    20 hours ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    21 hours ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    23 hours ago

  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 day ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
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  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
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  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
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    2 days ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
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    2 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
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  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
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  • Government backing mussel spat project
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  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
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  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
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  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
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    3 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
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  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
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    3 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
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  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
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    3 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
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    4 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
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  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
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  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
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    4 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
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  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
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  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
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  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
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    5 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
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    5 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
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    5 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
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    6 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
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  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
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  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
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  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
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  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
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    1 week ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
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  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
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    1 week ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
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