Come on guys be nice we have a good thing going on you are friends I admire your work and support your show Breakfast TVNZ1 as I can see that your reporting is not influenced to much by people with vested interest .I see others were trying to use some dumb attacks on the Breakfast show using that same word I dislike very much race I don’t care who does the reporting so long as the message is factual fair and unbiased sorry about the burn yesterday but you do get a rateings bust from eco Ka pai
The west has a cheek casting stones at China about free SPEECH when I have not seen any articles with headlines of GLOBAL WARMING /CLIMATE CHANGE and this is the person who has influenced this phenomenon the bully .
So Americas can manipulate all New Zealand’s media well I say they can manipulate our Governments policy’s. There manipulation will always be better for the 1% and who gives a stuff about the common people the sheep this is the way I see it plane and clear .
Ana to kai
Come on Mike I can see that your views have been influenced by something else ?? I will keep discrediting national till I see that there policy s change to benefit all the people of Aotearoa not just the 1% In my view the last leader that national had that has the same view as ECO MAORI was The Honorable Jim Bolger and they rolled him out of the Prime Minsters Job . Business do not make a country great Its the people all the people with disposable income to enjoy all the beauty and bounty of
Aotearoa at the minute most people can not afford to take days off for a holiday they also cannot afford to pay for a holiday. Rents need to be included in OUR Consumer price index to fix this iniquity .This is the most expensive item of most peoples lives and its farcical to be left out of the Consumer price index ??????? Ka kite ano
Come on Mike I can see that your views have been influenced by something else ?? I will keep discrediting national till I see that there policy s change to benefit all the people of Aotearoa not just the 1% In my view the last leader that national had that has the same view as ECO MAORI was The Honorable Jim Bolger and they rolled him out of the Prime Minsters Job . Business do not make a country great Its the people all the people with disposable income to enjoy all the beauty and bounty of
Aotearoa at the minute most people can not afford to take days off for a holiday they also cannot afford to pay for a holiday. Rents need to be included in OUR Consumer price index .This is the most expensive item of most peoples lives and its farcical to be left out ??????? Ka kite ano
Many thanks to Breakfast show for interviewing Dean Wicliffe his real life views on OUR Draconian justice system is the same as mine. It sucks our youth in and spits them out a bum in 20 to 30 years because of the fast pace changes in our society they cannot cope . It wont be long before one will need competence computation skills just to survive/ get help in Aotearoa.
As for freedom campers well easy as humane fix charge a bit more at the border and provide the services that are need for the freedom campers . I don’t believe in fines as some bad people can use them as a weapon / tool control ______with people I pumped all my work out in 2 days to limit my exposure to you Know who. Ka kite ano
I see some more photos are going around of me and my whano probable when I was at the pools or the lake entertaining my mokos I am proud of the genetics my tepunas gifted me there is nothing wrong with a big chest I say I could easily tone up if I had the leisure time to exercise I wont buy a ride-on mower as pushing a mower keeps me fit I dont like wasting money on fitness so I get payed for my exercise as for plastic surgery I have seen many stuff ups you don’t get nothing for nothing there is always a cost in the end .
I would rather spend the money on improving OUR mokos lives .Any smart ass comments about my physical appearance is like water off a ducks back . As I have already been conditioned to handle this human trait when I was a child .
Ka kite ano
This is for you greywarshark your pseudonym gives you away even though you try to be a shark and lie about your real motives you should know better than to ______ eco maori you got burned the last times you tried this .This is the proof I have been looking for on your sand fly m8 I have know that they are doing exactly what Richard Graeme has done and more and the people are still blinded by there shiny objects did they give you another big check GWS enjoy I know they are scared and pissed off. I have seen many people benefit from the sandflys dumb ass persecution of ECO MAORI IE bribes to there contracted lyres . here the link.
I think I should have stayed out of that debate GREENS MEDICAL BILL the state is fighting me tooth and nail trying to take the wind out of the sails of my WAKA but sorry its to late now Idiots dont treat people the government will realize that there neo liberal state employees are leading them down the wrong path I see that Jacinda has long term plans in place so thats all good Ka kite ano
CoL politician crying that opposition did not support her bill, rather than asking why the CoL wouldn’t support. Looks like Greens are “Government Window Dressing”
#greensremainlosers
Only made unpleasant by your MP complaining on national media that the bill failed because of National. Silly me, there was I thinking the CoL had a majority
Re your second para, I cannot remember any instance of a major party’s MPs voting in unison in a conscience vote but don’t have time right now to check. I certainly recall a number of times that voting in unison appears to be a requirement of NZF MPs, however!
But last night’s vote in unison by National MPs seemed quite a turnaround from comments in the previous days – and earlier yesterday – by a number of National MPs that they might support the bill to select committee at least.
However, there was indications of a heavy-hand approach in remarks by English and others before yesterday that just a few Nat MPs had been give dispensation to vote for the bill for personal reasons – rather than leaving it as a conscience vote for all Nat MPS.
Then IMHO, the speculation of leadership challenges yesterday morning led to some pretty heavy remarks from English denying any challenges. These included remarks* about internal party discipline, working as a team etc etc which could be read as aimed at Nat MPs rather than just public statements. These may have well persuaded Nat MPs that this was definitely not the time to exercise their conscience vote rights on the Greens’ Bill.
* Heard these on one of the many RNZ news items yesterday pm but cannot identify exactly which one without a lot of time and trawling through these.
Well I hope some of those National MPs have uneasy consciences.
People will suffer unnecessarily because they allowed themselves to be bullied by Bill and Paula.
I presume you’ll be extending your “uneasy consciences” criticism to Labour MP’s who voted against the bill as well as to Labour’s Coalition partner NZ First, who also voted enmass against the bill?
Equally “People will suffer ……because they allowed themselves to be bullied by” Labour MPs and NZ First MPs. I assume you mean this too to be fair?
Looking at the politics of this through a different lens; its curious to me as to why the Greens were not able to get their coalition partners to provide enough support for this bill to at least get it to the committee stages. After all the Greens are bending over backwards to support legislation that is unpalatable to them ( e.g. the waka jumping bill).
My advice to the Greens is to withdraw their support for that piece of legislation in particular (the waka jumping bill) given the disdain by which they have been treated on Swarbrick’s bill..
I presume you’ll be extending your “uneasy consciences” criticism to Labour MP’s who voted against the bill as well as to Labour’s Coalition partner NZ First, who also voted enmass against the bill?
Yes.
Equally “People will suffer ……because they allowed themselves to be bullied by” Labour MPs and NZ First MPs.
What bullying?
Looking at the politics of this through a different lens; its curious to me as to why the Greens were not able to get their coalition partners to provide enough support for this bill to at least get it to the committee stages.
Considering the support out in the population the Greens shouldn’t have needed to get support. As a ‘democracy’ the people’s representatives should have followed the people wishes and supported it.
After all the Greens are bending over backwards to support legislation that is unpalatable to them ( e.g. the waka jumping bill).
I think that you’ll find that the waka jumping bill isn’t unpalatable to the Greens no matter how much you would like to think it is.
The difference I see is that Labour and NZF allowed for a true conscious vote, whilst English said it wasn’t, just that any could cross the floor if they wanted (and were willing to go see him and say they didn’t like what he said)… One was freedom of choice for the MPs and one was not
And I will add to that in respect of English and National by referring Grantoc etc to my comment at 2.1.1.1. above on what appears to be a major turnaround about midday yesterday in the ability of those National MPs who were considering voting for the Green Bill to exercise their free will – without possible repercussions.
Ed has better things to do like advocate for a plant based diet. Now that Veganuary has ended there is never a better time to reconsider one’s eating habits.
You know something? The MPs are their to represent the people. 80% of the people want medicinal cannabis and more than 50% want full legalisation including recreational use.
By not voting for this bill those MPS failed to do their job of representing us.
Ny not voting for it they proved that we do not live in a democracy.
Yes the type of attitude that lauds over their destructive behaviour as ‘winning’ with an overuse of the first person like it’s ‘your’ MP rather than an MP.
Labour should have been whipped on this. It is disgraceful that they are supporting everything Winston wants (all weather race tracks) but won’t see this through to select committee.
Any more Labour votes would have been completely irrelevant.
Without any support from New Zealand First for it it would merely have failed by 65 to 55.
Isn’t it wonderful how New Zealand First can simply ignore anything the Green Party wants while the Greens must get immediately into line and vote for NZF proposals like fishing the Kermadecs and passing a Waka jumping bill?
Even if NZF supported it, those extra Labour votes would have been vital.
“Isn’t it wonderful how New Zealand First can simply ignore anything the Green Party wants while the Greens must get immediately into line and vote for NZF proposals like fishing the Kermadecs and passing a Waka jumping bill?”
It points to Peters experience and ability to negotiate. And leaves questions surrounding what are the Greens going to get for swallowing some dead rats.
It seems to be easy for you chris 73 to back National in any disagreement. But simply, if National had allowed a conscience vote, some of them would have found one and supported medical cannabis.
Winston needs to see a utube clip of 20 clean-cut older folk speaking of the pain relief they find in cannabis that end their cameos with… ‘and I vote for Winston’s lot.’
The groundswell of support in our country indicates that it’s just a matter of time. Astute politicians strive to surf the crest of new waves.
Don’t you think it speaks volumes that all of NZFirst and some of Labour didn’t support the bill
It speaks volumes that all of NZ First and all of National didn’t – just goes to show that both are parties of small-minded parochial conservatives who are drastically out of step with the NZ population and shouldn’t be put in charge of running a country. Not seeing anything much about Labour in there.
No, the Greens aren’t selling their principles. They’ve obviously thought about it since Rod Donald’s time and realised that supporting waka jumping is the unethical position.
The Greens have said they will compromise on policy but not on the core principles. You’d have to demonstrate that what the Greens are doing undermines their core principles for your statement to be meaningful.
Are these “core principles” actually documented anywhere?
Is there a single place that spells out the things they would die in the ditch for as opposed to things they will abandon?
What are the things they will not comprise on in pursuit of the baubles of office.
I know that Psycho.
It is here. https://www.greens.org.nz/
I goes on and on and on with policies but that doesn’t help.
Weka is saying that they will compromise on policies but not on core principles. I cannot find anywhere where it says what the “core principles” are. If they aren’t listed anywhere a statement about them is being sacrosanct is quite meaningless.
Then complain that there’s not a list of bullet points labelled “core principles” to help you autofill the “waste time” fields in your “distraction troll” interaction module.
I’m very confident the Greens don’t intend to die in a ditch. But, seeing as how you appear to be interested,
The charter is the founding document of The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand accepts Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand; recognises Maori as Tangata Whenua in Aotearoa New Zealand; and commits to the following four Principles:
Ecological Wisdom:
The basis of ecological wisdom is that human beings are part of the natural world. This world is finite, therefore unlimited material growth is impossible. Ecological sustainability is paramount.
Social Responsibility:
Unlimited material growth is impossible. Therefore the key to social responsibility is the just distribution of social and natural resources, both locally and globally.
Appropriate Decision-making:
For the implementation of ecological wisdom and social responsibility, decisions will be made directly at the appropriate level by those affected.
Non-Violence:
Non-violent conflict resolution is the process by which ecological wisdom, social responsibility and appropriate decision making will be implemented. This principle applies at all levels.
In order to understand what those things meant to the Green Party, you would need to listen to what *they say about them, not just jump in with your own superficial interpretations based on your own thinking. I’ve written posts about this shit. Matt writes about it frequently. There’s plenty of discussion around about it if you pay attention.
Edit, Charter is linked at the bottom of the GP website front page.
Along with eight Labour MPs. Living in the past also? Good on them, God Bless, sanity prevailed. The Greens sold their soul to Winston for power, they traded nothing, could have worked out a deal for their support of the undemocratic Waka Jumping Bill…could have.
Parliament showing its inadequacy again. They were quick enough to legalize the infinitely more dangerous synthetics. It’s a sisyphaen task get anything past these backward numpties.
It’s hard to be sure how much, but some degree of legalization should displace the synthetics, which despite the change in their legal status continue to kill and sicken people.
I could give it a go, but it would have more authority coming from a physician with expertise in the clinical issues and the standing of having had to treat the victims of the synthetic product. Mark Reeves (in Nelson) has spoken against it before.
I saw a 60 Minutes interview with the whizz kid plucked from nowhere that was responsible for creating millions of different facebook ads targeted at the individual selling Trump.
A template email to express a particular concern is a rudimentary starting point but us humans work on emotions.
If writing to Kelvin Davis an intelligent template could pluck at his heartstrings.
“Saw you at the Taipa ramp last Tuesday Kelvin, you suggested I write.”
We can blame National, NZ First or Labour MPs who didn’t vote for the medical cannabis bill but the big picture is that New Zealand is run by “straights” as much as it was 40 years ago and based on this result it will be no different in another 40 years’ time. There is the expectation that as more and more people will accept cannabis use as okay, it will eventually become legal, especially as this is already happening in the United States and elsewhere but this is purely an assumption. It could indeed be accepted by half or more of the population but the people who control New Zealand society are conservative and will likely continue to have the power to keep it illegal. One only has to look at Jamaica which is known for its cannabis smokers where it remains highly illegal.
Back in the seventies they used to say “never trust a straight” and this remains true to this day.
esoteric p
+100
Sinking back into our cowpat ruts and school of mumbles about ivory-tower academics as in mid 1960’s it seems. Advance and be recognised – New Zealanders
who care about their country and their fellow citizens. Well? (Silence.) Oh heck!
Israel (or people acting in their defense) yet again display their epic levels of double standards without even pausing for breath,…
As usual, their argument…Israel is the most democratic country in the middle East.
Their actions….Sue ( read threaten) activists who wrote an open letter to a artist asking them not to tour ( and by default support) the apartheid regime of Israel.
But then again, what else could one expect from a country that regards Donald J. Trump as it’s greatest and closest US presidential ally in generations…this one fact alone speaks volumes as to the depths to which Israel has allowed itself to sink.
Norman Finkelstein “called” this approach by the state of Israel – the claim that BDS wants to destroy Israel. It made him unpopular with the BDS movement. Thing is, although some might not “like” what he says, he’s bang on the money. He lays it out in this video interview from 2012. It’ll be difficult listening for some.
Finkelstein is supportive of BDS tactics. But he condemns their goal – the elimination of Israel.
And having quickly read the Chomsky piece, he makes the same point. Anarchist that he is, he also suggests a “no state” as a preferred alternative to a “two state” solution. 😉
While there is near-universal international support for (1), [Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands occupied in June 1967 and dismantling the Wall] there is virtually no meaningful support for (3) beyond the BDS movement itself.[Respecting, protecting, and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194.] Nor is (3) dictated by international law. The text of UN General Assembly Resolution 194 is conditional, and in any event it is a recommendation, without the legal force of the Security Council resolutions that Israel regularly violates. Insistence on (3) is a virtual guarantee of failure.
I am in agreement with both Finkelstein and Chomsky, I think this is more about Israel (through proxies) threatening anybody,anywhere, even some young girls on the other side of the planet, for showing any kind of solidarity with Palestine through any action whatsoever, and is only about the BDS movement by default.
I’m thinking it’s the BDS agenda that’s giving the Israeli state its required leverage and it’s irrelevant in terms of pubic perception whether “Dayenu” (New Zealand Jews Against Occupation) that Justine Sachs set up agrees or endorses BDS’s agenda.
Seems it’s a Mossad affiliated wingnut welfare scam that supports it self by running “Intellitours” to Israel which include meet ups with Shin Bet assassins.
Her arguments are regularly rejected by courts. About 90 percent of the $1.6 billion in default judgments against no-show defendants including Iran, Syria, North Korea and the militant Palestinian group Hamas have not been paid.
[…]
Critics call it “lawfare,” abusing the courts to score political points. Some on the left have refused to face off with Ms. Darshan-Leitner on Israeli talk shows after she made what they saw as ridiculous statements, like suggesting that Israel drop a nuclear bomb on Tehran.
“She’s definitely a nuisance,” said Jonathan Arnon, an Israeli lawyer who has represented the Palestinian Authority opposite her. “She has a lot of resources. She tries and finds every niche and note and every possible argument whether it is relevant or not, to make fatigue.”
Even American lawyers who work on the same side have clashed with Ms. Darshan-Leitner over costs, and say she is a tangential part of the process.
“She’s pretty good at filing cases and putting out news releases, but she has really no involvement in actual litigation,” said one, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of ongoing cases. “There are U.S. lawyers who are actually litigating the case, putting up all the expenses, and then there’s this person in Israel who has her own narrative.”
[…]
Her organization, Shurat HaDin, Hebrew for letter of the law, was founded in 2003, and in 2012, the latest year financial reports were available publicly, had 11 employees, three with salaries topping $100,000. It retains not one but two public relations firms, in Israel and New York, pitching Ms. Darshan-Leitner’s perspective on the news. She said the annual budget was $2.5 million, but declined to name her donors, citing security concerns.
The group requires a $600 to $5,000 donation for participants in its mission to Israel, featuring briefings by intelligence agents and observations of military court trials. This summer, it is offering an activist lawyer’s training seminar, with an agenda that includes combating boycotts of Israeli products and defending Israeli soldiers against charges of war crimes.
She claims to have collected $150 million from the various court victories but would not specify which clients got what, citing security again. And she asked that the West Bank settlement where she and her American-born husband, also a lawyer, built a large, immaculate home, not be named, for fear of reprisal.
The so-called foreign buyer house ban (unless you are Australian or from Singapore or are buying a new house or…)
Input from the Auckland Law Society…
“Lawyers fear $20,000 fines for failing to give information on foreign investors’ citizenship status and say they would be forced into an impossible position by the Government’s planned foreign house-buyer ban.”
“A strongly-worded 23-page Auckland District Law Society submission has gone to the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee, objecting to putting the onus on lawyers and conveyancers for checking the citizenship status of trusts, companies and people if the new law is passed.”
Sure but the solution seems to be a better register of companies and people ensuring citizenship can easily be checked rather than throwing the whole lot out as the lawyers seem to want to do.
It would, of course, be simpler and better to ban offshore ownership.
I’m not sure if the lawyers are bleating about a change in law made when they were finally brought under money laundering legislation … after years and years of delay.
Lawyers are a major part of the money laundering and tax evasion networks ….
In Britain they escaped reporting obligations under their supposed ‘tightening’ of tax haven & money laundering regulations ….. Lawyer client confidentiality
Which would be the same loop-hole they will try and use here …..
Save the anti Chinese propaganda. I’d say the NZ government is so frightened of offending the Chinese that they are leaving most of NZ open for sale. The bill does not go far enough – learn from the Chinese government who do not sell land at all and make sure that any assets are partnered with Chinese only.
Shocking, inspite of a recording of the scam the immigration service did not bother to pursue it! Cheating is cheating and exploitation is exploitation!
I feel sick when I go around and increasingly you are seeing beaten down migrants toiling away in cafes, restaurant and hotels all around the country, probably caught up in this slavery practise that has been allowed to flourish for years.
For every reason, human rights to the victims, criminal activity, our lower and lower waged economy from this slavery practise and our NZ’s business reputation and tourism, this practise should be stamped out, immediately, and under cover operations started to catch the corrupt immigration officials and agents and the employers.
I concur utterly! I see sensible commentary from the likes of Alistair McClymont and some at RNZ who’ve maintained an interest and continue to monitor things.
The past 9 years have encouraged exploitation….even today anybody is encouraged to become an ‘immigration consultant’and many are at the healm of the exploitation – with cosy little links and alliances to some of the dodgy PTEs, recruitment and labour supply companies, even now in building and home improvement scams.
What gets my goat most is that the victims get the blame whilst the exploiters continue on their merry way! The IAA should have been keeping a closer watch, but like the Labour Inspectorate and INZ itself, it’s been under resourced.
I doubt some of them actually quite understand how many lives they’ve come close to destroying whether through financial loss or respect in the communities they now live in.
FFS! NZ….do something about the exploiters without destroying their victims. That in itself would lower immigration numbers.
Currently I am travelling around places where I see the bullshit promises and claims made daily.
It really is quite pathetic.
And at the same time, I know of cases where people have already made a valuable contribution to NZ at great personal cost, and who are being put through hoops in order to stay.
I’m yet to be persuaded too that INZ and associated entities like the IAA should remain under MBIE. The record so far is very very ugly … but then maybe they’re relying on a new CEO. IF IT DOES, it’ll still be the ‘business of immigration’ based on economic imperatives rather than wider concerns.
About time the government cracked down on this too….
Student visa scheme exploited for residency
“New Zealand’s new permanent residents are now less skilled than five years ago, due to some international students exploiting the student visa scheme, official documents say.”
New Zealand’s new permanent residents are now less skilled than five years ago, due to poor international students courses operating in NZ, bad immigration legislation, zero oversite and crack down of the practise, bizarre ‘skilled’ categories like restaurant managers or cafe workers for fast food and low level IT workers being labelled as a way to get residency, employers wanting cheaper labour rather than quality and immigration agents exploiting the student visa scheme…
See 7.1 above @savenz.
One thing I’ve noticed between working in the public service in the 70s and post 80s reforms is that snr mngmnt Do Not like criticism – offered construcyively or not.
And sometimes pointing out the bleeding obvious can invite the full force of the state apparatus.
It’s quite pathetic at times.
MBIE’S FAILINGS are a matter of record under its previous CEO.
I sincerely hope things will change.
Considering the Green’s bill failed to get over the line. And seeing as the need for urgency still remains (i.e. Labour’s medicinal cannabis bill fails to protect the majority of the ill seeking to use it from prosecution). Evidently, it’s clear the cannabis referendum requires to be brought forward.
Shocking, the waterfront belongs to the Aucklanders and the harbour is being sacrificed to benefit certain business interests – it’s 2.0 – going from bananas to parking and less and less harbour.
BTW – it costs a lot to maintain man made wharves so not only will Aucklaners have to bear the cost of the wharves, have their harbour stolen, but there are also lasting costs – and who knows how much they will cost to maintain with climate change.
Government should step in and stop the Auckland council who when last polled got less than 20% satisfaction rate from ratepayers as well as doing complete balls up constantly for the environment and local business in their quest to concrete Auckland to provide big business more $ and opportunities at the expense of small and medium business and the community that funds them.
Even worse then to be looking to steal the harbour and reclaim the land. Remember America’s cup is a billionaire fringe sport we are talking about…. but everyone has to drop everything and destroy Aucklander’s heritage for this one off event, which will then probably be donated or sold off cheap to corporate interests for parking, ferries etc by stealth.
Given the shortage of time, shouldn’t the powers that be, look at other locations or why can’t they do what they did last time? Who bothered planning ahead, obviously not the America’s cup governance body or they would have something in place that did not involve stealing and creating a new wharf with public money with is obviously filled with pit falls and public opposition.
America’s cup is being used as a means to hijack public money and resources. Obviously a lot of snouts in the trough using the America’s cup to steal the harbour.
Just look at Tamaki drive, climate change is here. The north western highway had years of road works, millions of $$$ and delays to raise part of it, but flooded last time.
Whatever AT and NZ Transport does seems to be a disaster. Something wrong with their culture and ability to plan effectively and with minimal disruptions. They seem to be opportunists with little planning ability and more interest in grabbing money and taking away community say using excuses and using poor advice, that their strong arm tactics are working. I’d say not at all, transport wise, value for money and public satisfaction.
No hijack – all options were debated and voted in open Council session.
AT and NZTA have nothing to do with it.
Increased harbour footprint is tiny. Most of Auckland’s CB D, all of Victoria Park, and the whole rail system is on thousands of hectares of reclaimed land. So not even the fish will miss a few more metres.
All global sport is run by billionaires.
Deal with.
And don’t forget Phil Goff who was pretty much gifted the Mayoralty when the righties ran two righties against each other to split the vote so that super right TPPA posing as leftie supporting Goff could win.
Goff also campaigned on NOT taking more of the harbour but now back tracking with weasel semantics.
I love how lefties and politicians seems to be concerned about the lack of people voting and the loss of democracy, but don’t actually factor in the constant betrayals of what politicians campaign on, and political tricks to gain power.
People on the North Shore tell me there seems to be a load lot of cars there the last week or two, so traveling around the shore and along the northern motorway is becoming very time consuming.
There’s a long commute from Orewa – 2 hours this morning it took 1 person from Orewa to Takapuna. The queue of slow moving traffic southwards on the northern motorway was still there after 10am – and a long queue at the same time from Takapuna of people trying to head southwards at the same time
They’ve recently opened a new car park, and added buses for park and ride from Silverdale. new housing developments on the Hibiscus Coast, Warkworth, and Wellsford attracting more Aucklanders – so way more people commuting to the CBD because that’s where the work is.
And some corporate entities want another centralised attraction in the CBD.
“Remember America’s cup is a billionaire fringe sport we are talking about…. ”
Thats bullshit, America’s cup is a spectator sport. There are more than 120 affiliated yacht clubs in New Zealand – and more than 300,000 members.
Name one current America’s cup sailor who is a billionaire?
this is a reply to the above post
It’s not about the number of teams in the event.
This is the F1 of yachting, in the city of sails. The city with more boats per capita than any other city in the world. You can try to pretend its not a big deal but millions of fans will be watching.
It’s more akin to the PGA tour, watching skilled professionals perform moderately boring tasks on rich-people’s facilities that only recently allowed someone other than white men to join.
So to support your F1 comparison, you link to a TV channel’s marketing page for the AC. Not only that, the marketing blurb you linked to explicitly states that AS has more in common with flying than actual sailing, so your “120 affiliated yacht clubs” line is less relevant than “46 Aero clubs in NZ”.
But then planes are also pricey things, too, so there’s that in common as well…
But how does your F1 (because you brought it in here, even if it’s a term invented by an AC marketing firm) comparison negate the fact that it’s primarily a rich person’s event?
A DIY/hardware store sponsors rugby competitions.
A designer luggage firm sponsors the AC precursor.
“But how does your F1 (because you brought it in here, even if it’s a term invented by an AC marketing firm) comparison negate the fact that it’s primarily a rich person’s event”
Its not a rich persons event.
Some professional sports people are well paid, that is not a reason not to watch football, tennis, golf, rugby, cricket etc
Plenty of sports people are paid shit loads more than these sailors.
@Naki Man If so many are so interested in America’s cup, get them to get their hands in their pockets and pay for the venue build rather than ratepayers and taxpayers. Nope not happening. Thought so. User pays seems so arbitrary in NZ.
And also maybe the America’s cup fans can fund the ongoing maintenance cost of the project which will be unknown due to climate change.
Most Aucklander’s would like our council to focus on daily issues facing Aucklanders, like constant road works, construction, detours and chaos and the constant resource constants ready to decimate a place near you so that someone can make a $$.
But nope, it’s all about looking good for other people for one off televised events and support offshore big business like SkyCity, and then back handedly give over assets to COO’s or the like, which have been somehow created to be the worst of both worlds, being funded by ratepayers and having no responsibility to ratepayers.
Here’s another area in which information collected is woefully inadequate.
The effect Airbnb is having on our rental stock.
I’m not talking about the spare room or even the granny flat Airbnbs, but the apartments and three bedroom houses removed from the rental market because owners of these secondary properties find being amateur hoteliers more attractive than being amateur landlords.
8000 Airbnb properties were listed in Auckland over the summer. That’s a huge amount of rental property not available long term. Same goes for other areas where there is a housing crisis, Queenstown and Taupo.
The issue I have, like the lack of information about foreign resident house buyers highlighted by Phil Twyford, there is absolutely no information about how much Airbnb is damaging the rental market in NZ. We hear the rental listings are down 50% from last year alone but absolutely no questions nor inquiry as to why. It’s not house sales because volumes are down and first home buyers are locked out.
on what? What MB was talking about? Or your interpretation? If you’re going to drop stupid comments when someone has raised a perfectly valid political issue, then expect to be called on it.
Your smug answer is why I dislike the right wing so much. The world literally starts and finishes with themselves, and no regard is shown for anyone else.
I haven’t seen the details but the initial impression I got was that that move was more about protecting the hotel sector rather than the rental market.
It’d be interesting to know what the average Airbnb stay is in NZ, and region by region. All essential data for a country struggling with housing but like offshore purchase data, seemingly suppressed.
The commercial accomodation sector here seems ambivalent about short term rentals from a competition perspective. But they are being fucked over as hard as prospective tenants by the properties being removed from the rental pool.
It’s their staff that can’t find accomodation because of Airbnb houses and appartments. The lack of rental properties affects all sectors, but hospo has less scope to pass the cost on to customers. Tradies and the like just pass it on or think they can absorb it.
I’d agree but I guess you still need to let these operations run for the sake of tourists wanting some choice and for people wanting to let their place for a week when they are away, or for people who have a spare room or granny flat which is suitable for short stays.
The problem is when houses owned by amateur landlords needed for medium to long term rentals are taken out of the market. They need the shit regulated out of them so they think twice about being hoteliers.
Solutions, well the new rules in Queenstown will pretty much prohibit whole property / unit short term rentals in residential areas. Might be a few that would get a non-complying consent, but very few. Letting the spare room won’t be affected but that doesn’t seem to be a problem. There’s a couple of proposals for high density worker’s accomodation, one seems to be go http://www.newground.co.nz/remarkables-park-apartments/ . There’s proposals for the same sort of thing in Gorge Road including the old HIgh School. They are coming rather late in the cycle so might not happen, or struggle and end up as something else, but there’s plenty of other developments with that potential outcome around here.
The last worker accomodation complex built here followed similar timing last cycle. 2nd mouse got the cheese with that one.
A ballot for four Member’s Bills was held this morning. One of the bills drawn from the biscuit tin was:
Psychoactive Substances (Increasing Penalty for Supply and Distribution) Amendment Bill: Simeon Brown (N) *
– This bill amends the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013 to increase the penalty for selling or supplying psychoactive substances that are not approved products in line with the penalties for the supply of Class C drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.
Now such substances are not my area of expertise, but possibly in my ignorance it seemed somewhat ironic/cruel that this bill was drawn today, after the failure to get Chloe Swarbrick’s Members bill through first reading last night.
Correct me if I am wrong, but would this bill, if passed, increase the penalties on green fairies for supplying and distributing medicinal cannabis ?
Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill : Kieran McAnulty (L)
– This bill would ensure that employees employed by one employer, but working under the control and direction of another business or organisation, are not deprived of the right to coverage of a collective agreement covering the work being performed for that other business or organisation, and ensure that such employees may join the other business or organisation that is party to any personal grievance action.
Crimes (Offence of Blasphemous Libel) Amendment Bill :Angie Warren-Clark (L)
– This bill amends the Crimes Act 1961 to repeal section 123, removing the offence of blasphemous libel from New Zealand statute.
Accident Compensation (Recent Migrants and Returning New Zealanders) Amendment Bill : Melissa Lee (N)
– This bill amends the Accident Compensation Act to ensure that migrants and returning New Zealanders who are not eligible for superannuation at the qualification age remain eligible for weekly compensation.
FENZ is responding multiple fires around the region. Here is their update on what’s happening.
Old Tai Tapu Road – Fire is under control, monitoring stage.
Clark’s & Hudson’s Road, Tai Tapu – Multiple crews and helicopter in attendance.
Cass Bay – Multiple crews and helicopter in attendance.
Carter’s Road, Lincoln – reignition of small fire, 1 tanker in attendance.
Rotherham – reignition of burn off, crews currently responding.
Weedons Ross Road – Large hedge fire, crews currently responding.
Newtons Road – Scrub fire, crews currently responding.
“Because they the politicians know ,… that if they tried on that fascist shit too hard,… we would take them out the back against the wall , execute them, and go home to have a cup of tea. NZ is more heavily armed than the US per capita.”
I think you need to have a good lie down
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
I think you are showing you dislike harmless comedy as a way to keep these wannbe fascists in line and advocate instead , … what goes on in a large number of countrys today as we speak…
You’d rather have actual bloodshed in the streets rather than simple humour where no one gets hurt but a few errant wankers who thought they could misuse their elected officialdom as a leverage for self serving own gains learn ( albiet slowly as they are generally slow thinkers ) that no , they cannot force a public to believe their lies ?
What is it that scares the hell out of powerheads, fascists, liars, frauds and political manipulators about guns?
And honesty?
Is it the fact the they need to answer to the public they claim to serve ?
Or is it the likes of the American Constitution that states that is the public’s right to bear arms against a government that has been deemed to be working against the people in an oppressive way?
Are you some sort of lilly livered gutless communist , freak boy?
Dont you believe in a balanced democracy ?
Hint : people all over the world use guns , – yes guns, – to fight for a democratic election.
Are you saying that’s wrong you anti democratic freak ?
USA and Oz are the two nations with a majority receiving fluoridated water (near 50% here).
In 2010, a U.S. study determined that “40.7% of adolescents aged 12–15 had dental fluorosis. In response, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services together with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reduced the recommended level of fluoride in drinking water to the lowest end of the current range, 0.7 milligrams per liter of water (mg/L), from the previous recommended maximum of 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L in recognition of the increase in sources of fluoride such as fluoridated toothpastes and mouthwashes (Wikipedia).
In 2016 in a move to better align with international best practice, Watercare has reduced Auckland’s target fluoride levels from 0.85 parts per million to 0.7ppm.
Yet the national recommendation remains for .7 to 1.0.
Most Europeans do not have fluoridation in their water, they take the mass medication argument more seriously – people can get fluoride in their toothpaste, or in tablets (placed in water they clean their teeth with) or in mouthwash.
The advantage once gained from fluoridating water is nullified by negated by modern dental care practice in areas without fluoridation of water – in the so called risk areas the real problem is sugar in drinks.
IMO there is a good case for moving our national recommendation to reduce fluoridation levels to the 0.5 to 0.7 range. A .7 max, later reduced to .5 over time. So it better reflects what it now is, a support for proper dental care. And in line with that bring in nationwide provision of dental care to the public.
Out of a population of about three-quarters of a billion, under 14 million people (approximately a mere 2%) in Europe receive artificially-fluoridated water. Those people are in the UK (5,797,000), Republic of Ireland (3,250,000), Spain (4,250,000), and Serbia (300,000).
The first water fluoridation in Europe was in West Germany and Sweden in 1952, bringing fluoridated water to about 42,000 people. By mid-1962, about 1 million Europeans in 18 communities in 11 countries were receiving fluoridated water.
Many European countries have rejected water fluoridation in general. This includes: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Scotland,Iceland, and Italy. A 2003 survey of over 500 Europeans from 16 countries concluded that “the vast majority of people opposed water fluoridation”.
Winnie wins again, with the defeat of Swarbrick’s drug bill. Awesome stuff, and boy, did she throw her toys out of the cot. Why should National grant the Greens any favours? The Greens would not even phone Bill for a chat post electiion. Who was playing politics then? Not to mention, they sold out the Kermedecs for power Ethics not, and Green, not.
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 ...
Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
Chris Trotter writes – Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…Gary Judd KC writes – I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
Is the economy in another long stagnation? If so, why?This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be ...
The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Asia Pacific Report Following an open letter by Auckland University academics speaking out in support of their students’ right to protest against the genocidal Israeli war on Gaza, a group of academics at Otago University have today also called on New Zealand academic institutions to “repair colonial violence” and end ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Linda J. Graham, Professor and Director of the Centre for Inclusive Education, Queensland University of Technology Ryan Tauss/ Unsplash, CC BY Two male students have been expelled from a Melbourne private school for their involvement in a list ranking female students. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The Reserve Bank is now assuming Australians will see no interest rate cuts this year – and quite possibly none before the next federal election, due next May. That’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University The Victorian budget offered more of the same on Tuesday, with the only change being how the budget papers were packaged. The usual shrink wrap was gone, hinting at savings in the pages ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Coalition is demanding extensive amendments to the government’s legislation targeting non-citizens who refuse to co-operate with their removal. In a dissenting report to the senate inquiry into the legislation, the Coalition says it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vanita Yadav, Senior Research Fellow, Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University Brett Boardman/Belvoir The complex and grappling issue of violence against women takes centre stage in the soul-stirring solo dance drama Nayika: A Dancing Girl. During a dinner conversation ...
Disruption to patient care from a nationwide junior doctors strike is bordering on unsafe, a senior doctor claims, despite what health officials say. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Diepstraten, Senior Research Officer, Blood Cells and Blood Cancer Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute Ground Picture/Shutterstock The anti-cancer drug abemaciclib (also known as Vernezio) has this month been added to the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to treat certain ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominic McAfee, Postdoctoral researcher, marine ecology, University of Adelaide Robbie Porter, OzFish Unlimited Around Australia, hundreds of people are coming together to help a once-prized, but decimated and largely forgotten marine ecosystem. They’re busy restoring Australia’s native oyster and mussel reefs. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sara Webb, Lecturer, Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology Austin Human/Unsplash How does Earth stop meteors from hitting Earth and hurting people? –Asher, 6 years 11 months, New South Wales Alright, let’s embark on a meteor ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rory Mulcahy, Associate Professor of Marketing, University of the Sunshine Coast Professional sports organisations regularly promote and develop initiatives to support diversity, equity and inclusion. While sport has the power to change attitudes by sparking conversations about political issues and social ...
Comment: The weekly Monday post-Cabinet press conference is a useful forum for observing Christopher Luxon and how he is developing into the job of Prime Minister. He attempts to convey the impression of a man of action, speaking fast, delivering memorised National Party strategies in a connect-the-slogans kind of way, ...
Double votes, missing ballot boxes, tired tech and stressed staff: how tick-tallying went astray at last year’s election. Cast your mind back to November 2023, that bleary-eyed post-election period duringwhichwewaited, andwaited, for a coalition deal to be hammered out. A distraction from the hotel-hopping of our ...
International audiences are starting to discover what New Zealand already knew about After the Party.When After the Party aired in New Zealand last year, the response was fast and furious. In his preview for Rec Room, Duncan Greive said it was a “gritty, wrenching and highly confronting” series. By ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shahram Akbarzadeh, Convenor of the Middle East Studies Forum (MESF), and Acting Director the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University Iran’s leadership has been a direct beneficiary of the months-long war in Gaza. With every missile that Israel fires ...
Claire Mabey reviews the haunting and sexy debut novel from Sinéad Gleeson, who is about to touch down in Aotearoa for a string of live events.When Irish writer Sinéad Gleeson was in Aotearoa in 2018 with her spectacular collection of essays, Constellations, she told me she was working on ...
PNG Post-Courier Bougainville Affairs Minister Manasseh Makiba has described the Post-Courier’s front page story yesterday regarding a meeting between Bougainville and national government leaders as “sensationalised” and without substance. The Autonomous Bougainville Government (AGB) had warned it might use “other avenues to gain its independence” should the PNG government “continue ...
Where some saw the worst press conference given by the government to date, Anna Rawhiti-Connell recognised girl maths game.Nicola Willis, recently exasperated by comparisons to Ruth Richardson, said she was “a bit sick of being compared with every female finance minister that’s ever been out there.”Some think that’s ...
The March results are reported against forecasts based on the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2023 (HYEFU 2023), published on 20 December 2023 and the results for the same period for the previous year. ...
Jamie Arbuckle, the district councillor who became an MP but decided to keep getting paid for both roles, will instead donate one salary to charity. ...
Adding gender to the Human Rights Act would simply make the implicit explicit. So why is it so controversial? Paul Thistoll explain. At present, Aotearoa’s 1993 Human Rights Act (HRA) includes sex, marital status, religious belief, ethical belief (meaning a lack of religious belief), colour, race, ethnicity or national origin, ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, an 18-year-old who’s studying and working in hospo shares their approach to spending and saving. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.Gender: Transmasc Age: 18 Ethnicity: Pākehā/Māori Role: Student, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Kelsey, Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Resources Minister Shane Jones has reportedly asked officials for advice on whether oil and gas companies could be offered “bonds” as compensation if drilling rights offered by ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Gleeson, Associate Professor of Law, Macquarie University Shutterstock The Albanese government is weighing up the costs of delivering an election promise to protect religious people from discrimination in Commonwealth law. Such protections were relatively uncontroversial when included in state anti-discrimination ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yen Ying Lim, Associate Professor, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio Dementia is often described as “the long goodbye”. Although the person is still alive, dementia slowly and irreversibly chips away at their memories and the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Judy Bush, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, The University of Melbourne Adam Calaitzis/Shutterstock I met with a friend for a walk beside Merri Creek, in inner Melbourne. She had lived in the area for a few years, and as we walked ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Throsby, Distinguished Professor of Economics, Macquarie University Arts companies and individual artists in Australia are supported by government arts agencies, philanthropists, industry bodies, private donors and patrons. However, it is frequently overlooked that a major source of support for the arts ...
Harm Reduction Coalition Aotearoa, a new incorporated society dedicated to ending harmful drug policies, officially launched today, seeks a new fit-for-purpose drug law for Aotearoa New Zealand, rooted in science, experience and evidence. ...
The Corrections Minister admits he "muddied the water" after he and the Prime Minister repeatedly provided incorrect information about a $1.9 billion prison spend-up. ...
It took a post-post-cabinet statement to confirm that 810 new beds will be built at Waikeria, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Lili Tokaduadua was only 15 when she left her family in Fiji to pursue her netball dream in New Zealand. She’d been playing the sport for 10 years and was offered a netball scholarship at Auckland’s Howick College. Now, in her first year out of high school, the 19-year-old defender ...
The beloved local grocers lost a legal challenge to stop a new cycleway outside their store. Joel MacManus reports. In the annals of New Zealand legal history, there are a few brave people who have dared to stand up to the powers that be, no matter how bleak the odds ...
How what we produce and what we eat connects us to the world beyond our shores, visualised. Walking around a supermarket or vege shop, it might be obvious that everything on the shelves came from somewhere. But you might ...
Professor Jemma Geoghegan, of the University of Otago, Otakou Whakaihu Waka, co-leads a Te Niwha project aimed at understanding how and where avian influenza could affect Aotearoa New Zealand, as the highly infectious H5N1 virus spreads globally. The virus has now spread to all continents except Oceania and was recently ...
Thirty years on from Rwanda’s genocide, is guilt over the atrocities is blinding the world to the true nature of its current leadership? The post The repressive underside of Rwanda’s regime appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Opinion: Last week, important recommendations for our criminal justice system were made by the international community. Every five years, each member of the United Nations has its human rights practices reviewed. This rolling event – the Universal Periodic Review – is the culmination of a government reporting on its human ...
Highly pathogenic avian influenza – H5N1, or bird flu – has been flying around the world since the late 1990s. New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands are so far free of it, but now it’s been discovered in mainland Antarctica and scientists say it’s only a matter of time ...
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The following interview with auto electrician and former caver Stu Berendt, 68, of Charleston on the West Coast, came about because he was part of the caving team that found the rare and amazing fossil remains of the giant Haast eagle, the subject of one of the year’s best books, ...
A $1.8b funding boost for Pharmac still won’t enable it to buy more drugs, raising questions about the Government’s approach to the agency The post Can Pharmac do more with the same pot of money? appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eric Stokan, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore County If you live in one of the most economically deprived neighborhoods in your city, you might think the government is directing a smaller share of public funds to your community. ...
Wansolwara The news media’s crucial role in climate change and environment journalism was the focus of The University of the South Pacific’s Journalism Programme 2024 World Press Freedom Day celebrations. The European Union Ambassador to the Pacific, Barbara Plinkert, and Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna were the chief ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Adams, Professor of Corporate Law & Academic Director of UNE Sydney campus, University of New England Last August, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) launched legal proceedings against Qantas. The consumer watchdog accused the airline of selling thousands of tickets ...
This episode of A View From Afar was recorded LIVE on May 6, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, May 5, 2024 at 8:30pm (USEST). In an analytical essay titled ‘A moment of friction’ political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan wrote how we are living within a decisive moment ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Taylor, Assistant Professor, Bond University Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures At the crux of the critical response to Luca Guadagnino’s new movie Challengers is one word: “sexy”. The film charts a love triangle between three up-and-coming tennis players: Tashi (Zendaya), ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenny Stewart, Professor of Public Policy, ADFA Canberra, UNSW Sydney For years, First Nations people have been telling governments they want to be listened to. In particular, they want more ownership of the programs and services that are supposed to help them. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Why do trees have bark? Julien, age 6, Melbourne. This is a great question, Julien. We are so familiar with bark on trees, that most of us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Nasser, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, University of Technology Sydney PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important ligament in the knee. It runs from the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia) and helps stabilise ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne I covered the May 2 United Kingdom local government elections for The Poll Bludger. The Blackpool South parliamentary byelection was also held, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deanna Grant-Smith, Professor of Management, University of the Sunshine Coast The federal government has announced a “Commonwealth Prac Payment” to support selected groups of students doing mandatory work placements. Those who are studying to be a teacher, nurse, midwife or social ...
Come on guys be nice we have a good thing going on you are friends I admire your work and support your show Breakfast TVNZ1 as I can see that your reporting is not influenced to much by people with vested interest .I see others were trying to use some dumb attacks on the Breakfast show using that same word I dislike very much race I don’t care who does the reporting so long as the message is factual fair and unbiased sorry about the burn yesterday but you do get a rateings bust from eco Ka pai
The west has a cheek casting stones at China about free SPEECH when I have not seen any articles with headlines of GLOBAL WARMING /CLIMATE CHANGE and this is the person who has influenced this phenomenon the bully .
https://i.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/101060523/us-president-donald-trumps-state-of-the-union-a-diatribe-against-immigrants
So Americas can manipulate all New Zealand’s media well I say they can manipulate our Governments policy’s. There manipulation will always be better for the 1% and who gives a stuff about the common people the sheep this is the way I see it plane and clear .
Ana to kai
Come on Mike I can see that your views have been influenced by something else ?? I will keep discrediting national till I see that there policy s change to benefit all the people of Aotearoa not just the 1% In my view the last leader that national had that has the same view as ECO MAORI was The Honorable Jim Bolger and they rolled him out of the Prime Minsters Job . Business do not make a country great Its the people all the people with disposable income to enjoy all the beauty and bounty of
Aotearoa at the minute most people can not afford to take days off for a holiday they also cannot afford to pay for a holiday. Rents need to be included in OUR Consumer price index to fix this iniquity .This is the most expensive item of most peoples lives and its farcical to be left out of the Consumer price index ??????? Ka kite ano
Come on Mike I can see that your views have been influenced by something else ?? I will keep discrediting national till I see that there policy s change to benefit all the people of Aotearoa not just the 1% In my view the last leader that national had that has the same view as ECO MAORI was The Honorable Jim Bolger and they rolled him out of the Prime Minsters Job . Business do not make a country great Its the people all the people with disposable income to enjoy all the beauty and bounty of
Aotearoa at the minute most people can not afford to take days off for a holiday they also cannot afford to pay for a holiday. Rents need to be included in OUR Consumer price index .This is the most expensive item of most peoples lives and its farcical to be left out ??????? Ka kite ano
Many thanks to Breakfast show for interviewing Dean Wicliffe his real life views on OUR Draconian justice system is the same as mine. It sucks our youth in and spits them out a bum in 20 to 30 years because of the fast pace changes in our society they cannot cope . It wont be long before one will need competence computation skills just to survive/ get help in Aotearoa.
As for freedom campers well easy as humane fix charge a bit more at the border and provide the services that are need for the freedom campers . I don’t believe in fines as some bad people can use them as a weapon / tool control ______with people I pumped all my work out in 2 days to limit my exposure to you Know who. Ka kite ano
I see some more photos are going around of me and my whano probable when I was at the pools or the lake entertaining my mokos I am proud of the genetics my tepunas gifted me there is nothing wrong with a big chest I say I could easily tone up if I had the leisure time to exercise I wont buy a ride-on mower as pushing a mower keeps me fit I dont like wasting money on fitness so I get payed for my exercise as for plastic surgery I have seen many stuff ups you don’t get nothing for nothing there is always a cost in the end .
I would rather spend the money on improving OUR mokos lives .Any smart ass comments about my physical appearance is like water off a ducks back . As I have already been conditioned to handle this human trait when I was a child .
Ka kite ano
You had better download the images you are talking of ecomaori otherwise it is mystifying.
This is for you greywarshark your pseudonym gives you away even though you try to be a shark and lie about your real motives you should know better than to ______ eco maori you got burned the last times you tried this .This is the proof I have been looking for on your sand fly m8 I have know that they are doing exactly what Richard Graeme has done and more and the people are still blinded by there shiny objects did they give you another big check GWS enjoy I know they are scared and pissed off. I have seen many people benefit from the sandflys dumb ass persecution of ECO MAORI IE bribes to there contracted lyres . here the link.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11985283
ANA TO KAI
here is some thing to
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11983979
I think I should have stayed out of that debate GREENS MEDICAL BILL the state is fighting me tooth and nail trying to take the wind out of the sails of my WAKA but sorry its to late now Idiots dont treat people the government will realize that there neo liberal state employees are leading them down the wrong path I see that Jacinda has long term plans in place so thats all good Ka kite ano
I am still mystified eco maori but will withdraw from communication with you if it brings on paranoia.
CoL politician crying that opposition did not support her bill, rather than asking why the CoL wouldn’t support. Looks like Greens are “Government Window Dressing”
#greensremainlosers
What an unpleasant comment.
Only made unpleasant by your MP complaining on national media that the bill failed because of National. Silly me, there was I thinking the CoL had a majority
I note that David Farrar advocated that MPs send Swarbrick’s bill to select committee.
Quite unusual in a conscience vote for one of the major party’s MPs to vote in unison. I wonder whether it’s ever happened before.
Re your second para, I cannot remember any instance of a major party’s MPs voting in unison in a conscience vote but don’t have time right now to check. I certainly recall a number of times that voting in unison appears to be a requirement of NZF MPs, however!
But last night’s vote in unison by National MPs seemed quite a turnaround from comments in the previous days – and earlier yesterday – by a number of National MPs that they might support the bill to select committee at least.
However, there was indications of a heavy-hand approach in remarks by English and others before yesterday that just a few Nat MPs had been give dispensation to vote for the bill for personal reasons – rather than leaving it as a conscience vote for all Nat MPS.
Then IMHO, the speculation of leadership challenges yesterday morning led to some pretty heavy remarks from English denying any challenges. These included remarks* about internal party discipline, working as a team etc etc which could be read as aimed at Nat MPs rather than just public statements. These may have well persuaded Nat MPs that this was definitely not the time to exercise their conscience vote rights on the Greens’ Bill.
* Heard these on one of the many RNZ news items yesterday pm but cannot identify exactly which one without a lot of time and trawling through these.
I note that today English is also making statements to the effect that he does not expect leadership to be discussed at the Nat Party Caucus two day retreat in Tauranga next week. We will see. (When and where was that Bridges’ BBQ?)
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/349382/english-remains-confident-of-leadership
Well I hope some of those National MPs have uneasy consciences.
People will suffer unnecessarily because they allowed themselves to be bullied by Bill and Paula.
Ed
I presume you’ll be extending your “uneasy consciences” criticism to Labour MP’s who voted against the bill as well as to Labour’s Coalition partner NZ First, who also voted enmass against the bill?
Equally “People will suffer ……because they allowed themselves to be bullied by” Labour MPs and NZ First MPs. I assume you mean this too to be fair?
Looking at the politics of this through a different lens; its curious to me as to why the Greens were not able to get their coalition partners to provide enough support for this bill to at least get it to the committee stages. After all the Greens are bending over backwards to support legislation that is unpalatable to them ( e.g. the waka jumping bill).
My advice to the Greens is to withdraw their support for that piece of legislation in particular (the waka jumping bill) given the disdain by which they have been treated on Swarbrick’s bill..
Yes.
What bullying?
Considering the support out in the population the Greens shouldn’t have needed to get support. As a ‘democracy’ the people’s representatives should have followed the people wishes and supported it.
I think that you’ll find that the waka jumping bill isn’t unpalatable to the Greens no matter how much you would like to think it is.
Draco
Ed made the “bullying” comment in his original post – I’m quoting him.
But you make a good point – what bullying? – and that is unclear to me to.
Perhaps Ed can enlighten us.
The difference I see is that Labour and NZF allowed for a true conscious vote, whilst English said it wasn’t, just that any could cross the floor if they wanted (and were willing to go see him and say they didn’t like what he said)… One was freedom of choice for the MPs and one was not
And I will add to that in respect of English and National by referring Grantoc etc to my comment at 2.1.1.1. above on what appears to be a major turnaround about midday yesterday in the ability of those National MPs who were considering voting for the Green Bill to exercise their free will – without possible repercussions.
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-01-02-2018/#comment-1442111
Ed has better things to do like advocate for a plant based diet. Now that Veganuary has ended there is never a better time to reconsider one’s eating habits.
No you weren’t. Ed made it quite clear that he was referring to the National party being whipped on a conscience vote.
You know something? The MPs are their to represent the people. 80% of the people want medicinal cannabis and more than 50% want full legalisation including recreational use.
By not voting for this bill those MPS failed to do their job of representing us.
Ny not voting for it they proved that we do not live in a democracy.
Yes the type of attitude that lauds over their destructive behaviour as ‘winning’ with an overuse of the first person like it’s ‘your’ MP rather than an MP.
By a person’s name shall they be known.
SoD = “born-to-ruler” ethos. Still grieving loss of power.
Meanwhile, those in pain and in need of cannabis are still suffering.
Good effort by new MP outside of government.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/101038343/controversial-medicinal-cannabis-bill-expected-to-come-down-to-wire
“The bill lost 47 votes to 73, with both every National and NZ First MP voting against it”
“Of the 46 Labour MPs in Parliament 38 voted for the bill, along with every Green Party MP and ACT leader David Seymour.”
I guess its easier for her to blame National rather than blame NZFirst and the Labour MPs that didn’t vote for it
Swarbrick had her instructions – be blind to any Labour or NZF rejection of the bill.
Therefore, are you saying we shouldn’t expect the Greens to pressure the Government to bring forward the cannabis referendum?
The Greens should be calling out NZF and Labour (the MP’s who voted against). Not just National.
I want the Greens to pressure the Government on this issue.
“I want the Greens to pressure the Government on this issue”.
Ditto.
And seeing as Labour’s bill fails to protect the majority of suffering ill seeking to use it, the need for urgency still remains.
But do Shaw and the Greens have enough fight in them to apply that pressure?
Last I heard he was softening up supporters for the swallowing of some dead rats.
Yep.
Labour should have been whipped on this. It is disgraceful that they are supporting everything Winston wants (all weather race tracks) but won’t see this through to select committee.
It is disgraceful that some of Labour and all of NZF failed to get this to select committee.
Any more Labour votes would have been completely irrelevant.
Without any support from New Zealand First for it it would merely have failed by 65 to 55.
Isn’t it wonderful how New Zealand First can simply ignore anything the Green Party wants while the Greens must get immediately into line and vote for NZF proposals like fishing the Kermadecs and passing a Waka jumping bill?
Even if NZF supported it, those extra Labour votes would have been vital.
“Isn’t it wonderful how New Zealand First can simply ignore anything the Green Party wants while the Greens must get immediately into line and vote for NZF proposals like fishing the Kermadecs and passing a Waka jumping bill?”
It points to Peters experience and ability to negotiate. And leaves questions surrounding what are the Greens going to get for swallowing some dead rats.
And leaves questions surrounding what are the Greens going to get for swallowing some dead rats.
Breath that smells of rodent.
Price of power. Funny but sad, as we now go back to the days of Muldoon.
It seems to be easy for you chris 73 to back National in any disagreement. But simply, if National had allowed a conscience vote, some of them would have found one and supported medical cannabis.
More to the point: National Party MPs uniformly opposed to cannabis law reform, still living in the 1950s.
+1000000000
At some point the Greens need to wake up (or woke) to how they’re views by both Labour and NZFirst
National mouthpiece pretends to speak for Labour and NZ1st 🙄
Don’t you think it speaks volumes that all of NZFirst and some of Labour didn’t support the bill
yes, but the Greens were still right with their Bill. That NZF and some Labour MPs voted against it bears analysis but not of the Greens.
“That NZF and some Labour MPs voted against it bears analysis but not of the Greens”
An internal analysis of the Green’s and Labour’s negotiation and their ability to influence NZF may be worth considering.
A vote needs to be won before the show of hands.
Winston needs to see a utube clip of 20 clean-cut older folk speaking of the pain relief they find in cannabis that end their cameos with… ‘and I vote for Winston’s lot.’
The groundswell of support in our country indicates that it’s just a matter of time. Astute politicians strive to surf the crest of new waves.
Yes. It proves their anti-democratic bent.
Don’t you think it speaks volumes that all of NZFirst and some of Labour didn’t support the bill
It speaks volumes that all of NZ First and all of National didn’t – just goes to show that both are parties of small-minded parochial conservatives who are drastically out of step with the NZ population and shouldn’t be put in charge of running a country. Not seeing anything much about Labour in there.
Well heres the thing the Greens are selling their principles in backing the waka jumping bill and in return NZFirst didn’t support the Greens bill
No, the Greens aren’t selling their principles. They’ve obviously thought about it since Rod Donald’s time and realised that supporting waka jumping is the unethical position.
Of course there not “selling” their principles.
They are simply giving them away.
No, they’re not.
And you’re obviously lying because you’re still feeling butt hurt that National lost.
If you say so Dr Freud.
The Greens have said they will compromise on policy but not on the core principles. You’d have to demonstrate that what the Greens are doing undermines their core principles for your statement to be meaningful.
Are these “core principles” actually documented anywhere?
Is there a single place that spells out the things they would die in the ditch for as opposed to things they will abandon?
What are the things they will not comprise on in pursuit of the baubles of office.
They do have a web site, you know.
I know that Psycho.
It is here.
https://www.greens.org.nz/
I goes on and on and on with policies but that doesn’t help.
Weka is saying that they will compromise on policies but not on core principles. I cannot find anywhere where it says what the “core principles” are. If they aren’t listed anywhere a statement about them is being sacrosanct is quite meaningless.
Start with their constitution.
Then complain that there’s not a list of bullet points labelled “core principles” to help you autofill the “waste time” fields in your “distraction troll” interaction module.
I’m very confident the Greens don’t intend to die in a ditch. But, seeing as how you appear to be interested,
The charter is the founding document of The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand accepts Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand; recognises Maori as Tangata Whenua in Aotearoa New Zealand; and commits to the following four Principles:
Ecological Wisdom:
The basis of ecological wisdom is that human beings are part of the natural world. This world is finite, therefore unlimited material growth is impossible. Ecological sustainability is paramount.
Social Responsibility:
Unlimited material growth is impossible. Therefore the key to social responsibility is the just distribution of social and natural resources, both locally and globally.
Appropriate Decision-making:
For the implementation of ecological wisdom and social responsibility, decisions will be made directly at the appropriate level by those affected.
Non-Violence:
Non-violent conflict resolution is the process by which ecological wisdom, social responsibility and appropriate decision making will be implemented. This principle applies at all levels.
https://www.greens.org.nz/charter
In order to understand what those things meant to the Green Party, you would need to listen to what *they say about them, not just jump in with your own superficial interpretations based on your own thinking. I’ve written posts about this shit. Matt writes about it frequently. There’s plenty of discussion around about it if you pay attention.
Edit, Charter is linked at the bottom of the GP website front page.
Along with eight Labour MPs. Living in the past also? Good on them, God Bless, sanity prevailed. The Greens sold their soul to Winston for power, they traded nothing, could have worked out a deal for their support of the undemocratic Waka Jumping Bill…could have.
Parliament showing its inadequacy again. They were quick enough to legalize the infinitely more dangerous synthetics. It’s a sisyphaen task get anything past these backward numpties.
Agree, utter madness with the synthetics. The cannabis law reform bill should have moved onto the next stage.
It’s hard to be sure how much, but some degree of legalization should displace the synthetics, which despite the change in their legal status continue to kill and sicken people.
It would be great if a template letter was out there that could be sent by email to people’s local MPs expressing their disgust.
I could give it a go, but it would have more authority coming from a physician with expertise in the clinical issues and the standing of having had to treat the victims of the synthetic product. Mark Reeves (in Nelson) has spoken against it before.
Ha! That idea fascinates me Ed.
I saw a 60 Minutes interview with the whizz kid plucked from nowhere that was responsible for creating millions of different facebook ads targeted at the individual selling Trump.
A template email to express a particular concern is a rudimentary starting point but us humans work on emotions.
If writing to Kelvin Davis an intelligent template could pluck at his heartstrings.
“Saw you at the Taipa ramp last Tuesday Kelvin, you suggested I write.”
We can blame National, NZ First or Labour MPs who didn’t vote for the medical cannabis bill but the big picture is that New Zealand is run by “straights” as much as it was 40 years ago and based on this result it will be no different in another 40 years’ time. There is the expectation that as more and more people will accept cannabis use as okay, it will eventually become legal, especially as this is already happening in the United States and elsewhere but this is purely an assumption. It could indeed be accepted by half or more of the population but the people who control New Zealand society are conservative and will likely continue to have the power to keep it illegal. One only has to look at Jamaica which is known for its cannabis smokers where it remains highly illegal.
Back in the seventies they used to say “never trust a straight” and this remains true to this day.
esoteric p
+100
Sinking back into our cowpat ruts and school of mumbles about ivory-tower academics as in mid 1960’s it seems. Advance and be recognised – New Zealanders
who care about their country and their fellow citizens. Well? (Silence.) Oh heck!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/christchurch-life/art-and-stage/66191857/school-of-thought-on-the-dangers-of-intellectualism
(with 65 comments enlarging on the subject.)
Israel (or people acting in their defense) yet again display their epic levels of double standards without even pausing for breath,…
As usual, their argument…Israel is the most democratic country in the middle East.
Their actions….Sue ( read threaten) activists who wrote an open letter to a artist asking them not to tour ( and by default support) the apartheid regime of Israel.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018630217/nz-activists-face-legal-action-over-lorde-s-israel-snub
But then again, what else could one expect from a country that regards Donald J. Trump as it’s greatest and closest US presidential ally in generations…this one fact alone speaks volumes as to the depths to which Israel has allowed itself to sink.
Norman Finkelstein “called” this approach by the state of Israel – the claim that BDS wants to destroy Israel. It made him unpopular with the BDS movement. Thing is, although some might not “like” what he says, he’s bang on the money. He lays it out in this video interview from 2012. It’ll be difficult listening for some.
Noam Chomsky also opposed BDS:
https://www.thenation.com/article/israel-palestine-and-bds/
Finkelstein is supportive of BDS tactics. But he condemns their goal – the elimination of Israel.
And having quickly read the Chomsky piece, he makes the same point. Anarchist that he is, he also suggests a “no state” as a preferred alternative to a “two state” solution. 😉
I am in agreement with both Finkelstein and Chomsky, I think this is more about Israel (through proxies) threatening anybody,anywhere, even some young girls on the other side of the planet, for showing any kind of solidarity with Palestine through any action whatsoever, and is only about the BDS movement by default.
I’m thinking it’s the BDS agenda that’s giving the Israeli state its required leverage and it’s irrelevant in terms of pubic perception whether “Dayenu” (New Zealand Jews Against Occupation) that Justine Sachs set up agrees or endorses BDS’s agenda.
It’s a simple enough case of – Brush. Tar. Apply.
Seems it’s a Mossad affiliated wingnut welfare scam that supports it self by running “Intellitours” to Israel which include meet ups with Shin Bet assassins.
Her arguments are regularly rejected by courts. About 90 percent of the $1.6 billion in default judgments against no-show defendants including Iran, Syria, North Korea and the militant Palestinian group Hamas have not been paid.
[…]
Critics call it “lawfare,” abusing the courts to score political points. Some on the left have refused to face off with Ms. Darshan-Leitner on Israeli talk shows after she made what they saw as ridiculous statements, like suggesting that Israel drop a nuclear bomb on Tehran.
“She’s definitely a nuisance,” said Jonathan Arnon, an Israeli lawyer who has represented the Palestinian Authority opposite her. “She has a lot of resources. She tries and finds every niche and note and every possible argument whether it is relevant or not, to make fatigue.”
Even American lawyers who work on the same side have clashed with Ms. Darshan-Leitner over costs, and say she is a tangential part of the process.
“She’s pretty good at filing cases and putting out news releases, but she has really no involvement in actual litigation,” said one, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of ongoing cases. “There are U.S. lawyers who are actually litigating the case, putting up all the expenses, and then there’s this person in Israel who has her own narrative.”
[…]
Her organization, Shurat HaDin, Hebrew for letter of the law, was founded in 2003, and in 2012, the latest year financial reports were available publicly, had 11 employees, three with salaries topping $100,000. It retains not one but two public relations firms, in Israel and New York, pitching Ms. Darshan-Leitner’s perspective on the news. She said the annual budget was $2.5 million, but declined to name her donors, citing security concerns.
The group requires a $600 to $5,000 donation for participants in its mission to Israel, featuring briefings by intelligence agents and observations of military court trials. This summer, it is offering an activist lawyer’s training seminar, with an agenda that includes combating boycotts of Israeli products and defending Israeli soldiers against charges of war crimes.
She claims to have collected $150 million from the various court victories but would not specify which clients got what, citing security again. And she asked that the West Bank settlement where she and her American-born husband, also a lawyer, built a large, immaculate home, not be named, for fear of reprisal.
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/24/world/middleeast/crusading-for-israel-in-a-way-some-say-is-misguided.html
The so-called foreign buyer house ban (unless you are Australian or from Singapore or are buying a new house or…)
Input from the Auckland Law Society…
“Lawyers fear $20,000 fines for failing to give information on foreign investors’ citizenship status and say they would be forced into an impossible position by the Government’s planned foreign house-buyer ban.”
“A strongly-worded 23-page Auckland District Law Society submission has gone to the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee, objecting to putting the onus on lawyers and conveyancers for checking the citizenship status of trusts, companies and people if the new law is passed.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11985268
Maybe they could use the Twyford test? if the surname sounds foreign then they are foreign 🙂
WTF?
Isn’t that what lawyers are supposed to do?
Check stuff to make sure it complies with the law?
Lawyers complaining about having to do their job shocker.
AND if there is a genuine problem that is what the select committee is for.
Sure but the solution seems to be a better register of companies and people ensuring citizenship can easily be checked rather than throwing the whole lot out as the lawyers seem to want to do.
It would, of course, be simpler and better to ban offshore ownership.
YES Thats ok too.
I’m not sure if the lawyers are bleating about a change in law made when they were finally brought under money laundering legislation … after years and years of delay.
Lawyers are a major part of the money laundering and tax evasion networks ….
In Britain they escaped reporting obligations under their supposed ‘tightening’ of tax haven & money laundering regulations ….. Lawyer client confidentiality
Which would be the same loop-hole they will try and use here …..
Chucks just too shy to say so.
No no, foreign is ok its those Chinese-sounding names thats the problem 🙂
Save the anti Chinese propaganda. I’d say the NZ government is so frightened of offending the Chinese that they are leaving most of NZ open for sale. The bill does not go far enough – learn from the Chinese government who do not sell land at all and make sure that any assets are partnered with Chinese only.
Its the secrecy which is the problem Puck …. http://www.sarawakreport.org/2017/01/trust-us-new-zealand-can-hide-your-money/
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2014/08/new-zealand-companies-offices-612mn-money-laundering-snooze.html
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/four-chinas-most-wanted-residing-in-auckland
https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/money/83450345/Court-orders-forfeiture-of-42-85-million-in-alleged-money-laundering-case … ” They were alleged to have assisted in money laundering and various property associated with them was restrained, including three Auckland properties,” ….
No, foreign ownership is the problem and it needs to be stamped out.
They’re lawyers – it’s their job to ensure that everything in a contract conforms with the law.
If they get fined, well, maybe they shouldn’t have broken the law.
“Migrant worker describes ‘modern day slavery’ scam”
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/339373/migrant-worker-describes-modern-day-slavery-scam
Shocking, inspite of a recording of the scam the immigration service did not bother to pursue it! Cheating is cheating and exploitation is exploitation!
I feel sick when I go around and increasingly you are seeing beaten down migrants toiling away in cafes, restaurant and hotels all around the country, probably caught up in this slavery practise that has been allowed to flourish for years.
For every reason, human rights to the victims, criminal activity, our lower and lower waged economy from this slavery practise and our NZ’s business reputation and tourism, this practise should be stamped out, immediately, and under cover operations started to catch the corrupt immigration officials and agents and the employers.
I concur utterly! I see sensible commentary from the likes of Alistair McClymont and some at RNZ who’ve maintained an interest and continue to monitor things.
The past 9 years have encouraged exploitation….even today anybody is encouraged to become an ‘immigration consultant’and many are at the healm of the exploitation – with cosy little links and alliances to some of the dodgy PTEs, recruitment and labour supply companies, even now in building and home improvement scams.
What gets my goat most is that the victims get the blame whilst the exploiters continue on their merry way! The IAA should have been keeping a closer watch, but like the Labour Inspectorate and INZ itself, it’s been under resourced.
I doubt some of them actually quite understand how many lives they’ve come close to destroying whether through financial loss or respect in the communities they now live in.
FFS! NZ….do something about the exploiters without destroying their victims. That in itself would lower immigration numbers.
Currently I am travelling around places where I see the bullshit promises and claims made daily.
It really is quite pathetic.
And at the same time, I know of cases where people have already made a valuable contribution to NZ at great personal cost, and who are being put through hoops in order to stay.
I’m yet to be persuaded too that INZ and associated entities like the IAA should remain under MBIE. The record so far is very very ugly … but then maybe they’re relying on a new CEO. IF IT DOES, it’ll still be the ‘business of immigration’ based on economic imperatives rather than wider concerns.
About time the government cracked down on this too….
Student visa scheme exploited for residency
“New Zealand’s new permanent residents are now less skilled than five years ago, due to some international students exploiting the student visa scheme, official documents say.”
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/349104/student-visa-scheme-exploited-for-residency
Personally think it should say….
New Zealand’s new permanent residents are now less skilled than five years ago, due to poor international students courses operating in NZ, bad immigration legislation, zero oversite and crack down of the practise, bizarre ‘skilled’ categories like restaurant managers or cafe workers for fast food and low level IT workers being labelled as a way to get residency, employers wanting cheaper labour rather than quality and immigration agents exploiting the student visa scheme…
See 7.1 above @savenz.
One thing I’ve noticed between working in the public service in the 70s and post 80s reforms is that snr mngmnt Do Not like criticism – offered construcyively or not.
And sometimes pointing out the bleeding obvious can invite the full force of the state apparatus.
It’s quite pathetic at times.
MBIE’S FAILINGS are a matter of record under its previous CEO.
I sincerely hope things will change.
Considering the Green’s bill failed to get over the line. And seeing as the need for urgency still remains (i.e. Labour’s medicinal cannabis bill fails to protect the majority of the ill seeking to use it from prosecution). Evidently, it’s clear the cannabis referendum requires to be brought forward.
“Brian Rudman: Time to stop ‘gold-plated dream scheme’ for waterfront”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=11984685&ref=twitter
Shocking, the waterfront belongs to the Aucklanders and the harbour is being sacrificed to benefit certain business interests – it’s 2.0 – going from bananas to parking and less and less harbour.
BTW – it costs a lot to maintain man made wharves so not only will Aucklaners have to bear the cost of the wharves, have their harbour stolen, but there are also lasting costs – and who knows how much they will cost to maintain with climate change.
Government should step in and stop the Auckland council who when last polled got less than 20% satisfaction rate from ratepayers as well as doing complete balls up constantly for the environment and local business in their quest to concrete Auckland to provide big business more $ and opportunities at the expense of small and medium business and the community that funds them.
Auckland Council are pressing along irrespective of Parker’s misgivings.
Initial races are mid 2019 – very little time to build anything.
Even worse then to be looking to steal the harbour and reclaim the land. Remember America’s cup is a billionaire fringe sport we are talking about…. but everyone has to drop everything and destroy Aucklander’s heritage for this one off event, which will then probably be donated or sold off cheap to corporate interests for parking, ferries etc by stealth.
Given the shortage of time, shouldn’t the powers that be, look at other locations or why can’t they do what they did last time? Who bothered planning ahead, obviously not the America’s cup governance body or they would have something in place that did not involve stealing and creating a new wharf with public money with is obviously filled with pit falls and public opposition.
America’s cup is being used as a means to hijack public money and resources. Obviously a lot of snouts in the trough using the America’s cup to steal the harbour.
Just look at Tamaki drive, climate change is here. The north western highway had years of road works, millions of $$$ and delays to raise part of it, but flooded last time.
Whatever AT and NZ Transport does seems to be a disaster. Something wrong with their culture and ability to plan effectively and with minimal disruptions. They seem to be opportunists with little planning ability and more interest in grabbing money and taking away community say using excuses and using poor advice, that their strong arm tactics are working. I’d say not at all, transport wise, value for money and public satisfaction.
No hijack – all options were debated and voted in open Council session.
AT and NZTA have nothing to do with it.
Increased harbour footprint is tiny. Most of Auckland’s CB D, all of Victoria Park, and the whole rail system is on thousands of hectares of reclaimed land. So not even the fish will miss a few more metres.
All global sport is run by billionaires.
Deal with.
“No hijack – all options were debated and voted in open Council session.”
Except the option to not finance anything on the waterfront?
Yes we never got the chance to say we weren’t interested in funding corporate bludgers.
And don’t forget Phil Goff who was pretty much gifted the Mayoralty when the righties ran two righties against each other to split the vote so that super right TPPA posing as leftie supporting Goff could win.
Goff also campaigned on NOT taking more of the harbour but now back tracking with weasel semantics.
I love how lefties and politicians seems to be concerned about the lack of people voting and the loss of democracy, but don’t actually factor in the constant betrayals of what politicians campaign on, and political tricks to gain power.
More centralisation is madness.
People on the North Shore tell me there seems to be a load lot of cars there the last week or two, so traveling around the shore and along the northern motorway is becoming very time consuming.
There’s a long commute from Orewa – 2 hours this morning it took 1 person from Orewa to Takapuna. The queue of slow moving traffic southwards on the northern motorway was still there after 10am – and a long queue at the same time from Takapuna of people trying to head southwards at the same time
They’ve recently opened a new car park, and added buses for park and ride from Silverdale. new housing developments on the Hibiscus Coast, Warkworth, and Wellsford attracting more Aucklanders – so way more people commuting to the CBD because that’s where the work is.
And some corporate entities want another centralised attraction in the CBD.
More than Jesus is weeping.
“Remember America’s cup is a billionaire fringe sport we are talking about…. ”
Thats bullshit, America’s cup is a spectator sport. There are more than 120 affiliated yacht clubs in New Zealand – and more than 300,000 members.
Name one current America’s cup sailor who is a billionaire?
this is a reply to the above post
Take the billionaire-sponsored boats out of it, it’d be an even smaller competition.
It’s not about the number of teams in the event.
This is the F1 of yachting, in the city of sails. The city with more boats per capita than any other city in the world. You can try to pretend its not a big deal but millions of fans will be watching.
“F1 of yachting”.
Bollocks.
It’s more akin to the PGA tour, watching skilled professionals perform moderately boring tasks on rich-people’s facilities that only recently allowed someone other than white men to join.
“F1 of yachting”.
“Bollocks”
Here is a link to help with your ignorance of America’s cup.
A little research might stop you making a complete fool of yourself
https://www.kwese.com/news/949875/america’s-cup-f1-water
So to support your F1 comparison, you link to a TV channel’s marketing page for the AC. Not only that, the marketing blurb you linked to explicitly states that AS has more in common with flying than actual sailing, so your “120 affiliated yacht clubs” line is less relevant than “46 Aero clubs in NZ”.
But then planes are also pricey things, too, so there’s that in common as well…
“So to support your F1 comparison, you link to a TV channel’s marketing page ”
Its not my F1 comparision, Here is another link for your education.
I did say it “might” stop you making a fool of yourself
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sailing/2017/05/05/fast-furious-unashamedly-commercial-years-americas-cup-f1-water/
Only you could decribe this as a”moderately boring task”
Well, me and anyone who doesn’t watch it.
But how does your F1 (because you brought it in here, even if it’s a term invented by an AC marketing firm) comparison negate the fact that it’s primarily a rich person’s event?
A DIY/hardware store sponsors rugby competitions.
A designer luggage firm sponsors the AC precursor.
Says it all, really.
“But how does your F1 (because you brought it in here, even if it’s a term invented by an AC marketing firm) comparison negate the fact that it’s primarily a rich person’s event”
Its not a rich persons event.
Some professional sports people are well paid, that is not a reason not to watch football, tennis, golf, rugby, cricket etc
Plenty of sports people are paid shit loads more than these sailors.
And yet the spectators buy louis vuitton, not hammers…
Hey, I’ve got an afternoon free next weekend, do you want to take your carbon-fibre racing catamaran out for a kick around the park?
@Naki Man If so many are so interested in America’s cup, get them to get their hands in their pockets and pay for the venue build rather than ratepayers and taxpayers. Nope not happening. Thought so. User pays seems so arbitrary in NZ.
And also maybe the America’s cup fans can fund the ongoing maintenance cost of the project which will be unknown due to climate change.
Most Aucklander’s would like our council to focus on daily issues facing Aucklanders, like constant road works, construction, detours and chaos and the constant resource constants ready to decimate a place near you so that someone can make a $$.
But nope, it’s all about looking good for other people for one off televised events and support offshore big business like SkyCity, and then back handedly give over assets to COO’s or the like, which have been somehow created to be the worst of both worlds, being funded by ratepayers and having no responsibility to ratepayers.
Here’s another area in which information collected is woefully inadequate.
The effect Airbnb is having on our rental stock.
I’m not talking about the spare room or even the granny flat Airbnbs, but the apartments and three bedroom houses removed from the rental market because owners of these secondary properties find being amateur hoteliers more attractive than being amateur landlords.
8000 Airbnb properties were listed in Auckland over the summer. That’s a huge amount of rental property not available long term. Same goes for other areas where there is a housing crisis, Queenstown and Taupo.
The issue I have, like the lack of information about foreign resident house buyers highlighted by Phil Twyford, there is absolutely no information about how much Airbnb is damaging the rental market in NZ. We hear the rental listings are down 50% from last year alone but absolutely no questions nor inquiry as to why. It’s not house sales because volumes are down and first home buyers are locked out.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/101061077/taupo-rental-market-tight-but-exairbnb-homes-joining-market-might-offer-hope
If you don’t like it, don’t put your place on AirBNB.
A.
Good grief Antoine, did you read what MB said, or you just have no argument with it? Like has nothing to do with, it’s a housing crisis.
We’ll never see eye to eye on this
on what? What MB was talking about? Or your interpretation? If you’re going to drop stupid comments when someone has raised a perfectly valid political issue, then expect to be called on it.
I don’t own a rental property.
Your smug answer is why I dislike the right wing so much. The world literally starts and finishes with themselves, and no regard is shown for anyone else.
NZ can’t afford empty houses. Airbnb generates them.
Queenstown-Lakes is strongly regulating them for that reason in new District Plan.
I haven’t seen the details but the initial impression I got was that that move was more about protecting the hotel sector rather than the rental market.
Yeah, it’s more half arsed than strongly regulating. Trying to cover all their bases, but protecting renters is being compromised.
oh, and income generation for the council will be a factor too.
The hotels are definitely a political factor in Queenstown-Lakes politics, so I don’t doubt that’s a factor.
But it is also seeking to ensure more rental stock is focused on longer-term stays rather than very short term.
To couch it in commercial terms, if hotel staff have nowhere to live with good medium term secutiry, hotels can’t get the staff for their rosters.
It’d be interesting to know what the average Airbnb stay is in NZ, and region by region. All essential data for a country struggling with housing but like offshore purchase data, seemingly suppressed.
The commercial accomodation sector here seems ambivalent about short term rentals from a competition perspective. But they are being fucked over as hard as prospective tenants by the properties being removed from the rental pool.
It’s their staff that can’t find accomodation because of Airbnb houses and appartments. The lack of rental properties affects all sectors, but hospo has less scope to pass the cost on to customers. Tradies and the like just pass it on or think they can absorb it.
Kick Air B’n’B out of the country.
I’d agree but I guess you still need to let these operations run for the sake of tourists wanting some choice and for people wanting to let their place for a week when they are away, or for people who have a spare room or granny flat which is suitable for short stays.
The problem is when houses owned by amateur landlords needed for medium to long term rentals are taken out of the market. They need the shit regulated out of them so they think twice about being hoteliers.
It’s a worldwide problem, every tourist town in the world is grappling with the AirBnB effect. This was in Outside last July, you could change the names and it’s Queenstown, Wanaka or Taupo https://www.outsideonline.com/2198726/did-airbnb-kill-mountain-town
Solutions, well the new rules in Queenstown will pretty much prohibit whole property / unit short term rentals in residential areas. Might be a few that would get a non-complying consent, but very few. Letting the spare room won’t be affected but that doesn’t seem to be a problem. There’s a couple of proposals for high density worker’s accomodation, one seems to be go http://www.newground.co.nz/remarkables-park-apartments/ . There’s proposals for the same sort of thing in Gorge Road including the old HIgh School. They are coming rather late in the cycle so might not happen, or struggle and end up as something else, but there’s plenty of other developments with that potential outcome around here.
The last worker accomodation complex built here followed similar timing last cycle. 2nd mouse got the cheese with that one.
A ballot for four Member’s Bills was held this morning. One of the bills drawn from the biscuit tin was:
Psychoactive Substances (Increasing Penalty for Supply and Distribution) Amendment Bill: Simeon Brown (N) *
– This bill amends the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013 to increase the penalty for selling or supplying psychoactive substances that are not approved products in line with the penalties for the supply of Class C drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.
Now such substances are not my area of expertise, but possibly in my ignorance it seemed somewhat ironic/cruel that this bill was drawn today, after the failure to get Chloe Swarbrick’s Members bill through first reading last night.
Correct me if I am wrong, but would this bill, if passed, increase the penalties on green fairies for supplying and distributing medicinal cannabis ?
* Some background on Mr Brown – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simeon_Brown
——————————————————————————————————————
The other three bills drawn were:
Employment Relations (Triangular Employment) Amendment Bill : Kieran McAnulty (L)
– This bill would ensure that employees employed by one employer, but working under the control and direction of another business or organisation, are not deprived of the right to coverage of a collective agreement covering the work being performed for that other business or organisation, and ensure that such employees may join the other business or organisation that is party to any personal grievance action.
Crimes (Offence of Blasphemous Libel) Amendment Bill :Angie Warren-Clark (L)
– This bill amends the Crimes Act 1961 to repeal section 123, removing the offence of blasphemous libel from New Zealand statute.
Accident Compensation (Recent Migrants and Returning New Zealanders) Amendment Bill : Melissa Lee (N)
– This bill amends the Accident Compensation Act to ensure that migrants and returning New Zealanders who are not eligible for superannuation at the qualification age remain eligible for weekly compensation.
I think Brown’s Bill is aimed at synthetics.
Just looked it up, it wouldn’t apply to cannabis or other illegal drugs already controlled by law.
Definition is here http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2013/0053/latest/whole.html#DLM5278431
Some big ol’ waves in Nelson
A.
State of Emergency just declared in Dunedin due to flooding.
Wildfire near Chch (Governor’s Bay Rd) due to very hot and windy conditions.
Snow in the Southern Alps and on the inland Otago passes.
Multiple power outages today across the country.
Another fire west of Chch.
6,500 properties in Hokitika may be without power for 2 days.
FENZ is responding multiple fires around the region. Here is their update on what’s happening.
Old Tai Tapu Road – Fire is under control, monitoring stage.
Clark’s & Hudson’s Road, Tai Tapu – Multiple crews and helicopter in attendance.
Cass Bay – Multiple crews and helicopter in attendance.
Carter’s Road, Lincoln – reignition of small fire, 1 tanker in attendance.
Rotherham – reignition of burn off, crews currently responding.
Weedons Ross Road – Large hedge fire, crews currently responding.
Newtons Road – Scrub fire, crews currently responding.
https://www.ccc.govt.nz/news-and-events/newsline/show/2376
Raising my eyes that the Rotherham one.
“Because they the politicians know ,… that if they tried on that fascist shit too hard,… we would take them out the back against the wall , execute them, and go home to have a cup of tea. NZ is more heavily armed than the US per capita.”
I think you need to have a good lie down
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Really ?…
I think you are showing you dislike harmless comedy as a way to keep these wannbe fascists in line and advocate instead , … what goes on in a large number of countrys today as we speak…
You’d rather have actual bloodshed in the streets rather than simple humour where no one gets hurt but a few errant wankers who thought they could misuse their elected officialdom as a leverage for self serving own gains learn ( albiet slowly as they are generally slow thinkers ) that no , they cannot force a public to believe their lies ?
What is it that scares the hell out of powerheads, fascists, liars, frauds and political manipulators about guns?
And honesty?
Is it the fact the they need to answer to the public they claim to serve ?
Or is it the likes of the American Constitution that states that is the public’s right to bear arms against a government that has been deemed to be working against the people in an oppressive way?
Are you some sort of lilly livered gutless communist , freak boy?
Dont you believe in a balanced democracy ?
Hint : people all over the world use guns , – yes guns, – to fight for a democratic election.
Are you saying that’s wrong you anti democratic freak ?
Thats nice dear
Have a cup of tea and read about the causes of the English and French revolution, … ‘dear’.
Then have a lie down yourself, freak.
Thats nice dear
USA and Oz are the two nations with a majority receiving fluoridated water (near 50% here).
In 2010, a U.S. study determined that “40.7% of adolescents aged 12–15 had dental fluorosis. In response, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services together with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reduced the recommended level of fluoride in drinking water to the lowest end of the current range, 0.7 milligrams per liter of water (mg/L), from the previous recommended maximum of 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L in recognition of the increase in sources of fluoride such as fluoridated toothpastes and mouthwashes (Wikipedia).
In 2016 in a move to better align with international best practice, Watercare has reduced Auckland’s target fluoride levels from 0.85 parts per million to 0.7ppm.
Yet the national recommendation remains for .7 to 1.0.
Most Europeans do not have fluoridation in their water, they take the mass medication argument more seriously – people can get fluoride in their toothpaste, or in tablets (placed in water they clean their teeth with) or in mouthwash.
The advantage once gained from fluoridating water is nullified by negated by modern dental care practice in areas without fluoridation of water – in the so called risk areas the real problem is sugar in drinks.
IMO there is a good case for moving our national recommendation to reduce fluoridation levels to the 0.5 to 0.7 range. A .7 max, later reduced to .5 over time. So it better reflects what it now is, a support for proper dental care. And in line with that bring in nationwide provision of dental care to the public.
Sweden, Norway, Austria, Finland, China and more countries have banned fluoride.
We should up our game in terms of both dental care, and access to dentists to follow their lead.
Absolutely.
Let us follow Europe’s example.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluoridation_by_country
Winnie wins again, with the defeat of Swarbrick’s drug bill. Awesome stuff, and boy, did she throw her toys out of the cot. Why should National grant the Greens any favours? The Greens would not even phone Bill for a chat post electiion. Who was playing politics then? Not to mention, they sold out the Kermedecs for power Ethics not, and Green, not.