I have just been reading an article on Stuff about a South American tumbleweed type grass they call “Hairy Panic”.
It is an invasive species which has turned up in Victoria at Wangaratta, so deep cars were getting lost in it and they had to close the town’s main street.
A woman nearby posted photos on facebook, seeking help as it took over her yard, more than a metre deep, and was on to her verandah. A living moving sea of grass.
This could be another feature of travel…. introduced species becoming pests.
Google Hairy Panic grass for articles and photos off this strange plant.
Initially, my reaction was April 1st?
But no, there has been quite a bit about this grass on Australian and other media over the last week or longer. Plenty more links here.
Panicum effusum, commonly known as hairy panic, is a grass native to inland Australia.[2] It occurs in every mainland state,[3] as well as New Guinea. In dry conditions, the fast-growing grass can become a tumbleweed.
The weed is a constant problem for the area while another form of the grass, known as Hillman’s panic — a species which was introduced from southern America — is reported to be spreading across NSW from Victoria and South Australia.
Panicum hillmanii, commonly known as Hillmann’s panicgrass, is a grass from genus Panicum native to Southwestern United States.[1] It has been introduced to many other areas, notably including southern Australia where it became widespread,[2] and several parts of Europe.
It was introduced to Australia in the early 1900s, and has spread across South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania,[3][2] sharing the habitat with related native witchgrass (P. effusum).
This could be another feature of travel…. introduced species becoming pests.
Introduced species almost always become pests but I suspect that travel today is less likely to result in introduction of species due to border checks.
“But our survey found the vast majority, about 90 per cent of samples, were identified as Hillman’s panic grass (P. hillmanii). Hairy panic and witchgrass accounted for only five per cent and one per cent of samples respectively.”
Hillman’s panic grass is a noxious weed introduced from the southern United States to South Australia and Victoria in the 1900s.
Oh, Thanks for that. Very interesting. I can’t locate the article to re read it, but you sound like an authority on the subject. I read a piece on Google which said it is related to the dandelion. Is that true? Is tumble weed just a name to describe the seed dispersal?
A tumbleweed is a structural part of the above-ground anatomy of a number of species of plants, a diaspore that, once it is mature and dry, detaches from its root or stem, and tumbles away in the wind. In most such species, the tumbleweed is in effect the entire plant apart from the root system, but in other plants, a hollow fruit or an inflorescence might serve the function.[1] Tumbleweed species occur most commonly in steppe and arid ecologies, where frequent wind and the open environment permit rolling without prohibitive obstruction.[2]
Apart from its stele (i.e., primary vascular system and roots), the tissues of the tumbleweed structure are dead; their death is functional because it is necessary for the structure to degrade gradually and fall apart so that the propagules (that is, its seeds or spores) can escape during the tumbling, or germinate after the tumbleweed has come to rest in a wet location. In the latter case, many species of tumbleweed open mechanically, releasing their seeds as they swell when they absorb water.[3]
I admire this government for its refusal to support the lemming like rush to war against Russia.
Craig Murray was formerly British ambassador to Uzbekistan and provides a much needed alternative to the propaganda the western public has been bombarded with about the Skripal poisoning.
No evidence has been presented.
Winston Peters should fly to Moscow to look at signing a bilateral trade deal.
This would free us from the clutches of Washington and Beijing and show the world we are an independent nation, not a lackey of the US.
The Nats narrative continues….but they are laying it on a little too thick and obvious…people still like Jacinda and want to give her a chance so I reckon these unfair attacks will backfire.
Too many rules. MMA is better – sparring with a good friend is better still, so long as you have the emotional fortitude not to get upset by the occasional broken rib or fat lip
When a young bloke of ANY colour is wanting a way out of poverty and ratty jobs he will often start thinking about working to be a professional fighter of some kind.
Some join the military. Some become MMA fighters. Some are bouncers or enforcers. Some turn to boxing.
And where there aren’t any ‘rich white men’ there will certainly be men of other skin shades willing to pay for the training and overheads to see if their ‘prospect’ has what it takes to win them large-ish sums.
Cock fights, dog fights, rats in a pen. It doesn’t matter how illegal you make it all (and it has been) it still goes on. Must be a species thing.
“When a young bloke of ANY colour is wanting a way out of poverty and ratty jobs he will often start thinking about working to be a professional fighter of some kind.”
Stop with the patronising bs and do some research why don’t ya. Start with a simple google search on JP’s upbringing.
I could have said he was that far behind he had to go for the ko which would have meant forcing the issue and taking more hits but since I was posting between rounds I didn’t have the time. However anyone with even a basic knowledge of combat sports would get the gist of it, since you didn’t why even bother to post?
Puckish, it’s the language used. I know what it means, but the language, “beast mode”, is not the language of sport, or fair human competition. Rather it is the language of the arena.
I followed boxing in terms of Cassius Clay/Mohammed Ali as a young man.
Then I began to find the notion of two human beings, in the name of sport, trying to disable or knock each other unconscious distasteful, appalling even.
Now at 68 years old, with the adrenalin of the young a fading memory, I deliberately put my attention elsewhere.
I prefer the likes of Tom Walsh- strong, competitive, skilled, in a sport where the big, fast and powerful do harm to 7.2 kg iron balls.
We would if we could but when it is rammed down your throat by the so-called “News” media on every pathetic excuse of news bulletins, it hard to ignore it.
It is a pity the news media did not give the same in-depth coverage of Findlaysons breach of Dot Com privacy rights or the state of our health service after 9 years of Nationals incompetence, or the lack of bridges built by Bridges. Just a few items to get on with.
“We had friends around for a boxing breakfast. Very enjoyable and social.”
Bully for you. I have just realised how fortunate I am compared with you, as I have NO friends who are interested in that barbaric thuggery and they certainly would not be invited for breakfast to watch 2 males over bacon and eggs smashing shit out of one another creating future brain damage
It is not sport mate it is thuggery nothing more nothing less.
+1. Was going to reply to his sad comment but you did it better than I could have. Any society that considers two people in a contest where the object is to harm the other other human being is “sport” or “entertainment” is in a decline to cruelty and darkness.
“Bully for you. I have just realised how fortunate I am compared with you, as I have NO friends who are interested in that barbaric thuggery and they certainly would not be invited for breakfast to watch 2 males over bacon and eggs smashing shit out of one another creating future brain damage
It is not sport mate it is thuggery nothing more nothing less.”
All I can say – perhaps if you had a wider group of friends – perhaps with differing views, as opposed to a small group of people that can only think like you then perhaps, just perhaps you might end up a happier, more rounded person.
We also had hash browns, and black pudding.
But despite your passioned statement – Boxing IS a sport – Its in the olympics.
So – we can at least we agree you were wrong – that it is a sport.
Thats great.
Yes – I know knockouts can cause problems. Shall we ban all sports that have the potential for knockouts? Lets start with Rugby, League, Aussie rules, etc etc etc
So – we can at least we agree you were wrong – that it is a sport.
Sorry, how can I be wrong? I never said it wasn’t a sport James. I just said it was also thuggery. You must be thinking of someone else.
Nice try at whataboutism with other sports as well. The difference is that the potential for knockouts and brain damage is incidental to those other activities, whereas in boxing it’s the object.
Wrong guess as yes I have boxed. And no it’s no surprise to me that those who take part or watch don’t consider it’s thuggery.
But I suspect that any fan of blood sports thinks they are okay. Calling trying to give a fellow human being brain damage “a sweet science” is a wee bit of a stretch don’t you think?
That evidence will never be presented in any formal sense, because there’s never going to be a trial, because when someone is charged, the Kremlin (not “the Russians”) will refuse to extradite them, just like Lugovoy.
However, the fact that the Kremlin (not “the Russians”) has authored an ongoing series of self-contradictory bullshit stories and excuses makes them (the Kremlin, not “the Russians”) look as guilty as fuck.
Also, the fact that Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Albania, Australia, Canada, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Ukraine and the USA have expelled diplomats indicates that sufficiently persuasive evidence has been presented to convince them.
Whereas if the Kremlin presented a signed confession, you would claim the CIA forced them into it.
Diplomacy and justice are separate domains. This is why your house is being sold from under you: because you have no friggin’ idea which rules apply to which circumstances.
Is it “just like” that? Saddam never had WMD, and stuck to that story throughout. The intelligence services backed him up.
In this instance, the Kremlin makes contradictory excuse after contradictory excuse, their story changes multiple times a day, a chemical weapon has actually been used, and its use fits a well-established pattern.
What’s more, Putin boasted about it the day after it happened. I get it: lots of people are scared that Russia is ruled by a gang of poisonous trash. The UK and USA aren’t much better, and you really oughta stop lying to yourselves and face facts.
OAB,
not so hasty
Your reading of Putin’s “boast” fails to disclose the quote “As for the traitors “etc was actually made in 2010, some years after Litvinenko (who died in 2006) and some years before the Skripal poisoning .(2018)
As well the quote was purposely abbreviated to suggest the opposite of its meaning, and showcased on March 6th 2018 as if it was a current statement
A closer reading of the Telegraph article would have clarified that
You alongside several others were apparently fooled https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/40900/did-putin-threaten-to-have-traitors-assassinated
Those who serve us with poison will eventually swallow it and poison themselves.”
Speaking in an interview with the Russian state television, Mr Putin lavished US President Donald Trump with praise, describing him as a great communicator.
“I have no disappointment at all,” Mr Putin said when asked about the US president.
“Moreover, on a personal level he made a very good impression on me.”
OAB, that is not the2010 Telegraph link you were trying to say negated my post , which you sent me back to
However , if you want to run with your new link,.. thats hardly a boast
Its a pretty much solid observation..karma, what goes around comes around
I hadn’t noticed that you had ever linked to the 2018 news article, in our earlier exchanges you were most definitely talking about the Telegraph article which was supposed to have undermined my posts
Not enough evidence to convince JA though. I’d suggest that’s coz there is no evidence. The expulsions are symbolic only and good on JA for telling them to get fucked with their shitty symbolism.
Heather Duplicity-Allen calle for someone, anyone to be expelled for the sake of appearances. OAB, do you stand shoulder to shoulder with Duplicity-Allen on this?
Is it your position that JA is lying when she says “there is no plausible alternative to who else it could be…”?
Is it your position that she is lying when she says the SIS advises that there are no Kremlin henchmen Russian diplomats in NZ who meet the criteria for expulsion?
Do you think it’s likely that I agree with HdPA? Try Professor Geddis.
The media critics of the new government seem to have no recall of the fact National in 2008 had some new inexperienced ministers who took a while (and some, never) to become conversant with their portfolios. Likewise of Key who got away with all sorts of hiccups, with barely a whimper from them.
A relative started listening to HDP on the radio and was not impressed and this relative has been a Key supporter. Likewise does not like Hosking.
As for Barry Soper, what an unpleasant man he is. I have witnessed him have an almighty temper tantrum. Boils down to these critics not being nice people. Too many adjectives to use for them! So in my book, they have very jaundiced thought processes.
Jacinda herself said early on there would be mistakes. She is not so arrogant to think otherwise. Life’s lessons are often learnt from mistakes. As was said in an article on some children learning chess – the children have to learn to lose before they learn to win when playing chess.
Jacinda will come through these issues a little wiser and better prepared. She is a quick learner. I think it’s remarkable how she has risen to all the challenges she has faced in the last year and some patience and understanding from the left and centre left please!
Well Joseph Parker was beaten but certainly not disgraced, going the distance and all but that ref stepped in far too many times for either fighters liking I reckon
Congratulations to Anthony Joshua, he fought a good game plan and was a well-deserved winner and Joseph Parker still has a future in the heavy weight division
“Without intervention, the situation for our most vulnerable citizens is only going to get worse, as fresh food becomes more frequently priced out of reach.”
A massive building human tragedy 9 years in the making
“Israel: Gaza March ‘Dangerous’ Provocation, Hamas to Blame for Any Violence”
Friday’s March of Return will see Gazans protest on Israeli border ■ Israeli official to Palestinians: You’ve been warned ■ Palestinian lawmaker: Proof that Israel’s intentions are to kill protesters
By Noa Landau and Jack Khoury
Manelis reiterated Saturday that Israel “will not allow a massive breach of the fence into Israeli territory.”
He said that Hamas and other Gaza militant groups are using protests as a cover for staging attacks. If violence continues, “we will not be able to continue limiting our activity to the fence area and will act against these terror organizations in other places too,” he said.
The border protests were seen as a new attempt by Hamas to break the border blockade, imposed by Israel and Egypt after the Islamic militant group seized Gaza in 2007 from forces loyal to its rival, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The continued closure has made it increasingly difficult for Hamas to govern.
Life in the coastal strip has deteriorated further in recent months, with rising unemployment, grinding poverty and daily blackouts that last for hours.
Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, a member of the PLO’s executive committee, told Haaretz that these talking points show “that Israel is preparing itself to explain a violent response. This is more proof that Israel’s intentions are to kill protesters. It’s a license to kill. The event is not organized just by Hamas, but by all the Palestinian groups. We call on all the international organizations to prevent a massacre from taking place. This is peaceful nonviolent resistance.”
“EU’s Mogherini Calls for Independent Probe Into Israeli Army Fire on Gaza Border”
“EU foreign policy chief says Friday’s events show need for ‘political solution for Gaza’ and ‘urgent resumption of peace talks’ between Israel and the Palestinians”
European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called on Saturday for an independent and transparent investigation into the Israeli military’s use of live fire during mass rallies along Israel’s border…
The call for an independent inquiry into the killings of protesters by Israel has also been made by the United Nations General Secretary. However a meeting of the UN Security Council, which has the power to order such an investigation, reportedly ended its deliberations without any agreement on this matter which was raised there. No mention of whether permanent SC member the USA, threatened to use its veto to prevent such an investigation.
“Defense chief Lieberman slams ‘chorus of hypocrites’ calling for independent investigation into Gaza border deaths”
Haaretz, Mar 31, 2018
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the events on Israel’s border with Gaza for the first time Saturday evening, a day after at least 15 Palestinians were killed in clashes with the Israeli army during…
My free articles to Haaretz has been used up, but I think we can get the message.
Israel does not want any investigation into its shooting down of unarmed protesters.
And the US will back Israel by vetoing any move by the UN to call one, if it is ever raised again in the Security Council.
Talking about “hypocrites”, the US representative to the UN has complained long and hard about other Permanent Member, Russia, using their veto to prevent investigation into the killing of civilians by the Assad regime.
We know where every bullet went IDF
| “Israel admits, then deletes, responsibility for Gaza killings”
Electronic Intifada, 31 March, 2018
The Israeli army posted a statement on Twitter on Saturday apparently accepting full responsibility for the killings a day earlier of 15 Palestinians as thousands took part in the Great March of Return in Gaza.
The army then quickly deleted the admission – as more evidence of war crimes by its soldiers came to light – but not before a copy was made by the human rights group B’Tselem.
IDF @IDFSpokesperson
Yesterday we saw 30,000 people; we arrived prepared and with precise reinforcements; everything was accurate and measured, we know where every bullet landed
The army’s deletion of the tweet is hardly surprising. The admission that its killings of demonstrators were premeditated down to the last bullet means it cannot deny responsibility for apparent war crimes, such as the lethal shooting of Abd al-Fattah Abd al-Nabi, 19, as he ran away from the Israel-Gaza boundary fence. Abd al-Nabi was reportedly shot in the head.
Video of the slaying, widely shared on social media, shows Abd al-Nabi running alongside two other Palestinians far away from the boundary fence when the crack of a gunshot is heard and he falls suddenly.
“Abdul Fattah Abdul Nabi, a 19-year-old Palestinian, was shot dead during Friday’s protests in the Gaza Strip.”
Mahmoud Abu Salama
BEIT LAHIA, Gaza
The morning after burying 19-year-old Abdul Fattah Abdul Nabi, his family gathered in a tent set up to receive mourners, watching and re-watching a video of the moment they say Israeli soldiers shot him in the back of the head.
The video appears to show the teenager, dressed in black, running away from Gaza’s border fence with Israel carrying a tire. Just before reaching a crowd, he crumples under gunfire.
“He had no gun, no molotov, a tire. Does that harm the Israelis, a tire?” asked his brother Mohamed Abdul Nabi, 22. “He wasn’t going toward the Israeli side. He was running away.”
Abdul Fattah’s family is among those demanding an investigation into the Israeli response to the protest, saying videos show he posed no threat. More than 700 people were injured with live ammunition in the demonstration, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza. Forty-nine were wounded Saturday, it said.
The United Nations on Saturday said it was “deeply concerned” and called for a transparent, independent investigation.
However with the US right of veto at the United Nations Security Council, it is unlikely that the US will allow any international independent investigation into these killings.
“Stop the forced rating sale of my home! How is Auckland Council lawfully compliant with its own ‘Rating Sale Policy’?”
“Today (Saturday 31 March 2018) the forced rating sale of my freehold property was publicly advertised,” says ‘anti-corruption whistle-blower, Penny Bright.
” I have contacted the Barfoot and Thompson agent, and advised him that I do NOT consent to anyone ‘viewing’ my property, and that I am raising this matter directly with the Attorney-General because I believe that lawful due process has not been followed by Auckland Council.”
“The Auckland Council Rating Sales Policy (CP2013/01403) states:
“14: The rating sales process is outlined by the following steps:
1. legal proceedings are initiated, and a court judgment issued with a Charging Order (registered on title documents) against the property.
..
16. The power to enforce a rating sale comes with a significant responsibility to ensure that the power is not used inappropriately.
A policy on rating sales has therefore being developed to ensure that there are clear rules regarding rating sales.”
“The ‘Composite Computer Register Under Land Transfer Act 1952, that I have, (search date 8 March 2017) hows no Charging Order registered against my property for the Judgment Debt of $47,431.76, given in the Auckland District Court on 18 January 2017.”
It appears that Auckland Council CEO Stephen Town, has not followed Auckland Council’s ‘Rating Sale Policy’.
…….
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption whistle-blower’.
PS: A ‘Give A Little Page’ will be set up ASAP, because a number of people have requested it.
The goal will be to raise the $20,000 to cover outstanding rates, and the money will be deposited into a solicitor’s account.
This money will be held there, until the Public Records Act 2005, s.17 is fully complied with, regarding transparency and accountability in the spending of public monies on private sector consultants and contractors, and the following information is published on the websites of Auckland Council and all Auckland Council-Controlled Organisations (CCOs), under ‘Procurement – Awarded Contracts’:
* The unique contract number.
* The name of the consultant / contractor.
* A brief description of the scope of the contract.
* Contract start / finish dates.
* The exact dollar value of each and every contract – including those sub-contracted.
* How the contract was awarded – by direct appointment or public tender.
There will be a LOT of good that comes from this draconian municipal bullying of an unprotected ‘citizen whistle-blower’ in New Zealand ‘perceived’ to be ‘the least corrupt country in the world’, and WE ‘turn this bad thing into a good thing’!
I’m fighting for transparency, I’m not wrong and I’m NOT backing down.
Sell your house yourself to ensure best price. Repay your rates and buy a smaller place with lower rates. You are not going to win this fight to keep your house so plan for the longer game.
Penny Bright your cause and desire to expose the fraudulent operations of Auckland Council are admirable indeed…
The system has decided it has had enough and must make a clear statement to the citizens that they do not own property, even when no mortgage exists…
Take that as a signal of how close to full exposure you have achieved…your actions will no longer be tolerated…
The advice to take control of the situation for yourself before you are sidelined completely, is sound and should be considered…surely you are evaluating the risks…
It’s not quitting if you get out while you’re ahead…which in a moral sense, absolutely you are…
That said, if you choose to remain on tact, that is equally honourable…
This money will be held there, until the Public Records Act 2005, s.17 is fully complied with
It could easily be considered fraudulent to solicit money from the public on the basis of mis-reading the Public Records Act as a law about publishing information. It simply isn’t. You have been told this repeatedly.
Penny has a fair point… I know for a fact that Auckland transport engaged a consultant, then hired the consultant’s son’s company to quote for and carry out the recomended works. They asked said contractor to break the quoted sum into 3 parts as to avoid triggering a high enough sum which would need another 2 prices in a competitive process and signing off from higher up. Total figure was around 90k…
Yeah she had a point, but if she was going to pay the rates when they satisfied her reporting demands, why hadn’t she simply put the money aside in the first place?
Now she seems to be looking for crowdsource funds to put the money aside (so they’re still going to sell her house and get the rates that way). They’re still her damned rates to pay.
No argument from me there, I was under the impression she had the funds set aside.
She has made her point and could continue to make it if she paid enough to avoid the sale or in fact cleared the sum before refusing to pay again forcing the council to begin the process again keeping the matter in the spotlight.
As discussed on the other post, here are links to all ten of the articles Henry Cooke did as he accompanied the five day Parliamentary Mission to the Pacific which were published progressively by Stuff on their website over that timeframe. The only one you read and criticised for its once over lightly was in fact his wrap up article at 10. below completing the series.
In sequence, these ten articles by Henry Cooke were:
Oops I think my long one deservedly has gone into moderation or spam (Moderators can ditch my long one re the same subject which has presumably gone into moderation or spam due to the number of links. My sincere apologies as I had intended to spread over a couple of comments then forgot and pressed submit and raced off to do something else.)
So i will start again.
To patricia bremner
As discussed on the other post today, Henry Cooke wrote ten (10) articles – not one – while he was on the Parliamentary Mission to the Pacific Islands earlier in March and which were progressively published on the Stuff website (and presumably in some of the Fairfax newspapers) over the course of those five days. The only one that you apparently read and then criticised for being once over lightly in your comment on Daily Review 9 March 2018 was the last on which was Cooke’s wrap up article.
Here are the links which I will break into three lots so as not to clog up the works here.
In sequence, these ten articles by Henry Cooke were:
5. and 6. Two articles on the one day visit to Niue – One on the aid assistance announced, which included $5m for another solar panels farm to help Niue reach their goal of 80% renewable energy by 2025; and the second a lighter one focusing in part on the PM’s reunion with her family in Niue:
8. and 9. Two articles on the visit to the Cook Islands – One specifically on the biggest announcement of the whole trip on the relaxation of the rules for the payment of NZ Superannuation to Niueans, Cook Islanders and Tokelauans, and the other on the very colourful and friendly visit itself, but which also includes further discussion on the relaxed NZ Super rules:
Hello Veutoviper, Thank you for those articles. By now you will realise I have limited computer skills.
I definitely deserved a reprimand, as I had skimmed two of those articles without taking in that Henry wrote them. (A busy week with hospital and family visits none of which are easy currently)
Henry Cooke’s articles were clear and evocative, showing skill. I stand corrected.
In case you do not see this, I will again post on open mike. I said I had looked, I obviously need to learn a few more skills… will get Norm to show me how to Bookmark.
Thanks patricia. I knew that if you realised that you had not seen the rest of Cooke’s articles that you would see that your criticism was unwarranted. My original draft reply also covered a number of other issues raised in your original comment but we will leave most of those at this point.
However, re political bias, I am sure that you would now agree that there is no way that the quality and content of Cooke’s full set of articles can be equated with some of the (IMO) clearly rightwing lightweight biased garbage masquerading as journalism from these two other writers who are some years Cooke’s senior who also wrote articles on the Parliamentary Mission to the Pacific, although neither writer actually went on the trip.
This is a general explanation, not directed specifically at you, as to why I have stood up for Cooke (and some other individual journalists) and will continue to do so. It was written weeks ago well before the excess of coverage of one event – combined with a lack of coverage of some other major issues, events and decisions of considerable public interest – of the last week or so, which resulted in MS’s post and the enormous response to it over Easter when things usually go quiet here.
But I still stand by it, even if I don’t always follow it to the letter myself. (See my last para!) I did not feel it was appropriate for MS’ post, but want to say it to let off stream if nothing else. I felt Drinnan was brave coming into the lion’s den yesterday. and I give him credit for doing so. This may help explain some of my responses there.
—————————————-
As we had previously discussed, I have no direct connections with Cooke himself although we have mutual acquaintances. This is quite normal in the small world of the government- centred scene here in Wellington. I do not write on his or any other journalists’ behalf; nor am I (or ever have been) a journalist, or teacher of journalism or media studies, or a family member of any journalist. But I have known, and liaised with many journalists over the years, as part of my past jobs in the public service.
My defence of Cooke and his journalism has been because I am very interested in the quality etc of our Fourth Estate here in NZ in view of its influence on society and democracy. There is a lot of criticism of our media which is quite normal – the question is whether it is in fact justified or not, either generally or in the case of specific journalists, publications, or other means of dissemination eg blogs, digital press etc. All of which is a very big separate subject in itself.
In brief, my own personal view is that we have had a fairly stale media for some years with a lot of people in the industry having been around for a long time and with fairly fixed views and positions politically.
In the last couple of years I have noticed a number of younger talented reporters coming through the system with much fresher, more socially aware mindsets and interests, and who do not seem to have the same fixed views, political connections etc that many of the older ones do.
Cooke is one I put into this group, as are Kirsty Johnston and Jess McAllen who I mentioned to you, Patricia, in a separate exchange here on TS recently unrelated to Cooke. These three are by no means the only ones; and I am quite excited to see this generational shift as people like Johnston and McAllen in particular are producing some excellent writing about things like social justice, mental health, and special needs issues.
But it is a hard road for this young cohort with the retrenchment of print media resulting in fewer and fewer opportunities for getting in the door and finding steady employment in this field, and coupled with the increasing reliance on freelance and casual writers to produce the stories for the growing digital media. There is a high drop out rate of the younger reporters as a result of these bigger factors along with low rates of pay, job insecurity, long hours etc.
IMO we need to be encouraging this cohort of young journalists and reporters to keep them in the business and to keep them fresh and open minded – to ensure a healthy Fourth Estate for the future. Unfair criticism and unsubstantiated claims and accusation of political bias etc does not do this and just adds to the other pressures on these people, leading to them quitting the profession.
So I decided some time ago that I would stand up for and support this young cohort collectively and individually where I think they deserve it. I also do this in respect of older journalists where I also think they are being unfairly targeted, criticized etc. Unfortunately there is sometimes here on TS a ‘lemming’ approach to criticism of the media generally, which also fails to distinguish between management and editorial power and control over content and balance, and the work of individual journalists (including the limitations on them to choose their subject and the way their articles are edited and presented).
I really believe that we will achieve far better results towards achieving a better Fourth Estate for the future by trying to communicate with members of the media and opening up discussion rather than continually attacking them.
Yes, critique the structure, management and bias of the organizations, and their editorial decisions re content and balance, and of individual journalists where such criticism is warranted and can be verified with facts; but don’t tar all journalists with the same brush. They themselves are a very broad church of people with different personal and journalistic experience, beliefs, values and goals just as are the rest of us.
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Having read the above, some people would say that I am a total hypocrite in view of my criticism of Garner and Hosking at the top of this post – and they are probably right, but I am human too! LOL.
Co-owner of Russia's Summa group detained. It’s a very important story about Putin 4.0 Let me explain 1/ https://t.co/lwFUTygCl9— Alexander Gabuev (@AlexGabuev) March 31, 2018
[…]
8/ As conflict with the West deepens, many Russian players (powerful SOEs, friends of Putin, siloviks) feel emboldened to go after assets they like using simple tools. Putting your hard-grained opponent in prison is the best negotiation tactic for a business dispute in Russia— Alexander Gabuev (@AlexGabuev) March 31, 2018
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian authorities on Saturday arrested billionaire Ziyavudin Magomedov on charges of embezzling more than $35 million, in one of the highest-profile prosecutions of a Russian tycoon in years.
Magomedov denied the charges at a pre-trial hearing, where a judge ordered that he be held in custody until May 30.
One of Russia’s richest men, the 49-year-old Magomedov holds assets in construction and logistics through his sprawling Summa Group. He also has investments in U.S. tech ventures, including the Virgin One Hyperloop project.
He was detained along with his business partner and brother, Magomed Magomedov, and Artur Maksidov, the head of a company in the Summa Group that was involved in the construction of a soccer World Cup venue in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
Te namu onepu decided to send in a repeat actor back to hang around ECO MAORI this person tried to get me and my wife to move into a whare that was half the size of the one we got now with little privacy for the same price of rent all because they were friends ????? of my wife and there dad owned it last time YEA RIGHT .This time Koni and Te namu onepu decided that they would try me again. I treated this person with respect the problem was this person was wanting to talk to me more than my wife ?????? I played along for a bit then I shut it out of my conversation as its not my friend. Ana to kai ka kite ano
Newshub the deep fake photos will always be able to be discredited with a examination of the data used to make and display those photos .
Many thanks to te Australian Common wealth games people for advocating Ladies Equality ka pai Mana wahine.
I’m quite good at reading the weather not as good as I should be being a ex fisherman but I left that up to the skipper I have fished right around Aoteraroa down to the Auckland Islands Chatham Islands like my tipuna before me .
Some people have to remember that I see all events .
It was a good week of sports for Eco Maori Ka pai ka kite ano
Ko Ruaumoko e ngunguru nei
Hi Au Au Aue ha
Ko Ruaumoko e ngunguru nei
Hi Au Au Aue ha
I aha aha
E ko te rakau a Tu nga werewere I ha
ha
He rakau tapu na Tutaua ki a Uenuku
[Ko Ruaumoko e ngunguru nei]
I patukia ki te tipua ki o Rangitopeka
Pakaru ti upoko o Rangitopeka
Patua ki waenganui o te tau ki
Hikurangi
He toka whakairo etu ake nei
He atua He tangata He atua He
tangata ho
He atua he atua tau Paretaitoko
Kia kitea e Paretaitoko te whare
haunga
I ha ha Kia whakatete mai o rei he kuri
Au
I Ahaha
Na wai parehua taku hope kia whakaka
te rangi
Kia tare au Hi
He roha te kawau
Hi
Kei te pou tara
Tu ka tete ka Tau ha
Ko komako ko komako
E ko te hau tapu
e rite ki te kai na Matariki pakia
Tapa reireia koi tapa
Tapa kononua kaiana tukua
I aue hi
I ahaha
Ka tu te ihiihi
ka tu te wanawana
Ki runga i te rangi
e tu iho nei
HI
India navigated relations with the United States quite skilfully during the first Trump administration, better than many other US allies did. Doing so a second time will be more difficult, but India’s strategic awareness and ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is concerned for low-income workers given new data released by Stats NZ that shows inflation was 2.5% for the year to March 2025, rising from 2.2% in December last year. “The prices of things that people can’t avoid are rising – meaning inflation is rising ...
Last week, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment recommended that forestry be removed from the Emissions Trading Scheme. Its an unfortunate but necessary move, required to prevent the ETS's total collapse in a decade or so. So naturally, National has told him to fuck off, and that they won't be ...
China’s recent naval circumnavigation of Australia has highlighted a pressing need to defend Australia’s air and sea approaches more effectively. Potent as nuclear submarines are, the first Australian boats under AUKUS are at least seven ...
In yesterday’s post I tried to present the Reserve Bank Funding Agreement for 2025-30, as approved by the Minister of Finance and the Bank’s Board, in the context of the previous agreement, and the variation to that agreement signed up to by Grant Robertson a few weeks before the last ...
Australia’s bid to co-host the 31st international climate negotiations (COP31) with Pacific island countries in late 2026 is directly in our national interest. But success will require consultation with the Pacific. For that reason, no ...
Old and outdated buildings being demolished at Wellington Hospital in 2018. The new infrastructure being funded today will not be sufficient for future population size and some will not be built by 2035. File photo: Lynn GrievesonLong stories short from our political economy on Thursday, April 17:Simeon Brown has unveiled ...
The introduction of AI in workplaces can create significant health and safety risks for workers (such as intensification of work, and extreme surveillance) which can significantly impact workers’ mental and physical wellbeing. It is critical that unions and workers are involved in any decision to introduce AI so that ...
Donald Trump’s return to the White House and aggressive posturing is undermining global diplomacy, and New Zealand must stand firm in rejecting his reckless, fascist-driven policies that are dragging the world toward chaos.As a nation with a proud history of peacekeeping and principled foreign policy, we should limit our role ...
Sunday marks three months since Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president. What a ride: the style rude, language raucous, and the results rogue. Beyond manners, rudeness matters because tone signals intent as well as personality. ...
There are any number of reasons why anyone thinking of heading to the United States for a holiday should think twice. They would be giving their money to a totalitarian state where political dissenters are being rounded up and imprisoned here and here, where universities are having their funds for ...
Taiwan has an inadvertent, rarely acknowledged role in global affairs: it’s a kind of sponge, soaking up much of China’s political, military and diplomatic efforts. Taiwan soaks up Chinese power of persuasion and coercion that ...
The Ukraine war has been called the bloodiest conflict since World War II. As of July 2024, 10,000 women were serving in frontline combat roles. Try telling them—from the safety of an Australian lounge room—they ...
Following Canadian authorities’ discovery of a Chinese information operation targeting their country’s election, Australians, too, should beware such risks. In fact, there are already signs that Beijing is interfering in campaigning for the Australian election ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). From "founder" of Tesla and the OG rocket man with SpaceX, and rebranding twitter as X, Musk has ...
Back in February 2024, a rat infestation attracted a fair few headlines in the South Dunedin Countdown supermarket. Today, the rats struck again. They took out the Otago-Southland region’s internet connection. https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360656230/internet-outage-hits-otago-and-southland Strictly, it was just a coincidence – rats decided to gnaw through one fibre cable, while some hapless ...
I came in this morning after doing some chores and looked quickly at Twitter before unpacking the groceries. Someone was retweeting a Radio NZ story with the headline “Reserve Bank’s budget to be slashed by 25%”. Wow, I thought, the Minister of Finance has really delivered this time. And then ...
So, having teased it last week, Andrew Little has announced he will run for mayor of Wellington. On RNZ, he's saying its all about services - "fixing the pipes, making public transport cheaper, investing in parks, swimming pools and libraries, and developing more housing". Meanwhile, to the readers of the ...
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?W.B. Yeats, The Second Coming, 1921ALL OVER THE WORLD, devout Christians will be reaching for their bibles, reading and re-reading Revelation 13:16-17. For the benefit of all you non-Christians out there, these are the verses describing ...
Give me what I want, what I really, really want: And what India really wants from New Zealand isn’t butter or cheese, but a radical relaxation of the rules controlling Indian immigration.WHAT DOES INDIA WANT from New Zealand? Not our dairy products, that’s for sure, it’s got plenty of those. ...
In the week of Australia’s 3 May election, ASPI will release Agenda for Change 2025: preparedness and resilience in an uncertain world, a report promoting public debate and understanding on issues of strategic importance to ...
Yesterday, 5,500 senior doctors across Aotearoa New Zealand voted overwhelmingly to strike for a day.This is the first time in New Zealand ASMS members have taken strike action for 24 hours.They are asking the government tofund them and account for resource shortfalls.Vacancies are critical - 45-50% in some regions.The ...
For years and years and years, David Seymour and his posse of deluded neoliberals have been preaching their “tough on crime” gospel to voters. Harsher sentences! More police! Lock ‘em up! Throw away the key. But when it comes to their own, namely former Act Party president Tim Jago, a ...
Judith Collins is a seasoned master at political hypocrisy. As New Zealand’s Defence Minister, she's recently been banging the war drum, announcing a jaw-dropping $12 billion boost to the defence budget over the next four years, all while the coalition of chaos cries poor over housing, health, and education.Apparently, there’s ...
I’m on the London Overground watching what the phones people are holding are doing to their faces: The man-bun guy who could not be less impressed by what he's seeing but cannot stop reading; the woman who's impatient for a response; the one who’s frowning; the one who’s puzzled; the ...
You don't have no prescriptionYou don't have to take no pillsYou don't have no prescriptionAnd baby don't have to take no pillsIf you come to see meDoctor Brown will cure your ills.Songwriters: Waymon Glasco.Dr Luxon. Image: David and Grok.First, they came for the Bottom FeedersAnd I did not speak outBecause ...
The Health Minister says the striking doctors already “well remunerated,” and are “walking away from” and “hurting” their patients. File photo: Lynn GrievesonLong stories short from our political economy on Wednesday, April 16:Simeon Brown has attacked1 doctors striking for more than a 1.5% pay rise as already “well remunerated,” even ...
The time is ripe for Australia and South Korea to strengthen cooperation in space, through embarking on joint projects and initiatives that offer practical outcomes for both countries. This is the finding of a new ...
Hi,When Trump raised tariffs against China to 145%, he destined many small businesses to annihilation. The Daily podcast captured the mass chaos by zooming in and talking to one person, Beth Benike, a small-business owner who will likely lose her home very soon.She pointed out that no, she wasn’t surprised ...
National’s handling of inflation and the cost-of-living crisis is an utter shambles and a gutless betrayal of every Kiwi scraping by. The Coalition of Chaos Ministers strut around preaching about how effective their policies are, but really all they're doing is perpetuating a cruel and sick joke of undelivered promises, ...
Most people wouldn't have heard of a little worm like Rhys Williams, a so-called businessman and former NZ First member, who has recently been unmasked as the venomous troll behind a relentless online campaign targeting Green Party MP Benjamin Doyle.According to reports, Williams has been slinging mud at Doyle under ...
Illustration credit: Jonathan McHugh (New Statesman)The other day, a subscriber said they were unsubscribing because they needed “some good news”.I empathised. Don’t we all.I skimmed a NZME article about the impacts of tariffs this morning with analysis from Kiwibank’s Jarrod Kerr. Kerr, their Chief Economist, suggested another recession is the ...
Let’s assume, as prudence demands we assume, that the United States will not at any predictable time go back to being its old, reliable self. This means its allies must be prepared indefinitely to lean ...
Over the last three rather tumultuous US trade policy weeks, I’ve read these four books. I started with Irwin (whose book had sat on my pile for years, consulted from time to time but not read) in a week of lots of flights and hanging around airports/hotels, and then one ...
Indonesia could do without an increase in military spending that the Ministry of Defence is proposing. The country has more pressing issues, including public welfare and human rights. Moreover, the transparency and accountability to justify ...
Former Hutt City councillor Chris Milne has slithered back into the spotlight, not as a principled dissenter, but as a vindictive puppeteer of digital venom. The revelations from a recent court case paint a damning portrait of a man whose departure from Hutt City Council in 2022 was merely the ...
That's the conclusion of a report into security risks against Green MP Benjamin Doyle, in the wake of Winston Peters' waging a homophobic hate-campaign against them: GRC’s report said a “hostility network” of politicians, commentators, conspiracy theorists, alternative media outlets and those opposed to the rainbow community had produced ...
That's the conclusion of a report into security risks against Green MP Benjamin Doyle, in the wake of Winston Peters' waging a homophobic hate-campaign against them: GRC’s report said a “hostility network” of politicians, commentators, conspiracy theorists, alternative media outlets and those opposed to the rainbow community had produced ...
National Party MP Hamish Campbell’s ties to the secretive Two By Twos "church" raises serious questions that are not being answered. This shadowy group, currently being investigated by the FBI for numerous cases of child abuse, hides behind a facade of faith while Campbell dodges scrutiny, claiming it’s a “private ...
National Party MP Hamish Campbell’s ties to the secretive Two By Twos "church" raises serious questions that are not being answered. This shadowy group, currently being investigated by the FBI for numerous cases of child abuse, hides behind a facade of faith while Campbell dodges scrutiny, claiming it’s a “private ...
The economy is not doing what it was supposed to when PM Christopher Luxon said in January it was ‘going for growth.’ Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short from our political economy on Tuesday, April 15:New Zealand’s economic recovery is stalling, according to business surveys, retail spending and ...
This is a guest post by Lewis Creed, managing editor of the University of Auckland student publication Craccum, which is currently running a campaign for a safer Symonds Street in the wake of a horrific recent crash.The post has two parts: 1) Craccum’s original call for safety (6 ...
NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff has published an opinion piece which makes the case for a different approach to economic development, as proposed in the CTU’s Aotearoa Reimagined programme. The number of people studying to become teachers has jumped after several years of low enrolment. The coalition has directed Health New ...
The growth of China’s AI industry gives it great influence over emerging technologies. That creates security risks for countries using those technologies. So, Australia must foster its own domestic AI industry to protect its interests. ...
Unfortunately we have another National Party government in power at the moment, and as a consequence, another economic dumpster fire taking hold. Inflation’s hurting Kiwis, and instead of providing relief, National is fiddling while wallets burn.Prime Minister Chris Luxon's response is a tired remix of tax cuts for the rich ...
Girls who are boys who like boys to be girlsWho do boys like they're girls, who do girls like they're boysAlways should be someone you really loveSongwriters: Damon Albarn / Graham Leslie Coxon / Alexander Rowntree David / Alexander James Steven.Last month, I wrote about the Birds and Bees being ...
Australia needs to reevaluate its security priorities and establish a more dynamic regulatory framework for cybersecurity. To advance in this area, it can learn from Britain’s Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, which presents a compelling ...
Deputy PM Winston Peters likes nothing more than to portray himself as the only wise old head while everyone else is losing theirs. Yet this time, his “old master” routine isn’t working. What global trade is experiencing is more than the usual swings and roundabouts of market sentiment. President Donald ...
President Trump’s hopes of ending the war in Ukraine seemed more driven by ego than realistic analysis. Professor Vladimir Brovkin’s latest video above highlights the internal conflicts within the USA, Russia, Europe, and Ukraine, which are currently hindering peace talks and clarity. Brovkin pointed out major contradictions within ...
In the cesspool that is often New Zealand’s online political discourse, few figures wield their influence as destructively as Ani O’Brien. Masquerading as a champion of free speech and women’s rights, O’Brien’s campaigns are a masterclass in bad faith, built on a foundation of lies, selective outrage, and a knack ...
The international challenge confronting Australia today is unparalleled, at least since the 1940s. It requires what the late Brendan Sargeant, a defence analyst, called strategic imagination. We need more than shrewd economic manoeuvring and a ...
This year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) will take place as a fully hybrid conference in both Vienna and online from April 27 to May 2. This year, I'll join the event on site in Vienna for the full week and I've already picked several sessions I plan ...
Here’s a book that looks not in at China but out from China. David Daokui Li’s China’s World View: Demystifying China to Prevent Global Conflict is a refreshing offering in that Li is very much ...
The New Zealand National Party has long mastered the art of crafting messaging that resonates with a large number of desperate, often white middle-class, voters. From their 2023 campaign mantra of “getting our country back on track” to promises of economic revival, safer streets, and better education, their rhetoric paints ...
A global contest of ideas is underway, and democracy as an ideal is at stake. Democracies must respond by lifting support for public service media with an international footprint. With the recent decision by the ...
It is almost six weeks since the shock announcement early on the afternoon of Wednesday 5 March that the Governor of the Reserve Bank, Adrian Orr, was resigning effective 31 March, and that in fact he had already left and an acting Governor was already in place. Orr had been ...
The PSA surveyed more than 900 of its members, with 55 percent of respondents saying AI is used at their place of work, despite most workers not being in trained in how to use the technology safely. Figures to be released on Thursday are expected to show inflation has risen ...
Be on guard for AI-powered messaging and disinformation in the campaign for Australia’s 3 May election. And be aware that parties can use AI to sharpen their campaigning, zeroing in on issues that the technology ...
Strap yourselves in, folks, it’s time for another round of Arsehole of the Week, and this week’s golden derrière trophy goes to—drumroll, please—David Seymour, the ACT Party’s resident genius who thought, “You know what we need? A shiny new Treaty Principles Bill to "fix" all that pesky Māori-Crown partnership nonsense ...
Apple Store, Shanghai. Trump wants all iPhones to be made in the USM but experts say that is impossible. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories shortist from our political economy on Monday, April 14:Donald Trump’s exemption on tariffs on phones and computers is temporary, and he wants all iPhones made in the ...
Kia ora, readers. It’s time to pull back the curtain on some uncomfortable truths about New Zealand’s political landscape. The National Party, often cloaked in the guise of "sensible centrism," has, at times, veered into territory that smells suspiciously like fascism.Now, before you roll your eyes and mutter about hyperbole, ...
Australia’s east coast is facing a gas crisis, as the country exports most of the gas it produces. Although it’s a major producer, Australia faces a risk of domestic liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply shortfalls ...
Overnight, Donald J. Trump, America’s 47th President, and only the second President since 1893 to win non-consecutive terms, rolled back more of his“no exemptions, no negotiations”&“no big deal” tariffs.Smartphones, computers, and other electronics1are now exempt from the 125% levies imposed on imports from China; they retain ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 6, 2025 thru Sat, April 12, 2025. This week's roundup is again published by category and sorted by number of articles included in each. The formatting is a ...
Just one year of loveIs better than a lifetime aloneOne sentimental moment in your armsIs like a shooting star right through my heartIt's always a rainy day without youI'm a prisoner of love inside youI'm falling apart all around you, yeahSongwriter: John Deacon.Morena folks, it feels like it’s been quite ...
“It's a history of colonial ruin, not a history of colonial progress,”says Michele Leggott, of the Harris family.We’re talking about Groundwork: The Art and Writing of Emily Cumming Harris, in which she and Catherine Field-Dodgson recall a near-forgotten and fascinating life, thefemale speck in the history of texts.Emily’s ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is the sun responsible for global warming? Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, not solar variability, is responsible for the global warming observed ...
Hitherto, 2025 has not been great in terms of luck on the short story front (or on the personal front. Several acquaintances have sadly passed away in the last few days). But I can report one story acceptance today. In fact, it’s quite the impressive acceptance, being my second ‘professional ...
Six long stories short from our political economy in the week to Saturday, April 12:Donald Trump exploded a neutron bomb under 80 years of globalisation, but Nicola Willis said the Government would cut operational and capital spending even more to achieve a Budget surplus by 2027/28. That even tighter fiscal ...
On 22 May, the coalition government will release its budget for 2025, which it says will focus on "boosting economic growth, improving social outcomes, controlling government spending, and investing in long-term infrastructure.” But who, really, is this budget designed to serve? What values and visions for Aotearoa New Zealand lie ...
Lovin' you has go to be (Take me to the other side)Like the devil and the deep blue sea (Take me to the other side)Forget about your foolish pride (Take me to the other side)Oh, take me to the other side (Take me to the other side)Songwriters: Steven Tyler, Jim ...
In the week of Australia’s 3 May election, ASPI will release Agenda for Change 2025: preparedness and resilience in an uncertain world, a report promoting public debate and understanding on issues of strategic importance to ...
Hi,Back in 2022 I spent a year reporting on New Zealand’s then-biggest megachurch, Arise, revealing the widespread abuse of hundreds of interns.That series led to a harrowing review (leaked by Webworm) and the resignation of its founders and leaders John and Gillian Cameron, who fled to Australia where they now ...
All nation states have a right to defend themselves. But do regimes enjoy an equal right to self-defence? Is the security of a particular party-in-power a fundamental right of nations? The Chinese government is asking ...
After stonewalling requests for information on boot camps, the Government has now offered up a blog post right before Easter weekend rather than provide clarity on the pilot. ...
More people could be harmed if Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey does not guarantee to protect patients and workers as the Police withdraw from supporting mental health call outs. ...
The Green Party recognises the extension of visa allowances for our Pacific whānau as a step in the right direction but continues to call for a Pacific Visa Waiver. ...
The Government yesterday released its annual child poverty statistics, and by its own admission, more tamariki across Aotearoa are now living in material hardship. ...
Today, Te Pāti Māori join the motu in celebration as the Treaty Principles Bill is voted down at its second reading. “From the beginning, this Bill was never welcome in this House,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader, Rawiri Waititi. “Our response to the first reading was one of protest: protesting ...
The Green Party is proud to have voted down the Coalition Government’s Treaty Principles Bill, an archaic piece of legislation that sought to attack the nation’s founding agreement. ...
A Member’s Bill in the name of Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter which aims to stop coal mining, the Crown Minerals (Prohibition of Mining) Amendment Bill, has been pulled from Parliament’s ‘biscuit tin’ today. ...
Labour MP Kieran McAnulty’s Members Bill to make the law simpler and fairer for businesses operating on Easter, Anzac and Christmas Days has passed its first reading after a conscience vote in Parliament. ...
Nicola Willis continues to sit on her hands amid a global economic crisis, leaving the Reserve Bank to act for New Zealanders who are worried about their jobs, mortgages, and KiwiSaver. ...
Today, the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill has passed its third and final reading, but there is one more stage before it becomes law. The Governor-General must give their ‘Royal assent’ for any bill to become legally enforceable. This means that, even if a bill gets voted ...
Abortion care at Whakatāne Hospital has been quietly shelved, with patients told they will likely have to travel more than an hour to Tauranga to get the treatment they need. ...
Thousands of New Zealanders’ submissions are missing from the official parliamentary record because the National-dominated Justice Select Committee has rushed work on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...
Today’s announcement of 10 percent tariffs for New Zealand goods entering the United States is disappointing for exporters and consumers alike, with the long-lasting impact on prices and inflation still unknown. ...
The National Government’s choices have contributed to a slow-down in the building sector, as thousands of people have lost their jobs in construction. ...
Willie Apiata’s decision to hand over his Victoria Cross to the Minister for Veterans is a powerful and selfless act, made on behalf of all those who have served our country. ...
The Privileges Committee has denied fundamental rights to Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Rawiri Waititi and Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, breaching their own standing orders, breaching principles of natural justice, and highlighting systemic prejudice and discrimination within our parliamentary processes. The three MPs were summoned to the privileges committee following their performance of a haka ...
April 1 used to be a day when workers could count on a pay rise with stronger support for those doing it tough, but that’s not the case under this Government. ...
Winston Peters is shopping for smaller ferries after Nicola Willis torpedoed the original deal, which would have delivered new rail enabled ferries next year. ...
The Government should work with other countries to press the Myanmar military regime to stop its bombing campaign especially while the country recovers from the devastating earthquake. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland After decades of Hollywood showcasing white-picket-fence celebrity smiles, the world has fallen for White Lotus actor Aimee Lou Wood’s teeth.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachelle Martin, Senior Lecturer in Rehabilitation & Disability, University of Otago Getty Images Disabled people encounter all kinds of barriers to accessing healthcare – and not simply because some face significant mobility challenges. Others will see their symptoms not investigated properly ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Simpson, Senior Lecturer, International Studies, University of South Australia Despite the challenges faced by local democratic activists, Thailand has often been an oasis of relative liberalism compared with neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. Westerners, in particular, have been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marina Yue Zhang, Associate Professor, Technology and Innovation, University of Technology Sydney China has placed curbs on exports of rare germanium and gallium which are critical in manufacturing.Shutterstock In the escalating trade war between the United States and China, one notable ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vivien Holmes, Emerita Professor, Australian National University Momentum studio/Shutterstock No one goes into the legal profession thinking it is going to be easy. Long working hours are fairly standard, work is often completed to tight external deadlines, and 24/7 availability to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Prime The Narrow Road to the Deep North stands as some of the most visceral and moving television produced in Australia in recent memory. Marking a new accessibility and confidence to ...
The forecast for Easter weekend in much of the country is pretty shitty. Here are some ideas for having a nice time indoors.Ex-tropical cyclone Tam might have been downgraded to a subtropical low, but it has already unleashed heavy rain, high winds and power outages on the upper North ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cécile L’Hermitte, Senior Lecturer in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, University of Waikato In the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle, the driving time between Napier and Wairoa stretched from 90 minutes to over six hours, causing major supply chain delays. Retail prices rose ...
The same ingredients with a wildly different outcome.I’m at the ready to answer life’s big questions. Should you dump him? Yes. What happens when we die? Worms. What is time? Quick. Will I ever be happy? Yes. Do Easter eggs taste better than a block of chocolate? Yes. No. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon made clear that even more money will be made available, telling the media the $12 billion figure “is the floor, not the ceiling, of funding for our defence force.” ...
The day after winning the Taite Music Prize, Tiopira McDowell aka Mokotron tells Lyric Waiwiri-Smith about his dreams of turning his ‘meth lab’ looking garage into a studio, and why he might dedicate his next record to the leader of the Act Party. A music awards ceremony one day, a ...
Housing is one of the main determinants of health, but it’s not always straightforward to fix.Keeping our houses dry, warm and draught-free may not be something that, when the sun is high in the sky and our winter clothing is packed away, many of us are busy thinking about. ...
I’m sick of feeling ashamed of something that brings me so much joy. Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera, When I think of my childhood, I think of Disney. One of my earliest memories was getting dressed up as Snow White and prancing around for my ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brianna Le Busque, Lecturer in Environmental Science, University of South Australia maramorosz/Shutterstock Walk into any home or workplace today, and you’re likely to find an array of indoor plants. The global market for indoor plants is growing fast – projected to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Jakubowicz, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Technology Sydney In the run up to the May 3 election, questions are being raised about the value of multiculturalism as a public policy in Australia. They’ve been prompted by community tensions arising from ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Clune, Honorary Associate, Government and International Relations, University of Sydney The federal election campaign has passed the halfway mark, with politicians zig-zagging across the country to spruik their policies and achievements. Where politicians choose to visit (and not visit) give us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrea Jean Baker, Senior Lecturer in Journalism, Monash University Maslow Entertainment The Correspondent is a film every journalist should see. There are no spoiler alerts. It is based on the globally-publicised jailing in Cairo in 2013 of Australian journalist Peter ...
Hospitals nationwide are set for upgrades – though at a more sedate pace than some might have hoped, writes Catherine McGregor in today’s extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here.A blueprint for rebuilding After years of warnings and stocktakes, the government has ...
Visiting government and business leaders, disembarking an Air Force Hercules, were met this week by the unexpected sight of a big fresh-painted Boeing 737 freighter unloading at Chatham Island’s tiny airport.The growing trans-Tasman freight firm Texel Air took delivery of the 737-800 jet last month, taking its fleet to six ...
Suggestions of defunding the police have sparked uproar but it’s a sensible and noble goal, argue two crime researchers. When we both first saw the “attack” ads put up by some combination of the Sensible Sentencing Trust and the Campaign Company, we couldn’t fully grasp the framing of an “attack” ...
This week, a dramatic dip in the number of victims of violent crime was revealed, a remarkable turnaround in just eight months that the government was quick to take credit for. But, as Alice Neville explains, crime data is far from clear-cut. In September last year, the government announced a ...
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I have just been reading an article on Stuff about a South American tumbleweed type grass they call “Hairy Panic”.
It is an invasive species which has turned up in Victoria at Wangaratta, so deep cars were getting lost in it and they had to close the town’s main street.
A woman nearby posted photos on facebook, seeking help as it took over her yard, more than a metre deep, and was on to her verandah. A living moving sea of grass.
This could be another feature of travel…. introduced species becoming pests.
Google Hairy Panic grass for articles and photos off this strange plant.
Lol brilliant name for it
Would be a good band name.
Definitely!
Oh dear – something else to look forward to
I could not find anything on Stuff, patricia. Do you mean this article on the Herald?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12022506
Initially, my reaction was April 1st?
But no, there has been quite a bit about this grass on Australian and other media over the last week or longer. Plenty more links here.
https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=Hairy+Panic&rlz=1C1LDJZ_enNZ499&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwizuc2ou5faAhULu7wKHTusCdEQ_AUICSgA&biw=853&bih=603&dpr=1.5
LOL No I forgot it was April one. The Jokes on me .
Think Stuff got it from Google.
Actually, it’s native to Australia:
There does appears to be a species from Southern United States though:
Hillman’s Panic:
Introduced species almost always become pests but I suspect that travel today is less likely to result in introduction of species due to border checks.
EDIT:
It’s not ‘hairy’ but Hillman’s panic grass
Oh, Thanks for that. Very interesting. I can’t locate the article to re read it, but you sound like an authority on the subject. I read a piece on Google which said it is related to the dandelion. Is that true? Is tumble weed just a name to describe the seed dispersal?
I’m not. That’s just what I got from a quick Google.
Seems that way:
The china hustle must see documentary its out
Very good. Viewed it last night.
I admire this government for its refusal to support the lemming like rush to war against Russia.
Craig Murray was formerly British ambassador to Uzbekistan and provides a much needed alternative to the propaganda the western public has been bombarded with about the Skripal poisoning.
No evidence has been presented.
Winston Peters should fly to Moscow to look at signing a bilateral trade deal.
This would free us from the clutches of Washington and Beijing and show the world we are an independent nation, not a lackey of the US.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDrdlYZXa_o
Were did you get the impression we are not a lackey of the USA. When you have years of a National govt the Yanks say jump and we say how high.
No longer National.
Winston Peters keen to make trade pact with Russia.
Duplicity Allen’s latest hatchet job aimed at undermining the government leads The National Herald online as “breaking news”.
Hyperbolic BS but I guess that’s what she’s paid for.
The Government has had three weeks of car crash problems and Jacinda Ardern dropped the ball virtually every time.
When it starts with the word Hosking, I never read it. I now apply the same to HD Allen.
I’m doing the same to Duncan Garner as well
And both their partners – Soper and Hawkesby.
And Garner.
Richardson.
Trevett.
Kirk.
The list of corporate puppets is long.
The Nats narrative continues….but they are laying it on a little too thick and obvious…people still like Jacinda and want to give her a chance so I reckon these unfair attacks will backfire.
Thank you to the petitioner who held up a mirror to Bob Jones. Sadly he pokes his own eyes out so as not to see. Media giving him more oxygen today
Go Judith Collins nephew, go hard and give it your best!
First few rounds to Anthony but joes coming back
Game plan seems to be to take Anthony to the later rounds
Refs a bit shit, keeps splitting them up when they get close, helps no one
I think boxing is an inhumane sport.
Rich people watching poor people hitting each other.
You can describe Joshua and Parker as a lot of things but definitely not poor.
If you look at the pay cheques they receive they’ll end up a lot richer than most people watching it.
We’re they rich when they started boxing?’
How many boxers get battered brains and never make any money?
You know that people actually do the sport because the love it – they aren’t all chasing money.
Im more inclined to see it as rich white WASPs watching tattooed brown people beat each other up.
I’m more inclined to see it as two exceptional sportspeople competing and putting an amazing show.
Funny what people see huh?
Too many rules. MMA is better – sparring with a good friend is better still, so long as you have the emotional fortitude not to get upset by the occasional broken rib or fat lip
There is no “Better” they are completely different – and people can love them for what they are.
Fair enough, but participating is still more fun than spectating
Did plenty in my younger days. Too old, too slow and too fat now.
The Romans reverted to violent sports to distract an ever more unhappy population as their empire came to a close.
Your equivalence is simplistic and wrong.
You understand that this is simply a sport that people do for enjoyment, and a lucky few get to make it their career as professional sports people.
Will probably go the distance, both fighters still look sharp
Easy to say sitting here but Joe needs to let go, too far behind on the card imho, 2 rounds to go
Last round, joe needs to go beast mode and ko anthony
“beast mode”….. says it all there.
It is a repulsive activity.
All the rich white men approving of it on this site would never get involved themselves.
When a young bloke of ANY colour is wanting a way out of poverty and ratty jobs he will often start thinking about working to be a professional fighter of some kind.
Some join the military. Some become MMA fighters. Some are bouncers or enforcers. Some turn to boxing.
And where there aren’t any ‘rich white men’ there will certainly be men of other skin shades willing to pay for the training and overheads to see if their ‘prospect’ has what it takes to win them large-ish sums.
Cock fights, dog fights, rats in a pen. It doesn’t matter how illegal you make it all (and it has been) it still goes on. Must be a species thing.
Anything to back up that statement – I know for a fact you are wrong.
“When a young bloke of ANY colour is wanting a way out of poverty and ratty jobs he will often start thinking about working to be a professional fighter of some kind.”
Stop with the patronising bs and do some research why don’t ya. Start with a simple google search on JP’s upbringing.
I could have said he was that far behind he had to go for the ko which would have meant forcing the issue and taking more hits but since I was posting between rounds I didn’t have the time. However anyone with even a basic knowledge of combat sports would get the gist of it, since you didn’t why even bother to post?
Puckish, it’s the language used. I know what it means, but the language, “beast mode”, is not the language of sport, or fair human competition. Rather it is the language of the arena.
I followed boxing in terms of Cassius Clay/Mohammed Ali as a young man.
Then I began to find the notion of two human beings, in the name of sport, trying to disable or knock each other unconscious distasteful, appalling even.
Now at 68 years old, with the adrenalin of the young a fading memory, I deliberately put my attention elsewhere.
I prefer the likes of Tom Walsh- strong, competitive, skilled, in a sport where the big, fast and powerful do harm to 7.2 kg iron balls.
Oh goodie, lacking anything constructive to say, puckish rogue has decided that he will actively promote violence.
What next, throwing babies in front of trains. Oh what, that is probably a bit to much hyperbole for your poor wee brain to comprehend.
I find commentary of one human beating up another very unpleasant.
Ignore it then.
Many enjoy it – that’s why they make millions of dollars off people paying $50 to pay it.
We had friends around for a boxing breakfasts. Very enjoyable and social.
“Ignore it then.”
We would if we could but when it is rammed down your throat by the so-called “News” media on every pathetic excuse of news bulletins, it hard to ignore it.
It is a pity the news media did not give the same in-depth coverage of Findlaysons breach of Dot Com privacy rights or the state of our health service after 9 years of Nationals incompetence, or the lack of bridges built by Bridges. Just a few items to get on with.
“We had friends around for a boxing breakfast. Very enjoyable and social.”
Bully for you. I have just realised how fortunate I am compared with you, as I have NO friends who are interested in that barbaric thuggery and they certainly would not be invited for breakfast to watch 2 males over bacon and eggs smashing shit out of one another creating future brain damage
It is not sport mate it is thuggery nothing more nothing less.
+1. Was going to reply to his sad comment but you did it better than I could have. Any society that considers two people in a contest where the object is to harm the other other human being is “sport” or “entertainment” is in a decline to cruelty and darkness.
“Bully for you. I have just realised how fortunate I am compared with you, as I have NO friends who are interested in that barbaric thuggery and they certainly would not be invited for breakfast to watch 2 males over bacon and eggs smashing shit out of one another creating future brain damage
It is not sport mate it is thuggery nothing more nothing less.”
All I can say – perhaps if you had a wider group of friends – perhaps with differing views, as opposed to a small group of people that can only think like you then perhaps, just perhaps you might end up a happier, more rounded person.
We also had hash browns, and black pudding.
But despite your passioned statement – Boxing IS a sport – Its in the olympics.
Boxing IS a sport – Its in the olympics.
It’s still brutal thuggery. Knockout = brain damage. You do know that?
So – we can at least we agree you were wrong – that it is a sport.
Thats great.
Yes – I know knockouts can cause problems. Shall we ban all sports that have the potential for knockouts? Lets start with Rugby, League, Aussie rules, etc etc etc
So – we can at least we agree you were wrong – that it is a sport.
Sorry, how can I be wrong? I never said it wasn’t a sport James. I just said it was also thuggery. You must be thinking of someone else.
Nice try at whataboutism with other sports as well. The difference is that the potential for knockouts and brain damage is incidental to those other activities, whereas in boxing it’s the object.
Apologies – it was halfcrown who said it wasnt a sport.
As for thuggery – it might come as a surprise to you (guessing that you have never boxed) – that people in it do not consider it thuggery.
its called the sweet science for a reason.
But – feel free to have your views and make judgement about the many millions of people who play it, or enjoy watching it as a sport.
Wrong guess as yes I have boxed. And no it’s no surprise to me that those who take part or watch don’t consider it’s thuggery.
But I suspect that any fan of blood sports thinks they are okay. Calling trying to give a fellow human being brain damage “a sweet science” is a wee bit of a stretch don’t you think?
Boxing breakfasts with your friends? It’s barbecue 2.0 all over again.
Classic!
Only for people without the friends or social skills to actually have either.
No evidence has been shown the Russians did it.
[This post was and is about Israeli actions in Gaza]
[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.]
That evidence will never be presented in any formal sense, because there’s never going to be a trial, because when someone is charged, the Kremlin (not “the Russians”) will refuse to extradite them, just like Lugovoy.
However, the fact that the Kremlin (not “the Russians”) has authored an ongoing series of self-contradictory bullshit stories and excuses makes them (the Kremlin, not “the Russians”) look as guilty as fuck.
Also, the fact that Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Albania, Australia, Canada, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Ukraine and the USA have expelled diplomats indicates that sufficiently persuasive evidence has been presented to convince them.
Whereas if the Kremlin presented a signed confession, you would claim the CIA forced them into it.
Just like Sadam had weapons of mass destruction.
Exactly.
What form of ‘natural justice’ includes consequences after unsubstantiated allegations?
Diplomacy and justice are separate domains. This is why your house is being sold from under you: because you have no friggin’ idea which rules apply to which circumstances.
Is it “just like” that? Saddam never had WMD, and stuck to that story throughout. The intelligence services backed him up.
In this instance, the Kremlin makes contradictory excuse after contradictory excuse, their story changes multiple times a day, a chemical weapon has actually been used, and its use fits a well-established pattern.
What’s more, Putin boasted about it the day after it happened. I get it: lots of people are scared that Russia is ruled by a gang of poisonous trash. The UK and USA aren’t much better, and you really oughta stop lying to yourselves and face facts.
Could you link to that OAB?
(Putin boasting the day after)
I’ve been following it pretty closely but I missed that bit.
Francesca, I recommend you follow Craig Murray.
A very interesting perspective.
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/
Thanks ED, I have been following it
Craigs good
You know perfectly well what I’m referring to, because you tried running your bullshit excuses the last time I mentioned it.
Thats not an answer OAB
I fear you’ve been caught out by your own bluster.
Is your memory so feeble? Or are you simply incapable of arguing in good faith?
I think it’s the latter, and spare me another round of your bullshit excuses: I’ve heard them.
OAB,
not so hasty
Your reading of Putin’s “boast” fails to disclose the quote “As for the traitors “etc was actually made in 2010, some years after Litvinenko (who died in 2006) and some years before the Skripal poisoning .(2018)
As well the quote was purposely abbreviated to suggest the opposite of its meaning, and showcased on March 6th 2018 as if it was a current statement
A closer reading of the Telegraph article would have clarified that
You alongside several others were apparently fooled
https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/40900/did-putin-threaten-to-have-traitors-assassinated
And by the way,OAB, the Qatar incident was even earlier , in 2004
He said this in 2010, apparently.
OAB, that is not the2010 Telegraph link you were trying to say negated my post , which you sent me back to
However , if you want to run with your new link,.. thats hardly a boast
Its a pretty much solid observation..karma, what goes around comes around
https://russian.stackexchange.com/questions/16026/did-putin-literally-say-those-who-serve-us-with-poison-will-eventually-swallow
I hadn’t noticed that you had ever linked to the 2018 news article, in our earlier exchanges you were most definitely talking about the Telegraph article which was supposed to have undermined my posts
Not enough evidence to convince JA though. I’d suggest that’s coz there is no evidence. The expulsions are symbolic only and good on JA for telling them to get fucked with their shitty symbolism.
Heather Duplicity-Allen calle for someone, anyone to be expelled for the sake of appearances. OAB, do you stand shoulder to shoulder with Duplicity-Allen on this?
Not enough evidence to convince JA though
Is it your position that JA is lying when she says “there is no plausible alternative to who else it could be…”?
Is it your position that she is lying when she says the SIS advises that there are no
Kremlin henchmenRussian diplomats in NZ who meet the criteria for expulsion?Do you think it’s likely that I agree with HdPA? Try Professor Geddis.
Sorry Bill
The media critics of the new government seem to have no recall of the fact National in 2008 had some new inexperienced ministers who took a while (and some, never) to become conversant with their portfolios. Likewise of Key who got away with all sorts of hiccups, with barely a whimper from them.
A relative started listening to HDP on the radio and was not impressed and this relative has been a Key supporter. Likewise does not like Hosking.
As for Barry Soper, what an unpleasant man he is. I have witnessed him have an almighty temper tantrum. Boils down to these critics not being nice people. Too many adjectives to use for them! So in my book, they have very jaundiced thought processes.
Jacinda herself said early on there would be mistakes. She is not so arrogant to think otherwise. Life’s lessons are often learnt from mistakes. As was said in an article on some children learning chess – the children have to learn to lose before they learn to win when playing chess.
Jacinda will come through these issues a little wiser and better prepared. She is a quick learner. I think it’s remarkable how she has risen to all the challenges she has faced in the last year and some patience and understanding from the left and centre left please!
They are paid puppets.
Their income and lifestyle depends on pumping out such propaganda.
No wonder they are angry and unhappy people.
“No wonder they are angry and unhappy people.”
What’s your excuse ?
1000% Reality @ 8
Well Joseph Parker was beaten but certainly not disgraced, going the distance and all but that ref stepped in far too many times for either fighters liking I reckon
Congratulations to Anthony Joshua, he fought a good game plan and was a well-deserved winner and Joseph Parker still has a future in the heavy weight division
Anthony Joshua 1st
Joseph Parker 2nd
Ref Zero
No arguments there
The film Dominion opened in Melbourne on the 29th March.
It sounds very powerful.
Does anyone know when it is coming to New Zealand?
https://www.plantbasednews.org/post/activist-james-aspey-breaks-down-intense-vegan-film-dominion
Good on you Ed,
I would hope no one could watch this trailer and not question the morality of ignoring/defending such human actions towards animals
Sadly there are many who can.
There are many people who are only too ready to heap another slaughtered sentient being on the barbie.
I don’t know what it’s going to take for more people to see how cruel eating meat is. We have a choice.
“Without intervention, the situation for our most vulnerable citizens is only going to get worse, as fresh food becomes more frequently priced out of reach.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12016943
or…
“And it is a certainty the price of these “animal-less” foods is going to drop to a fraction of anything New Zealand could possibly grow in a field.”
https://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/102640438/the-future-of-everything-why-the-third-industrial-revolution-is-a-risk-to-nz
You can see why this guy why voted out of office. Good comments on sanctions. This is what a Christian left can look like.
A massive building human tragedy 9 years in the making
“Israel: Gaza March ‘Dangerous’ Provocation, Hamas to Blame for Any Violence”
Friday’s March of Return will see Gazans protest on Israeli border ■ Israeli official to Palestinians: You’ve been warned ■ Palestinian lawmaker: Proof that Israel’s intentions are to kill protesters
By Noa Landau and Jack Khoury
“EU’s Mogherini Calls for Independent Probe Into Israeli Army Fire on Gaza Border”
“EU foreign policy chief says Friday’s events show need for ‘political solution for Gaza’ and ‘urgent resumption of peace talks’ between Israel and the Palestinians”
The call for an independent inquiry into the killings of protesters by Israel has also been made by the United Nations General Secretary. However a meeting of the UN Security Council, which has the power to order such an investigation, reportedly ended its deliberations without any agreement on this matter which was raised there. No mention of whether permanent SC member the USA, threatened to use its veto to prevent such an investigation.
https://www.haaretz.com/.premium-un-security-council-convenes-to-discuss-gaza-without-israel-1.5962543
“Defense chief Lieberman slams ‘chorus of hypocrites’ calling for independent investigation into Gaza border deaths”
Haaretz, Mar 31, 2018
My free articles to Haaretz has been used up, but I think we can get the message.
Israel does not want any investigation into its shooting down of unarmed protesters.
And the US will back Israel by vetoing any move by the UN to call one, if it is ever raised again in the Security Council.
Talking about “hypocrites”, the US representative to the UN has complained long and hard about other Permanent Member, Russia, using their veto to prevent investigation into the killing of civilians by the Assad regime.
We know where every bullet went IDF
|
“Israel admits, then deletes, responsibility for Gaza killings”
Electronic Intifada, 31 March, 2018
“Abdul Fattah Abdul Nabi, a 19-year-old Palestinian, was shot dead during Friday’s protests in the Gaza Strip.”
Mahmoud Abu Salama
BEIT LAHIA, Gaza
However with the US right of veto at the United Nations Security Council, it is unlikely that the US will allow any international independent investigation into these killings.
NZ ANTI-CORRUPTION WHISTLE-BLOWER ALERT!
(Sunday 1 April 2018 – but this is no April Fool’s joke
31 March 2018
Press Release : Anti-corruption whistle-blower Penny Bright
“Stop the forced rating sale of my home! How is Auckland Council lawfully compliant with its own ‘Rating Sale Policy’?”
“Today (Saturday 31 March 2018) the forced rating sale of my freehold property was publicly advertised,” says ‘anti-corruption whistle-blower, Penny Bright.
” I have contacted the Barfoot and Thompson agent, and advised him that I do NOT consent to anyone ‘viewing’ my property, and that I am raising this matter directly with the Attorney-General because I believe that lawful due process has not been followed by Auckland Council.”
“The Auckland Council Rating Sales Policy (CP2013/01403) states:
“14: The rating sales process is outlined by the following steps:
1. legal proceedings are initiated, and a court judgment issued with a Charging Order (registered on title documents) against the property.
..
16. The power to enforce a rating sale comes with a significant responsibility to ensure that the power is not used inappropriately.
A policy on rating sales has therefore being developed to ensure that there are clear rules regarding rating sales.”
“The ‘Composite Computer Register Under Land Transfer Act 1952, that I have, (search date 8 March 2017) hows no Charging Order registered against my property for the Judgment Debt of $47,431.76, given in the Auckland District Court on 18 January 2017.”
It appears that Auckland Council CEO Stephen Town, has not followed Auckland Council’s ‘Rating Sale Policy’.
…….
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption whistle-blower’.
PS: A ‘Give A Little Page’ will be set up ASAP, because a number of people have requested it.
The goal will be to raise the $20,000 to cover outstanding rates, and the money will be deposited into a solicitor’s account.
This money will be held there, until the Public Records Act 2005, s.17 is fully complied with, regarding transparency and accountability in the spending of public monies on private sector consultants and contractors, and the following information is published on the websites of Auckland Council and all Auckland Council-Controlled Organisations (CCOs), under ‘Procurement – Awarded Contracts’:
* The unique contract number.
* The name of the consultant / contractor.
* A brief description of the scope of the contract.
* Contract start / finish dates.
* The exact dollar value of each and every contract – including those sub-contracted.
* How the contract was awarded – by direct appointment or public tender.
There will be a LOT of good that comes from this draconian municipal bullying of an unprotected ‘citizen whistle-blower’ in New Zealand ‘perceived’ to be ‘the least corrupt country in the world’, and WE ‘turn this bad thing into a good thing’!
I’m fighting for transparency, I’m not wrong and I’m NOT backing down.
Sell your house yourself to ensure best price. Repay your rates and buy a smaller place with lower rates. You are not going to win this fight to keep your house so plan for the longer game.
Penny, I have to agree with Tracey, unless you control this, they will sell your house at a low price.
If you want to stay in the fight, think about she said.
Penny Bright your cause and desire to expose the fraudulent operations of Auckland Council are admirable indeed…
The system has decided it has had enough and must make a clear statement to the citizens that they do not own property, even when no mortgage exists…
Take that as a signal of how close to full exposure you have achieved…your actions will no longer be tolerated…
The advice to take control of the situation for yourself before you are sidelined completely, is sound and should be considered…surely you are evaluating the risks…
It’s not quitting if you get out while you’re ahead…which in a moral sense, absolutely you are…
That said, if you choose to remain on tact, that is equally honourable…
Go well
It could easily be considered fraudulent to solicit money from the public on the basis of mis-reading the Public Records Act as a law about publishing information. It simply isn’t. You have been told this repeatedly.
Not to mention that even if she raises the 20 grand, “it’s with a lawyer somewhere” doesn’t mean shit so her house is still going to be sold.
Looks like Penny’s going to lose her home for nothing.
All she had to do was put the rates money aside, and pay it at the last minute.
Penny has a fair point… I know for a fact that Auckland transport engaged a consultant, then hired the consultant’s son’s company to quote for and carry out the recomended works. They asked said contractor to break the quoted sum into 3 parts as to avoid triggering a high enough sum which would need another 2 prices in a competitive process and signing off from higher up. Total figure was around 90k…
Yeah she had a point, but if she was going to pay the rates when they satisfied her reporting demands, why hadn’t she simply put the money aside in the first place?
Now she seems to be looking for crowdsource funds to put the money aside (so they’re still going to sell her house and get the rates that way). They’re still her damned rates to pay.
No argument from me there, I was under the impression she had the funds set aside.
She has made her point and could continue to make it if she paid enough to avoid the sale or in fact cleared the sum before refusing to pay again forcing the council to begin the process again keeping the matter in the spotlight.
yeah, that could make her a fly in the ointment for decades lol
This is 5 minutes long, but the first 3 minutes is what you want to watch. Kid and God completely destroy hateful fox news commentator.
For patricia bremner
As discussed on the other post, here are links to all ten of the articles Henry Cooke did as he accompanied the five day Parliamentary Mission to the Pacific which were published progressively by Stuff on their website over that timeframe. The only one you read and criticised for its once over lightly was in fact his wrap up article at 10. below completing the series.
In sequence, these ten articles by Henry Cooke were:
1. A preliminary scene-setting one written before the visit started, detailing the bigger picture issues relevant to the relationships etc between NZ and the Pacific islands, and anticipated achievements from the trip: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/101956367/pm-jacinda-arderns-chance-to-set-the-tone-in-the-pacific
2. An article specifically on climate change and its effects on Samoa, speeches given by our PM and Climate Change Minister James Shaw to an audience of Samoan MPs and officials at a climate change luncheon, and their visits to local spots showing the effects of climate change: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/101975846/Ardern-says-NZ-must-do-our-bit-to-fight-climate-change-before-asking-the-world-for-help
3. Another article specifically on the donations to Samoa announced by the PM of $3 million more in disaster recovery aid and $6.5m in development funds for small businesses run by women and young people: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/101971248/NZ-donates-almost-10-million-to-Samoa
4. A final article on Samoa on the hospitality and celebrations that took place; climate change; and the aid announcements: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/101995813/jacinda-arderns-island-honeymoon-with-samoa-comes-with-big-promises
5. and 6. Two articles on the one day visit to Niue – One on the aid assistance announced, which included $5m for another solar panels farm to help Niue reach their goal of 80% renewable energy by 2025; and the second a lighter one focusing in part on the PM’s reunion with her family in Niue: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/102020729/niue-gets-575m-from-nz-premier-asks-for-pension-portability and https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/102007922/jacinda-arderns-homecoming-visit-to-niue
7. One article on Tonga covering aid including emergency relief for the cyclone Gita damage and the visit itself, which included the delegation seeing this damage first hand: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/102039953/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-arrives-in-a-turbulent-tonga
8. and 9. Two articles on the visit to the Cook Islands – One specifically on the biggest announcement of the whole trip on the relaxation of the rules for the payment of NZ Superannuation to Niueans, Cook Islanders and Tokelauans, and the other on the very colourful and friendly visit itself, but which also includes further discussion on the relaxed NZ Super rules:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/102082994/pm-jacinda-ardern-announces-pension-portability-for-cook-islanders-tokeulauns-and-niueans
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/102082053/jacinda-ardern-saves-the-best-for-last-in-rarotonga
10. And finally, Henry Cooke’s wrap up article summarizing what was achieved by the visit itself, and also looking at the bigger, longer term issues: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/102122822/jacinda-ardern-has-begun-a-pacific-reset-but-what-the-region-really-needs-is-an-upgrade
Oops I think my long one deservedly has gone into moderation or spam (Moderators can ditch my long one re the same subject which has presumably gone into moderation or spam due to the number of links. My sincere apologies as I had intended to spread over a couple of comments then forgot and pressed submit and raced off to do something else.)
So i will start again.
To patricia bremner
As discussed on the other post today, Henry Cooke wrote ten (10) articles – not one – while he was on the Parliamentary Mission to the Pacific Islands earlier in March and which were progressively published on the Stuff website (and presumably in some of the Fairfax newspapers) over the course of those five days. The only one that you apparently read and then criticised for being once over lightly in your comment on Daily Review 9 March 2018 was the last on which was Cooke’s wrap up article.
Here are the links which I will break into three lots so as not to clog up the works here.
In sequence, these ten articles by Henry Cooke were:
1. A preliminary scene-setting one written before the visit started, detailing the bigger picture issues relevant to the relationships etc between NZ and the Pacific islands, and anticipated achievements from the trip: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/101956367/pm-jacinda-arderns-chance-to-set-the-tone-in-the-pacific
2. An article specifically on climate change and its effects on Samoa, speeches given by our PM and Climate Change Minister James Shaw to an audience of Samoan MPs and officials at a climate change luncheon, and their visits to local spots showing the effects of climate change: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/101975846/Ardern-says-NZ-must-do-our-bit-to-fight-climate-change-before-asking-the-world-for-help
3. Another article specifically on the donations to Samoa announced by the PM of $3 million more in disaster recovery aid and $6.5m in development funds for small businesses run by women and young people: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/101971248/NZ-donates-almost-10-million-to-Samoa
4. A final article on Samoa on the hospitality and celebrations that took place; climate change; and the aid announcements: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/101995813/jacinda-arderns-island-honeymoon-with-samoa-comes-with-big-promises
Rest to follow.
Continuation of the above. Part 2 of 3
5. and 6. Two articles on the one day visit to Niue – One on the aid assistance announced, which included $5m for another solar panels farm to help Niue reach their goal of 80% renewable energy by 2025; and the second a lighter one focusing in part on the PM’s reunion with her family in Niue:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/102020729/niue-gets-575m-from-nz-premier-asks-for-pension-portability and
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/102007922/jacinda-arderns-homecoming-visit-to-niue
7. One article on Tonga covering aid including emergency relief for the cyclone Gita damage and the visit itself, which included the delegation seeing this damage first hand: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/102039953/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-arrives-in-a-turbulent-tonga
Part 3 of 3 to follow
Part 3 of 3
8. and 9. Two articles on the visit to the Cook Islands – One specifically on the biggest announcement of the whole trip on the relaxation of the rules for the payment of NZ Superannuation to Niueans, Cook Islanders and Tokelauans, and the other on the very colourful and friendly visit itself, but which also includes further discussion on the relaxed NZ Super rules:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/102082994/pm-jacinda-ardern-announces-pension-portability-for-cook-islanders-tokeulauns-and-niueans
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/102082053/jacinda-ardern-saves-the-best-for-last-in-rarotonga
10. And finally, Henry Cooke’s wrap up article summarizing what was achieved by the visit itself, and also looking at the bigger, longer term issues: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/102122822/jacinda-ardern-has-begun-a-pacific-reset-but-what-the-region-really-needs-is-an-upgrade
This last one seems to be the only one you read, Patricia.
Hello Veutoviper, Thank you for those articles. By now you will realise I have limited computer skills.
I definitely deserved a reprimand, as I had skimmed two of those articles without taking in that Henry wrote them. (A busy week with hospital and family visits none of which are easy currently)
Henry Cooke’s articles were clear and evocative, showing skill. I stand corrected.
In case you do not see this, I will again post on open mike. I said I had looked, I obviously need to learn a few more skills… will get Norm to show me how to Bookmark.
Thanks patricia. I knew that if you realised that you had not seen the rest of Cooke’s articles that you would see that your criticism was unwarranted. My original draft reply also covered a number of other issues raised in your original comment but we will leave most of those at this point.
However, re political bias, I am sure that you would now agree that there is no way that the quality and content of Cooke’s full set of articles can be equated with some of the (IMO) clearly rightwing lightweight biased garbage masquerading as journalism from these two other writers who are some years Cooke’s senior who also wrote articles on the Parliamentary Mission to the Pacific, although neither writer actually went on the trip.
Mike Hosking – http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12009354
Duncan Garner – https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/102122996/pm-dishes-out-the-charm-and-money-on-pacific-tour
I think, and hope that you would actually find that equation horrifying.
I would also like to include a rather long explanation which I included in my original draft response to you and which I touched on briefly in one of my many comments yesterday on MS’ excellent post – https://thestandard.org.nz/the-manufacturing-of-a-narrative/#comment-1468693
This is a general explanation, not directed specifically at you, as to why I have stood up for Cooke (and some other individual journalists) and will continue to do so. It was written weeks ago well before the excess of coverage of one event – combined with a lack of coverage of some other major issues, events and decisions of considerable public interest – of the last week or so, which resulted in MS’s post and the enormous response to it over Easter when things usually go quiet here.
But I still stand by it, even if I don’t always follow it to the letter myself. (See my last para!) I did not feel it was appropriate for MS’ post, but want to say it to let off stream if nothing else. I felt Drinnan was brave coming into the lion’s den yesterday. and I give him credit for doing so. This may help explain some of my responses there.
—————————————-
As we had previously discussed, I have no direct connections with Cooke himself although we have mutual acquaintances. This is quite normal in the small world of the government- centred scene here in Wellington. I do not write on his or any other journalists’ behalf; nor am I (or ever have been) a journalist, or teacher of journalism or media studies, or a family member of any journalist. But I have known, and liaised with many journalists over the years, as part of my past jobs in the public service.
My defence of Cooke and his journalism has been because I am very interested in the quality etc of our Fourth Estate here in NZ in view of its influence on society and democracy. There is a lot of criticism of our media which is quite normal – the question is whether it is in fact justified or not, either generally or in the case of specific journalists, publications, or other means of dissemination eg blogs, digital press etc. All of which is a very big separate subject in itself.
In brief, my own personal view is that we have had a fairly stale media for some years with a lot of people in the industry having been around for a long time and with fairly fixed views and positions politically.
In the last couple of years I have noticed a number of younger talented reporters coming through the system with much fresher, more socially aware mindsets and interests, and who do not seem to have the same fixed views, political connections etc that many of the older ones do.
Cooke is one I put into this group, as are Kirsty Johnston and Jess McAllen who I mentioned to you, Patricia, in a separate exchange here on TS recently unrelated to Cooke. These three are by no means the only ones; and I am quite excited to see this generational shift as people like Johnston and McAllen in particular are producing some excellent writing about things like social justice, mental health, and special needs issues.
But it is a hard road for this young cohort with the retrenchment of print media resulting in fewer and fewer opportunities for getting in the door and finding steady employment in this field, and coupled with the increasing reliance on freelance and casual writers to produce the stories for the growing digital media. There is a high drop out rate of the younger reporters as a result of these bigger factors along with low rates of pay, job insecurity, long hours etc.
IMO we need to be encouraging this cohort of young journalists and reporters to keep them in the business and to keep them fresh and open minded – to ensure a healthy Fourth Estate for the future. Unfair criticism and unsubstantiated claims and accusation of political bias etc does not do this and just adds to the other pressures on these people, leading to them quitting the profession.
So I decided some time ago that I would stand up for and support this young cohort collectively and individually where I think they deserve it. I also do this in respect of older journalists where I also think they are being unfairly targeted, criticized etc. Unfortunately there is sometimes here on TS a ‘lemming’ approach to criticism of the media generally, which also fails to distinguish between management and editorial power and control over content and balance, and the work of individual journalists (including the limitations on them to choose their subject and the way their articles are edited and presented).
I really believe that we will achieve far better results towards achieving a better Fourth Estate for the future by trying to communicate with members of the media and opening up discussion rather than continually attacking them.
Yes, critique the structure, management and bias of the organizations, and their editorial decisions re content and balance, and of individual journalists where such criticism is warranted and can be verified with facts; but don’t tar all journalists with the same brush. They themselves are a very broad church of people with different personal and journalistic experience, beliefs, values and goals just as are the rest of us.
——————————
Having read the above, some people would say that I am a total hypocrite in view of my criticism of Garner and Hosking at the top of this post – and they are probably right, but I am human too! LOL.
Kremlin connected thugs emboldened.
[…]
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/980032323923185664.html
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian authorities on Saturday arrested billionaire Ziyavudin Magomedov on charges of embezzling more than $35 million, in one of the highest-profile prosecutions of a Russian tycoon in years.
Magomedov denied the charges at a pre-trial hearing, where a judge ordered that he be held in custody until May 30.
One of Russia’s richest men, the 49-year-old Magomedov holds assets in construction and logistics through his sprawling Summa Group. He also has investments in U.S. tech ventures, including the Virgin One Hyperloop project.
He was detained along with his business partner and brother, Magomed Magomedov, and Artur Maksidov, the head of a company in the Summa Group that was involved in the construction of a soccer World Cup venue in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-summa-corruption/russian-tycoon-magomedov-arrested-on-embezzlement-charges-idUSKBN1H70A2
Te namu onepu decided to send in a repeat actor back to hang around ECO MAORI this person tried to get me and my wife to move into a whare that was half the size of the one we got now with little privacy for the same price of rent all because they were friends ????? of my wife and there dad owned it last time YEA RIGHT .This time Koni and Te namu onepu decided that they would try me again. I treated this person with respect the problem was this person was wanting to talk to me more than my wife ?????? I played along for a bit then I shut it out of my conversation as its not my friend. Ana to kai ka kite ano
Newshub the deep fake photos will always be able to be discredited with a examination of the data used to make and display those photos .
Many thanks to te Australian Common wealth games people for advocating Ladies Equality ka pai Mana wahine.
I’m quite good at reading the weather not as good as I should be being a ex fisherman but I left that up to the skipper I have fished right around Aoteraroa down to the Auckland Islands Chatham Islands like my tipuna before me .
Some people have to remember that I see all events .
It was a good week of sports for Eco Maori Ka pai ka kite ano
Ko Ruaumoko e ngunguru nei
Hi Au Au Aue ha
Ko Ruaumoko e ngunguru nei
Hi Au Au Aue ha
I aha aha
E ko te rakau a Tu nga werewere I ha
ha
He rakau tapu na Tutaua ki a Uenuku
[Ko Ruaumoko e ngunguru nei]
I patukia ki te tipua ki o Rangitopeka
Pakaru ti upoko o Rangitopeka
Patua ki waenganui o te tau ki
Hikurangi
He toka whakairo etu ake nei
He atua He tangata He atua He
tangata ho
He atua he atua tau Paretaitoko
Kia kitea e Paretaitoko te whare
haunga
I ha ha Kia whakatete mai o rei he kuri
Au
I Ahaha
Na wai parehua taku hope kia whakaka
te rangi
Kia tare au Hi
He roha te kawau
Hi
Kei te pou tara
Tu ka tete ka Tau ha
Ko komako ko komako
E ko te hau tapu
e rite ki te kai na Matariki pakia
Tapa reireia koi tapa
Tapa kononua kaiana tukua
I aue hi
I ahaha
Ka tu te ihiihi
ka tu te wanawana
Ki runga i te rangi
e tu iho nei
HI