Open Mike 01/12/2018

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, December 1st, 2018 - 186 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

186 comments on “Open Mike 01/12/2018 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Jenny 1
    1 December 2018 at 6:08 am

    Fascism is infectious

    Jamal and his sister escaped from Homs following the government led bombardment and many of his family members have been ‘disappeared’ by Asad al Bashar’s forces.  They came to the UK for safety.

    Assad apologists in New Zealand who continue to ignore and condone genocide.

    Need to realise; Your support for fascism is contagious and infectious

    Coming to a school and community near you

  2. Jenny 2
    1 December 2018 at 6:32 am

    Jamal’s sister has also been bullied at the same school

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6439263/New-video-shows-SISTER-Syrian-refugee-waterboarded-bullies-having-headscarf-pulled.html

    Why Nazis from Charlottesville tp Europe love Bashar al-Assad

     

    “The far-right and Assad share hatreds”

    Nazis like Assad because he has killed, and is killing, a lot of Muslims. This is essential to their view of the world. Anyone who sets out to murder Muslims and Arabs can be considered a friend. In this sense the far-right love affair with Assad can be considered almost tactical, a means to an end……

    ……Nazis across the world love Assad partly because it is transgressive to do so. Their governments, or most of them, acknowledge Assad’s crimes and so to downplay them or embrace them seems an exciting, daring act.

    Huddersfield is the centre of far right activism typified by far right activist Tommy Robinson,. It appears that before the attack on Jamal the schoolboy who assaulted Jamal had been sharing Tommy Robinson’s posts on social media.

    The suspect had shared numerous posts from Robinson’s Facebook account in recent months, as well as from Britain First and other far-right accounts.

    Robinson’s page has more than one million followers and his posts on the Huddersfield incident have been viewed up to 900,000 times each.

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/syrian-refugee-school-attack-huddersfield-tommy-robinson-family-sue-victim-police-a8659921.html

    In the aftermath of the attack on Jamal, Robinson spread a completely false allegation that Jamal had assaulted a  ‘white girl’.

    Jamal’s family are suing Robinson.

    Robinson’s attack on Jamal is a typical Nazi tactic used very effectively in Germany in the ’30s. German propaganda of the time demonised Jews as pedophiles and deviants, and rapists ‘defiling the race’. Most people’s deep repugnance of sex crimes has a high emotional content that fascists play on to demonise minorities.. Jewish people have called this sort of Nazi propaganda “blood libel”

    Jamal’s family are suing local racist and fascist Tommy Robinson for spreading this lie.

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/29/bullied-syrian-refugee-huddersfield-school

    • Jenny 2.1
      1 December 2018 at 8:33 pm

      Syrians are not the only ones who have paid a price for soft peddling fascist apologia and lies. Which not only gives comfort to the Assad regime, but embolden fasscists and Islamophobic racists in the West.

      Jo Cox was assassinated for her support of the Syrian people and for exposing Assad fascism and genocide.

      The most notable aspect of Jo Cox’s tragically short parliamentary career was her outspoken stance for escalating war in support of the so-called ‘moderate rebels’ in Syria. From the Blairite wing of the Labour party, she worked with neoconservatives and other Conservative hawks to use claims of genocide to support taking humanitarian intervention on the side of the moderate rebels by establishing safe havens, the delivery of humanitarian aid to rebel areas and support for the White Helmets.

      https://www.opendemocracy.net/paul-dix/jo-cox-mp-compassionate-road-to-war.

  3. Ed 3
    1 December 2018 at 7:03 am

    Maggie Barry accused of bullying behaviour.

    “National MP Maggie Barry has been twice investigated over bullying claims this year – including accusations she expected staff to do political party work on taxpayer time, which would be unlawful.

    The Weekend Herald can reveal two employees in Barry’s four-person office have accused her of bullying since May – one in a personal grievance complaint, and the other during the investigation of that complaint.

    The Weekend Herald has obtained documents which show that during its investigations in August this year, Parliamentary Service heard allegations that Barry:

    • swore and yelled at staff;
    • called an employee “stupid”;
    • used derogatory terms about other elected officials, which made staff uncomfortable;
    • referred to people with mental health issues using offensive terms like “nutter”;
    • discussed her employees’ sexuality in the workplace;
    • expected staff would do work for the National Party during office hours, which they felt unable to refuse while knowing it was wrong, because they were scared.

    One staffer told investigators he believed there was a huge power imbalance and that Barry was “terrifying” and could “destroy my career”.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12169084

    • WeTheBleeple 3.1
      1 December 2018 at 7:38 am

      Maggie’s been a nasty bully ever since her garden show where she was a demanding entitled asshat pretty much all the time.

      • Ed 3.1.1
        1 December 2018 at 7:39 am

        It would be interesting to hear from people who worked for her then.

      • AB 3.1.2
        1 December 2018 at 8:01 am

        Beat me to it WTB.
        If you are old enough to remember her garden show of a couple of decades back – there was a nice older guy with a quiet manner called Bill. Bill was actually the only one on the show who really knew much about plants or gardening. Maggie managed to deliver a constant stream of smirky put-downs of Bill.

        • joe90 3.1.2.1
          1 December 2018 at 1:26 pm

          was a nice older guy with a quiet manner called Bill

          I’ve had the pleasure of getting on the drink with Bill. Despite being a rabid tory, he’s an awfully nice bloke and a ton of fun.

      • cleangreen 3.1.3
        1 December 2018 at 8:22 am

        Maggie Barry is a cringworthy nastty spicimen of right wing ideology person, and she would crush your skull if given the chance.

        She is a very agressive woman.

        • OnceWasTim 3.1.3.1
          1 December 2018 at 8:50 am

          yep.
          …. but “doncha know who she is?”
          I hear she’s an one of Nu Zull’s broadcast institutions, and high society in the bush. I wonder if she intends retiring to one of the colonies

          (/sarc)

    • Cinny 3.2
      1 December 2018 at 8:12 am

      maggie denying everything in a desperate ego fueled attempt to retain her position of power.

      Expect to see/hear flat out denial from other nat mp’s as they get called out for the same. Their motto is probably deny, delude and distract.

      That’s the difference between a bully and someone who is stressed out, a bully will deny everything, a stressed out person who has over-reacted will usually own up to any bad behaviour, apologise and try and put it right.

      Thrilled Trevor has made the bullying investigation possible, sure he has been no angel in the past, but he’s improving life for many by making this investigation happen.

      • Marcus Morris 3.2.1
        1 December 2018 at 8:42 am

        When Maggie Barry hosted Nine to Noon back in the eighties I enjoyed her show very much. Occasionally I watched the Garden Show in latter years. I was disappointed when I learnt that she had thrown in her lot with the Nats and, as I have listened to and read her occasional arrogant rants in the time she has been an MP I am not at all surprised to learn of these bullying disclosures. It is the result of arrogance developed over a long period of being in the public eye in media where she was universally admired. It has all lead to an overbearing sense of entitlement – the hall mark of so many National party members and their parliamentary representatives.

        • Doogs 3.2.1.1
          1 December 2018 at 1:15 pm

          I have similar thoughts and experiences as you Marcus in regard to our dear Maggie. I have to say though that arrogance never arrives out of nothing. There’s no doubt that exposure to adulation over time can lead to an arrogance and feeling of entitlement in a person. However, it needs a core this to be present before someone can get as puffed with her own importance as Maggie is. There are plenty of people who are admired and lauded for their achievements, and who display none of the odious characteristics displayed by Ms Barry. John Campbell springs to mind, and Jacinda, of course, but there are a good number of others. National seems to attract people who love themselves and who consider they are a cut above.

          • OnceWasTim 3.2.1.1.1
            2 December 2018 at 6:10 am

            🙂
            Couldn’t have said all that better.
            So what should we make of the pompous Woodhouse – another of that ilk.
            The old guard must be rolling in their graves – or soon-to-be graves.
            The party of ‘free enterprise’ and ‘opportunity’ does seem to be attracting a lot of rabble these days.
            /sarc

      • Ankerrawshark 3.2.2
        1 December 2018 at 10:17 am

        Cinny there apparently there are tapes which refute Maggie’s denials. Perhaps this is one thing we can thank Todd Barclay for? Ie gathering irrefutable evidence

    • James 3.3
      1 December 2018 at 9:35 am

      All allegations only at this point but interesting to note the bits Eddie missed out in his efforts to make it look as bad as possible.

      “Barry concedes there were issues raised by former staff, but they were resolved “by mutual agreement” and “there was no finding that bullying or harassment had occurred”.

      I’m guessing that she would be tough to work for but whoever took this to the media sounds like a complete snowflake.

      • Ankerrawshark 3.3.1
        1 December 2018 at 10:18 am

        Umm James the herald has heard tapes that refute her denials

      • Cinny 3.3.2
        1 December 2018 at 10:25 am

        How does it go…. the person who is nice to you, but not nice to their staff, is not a nice person.

        Is mental health so wide spread in NZ in part because we’ve forgotten how to be nice and instead say things like ‘harden up’. Or use excuses such as a person who can’t handle being talked down to is a complete snowflake, to excuse bad behaviour?

      • Tricledrown 3.3.3
        1 December 2018 at 12:12 pm

        James putting the ice_ing on the bullying cake.

      • Gabby 3.3.4
        2 December 2018 at 9:28 am

        ‘there was no finding’ means ‘we made sure nothing got said on the record’ jimbo.

    • Chris T 3.4
      1 December 2018 at 9:43 am

      It’s quite funny watching people trying to highlight cases from the other side as if it makes their sides cases less bad.

      Especially when the whole thing is being overseen by a bloke who punches people in the head at work.

  4. Ed 4
    1 December 2018 at 7:29 am

    The most important issue facing us today and every day.
    Climate change.
    Here is an interesting article that looks at why ‘we’re ignoring climate change.’

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/in-depth/377074/why-we-re-ignoring-climate-change

    • Cinny 4.1
      1 December 2018 at 8:19 am

      Ed, last night at the school festival we had a wash station for plates and cups, and recycle and compost stations for rubbish.

      People were encouraged to bring their own crockery or use the schools, and were given a discount off food if they did so.

      They’ve also adopted a nude food challenge, kids that don’t have their lunch wrapped in cling film, or use little packets (like prepackaged bags of crackers etc) everyday go in the draw to win a prize.

      Trying hard to be a zero waste school, if we educate the kids, often they will go home and educate their parents.

      • cleangreen 4.1.1
        1 December 2018 at 8:31 am

        7.0 earthquake in Ancorage Alaska today.

        Lots of liquefaction there today and broken roads.

        Guess the “Ice road” will be damaged too now?

        https://www.wsbradio.com/news/national/alaska-earthquake-magnitude-quake-rocks-anchorage/KlSaEo4OvsWrQPUNGM22wJ/

      • James 4.1.2
        1 December 2018 at 9:36 am

        The nude food challenge with a carrot (as opposed to a stick) as motivation is a great idea.

      • Matiri 4.1.3
        1 December 2018 at 9:58 am

        We were discussing the Radionz article this morning with a friend.

        We all agree that something radical needs to change beyond the small things we are all doing – composting, cycling to work, growing vegetables, reusable shopping bags etc but even so there was denial about air travel (need to keep in touch with family and children overseas “I’m not like those instagrammers fuelling tourism”), fossil fuelled vehicles (we have three!) , “my kids generation will sort it out”, “I really care about the birds but I bought my niece a kitten for Christmas and a collar with a bell”…….

        Last night we had wine and nibbles before a plant based meal – self indulgent behaviour really from people who care and worry about the huge problems facing us!

        If we who care can’t change our behaviour enough to solve it, who on earth will?

        • Cinny 4.1.3.1
          1 December 2018 at 10:16 am

          This bit Matiri… “If we who care can’t change our behaviour enough to solve it, who on earth will?”

          Very well said indeed.

        • Sabine 4.1.3.2
          1 December 2018 at 12:31 pm

          I really care about the birds but I bought my niece a kitten for Christmas and a collar with a bell”…….

          but we need the space for the three car garage, so these trees and shrubs needs to go. Also, i want a low maintenance garden, so that lawn needs to go to. Instead i have a pot or three of some desert plants here.

  5. SaveNZ 5
    1 December 2018 at 9:11 am

    I know from the Natz but would not be surprised if it is true. Also interesting that is sounds like Mum was involved in the import/export drugs findings… but failed to be convicted/prosecuted.

    “Will another Sroubek be granted Ministerial favour?

    Suggestions drug smuggler Karel Sroubek’s mother is seeking permanent residency raise more questions about what Special Directions might be granted by the Minister, National’s Immigration spokesperson Michael Woodhouse says.”

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1811/S00273/will-another-sroubek-be-granted-ministerial-favour.htm

    • SaveNZ 5.1
      1 December 2018 at 9:28 am

      Immigration did not seem to have much issue declining this women who does not sound like a criminal and has money to support herself.

      But again it sounds like a political move as her husband is ex CIA who sounds like was concerned about an assignment and reported it to the chief of staff? .

      “Harmon Wilfred – The First U.S. Refugee?

      Harmon Wilfred was an honourably discharged U.S. Military Veteran with a top secret security clearance. He turned CIA whistleblower in 1999 over serious concerns he had about an assignment as a “CIA Asset” involved in covert financial transactions in 1997 and 1998. Harmon appears to have created some extremely powerful political enemies when he submitted a report on his concerns to Michael Horowitz, then Chief of Staff of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.”

      http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1811/S00083/christchurch-investor-couple-separated-by-inz-for-3-years.htm

      It’s a pity our immigration policy seems to now be a dysfunctional political tool to further neoliberalism and individualism and get the worst people here, while stopping people who might be good citizens from living here and instead joining in on international bullying on people who sound like they tried to do the right thing.

  6. DJ Ward 6
    1 December 2018 at 10:30 am

    Years ago my mother (40) got a knock on the door, me watching. There in front of her was a woman she had never met who looked very similar to one of her sisters.
    “Hello I’m your sister” the woman said.
    This being in the generations that killed so many men in wars that many women couldn’t find partners and no contraception. She lived next door to a man for over a decade. Due to “religion” the man couldn’t leave his wife. My grandmother had 6 girls in this relationship. The first she could keep and suspect was why she lived next to the father for so long. The next 5 were taken by the state at birth and fostered or adopted out. My grandmother was a large lady so this managed to be a 100% secret to my mother, community and the family. She met my grandfather who had his 6 kids taken from him when the mother died, a full blooded Maori and my full blooded Pakeha grandfather. My grandmother 7 more kids with my grandfather and died young with cancer.

    I think a lot about what the hell were we thinking to end up with all those outcomes in my grandparents generation. What are we doing wrong today that we think is good. That my grandchild will say WTF were they thinking.

    As a side issue which is why I thought about that sister at the door.

    She had a son who unbeknown to me was an hermaphradite. We became freinds over the few years I knew him. He suicided at 18. Didn’t see it coming at all.

    ..

    • greywarshark 6.1
      1 December 2018 at 7:37 pm

      The laws supposed to be providing guidelines and set standards have often in their cold and remorseless way have done bad and hurtful things. My idea now is if we test matters against a kindness and practicality criteria, we will be able to avoid some mistakes, and lessen those that are made.

      • DJ Ward 6.1.1
        1 December 2018 at 8:52 pm

        Yes.
        Two steps forward and one step back is better than not making any steps unless your lost.

        Accepting we make mistakes, doing something top stop or lesson mistakes, understand things take time, learn about our progress. Accepting we make mistakes.

        Positive thoughts, good intent, informed, and a good dose of realism.

  7. joe90 7
    1 December 2018 at 10:41 am

    OTD in 1939 the Soviet Red Army began its unprovoked invasion of Finland. The attack began with the bombing of civilian targets in Helsinki and 18 Red Army divisions crossed the 1300km long border.

  8. Andre 8
    1 December 2018 at 10:52 am

    Heh.

    ” In particular, the researchers found that there was a strong correlation between counties that voted overwhelmingly for Trump and internet searches for topics related to masculine insecurity, including “erectile dysfunction,” “hair loss,” “how to get girls,” “penis enlargement,” “penis size,” “steroids,” “testosterone” and “Viagra.” ”

    https://www.salon.com/2018/11/29/trump-appeals-to-men-who-suffer-from-fragile-masculinity_partner/

  9. WeTheBleeple 9
    1 December 2018 at 10:55 am

    Your Feelings of Anger, Fear and Sadness are Entirely Valid: My paraphrased notes on a talk on Climate Change; ‘This Civilisation is Finished’ by Rupert Read. Cambridge, 07/11/18.

    Dear young people. I’m so sorry. We have totally failed you. Our corporations, governments and institutions have all failed you. Many of you may not have the chance to grow old.

    The Paris Agreement was absolutely not enough. Things have got worse. US is the largest polluter and they’ve dropped out. Our weather systems appear to be spinning out of control. Oceans are storing much more heat than we’d realised. Methane release also threatens runaway warming. Commitments made for Paris targets are in contradiction to what the Governments actual actions are (pro-growth, infrastructure for industry and transport).

    The techs proposed to save us either don’t exist or are untested. They could cause further disasters exacerbating an already dire situation. The Paris Agreement is toast. The aims are not being achieved. Conditions have worsened, and climate change is already upon us.

    There are three possible future scenarios.

    I. A transformed civilisation.

    The best scenario, although highly unlikely.

    What do we need?

    Industry and Governments immediately cease their obsession with growth to address climate change with all possible resources.

    Unprecedented large-scale change. Radical alteration of energy, agriculture, transport and trade.

    We mobilise our governments, armies, corporations and citizens. Everyone tightens their belts. Everyone pitches in. A war on climate change.

    II. A successor civilisation.

    Following partial collapse. Very likely the best scenario we can hope for.

    III. Total collapse.

    From just a few humans left to the end of all complex life. Runaway methane and heating or simply coastal inundation of nuclear sites could wipe us out entirely. Possible, and must be avoided at all cost.

    So, what can we do?

    1. Wake up.

    If you have not had feelings of fear, sadness and anger, you have not been paying attention. If you have been listening you might be interested to know there is an entirely new branch of psychology emerging: Ecopsychology. We are hurt by our hurting planet. Your feelings are entirely valid, and you are most certainly not alone.

    Climate change is terrifying, tragic, and it could have been avoided.

    2. Talk about it.

    Many think they are suffering alone, but that is not the case. Share the burden of your fears and concerns, come together in support. Understand others anger, sadness and fear as valid; and try not to shut them down, rather, hear them.

    This IS scary stuff.

    3. Think about it.

    How do we preserve the values of civilisation through scenario II?

    4. Build lifeboats.

    ‘Prepping’. Food storage. Building community. Seed banking. Permaculture. ‘Building lifeboats’ is a theme that will soon be rolled out here in articles/posts. Watch for the heading ‘How To Get There’.

    5. Holding Actions.

    Divesting from big oil and subsidiaries. Lobbying government. Voting Green.

    6. Rebel!

    This is an emergency. Demand direct action. Use non-violent direct action. Join extinction rebellion. Start your own revolution. Make it clear this is not a drill.

    7. Stop.

    Slow right down. Take this in. Think about it. Feel it. Talk about it.

    Then do courageous dramatic things.

    Use your abilities and intelligence to retrofit your: yard, business, farm, orchard, company, government, family, community, society.

    The Standard has a vast resource of knowledge and experience. I greatly enjoy discussion of solution-oriented adaptation, and the plan to enlarge on this mostly positive theme here is encouraging.

    However, at the same time it has become clear to me after this talk that acknowledging our feelings about climate change is a vital part of moving forward together.

    So I wrote these notes.

    And to all the Ed’s and Bill’s of the world. I apologise for thinking you go over the top. Thank you for shoving things in my face that I needed to hear till I heard them.

    Here is the talk itself:

    • Ed 9.1
      1 December 2018 at 10:57 am

      I posted Rupert Reid’s talk the other day.
      It is very very good. And it does not mince words.
      People need to confront this information.
      And act

  10. Ed 10
    1 December 2018 at 10:57 am

    The news story that dwarves all others.
    Here are some people doing something to force change.

    ‘Australian students skip school for mass protest

    On Monday, Australian PM Scott Morrison rebuked their plans for “activism” during school hours and insisted his government was tackling climate change.
    Many students said his remarks had bolstered their resolve to protest.
    “We will be the ones suffering the consequences of the decisions they [politicians] make today,” protester Jagveer Singh, 17, told the BBC.
    Organisers say they were inspired by Greta Thunberg, a 15-year-old girl in Sweden who has undertaken similar protests.
    Australia has committed to reducing its emissions by 26-28% on 2005 levels by 2030, under the Paris climate agreement.”

    Greta Thunberg is inspirational.

    • Ed 10.1
      1 December 2018 at 11:02 am

      15 year old Greta Thunberg’s speech to the UK Extinction Rebellion rally outside Houses of Parliament on Wednesday 31st October 2018. Her quiet voice encouraged her audience to repeat her words so everyone could get the message.

  11. James 11
    1 December 2018 at 11:17 am

    I was reasing there TERF thread.

    Really interesting to see a poster come out and directly ask the sexually of a commentator:

    “Are you straight [name] girl?

    What interested me is that not a single poster on here pulled the person up on it. (Surprise surprise)

    I understand a lot would not have seen it – but a lot would have.

    Seems to be part of the “we can treat people we disagree with worse” model that some on here subscribe to.

    It’s either ok or not?

    Oh climate change (that bits for Ed)

    • Drowsy M. Kram 11.1
      1 December 2018 at 12:08 pm

      “Oh climate change (that bits [sic] to Ed)” – trying not to sound “like a complete snowflake“, James, but what do you mean?

      “Anna urges us to do this in every situation, even suggesting bringing up the weather at a barbeque to make a subtle segue onto the topic of climate. Conversations like this could be monumental in changing how people think about climate change.”

      https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2018/11/youre-much-more-powerful-than-you-think-how-you-can-combat-climate-change/

      • James 11.1.1
        1 December 2018 at 12:11 pm

        She sounds boring as all fuck. I wouldn’t have her at one of my bbqs.

        Reminds me of the joke- how do you know someone is vegan? Don’t worry – no matter what you are talking about they will tell you.

        And what’s your thought on the subject of asking posters on here their sexually?

        • Drowsy M. Kram 11.1.1.1
          1 December 2018 at 12:23 pm

          James, about one hour ago you wrote this (@11):

          “Seems to be part of the “we can treat people we disagree with worse” model that some on here subscribe to.

          It’s either ok or not?”

          You then wrote this:

          “She sounds boring as all fuck. I wouldn’t have her at one of my bbqs.”

          Honestly, I doubt Anna would be interested in your bbqs. Nor would she be so crass as to label you “boring as all fuck”.

          • James 11.1.1.1.1
            1 December 2018 at 1:25 pm

            if you can’t see the difference you prob need to work in your comprehension skills.

            • Drowsy M. Kram 11.1.1.1.1.1
              1 December 2018 at 2:20 pm

              Nor would she be so crass as to label James “boring as all fuck”, although she might well think it.

              crass
              /kras/
              adjective

              showing no intelligence or sensitivity.
              “the crass assumptions that men make about women”

              synonyms: stupid, insensitive, blundering, dense, thick, vacuous, mindless, witless, doltish, oafish, boorish, asinine, bovine, coarse, gross; informal: pig-ignorant

              Please consider the possibility that it’s your comprehension and communication skills that need (a lot of) work, and we can agree to disagree.

            • Tricledrown 11.1.1.1.1.2
              1 December 2018 at 2:23 pm

              You prob need T go on probation wit your lack of skill James.

        • Tricledrown 11.1.1.2
          1 December 2018 at 12:34 pm

          James if you came to a bbq at my place you would get fried.

    • Ankerrawshark 11.2
      1 December 2018 at 12:18 pm

      James I am not sure what your problem is with someone asking a direct question of another commentator in this case “are you straight?” I think it’s ok to ask, and it was a relevant question to the thread on sexuality and gender. Of course people are free to decline to answer.

      Now a request I have of you. I would really like it is you left Ed alone ie don’t comment about him. I appreciate it if you consider this. Cheers

      • James 11.2.1
        1 December 2018 at 12:29 pm

        But I like talking with Ed.

        Perhaps if he replied in a reasonable fashion then the conversations wouldn’t deteriorate?

        Me: post link from herald about anything not climate change

        Ed: herald are paid propagandist

        Ed: OMG you hate the planet – climate change is more important than whatever you wrote.

        Ed: you are a troll

        Ed: then post link from some guy with a tin foil hat eating banana leaves discussing Russia – OMG he nails it !!!!!!!

        • Ankerrawshark 11.2.1.1
          1 December 2018 at 1:09 pm

          By all means disagree with any commenter here about their opinions but leave the person out of it. I realize this might appear like I am singling you out, but I have decided to put out this message of don’t attack the person on this website on an on-going basis……….

          Btw me wondering what you found difficult about a commenters asking if someone was straight wasn’t a criticism I just saw it differently, but happy to hear your views about it

          • te reo putake 11.2.1.1.1
            1 December 2018 at 1:22 pm

            Thanks, Ankerrawshark. I made a similar request a week or so ago for people to have a crack at arguments rather than people. It’s not hard to adjust the wording of a comment to say things like ‘I think your opinion is wrong and here’s why …’, rather than ‘you’re an idiot’.

            However, one of the strengths of TS is that conversations here are in near real time and sometimes that does mean that debates occasionally resemble the kind of intellectual discourse normally associated with pub car parks at closing time.

            If the usual suspects are reading this, please note that abusive single sentence retorts might be simply diverted into spam in future and that other, sterner, corrective methods may be employed to keep debates from degenerating.

            • Ankerrawshark 11.2.1.1.1.1
              1 December 2018 at 1:37 pm

              I think a little bit of banter ok. For example I found James comment Anna. Must be boring as fuck slightly amusing as she is unlikely to read it and it is something most of us could defend with something like James prefers his guests to talk about Bitcoin cause money is so interesting.

              It is the unrelenting brawls that get personal I find unhelpful and unhealthy

              • James …
                1 December 2018 at 2:43 pm

                I love the fact you think you know what I prefer people to talk about

                (And btw – I think bitcoin is for idiots)

                Money is not that interesting if you have some – what you do with it is way more interesting.

                • Ankerrawshark …
                  1 December 2018 at 3:10 pm

                  hi James no the bitcoin thing was just a wild stab in the dark. What would be an interesting topic for you.

                  I once worked with a woman who said it wasn’t the topic, but the delivery that made stuff interesting.

          • WeTheBleeple 11.2.1.1.2
            1 December 2018 at 5:36 pm

            I agree. Don’t play the person, play the ball, or in this case, the topic at hand.

            I’m as guilty as the next in being a bit of a dick, but we can at least try not to be.

        • Incognito 11.2.1.2
          1 December 2018 at 1:56 pm

          But I like talking with Ed.

          That’s a euphemism, isn’t it?

      • gsays 11.2.2
        1 December 2018 at 10:55 pm

        Hear hear ankerawshark.
        Well said thank you.

  12. Dennis Frank 12
    1 December 2018 at 11:20 am

    How realistic is a conservative coalition prospect after the next election? No prospect at all, currently. Henry Cooke examines coalition stability: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/108998180/the-coalition-is-showing-signs-of-maturity-but-labour-isnt-selling-it-very-well

    He illuminates the incentive motivating Winston: “while National’s internal polling has NZ First at 4 per cent, Labour’s has had them at 5 or above plenty of weeks recently. The Greens have consistently scored about 5 in both the public and private polls, and both major parties’ internal polling has Labour ahead of National right now.”

    “This is streets away from the situation in the last two terms when NZ First was in Government. Between 2005 and 2008, it basically never made it above the 5 per cent mark in public polling – leading to its one and only term out of Parliament.”

    He also reveals a behind-the-scenes coalition arm-wrestle. “On Tuesday this week a very rare thing found its way to journalist’s inboxes: a press release signed off by Labour, NZ First, and the Greens. The release confirmed the set of compromises made by Labour and the Greens to ensure NZ First would support the second reading of a long-fought bill to reform workplace laws.”

    “NZ First had already won a major concession before the bill was even introduced. Despite the fact Labour as a party exists to protect the rights of workers, the first Labour-led government in a decade decided to let NZ First keep 90 day trials for any businesses with fewer than 20 employees.” Then more wrestling occurred.

    “Eventually Labour rolled out Heather Simpson, Helen Clark’s old enforcer. It’s understood she met NZ First chief of staff Jon Johansson, and Johansson himself met the unions, and the deal we saw on Tuesday was hammered out.”

  13. Exkiwiforces 13
    1 December 2018 at 11:55 am

    Not expecting to see this on a lazy Saturday morning in the 21st century while having breakfast.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-01/baton-rouge-schools-new-segregation/10566428

  14. Sacha 14
    1 December 2018 at 12:41 pm

    Canada’s indigenous governments to get responsibility for child welfare: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tasker-ottawa-child-welfare-services-indigenous-1.4927104

  15. Puckish Rogue 15
    1 December 2018 at 12:56 pm

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12166993

    Bloddy annoying when comments come back to haunt you 🙂

    (I’m not against the upgrade, just poking fun at Hipkins)

    • Ankerrawshark 15.1
      1 December 2018 at 1:41 pm

      Yes it’s a very old house and it pays to keep up the maintenance else they end up costing you more.

      She was doing one of her fb posts inside the property and I thought it looked shabby but maybe it was a backroom

    • McFlock 15.2
      1 December 2018 at 7:40 pm

      A million on security alone? Must be replacing a system of 30 year old PIRs lol. Possibly also a sprinkler system and a guardhouse/monitoring room, too.

  16. te reo putake 16
    1 December 2018 at 1:26 pm

    Top, top thread! Careful you don’t spill your covfefe laughing.

    https://twitter.com/RudyGiuliani/status/1068650461304102913

  17. cleangreen 17
    1 December 2018 at 1:41 pm

    The NZ Green Party is a fucking joke today!!!!!

    We have better environmentalists inside Greenpeace now!!!!

    Inside the ‘well healed’ members of the urban members of Green Party No-where are we hearing them fight to ‘save the world’ from climate change,’ simply firstly by restoring rail to get that 90% freight now carried on trucks to only 6% running on rail presently, at least half of that 90% be put back on rail again.

    I now see all freight of what was ‘traditional rail freight’ running on roads now such as fertiliser, milk, aggregates, fuel, and timber products.

    A number of other waste and hazardous products were also carried on rail, when the ‘Hazardous substance Act’ was enacted, but the 2008 National Government dialed that act back to allow dangerous substances to be carried on roads.

    Consider that trucks are using eight times the energy to move ‘each tonne each km’ around NZ.

    Those trucks shed black cancer causing tyre dust onto our roads and then the rain washes that cancer causing chemical substance of Tyre dust straight into our rivers, lakes and sea!!!!!

    https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/butadiene/healtheffects.html

    Then that black Tyre dust containing 1,3,butadiene/styrene (both cancer and nervous system damage causing chemicals) are carried by our water runoff systems after entering the sea are just being carried to the both ice-caps then the black dust just attract the heat from the sun to melt both polar ice caps at an alarming rate!!!!!!

    Then the sea level rises and will just wash those trucks and those roads into the sea.

    Trucks are then single biggest destroyer of our environment and future extreme weather systems.

    Wake up everyone as we are reaching the end of sustainability.

    • DJ Ward 17.1
      1 December 2018 at 2:20 pm

      The truck might not agree. I’m thinking that humans have something to do with the problem.

      I’m struggling with your 90% comment.

      I would suggest that what you would like to be achieved which I think needs addressing would require government intervention.

      Firstly rules about freight so it’s journey from location to location, so rail must be considered and used if it’s realistic to do so.

      Upgrading infastructure.

      A train arrives, a robot puts on and removes cargo. A truck arrives, a robot takes off its cargo, then puts on the correct cargo. Trucks are often chosen due to time delays in the network, and the costs of inefficient processes. The costs are more with the choice to use trains, or Buisiness would use trains if the finances worked. When factories like Fonterra use trains it’s because it’s in a process designed and integrated with rail. Easily out performing trucks as a option.

      Increasing connectivity.

      The more connected the rail network the more realistic minimising truck use becomes. Adding light rail connecting bigger non rail connected towns as a start. Underground light rail connected to suburb town centres, industrial areas, courier hubs, airports, ports, main rail hubs.

      Full electrification of the network including battery powered trains.

      Intercity buses could also be replaced with a standard and lite gauge using rail using EV buses.

      • cleangreen 17.1.1
        1 December 2018 at 2:54 pm

        DJ Ward.

        Yes as a climate denier you would say that and you are off the mark sadly.

        Firstly you have no concerns about the tyre pollution to humans and environment/ice cap melting do you?

        That is disturbing.

        And where did it say I advocated for connectivity and farm gate rail service?

        Go look at the way transport/connectivity was structured in NZ in the l;ast 40 yrs.

        Then you will see where your National party went the wrong way.

        First they allowed the closure of many factories around NZ that was close to rail lines and “centralised the whole system for “efficiency” but they forgot that eventually without rail truck freight would eventually prove to expensive and now the Road Transport Form Ken Shirley is howling at the cost of taxes on truck freight.

        Well if he had backed rail instead we would have a rail and local truck delivery and pickup like we had firstly again and the cost to freight would become cheaper while saving lives cost of road repairs and use far less carbon emissions so you cant fight that model that was always the ‘best practice’ used world wide now and before so the only thing you said right was ‘humans have something to do with the problem’ – yes indeed they are.

        • greywarshark 17.1.1.1
          1 December 2018 at 3:29 pm

          Cleangreen
          Encouraging people groping their way to an understanding of how we can change to cope with our looming future, is the best way. It doesn’t do to crush the process and throw negatives around. It is so easy to poison a well, why would you do it?

          Can we have more positives, with you inserting your further ideas. Each move of mind should result in a step-up for that person and all readers of the post, of which there may be many out in the wop-wops of the outer ether.

    • Tricledrown 17.2
      1 December 2018 at 2:29 pm

      Clean green politics is pragmatic change is relative to support pick on those who don’t support the greens otherwise you are just sabotaging any progress.

  18. Sabine 18
    1 December 2018 at 1:52 pm

    so what do we think about white Christmas? it is gonna be a happening thing?

  19. Sacha 19
    1 December 2018 at 2:16 pm

    Publisher making two of Harry Leslie Smith’s books, including “Harry’s Last Stand” free to download via ebook services this weekend only – links for each provider (Amazon, Apple, Google, etc) in the tweets following this one: https://twitter.com/iconbooks/status/1068473889246887936

  20. joe90 20
    1 December 2018 at 2:27 pm

    After spending the last 2+ years lying about it’s existence, tRrump defends his potential 2016 Russia deal as very legal & very cool.

    https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/419051-trump-on-cohen-claims-my-business-was-very-legal-very-cool

  21. greywarshark 21
    1 December 2018 at 3:22 pm

    Thinking about Prof Brady and Chinese reaction to fair comment and facts.

    Read http://www.kiwipolitico.com/2018/11/left-compass-lost/ –
    …the independent minded expat Chinese community in NZ, who remain silent in the face of threats against them here as well as against their families and associates back on the mainland. It behooves readers to read, watch and listen to the Mandarin-language media here in NZ (even if needing translators) because the rhetoric employed by these outlets –which Brady has pointed out are with the exception of the Falun Gong mouthpiece Epoch Times all controlled by CCP-linked United Front organisations –is hostile to the point of threatening towards all those who do not toe the Party line

  22. Dennis Frank 22
    1 December 2018 at 3:43 pm

    “A smiling Russian President Vladimir Putin was seen high-fiving Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the G-20 Summit. Source: AP” https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/video.cfm?c_id=280&gal_cid=280&gallery_id=201356

    Blecchh!!! Putin sends big signal to the watching world!! Anyone here still thinks the dude’s a good guy better think again!

    • Andre 22.1
      1 December 2018 at 4:07 pm

      They immediately sat down to what was no doubt a pleasant discussion. About their favourite journalists, perhaps.

    • greywarshark 22.3
      1 December 2018 at 4:24 pm

      Show me your list of big power good guys Dennis Frank.

      • Ad 22.3.1
        1 December 2018 at 4:30 pm

        Some are better than others, irrespective of their “power”.

        • greywarshark 22.3.1.1
          1 December 2018 at 4:38 pm

          OK short and sweet Ad. But I was thinking about a list. I don’t find the leader or major political poseur of the UK, USA, China, Russia much chop.
          Who do you like for the podium?

          • Ad 22.3.1.1.1
            1 December 2018 at 4:51 pm

            Don’t like any of them.
            For just the four you named my least worst in order would be:

            – May
            – Trump
            – Putin
            – Xi

      • Dennis Frank 22.3.2
        1 December 2018 at 4:52 pm

        Yeah, I do a sporadic complaint about it now & then. I think the one a few months back mentioned we hadn’t had a top western leader being an authentic statesman since the post WWII era, or something like that. You know, Eisenhower’s warning the American public about the threat of his own military-industrial complex, Kennedy facing down Kruschev. At the non-top-level we got Havel & I do rate Mandela a genuine statesman. Always possible, regardless that power structures tend to deselect them.

        • greywarshark 22.3.2.1
          1 December 2018 at 7:43 pm

          Does Angela Merkel rate – she seems to have held Germany together and attempted to deal with overwhelming problems for some time?

          I do like Yanis Varoufakis as offering some way out of the financial maze that the EU seems to be wedded to.

          • Dennis Frank 22.3.2.1.1
            2 December 2018 at 6:04 am

            Merkel has a track record as a competent manager. A statesman has a comprehensive overview at the top level, capacity to act on that basis, does so with appropriate effect, and earns a reputation above all other contenders on that basis. Within that mix there must also be moral guidance, which all involved recognise as being right (in the common interest).

            Varoufakis has the right global view: “To achieve progressive goals on a global scale, from worker rights to climate justice, we must reclaim the international institutions and deploy them to deliver an International Green New Deal.” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/01/liberal-world-order-new-international-yanis-varoufakis-david-adler

            And with Sanders he’s developed an appropriate action plan: “That is why DiEM25 and the Sanders Institute have launched the Progressive International movement: to mobilize people around the world to transform the global order and the institutions that shape it.” https://www.progressive-international.org/

            “A reinvigorated United Nations, with a security council elected from a UN assembly comprising not just government appointees but also citizens from around the world, should forge binding commitments to swift ecological transition.”

            However he hasn’t yet been able to persuade other key players to join his team. A statesman has the charisma and gravitas to make that happen. We’re not seeing evidence that he’s got what it takes. For instance, I haven’t noticed Corbyn endorsing the above prescription!

  23. greywarshark 23
    1 December 2018 at 4:42 pm

    I bought some Bic pens and on the back is a promotion they are doing.

    BicFightforyourWrite.com
    ‘Join BICs Mission to Save Handwriting!

    That’s sense. People doing it for themselves needs to be a new catchcry.

  24. DJ Ward 24
    1 December 2018 at 6:01 pm

    RIP George H.W. Bush.

    • Muttonbird 24.1
      1 December 2018 at 6:19 pm

      What will be his legacy? Desert Shield and that’s about it.

      • Sabine 24.1.1
        1 December 2018 at 6:26 pm

        Bush junior and Jeb!

      • Incognito 24.1.2
        1 December 2018 at 6:27 pm

        George W. Bush

      • DJ Ward 24.1.3
        1 December 2018 at 6:53 pm

        Service is one thing. His war service. His being a self made man. A long period of service in government. He as we are both aware, did some good things and bad things. Just like everybody else does. Overall he was a good man trying do good things for the people he represented and had the character of a gentleman in public and in private. I give some thanks for that as an example for any young person.

        • Sabine 24.1.3.1
          1 December 2018 at 7:21 pm

          oh you mean Zapata, who was most likely a conduit for CIA money and operations. Or you mean being born into a privileged family of which Granpa almost was convicted for treason, going to super posh all boys school n such?

          Bush the elder was no more selfmade then Trump. Both were born fairly well off, and then continued to make money the respectable way, inherited.

          As for his war service, so did literally any man born into these times that were drafted to fight. I have more respect for those that refused to fight, cause that took guts, real guts.

          a good diary here by DK writer Meteor Blades
          https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/11/30/1759582/-George-Herbert-Walker-Bush-dead-at-94#read-more

          Bush was not a ‘nice’ man. He was a company man, he was owned lock stock n barrel, as are his sons. None of them did this world any good in any which way.

    • Ad 24.2
      1 December 2018 at 7:42 pm

      – Negotiated NAFTA
      – Pushed Saddan out of Kuwait with UN mandate and 30 member coalition and did not destroy Iraq
      – Pushed out Noriega
      – Spectacularly popular as a result of those wars
      – Total Republican gentleman

      But
      – Total Nixon defender
      – CIA to his fingernails, but given much stronger oversight by Ford’s directive 11905
      – Ran the economy down, and spent all his popularity on not much of worth
      – Given the ass after one term by Clinton
      – Father to a generation of mediocre Bush politicians

      • DJ Ward 24.2.1
        1 December 2018 at 9:29 pm

        Your Buts.
        Nixon.
        He had a public service role and that was to support the President. I believe he told Nixon to resign.

        CIA Director.
        He had a public service role. One that is probably extremely difficult with life and death decisions. His mistakes probably affected him, like it would if we had that job.

        Economy.
        Yes he wasn’t strong on that plus using opportunity of developement by wasting it on war.

        Lost election.
        After 12 years of a Republican President. Time for change.

        Father.
        160 million American males will never raise a child to become president. Just 4 since he ended his official public service. Sorry 3.

        • Ad 24.2.1.1
          1 December 2018 at 9:34 pm

          Bush led the Republican Party and was a staunch defender of a criminal President who resigned in disgrace.

          Bush needed controlling as CIA Director, so the Ford directive again the entire intelligence comity put him in his place, as was totally appropriate.

          Lost election despite 90% popularity during the Gulf War. Shit at being President.

          Father of mediocre leadership. None of them generated goodness in the world. The world would have been better off if none of them had ever been elected to office at all. I’ve seen better public servants in the New Lynn library.

      • millsy 24.2.2
        1 December 2018 at 9:35 pm

        Would point out that Iraq had been involved in an 8 year war with Iran that had taken a huge toll on it’s military and economy. Saddam’s army was exhausted and the 1991 Gulf war was more of a massacre than anything else.

        • Ad 24.2.2.1
          1 December 2018 at 9:37 pm

          How does that bear on evaluating BGH Bush’s presidential record on his death?

          • Sabine 24.2.2.1.1
            1 December 2018 at 10:15 pm

            that generally Americans are not good at winning wars unless they get help, or the enemy is already on the ground. And for what its worth, the US and its spineless helpers should have never invaded Iraq at the time, and then should have never invaded Iraq the second time around.

            For what its worth, bush the elder and bush the younger both got their invasion with all that jazz and jizz and non of them ever defeated the country. They created misery and mayhem, and they still have not won anything, nor created any lasting legacy.

            they were both spectacular shitty presidents in a whole slew of shitty presidents.

            • McFlock 24.2.2.1.1.1
              1 December 2018 at 10:36 pm

              They’re pretty good at winning conventional wars.

              Just complete shit at counter-insurgency and empire maintenance.

  25. Ad 25
    1 December 2018 at 7:50 pm

    Good article at The Intercept on Mueller’s investigation closing in around President Trump very quickly:

    https://theintercept.com/2018/11/30/michael-cohen-trump-russia-mueller/

    • DJ Ward 25.1
      1 December 2018 at 9:12 pm

      So can any body tell me what would be wrong with me doing Buisiness deals in Russia. I can’t work out what’s wrong with it. Would any of Trumps deals he has done in other countries count, why not? are they not just the same things.

      I don’t understand the paranoia. It’s not like Trumps smashing up hard drives.

      • Ad 25.1.1
        1 December 2018 at 9:28 pm

        Hmmm.

        Are you aware of the difference between being a businessman and being the President of the United States?

        The United States has a specific set of rules known as sanctions – some mandated by Congress, some others by the UN – against Russia.

        Here, this set of briefings from the US State Department will help you:

        https://www.state.gov/e/eb/tfs/spi/ukrainerussia/

        Donald Trump needed to be aware of those from 2014 since he was auditioning in 2015 and 2016 to be the person who would represent those state positions.

        But he didn’t.

        He just wanted to to keep cutting deals.

        • Macro 25.1.1.1
          1 December 2018 at 9:54 pm

          Not only was Trump hoping to get Russian finance to build a tower opposite the Kremlin with his name on it – which was the only way that was going to happen, but part of the sweetener was to be a $50m penthouse for Vlad! Furthermore he still had skin in the game in June 2016 but Donald Jnr and others have told Congress that the deal had fallen through long before then. This was a lie and as such is an indictable offence.

          • Macro 25.1.1.1.1
            1 December 2018 at 10:00 pm

            “It’s a loud message to everybody that is interviewed by our committee, regardless of where that prosecution comes from: If you lie to us, we’re going to go after you. Our mandate is at the end of this to get as close to the clear truth as we possibly can, and we can’t do it on conjecture. We’ve got to do it on facts.”

            In his plea deal, Cohen, President Trump’s former personal attorney, admitted that he lied about negotiations he had about building a Trump Tower in Moscow. Those discussions about the real estate project occurred well into the 2016 presidential campaign, while Cohen represented Trump in business dealings.

            Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Thursday that the committee had made multiple criminal referrals to Mueller, but added “we’re not going to talk about any individuals.”

            Some of the key people interviewed by the committee include Paul Manafort, Roger Stone, Jared Kushner, and Donald Trump Jr.

            https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/richard-burr-reveals-senate-intel-has-referred-testimonies-to-special-counsel-robert-mueller

      • Macro 25.1.2
        1 December 2018 at 10:11 pm

        Why Michael Cohen’s Trump Tower Moscow revelation matters, in under 500 words
        A small guide to a really big deal.

        TLDR

        This is bad for Trump. Cohen says he aimed to secure a lucrative business deal with Russians closely linked with Putin on Trump’s behalf during the 2016 presidential election — all while Trump was repeatedly championing better Washington-Moscow ties in campaign speeches.

        What’s worse, it’s entirely possible Trump knew a close confidant willingly lied to Congress.

        https://www.vox.com/world/2018/11/30/18119670/michael-cohen-trump-tower-moscow-explained

      • Gabby 25.1.3
        2 December 2018 at 10:47 am

        They’re just using the hard drives because apparently it’s not an issue any more. Inexplicably dud4.

        [Gabby, DJ isn’t Dad. TRP]

  26. DJ Ward 26
    1 December 2018 at 8:11 pm

    Most likely, but maybe a conspiracy theory.
    His granpa, not him.
    Rich kid yes but he leveraged that opportunity. He was a self made man, he created his own Buisiness. You need to look at the start of his adult life.

    War has often not been an option for men. In fact women lurked the streets with feathers looking for cowards. Demanding they suffer, maim themselves, and die to protect them while lived in relative comfort. He was a volunteer putting his life on the line in the service of his country.

    You are looking at this mans actions from one perspective. He did many good things, made many good decisions. He broke the ice with China, supported German reunification, events that led to profound change to all our lives. He did lots of charity work post being president.

    He is not responsible for his sons actions. The deposing of Saddam was not his decision. He didn’t decide to invade Afganistan.

    Sadam Hussain forced the company hand with Kuwait. Supported by most nations.
    Things like global warming was hardly discussed in his era. He never got a Government report proving man made Climate Change. Judging the actions of people in the past shouldn’t be by today’s reality or understanding.

    • DJ Ward 26.1
      1 December 2018 at 8:30 pm

      Sorry that was for Sabine 24 1 3 1

      • Sabine 26.1.1
        1 December 2018 at 9:29 pm

        He has his record, that speaks for him. And no, he did not need to start a war for Oil, and his son did not have a valid reason to continue the war on Oil and on the Iraquis.

        Essentially the man was bad, he was born to money – indisputable, grew up with all the white male privilege his time had to offer, never had to actually work for anything, and eventually ended up president, of which really he did not do a good job by any standard. If you want to see self made, i suggest you look to Oprah Winfrey. Now there you have self made. Every cent of it.

        Supported t he German reunification? what was he to do? drop a bomb? Short of shooting people in the main squares on Monday nights during hte weekly protests, there was nothing the East Germans (SED, Volkspolizei) could do to prevent the unification. And no, Poppa Bush did nothing, absolutely nothing to bring that about. It was the women protesting the Afghan war in Russia, hiding their sons so that they would not be send to war, protesting every day anywhere in what was then the USSR and the people of East Germany, Hungary, Poland etc that brought down the iron Curtain, the Yanks did nothing. You might want to read up on these times in Europe, they were pretty interesting.

        He is responsible for his sons actions, he raised his sons, he influenced his sons, and i am sure he advised them. Then there was also …..Saddam tried to kill my Daddy, never mind Rumsfeld delivering the weapons a decade earlier for Saddam to fight the Iranians.

        China, as i recall it was his good friend Nixon who went there first, Poppa just followed in the footstep of an honest crook before him.

        The man was rich trash, could not give a flying fuck about anyone not named Bush, inherited his lifestyle and earned his position thanks to his name, inheritance and family connections.

        Still every man, every women who ever opposed a war, earned their own keep, did not lie, steal and plunder another country for oil has more honor in their little finger then this guy had in his whole body. Other then that, may he rest in peace.

  27. Ed 27
    1 December 2018 at 10:36 pm

    Bomber Bradbury is right
    We need a radical Green Socialist Party if we are to deal with climate change.

    • Ed 27.1
      1 December 2018 at 10:40 pm

      An excerpt from an important article by Bomber.
      It would be good to see more emphasis on climate change on this site, rather than conversations by the Woke Left on identity politics.
      The future of humanity is a little more pressing!

      “Climate change and its impacts are far more dangerous than currently acknowledged and only a radical populist response can unseat the vested corporate interests that create the current political and economic inertia. As more and more climate events occur at faster and faster rates, voters will turn on the current hegemony, the question is who will harvest that anger and fear, the Left or the Right?

      …….Politically we need a radical Green Socialist Party. The Middle Class Woke Identity Politics vehicle we have with the current Green Party is a sad joke that alienates more than it recruits. While they bicker about reclaiming the word ‘cunt’ and deciding which pronoun to use for Trans gender rights, the planet melts. Building every Millennial micro-aggression into a war crime doesn’t do a fucking thing to combat climate change.

      What few Green Party voters even recognise is that the current Green Party is built upon free market economics, so we need a new radical Green Socialism Party with one goal and one goal only – radical populist climate change adaption that utterly rejects neoliberalism.”

      The article is here.
      I’ll look at in more depth tomorrow

      https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/12/01/a-new-political-movement-lets-just-be-honest-real-climate-change-will-require-a-political-social-economic-revolution/

    • McFlock 27.2
      1 December 2018 at 10:43 pm

      OK. Might be a good thing to have.

      So it needs:

      a party structure,

      500 members,

      and 150,000 voters (although even 30,000 would scare the shit out of established parties and shift them more left and green).

      Also preferably a decent fundraising infrastructure.

      Anything else?

  28. lprent 28
    2 December 2018 at 1:39 am

    If anyone is still hanging around and wondering why the site keeps coming up and down, I’m fixing a problem in the OS update system.

  29. eco maori 29
    2 December 2018 at 9:18 am

    Kia ora R & R Clint I’m not getting into that debate but people can have there reality’s/ options change I did a good post on cambridge analytical that is a major threat artificial intelligence is were its at.
    Voting online and compulsory voting is the way to go like Australia.
    Land line polling is not accurate.
    The Amercian election’s are distorted by election boundary’s being drawn by gop party who have lost the majority vote in the last 4 election cycles
    The neo carbon barons want a pro carbon climate change deniers as a governments all around the world. Ka kite ano .trump lost power in the mid term elections now they can make him accountable for his cheating .True Kiwis are more polite than most

  30. eco maori 30
    2 December 2018 at 9:40 am

    Kia ora The Hui when you have a goverment that has put money before there voters well being well we can see they have made a big mess we just had one person putting down our youth to justifie importing cheap labour.
    Yes tamariki need love and hope .
    Bullies are made by other bullys and that correct they the same love and hope .
    I was the untidiest poorest kid at school other kids tried to bully me but it was like water of a rakiraki back why because my whano bullied me since I was nine. I was lucky I was given a strong back Honky nick was my name.
    Ka kite ano

  31. eco maori 31
    2 December 2018 at 10:46 am

    Some Eco Maori Music for the minute

  32. eco maori 32
    2 December 2018 at 12:13 pm

    Kia ora Marare Ka pai to Maori Music I tau toko te tangata whenua O Aotearoa waita .
    Lance I think I know the massage your are trying to get out there is.
    Our health systems for Maori need to have a maori wairua the health system need to be revamped may be health centers for maori .
    When one goes it the health system some staff are showing there discrimination just by the way they look at us and the way they talk to us so some people won’t seek help until there health problem has gotten close to life or death or very bad so some aliment that could have been treated with medicine ends up with hospitalization.
    In my view we need to change thing’s an have the tangata whenua seek help as soon as the feel sick not weeks later as the cost on the persons health and the health system explodes .
    Solution have maori treat maori when one goes into a health center a maori nurse check’s the person asap make us feel at easy if there is a problem the nurse can’t treat so be it if the doctor needs to see the person hopefully there is a understanding preferable one who understands maori culture person to treat the patient .
    I think one has to look outside the square box to get maori health stats to improve dramatically.
    Willy we know you have maori’s best interest at heart just .
    Communication is needed if a patient is not at ease they will not communicate well and the treatment could be misdiagnosed Ka kite ano P.S better late than never Scotty 501

  33. eco maori 33
    2 December 2018 at 5:18 pm

    I see the sandflys payed for the LGBTI awards they paid for the top 2 awards sending money on there image instead of changing there culture it would cost a lot less.
    The sandflys break my human rights every minute of the day and everyone can see this they have cost me $50 k in lost business I have had other business opportunity and the have poured there hate on those opportunity’s .There attitude is who cares you just a broke heaven maori . I there harresment of me they has caused 2 couples to break up.
    They cry and blame Eco Maori because they are getting there our wai sprayed in there faces from tawhirimate the big picture is they started this bullshit cheating MAN HUNT and I’m not going to cower and hide because they are to thick to see the big picture they are the ones behaving in a criminal manna not thee I not Eco Maori so any bad wairua /karma they get well they should all take a good look in the mirror ANA TO KAI.
    Ka kite ano P.S they have a lot of staff leaving and the people who don’t trust them is 40%

  34. eco maori 34
    2 December 2018 at 5:25 pm

    Some Eco Maori Music for the minute

  35. eco maori 35
    2 December 2018 at 5:32 pm

    Pukana

  36. Eco Maori 36
    2 December 2018 at 6:33 pm

    Kia ora Newshub there are some idiots out there who do dumb stuff the Bredon brother lies of his death muppets they new they would get heaps of hits.
    Its sad that those people who lost there house in the floods. It would not have been so bad if we did not have a climate change denier in the lead for the last 9 years.
    Condolences to Ex President Bush snr whano for there loss of him he.
    The far right playing up in France again.
    I say climate change is the main cause of all the Whales stranding life is a finely ballance force.
    That math teacher looks like a national supporter.
    Well I will never let a car drive me anywhere I know how easy they can be hacked I like the tweel tyrers on the cars.
    Niki & Andrew it’s been a good weekend for Aotearoa sports Mana Wahine Ka kite ano

  37. eco maori 37
    2 December 2018 at 6:58 pm

    Some Eco Maori Music for the minute

  38. eco maori 38
    2 December 2018 at 8:09 pm

    Eco Maori say that all the children around the World should strike for the futures.
    And all teachers who know human caused climate change is a real threat should support them in there quest for a happy healthy future.
    ka kite ano.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 27

    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 27 were:1. The Minister for Ford Rangers strikes againTransport Minister Simeon Brown was again the busiest of the Cabinet ministers this week, announcing an ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    34 mins ago
  • Ticket To Anywhere

    You got a fast carAnd I want a ticket to anywhereMaybe we make a dealMaybe together we can get somewhereAny place is betterYesterday’s newsletter, Trust In Me, on the report of abuse in state care, and by religious organisations, between 1950 and 2019, coupled with the hypocrisy of Christopher Luxon ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 hour ago
  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    18 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-27T01:01:03+00:00