Key Apologises for Wasting Police Time in Teapot Saga
Prime Minister John Key says he misused his authority when he complained to Police after a tape of a semi-private conversation with ACT Leader, John Banks was given to the media. A microphone was left on the coffee table during a staged ‘cup of tea’ media event in which Mr Key publicly endorsed the ACT Party’s Epsom candidate in the last days of last year’s election campaign. This week Police decided not to lay charges against the the taper, Bradley Ambrose, and Mr Ambrose still maintains that the taping was accidental….
It is clear now that the Government has effectively cut the income tax rate and paid for it by borrowing money overseas, in large part from China. It is an act of economic treason and generational selfishness when a government has decided an already-wealthy part of the population deserves higher incomes paid for by loading foreign debt on future generations of taxpayers.
The charts reveal the results of the cut in the income tax rate from 39 to 33 cents, which was in theory partly paid for by an increase in the GST rate from 12.5 to 15 per cent. They also reveal a massive reversal in a decade-long trend of improvement in New Zealand’s public debt position.
darn you got there before me đ it’s a good april fool’s from JS – mind you the idea of ‘jonkey’ and ‘apology for’ do go together in a number of ways
It certainly seems to me that the Herald on Sunday has decided that the years-long honeymoon for Key and his merry band of neo-lib control freaks is over. Good on them.
Imagine reading the editorial getting stuck into Key’s abuse of the paper for short term political advantage, and all of these reports actually looking beyond the spin and into the facts, a couple of years ago. Wouldn’t have happened.
And is it just me, or is there a change in the photos of Key that many papers tend to run on page two? Gone are the smiley, puppy-holding, baby-kissing, prole-comforting pictures; now we see Key frowning, sweaty, looking worried, just like he has something to hide…..
Gotta admit – I have been enjoying the past few months!!
it’s a funny bug that. one incorrectly written bit of code and the italics carries on through all the comments. it even made the editing buttons in the back of the side italicised.
David Shearer has issued a statement requesting all MPs start setting an example of positive leadership, and has asked all Labour MPs and staffers to set an example of putting the good of the country first, and to stop petty political attacks. Shearer in strong show of leadership.
SOEs Minister Tony Ryall refused to be interviewed about the concerns. But in a written statement he said successful private companies maintained “strong relationships with their stakeholders and customers” because it was “good business”.
Which explains why they had to write a social responsibility clause in the first place. Someone should make Ryall watch Alan Greenspan’s Congressional testimony until he gets it through numb skull that he is talking shit.
Why isn’t there a requirement in the cabinet manual that ministers statements should not be demonstrably deceitful?
Typical of this lot to avoid interviews – another minister diving away, leaving some junior in the media department to knock out a quick statement that says “don’t worry – the market incentives will look after that for us – now stop bothering the minister with things below his super-strategic view”.
It is going to be fun watching the developments at Narrow Neck beach in Auckland. Looks like iwi are about get some prime waterfront land back. So far as I can see, the dispute is about rich capitalist whities, pointing to how “poor” they were in the nineties and in a desperate act of ingenuine socialist solidarity, trying to align themselves with an imaginary aggrieved public. If that doesn’t catch, they then point to the slippery slope argument that marine park fish will be endangered by treaty settlement land on top of a cliff. The consultation process wasn’t transparent enough, they claim. Jesus, they are pretty transparent themsleves. They complain they were hoodwinked by the people they voted into government, even though they knew those people used the same measure of self interest as their lifestyles and attitudes hold dear. Can’t risk maori building “cheap in-fill housing” on prime land, one woman said on TV last night. I assume that’s because we all know how maori and cheap go together… don’t we? No sir, it should be whities doing that, building exclusive residences, keeping the tone of the neighbourhood clean, you know, like they did over the harbour in Okahu bay all those years ago. So a few maori got burned out of their homes, couldn’t they understand the City had a raffle running? Even poor old The-Law-is-Complicated Len has found his voice and come out saying a private consulation “…doesn’t cut the mustard”. Ooh, steady on there Len, your masters will get twitchy! The irony is that after almost 175 years of maori learning the hard way how to be good colonialists, rich whities are being out-whitied by rich maori and can no longer choose their neighbours. Gee, that must sting.
But, those uppity Devonport activists seem to have got the wrong end of the stick and assumed Ngati Whatua have the same motives for acquiring prime coastal real estate:….
Ngati Whatua spokesman Ngarimu Blair said there is a misconception the deal involves the coastal area, sports field and surrounding reserve.
“We’re not buying that. We never were. We’re only talking about the navy barracks, the sheds, carpark areas and building which we are purchasing and is set well back from the coast.”
The RNZ Navy, which leases the land, will be offered a minimum lease of 15 years under the agreement.
Adjoining Takapuna Reserve and Narrow Neck Beach â totalling 11.9ha and covering the shoreline â remains in the public’s possession and unaffected by the deal.
Plans are also under way to formalise a public walkway on the eastern strip of the base. Currently the navy can revoke access at three months’ notice.
“We’re the last people to restrict public access to great pieces of land on the harbour or river. We did the same thing for our land at Bastion Point,” Blair said. “We’re very sensitive to these issues.”
Having been on the periphery of the previous stoush in the late 1990s involviing former environment minister, Nick Smith, I think most people expected the land presently covered by buildings and a car-park would be added to the reserve once the Navy abandoned their barracks. Indeed from memory we were given to understand by the Shipley govt. that is what would happen. Anyone who knows the area intimately can appreciate the significance such an enlarged reserve would have for the whole of Auckland. It has the potential to be a sparkling jewel in our ‘maritime reserve’ crown with magnificent views of the harbour and gulf. The uppity Devonport activists fought a costly court battle to stop all but a very narrow strip along the top of the cliff being sold off to speculators and turned into a rich man’s paradise and they won. I can tell you Nick Smith and his (then) colleagues were thoroughly pissed off with us at the time.
The fact that this latest deal was done behind closed doors without the knowledge of the local community and the community board, hasn’t gone down well and I’m not surprised. I have no wish to deprive Ngati Whatua of their rightful heritage, but I want to know one hell of a lot more about what plans they have for the land once it comes into their possession. Like North Head, it is a very special place with a fascinating history – both Maori and Pakeha.
One small error. We were certainly given to understand that the reserve would be extended after the departure of the Navy but I doubt it came from the govt. of the day. We were not on their Xmas card list. đ
There is another part of that article that also deserves mention
Shortly after the Treaty was signed the Crown purchased 3000 acres of what is now downtown Auckland for 281. Within six months, it had on-sold 90 acres of that land for 24,500.
I don’t often agree with finlayson but I do when he says
In a letter to the community paper, Finlayson called on residents to remember how Maori suffered significant land losses in Auckland and this needs to be addressed. “There is no way the scale of redress to Ngati Whatua Orakei can be anything like what they lost.”
The upset residents should take some time to consider those quotes and the quotes that Carol has put up too. What is the actual fear and where does it spring from? At the moment it seems not far off what uturn has written.
You are talking a load of crap Uturn. Rich capitalist whities? Bullshit! If they hadn’t done their dash nobody would have the land now including Ngati Whatua. It would be covered in dirty great mansions belonging to rich capitalist whities.
Ngati Whatua and the Devonport Trust (which was set up to protect the reserve) worked together last time and I’m sure they will end up doing so again. To categorise Devonport activists and by inference residents – most of whom are behind them – as a bunch of self serving, racist capalist pigs (yep, that’s what you’re saying) just shows up your ignorance of both them and the past and present situation.
Lucky ol’ whitey and his self interest came to Ngati Whatuas aid, huh? People not familiar with Auckland’s North Shore and specifically the area in question will be surprised by the raft of rich man’s mansions on both sides of the land in question – just keeping the land safe, that is, “for all of Auckland” – and the neighbourhood in general. How bewildered visitors will be to find the diversity you suggest exists. I know I was warmly accepted into the multicultural egalitarian environment when I lived there. Then again, I am white. I don’t mind calling my own out as racists and hypocrites, when they are. Like you, they really hate it, though.
“People not familiar with Aucklandâs North Shore and specifically the area in question will be surprised by the raft of rich manâs mansions on both sides of the land in question”
Yeah that’s the point. It is prime awesome land, it would be best for every kiwi if it remained in the public commons. If Ngati Whatua doesn’t guarentee it will be turned into a park for ALL to share, then it will inevitably become more ‘rich man’s’ mansions.
I’ve lived near Narrow Neck Beach since I was born (50 years) had my first swim in a rock pool there. So I claim it as my local beach. I have strong ties here and I sure don’t vote National or Act! All the people who live here have a right to a say, for themselves, their children, their grandchildren, because many people brought up here stay here all their lives. Why are Ngati Whatua the only important ones here? Surely there is other land that can be sold. That land was safe, or so we thought, for future generations as permanent reserve. I can certainly understand that the wealthier residents of the Shore who obviously voted National, especially Devonport, are pretty irate , as am I, and I don’t think that will die down easily. So Maggie Barry, be warned! No seat is safe if you do the dirty on your electorate!
The Brits panic-buying fuel due to a strike that hadn’t been called was encouraged by the government – “re-fuel before it gets too low”, they said, “store petrol in a jerry-can in the garage” one said.
After hours-long queues for days, empty petrol stations and a serious burns incident it’s found to have all been a pre-planned ‘Thatcher Moment’ to break the union. Note that it this news was broken by the Daily Telegraph aka the Torygraph.
But now that I have heard the Conservativesâ private explanation, which is being handed down to constituency associations by MPs, I begin to feel angry.
The private message is as follows. âThis is our Thatcher moment. In order to defeat the coming minersâ strike, she stockpiled coal. When the strike came, she weathered it, and the Labour Party, tarred by the strike, was humiliated. In order to defeat the coming fuel driversâ strike, we want supplies of petrol stockpiled. Then, if the strike comes, we will weather it, and Labour, in hock to the Unite union, will be blamed.â
Absolute contempt is what I have for the people who have engineered this state of affairs.
Looks like someone has threatened Slater with consequences if he doesn’t pull his head in and allow a ceasefire in the Nats’ civil war:
“Thatâs it!
by Whaleoil
Iâm over them. National that isâŠcuddling up to Boag.
I think I will join the Labour party. They seem to be having so much more fun right now.
Plus, since they are the nasty party they should welcome my particular skills.”
Slater, your particular skills are having a mad blog that Lusk sometimes puts interesting things on (which you promptly bury with trash – 4 posts in 2 hours so far, it’s Sunday dude!)
Or is his post his idea of a 1 April joke although it would not surprise me if he had been told to pull his head in. However, that sort of advice usually seems to provoke certain types of people to do the opposite.
When I looked just before seeing your post here, he was up to 5 posts and its not yet 9am.
Ditto – am still interested in the statement in one of yesterday’s posts which appears to claim to have had the Sovereign letter before Close Up in terms of where it may have been leaked from. Here is my earlier comment on this – http://thestandard.org.nz/slaterlusk-goes-off-the-deep-end/#comment-453506
Agreed Rosy. These utterly manipulative scumbags governing the UK only considered how they could turn public opinion against the union – before the union had even voted whether to take action. The result was a public run on fuel; artificially created shortages; worries that emergency services wouldn’t be able to find fuel in an emergency; people storing petrol without understanding the hazards; a woman severely burnt because while decanting petrol for her daughter who had run out of fuel. What do these people stand for? Do they give a damn about the people they are supposed to be governing?
“Often the district health board would also rent back a substantial number of the car parks for its medical staff, on long-term contracts with regular rent reviews, providing a built-in lift in revenue…”
So the upshot is that for a sugar rush of $15.3million the DHB gave away income of at least $2.36million per year for twenty years, plus incurred higher costs for staff parking. We’ve got some real financial wizards in charge of the DHB. A taste of what’s to come methinks.
Yes parking is a juicy earner, especially with a captive market that has nowhere to go. Always was easy money as the structures are concrete shells, require little maintenance, need virtually no staff and you just keep raising the cost.
Parkings been Auckland airports juiciest plum for years and again shows what an ideological lemming Ryall is on top of his lies about doctors and nurse numbers is a nasty and evasive dude…..perfect NACT material.
Are there any escalation clauses or do they just charge what they like?
Don’t know, I’d have thought the hospitals would have some say in the parking levies but maybe not, look at Auck hospitals outrageous charges;
“The car park charges visitors to the hospital $18 for stays of 6-8 hours….”
The main point is the hospital (and other) car parks are publicly owned assets being signed over to profiteering private businesses for twenty year leases when there is no commercial or financial justification for such lengthy terms. The owners, ie us the public, are also losing very substantial sums in income from the asset.
true but NACT consider any public asset ripe for their business mates to profit at the public’s expense, sick and vulnerable even easier kaching.
Ryall’s doing long term damage in health and it goes pretty much unoticed, of of the darkest lords quietly going about the hollowmans business.
As annoying as they are, I guess they promote more efficient public transport in a way.
Of course it is unavoidable when you do need a car, but mostly I think parking charges and tickets are mostly a rich persons tax.
We still have it way better than most parts of the world. In the UK 10pd+ per hour was pretty standard in CBD type areas. Even in the suburbs you needed a ‘pass’ that verified you as a resident or you risked being towed. So pretty much your mates had to pay for temporary passes to park there, even outside YOUR flat. We are nowhere near that bad here.
Even in the suburbs you needed a âpassâ that verified you as a resident or you risked being towed. So pretty much your mates had to pay for temporary passes to park there, even outside YOUR flat. We are nowhere near that bad here.
That is what we have just down the road from me in Grey Lynn.
We all too often forget or don’t know about such people, who are the real leaders of this world albeit in a small way in the overall scheme of things. Leaders is not quite the right word, but brain is not yet functioning fully.
A truly inspiring article – recommend it to other Standard readers.
Thank God for people like Lyn Lusi, who selflessly defied the darkness in the heart of man and brought healing and light to those maimed by human wickedness.Such a heart warming and uplifting life to aspire to.
Rest in eternal peace Lyn Lusi knowing that you faithfully fought the good fight and I thank you for it.
Love the acronym H.E.A.L. standing for health,education, action and love. I wish we could put this into action for our poverty stricken children. Thank you so much for this link lprent, stirring stuff.
Questions of ”cheque book legislation” again arose at Parliaments question time when both Brownlee and Joyce were questioned on whether Skycity had given any favor of any sort to either of the Ministers in the Slippery Sleaze administration,
The method by which Brownlee replied was slightly enlightening, complaining to the House Speaker Lockwood Smith that such a question from the Opposition should not have included the word ”corruption”,
Brownlee once put in His place answered a no to the question as to whether He had ever recieved favor or cash from Skycity as did Joyce,
A forensic psychologist tho would have been all over Joyce as when He rose to answer in the negative to the question of ever having recieved cash or favor from Skycity the first few words of His reply in the negative only managed to escape the constriction in His throat as a girlish squeak,
The real question that should be asked of Joyce in particular is has He set His business interests into a ”blind trust” with no knowledge to him management by others thus giving Joyce the perception of freedom from conflict of interest as a Minister of the Crown and would He be surprised if such a ”managed blind trust” held an amount of Skycity shares???…
Indeed, Jackal. Greg Boyd did surprisingly well, and even Shane Taurima managed to make Key look less confident than he used to be. (Though more to do with the end of the Media Honeymoon, methinks. Just about to blog on it…)
The episode seemed more professional; less show-ponyish; and dealth with the issues (the issues! Oh no, say it ain’t so, ma!)
Just how wide-spread is this little bit of inspired Public/Private business???
It appears that Housing New Zealand Ltd has a contracted out inspection service where once a year tenants are visited by Housing New Zealand,s privately contracted building inspectors to check on issues of maintainence and/or tenant damage to the property,
It would further appear,and we have as yet not ascertained the numbers,that at least one tenant has had 2 new smoke alarms installed despite the 3 already at the property being in perfect un-damaged working condition,
The tenants in this particular piece of work are not asked for their consent nor are they told that they will be billed for the installation,
3 months later Housing New Zealand sends the tenants an invoice for ”damage” to the property with a claim that the smoke alarms were installed as ”replacements” for damaged alarms supposedly already at the property,
Tenants are given 7 days to pay for this little rort and we wonder just how many of Housing New Zealand,s tenants are being rorted in this manner and how many have meekly paid up thinking that ”they have to”….
Housing NZ Ltd for what should be a government service department. And then this outsourcing of real work to robot arms so that at the centre is just an ugly alien with giant eyes and a flaming mouth, the horror fantasy films come to reality.
We have posted twice here this morning and not wanting to hog the page we are off to spend a little energy on the chores,
What we have posted tho has as an afterthought to us addressed a somewhat intertwined issue that has effects at the top end of society as it does the bottom,
In reality we have simply addressed the issue of the supposed public/private partnership and that reality simply shows us that such a relationship is rotten at its core and should such a dissolution of the line between the role of Public business and Private business continue the rotten core will begin to give off a stench all of its own…
The National led government have in fact increased government debt by over 190% since they gained power in 2008, and such economic bungling will undoubtedly cause problems for New Zealand for decades to come…
I am still trying to figure out what the PM meant with his spiel on Q+A this am, when comparing 2 billion borrowed by National compared to 12 billion from Labour ???
Was he trying to say Nats have only borrowed 2 billion in the first three years ?
Rather disturbing story about a teenager trying to go all Equus on his Dad’s business in the Herald. It’s accompanied by a graphic picture of a dead horse. What caught my eye was the juxtaposition of that photo with one immediately to its right, which illustrates the difficulty a young Philippino woman is having getting bikini shots published on facebook. I think there may be a feminist on the sub’s bench trying to make an obscure point.
Mike Hoskings doing a ‘cash for comments’ deal with a major corporate with an image problem looking for concessions from government is following in a well worn track. See the John Laws link below. Laws’ people went out to recruit a corporate ‘with a big PR problem’: at that time it was the banks, who were in the middle of a major rarking up of fees. So: wonder who esle might be paying off our celebs and shock jocks? Aussie Banks here? ASB bank? Offshore owned utility companies? Super market duopolies?? Mind boggles: suggestions please!!! http://www.multiline.com.au/~johnm/johnlaws.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cash_for_comment_affair
It looks like Boag and Pullar have been utilizing their associations in the National party for personal gain and it is likely that very senior members of the National party (including Key) are implicated in the stand-over tactics of a private insurer and a government department…
It looks like you are trying to utilise old accusations backed by little or nothing. Pullar and Boag have been trying to utilise their National associations, but without much success.
The private insurer said their name drop overkill harmed rtaher than aided their claim there. They could see the “support team” was nonsensical, as could anyone with half a clue.
Nick Smith stuffed up but for nothing, things still haven’t been resolved at ACC so there doesn’t look like any personal gain there.
Key has adamantly discounted any involvement and that seems credible with facts the facts that are known and common sense.
Did you happen to see Q+A this morning Pete George? Fran O’Sullivan disagrees with your and John Keys argument.
I can count the number of times I’ve agreed with O’Sullivan on an amputees hand, but I happen to agree with her that undue influence is wrong even when it’s not successful.
Is a bank robber not a criminal when he doesn’t get away with any money Pete George?
Could you link to where Sovereign Insurance said the support and advocate people listed in the leaked letter was nonsensical?
Wayne Mapp on tv said he organised meeting(s) with pullar’s support people regarding
the claim from soverign insurance,the claim for $14 mil.
She also got closer to the $3 mil amount
according to a tv report.
WTF!!? How can National still be rising in the polls? Even as a strong National supporter, I can’t believe they have escaped so unscathed from all the shit that has gone down.
The problem is that even a damaged National Party still looks more attractive to most voters than Labour. Voters are looking at National in turmoil and still ticking their box. If that’s not a signal that Labour needs to up its game dramatically, then I don’t know what is.
Or change it’s game. A few here Labourites here could take note.
When will they realise that they need to worry less about trying to make Key and National worse (they’ll do that themselves over time), and more effort making Shearer and Labour better?
One news released a poll tonight showing the three big parties up and NZ1 back down to 3% (lols – that’s what they said before the election đ ). Not on the CB site yet.
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On the plus side, that’s 51% all up for the nats government. Error-level shite, and not a spike.
Mostly the poll shows no change. Except this, which puzzled me most:
Voters were also surveyed on their views on the economy, with 50% having an positive outlook, up six percentage points. 32% remain pessimistic, with the reminder believing there will be no change.
 I get annoyed at the constant drone from greenies about everyone getting out cars and biking because its so good for the planet. Yes. But for the individual, it can be very unsafe and some on bikes donât seem to have the cautionary control of a toddler
What angers me most is that they don’t frickin’ wear helmets! A good example of the sheer selfish nature of some cyclists is the 35 year old man who came whizzing, helmetless, across Carrington Road outside Unitec, and down the street on the footpath, missing me by millimetres as he zoomed past me. I called out “idiot!” and he turned around, poked his tongue, screamed an insult about old ladies clogging up the footpath, ‘flipped me the bird’ as I believe the American expression is, and rode on laughing.
Cycles are not legally allowed on footpaths. Many cyclists have told me that the law says they are allowed to not wear helmets if they ride on the footpath. So I made a point of checking with the police. (Who won’t enforce their own law even if an offender is pointed out to them as they are just too damned lazy).
   * Cycling on footpaths is illegal.
   * Riding helmetless is illegal.
   * There is a cycle path on Carrington Road! There’s a big brass plaque pointing that fact out. It’s still ignored even by the Greenie tarts on bikes (I mean frocks on bikes isn’t it? One of them cycles around here, too proud of her expensive hair-do to wear a helmet.)
   * Footpaths are for pedestrians, and with the Segar Ave residence for people with cerebral palsy and Rehab + for brain injured people both off Carrington Road, wheel chair users.
(I put this on the 31.03 Open Mike, and it ended up promptly in moderation. Therefore this is an expoeriment to see if I can find out why. I end up in moderation about once every 2-3 days, and have yet to understand or to be told why.)
Yes, in moderation… one day I may find out why. In the meantime, I get the hint, I have nothing more to say about anything – but you can’t stop me thinking it!
Just watched the 60 minutes on Tv3. The Casino deal was in the gun. Guyon Espiner in good form questioning Joyce over the sweet deal. Joyce unable to answer some fundamental questions and I bet he will be unwilling to face up again. (Guyon said that in Adelaide the same Casino chain sought special privileges in exchange for law change. The Government response there? “You must be dreaming!” Joyce knew nothing about this – and he should have.)
Stuff reported on the Adelaide comparison in August last year. That explains how Joyce had never heard of it: he was lying.
Slippery has also been running the lie about casinos being “safer” despite having no evidence.
Joyce oozes corruption from every pore – he doesn’t even try to hide it. How anyone can imagine that he would make a good party leader is beyond me.
OAB’s policy suggestion: require that Sky City’s owners build the convention centre for free, then confiscate their assets and drive them out of the country.
Requiring 10 year olds on bikes to mix with traffic in Auckland while there is a, mostly unused, footpath available is totally stupid.
Of course if you would rather a cyclist got killed than a pedestrian injured?
Never heard of any pedestrians getting major injuries or killed by cyclists on footpaths.
Many deaths from cyclists being forced to bike on the roads, in places like Petone and Tamaki drive.
Tauranga has mixed bike and footpaths with a speed limit for bikes. Works fine.
Nelson and Mt Maunganui bike lanes would be alright if they did not put you right in the path of opening car doors.
Personally I think that law should be changed.
+1. Even if it means narrowing some roads to widen shared paths for bikes and pedestrians. Works extremely well where I live. Shared paths are probably not suitable for speed-training cyclists, but for commuting, shopping trips etc, they’re spot-on.
Many cyclists have told me that the law says they are allowed to not wear helmets if they ride on the footpath
They’re correct (however they wreck their case by illegally riding on designated footpaths)The law states that helmets must be worn when cycling on roads.
A person must not ride, or be carried on, a bicycle on a road unless the person is wearing a safety helmet of an approved standard that is securely fastened.
I like the idea on the Tauranga Mt bridge. The mixed path has a speed limit for bikes.
So. If you want to ride safely on the bike/pedestrian path you go at a speed that is not too dangerous for pedestrians.
Kids and late middle age cyclists can stay safe while the members of the lycra brigade, that want to ride fast, have the choice of mixing it with the cars.
There’s a few shared paths in Auckland, too. The path labelled as the North Western cyclway is actually a shared path. There’s loads of signs telling people to keep left. But I’ve come across a minority of pedestrians who think that it is for walkers only. They spread across the path in a group, blocking the way for cyclists.
This also happens on the split pedestrian/cycleway over the southern motorway on Symonds Street, with people walking in both the pedestrian lane and cycle lane at the same time, blocking the way for cyclists.
I’ve also come across a guy walking his dog without a leash on the north western cycleway. This is scary for a cyclist because you don’t know which direction the dog might run.
Theyâre correct (however they wreck their case by illegally riding on designated footpaths)The law states that helmets must be worn when cycling on roads.
So, that means that if they cycle on the footpath, they don’t need helmets? That is not what two police officers told me… I fear that you have interpreted the law the way you want it to be, Rosy.
You should hang around Auckland for a while. (I know you’re overseas atm, but still). People who wear helmets are in the minority, and most of those who don’t are kids whose Daddy has told them to ignore Helen’s nanny state law, (my son was at school with many of those) or kids who whinge that they can’t afford a helmet (when they’re riding expensive bikes, of a like that we could never afford) or 30 somethings who respond with libertarian arguments, or more usually, insults.
I have taught and cared for people with brain injuries, and the Brain Injury trust man was actually in tears, when I spoke to him about this. I could not care less about the well-dressed idiot who nearly hit me, or the ex-colleague who claimed that he couldn’t afford a helmet, (he lied of course, and when I offered him Leon’s old one, had a well of excuses why he wouldn’t accept it. Ironically, I lost my job, he kept his – I can hardly afford to eat, and him?? Little barsteward. Brain damage might make him a nicer man, though I doubt it.) Howebver, I do worry very much about the kids. Even if their libertarian parents are morons, the kids don’t deserve brain damage.
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Requiring 10 year olds on bikes to mix with traffic in Auckland while there is a, mostly unused, footpath available is totally stupid.
Are you responding to my (moderated) post about cyclists and footpaths? (I don’t even know if it left moderation.) Because if you are, you seriously missed my point, which is that footpaths are not unused! Especially not here – Pt Chevalier near Unitec. Rehab + and Segar Ave (residence for people with cerebral palsy), a day care centre and several schools are all in the area. The idiot cyclist I referred to missed me by millimetres, and could easily have bowled a child, an actually old person or a person whose walking is, because of their disability, very unsteady. So, don’t be so stinking selfish! The 10 year olds use the cycle path – only the helmetless teenagers and 30 somethings, use the footpath. (Some actual children use the footpath, infrequently, but I don’t begrudge that as they are careful.)
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Never heard of any pedestrians getting major injuries or killed by cyclists on footpaths.
That you have never heard of it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.
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You are right that such accidents do happen, V32. In this case it was the cyclist that came off worse, but it could easily have been the pedestrians. Not even a busy path, either, but a fatal collision none the less.
Oh yes. None that I know of have happened here *, but my own near miss shows that they easily could – and the footpath is always thronged with people in manual and power chairs, and a cyclist would not be guaranteed to be the winner if they hit someone in a power chair (I am told by my son the health professional that the term ‘electric wheelchair’ is seriously banned! :D)
Many people at Rehab + are out on their own in manual wheelchairs for the first or one of the first times – I see that even I, a slow and small pedestrian, make them nervous, especially if they’re survivors of disabling car accidents!
That story you linked to is very sad.Â
* Although I do know of many children from Gladstone school who have been killed or injured by motorists nearby. These things are apparently so common that they never make the newspaper, but my son used to go to Gladstone school, and his teachers told me…
Just watched TV1 news, you know the one that has won the Qantas Best News Award (hate to see the losers) News item, says Donkey is still top of the hit parade. Two questions
a, Are the general public thick or,
b, Is it the usual spin and bullshit put out by the right wing MSM. The reason why I ask is, the people I talk to including ones who confess that they voted National, say completely different to what that pathetic news channel called TVNZ One news says.
a) for sure as swinging voters love the beads and coloured glass the nats sprinkle about, we’ve don’t have an electorate that can remember broken promises or actually show up and vote.
b) TVNZ is very NACT friendly, always has been since early 08 when it know they were on the way in, Holmes/Hosking/Sainsbury etc and the endless stream of kid reporters are to serious journalism what chalk is to cheese.
Most of the lines come from high up, they’ll be going flat out to smudge the latest in NACT’s impressive corruption resume.
The nats use carrott/stick very well with those relying on govt funding….just look at the police.
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund â When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayersâ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund â and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 âredesign of the welfare stateâ â which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty â various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being âWorking for Familiesâ, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing âon why Melissa is muteâ. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Leeâs ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from âserious populist discontentâ. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring âhard-working peopleâ. ...
Chris Trotter writes –Â MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling â or non-handling â of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealandâs two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
New Zealand is said to be suffering from âserious populist discontentâ. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring âhard-working peopleâ. The data is from February this ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications:Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to âdefend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.â To achieve this, they have pledged they âwill not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes –Â The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workersâ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three. ...
Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
Itâs a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blogIn 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand mediaâs failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
Citizen Science writes –Â Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people â the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cassâs review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
Turning what Labour called the âholiday highwayâ into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
Karl du Fresne writes –Â Thereâs a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere â mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand mediaâs failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
David Farrar writes – The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting MÄori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that wonât compromise Beijingâs plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced ...
You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi MÄori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
David Farrar writes –  The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, youâd think the public service was being eviscerated.  While the mediaâs view of the cuts is incomplete, itâs also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iranâs drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealandâs good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National governmentâs lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for TÄmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Governmentâs democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Governmentâs proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change thatâs great for the planet and great for consumers after her memberâs bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the countryâs books after Teanau Tuionoâs membersâ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his memberâs bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Todayâs advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Governmentâs newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealandâs urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
MÄori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, MÄori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Governmentâs refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Changes to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. âRecently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachersâ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.  âThe Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. âScience, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During todayâs meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. âThe Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in TaupĆ as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the TaupĆ International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. âAnticipation for the ITM TaupĆ Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. âThe coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. âThis project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sectorâs productivity,â Mr Jones says. âThe project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Governmentâs plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. âBenefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Governmentâs commitment to doubling New Zealandâs renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealandâs latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. âOur Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. âNew Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Governmentâs intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. âThe introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Todayâs announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Governmentâs plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. âInflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sectorâs role in the export-led recovery of the economy. âI am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Governmentâs support for the revitalisation the sector.  "New Zealandâs wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. âThe inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. âMy meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singaporeâs outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.  Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpartâs almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During todayâs meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. âI am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. âPets are important members of many Kiwi families. Itâs estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iranâs shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.  âThese attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.  "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand â Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.  âDame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,â says Dr Reti. âI have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Governmentâs 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. âBoosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Governmentâs plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.  âOur country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,â Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.  âWe cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. âThis is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.  âThe strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Key Apologises for Wasting Police Time in Teapot Saga
Prime Minister John Key says he misused his authority when he complained to Police after a tape of a semi-private conversation with ACT Leader, John Banks was given to the media. A microphone was left on the coffee table during a staged ‘cup of tea’ media event in which Mr Key publicly endorsed the ACT Party’s Epsom candidate in the last days of last year’s election campaign. This week Police decided not to lay charges against the the taper, Bradley Ambrose, and Mr Ambrose still maintains that the taping was accidental….
I’m not entirely sure if this is supposed to be a joke or not, since the link just goes to the herald and I can’t find any such story there. There is this though: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10795827.
I also found this interesting (and damning):
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10795790
First, moderators I think I neglected to turn off the italics in my comment above. It’s beyond my editing window, but it needs turned off.
Lanth, check the date.
[Fixed..RL]
Good one JS
Ah. For some reason I was thinking it was the 31st.
Indeed… http://fmacskasy.wordpress.com/2012/03/31/ross-dependency-4-sale/
I’m told that one person on a social media thought it was real. And went on to suggest it might be a good thing… *rolls eyes*
darn you got there before me đ it’s a good april fool’s from JS – mind you the idea of ‘jonkey’ and ‘apology for’ do go together in a number of ways
good link Lanth – Bernard Hickey right on the button
Yes some excellent reading in todays HoS
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10795827
Brilliant well stated summary of events of the teacup saga.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/headlines.cfm?c_id=466
Give credit where credit due…Labour getting some good press.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10795790
Always great to have the tax cuts for the wealthy revisited and results exposed!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10795811
Another person puzzling over and trying to make sense of the whole ACC saga
Read these all before realsing the date! Please tell me the HoS isn’t in on it too!
Thanks Lyn. Read ’em all though Coddington is a bit mean- as usual.
It certainly seems to me that the Herald on Sunday has decided that the years-long honeymoon for Key and his merry band of neo-lib control freaks is over. Good on them.
Imagine reading the editorial getting stuck into Key’s abuse of the paper for short term political advantage, and all of these reports actually looking beyond the spin and into the facts, a couple of years ago. Wouldn’t have happened.
And is it just me, or is there a change in the photos of Key that many papers tend to run on page two? Gone are the smiley, puppy-holding, baby-kissing, prole-comforting pictures; now we see Key frowning, sweaty, looking worried, just like he has something to hide…..
Gotta admit – I have been enjoying the past few months!!
just saying’s comment seems to have caused everything to slant to the right.
[Fixed…all straight again. RL]
best comment you’ve ever made pete –
for people who read this after the italics are fixed…. pg cracked a funny!
đ
đ (y)
My first attempt to use emoticons…
mmmm the y is meant to be a thumbs up!
it’s a funny bug that. one incorrectly written bit of code and the italics carries on through all the comments. it even made the editing buttons in the back of the side italicised.
[Fixed…all straight again. RL]
Straight down the middle now, great!
David Shearer has issued a statement requesting all MPs start setting an example of positive leadership, and has asked all Labour MPs and staffers to set an example of putting the good of the country first, and to stop petty political attacks. Shearer in strong show of leadership.
Latest document to be leaked from the donkey’s office.
http://www.lynchs.com/cat–Costumes-For-Clowns–clowncostumes12.html
Maybe “Lynchs” is going a bit far?
What are the chances this is an April Fools Day prank?
It’s fun to watch the civil war within the National Party. The National Party’s civil war on New Zealand? Not so much.
No ‘social responsibility’ clause. That’s good, innit? Wonder how many ‘earth hours’ electricity companies will claim credit for?
Which explains why they had to write a social responsibility clause in the first place. Someone should make Ryall watch Alan Greenspan’s Congressional testimony until he gets it through numb skull that he is talking shit.
Why isn’t there a requirement in the cabinet manual that ministers statements should not be demonstrably deceitful?
Typical of this lot to avoid interviews – another minister diving away, leaving some junior in the media department to knock out a quick statement that says “don’t worry – the market incentives will look after that for us – now stop bothering the minister with things below his super-strategic view”.
It is going to be fun watching the developments at Narrow Neck beach in Auckland. Looks like iwi are about get some prime waterfront land back. So far as I can see, the dispute is about rich capitalist whities, pointing to how “poor” they were in the nineties and in a desperate act of ingenuine socialist solidarity, trying to align themselves with an imaginary aggrieved public. If that doesn’t catch, they then point to the slippery slope argument that marine park fish will be endangered by treaty settlement land on top of a cliff. The consultation process wasn’t transparent enough, they claim. Jesus, they are pretty transparent themsleves. They complain they were hoodwinked by the people they voted into government, even though they knew those people used the same measure of self interest as their lifestyles and attitudes hold dear. Can’t risk maori building “cheap in-fill housing” on prime land, one woman said on TV last night. I assume that’s because we all know how maori and cheap go together… don’t we? No sir, it should be whities doing that, building exclusive residences, keeping the tone of the neighbourhood clean, you know, like they did over the harbour in Okahu bay all those years ago. So a few maori got burned out of their homes, couldn’t they understand the City had a raffle running? Even poor old The-Law-is-Complicated Len has found his voice and come out saying a private consulation “…doesn’t cut the mustard”. Ooh, steady on there Len, your masters will get twitchy! The irony is that after almost 175 years of maori learning the hard way how to be good colonialists, rich whities are being out-whitied by rich maori and can no longer choose their neighbours. Gee, that must sting.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10792849
But, those uppity Devonport activists seem to have got the wrong end of the stick and assumed Ngati Whatua have the same motives for acquiring prime coastal real estate:….
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6673729/Angry-residents-threaten-to-take-over-naval-base
Having been on the periphery of the previous stoush in the late 1990s involviing former environment minister, Nick Smith, I think most people expected the land presently covered by buildings and a car-park would be added to the reserve once the Navy abandoned their barracks. Indeed from memory we were given to understand by the Shipley govt. that is what would happen. Anyone who knows the area intimately can appreciate the significance such an enlarged reserve would have for the whole of Auckland. It has the potential to be a sparkling jewel in our ‘maritime reserve’ crown with magnificent views of the harbour and gulf. The uppity Devonport activists fought a costly court battle to stop all but a very narrow strip along the top of the cliff being sold off to speculators and turned into a rich man’s paradise and they won. I can tell you Nick Smith and his (then) colleagues were thoroughly pissed off with us at the time.
The fact that this latest deal was done behind closed doors without the knowledge of the local community and the community board, hasn’t gone down well and I’m not surprised. I have no wish to deprive Ngati Whatua of their rightful heritage, but I want to know one hell of a lot more about what plans they have for the land once it comes into their possession. Like North Head, it is a very special place with a fascinating history – both Maori and Pakeha.
One small error. We were certainly given to understand that the reserve would be extended after the departure of the Navy but I doubt it came from the govt. of the day. We were not on their Xmas card list. đ
There is another part of that article that also deserves mention
I don’t often agree with finlayson but I do when he says
The upset residents should take some time to consider those quotes and the quotes that Carol has put up too. What is the actual fear and where does it spring from? At the moment it seems not far off what uturn has written.
Man that’s a solid wall of words Uturn. l
You are talking a load of crap Uturn. Rich capitalist whities? Bullshit! If they hadn’t done their dash nobody would have the land now including Ngati Whatua. It would be covered in dirty great mansions belonging to rich capitalist whities.
Ngati Whatua and the Devonport Trust (which was set up to protect the reserve) worked together last time and I’m sure they will end up doing so again. To categorise Devonport activists and by inference residents – most of whom are behind them – as a bunch of self serving, racist capalist pigs (yep, that’s what you’re saying) just shows up your ignorance of both them and the past and present situation.
Lucky ol’ whitey and his self interest came to Ngati Whatuas aid, huh? People not familiar with Auckland’s North Shore and specifically the area in question will be surprised by the raft of rich man’s mansions on both sides of the land in question – just keeping the land safe, that is, “for all of Auckland” – and the neighbourhood in general. How bewildered visitors will be to find the diversity you suggest exists. I know I was warmly accepted into the multicultural egalitarian environment when I lived there. Then again, I am white. I don’t mind calling my own out as racists and hypocrites, when they are. Like you, they really hate it, though.
“People not familiar with Aucklandâs North Shore and specifically the area in question will be surprised by the raft of rich manâs mansions on both sides of the land in question”
Yeah that’s the point. It is prime awesome land, it would be best for every kiwi if it remained in the public commons. If Ngati Whatua doesn’t guarentee it will be turned into a park for ALL to share, then it will inevitably become more ‘rich man’s’ mansions.
(my emphasis)
How would it be best for NgÄti WhÄtua?
Why not get some of the ‘rich men’ to turn their mansions into parks for all to share?
The second question is rhetorical of course – we know the answer to that one – we know the system we live within and where the privilege is held.
Actually, it was Ngati Whatua who came to ol’ whitey’s aid. You would do well to remove that chip on your shoulder mate.
I’ve lived near Narrow Neck Beach since I was born (50 years) had my first swim in a rock pool there. So I claim it as my local beach. I have strong ties here and I sure don’t vote National or Act! All the people who live here have a right to a say, for themselves, their children, their grandchildren, because many people brought up here stay here all their lives. Why are Ngati Whatua the only important ones here? Surely there is other land that can be sold. That land was safe, or so we thought, for future generations as permanent reserve. I can certainly understand that the wealthier residents of the Shore who obviously voted National, especially Devonport, are pretty irate , as am I, and I don’t think that will die down easily. So Maggie Barry, be warned! No seat is safe if you do the dirty on your electorate!
http://promos.airnz.co.nz/gas/straightup/
Airnz promo
The Brits panic-buying fuel due to a strike that hadn’t been called was encouraged by the government – “re-fuel before it gets too low”, they said, “store petrol in a jerry-can in the garage” one said.
After hours-long queues for days, empty petrol stations and a serious burns incident it’s found to have all been a pre-planned ‘Thatcher Moment’ to break the union. Note that it this news was broken by the Daily Telegraph aka the Torygraph.
Absolute contempt is what I have for the people who have engineered this state of affairs.
Looks like someone has threatened Slater with consequences if he doesn’t pull his head in and allow a ceasefire in the Nats’ civil war:
“Thatâs it!
by Whaleoil
Iâm over them. National that isâŠcuddling up to Boag.
I think I will join the Labour party. They seem to be having so much more fun right now.
Plus, since they are the nasty party they should welcome my particular skills.”
Slater, your particular skills are having a mad blog that Lusk sometimes puts interesting things on (which you promptly bury with trash – 4 posts in 2 hours so far, it’s Sunday dude!)
Or is his post his idea of a 1 April joke although it would not surprise me if he had been told to pull his head in. However, that sort of advice usually seems to provoke certain types of people to do the opposite.
When I looked just before seeing your post here, he was up to 5 posts and its not yet 9am.
Time for a shower.
I’m keeping closer tabs on wo through rss than normal because of the nats civil war. the sheer quantity of dross is amazing. ten posts in 4 hours
Ditto – am still interested in the statement in one of yesterday’s posts which appears to claim to have had the Sovereign letter before Close Up in terms of where it may have been leaked from. Here is my earlier comment on this – http://thestandard.org.nz/slaterlusk-goes-off-the-deep-end/#comment-453506
Agreed Rosy. These utterly manipulative scumbags governing the UK only considered how they could turn public opinion against the union – before the union had even voted whether to take action. The result was a public run on fuel; artificially created shortages; worries that emergency services wouldn’t be able to find fuel in an emergency; people storing petrol without understanding the hazards; a woman severely burnt because while decanting petrol for her daughter who had run out of fuel. What do these people stand for? Do they give a damn about the people they are supposed to be governing?
Decanting petrol in the kitchen while cooking…
Nope, they only care about themselves and the power and wealth that they can accumulate using the rules that they’ve put in place over the centuries.
yeah sunday should be an amphetamine free day over at the whaleweightstation.
Go Winston! This is fantastic! http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/6673678/Winston-Peters-takes-up-red-zone-cause
I bet if Jim Anderton were in parliament, or mayor, he’d be on this case too.
More privatisation madness that’s slipped under the radar
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/6673557/Car-parking-The-ticket-for-returns
Get this bit….
“Often the district health board would also rent back a substantial number of the car parks for its medical staff, on long-term contracts with regular rent reviews, providing a built-in lift in revenue…”
So the upshot is that for a sugar rush of $15.3million the DHB gave away income of at least $2.36million per year for twenty years, plus incurred higher costs for staff parking. We’ve got some real financial wizards in charge of the DHB. A taste of what’s to come methinks.
Yes parking is a juicy earner, especially with a captive market that has nowhere to go. Always was easy money as the structures are concrete shells, require little maintenance, need virtually no staff and you just keep raising the cost.
Parkings been Auckland airports juiciest plum for years and again shows what an ideological lemming Ryall is on top of his lies about doctors and nurse numbers is a nasty and evasive dude…..perfect NACT material.
Are there any escalation clauses or do they just charge what they like?
Don’t know, I’d have thought the hospitals would have some say in the parking levies but maybe not, look at Auck hospitals outrageous charges;
“The car park charges visitors to the hospital $18 for stays of 6-8 hours….”
The main point is the hospital (and other) car parks are publicly owned assets being signed over to profiteering private businesses for twenty year leases when there is no commercial or financial justification for such lengthy terms. The owners, ie us the public, are also losing very substantial sums in income from the asset.
true but NACT consider any public asset ripe for their business mates to profit at the public’s expense, sick and vulnerable even easier kaching.
Ryall’s doing long term damage in health and it goes pretty much unoticed, of of the darkest lords quietly going about the hollowmans business.
As annoying as they are, I guess they promote more efficient public transport in a way.
Of course it is unavoidable when you do need a car, but mostly I think parking charges and tickets are mostly a rich persons tax.
We still have it way better than most parts of the world. In the UK 10pd+ per hour was pretty standard in CBD type areas. Even in the suburbs you needed a ‘pass’ that verified you as a resident or you risked being towed. So pretty much your mates had to pay for temporary passes to park there, even outside YOUR flat. We are nowhere near that bad here.
That is what we have just down the road from me in Grey Lynn.
Bespoke custom pets – just press print.
http://www.economist.com/node/21551450?frsc=dg%7Ca
Ah I was almost half way through before I realized the date.
There was a great obituary as well
http://www.economist.com/node/21551439?frsc=dg%7Ca
Which wasn’t a joke.
Well worth reading, thanks for the link.
We all too often forget or don’t know about such people, who are the real leaders of this world albeit in a small way in the overall scheme of things. Leaders is not quite the right word, but brain is not yet functioning fully.
A truly inspiring article – recommend it to other Standard readers.
Ditto Very inspiring
Thank God for people like Lyn Lusi, who selflessly defied the darkness in the heart of man and brought healing and light to those maimed by human wickedness.Such a heart warming and uplifting life to aspire to.
Rest in eternal peace Lyn Lusi knowing that you faithfully fought the good fight and I thank you for it.
Love the acronym H.E.A.L. standing for health,education, action and love. I wish we could put this into action for our poverty stricken children. Thank you so much for this link lprent, stirring stuff.
Questions of ”cheque book legislation” again arose at Parliaments question time when both Brownlee and Joyce were questioned on whether Skycity had given any favor of any sort to either of the Ministers in the Slippery Sleaze administration,
The method by which Brownlee replied was slightly enlightening, complaining to the House Speaker Lockwood Smith that such a question from the Opposition should not have included the word ”corruption”,
Brownlee once put in His place answered a no to the question as to whether He had ever recieved favor or cash from Skycity as did Joyce,
A forensic psychologist tho would have been all over Joyce as when He rose to answer in the negative to the question of ever having recieved cash or favor from Skycity the first few words of His reply in the negative only managed to escape the constriction in His throat as a girlish squeak,
The real question that should be asked of Joyce in particular is has He set His business interests into a ”blind trust” with no knowledge to him management by others thus giving Joyce the perception of freedom from conflict of interest as a Minister of the Crown and would He be surprised if such a ”managed blind trust” held an amount of Skycity shares???…
Wasn’t Q+A better without Holmes, and Fran O’Sullivan even made some sense for once… I’m almost lost for words.
Indeed, Jackal. Greg Boyd did surprisingly well, and even Shane Taurima managed to make Key look less confident than he used to be. (Though more to do with the end of the Media Honeymoon, methinks. Just about to blog on it…)
The episode seemed more professional; less show-ponyish; and dealth with the issues (the issues! Oh no, say it ain’t so, ma!)
Just how wide-spread is this little bit of inspired Public/Private business???
It appears that Housing New Zealand Ltd has a contracted out inspection service where once a year tenants are visited by Housing New Zealand,s privately contracted building inspectors to check on issues of maintainence and/or tenant damage to the property,
It would further appear,and we have as yet not ascertained the numbers,that at least one tenant has had 2 new smoke alarms installed despite the 3 already at the property being in perfect un-damaged working condition,
The tenants in this particular piece of work are not asked for their consent nor are they told that they will be billed for the installation,
3 months later Housing New Zealand sends the tenants an invoice for ”damage” to the property with a claim that the smoke alarms were installed as ”replacements” for damaged alarms supposedly already at the property,
Tenants are given 7 days to pay for this little rort and we wonder just how many of Housing New Zealand,s tenants are being rorted in this manner and how many have meekly paid up thinking that ”they have to”….
Housing NZ Ltd for what should be a government service department. And then this outsourcing of real work to robot arms so that at the centre is just an ugly alien with giant eyes and a flaming mouth, the horror fantasy films come to reality.
We have posted twice here this morning and not wanting to hog the page we are off to spend a little energy on the chores,
What we have posted tho has as an afterthought to us addressed a somewhat intertwined issue that has effects at the top end of society as it does the bottom,
In reality we have simply addressed the issue of the supposed public/private partnership and that reality simply shows us that such a relationship is rotten at its core and should such a dissolution of the line between the role of Public business and Private business continue the rotten core will begin to give off a stench all of its own…
I see Airnz has new strap hanging stand-up-straight cheap offers going. Maybe just for 1st April.
National’s economic treason
The National led government have in fact increased government debt by over 190% since they gained power in 2008, and such economic bungling will undoubtedly cause problems for New Zealand for decades to come…
It always seems strange that Bill English’s litany of, “All Labour does is borrow and spend.”
But who has been borrowing us into huge debt since 2008?
I am still trying to figure out what the PM meant with his spiel on Q+A this am, when comparing 2 billion borrowed by National compared to 12 billion from Labour ???
Was he trying to say Nats have only borrowed 2 billion in the first three years ?
Rather disturbing story about a teenager trying to go all Equus on his Dad’s business in the Herald. It’s accompanied by a graphic picture of a dead horse. What caught my eye was the juxtaposition of that photo with one immediately to its right, which illustrates the difficulty a young Philippino woman is having getting bikini shots published on facebook. I think there may be a feminist on the sub’s bench trying to make an obscure point.
Mike Hoskings doing a ‘cash for comments’ deal with a major corporate with an image problem looking for concessions from government is following in a well worn track. See the John Laws link below. Laws’ people went out to recruit a corporate ‘with a big PR problem’: at that time it was the banks, who were in the middle of a major rarking up of fees. So: wonder who esle might be paying off our celebs and shock jocks? Aussie Banks here? ASB bank? Offshore owned utility companies? Super market duopolies?? Mind boggles: suggestions please!!! http://www.multiline.com.au/~johnm/johnlaws.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cash_for_comment_affair
Full independent inquiry required
It looks like Boag and Pullar have been utilizing their associations in the National party for personal gain and it is likely that very senior members of the National party (including Key) are implicated in the stand-over tactics of a private insurer and a government department…
It looks like you are trying to utilise old accusations backed by little or nothing. Pullar and Boag have been trying to utilise their National associations, but without much success.
The private insurer said their name drop overkill harmed rtaher than aided their claim there. They could see the “support team” was nonsensical, as could anyone with half a clue.
Nick Smith stuffed up but for nothing, things still haven’t been resolved at ACC so there doesn’t look like any personal gain there.
Key has adamantly discounted any involvement and that seems credible with facts the facts that are known and common sense.
Did you happen to see Q+A this morning Pete George? Fran O’Sullivan disagrees with your and John Keys argument.
I can count the number of times I’ve agreed with O’Sullivan on an amputees hand, but I happen to agree with her that undue influence is wrong even when it’s not successful.
Is a bank robber not a criminal when he doesn’t get away with any money Pete George?
Could you link to where Sovereign Insurance said the support and advocate people listed in the leaked letter was nonsensical?
Wayne Mapp on tv said he organised meeting(s) with pullar’s support people regarding
the claim from soverign insurance,the claim for $14 mil.
She also got closer to the $3 mil amount
according to a tv report.
WTF!!? How can National still be rising in the polls? Even as a strong National supporter, I can’t believe they have escaped so unscathed from all the shit that has gone down.
Have ask TS. Which poll are you writing about?
TV One – “poll kick in the pants for Labour”
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/tim-watkin-poll-kick-in-pants-labour-4810215
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/national-s-popularity-undented-in-new-poll-4810211
Tim Watkin says:
Or change it’s game. A few here Labourites here could take note.
When will they realise that they need to worry less about trying to make Key and National worse (they’ll do that themselves over time), and more effort making Shearer and Labour better?
The day the labour party needs popularity advice from UF would be the day it should shut up shop.
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One news released a poll tonight showing the three big parties up and NZ1 back down to 3% (lols – that’s what they said before the election đ ). Not on the CB site yet.
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On the plus side, that’s 51% all up for the nats government. Error-level shite, and not a spike.
It was the colmar brunton poll,what the hell is wrong with people,it was taken in the
midst of the acc debacle too,i give up.
Mostly the poll shows no change. Except this, which puzzled me most:
Sorry, folks, but no – National is not as high up in the polls as what Colmar Brunton would have us believe. It’s more BS polling, and the math is quite simple; http://fmacskasy.wordpress.com/2012/04/01/bugger-the-polls/
Colmar Brunton is trying to pull a fast one – the same BS figures they gave us last year.
My money is on a change of government in 2014 (if not earlier).
Yes, in moderation… one day I may find out why. In the meantime, I get the hint, I have nothing more to say about anything – but you can’t stop me thinking it!
Just watched the 60 minutes on Tv3. The Casino deal was in the gun. Guyon Espiner in good form questioning Joyce over the sweet deal. Joyce unable to answer some fundamental questions and I bet he will be unwilling to face up again. (Guyon said that in Adelaide the same Casino chain sought special privileges in exchange for law change. The Government response there? “You must be dreaming!” Joyce knew nothing about this – and he should have.)
Hope some clever Standardista can follow this up?
Stuff reported on the Adelaide comparison in August last year. That explains how Joyce had never heard of it: he was lying.
Slippery has also been running the lie about casinos being “safer” despite having no evidence.
Joyce oozes corruption from every pore – he doesn’t even try to hide it. How anyone can imagine that he would make a good party leader is beyond me.
OAB’s policy suggestion: require that Sky City’s owners build the convention centre for free, then confiscate their assets and drive them out of the country.
Personally I think that law should be changed.
Requiring 10 year olds on bikes to mix with traffic in Auckland while there is a, mostly unused, footpath available is totally stupid.
Of course if you would rather a cyclist got killed than a pedestrian injured?
Never heard of any pedestrians getting major injuries or killed by cyclists on footpaths.
Many deaths from cyclists being forced to bike on the roads, in places like Petone and Tamaki drive.
Tauranga has mixed bike and footpaths with a speed limit for bikes. Works fine.
Nelson and Mt Maunganui bike lanes would be alright if they did not put you right in the path of opening car doors.
Personally I think that law should be changed.
+1. Even if it means narrowing some roads to widen shared paths for bikes and pedestrians. Works extremely well where I live. Shared paths are probably not suitable for speed-training cyclists, but for commuting, shopping trips etc, they’re spot-on.
Many cyclists have told me that the law says they are allowed to not wear helmets if they ride on the footpath
They’re correct (however they wreck their case by illegally riding on designated footpaths)The law states that helmets must be worn when cycling on roads.
I like the idea on the Tauranga Mt bridge. The mixed path has a speed limit for bikes.
So. If you want to ride safely on the bike/pedestrian path you go at a speed that is not too dangerous for pedestrians.
Kids and late middle age cyclists can stay safe while the members of the lycra brigade, that want to ride fast, have the choice of mixing it with the cars.
There’s a few shared paths in Auckland, too. The path labelled as the North Western cyclway is actually a shared path. There’s loads of signs telling people to keep left. But I’ve come across a minority of pedestrians who think that it is for walkers only. They spread across the path in a group, blocking the way for cyclists.
This also happens on the split pedestrian/cycleway over the southern motorway on Symonds Street, with people walking in both the pedestrian lane and cycle lane at the same time, blocking the way for cyclists.
I’ve also come across a guy walking his dog without a leash on the north western cycleway. This is scary for a cyclist because you don’t know which direction the dog might run.
So, that means that if they cycle on the footpath, they don’t need helmets? That is not what two police officers told me… I fear that you have interpreted the law the way you want it to be, Rosy.
You should hang around Auckland for a while. (I know you’re overseas atm, but still). People who wear helmets are in the minority, and most of those who don’t are kids whose Daddy has told them to ignore Helen’s nanny state law, (my son was at school with many of those) or kids who whinge that they can’t afford a helmet (when they’re riding expensive bikes, of a like that we could never afford) or 30 somethings who respond with libertarian arguments, or more usually, insults.
I have taught and cared for people with brain injuries, and the Brain Injury trust man was actually in tears, when I spoke to him about this. I could not care less about the well-dressed idiot who nearly hit me, or the ex-colleague who claimed that he couldn’t afford a helmet, (he lied of course, and when I offered him Leon’s old one, had a well of excuses why he wouldn’t accept it. Ironically, I lost my job, he kept his – I can hardly afford to eat, and him?? Little barsteward. Brain damage might make him a nicer man, though I doubt it.) Howebver, I do worry very much about the kids. Even if their libertarian parents are morons, the kids don’t deserve brain damage.
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Yet another helmetless cyclist… Typical of the breed? (The headline is misleading, but that’s not unusual.)
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Are you responding to my (moderated) post about cyclists and footpaths? (I don’t even know if it left moderation.) Because if you are, you seriously missed my point, which is that footpaths are not unused! Especially not here – Pt Chevalier near Unitec. Rehab + and Segar Ave (residence for people with cerebral palsy), a day care centre and several schools are all in the area. The idiot cyclist I referred to missed me by millimetres, and could easily have bowled a child, an actually old person or a person whose walking is, because of their disability, very unsteady. So, don’t be so stinking selfish! The 10 year olds use the cycle path – only the helmetless teenagers and 30 somethings, use the footpath. (Some actual children use the footpath, infrequently, but I don’t begrudge that as they are careful.)
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That you have never heard of it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.
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You are right that such accidents do happen, V32. In this case it was the cyclist that came off worse, but it could easily have been the pedestrians. Not even a busy path, either, but a fatal collision none the less.
http://www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz/news/cyclist-dies-in-freak-accident/1112431/
Oh yes. None that I know of have happened here *, but my own near miss shows that they easily could – and the footpath is always thronged with people in manual and power chairs, and a cyclist would not be guaranteed to be the winner if they hit someone in a power chair (I am told by my son the health professional that the term ‘electric wheelchair’ is seriously banned! :D)
Many people at Rehab + are out on their own in manual wheelchairs for the first or one of the first times – I see that even I, a slow and small pedestrian, make them nervous, especially if they’re survivors of disabling car accidents!
That story you linked to is very sad.Â
* Although I do know of many children from Gladstone school who have been killed or injured by motorists nearby. These things are apparently so common that they never make the newspaper, but my son used to go to Gladstone school, and his teachers told me…
Just watched TV1 news, you know the one that has won the Qantas Best News Award (hate to see the losers) News item, says Donkey is still top of the hit parade. Two questions
a, Are the general public thick or,
b, Is it the usual spin and bullshit put out by the right wing MSM. The reason why I ask is, the people I talk to including ones who confess that they voted National, say completely different to what that pathetic news channel called TVNZ One news says.
about 5% bias for b, and a bit of a.
a) for sure as swinging voters love the beads and coloured glass the nats sprinkle about, we’ve don’t have an electorate that can remember broken promises or actually show up and vote.
b) TVNZ is very NACT friendly, always has been since early 08 when it know they were on the way in, Holmes/Hosking/Sainsbury etc and the endless stream of kid reporters are to serious journalism what chalk is to cheese.
Most of the lines come from high up, they’ll be going flat out to smudge the latest in NACT’s impressive corruption resume.
The nats use carrott/stick very well with those relying on govt funding….just look at the police.