“The Methodist Church’s public policy adviser, Paul Morrison, said the British public had “come to believe things about the poorest in our society which are just straightforwardly not true.
“The public believes that the major cause of poverty is laziness, yet the majority of people in poverty work. How can that be the case?”
And the Reverend Jonathan Edwards, general secretary of the Baptist Union, said “The one interesting fact I find is that the majority, the rise in poverty over the last decade, has been more amongst those on low income than on those who are unemployed.””
As these UK style reforms are also the ones that the National led government in New Zealand wants to adopt here, this is stuff to note.
Does Paula “Benefit” (aka Bennett or “Bandit”) ever see it fit, to also look at and listen to the growing and increasingly damning criticism and opposition the reforms in the UK are creating?
There have already been many articles written on forums like those of the ‘Black Triangle Campaign’, ‘Atos Victims Group’ and so forth. When does it sink into the “thick” skull, dear Paula, that what you are pushing through Parliament at present as the ‘Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill’ is going to cause nothing much more than increased harm, pain, suffering, injustices and stigmatisation to beneficiaries affected. There is NOTHING in your bill that will help sick, disabled or sole parents to be put into a position to work, especially since there are not even any jobs, while fit and healthy, often with degrees, struggle to even get supermarket jobs.
No details have been presented on the planned, to be outsourced work capacity assessments that MSD and WINZ want to enforce on sick and disabled in future, so we get a hidden agenda approach, while this abominable piece of legislation is being passed.
Shame on you Paula Bennett, shame also on John Key and the rest of your poor hating right wing beneficiary bashers!!!
The shift of work capacity assessments to the private sector, no doubt with bonuses or performance based contracts that encourage the disentitlement of clients, or pressure for them to look for work is insidious indeed.
If the changes brought in the UK are to be mirrored here disabled will be expected to look for work based “theoretical” jobs – ie jobs that don’t actually exsist, but if they did would be possible for the disabled person to do. No discussion of how disadvantaged disabled persons are when they look for work even when no discrimination takes place.
Disabled have to think about what they can do, sure. But the reality is the employment market simply doesn’t accommodate disabilities, and some disabilities are harder to accommodate than others.
We desperately need more to help disabled persons into income streams as opposed to “jobs” per se.
The patronising focus on getting disabled persons to look at what they can do is getting old even before it has really begun. (Work and Income started with posters in their offices picturing a disabled person saying, “it’s about what I CAN do!”, a couple of years ago)
“Push people off benefits and get an Easter egg”
“Job centre workers are facing disciplinary measures if they don’t sanction enough benefits claimants.
Sanctions mean those out of work can lose Jobseeker’s Allowance for four weeks and housing benefit for two for an “insufficient job search”.
“The official line is that there are no targets for sanctions,” said Jack, a job centre worker in Birmingham.
“But managers try to find ways around that.
“We found out that some managers were offering incentives, in the form of Easter eggs, for the highest number of claimants sanctioned for refusing employment.
“That means people losing their benefits for three months. ”
When does it sink into the “thick” skull, dear Paula, that what you are pushing through Parliament at present as the ‘Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill’ is going to cause nothing much more than increased harm, pain, suffering, injustices and stigmatisation to beneficiaries affected.
That’s what they’re supposed to do. These law changes are designed to force people into work so that a few people can get richer. The people putting them in place have absolutely no concern for the people that they will be harming.
We really are seeing the return of slavery just as bb called for yesterday – it’s just that National have, so far, managed not to call it that or have called that. It’s up to us to start calling it for what it is.
Actually, this NZ Herald article shows they slavery never went away, and that, today slaves are valued less than they were 4000 years ago. During ancient times the value of slaves kept rising, but today they have been increasingly devalued:
Extrapolating this exponential plot forward to the present one might expect that if, God forbid, we still had legal slavery, the individual value of slaves would now be somewhere around $50,000.
In fact, slavery is officially banned in every nation but it nonetheless continues unabated.
One million children are exploited annually by the global commercial sex trade and of an estimated $35 billion in annual profits from human trafficking half is generated in industrialised nations.
It is estimated that there are more slaves now than at any other time in history. And here is the shocking thing: the average going rate around the globe is less than $100. We have to turn the clocks back 4000 years to ancient Ur to find a time when human lives were so devalued.
Yes, I’m aware of the black-market in slaves. What we’re seeing with the legislation that National are putting in place is the return of official slavery – it’s just not called that.
Among the nations of the world, New Zealand has an enviable record of successful public protest that has resulted in major progressive political change.
Just think where New Zealand would be today, if those protests had been severely restricted and repressed.
As the Nacts gear up for their assault on the environment and civil liberties, on behalf of big business. This great history could all be undone.
Today may be the last chance to legally and meaningfully, protest against fossil fuel extraction and dangerous climate changing activities.
2pm today you can legally gather on the roadside outside the site of the proposed new mine for a protest. After proposed new government legislation is passed, at the request of the polluters, you will not be allowed to protest within half a kilometre of any coal mine, oil rig, or survey ship.
Defend the climate from money hungry polluters,
Stand up for civil liberties,
Stop Fonterra’s new open cast coal mine at Mangatangi.
Media Release
Coal Free Mangatawhiri and Auckland Coal Action
Roadside Coal Protest at Mangatawhiri
Coal Free Mangatawhiri and Auckland Coal Action are joining forces on Monday to protest Fonterraʼs proposed new coal mine beside state highway 2.
Protesters will gather from 2pm at Mangatawhiri south of Auckland for the roadside rally protesting Fonterraʼs proposed new Mangatangi Mine.
They hope to engage with people queued in traffic on SH2 on their way back to Auckland.
Local residents, iwi and supporters from Auckland will be calling for ʻno new coalʼ and making the point that ʻcoal cooks the climateʼ in an awareness raising campaign against the proposed mine.
Public submissions on resource consents for the mine, closed this week with Waikato Regional Council and Waikato District Council. Hundreds of submissions were sent in by local residents, iwi and others opposing the proposed new coal mine at Mangatawhiri.
The resource consent applications were made by Fonterraʼs coal mining subsidiary Glencoal Energy Ltd, which is seeking consents for an open cast mine on farmland at Mangatawhiri right beside SH2.
If the mine goes ahead it will be highly visible to anyone driving along SH2. The mine is intended to produce 120,000 tonnes of coal a year to supply the Fonterra dairy factories at Waitoa, Hautapu and Te Awamutu. Fonterraʼs nearby Kopako coal mine is predicted to close in 2014.
Instead of opening a new coal mine in a farming community, locals believe Fonterra should phase out coal in favour of locally available cleaner burning, wood waste.
Just wait a little longer, if this government gets a third term (voted in again due to apathy of too many), they will come and introduce further laws, to stifle any protests or dissent, by charging convicted protesters for the time and manpower costs police and other agencies will have had to spend.
So then the protestors that may be convicted for breaching the peace, disorderly behaviour, obstruction and the likes will be sent invoices, which will be for exorbitant amounts, and if the persons affected cannot pay, they will get periodic detention to “pay” the “costs” off by doing forced labour.
Key, Collins or whosoever may be in charge then will have no scruples to do this, as it is right along their way of thinking and acting.
Listen to what David Parker says about beneficiaries.
See how Shearer answers the question on his where on the political spectrum.
Then you will understand why Labour had not renewed its subscription to the Socialist International.
Labour has announced that it will hold six meetings over the next week and will ask its supporters to decide who should be the next Labour leader and deputy.
And so it came to pass. The supporters told them who should be the next leader and the Caucus had a tantrum because the supporters told them what they didn’t want to hear. So they got their own back by tossing the supporters’ choice on the backbench and leaving him there in the hope he’d get fed up and leave. And the supporters said… to hell with you, if you want to play the game that way we’ll withdraw our labour. And so it came to pass, and the Caucus is left with an almighty problem – an election looming and not enough workers.
Not the way I remembered it. I attended both a meeting of the ‘roadshow” and a branch meeting – at both the audience was solidly behind either candidate. – there were a few committed either way and probably a majority who wanted it left to the caucus who knew them better. I am personally in favour of a formal vote by members (electronic or postal) but that wasn’t in the system at that time.
Whatever people feel about particular issues within Labour or Green, they are both far better in government than out, and National needs to be kicked out. I suspect as many people will work to get rid of National as will work to elect a particular leader (and many will work for their local MP who they know – it is important for the left to work on the party votes rather than just electorate votes . . .
Khandalla Viper: Yes, Parker believes in “social obligations”, that is made rather clear! He talks about “responsibilities” for people getting benefits and so forth.
Shearer merely says “Labour” comes from “the left”, so that means, it was once on the “left” but is now clearly not really there anymore, as one would logically conclude.
Yep, it is quite revealing to look back at such interviews and answers given.
Simon Bridge’s corporate sponsored anti mine protest laws – Not needed if there are no contentious schemes in the works? But way to go at the very real prospect of political prisoners in 2013 NZ.
Easiest way to beat the law is always protest with 500 people, if one is arrested, all get arrested. Elect for trial by jury, get legal aid and take the prison sentence instead of paying a cash fine. The system will fall to it’s knees quicker than a minister in front of a multi corp negotiator.
The system may be slow, but it can still adapt and target protesters with specific roles.
All it takes is 100 people acting in the public interest who have knowledge of common law.
It’s easy to argue prejudice in a district court, but the argument won’t go anywhere unless an alternative forum exists. The common law hundred is an alternative forum, and because it is based on oath it can beat the civil system, which denies the basis for an oath in law even though it exercises the benefit.
What remains then is to find a lawful remedy for the dispute over mining.
The system may be slow, but it can still adapt and target protesters with specific roles.
Ugly Truth
The old Mt. Eden Prison in Auckland, which was emptied of prisoners in mid 2011. Remains empty, but is been kept fully maintained and in operational readiness at huge tax payers expense.
This despite prison overcrowding and talk of double bunking?
Why?
What for?
Why have the government ignored calls from the public and interested bodies to turn the historic prison into a museum, or allow its use as a film set?
Or indeed, into a low density, low security, facility, when it has all the resources for such a use?
Click on the following link see the photo of the new prison with the sinister looking empty prison behind it.
Some people have suggested that the disused GM plant in Upper Hutt has been adapted for use as a mass detention center. The electric fences and six foot deep ditch seem excessive security for a disused industrial site.
It’s unlikely that such facilities would be put to use for a local issue like a mine protest as it would raise the question of why they were not in use already.
What I’m suggesting is a way of defeating the system lawfully, without resorting to anarchy. The remedy involves understanding the nature of the conflict between the state and the common law and applying established common law systems that the state cannot counter.
Karol,
One of the systems is truth. The state depends on fictions of law in order to operate, but such fictions didn’t originate with the common law, but with Roman law.
In the civil system the most powerful expression of truth is an oath. The common law court is based on truth according to oath, and would engage “oath-helpers” who would testify to the honesty of the maker of the oath. The difference between the two systems is that the common law acknowledges that the privilege of making oath is not a one way affair, and responds accordingly, while the civil system simply lies about the origin of the privilege and ignores the obligation that arises from the benefit.
Ugly, please give examples of this common law system in NZ and how it could be used in such a ways as the government couldn’t oppose it, in order as you say to defeat,
the system lawfully, without resorting to anarchy.
Karol, the common law is the law of the land. Common law cannot defeat lawful government (i.e. government which has real authority), but it can defeat a system based on fictions. In commerce, the truth is sovereign, and commerce plays a significant role in any society.
“Sovereign citizen” is an oxymoron, and Wikipedia has a history of political bias. The freeman movement has it’s own philosophical issues so I don’t identify with them, and I certainly don’t adopt their strategies unless I understand the reason for them.
The current civil system doesn’t have universal jurisdiction. Deeming people to be citizens is one way for the system to assume jurisdiction. When such an act results in injury of the rights of the people the system has acted unlawfully.
While speaking the truth can life unpleasant for the system, the most effective strategy IMO is to return to the common law hundred (a local court based on truth by oath) for the resolution of disputes.
OK. So your solution of a peaceful revolution using common law is a bit of a fantasy. There is actually no common law system we can legally use. You can’t give one practical example, just a lot of abstractions that have little connection with practice or current realities.
Many of us value truth, and especially speaking truth to power, but don’t subscribe to you mythology of a golden age of common law, especially one that could be drawn on today.
It’s no fantasy, common law doesn’t operate by permission from the state. The system already exists, the problem is a crisis of ignorance.
The practical examples I gave were speaking the truth and returning to the hundred. If you don’t know what the hundred is then it’s very unwise to assume that it is an abstraction.
The hundred is a documented historical reality that can be drawn upon with a combination of local interest and opportunity. Its purpose is to resolve disputes, and as such it establishes an alternative court of law.
“The civil division of the territory of England is into counties, of those counties into hundreds, of those hundreds into tithings or towns.”
“Bailiffs, or sheriff’s officers, are either bailiffs of hundreds, or special bailiffs. Bailiffs of hundreds are officers appointed over those respective districts by the sheriffs, to collect fines therein; to summon juries; to attend the judges and justices at the assizes, and quarter sessions; and also to execute writs and process in the several hundreds”
UT – still waiting for an actual example where we can use this common law to successfully and peacefully oppose government policies.
I’m all for grass roots collective organisation – but I still can’t see how such things as this 19th century commentary can be applied in present day NZ.
PS: You have linked to a lengthy exposition. Please can you point to the relevant parts that you consider it shows that common law trumps contemporary legislation in NZ
handle,
Universal jurisdiction in NZ district & high courts is only assumed, not actual. What facts do you have do back up your assertion that it actually exists?
Done it already, Arfamo. The judge admitted to committing fraud in the preliminary hearing. The fraud was in relation to the assumption of jurisdiction.
When you claim the common law that has been part of our legal system for hundreds of years means something new, it is not me who needs to provide evidence.
handle, gravity is part of the law of nature. The law of nature isn’t limited to the physical realm, it also affects the realm of consciousness and ethics. The common law is an expression of how the laws of nature affect people in an ethical sense.
I’m not saying that common law means anything new, what I’m saying is that the state is lying to you about what it actually is.
I am hearing another middle-aged man trying to make his place in the world exempt from social arrangements rather than accept it as it is. Dress it up however you like, you’re not special.
Arfamo, the case was about the common law right to use a public road and it was held in Nelson.
IMO one of the most telling points was that the judge at the defended hearing refused to address the issue of the golden rule of statutory interpretation in court. The golden rule is another name for Baron Parke’s rule, which describes how ambiguous legislation should be interpreted. This was significant because he has previously admitted that the language used in evidence, i.e. “vehicle”, was ambiguous.
Arfamo, the vehicle in question was a legal contrivance. A contrivance can be a physical object or it can be an intangible like a scheme or a ploy. What happens is that the police witness says that there was a vehicle as a matter of fact (i.e the witness refers to the car as a vehicle), but his testimony is interpreted within the context of law, which looks to the intent or the intangible aspect of things. The judge will not permit cross-examination of the witness on matters of law, and since in the court room context a vehicle is an intangible, you can’t cross-examine the witness to make the ambiguity apparent to the court.
There’s plenty of case law which explains what a vehicle is within the context of public roads, but it’s of little use because of the nature of the prejudice of court.
The outcome was that the person was convicted, time already served was not taken into account, and the minister of justice refused to settle for wrongful imprisonment.
Ugly Truth: A former “mate” of mine got involved with this common law line of thinking and tried using it before the courts.
There are some propagators to this kind of legal approach, using common law principles and angles to deal with the statutory and other law we nowadays have, naturally made by the legislative and upheld and enforced by the executive of the state. Some also adhere to conspiracy theories.
This guy I knew was also getting into books written by a Mary Croft (from Canada, I believe), same as a few others. As he had some mental health issues, did not have much of an education, and was from troubled background, he was happy to use common law to help him deal with the justice system. In the end it did not do him much good, and he was even institutionalised again, for a period.
I believe you may be coming from a similar line of thinking as the publishers found under these links are:
Yes, I understand that applying and using common law principles and arguments, you can in some cases challenge existing institutions, including the courts, but it is not easy, and in the end they tend to keep the upper hand.
I am yet to see a landmark case won that is based purely on common law and that has led to radical changes anywhere, as an alternative to an informed, alert and determined public casting a decisive, smart, progressive vote, or a revolutionary protest movement getting things changed by mass rallies, pickets and what you have.
This sounds like a big win: “The outcome was that the person was convicted, time already served was not taken into account, and the minister of justice refused to settle for wrongful imprisonment.”
xtasy,
When it comes to learning about the common law, there really is no substitute for spending the time checking your assumptions rather relying on some legal incantation that you read on a website somewhere. I’m not overly concerned about winning a landmark case because I think that a more effective strategy is to develop the alternative rather than participate in a system which is fundamentally broken.
handle, sure, the legal outcome doesn’t look like much of a win. The win for me was proving to myself that I understood what was going on for the most part, and being able to force the judiciary out of their comfort zone. There were other benefits from the experience, but the X-File factor probably wouldn’t mean much to you unless you had already experienced that sort of thing. All I’ll say is that there was a surge is psych admissions in Nelson at the time.
It’s unlikely that such facilities would be put to use for a local issue like a mine protest as it would raise the question of why they were not in use already.
Ugly Truth
Anti coal mining protests don’t happen every day.
If the police and the State had had an empty prison that they could have filled up in 1981. To Effectively quell – anti racist protests, they would have done so.
“If the police and the State had had an empty prison that they could have filled up in 1981. To Effectively quell – anti racist protests, they would have done so.”
There are whispers that the army/navy was on standby at stages to step in if the police couldnt handle things. I read that the Unimogs were ready to roll at one stage.
Simon Bridge’s corporate sponsored anti mine protest laws – Not needed if there are no contentious schemes in the works? But way to go at the very real prospect of political prisoners in 2013 NZ.
Al1en
Today may be the last day to legally protest outside a coal mine, without being jailed.
I have decided to end my self imposed exile from commenting here,
I’ve put a lot of time into thinking about it – at times and have made the decision to become a full time blog commentator. I can fit in a lot more now as I usually get up early, it’s when I enjoy doing most online, and then dabble during the day when I feel like it. But in the main I am needed to bring balance and fairness throughout the blog-sphere.
I can no longer stand by and watch the Standard become an echo chamber, Standard moderators keep shutting out diversity by banning anyone who blinks out of step with the comrades and the blog risks becoming further unbalanced. I for one gave some very fair comments that added a lot of balance, without which The Standard has become hopelessly left leaning and I for one can’t stand by and let that happen. As I like to say if you don’t let shit happen shit happens.
[r0b: OK – quite funny – but please no impersonating other posters.]
I mean I’m expecting him to post about the prank and how low the standard has sunk that they would allow it and how inaccurate a parody it was anyway and how he knows it was actually perpetrated by a standard author etc etc etc.
‘(Not the real) Peter George’ logically cannot be the “real” one if such a name has any validity.
So this must be an April Fools Day prank comment, right?
Otherwise one may perhaps feel tempted to give you a benefit of the doubt. Perhaps – in that case – my comment 7 on Peter “Dunny” (aka Dunne) in this following thread may have upset dear PG, feeling an irresistible urge to defend the much adored “master”:
Peter Dunne, Pete’s “master”, who once was Labour (believe it or not) has shown to be traitor to the disadvantaged and sick, so I think he will feel happy in his parliamentary retirement, while others suffer and contemplate perhaps even suicide.
The “chosen” few I suppose, again feeling they are “more worthy” due to having held “high office”.
It is not average costs but marginal costs which set prices on the wholesale electricity market.
It is the cost of the most expensive generation which has to run in any half-hour to meet demand that sets the spot price all the generators dispatched get, and all the electricity retailers pay.
That would still be a fuel-burning power station a lot of the time, and particularly when demand is heavy.
Now, if electricity was still a state monopoly it would be the average price we would pay and not the most expensive price. It would be cheaper for everyone. This is, of course, why we had a state monopoly in the first place and one of the reasons why, since the imposition of a faux market by National in the 1990s, prices have gone up.
Calculations on the effect on prices of the smelter’s closure would also have to consider commercial responses from other generators.
Only because the government is too stupid to take it back to being a state monopoly and thus getting rid of the added expense of complexity added by competition.
For fiscal conservatives such as Finance Minister Bill English, that is all the more reason to get such risk off the Crown’s books.
What risk? There isn’t any in owning the electricity generators and lines as a state monopoly. These things only come about with the market and privatisation.
Yes that was the piece that I found the most interesting. No wonder we are getting ripped off. At least a dusty old, ‘inefficient’ electricity board would only be charging what the actual costs of production were.
Today, April the 1st marks 25 years since the 4th Labour government abolished the Ministry of Works and Development, robbing the public sector of much needed in house engineering expertise, and leaving us reliant on private sector contractors to deliver it.
Though no one would like to admit, we could sure use something like ‘Auntie MOW’ during the earthquake rebuild.
Notice also how there hasn’t been a whisper of bringing back the state as a major operational ground breaking force in the Christchurch rebuild.
Labour believes just as much as National that the job can be done, and should be done, largely (though not entirely) by providing public funds to private profit making companies. Same applies to providing affordable housing in Auckland.
The idea that the government can get out there and build 5,000 houses a year itself, better and cheaper than the private sector (including in regard to financing the build), doesn’t seem to have crossed Labour’s mind. Too unorthodox and an anathema to the all important marketplace.
To be fair, the costs of rebuilding a new MOW from scratch would be prohibitive, and would fiercely opposed by the construction/contracting lobby (as well as the editorials). Even if it was just a design bureau type setup.
“There was huge potential for New Zealand’s underexplored petroleum and minerals. The Crown received millions of dollars a year from minerals royalties, which paid for services such as schools, hospitals, roads and broadband.
With a 50 per cent increase in royalties and tax, that would increase to $12.5 billion a year, he said.”
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It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, 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?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
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 Tāmaki 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 Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s 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 that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s 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 country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ 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 member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s 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 Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
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. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
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 Teachers’ 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. “The 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. “Science, 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 today’s 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. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The 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. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
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. “Our 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. “New 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 Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s 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 Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation 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 sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I 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 Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s 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. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Asia Pacific Report Chief Mandla Mandela, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has joined the Freedom Flotilla in istanbul as the ships prepare to sail for Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. Mandela is also the ambassador for the Global Campaign to Return to ...
Pacific Media Watch Journalists who report on environmental issues are encountering growing difficulties in many parts of the world, reports Reporters Without Borders. According to the tally kept by RSF, 200 journalists have been subjected to threats and physical violence, including murder, in the past 10 years because they were ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Pōneke based peace activists staged a silent protest at the ANZAC day service to highlight New Zealand’s complicity in war and genocide, and urge the government to take concrete steps to stop the genocide in Palestine. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Until this month, Auckland swimmer Hazel Ouwehand had never met a qualifying time in an Olympic event for a New Zealand team, even as a junior. Now she’s very likely off to the Paris Olympics after swimming well under the qualifying standard in the 100m butterfly twice – both in ...
While Anzac Day has experienced a resurgence in recent years, our other day of remembrance has slowly faded from view.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Hope McConnell.First published in 2022.The high school’s head girl and ...
Australian and New Zealand volunteers fought together in the Waikato War, yet still its place in the Anzac tradition is unacknowledged by our defence forces or Returned Services Association.First published in 2018.When I was a boy cub I attended Anzac Day services in the South Auckland suburb of ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
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UK churches slam new UK welfare reforms:
“The Methodist Church’s public policy adviser, Paul Morrison, said the British public had “come to believe things about the poorest in our society which are just straightforwardly not true.
“The public believes that the major cause of poverty is laziness, yet the majority of people in poverty work. How can that be the case?”
And the Reverend Jonathan Edwards, general secretary of the Baptist Union, said “The one interesting fact I find is that the majority, the rise in poverty over the last decade, has been more amongst those on low income than on those who are unemployed.””
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21986041
As these UK style reforms are also the ones that the National led government in New Zealand wants to adopt here, this is stuff to note.
Does Paula “Benefit” (aka Bennett or “Bandit”) ever see it fit, to also look at and listen to the growing and increasingly damning criticism and opposition the reforms in the UK are creating?
There have already been many articles written on forums like those of the ‘Black Triangle Campaign’, ‘Atos Victims Group’ and so forth. When does it sink into the “thick” skull, dear Paula, that what you are pushing through Parliament at present as the ‘Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill’ is going to cause nothing much more than increased harm, pain, suffering, injustices and stigmatisation to beneficiaries affected. There is NOTHING in your bill that will help sick, disabled or sole parents to be put into a position to work, especially since there are not even any jobs, while fit and healthy, often with degrees, struggle to even get supermarket jobs.
No details have been presented on the planned, to be outsourced work capacity assessments that MSD and WINZ want to enforce on sick and disabled in future, so we get a hidden agenda approach, while this abominable piece of legislation is being passed.
Shame on you Paula Bennett, shame also on John Key and the rest of your poor hating right wing beneficiary bashers!!!
http://blacktrianglecampaign.org/
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/enough-is-enough-disabled-people-are-driven-to-suicide-because-of-the-governments-welfare-reform-8197640.html
http://atosvictimsgroup.co.uk/
http://bma.org.uk/news-views-analysis/news/2012/june/welfare-reform-pain-but-no-gain
The shift of work capacity assessments to the private sector, no doubt with bonuses or performance based contracts that encourage the disentitlement of clients, or pressure for them to look for work is insidious indeed.
If the changes brought in the UK are to be mirrored here disabled will be expected to look for work based “theoretical” jobs – ie jobs that don’t actually exsist, but if they did would be possible for the disabled person to do. No discussion of how disadvantaged disabled persons are when they look for work even when no discrimination takes place.
Disabled have to think about what they can do, sure. But the reality is the employment market simply doesn’t accommodate disabilities, and some disabilities are harder to accommodate than others.
We desperately need more to help disabled persons into income streams as opposed to “jobs” per se.
The patronising focus on getting disabled persons to look at what they can do is getting old even before it has really begun. (Work and Income started with posters in their offices picturing a disabled person saying, “it’s about what I CAN do!”, a couple of years ago)
hi Xtasy
+1
“Poorest set for ‘perfect storm’ on benefit cuts: the low-paid, disabled and jobless will be hit hardest ”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/poorest-set-for-perfect-storm-on-benefit-cuts-the-lowpaid-disabled-and-jobless-will-be-hit-hardest-8555225.html
“Bedroom tax is worthy of Stalin, says government’s poverty tsar
Frank Field condemns change to housing benefit as ‘flawed’ and says scheme will eventually prove to be more expensive”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/mar/29/bedroom-tax-worthy-stalin-poverty-tsar
“Push people off benefits and get an Easter egg”
“Job centre workers are facing disciplinary measures if they don’t sanction enough benefits claimants.
Sanctions mean those out of work can lose Jobseeker’s Allowance for four weeks and housing benefit for two for an “insufficient job search”.
“The official line is that there are no targets for sanctions,” said Jack, a job centre worker in Birmingham.
“But managers try to find ways around that.
“We found out that some managers were offering incentives, in the form of Easter eggs, for the highest number of claimants sanctioned for refusing employment.
“That means people losing their benefits for three months. ”
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=30964
That’s what they’re supposed to do. These law changes are designed to force people into work so that a few people can get richer. The people putting them in place have absolutely no concern for the people that they will be harming.
We really are seeing the return of slavery just as bb called for yesterday – it’s just that National have, so far, managed not to call it that or have called that. It’s up to us to start calling it for what it is.
Actually, this NZ Herald article shows they slavery never went away, and that, today slaves are valued less than they were 4000 years ago. During ancient times the value of slaves kept rising, but today they have been increasingly devalued:
Yes, I’m aware of the black-market in slaves. What we’re seeing with the legislation that National are putting in place is the return of official slavery – it’s just not called that.
Supply and demand, karol. There’s never been more people on the planet.
Meanwhile the people in the think tank (like Key’s mate Weldon) who are advising on and driving such reforms get this
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10874191
Aramoana,
Maori Land Rights,
Nuclear Ship Visits,
Racist Sports tournaments,
Schedule 4 mining.
Among the nations of the world, New Zealand has an enviable record of successful public protest that has resulted in major progressive political change.
Just think where New Zealand would be today, if those protests had been severely restricted and repressed.
As the Nacts gear up for their assault on the environment and civil liberties, on behalf of big business. This great history could all be undone.
Today may be the last chance to legally and meaningfully, protest against fossil fuel extraction and dangerous climate changing activities.
2pm today you can legally gather on the roadside outside the site of the proposed new mine for a protest. After proposed new government legislation is passed, at the request of the polluters, you will not be allowed to protest within half a kilometre of any coal mine, oil rig, or survey ship.
Defend the climate from money hungry polluters,
Stand up for civil liberties,
Stop Fonterra’s new open cast coal mine at Mangatangi.
Jenny –
Just wait a little longer, if this government gets a third term (voted in again due to apathy of too many), they will come and introduce further laws, to stifle any protests or dissent, by charging convicted protesters for the time and manpower costs police and other agencies will have had to spend.
So then the protestors that may be convicted for breaching the peace, disorderly behaviour, obstruction and the likes will be sent invoices, which will be for exorbitant amounts, and if the persons affected cannot pay, they will get periodic detention to “pay” the “costs” off by doing forced labour.
Key, Collins or whosoever may be in charge then will have no scruples to do this, as it is right along their way of thinking and acting.
Just like Communist China where they send an invoice for the cost of the bullet to the family of those they execute.
http://www.socialistinternational.org/viewArticle.cfm?ArticlePageID=931
An oversight surely but maybe Labour could hit up Shearer for the fees, he might have a few lazy grand in a bank account doing nothing 😉
NZ Labour are listed as an observer party. Can’t say that I see any reason for them to join that particular organisation as they’re not socialist.
Thats true and whats also true is that little symbol 4 at the end:
New Zealand Labour Party, NZLP 4
Just to be helpful this is what that number 4 means:
4 Party downgraded to observer status due to non-payment of membership fees
So Labour were a member they just haven’t paid their fees
http://tvnz.co.nz/election-2011/parker-drops-backs-shearer-labour-leadership-4585338
Listen to what David Parker says about beneficiaries.
See how Shearer answers the question on his where on the political spectrum.
Then you will understand why Labour had not renewed its subscription to the Socialist International.
And so it came to pass. The supporters told them who should be the next leader and the Caucus had a tantrum because the supporters told them what they didn’t want to hear. So they got their own back by tossing the supporters’ choice on the backbench and leaving him there in the hope he’d get fed up and leave. And the supporters said… to hell with you, if you want to play the game that way we’ll withdraw our labour. And so it came to pass, and the Caucus is left with an almighty problem – an election looming and not enough workers.
Not the way I remembered it. I attended both a meeting of the ‘roadshow” and a branch meeting – at both the audience was solidly behind either candidate. – there were a few committed either way and probably a majority who wanted it left to the caucus who knew them better. I am personally in favour of a formal vote by members (electronic or postal) but that wasn’t in the system at that time.
Whatever people feel about particular issues within Labour or Green, they are both far better in government than out, and National needs to be kicked out. I suspect as many people will work to get rid of National as will work to elect a particular leader (and many will work for their local MP who they know – it is important for the left to work on the party votes rather than just electorate votes . . .
Khandalla Viper: Yes, Parker believes in “social obligations”, that is made rather clear! He talks about “responsibilities” for people getting benefits and so forth.
Shearer merely says “Labour” comes from “the left”, so that means, it was once on the “left” but is now clearly not really there anymore, as one would logically conclude.
Yep, it is quite revealing to look back at such interviews and answers given.
Simon Bridge’s corporate sponsored anti mine protest laws – Not needed if there are no contentious schemes in the works? But way to go at the very real prospect of political prisoners in 2013 NZ.
Easiest way to beat the law is always protest with 500 people, if one is arrested, all get arrested. Elect for trial by jury, get legal aid and take the prison sentence instead of paying a cash fine. The system will fall to it’s knees quicker than a minister in front of a multi corp negotiator.
The system may be slow, but it can still adapt and target protesters with specific roles.
All it takes is 100 people acting in the public interest who have knowledge of common law.
It’s easy to argue prejudice in a district court, but the argument won’t go anywhere unless an alternative forum exists. The common law hundred is an alternative forum, and because it is based on oath it can beat the civil system, which denies the basis for an oath in law even though it exercises the benefit.
What remains then is to find a lawful remedy for the dispute over mining.
The old Mt. Eden Prison in Auckland, which was emptied of prisoners in mid 2011. Remains empty, but is been kept fully maintained and in operational readiness at huge tax payers expense.
This despite prison overcrowding and talk of double bunking?
Why?
What for?
Why have the government ignored calls from the public and interested bodies to turn the historic prison into a museum, or allow its use as a film set?
Or indeed, into a low density, low security, facility, when it has all the resources for such a use?
Click on the following link see the photo of the new prison with the sinister looking empty prison behind it.
http://www.corrections.govt.nz/utility-navigation/locations/prisons/northern/mt_eden_corrections_facility.html
Housing 600 or a thousand protesters. No problem.
Jenny,
Some people have suggested that the disused GM plant in Upper Hutt has been adapted for use as a mass detention center. The electric fences and six foot deep ditch seem excessive security for a disused industrial site.
It’s unlikely that such facilities would be put to use for a local issue like a mine protest as it would raise the question of why they were not in use already.
What I’m suggesting is a way of defeating the system lawfully, without resorting to anarchy. The remedy involves understanding the nature of the conflict between the state and the common law and applying established common law systems that the state cannot counter.
applying established common law systems that the state cannot counter.
eg?
Karol,
One of the systems is truth. The state depends on fictions of law in order to operate, but such fictions didn’t originate with the common law, but with Roman law.
In the civil system the most powerful expression of truth is an oath. The common law court is based on truth according to oath, and would engage “oath-helpers” who would testify to the honesty of the maker of the oath. The difference between the two systems is that the common law acknowledges that the privilege of making oath is not a one way affair, and responds accordingly, while the civil system simply lies about the origin of the privilege and ignores the obligation that arises from the benefit.
Ugly, please give examples of this common law system in NZ and how it could be used in such a ways as the government couldn’t oppose it, in order as you say to defeat,
the system lawfully, without resorting to anarchy.
Or are you just repeating US Sovereign Citizen lines? Is it really possible to claim resort to some ancient version of “common law” without triggering the full weight of the current legal system?
Karol, the common law is the law of the land. Common law cannot defeat lawful government (i.e. government which has real authority), but it can defeat a system based on fictions. In commerce, the truth is sovereign, and commerce plays a significant role in any society.
“Sovereign citizen” is an oxymoron, and Wikipedia has a history of political bias. The freeman movement has it’s own philosophical issues so I don’t identify with them, and I certainly don’t adopt their strategies unless I understand the reason for them.
The current civil system doesn’t have universal jurisdiction. Deeming people to be citizens is one way for the system to assume jurisdiction. When such an act results in injury of the rights of the people the system has acted unlawfully.
While speaking the truth can life unpleasant for the system, the most effective strategy IMO is to return to the common law hundred (a local court based on truth by oath) for the resolution of disputes.
OK. So your solution of a peaceful revolution using common law is a bit of a fantasy. There is actually no common law system we can legally use. You can’t give one practical example, just a lot of abstractions that have little connection with practice or current realities.
Many of us value truth, and especially speaking truth to power, but don’t subscribe to you mythology of a golden age of common law, especially one that could be drawn on today.
It’s no fantasy, common law doesn’t operate by permission from the state. The system already exists, the problem is a crisis of ignorance.
The practical examples I gave were speaking the truth and returning to the hundred. If you don’t know what the hundred is then it’s very unwise to assume that it is an abstraction.
The hundred is a documented historical reality that can be drawn upon with a combination of local interest and opportunity. Its purpose is to resolve disputes, and as such it establishes an alternative court of law.
“The civil division of the territory of England is into counties, of those counties into hundreds, of those hundreds into tithings or towns.”
“Bailiffs, or sheriff’s officers, are either bailiffs of hundreds, or special bailiffs. Bailiffs of hundreds are officers appointed over those respective districts by the sheriffs, to collect fines therein; to summon juries; to attend the judges and justices at the assizes, and quarter sessions; and also to execute writs and process in the several hundreds”
http://oll.libertyfund.org/simple.php?id=2140
UT – still waiting for an actual example where we can use this common law to successfully and peacefully oppose government policies.
I’m all for grass roots collective organisation – but I still can’t see how such things as this 19th century commentary can be applied in present day NZ.
PS: You have linked to a lengthy exposition. Please can you point to the relevant parts that you consider it shows that common law trumps contemporary legislation in NZ
Karol,
An example of policy opposition? Unlikely, common law is apolitical.
Naturally a commentary can’t be applied to present day NZ.
I didn’t link to Blackstone’s to show that common law trumps contemporary legislation in NZ.
To get the right answer you’ve got to ask the right question.
“The current civil system doesn’t have universal jurisdiction.” In your most fanciful dreams.
handle,
Universal jurisdiction in NZ district & high courts is only assumed, not actual. What facts do you have do back up your assertion that it actually exists?
Fair enough. Take a test case, UT. Let us know what happens.
Done it already, Arfamo. The judge admitted to committing fraud in the preliminary hearing. The fraud was in relation to the assumption of jurisdiction.
That gravity thing only works because we all assume it does, right.
When you claim the common law that has been part of our legal system for hundreds of years means something new, it is not me who needs to provide evidence.
What was the case about and where was it, UT?
handle, gravity is part of the law of nature. The law of nature isn’t limited to the physical realm, it also affects the realm of consciousness and ethics. The common law is an expression of how the laws of nature affect people in an ethical sense.
I’m not saying that common law means anything new, what I’m saying is that the state is lying to you about what it actually is.
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-28032013/#comment-611335
I am hearing another middle-aged man trying to make his place in the world exempt from social arrangements rather than accept it as it is. Dress it up however you like, you’re not special.
Arfamo, the case was about the common law right to use a public road and it was held in Nelson.
IMO one of the most telling points was that the judge at the defended hearing refused to address the issue of the golden rule of statutory interpretation in court. The golden rule is another name for Baron Parke’s rule, which describes how ambiguous legislation should be interpreted. This was significant because he has previously admitted that the language used in evidence, i.e. “vehicle”, was ambiguous.
handle, do you deny that the state is lying about what the common law is?
Sounds fascinating UT. So what was the vehicle in question, and what was the outcome of the case?
Arfamo, the vehicle in question was a legal contrivance. A contrivance can be a physical object or it can be an intangible like a scheme or a ploy. What happens is that the police witness says that there was a vehicle as a matter of fact (i.e the witness refers to the car as a vehicle), but his testimony is interpreted within the context of law, which looks to the intent or the intangible aspect of things. The judge will not permit cross-examination of the witness on matters of law, and since in the court room context a vehicle is an intangible, you can’t cross-examine the witness to make the ambiguity apparent to the court.
There’s plenty of case law which explains what a vehicle is within the context of public roads, but it’s of little use because of the nature of the prejudice of court.
The outcome was that the person was convicted, time already served was not taken into account, and the minister of justice refused to settle for wrongful imprisonment.
OK. Thanks UT. Call me when the revolution’s underway. I’ll lend you a tumbril for the judge.
Ugly Truth: A former “mate” of mine got involved with this common law line of thinking and tried using it before the courts.
There are some propagators to this kind of legal approach, using common law principles and angles to deal with the statutory and other law we nowadays have, naturally made by the legislative and upheld and enforced by the executive of the state. Some also adhere to conspiracy theories.
This guy I knew was also getting into books written by a Mary Croft (from Canada, I believe), same as a few others. As he had some mental health issues, did not have much of an education, and was from troubled background, he was happy to use common law to help him deal with the justice system. In the end it did not do him much good, and he was even institutionalised again, for a period.
I believe you may be coming from a similar line of thinking as the publishers found under these links are:
http://www.yourstrawman.com/
http://thecrowhouse.com/Documents/mary-book.pdf
Yes, I understand that applying and using common law principles and arguments, you can in some cases challenge existing institutions, including the courts, but it is not easy, and in the end they tend to keep the upper hand.
I am yet to see a landmark case won that is based purely on common law and that has led to radical changes anywhere, as an alternative to an informed, alert and determined public casting a decisive, smart, progressive vote, or a revolutionary protest movement getting things changed by mass rallies, pickets and what you have.
This sounds like a big win: “The outcome was that the person was convicted, time already served was not taken into account, and the minister of justice refused to settle for wrongful imprisonment.”
xtasy,
When it comes to learning about the common law, there really is no substitute for spending the time checking your assumptions rather relying on some legal incantation that you read on a website somewhere. I’m not overly concerned about winning a landmark case because I think that a more effective strategy is to develop the alternative rather than participate in a system which is fundamentally broken.
handle, sure, the legal outcome doesn’t look like much of a win. The win for me was proving to myself that I understood what was going on for the most part, and being able to force the judiciary out of their comfort zone. There were other benefits from the experience, but the X-File factor probably wouldn’t mean much to you unless you had already experienced that sort of thing. All I’ll say is that there was a surge is psych admissions in Nelson at the time.
“If the police and the State had had an empty prison that they could have filled up in 1981. To Effectively quell – anti racist protests, they would have done so.”
There are whispers that the army/navy was on standby at stages to step in if the police couldnt handle things. I read that the Unimogs were ready to roll at one stage.
Ha……..that would soon explode Poncey Wee Simon’s fantasy governance world.
Collins: “Bring in the Specials……….!”
Yes, it is amazing that the Government and the State can maintain a fully operation but empty prison while pressing ahead with double bunking.
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/double-bunking-challenge-lost-3314969
Today may be the last day to legally protest outside a coal mine, without being jailed.
Yep, like the playing field was level to begin with, they tilt it a bit more just to be certain it’s not.
I have decided to end my self imposed exile from commenting here,
I’ve put a lot of time into thinking about it – at times and have made the decision to become a full time blog commentator. I can fit in a lot more now as I usually get up early, it’s when I enjoy doing most online, and then dabble during the day when I feel like it. But in the main I am needed to bring balance and fairness throughout the blog-sphere.
I can no longer stand by and watch the Standard become an echo chamber, Standard moderators keep shutting out diversity by banning anyone who blinks out of step with the comrades and the blog risks becoming further unbalanced. I for one gave some very fair comments that added a lot of balance, without which The Standard has become hopelessly left leaning and I for one can’t stand by and let that happen. As I like to say if you don’t let shit happen shit happens.
[r0b: OK – quite funny – but please no impersonating other posters.]
I would never have come back. You must have very little pride and self respect.
Enjoy your reformation.
And Easter too – how appropriate for the second coming of the saviour.
The Standard has become hopelessly left leaning
The horror! The horror!!!!!!
laughed out load.
Parody gold.
Must be an April fools joke.
Well done, pete. Now go away.
Is that you Imperator Fish? Enjoy your April 1st fun.
🙄
“I am needed to bring balance and fairness throughout the blog-sphere”
Did god tell you that? Or a lesser power like Farrar?
Aaaaaand Pete making a long-winded post on his own site about this in 3… 2…
Only if you forget the date.
I mean I’m expecting him to post about the prank and how low the standard has sunk that they would allow it and how inaccurate a parody it was anyway and how he knows it was actually perpetrated by a standard author etc etc etc.
True.
seems I caught a few out…. would have been nice if it stayed a bit longer tis april fools in all…
April fools – sorry yes so it is (I’m not in work mode and didn’t notice the date) – perhaps I should have left it alone – it’s nicely done!
AAA+++ for earnest pomposity Petey. Spoken like a true Dunny Brush.
But Mr George I see that you have United with Scott over at Imperator. Being with such a team you will be far too busy to be here as well.
Pete George the scourge of the Liberal Left.
‘(Not the real) Peter George’ logically cannot be the “real” one if such a name has any validity.
So this must be an April Fools Day prank comment, right?
Otherwise one may perhaps feel tempted to give you a benefit of the doubt. Perhaps – in that case – my comment 7 on Peter “Dunny” (aka Dunne) in this following thread may have upset dear PG, feeling an irresistible urge to defend the much adored “master”:
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-30032013/#comment-611903
I called that very “balanced” indeed, what I wrote.
“The Standard has become hopelessly left leaning and I for one can’t stand by and let that happen.”
No, I think you should. Otherwise you’ll be stuffing around with the “diversity” you seem to crave so much.
Peter Dunne, Pete’s “master”, who once was Labour (believe it or not) has shown to be traitor to the disadvantaged and sick, so I think he will feel happy in his parliamentary retirement, while others suffer and contemplate perhaps even suicide.
The “chosen” few I suppose, again feeling they are “more worthy” due to having held “high office”.
Fuck off pete
Article from the Herald about the smelter:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10874428
An Tracy Watkins has somewhat ambivalent positions regarding the Government’s position on the smelter as well. From 30th March though.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/tracy-watkins/8489738/Smelter-skelter-as-Super-Thursday-bursts-forth
beginning to wonder if Tracy Watkins knows what a paragraph is?
that would be “too academic” for her.
Referencing Article:
Now, if electricity was still a state monopoly it would be the average price we would pay and not the most expensive price. It would be cheaper for everyone. This is, of course, why we had a state monopoly in the first place and one of the reasons why, since the imposition of a faux market by National in the 1990s, prices have gone up.
Only because the government is too stupid to take it back to being a state monopoly and thus getting rid of the added expense of complexity added by competition.
What risk? There isn’t any in owning the electricity generators and lines as a state monopoly. These things only come about with the market and privatisation.
Yes that was the piece that I found the most interesting. No wonder we are getting ripped off. At least a dusty old, ‘inefficient’ electricity board would only be charging what the actual costs of production were.
Some ammo for the anti oil
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=772_1364753119
Ewww…..from drains to streams.
Didn’t know they transported oil via pipeline through residential areas.
More superstorms, more tornadoes, more floods, more drought, more pollution disasters, more corporate welfare, less civil liberties.
Welcome to Eaarth
Today, April the 1st marks 25 years since the 4th Labour government abolished the Ministry of Works and Development, robbing the public sector of much needed in house engineering expertise, and leaving us reliant on private sector contractors to deliver it.
Though no one would like to admit, we could sure use something like ‘Auntie MOW’ during the earthquake rebuild.
No doubt of it. All MOW assets which the government once have brought to bear. Are now in the hands of private corporations.
Notice also how there hasn’t been a whisper of bringing back the state as a major operational ground breaking force in the Christchurch rebuild.
Labour believes just as much as National that the job can be done, and should be done, largely (though not entirely) by providing public funds to private profit making companies. Same applies to providing affordable housing in Auckland.
The idea that the government can get out there and build 5,000 houses a year itself, better and cheaper than the private sector (including in regard to financing the build), doesn’t seem to have crossed Labour’s mind. Too unorthodox and an anathema to the all important marketplace.
To be fair, the costs of rebuilding a new MOW from scratch would be prohibitive, and would fiercely opposed by the construction/contracting lobby (as well as the editorials). Even if it was just a design bureau type setup.
Yes, it costs money to employ people.
But seeing as the alternative is to give the same money to Fletcher’s in return for fewer houses, what of it?
No it’s not. Print the money and raise taxes – especially on the rich. It’ll be far cheaper than getting the private sector to do the job.
Claims Cypress President and family transferred personal millions offshore days before banks shutdown
Surely this couldn’t be true – ha. What a rotten plutocracy.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-03-31/cyprus-presidents-family-transferred-tens-millions-london-days-deposit-haircuts
Yeah, and I would not put it pass that fuckwit English to “advise ” all his spiv mates to get their money out of NZ before he introduces the OBR
http://whoar.co.nz/2013/rightwinger-david-farrar-does-ideological-u-turn-joins-green-party/
phillip ure..
no one reads your blog.
I tried…
… eh?…
fuck me what the hell…
who are you..?..infused..?
phillip ure.
I’ve been commenting just as long as you buddy. Although, I seem to be able to structure my sentences together a bit better than yourself.
you must be confusing me with someone else..
..my commenting here has been sparse…at best..
..so..;sentence-structure’ is very important to you..?..eh..?
..(psst..!..that last one of yrs is a bit clunky/clumsy..eh..?
..one almost has to endure it..
..just saying..!..)
..phillip ure..
April first… 🙂
..April first..
FIFY
Never understood why some people go out of their way to make their communications less accessible. It’s like white text on black background websites.
Sorry orificer, I won’t offend with gratuitous smiley usage again.Never been pulled up by the emoticon police before.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10874675
I am sure it is all about safety and security but aside from the anti-democracy issues there is a bigger one in this article, namely the toxic pollution escaping from the Minister’s mouth
“There was huge potential for New Zealand’s underexplored petroleum and minerals. The Crown received millions of dollars a year from minerals royalties, which paid for services such as schools, hospitals, roads and broadband.
With a 50 per cent increase in royalties and tax, that would increase to $12.5 billion a year, he said.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/3502112/6-5m-royalties-from-mining-the-cherry-on-the-top
Someones getting their figures wrong because there’s no way that $506.5m translates to $12.5b
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2013/04/blog-rankings-2/
You guys are doing better then Red Alert (which must be a worry to C. Curran and T. Mallard)
Be a tidy kiwi and put that rubbish in the bin will ya.
You guys are doing better then Red Alert
Yeah, that’s a really high bar. 🙄
Nothing wrong with being positive 🙂
.
pop winter is here
banging at the southern door
get the wood in luv
Warm night, Indian Summer here in Auckland.
While as a nation we have some huge economic, environmental and social crises that past Governments have been determined to pass on to following generations, we do have some extremely capable young people who are more than equal to the challenges ahead. http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/easter-chickens-and-political-youth.html
Couple of essential reads:
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/04/01/lying-for-the-revolution-john-roughan-defends-neoliberalism/
http://fmacskasy.wordpress.com/2013/04/01/whatve-you-been-smoking-mr-roughan/
And this ones no joke:
http://fmacskasy.wordpress.com/2013/04/01/blogger-lays-complaint-with-commerce-commission/