Where else in the world would this happen. Nation A celebrates its independence from Nation B and Nation A’s citizens hold those celebrations in Nation B.
Good question, but I doubt we are the first. There must be many former colonies that have more citizens living in the former colonial power than at home. The Surinamese in Holland spring to mind, buts that only because I’m looking forward to a Dutch team with a large percentage of players of Surinamese heritage winning the Euro’s.
I had an opportunity to ask Bill English directly what the National position was on including all parties in the flexi-super discussion.
English on flexi-super discussion: “we’ll certainly meet the terms of our agreement with United Future”. No enthusiasm for anything beyond that.
And his closing comment on Super: “but the government is not going to change it’s position.”
His failure to know some basic facts probably indicates an indifference to dealing with Super: “No one’s proposing significant change in the next fifteen years”.
2027 is in fifteen years. UF’s flexi-super could take effect immediately, Labour proposed a phase in starting in 2020, and Act supported that (they would probably prefer an earlier start).
But there’s an opportunity to ignore the Key brick wall and build the discussion around it.
No, whether it’s the right approach or not – that needs to be debated but there’s quite a bit of tentative interest (including from Labour) – doesn’t matter.
It has a guaranteed Governmemt forum, probably the only one before 2015. How more relevant could it be?
The UF proposal is fiscally neutral, yes. But that doesn’t fix that as the only way it can be implemented. Discussion can include reducing costs and raising average age of entitlements, if that’s what is ultimately decided.
A choice of age is by far the best approach I’ve seen yet to dealing with demographics with varying life expectancies, and I think Laour should at least give it serious consideration.
A discussion is for discussing different options and finding out what is wanted, what is practical and what may be possible. The more parties involved the better.
Flexi super may be “fiscally neutral”, but it could still be a useful way of smoothing out the baby boomer bump since many superannuitants will die before the deferreds take up their super.
You know, surprisingly often when the blood starts to boil due to Key’s deceptive, shallow, arrogant and other entirely useless manner, the most descriptive word that pops to mind to describe him is … wanker
I’ve never thought of Freeview as actually free… I have to choose between a new TV ($600 or so) or a set top box + aerial ($200). So free? Er – I don’t think so…
At least that doesn’t fit my definition of free! 🙂
Remind me again why John Banks and Don Brash were never CHARGED as former fellow Directors of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd for signing Huljich Kiwisaver Scheme registered prospectuses dated 22 August 2008 and 18 September 2009 which contained untrue statements?
Does David Shearer really have the emotional heft of a Norman Kirk? I don’t think so.
More and more Labour is beginning to resemble those dementia patients at Silverstream Hospital.
Some of Labour’s caucus, like Trevor Mallard, are prone to violent episodes; others, like Shane Jones, test the boundaries of political probity in the most disconcerting fashion.
The most pitiful to contemplate, however, are the likes of David Cunliffe and Grant Robertson. They know there are alternatives out there, they can see them, but their colleagues will insist on hauling them back to their beds.
How sad it will be if New Zealand’s oldest political party is forced to end its days looking out at a world it is no longer able to change; weeping tears of silent rage as younger politicians, with the courage to look beyond tomorrow, get ready to inherit today.
You have to read the whole post to get the Silverstream connection.
Pete, I am sure you make good points, but I deeply resent your put-down through discriminatory remarks concerning dementia patients anywhere, let alone Silverstream hospital. You might be one of them not too far hence.
DTit seems pompous git already has medium and short term memory loss wasn,t the hair piece in coalition with labour not that long ago. Has PG forgotten to be mister agree with everybody and sit on the fence all the time.Sounds like they’ll need all the kings horses and men to put pg back on the fence again.
Dr Terry, I have no idea how you see “discriminatory remarks concerning dementia patients” in what I wrote, which was very little, most of that is Chris Trotter’s post.
We had a discussion the other day about Whanau Ora funding $60,000 to a rugby club (the A Modest Proposal post). Lots of people took Winston Peters’ word that the funding was for ‘economic and sociological research’, and assumed that the club didn’t have the skills or knowledge to make good use of the funds. The media spent a day or two cut and pasting what Peters had said.
By yesterday National Radio had managed to find out some actual, real details about the projects that the funding was for (as opposed to Peters’ self-serving spin). Hateatea posted a link to this yesterday, but I see that no-one has replied, despite there having been over 90 comments on this subject. So in case anyone missed it, here is what National Radio reported.
Rahui Rugby and Sports Club in Otaki is defending its use of a Whanau Ora grant which is facing political criticism. For two days running New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has attacked the funding during Question Time in Parliament. But the club says it’s justified in receiving the $60,000.
President Rex Kerr says the money was used to secure the right to host a Heartland Cup game between Ngati Porou-East Coast and Horowhenua-Kapiti.
Alongside that game a special Maori rugby festival was run to capitalise on the Rugby World Cup visitors, and celebrated all things Maori.
He says many Maori groups were there, as well as organisations who promoted healthy living, budgeting, and the campaign against family violence.
Mr Kerr says people were also able to receive a free health check during the event.
He says the money was also used to fund research, which looked at how whanau work together, their involvement in sport, and their interaction in community.
The study was carried out by Te Wananga o Raukawa, the Maori tertiary provider in Otaki. The money was made available through the Whanau Innovation, Integration and Engagement Fund.
There is a bit more in the article with comments by Turia on Whanau Ora.
How much of the funding was used to acquire the hosting rights?
What were the intended benefits of using the game to connect with the community? How effective was the outreach in terms of good outcomes for Maori in the area?
If you don’t want to allow Maori themselves to determine the best way to reach their people and effect change, how would you suggest that the govt do this? We know that mainstream social and health services are failing Maori, because too often they’re not being offered in culturally meaningful ways, so what should happen instead? Please be specific in this, give examples, because the rugby club projects information looks specific enough to compare to.
This fits in well with other health and social promotions that take health out of the doctor’s surgery and into the places people are – especially important for hard to reach populations. The best examples of these are promotions for men in pubs that have been going on in the UK and Ireland for a few years and have been picked up in NZ. For example this in Christchurch in 2010
A series of talks at Bailie’s Irish Bar in Christchurch’s Cathedral Square will promote men’s health as part of International Men’s Health Week.
Event organiser Donald Pettitt, of Canterbury Men’s Health, said similar events in England and Ireland had been successful.
Among topics covered in the 7pm talks today, tomorrow and Thursday are heart and prostate health and how men get over health challenges.
“Most people tend to blame men, but I say the health systems haven’t reached out enough. We’ve neglected men,” Pettitt said.
A great initiative by the rugby club – men and Maori – 2 hard to reach populations in one go – or maybe even 3 – seems there would be a fair few rural people in those teams.
How much of the funding was used to acquire the hosting rights?
That is irrelevant, it shouldn’t have been used to buy the hosting rights at all. The clubs would have been having the game anyway and so that extra subsidy wasn’t needed. All the rest seems like good spending it just should have been at whichever club won the hosting rights.
Actually, Draco, it was an inter-provincial game so would normally have been held at the Horowhenua Kapiti homeground where ever that is (probably Levin) so it is possible that in order to have the game in Otaki and attract more people to their festival event, it may have been necessary to compensate the other ground. I am only guessing, I don’t know the details.
Choosing the game with Ngāti Porou East Coast was a brilliant idea as the Ngātis travel en masse and create a real buzz. Although I couldn’t find a report on the game that wasn’t behind a paywall, Hekia Parata’s newsletter would indicate that there was a good turnout and a number of well health and social service providors who were there to promote their services and messages.
It saddens me that there are so many here who would rather believe Winston Peter’s dog whistle than congratulate an effective initiative by a small community. Does it matter that it was initiated by a rugby club? Really?
it was an inter-provincial game so would normally have been held at the Horowhenua Kapiti homeground where ever that is (probably Levin) so it is possible that in order to have the game in Otaki and attract more people to their festival event, it may have been necessary to compensate the other ground.
What shit am I making up, Draco? I ‘opined’ or ‘speculated’ that there may have been a cost to have a game that would normally have been held on the Horowhenua Kapiti’s home ground played on a club ground. The union would miss out on the income generated from a game that has such appeal that several bus loads travelled from Gisborne to attend. It would not be unreasonable for the union to seek compensation given the straitened circumstances that many unions find themselves in at the moment. Anyway, why should my logical ‘speculations’ be less credible than those of Winston Peters??
You’re making up the idea that having it at a specific location resulted in more people attending. And you just contradicted it with The union would miss out on the income generated from a game that has such appeal that several bus loads travelled from Gisborne to attend.
It would not be unreasonable for the union to seek compensation given the straitened circumstances that many unions find themselves in at the moment.
Actually, it would be. The competition should have gone ahead as per normal with the research added on top. That would have produced an accurate result. Changing the outcome of that result changed the result of the research making it inaccurate and thus worthless.
Anyway, why should my logical ‘speculations’ be less credible than those of Winston Peters??
Because they’re only speculations. Winston Peters raised questions which need to be answered – your speculations don’t do that.
EDIT:
You don’t do research by guaranteeing people who wouldn’t normally be there turn up.
Or how about this idea: Everyone gets a free bi-annual check-up based upon the beginning letter of their last name. And, being risqué, we’ll even supply a few Gingernuts for the trouble of turning up at your local GP.
“Winston Peters raised questions which need to be answered”
No he didn’t. He manipulated the situation by grossly distorting reality. The only questions that got asked were ones about things that didn’t even exist (a rugby club doing ‘sociological and economic research’). And no-one is really trying to answer them, apart from that bit on RNZ. It was a setup, intended not to generate true knowledge, but instead to fuel Peters career, and racism in general.
I don’t know how competition rugby works, or the geographies involved, so I don’t follow the rest of your argument. But I can’t help but wonder if a similar thing is not happening again. Judgement on things that we don’t have enough information for.
…that didn’t even exist (a rugby club doing ‘sociological and economic research’)
A rugby club isn’t set up to do research – they’re set up to play rugby thus a rugby club asking for funds to do research should, be automatically refused.
I don’t know how competition rugby works,
That’s obvious. Having a game has financial “ups” for the place that the game is held at and so clubs and other bodies try to get such games happening where they are. The point being that if you want research then you don’t influence the decision about where it’s to be by supplying funds but accept where it’s to be held within normal operating process.
But I can’t help but wonder if a similar thing is not happening again.
Of course you don;t as that would mean accepting that you were/are wrong.
I still don’t see anything that tells us enough information to know whether the research was compromised by the funding being given to a rugby club. You’re guessing on that Draco. My point all along has been that we don’t have enough information to make sound judgement.
(I also disagree that ‘ticket clipping’ by the club is wrong. It depends on what they do with the money and how successful they are in their project).
The other day you were convinced that the sports club shouldn’t have been given the funding. Now, with a bit more information, you agree that some of the project was validly funded. This is my whole point: that in order to judge the situation we need detail. We would need to see the actual project proposal as well as the funding one.
In the absence of that it does of course make sense to ask questions (I asked quite a few in the course of this discussion). It doesn’t make sense to make accusations based on guessing, and in the cases of some people, prejudice.
It’s unfair to characterise this as a refusal to see anything negative in Maori. I’m just not willing to go straight to that on the basis of no evidence.
we’ll even supply a few Gingernuts for the trouble of turning up at your local GP.
For lots of reasons people don’t turn up to the GP, Draco. Not even for free gingernuts. e.g. GPs are part of officialdom in some peoples’ minds – meaning they can report you to social welfare, immigration, your parents maybe police. Or they may tell give you messages you don’t want to hear, or something/someone is preventing you getting to the GP….. and so on.
That’s the whole point of a going to a setting people normally use.
I still don’t see anything that tells us enough information to know whether the research was compromised by the funding being given to a rugby club.
Research is inherently compromised if that research affects the outcome. Giving money to shift the social action studied affects the results.
The other day you were convinced that the sports club shouldn’t have been given the funding. Now, with a bit more information, you agree that some of the project was validly funded.
No, I still think that the sports club should have been given none of the money.
Now, with a bit more information, you agree that some of the project was validly funded.
No, I agree that the objective was valid but that the objective was ruined by the money given to the sports club to shift it.
I’m just not willing to go straight to that on the basis of no evidence.
There’s plenty of evidence – money given to a sports club for research is prima facie evidence of corruption.
except that it wasn’t the place that people normally use
I used the word ‘setting’, not ‘place’ deliberately.
And people going to the doctors almost always hear things they don’t want to hear.
You might be right… or not – a lot of people might be pretty relieved when they are reassured about something by a doc. The thing is there is a lot of research out there showing that some groups won’t go to see the doctor or other health professionals. They especially don’t go to see a doctor for check-ups, advice, family or mental health problems – men, Maori, and young people are 3 such groups – so a doctor needs to go see them in a neutral setting.
I reckon a rugby club is a pretty good way to test if the message can get to target audiences outside a usual professional setting.
I don’t mind it being at the rugby club grounds, I mind that the limited funds available was used to move the place where the game would normally be held. This changes the results of the research which was supposedly part and parcel of the funding as well.
I may have misread the comments from the President of the rugby club but I picked up that there were several components to the funding application, ie the research, the ‘fee’ for the rugby game and the festival / health promotion event.
Nowhere did it say that the research was carried out at the rugby / festival / health promotion. You infer that it was and that the results were therefore skewed. I picked up something different.
Either way, just sitting here at my computer, I discovered that there was far more to the story than Winston Peters’ beatup. You choose to still see merit in his rants while I see that there is far more going on.
You are not interested in a positive slant to the story. Fair enough, I would rather communicate with someone who has a more open mind. Enjoy your weekend. I intend to enjoy mine
The point is that the match wouldn’t have happened at the place it did have without the funding thus making the research inaccurate. Research is supposed to be about what happens, not influencing what happens.
You choose to still see merit in his rants while I see that there is far more going on.
I still see merit in his questions. Sure, there was more going on but that doesn’t outweigh the need for answers.
Fair enough, I would rather communicate with someone who has a more open mind.
My mind is open, the problem is that your mind is closed to anything that may construe Maori in a negative light.
Typical to pick out only one phrase of the whole report and turn that into proof of a rort thus excluding all the commentary on the free health checks and other community outreach that was attached to the day.
Perhaps you have to be part of Heartland rugby and, in particular, familiar with the passion that is integral with Ngāti Porou East Coast and Horowhenua Kapiti. It must have been a cracker game, they are marketing dvd’s of it!
Peters will continue to attack Whanau Ora for any reason he can find – like Brash he doesn’t like any policies targeting Maori, however much such policies might be needed.
Privatising space
There has to be something interesting to do with all that wealth sloshing round in the top 10% of the financial system. It so exceeds what is needed by prudent saving individuals, or countries etc.
There used to be devaluation of currencies, and I remember reading how many Russians under Communism had managed to hide undeclared earnings which were reduced to rubble (rouble?) by an official change in money value. Sounds like a good idea to level the playing field somewhat. Let’s go back to the good old past, with bad old practices that weren’t so devastating to our world and living conditions.
I understand that one of the factors driving up prices of famous original paintings is that criminal-gang treasurers find them secure investments for their extorted heaps of cash and credits. The wealth out there enables the plutocrats to buy the land under our feet, the sky over our heads, the necessities of life while denying even the comparatively small necessary portion for people’s humble needs to enable them to live simply.
I don’t have kids, but would love kids to be well educated to pay higher taxes when I retire.
I find that cutting teachers and claiming they will produce better quality to be an oxymoron.
Uneducated even.
Key PR is designed to make us like his policy because he had to lose face and back down to just cutting up to two teachers. Does he think we are still living in the 90s! When such PR gimmicks were used to redirect policy rather than cut back core funding.
Yesterday I wrote an open letter to John Key with regards to his fact finding mission to Europe. He wants to get first hand information as to the state of Finance of Europe. He will also meet with the head of NATO and the unelected president of the European Union amongst others. In my open letter I argue that he has no real reason to go to Europe and that he already has first hand information about the financial situation in Europe.
If you like this open letter I hope you will copy and paste it and send it to everyone you know. Especially to those still thinking the suns shines out of Johnnie “Derivatives” Key’s behind.
Cant be bothered with the Sir this and Lady that crap either. I know people who have selflessly worked and contributed to their community for eons yet will never get a gong.Its all a load of crap.
I am appalled to learn that Cullen should have so much as considered this spurious “honour”. But one can be sure that he “feels humbled” and that it “really it belongs to others” etc,. plus all that usual humbug.
So you know its wrong, it will endanger the children, but it can wait…
A boy racer was raging his car in his driveway, two children a few metres away looked on.
Lucky for us noise regulation don’t apply to boy racers, and young 7-8 year olds can call
noise control when the noise is too loud, and hell kids that age can’t be harmed, noise
doesn’t impact on them until they intentional harm themselves by pushing the volume high
on the walkman when their adults.
When the adults, the parents of our planet, sit around the kitchen table and worry about
the finances while ignoring their other roles as guardians of children, why should I
care if some boy racer is destroying the eardrums of his cousin and their sleepover friends?
When a plastic soup swills around the pacific, who gives a crap that it breaks down and enters
our kids food chain. As long as we have a zero quality budget, what’s it matter.
We have science, we have noise laws, not so that egotistical narissitic can prove how capable
they are at ignoring their responsiblities to themselves, their families, their environment,
just its their right to use their money to shove it in everyone’s
faces and ignore the consequences because it makes them feel powerful – like the raging car
they own.
As a commentator recently claimed on National Radio, if you don’t pay income tax then you
are a bludger and dont merit a mention, despite the fact that those making paper capital gains
profit because its so lucrative to do so in NZ have too much say in keeping it that way.
While National have shifted the weight of tax capture to the poorest, raising GST and lowering
the amount of progressive taxes the wealthy must pay for a fair society (which I might add
did not create growth when the taxes dropped, but just bailed out the most indebted a bit longer
and accelerated the inequality gap).
We are entering a period of peak oil which means that much of the valuation and
estimation of wealth is wrong, and with so many large claims (money) in circulation there
is always going to be a judgement day, when inflation hiding fails. And the real cost of
not culling the boy racer mentality that pervades our child endangering ruling elites, media and society, falls due.
Moro could tomorrow stop letting right wing tweeps talk nonsense, but that would lead to the moron class
calling him a left wing ideologue, which is absurd since they went extinct in the 80s with the rise
of Murdoch.
In the week when parents took their kids to a creche in the Middle East Mall, and didn’t wonder
or were concerned about the fire exits, fire drills, of their kids creche in the heart of a
building, why? because it looked well looked after, like our nations fiscal books. Because the
managers had gone to PR classes to dress up a pig and sell it as an angel? Like so many in
governments across the world. Its us that are so gullible, and our gullibility is killing the children,
and Key naffy nats will continue shonkey policies that solely worry about keeping the books looking
perfect. What’s the olde saying, …while rome burns.
It appears that the Justice and Electoral Committee are finally getting pissed off with the police failing to prosecute people and parties for breaches of electoral law:
There has been further criticism of the police for delays in investigating electoral law breaches and calls for the job to be handed to another body.
Electoral law expert Graeme Edgeler told a select committee inquiry into the 2011 election that police were quick to consider issues such as people voting twice, but when more complex issues were sent to police “it seems very little happens because police perhaps do have more serious things to do”.
Mr Edgeler said minor breaches should be dealt with by a fine so police time was not wasted but candidates would realise there was a consequence for breaching the rules.
The Electoral Commission has made a similar call in its report to the committee on the election, saying it was concerned about the priority police gave to referrals on more complex electoral law issues. It suggested another enforcement agency or a Crown solicitor be charged with investigating breaches.
And I/S has a good point at the bottom as well:
Pretty obviously, the police are not up to the job. Time to give it to someone who is. The question now is whether our politicians want the law to be enforced, or whether they will act out of self-interest to support the current farce.
It’s obvious that the present system isn’t working and so it’s time for a change.
According to Jim Moira’s panel this afternoon, the best way to score drugs in a new place is to hitchhike.
They also discussed whether it’s more dangerous to hitchhike now than in the past. Their guest seemed to think it was very risky for pretty young women to hitchhike now, but I’m wondering how he or anyone would know (and whether ugly or older women are therefore safe). Does anyone keep statistics on how many people (young, pretty, female or otherwise) hitchhike, and compare that to the number of assaults, thefts and deaths now and in the past?
“Clear farmer mandate vital’ or the share trading scheme will not go ahead.
‘50% or just over is not a clear mandate’ says the co-op chairman Henry
Van der Heyden.
Key always states that he has a ‘mandate for asset sales’ because he won
the election,perhaps key should ponder that he actually scapped in and
took two swans that wouldn’t be in politics anyway if it wasn’t for
questionable antics,so has he a mandate to ‘sell nz off’ the answer is no,
most nzers will be here when he is long gone from these shores,so what
does he care.
Just heard the sport nitwit on 3 News say after an item “Oh we still love George W, don’t we?” and just as I thought ‘what the…?’ one of the women said “steady on”!
I have always assumed that loving Dubya would be a prerequisite for a job with MediaWorks and it appears that I was right…
Now this is going to have sweeping effects across the world:
But on Thursday, Judge William Alsup ruled that Oracle does not have the exclusive rights to the structure, sequence, and organization the 37 Java APIS in question.
“To accept Oracle’s claim would be to allow anyone to copyright one version of code to carry out a system of commands and thereby bar all others from writing their own different versions to carry out all or part of the same commands,” read the ruling from Alsup. “No holding has ever endorsed such a sweeping proposition.”
Oh yeah, that effectively means that people can create their own versions of MS APIs. Goodbye Windows monopoly.
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Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
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 ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
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. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
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. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
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. ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
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 ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
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Where else in the world would this happen. Nation A celebrates its independence from Nation B and Nation A’s citizens hold those celebrations in Nation B.
Good question, but I doubt we are the first. There must be many former colonies that have more citizens living in the former colonial power than at home. The Surinamese in Holland spring to mind, buts that only because I’m looking forward to a Dutch team with a large percentage of players of Surinamese heritage winning the Euro’s.
I had an opportunity to ask Bill English directly what the National position was on including all parties in the flexi-super discussion.
English on flexi-super discussion: “we’ll certainly meet the terms of our agreement with United Future”. No enthusiasm for anything beyond that.
And his closing comment on Super: “but the government is not going to change it’s position.”
His failure to know some basic facts probably indicates an indifference to dealing with Super: “No one’s proposing significant change in the next fifteen years”.
2027 is in fifteen years. UF’s flexi-super could take effect immediately, Labour proposed a phase in starting in 2020, and Act supported that (they would probably prefer an earlier start).
But there’s an opportunity to ignore the Key brick wall and build the discussion around it.
Details (far too much to post here): National’s toes dug in Super.
Petey you have been told repeatedly that UF’s “flexi-super” policy will not make any difference because it is designed to be fiscally neutral.
So introducing it into the debate does nothing except clog the debate and divert it into an irrelevancy. Doncha think?
No, whether it’s the right approach or not – that needs to be debated but there’s quite a bit of tentative interest (including from Labour) – doesn’t matter.
It has a guaranteed Governmemt forum, probably the only one before 2015. How more relevant could it be?
The UF proposal is fiscally neutral, yes. But that doesn’t fix that as the only way it can be implemented. Discussion can include reducing costs and raising average age of entitlements, if that’s what is ultimately decided.
A choice of age is by far the best approach I’ve seen yet to dealing with demographics with varying life expectancies, and I think Laour should at least give it serious consideration.
A discussion is for discussing different options and finding out what is wanted, what is practical and what may be possible. The more parties involved the better.
Flexi super may be “fiscally neutral”, but it could still be a useful way of smoothing out the baby boomer bump since many superannuitants will die before the deferreds take up their super.
Oh dear: http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/537504_10151003966976477_568131476_12027941_571272381_n.jpg
You know, surprisingly often when the blood starts to boil due to Key’s deceptive, shallow, arrogant and other entirely useless manner, the most descriptive word that pops to mind to describe him is … wanker
ha. As someone said on the twitter, our Prime Minister would seem to be somewhat of a dick, au.
Immediately upon seeing that I thought of the Simpsons cartoon character Mr Burns saying, “Excellent”
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn142/torasap/Screenshot2010-07-23at164448.png
Probably the same reasons why Cunners sends his kid there as well.
WTF? How’s this for a total contradiction of it’s mission?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/7026998/Freeview-pay-per-view-may-arrive-in-time-for-Christmas
I’ve never thought of Freeview as actually free… I have to choose between a new TV ($600 or so) or a set top box + aerial ($200). So free? Er – I don’t think so…
At least that doesn’t fit my definition of free! 🙂
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/lombard-directors-pay-ca-120188
Remind me again why John Banks and Don Brash were never CHARGED as former fellow Directors of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd for signing Huljich Kiwisaver Scheme registered prospectuses dated 22 August 2008 and 18 September 2009 which contained untrue statements?
‘One law for all’ – sort of thing?
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com
http://www.penybright4epsom.org.nz
Chris Trotter dumps on his granny experience.
You have to read the whole post to get the Silverstream connection.
http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/political-dementia-or-is-labour-in-need.html
Pete, I am sure you make good points, but I deeply resent your put-down through discriminatory remarks concerning dementia patients anywhere, let alone Silverstream hospital. You might be one of them not too far hence.
DTit seems pompous git already has medium and short term memory loss wasn,t the hair piece in coalition with labour not that long ago. Has PG forgotten to be mister agree with everybody and sit on the fence all the time.Sounds like they’ll need all the kings horses and men to put pg back on the fence again.
Dr Terry, I have no idea how you see “discriminatory remarks concerning dementia patients” in what I wrote, which was very little, most of that is Chris Trotter’s post.
We had a discussion the other day about Whanau Ora funding $60,000 to a rugby club (the A Modest Proposal post). Lots of people took Winston Peters’ word that the funding was for ‘economic and sociological research’, and assumed that the club didn’t have the skills or knowledge to make good use of the funds. The media spent a day or two cut and pasting what Peters had said.
By yesterday National Radio had managed to find out some actual, real details about the projects that the funding was for (as opposed to Peters’ self-serving spin). Hateatea posted a link to this yesterday, but I see that no-one has replied, despite there having been over 90 comments on this subject. So in case anyone missed it, here is what National Radio reported.
There is a bit more in the article with comments by Turia on Whanau Ora.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/107125/rugby-club-justifies-whanau-ora-grant
Strangely, I can’t seem to find any other media reports on this update. Now why would that be?
So, as it turns out, the project does look like appropriate use of govt funding.
it says the money was used to buy the right to host a rugby game.
That’s not an appropriate use of social welfare money.
the fact that other services, with separate funding, came along to a separate festival doesn’t make it right.
How much of the funding was used to acquire the hosting rights?
What were the intended benefits of using the game to connect with the community? How effective was the outreach in terms of good outcomes for Maori in the area?
If you don’t want to allow Maori themselves to determine the best way to reach their people and effect change, how would you suggest that the govt do this? We know that mainstream social and health services are failing Maori, because too often they’re not being offered in culturally meaningful ways, so what should happen instead? Please be specific in this, give examples, because the rugby club projects information looks specific enough to compare to.
This fits in well with other health and social promotions that take health out of the doctor’s surgery and into the places people are – especially important for hard to reach populations. The best examples of these are promotions for men in pubs that have been going on in the UK and Ireland for a few years and have been picked up in NZ. For example this in Christchurch in 2010
A great initiative by the rugby club – men and Maori – 2 hard to reach populations in one go – or maybe even 3 – seems there would be a fair few rural people in those teams.
That is irrelevant, it shouldn’t have been used to buy the hosting rights at all. The clubs would have been having the game anyway and so that extra subsidy wasn’t needed. All the rest seems like good spending it just should have been at whichever club won the hosting rights.
Actually, Draco, it was an inter-provincial game so would normally have been held at the Horowhenua Kapiti homeground where ever that is (probably Levin) so it is possible that in order to have the game in Otaki and attract more people to their festival event, it may have been necessary to compensate the other ground. I am only guessing, I don’t know the details.
Choosing the game with Ngāti Porou East Coast was a brilliant idea as the Ngātis travel en masse and create a real buzz. Although I couldn’t find a report on the game that wasn’t behind a paywall, Hekia Parata’s newsletter would indicate that there was a good turnout and a number of well health and social service providors who were there to promote their services and messages.
It saddens me that there are so many here who would rather believe Winston Peter’s dog whistle than congratulate an effective initiative by a small community. Does it matter that it was initiated by a rugby club? Really?
You’re making shit up there.
Who’s honesty is above question.
Nope, good on the rugby club, it’s the ticket clipping that I find immoral.
What shit am I making up, Draco? I ‘opined’ or ‘speculated’ that there may have been a cost to have a game that would normally have been held on the Horowhenua Kapiti’s home ground played on a club ground. The union would miss out on the income generated from a game that has such appeal that several bus loads travelled from Gisborne to attend. It would not be unreasonable for the union to seek compensation given the straitened circumstances that many unions find themselves in at the moment. Anyway, why should my logical ‘speculations’ be less credible than those of Winston Peters??
Or indeed Draco’s own speculations.
You’re making up the idea that having it at a specific location resulted in more people attending. And you just contradicted it with The union would miss out on the income generated from a game that has such appeal that several bus loads travelled from Gisborne to attend.
Actually, it would be. The competition should have gone ahead as per normal with the research added on top. That would have produced an accurate result. Changing the outcome of that result changed the result of the research making it inaccurate and thus worthless.
Because they’re only speculations. Winston Peters raised questions which need to be answered – your speculations don’t do that.
EDIT:
You don’t do research by guaranteeing people who wouldn’t normally be there turn up.
Or how about this idea: Everyone gets a free bi-annual check-up based upon the beginning letter of their last name. And, being risqué, we’ll even supply a few Gingernuts for the trouble of turning up at your local GP.
No special subsidies to rugby clubs that way.
“Winston Peters raised questions which need to be answered”
No he didn’t. He manipulated the situation by grossly distorting reality. The only questions that got asked were ones about things that didn’t even exist (a rugby club doing ‘sociological and economic research’). And no-one is really trying to answer them, apart from that bit on RNZ. It was a setup, intended not to generate true knowledge, but instead to fuel Peters career, and racism in general.
I don’t know how competition rugby works, or the geographies involved, so I don’t follow the rest of your argument. But I can’t help but wonder if a similar thing is not happening again. Judgement on things that we don’t have enough information for.
A rugby club isn’t set up to do research – they’re set up to play rugby thus a rugby club asking for funds to do research should, be automatically refused.
That’s obvious. Having a game has financial “ups” for the place that the game is held at and so clubs and other bodies try to get such games happening where they are. The point being that if you want research then you don’t influence the decision about where it’s to be by supplying funds but accept where it’s to be held within normal operating process.
Of course you don;t as that would mean accepting that you were/are wrong.
I still don’t see anything that tells us enough information to know whether the research was compromised by the funding being given to a rugby club. You’re guessing on that Draco. My point all along has been that we don’t have enough information to make sound judgement.
(I also disagree that ‘ticket clipping’ by the club is wrong. It depends on what they do with the money and how successful they are in their project).
The other day you were convinced that the sports club shouldn’t have been given the funding. Now, with a bit more information, you agree that some of the project was validly funded. This is my whole point: that in order to judge the situation we need detail. We would need to see the actual project proposal as well as the funding one.
In the absence of that it does of course make sense to ask questions (I asked quite a few in the course of this discussion). It doesn’t make sense to make accusations based on guessing, and in the cases of some people, prejudice.
It’s unfair to characterise this as a refusal to see anything negative in Maori. I’m just not willing to go straight to that on the basis of no evidence.
we’ll even supply a few Gingernuts for the trouble of turning up at your local GP.
For lots of reasons people don’t turn up to the GP, Draco. Not even for free gingernuts. e.g. GPs are part of officialdom in some peoples’ minds – meaning they can report you to social welfare, immigration, your parents maybe police. Or they may tell give you messages you don’t want to hear, or something/someone is preventing you getting to the GP….. and so on.
That’s the whole point of a going to a setting people normally use.
Research is inherently compromised if that research affects the outcome. Giving money to shift the social action studied affects the results.
No, I still think that the sports club should have been given none of the money.
No, I agree that the objective was valid but that the objective was ruined by the money given to the sports club to shift it.
There’s plenty of evidence – money given to a sports club for research is prima facie evidence of corruption.
That would be nice except that it wasn’t the place that people normally use. It was shifted as a result of the grant.
And people going to the doctors almost always hear things they don’t want to hear.
except that it wasn’t the place that people normally use
I used the word ‘setting’, not ‘place’ deliberately.
And people going to the doctors almost always hear things they don’t want to hear.
You might be right… or not – a lot of people might be pretty relieved when they are reassured about something by a doc. The thing is there is a lot of research out there showing that some groups won’t go to see the doctor or other health professionals. They especially don’t go to see a doctor for check-ups, advice, family or mental health problems – men, Maori, and young people are 3 such groups – so a doctor needs to go see them in a neutral setting.
I reckon a rugby club is a pretty good way to test if the message can get to target audiences outside a usual professional setting.
I don’t mind it being at the rugby club grounds, I mind that the limited funds available was used to move the place where the game would normally be held. This changes the results of the research which was supposedly part and parcel of the funding as well.
I may have misread the comments from the President of the rugby club but I picked up that there were several components to the funding application, ie the research, the ‘fee’ for the rugby game and the festival / health promotion event.
Nowhere did it say that the research was carried out at the rugby / festival / health promotion. You infer that it was and that the results were therefore skewed. I picked up something different.
Either way, just sitting here at my computer, I discovered that there was far more to the story than Winston Peters’ beatup. You choose to still see merit in his rants while I see that there is far more going on.
You are not interested in a positive slant to the story. Fair enough, I would rather communicate with someone who has a more open mind. Enjoy your weekend. I intend to enjoy mine
The point is that the match wouldn’t have happened at the place it did have without the funding thus making the research inaccurate. Research is supposed to be about what happens, not influencing what happens.
I still see merit in his questions. Sure, there was more going on but that doesn’t outweigh the need for answers.
My mind is open, the problem is that your mind is closed to anything that may construe Maori in a negative light.
Typical to pick out only one phrase of the whole report and turn that into proof of a rort thus excluding all the commentary on the free health checks and other community outreach that was attached to the day.
Perhaps you have to be part of Heartland rugby and, in particular, familiar with the passion that is integral with Ngāti Porou East Coast and Horowhenua Kapiti. It must have been a cracker game, they are marketing dvd’s of it!
A link for those who like to research for themselves (I couldn’t seem to find a newspaper report and no time to look for more)
http://www.hekiaparata.co.nz/uploads/ePanui-October1.pdf
Thanks for the information Hateatea.
Good response on this, worth promoting so I’ve repeated it in a post and will circulate it elsewhere.
Sketpticism of Peters’ criticisms is always justified.
PGYou know what you get with peters .
Not like yourself undermining your own leader on the education Farce!
It might help if you use facts to back up your abuse.
I’ve hardly commented on the education farce – I think I said it was a ballsup, but I speak for myself so haven’t got anyone to undermine.
Fair enough.
Dunne has been doing enough undermining of himself on this issue anyway.
What do you think of the way he uses twitter? Pretty negative politics innit?
Sometimes, not something I would ever do of course….
It’s hard not to get sucked into what might attract attention, and then hard to judge how far to go without backlash.
Peters will continue to attack Whanau Ora for any reason he can find – like Brash he doesn’t like any policies targeting Maori, however much such policies might be needed.
Yay! Innovation, exploration.
Boo! The privatisation of space.
Privatising space
There has to be something interesting to do with all that wealth sloshing round in the top 10% of the financial system. It so exceeds what is needed by prudent saving individuals, or countries etc.
There used to be devaluation of currencies, and I remember reading how many Russians under Communism had managed to hide undeclared earnings which were reduced to rubble (rouble?) by an official change in money value. Sounds like a good idea to level the playing field somewhat. Let’s go back to the good old past, with bad old practices that weren’t so devastating to our world and living conditions.
I understand that one of the factors driving up prices of famous original paintings is that criminal-gang treasurers find them secure investments for their extorted heaps of cash and credits. The wealth out there enables the plutocrats to buy the land under our feet, the sky over our heads, the necessities of life while denying even the comparatively small necessary portion for people’s humble needs to enable them to live simply.
Here we go. Dunne & Turia are showing concerns over bigger classes and less teachers.
http://www.3news.co.nz/Backlash-from-Govt-partners-over-education-plans/tabid/1607/articleID/256349/Default.aspx
This Education Policy looks to gain a fail mark with a Capital F.
Panadol for Mr Key, Mr English and Ms Parata?.
This is what Dunne has been saying twitter:
An hour ago: “I am a little concerned most of the messages on education at present are coming from teachers, rather than parents”
https://twitter.com/PeterDunneMP/status/208349360273096706
Yesterday: “Principals show “subdued anger” to Education Minister – would they tolerate same from their students? Double standard?”
https://twitter.com/PeterDunneMP/status/207703119264620545
I don’t have kids, but would love kids to be well educated to pay higher taxes when I retire.
I find that cutting teachers and claiming they will produce better quality to be an oxymoron.
Uneducated even.
Key PR is designed to make us like his policy because he had to lose face and back down to just cutting up to two teachers. Does he think we are still living in the 90s! When such PR gimmicks were used to redirect policy rather than cut back core funding.
You would settle for panadol? How about long lasting anaesthetic?
Yesterday I wrote an open letter to John Key with regards to his fact finding mission to Europe. He wants to get first hand information as to the state of Finance of Europe. He will also meet with the head of NATO and the unelected president of the European Union amongst others. In my open letter I argue that he has no real reason to go to Europe and that he already has first hand information about the financial situation in Europe.
If you like this open letter I hope you will copy and paste it and send it to everyone you know. Especially to those still thinking the suns shines out of Johnnie “Derivatives” Key’s behind.
This years Queens birthday honours are a horror. I don’t even want to link to them – Idiot savant has a link at No Right turn.
The honours always piss me off, but this lot are the nadir surely?
As for Sir Michael Cullen – cognitive dissonance anyone?
Cant be bothered with the Sir this and Lady that crap either. I know people who have selflessly worked and contributed to their community for eons yet will never get a gong.Its all a load of crap.
+1
Especially considering that with a lot of the people that get these honours I’d rather punch than address as sir.
I am appalled to learn that Cullen should have so much as considered this spurious “honour”. But one can be sure that he “feels humbled” and that it “really it belongs to others” etc,. plus all that usual humbug.
So you know its wrong, it will endanger the children, but it can wait…
A boy racer was raging his car in his driveway, two children a few metres away looked on.
Lucky for us noise regulation don’t apply to boy racers, and young 7-8 year olds can call
noise control when the noise is too loud, and hell kids that age can’t be harmed, noise
doesn’t impact on them until they intentional harm themselves by pushing the volume high
on the walkman when their adults.
When the adults, the parents of our planet, sit around the kitchen table and worry about
the finances while ignoring their other roles as guardians of children, why should I
care if some boy racer is destroying the eardrums of his cousin and their sleepover friends?
When a plastic soup swills around the pacific, who gives a crap that it breaks down and enters
our kids food chain. As long as we have a zero quality budget, what’s it matter.
We have science, we have noise laws, not so that egotistical narissitic can prove how capable
they are at ignoring their responsiblities to themselves, their families, their environment,
just its their right to use their money to shove it in everyone’s
faces and ignore the consequences because it makes them feel powerful – like the raging car
they own.
As a commentator recently claimed on National Radio, if you don’t pay income tax then you
are a bludger and dont merit a mention, despite the fact that those making paper capital gains
profit because its so lucrative to do so in NZ have too much say in keeping it that way.
While National have shifted the weight of tax capture to the poorest, raising GST and lowering
the amount of progressive taxes the wealthy must pay for a fair society (which I might add
did not create growth when the taxes dropped, but just bailed out the most indebted a bit longer
and accelerated the inequality gap).
We are entering a period of peak oil which means that much of the valuation and
estimation of wealth is wrong, and with so many large claims (money) in circulation there
is always going to be a judgement day, when inflation hiding fails. And the real cost of
not culling the boy racer mentality that pervades our child endangering ruling elites, media and society, falls due.
Moro could tomorrow stop letting right wing tweeps talk nonsense, but that would lead to the moron class
calling him a left wing ideologue, which is absurd since they went extinct in the 80s with the rise
of Murdoch.
In the week when parents took their kids to a creche in the Middle East Mall, and didn’t wonder
or were concerned about the fire exits, fire drills, of their kids creche in the heart of a
building, why? because it looked well looked after, like our nations fiscal books. Because the
managers had gone to PR classes to dress up a pig and sell it as an angel? Like so many in
governments across the world. Its us that are so gullible, and our gullibility is killing the children,
and Key naffy nats will continue shonkey policies that solely worry about keeping the books looking
perfect. What’s the olde saying, …while rome burns.
It appears that the Justice and Electoral Committee are finally getting pissed off with the police failing to prosecute people and parties for breaches of electoral law:
And I/S has a good point at the bottom as well:
It’s obvious that the present system isn’t working and so it’s time for a change.
How many police had time to work on Key’s spurious complaint about the teapot photographer? When it suits them, they find time.
According to Jim Moira’s panel this afternoon, the best way to score drugs in a new place is to hitchhike.
They also discussed whether it’s more dangerous to hitchhike now than in the past. Their guest seemed to think it was very risky for pretty young women to hitchhike now, but I’m wondering how he or anyone would know (and whether ugly or older women are therefore safe). Does anyone keep statistics on how many people (young, pretty, female or otherwise) hitchhike, and compare that to the number of assaults, thefts and deaths now and in the past?
Protesting University students are blocking streets in Auckland again, this time it appears that some have been arrested.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10810121
Protesting University students are blocking streets in Auckland again, this time it appears that some have been arrested.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10810121
Protesting University students are protesting in Auckland again, this time there have been a few arrests.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10810121
OOPS! Sorry about the extra entries.
Katy. There is a new post on this @ http://thestandard.org.nz/lessons-from-greece/comment-page-1/#comment-477728
Thanks.
“Clear farmer mandate vital’ or the share trading scheme will not go ahead.
‘50% or just over is not a clear mandate’ says the co-op chairman Henry
Van der Heyden.
Key always states that he has a ‘mandate for asset sales’ because he won
the election,perhaps key should ponder that he actually scapped in and
took two swans that wouldn’t be in politics anyway if it wasn’t for
questionable antics,so has he a mandate to ‘sell nz off’ the answer is no,
most nzers will be here when he is long gone from these shores,so what
does he care.
Just heard the sport nitwit on 3 News say after an item “Oh we still love George W, don’t we?” and just as I thought ‘what the…?’ one of the women said “steady on”!
I have always assumed that loving Dubya would be a prerequisite for a job with MediaWorks and it appears that I was right…
Now this is going to have sweeping effects across the world:
Oh yeah, that effectively means that people can create their own versions of MS APIs. Goodbye Windows monopoly.