I predict that soon people on the Left will hail the Morgan poll out yesterday as indicating the imminent collapse of Key’s government, and will say that Labour is on track to win back the government benches. I also predict that very little comment will be made by these same people when the TV3 and TVNZ polls come out on Sunday night.
Why? There is nothing different in it apart from rugby effects, as I expect the other polls to be as well. But authors write on what they want to. So do commentators with some limits from moderators.
But are you expecting large amounts of variance between polls by different companies? That in itself is pretty interesting bearing in mind that they are meant to be accurately measuring the same voting population.
But I will agree with your implied preposition that the polls from different organisations are quite different and probably highly inaccurate.
Nothing wrong with a bit of tribalism. Much better than pappy Blairism.
The Mad Butcher is a traitor. If he supports John Key then he supports:
The reduction of the state housing stock and tighening of state housing criteria, leading to the creation of slums,
The privatisation and Americanisation of our health system
The weakening of labour laws and protections, which will give employers the power to treat their workers like dirt
The destruction of our social safety net, leading to homelessness across the board
The privatisation of water services by councils, which will hit the poor the hardest
The privatisation of infrstructure, and possible sale to the Chinese
The loosening of standards with regards to air and water quality, leading to poor health among people
The sale of our farms to off shore owners
Etc.
I personally would support a boycott of his stores.
Please do keep going on… I love hearing all the baseless reasoning.
Explaining is losing, you seriously can’t STFU for one minute and reflect to see the wood for the trees.
Just more evidence that you lot might as well be on another planet when it comes to convincing the electorate you should be running the country.
Actually, I think it’s good that the left demonstrates some differences of opinions on such issues.
for better or for worse people like him
What people? I think it may be no accident that the Labour MPs who have been critical of Sir MB are women, and that the guys are more likely to either defend him or to resile from criticising him.
I most like watching rugby union, but also enjoy watching League from time to time, as well as listening to Radio Sport on occasions. I have never taken to the MB and his rants – to me he is an unlikeable irritation. I suspect his appeal is largely to male sports fans and especially male League fans (which probably includes a lot of MSM journalists)… that hardly makes him a popular man of the people generally.
And what about his support for policies that will screw people in those areas?
He. Is. A. Traitor.
I don’t care if he gives to charities. Charities always pick and choose who they help, and make people jump through hoops. Look at Habitat for Humanity. we are better off bringing back Housing Corp mortgages and increasing the state housing stock rather than relying on those clowns. And I bet you that butcher boy has all his workers on a 90-day trial period,
I have never taken to the MB and his rants – to me he is an unlikeable irritation. I suspect his appeal is largely to male sports fans and especially male League fans (which probably includes a lot of MSM journalists)… that hardly makes him a popular man of the people generally.
I despise organised sport generally (I am told that’s a serious character fault somewhat similar to kicking puppies – although I don’t do that) so I assess the MB on the basis of his ‘stores’ (cold, unpleasant and not particularly cheap) and his public persona – that of Shouty Man. I’ve learned by chatting to them, that he doesn’t pay his staff well enough to compensate them for a very unpleasant working environment, and muddled schedules, so I am very unimpressed with the man.
And, I dont think anyone will squeal to my work about it, as I dont tell anyone where I work. My employer will probably laugh anyway, my work holds the position that what goes on in their workers life outside their work is their own business (apart from getting stoned in the morning before coming to work).
That football-hating, Palestinian-hating, Mad Butcher-boosting, mediocrity-loving drip Brett “God I hate Football” Dale seems to have worked himself up into a lather after hearing Louisa Wall criticize his half-witted hero…
this idiot, Louisa Wall wont buy stuff from people who dont vote for her party what an idiot.
You have a track record of posting up crude, foolish, ill-informed rants on a large number of topics. For you to call Louisa Wall, or anyone else for that matter, an “idiot” is irony indeed.
I don’t hate Football, I love my football, go the all whites, and go the phoenix.
I dont hate any Palestinian’s? I dont know any Palestinian’s for that matter, If your talking about that guy who is alleged to have sleazy behavior towards woman, well I hope that gets dealt with, it hasnt nothing to do with where he is from.
If Louisa will only buy from business’s that will vote for her party, then I will call
her an idiot.
Ever since the World Cup started, you have been trumpeting more than normal how much you hate the game.
go the all whites,
Shows how much you know about football. The All Whites have (several seasons ago) transmogrified into the Ospreys. But, yes, they did have a glorious history, including wins over the All Blacks and more recently, the Wallabies…. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/6088622.stm
and go the phoenix.
That’s a soccer team.
I dont hate any Palestinian’s
Really? Then I invite others to look at what you wrote in January 2009, as Palestinian hospitals and homes and people were being massively and systematically destroyed. As your several comments demonstrate, you were completely in favour of the massacre….
You do but you’re just too insensitive to realize it. I am sure none of them has ever felt that they wanted to reveal their ethnicity to you, if you verbalize the sort of ignorant, hate-filled nonsense that you post on the internet.
If your talking about that guy who is alleged to have sleazy behavior towards woman
What on earth are you talking about?
Yes my spelling and grammar is awful.
Your spelling and grammar errors are trifling, compared to your mean-spirited and spurious comments about football, and, even worse, your callous and repeated statements of support for the perpetrators of mass murder.
Football is played with a round ball; NZ Soccer rebranded as NZ Football abut 6 years ago, you’ll only find ‘soccer’ in the USA.
Rugby, on the other hand, was a game developed at a toff’s school by people who lacked the ability to kick a ball, so picked it up and ran; later the ball became oval shaped.
Football is played with a round ball;
Correct, but not only with a round ball. Several kinds of football use an oval ball, and two (American and Canadian football) even use an “oblate spheroid.”
NZ Soccer rebranded as NZ Football abut 6 years ago,
Soccer New Zealand changed its name to NZ Football in compliance with a mischievous prank by John “Possumhead” O’Neill, the new head of the Australian Soccer Federation, who did the same thing over there—for no other reason than to annoy his erstwhile Australian Rugby Union colleagues, who had just fired him.
FIFA boss Sepp Blatter had been pleading for years with the ASF and Soccer New Zealand to change their names, but he had always been ignored. O’Neill managed to do it with his whimsical decree, however, manipulating Soccer New Zealand just like he did the New Zealand rugby bosses in 2002, when he wrested the hosting of the 2003 RWC off us.
you’ll only find ‘soccer’ in the USA.
And Canada, and Japan, and Korea, and Australia and New Zealand, and throughout the Pacific Islands. And what was the name of the stadium that hosted the final of the World Cup in South Africa last year?
Both New Zealand and Australian soccer bosses realized (and still do) that “football” is a contested term in both countries, though most people mean Rugby football or Australian Rules football.
Rugby, on the other hand, was a game developed at a toff’s school by people who lacked the ability to kick a ball, so picked it up and ran;
Nonsense, Ian. You seem like a bright guy, and I can’t believe that you would be dumb enough to swallow that Webb Ellis myth. That puts you in the same company as boofheads like Murray (“Too Many Dark Faces”) Deaker and the gin-swillers at the International Rugby Board.
later the ball became oval shaped.
That was so it could be drop-kicked further.
Kicking is an integral part of rugby football, as you know perfectly well.
Point of order! In the USA and NZ it’s called soccer, in the rest of the world, it’s football! I loathe team sports, but my son is a Phoenix fanatic, and projectile vomits when he hears people call it “soccer”. (I have been forced to realise that now, 2011, New Zealanders do all “talk American” (as predicted in the Listener in 1986), …Open Orifice’s NZ spell check is exactly the same as American English, and red-lines all the British (formerly NZ) spellings I use, for example….but that doesn’t mean I have to like it…
AFAIK, it’s been soccer in NZ only in the last 7-8 years, since we all started speaking American.. My son doesn’t hate living in NZ (he likes it much more than I do) but he’s even more sensitive to what things are called than I am…
Just the opposite, Vicky32. It’s been soccer since records began (and I know, having contributed to researching the history of the game in my town back to 1923). The move to standardising the game as football began about a decade ago, but has not been forced on the yanks because of the cultural dominance of their version of football (Gridiron). I do like the Guardian football correspondents’ habit of jokingly referring to the USA’s Major League Soccer as SoccerBall! (TM).
I’m comfortable with both versions, though, especially as soccer as a word comes from the abbreviation of Association Football, which clearly indicates it was football before it was soccer.
Have to agree about the bastardisation, sorry, americanisation, of our language though. I cringe every time I see the Jackal post his Asshole of the Week as if we were living in Shitkicker, Missouri or I hear the letter z mispronounced by our maleducated youth. And don’t get me started on the TV weather crew referring to ‘rain on the Westside’ or other such gang related bollocks. Grrrrr!
Have to agree about the bastardisation, sorry, americanisation, of our language though. I cringe every time I see the Jackal post his Asshole of the Week as if we were living in Shitkicker, Missouri or I hear the letter z mispronounced by our maleducated youth. And don’t get me started on the TV weather crew referring to ‘rain on the Westside’ or other such gang related bollocks. Grrrrr!
Thanks for clarifying, VoR! I am glad to be sure..
I first remember hearing ‘z’ mispronounced by the maleducated, in 1996, whilst working in an Intermediate school library… If people talking about their or someone else’s ass I always pretend to believe they mean donkey! 😀 But my un-favourite at the moment is ‘store’. A store is a warehouse. A retail outlet is a shop… online ‘stores’ particularly annoy me as they can’t be a ‘store’ in any sense, without physical premises!
I have tried to do some research on the “Special Honours List” out today, but have been unable to find what triggers the awards dates. They were first legislated for on 20th September 1999, but they appear to be able to be awarded at any time, unlike others such as New Year and Queen’s Birthday. Am I being cynical thinking that this list is in response to deflect the criticism of the SAS being the Afghanistan?
I’m not really keen on the SAS being in Afghanistan, but what I am uneasy about the most is the SAS being portrayed by the media (with approval from the NZDF) as pin-up boys, and tools to attract people into signing up. The NZSAS conduct their missions with strict secrecy, but the coverage of their activities could very well be putting them in danger, ie the photos of Willie Apiata. I am wondering if he has a price placed on his head by Taliban warlords.
I think anyone who steps into the spotlight has to be prepared to take the good with the bad, criticism wise, particularly if they express support for a political party (or its leader).
Exactly, a number of those who munched Sir Mad to millionaire status had better get used to regular sausages and brisket rather than pork roasts if his new chum ShonKey gets back in.
There is an argument that Sir Leitch sold off the shops in 07, but he sure continues to get personal mileage from the brand.
I had a lot of empathy for Peter Leitch during his cancer illness, and as a league fan know of some of the small kindnesses and donations he made that were not publically trumpeted.
His endorsement of ShonKey is a schmooze too far for me however. The kiwi attitude of not knocking ‘benevolent’ wealthy people is false, philanthropy is usually tinged with self aggrandisement, naming rights and “aw shucks”ism. I wonder how many of the tories defending Sir ’Mad now have ever bought one of his low to medium quality meat packs? I have always avoided the chain apart from the original shop due to the meat, but it filled a market gap for sure if you chart the working class areas the shops are consistently sited in.
’Mad is entitled to an opinion but so are the rest of us.
JK’s promise to try to get Coronation Street moved back to its original time slot seems a pretty blatant attempt to curry favour with the electorate. I doubt he even watches Coro, and probably wouldn’t understand it if he did.
I thought Key’s offer to interfere in TV programming was odd too. Coro rescheduling threats are keep coming up – it could be just a cunning way to get the oldies back to watching it some more.
Key would do more goods trying to get TVNZ to show something worth watching.
The irony is that it is his government’s scrapping of the Charter and its instructions for TVNZ to focus on the profit motive most probably contributed to it (though it could be argued that this goes back to 1988 when TVNZ lost its public service mandate — quality declined from there on in).
This is the concequence of a removal of any form of public service mandate from TVNZ – more cheffing shows (and Snookie), and less quality drama and documentaries.
Isn’t TVNZ still NZ’s state-supported broadcaster? What is the current position on the government attempting to interfere with or influence the daily operations of TVNZ channels?
TVNZ has no public service mandate. The only thing it has to do is make a profit and pay a dividend under the SOE Act 1986. The fact that it is state owned is inconsequential.
I am currently travelling overseas (in Helsinki at moment). Therefore I am accessing “The Standard” on an irregular basis.
Perhaps I misunderstand what “The Standard” represents. I thought with the election approaching this would be a forum for informing me on labour policies and how they were going in the election run up (who is perforning well, who is not, is the strategy correct etc). What do I get reading the last few weeks posts – Key this, National that …same old,same old (I appreciate your contributors have a pathological hatred of Key) …..but when if ever are you going to discuss anything labour (even when attacking National, discuss labour alternative policy)
Now maybe the sole reason for your blog is to attack National and any labour policy or actions undertaken by their representatives are largely irrelevant. If so perhaps someone could confirm this.
I write this as reading the Guardian recently (slightly left wing English newspaper) I was reminded how good this paper is. Supportive of labour but frequently critical of policy and party members (especially of the Blair govt) and resonable in assessing other parties (sympathetic to Lib Dems) including Tory govt. Why can’t The Standard at least aspire to this occasionally or have I missed the point – labour cheer leaders whose sole mission is to attack National/Act
[lprent: You have indeed missed the point of the site in both what you think we should do and what you think we are supporting.
Read the about which explains who we are. It is a site authored by various people from the broad labour movement. Only a few (like me) are also members of the Labour party. The most common point of agreement between us is that we don’t like the right and its policies.
We do report Labours policies and the Greens and anyone elses that we are interested in (including Nationals when we find some amongst the PR). But if you really want to look at Labours policies, then try Red Alert. Also look at No Right Turn for a more general left policy basis.
It is nice that you compare us to the Guardian, but they are a news outlet, whereas we are an opinion outlet for the authors and commentators. Quite a different style of operation and at a massively different scale. ]
Memo 310911
From: CT, Wgtn
To: Saturday Shift
Re: Operation Big Butch
In response to various requests I can confirm that all work today is on your normal hourly rate, not T1.5 for the first 3 hours and double time thereafter. You’re not in the bloody union Anthony, so don’t push it.
Thank you for your response to Thursday’s operation Free Speech. Contacting Campbell Larsen’s employer was a stroke of genius, should shut him up in the future. Please note, that in the event that the Warriors lose tomorrow, it was as a result of the coach’s failure to listen to PMJK. A win is of course attributed to PMJK’s changing shed speech before the game.
Is it just me or has Brian Edwards lost the plot in his old age. I’ve just been permanently banned from his blog because I dared challenged him on his views about certain things.
To be fair to Edwards, it wasn’t him that banned you. As your comment has been deleted, it’s hard to know whether you overstepped the mark or not, so perhaps you should outline what you said. Calling BE a Victorian prude earlier on was probably not wise, but I doubt it was for that!
I just challenged him on some of his social views, and the fact that he thinks that a teacher calling a 14 year old girl she ‘looked like a slut’ is somehow acceptable. Its really stuck in my craw since.
Don’t worry, millsy, you’re not the only one to incur the wrath of Brian Edwards. A few months back, the good doctor censored a transcript of mine because it “potentially libeled” that piece of self-regarding trash Paul Holmes.
We really need some political satire on public television in this country as we are in an insidious bullying environment where no one is allowed to speak ill of certain public figures or ‘icons’. Anyone daring to criticise is accused of somehow being unpatriotic. For me, this is the first step towards totalitarianism. It shows, for the safety of our democracy, that these people are ripe for satirising, and at the least criticism and questioning. These people include:
the PM
the Mad Butcher
the All Blacks including the very well paid ‘stars’
several cabinet ministers including Joyce, Tolley, Bennett, Brownlee, McCully
For example: you can just imagine the PM as some delirious clown cuddling up to the cleaver- waving, bling-ridden Mad Butcher. The cabinet ministers could be portrayed as a gang of school bullies.
But there is no funding for such entertainment, and in the vacuum they are left to behave as caricatures of themselves.
[lprent: Jumping pseudonyms requires that one of us has to release it from first time moderation. Eventually we stop making the effort and start filing them in spam. ]
The ‘vacuum’ is a credible left-wing opposition movement, not television entertainment. Attacking the mad butcher is just the latest example of stupidity.
Mr Bloggs called Mr Larsen a cockhole and then complains about how nasty the right are. Rather like the school bully reacting with indignation when his victim bloodies his nose.
Oh cry me a river Millsy – I’ve been called far worse on this site, for saying far less offensive things that pondscum Larsen did…
But I’ve never wished death on anyone, least of all someone who’s contributed as much to the working class as Peter Leitch.
Scratch the surface Millsy and you’ll find a whole heap of people from both sides of the political fence who are disgusted at Fenton, Walls, Larsen and that ilk for what they’ve said.
Sir Mad’s stores sold low to medium grade meat products to people at the bottom of the food chain, literally. He became a philanthropist and a walking brand. Facing your own mortality can change people. 80s unionist Rob Campbell jumped the fence after his brush with a nasty cancer, maybe the Butcher did likewise, more likely maybe he is just naive politically, the alternative is not attractive.
You only get flack when you are flying over the target.
Wassa matter bloggs, worried about something? You attempts to discredit or provoke me in this juvenile fashion are starting to look pretty damn desperate.
Wouldn’t it be ironic if you were picked up to do an add for National or the Mad Butcher chain.
[lprent: I don’t think he is an accountant. Perhaps you meant ‘ad’, which itself is short for advertisement. But such complexities are (alas) beyond you. This clown has now been banned for being an idiot troll who writes comments agreeing with his other identity. ]
Can somebody delete the above comment/ban this idiot? One git contacting Cambell’s employer is bad enough, but publicising his workplace is an invitation to the various whackjobs that lurk here to have a go as well, when the matter is completely unrelated to his employment.
[lprent: He was permanently banned earlier in the moderation sweep for being an idiot troll. In particular for using a second identity to support himself. ]
Larsen I very much doubt if his posts will ever look as desperate as a person wishing death on another human.
As Leitch, Fenton and yourself included are held accountable by their words you can never back down on your stupid staement about Leitchs death.
I will also make a stupid statement and suggest to you if I ever see you in public I will plant one right mug and you can spit some teeth out, ps Hayden Mahoney is the name so you it proves that i will stand up to foolish words as well.
Thank you Voice of reason, not partaking of drink at the moment. However i really think it demonstrates the “he said so I can say” type of debate that seems to be used by many in here.
Millsy yes I was threatening violence which you seem to think is very bad and a standard technique, however it is a threat not a wish of death. There is a difference there.
I am in no way saying my words were correct however if a person wishes death on another person then they do need to be receptive to emotive responses in reply.
Hmmm, just as an aside, you do know that threatening violence is a crime, Hayden? And the difference between the assault you are threatening and death is more often than not a matter of luck. Like this, which didn’t even involve hitting someone.
Bashing is not the way to resolve anything like this, it just plants one bad credit on another.
Campbell, your reputation has spread around the blogs quite a bit, and yeah, it’s hard to escape Google. If you stand by what you’ve said and accept any repercussions that’s your choice.
So I should apologize or else I deserve whatever I get? Is that what you are saying?
This little ‘incident’ is starting to reveal just how far some people are prepared to go to supress political commentary.
If butcher is the great guy that people say he is wouldnt he be horrified to know that abuse and threats of violence are being levelled on his behalf at someone who is only having their say.
The haters here seem to think that he would want me beaten up or abused – doesn’t that make them the ones that are bringing sir Peter into disrepute?
It’s not about suppressing political commentary, it’s expressing opinions on someone’s commentary. Has anyone tried to stop you saying or posting anything?
You can say or post what you like, and people can respond as they see fit, as long as the moderators allow it.
One of the things about the internet is that spur of the moment comments are in effect permanently recorded and available worldwide. More than a few will be caught out by that, sometimes a long time later.
Spur of the moment comment – that is precisely why all this supposed outrage is so ridiculous – if only my wishes were enough to change the world.
The discussion that followed was helpful in advancing peoples understanding of celebrity endorsement and the role it is likely to play in this election – not everyone wants that discussion to occur – that is why I have been subjected to such abuse.
I think people were offended by what you said, they weren’t trying to stop the following discussion. Hawk has realised his comments were over the top and inappropriate and followed up with a full apology – good for him for doing that – and you are still trying to divert blame to others “shutting down comment” and trying to pass the outrage off as ridiculous.
Try taking some real responsibility for what you posted. Sir Peter is widely liked and admired, try and understand how offended many people have been.
I hope you can learn something from this., eventually
Whatever Pete – I’m not about to apologize because you think I should. Hawk is a psycho, retraction or no. There is no comparison between his threat and my comment.
What I have learnt from this is that Peter has some very foul mouthed OCD friends who like to troll on blogs – he really should find better friends.
It’s not for me to think you should, your choice entirely whether you apologise or not, but if you keep blaming any subsequent kerfluffle on everyone and everything other than yourself donj’t be surprised if this keeps coming back to bite you on the bum.
I really have no idea who he is apart from occasional advertising of meat and other business and self-promotion (none of which I ever found to be of any particular interest). I gather from what Helen has said at various times that he is a warriors fan.
But I have never seen him say or do anything of any note by my standards. But I learnt that his appearance on anything I was watching was time to change channels
Of course I have never watched much TV, sports, or read the drivel sections of print media, or listened to commercial radio.
Welcome to the world of RWNJs. It is a bit like the borg. The instruction goes out to divert attention from stuff like credit rating downgrades to stuff like … well anything. The worst thing is that your comment was in terms of blogging quite mild, but this does nonstop the wing nuts from their faux angst.
You should see what Slater does. He continuously abuses and insults people but anyone who does the same to him and he then complains about rough treatment.
Commiserations about the idiot who emailed your work.
I just wish that they would realise that the left want a contest of ideas, not a violent winner take all confrontation.
Mr Larsen I stand corrected and realise my comments to you were foolish and wrong. Threating violence is not a wise option and I was wrong to post in such a manner.
I apoligise for my words and wish you the best in your future, I was not commenting on the political stance of yourself but rather the comments on a persons death.
I would not carry out my threat to you and once again present my regret on my statement, I hope that by posting as you did you sufffer no ill fortune through the acts and words of others as I attempted to do you to. As they say two wrongs do not make a right, so I to will stand shamed for my ill thought out remarks.
Did you take it down Hawk? I got this when I followed the link… (I am registered with Badoo, although I don’t bother going there.)
“Pagina non trovata
La pagina che stai cercando potrebbe essere stata rimossa, rinominata o temporaneamente non disponibile.”
(Page not found. The page you are looking for might have been removed or is temporarily not available).
I did indeed and would like to thank Ianupnorth for alerting me to the fact that I was still listed as a registered. That coupled with the fact that it was able to be noticed by people with google.
So a slight heads up that activites you do years ago unless closed down can be still traced. 🙂
So a slight heads up that activites you do years ago unless closed down can be still traced.
True! If I google my real name, the first hit is my having signed the condolence book for John Nathan Turner (Doctor Who producer who died in 2002 or thereabouts!) Not that I mind, but it’s far from the only thing I’ve done before or since.
Worse still, when I google my name, I find stuff has been uploaded with my name attached related to activities long before the advent of the http://WWW... from the 1960s. This includes class photos from the 60s, uploaded to one of those old friends sites, with every member of the class in the photo named. Why on earth does the person who uploaded this think that any of us wanted that kind of public visibility?
Why on earth does the person who uploaded this think that any of us wanted that kind of public visibility?
They just think “well, I don’t mind, so why should they?”. My son has been very firm with me, that I must not put photos of anyone without their express permission, so all my Facebook photos are of those family members who either have given permission or are beyond asking (dead and gone.) No school photos! 🙂
Some of the comments on this thread are so politically correct – meaning the only political stance that is correct (or allowed) is that of the current right wing administration.
Yay more votes to switch to the Greens due to the incompetent Labour clowns thinking that the left vote belongs to them, fancy attacking the Mad Butcher, the words pathetic and vacuous spring to mind.
Keep going Labour supporters, self destruction is a beautiful thing to watch.
Feeling righteous does not serve working class New Zealanders. Every time there has been any progress sticking it to this government over their bad management of the economy, some dickhead like Mallard, Curran or Fenton plants their foot firmly in their mouth. Cheered on by fools.
Maybe the intelligent New Zealanders intending to vote this 26 November will have read the real back stories and will not be swayed by celebrity vote.
As one of those ‘fools’ you have accused of ‘cheering’ people on, I would prefer to use my freedom of expression rights still available to me as and when I please, not when you please.
Sometimes it is more important to have a say than stay silent when so many Key-paid crosby textor ringins are attacking.
Freedom of speech will always be my thing, and I will continue to say that when people like Peter Leitch in 2008 said he didn’t get involved in politics because Helen Clark was the current Prime Minister, yet deliberately politicises his intended vote for Key in 2011, and several posters have steadfastly maintained that he also used his illness for the sympathy vote for Key, I have the right to call his actions hypocritical, irresponsible and reprehensible.
It is also important to remind the populace, that seem to have very short memories, of the vicious, lying attacks on Helen Clark in the leadup to the 2008 election. I haven’t forgotten. That remark of Campbell Larsen was nothing compared to that time when New Zealand politics and religion, thanks to the rightwing parties, drove New Zealand to the baser part of its underbelly when a woman politician became our Prime Minister and a centre-left one at that. That savage ugliness is rearing its head again this year.
You see, this year is very important to the neo-conservatives; it will be the moment, if Key makes it back in, to put the final touches to the sell off of New Zealand and open up the surrounding environment to the mineral hunters, the oil searchers and everything else that will damage my beloved country, with greed the only motivator – jobs being such a small number and the financial benefit to all New Zealanders minute – the future environmental damage irreversible.
How this election eventuates will inform me better than anything else just how many braincells people have got when it comes to making their decisions based on policy or PR. I don’t mean on Key or Goff. I mean on the future impact of both left and right policies and that is always to be examined alongside the influences on left and right and the teams of left and right.
I’m interested in what these trades academy places are that Anne Tolley is talking about?
Have the NActs shut down one successful way of teaching skills for another ‘same’ under a different name, costing us all a mint and achieving nothing new but slowing down progress?
I looked at the completion figures quoted on page 3 and while they were low, at that time there was low unemployment and the mainly up to 25 years participants (61%) would have been changing employment/training not realising the world was going to fall in.
Also, that graph was reflecting 2006 figures.
I will quote a little from it which shows how much was being done for youth in 2007.
‘CONSTRUCTION TASTER IN SCHOOLS
After consultation with the education sector and industry, the BCITO established that there was a need in schools for a construction industry ‘taster’ course. As a result, the Building, Construction and Allied Trade Skills (BCATS) initiative has been developed – two new entry level qualifications being introduced by the BCITO and BETA Group (Built Environment Training Alliance) for year 11 and 12 students.
The qualifications give students an array of skills that can be applied across a broad spectrum of construction sector areas. On top of the newly developed BCATS unit standards that are construction specific, the qualifications will integrate with core areas of the school curriculum and NCEA. By providing construction-related examples in a number of core subjects, they will encourage maths (for example) to be taught in the classroom as well as being reinforced in the workshop.
The BCITO is working with schools throughout the country and aims to roll out the BCATS qualifications in 2008.
Providing an introduction at school to a career in the building and construction industry helps young people to make informed decisions about a career path. They can then enter an apprenticeship with a strong grounding – an attractive proposition for future employers. ‘
I’ve looked up BCITO’s current website; at first sighting it appears they didn’t exist before National appointed them to run the trades academies… until I found this further on:
I was teaching BCAT’s on practicum in 2008. Both schools had been doing similar programs, for quite a few years before, for engineering and motor trades. http://www.mito.org.nz/
ITO’s were first set up in 1992, I think. Part of “Modern Apprenticeships”.
I guess what I am trying to say here is that I and many others are sick of name changing and complaining about a programme that carries on the same under another political party but with a different name; it costs money, people lose faith and youth most importantly feel used.
Can you tell me what is happening now?
I was also encouraged to find a site about Morrinsville College’s plans for years 12 and 13 re transition studies and in general studies to suit all students. Maybe the teachers, parents and school boards are working together on behalf of their students, sons/daughters for a better outcome. That would be nice.
These are actually requirements from the new New Zealand curriculum.
Which was the result of years of consultation, research and reference to worldwide best practice.
Unlike National standards, which was a knee jerk by ideological politicians. And conflicts with most of what we know about effective education.
IEP’s (Individual education plans), to suit students strengths and needs are required for all students.
The ITO and NCEA standards need a good tidy up to meet the new curriculum requirements, as most were written before the curriculum was adopted. This is now in progress. So long as it is not identified for funding cuts.
Trade academy type classes, at least in the schools I have been involved in, are working well. However they have existed for a long time now. Were just called Technology classes in:. Automotive, Engineering, Furniture etc.
Schools get a little annoyed when politicians take credit for things which were initiatives by schools and their communities.
I noticed that when Heatley was interviewed on The Nation this morning he did not disclose to the country that there was an income formula.
Due to being on the Housing New Zealand list I thought that I would go and look at some of the places that I could be offered. I spoke to a person on NZ super who has been in a HNZ 1 bedroom for two decades. The following is a summary of what I was told.
HNZ don’t listen.
People walk through the complex and they don’t live here.
There is no fencing.
There was a home invasion a few months ago and a woman was beaten up.
A car window was broken last week.
A rough guy lives there, he is on his last chance and his mates stay over and sometimes their pit bulls roam.
Stereos are heard all the time.
Bottles are smashed.
One lady moved out because she could not take the addiction problems.
My other observations
One complex is really untidy and families live there.
The properties are close together.
The weeds are over grown.
Rubbish is not picked up.
Old couches are in carports.
HNZ need to supply every six months a huge bin for dumping rubbish and another bin for weeds as a lot of people cannot afford to dispose of rubbish.
Now that the most poor, unwell and aged (providing they meet the income formula) could be housed, I fear that social problems are going to escalate and ghettos (cramping, people living in fear who easily become angered) is the future HNZ.
Heatley is going to subdivide larger properties. For now no one is being turfed out of their HNZ property, no doubt this will occur after the election if National gets back in. The average income for a person in a HNZ property is the minimum wage and where does Heatley think they can afford to live.
Anyone who has played a round of golf on the RNZAF golf course, which runs outside the runways of the military base, will know that if you hit a ball anywhere near the runway you will be subject to prosecution for trespass. Theory has it that there are apparently people on 24 hour surveillance patrol.
And suddenly the runways (through ministerial assent – no doubt as a result of
John’ll-fix-it intervention) are going to be opened up for at least 72 hours for a load of petrol heads to wander around at will.
Yeah but there are a hell of lot of petrol heads out there in the west and Whenuapai borders John’ll-fix-it’s electorate. Paula could do with a fillip as well.
Do you remember the protestations from the NATs when Waitakere wanted to push for this to become a commercial airport? “No this is a strategic defensive piece and must remain so…” Ah, well.
I see the bloody useless NZ Herald has got a story on the Warrior’s late Sonny Fai as the number one news story most affecting New Zealand this afternoon.
I see the sense in what you are saying but surely just one media channel could pitch their wares at the large group of New Zealanders who would like to see some substantial news analysis and coverage.
Unfortunately, our journalists aren’t that principled and our television stations aren’t that objective and the average New Zealander really doesn’t give a shit.
Sorry – I wish I could share better news.
PS Channel 7 did that – sort of, but Key is getting rid of it. No one is marching in the street and it appears that Russell Brown has been bought and sold…
I hope people fight Key’s smiling fascism before it is too late.
In the final countdown you cannot wholly blame the media for printing what the mainstream NZers want.
Actually, we can. Their job isn’t to give what people want but what they need which is credible and reliable information at which our MSM completely fails.
Unfortunately, the owners of media don’t want New Zealanders to live the good life because their profits are all that matters and people want to buy those papers that tell them lies. I know you want to believe the best of New Zealanders but quite frankly, Draco T Bastard, those honourable New Zealanders no longer exist in any great number. Why do you think Key got voted in on a smile and a bribe of undelivered $50 tax cuts?
No handle, just a sad understanding from going through the fallout of almost two elections now that tells me people can not believe that John Key could possibly be the massive disappointment he will be.
Also, that the governments including Douglas, Richardson and Key/Douglas have fed people the line that greed is good and objective judgement, critical analysis of policy from parties is bad and celebrity endorsement is all a government needs to run a country.
Your continued indictment of one poster that chooses to air their own opinion is now beginning to worry me. Who are you and what are your reasons for attacking my freedom to have an opinion. We can go on with this ‘conversation’ as long as you like but I generally like to have a useful debate; so far you are not providing that.
On her 8.08pm message it was: “Your contempt for voters is unappealing.” What’s with this person?
My hope is that people will actually concentrate on what is being perpetrated by government upon them. She/he could better spend their time telling Key that his contempt for voters is irresponsible/unappealing.
Easily a million, and millions more globally in support. In several US cities already and starting to spread to Australia. Tomorrow sees a new push.The flashmob in Queens Street today is a hint that it could even reach NZ.
I have an acquaintance of mine – “Al”, an ACT supporter of all things! – who took part in the march. He was handed a loudspeaker and he started chanting some pretty good anti-government slogans.
There’s hope for “Al” yet!
As for the meainstream media not convering the protest… shameful! (I’ll have more on my blog soon. Just waiting for some pics to arrive.)
The Labour MP’s are nothing but a pack of nutters. Imagine having a crowd like that running the country. Thank god for the John Key’s of this world. The national government have kept this country stable, and I hate to think what it would of been like at this stage with the Labour halfwits. The way Darien Fenton and Louisa Wall have put down Peter Leitch is nothing short of disgusting, Phil Goff should be ashamed of himself for allowing types like that out of the kennel.
At one time it was okay for the rich and powerful to fete the politician, and what flowed from that relationship was generally considered of no ill effect. The Prime Minister could also be seen in the company of the successfully wealthy and even be ‘matesy’ with the monied without both coming across as sycophantic or the relationship thought ill advised. And then there was ‘murdoch-gate’ where the relationships were exposed for what they truly were – avenues for corruption.
I have been in the company of the mad butcher, I have even masticated on his meat. He is a decent man – not a god above reproach.
People have every right to criticise the relationship or to make disparaging remarks about the mad butcher or anyone else they an issue with – its called free speech. Dislike the nature of the free speech but it is completely ‘nutty’ from a democratic perspective to not defend the right to free speech no matter how offensive it is found on a personal level. A democracy demands no less.
I have been in the company of the mad butcher, I have even masticated on his meat. He is a decent man – not a god above reproach.
Adele, your wording makes me think of MB’s radio advert, the squickiest jingle in creation … “You can’t beat/The Mad Butcher’s meat”… It’s not just on commercial radio, it’s on the BBC WS! (Which has adverts now, and has for maybe the past 2 years, though not on Sundays!) 🙂
Yeah, Dianne, because Labour didn’t leave this country $16.7 billion in debt; borrowing $380 million a week; cutting taxes twice, when we couldn’t afford it; and seeing unemployment double in three years. No, it was National who achieved that.
Frank its $77billion National are borrowing to buy this election $18 billion a year they are borrowing Dianne interest going up by $600 million really stable i suppose with a personality like yours you could call it stable in the same sort as the Greek stable.
Quite true.. Mik e. I didn’t make my post above as clear as I could have. (That’ll teach me to post at such an ungodly hour, without caffeine in my bloodstream…)
Do you remember posting: “The worst thing is that your comment was in terms of blogging quite mild, but this does nonstop the wing nuts from their faux angst.”
Yes Pete
There is a typo and the sentence is a bit non sensical.
I meant to say
The worst thing is that your comment was in terms of blogging quite mild, but this does not stop the wing nuts from their faux angst
And I am struggling to understand your criticism. Dianne whoever he or she is jumps up and down about a rather muted criticism of Leitch and then essentially calls a couple of Labour MPs dogs. I am merely pointing out the hypocrisy of this.
If you can point out where I have criticised Leitch you might have a point but I am certain that you will not be able to do so.
You find it “disgusting that you should suggest that two respected female Labour MPs are dogs.”
(Actual statement: “Phil Goff should be ashamed of himself for allowing types like that out of the kennel.” which I think is certainly over the top)
And you refer to wishing death on someone as “a rather muted criticism of Leitch”.
Pete George – defending and celebrating the abusive, threatening bullies on blogs.
My ‘retraction’ was posted long ago:
“Obviously I don’t actually wish him an untimely death – after all it’s not like I was threatening to catapult a bus onto him – chortle -”
1. Saying that Goff let the two MPs “out of the kennel” is suggesting they are dogs.
2. You have taken my comment out of context. I said that the comment “was in terms of blogging quite mild” and I stand by that. Just check out the sewer.
3. Please point out where I used the words “a rather muted criticism of Leitch”. I cannot find it and I am pretty sure I did not use these words.
If you are Dianne Foreman, and it sounds exactly like something she would say, you are exactly what keeps women in a subordinate position. I can see why you would want that, given your subordinate position to Don Brash and co, and also as a rotundtable associate, not allowed at the big table of the boys. Still, many National supporter women have stated that there shouldn’t be so many women in parliament which proves the point about NAct women wanting men to make their decisions for them and play the weak little females – pathetic.
We know, if you are Dianne Foreman, that you are as cunning as your phallic symbol John Key, in e.g. arranging special fundraising dinners where rich businessmen in Tower and Talley, etc. the business thieves of the rotundtable that are slavering at the lips over the prospect of finally owning all our precious all-New Zealander-owned assets, tobacco barons helped by the Matthew Hootens and Owen Glenns of New Zealand lobbying to deliberately damage New Zealanders’ health, especially so many young Maori women, under most stress in this society, give John Key and NAct lots of cash because they will get to privatise everything at fire sale prices that once belonged to all-New Zealanders.
Still keeping up Dianne? – Long sentence I know but the list of crimes against you pondscum is growing ever longer. Eventually more New Zealanders will start taking some responsibility in finding this out for themselves. Meanwhile The Standard is doing their work for them. Eventually more New Zealanders will begin to understand what they are sacrificing for their 30 pieces of gold.
Also, you won some business award with your icecream, which is enough to make anyone scream. It was soon after the fundraising dinner and the election you helped Key to win – payback for you. You may actually be a good entrepreneur but when you sell yourself to your particular ‘devil’ – in this case Key – it will never be clear why you won. It doesn’t seem to matter though where greed is involved.
She’s a private hospital owner and will be looking to gain wealth at the expense of New Zealanders when the health system is privatised.
And, if you, ‘Dianne’ are not Dianne Foreman, fine. Being Dianne Foreman is not a compliment and my sincere apologies for thinking you were.
But, I’ve been wanting to say this to Dianne Foreman for a very long time – she’s a disgrace to a New Zealand of social equity. She is a greedy elitist and and she will operate behind the scenes to bring people of the same low calibre of humanity into positions of power and affluence.
That will automatically exclude 90% of New Zealanders from the lifestyle that they work hard to gain and therefore deserve.
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There has been renewed focus on New Zealand First acting as a handbrake on the Government after our decision to not support Auckland light rail. We are a handbrake for bad ideas, that istrue, but our track record since 2017 has seen New Zealand First constructively also serve as an ...
Mark Patterson MP, New Zealand First List MP New Zealand First’s Fair Residency for Superannuation Bill passed its First Reading in Parliament today. The Bill makes a significant change to NZ Super by raising the minimum residency requirement from 10 to 20 years, after age 20. “Currently, a migrant of ...
Darroch Ball MP, Spokesperson for Law and Order A New Zealand First member’s bill in the name of Darroch Ball introducing a six-month minimum prison sentence for assaults on first responders has passed its second reading in Parliament. The new offence of "injuring a first responder or corrections officer with ...
Fletcher Tabuteau MP, Deputy Leader of New Zealand First New Zealand First welcomes the launch of the new Criminal Cases Review Commission, gifted with the name from Waikato-Tainui - Te Kāhui Tātari Ture, announced in Hamilton today by Justice Minister Andrew Little. “New Zealand First has long believed in and ...
The Green Party is celebrating over $800m in new funding for green projects, which will get people into jobs while solving New Zealand’s long-term challenges. ...
Mark Patterson MP, Spokesperson for Primary Industries New Zealand First is appalled that Meridian seems to have been unnecessarily spilling water from its dams to drive up its profits."While New Zealanders have been coming together in some of our darkest hours, we don’t expect power gentailers to waste water and ...
We wrapped up the first half of 2020 with a busy month, taking additional steps to support New Zealanders as we continue with our economic recovery. We rolled out targeted packages to support key industries like tourism and construction, helped create jobs in the environmental and agriculture sectors, and set ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Infrastructure Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones has welcomed the appointment of Maurice Davis and his deep infrastructure and construction experience to the board of the Infrastructure Commission. Mr Davis (Ngāti Maniapoto), is the seventh and final appointment to the board led by former Reserve Bank Governor ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First New Zealand’s click bait journalism is taking a turn for the worse, with yet another example of sensationalist, wilful-misrepresentation of the facts. “New Zealand First has worked constructively with its Coalition partner on hundreds of pieces of legislation and policy, and ...
The Green Party is today unveiling its Poverty Action Plan, which includes a Guaranteed Minimum Income to ensure people have enough to live with dignity. ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister Fletcher Tabuteau MP, Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development The Rotorua Museum redevelopment and Whakarewarewa and Tokorangi Forest projects will be accelerated thanks to a $2.09 million Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) boost, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher ...
This week, we rolled out the next steps of our recovery plan, with new infrastructure investment, extra support for tourism operators, and a new programme to get Kiwis into agriculture careers. The global economic consequences of COVID-19 will continue to be a challenge, but we have a detailed plan to ...
Jenny Marcroft MP, Spokesperson for Health New Zealand First welcomes the passage of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Bill through its final reading in Parliament today fulfilling a coalition agreement commitment. “This is an important step in saving the lives of New Zealanders and delivers a key coalition commitment ...
Whakatāne has been given a $2.5 million boost to speed up previously funded projects and create more than 450 jobs in the next decade. Of those, the equivalent of 160 full-time jobs could be delivered in the next six weeks. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is in town to make ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister Fletcher Tabuteau MP, Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is investing $2.5 million to accelerate three infrastructure projects in Whakatāne, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced today. “This package is about ...
Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones is throwing his weight behind a bid by the Auckland Council to fast-track the more than doubling of the city's water allowance from the Waikato River. And he's coming out strongly against anyone who plans on getting in the way of this campaign. "It is my ...
The Green Party is thrilled to see changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that mean consents for large projects can be declined if they will have significant climate change implications that are inconsistent with the Zero Carbon Act and Aotearoa New Zealand’s Paris Agreement obligations. ...
Hon Ron Mark, Minister of Defence The Royal New Zealand Navy’s new ship, Aotearoa, set sail for New Zealand on 10 June from the Republic of Korea, and is due to arrive in Auckland tomorrow, announced Minister of Defence Ron Mark. “Aotearoa is the Royal New Zealand Navy’s new fleet ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Racing Racing Minister Winston Peters has today welcomed the Racing Industry Bill passing its third reading, creating the legislative framework for revitalising the racing industry while limiting the need for future government intervention. “For too long our domestic racing industry has ...
The Green Party has today put forward an amendment to the Electoral (Registration of Sentenced Prisoners) Amendment Bill to ensure all people in prisons can vote in general elections. ...
The Green Party welcomes the decision to not proceed with Public Public Investment (PPI) delivery of Auckland’s light rail project and to instead run the process through the public service. ...
Hon Ron Mark, New Zealand First List MP based in the Wairarapa New Zealand First List MP Hon Ron Mark welcomes the announcement of Provincial Growth Funding investment of $1.4 million to help secure the Wairarapa’s water supply. The funding boost will allow the Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC), and ...
New Zealand First list MP Mark Patterson has been selected to represent the party in the newly formed Taieri electorate at the upcoming election. Mr Patterson, his wife Jude and two daughters farm sheep and beef at Lawrence and Waitahuna. He previously stood in the Clutha-Southland electorate however boundary changes ...
Hon Shane Jones, Associate Minister for State Owned Enterprises A new ‘super depot’ to be built for NZ Post in Wellington will create around 350 jobs during construction, Associate Minister for State Owned Enterprises Shane Jones says. Shane Jones today attended a ground-breaking and blessing ceremony for the parcel-processing depot ...
Our strong economic management prior to COVID-19 - with surpluses, low debt and near-record-low unemployment - put us in a good position to weather the impact of the virus and start to rebuild our economy much earlier than many other countries.Now we're putting our plan to recover and rebuild ...
Darroch Ball MP, New Zealand First Spokesperson for Law and Order Recently released Police fleeing driver statistics have shown yet another increase in incidents with another record-high in the latest quarter. “This new quarterly record-high is the latest in a string of record-high numbers since 2014. The data shows incidents ...
New Zealand First MP Fletcher Tabuteau is pleased to be confirmed today as the party’s candidate for the Rotorua electorate. Speaking at the Rotorua AGM for New Zealand First, Mr Tabuteau said this is an election that is incredibly important for the people of Rotorua. “The founding principles of New ...
The Human Rights Commission’s PRISM report on the issues impacting people based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) provides an excellent programme of work for future governments to follow, say the Greens. ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said the trans-Tasman bubble had not been jeopardised after aborder botch-upresulted in New Zealand having two active cases of COVID-19. On Friday, Mr Peters told RNZ's Morning Report he had heard from Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison that borders for trans-Tasman travel would open by ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said today he was pleased the army was now running the quarantine and isolation process - up until now it has been the Ministry of Health. Peters told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking that the army knew how to introduce and follow protocols and instil discipline. ...
Hon Ron Mark, New Zealand First List MP based in the Wairarapa New Zealand First MP and Minister for Defence and Veteran’s Affairs Ron Mark has confirmed his bid for the Wairarapa seat.“The Coalition Government has done a lot of good work throughout the Wairarapa, but many constituents have told ...
New Zealand First is pleased to release the names of its next tranche of candidates for the 2020 election. We’re proud to announce these hardworking New Zealanders that have put their hand up to fight for a commonsense and resilient future.Jamie Arbuckle – Kaikoura Mark Arneil – Christchurch Central Jackie ...
The Government is maintaining current levy rates for the next 2 years, as part of a set of changes to help ease the financial pressures of COVID-19 providing certainty for businesses and New Zealanders, ACC Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says. “New Zealanders and businesses are facing unprecedented financial pressures as a ...
Small businesses are getting greater certainty about access to finance with an extension to the interest-free cashflow loan scheme to the end of the year. The Small Business Cashflow Loan Scheme has already been extended once, to 24 July. Revenue and Small Business Minister Stuart Nash says it will be ...
A package of 23 projects across the country will clean up waterways and deliver over 2000 jobs Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Environment Minister David Parker announced today. The $162 million dollar package will see 22 water clean-up projects put forward by local councils receiving $62 million and the Kaipara ...
Tena koutou katoa Nga tangata whenua o tenei rohe o Pōneke, tena koutou Nau mai, haere mai ki te hui a tau mo te roopu reipa Ko tatou! Ko to tatou mana! Ko to tatou kaupapa kei te kokiri whakamua Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena tatou katoa Welcome. I ...
The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is investing $1.5 million to ensure QE Health in Rotorua can proceed with its world class health service and save 75 existing jobs, Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development, Fletcher Tabuteau announced today. The PGF funding announced today is in addition to the $8 million ...
A new programme, which sets a firm course for the Building and Construction sector to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, has been announced by the Minister for Building and Construction Jenny Salesa. “A significant amount of New Zealand’s carbon emissions come from the building and construction sector. If we’re serious ...
The Provincial Growth Fund is investing more than $7.5 million in Northland ventures to combat the economic impact of the COVID-19 virus, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones have announced. The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) investment is going to the Northern Adventure Experience and ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Education Minister Chris Hipkins today announced significant funding for Auckland’s Northcote College as part of the first wave of a new nationwide school redevelopment programme to upgrade schools over the next 10 years. The $48.5 million project brings the total investment in Northcote College to ...
The Government has opened an urgent response fund to support schools and early learning services to get children and young people back on track after the Covid-19 lockdown. “While we are seeing improvements in attendance under Alert Level 1 Ministry of Education data shows that attendance rates in our schools ...
The law to boost the economic recovery from the impact of COVID-19 by speeding up resource consenting on selected projects has passed its second and third readings in the House today. “Accelerating nationwide projects and activities by government, iwi and the private sector will help deliver faster economic recovery and ...
Five port-related projects in Whanganui will receive a $26.75 million Provincial Growth Fund investment to support local economic recovery and create new opportunities for growth, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This is a significant investment that will support the redevelopment of the Whanganui Port, a project governed ...
Whanganui’s Sarjeant Gallery will receive an investment of up to $12 million administered by the Provincial Growth Fund to support its redevelopment, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. The project is included in a $3 billion infrastructure pipeline announced by Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Shane Jones yesterday. ...
The Provincial Growth Fund is investing nearly $2.5 million into three Te Ara Mahi programmes to support Manawatū-Whanganui jobseekers and employees to quickly train and upskill, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. “Up to 154 local people will be supported into employment within the first year by these ...
This morning I have formally tendered my resignation as Minister of Health, which was accepted by the Prime Minister. Serving as Minister of Health has been an absolute privilege – particularly through these extraordinary last few months. It’s no secret that Health is a challenging portfolio. I have given ...
Scholarships for 57 early-career agricultural emissions scientists from 20 developing countries is another example of New Zealand’s international leadership in primary sector sustainability, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. Mr O’Connor, announcing the scholarships today, says hundreds of applications were received for this fourth round of the CLIFF-GRADS programme (Climate, Food ...
A project to help rejuvenate the Horowhenua town of Foxton will receive a Provincial Growth Fund investment of $3.86 million, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This funding for the Foxton Regeneration project will be used to make the well-known holiday town even more attractive for visitors and ...
Moa bones and other sub-fossil remains of extinct species are set to have improved protection with proposals to prevent the trade in extinct species announced the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage today. “We have lost too many of our native species, but these lost species, such as moa, remain an ...
The Government’s free and healthy school lunches programme moves south for the first time creating jobs for around 30 people in Otago and Southland. “Eighteen schools with 3000 students are joining the programme – 11 have already begun serving lunches, and seven are preparing to start during Term 3. This is ...
Thousands of Kiwi jobs and investment in New Zealand productions will be protected through a screen sector support package announced today by Associate Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni, Minister for Economic Development Phil Twyford and Minister for Broadcasting Kris Faafoi. The package also includes investment in broadcasting ...
The Government has established a new $10 million fund for the domestic events sector to help save jobs and protect incomes as it recovers from the impacts of COVID-19, Minister of Economic Development Phil Twyford announced today. This funding from Budget 2020 follows talks with the event sector designed to ...
The Government has taken another step in its commitment to making sure New Zealanders get a fairer deal at the petrol pump with the introduction of legislation to improve competition in the retail fuel market, says Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods. “The fuel market study that this Government ordered ...
New Zealand has joined a global initiative that aims to enable all countries to access a safe and effective Covid-19 vaccine, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters announced today. The COVAX Facility was recently launched by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The Alliance includes the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank ...
From today new legislation takes effect to both restore the right to legal representation at the start of a Care of Children (CoCA) dispute in the Family Court, and allow parties to those proceedings to access legal aid where eligible. During a visit to the Family Court in Auckland today, ...
Home-based early childhood education (ECE) subsidised by the government will transition to a fully qualified workforce by 2025 to ensure better and more consistent quality, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. “Quality early learning helps provide children with a strong foundation for their future,” Chris Hipkins said. From 1 January ...
The new Criminal Cases Review Commission | Te Kāhui Tātari Ture (CCRC) has started work and can now independently investigate claimed miscarriages of justice. “Even though we have appeal rights and safeguards against unsafe convictions, from time to time our justice system does get things wrong. The design of the ...
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangatanga maha, tēnā koutou Ki a koutou Te Āti Awa, Taranaki Whānui, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, ngā mana whenua o te rohe nei, tēnā koutou Ko Te Whare Wānanga o Aotearoa ki ngā take o te Ao (NZIIA), Ko te Rōpū Tohu Tono ...
The Government’s increase to paid parental leave kicks in today with another 4 weeks taking New Zealand up to a full 6 months (26 weeks, up from 22 weeks) leave for new parents, and the maximum weekly payment will increase by $20pw, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says. ...
A new package of infrastructure investments will help kick-start the post-COVID rebuild by creating more than 20,000 jobs and unlocking more than $5 billion of projects up and down New Zealand. Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones today outlined how the $3 billion infrastructure fund in the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today expressed the New Zealand Government’s deep disappointment at the passage by China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee of a national security law for Hong Kong. “New Zealand has consistently emphasised its serious concern about the imposition of this legislation on Hong Kong without inclusive ...
More jobs and more family time with newborns are the centrepiece of a suite of Government initiatives coming into effect today. July 1 is a milestone day for the Government as a host of key policies take effect, demonstrating the critical areas where progress has been made. “The Coalition Government ...
Environment Minister David Parker has today “called in” Auckland’s application to the Waikato Regional Council to take an extra 200 million litres of water a day from the lower reaches of the Waikato River for Auckland drinking water and other municipal uses. The call-in means the application has been referred ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker announced today that New Zealand’s hosting of APEC in 2021 will go ahead using virtual digital platforms. Mr Peters said the global disruption caused by COVID-19, including resultant border restrictions, had been the major factor in the ...
The start of construction on a new link road between Matakana Road and State Highway 1 will create jobs and support the significant population growth expected in the Warkworth area, Transport Minister Phil Twyford and Mayor Phil Goff announced today. Transport Minister Phil Twyford said construction of the Matakana Link ...
The Government is prioritising its latest investment in PPE for frontline health workers, including staff at managed isolation and quarantine facilities, Health Minister David Clark says. “With no community transmission of COVID-19 our response now has a firm focus on keeping our border safe and secure. “We must ensure that ...
The Parihaka Papakāinga Trust in Taranaki will receive up to $14 million for a new visitor centre and other improvements at the historic settlement that will boost the local economy and provide much-needed jobs, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little have ...
Protections for workers who are employees of one employer but working under the direction of another business or organisation have come into force, closing a gap in legislation that made the personal grievance process inaccessible for some workers, says Workplace Relations Minister Iain Lees-Galloway. “This Government is working hard to ...
A range of improvements are already underway to address issues identified in the rapid review of the Managed Isolation and Quarantine system released today, Housing Minister Megan Woods said. The review was commissioned just over a week ago to identify and understand current and emerging risks to ensure the end-to-end ...
The important brown kiwi habitat around Whakatāne will receive added protection through an Iwi-led predator free project announced by Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage and Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau. “The Government is investing nearly $5 million into Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa’s environmental projects with $2.5 ...
An extra 4,000 tonnes of offcuts and scraps of untreated wood per year will soon be able to be recycled into useful products such as horticultural and garden mulch, playground safety surfacing and animal bedding as a result of a $660,000 investment from the Waste Minimisation Fund, Associate Environment Minister ...
The Governor-General has referred Scott Watson’s convictions for murder back to the Court of Appeal, Justice Minister Andrew Little announced today. Mr Watson was convicted in 1999 of the murders of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope. His appeal to the Court of Appeal in 2000 was unsuccessful, as was his ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Scott Morrison has repeatedly and vociferously championed keeping state borders open. But on Monday, Morrison was forced to change course, agreeing, in a hook up with premiers Daniel Andrews and Gladys Berejiklian that the Victorian-NSW ...
Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk Papua New Guinea’s police and courts must work closely with media for transparency to inform the public on the daily investigation and court processes taken over the death of young mother Jenelyn Kennedy late last month, a men’s gender justice advocate says. Man Up group representative ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Esterman, Professor of Biostatistics, University of South Australia Victoria recorded its largest daily increase of 127 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, 16 more than the previous peak of 111 cases on March 28. As I recently wrote, there’s no formal definition ...
After months of delays, the man responsible for murdering 51 people in a Christchurch mosque will finally be sentenced next month. Law professor Kris Gledhill explains how the sentencing will likely unfold. On the very day New Zealand entered Covid-19 lockdown, the man arrested for the Christchurch mosque terror attacks admitted ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nathan Kettlewell, Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Economics Discipline Group, University of Technology Sydney We live in a culture that values “experiences”. These are often promoted in the media, and by those selling them, as vital to enhancing our well-being. We all know ...
Hidden camera footage showing cows being beaten with a steel pipe was deemed unlawful in court partially on the grounds it would encourage undercover filming in the future A Northland contract milker caught on hidden camera beating cows with a steel pipe has had five charges against him dropped after a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jon Iredell, Professor, Medicine and Microbiology (conjoint), University of Sydney The NSW-Victorian border will be closed as of midnight Tuesday this week, the NSW and Victorian premiers have announced, in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. The announcement comes amid ...
Keagan Carr Fransch reviews I May Destroy You, the acclaimed new show from British writer-director-actress Michaela Coel. The following includes discussion of rape, sexual assault, sexual violence, drug-facilitated sexual assault, and PTSD.Since the release of her comedy Chewing Gum in 2015, Michaela Coel has been a recurrent name on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Burridge, Lecturer in Human Geography, Macquarie University Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced the border between his state and NSW will close after 11:59pm on Tuesday to prevent the coronavirus outbreak in Melbourne from spreading further. It will be the first ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jim Salinger, Honorary Associate, Tasmanian Institute for Agriculture, University of Tasmania A major global update based on data from more than 36,000 weather stations around the world confirms that, as the planet continues to warm, extreme weather events such as heatwaves and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Trevor Thornton, Lecturer, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University The federal government today announced A$190 million in funding for new recycling infrastructure, as it seeks to divert more than ten million tonnes of waste from landfill and create 10,000 jobs. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Graeme Dunk, PhD Candidate, Australian National University Amid fanfare last week at the start of the new financial year the government promised to invest A$270 billion over a decade to upgrade the defence force. It said a side benefit would be a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sonya Teich, Lecturer in Design, Visual Effects Projects, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington When Star Wars was awarded the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects in 1978 it marked the first time the visual component of effects was differentiated ...
The Forest Owners Association says the MBIE announcement of ‘Building for Climate Change’ will mean more timber is used in New Zealand construction. FOA President Phil Taylor says he’s been waiting three years for the government to announce a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Kelly, Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University This week, the Victorian government unilaterally placed the residents of nine public housing towers in inner Melbourne under “hard lockdown” due to the “explosive potential” of increasing COVID-19 cases. The lockdown requires ...
Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk Thirty five years ago this week in another life Pacific Media Centre director Professor David Robie was an environmental journalist on board the original Rainbow Warrior, the Greenpeace flagship that was bombed by French secret agents on 10 July 1985. He was on board for almost ...
Head of the inquiry Michael Heron QC will have the power to require the production of documents, summon witnesses and question parties under oath if necessary. ...
State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes has today announced the details of an investigation into the breach of sensitive personal information last week. The Commissioner said the Minister of State Services, the Hon Chris Hipkins, had asked him to undertake ...
More than 3400 primary health care nurses and medical receptionists/administrators across more than 500 practices and accident and medical centres will stop work for two hours nationwide on Thursday 23 July after mediation to settle their multi-employer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kris Gledhill, Professor of Law, Auckland University of Technology On the very day New Zealand entered COVID-19 lockdown (March 26), the man arrested for the Christchurch mosque terror attacks admitted he was a murderer and a terrorist. Despite the lockdown, Justice Mander ...
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union says Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford needs to front up about how much public money is being used to bail out struggling bus company InterCity. Union spokesperson Louis Houlbrooke says: “InterCity has ...
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is sceptical that 61% of taxpayer funding for waterway clean-up just happens to be focused on the Northland electorate. Union spokesperson Louis Houlbrooke says: “The Government has announced that $162 million of taxpayers' ...
Tai Tonga Candidate, Takuta Ferris, has signed up to the visionary thinking that has been produced by Tokona Te Raki (Māori futures collective). “The opening statement by Dr Eruera Tarena says it all” said Takuta Ferris. “The future is not just ...
The huge success of a pilot programme featuring rural mayors connecting youth in their regions with local small businesses has led to it being scaled up around the country, across 23 more councils. A collaboration between the Mayors Taskforce for ...
The associate editor of The Indian Times joins host Duncan Greive to discuss his belief that New Zealand’s media ignores the quarter of our population not born here – and why both parties lose as a result. I first met Gaurav Sharma in the aftermath of March 15. New ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cassandra Cross, Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Law, Cybersecurity Cooperative Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology Last year, Australians reported more than A$634 million lost to fraud, a significant jump from $489.7 million the year before. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ...
Having already faced a devastating earthquake, Christchurch knows the value of community in times of crisis. Now in the wake of Covid-19, a popular creative hub is expanding its mission to bring more people together.Whether it’s a beautifully restored building or a brand new office block, the reminders of the ...
Parole hearings will return to New Zealand prison’s this week after face-face meetings were suspended as a result of the COVID-19 emergency. The New Zealand Parole Board completed all its scheduled hearings during the COVID-19 lockdown period, with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gabrielle Appleby, Professor, UNSW Law School, UNSW In an open letter to Attorney-General Christian Porter, about 500 women working in the law from across Australia have sought changes to the way judges are disciplined and appointed. The letter comes after former High ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Genevieve Wilkinson, Lecturer in Intellectual Property and Human Rights, University of Technology Sydney After a decade of legal challenges by the tobacco lobby, Australia’s pioneering push to eliminate all tobacco advertising finally has clear air. Its longest stoush, over plain packaging laws ...
With the world in lockdown, and a new album set for release, The Beths decided to keep playing live – from their living rooms. As the band prepare for their first show in front of a crowd in months, they tell Josie Adams the stories behind Live From ‘House’. When ...
Latest from the Beehive – According to the blare from the Beehive, the Small Business Cashflow Loan Scheme will be further extended to 31 December, a new $162 million package of 23 projects across the country will clean up waterways and deliver over 2000 jobs, and the PM has delivered ...
Vision New Zealand is delighted to be launching George Ngatai as its candidate for Takanini tonight, 6th July, at the Songbird Cafe, 9 Gosper Road, Waiata Shores, Conifer Grove Takanini. Party Leader Hannah Tamaki said “I am confident that George will ...
Honour the Maunga and Iramoko Marae have announced a unique partnership that gives life to Treaty principles in their joint efforts to save 345 trees from being felled on Ōwairaka / Mt Albert. Honour the Maunga has maintained an ongoing tree-saving ...
Festival for the Future Live will kick off its 10th annual event on Monday 13 July, in what is touted to be the most international digital summit ever hosted from New Zealand. With speakers from The United Nations Development Programme and The Obama ...
Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk The Lokataru Legal and Human Rights Foundation says there are two problems with the Indonesian police which have developed during the era of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration. These two problems are “politicisation” and “police professionalism”. “Perhaps it’s still the same as the problem before, particularly ...
By RNZ Pacific A sit-in has been held outside the French High Commission in French Polynesia to commemorate the 54th anniversary of the first nuclear weapons test at Moruroa. The demonstration was organised by the anti-nuclear group Association 193 which again decried the recent law change tightening compensation criteria for ...
David Goldsmith, a 52-year-old dad from Christchurch, is starting his month-long hunger strike outside Parliament on Monday as a drastic call for climate change action AR: Hunger strikes are mostly known from prisons – that’s drastic. DG: Yes, it’s ...
The biggest news site in New Zealand, and the country’s fifth biggest site overall, Stuff has embarked on an experiment in dropping the use of Facebook and Instagram. It has been launched ‘in the context of the international Boycott Facebook movement’, according to a memo leaked to The Spinoff. A leaked ...
After the Labour's annual conference, pundits were quick to criticise Jacinda Ardern for taking a 'self-congratulatory tone' in her remarks, but the PM says that was not her intent at all. ...
A global study is under way to compare how information about Covid-19 is delivered by authorities and the media, and how it is understood and used by people in different countries. University of Canterbury (UC) population health expert Professor Philip ...
It’s time to get ready to vote in the 2020 General Election and referendums. “It’s less than three months now until the election on 19 September when you choose the people and parties that represent you in Parliament. There will also be two referendums ...
If you’re like most New Zealanders, you probably don’t know the name of the country’s most powerful judge. And that’s nothing to be ashamed of, writes University of Otago law lecturer Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere. Here’s a test for you: name New Zealand’s chief justice. Click on the link to find ...
If enough New Zealanders continued to work from home on a regular basis, the country could easily save the same amount of carbon emissions as taking 35,000 cars off the road, according to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority. The analysis ...
There are many groups within NZ including the Green Party that are calling for the legalisation of marijuana for personal/medicinal use and my question for them is: - How can they reconcile that stand with the negative environmental effects from ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Moore, Director of The Australian National University Institute for Space and the Advanced Instrumentation Technology Centre, Australian National University With all of the immense challenges we face on Earth this year, space can feel like an afterthought. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tanya Notley, Senior Lecturer in Digital Media, Western Sydney University Today we release the findings from our new research into how young Australians consume and think about news media. Following a summer of bushfires and during the COVID-19 pandemic, young people have ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Thwaites, Chair, Monash Sustainable Development Institute & ClimateWorks Australia, Monash University The global Sustainable Development Report 2020, released this week in New York, ranks Australia third among OECD countries for the effectiveness of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, beaten by ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marina Yue Zhang, Associate Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Swinburne University of Technology Only 40% of students in China who previously intended to study overseas still plan to, while just under 50% of those who had studied overseas plan to return to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Neil Warren, Emeritus Professor of Taxation, UNSW A major report commissioned by the NSW government has proposed lifting and expanding the goods and services tax and replacing stamp duty with a broad-based land tax. Launched at the National Press Club on July ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Baker, Lecturer in Business Strategy, Auckland University of Technology Like the coronavirus itself, joblessness can act as a pestilence on a society. People who would have otherwise gone to their local restaurant, hairdresser, café or bar, taken a holiday in Queenstown ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Mailhammer, Associate Dean, Research, Western Sydney University Remember when Australians paid in shillings and pence? New research suggests the words for these coins and other culturally important items and concepts are the result of close contact between the early Germanic people ...
For all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level one – read about what that means here. For official government advice, see here.The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is made possible thanks to donations from Spinoff Members. To support this ...
Ian Cummings - Independent Candidate Ian Cummings is pleased to announce he will be campaigning as an independent candidate in the upcoming general election to provide voters with a credible alternative and more effective voice on issues that matter ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Stories raise themes of political accountability, investigation launched after active case details leaked, and frustrating infrastructure failures hurt Auckland water system.There have been several stories involving the theme of political accountability for mistakes in recent days. So for a lead today, ...
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I predict that soon people on the Left will hail the Morgan poll out yesterday as indicating the imminent collapse of Key’s government, and will say that Labour is on track to win back the government benches. I also predict that very little comment will be made by these same people when the TV3 and TVNZ polls come out on Sunday night.
We can probably expect to see a sizable dent in the “Country heading in the right direction” in the next poll due to the credit downgrade, I think.
Why? There is nothing different in it apart from rugby effects, as I expect the other polls to be as well. But authors write on what they want to. So do commentators with some limits from moderators.
But are you expecting large amounts of variance between polls by different companies? That in itself is pretty interesting bearing in mind that they are meant to be accurately measuring the same voting population.
But I will agree with your implied preposition that the polls from different organisations are quite different and probably highly inaccurate.
Did you see this ?? Only one question was even minutely questioning Key. Just another smile and wave day.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/video.cfm?c_id=280&gal_objectid=10755634&gallery_id=121853
John Key actually performed pretty well in that interview, I think. None of his usual smarmy bullshit and didn’t mangle any of his words.
Dear Labour,
Please stop attacking the Mad Butcher, for better or for worse people like him, and you come across like a bunch of dicks.
Also let a bad story die, don’t reignite it.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10755757
The Herald editorial has a say on it too. It makes a general observation:
A few of the old school here might like to ponder on that.
Nothing wrong with a bit of tribalism. Much better than pappy Blairism.
The Mad Butcher is a traitor. If he supports John Key then he supports:
The reduction of the state housing stock and tighening of state housing criteria, leading to the creation of slums,
The privatisation and Americanisation of our health system
The weakening of labour laws and protections, which will give employers the power to treat their workers like dirt
The destruction of our social safety net, leading to homelessness across the board
The privatisation of water services by councils, which will hit the poor the hardest
The privatisation of infrstructure, and possible sale to the Chinese
The loosening of standards with regards to air and water quality, leading to poor health among people
The sale of our farms to off shore owners
Etc.
I personally would support a boycott of his stores.
Wow, just….wow…..
What do you find so “wow” exactly?
Anything in that list you’d like to challenge?
Or are you just having trouble with the jarring contrast between Key’s PR and his politics?
Please do keep going on… I love hearing all the baseless reasoning.
Explaining is losing, you seriously can’t STFU for one minute and reflect to see the wood for the trees.
Just more evidence that you lot might as well be on another planet when it comes to convincing the electorate you should be running the country.
What baseless reasoning? John Key has either already implemented those policies or said that they will be implemented next term.
“explaining is losing”.
Smile, wave, and say “thankyou sir, may I have another?” There’s a winning strategy.
Actually, I think it’s good that the left demonstrates some differences of opinions on such issues.
for better or for worse people like him
What people? I think it may be no accident that the Labour MPs who have been critical of Sir MB are women, and that the guys are more likely to either defend him or to resile from criticising him.
I most like watching rugby union, but also enjoy watching League from time to time, as well as listening to Radio Sport on occasions. I have never taken to the MB and his rants – to me he is an unlikeable irritation. I suspect his appeal is largely to male sports fans and especially male League fans (which probably includes a lot of MSM journalists)… that hardly makes him a popular man of the people generally.
I’d say most of Louisa’s electorate like him, men and women. I take it you aren’t from South Auckland?
It’s just a stupid issue to focus on when you are trying to win an election.
And what about his support for policies that will screw people in those areas?
He. Is. A. Traitor.
I don’t care if he gives to charities. Charities always pick and choose who they help, and make people jump through hoops. Look at Habitat for Humanity. we are better off bringing back Housing Corp mortgages and increasing the state housing stock rather than relying on those clowns. And I bet you that butcher boy has all his workers on a 90-day trial period,
I despise organised sport generally (I am told that’s a serious character fault somewhat similar to kicking puppies – although I don’t do that) so I assess the MB on the basis of his ‘stores’ (cold, unpleasant and not particularly cheap) and his public persona – that of Shouty Man. I’ve learned by chatting to them, that he doesn’t pay his staff well enough to compensate them for a very unpleasant working environment, and muddled schedules, so I am very unimpressed with the man.
“Darien should have stood by her comments. The world needs more people like her, who would stick it to the powerful in the name of the powerless.
Mad Butcher, you are dirty stinking flithy traitor.”
Unlike Darien, I stand by my comments.
And, I dont think anyone will squeal to my work about it, as I dont tell anyone where I work. My employer will probably laugh anyway, my work holds the position that what goes on in their workers life outside their work is their own business (apart from getting stoned in the morning before coming to work).
So let me get this right, this idiot, Louisa Wall wont buy stuff from people who dont vote for her party? what an idiot.
That football-hating, Palestinian-hating, Mad Butcher-boosting, mediocrity-loving drip Brett “God I hate Football” Dale seems to have worked himself up into a lather after hearing Louisa Wall criticize his half-witted hero…
this idiot, Louisa Wall wont buy stuff from people who dont vote for her party what an idiot.
You have a track record of posting up crude, foolish, ill-informed rants on a large number of topics. For you to call Louisa Wall, or anyone else for that matter, an “idiot” is irony indeed.
By the way, you mis-spelled don’t and won’t.
Morrisey:
I don’t hate Football, I love my football, go the all whites, and go the phoenix.
I dont hate any Palestinian’s? I dont know any Palestinian’s for that matter, If your talking about that guy who is alleged to have sleazy behavior towards woman, well I hope that gets dealt with, it hasnt nothing to do with where he is from.
If Louisa will only buy from business’s that will vote for her party, then I will call
her an idiot.
Yes my spelling and grammar is awful.
Brett Dale is still bewildered.
I don’t hate Football, I love my football,
Ever since the World Cup started, you have been trumpeting more than normal how much you hate the game.
go the all whites,
Shows how much you know about football. The All Whites have (several seasons ago) transmogrified into the Ospreys. But, yes, they did have a glorious history, including wins over the All Blacks and more recently, the Wallabies….
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/6088622.stm
and go the phoenix.
That’s a soccer team.
I dont hate any Palestinian’s
Really? Then I invite others to look at what you wrote in January 2009, as Palestinian hospitals and homes and people were being massively and systematically destroyed. As your several comments demonstrate, you were completely in favour of the massacre….
I dont know any Palestinian’s for that matter
You do but you’re just too insensitive to realize it. I am sure none of them has ever felt that they wanted to reveal their ethnicity to you, if you verbalize the sort of ignorant, hate-filled nonsense that you post on the internet.
If your talking about that guy who is alleged to have sleazy behavior towards woman
What on earth are you talking about?
Yes my spelling and grammar is awful.
Your spelling and grammar errors are trifling, compared to your mean-spirited and spurious comments about football, and, even worse, your callous and repeated statements of support for the perpetrators of mass murder.
Football is played with a round ball; NZ Soccer rebranded as NZ Football abut 6 years ago, you’ll only find ‘soccer’ in the USA.
Rugby, on the other hand, was a game developed at a toff’s school by people who lacked the ability to kick a ball, so picked it up and ran; later the ball became oval shaped.
Football is played with a round ball;
Correct, but not only with a round ball. Several kinds of football use an oval ball, and two (American and Canadian football) even use an “oblate spheroid.”
NZ Soccer rebranded as NZ Football abut 6 years ago,
Soccer New Zealand changed its name to NZ Football in compliance with a mischievous prank by John “Possumhead” O’Neill, the new head of the Australian Soccer Federation, who did the same thing over there—for no other reason than to annoy his erstwhile Australian Rugby Union colleagues, who had just fired him.
FIFA boss Sepp Blatter had been pleading for years with the ASF and Soccer New Zealand to change their names, but he had always been ignored. O’Neill managed to do it with his whimsical decree, however, manipulating Soccer New Zealand just like he did the New Zealand rugby bosses in 2002, when he wrested the hosting of the 2003 RWC off us.
you’ll only find ‘soccer’ in the USA.
And Canada, and Japan, and Korea, and Australia and New Zealand, and throughout the Pacific Islands. And what was the name of the stadium that hosted the final of the World Cup in South Africa last year?
Both New Zealand and Australian soccer bosses realized (and still do) that “football” is a contested term in both countries, though most people mean Rugby football or Australian Rules football.
Rugby, on the other hand, was a game developed at a toff’s school by people who lacked the ability to kick a ball, so picked it up and ran;
Nonsense, Ian. You seem like a bright guy, and I can’t believe that you would be dumb enough to swallow that Webb Ellis myth. That puts you in the same company as boofheads like Murray (“Too Many Dark Faces”) Deaker and the gin-swillers at the International Rugby Board.
later the ball became oval shaped.
That was so it could be drop-kicked further.
Kicking is an integral part of rugby football, as you know perfectly well.
Point of order! In the USA and NZ it’s called soccer, in the rest of the world, it’s football! I loathe team sports, but my son is a Phoenix fanatic, and projectile vomits when he hears people call it “soccer”. (I have been forced to realise that now, 2011, New Zealanders do all “talk American” (as predicted in the Listener in 1986), …Open Orifice’s NZ spell check is exactly the same as American English, and red-lines all the British (formerly NZ) spellings I use, for example….but that doesn’t mean I have to like it…
Point of order! In the USA and NZ it’s called soccer,
Invalid. You forgot, or neglected, to add Canada, and Japan, and Korea, and Australia, and the islands of the Pacific.
my son is a Phoenix fanatic, and projectile vomits when he hears people call it “soccer”.
Your son must hate being alive then. Perhaps he needs to realize what country he lives in.
AFAIK, it’s been soccer in NZ only in the last 7-8 years, since we all started speaking American.. My son doesn’t hate living in NZ (he likes it much more than I do) but he’s even more sensitive to what things are called than I am…
Just the opposite, Vicky32. It’s been soccer since records began (and I know, having contributed to researching the history of the game in my town back to 1923). The move to standardising the game as football began about a decade ago, but has not been forced on the yanks because of the cultural dominance of their version of football (Gridiron). I do like the Guardian football correspondents’ habit of jokingly referring to the USA’s Major League Soccer as SoccerBall! (TM).
I’m comfortable with both versions, though, especially as soccer as a word comes from the abbreviation of Association Football, which clearly indicates it was football before it was soccer.
Have to agree about the bastardisation, sorry, americanisation, of our language though. I cringe every time I see the Jackal post his Asshole of the Week as if we were living in Shitkicker, Missouri or I hear the letter z mispronounced by our maleducated youth. And don’t get me started on the TV weather crew referring to ‘rain on the Westside’ or other such gang related bollocks. Grrrrr!
Thanks for clarifying, VoR! I am glad to be sure..
I first remember hearing ‘z’ mispronounced by the maleducated, in 1996, whilst working in an Intermediate school library… If people talking about their or someone else’s ass I always pretend to believe they mean donkey! 😀 But my un-favourite at the moment is ‘store’. A store is a warehouse. A retail outlet is a shop… online ‘stores’ particularly annoy me as they can’t be a ‘store’ in any sense, without physical premises!
I have tried to do some research on the “Special Honours List” out today, but have been unable to find what triggers the awards dates. They were first legislated for on 20th September 1999, but they appear to be able to be awarded at any time, unlike others such as New Year and Queen’s Birthday. Am I being cynical thinking that this list is in response to deflect the criticism of the SAS being the Afghanistan?
I’m not really keen on the SAS being in Afghanistan, but what I am uneasy about the most is the SAS being portrayed by the media (with approval from the NZDF) as pin-up boys, and tools to attract people into signing up. The NZSAS conduct their missions with strict secrecy, but the coverage of their activities could very well be putting them in danger, ie the photos of Willie Apiata. I am wondering if he has a price placed on his head by Taliban warlords.
I think anyone who steps into the spotlight has to be prepared to take the good with the bad, criticism wise, particularly if they express support for a political party (or its leader).
The butcher built his empire on the back of poor working class people now he’s in the ranks of the elite .
Exactly, a number of those who munched Sir Mad to millionaire status had better get used to regular sausages and brisket rather than pork roasts if his new chum ShonKey gets back in.
There is an argument that Sir Leitch sold off the shops in 07, but he sure continues to get personal mileage from the brand.
I had a lot of empathy for Peter Leitch during his cancer illness, and as a league fan know of some of the small kindnesses and donations he made that were not publically trumpeted.
His endorsement of ShonKey is a schmooze too far for me however. The kiwi attitude of not knocking ‘benevolent’ wealthy people is false, philanthropy is usually tinged with self aggrandisement, naming rights and “aw shucks”ism. I wonder how many of the tories defending Sir ’Mad now have ever bought one of his low to medium quality meat packs? I have always avoided the chain apart from the original shop due to the meat, but it filled a market gap for sure if you chart the working class areas the shops are consistently sited in.
’Mad is entitled to an opinion but so are the rest of us.
Yeah but our opinions don’t create negative stories in the paper taking the spotlight off National’s massive screw ups.
I see John Key has his Election Posters on sale.
that’s a dead link sukie :[
JK’s promise to try to get Coronation Street moved back to its original time slot seems a pretty blatant attempt to curry favour with the electorate. I doubt he even watches Coro, and probably wouldn’t understand it if he did.
I thought Key’s offer to interfere in TV programming was odd too. Coro rescheduling threats are keep coming up – it could be just a cunning way to get the oldies back to watching it some more.
Key would do more goods trying to get TVNZ to show something worth watching.
Er, not all Coro fans are old! My 25 year old niece and her friends are serious watchers..
The irony is that it is his government’s scrapping of the Charter and its instructions for TVNZ to focus on the profit motive most probably contributed to it (though it could be argued that this goes back to 1988 when TVNZ lost its public service mandate — quality declined from there on in).
This is the concequence of a removal of any form of public service mandate from TVNZ – more cheffing shows (and Snookie), and less quality drama and documentaries.
Apart from Coronation Street, does TV1 have anything worth watching these days?
Um..no.
That’s why I had to cross over to the dark side and get sky. Now I pay $70 a month for 100-odd channels of nothing worth watching 🙂
It does occasionally, but they don’t exactly promote their good stuff, it’s more a mattter of chance discovering it..
Isn’t TVNZ still NZ’s state-supported broadcaster? What is the current position on the government attempting to interfere with or influence the daily operations of TVNZ channels?
TVNZ has no public service mandate. The only thing it has to do is make a profit and pay a dividend under the SOE Act 1986. The fact that it is state owned is inconsequential.
A Labour mistake.
Colonial Viper,
that Labour should correct as soon as possible.
Yep.
By not correcting it they have created a media smashing machine aimed at themselves.
I am currently travelling overseas (in Helsinki at moment). Therefore I am accessing “The Standard” on an irregular basis.
Perhaps I misunderstand what “The Standard” represents. I thought with the election approaching this would be a forum for informing me on labour policies and how they were going in the election run up (who is perforning well, who is not, is the strategy correct etc). What do I get reading the last few weeks posts – Key this, National that …same old,same old (I appreciate your contributors have a pathological hatred of Key) …..but when if ever are you going to discuss anything labour (even when attacking National, discuss labour alternative policy)
Now maybe the sole reason for your blog is to attack National and any labour policy or actions undertaken by their representatives are largely irrelevant. If so perhaps someone could confirm this.
I write this as reading the Guardian recently (slightly left wing English newspaper) I was reminded how good this paper is. Supportive of labour but frequently critical of policy and party members (especially of the Blair govt) and resonable in assessing other parties (sympathetic to Lib Dems) including Tory govt. Why can’t The Standard at least aspire to this occasionally or have I missed the point – labour cheer leaders whose sole mission is to attack National/Act
[lprent: You have indeed missed the point of the site in both what you think we should do and what you think we are supporting.
Read the about which explains who we are. It is a site authored by various people from the broad labour movement. Only a few (like me) are also members of the Labour party. The most common point of agreement between us is that we don’t like the right and its policies.
We do report Labours policies and the Greens and anyone elses that we are interested in (including Nationals when we find some amongst the PR). But if you really want to look at Labours policies, then try Red Alert. Also look at No Right Turn for a more general left policy basis.
It is nice that you compare us to the Guardian, but they are a news outlet, whereas we are an opinion outlet for the authors and commentators. Quite a different style of operation and at a massively different scale. ]
Whats wrong with attacking National/ACT?
Nothing – if you leave yourself open to criticism mean you deserve to receive it.
Memo 310911
From: CT, Wgtn
To: Saturday Shift
Re: Operation Big Butch
In response to various requests I can confirm that all work today is on your normal hourly rate, not T1.5 for the first 3 hours and double time thereafter. You’re not in the bloody union Anthony, so don’t push it.
Thank you for your response to Thursday’s operation Free Speech. Contacting Campbell Larsen’s employer was a stroke of genius, should shut him up in the future. Please note, that in the event that the Warriors lose tomorrow, it was as a result of the coach’s failure to listen to PMJK. A win is of course attributed to PMJK’s changing shed speech before the game.
That is all.
Is it just me or has Brian Edwards lost the plot in his old age. I’ve just been permanently banned from his blog because I dared challenged him on his views about certain things.
Nah, it’s just you and your putrescent cant.
To be fair to Edwards, it wasn’t him that banned you. As your comment has been deleted, it’s hard to know whether you overstepped the mark or not, so perhaps you should outline what you said. Calling BE a Victorian prude earlier on was probably not wise, but I doubt it was for that!
I just challenged him on some of his social views, and the fact that he thinks that a teacher calling a 14 year old girl she ‘looked like a slut’ is somehow acceptable. Its really stuck in my craw since.
Don’t worry, millsy, you’re not the only one to incur the wrath of Brian Edwards. A few months back, the good doctor censored a transcript of mine because it “potentially libeled” that piece of self-regarding trash Paul Holmes.
Whilst moderating earlier, I had cause to add a note on your comment for behavior. Perhaps you need to look closer to home for a reason?
We really need some political satire on public television in this country as we are in an insidious bullying environment where no one is allowed to speak ill of certain public figures or ‘icons’. Anyone daring to criticise is accused of somehow being unpatriotic. For me, this is the first step towards totalitarianism. It shows, for the safety of our democracy, that these people are ripe for satirising, and at the least criticism and questioning. These people include:
the PM
the Mad Butcher
the All Blacks including the very well paid ‘stars’
several cabinet ministers including Joyce, Tolley, Bennett, Brownlee, McCully
For example: you can just imagine the PM as some delirious clown cuddling up to the cleaver- waving, bling-ridden Mad Butcher. The cabinet ministers could be portrayed as a gang of school bullies.
But there is no funding for such entertainment, and in the vacuum they are left to behave as caricatures of themselves.
We do have political satire in this country.
http://blog.labour.org.nz/
[lprent: Jumping pseudonyms requires that one of us has to release it from first time moderation. Eventually we stop making the effort and start filing them in spam. ]
You cant have political satire anymore, aunty helen made sure of that.
The ‘vacuum’ is a credible left-wing opposition movement, not television entertainment. Attacking the mad butcher is just the latest example of stupidity.
The mad butcher claims to be a working class hero can you get your handle around that.
Hence Labour’s crude smear techniques whereby its opponents must forever be dismissed as morally compromised.
Pointing out the truth is not a smear.
Go on Hilary – clearly you’re in the mood for Fentonesque satire – have a go at Sir Peter Blake. Why not have a go at knocking Sir Ed Hilary?
How about some pearls of ‘wisdom’ from Mills? Or that cockhole Larsen?
That’d be in keeping with the tone set by the emetic liberal-left this last week.
Sir Ed is a bit of a hero of mine, but he was also human and so was not perfect. He did have the wisdom to realise that himself.
Mr Bloggs called Mr Larsen a cockhole and then complains about how nasty the right are. Rather like the school bully reacting with indignation when his victim bloodies his nose.
Sorry I mean, how nasty the left are…
Oh cry me a river Millsy – I’ve been called far worse on this site, for saying far less offensive things that pondscum Larsen did…
But I’ve never wished death on anyone, least of all someone who’s contributed as much to the working class as Peter Leitch.
Scratch the surface Millsy and you’ll find a whole heap of people from both sides of the political fence who are disgusted at Fenton, Walls, Larsen and that ilk for what they’ve said.
Sir Mad’s stores sold low to medium grade meat products to people at the bottom of the food chain, literally. He became a philanthropist and a walking brand. Facing your own mortality can change people. 80s unionist Rob Campbell jumped the fence after his brush with a nasty cancer, maybe the Butcher did likewise, more likely maybe he is just naive politically, the alternative is not attractive.
You are trolling Joe Bloggs. You call Larsen pond scum and then protest indignantly about someone saying something not very nice.
So transparent, so hypocritical, so trollish …
Leaving the others out of it, for goodness’ sake, what did Fenton say that was so bad? Really?
Isn’t telling the truth a absolute defense vs defamation ?
Mr Larsen is clearly a cockhole………… or perhaps he is a cunt ?
You only get flack when you are flying over the target.
Wassa matter bloggs, worried about something? You attempts to discredit or provoke me in this juvenile fashion are starting to look pretty damn desperate.
You only get flack when you are flying over the target.
[deleted]
Thanks for the free promotion : )
Wouldn’t it be ironic if you were picked up to do an add for National or the Mad Butcher chain.
[lprent: I don’t think he is an accountant. Perhaps you meant ‘ad’, which itself is short for advertisement. But such complexities are (alas) beyond you. This clown has now been banned for being an idiot troll who writes comments agreeing with his other identity. ]
Can somebody delete the above comment/ban this idiot? One git contacting Cambell’s employer is bad enough, but publicising his workplace is an invitation to the various whackjobs that lurk here to have a go as well, when the matter is completely unrelated to his employment.
[lprent: He was permanently banned earlier in the moderation sweep for being an idiot troll. In particular for using a second identity to support himself. ]
Larsen I very much doubt if his posts will ever look as desperate as a person wishing death on another human.
As Leitch, Fenton and yourself included are held accountable by their words you can never back down on your stupid staement about Leitchs death.
I will also make a stupid statement and suggest to you if I ever see you in public I will plant one right mug and you can spit some teeth out, ps Hayden Mahoney is the name so you it proves that i will stand up to foolish words as well.
Now we see the good old fashioned Tory tactic of threatening violence.
Bit early to be on the piss, Hayden. Good luck with your anger management issues though.
Thank you Voice of reason, not partaking of drink at the moment. However i really think it demonstrates the “he said so I can say” type of debate that seems to be used by many in here.
Millsy yes I was threatening violence which you seem to think is very bad and a standard technique, however it is a threat not a wish of death. There is a difference there.
I am in no way saying my words were correct however if a person wishes death on another person then they do need to be receptive to emotive responses in reply.
Hmmm, just as an aside, you do know that threatening violence is a crime, Hayden? And the difference between the assault you are threatening and death is more often than not a matter of luck. Like this, which didn’t even involve hitting someone.
Point taken VOF and I had posted a statement of retraction before I read your post.
Sweet as.
Bashing is not the way to resolve anything like this, it just plants one bad credit on another.
Campbell, your reputation has spread around the blogs quite a bit, and yeah, it’s hard to escape Google. If you stand by what you’ve said and accept any repercussions that’s your choice.
So I should apologize or else I deserve whatever I get? Is that what you are saying?
This little ‘incident’ is starting to reveal just how far some people are prepared to go to supress political commentary.
If butcher is the great guy that people say he is wouldnt he be horrified to know that abuse and threats of violence are being levelled on his behalf at someone who is only having their say.
The haters here seem to think that he would want me beaten up or abused – doesn’t that make them the ones that are bringing sir Peter into disrepute?
It’s not about suppressing political commentary, it’s expressing opinions on someone’s commentary. Has anyone tried to stop you saying or posting anything?
You can say or post what you like, and people can respond as they see fit, as long as the moderators allow it.
One of the things about the internet is that spur of the moment comments are in effect permanently recorded and available worldwide. More than a few will be caught out by that, sometimes a long time later.
Spur of the moment comment – that is precisely why all this supposed outrage is so ridiculous – if only my wishes were enough to change the world.
The discussion that followed was helpful in advancing peoples understanding of celebrity endorsement and the role it is likely to play in this election – not everyone wants that discussion to occur – that is why I have been subjected to such abuse.
I think people were offended by what you said, they weren’t trying to stop the following discussion. Hawk has realised his comments were over the top and inappropriate and followed up with a full apology – good for him for doing that – and you are still trying to divert blame to others “shutting down comment” and trying to pass the outrage off as ridiculous.
Try taking some real responsibility for what you posted. Sir Peter is widely liked and admired, try and understand how offended many people have been.
I hope you can learn something from this., eventually
Whatever Pete – I’m not about to apologize because you think I should. Hawk is a psycho, retraction or no. There is no comparison between his threat and my comment.
What I have learnt from this is that Peter has some very foul mouthed OCD friends who like to troll on blogs – he really should find better friends.
It’s not for me to think you should, your choice entirely whether you apologise or not, but if you keep blaming any subsequent kerfluffle on everyone and everything other than yourself donj’t be surprised if this keeps coming back to bite you on the bum.
Sir Peter is widely liked and admired
By whom?
I really have no idea who he is apart from occasional advertising of meat and other business and self-promotion (none of which I ever found to be of any particular interest). I gather from what Helen has said at various times that he is a warriors fan.
But I have never seen him say or do anything of any note by my standards. But I learnt that his appearance on anything I was watching was time to change channels
Of course I have never watched much TV, sports, or read the drivel sections of print media, or listened to commercial radio.
Essentially to me he is a non-entity.
By whom?
By ex Labour voters. The Labour Party risks becoming the non-entity.
What in the hell does that have to do with my comment? Just evidence that you’re a bit of vacuous loudmouth?
Pete George is worried about Labour becoming a “non entity”?
Dude you better look in the mirror and see what party you are standing for lol
Hi Campbell.
Welcome to the world of RWNJs. It is a bit like the borg. The instruction goes out to divert attention from stuff like credit rating downgrades to stuff like … well anything. The worst thing is that your comment was in terms of blogging quite mild, but this does nonstop the wing nuts from their faux angst.
You should see what Slater does. He continuously abuses and insults people but anyone who does the same to him and he then complains about rough treatment.
Commiserations about the idiot who emailed your work.
I just wish that they would realise that the left want a contest of ideas, not a violent winner take all confrontation.
Mr Larsen I stand corrected and realise my comments to you were foolish and wrong. Threating violence is not a wise option and I was wrong to post in such a manner.
I apoligise for my words and wish you the best in your future, I was not commenting on the political stance of yourself but rather the comments on a persons death.
I would not carry out my threat to you and once again present my regret on my statement, I hope that by posting as you did you sufffer no ill fortune through the acts and words of others as I attempted to do you to. As they say two wrongs do not make a right, so I to will stand shamed for my ill thought out remarks.
Had any luck Hawk? http://badoo.com/01096401528
On none at all, such is life. LOL…
I did indeed and would like to thank Ianupnorth for alerting me to the fact that I was still listed as a registered. That coupled with the fact that it was able to be noticed by people with google.
So a slight heads up that activites you do years ago unless closed down can be still traced. 🙂
True! If I google my real name, the first hit is my having signed the condolence book for John Nathan Turner (Doctor Who producer who died in 2002 or thereabouts!) Not that I mind, but it’s far from the only thing I’ve done before or since.
Worse still, when I google my name, I find stuff has been uploaded with my name attached related to activities long before the advent of the http://WWW... from the 1960s. This includes class photos from the 60s, uploaded to one of those old friends sites, with every member of the class in the photo named. Why on earth does the person who uploaded this think that any of us wanted that kind of public visibility?
They just think “well, I don’t mind, so why should they?”. My son has been very firm with me, that I must not put photos of anyone without their express permission, so all my Facebook photos are of those family members who either have given permission or are beyond asking (dead and gone.) No school photos! 🙂
Some of the comments on this thread are so politically correct – meaning the only political stance that is correct (or allowed) is that of the current right wing administration.
Yay more votes to switch to the Greens due to the incompetent Labour clowns thinking that the left vote belongs to them, fancy attacking the Mad Butcher, the words pathetic and vacuous spring to mind.
Keep going Labour supporters, self destruction is a beautiful thing to watch.
As a green supporter I thank you…
******************************P.S. Can anyone advise me if ‘myspace’ is a greenie
Feeling righteous does not serve working class New Zealanders. Every time there has been any progress sticking it to this government over their bad management of the economy, some dickhead like Mallard, Curran or Fenton plants their foot firmly in their mouth. Cheered on by fools.
handle.
Maybe the intelligent New Zealanders intending to vote this 26 November will have read the real back stories and will not be swayed by celebrity vote.
As one of those ‘fools’ you have accused of ‘cheering’ people on, I would prefer to use my freedom of expression rights still available to me as and when I please, not when you please.
Sometimes it is more important to have a say than stay silent when so many Key-paid crosby textor ringins are attacking.
Freedom of speech will always be my thing, and I will continue to say that when people like Peter Leitch in 2008 said he didn’t get involved in politics because Helen Clark was the current Prime Minister, yet deliberately politicises his intended vote for Key in 2011, and several posters have steadfastly maintained that he also used his illness for the sympathy vote for Key, I have the right to call his actions hypocritical, irresponsible and reprehensible.
It is also important to remind the populace, that seem to have very short memories, of the vicious, lying attacks on Helen Clark in the leadup to the 2008 election. I haven’t forgotten. That remark of Campbell Larsen was nothing compared to that time when New Zealand politics and religion, thanks to the rightwing parties, drove New Zealand to the baser part of its underbelly when a woman politician became our Prime Minister and a centre-left one at that. That savage ugliness is rearing its head again this year.
You see, this year is very important to the neo-conservatives; it will be the moment, if Key makes it back in, to put the final touches to the sell off of New Zealand and open up the surrounding environment to the mineral hunters, the oil searchers and everything else that will damage my beloved country, with greed the only motivator – jobs being such a small number and the financial benefit to all New Zealanders minute – the future environmental damage irreversible.
How this election eventuates will inform me better than anything else just how many braincells people have got when it comes to making their decisions based on policy or PR. I don’t mean on Key or Goff. I mean on the future impact of both left and right policies and that is always to be examined alongside the influences on left and right and the teams of left and right.
Very well said!
Mouthing off about ‘rights’ may make a certain type of person feel better but it does nothing to win elections.
handle, if you have to sell your soul to ‘win’ the election it hasn’t been worth it.
Jum, superb words!
Absolutely fascinating the news is:
First I read this headline:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/5714576/Southland-a-great-place-to-raise-kids-parents
Then I read this one:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/5714575/ES-urged-to-speak-up-on-dirty-lignite
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1109/S00619/folly-of-governments-hands-off-approach-to-lifting-skills.htm
I’m interested in what these trades academy places are that Anne Tolley is talking about?
Have the NActs shut down one successful way of teaching skills for another ‘same’ under a different name, costing us all a mint and achieving nothing new but slowing down progress?
The first trades academy type classes were individual school initiatives, which started before National was in power.
Tech teachers concentrating on BCITO, BCATS and other pre trade qualifications is not new.
KJT,
Thank you very much for that information.
Jum
KJT,
I found this site:
http://www.branz.co.nz/cms_show_download.php?id=fb36baaea67856c30dd169b6bece6e68759c288e
(BUILD October/November 2007)
the piece was published in 2007.
I looked at the completion figures quoted on page 3 and while they were low, at that time there was low unemployment and the mainly up to 25 years participants (61%) would have been changing employment/training not realising the world was going to fall in.
Also, that graph was reflecting 2006 figures.
I will quote a little from it which shows how much was being done for youth in 2007.
‘CONSTRUCTION TASTER IN SCHOOLS
After consultation with the education sector and industry, the BCITO established that there was a need in schools for a construction industry ‘taster’ course. As a result, the Building, Construction and Allied Trade Skills (BCATS) initiative has been developed – two new entry level qualifications being introduced by the BCITO and BETA Group (Built Environment Training Alliance) for year 11 and 12 students.
The qualifications give students an array of skills that can be applied across a broad spectrum of construction sector areas. On top of the newly developed BCATS unit standards that are construction specific, the qualifications will integrate with core areas of the school curriculum and NCEA. By providing construction-related examples in a number of core subjects, they will encourage maths (for example) to be taught in the classroom as well as being reinforced in the workshop.
The BCITO is working with schools throughout the country and aims to roll out the BCATS qualifications in 2008.
Providing an introduction at school to a career in the building and construction industry helps young people to make informed decisions about a career path. They can then enter an apprenticeship with a strong grounding – an attractive proposition for future employers. ‘
I’ve looked up BCITO’s current website; at first sighting it appears they didn’t exist before National appointed them to run the trades academies… until I found this further on:
talking about Gateway.
I was teaching BCAT’s on practicum in 2008. Both schools had been doing similar programs, for quite a few years before, for engineering and motor trades. http://www.mito.org.nz/
ITO’s were first set up in 1992, I think. Part of “Modern Apprenticeships”.
The building and construction ITO was one of the first. http://www.bcito.org.nz/
Schools were using ITO materials previously for tech students.
KJT,
I guess what I am trying to say here is that I and many others are sick of name changing and complaining about a programme that carries on the same under another political party but with a different name; it costs money, people lose faith and youth most importantly feel used.
Can you tell me what is happening now?
I was also encouraged to find a site about Morrinsville College’s plans for years 12 and 13 re transition studies and in general studies to suit all students. Maybe the teachers, parents and school boards are working together on behalf of their students, sons/daughters for a better outcome. That would be nice.
These are actually requirements from the new New Zealand curriculum.
Which was the result of years of consultation, research and reference to worldwide best practice.
Unlike National standards, which was a knee jerk by ideological politicians. And conflicts with most of what we know about effective education.
IEP’s (Individual education plans), to suit students strengths and needs are required for all students.
The ITO and NCEA standards need a good tidy up to meet the new curriculum requirements, as most were written before the curriculum was adopted. This is now in progress. So long as it is not identified for funding cuts.
Trade academy type classes, at least in the schools I have been involved in, are working well. However they have existed for a long time now. Were just called Technology classes in:. Automotive, Engineering, Furniture etc.
Schools get a little annoyed when politicians take credit for things which were initiatives by schools and their communities.
KJT said: ‘Schools get a little annoyed when politicians take credit for things which were initiatives by schools and their communities.’
I’ll bet they do!
I noticed that when Heatley was interviewed on The Nation this morning he did not disclose to the country that there was an income formula.
Due to being on the Housing New Zealand list I thought that I would go and look at some of the places that I could be offered. I spoke to a person on NZ super who has been in a HNZ 1 bedroom for two decades. The following is a summary of what I was told.
HNZ don’t listen.
People walk through the complex and they don’t live here.
There is no fencing.
There was a home invasion a few months ago and a woman was beaten up.
A car window was broken last week.
A rough guy lives there, he is on his last chance and his mates stay over and sometimes their pit bulls roam.
Stereos are heard all the time.
Bottles are smashed.
One lady moved out because she could not take the addiction problems.
My other observations
One complex is really untidy and families live there.
The properties are close together.
The weeds are over grown.
Rubbish is not picked up.
Old couches are in carports.
HNZ need to supply every six months a huge bin for dumping rubbish and another bin for weeds as a lot of people cannot afford to dispose of rubbish.
Now that the most poor, unwell and aged (providing they meet the income formula) could be housed, I fear that social problems are going to escalate and ghettos (cramping, people living in fear who easily become angered) is the future HNZ.
Heatley is going to subdivide larger properties. For now no one is being turfed out of their HNZ property, no doubt this will occur after the election if National gets back in. The average income for a person in a HNZ property is the minimum wage and where does Heatley think they can afford to live.
This item of news contradicts the folklore that builds around institutions.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10755731
V8 Supercars to race at Whenuapai.
Anyone who has played a round of golf on the RNZAF golf course, which runs outside the runways of the military base, will know that if you hit a ball anywhere near the runway you will be subject to prosecution for trespass. Theory has it that there are apparently people on 24 hour surveillance patrol.
And suddenly the runways (through ministerial assent – no doubt as a result of
John’ll-fix-it intervention) are going to be opened up for at least 72 hours for a load of petrol heads to wander around at will.
Well, who would have thought it?
Hey, it’s the North Shore; hopefully Ben can get in and put a dampner on this drivel. What’s wrong with using Hampton Downs or Taupo?
Yeah but there are a hell of lot of petrol heads out there in the west and Whenuapai borders John’ll-fix-it’s electorate. Paula could do with a fillip as well.
Do you remember the protestations from the NATs when Waitakere wanted to push for this to become a commercial airport? “No this is a strategic defensive piece and must remain so…” Ah, well.
I see the bloody useless NZ Herald has got a story on the Warrior’s late Sonny Fai as the number one news story most affecting New Zealand this afternoon.
Fucking ingrates posing as media journalism.
Colonial Viper,
In the final countdown you cannot wholly blame the media for printing what the mainstream NZers want.
They still seem happy to read the ‘stuff’ that the same type of people who paid for murder victim’s phones to be hacked… are continuing to spew out.
I would happily sue them but nobody wants to support that – yet.
I see the sense in what you are saying but surely just one media channel could pitch their wares at the large group of New Zealanders who would like to see some substantial news analysis and coverage.
Colonial Viper – agree 100 per cent.
Unfortunately, our journalists aren’t that principled and our television stations aren’t that objective and the average New Zealander really doesn’t give a shit.
Sorry – I wish I could share better news.
PS Channel 7 did that – sort of, but Key is getting rid of it. No one is marching in the street and it appears that Russell Brown has been bought and sold…
I hope people fight Key’s smiling fascism before it is too late.
Actually, we can. Their job isn’t to give what people want but what they need which is credible and reliable information at which our MSM completely fails.
Draco T Bastard,
True; that is the utopian New Zealand thinking.
Unfortunately, the owners of media don’t want New Zealanders to live the good life because their profits are all that matters and people want to buy those papers that tell them lies. I know you want to believe the best of New Zealanders but quite frankly, Draco T Bastard, those honourable New Zealanders no longer exist in any great number. Why do you think Key got voted in on a smile and a bribe of undelivered $50 tax cuts?
Your contempt for voters is irresponsible.
No handle, just a sad understanding from going through the fallout of almost two elections now that tells me people can not believe that John Key could possibly be the massive disappointment he will be.
Also, that the governments including Douglas, Richardson and Key/Douglas have fed people the line that greed is good and objective judgement, critical analysis of policy from parties is bad and celebrity endorsement is all a government needs to run a country.
Your continued indictment of one poster that chooses to air their own opinion is now beginning to worry me. Who are you and what are your reasons for attacking my freedom to have an opinion. We can go on with this ‘conversation’ as long as you like but I generally like to have a useful debate; so far you are not providing that.
Yes, it’s all about you, dear.
CONdescending little prick
whaa…?
On her 8.08pm message it was: “Your contempt for voters is unappealing.” What’s with this person?
My hope is that people will actually concentrate on what is being perpetrated by government upon them. She/he could better spend their time telling Key that his contempt for voters is irresponsible/unappealing.
Just another anonymous, bored little troll, Jum. To be forgotten in a day…
That attitude just typifies Labour’s failings. What an embarrassment you lot are.
handle – two sentences with something resembling a purpose; see if you can handle that.
Rihanna’s emergency bikini wax is news (TV1, Stuff) but Occupy Wall Street doesn’t get a mention? Shame on our news media.
Di:
No MSM is covering the wall street protests it would seem.
If it got to be a million people, then they might.
How about 46 million people on Food Stamps.
Is that enough, or is the MSM going to ignore all of them too?
Easily a million, and millions more globally in support. In several US cities already and starting to spread to Australia. Tomorrow sees a new push.The flashmob in Queens Street today is a hint that it could even reach NZ.
This was covered by the Dompost today,
“Navy marches through Wellington”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5716264/Navy-marches-through-Wellington?comment_msg=posted#post_comment
This was not – except on the National Radio website,
“March against police surveillance bill”
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/87042/march-against-police-surveillance-bill
I have an acquaintance of mine – “Al”, an ACT supporter of all things! – who took part in the march. He was handed a loudspeaker and he started chanting some pretty good anti-government slogans.
There’s hope for “Al” yet!
As for the meainstream media not convering the protest… shameful! (I’ll have more on my blog soon. Just waiting for some pics to arrive.)
The Labour MP’s are nothing but a pack of nutters. Imagine having a crowd like that running the country. Thank god for the John Key’s of this world. The national government have kept this country stable, and I hate to think what it would of been like at this stage with the Labour halfwits. The way Darien Fenton and Louisa Wall have put down Peter Leitch is nothing short of disgusting, Phil Goff should be ashamed of himself for allowing types like that out of the kennel.
Dianne
At one time it was okay for the rich and powerful to fete the politician, and what flowed from that relationship was generally considered of no ill effect. The Prime Minister could also be seen in the company of the successfully wealthy and even be ‘matesy’ with the monied without both coming across as sycophantic or the relationship thought ill advised. And then there was ‘murdoch-gate’ where the relationships were exposed for what they truly were – avenues for corruption.
I have been in the company of the mad butcher, I have even masticated on his meat. He is a decent man – not a god above reproach.
People have every right to criticise the relationship or to make disparaging remarks about the mad butcher or anyone else they an issue with – its called free speech. Dislike the nature of the free speech but it is completely ‘nutty’ from a democratic perspective to not defend the right to free speech no matter how offensive it is found on a personal level. A democracy demands no less.
Adele, your wording makes me think of MB’s radio advert, the squickiest jingle in creation … “You can’t beat/The Mad Butcher’s meat”… It’s not just on commercial radio, it’s on the BBC WS! (Which has adverts now, and has for maybe the past 2 years, though not on Sundays!) 🙂
Vicky,
I got the notion to play with the theme ‘meat’ from an earlier post of yours. So thank you for the initial prompt. 🙂
It’s good, thanks! 😀
Yeah, Dianne, because Labour didn’t leave this country $16.7 billion in debt; borrowing $380 million a week; cutting taxes twice, when we couldn’t afford it; and seeing unemployment double in three years. No, it was National who achieved that.
Thank god for the John Keys of this world, huh?
So far, this is the debt John Key is leaving us: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/5106876/Government-debt-rises-to-71-6-billion?comment_msg=posted#post_comment
And this has been John Key’s legacy in job creation: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10692801
Enjoy.
Frank its $77billion National are borrowing to buy this election $18 billion a year they are borrowing Dianne interest going up by $600 million really stable i suppose with a personality like yours you could call it stable in the same sort as the Greek stable.
Quite true.. Mik e. I didn’t make my post above as clear as I could have. (That’ll teach me to post at such an ungodly hour, without caffeine in my bloodstream…)
To back up your comments; http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/5106876/Government-debt-now-71-6-billion?comment_msg=posted#post_comment
Just imagine if Labour had borrowed that amount of money. The rightwing blogosphere would be in melt-down, and calling for armed revolution.
But when National does it – well, that’s ok, chaps, would you like fries with that $77 billion?
Dianne foreman I presume
Dianne I find it even more disgusting that you should suggest that two respected female Labour MPs are dogs.
Care to apologise?
Double standards Greg? Do you remember posting:
“The worst thing is that your comment was in terms of blogging quite mild, but this does nonstop the wing nuts from their faux angst.”
Do you remember posting:
“The worst thing is that your comment was in terms of blogging quite mild, but this does nonstop the wing nuts from their faux angst.”
Yes Pete
There is a typo and the sentence is a bit non sensical.
I meant to say
The worst thing is that your comment was in terms of blogging quite mild, but this does not stop the wing nuts from their faux angst
And I am struggling to understand your criticism. Dianne whoever he or she is jumps up and down about a rather muted criticism of Leitch and then essentially calls a couple of Labour MPs dogs. I am merely pointing out the hypocrisy of this.
If you can point out where I have criticised Leitch you might have a point but I am certain that you will not be able to do so.
I’ll spell it out.
You find it “disgusting that you should suggest that two respected female Labour MPs are dogs.”
(Actual statement: “Phil Goff should be ashamed of himself for allowing types like that out of the kennel.” which I think is certainly over the top)
And you refer to wishing death on someone as “a rather muted criticism of Leitch”.
Pete George – defending and celebrating the abusive, threatening bullies on blogs.
My ‘retraction’ was posted long ago:
“Obviously I don’t actually wish him an untimely death – after all it’s not like I was threatening to catapult a bus onto him – chortle -”
There will not be an apology.
Stop wasting peoples time and trying my patience.
Oh Pete
1. Saying that Goff let the two MPs “out of the kennel” is suggesting they are dogs.
2. You have taken my comment out of context. I said that the comment “was in terms of blogging quite mild” and I stand by that. Just check out the sewer.
3. Please point out where I used the words “a rather muted criticism of Leitch”. I cannot find it and I am pretty sure I did not use these words.
I did use those words but in describing Fenton’s statement about Leitch. Way to take phrases out of contex Pete Squirrel.
If you want to imply someone is a bitch Dianne, please look in the mirror.
If you are Dianne Foreman, and it sounds exactly like something she would say, you are exactly what keeps women in a subordinate position. I can see why you would want that, given your subordinate position to Don Brash and co, and also as a rotundtable associate, not allowed at the big table of the boys. Still, many National supporter women have stated that there shouldn’t be so many women in parliament which proves the point about NAct women wanting men to make their decisions for them and play the weak little females – pathetic.
We know, if you are Dianne Foreman, that you are as cunning as your phallic symbol John Key, in e.g. arranging special fundraising dinners where rich businessmen in Tower and Talley, etc. the business thieves of the rotundtable that are slavering at the lips over the prospect of finally owning all our precious all-New Zealander-owned assets, tobacco barons helped by the Matthew Hootens and Owen Glenns of New Zealand lobbying to deliberately damage New Zealanders’ health, especially so many young Maori women, under most stress in this society, give John Key and NAct lots of cash because they will get to privatise everything at fire sale prices that once belonged to all-New Zealanders.
Still keeping up Dianne? – Long sentence I know but the list of crimes against you pondscum is growing ever longer. Eventually more New Zealanders will start taking some responsibility in finding this out for themselves. Meanwhile The Standard is doing their work for them. Eventually more New Zealanders will begin to understand what they are sacrificing for their 30 pieces of gold.
Also, you won some business award with your icecream, which is enough to make anyone scream. It was soon after the fundraising dinner and the election you helped Key to win – payback for you. You may actually be a good entrepreneur but when you sell yourself to your particular ‘devil’ – in this case Key – it will never be clear why you won. It doesn’t seem to matter though where greed is involved.
She’s a private hospital owner and will be looking to gain wealth at the expense of New Zealanders when the health system is privatised.
And, if you, ‘Dianne’ are not Dianne Foreman, fine. Being Dianne Foreman is not a compliment and my sincere apologies for thinking you were.
But, I’ve been wanting to say this to Dianne Foreman for a very long time – she’s a disgrace to a New Zealand of social equity. She is a greedy elitist and and she will operate behind the scenes to bring people of the same low calibre of humanity into positions of power and affluence.
That will automatically exclude 90% of New Zealanders from the lifestyle that they work hard to gain and therefore deserve.
thats SO fukdup
Dan Carter out of entire RWC
That can’t be good.