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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Federated Farmers congratulates the Auditor-General’s office on its release today of its report Managing Freshwater Quality: Challenges and Opportunities. ...
Growth has now slowed to a 6-year low, and downside risks are dominating. June quarter GDP growth came in at 0.5%qoq, in line with our expectation, and slightly above consensus. Although there were a few sensational reports of the chance of a negative print. ...
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is calling the release of the National Climate Change Risk Assessment (NCCRA) framework a good first step in balancing New Zealand’s response to climate change. ...
Family First NZ says that a new Colorado report compiled by the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area finds marijuana-positive traffic fatalities, hospitalisations, marijuana use, and illegal market activity have exploded since marijuana legalization. ...
This year’s Ratepayers’ Report , local government league tables released yesterday, reveals which local councils owe the most and which owe the least. ...
Rachel MacGregor welcomes the decision released today by Justice Hinton. The key issue on which all the various litigation has been based is the question, did Colin Craig sexually harass Rachel. That question has been answered – he did. Justice ...
The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) has today ratified a ground breaking pay deal with Dunedin Railways which will see all union members being paid a living wage and the lowest paid receiving an 18% wage increase. Higher paid RMTU members ...
Inclusion for trans women/men and non-binary peoples has today been announced as the cornerstone of a new resolution for the National Council of Women New Zealand (NCWNZ). ...
It took a testy Morning Report interview this week to remind me that Simon Bridges was still the Leader of the Opposition. Until then, he had been largely invisible as the events of recent weeks unfolded. ...
The National Council of Women NZ has today welcomed the news that the Government has purchased Kate Sheppard’s house in Christchurch, the base for the NZ suffrage campaign. ...
The Māori Party supports mana whenua of Ihumātao and acknowledges their coming together to reach consensus on the future of their whenua. “We also acknowledge the leadership of the Kīngitanga who have played an important role in supporting ...
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is questioning why, for the second time, Jacinda Ardern has appointed a Crown-owned company Chief Executive to Chair her “Business Advisory Council”, following her announcement that Mercury CEO Fraser Whineray ...
Responding to the Government’s decision to give around $300 million to Amazon as a sweetener for filming a TV series in New Zealand, New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says: “As a matter of simple waste, this is striking, ...
I am very pleased with Air New Zealand’s Decision to backdown and withdraw their application to trademark into a logo Kia Ora. I said at the time that it was an ill conceived idea and poorly thought out – more importantly it should never have been ...
NZEI Te Riu Roa members will be joining with others across the union movement by wearing black and white in support of pay equity on Suffrage Day tomorrow, and urging the Government to commit to a settlement for teacher aides this year. ...
Yesterday’s announcement from the Minister for Immigration, to improve temporary work visas for migrant workers, provides some positive changes but more detail is needed. The Council of Trade Unions fundamentally supports the principle of making ...
FIRST Union today welcomed Westpac’s public admission of the significant gender pay gap in its workforce and reiterated its call for employers to work with unions to close this disparity, arguing that this work must begin at the bottom of the pay ...
Changes to the work visa system announced by the Minister of Immigration are not all positive for employers or migrants, comments Ms June Ranson, chair of the New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment (NZAMI) , a leading voice in the ...
The Dairy Workers Union (DWU) has welcomed the announcement from dairy company, Synlait, that they will be boosting parental leave entitlements significantly for working parents. ...
In June, the Children’s Commissioner announced a thematic review into Oranga Tamariki’s policies, processes and practice relating to care and protection issues for tamariki Māori aged 0-3 months. Today the Children’s Commissioner has released the full ...
“Closing the Gap” Tauranga, one of the area groups of Income Equality Aotearoa NZ Inc., has surveyed all candidates in the three local body elections to discover attitudes to some basic issues of the Western Bay region. We believe that this is ...
In response to DairyNZ's attempt to dismiss an economic report that highlighted dairy's role in the New Zealand economy is only three per cent of GDP, Fish & Game New Zealand Chief Executive Martin Taylor says: "If DairyNZ wishes to reject a report ...
Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has successfully guided the mana whenua of lhumaatao to reach a consensus on the future of their whenua. ...
Two activists disguised as shareholders interrupted the AGM of a gold mining company in central Auckland this morning to inform shareholders their plans to mine for gold in conservation estate in the Karangahake Gorge were unwelcome. ...
The Capital and Coast District Health Board (CCDHB) has been labelled ‘NATO’ (no action, talk only) when it comes to child mental health, with just 0.6 full time staff (24 hours per week) for inpatient child psychology and just 0.8 full time staff ...
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL has awarded three New Zealand climate youth groups with its Ambassador of Conscience award, its highest recognition for human rights work, previously given to the likes of Nelson Mandela, Ai Weiwei and Malala Yousafzai. ...
The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union , in partnership with the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance , has today published this year's Ratepayers' Report – online local government league tables – at www.ratepayersreport.nz . ...
NZUS Council executive director Jordan Small welcomes the news New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will meet with US President Donald Trump in New York next week. ...
The recent NZIER report trivialises the significant role the dairy sector plays in New Zealand’s economy – and fails to look at the specifics of the Government’s freshwater package, according to DairyNZ. DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle said ...
This week, the New Zealand Parliament and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) will jointly host a seminar on tackling the global spread of illicit weapons. ...
In a landmark judgment issued this morning, the Court of Appeal confirmed that the Southern Response Concealment Class Action will proceed issued on an "opt out” basis. ...
Mainstream media, as the purveyors of truth and source of balanced information, took another backward step today with the announcement by Stuff that most New Zealand organisations had joined 170 media outlets from around the world in the “Covering ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra [embedded content]University of Canberra Deputy Vice-Chancellor Leigh Sullivan discusses Scott Morrison’s new family law inquiry with Michelle Grattan. They also speak of the developments in the Tamil family from Biloela’s case, and the UN barring ...
Analysis - Jacinda Ardern heads for the UN as the sexual assault scandal rumbles on at home, and Simon Bridges says he isn't going to ease off his personal attacks on the PM. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dries Verstraete, Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Design and Propulsion, University of Sydney CC BY-NDClimate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d ...
In this episode of our new tarot reading show Wild Card, The Spinoff’s resident psychic divines the outcome of the All Blacks’ opening match against the Springboks on Saturday.In the first and potentially only episode of Wild Card, we have a focus on sport. The Spinoff’s psychic-in-residence, Jo Sees, specialises ...
Recently-retired Sky TV chief executive John Fellet talks to Newsroom business editor Nikki Mandow about baseball, media, goldfish, accountancy - and more baseball. ...
The Real Pod assembles to dissect the week in reality television and real life, with special thanks to Nando’s.With Duncan enjoying a MAFS-style beach holiday in Bali, Alex and Jane are left to cover another crazy week in reality television. Shannon Ryan has gone full beast-mode in Celebrity Treasure Island, Married ...
Dr Bryce Edwards“Diversity” is a central theme of the current local government elections – with the common criticism that incumbent politicians are generally too “stale, male, and pale” (or variations on that). Numerous commentators and candidates have lamented the lack of women, ethnic minorities, and youth in local government. ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.Climate change, environment Paul Gorman (Stuff): How would you spend an unlimited war chest for ...
A review into the Ministry for Culture and Heritage will look into the relationship between a staffer and the external developer responsible for a massive data breach. ...
Covering Climate Now: The Spinoff crew who took on climate change with a vegan diet for the week reflect on the highs, the lows, the pies and the fries. The Spinoff’s participation in Covering Climate Now is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. Join us here!As I write, I’m tucking into ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roger Crisp, Professorial Fellow, Dianoia Institute of Philosophy, Australian Catholic University As world chiefs and youth leaders gather in New York at the United Nations Climate Action Summit, many of us as individuals are feeling powerless and overwhelmed. Making big personal changes ...
The head of one of the country's biggest news media firms is the latest subject of criticism for darkening his face at a staff party he attended dressed as US basketballer Lamar Odom. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Coral Gartner, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland Health authorities in the United States are investigating 530 cases of lung illness, including seven deaths, reportedly connected to vaping. Some of these patients have been diagnosed with lung inflammation ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 The Testaments by Margaret Atwood (Chatto & Windus, $48)Obvs. (Read our review by Pip Adam here)2 Three ...
When comedy documentary Funny As was made, a lot of interviews got left on the cutting room floor which NZ On Screen quickly picked up. Here are some of our favourites.We’re a pretty funny bunch us Kiwis. Trapped on a tiny island at the end of the earth it appears ...
Auckland rapper JessB has just released a new EP and wraps up a national mini-tour tonight in her home town. Jogai Bhatt talked to her about her world travels, performing at Ihumātao, and how her community and her music intersect.It’s only been two years since JessB entered the public radar ...
A new poem by Waiheke poet Rata Gordon.PacingA deep bow to NerudaIt so happens I am sick of being a woman. It happens that I walk into BP stations and supermarkets greasy, swollen, like a cow made of soap, losing my way in a field of placentas and pesticides.The smell ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda Gardiner, Lecturer, Edith Cowan University In August, a 24-year-old woman appeared before the Western Australian District Court after pleading guilty to concealing the birth of her newborn baby in 2018. The charge of concealment of birth refers to hiding the dead ...
Voting papers are being sent out today, and lots of people say they won’t fill them out because they don’t know anything about the candidates. Respected website ‘The Spinoff’ is trying to fix that through its Policy Local tool. But it’s not the only one. Catherine Jeffcoat talks to the ...
This week's biggest-selling New Zealand books, as recorded by the Nielsen BookScan New Zealand bestseller list and described by literary editor Steve Braunias ...
Writer and cannabis legalisation expert Russell Brown watched episode two of Patrick Gower on Weed, and found it highly entertaining but dangerously light on facts. Patrick Gower is good value when he’s high. In the second part of his documentary Patrick Gower on Weed, he does what you’d expect in a ...
Sydney shock-jock Alan Jones has written to Jacinda Ardern saying he didn't intend any violence towards her when he said on air that Australia's Prime Minister should "shove a sock down [her] throat". ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caio Seguin, PhD candidate, University of Melbourne Brain regions exchange information by sending and receiving signals through a network of nerve connections. This exchange is crucial to all aspects of the brain’s functioning, including how we experience the world, form and retrieve ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Miranda Kaye, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney Over the next 12 months, a joint parliamentary committee will examine Australia’s family law system. It will be led by conservative Liberal MP Kevin Andrews and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Barbara Allen, Senior Lecturer in Public Management, Victoria University of Wellington This story is part of Covering Climate Now, a global collaboration of more than 250 news outlets to strengthen coverage of the climate story. For three years in a row, the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Moscova, Senior Lecturer in Anatomy, UNSW Women’s nipples have long been a source of fascination and controversy, from celebrity gossip stories of wardrobe malfunctions and “nip slips” to feminist movements for gender equality. Nipples even became a fashion accessory. Men’s nipples ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Holmes, Director, Climate Change Communication Research Hub, Monash University One of the great paradoxes of climate change communication in Australia is that politicians command the most attention on the issue, yet are among the least trusted sources of climate information. Research ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachael Sharman, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, University of the Sunshine Coast This story is part of Covering Climate Now, a global collaboration of more than 250 news outlets to strengthen coverage of the climate story. Thousands of school students across Australia are ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin., Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Newstart recipients and other Australians on benefits get their half-yearly pay rise today (and also on March 20). This one is vanishingly small. Announced very quietly by Social Services Minister ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Warren Hogan, Industry Professor, University of Technology Sydney The budget was for practical purposes in neither deficit nor in surplus in 2018-19, the final figures released by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann on Thursday reveal. The underlying cash deficit ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW This week NBN Co announced pricing changes for the National Broadband Network. It includes a new plan boasting a download speed of 1 gigabit per second and an upload speed of 50 megabits per second for ...
Covering Climate Now: Just how much of an impact would a shift to vegetarian diets have on the battle to halt climate change, asks Mirjam Guesgen.The Spinoff’s participation in Covering Climate Now is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. Join us here!Kiwi cuisine is replete with meat: fish and chips, meat and ...
It's not a risk assessment, but it's a start: an instruction manual for the experts who'll be writing New Zealand's first national climate risk report for the government was released on Thursday. ...
The Wellington Mayor's main rival in the upcoming local elections, Andy Foster, won't say how much Sir Peter Jackson has stumped up in a bid to get him elected. ...
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: GDP growth slows in the latest quarter, questions raised over utter NZDF incompetence, and NZTA sends money intended for light rail elsewhere.The numbers are in, and GDP growth has slowed down for the second quarter of the year. Radio NZ reports it ...
As climate change crumbles coasts, lengthens droughts and increases extreme weather events, New Zealand’s seed bank for threatened indigenous plants lacks on-going funding. ...
Steve Tew marked the magnitude of the day by openly attacking the Six Nations power bloc and suggesting former ABs should be free to play for Samoa, Tonga or Fiji. ...
A classical approach to freshwater policy only serves to enforce well-established views, argue Maria Armoudian and Nicolas Pirsoul. Here they offer some more innovative alternatives. ...
Freedom camping, public transport and affordable housing are challenges Queenstown’s Mayor Jim Boult says he’s uniquely poised to solve – if only people would do what they’re told.The Spinoff local election coverage is entirely funded by The Spinoff Members. For more about becoming a member and supporting The Spinoff’s journalism click ...
Broadcaster Mark Sainsbury is calling for a “champion for the elderly”. But the truth is, every single politician in parliament already fits that bill. Just look at the enduring nature of NZ Super, writes TOP leader Geoff Simmons. No doubt Mark Sainsbury’s call for an elderly commissioner to be created will ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra John Howard is remembered by his Liberal tribe as a reformer, but his legacy is mixed. The GST has endured but he essentially doomed his government when he let his ideological obsession with industrial relations ...
Open mike 01/10/2011 
Today is the first day of the global climate strike. Led by schoolkids, people all around the world are going to protest to demand action on climate change. New Zealand isn't doing it till next Friday (join us!), but if you want to get active early, there's plenty to do ...8 hours ago
To Protect and Serve: When the Prime Minister finds herself enmeshed in the coils of a full-blown political scandal, her colleagues and party comrades have only one priority: to release her as swiftly – and with as little lasting injury – as possible. Is this what Jacinda Ardern’s colleagues and ...10 hours ago
When military leaders cover up and lie to elected civilian authorities, the foundation of democratic civil-military relations is undermined because it is those authorities who are entrusted to hold the military accountable to the public that they mutually serve. But this is only true if civilian political authorities take their ...11 hours ago
by Daphna Whitmore The long years of Netanyahu’s reign are drawing to an end. For years he has epitomized reactionary zionism as he oversaw hundreds of thousands of Jewish settlers seize land in the West Bank. There are now 700,000 settlers, putting an end to the myth that Israel was ...13 hours ago
BP, Z and Mobil all insist that petrol price hikes are temporary, “in a very literal sense.” The nation’s major petrol providers are trying to allay customer fears over prices, promising that they’ll move to lower them again “immediately” when the Middle East is returned to its formerly peaceful state. ...1 day ago
South African coach Rassie Erasmus says he has no idea what they’re going to do about the boat. In a highly anticipated press conference this afternoon, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has finally unveiled the team’s boat for its Rugby World Cup 2019 campaign. In a press conference that went ...1 day ago
Get Back Jojo! The elation in Mayor Phil Goff’s camp may be easily imagined as they watched social media light up in indignation at challenger John Tamihere’s "Sieg Heil to that" quip. Just when JT’s notoriously right-wing, sexist and homophobic stains were beginning to fade back into his ‘colourful’ past, ...2 days ago
Patrick Gower is good value when he's high. Not that I've ever, you know, got stoned with him. But in the second part of his documentary Patrick Gower on Weed, he does what you'd expect in a modern weed documentary and immerses himself – first with a doctor, then a ...2 days ago
We surveyed candidates on their attitudes to issues facing the Western Bay Region, find out what they think: “Closing the Gap” Tauranga, one of the area groups of Income Equality Aotearoa NZ Inc., has surveyed all candidates in the three local body elections to discover attitudes to some basic issues ...2 days ago
Why is New Zealand climate change policy so crap? The Herald this morning has a long article on the twists and turns of climate change policy in New Zealand [paywalled / depaywall script], which shows where we've been. The short version is that the government first began worrying about this ...2 days ago
The All Blacks have been, for more than a century, arguably the most successful International sports team in the world. But they are more than that; even for those Kiwis who are immune to the charms of rugby (and there are more than a few), the All Blacks are ambassadors ...3 days ago
4 days ago
In times of hysteria about the “World coming to an end” and “rising sea levels” so-called ‘Journalists’ who can barely spell words longer than four letters are having a ball! Though the majority of the Public have worked out that manmade climate change is nothing short of pseudo-science, and the ...4 days ago
4 days ago
Dangerous Foes: For those readers of Bowalley Road who feel disposed to dismiss any prospect of an Israeli destabilisation of New Zealand politics, the example of the United Kingdom repays close attention. Ever since the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the British Labour Party, the Israelis have sanctioned, funded and ...4 days ago
Make It 16, the youth-led campaign to lower New Zealand's voting age, is holding an official campaign launch at Parliament this Friday from 16:30. If you'd like to attend, you can register using EventBrite here. ...4 days ago
by Don Franks It was a lovely sunny Wellington afternoon with blue skies above the beaches. In Courtenay Place, political activists packed out a stuffy upstairs room for an important meeting. The assembled pacifists, anarchists, communists and independent young radicals of Peace Action Wellington felt the need for a mission ...4 days ago
From the Wall Street Journal:Inside a room of the ornately decorated Hotel du Palais during last month’s Group of Seven summit in Biarritz, France, President Trump awaited a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi. Mr. Trump looked over a gathering of American and Egyptian officials and called out in ...5 days ago
. . This blogpost is different to my usual format of reporting on issues… Since July 1011, I have blogged on a variety of political issues; near always political and/or environmental; mostly highly critical of the previous National Government. Other issues included Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and repression of ...7 days ago
Those close to the Police Minister believe the initiative may be the result of Nash “seeing a great deal” on AliExpress. In a move that comes seemingly out of nowhere, Police Minister Stuart Nash announced this afternoon that he expects all frontline staff to don bearskin hats, famously worn by ...1 week ago
Moving And Shaking: There was a time when people spoke matter-of-factly about the “labour movement” – a political phenomenon understood to embrace much more than the Labour Party. Included within the term’s definition was the whole trade union movement – many of whose members looked upon the Labour Party as ...1 week ago
By Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern I am every bit as angry as you are. I am every bit as disappointed as you must be. The people with power, oversight and the ability to do something about these processes within the Labour Party should be ashamed. Whoever those people are, I ...1 week ago
Two-Faced? Labour insiders' commitment to the neoliberal status quo puts them at odds with their party’s membership; its trade union affiliates; and a majority of Labour voters, but this only serves to strengthen the perception they have of themselves as a special elite. Among the lesser breeds, they’ll talk up a ...1 week ago
By Simon Bridges. The following is a press release from the office of Simon Bridges, leader of The National Party. Key ora, New Zealand. Happy Maori Language Week. Look, I’m writing to you today because I want to clear something up. There’s been a lot of kerfuffle around some things ...1 week ago
Dr. Christopher Labos and Jonathan Jarry discuss the recent Canadian fluoride/IQ research. They provide an expert analysis of the paper and its problems. Click on image to go to podcast. The critical debate about the recent ... 1 week ago
An ambitious plan to fly to Los Angeles petered out into a brief sight-seeing trip and a desire to return home and get some sleep before work tomorrow. Air New Zealand has confirmed a flight to Los Angeles last night was turned back about a quarter of the way into ...1 week ago
There appears to be consensus – by omission – that the concept of indigenous futures should be accepted at face value. So I scavenged the internet to see if I could locate an academic descriptor or a framework around how we think about it as a concept, and whether it ...1 week ago
Here’s another novelty chocolate to shove in your gob, New Zealand Cadbury could be seeking to make itself great again with a rumoured new release: Pineapple Trumps, a spin on its classic chocolate-encased pineapple treat and do-it-yourself tooth remover. The global confectionery manufacturer and bumbling “before” character in an infomercial, ...1 week ago
Kia ora, Aotearoa. It’s that magical time of year. Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. In English, the week that frightens talk radio. As you probably know by now, all your favourite media outlets are participating, some more successfully than others. Stuff has changed its name to Puna for the ...1 week ago
Lost In Political Space: The most important takeaway from this latest Labour sexual assault scandal, which (if I may paraphrase Nixon’s White House counsel’s, John Dean’s, infamous description of Watergate) is “growing like a cancer” on the premiership, is the Labour Party organisation’s extraordinary professional paralysis in the face of ...2 weeks ago
NZDF Attends Commemorations to Mark International Mission in East Timor A New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) contingent participated today in the 20th anniversary commemorations of the International Force East Timor (INTERFET) mission in Dili. The commemoration ...4 hours ago
To tackle the crises of climate and unsustainability we need great cultural changes in civil society, business and politics. ...10 mins ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra [embedded content]University of Canberra Deputy Vice-Chancellor Leigh Sullivan discusses Scott Morrison’s new family law inquiry with Michelle Grattan. They also speak of the developments in the Tamil family from Biloela’s case, and the UN barring ...2 hours ago
Analysis - Jacinda Ardern heads for the UN as the sexual assault scandal rumbles on at home, and Simon Bridges says he isn't going to ease off his personal attacks on the PM. ...3 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dries Verstraete, Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Design and Propulsion, University of Sydney CC BY-NDClimate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d ...4 hours ago
In this episode of our new tarot reading show Wild Card, The Spinoff’s resident psychic divines the outcome of the All Blacks’ opening match against the Springboks on Saturday.In the first and potentially only episode of Wild Card, we have a focus on sport. The Spinoff’s psychic-in-residence, Jo Sees, specialises ...5 hours ago
Recently-retired Sky TV chief executive John Fellet talks to Newsroom business editor Nikki Mandow about baseball, media, goldfish, accountancy - and more baseball. ...5 hours ago
Covering Climate Now: The Spinoff crew who took on climate change with a vegan diet for the week reflect on the highs, the lows, the pies and the fries. The Spinoff’s participation in Covering Climate Now is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. Join us here!As I write, I’m tucking into ...7 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roger Crisp, Professorial Fellow, Dianoia Institute of Philosophy, Australian Catholic University As world chiefs and youth leaders gather in New York at the United Nations Climate Action Summit, many of us as individuals are feeling powerless and overwhelmed. Making big personal changes ...7 hours ago
The head of one of the country's biggest news media firms is the latest subject of criticism for darkening his face at a staff party he attended dressed as US basketballer Lamar Odom. ...8 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Coral Gartner, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland Health authorities in the United States are investigating 530 cases of lung illness, including seven deaths, reportedly connected to vaping. Some of these patients have been diagnosed with lung inflammation ...8 hours ago
A congestion charge is needed to deter motorists from clogging central city districts at peak times, according to an economics consultancy. ...8 hours ago
Jacinda Ardern confuses Japan with China - and she's not the only one with a case of political foot-in-mouth. ...10 hours ago
Voting papers are being sent out today, and lots of people say they won’t fill them out because they don’t know anything about the candidates. Respected website ‘The Spinoff’ is trying to fix that through its Policy Local tool. But it’s not the only one. Catherine Jeffcoat talks to the ...11 hours ago
This week's biggest-selling New Zealand books, as recorded by the Nielsen BookScan New Zealand bestseller list and described by literary editor Steve Braunias ...12 hours ago
Writer and cannabis legalisation expert Russell Brown watched episode two of Patrick Gower on Weed, and found it highly entertaining but dangerously light on facts. Patrick Gower is good value when he’s high. In the second part of his documentary Patrick Gower on Weed, he does what you’d expect in a ...12 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caio Seguin, PhD candidate, University of Melbourne Brain regions exchange information by sending and receiving signals through a network of nerve connections. This exchange is crucial to all aspects of the brain’s functioning, including how we experience the world, form and retrieve ...14 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Miranda Kaye, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney Over the next 12 months, a joint parliamentary committee will examine Australia’s family law system. It will be led by conservative Liberal MP Kevin Andrews and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. ...14 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Moscova, Senior Lecturer in Anatomy, UNSW Women’s nipples have long been a source of fascination and controversy, from celebrity gossip stories of wardrobe malfunctions and “nip slips” to feminist movements for gender equality. Nipples even became a fashion accessory. Men’s nipples ...14 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Holmes, Director, Climate Change Communication Research Hub, Monash University One of the great paradoxes of climate change communication in Australia is that politicians command the most attention on the issue, yet are among the least trusted sources of climate information. Research ...14 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kyllie Cripps, Scientia Felllow and Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law UNSW Sydney, UNSW In Western Australia more than half the children placed in state care are Aboriginal. The state government committed this month to reducing this over-representation, in a move that parallels ...14 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin., Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Newstart recipients and other Australians on benefits get their half-yearly pay rise today (and also on March 20). This one is vanishingly small. Announced very quietly by Social Services Minister ...14 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW This week NBN Co announced pricing changes for the National Broadband Network. It includes a new plan boasting a download speed of 1 gigabit per second and an upload speed of 50 megabits per second for ...14 hours ago
Covering Climate Now: Just how much of an impact would a shift to vegetarian diets have on the battle to halt climate change, asks Mirjam Guesgen.The Spinoff’s participation in Covering Climate Now is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. Join us here!Kiwi cuisine is replete with meat: fish and chips, meat and ...14 hours ago
It's not a risk assessment, but it's a start: an instruction manual for the experts who'll be writing New Zealand's first national climate risk report for the government was released on Thursday. ...15 hours ago
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: GDP growth slows in the latest quarter, questions raised over utter NZDF incompetence, and NZTA sends money intended for light rail elsewhere.The numbers are in, and GDP growth has slowed down for the second quarter of the year. Radio NZ reports it ...16 hours ago
As climate change crumbles coasts, lengthens droughts and increases extreme weather events, New Zealand’s seed bank for threatened indigenous plants lacks on-going funding. ...17 hours ago
A huge legal loophole that allows high-emitting projects to ignore climate concerns could make the zero carbon bill unworkable. ...17 hours ago
Steve Tew marked the magnitude of the day by openly attacking the Six Nations power bloc and suggesting former ABs should be free to play for Samoa, Tonga or Fiji. ...17 hours ago
A classical approach to freshwater policy only serves to enforce well-established views, argue Maria Armoudian and Nicolas Pirsoul. Here they offer some more innovative alternatives. ...17 hours ago
Freedom camping, public transport and affordable housing are challenges Queenstown’s Mayor Jim Boult says he’s uniquely poised to solve – if only people would do what they’re told.The Spinoff local election coverage is entirely funded by The Spinoff Members. For more about becoming a member and supporting The Spinoff’s journalism click ...17 hours ago
Broadcaster Mark Sainsbury is calling for a “champion for the elderly”. But the truth is, every single politician in parliament already fits that bill. Just look at the enduring nature of NZ Super, writes TOP leader Geoff Simmons. No doubt Mark Sainsbury’s call for an elderly commissioner to be created will ...18 hours ago
The battle for Puriri Park is a microcosm of New Zealand's housing crisis. ...1 day ago
At the UN, Jacinda Ardern will update the world on the Christchurch Call - but how did it come together, and where to next? ...1 day ago
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:
http://www.bcito.org.nz/sites/bcito.org.nz/files/file_attachments/2008-issue-1.pdf
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.