“a few weeks ago, I wrote a story about the outrageous sexism woven deeply into the culture of the company. We’ve seen it in the company’s PR team discrediting female passengers who accuse drivers of attacking them by whispering that they were “drunk” or “dressed provocatively.”
We’ve seen it in CEO Travis Kalanick’s comments that he calls the company “boober” because of all the tail he gets since running it..”
“When They Compared Their Females Drivers to Hookers
In October, Uber launched an app that promised to pair male customers with sexy female drivers. “Who said women don’t know how to drive?” asked ads for the promotion, which was launched by the company’s office in Lyon, France. The fantasy rides had a 20-minute time limit, for reasons that are unclear.
Thanks to a media backlash, the creepy promo never actually rolled out. “They didn’t anticipate the reaction of Uber US,” said Pierre Garonnaire, co-founder of Avions de Chasse, the escort service that co-sponsored the idea.”In the US, you are more Puritan. For me and most of the people of France, it was a good [idea]. It was fun.”
That point is up for debate, but the promo didn’t do much to quell Uber’s reputation for not giving much of a fuck about the safety of women in its cars. On the flip side of the equation, female customers are still frequently complaining that male drivers are harassing them and somehow managing to learn their identities”….
“Private car services are popular among women who want to stay safe, but reports allege sexual harassment by drivers. Is it time to rethink services like Uber? ”
“Not only has Uber vilified riders accusing their drivers of rape, assault or general bad behavior, they’ve also betrayed all their drivers; Kalanick has said he can’t wait to replace them all with self-driving cars…”
*************************************
I’ve heard a rumour uber are going to step in and buy ‘Gun city ‘ …. thereby saving customers from any regulations or ‘red tape’ ….. about valid firearms licenses and other such unnecessary rules … 😉
Ignoring regulations is ubers business model … uber NZ see military style weapon owners, and semi auto aficionados offering solid consumer support and a enthusiastic customer base for Uber Gun citys … so the rumour goes 😉 😉
Get the uber gun app ….leverage their immunity to improve your gun owning experience….
## I made up the uber gun bit to try and trick James
1. Parking just a few doors down at pickup time, saying you didn’t show and charging the cancellation fee
2. False cleaning fees
3. When a “surge” is approaching they text each other. During a surge they get paid more so be prepared for multiple cancellations from cars that are apparently available during the hour prior, and when you eventually get that Uber it now costs more.
The women were hysterical james ??? … making things up about your loved one ?.
Do you love uber …. because you recognize another immigrant into New Zealand ….even more exploitive and lawless than yourself ?.
I must admit ….As a company it seems like a tailored fit to you ….
“Today, in his horrifying scoop, Smith writes about the the lengths that at least one Uber executive, Emil Michael, was willing to go to discredit anyone– particularly a woman– who may try to question how Uber operates.
https://pando.com/2012/10/24/travis-shrugged/ “If Uber doesn’t have to follow licensing laws, then neither does any Tom, Dick, or Harry who chooses to start offering rides via the Internet”
@TRP- sorry I could reply to you question about TAS in the Labour thread last night. It was very late when I checked back in and I’m about to be going out of internet contact for the next couple of days so can’t give you any detail sorry. But in a nutshull, TAS is what one can qualify for when necessary outgoings (usually rent and ongoing medical costs) can’t be met any other way, ie pretty much everyone on a benefit. You’ve got to provide a load of evidence of no other income/savings/things you can sell/proof of how you’ve changed your spending habits and then reapply every 3 months.
Good luck with your friend and thanks for being his advocate 🙂
TRP, if your friend ends up on a benefit make sure they get the Winter Warmth Payment 1 May to 1 Oct (only $20.42 a week single or $31.82 couple), but it is not taxed and does not affect any other payments .Cheers.
Chris Trotter makes a good point this morning, illuminating the difference between political perceptions and reality. Folks really do get captivated by the froth on the surface. He gives several valid historical examples to prove the point: http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2019/04/dark-matter.html
What really matters is where the electorate is at, en masse. Like the ocean. Those waves may indeed be fascinating, and it’s understandable that media & commentariat get lost in the details, but election results hinge on the tidal flow underneath. Flow to the left, ebb to the right, and where the centrists are at the time of the vote. That’s all that really matters…
“I think those picking up the cudgels – while I take my hat off to them for tenacity – have realised pretty quickly just how hard it is to do all the stuff needed to foot it with those parties that have been hanging about for decades. Others in TOP are just dreamers – think money grows on trees, and have no idea of the work needed,” said Morgan. They seem to be shuffling their deck currently, and struggling with logistics:
“As part of the transition to new leadership, Gareth Morgan set up a board to run the party, consisting of Simmons, 2017 Rangitata candidate Olly Wilson, and 2017 Rongotai candidate Paddy Plunket. But both Wilson and Plunket have now resigned from that board, though have remained involved with the party. Two new people are now on the board, membership representative Donna Pokere-Phillips and Matt Isbister – six and 21 on the 2017 list respectively.”
“Recently elected leader Geoff Simmons says the membership for TOP remains healthy, saying it is “about 4200, at the last count”. Of those members, only slightly more than 1000 voted in the recent leadership election – 678 of whom voted for Simmons – but he says that had more to do with the logistics of communicating details about the election to members than lack of interest. “We actually had a pretty big challenge just to inform our members about that stuff.”
Cullen actually implemented one as the Foreign Investment Fund tax. Which I pay every year. While I’m not bothered by paying income taxes, capital gains taxes, GST or sales taxes, the FIF tax always feels like a maliciously capricious way to levy a tax. It irritates me enough every year that it would turn me into a single-user voter against anyone that proposed it. Indeed, I haven’t voted Labour since it was introduced.
My reaction exactly. I just felt it appropriate to frame it in more dispassionate terms! Dunno if you noticed, but think it was RL who responded (to my initial comment) re his prior involvement with a Morgan enterprise (yesterday or last night).
Guyon Espiner was put in his place by Winston…. again….on morning retort today. Message to Guyon Espiner, give up trying to score points over Winston, at least in public and on air, Winston has knocked you for six so many times you are sounding very desperate to bowl him.
Xi: “Now [the] bilateral relationship faces new opportunities of development, our two sides must trust each other, pursue mutual benefit and strive to open up new grounds in our bilateral relations.”
Begs the question of a basis for such trust, eh? Blind faith doesn’t work. So the political question becomes: how can NZ & China create a basis of trust in their bilateral relationship?
” Talking to reporters after the meeting, Ardern said she had not interpreted Xi’s comments about trust in any pointed way. She saw it as a comment meaning that all relationships were based around trust, “that we have a longstanding relationship where there is good understanding, where there will from time to time be differences”.
“The differences between us certainly should not and will not define the relationship. Our relationship is too long, too great in history and has a layer of depth to it that I don’t think it should be defined by those differences and I don’t believe it will be.”
Audrey Young reports that, on the issue of Huawei failing to get the green light from the GCSB on 5G, she said she had raised it proactively with Xi. She had outlined the clear process in New Zealand’s legislation which dictated how such decisions were made and she set out where the process was at. And she had also raised the issues of human rights “particularly as it relates to Xinjiang”, – a reference to the mass detention of Uighur Muslims.” https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12217953
The PM was adroit in pointing out that the relationship ought not to be defined by differences between the two countries. She neglected to point out that common ground is where trust gets built.
We don’t know how she & Xi see such common ground emerging on Huawei. I suspect they tacitly assumed there was no time for indepth discussion. We don’t know how she & Xi see common ground emerging on civil rights. Likewise! So the basis for trust remains tenuous.
Stephen Jacobi always presents as a nice, reasonable man. Talking to Garner this morning he did his China cheerleader thing as usual. Xi’s emphasis on trust slid right by both of them. Garner’s normally good at picking up on nuances, but not today.
With Jacobi, I suspect the omission was deliberate. PR is all about managing perceptions, so bland is good. Ensure that discussion not only avoids getting to the crux of an issue, but heads everywhere but there so that distraction becomes a movable feast for viewers and listeners. The smokescreen.
I’ve quoted trust expert Rachel Botsman once or twice here recently, and her published appraisal of China’s new trust-based system for ranking citizens on their performance is relevant to how kiwis are likely to view our potential for trusting China’s regime.
“Ideas such as China’s Social Credit System show how distributed networks of trust could become national networks of shame and interference, controlled by governments.” That’s from the concluding chapter in her latest book (which examines how trust is formed via participation in online networks, using case studies).
So, given that western countries have had seven or eight decades of distrust of state compulsion deriving from totalitarianism, how we can formulate a basis for trust with the current totalitarian regime in China is an interesting question. I anticipate the towering intellects in the Labour Party providing the answer tout suite. Just kidding!! 😎
“Can she defeat the usa media first ?”
Do you watch any US media? Large swathes have Trump Derangement Syndrome, and will give a virtual free pass to any Democratic candidate. Trump’s a numpty, but he’s headed for a second term based on the Dem’s declared candidates.
Just curious, in the view from Shadworld are there any Democrats that could win? Declared or undeclared? Or are we inevitably getting a second round of the 2.8 Handicap-in-Chief??
Two weeks of kindness and inclusiveness and we are already back to the same old shit. After some gang chapters were warmly accepted without qualification at Mosques, media soon set up their strawmen. The line was that if gangs really cared, they would hand in their guns – despite the police being the only ones who had firearms to protect worshippers and those expressing condolences. The president of ONE chapter of the Mongrel Mob said they would not be handing in their guns. It is conceivable that his chapter, the largest in the country, may only have legally held firearms and no semi-automatic or military style weapons. Before jumping to the conclusion that this is a naive assumption, the researcher Jarrod Gilbert noted that only one of the chapter’s members is in prison. More explicitly, Black Power made it clear they would not hand over guns that are used for hunting which on the balance of probably would be legally held. Of course, the media, having created the strawman, is now awash with commentary based on the assumption that the high profile gangs have vast numbers of illegal weapons. The dickwit Minister of Police is buying into the sensationalism and grandstanding about how the Police will prejudicially target gangs with only a quietly added afterthought that anyone illegally possessing semi-automatic weapons will be prosecuted. Meanwhile, how much publicity has been given to pro-gun lobbyists who have specifically stated they will not be handing in their military style weapons – bugger all! The media need to take some lessons on love and acceptance from the Muslim leaders and follow the lead of the Prime Minister. Instead they are dog-whistling the sorts of attitudes which were very briefly hidden under a thin veil of acceptance, kindness and inclusiveness.
Be good to have no violence from anyone I’d say because it is there – sometimes hidden by the veneer of respectability. Substance abuse, child abuse, spousal abuse – all there in every circle – every circle Kevin.
Too true..but just a smidgeon more in gangs don’t you think.
We used to do business with The MMM, and the Captains especially, often really nice guys, often pretty smart, and often a lot more relatable than some of the ‘Suits’ I interact with in ‘Legitimate White Guy Businesses’…but NO ONE EVER get patched up for being a nice guy.
Though these days the young lads in out neighbourhood (The ‘Nui) are able to buy their Patches..so who knows, maybe they could transform into a ‘club’..but even then, a club making money from selling drugs and paying off debt with traumatised young girls with drug and mental health issues..and in their own community..nope, if they want to go round ‘Virtue Signaling’ during this crisis they deserve to get the big old finger of accusation pointed right back at them.
I personally wouldn’t make too much of the low imprisonment rate of any Patched up gang members…I’m sure there’s very few Hells Angels inside, all things considered, but that’s because keeping within the law and driving round in white vehicles is simply common sense when your number one reason for existence is selling drugs.
Though, I do totally agree, the intelligent conversation should be, 100% about the Gun lobby..they are the real power, and they are the one that needs to be made to pull their head in so we can lower the number of guns..legal and otherwise, held in New Zealand.
(disclaimer..I actually have no problem at all with restricted gun ownership)
Oh dear Siobhan – pulled on the knowall superiority boots this morning eh? Careful you don’t trip over the laces, “…. often really nice guys, often pretty smart, and often a lot more relatable than some of the ‘Suits’ I interact with ….”. Also, it might pay to take the boots off before you get dragged under the veritable sea of ‘Virtue Signalling’ non-gang members who have just discovered Muslims, the nearest Mosques and a bit of compassion.
(disclaimer..I actually have no problem at all with heavily restricted gun ownership.)
If ‘kindness and inclusiveness’ is your stance;- ‘that is an honourable stand’.
I wished it would also translate to the other ‘elephants in the room’ also eh??
Labour has not been a ‘kind inclusive’ lot to us as their MP’s are as “cold and insular’ to us out there trying to fix nine years of national Party wrecking ball.
As a member of a community group I explained previously that ever since the Labour Coalition took over government, we have sent repeated requests to the minister Phil Twyford as Minister of Transport to meet our committee either in Napier, Gisborne, or Wellington and always get the same message from his office staff, “the Minister is too busy to meet you”.
Where the hell is the “kindness and inclusiveness” in that??
It is so bloody perplexing to our community here.
Get the labour coalition to answer community groups that come asking it meet these quote; “Kind, inclusive” MP’s please.
cg
I reckon Twyford has too much on his plate. Why not write to Jacinda and point out his list of portfolios and say that your region is not hearing much from anyone and point out the gripe you have about Shane Jones settling on a plan that is like a quick grab of something out of the lucky dip, not one tailored for your needs over there.
Thanks for that but Shane and Jacinda always get a copy of our groups request for a meeting with Phil Twyford and we thought that would just get it done.
So I sent a message to our local MP Stuart Nash to intervene but so far his office has not actually requested that Phil Twyford come to Napier and Nash’s PA at his electorate office has been trying to find out why ‘we are facing a wall of opposition’ (PA’s words) to meet Twyford.
So you can see the trouble we face, and it is not only us here.
We discussed this with other community groups who say they also have difficulty getting MP’s to agree to meet him also so it is endemic I am afraid.
Like i said where is the ‘inclusion’ Jacinda promised us?
Write to The Dominion perhaps. That might get read in the beltway.
Or erect a cardboard cutout of a bikini girl at Parliament with sign saying SEX in big caps and Now I have your full attention Twyford I love you and want to have a train with you. Perhaps citizens need to embarrass them to get attention?
A pair of briefs with a cheeky message on them on a sign saying Phil you didn’t leave these in Gisborne because you never came, and we have been waiting and wanting. Or something.
Terrible ideas and we shouldn’t be forced into lowering ourselves to be so vulgar. But he does have some heavy lifting and I think he should have someone else do the other portfolios.
I would of thought being a gang member would automatically exclude you from obtaining a firearms license, therefore all guns in gang members hands would be illegally held.
No Jim – and neither do we, as a society, blatantly discriminate against members of other groups in society if they can meet the requirements for gun ownership. If we were able to, there might be fewer firearms related domestic incidents – something gang members don’t appear to be renowned for.
Jim
You are assuming that all gang members have criminal convictions and that they don’t need guns for their sustainable living – probably many shoot their own meat, pigs etc. Watch the assumptions, there is a bit of truth in most things, so see what it is before you pass your own judgment eh.
Grey, come on.
If the police arms officer, vetting a potential FAL holder, reccomends that a patched gang member should be considered of good character and suitable for any type of FAL, that’s just ridiculous.
Give it a break Jim. Your prejudices have taken you beyond your ability for rational thought. How many cases of gang members killing their partners with firearms in domestic incidents can you confirm? Bet it is less than the number of well heeled horse breeders that have. When did any NZ gang members use a military type weapon to take down 50 people in prayer that can you tell us about? Can you provide evidence of times when gang members have killed either police officers or innocent bystanders? Need one go on? Besides, if you bothered to look, ‘of good character’ is your own invention but admittedly, is only a bit more subjective than the actual requirement in the application process. Thank God that arms officers are more professional and better able to determine facts what than you would be. Incidentally, some gang members have not been approved for FAL’s and there have been occasions when some have been withdrawn – just like with non-gang affiliates when their actions or dispositions have given cause for concern. Actually, licences are probably given more liberally that what they should be, but probably not to gangsters.
Are you seriously suggesting that the gangs can keep the category of semi automatics that are to be banned?
Basically the gangs can keep them but no-one else can?
I doubt whether the Gangs AK 47’s and AR 15’s are legally registered anyway, so they are probably illegal weapons hence they are not eligible for compensation ?
Hence I doubt whether the Gangs will hand them in as they need them for protection in case they are attacked by another Gang who wants to steal their drug stash or their cash ?
On james Casson – to be fair to him he spoke in anger in 2016 this: He agreed that in July 2016 he posted on Facebook after terrorist attacks in Nice and Paris, referring to an invasion of migrants into Europe. He had written that it was “time to get hard, time for retribution, and extreme violence to rid Europe of these scum”. https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/386094/hamilton-councillor-set-to-apologise-to-muslims-for-comments
He is going to apologise to the Muslim community. Perhaps the weight of opinion gives him the message to think about what he feels, and then think whether it is too black and white needing more understanding, and then think before he speaks about what feelings he will arouse in the wider community, and the small bunch of anomic hotheads.
Yeah as my Mum would say: He’s trying! Very trying.
But still if he can bow and be humble, and then take a less aggressive stance on things that are so human and therefore irritating ie be more understanding of the power of emotions on the talker and the listener, your pain may not have been in vain.
For me – it’s all a lie. His views haven’t changed. It is damage control based upon his ego and his fear of losing stuff. As I said I wish he’d stfu and piss off. Insincere white apologists are a waste of time on this site and in real life imo.
Actually marty I’m thinking in pragmatic idealist mode. I hope he will have changed, that’s the ideal. I think he may not have as these attitudes score deep in people’s psyches and it requires enormous effort to get free of them.
I think you are probably right in your summing up. And I fear insincerity. It is very sad when you think that someone has goodwill for what you all seem to be working for but it is just a front; they have other plans.
I liked this from an interview with a young woman in Nelson Mail Friday 3/22/2019.
It is from A Muslim PhD student living in NZ. She says – All together we have failed the terrorist’s plans. But the question still stands there, what can I do? All that you have done is way more generous and beyond expectation and we do not want you to put in that burden, all you need to do is just accept us as we are, ordinary.
We do not need sympathies, we do not need extra attention, and we do not want to be in limelight. We do not need platforms to speak, we just need acceptance, a place to be comfortable under our skin, a place where we have feeling of home, a feeling of co-existence not merely existence.
I’m glad you’re thinking in pragmatic idealist mode @greywarshark and it’d be nice if he really has had some sort of epiphany.
I agree with @ MM however, and that isn’t just because I see him as white apologist, it’s for reasons I’ve made comment over the past few days which include some of the antics and the way he and some of his ilk behave carrying out his job, and having been told how embarrassed one of his own former police colleague’s over their little ‘raids’.
I’m more inclined to Angela Cuming’s view: https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018689140/hamilton-council-complainant-not-surprised-by-racist-remarks
He and Peter Dutton would make great mates I’m sorry to say and perhaps he should consider returning to his former ‘economic refugee’ status
A city girl whose family had no direct connection to farming has made the finals of the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award.
This year it’s the turn of the sheep and beef sector to be in the spotlight, and the three finalists are all shepherds.
20-year-old Kirsty Roa works on the Hauiti Corporation’s Iwinui Station near Tolaga Bay, her first job after a course run by the Waipaoa Cadet Training Trust.”
Chris Trotter sets out what has been occuring to me recently. That we are working so hard to turn back the clock and recover what we believed we had in NZ and making some small improvements. But why necessary, and why so hard to achieve? How come that we are in this pit, we can see the sky, we climb and slip back – is that it – a cycle of constant sacrifice of time and energy and sometime lives to achieve a better society and when we have, the children of the fighters don’t carry enough of the history of struggle with them, and let it slip away in favour of self-indulgence again. What prevents us from holding onto a society with values, sensible controls allowing all people the time and means to have an enjoyable life, and pass that precious package on to the next generation teaching them how to care for it, as its resilience is limited.
Bowalley Road says: So many on the Left do not appreciate the true dimensions of the vast and immovable cultural-political consensus that allows Capitalism to survive and thrive. If it wasn’t there: or, if it was there, but amenable to reason and love: then Capitalism would long ago have given way to a more human order.
This grim judgement is a lot easier for the Left to accept when reactionary ideas and parties are in the saddle and riding them hard. In those moments, it is easy to convince Capitalism’s enemies that it is, indeed, a monstrous nightmare pressing down upon the lungs of human hope.
A Left without illusions has a much better chance of organising effectively and, on rare occasions, winning.
And now, when we have won some time in the sun of relative goodness, what will the children of the complacent do? Can they take their minds out and check them for rips and weak points, can they limit their meditation, their gym workouts, their marathon training and put those times into skill and community building. Half hour per day to talk about work, school, people met, the day’s news, and some of the weekend into community input for the Council and the strugglers; that’s if they have a weekend.
A left without illusions does not exist, and nor should it.
Sure the workers won big in France in 1968.
And yes de Gaulle resigned the next year which was no accident.
But the biggest win was to the feminist movement. By 1974 they had won national health insurance for contraception. By 1975 they had legalisation of abortion. Also in 1975 they got reform of divorce laws.
Mitterand was a bit of a disaster, but he would not have had a shot at nationalising the entire banking industry without the impetus of 1968 and beyond.
Trotter is a useful writer for the right and for the status quo, because he is profoundly pessimistic. He is the very definition of Left Melancholy.
Trotter revels in the political disasters of the last two years of the Lange-Douglas years, and discounts the effects in our society of our own home-grown revolutions.
Our own revolutions in ecology, feminism, Maori land rights, anti-nuclear and anti-war protests, anti-development protests, and anti-racist Rugby protests, well they are the collective essence of left activism today.
They gave rise to the idealism within Ardern today.
Trotter will realise within 6 months that Ardern is shifting wealth through existing instruments of the state already – in many cases not particularly gradually either. She also has the opportunity to go after the really hard-right and hard-to-reach places in gun ownership and armed criminal conspiracies that have held this country back for decades.
The left led by Ardern is not the problem.
Old, spent commentators like Trotter who remain bereft of hope and trapped by history hold us all back.
Ad, you are so right. He is hidebound and Trots out the same sour notes.
If we are in, “Watch out it won’t last because…..” If we are out “We lack….”
Jacinda Ardern is such a consummate conductor, it is a pity Trots can’t learn the new tune.
She knows how to blend the best of each instrument to make hopeful strong music.
Each person who takes part grows in courage and belief. She is a force for good. She is growing seemlessly into the role.
Ad
I think you are holding back. Trotter is looking at ways Labour Coalition can achieve in the three year period of power which seems to be zooming along.
Good for doing things of yesterday. They and any other work didn’t prevent us from being up the creek, if we can find some water that hasn’t been utilised by some incomer for profit. We were without a paddle till Labour got back in.
People need to understand that Labour are doing their best but need to know they are limited by their bureaucracy and their financiers, and the fickle prejudiced, emotional market pretending to be staunch. School of fish rather. it might be better if thethe Labour Coalition ask the nation to help them carry out the good things for the country. Get the poor people involved on something in every community.
And it would be good for the public to read the Good Man of NZ’s effort to tell it like it is so they understand the huge reality of all those men with power and money who look through people like an X-ray. They are like a black hole in space, sucking everything into their giant schemes. It is too hard to comprehend for most people and if we can be kept busy enough always short of money, and have enough tragedies one after the other, and television to take our mind off the tragedies, then we may never have time to think.
Ad
Just thinking. Everyone has different ideas. Good if everyone thinks. My thinking – We are all on a hunt for the idea/s that are best for a near-future NZ.
It could be interesting and a ‘fun question’ to have a game of Where’s NZ. A sort of improv session for weekend participants who would put up scenarios, and then have an economist like Rosenberg or someone from BERL, Brian Easton, Max Rashbrooke etc give us scenarios using computer graphs of how they would work under different variables. (Something different and independent like this budget from 2018 – https://www.union.org.nz/bill-rosenberg-and-ganesh-nana-deliver-independent-budget-analysis/)
Say, what would happen if f the inflation level was eased and the base level came up from 2-4%?
(The fundamentalist economist – Inflation — a thief in your wallet 3m:43s
Head of Economics, John McDermott, explains how inflation is measured and how it manifests itself in everyday life. He also explains the importance of maintaining price stability.) https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/monetary-policy/inflation (think this is 2019) Since 2000, New Zealand CPI (Consumers Price Index) inflation has averaged around 2.7 percent. This compares with averages of 2.4 percent in the 1990s, and averages of over 11 percent for the previous two decades. Since September 2002, the inflation target has been to keep inflation within a range of 1–3 percent on average over the medium term.
Discussions would take place with ideas coming from the floor .
– on monetary policy for the average person, why some have worked at different times.
– on how the import-export balance of trade works on employment levels and job stability.
– on how low wages and rising house rates keep the domestic flow of money from the average person low, and insufficient to power retail businesses and pay for the mostly imported goods they bring in, so that tourists are propping up the economy and exports have to be kept high just to keep us in business etc. –
With lots of questions and groups putting forward scenarios to see what could be done, how it would be regarded internationally, how self-sufficient we can be, how much we make that stays in NZ from large overseas businesses coming here, how they undercut and swamp our own initiatives, how the country is being stolen from us brick by brick and we don’t notice it till it doesn’t pass an earthquake inspection.
We need to understand what our dark matter is, find it, feed it, get cohesive, with our feet firmly on the ground.
Try not to pooh pooh this, I can’t bear too much cynicism.
I like that!: “Left Melancholy”. I hope you don’t mind if I use it from time to time @Ad. It could catch on, but we’d better be careful the Soimon or the shock jocks don’t get hold of it.
Will we ever be mature enough to act on our horrendous road toll ?
People will continue to die on the roads as they always have because
Excessive speed
No respect for the law
No respect for other road users
No police enforcement
Weak driver education and licence rules.
No serious punishment for driver misdemeanors.
Poor roads including the condition of most of them.
The mentality that before action is taken to make a road safer there has to be multiple deaths before anything is done.
Total failure right across the board from government to local authorities and the public who behave like they own the road and can speed doing 80MPH down a residential rd which has a limit of 50 ! despite the possibility that they could kill a child at the speed they choose to drive at.
And the attitude that it is the kids fault for being there not their speed that is the problem.
Mosa
Yesterday I sent a letter to ‘Minister of Transport Phil Twyford, to get passenger and freight rail going in all provinces again, – as used to be using some of the taxes.
Indeed, and that’s probably if they stick to the speed limit, which they don’t – because they’re trying to earn a living under arduous and impossible circumstances.
(And all that’s allowing for the margin of speedometer over-read, and all that shit about “this vehicle is governed…….etc.”)
Given that complete fuckup of a 4 lane tolled road that ends in Paengaroa (they call it an Expressway I think, but in reality, the ‘truckies rest break’ where they can travel while having a snooze because there’s fuck all else going in the same direction, and it doesn’t matter if they cross the centre line from time-to-time). Imagine if the money spent on that white elephant had been spent on something useful. (Like maybe double tracking where necessary in that “Golden Triangle”).
Thank Christ Joyce never got near the place – he’d have been trying to sell off as much of the existing rail corridors as possible in the area.
Jeremy Corbyn on the latest shambles: “On a point of order, it is disappointing that no solution has won a majority this evening but I remind the House that the prime minister’s unacceptable deal has been overwhelmingly rejected three times.”
“If it is good enough for the prime minister to have three chances at her deal, then I suggest that possibly the House should have a chance to consider again the options that we had before us today, in a debate on Wednesday, so that the House can succeed where the prime minister has failed; in presenting a credible economic relationship with Europe for the future that prevents us crashing out with no deal.”
Diffident as he is, he seems to be giving a vote of confidence to their parliament. If he’s right to assume that the narrow defeat of a non-May motion is the basis upon which to proceed, then I endorse his political judgment in suggesting they take that opportunity.
“The option that came closest to being passed, which was defeated by just three votes, was remaining in a customs union with the EU – a key plank of the so-called “soft Brexit” option, under which the UK would leave the EU but retain very close trading links with the bloc.”
“Its supporters say it would mitigate the damage caused to the British economy by Brexit, particularly if combined with staying in the EU’s single market. Detractors say such an option in effect means not really leaving at all, as the UK would be subject to EU rules and regulations it had no say over – and would have no right to strike its own trade deals with non-EU countries.”
“Nick Boles, the Conservative MP who proposed the EFTA/EEA motion – the so-called “Common Market 2.0″ option – resigned from the party immediately after the vote results were announced.” https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-47776512
“The Metropolitan Police said it had arrested 12 people on suspicion of outraging public decency, while officers had “negotiated” with one naked protester who had successfully glued themselves to a window.”
You may be wondering at the political relevance of elephant masks. Google provides some insight into this: “In West and Central Africa, the elephant is a potent image of political force and the accumulation of wealth by those in power. This is true for the art of the Cameroon Grasslands… The Kuosi, members of a society that served as the king’s representatives, and at times the king, wore this mask and headdress as they performed the prestigious elephant dance during rituals, festivals, and funerals.”
Have you put up a comment with link to the Norway deal with the EU? I don’t know anything about it. I heard something on the radio this morning and it sounded a possibility. I may have missed it here.
No, didn’t hear that. Just looked online & found a Politico report from last year with this interesting bit from their PM: “Solberg said there is a “problem with referendums” for solving the EU membership question because voters engage with the question on an emotional level rather than making an assessment based on economic pros and cons. Norway has had two votes on EU membership, opting both times to stay outside.”
“The Thames-Coromandel District Council has outraged local environmental advocates by voting against signing the Local Government Leader’s Climate Change Declaration.
The move at a packed council meeting in Thames saw the councillors rejected impassioned pleas from school children and locals to show environmental leadership by voting six to three against signing the document.
The vote led to loud booing and cries of “shame on you” from about 30 protesters in the public seating area, who had earlier gathered outside the building in the hope that councillors would support the declaration.”
Thames-Coromandel District Council https://www.tcdc.govt.nz/
Official website of the Thames-Coromandel District Council. Find out why Coromandel is the best place in New Zealand to work, live and play.
Re crossing the line on hate speech, Pablo gets it right: “When it comes to free versus hate speech the issue is simple: any speech that incites, encourages, supports, applauds or otherwise instigates or excuses violence against individuals or collectivities because of who (as opposed to anything they have done, although even there the call to violence is debatable), has crossed the line from protected speech into hate speech. Offensive speech remains protected, but the urging of violence is not. The issue is not about causing offence; it is about causing harm.” http://www.kiwipolitico.com/
Then he ventures into this interesting social context: “I have been told by informed community members that Islamophobia is very much a staple part of sermons in some Pacifika Christian churches.”
“Assorted talkback hosts and politicians are now in full “whataboutism?” mode, trying to equate the evils of Muslim extremists with those of other fanatics. Sensing an opportunity, people with agendas are in full throat, be it as purported experts on gangs and terrorism or pushing lines such as that the 1881 assault on Parihaka is a comparable atrocity (in which no one died).”
minimum wage risen,as also the living,wage,these wage rises,i as a imigrant in new zealand,1972,where wages paid minimum wage rate for Trademen,at that now proper progress Trades Person,that took how long,only to be capital bastered to traddies,Trades extent to skill level five years training,Trade Person,you going to let your in most exploiter call you one of my traddies.as his top dollar wage was paid back in 1972.
1972,THESE WAGE RATES AROUND,WHATS THE BIG DEAL OR LIE.bringing back who how old these new bread property ivested politicians who understand capitals exploit of their how control profit max your investment.Shame,yous labour carers,unemployed on the state support,single care one ninty,how much your rent cost 260 a week,ok landlord get your exploited profit exploit for and most are slums,how much left for you the unemployed state cared for,well my rent is 260,the state gives me 290,power food and trouble looks ahead.
Government forced to buy KiwiBuild houses that weren’t selling
Anna Bracewell-Worrall
For the first time, the Government has been forced to purchase KiwiBuild homes off a developer because the houses weren’t selling.
The Housing Minister insists the homes will still be snapped up by KiwiBuild buyers….
….For the first time in KiwiBuild’s short history, the Government had to purchase homes off the developer. Four of the homes are still unsold nearly six months after being balloted to first home buyers.
But Twyford says this is not a problem.
“We are not struggling to sell them. Those houses have only been completed for a few weeks so they are on the market.”
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
Is the economy in another long stagnation? If so, why?This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be ...
The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
Alwyn Poole writes – “An SEP,’ he said, ‘is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a ...
Our trust in our political institutions is fast eroding, according to a Maxim Institute discussion paper, Shaky Foundations: Why our democracy needs trust. The paper – released today – raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand’s political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency ...
This article was prepared for publication yesterday. More ministerial announcements have been posted on the government’s official website since it was written. We will report on these later today …. Buzz from the BeehiveThere we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
New Zealand now has the fourth most depressed construction sector in the world behind China, Qatar and Hong Kong. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 8:46am on Thursday, May 2:The Lead: ...
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Lili Tokaduadua was only 15 when she left her family in Fiji to pursue her netball dream in New Zealand. She’d been playing the sport for 10 years and was offered a netball scholarship at Auckland’s Howick College. Now, in her first year out of high school, the 19-year-old defender ...
The beloved local grocers lost a legal challenge to stop a new cycleway outside their store. Joel MacManus reports. In the annals of New Zealand legal history, there are a few brave people who have dared to stand up to the powers that be, no matter how bleak the odds ...
How what we produce and what we eat connects us to the world beyond our shores, visualised. Walking around a supermarket or vege shop, it might be obvious that everything on the shelves came from somewhere. But you might ...
A $1.8b funding boost for Pharmac still won’t enable it to buy more drugs, raising questions about the Government’s approach to the agency The post Can Pharmac do more with the same pot of money? appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Professor Jemma Geoghegan, of the University of Otago, Otakou Whakaihu Waka, co-leads a Te Niwha project aimed at understanding how and where avian influenza could affect Aotearoa New Zealand, as the highly infectious H5N1 virus spreads globally. The virus has now spread to all continents except Oceania and was recently ...
Thirty years on from Rwanda’s genocide, is guilt over the atrocities is blinding the world to the true nature of its current leadership? The post The repressive underside of Rwanda’s regime appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Opinion: Last week, important recommendations for our criminal justice system were made by the international community. Every five years, each member of the United Nations has its human rights practices reviewed. This rolling event – the Universal Periodic Review – is the culmination of a government reporting on its human ...
Highly pathogenic avian influenza – H5N1, or bird flu – has been flying around the world since the late 1990s. New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands are so far free of it, but now it’s been discovered in mainland Antarctica and scientists say it’s only a matter of time ...
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The following interview with auto electrician and former caver Stu Berendt, 68, of Charleston on the West Coast, came about because he was part of the caving team that found the rare and amazing fossil remains of the giant Haast eagle, the subject of one of the year’s best books, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eric Stokan, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore County If you live in one of the most economically deprived neighborhoods in your city, you might think the government is directing a smaller share of public funds to your community. ...
Wansolwara The news media’s crucial role in climate change and environment journalism was the focus of The University of the South Pacific’s Journalism Programme 2024 World Press Freedom Day celebrations. The European Union Ambassador to the Pacific, Barbara Plinkert, and Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna were the chief ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Adams, Professor of Corporate Law & Academic Director of UNE Sydney campus, University of New England Last August, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) launched legal proceedings against Qantas. The consumer watchdog accused the airline of selling thousands of tickets ...
This episode of A View From Afar was recorded LIVE on May 6, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, May 5, 2024 at 8:30pm (USEST). In an analytical essay titled ‘A moment of friction’ political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan wrote how we are living within a decisive moment ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Taylor, Assistant Professor, Bond University Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures At the crux of the critical response to Luca Guadagnino’s new movie Challengers is one word: “sexy”. The film charts a love triangle between three up-and-coming tennis players: Tashi (Zendaya), ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenny Stewart, Professor of Public Policy, ADFA Canberra, UNSW Sydney For years, First Nations people have been telling governments they want to be listened to. In particular, they want more ownership of the programs and services that are supposed to help them. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Why do trees have bark? Julien, age 6, Melbourne. This is a great question, Julien. We are so familiar with bark on trees, that most of us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Nasser, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, University of Technology Sydney PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important ligament in the knee. It runs from the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia) and helps stabilise ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne I covered the May 2 United Kingdom local government elections for The Poll Bludger. The Blackpool South parliamentary byelection was also held, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deanna Grant-Smith, Professor of Management, University of the Sunshine Coast The federal government has announced a “Commonwealth Prac Payment” to support selected groups of students doing mandatory work placements. Those who are studying to be a teacher, nurse, midwife or social ...
We round up everything coming to streaming services this week, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, ThreeNow, Neon and TVNZ+. If you love a dark comedy: Bodkin (Netflix, May 9)An English podcaster, an Irish podcaster and American podcaster walk into a pub and…make a TV show? ...
By Eleisha Foon, RNZ Pacific senior journalist A Pacific regionalism academic has called out New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters for withholding information from the public on AUKUS and says the security deal “raises serious questions for the Pacific region”. Auckland University of Technology academic Dr Marco de Jong ...
How worried should we be about the cloud? This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. I currently have a few thousand unread emails languishing in my inbox, mostly old marketing newsletters and piles of unread science journal press releases. I have a similar number ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nuurrianti Jalli, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies College of Arts and Sciences Department of Languages, Literature, and Communication Studies, Northern State University Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Southeast Asian governments not only have to deal with the virus but also with the false ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Murakami Wood, Professor of Critical Surveillance and Securities Studies, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa The skyline of Riyadh, the capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia.(Shutterstock) There is a long history of planned city building by both governments ...
The LIVE Recording of A View from Afar podcast will begin today at 12:45pm May 6, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, 8:30pm (USEST). In an analytical essay titled ‘A moment of friction’ political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan wrote how we are living within a decisive moment of ...
The Boil Up’s Lucinda Bennett considers the oyster – from freshness to pearls to the joy of shucking your own. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. In Carmen Maria Machado’s short story ‘Eight Bites’, a woman begins her last supper before bariatric surgery with “a cavalcade ...
Asia Pacific Report A group of 65 Auckland University academics have written an open letter to vice-chancellor Dawn Freshwater criticising the institution’s stance over students protesting in solidarity with Palestine. They have called on her administration to “support” the students who were denied permission to establish an “overnight encampment” by ...
The Student Volunteer Army is on the march, generating approximately 1.6 million hours of volunteering from roughly 35,000 secondary school students in just five years. For Rebekah Brown, the pathway to volunteering started with her singing coach. With a passion for the arts, the suggestion to volunteer at Acting Antics, ...
Keeping up with online communication can be exhausting, so Fran Barclay enlisted the help of Meta’s new ‘intelligent assistant’ to respond to all her messages. Could her mates tell the difference? For centuries, technology has ruled the ways in which we communicate. From the dawn of written language, to the ...
Jamie Arbuckle, a councillor who has become an member of parliament, says he has settled into having two roles so comfortably he's going to keep both pay cheques. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luis Gómez Romero, Senior Lecturer in Human Rights, Constitutional Law and Legal Theory, University of Wollongong Fifty years ago, Australian feminist Anne Summers denounced “the ideology of sexism” governing over so many women’s lives. Unfortunately, sexism is as lethal today as it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jose Antonio Lara-Hernandez, Senior Researcher in Architecture, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images The COVID-19 pandemic and the hybrid work patterns it fostered have changed the way we think about office space, and central business districts in general. While fears ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dale Boccabella, Associate Professor of Taxation Law, UNSW Sydney There’s a good reason your local volunteer-run netball club doesn’t pay tax. In Australia, various nonprofit organisations are exempt from paying income tax, including those that do charitable work, such as churches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marina Deller, Casual Academic, Creative Writing and English Literature, Flinders University NetflixComedy is opening up spaces for silences to be broken and trauma stories to be told. In 2018, Hannah Gadsby started a revolution with Nanette, asking audiences to rethink ...
The workplace can be a minefield of bad comms and passive aggression. Kinksters can help you navigate it. A friend and colleague recently gave me a compliment I loved. They told me I’d always been good at emotional communication and making people feel comfortable. “But I feel like it’s really ...
Even if some students are now just texting on their laptops. Stewart Sowman-Lund writes in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Councils from Horowhenua, Kāpiti, Wairarapa, the Hutt Valley, Porirua and Wellington City will meet this Friday to work together on a plan for a Greater Wellington region water deal. ...
Renowned musician, advocate, and proud born and raised daughter of Tauranga, Ria Hall, is announcing her candidacy for Mayor of Tauranga and Pāpāmoa Ward for the upcoming election on July 20th. ...
The new Aotearoa histories curriculum is rich with potential. There’s still work to be done, but the education minister’s criticisms about ‘balance’ miss the mark, argues primary school teacher Jessie Moss. In 2015, Ōtorohanga College students presented to parliament a petition signed by more than 10,000 people calling for a ...
For too long our so-called national bird has maintained its stranglehold on the economy of regional New Zealand. Thanks to the fast track legislation, we will have our revenge. Theories abound on what ails New Zealand’s economy. National leader Chris Luxon has posited that we’re negative, wet, whiny, and inward-looking; ...
If building one of Auckland’s possible waterfront stadiums was funded privately, it would need to hold a sold-out Ed Sherran concert every weekday for 25 years. That’s Rob Hamlin’s finding – he’s a senior marketing lecturer at the University of Otago. “It’s not going to happen; forget about it,” he ...
Comment: The debate over the future relationship between news and social media is bringing us closer to a long-overdue reckoning. Social media isn’t trying to kill journalism, because social media has never really cared about journalism. Social media is resolutely in the attention business. News propels some attention — perhaps ...
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For the past 12 years, Georgia-Rose Brown has balanced on the brink of making an Olympic Games – but always landed gracefully on the wrong side. Reaching the Olympics is a dream the gymnast has harboured since she was a six-year-old; a dream that would dwindle every four years, yet ...
Late one afternoon in March 1860 a man in a thin green velveteen jacket and a wide-awake hat arrived on foot at a sheep station named Glenmark, about 65 kilometres north of Christchurch. The man was in his mid-fifties but he looked older. Several people who met him that day ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A new Commonwealth Prac Payment will provide students with $319.50 a week when they are on clinical and professional placements. The payment will be means tested and start from July 1 next year, which ...
Asia Pacific Report About 500 people honoured Palestinian journalists in the heart of the New Zealand city of Auckland today for their brave coverage of Israel’s War on Gaza, now in its seventh month with almost 35,000 people killed, mostly women and children. Marking the annual May 3 World Press ...
The Government Communications Security Bureau denies hosting a foreign spying capability flagged by the watchdog, differentiating it from the system recently criticised. ...
Zuzana Caputova, the female and quite progressive lawyer, is now Prime Minister of Slovakia.
https://www.dw.com/en/slovakia-liberal-lawyer-zuzana-caputova-wins-election/a-48131765
Her campaign headline:
“Stand Up To Evil”
How could she possibly stand up to usa foreign policy …. Gangster / Mafi death threats …. literally
Rubio threatens Lynching … its a USA tradition among the Masters
https://pando.com/2014/11/17/the-moment-i-learned-just-how-far-uber-will-go-to-silence-journalists-and-attack-women/
“a few weeks ago, I wrote a story about the outrageous sexism woven deeply into the culture of the company. We’ve seen it in the company’s PR team discrediting female passengers who accuse drivers of attacking them by whispering that they were “drunk” or “dressed provocatively.”
We’ve seen it in CEO Travis Kalanick’s comments that he calls the company “boober” because of all the tail he gets since running it..”
uber https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/exm7za/all-the-reasons-why-uber-is-the-worst-1118
“When They Compared Their Females Drivers to Hookers
In October, Uber launched an app that promised to pair male customers with sexy female drivers. “Who said women don’t know how to drive?” asked ads for the promotion, which was launched by the company’s office in Lyon, France. The fantasy rides had a 20-minute time limit, for reasons that are unclear.
Thanks to a media backlash, the creepy promo never actually rolled out. “They didn’t anticipate the reaction of Uber US,” said Pierre Garonnaire, co-founder of Avions de Chasse, the escort service that co-sponsored the idea.”In the US, you are more Puritan. For me and most of the people of France, it was a good [idea]. It was fun.”
That point is up for debate, but the promo didn’t do much to quell Uber’s reputation for not giving much of a fuck about the safety of women in its cars. On the flip side of the equation, female customers are still frequently complaining that male drivers are harassing them and somehow managing to learn their identities”….
https://www.thedailybeast.com/ubers-biggest-problem-isnt-surge-pricing-what-if-its-sexual-harassment-by-drivers
“Private car services are popular among women who want to stay safe, but reports allege sexual harassment by drivers. Is it time to rethink services like Uber? ”
“Not only has Uber vilified riders accusing their drivers of rape, assault or general bad behavior, they’ve also betrayed all their drivers; Kalanick has said he can’t wait to replace them all with self-driving cars…”
*************************************
I’ve heard a rumour uber are going to step in and buy ‘Gun city ‘ …. thereby saving customers from any regulations or ‘red tape’ ….. about valid firearms licenses and other such unnecessary rules … 😉
Ignoring regulations is ubers business model … uber NZ see military style weapon owners, and semi auto aficionados offering solid consumer support and a enthusiastic customer base for Uber Gun citys … so the rumour goes 😉 😉
Get the uber gun app ….leverage their immunity to improve your gun owning experience….
## I made up the uber gun bit to try and trick James
He loves his uber ….
https://pando.com/2014/10/22/the-horrific-trickle-down-of-asshole-culture-at-a-company-like-uber/
Uber isn’t just creepy drivers and guns 🙂
Watch out for
1. Parking just a few doors down at pickup time, saying you didn’t show and charging the cancellation fee
2. False cleaning fees
3. When a “surge” is approaching they text each other. During a surge they get paid more so be prepared for multiple cancellations from cars that are apparently available during the hour prior, and when you eventually get that Uber it now costs more.
Not tricking anyone – its a pathetic post the borders on hysterical.
But you are right. I love Uber and use it multiple times per week.
The women were hysterical james ??? … making things up about your loved one ?.
Do you love uber …. because you recognize another immigrant into New Zealand ….even more exploitive and lawless than yourself ?.
I must admit ….As a company it seems like a tailored fit to you ….
“Today, in his horrifying scoop, Smith writes about the the lengths that at least one Uber executive, Emil Michael, was willing to go to discredit anyone– particularly a woman– who may try to question how Uber operates.
Ruining her life? Manufacturing lies? Going after her family? Apparently it’s all part of what Uber has described as its “political campaign” to build a $30 billion (and counting) tech company.” https://pando.com/2014/11/17/the-moment-i-learned-just-how-far-uber-will-go-to-silence-journalists-and-attack-women/
https://pando.com/2014/10/22/the-horrific-trickle-down-of-asshole-culture-at-a-company-like-uber/
https://pando.com/2012/10/24/travis-shrugged/ “If Uber doesn’t have to follow licensing laws, then neither does any Tom, Dick, or Harry who chooses to start offering rides via the Internet”
@TRP- sorry I could reply to you question about TAS in the Labour thread last night. It was very late when I checked back in and I’m about to be going out of internet contact for the next couple of days so can’t give you any detail sorry. But in a nutshull, TAS is what one can qualify for when necessary outgoings (usually rent and ongoing medical costs) can’t be met any other way, ie pretty much everyone on a benefit. You’ve got to provide a load of evidence of no other income/savings/things you can sell/proof of how you’ve changed your spending habits and then reapply every 3 months.
Good luck with your friend and thanks for being his advocate 🙂
Cheers, Kay. I can’t say I’m looking forward to it, but I’ll do my best.
TRP, if your friend ends up on a benefit make sure they get the Winter Warmth Payment 1 May to 1 Oct (only $20.42 a week single or $31.82 couple), but it is not taxed and does not affect any other payments .Cheers.
That payment occurs automatically for anyone eligible, so no need
Will Jacinda take the call to help Australia?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/111669826/aussie-comedy-sketch-pokes-fun-at-having-pm-jacinda-ardern-as-their-next-leader
Culture and humor alert…….Public broadcaster at work….Remember those.
Shatpant would be a better fit.
Chris Trotter makes a good point this morning, illuminating the difference between political perceptions and reality. Folks really do get captivated by the froth on the surface. He gives several valid historical examples to prove the point: http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2019/04/dark-matter.html
What really matters is where the electorate is at, en masse. Like the ocean. Those waves may indeed be fascinating, and it’s understandable that media & commentariat get lost in the details, but election results hinge on the tidal flow underneath. Flow to the left, ebb to the right, and where the centrists are at the time of the vote. That’s all that really matters…
Spinoff examines “How TOP plans to rebuild”: https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/31-03-2019/gareth-morgan-gone-for-good-how-top-plans-to-rebuild/
“I think those picking up the cudgels – while I take my hat off to them for tenacity – have realised pretty quickly just how hard it is to do all the stuff needed to foot it with those parties that have been hanging about for decades. Others in TOP are just dreamers – think money grows on trees, and have no idea of the work needed,” said Morgan. They seem to be shuffling their deck currently, and struggling with logistics:
“As part of the transition to new leadership, Gareth Morgan set up a board to run the party, consisting of Simmons, 2017 Rangitata candidate Olly Wilson, and 2017 Rongotai candidate Paddy Plunket. But both Wilson and Plunket have now resigned from that board, though have remained involved with the party. Two new people are now on the board, membership representative Donna Pokere-Phillips and Matt Isbister – six and 21 on the 2017 list respectively.”
“Recently elected leader Geoff Simmons says the membership for TOP remains healthy, saying it is “about 4200, at the last count”. Of those members, only slightly more than 1000 voted in the recent leadership election – 678 of whom voted for Simmons – but he says that had more to do with the logistics of communicating details about the election to members than lack of interest. “We actually had a pretty big challenge just to inform our members about that stuff.”
Fascinating… wise move from Garfield.
Even if TOP fades, I think their ideas have taken root, particularly the RFRM tax and the UBI.
Hate to burst someone’s bubble but the UBI, was around long before, TOP.
So was an RFRM tax.
Cullen actually implemented one as the Foreign Investment Fund tax. Which I pay every year. While I’m not bothered by paying income taxes, capital gains taxes, GST or sales taxes, the FIF tax always feels like a maliciously capricious way to levy a tax. It irritates me enough every year that it would turn me into a single-user voter against anyone that proposed it. Indeed, I haven’t voted Labour since it was introduced.
Who the fuck plugs 2mill into a party for one election, then shafts everyone when he doesn’t get his way?
Morgan quit because the country didn’t vote him into parliament on the first attempt.
And if he was so fucking awesome, why are the new team having to redo party infrastructure?
My reaction exactly. I just felt it appropriate to frame it in more dispassionate terms! Dunno if you noticed, but think it was RL who responded (to my initial comment) re his prior involvement with a Morgan enterprise (yesterday or last night).
Guyon Espiner was put in his place by Winston…. again….on morning retort today. Message to Guyon Espiner, give up trying to score points over Winston, at least in public and on air, Winston has knocked you for six so many times you are sounding very desperate to bowl him.
Xi: “Now [the] bilateral relationship faces new opportunities of development, our two sides must trust each other, pursue mutual benefit and strive to open up new grounds in our bilateral relations.”
Begs the question of a basis for such trust, eh? Blind faith doesn’t work. So the political question becomes: how can NZ & China create a basis of trust in their bilateral relationship?
” Talking to reporters after the meeting, Ardern said she had not interpreted Xi’s comments about trust in any pointed way. She saw it as a comment meaning that all relationships were based around trust, “that we have a longstanding relationship where there is good understanding, where there will from time to time be differences”.
“The differences between us certainly should not and will not define the relationship. Our relationship is too long, too great in history and has a layer of depth to it that I don’t think it should be defined by those differences and I don’t believe it will be.”
Audrey Young reports that, on the issue of Huawei failing to get the green light from the GCSB on 5G, she said she had raised it proactively with Xi. She had outlined the clear process in New Zealand’s legislation which dictated how such decisions were made and she set out where the process was at. And she had also raised the issues of human rights “particularly as it relates to Xinjiang”, – a reference to the mass detention of Uighur Muslims.” https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12217953
The PM was adroit in pointing out that the relationship ought not to be defined by differences between the two countries. She neglected to point out that common ground is where trust gets built.
We don’t know how she & Xi see such common ground emerging on Huawei. I suspect they tacitly assumed there was no time for indepth discussion. We don’t know how she & Xi see common ground emerging on civil rights. Likewise! So the basis for trust remains tenuous.
Stephen Jacobi always presents as a nice, reasonable man. Talking to Garner this morning he did his China cheerleader thing as usual. Xi’s emphasis on trust slid right by both of them. Garner’s normally good at picking up on nuances, but not today.
With Jacobi, I suspect the omission was deliberate. PR is all about managing perceptions, so bland is good. Ensure that discussion not only avoids getting to the crux of an issue, but heads everywhere but there so that distraction becomes a movable feast for viewers and listeners. The smokescreen.
I’ve quoted trust expert Rachel Botsman once or twice here recently, and her published appraisal of China’s new trust-based system for ranking citizens on their performance is relevant to how kiwis are likely to view our potential for trusting China’s regime.
“Ideas such as China’s Social Credit System show how distributed networks of trust could become national networks of shame and interference, controlled by governments.” That’s from the concluding chapter in her latest book (which examines how trust is formed via participation in online networks, using case studies).
So, given that western countries have had seven or eight decades of distrust of state compulsion deriving from totalitarianism, how we can formulate a basis for trust with the current totalitarian regime in China is an interesting question. I anticipate the towering intellects in the Labour Party providing the answer tout suite. Just kidding!! 😎
Learn’t his skills from Hone Shonkey, as smooth as silk ?
She may have noticed the demand for trust is pretty much in the one direction franky and thought xi needx to praxis what he preaxes.
To finish my posting today on a positive note ……
Imagine having this brave woman as your first female leader of your country …
Listen to her short speach
Trump beater ????
Can she defeat the usa media first ?
“Can she defeat the usa media first ?”
Do you watch any US media? Large swathes have Trump Derangement Syndrome, and will give a virtual free pass to any Democratic candidate. Trump’s a numpty, but he’s headed for a second term based on the Dem’s declared candidates.
Just curious, in the view from Shadworld are there any Democrats that could win? Declared or undeclared? Or are we inevitably getting a second round of the 2.8 Handicap-in-Chief??
“…are there any Democrats that could win? ”
None that I’m aware of. I stand to be corrected. In fact I really hope to be!
The trumpatsies will note she’s a she and doesn’t hate immigrants reasy. They won’t hear a word she says.
Two weeks of kindness and inclusiveness and we are already back to the same old shit. After some gang chapters were warmly accepted without qualification at Mosques, media soon set up their strawmen. The line was that if gangs really cared, they would hand in their guns – despite the police being the only ones who had firearms to protect worshippers and those expressing condolences. The president of ONE chapter of the Mongrel Mob said they would not be handing in their guns. It is conceivable that his chapter, the largest in the country, may only have legally held firearms and no semi-automatic or military style weapons. Before jumping to the conclusion that this is a naive assumption, the researcher Jarrod Gilbert noted that only one of the chapter’s members is in prison. More explicitly, Black Power made it clear they would not hand over guns that are used for hunting which on the balance of probably would be legally held. Of course, the media, having created the strawman, is now awash with commentary based on the assumption that the high profile gangs have vast numbers of illegal weapons. The dickwit Minister of Police is buying into the sensationalism and grandstanding about how the Police will prejudicially target gangs with only a quietly added afterthought that anyone illegally possessing semi-automatic weapons will be prosecuted. Meanwhile, how much publicity has been given to pro-gun lobbyists who have specifically stated they will not be handing in their military style weapons – bugger all! The media need to take some lessons on love and acceptance from the Muslim leaders and follow the lead of the Prime Minister. Instead they are dog-whistling the sorts of attitudes which were very briefly hidden under a thin veil of acceptance, kindness and inclusiveness.
+ 1 great comment – I totally agree with your analysis.
So they took a day off from pushing P and synthetics. Whoopdy fucking do.
I look forward to no longer reading about gang-related violence in Hawkes Bay but not holding my breath.
Be good to have no violence from anyone I’d say because it is there – sometimes hidden by the veneer of respectability. Substance abuse, child abuse, spousal abuse – all there in every circle – every circle Kevin.
Too true..but just a smidgeon more in gangs don’t you think.
We used to do business with The MMM, and the Captains especially, often really nice guys, often pretty smart, and often a lot more relatable than some of the ‘Suits’ I interact with in ‘Legitimate White Guy Businesses’…but NO ONE EVER get patched up for being a nice guy.
Though these days the young lads in out neighbourhood (The ‘Nui) are able to buy their Patches..so who knows, maybe they could transform into a ‘club’..but even then, a club making money from selling drugs and paying off debt with traumatised young girls with drug and mental health issues..and in their own community..nope, if they want to go round ‘Virtue Signaling’ during this crisis they deserve to get the big old finger of accusation pointed right back at them.
I personally wouldn’t make too much of the low imprisonment rate of any Patched up gang members…I’m sure there’s very few Hells Angels inside, all things considered, but that’s because keeping within the law and driving round in white vehicles is simply common sense when your number one reason for existence is selling drugs.
Though, I do totally agree, the intelligent conversation should be, 100% about the Gun lobby..they are the real power, and they are the one that needs to be made to pull their head in so we can lower the number of guns..legal and otherwise, held in New Zealand.
(disclaimer..I actually have no problem at all with restricted gun ownership)
Oh dear Siobhan – pulled on the knowall superiority boots this morning eh? Careful you don’t trip over the laces, “…. often really nice guys, often pretty smart, and often a lot more relatable than some of the ‘Suits’ I interact with ….”. Also, it might pay to take the boots off before you get dragged under the veritable sea of ‘Virtue Signalling’ non-gang members who have just discovered Muslims, the nearest Mosques and a bit of compassion.
(disclaimer..I actually have no problem at all with heavily restricted gun ownership.)
aom; –
If ‘kindness and inclusiveness’ is your stance;- ‘that is an honourable stand’.
I wished it would also translate to the other ‘elephants in the room’ also eh??
Labour has not been a ‘kind inclusive’ lot to us as their MP’s are as “cold and insular’ to us out there trying to fix nine years of national Party wrecking ball.
As a member of a community group I explained previously that ever since the Labour Coalition took over government, we have sent repeated requests to the minister Phil Twyford as Minister of Transport to meet our committee either in Napier, Gisborne, or Wellington and always get the same message from his office staff, “the Minister is too busy to meet you”.
Where the hell is the “kindness and inclusiveness” in that??
It is so bloody perplexing to our community here.
Get the labour coalition to answer community groups that come asking it meet these quote; “Kind, inclusive” MP’s please.
cg
I reckon Twyford has too much on his plate. Why not write to Jacinda and point out his list of portfolios and say that your region is not hearing much from anyone and point out the gripe you have about Shane Jones settling on a plan that is like a quick grab of something out of the lucky dip, not one tailored for your needs over there.
Greywarshark;
Thanks for that but Shane and Jacinda always get a copy of our groups request for a meeting with Phil Twyford and we thought that would just get it done.
So I sent a message to our local MP Stuart Nash to intervene but so far his office has not actually requested that Phil Twyford come to Napier and Nash’s PA at his electorate office has been trying to find out why ‘we are facing a wall of opposition’ (PA’s words) to meet Twyford.
So you can see the trouble we face, and it is not only us here.
We discussed this with other community groups who say they also have difficulty getting MP’s to agree to meet him also so it is endemic I am afraid.
Like i said where is the ‘inclusion’ Jacinda promised us?
Write to The Dominion perhaps. That might get read in the beltway.
Or erect a cardboard cutout of a bikini girl at Parliament with sign saying SEX in big caps and Now I have your full attention Twyford I love you and want to have a train with you. Perhaps citizens need to embarrass them to get attention?
A pair of briefs with a cheeky message on them on a sign saying Phil you didn’t leave these in Gisborne because you never came, and we have been waiting and wanting. Or something.
Terrible ideas and we shouldn’t be forced into lowering ourselves to be so vulgar. But he does have some heavy lifting and I think he should have someone else do the other portfolios.
I would of thought being a gang member would automatically exclude you from obtaining a firearms license, therefore all guns in gang members hands would be illegally held.
No Jim – and neither do we, as a society, blatantly discriminate against members of other groups in society if they can meet the requirements for gun ownership. If we were able to, there might be fewer firearms related domestic incidents – something gang members don’t appear to be renowned for.
Really??? I was sure that being “of good character” was part of the license process, which excluded gang members from obtains a FAL.
Jim
You are assuming that all gang members have criminal convictions and that they don’t need guns for their sustainable living – probably many shoot their own meat, pigs etc. Watch the assumptions, there is a bit of truth in most things, so see what it is before you pass your own judgment eh.
Grey, come on.
If the police arms officer, vetting a potential FAL holder, reccomends that a patched gang member should be considered of good character and suitable for any type of FAL, that’s just ridiculous.
Give it a break Jim. Your prejudices have taken you beyond your ability for rational thought. How many cases of gang members killing their partners with firearms in domestic incidents can you confirm? Bet it is less than the number of well heeled horse breeders that have. When did any NZ gang members use a military type weapon to take down 50 people in prayer that can you tell us about? Can you provide evidence of times when gang members have killed either police officers or innocent bystanders? Need one go on? Besides, if you bothered to look, ‘of good character’ is your own invention but admittedly, is only a bit more subjective than the actual requirement in the application process. Thank God that arms officers are more professional and better able to determine facts what than you would be. Incidentally, some gang members have not been approved for FAL’s and there have been occasions when some have been withdrawn – just like with non-gang affiliates when their actions or dispositions have given cause for concern. Actually, licences are probably given more liberally that what they should be, but probably not to gangsters.
AOM
Are you seriously suggesting that the gangs can keep the category of semi automatics that are to be banned?
Basically the gangs can keep them but no-one else can?
Presumably not, but that is how your post read.
Are you seriously that lacking in comprehension skills? NO!
Wayne
Perhaps you are knee-jerking again from the conservative POV – which aspect seems to need updated glasses.
I doubt whether the Gangs AK 47’s and AR 15’s are legally registered anyway, so they are probably illegal weapons hence they are not eligible for compensation ?
Hence I doubt whether the Gangs will hand them in as they need them for protection in case they are attacked by another Gang who wants to steal their drug stash or their cash ?
Did gilby point out the ganger in prison prolly isn’t armed aomy?
On james Casson – to be fair to him he spoke in anger in 2016 this:
He agreed that in July 2016 he posted on Facebook after terrorist attacks in Nice and Paris, referring to an invasion of migrants into Europe. He had written that it was “time to get hard, time for retribution, and extreme violence to rid Europe of these scum”.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/386094/hamilton-councillor-set-to-apologise-to-muslims-for-comments
He is going to apologise to the Muslim community. Perhaps the weight of opinion gives him the message to think about what he feels, and then think whether it is too black and white needing more understanding, and then think before he speaks about what feelings he will arouse in the wider community, and the small bunch of anomic hotheads.
I wish he’d shut up and piss off. I’ve heard enough from that person tbh.
Yeah as my Mum would say: He’s trying! Very trying.
But still if he can bow and be humble, and then take a less aggressive stance on things that are so human and therefore irritating ie be more understanding of the power of emotions on the talker and the listener, your pain may not have been in vain.
This on Radionz this a.m.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018689150/lone-actor-terrorists-a-behavioural-analysis
It is good you have a kind heart.
For me – it’s all a lie. His views haven’t changed. It is damage control based upon his ego and his fear of losing stuff. As I said I wish he’d stfu and piss off. Insincere white apologists are a waste of time on this site and in real life imo.
Actually marty I’m thinking in pragmatic idealist mode. I hope he will have changed, that’s the ideal. I think he may not have as these attitudes score deep in people’s psyches and it requires enormous effort to get free of them.
I think you are probably right in your summing up. And I fear insincerity. It is very sad when you think that someone has goodwill for what you all seem to be working for but it is just a front; they have other plans.
I liked this from an interview with a young woman in Nelson Mail Friday 3/22/2019.
It is from A Muslim PhD student living in NZ. She says –
All together we have failed the terrorist’s plans. But the question still stands there, what can I do? All that you have done is way more generous and beyond expectation and we do not want you to put in that burden, all you need to do is just accept us as we are, ordinary.
We do not need sympathies, we do not need extra attention, and we do not want to be in limelight. We do not need platforms to speak, we just need acceptance, a place to be comfortable under our skin, a place where we have feeling of home, a feeling of co-existence not merely existence.
I’m glad you’re thinking in pragmatic idealist mode @greywarshark and it’d be nice if he really has had some sort of epiphany.
I agree with @ MM however, and that isn’t just because I see him as white apologist, it’s for reasons I’ve made comment over the past few days which include some of the antics and the way he and some of his ilk behave carrying out his job, and having been told how embarrassed one of his own former police colleague’s over their little ‘raids’.
I’m more inclined to Angela Cuming’s view:
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018689140/hamilton-council-complainant-not-surprised-by-racist-remarks
He and Peter Dutton would make great mates I’m sorry to say and perhaps he should consider returning to his former ‘economic refugee’ status
Need to stop pushing this lone wolf fantasy. The guy had cheerleaders.
The Lone Wolf will have been guided over the years no doubt about that, whether we ever get the full story is anybody’s guess ?
Great work in so many ways.
https://www.waateanews.com/waateanews/x_news/MjE0NDE/Shepherd's-life-draws-in-wahine
Chris Trotter sets out what has been occuring to me recently. That we are working so hard to turn back the clock and recover what we believed we had in NZ and making some small improvements. But why necessary, and why so hard to achieve? How come that we are in this pit, we can see the sky, we climb and slip back – is that it – a cycle of constant sacrifice of time and energy and sometime lives to achieve a better society and when we have, the children of the fighters don’t carry enough of the history of struggle with them, and let it slip away in favour of self-indulgence again. What prevents us from holding onto a society with values, sensible controls allowing all people the time and means to have an enjoyable life, and pass that precious package on to the next generation teaching them how to care for it, as its resilience is limited.
Bowalley Road says:
So many on the Left do not appreciate the true dimensions of the vast and immovable cultural-political consensus that allows Capitalism to survive and thrive. If it wasn’t there: or, if it was there, but amenable to reason and love: then Capitalism would long ago have given way to a more human order.
This grim judgement is a lot easier for the Left to accept when reactionary ideas and parties are in the saddle and riding them hard. In those moments, it is easy to convince Capitalism’s enemies that it is, indeed, a monstrous nightmare pressing down upon the lungs of human hope.
A Left without illusions has a much better chance of organising effectively and, on rare occasions, winning.
The real danger comes when events conspire to make it appear as though the Left has already won.
https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2019/04/dark-matter.html
And now, when we have won some time in the sun of relative goodness, what will the children of the complacent do? Can they take their minds out and check them for rips and weak points, can they limit their meditation, their gym workouts, their marathon training and put those times into skill and community building. Half hour per day to talk about work, school, people met, the day’s news, and some of the weekend into community input for the Council and the strugglers; that’s if they have a weekend.
A left without illusions does not exist, and nor should it.
Sure the workers won big in France in 1968.
And yes de Gaulle resigned the next year which was no accident.
But the biggest win was to the feminist movement. By 1974 they had won national health insurance for contraception. By 1975 they had legalisation of abortion. Also in 1975 they got reform of divorce laws.
Mitterand was a bit of a disaster, but he would not have had a shot at nationalising the entire banking industry without the impetus of 1968 and beyond.
Trotter is a useful writer for the right and for the status quo, because he is profoundly pessimistic. He is the very definition of Left Melancholy.
Trotter revels in the political disasters of the last two years of the Lange-Douglas years, and discounts the effects in our society of our own home-grown revolutions.
Our own revolutions in ecology, feminism, Maori land rights, anti-nuclear and anti-war protests, anti-development protests, and anti-racist Rugby protests, well they are the collective essence of left activism today.
They gave rise to the idealism within Ardern today.
Trotter will realise within 6 months that Ardern is shifting wealth through existing instruments of the state already – in many cases not particularly gradually either. She also has the opportunity to go after the really hard-right and hard-to-reach places in gun ownership and armed criminal conspiracies that have held this country back for decades.
The left led by Ardern is not the problem.
Old, spent commentators like Trotter who remain bereft of hope and trapped by history hold us all back.
Time to dare.
“The left led by Ardern is not the problem.
Old, spent commentators like Trotter who remain bereft of hope and trapped by history hold us all back.
Time to dare.”
+ 1 well said
Ad, you are so right. He is hidebound and Trots out the same sour notes.
If we are in, “Watch out it won’t last because…..” If we are out “We lack….”
Jacinda Ardern is such a consummate conductor, it is a pity Trots can’t learn the new tune.
She knows how to blend the best of each instrument to make hopeful strong music.
Each person who takes part grows in courage and belief. She is a force for good. She is growing seemlessly into the role.
Ad
I think you are holding back. Trotter is looking at ways Labour Coalition can achieve in the three year period of power which seems to be zooming along.
Good for doing things of yesterday. They and any other work didn’t prevent us from being up the creek, if we can find some water that hasn’t been utilised by some incomer for profit. We were without a paddle till Labour got back in.
People need to understand that Labour are doing their best but need to know they are limited by their bureaucracy and their financiers, and the fickle prejudiced, emotional market pretending to be staunch. School of fish rather. it might be better if thethe Labour Coalition ask the nation to help them carry out the good things for the country. Get the poor people involved on something in every community.
And it would be good for the public to read the Good Man of NZ’s effort to tell it like it is so they understand the huge reality of all those men with power and money who look through people like an X-ray. They are like a black hole in space, sucking everything into their giant schemes. It is too hard to comprehend for most people and if we can be kept busy enough always short of money, and have enough tragedies one after the other, and television to take our mind off the tragedies, then we may never have time to think.
People need to do exactly the opposite of what you suggest.
I think it was Stendahl that said
“Where the danger lies, there the saving power also grows.”
We are going through a liberative moment, led by charismatic, principled leadership.
Always obstacles. Always.
But each win catalyses another.
Each grows in speed.
The only question is how she deploys this political capital.
Always a fun question.
Ad
Just thinking. Everyone has different ideas. Good if everyone thinks. My thinking – We are all on a hunt for the idea/s that are best for a near-future NZ.
It could be interesting and a ‘fun question’ to have a game of Where’s NZ. A sort of improv session for weekend participants who would put up scenarios, and then have an economist like Rosenberg or someone from BERL, Brian Easton, Max Rashbrooke etc give us scenarios using computer graphs of how they would work under different variables. (Something different and independent like this budget from 2018 –
https://www.union.org.nz/bill-rosenberg-and-ganesh-nana-deliver-independent-budget-analysis/)
Say, what would happen if f the inflation level was eased and the base level came up from 2-4%?
(The fundamentalist economist – Inflation — a thief in your wallet 3m:43s
Head of Economics, John McDermott, explains how inflation is measured and how it manifests itself in everyday life. He also explains the importance of maintaining price stability.)
https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/monetary-policy/inflation (think this is 2019)
Since 2000, New Zealand CPI (Consumers Price Index) inflation has averaged around 2.7 percent. This compares with averages of 2.4 percent in the 1990s, and averages of over 11 percent for the previous two decades. Since September 2002, the inflation target has been to keep inflation within a range of 1–3 percent on average over the medium term.
Discussions would take place with ideas coming from the floor .
– on monetary policy for the average person, why some have worked at different times.
– on how the import-export balance of trade works on employment levels and job stability.
– on how low wages and rising house rates keep the domestic flow of money from the average person low, and insufficient to power retail businesses and pay for the mostly imported goods they bring in, so that tourists are propping up the economy and exports have to be kept high just to keep us in business etc. –
With lots of questions and groups putting forward scenarios to see what could be done, how it would be regarded internationally, how self-sufficient we can be, how much we make that stays in NZ from large overseas businesses coming here, how they undercut and swamp our own initiatives, how the country is being stolen from us brick by brick and we don’t notice it till it doesn’t pass an earthquake inspection.
We need to understand what our dark matter is, find it, feed it, get cohesive, with our feet firmly on the ground.
Try not to pooh pooh this, I can’t bear too much cynicism.
I like that!: “Left Melancholy”. I hope you don’t mind if I use it from time to time @Ad. It could catch on, but we’d better be careful the Soimon or the shock jocks don’t get hold of it.
Will we ever be mature enough to act on our horrendous road toll ?
People will continue to die on the roads as they always have because
Excessive speed
No respect for the law
No respect for other road users
No police enforcement
Weak driver education and licence rules.
No serious punishment for driver misdemeanors.
Poor roads including the condition of most of them.
The mentality that before action is taken to make a road safer there has to be multiple deaths before anything is done.
Total failure right across the board from government to local authorities and the public who behave like they own the road and can speed doing 80MPH down a residential rd which has a limit of 50 ! despite the possibility that they could kill a child at the speed they choose to drive at.
And the attitude that it is the kids fault for being there not their speed that is the problem.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/04/01/malcolm-evans-tolerable-death/
Mosa
Yesterday I sent a letter to ‘Minister of Transport Phil Twyford, to get passenger and freight rail going in all provinces again, – as used to be using some of the taxes.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1903/S00323/the-hidden-trucking-industry-subsidy.htm
That should lower the road deaths if these folks all had a good rail system to carry them along the tracks avoiding the roads entirely.
Great work CG
CG you are on to it an efficient rail and public transport network may get a lot of lunatics off the roads ?
Indeed, and that’s probably if they stick to the speed limit, which they don’t – because they’re trying to earn a living under arduous and impossible circumstances.
(And all that’s allowing for the margin of speedometer over-read, and all that shit about “this vehicle is governed…….etc.”)
And how about this:
https://thespinoff.co.nz/the-bulletin/02-04-2019/the-bulletin-tauranga-moves-closer-to-golden-triangle-train-dream/
Given that complete fuckup of a 4 lane tolled road that ends in Paengaroa (they call it an Expressway I think, but in reality, the ‘truckies rest break’ where they can travel while having a snooze because there’s fuck all else going in the same direction, and it doesn’t matter if they cross the centre line from time-to-time). Imagine if the money spent on that white elephant had been spent on something useful. (Like maybe double tracking where necessary in that “Golden Triangle”).
Thank Christ Joyce never got near the place – he’d have been trying to sell off as much of the existing rail corridors as possible in the area.
Jeremy Corbyn on the latest shambles: “On a point of order, it is disappointing that no solution has won a majority this evening but I remind the House that the prime minister’s unacceptable deal has been overwhelmingly rejected three times.”
Three strikes and you’re out!!! “The margin of defeat for one of the options tonight was very narrow indeed and the prime minister’s deal has been rejected by very large majorities on three occasions.” https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2019/apr/01/brexit-latest-live-news-indicative-votes–brexiters-dismiss-customs-union-plan-as-unacceptable-as-mps-prepare-for-more-indicative-votes-live-new
“If it is good enough for the prime minister to have three chances at her deal, then I suggest that possibly the House should have a chance to consider again the options that we had before us today, in a debate on Wednesday, so that the House can succeed where the prime minister has failed; in presenting a credible economic relationship with Europe for the future that prevents us crashing out with no deal.”
Diffident as he is, he seems to be giving a vote of confidence to their parliament. If he’s right to assume that the narrow defeat of a non-May motion is the basis upon which to proceed, then I endorse his political judgment in suggesting they take that opportunity.
“The option that came closest to being passed, which was defeated by just three votes, was remaining in a customs union with the EU – a key plank of the so-called “soft Brexit” option, under which the UK would leave the EU but retain very close trading links with the bloc.”
“Its supporters say it would mitigate the damage caused to the British economy by Brexit, particularly if combined with staying in the EU’s single market. Detractors say such an option in effect means not really leaving at all, as the UK would be subject to EU rules and regulations it had no say over – and would have no right to strike its own trade deals with non-EU countries.”
“Nick Boles, the Conservative MP who proposed the EFTA/EEA motion – the so-called “Common Market 2.0″ option – resigned from the party immediately after the vote results were announced.” https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-47776512
The naked truth, rarely seen in politics, was almost evident: “Protesters stood in a line with their backsides pressed against the security glass of the public gallery. Most were only wearing knickers or underpants, while two were dressed in elephant masks.” https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/nude-protest-parliament-commons-naked-latest-a8849866.html
“The Metropolitan Police said it had arrested 12 people on suspicion of outraging public decency, while officers had “negotiated” with one naked protester who had successfully glued themselves to a window.”
You may be wondering at the political relevance of elephant masks. Google provides some insight into this: “In West and Central Africa, the elephant is a potent image of political force and the accumulation of wealth by those in power. This is true for the art of the Cameroon Grasslands… The Kuosi, members of a society that served as the king’s representatives, and at times the king, wore this mask and headdress as they performed the prestigious elephant dance during rituals, festivals, and funerals.”
The Brooklyn Museum features this example: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/4852 but it remains to be seen whether the protestors were making a deep philosophical point about political hierarchies…
Have you put up a comment with link to the Norway deal with the EU? I don’t know anything about it. I heard something on the radio this morning and it sounded a possibility. I may have missed it here.
No, didn’t hear that. Just looked online & found a Politico report from last year with this interesting bit from their PM: “Solberg said there is a “problem with referendums” for solving the EU membership question because voters engage with the question on an emotional level rather than making an assessment based on economic pros and cons. Norway has had two votes on EU membership, opting both times to stay outside.”
“We have lost twice. We accept that,” said Solberg, whose Conservative Party is in favor of being inside the bloc. Solberg has been Norway’s prime minister since 2013.” https://www.politico.eu/article/norwegian-pm-uk-cannot-cherry-pick-eu-membership/
Also the guy who resigned was the Tory whip. He was pushing the Norway model: https://www.businessinsider.com.au/what-is-the-norway-model-brexit-2018-4?r=US&IR=T
There’s an overview of the scenario here: http://theconversation.com/brexit-a-norwegian-view-on-the-norway-plus-model-and-why-it-wouldnt-be-easy-for-the-uk-109981
Cracking flounce.
https://twitter.com/matthewchampion/status/1112827184593428480
Dismiss these turkeys they are worthless
“The Thames-Coromandel District Council has outraged local environmental advocates by voting against signing the Local Government Leader’s Climate Change Declaration.
The move at a packed council meeting in Thames saw the councillors rejected impassioned pleas from school children and locals to show environmental leadership by voting six to three against signing the document.
The vote led to loud booing and cries of “shame on you” from about 30 protesters in the public seating area, who had earlier gathered outside the building in the hope that councillors would support the declaration.”
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/111706502/thamescoromandel-district-council-vote-against-climate-change-declaration
Gorillas have real chests to thump.
Pretend ones as in Thames-Coromandel councillors are just at their level of
incompetence.
https://www.tcdc.govt.nz/Your-Council/Councillors-and-Community-Board-Members/
Thames-Coromandel District Council
https://www.tcdc.govt.nz/
Official website of the Thames-Coromandel District Council. Find out why Coromandel is the best place in New Zealand to work, live and play.
Coastal – insurance 1.47m
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yErH6JttB4
Insurance retreat 5.12m
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVeggCODEFM
Classic David Seymour here folks, spent so long bigging up his stance against the gun laws under urgency that he missed the vote.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-shooting/111727631/act-will-force-government-to-pass-new-gun-legislation-under-urgency
premature procrastination?
Re crossing the line on hate speech, Pablo gets it right: “When it comes to free versus hate speech the issue is simple: any speech that incites, encourages, supports, applauds or otherwise instigates or excuses violence against individuals or collectivities because of who (as opposed to anything they have done, although even there the call to violence is debatable), has crossed the line from protected speech into hate speech. Offensive speech remains protected, but the urging of violence is not. The issue is not about causing offence; it is about causing harm.” http://www.kiwipolitico.com/
Then he ventures into this interesting social context: “I have been told by informed community members that Islamophobia is very much a staple part of sermons in some Pacifika Christian churches.”
“Assorted talkback hosts and politicians are now in full “whataboutism?” mode, trying to equate the evils of Muslim extremists with those of other fanatics. Sensing an opportunity, people with agendas are in full throat, be it as purported experts on gangs and terrorism or pushing lines such as that the 1881 assault on Parihaka is a comparable atrocity (in which no one died).”
minimum wage risen,as also the living,wage,these wage rises,i as a imigrant in new zealand,1972,where wages paid minimum wage rate for Trademen,at that now proper progress Trades Person,that took how long,only to be capital bastered to traddies,Trades extent to skill level five years training,Trade Person,you going to let your in most exploiter call you one of my traddies.as his top dollar wage was paid back in 1972.
And in other news baseline level for child poverty reduction has been released.
23% of our kids in poverty after housing costs are paid.
That’s where we start. This government will be judged on where we are about now (June 2019 data will be reported in 2020).
And in 2020 we will see whether honest attempts to reach clear goals actually get support from the electorate.
1972,THESE WAGE RATES AROUND,WHATS THE BIG DEAL OR LIE.bringing back who how old these new bread property ivested politicians who understand capitals exploit of their how control profit max your investment.Shame,yous labour carers,unemployed on the state support,single care one ninty,how much your rent cost 260 a week,ok landlord get your exploited profit exploit for and most are slums,how much left for you the unemployed state cared for,well my rent is 260,the state gives me 290,power food and trouble looks ahead.
‘
Government forced to buy KiwiBuild houses that weren’t selling
Anna Bracewell-Worrall
Give it up Phil. Keep them as State Housing, (which they should have been in the first place).
Here’s an idea; Stop trying to bail out the failed private housing market, rent them to needy families instead.
John A. Lee, John A. Lee, John A. Lee