Open Mike 02/05/2018

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 2nd, 2018 - 77 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

77 comments on “Open Mike 02/05/2018 ”

  1. Jenny 1

    How come I keep getting this when I try to post a comment about my time in Syria?

    Request Timeout
    Server timeout waiting for the HTTP request from the client.

    Apache/2.4.33 (Ubuntu) Server at thestandard.org.nz Port 443

    • Ed 1.1

      I wonder why.

      • Jenny 1.1.1

        Me too. Still getting it.

        Request Timeout
        Server timeout waiting for the HTTP request from the client.

        Apache/2.4.33 (Ubuntu) Server at thestandard.org.nz Port 443

        • Jenny 1.1.1.1

          Will try again.

          • Jenny 1.1.1.1.1

            Nope.

            Request Timeout
            Server timeout waiting for the HTTP request from the client.

            Apache/2.4.33 (Ubuntu) Server at thestandard.org.nz Port 443

      • solkta 1.1.2

        It’s obviously a conspiracy.

    • Sacha 1.2

      Because even the server is bored shitless with that topic?

      • Jenny 1.2.1

        “Ay Rabs”, “Head Choppers”, “Rag Heads”, Who cares about them.

        Kill them all.

        Just do it quietly.

        Eh, Sacha?

    • lprent 1.3

      Not sure. I have had a couple of queries about the server responses this morning. I’m not having any problems from Singapore. But I will have a look at the server now that I am awake excessively early.

      • Jenny 1.3.1

        Thanks

      • lprent 1.3.2

        I can’t see anything wrong. It may just be the usual network glitching between systems in NZ.

        FYI: Two of the reported incidents seem to involve vodafone.

        • Jenny 1.3.2.1

          Must be a real doozy of a glitch.

          Far Out.

          (Do young people still say that).

          Stick with it Lynn, we are rooting for you.

          Request Timeout
          Server timeout waiting for the HTTP request from the client.

          Apache/2.4.33 (Ubuntu) Server at thestandard.org.nz Port 443

        • veutoviper 1.3.2.2

          If it is of any help, I have had the same problem intermittently over the last month or so. I use Vodaphone.

          My workaround has been to use the back arrow at top of page to get back to the comment I wrote; select all the comment text and copy it; then open a separate TS in a new tab; go to post and comment I want to reply to or to the comment box for a new comment; paste and quickly submit. Pain in a..e but seems to work most times.

          Re the original TS comment that won’t work and times out, I keep that open and recommend copying your comment rather than cutting it, as a backup to losing what you have written.

          Sorry for the bad grammar in the above.

        • McFlock 1.3.2.3

          looking at my rather elderly and overloaded “smart” phone, I wonder if it’s a client-end thing just taking a while to run basic tasks?

          Or maybe their cookies need to be cleared and refresh the page?

          in other words their device is concentrating so much on sending stuff and reloading the page that it takes too long to process a request to or from the server?

  2. Ed 2

    Good to see a bit of pressure being put on these dodgy organisations.
    They take 6 billion out of our economy every year.
    And they have been found to cheat their customers and lie to officials.

    Time to get tough with these crooked groups.
    We should nationalise the banks and take money away from the control of private overseas interests

    Banks under scrutiny, told to prove they have clean hands.

    The country’s leading banks have been ordered to prove they are not ripping off their customers like their Australians counterparts have been doing.
    A royal commission into Australia’s financial services sector has found banks have cheated customers and lied to regulators.
    The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) and Reserve Bank spoke with the heads of New Zealand banks on Monday seeking concrete evidence the same was not happening here.
    “We’ve asked them to provide reassurances to us that they have scrubbed their business models, and they have a basis for being confident that those issues don’t exist here,” FMA chief executive Rob Everett said.
    Much of New Zealand’s financial sector is run by local offshoots of the same organisations now in the gun across the Tasman.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/business/356418/banks-under-scrutiny-told-to-prove-they-have-clean-hands

    A starter for anyone interested in learning how banking works.

  3. UncookedSelachimorpha 3

    Bill English continues to chase his dream of a low-wage economy

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/356412/bill-english-joins-board-of-australia-retail-giant

  4. Rosemary McDonald 4

    Couldn’t happen to a more deserving ‘group’.

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/356424/cruel-irony-as-ministry-claws-back-pay-advance

    “Disability groups are accusing the Health Ministry of being mean-spirited and tight-fisted in its efforts to claw back money it gave out as a result of the pay equity settlement.

    About 20,000 staff in the disability sector were included in the historic $2 billion deal that came into force in July.

    Since then some employers have been overpaid but argue they should be able to keep the money.

    Under the pay equity deal, care and support workers got a 21 percent wage increase.

    To help make life easier for employers the ministry decided to pay the money in advance for this financial year to ensure disability services had a buffer of cash on hand to pay the new rates.

    But the funding included a 2.2 percent annual inflation adjustment, which some providers have since been paid again in their new 12 monthly government contracts.

    The ministry now wants to recoup the double payments by making a one off funding cut.”

    For a start…and this is a really, really important point…the New Zealand Disability Support Network, of which Bennie is the Big Cheese, is not a ‘disability group’.

    It is an organisation set up to represent the interests of Contracted Providers of government funded disability supports.

    “Representing the interests” = ensuring the terms and conditions of the hotly negotiated contracts favour the Provider, who can neglect (in some cases to death), abuse and in some cases torture disabled clients and almost never be held properly to account.

    The immediate past CEO formerly worked for the Ministry of Health.

    • Rosemary McDonald 4.1

      FYI

      https://www.nzdsn.org.nz/members-2/

      This is not a happy clappy ‘we love the disabled’ group.

      This is a hard core lobby group….

      “What We Do

      We are a network of organisations and individuals involved in providing disability support services.
      We provide a strong voice to government on matters of policy, service design and legislation.
      We promote innovation, quality services, research and deliver a provider development programme.
      We ensure good communication with members and support for regional networks.
      We contribute to government working parties and reference groups.
      We respond to government requests for advice and input.

      Membership Options

      Level 1
      For organisations with revenue of $10 million or more $6000+GST

      Level 2
      For organisations with revenue of $5 million to $10 million $4000+GST

      Level 3
      For organisations with revenue of $3 million to $5 million $3000+GST

      Level 4
      For organisations with revenue of $1.5 million to $3 million $1500+GST

      Level 5
      For organisations with revenue of $1 million to $1.5 million $1000+GST

      Level 6
      For organisations with revenue of $500,000 to $1 million $500+GST”

      They linked with the PSA back in 2015 to raise concerns about the push to have more disabled people using Individualised Funding rather than being reliant on the often unreliable Contracted Providers.

      An interesting hui in Auckland ( http://disabilityconnect.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Invite-to-individualised-funding.pdf) there was much hand wringing from PSA and NZDSN about the pitfalls of increased control by disabled people over their allocated funding.

      Interesting reaction from some of the care workers from the provider organsiations and the PSA when users of IF told of how successful they had found having this control, how satisfying it was to be able to pay their workers up to $20 per hour (remember the providers were largely paying minimum wage at this stage) AND, after meeting all of their employer obligations were still (in some cases) able to return unused portions of their funding to the Ministry of Health at the end of the year.

      No doubt in my mind that the roll out of IF was negatively impacted by poor administration and support by the Contracted Providers hosting the IF $$$…because of course it wouldn’t be proper for there not to be a commercial opportunity in the scheme somewhere, the more snouts in the trough the better…but the folk making best use of IF had managed to largely bypass these troughers.

      The new System Transformation for disability supports has a strong emphasis on IF or Personal Budgets, which the NZDSN and the PSA are not entirely ecstatic about.

      Tough.

  5. silvertuatara 5

    I read Kim Dotcom’s following announcement through Twitter (https://twitter.com/KimDotcom) on the 29/4 which reads;

    “KimDotcom@KimDotcom

    The new Labour govt in New Zealand decided to appeal the Human Rights Tribunal ruling that former Attorney General acted unlawfully by withholding evidence in my case.

    @nzlabour is now officially defending what National did to my family. Increasing cost and prolonging injustice.”

    I am interested in the Human Rights aspect of this case and was wondering if anyone else has come across anything through the media about the Crown’s appeal of the Human Rights Tribunal ruling that former Attorney General acted unlawfully by withholding evidence in Kim Dotcom’s case.

    Having read the Human Rights Tribunal ruling I am interested on what basis the Crown has grounded their appeal.

    Cheers, S.T.

    • savenz 5.1

      Disgusting, lawyers out of control again, no wonder NZ productivity is down and we can’t pick out own apples or build a house anymore, too many lawyers (we have about 26% more practising lawyers per person that the UK which is supposedly a financial hub, why do we need so many lawyers in NZ, when we seem to be a mostly agricultural and construction economy?).

      Even a Moron should be able to work out that not releasing Dot coms information held about him from government agencies when he was being publicly persecuted in a bizarre inappropriate and ultimately found illegal police/cops/FBI shakedown…. was wrong. Now to waste more taxpayers money on lawyers appealing it… outrageous.

      What’s the legal bill so far for NZ taxpayers – 5 million and counting just on the lawyers… because Hollywood is too cheap to fight it’s own battles and our over represented NZ lawyers are only too keen to be troughers at the government purse and now wasting more money on appeals that show Kiwis citizens that our government love harassment and lack decency to see even the most basic of issues effecting privacy…

    • veutoviper 5.2

      Thanks for the update, ST. I am also interested as to what basis the “Crown” is using for it’s appeal.

      Having Googled to see if there is any further information, all I could find was KDC’s tweet and a blog post on TDB by Martyn Bradbury which provides no further information.
      https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/04/30/labour-party-attack-kim-dotcom-major-blunder/

      Whether this is a decision by the new “Labour Government “, as suggested by KDC and Bradbury is questionable, however.

      As you know from reading the Human Rights Review Tribunal ruling, the “Crown” as the original defendant in this case comprised Crown Law as First Defendant and then in order, the Attorney-General, DPMC, Immigration, MBIE, MFAT, MOJ, and NZ Police as the other 2nd to 8th Defendents.

      The Solicitor-General as Chief Executive of the Crown Law Office, and the Attorney-General are the two main Law Officers of the Crown.

      The Attorney-General has two roles in government – one as the senior Law Officer of the Crown requiring the A-G to act independently free of political considerations on some matters; and the other as a Minister of the Crown with ministerial responsibilities with its associated political partisanship.

      The Attorney-General as senior Law Officer has principle responsibility for the Government’s administration of the law which is exercised in conjunction with the Solicitor- General as is the junior Law Officer.

      OTOH:
      “Subject only to the Attorney-General, the Solicitor-General is the government’s chief legal adviser and advocate in the courts. In practice, the Solicitor-General provides advice directly to Ministers, departments and agencies of government and will appear as Senior Counsel for government interests in litigation and in particular appellate court matters. A key responsibility is to advise the government on constitutional questions.

      The Solicitor-General also exercises a number of specific functions within the Crown’s prosecution process. These include responsibility for the prosecution of criminal jury trials and Crown representation in appeals against conviction and sentences.

      By statute the Solicitor-General can exercise almost all of the statutory functions conferred on the Attorney-General. As the non-political Law Officer, the Solicitor-General has traditionally assumed responsibility for the exercise of those functions that should be undertaken independently of the political process, most notably the prosecution functions.

      However, it has long been recognised that the nature and value of the office within government lies in part on the Solicitor-General’s duty to give independent advice and, in relation to certain functions, to act independently. That independence is of considerable constitutional importance. Such impartial advice can be seen to be given without political direction, even on politically contentious issues.”

      http://www.crownlaw.govt.nz/about-us/law-officers/

      In terms of the role of the Solicitor-General as the chief adviser and advocate in relation to the courts and the specific functions of this role in respect of the prosecution process, it could be that this decision to appeal the KDC HRRT ruling has been made by the Solicitor-General acting independently.

      Please note that this is conjecture on my part, but I would be really interested to know whether this has been the case. If so, it cannot be sheeted to the “Government” per se – of whatever political persuasion or composition.

      I will be following this appeal with interest, both from this aspect and the one you raised – the grounds that the appeal is being based on.

      “The Crown” certainly did not make a great impression on the HRRT in terms of their original actions and the presentation of their defence to the Tribunal.
      Sections (8) to (13) summarise the Tribunal’s impressions re KDC versus the Crown as witnesses rather succinctly.

      https://www.justice.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Decisions/2018-nzhrrt-7-dotcom-v-crown-law-others.pdf

      • silvertuatara 5.2.1

        Thanks veutoviper…..will wait and see what appears next then…..good points raised and noted which I appreciate your response.

  6. ianmac 6

    “False Clarke Gayford rumours: Police and PM Jacinda Ardern respond to widely circulated fake slurs” by David Fisher.

    Jacinda via Clarke is the victim of false news and Dirty Tricks are alive and well. Yuck!

    Jacinda Ardern’s partner Clarke Gayford has been under an unprecedented assault of baseless rumour and false innuendo with the apparent intent of dragging down the Prime Minister.

    For the past seven months, Gayford has been the subject – on social media and via word of mouth – of untrue allegations and accusations.

    The sheer scale and nature of the claims have led to Police Commissioner Mike Bush taking the extraordinary step of signing off a media release that rejects the speculation.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12043351

  7. savenz 7

    Ugh scary stuff

    One News last night had a disturbing story about allegations that Corrections officers had sexually assaulted prisoners – and that Corrections was for some reason not bothering to track these allegations:

    http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2018/05/how-can-they-not-track-this.html

  8. Philip Ferguson 8

    Excellent to see that the school workers’ strikes are spreading across more states in the USA: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2018/05/01/us-teachers-strikes-spread-across-five-states/

  9. The Chairman 9

    How do Labour and Green supporters here feel about it being years before the welfare overhaul comes about?

    Anecdotally, I know most weren’t expecting changes over night, but now that Labour have indicated it may not come about until after the next election, how do you feel about the delay?

    Personally, considering some of the horror stories coming out of WINZ one would have thought Labour would have made the overhaul a priority.

    The Green Party seem rather silent on the matter. Especially so now they have Marama as co-leader.

    • savenz 9.1

      Maybe the poor would get more welfare if they banded together and formed a religion…. see Gloriavale below, but I don’t think they are the only ones who can gather substantial government benefits in this way… funny how the tinder date women got her benefit cut, but this sort of practise is ok, (maybe because they are rich and a harder target?).

    • The Chairman 9.2

      “The problem is that poor families really can’t wait until the deliberations of a welfare working group, they’ve already had to wait far too long and we’re picking up the social cost of that every day, we’re hearing from the sector about how … things have got worse.” – Susan St John. 

      Seeing as the welfare overhaul was part of Labour’s confidence and supply deal with the Greens, it’s surprising the Greens have nothing to say on the delay.

      So much for the notion of the Greens keeping Labour in check. I’m starting to think my vote for the Greens was a waste of time.

      • savenz 9.2.1

        Sue Bradford? She understood that time is something you don’t have when you are hungry and homeless….

        Welfare has been allowed to get into a mess and a lot of people who don’t need benefits get them, while working people increasingly need them because the wages are so low, while those who need benefits them don’t get them, so that the costs overrun and more and more ‘reforms’ can be justified, at the same time this means less left people vote left (because their lives have got worse) and more right people vote right (because welfare feels like a bottomless pit)…

        • The Chairman 9.2.1.1

          Yes, savenz, Sue Bradford understands that time is something you don’t have when you are hungry and homeless.

          A lot of people I know that voted left have given up on so-called left wing parties and no longer partake in elections. In fact, I’ve yet to meet a right-winger that doesn’t vote.

      • Sacha 9.2.2

        From the confidence and supply agreement:
        https://www.greens.org.nz/sites/default/files/NZLP%20%26%20GP%20C%26S%20Agreement%20FINAL.PDF

        10. Overhaul the welfare system, ensure access to entitlements, remove excessive sanctions and review Working For Families so that everyone has a standard of living and income that enables them to live in dignity and participate in their communities, and lifts children and their families out of poverty.
        a. Safe sleeping environment devices will be made available for vulnerable families.

        Nothing about timing but if there is nothing immediate in the Budget in a couple of weeks, then yes the left have cause to be concerned.

        • The Chairman 9.2.2.1

          The drawn-out timing (up to 3 years from now) was announced by Labour’s Social Development Minister on the last episode of the Nation.

          What blew me away was there was nothing from the Greens on this drawn-out timing, yet when it came to the less well off subsidising those that can afford a new EV, the Greens were quick to publicly announce they are considering it. Despite it going against their social justice stance.

          So instead of speaking up on the drawn-out timing to help the less well off, they decided to speak up on a policy proposal that will benefit the well to do at the expense of the less well off.

          What the hell are they up too?

      • solkta 9.2.3

        “I’m starting to think”

        Gosh, starting to? You really are a feeble little troll.

        • The Chairman 9.2.3.1

          No. I’m a disappointed Green voter.

          • solkta 9.2.3.1.1

            feeble.

            • The Chairman 9.2.3.1.1.1

              When it comes to social justice,”feeble” and largely good for nothing is how the Greens are currently coming across.

              • solkta

                You are such a try-hard.

                • The Chairman

                  It’s a pity and a real let down the Greens aren’t trying harder.

              • tracey

                Can you explain how you thought a party polling around 5% last September was going to be able to enforce all the changes you wanted in 6 months?

                • The Chairman

                  Due to their lack of the vote, I don’t expect the Greens to enforce all the changes they campaigned on. However, I do expect them to speak up and show us how they are working on trying to secure more.

                  What we’ve got is them gifting questions to the opposition and telling us they are considering getting the less well off to subsidise the well to do.

                  Do you not share my disappointment, Tracey?

                  • tracey

                    I dont actually. I know enough about them to understand they do not indulge in the tail wagging the dog and will abide by the letter and intent of agreements they sign.

                    • The Chairman

                      “I know enough about them…”

                      Do you?

                      So you are happy and have no problem with them gifting questions away and considering getting the less well off to subsidise the well to do?

                    • The Chairman

                      “They do not indulge in the tail wagging the dog and will abide by the letter and intent of agreements they sign.”

                      And in saying that, are you implying speaking up and showing us how they are working on trying to secure more doesn’t abide by the letter and intent of agreements they’ve signed? Because that would be incorrect, despite what you claim to know.

                      If not, what was your point?

      • tracey 9.2.4

        ” I’m starting to think my vote for the Greens was a waste of time. ” where do you think your vote would have been used better?

        • The Chairman 9.2.4.1

          Nowhere, at this stage. Hence, my desire to see the Greens up their game.

        • The Chairman 9.2.4.2

          Addionally, Tracey, your question reminds me of the stance some centrist take. We don’t have to worry and cater to the left as they have nowhere else to turn too.

  10. savenz 10

    One of the issues of welfare seems to be some unusual arrangements allowed, such as the Gloriavale community who seem to have copious amounts of children who apparently need government welfare support, giving their WFF’s (estimated over 3 million a year in WFF welfare payments to the families who then put it in the wealthy community leaders bank accounts)… God provides in mysterious ways… someone was also complaining how they got such a good ero report when they are segregated and girls taught women’s work. I believe Gloriavale also qualify for some education funding for their own schools from the tax payer to the tune of $200,000… to teach that sort of stuff… God via the tax payers provides again, it seems.

    Government to investigate Gloriavale’s use of Working for Families payments
    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/05/government-to-investigate-gloriavale-s-use-of-working-for-families-payments.html

    https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/04/22/dr-liz-gordon-bees-guns-and-cults-recent-happenings-in-education/

    • Daveosaurus 10.1

      Q: what’s the difference between Centrepoint and Gloriavale?

      A: one’s a commune run by a convicted sexual predator, and the other was run by Bert Potter.

      • tracey 10.1.1

        Actually the answer is no difference. Both are run by sexual predators. Your attempt at humour is weak and illplaced imo

  11. Herodotus 11

    With the budget fast approaching- I hope those senior members of the govt will be reminded repeatedly of what was said at election time.
    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/10/what-labour-promised.html
    https://www.labour.org.nz/10_reasons
    Unlike in 99 (when the reverse was the case) last year is appearing to be over promised and under delivered
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/103480388/cheaper-gp-visits-delayed-as-govt-admits-it-cant-afford-this-year
    So we are now prioritising what will be spent.
    How can we trust any Politician?? National – Labour what really is the difference? Promise then renege, BUT we didn’t know…. Really

    • tracey 11.1

      You thought Labour was significantly different to National in terms of behaviour? Why?

  12. veutoviper 12

    I think we all need a bit of a laugh today – so here we are.

    The NZ is being left off of maps conspiracy – Jacinda Ardern and Rhys Darby

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2018/05/jacinda-ardern-rhys-darby-campaign-to-get-nz-on-world-maps-in-hilarious-video.html

  13. DB Brown 13

    Just a wee heads up on the ‘news’ that hemp is good food, and being permitted as food, and kiwi farmers might move into it as an alternate income to milking.

    This is all true. BUT, and it’s a biggie…

    Hemp is an accumulator of heavy metals. Cadmium, that comes with many Phosphate fertilisers, is a widespread problem on Dairy (and other) land, with levels threatening to shut certain land from production, or out of specific markets (EU). Our Councils are already fully aware of this issue.

    So, here’s what actually needs to happen.

    We identify the (so much) polluted land, and grow Hemp for FIBRE, until the land is cleared for food. The Hemp will detoxify the land while making a profit for Farmers. Talk about a gift horse. Now let’s see if anyone’s listening.

    It’s an elegant solution to an enormous potential screw up.

    Let’s get this right.

    • McFlock 13.1

      I think there’s a project in Australia looking to use a salt bush for a similar use, specifically for heavy metails and radioactive stuff. The idea being that the salt bush absorbs the pollutants, and it’s then taken and burned and the metals collected (radioactive rope might be an issue).

      But it’s an interesting idea.

      • DB Brown 13.1.1

        Nice heads up on the saltbush thank you.

        These types of plants are called hyperaccumulators, and were initially discovered as inhabitants of serpentine soils and mine tailings. Unfortunately most grew too small or too slow to be of use but science continues the search. Did you know some clever folks have found a strain of Brassica juncea to harvest gold from tailings?

        GOLD! (that always gets attention).

        • McFlock 13.1.1.1

          Mustard?

          Lol that’ll end up in a posey michelin star restaurant

  14. The Am Show Mark I would not have liked to be in your shoes when that bomb went off
    on the Black Caps tour of Pakistan in 2002 that would have been unexpected and made me ——-my pants.
    We should be great full that OUR Tipunas had the forsight to use diplomacy and intelligence to work together to leave us all this beautiful country Aoteraroa .
    One phenomenon about this school PEE description is that it confirms my concerns that there is heaps of PEE out there and there is good reason to call out people using the word CRACK in any way in public is not acceptable.Duncan there need to be a advertising campaign showing what PEE does to you as soon as I heard about PEE we talked to our children about the bad side affects of PEE it is easy to see PEE users some people just don’t know how easy it is to see all addicts.
    Gossip is a human trait everyone does it I take all information with a grain of salt untill I get it confirmed from other sources some people take gossip as a fact and use it to harm other people Good name like the sandflies are doing to me but are thats OK Eco Maori is just a broke brown person with no rights. Ka kite ano P.S its good that my———– know that I am innocent

  15. I say that what happen in that NZ School is unacceptable and who ever dreamt that up should be canned full stop P.S we should never let it be accepted that PEE becomes a common thing in New Zealand as this type of behavior will do make it the norm. I wonder what that principal career was before he started teaching I think I know what it was

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/103580992/quakes-rattle-the-northeast-of-the-south-island

    • eco maori 16.1

      The Am Show Negative gearing is not just used by house owners business use it to structure there business to avoid paying tax that’s a fact we need to even the playing feild for all If they middle class are worried about there retirement they should join that great Labour invention Kiwi saver Ka kite ano

      • eco maori 16.1.1

        Good evening Newshub tangata I agree with that drug councler its insane to expose te Mokopunas to that information on PEEEEE.
        ITS obvious that the fuel companies are running campaign to maximise their profits. The Queen horses
        Phil and Tyrone are magnificently beautiful animals I will be getting me A horse or 2 soon as I build my Pa back home.
        Nice tie Mike many thanks to the good Tangata Sea cleaner for there great work Ka pai
        There is a lot of different foods we eat that can cause harm to animals like chocolate is never to be fed to dogs as it hypes them up and could cause more damage to the dog good on the Australian for putting there foot down on this issue. Ka kite ano

        • eco maori 16.1.1.1

          Newshub you would think the sandflys would spend there time chasing the PEEEEE dealers instead of wasting there time and resources harrsing ECO MAORI knowing how much is on the street and that the Mokopunas are using the poison Ana to kai Ka kite ano P.S I think they have there priorities worng

          • eco maori 16.1.1.1.1

            The Crowd goes Wild Mulls and Melissa you will be a good team I have a hard time with the sandflys always harresmeing me on the roads to keep my self control I just tell myself that they are trying to minupulate my behaviour and calm down I’m not letting them change my behaviour muppets.
            Monty Betham is a excellent ambassador for Rugby League and the Warriors many thanks from ECO MAORI Monty for your good work Ka kite ano Wairangi is going to be brused after that Monty

            • eco maori 16.1.1.1.1.1

              The Crowd goes Wild To admit one needs glass is to admit one is getting long in the tooth Melissa it took me a couple of years to admit I needed glasses lol Ka kite ano

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    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 hours ago
  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Thursday, May 2
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 11:10 am on Thursday, May 2:Scoop: Government sits on official advice on fast-track consent. The Ombudsman is investigating after official briefings on the contentious regime were held back despite requests from Forest ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 hours ago
  • The Art of taking no Responsibility
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 hours ago
  • The shabby “Parliamentary urgency” ploy – shaky foundations and why our democracy needs trust
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 hours ago
  • Jones has made plain he isn’t fond of frogs (not the dim-witted ones, at least) – and now we lea...
    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 Beehive  There we were, thinking the environment is in trouble, when along came Jones. Shane Jones. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 hours ago
  • Infrastructure & home building slumping on Govt funding freeze
    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: ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 hours ago
  • Brainwashed People Think Everyone Else is Brainwashed
    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 ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    8 hours ago
  • Peters’ real foreign policy threat is Helen Clark
    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 ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    9 hours ago
  • NZ’s trans lobby is fighting a rearguard action
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    16 hours ago
  • Your mandate is imaginary
    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 ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    21 hours ago
  • 14,000 unemployed under National
    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 ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    24 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Discontent and gloom dominate NZ’s political mood
    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 ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    24 hours ago
  • Taking Tea with 42 & 38.
    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 ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Beware political propaganda: statistics are pointing to Grant Robertson never protecting “Lives an...
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Winding back the hands of history’s clock
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Paula Bennett’s political appointment will challenge public confidence
     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 ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    1 day ago
  • Business confidence sliding into winter of discontent
    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 ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the coalition’s awful, not good, very bad poll results
    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 ...
    1 day ago
  • New HOP readers for future payment options
    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 ...
    1 day ago
  • 2024 Reading Summary: April (+ Writing Update)
    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 ...
    2 days ago
  • At a glance – Clearing up misconceptions regarding 'hide the decline'
    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 ...
    2 days ago
  • Road photos
    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 ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Paula Bennett’s political appointment will challenge public confidence
    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, ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago
  • NZDF is still hostile to oversight
    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 ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Winding Back The Hands Of History’s Clock.
    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 ...
    2 days ago
  • Sweet Moderation? What Christopher Luxon Could Learn From The Germans.
    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 ...
    2 days ago
  • A clear warning
    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 ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Poll results and Waitangi Tribunal report go unmentioned on the Beehive website – where racing tru...
    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 ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Listening To The Traffic.
    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 ...
    2 days ago
  • Comity Be Damned! The State’s Legislative Arm Is Flexing Its Constitutional Muscles.
    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 ...
    2 days ago
  • Ending The Quest.
    Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
    2 days ago
  • Will political polarisation intensify to the point where ‘normal’ government becomes impossible,...
    Chris Trotter writes –  New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Tuesday, April 30
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:30am on Tuesday, May 30:Scoop: NZ 'close to the tipping point' of measles epidemic, health experts warn NZ Herald Benjamin PlummerHealth: 'Absurd and totally unacceptable': Man has to wait a year for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
    Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Worst poll result for a new Government in MMP history
    Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. 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 ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Pinning down climate change's role in extreme weather
    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
    2 days ago
  • Serving at Seymour's pleasure.
    Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Webworm LA Pop-Up
    Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • “Feel good” school is out
    Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 6 Months in, surely our Report Card is “Ignored all warnings: recommend dismissal ASAP”?
    Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic plan, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy. Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    3 days ago
  • Bread, and how it gets buttered
    Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Why Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating in the country
    Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Justice for Gaza?
    The New York Times reports that the International Criminal Court is about to issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over their genocide in Gaza: Israeli officials increasingly believe that the International Criminal Court is preparing to issue arrest warrants for senior government officials on ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • If there has been any fiddling with Pharmac’s funding, we can count on Paula to figure out the fis...
    Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • FastTrackWatch – The case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Monday, April 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Iran killing its rappers, and searching for the invisible Dr. Reti
    span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
    3 days ago
  • Auckland Rail Electrification 10 years old
    Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
    3 days ago
  • Coalition's dirge of austerity and uncertainty is driving the economy into a deeper recession
    Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Disability Funding or Tax Cuts.
    You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Of the Goodness of Tolkien’s Eru
    April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #17
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
    4 days ago
  • Pastor Who Abused People, Blames People
    Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Vic Uni shows how under threat free speech is
    The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Winston remembers Gettysburg.
    Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • 25
    She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8.  The universe was ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Fact Brief – Is Antarctica gaining land ice?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
    5 days ago
  • Policing protests.
    Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Open letter to Hon Paul Goldsmith
    Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: FastTrackWatch – The Case for the Government’s Fast Track Bill
    Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago
  • Luxon gets out his butcher’s knife – briefly
    Peter Dunne writes –  The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • More tax for less
    Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Real News vs Fake News.
    We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Another way to roll
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Share ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Simon Clark: The climate lies you'll hear this year
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
    5 days ago
  • Cutting the Public Service
    It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago
  • Luxon’s demoted ministers might take comfort from the British politician who bounced back after th...
    Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious:  we live in a troubled ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • This is how I roll over
    1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Waitangi Tribunal is not “a roving Commission”…
    …it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisition   NOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes –  The High Court ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Is Oranga Tamariki guilty of neglect?
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same? Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Three Strikes saw lower reoffending
    David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Luxon’s ruthless show of strength is perfect for our angry era
    Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • 'Lacks attention to detail and is creating double-standards.'
    TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • NZ not backing down in Canada dairy dispute
    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’ ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago
  • Stronger oversight for our most vulnerable children
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Streamlining Building Consent Changes
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Minister acknowledges passing of Sir Robert Martin (KNZM)
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Parliament – Annual Lecture: Challenges ...
    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.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Accelerating airport security lines
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Community hui to talk about kina barrens
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kiwi exporters win as NZ-EU FTA enters into force
    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. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Mining resurgence a welcome sign
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill passes first reading
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