The authors are thinking of an evening open mike post. Open mike performs very well and is regularly the most commented on post. Often there will be over 100 comments. An evening post will allow discussion of what has happened during the day. In various sites it appears to work well.
Sometimes I have an interesting item that I save until the next day’s Open Mike, because the current day has been too busy and if it’s posted the item won’t get the attention it warrants.
An evening post would help, although alternatively I’m not sure how successful it will be splitting ‘the days discussion’ in half. If the evening post is made too late, it won’t get much use, if it’s made too early, it’ll split stuff up too much.
Thinking about it. If you go ahead with this you may want to have it so that new threads on the Morning Mike can’t be created once the Evening Mike is up. This would allow threads to continue while pushing people onto the Evening Mike for new threads.
Unless Evening Mike is for things that happened during the day and Open Mike is for anything at all. I like the idea of Evening Mike being a bit more focussed than Open Mike, which is very open.
Why you would buy a house on leasehold land I have no idea. You have to have rocks in your head to do that. You could only get away with it by renting it out.
Likely to avoid rent inflation millsy. The ground rent on that property is fixed until 2026.
One of the best reasons to buy your own home is to kill rent inflation. Renters suffer inflation on their entire income, home owners face inflation only on consumer goods & services.
Betcha Key is watching Auckland Council’s handling of the ports extension dispute.
Government has an explicit productivity increase agenda.
The larger wharves are required for greater productivity, both to enable larger ships, and from losing Queens Wharf to cruise ships.
Govt stepped in over Rugby World Cup wharf, and now has a 50% share of it.
Auckland Council explicitly avoided gaining greater control of its port through the CCO review. This despite 2 years of warning through the labour dispute that management there would do what they want, with flimsy public direction.
If Council keep fumbling on NZ’s most important port pinch-point, its 1951 redux. Key will lose any patience he has left with Auckland Council, and he will act hard.
Hulse should watch the “thermonuclear option” on her own ass.
Agreed Ad . So the Ex Maersk Executive now CEO of POA is flying back from San Francisco and will have a chat with the Chair of the Board woopy poops.
The Council has finally made a public statement about the arrogant attitude of the appointed boards and executives that have been aiding and abetting the POA .
The POA is legally a CCO {Council Controlled Organisation) so at last it seems the Council and its elected Mayor and councillors is about to start Controlling for the first time since the new Auckland was formed.
If they do nothing then POA will become a COCO ( Completely Out Of Control Organisation in my LTHO
No, Ports of Auckland is controlled by Auckland Council Investments Limited, which is in turn controlled 100% by Auckland Council. Council had their chance for direct control, and folded like origami. They would have to go through a formal consultation process to do it now, which takes a whole bunch of time and shouting.
Those glorious yachties and their millionaire WAGs rattling their jewellery about a completely legitimate consent within a well-degraded marine environment, itself within a well-delineated POAL seabed line, need to figure out that the call to wait for isn’t from Maersk to POAL.
The calls to wait for are from Tesco’s to Fonterra, which goes: “…why the fuck are we having to wait for your little supply ships to get onto Maersk from Sydney? We are cutting you, because we are shifting quite happily to the Urugayan supply out of Buenos Aires thanks.”
And the second call is from the Chinese Premier to John Key: “…Thanks for playing. You’re benched.”
MMMMM!!!!! So the POA Board does nothing ? except collect their fees.
I don’t think so.
The Governance of POA & other CCO’s was the plan but into place by John Key’s nominee Rodney Hide.
The Council is 3 times removed from the action via ACIL/POA Board/POA Executive All appointed none elected. Go Figure.
The Public Service Association (PSA) says Minister Tolley’s announcement of a Paula Rebstock-led review into Child, Youth and Family (CYF) is the last thing needed by an organisation that has demonstrated it can assess and plan for its own needs.
He argued the central bank was unable to contain the credit boom, allowing inflation to rise and sparking exaggerated risk-taking and speculation, the threat of bank collapse and costly state interventions.
In Iceland, as in other modern market economies, the central bank controls the creation of banknotes and coins but not the creation of all money, which occurs as soon as a commercial bank offers a line of credit.
The central bank can only try to influence the money supply with its monetary policy tools.
Under the so-called Sovereign Money proposal, the country’s central bank would become the only creator of money.
Would be good if they do this. We’ll see a nations’ economy stabilise and then bloom. Trade will become a nice to have rather than a necessity.
And I do wish that these journalists would stop calling sensible actions radical. The radical option is the one we have now that ensures booms, busts and poverty.
The report describes how commercial banks in Iceland created far more money than was needed for economic growth. The Central Bank failed to bring the money supply under control using conventional means.
The report considers various reform proposals and concludes that the Sovereign Money proposal could provide a sound basis for effective reform in Iceland.
Anyone know if there’s anything online yet about the bill’s details. A search of it’s name “Criminal Procedure (Removing Paedophile Name Suppression) Amendment Bill” doesn’t bring up much. Nothing on the NZF website either except for the press release.
I’m still not that happy about Peters using this issue for political reasons. I can’t comment on what he intends until more detail is available, but will just say that the word paedophile doesn’t appear to be in any of our legislation and the use of the word is a political tactic not a legal necessity (am guessing NZ law uses ‘sex offender’ or similar). Nothing like ‘paedophile’ to trigger a whole bunch of reactions, not all of them helpful.
We all know what Peters is angling at, who and why. It is National who is protecting the truth, however in the end justice will prevail, and the ramifications are going to hurt a recently scratched Teflon John. The shit will stick.
Not sure why your taking some sort of what? Moral high ground position.
Still carrying a grudge over the Davis endorsement ahead of the sell out one trick pony by the looks.
You don’t need to be unsure, Weka was quite clear about the why
“I’m still not that happy about Peters using this issue for political reasons. I can’t comment on what he intends until more detail is available, but will just say that the word paedophile doesn’t appear to be in any of our legislation and the use of the word is a political tactic not a legal necessity (am guessing NZ law uses ‘sex offender’ or similar). Nothing like ‘paedophile’ to trigger a whole bunch of reactions, not all of them helpful.”
“Not all of them helpful.”
The last city I lived in a friend who was a police prosecutor advised us to mind my partners daughter, there were known paedophile’s living in our posh area. And they were living just outside the boundary of primary schools. So a register with these creeps names and current address would be handy to know, just so they know the public know not to consider getting up to no good.
How are you going to save the children from all the “paedophiles”, sexual abusers and rapists, never convicted and free to carry on? There are way more of them than the ones found guilty.
“just so they know the public know not to consider getting up to no good.”
You’d think if naming them was a proven way to prevent sexual assaults on chidlren and to deter others from it, … it’s llike you think this is a new idea??
I am often bemused at how those who have never been victims are often far more hard headed on this issue than those who have.
Thanks for confirming what I said Skinny. Peters is using the sexual abuse of children to gain political power. I think this is a mistake, because as a culture we are really bad at dealing with child sexual abuse. Culturally we think that it’s all those bad men over there (let’s put them on a register), instead of understanding that the vast majority of sexual abuse of children happens at home or in situations that are very close to home (i.e. by people who are supposedly highly trusted). I’m not convinced that focusing on paedophillia (shock horror!) and controlling sex offenders with a blunt instrument like a register is the best thing to do.
Like I said, I haven’t seen Peters’ bill yet. Do any of us really know what he is proposing? Is he talking about a register for convicted sex offenders? Of children only? Why is the timing even an issue if it’s convicted offenders and not all people being investigated/charged? These kinds of messy boundaries and unclarities and people with agendas mirror both what happens with sexual abuse of children and how society at large responds (or doesn’t respond) to that. Playing political power games with this stuff is not a good way to solve sexual crime issues, and doing it in the context of macho politics certainly isn’t.
Yep, and we have so little information in the pubic domain about the bill yet here we are trying to debate it. Is that normal for a party to try and introduce a bill and not have anything available to look at?
Thanks for that last sentence, that sums it up better than I’ve been explaining it.
Hmmm, a few problems with that. One is, the name suppression is also there to protect the children. If they are old enough to be adults they can have their own name suppression lifted. If they’re not old enough, who is making the call on the name suppression being lifted? And what happens when you have siblings involved and one wants name suppression lifted and the other doesn’t? What are the victims’ rights here?
I also think that despite what he says, Slater would be in the camp of focussing on the need for vengence rather than the overall need to reduce risk for children. I’m not convinced that a register protects children so much as makes the rest of society feel better about a situation they’re not really willing to change. (but of course I don’t know because Peters hasn’t said what he intends).
There’s also the issue of what happens to offenders whose convictions are made public. Do we want people to rehabilitate/change or not?
Plus, I think Slater is also using this situation for political gain (the Cunliffe reference).
Sorry Weka, I was being deliberately vague to avoid any suggestion of breaching a suppression order. I was referring to the scenario WO refers to right at the beginning. I didn’t read the rest.
I have looked at NZF website and it appears it has been their policy regarding the removal of suppression for “paedophiles” before the by-election.
I agree that people like slater and peters make this seem black and white and an easy fix when it isnt. Above all it must be victim-focused and like you, feel too many use it as a football for their self interest.
“and doing it in the context of macho politics certainly isn’t.”
Actually dear bird, behind every macho man (I assume from this reference of yours) there is a female MP doing great work. Don’t sell yaself short sister.
Upon reflection, I seem to recall Skinny mentioning being a union rep or similar. So the tendency to constantly pick at a point of tension rather than backing off probably makes them quite good in that role.
Thousands of farm workers in the Mexican state of Baja California walked out of the fields on Tuesday, March 17, at the peak of the winter harvest season.
This strike pits against each other two diametrically-opposed social forces. On the one side, there are some of the biggest and richest companies in the world. The large farms in Baja, about 200 miles south of San Diego, specialize entirely in produce for the U.S. market – for big companies that we all know: Walmart, Safeway, Kroger, Albertsons, and others. Mexico’s produce exports to the U.S. are a business worth more than 7.5 billion US dollars a year.
On the other side are fruit pickers, the vast majority of whom are indigenous people from the southern states of Mexico. Many of them are illiterate and don’t even speak much Spanish. Trying to escape extreme poverty, they have migrated hundreds of miles north, only to be caught up in extremely bad working and living conditions.
The companies pay the fruit pickers as low as . . .
“The Cotton On attempt to take away the breaks became a big issue on social media and also in the mainstream news. Cotton On’s website was deluged with criticisms, following news coverage of the issue, and the company was pilloried by the TV3 news-comedy show 7 Days. In the space of about a week there were at least 50 stories in the media on the issue.
“Faced with industrial action and public support for the workers, plus solidarity from Cotton On distribution workers in Brisbane, Australia – the company is currently attempting to prevent unionisation in its Victoria distribution centre – the bosses have retreated. The first-ever collective agreement between the company and FIRST Union was ratified by the Cotton On workers belonging to the union yesterday (April 1).
You beat me to it I see, though it is only 10 days now (assuming 12/3 as the return date – technically it may be around 10pm on the 11th). I’d probably still include; greywarshark, as the only comment he’s made since Saturday was on Monday to clarify his position. The problem with people withdrawing their commentary is that it becomes difficult to ask them whether they accept being included in such a list (which mm & r-yh certainly didn’t).
Good luck with responding calmly to the; alternating horn-honks, and obscene gestures, from those commenters driving by the picket line. I’ll be back tomorrow to hold the placard if you don’t get here first.
Thanks; yes I hadn’t noticed that before (and the video it linked to was intriguing). But it was a twoline throw-away in the same hour as he wrote this much longer statement (on Tuesday not Monday):
However, if you hadn’t mentioned that, I wouldn’t have scrolled back and found this comment from Murray Rawshark via Lprent:
The solidarity that many have shown warmed the cockles of me heart on a personal level. On a political level, I think it’s a mistake, even though I probably would have done the same sort of thing. This discussion is too easily framed as gender specific, and it has been. I don’t think it is, but I only know about my own thoughts and motivations. So thanks guys, but my opinion is that it’s better to keep commenting. I was going to take a break anyway, and I think TS needs your voices.
Which does raise some questions about the value of continuing this vigil. Perhaps we should remove MR’s name from the roll and refer to the; Rawshark 3? How much of this issue is about the original banning event, and how much is about issues that we’ve been examining since then?
@Parsupal.. YES 10 DAYS to GO! …..thanks for the correction….I just copied and pasted your yesterday entry ….deleted Greywarshark from the list ….and forgot to change the number of days…ha ha….( I was interrupted …that is my excuse …because I can count backwards)
lol…to the horn- honks and obscene gestures….and……yes well if you sleep in I will try to do the countdown
Well, no one’s infallible (eg I said the 12/3 when I meant the 12/4). When you have a child under three months old; there is no such thing as a sleep-in, or a holiday – at least I’m not walking into walls with the sleep deprivation anymore.
I will be up and at home near a computer tomorrow morning; so if you have a chance to take a break over the long weekend, I can maintain the vigil here.
good…i am working over Easter…so am around as back up
As regards your comment “How much of this issue is about the original banning event, and how much is about issues that we’ve been examining since then?”….i think it is about all of these ….people don’t just walk off without good reason..they are pissed off….and it isn’t just one or two people…imo although MR doesnt want to be responsible for pulling down the house…the problem remains
“Palestine is soon to have its day in court, after securing long-awaited membership at The Hague. Plagued by constant setbacks to a peace deal with Israel, the ICC newcomer wants to see Tel Aviv on the stand for alleged war crimes in Gaza…
ICC membership has been years in the making. It comes after Palestine gained UN observers status, followed by an increasing number of European countries recognizing them as an independent state or considering it. Israel’s operation tipped the balance in the Palestinians’ favor….
Joining the ICC opens up possibilities: the Palestinian leadership can not only take the Israelis to task for their summer campaign, they can also challenge the Jewish state’s continuing settlement building beyond the Green Line as a war crime. Israel’s settlement building has been condemned by the international community, including the UN”….
Sabin, Sabin, where the fuck are you?
It’s so crazy, give me your answer do…
It won’t be a stylish trial,
If you [r0b: too far]
But you’ll look sweet, upon the seat
Of a cell block just for you!
Dita De Boni. Crikey. This is a new and frightening angle! National claims to stand for free enterprise and freedom of action. This would destroy that claim.
At the moment, the only thing standing between New Zealand and its total loss of sovereignty is Winston Peters.
Dislike him or write him off as you will, he is the only person now positioned close enough to the wet noodles of power to strenuously oppose the Investor-State Dispute Settlement provisions (ISDS) in the absolutely ruinous TPP free trade agreement our Government is desperately trying to ram through with 11 other nations.
A headline from lateline “Trade Minister Andrew Robb (Aus) says DFAT has held more than a thousand briefings with stakeholders about the TPP. He says the public will have months to look at the detail of the deal, before it’s ratified by parliament. Political Correspondent Tom Iggulden reports on what the TPP could mean for Australia.
The UK government included a £660m handout to Permex in their recent trade deal with Mexico.
The death of four workers was sufficiently distressing enough to warrant a tweet from Permex. Their deaths increase the tally of workers killed in fires at Permex facilities in the last three years to a total of 64.
Charlie Kronick, oil analyst for Greenpeace UK, said: “This tragic accident … once again demonstrates the true cost of our addiction to oil, whether in the Gulf of Mexico, Nigeria or the Arctic. The sooner we end our dependence on dirty and dangerous fuels like oil and shift to clean energy, the better.”
I’m appalled by bad practices on rigs and in industrial plants that lead to injury, death and environmental damage. However, I was disappointed in the Charlie Kronick statement, I think he’s being a bit opportunist here.
Other energy sources can also lead to injury, death and environmental degradation if the systems, people and resources to make them safe are not sufficient or effective.
Pemex seems to be one of these companies with a poor safety record (not that investors care) and that’s the issue here, I think.
Like Draco I think it’s always possible. But you have to look at the consequences. The general idea is that once in you can’t get out unless you radically change the direction of our governance. Is that likely for us? Would we stand up against the huge pressures to toe the line? If pulling out means we would be fined, would we refuse to pay the fine? What would happen then? etc
This is one of the hugely evil things about the TPPA (and other agreements). The current govt can bind NZ into agreements permanently and no other subsequent govt can easily override them. This completely and utterly renders our democratic process (such that it is) irrelevant. If National get a TPPA that is based on their policies, no other government (eg L/GP/NZF) can change that (except with the caveat above). We lose our rights to determine the political nature of our governance.
I wonder if it is also because we will enact a bunch of laws to support the implementation which would all have to be undone. This is part of the ruse… make it so hard to undo something it sticks.
I think that the various laws that would need to be changed in order to meet all the rumoured provisos in the TPPA are what will help stop it going through. I am not a lawyer, but my understanding is that while cabinet can approve the signing of the TPPA without taking it to parliament, there will be law changes required and these would have to go through parliament before it is ratified.
Thanks, Tracey, but I don’t understand what Jane means when she says:
“At most, Parliament could refuse to pass legislation that is required to bring a particular law into compliance with the TPPA. But the government will have plenty of non-legislative ways to achieve compliance”
What are the non-legislative ways to achieve compliance?
“The Cabinet manual spells out the powers and process for entering into international treaties. Paragraph 7.112 states that “In New Zealand, the power to take treaty action rests with the Executive.” In practice that means the Cabinet.
Cabinet decides whether to enter into negotiations, the negotiating mandate and any revisions to it, and what trade-offs are made to conclude a deal.
Cabinet then approves the signing of the agreed text by the Minister. This is a definitive step that binds the government to act in good faith towards its negotiating partners. The Cabinet manual makes it clear that by signing an agreement the executive indicates an intention for New Zealand to be bound to that text. This constitutes a good faith obligation under international law.
Parliament does not get to see the completed text until that stage. According to the Cabinet Manual, a signed TPPA would then be presented to Parliament, accompanied by a National Interest Analysis. These analyses have been widely criticised during the standing orders reviews and submissions on the International Treaties Bill for their lack of independence and balance, because they are prepared by the same Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade that negotiated the agreement. “
No problem. To clarify most Acts have Regulations, so it would be using existing Acts to add or amend their Regulations to give effect to any TPP stuff. That is what I think Kelsey is referring to.
Worth a read, perhaps the first time a Labour MP has stepped out of line under Little’s leadership. In my view, Nash is a problem for Labour. His personal values and Labour’s simply don’t match.
They don’t want people to have to work, of course, only work if you want to, but I think enough of us have seen how that really works out for a good number of workers.
Ha! What did I say yesterday? Sooooo predictable. Oderings garden centres go on about Easter trading hours, Every. Single. Year. They’ve got a freaking obsession with it. Unclench that tight arse of yours Boss and give your workers time to be with their friends and family on a couple of those three and half days of the year when they can actually do that.
Their argument has always been (and I see the logic in it, I just oppose them opening) is that customers are getting a whole four days off to work in their gardens, and those customers need to get into their stores to get their supplies.
Autumn, not that it’s feeling particularly autumnal, is a perfect time for planting perennials, shrubs and tree’s. Gardeners are also busy pruning and clearing old summer growth and doing general maintenance work. Garden centres are selling equipment and tools as well as plants and tree’s.
This is a time of year when garden centres can make a steady profit before the less profitable winter season sets in.
“is that customers are getting a whole four days off to work in their gardens, and those customers need to get into their stores to get their supplies.”
Aah, the altruism 😉
The last rationale makes a bit more sense, but even then I think if you can’t run a business all year without those two days at Easter there is something wrong.
1. PHIL TWYFORD to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: What reports, if any, has he received about KiwiRail’s plans to get rid of electric locomotives on the North Island Main Trunk Line and replace them with diesel locomotives?
2. JULIE ANNE GENTER to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: Is he considering replacing the electric locomotives with diesel locomotives on the Main Trunk Line, and would this mean removing electrification on that line?
Labour and Greens, this is getting to be beyond a joke. Are you not talking to each other before question time at all?
Reported that. Considering that all those major media outlets tend to hold back comments before publishing them, it is pretty extraordinary it was published.
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Up until now, the prevailing coalition view of public servants was that there were simply too many of them. But yesterday the new Public Service Commissioner, handpicked by the Luxon Government, said it was not so much numbers but what they did and the value they produced that mattered. Sir ...
In a moment we explore the question: What is Andrew Bayly wanting to tell ACC, and will it involve enjoying a small wine tasting and then telling someone to fuck off? But first, for context, a broader one: What do we look for in a government?Imagine for a moment, you ...
As expected, Donald Trump just threw Ukraine under the bus, demanding that it accept Russia's illegal theft of land, while ruling out any future membership of NATO. Its a colossal betrayal, which effectively legitimises Russia's invasion, while laying the groundwork for the next one. But Trump is apparently fine with ...
A ballot for a single member's bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Employment Relations (Collective Agreements in Triangular Relationships) Amendment Bill (Adrian Rurawhe) The bill would extend union rights to employees in triangular relationships, where they are (nominally) employed by one party, but ...
This is a guest post by George Weeks, reviewing a book called ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin AshtonBook review: ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin Ashton (2015) – and what it means for Auckland. The title of this article might unnerve any Greater Auckland ...
This story was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Within just a week, the sheer devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires has pushed to the fore fundamental questions about the impact of the climate crisis that have been ...
In this world, it's just usYou know it's not the same as it wasSongwriters: Harry Edward Styles / Thomas Edward Percy Hull / Tyler Sam JohnsonYesterday, I received a lovely message from Caty, a reader of Nick’s Kōrero, that got me thinking. So I thought I’d share it with you, ...
In past times a person was considered “unserious” or “not a serious” person if they failed to grasp, behave and speak according to the solemnity of the context in which they were located. For example a serious person does not audibly pass gas at Church, or yell “gun” at a ...
Long stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, February 13 are:The coalition Government’s early 2024 ‘fiscal emergency’ freeze on funding, planning and building houses, schools, local roads and hospitals helped extend and deepen the economic and jobs recession through calendar ...
For obvious reasons, people feel uneasy when the right to be a citizen is sold off to wealthy foreigners. Even selling the right to residency seems a bit dubious, when so many migrants who are not millionaires get turned away or are made to jump through innumerable hoops – simply ...
A new season of White Lotus is nearly upon us: more murder mystery, more sumptuous surroundings, more rich people behaving badly.Once more we get to identify with the experience of the pampered tourist or perhaps the poorly paid help; there's something in White Lotus for all New Zealanders.And unlike the ...
In 2016, Aotearoa shockingly plunged to fourth place in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. Nine years later, and we're back there again: New Zealand has seen a further slip in its global ranking in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). [...] In the latest CPI New Zealand's score ...
1. You’ve started ranking your politicians on how much they respect the rule of law2. You’ve stopped paying attention to those news publications3. You’ve developed a sudden interest in a particular period of history4. More and more people are sounding like your racist, conspiracist uncle.5. Someone just pulled a Nazi ...
Transforming New Zealand: Brian EastonBrian Easton will discuss the above topic at 2/57 Willis Street, Wellington at 5:30pm on Tuesday 26 February at 2/57 Willis Street, WellingtonThe sub-title to the above is "Why is the Left failing?" Brian Easton's analysis is based on his view that while the ...
Salvation Army’s State of the Nation 2025 report highlights falling living standards, the highest unemployment rates since the 1990s and half of all Pacific children going without food. There are reports of hundreds if not thousands of people are applying for the same jobs in the wake of last year’s ...
Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Correction: On the article The Condundrum of David Seymour, Luke Malpass conducted joint reviews with Bryce Wilkinson, the architect of the Regulatory Standards Bill - not Bryce Edwards. The article ...
Tomorrow the council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee meet and agenda has a few interesting papers. Council’s Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport Every year the council provide a Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport which is part of the process for informing AT of the council’s priorities and ...
All around in my home townThey're trying to track me down, yeahThey say they want to bring me in guiltyFor the killing of a deputyFor the life of a deputySongwriter: Robert Nesta Marley.Support Nick’s Kōrero today with a 20% discount on a paid subscription to receive all my newsletters directly ...
Hi,I think all of us have probably experienced the power of music — that strange, transformative thing that gets under our skin and helps us experience this whole life thing with some kind of sanity.Listening and experiencing music has always been such a huge part of my life, and has ...
Business frustration over the stalled economy is growing, and only 34% of voters are confidentNicola Willis can deliver. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 12 are:Business frustration is growing about a ...
I have now lived long enough to see a cabinet minister go both barrels on their Prime Minister and not get sacked.It used to be that the PM would have a drawer full of resignations signed by ministers on the day of their appointment, ready for such an occasion. But ...
This session will feature Simon McCallum, Senior Lecturer in Engineering and Computer Science (VUW) and recent Labour Party candidate in the Southland Electorate talking about some of the issues around AI and how this should inform Labour Party policy. Simon is an excellent speaker with a comprehensive command of AI ...
The proposed Waimate garbage incinerator is dead: The company behind a highly-controversial proposal to build a waste-to-energy plant in the Waimate District no longer has the land. [...] However, SIRRL director Paul Taylor said the sales and purchase agreement to purchase land from Murphy Farms, near Glenavy, lapsed at ...
The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has been a vital tool in combatting international corruption. It forbids US companies and citizens from bribing foreign public officials anywhere in the world. And its actually enforced: some of the world's biggest companies - Siemens, Hewlett Packard, and Bristol Myers Squibb - have ...
December 2024 photo - with UK Tory Boris Johnson (Source: Facebook)Those PollsFor hours, political poll results have resounded across political hallways and commentary.According to the 1News Verizon poll, 50% of the country believe we are heading in the “wrong direction”, while 39% believe we are “on the right track”.The left ...
A Tai Rāwhiti mill that ran for 30 years before it was shut down in late 2023 is set to re-open in the coming months, which will eventually see nearly 300 new jobs in the region. A new report from Massey University shows that pensioners are struggling with rising costs. ...
As support continues to fall, Luxon also now faces his biggest internal ructions within the coalition since the election, with David Seymour reacting badly to being criticised by the PM. File photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Not since 1988 when Richard Prebble openly criticised David Lange have we seen such a challenge to a Prime Minister as that of David Seymour to Christopher Luxon last night. Prebble suggested Lange had mental health issues during a TV interview and was almost immediately fired. Seymour hasn’t gone quite ...
Three weeks in, and the 24/7 news cycle is not helping anyone feel calm and informed about the second Trump presidency. One day, the US is threatening 25% trade tariffs on its friends and neighbours. The reasons offered by the White House are absurd, such as stopping fentanyl coming in ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Wherever you look, you'll hear headlines claiming we've passed 1.5 degrees of global warming. And while 2024 saw ...
Photo by Heather M. Edwards on UnsplashHere’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s politics and economy in the week to Feb 10 below. That’s ahead of live chats on the Substack App and The Kākā’s front page on Substack at 5pm with: on his column in The ...
Is there anyone in the world the National Party loves more than a campaign donor? Why yes, there is! They will always have the warmest hello and would you like to slip into something more comfortable for that great god of our age, the High Net Worth Individual.The words the ...
Waste and fraud certainly exist in foreign aid programs, but rightwing celebration of USAID’s dismantling shows profound ignorance of the value of soft power (as opposed to hard power) in projecting US influence and interests abroad by non-military/coercive means (think of “hearts and minds,” “hugs, not bullets,” “honey versus vinegar,” ...
Health New Zealand is proposing to cut almost half of its data and digital positions – more than 1000 of them. The PSA has called on the Privacy Commissioner to urgently investigate the cuts due to the potential for serious consequences for patients. NZNO is calling for an urgent increase ...
We may see a few more luxury cars on Queen Street, but a loosening of rules to entice rich foreigners to invest more here is unlikely to “turbocharge our economic growth”. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Let us not dance daintily around the elephant in the room. Our politicians who serve us in the present are not honest, certainly not as honest as they should be, and while the right are taking out most of the trophies for warping narratives and literally redefining “facts”, the kiwi ...
A few weeks ago I took a look at public transport ridership in 2024. In today’s post I’m going to be looking a bit deeper at bus ridership. Buses make up the vast majority of ridership in Auckland with 70 million boardings last year out of a total of 89.4 ...
Oh, you know I did itIt's over and I feel fineNothing you could say is gonna change my mindWaited and I waited the longest nightNothing like the taste of sweet declineSongwriters: Chris Shiflett / David Eric Grohl / Nate Mendel / Taylor Hawkins.Hindsight is good, eh?The clarity when the pieces ...
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 16 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 10The Kākā’s weekly wrap-up of news about politics and the economy is due at midday, followed by webinar for paying subscribers in Substack’s ...
The Government’s newly announced funding for biodiversity and tourism of $30-million over three years is a small fraction of what is required for conservation in this country. ...
The Government's sudden cancellation of the tertiary education funding increase is a reckless move that risks widespread job losses and service reductions across New Zealand's universities. ...
National’s cuts to disability support funding and freezing of new residential placements has resulted in significant mental health decline for intellectually disabled people. ...
The hundreds of jobs lost needlessly as a result of the Kinleith Mill paper production closure will have a devastating impact on the Tokoroa community - something that could have easily been avoided. ...
Today Te Pāti Māori MP for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, released her members bill that will see the return of tamariki and mokopuna Māori from state care back to te iwi Māori. This bill will establish an independent authority that asserts and protects the rights promised in He Whakaputanga ...
The Whangarei District Council being forced to fluoridate their local water supply is facing a despotic Soviet-era disgrace. This is not a matter of being pro-fluoride or anti-fluoride. It is a matter of what New Zealanders see and value as democracy in our country. Individual democratically elected Councillors are not ...
Nicola Willis’ latest supermarket announcement is painfully weak with no new ideas, no real plan, and no relief for Kiwis struggling with rising grocery costs. ...
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
The last good thing at the supermarket is gone. Mad Chapman mourns the Cadbury mini egg cartons. When life is overwhelming and it feels like every story around you is a bad news story, there are a few things that can be relied upon to instil a sense of calm, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Parker, Honorary Professorial Fellow, Melbourne CSHE, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Judges in Australian courtrooms have a lot of power. They can decide on someone’s guilt and the punishment for it, including lengthy prison time. But what if they get ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Louise Birrell, Researcher, Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock Australians are waiting an average of 12 years to seek treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, our new research shows. While ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justine Bell-James, Professor, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland Almost 200 nations have signed an ambitious agreement to halt and reverse biodiversity loss but none is on track to meet the crucial goal, our new research reveals. The agreement, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philippa Collin, Professor, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University Australian school students’ civics knowledge is the lowest it has been since testing began 20 years ago, according to new national data. Results have fallen since the last assessment in 2019 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Buckley, Senior Research Fellow, Education Research, Policy and Development Division, Australian Council for Educational Research Michael Jung/ Shutterstock There is a persistent gender gap in Australian schools. Boys, on average, outperform girls in maths. We see this in national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Deane, Professor, Queensland University of Technology Australian beef exports to the United States are GST-free and should not be subject to any retaliatory tariff. William Edge/Shutterstock The latest round of proposed tariffs from US President Donald Trump includes a response ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a 36-year-old tertiary adviser and bartender shares her approach to spending and saving. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.Gender: Female. Age: 36. Ethnicity: Pākehā. Role: Tertiary adviser, ...
The change allows for devices that do screening, similar to at drink-drive checkpoints, rather than having to test oral fluid to an evidentiary standard. ...
Almost 40% of those departing NZ long-term are aged 18 to 30. What sort of country will they leave behind, asks Catherine McGregor in today’s extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Young people leading the charge out the door Last year saw ...
New Health Minister Simeon Brown is presiding over a list of resignations from high-ranking health officials that some say is a "bloodbath". What's going on? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Rickerby, Lecturer, School of Product Design, University of Canterbury The Poly-1. MOTAT , CC BY-NC Some 45 years ago, a team of staff and students at Wellington Polytechnic designed and built a desktop computer with an operating system customised for ...
The Forum has raised concerns regarding the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill and the Regulatory Standards Bill, which, if enacted, will radically undermine existing human rights protections, Indigenous rights, and constitutional safeguards ...
The passage of time hasn’t been kind to Ngāi Tahu.When its High Court hearing over wai māori (freshwater) commenced last week, 52 months after the claim was filed, the tribe mourned the loss of two named first plaintiffs – Bishop Richard Wallace, of Makaawhio, and Theo Bunker, of Wairewa – ...
Margie Apa, Nicholas Jones, Diana Sarfati, the board of Health New Zealand … and will Lester Levy be next?The biggest names in our health service are tumbling like dominos.It’s been called a bloodbath and a crisis.What’s going on?Every day there’s a new story about shortages, patients having to wait for ...
Opinion: The coalition Government’s recent revisions to the business investor visa, officially the Active Investor Plus but commonly known as the ‘golden visa’, has put pay-for-residency back in the headlines. While many object to the commodification of citizenship implicit in this policy, questions should be asked about its potential as ...
One Christmas, to thank him for helping me hugely with my writing (on a mentor scheme), I sent Michael King a dark blue cashmere scarf. I chose it with the awful knowledge that he was battling cancer, and I somehow thought it might keep him warm and make him feel ...
Comment: Readers may recall the commentaries from academics that appeared on these pages as well as on many media outlets, alarmed and appalled by the disbanding of the Marsden panels for humanities and the social sciences.The Marsden Fund is a “blue skies” initiative established by Simon Upton in the 1990s. ...
Everything you missed from day five of the Treaty principles bill hearings, when the Justice Committee heard seven hours of submissions. Read our recaps of the previous hearings here.An “insult to every one of our tīpuna” was the first advice the Justice Committee heard on the Treaty principles bill ...
The same councillors who decry excessive spending on pet projects just voted to pump millions of dollars into a greenhouse for flowers. On Thursday last week, Wellington City Council voted to consult on repairing Begonia House, the greenhouse for exotic flowers in Wellington Botanic Garden. The options for repairs range ...
It’s important to respect people’s right to free speech and peaceful assembly, but how much political deference is due when it isn’t peaceful? Commenting on Destiny Church members storming a children’s event at the Te Atatū library and community centre on Saturday, prime minister Christopher Luxon said it’s important to ...
Comment: US is capitulating to Moscow’s demands before negotiations over Ukraine even begin The post The day the West died appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 18 February appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Asia Pacific Report Two Palestinian resistance groups have condemned “the brutal assault” on prisoners at Ofer Prison, saying it was “barbaric criminal behaviour that reflects the fascist and terrorist nature of” Israel. In the joint statement, Hamas and Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) called the attack a “miserable attempt” by Israel ...
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist in Avarua, Rarotonga Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown hopes to have “an opportunity to talk” with the New Zealand government to “heal some of the rift”. Brown returned to Avarua on Sunday afternoon (Cook Islands Time) following his week-long state visit to China, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sonia R. Grover, Clinical Professor of Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne Polina Zimmerman/Pexels Menstruation, or a period, is the bleeding that occurs about monthly in healthy people born with a uterus, from puberty to menopause. This happens when the endometrium, the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ella Barclay, Senior Lecturer, School of Art and Design, Australian National University Despite the perceived outrage at Khaled Sabsabi’s depiction of Hassan Nasrallah in his 2007 work You, Australian art has long made subjects of outlaws and questionable figures. And it is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Louise Pryke, Honorary Research Associate, Department of Classics and Ancient History, University of Sydney Lisa Tomasetti/Opera Australia “It’s an old song”, Hermes (Christine Anu) sings at the opening of Hadestown, but “we’re gonna sing it again and again”. Based on a ...
An additional $13 million will be invested in tourism infrastructure, including upgrading huts and resolving the backlog in Milford Sound concessions. ...
The reality is that we have no obligation to tolerate the intolerant. They are using violence to shut down and silence others. The result of tolerating intolerant views is the loss of everyone’s freedom of speech except for the one who most effectively ...
Kia ora
The authors are thinking of an evening open mike post. Open mike performs very well and is regularly the most commented on post. Often there will be over 100 comments. An evening post will allow discussion of what has happened during the day. In various sites it appears to work well.
Thoughts?
Good idea.
Give it a try.
+1
Like.
Sometimes I have an interesting item that I save until the next day’s Open Mike, because the current day has been too busy and if it’s posted the item won’t get the attention it warrants.
An evening post would help, although alternatively I’m not sure how successful it will be splitting ‘the days discussion’ in half. If the evening post is made too late, it won’t get much use, if it’s made too early, it’ll split stuff up too much.
Thinking about it. If you go ahead with this you may want to have it so that new threads on the Morning Mike can’t be created once the Evening Mike is up. This would allow threads to continue while pushing people onto the Evening Mike for new threads.
Unless Evening Mike is for things that happened during the day and Open Mike is for anything at all. I like the idea of Evening Mike being a bit more focussed than Open Mike, which is very open.
Can you call it “Open Mike Night?”
Issues the Herald regards are more important than child ,poverty. sending soldiers to Iraq, the TPPA and Climate Change.
A house going for auction.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11426678
Messrs Roughan and Murphy think they are journalists.
Why you would buy a house on leasehold land I have no idea. You have to have rocks in your head to do that. You could only get away with it by renting it out.
Likely to avoid rent inflation millsy. The ground rent on that property is fixed until 2026.
One of the best reasons to buy your own home is to kill rent inflation. Renters suffer inflation on their entire income, home owners face inflation only on consumer goods & services.
More great news from Planet Key.
‘A new report warns New Zealand’s poor handling of human rights issues and Parliament’s failure to act is harming the country’s reputation.’
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/270199/nz-slipping-in-human-rights-issues-report
That’s because we have a child for a Prime Minister
No, we have a psychopath for a PM. A child would grow up but our PM never will.
Betcha Key is watching Auckland Council’s handling of the ports extension dispute.
Government has an explicit productivity increase agenda.
The larger wharves are required for greater productivity, both to enable larger ships, and from losing Queens Wharf to cruise ships.
Govt stepped in over Rugby World Cup wharf, and now has a 50% share of it.
Auckland Council explicitly avoided gaining greater control of its port through the CCO review. This despite 2 years of warning through the labour dispute that management there would do what they want, with flimsy public direction.
If Council keep fumbling on NZ’s most important port pinch-point, its 1951 redux. Key will lose any patience he has left with Auckland Council, and he will act hard.
Hulse should watch the “thermonuclear option” on her own ass.
Agreed Ad . So the Ex Maersk Executive now CEO of POA is flying back from San Francisco and will have a chat with the Chair of the Board woopy poops.
The Council has finally made a public statement about the arrogant attitude of the appointed boards and executives that have been aiding and abetting the POA .
The POA is legally a CCO {Council Controlled Organisation) so at last it seems the Council and its elected Mayor and councillors is about to start Controlling for the first time since the new Auckland was formed.
If they do nothing then POA will become a COCO ( Completely Out Of Control Organisation in my LTHO
COCO-LOL!
No, Ports of Auckland is controlled by Auckland Council Investments Limited, which is in turn controlled 100% by Auckland Council. Council had their chance for direct control, and folded like origami. They would have to go through a formal consultation process to do it now, which takes a whole bunch of time and shouting.
Those glorious yachties and their millionaire WAGs rattling their jewellery about a completely legitimate consent within a well-degraded marine environment, itself within a well-delineated POAL seabed line, need to figure out that the call to wait for isn’t from Maersk to POAL.
The calls to wait for are from Tesco’s to Fonterra, which goes: “…why the fuck are we having to wait for your little supply ships to get onto Maersk from Sydney? We are cutting you, because we are shifting quite happily to the Urugayan supply out of Buenos Aires thanks.”
And the second call is from the Chinese Premier to John Key: “…Thanks for playing. You’re benched.”
I am sure this has been explained to the Council.
MMMMM!!!!! So the POA Board does nothing ? except collect their fees.
I don’t think so.
The Governance of POA & other CCO’s was the plan but into place by John Key’s nominee Rodney Hide.
The Council is 3 times removed from the action via ACIL/POA Board/POA Executive All appointed none elected. Go Figure.
Agreed this structure is the responsibility of Prime Minister John Key. But that was 7 years ago now.
Auckland Council must be held to account for its own piss-poor governance.
No matter which way you cut it, this will be a major local election issue next year, and I see a major clean out coming because of it.
The Public Service Association (PSA) says Minister Tolley’s announcement of a Paula Rebstock-led review into Child, Youth and Family (CYF) is the last thing needed by an organisation that has demonstrated it can assess and plan for its own needs.
http://www.psa.org.nz/media/releases/yet-another-external-review-the-last-thing-cyf-needs/
Thoughts?
Iceland looks at ending boom and bust with radical money plan
Would be good if they do this. We’ll see a nations’ economy stabilise and then bloom. Trade will become a nice to have rather than a necessity.
And I do wish that these journalists would stop calling sensible actions radical. The radical option is the one we have now that ensures booms, busts and poverty.
Another view
Winston’s go at name suppression removal blocked at the gate?
https://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/26887730/govt-spikes-removal-of-paedophile-name-suppression-bill/
Now that’s just going to fuel speculation that National are protecting their own and fuck anyone else.
Anyone know if there’s anything online yet about the bill’s details. A search of it’s name “Criminal Procedure (Removing Paedophile Name Suppression) Amendment Bill” doesn’t bring up much. Nothing on the NZF website either except for the press release.
I’m still not that happy about Peters using this issue for political reasons. I can’t comment on what he intends until more detail is available, but will just say that the word paedophile doesn’t appear to be in any of our legislation and the use of the word is a political tactic not a legal necessity (am guessing NZ law uses ‘sex offender’ or similar). Nothing like ‘paedophile’ to trigger a whole bunch of reactions, not all of them helpful.
Paedophilia isn’t actually illegal.
Yep, and Peters could quite easily have used the term we have in NZ law instead.
We all know what Peters is angling at, who and why. It is National who is protecting the truth, however in the end justice will prevail, and the ramifications are going to hurt a recently scratched Teflon John. The shit will stick.
Not sure why your taking some sort of what? Moral high ground position.
Still carrying a grudge over the Davis endorsement ahead of the sell out one trick pony by the looks.
“not sure why your (sic) taking…”
You don’t need to be unsure, Weka was quite clear about the why
“I’m still not that happy about Peters using this issue for political reasons. I can’t comment on what he intends until more detail is available, but will just say that the word paedophile doesn’t appear to be in any of our legislation and the use of the word is a political tactic not a legal necessity (am guessing NZ law uses ‘sex offender’ or similar). Nothing like ‘paedophile’ to trigger a whole bunch of reactions, not all of them helpful.”
Hopefully my bold helps with clarity for you.
Thanks tracey. I thought it was reasonably clear too, but Skinny could always have just asked. Instead he wants to poke the trole stick.
“Not all of them helpful.”
The last city I lived in a friend who was a police prosecutor advised us to mind my partners daughter, there were known paedophile’s living in our posh area. And they were living just outside the boundary of primary schools. So a register with these creeps names and current address would be handy to know, just so they know the public know not to consider getting up to no good.
How are you going to save the children from all the “paedophiles”, sexual abusers and rapists, never convicted and free to carry on? There are way more of them than the ones found guilty.
“just so they know the public know not to consider getting up to no good.”
You’d think if naming them was a proven way to prevent sexual assaults on chidlren and to deter others from it, … it’s llike you think this is a new idea??
I am often bemused at how those who have never been victims are often far more hard headed on this issue than those who have.
Thanks for confirming what I said Skinny. Peters is using the sexual abuse of children to gain political power. I think this is a mistake, because as a culture we are really bad at dealing with child sexual abuse. Culturally we think that it’s all those bad men over there (let’s put them on a register), instead of understanding that the vast majority of sexual abuse of children happens at home or in situations that are very close to home (i.e. by people who are supposedly highly trusted). I’m not convinced that focusing on paedophillia (shock horror!) and controlling sex offenders with a blunt instrument like a register is the best thing to do.
Like I said, I haven’t seen Peters’ bill yet. Do any of us really know what he is proposing? Is he talking about a register for convicted sex offenders? Of children only? Why is the timing even an issue if it’s convicted offenders and not all people being investigated/charged? These kinds of messy boundaries and unclarities and people with agendas mirror both what happens with sexual abuse of children and how society at large responds (or doesn’t respond) to that. Playing political power games with this stuff is not a good way to solve sexual crime issues, and doing it in the context of macho politics certainly isn’t.
does it have an exception if the victim wants to be protected from identification…
what we don’t need is a whole bunch of people viewing this from the outside as a law and order black and white issue.
I also am not a fan of anyone, from any political party, using sexual violence as a populist law and order grand standing.
Yep, and we have so little information in the pubic domain about the bill yet here we are trying to debate it. Is that normal for a party to try and introduce a bill and not have anything available to look at?
Thanks for that last sentence, that sums it up better than I’ve been explaining it.
I am trying to work out if the introduction of a Bill doesn’t require anything to have been drafted yet?
In your search did it take you to WO? I believe he is describing an awful situation for a family.
http://www.donotlink.com/ee09
Hmmm, a few problems with that. One is, the name suppression is also there to protect the children. If they are old enough to be adults they can have their own name suppression lifted. If they’re not old enough, who is making the call on the name suppression being lifted? And what happens when you have siblings involved and one wants name suppression lifted and the other doesn’t? What are the victims’ rights here?
I also think that despite what he says, Slater would be in the camp of focussing on the need for vengence rather than the overall need to reduce risk for children. I’m not convinced that a register protects children so much as makes the rest of society feel better about a situation they’re not really willing to change. (but of course I don’t know because Peters hasn’t said what he intends).
There’s also the issue of what happens to offenders whose convictions are made public. Do we want people to rehabilitate/change or not?
Plus, I think Slater is also using this situation for political gain (the Cunliffe reference).
Sorry Weka, I was being deliberately vague to avoid any suggestion of breaching a suppression order. I was referring to the scenario WO refers to right at the beginning. I didn’t read the rest.
I have looked at NZF website and it appears it has been their policy regarding the removal of suppression for “paedophiles” before the by-election.
I have emailed them to ask for more detail.
Weka
I agree that people like slater and peters make this seem black and white and an easy fix when it isnt. Above all it must be victim-focused and like you, feel too many use it as a football for their self interest.
“and doing it in the context of macho politics certainly isn’t.”
Actually dear bird, behind every macho man (I assume from this reference of yours) there is a female MP doing great work. Don’t sell yaself short sister.
Just a reminder that tomorrow’s a stat hol.
So Skinny can take time off from being a jerk with a massive chip on their shoulder.
I thought all the leaders were heading to his place for a spa and a chat about the way forward 🙂
Upon reflection, I seem to recall Skinny mentioning being a union rep or similar. So the tendency to constantly pick at a point of tension rather than backing off probably makes them quite good in that role.
It takes a village, I guess.
jeeze you need cv back for the late nighters 🙂
part of me says yes, part of me is thankful to not have been arguing about fucking medicine vs hocus pocus for the eleventy-third time 🙂
lol sounds like you need some reiki
Hey Mc dick got a problem with unionists?
Hope you enjoyed your day off today coobah, I have just finished work.
Frankly, I regard being a unionist as your most obvious saving grace.
Thousands of farm workers in the Mexican state of Baja California walked out of the fields on Tuesday, March 17, at the peak of the winter harvest season.
This strike pits against each other two diametrically-opposed social forces. On the one side, there are some of the biggest and richest companies in the world. The large farms in Baja, about 200 miles south of San Diego, specialize entirely in produce for the U.S. market – for big companies that we all know: Walmart, Safeway, Kroger, Albertsons, and others. Mexico’s produce exports to the U.S. are a business worth more than 7.5 billion US dollars a year.
On the other side are fruit pickers, the vast majority of whom are indigenous people from the southern states of Mexico. Many of them are illiterate and don’t even speak much Spanish. Trying to escape extreme poverty, they have migrated hundreds of miles north, only to be caught up in extremely bad working and living conditions.
The companies pay the fruit pickers as low as . . .
full at: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/01/mexican-farm-workers-strike/
“The Cotton On attempt to take away the breaks became a big issue on social media and also in the mainstream news. Cotton On’s website was deluged with criticisms, following news coverage of the issue, and the company was pilloried by the TV3 news-comedy show 7 Days. In the space of about a week there were at least 50 stories in the media on the issue.
“Faced with industrial action and public support for the workers, plus solidarity from Cotton On distribution workers in Brisbane, Australia – the company is currently attempting to prevent unionisation in its Victoria distribution centre – the bosses have retreated. The first-ever collective agreement between the company and FIRST Union was ratified by the Cotton On workers belonging to the union yesterday (April 1).
“The company gave up its attempt to. . .
full at: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/02/workers-at-cotton-on-win-pay-and-teabreak-victory/
Phil
Why aren’t women tweeting their political views as often as men are?
http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs/trending
Have jobs (paid/unpaid) that allow less access to mobiles during work hours?
and the amount of harassment that politicised women get online, some of it extreme.
And whether or not being a twit or a tweeter appeals!
A website that shows just four countries are doing what is needed with their ghg emissions to keep us at 2C.
Another 15 countries are doing something but it’s inadequte and requires someone else to do more to make up for it.
Another 10 of the countries are completely insufficient.
Guess which category NZ falls into.
http://climateactiontracker.org/countries.html
We’ll start fast following any day now.
11 days remaining till the return of the Rawshark 4:
Murray Rawshark
phillip ure
Colonial Rawshark
Macro
…..we hope…as these are some of the most intelligent and ethical and mature commenters…who are a magnet, like karol, for dialogue and other commenters
Chooky
You beat me to it I see, though it is only 10 days now (assuming 12/3 as the return date – technically it may be around 10pm on the 11th). I’d probably still include; greywarshark, as the only comment he’s made since Saturday was on Monday to clarify his position. The problem with people withdrawing their commentary is that it becomes difficult to ask them whether they accept being included in such a list (which mm & r-yh certainly didn’t).
Good luck with responding calmly to the; alternating horn-honks, and obscene gestures, from those commenters driving by the picket line. I’ll be back tomorrow to hold the placard if you don’t get here first.
greywarshark posted a video today or yesterday.
Tracey
Thanks; yes I hadn’t noticed that before (and the video it linked to was intriguing). But it was a twoline throw-away in the same hour as he wrote this much longer statement (on Tuesday not Monday):
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-31032015/#comment-994097
However, if you hadn’t mentioned that, I wouldn’t have scrolled back and found this comment from Murray Rawshark via Lprent:
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-31032015/#comment-994013
Which does raise some questions about the value of continuing this vigil. Perhaps we should remove MR’s name from the roll and refer to the; Rawshark 3? How much of this issue is about the original banning event, and how much is about issues that we’ve been examining since then?
I will have to sleep on it.
excellent – nice comment from Murray and lprent
probably too early to talk about the positives that have come from this whole episode…
Thanks Pasupial, I hadn’t seen Murray’s comment but am really glad I have now read it.
@Parsupal.. YES 10 DAYS to GO! …..thanks for the correction….I just copied and pasted your yesterday entry ….deleted Greywarshark from the list ….and forgot to change the number of days…ha ha….( I was interrupted …that is my excuse …because I can count backwards)
lol…to the horn- honks and obscene gestures….and……yes well if you sleep in I will try to do the countdown
Chooky
Well, no one’s infallible (eg I said the 12/3 when I meant the 12/4). When you have a child under three months old; there is no such thing as a sleep-in, or a holiday – at least I’m not walking into walls with the sleep deprivation anymore.
I will be up and at home near a computer tomorrow morning; so if you have a chance to take a break over the long weekend, I can maintain the vigil here.
good…i am working over Easter…so am around as back up
As regards your comment “How much of this issue is about the original banning event, and how much is about issues that we’ve been examining since then?”….i think it is about all of these ….people don’t just walk off without good reason..they are pissed off….and it isn’t just one or two people…imo although MR doesnt want to be responsible for pulling down the house…the problem remains
PS:…the song sentiment that springs to mind regarding the ban and walk out is..it may be a count down to nowhere /nothing
the irony of you mentioning karol is not lost on me, Given her reasons for leaving.
+1
+1
I really miss Karol.
Me too. And tracey is right.
‘Palestine gets ICC membership, opening door to Israel war crimes prosecution’
http://rt.com/news/245793-palestine-icc-israel-crimes/
“Palestine is soon to have its day in court, after securing long-awaited membership at The Hague. Plagued by constant setbacks to a peace deal with Israel, the ICC newcomer wants to see Tel Aviv on the stand for alleged war crimes in Gaza…
ICC membership has been years in the making. It comes after Palestine gained UN observers status, followed by an increasing number of European countries recognizing them as an independent state or considering it. Israel’s operation tipped the balance in the Palestinians’ favor….
Joining the ICC opens up possibilities: the Palestinian leadership can not only take the Israelis to task for their summer campaign, they can also challenge the Jewish state’s continuing settlement building beyond the Green Line as a war crime. Israel’s settlement building has been condemned by the international community, including the UN”….
Worth signing:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/monsanto_dont_silence_science_c/?bKvKGgb&v=56276
To the tune of “Daisy, Daisy…”
Sabin, Sabin, where the fuck are you?
It’s so crazy, give me your answer do…
It won’t be a stylish trial,
If you [r0b: too far]
But you’ll look sweet, upon the seat
Of a cell block just for you!
If Sabin gets put in a “cell block” as you implied there, will the Nats scream and scramble to throw away the Key?
There are few delights to compare with the sight of power-hungry people panicking.The bland sense of entitlement fraying at the edges……
John Cleese
https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/582870473190481920
h/t blue leopard.
Dita De Boni. Crikey. This is a new and frightening angle! National claims to stand for free enterprise and freedom of action. This would destroy that claim.
At the moment, the only thing standing between New Zealand and its total loss of sovereignty is Winston Peters.
Dislike him or write him off as you will, he is the only person now positioned close enough to the wet noodles of power to strenuously oppose the Investor-State Dispute Settlement provisions (ISDS) in the absolutely ruinous TPP free trade agreement our Government is desperately trying to ram through with 11 other nations.
For this reason alone, Peters deserves the support of anyone who doesn’t want our laws to be dictated, chilled or altered by foreign corporations. Which should, in fact, be most of us….
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11426641
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/includes/lateline_20150309.htm
Video archives from Tuesday evenings show on the TPP
A headline from lateline “Trade Minister Andrew Robb (Aus) says DFAT has held more than a thousand briefings with stakeholders about the TPP. He says the public will have months to look at the detail of the deal, before it’s ratified by parliament. Political Correspondent Tom Iggulden reports on what the TPP could mean for Australia.
@ ianmac
It will be interesting to see which parties support or oppose it when it comes to voting on the Bill.
I wonder which way Labour will go?
Apparently, the Maori Party will support it through its first reading.
Another fire for deep sea oil in the Gulf of Mexico.
The UK government included a £660m handout to Permex in their recent trade deal with Mexico.
The death of four workers was sufficiently distressing enough to warrant a tweet from Permex. Their deaths increase the tally of workers killed in fires at Permex facilities in the last three years to a total of 64.
I’m appalled by bad practices on rigs and in industrial plants that lead to injury, death and environmental damage. However, I was disappointed in the Charlie Kronick statement, I think he’s being a bit opportunist here.
Other energy sources can also lead to injury, death and environmental degradation if the systems, people and resources to make them safe are not sufficient or effective.
Pemex seems to be one of these companies with a poor safety record (not that investors care) and that’s the issue here, I think.
Re the TPPA
Is it possible to withdraw from this agreement in the future or will we be stuck with it forever?
IMO, it’s always possible to withdraw from such agreements. Others may disagree with this.
Like Draco I think it’s always possible. But you have to look at the consequences. The general idea is that once in you can’t get out unless you radically change the direction of our governance. Is that likely for us? Would we stand up against the huge pressures to toe the line? If pulling out means we would be fined, would we refuse to pay the fine? What would happen then? etc
This is one of the hugely evil things about the TPPA (and other agreements). The current govt can bind NZ into agreements permanently and no other subsequent govt can easily override them. This completely and utterly renders our democratic process (such that it is) irrelevant. If National get a TPPA that is based on their policies, no other government (eg L/GP/NZF) can change that (except with the caveat above). We lose our rights to determine the political nature of our governance.
I wonder if it is also because we will enact a bunch of laws to support the implementation which would all have to be undone. This is part of the ruse… make it so hard to undo something it sticks.
I think that the various laws that would need to be changed in order to meet all the rumoured provisos in the TPPA are what will help stop it going through. I am not a lawyer, but my understanding is that while cabinet can approve the signing of the TPPA without taking it to parliament, there will be law changes required and these would have to go through parliament before it is ratified.
Any lawyers that could help here?
Professor Jane Kelsey explains it pretty well here Karen.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1403/S00429/one-more-time-pm-parliament-does-not-get-to-ratify-tppa.htm
Thanks, Tracey, but I don’t understand what Jane means when she says:
“At most, Parliament could refuse to pass legislation that is required to bring a particular law into compliance with the TPPA. But the government will have plenty of non-legislative ways to achieve compliance”
What are the non-legislative ways to achieve compliance?
By using regulations which do not require a vote from Parliament.
Once Cabinet has agreed and signed the Treaty there is a good faith binding under International Law.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1312/S00148/explanation-of-nzs-treaty-making-process.htm
“The Cabinet manual spells out the powers and process for entering into international treaties. Paragraph 7.112 states that “In New Zealand, the power to take treaty action rests with the Executive.” In practice that means the Cabinet.
Cabinet decides whether to enter into negotiations, the negotiating mandate and any revisions to it, and what trade-offs are made to conclude a deal.
Cabinet then approves the signing of the agreed text by the Minister. This is a definitive step that binds the government to act in good faith towards its negotiating partners. The Cabinet manual makes it clear that by signing an agreement the executive indicates an intention for New Zealand to be bound to that text. This constitutes a good faith obligation under international law.
Parliament does not get to see the completed text until that stage. According to the Cabinet Manual, a signed TPPA would then be presented to Parliament, accompanied by a National Interest Analysis. These analyses have been widely criticised during the standing orders reviews and submissions on the International Treaties Bill for their lack of independence and balance, because they are prepared by the same Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade that negotiated the agreement. “
Here’s the extract from the Cabinet Manual which covers Regulations
http://cabinetmanual.cabinetoffice.govt.nz/7.77
Thanks very much for that, Tracey.
No problem. To clarify most Acts have Regulations, so it would be using existing Acts to add or amend their Regulations to give effect to any TPP stuff. That is what I think Kelsey is referring to.
Darby and Joan to be saved from the chopping block. Key has said they won’t be sacrificed… probably cos he will tell Northlanders you can have the bridge or the trees. Your choice.
http://nzfirst.org.nz/news/darby-and-joan-chopping-block-what-cost
An interesting article from Trotter on Stuart Nash http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2015/04/the-nashing-of-labours-teeth-why-being.html
Worth a read, perhaps the first time a Labour MP has stepped out of line under Little’s leadership. In my view, Nash is a problem for Labour. His personal values and Labour’s simply don’t match.
I think someone posted it yesterday, cos I recall a few comments about it being Nash who seems to step out of line with his “policy” announcements.
More on the TPPA:
http://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2015/03/tpp-bad-even-us-congress-shocked/
Thanks. Funny how their verson of our MP’s can read over it, but ours can’t…
Retailers are calling for a revamp of Easter trading laws.
They don’t want people to have to work, of course, only work if you want to, but I think enough of us have seen how that really works out for a good number of workers.
Ha! What did I say yesterday? Sooooo predictable. Oderings garden centres go on about Easter trading hours, Every. Single. Year. They’ve got a freaking obsession with it. Unclench that tight arse of yours Boss and give your workers time to be with their friends and family on a couple of those three and half days of the year when they can actually do that.
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-01042015/#comment-994200
I hopr Oderings allow their workers to say ‘no’ to working on Good Friday without any retribution.
Nice one Rosie!
I can see the rationale for tourist towns, but garden centres?!
Their argument has always been (and I see the logic in it, I just oppose them opening) is that customers are getting a whole four days off to work in their gardens, and those customers need to get into their stores to get their supplies.
Autumn, not that it’s feeling particularly autumnal, is a perfect time for planting perennials, shrubs and tree’s. Gardeners are also busy pruning and clearing old summer growth and doing general maintenance work. Garden centres are selling equipment and tools as well as plants and tree’s.
This is a time of year when garden centres can make a steady profit before the less profitable winter season sets in.
“is that customers are getting a whole four days off to work in their gardens, and those customers need to get into their stores to get their supplies.”
Aah, the altruism 😉
The last rationale makes a bit more sense, but even then I think if you can’t run a business all year without those two days at Easter there is something wrong.
Well, can’t argue with that! You win an easter egg.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11426641
A message for Peter Dunne, Marama Fox and Te Ururoa Flavell and from UK.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/67588442/uk-deputy-pm-nick-clegg-set-to-lose-seat-in-election–poll
Labour and Greens, this is getting to be beyond a joke. Are you not talking to each other before question time at all?
This in the Northern Advocate – http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11426838
Then, in the comments section below the article this in relation to the offender, from from Desi Boyz of Remuera – “Maori, I’m betting.”
???
Reported that. Considering that all those major media outlets tend to hold back comments before publishing them, it is pretty extraordinary it was published.
Letters to the Editor ain’t what they used to be.
It’s still there 🙁 Love the comments in response to it though. Northern Advocate not afraid of a bit of sarcasm.