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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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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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? ...
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 → ...
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 ...
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. ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
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 ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Asia Pacific Report A Pacific civil society alliance has condemned French neocolonial policies in Kanaky New Caledonia, saying Paris is set on “maintaining the status quo” and denying the indigenous Kanak people their inalienable right to self-determination. The Pacific Regional Non-Governmental Organisations (PRNGOs) Alliance, representing some 15 groups, said in ...
Koi Tū New Zealand cannot sit back and see the collapse of its Fourth Estate, the director of Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures, Sir Peter Gluckman, says in the foreword of a paper published today. The paper, “If not journalists, then who?” paints a picture of an industry ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Foreign investment proposals with implications for Australia’s strategic or economic security will face tougher scrutiny, under a policy overhaul to be announced by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Wednesday. At the same time, the government ...
A Waitangi Tribunal inquiry report has warned government that a repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act could cause harm to children in care. ...
The Treasury has published today three new papers covering government consumption multipliers, automatic stabilisers and the impacts of global shocks on New Zealand’s economy. ...
Asia Pacific Report The Pacific state of Hawai’i’s House of Representatives has joined the state’s Senate in calling for a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza, becoming the first state to pass such a resolution, reports Hawaii News Now. In March, the Senate passed a ceasefire resolution with a 24–1 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Ferrie, A/Prof, UTS Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research and ARC DECRA Fellow, University of Technology Sydney PsiQuantum The Australian government has announced a pledge of approximately A$940 million (US$617 million) to PsiQuantum, a quantum computing start-up company based in Silicon Valley. Half ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hunter Bennett, Lecturer in Exercise Science, University of South Australia Cameron Prins/Shutterstock If you spend a lot of time exploring fitness content online, you might have come across the concept of heart rate zones. Heart rate zone training has become more ...
SPECIAL REPORT:By Eugene Doyle He is the most popular Palestinian leader alive today — and yet few people in the West even know his name. Absolutely no one in Gaza or the West Bank does not know him. That difference speaks volumes about who dominates the media narrative that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Will McCallum, PhD Candidate – School of Communication and Creative Arts, Deakin University Earlier this year, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of not supporting Operation Sovereign Borders – the military-led border security operation that has “closed Australia’s borders ...
By Melyne Baroi in Port Moresby A Papua New Guinea MP, Peter Isoaimo, who had been ousted by the National Court in an alleged bribery case, has been reinstated by the Supreme Court on appeal. A three-member Supreme Court bench found that the National Court had erred in finding that ...
Publisher Chris Holdaway reflects on the unique project of collecting the work of the late, terrific poet Schaeffer Lemalu. One of the nice things you can do as a truly independent publisher is to make the books that writers want to make, whatever they happen to be. That’s how I’ve ...
Those profiled in the stamp series served on overseas deployments from 1995 onwards, and all have been awarded theNew Zealand Operational Service Medal. ...
Last night’s dismal poll result for the coalition government shows the limits of trying to govern as an opposition, argues Joel MacManus. There’s a quote from the American political activist Barbara Deming: “Vengeance is not the point; change is. But the trouble is that in most people’s minds, the thought ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shireen Morris, Associate Professor and Director of the Radical Centre Reform Lab at Macquarie University Law School, Macquarie University Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock Foreign interference in Australian democracy poses a growing risk to our national sovereignty. It refers to coercive, corrupt or ...
A defendant charged by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has pleaded guilty to four charges of obtaining by deception in relation to a mortgage fraud scheme. Sentencing has been scheduled for 14 August 2024. ...
What to say when pesky journalists ask gotcha questions like ‘can you name a single book you’ve ever read?’ and ‘did you read it, or did you just see the movie?’This week, Act Party arts spokesperson Todd Stephenson foolishly agreed to an interview with Newsroom’s Steve Braunias regarding his ...
Explainer - What will a ban on cellphones in schools achieve? Can students use them during lunch breaks? And what happens if you need to contact your child? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jodi Rowley, Curator, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology, Australian Museum, UNSW Sydney Jodi Rowley, CC BY-NC-ND In winter 2021, Australia’s frogs started dropping dead. People began posting images of dead frogs on social media. Unable to travel to investigate the deaths ...
In the year ended March 2024, 0.4 percent of home transfers were to people who didn’t hold New Zealand citizenship or a resident visa, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wasay Majid, Research Assistant , University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau New Zealand’s accommodation supplement scheme is facing scrutiny, with Social Development Minister Louise Upston recently saying “there is merit in considering whether the current settings are fair and sustainable long-term”. The ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor The first prime ministerial candidate has been announced in Solomon Islands and it is not Manasseh Sogavare. The man of the hour is Jeremiah Manele, the MP for Hograno/Kia/Havulei constituency in Isabel Province, who served as minister of foreign affairs in the last government. ...
Protesting the removal of bins by leaving piles of your dog’s shit for others to deal with doesn’t make you a hero – it’s precious and entitled behaviour. You haven’t truly lived until you’ve stood on the shoreline of Auckland’s Cheltenham beach, desperately trying to scoop increasingly liquid dog shit ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon will be alert to the factors driving the dire polling, but won't be waving the white flag just yet, RNZ political editor Jo Moir writes. ...
Writer, teacher and academic Vincent O’Sullivan died on Sunday 28 April. Here we gather tributes from friends, colleagues, and students who remember his extraordinary contributions. I went down to the garage tonight. There was a bird shrieking out in the bush, in the dark, maybe a kākā. Miraculously, through the ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a burnt-out corporate escapee explains how she gets by ‘working as little as possible’. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.Gender: Female Age: 31 Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: Contractor in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Schmidt, Professor of Chemistry, UNSW Sydney Albert Russ / Shutterstock The icebreaker of many a barbeque conversation is something like “what do you do for a crust?” “I teach chemistry at university,” is what we usually reply. Then silence. Our ...
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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.