Dear Granny Herald. Can you explain why you used a picture of a laughing Phil Goff in your web version of the article called MPs in Line for a Big Pay Increase? Goff isn’t quoted in the article at all. And he’s hardly going to be the biggest winner in any rule change. I mean, you could at least try to look impartial…
Dont mention that didymo to me….I did however find it slightly amusing that it was really good at blocking nozzles in irrigators on the Canterbury Plains.
I thought so too Tigger. I think Granny Herald is beginning to get geared up for the election next year ,so be ready for this type propogander
Did you notice the article regarding Shane Jones. Well according to the Herald Shane hired 50 porn movies. At first it was two however every time I read the Herald or listen to the likes of Garner ,the number of porn films hired increases.The only conclusion I can come too is that Shane is now addicted to Porn Films. I just wish I could apply the same formula to my Super pension.
Right are getting panicky about Supercity mayor it seems. Campbell Live had a text in poll with the options: Banks, Brown or neither. Campbell looked rather sick as he announced Brown had attracted 48%, beating neither and Banks into second and third respectively, particularly after running the usual head slapper video several times. Brown just needs to hold his nerve, keep meeting people, and keep away from journos and he could get there. If he does get the job I hope the 4 Manukau staff sent on prof. development can be hired to utilise their new skills!
Oh, and one more thing, add to my above comment-that Matt McCarten not ad a last minute “wonder’ candidate i.e. splitter candidate. But I won’t hold my breath on that.
Chopper Tolley in Queenstown today! Pity she is only spending 15 minutes with the leaders of her primary schools. Maybe if she sat down and listened for a while, she might get the reasons why they are so united in opposition. It does seem a long way to fly for 15 minutes.
Maybe its the bungy jumping that appeals?
National have a history of such “education” Ministers. reminbds me of when I trundled in (in those days dragging a tape recorder the size of a Corolla behind me) to interview Las Gandar. I’d just walked in, said hello and shook his hand when the division bells rang and he excused himself.
“No problem,” I said. “I’ll wait here for you”. A look of utter confusion crossed his face. “Oh, I thought you just wanted to meet me” he said.
Yeah Les, I was planning never to wash my hand again.
News service again at the ready, headlines from around the egdes of the NZ coast outwards…enabling you to know and RELAX (be at one with the rest of the blissfully ignorant).
Leading economic analysts predict the US will resort to printing money, heres why:
The ECRI leading indicator produced by the Economic Cycle Research Institute plummeted yet again last week to -6.9, pointing to contraction in the US by the end of the year. It is dropping faster that at any time in the post-War era.
The latest data from the CPB Netherlands Bureau shows that world trade slid 1.7pc in May, with the biggest fall in Asia. The Baltic Dry Index measuring freight rates on bulk goods has dropped 40pc in a month. This is a volatile index that can be distorted by the supply of new ships, but those who watch it as an early warning signal for China and commodities are nervous.
News from the markets overnight, flat as…..slightly edgy, but hey relax, Bernanke wants to print paper…will there be enough trees to make enough paper for a zillion zillion $10 notes?
Meanwhile over the ditch in OZ, the place we slavishly want to emulate…..Peak Mineral predicted…
In the 1950’s, an American geoscientist came up with the term ‘peak oil’, to describe the moment when the maximum rate of petrol extraction from the earth would be hit – and academics in Australia are starting to talk about the very same problems faced by our metal mining industry.
In following up the latest PEDA LTD revelations as highlighted on Russell Browns Media 7 programme of last night, it appears English and Te Heu Heu have well and truly washed their hands of the debacle.
Signalling their intention to not comment further, by their inattendance at question time in pariliament yesterday, shows a massive disrespect for the institution and the processes of democracy in being answerable to the wider public and those elected officials charged with representing us.
The questions asked at such time generally reflect the views of many concerned citizens and can often be the only voice articulated in parliament on our behalf. That they didn’t deem them worthy of answering is equivalent to giving us the middle finger reply requiring no further response.
I would rather the ministers to whom questions are directed front up, if only to verbally ‘flip the bird’ to the opposition by muttering inane shit that obfuscates the real issues or sit in their well stuffed chairs, rocking back and forwards, humming nyah nyah nyah…we won, you lost. Surely that’s what we pay them for ?… to turn up, take their seat in the big house and act like know it all privileged brats.
Regarding PEDA LTD though. Expecting that the Pasifikan community would fall inline behind them with their hands out, grateful and silent, shows not only do English and Te Heu Heu have no understanding of the community they claim to represent but shows a disgusting unwillingness to personally confront the real cause of massive Pasifikan youth unemployment.
These 2 clowns have gone beyond needing a wake up call to get their arses to parliament and front the issue. They need shown the door, with a one way ticket to Dipton and Tuwharetoa never to be heard from again if thats how they want to play the game.
It’s just not good enough and Lockwood really needs to get a handle on this shit or start docking their pay if they cant produce a medical certificate for legitimate absenteeism.
Inga’s already been seen as a lackey and mouthpiece for PEDA LTD while initially denying he had his snout firmly in their trough. The fact he’s involved in a silent partnership with PEDA through the ‘PI chamber of commerce’ and is accepting junket trips for the gov’t doesn’t exactly improve his stock or elevate his standing.
If theres one thing the Pasifika community can’t stand, it’s dishonour and disrespect for protocols and thats what ultimately this is about. The community never forget your instances of it but traditonally would have dealt with it inhouse behind closed doors.
PEDA looked to circumvent these natural processes and heirarchies, thinking the community would settle for hush money, but that only works if you have the mana and respect of the community and you are seen as worthy of being in a postion to act as a provider.
Few if any of this PEDA lot have that. A flash suit, an island shirt and a tidy line in Pasifika inspired bullshit might get you alot in Bill Englishs circles but in ‘real’ Pasifikan culture it means jack shit.
And Michael Jones is seen as a rugby munter with a heart of gold, but his foot firmly planted in his mouth should he be required to speak on anything of note. It’s why you wont hear him say anything about anything unless its talking to kids or John Key about God and rugby. Best he sticks to what he knows. Imagine him in parliament ?
That just leaves Peseta Sam “loves to linger” lingering lovingly in the background, too frightened to peep up in case he unwittingly lands Te Heu Heu and English in the shit by adding another layer of ineptitude and ineloquence to the PEDA bungle cake.
The thing with silence is, in Pasifikan culture, as with politics, it can work against you more than it can work for you, especially if you dont know when to speak up, when to shut up, when to listen and when to act. Watching him grovel for approval in the National party backbenches is, while entertaining, also distressingly humiliating and embarassing for all Pasifikans given he aspires to lead us in the political sphere.
…its just not a good look all round eh ?
What needs to look good on all fronts, is the procurement contract the gov’t puts to PEDA
LTD. It needs to be sound and rock solid, with acutely quantifiable objectives, real measurables outcomes, irrevocable consequences for lack of accountability in allocating any monies to subcontracted providers and transparently open to the Pasifika community for scrutiny and approved buy in by existing providers expected to deliver on PEDA’s promises.
These guys have, according to Bill English’s rhetoric, charged themselves with addressing the piss poor employment stats of pasifikan youth and been given 4.8 mill of our money to do it. Kids these days, especially Pasifikan ones, can smell bullshit and token effort a mile off and if they don’t like what you’re cooking, they’ll just switch off and give you shit with their parents usually none the wiser for it.
So either PEDA LTD need to be able to walk the talk or step to the kerb and walk away. If the plan was to talk the walk, cook the books, take the money and run. I’m afraid thats all gone out the window. That’s how we used to role but no more…enough is enough !!!
Now according to pacificeyewitness.com and substantiated by written answers to questions by Su’a Willam Sio directed to the prime minister John Key…
….it appears Key met with Inga, the iceman and the PEDA bros to discuss…erm rugby and God and ummm… handing over 4.8 mill to some dodgy backroom company to address Pasifikan youth unemployment.
If only he could remember…hmmmm
Question 12758 (2010). Su’a William Sio to the Prime Minister (22 Jun 2010): On what date did he meet with JR Pereira, Michael Jones, Va’aiga Tuigamala and National MP, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga in Auckland last year when funding for the Pacific Island community was discussed and where did that meeting take place?
Hon John Key (Prime Minister) replied: 30 Jun 2010
On 11 June 2009 I attended a Pacific Leaders meeting at the Columbus Cafe in the Onehunga Mall with Peseta Sam Lotu-liga, Michael Jones and Va’aiga Tuigamala. There were other people present but I have no recollection of their names. J R Pereira may have been at that meeting.
Question 12764 (2010) to Prime Minister (22 Jun 2010): When he met with JR Pereira, Michael Jones, Va’aiga Tuigamala and National MP, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga in Auckland last year, did he discuss any proposal to provide government funding through the budget process to any private sector provider; if so, what provider or providers were discussed?
Hon John Key (Prime Minister) replied: 30 Jun 2010 Not that I can recall.
No wonder Georgie didn’t have a clue what was going on and couldn’t answer the initial questions about PEDA LTD….cos she wasnt invited to talk shit with the bro’s.
Surely the mainstream media can’t ignore this story if Goff decides to hammer Key about his involvement now ?
and whats with the troll account by someone using parliament computers to run interference at pacificeyewitness.com ?
To be fair to Labour I think they’re doing a decent job of asking more from the government – particularly at question time. The obfuscation from the government has been very telling.
That said, chucking it back to Goff again can’t be a bad thing given this info.
You’re onto it Bored…..toss in the stubborn ginormous debt, dropping commodity prices, increasing Sino-US tension, indications of an imminent proverbial sino “turning-inwards” and the inherent confusion/contradiction of current austerity/QE measures, and it’s looking more and more like “double dip”.
Ironic, innit: our own “Double Dipton” and “John W” facing a double-dip-dubya economy in time for the Chrissy hols. Could explain the recent rash of “big gun” Righty PR – Maori-bash, bennie-bash, teacher-bash, Creditgate…and now prisoner-bash.
The Left by-passed the MSM with great success on Mining and Privatisation: learn the lesson and burn that shoe-leather in Auckland for a Supercity Rout to match Jim in Chch.
Good point on the MSM, funny thing is that to come up with the above I got links to MSM sites…the truth cannot be hidden away too tightly despite the “filtering’ we see locally. Overall as you note and add to the trend is very obvious for anybody prepared to atke off the shades.
Im in Wellywood, we have people here working hard against the privatisation of water, a story the MSM ignores…really pleased with the Auckalofa and Chch MSM sidesteps. The next step is to challenge the assumption from the right that what they “contract” out or privatise represents a fait accompli. They are relying on us to stick by the “rules” as they see them. More news to come!!!!
1. He bought a box of confectionery from one shop, popped into a cafe nearby and gave it to two women.
2. In a TAB, Banks placed a $10 bet and gave the chit to an older woman.
Check out also section 126 of the Local Electoral Act 2001 which says it is an offence punishable by 2 years imprisonment for someone to “corruptly, before, during, or after an election or poll, … gives any food, drink, entertainment, or provision to or for any person—
(a) for the purpose of influencing that person or any other person to vote …; or
(b) for the purpose of obtaining his or her election …”
It was an interesting myth from the 2005 election beloved by moron wingnuts who are suckers for any stupid fable – in other words – you. However that is all it is – a myth.
Try and find a credible (ie not a wingnut blog site) source for the myth and you’ll find it never happened.
Bloody wingnuts. They think that politics is a contact sport and not a contest of principles. So if one of their stars gets caught they come out with “but blah blah blah did blah blah blah” and if this does not work they come out with “but blah2 blah2 blah2 did blah2 blah2 blah2”.
It is the same as an admission of defeat. It is as far as an admission as they can go.
The “treating” law is bloody ridiculous. I ran afoul of it for operating a bbq during a campaign. Apparently the price of a vote nowadays is a single friggin sausage.
I admit I was trying to buy their time… no one wants to listen to a would-be pollie these days and I figured if I handed the buggers a snag they’d at least have to listen to me bang on for as long as it took them to wolf it down. But if I thought I could buy votes that cheap I’d have travelled the electorate flinging pounds of suasages at passers-by 😀
There needs to be some minimum value beneath which the gift is seen as so trifling it’s unable to sway a voter… because the alternative is to assume a level of stupidity and venality in the populace which frankly is pretty scary. $10, maybe?
The only positive from two failed parliamentary campaigns, Rex, was the ‘faux apology’ which I used when turning down the opportunity to pay for my round in the pub- “Sorry, couldn’t possibly, it would be treating.”
I certainly saw a lot of stupidity which was scary and enough venality to confirm my politics.
Aside from the obvious contradiction, is this even true?
It seems Tolley can say what she likes about “parents” supporting National Standards, simply because there is no general organised “parents” union or collective that can say otherwise. It also smacks of telling people what they should think by repeating it over and over, as well as divide and conquer – “you’re a parent, do you identify with other parents who support National Standards, or do you identify with those stuck-up teachers that don’t want to educate your child properly?”.
The only thing bigger than their sense of entitlement is the breath taking expectation of the public and media that their representatives lives are an open book, their privacy able to be invaded and their whole existence scrutinised. I would not go near the job for the current money…I might however do it to represent a constituency of like minded.
If they are unable to deal with that then they should not go into politics, do not forget, they are using our money, we have a right to know what they are doing with it.
And we are using their time (and demanding access to their personal life as a bonus)…bloody oath, we need scrutinizing too. Please send me your expenses receipts NOW!!!!!!
big bruv Can you act as an impassioned advocate also on behalf of nurses of dementia sufferers. What you say about being paid a fair rate from the taxpayers purse should see the nurses pay shoot up. It’s an awfully hard job, underpaid, and still women think it worthwhile and step forward to give it a shot. It’s not something that everybody can or are willing to do. The pay may not match what their peers are receiving and doesn’t reflect the strictures of the job though.
Politicians are in the same basket, but fortunately better paid.
What about those who feel so entitled as to be feel righteous in walking away from their debts by lying and welching on their word? What sort of person would do that, big bruv?
1 nil to BB
[lprent: Counting score is a *fast* way to attract my attention. It is a particularly pointless way to start a pointless flame discussion. It is pointless because no-one can agree on the basis for evaluation and the debate (with agree to disagree rules) veers into monumental stupidity that I have to read.
I usually just ban the idiot who I consider started to do it as my particular contribution to that debate. Consider yourself warned. ]
As I said last week (it might have been the week before) the debt has been paid to a charity (SPCA), if that is not good enough for you then tough bloody luck, unlike Labour people I am a man of my word.
Now, would you care to debate the issue of our MP’s awarding themselves a pay rise when the rest of NZ is struggling?
Like most pinkos you do not bother letting the facts get in the way of your bullshit do you.
I repeat, prove to me that Wikileaks is a charity and I will gladly send them another $100.
Now, given that you are doing your best to distract from the topic I raised I can only assume that you do not give a toss if our MP’s award themselves a pay rise, I also have to assume that you do not care if the average man in the street is suffering at this time.
Typical, you Chardonnay socialists are all the same, you use the poor for votes and then forget about them.
Typical authoritarian nutjob, thinking that he gets to dictate both sides of a contract.
Here are the terms:
big bruv 16.1.1.1.2
26 May 2010 at 9:51 pm
Blip you are an idiot.
Let’s have a wager about this shall we?
$100 to the charity of the winners choice (mine will be the RSPCA just so you can start writing out the cheque) if this story even dents his popularity.
Or you could stop frothing at the mouth and start getting real.
BLiP 16.1.1.1.2.1
26 May 2010 at 10:18 pm
You’re on I think its a bit of a fuss sending them a cheque but have a look at the donations section on Wikileaks, I think they will accommodate your predilection for last century technology (rather like your political beliefs) let the next preferred Prime Minster poll be the arbiter.
It’s an open thread so i can talk about what I want, but FTR, I think it is pretty typical tory bs. Much like Key’s grandstanding efforts to turn down a years increase when he knows that the HSC will be required to just make up the shortfall by effectively backdating it at the next review.
Face it, you don’t want to pay wikileaks because they publicise warcrimes you approve of, but too bad, a bet’s a bet.
Actually, given that BLiP did not nominate a charity then I could have refused to pay anything to anybody.
However, as a conservative and therefore a man of my word I paid the SPCA.
You’ve been learning from King John The Blind of Charmalot in your weasling welching attempt to distort reality by redefining terms post the event. You have no honour and your word is shit.
Of course I was going to try and make him pay up, in hindsight it would have been a massive waste of my time as he would have refused to do so given his political leanings.
You can try and twist it as much as you like, I know you are well used to doing so given the way you bent yourself out of shape trying to defend the previous Labour governments theft of tax payer funds but the reality is that the terms of the bet were perfectly clear.
Having said that, I repeat that I am perfectly happy to pay $100 to Wikileaks if you can prove that they are a charity.
I should have realised it was a futile gesture on your part given that you never had any intention of paying up, preferring instead to wear the moniker of lying welcher with the pride reserved only for the self-satisfied, smug who delight in the false belief they’ve got “one over” on the under class. You are the epitome of that which makes Aotearoa weaker.
You said he got to name the charity if he won. He, in advance, named wikileaks.
When you thought you had won the bet, you sought to make him pay up.
When you did this you implicitly accepted the terms under which he entered the bet. Thus, wikileaks is a charity for the purposes of this bet.
Charity is doing good work. Wikileaks exposes war crimes and uncovers other state secrets and wrongdoing. That is good work.
I accept that ‘good work’ is a subjective term, but that’s ok, because the terms of the debate that you brought to the table said ‘of the winners choice’. that means the winner chooses.
You lost so you don’t get to choose, you just get to pay up.
So stop quibbling, lying and pretending you have honour, and pay the damn debt.
“Having said that, I repeat that I am perfectly happy to pay $100 to Wikileaks if you can prove that they are a charity.”
While PB has already given you a good response, I’ll just point out that the problem with the above ‘condition’ is that you can simply refuse to accept any evidence or argument that Wikileaks is a charity so you aren’t offering anything really.
“While PB has already given you a good response, I’ll just point up that the problem with the above ‘condition’ is that you can simply refuse to accept any evidence or argument that Wikileaks is a charity so you aren’t offering anything really.”
PB has given nothing more than a juvenile and petulant response.
For the last time, the conditions of the bet (or challenge if you like) were laid down by me, the loser had to pay the CHARITY of the winners choice the sum of $100.
BLiP did not name a charity, BLiP named a highly dubious left wing website.
You are damn right that I refuse to accept the site nominated by BLiP is a charity because clearly it is not.
You already did accept the terms of the debate, including paying wikileaks should you lose, when you sought to seek payment.
In this very thread you said you were right to seek payment. That can only mean you think BLiP was bound by the bet. And he was bound by the bet, on that we agree. He agreed to be bound by the bet and gave his terms, which you accepted and are now reneging on, because that’s the sort of thing you are.
You now, conveniantly, don’t think wikileaks is a charity. What is your argument for that?
Is it that they exposed things of which you approve, but would rather be kept secret? Or just a more generic belief that the state should be deferred to and trusted?
I seem to remember you taking a similar dislike to the NY Times and some reporting they did about torture and extra-constitutional spying and such like. You, ridiculously, called that ‘treason’ if I remember correctly, (not the torture and illegal spying on US citizens by the US state, but the reporting of same in the free press). Is it that sortt f thing that makes you think wikileaks isn’t a charity?
Or perhaps you think charity can only be that if it is registered and given the name by the state. Is that your angle?
Or do you only have foot stamping and flat denials to support your patheticism?
In any case, it doesn’t matter, you asked why wikileaks is a charity in terms of the debate, I told you why.
All experts on Campbell Live agreed that if voter turn out is more than 40% then Len wins. Both sides polling shows we will get a 59% turn out. The “Flood Bank” is broken and John boy is gone – let’s just make sure we all vote!
Questions for the lying Prime Minister Key:
“Prior to your invesments being moved into management of a blind trust, did you or any afiliated person have any direct or indirect investments managed by Global Forest Partners?”
“Subsequent to your invesments being moved into management of a blind trust, have you or has any person under your direction given any form of written or oral investment recommendation to the trustees of that blind trust?”
There must be money to be made by interested parties behind the Emissions Trading Scheme supported by national. It will be interesting to know if Key is gaining from it. Could it be?
Farrar’s just posted about a long, boozy lunch with Odgers, Slater and others yesterday. According to Slater’s tweetstream, the “others” included David Fisher (Herald journalist) and Jonathan Marshall. Can we expect more anti-Len muckracking in the Sunday tabloids this weekend?
Padfoot, Moony, Wormtail and Prongs. I wonder if they foursquared their location on the marauders map so Rita Skeeter could tattle about it to The Daily Prophet…
At least he devulges who he went to lunch with unlike Len’s $810 rort on the ratepayer.
[lprent: Another daft troll style comment with little content and after just being warned. Umm, are you worth keeping around here? Do you add anything to the debate apart from idiotic one-line slogans?
I just had a look through your comments and found absolutely no content of any interest over the last two months. You’ve been warned several times before about looking like a troll. It looks like you’re too stupid to learn.
You’ve earned yourself a permanent ban. I’d suggest that your talents would be best at somewhere with a lower threshold of intellectual ability – gotcha, no minister, or the sewer come to mind. ]
Maybe Dick Quax would like to tell us what was so important that he couldn’t attend a $1500 course the ratepayers paid for . . . and maybe also the reasons why he voted against having to repay the money? Its not as if Dick Quax isn’t exactly fastidious in his own history of claiming back that which he feels entitled to . . . all $1.54 of it. Watta guy.
“…and maybe also the reasons why he voted against having to repay the money…”
Voting when he had such a clear conflict of interest should have some action resulting. He should never have voted. Instead he should have recused himself – not doing so speaks volumes about his lack of suitability for public office.
Why couldn’t the Council just say – “ok – we will just keep the next $1500 worth of expense claims that you submit”. Although that could then have the effect of him claiming for things like the 50cents postage for that letter he mailed out at his own expense.
Or, better than that, why couldn’t Mr Quax have postponed, or cancelled as soon as he knew he could not attend? And failing that, why couldn’t he do the decent thing and pay up?
Probably because he’s a hopeless hypocrite NActoid – says one thing, does the opposite.
” Another daft troll style comment with little content and after just being warned. Umm, are you worth keeping around here? Do you add anything to the debate apart from idiotic one-line slogans?”
You have to be aware of the rule around here, simply put there are rules for the left and rules for the right.
Under no circumstances will they allow any comment that shows the left in a negative light, it does not matter how truthful that comment is it will be banned.
[lprent: Wrong again. You do seem to make a habit of that.
In this case true blue made about 40 comments over 2 months. None on them that I saw extended for more than 2 lines. None of them had any content that wasn’t a simple slogan – usually incorrect in terms of facts. No-one was bothering to engage with him any more. He was simply wasted space in the comments section.
From what I know of you – I dislike your politics, personality, and think that your understanding of the world around you has little basis in reality (especially in science). How often have you been banned? I think it happened once in 2008?
You have an ability to argue and debate. true blue doesn’t. ]
However, even you would have to admit that the rules do not apply evenly across the board.
Of course, they do not have to, it is your blog and the opinions of 99% of the contributors are clearly wrong but as it is your property you have the right to do as you see fit.
Do you know how much I am enjoying being right inside your head?
I have had a very enjoyable day knowing that you are sitting there bashing your keyboard in frustration simply because you were not smart enough to appreciate the bet you accepted.
You need to learn a few things before you start playing with the big boys, first of all you need to be clear about the conditions of the bet, you could have nominated a pinko charity like Barnardoes, having to pay them $100 would have made me ill, instead you nominated a website that is in no way a charity.
Actually, you never said that the winner would have to nominate a charity before the result was known. Therefore, the winner is entitled to nominate a charity now, and you will have to pay $100 to that charity.
The only way I am able to interpret your 14.2.2.1.1.1 comment above is that BLiP was a “Silly, silly boy” for nominating wikileaks whereas you were one of “the big boys” because you realised it gave you a loophole.
It is this realisation which gives you away, bruv. The most (ahem) charitable reading of the situation shows that you believed the conditions of the bet were not being met but went ahead with it anyway.
The alternative is that you believed the conditions were met.
Your choice: Welcher or Cheat.
Wriggle and squirm, bruv. Everyone can see through you.
Welcher or cheat? I’m going with sore loser, felix. Stop whining, BB, and cough up. What happened to personal responsibility, eh? You willingly made the bet, you lost the bet. Pay up, Bruv. Or are you waiting for the state to bail you out, oh mighty Atlas?
heh! Big Boys!! What a dick, you are. My 12 year old nephew would try something like that – but even he would realise the folly. I’d love to see you try it down at my local, we’d quickly see how big a boy you were there. Face it. You lost the bet and now are taking childish delight in refusing to pay up. That’s fine. But don’t expect not to be reminded about your decision to relish the titles liar and welcher. In some ways its quite good to have it out in the open now . . . that way each and every comment you make will be an opportunity to remind you.
And that folks is the typical response of a knuckle dragging Labour supporter.When faced with an argument you cannot win you revert to violence.
Obviously I have got under your skin BLiP, you have no idea how much that pleases me, as for your childish threats, well take a ticket and join the long line of people, I think you might have to wait a while, in the mean time you can have a chat with D4J, he tells me he is at the very front of the line.
I admit that I lost the bet, I also admit that I set the rules of that bet and the loser had to pay $100 to a charity (actually, what bloody part of that do you not understand?) a charity has received the money, the bet is settled.
However, as I have said before, if you can prove to me that Wikileaks is a charity I will bung them a $100 as well.
As for reminding me, go for your life, it is water off a ducks back and only goes to prove how much I have messed with your mind.
Your fear and your ignorance are showing, big bruv. You’re the only one talking violence. Pull your word-twister stunt down my local and it would be well deserved scorn, contempt and ridicule you’d get, and then we’d see how much of a big boy you were drinking on your own with no seat to sit upon and no table to lean at. We don’t bring much into this world and we take even less when we leave. Some of us still have our honour and our word, all you have the $100 that belongs to wikileaks.
I hadn’t heard that Curia was being sold. I doesn’t seem to make much sense – a captive friendly company must have been very useful to channel donations and to get polling done at ‘mates rates’ when needed. It does appear that Farrar has not had a full time job for some time – perhaps National are going to re-employ him; not many buy the ‘independent political commentator’ line any more. Do you have a reference for the purchase of the company?
PM tight-lipped on MPs’ perk review say Granny.
But why would he be tight-lipped? I mean, he doesn’t stand to benefit from any changes, right? He gives his salary away. Doesn’t he? So he’s free to have an opinion, and express it.
Another no-confidence vote for Mr Key, from me.
Me too, all that salary Mr Key and no cycleway. Did you take a helicopter instead of a bike and go fishing with Paul Reynolds to talk about the finer points of “delivery”?
Not a good move by the new Aussie PM but typical of John Key to back a closet racist willing to stir up hate in order to win an election who now has the gall to try and stand for an international position.
Nicola Willis and her boss have been peddling a fake short history of the previous government that runs as follows:They spent and spent, they had nothing to show for it and that is not how you grow the economy, because You can't tax yourself to prosperity.There is a sort of ...
There’s a bad taste in my mouth. And it has nothing to do with dinner. The Rings of Power season two – undoubtedly a massive improvement on season one – has concluded on a mixed note. It’s not season one bitterness, in that parts of this episode were indeed excellent, ...
If the rain comes they run and hide their heads.They might as well be dead,If the rain comes, if the rain comes…Can you hear me that when it rains and shines,It's just a state of mind,Can you hear me, can you hear me?Song: Lennon-McCartneyIt’s been quite a week for Dunedin ...
Today’s mañana strategy will lead to a crisis for the oldest elderly.It is said that the only certainties are death and taxes, but a lack of each causes uncertainties. As longevity increases, the pressures on state spending increase. A reluctance to increase taxation means the pressures on the elderly increase.The ...
When cancer minister Casey Costello convinced Cabinet to give her mates at Philip Morris a $216 million tax cut, she did so in the face of departmental advice that there would be no benefits and that Philip Morris' "heated tobacco products" were more cancerous and toxic than cigarettes. But she ...
Long story short:Treasury has warned again public debt will rise exponentially in the decades to come because of the rising costs of our ageing population, unless we change one or more of our New Zealand Superannuation promises, publicly-funded healthcare or tax settings. The current Government isn’t planning any changes, ...
Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:“Why does everywhere seem to be flooding right now, Vox asks, as a new study predicts that 70% of ...
Welcome to the first week of October, which brings longer days and (we hope) lighter spirits. Despite the state of things, there are still abundant reasons to feel encouraged. On we roll! This roundup is brought to you by our largely volunteer crew. If you’d like to support our work ...
Morning all, this is just a quick note from me this morning: I’m off for a scan shortly. I’m sure you know the drill, especially if you’re a mum: a squeeze of surprisingly cold gel straight on your front, which the radiologist then uses the ultrasound machine to try and ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate news, including another extreme climate event in the United States; on the escalating conflict between Israel, Iran ...
With housing construction stalled, the Government has come up with a plan to underwrite new developments. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, October 4:The Government is set to ...
Yesterday, there was an excellent interview on 1News Breakfast with Former Health NZ Chair Rob Campbell. He was being interviewed in response to the government signalling to privatising our hospitals.Campbell confirmed what this publication and its readers have long talked about. One: We have the money for Health. Two: The ...
Yesterday’s NZME “Mood of the Boardroom” survey should be a wake-up call for the Government. This annual survey polls a wide range of private and public sector business leaders. Respondents to the survey rated their confidence in the New Zealand economy at 3.23 out of five, the highest score for optimism ...
Do you want to hear a joke?One day a government Minister fought very hard to help out mates with tax cuts She scored them - a massive NZ $106 billion multinational tobacco company with shares trading at $192 each - $216 million worth of tax cuts on their star product ...
Open access notables Sloth metabolism may make survival untenable under climate changescenarios, Cliffe et al., PeerJ:Sloths are limited by the rate at which they can acquire energy and are unable to regulate core body temperature (Tb) to the extent seen in most mammals. Therefore, the metabolic impacts of climate change ...
I have been outside this week, replacing spouting. Although this involves ladders and sharp tools, I am pleased to say there have been no cuts, no falls, no disasters. I mention this because from some of the comments some of you have made, I'm getting the feeling I may have ...
At six o'clock I'm goin' downCoffee's hot, and the toast is brownHey street sweeper, clear my waySweethearts breakfast is the best in townSongwriter: Donald Hugh WalkerIt’s that time of year again when NZME presumably thanks the country’s business leaders for all the advertising they’ve done during the year. They do ...
It’s very exciting to be getting a new medical school. It would be more exciting if the hospitals needed to train them weren’t on the verge of losing their licenses due to understaffing issues, and if the cost of such a school wasn’t coming at the expense of the health ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sanket JainNoushadbi Mujawar has created a community health model that helps people in India build resilience amid the rising climate disasters. (Photo credit: Sanket Jain) Community health care worker Noushadbi Mujawar safely evacuated everyone from Rajapur, an isolated ...
This time three years ago – as described in this Thursday throwback post by Jolisa – Auckland was deep into experiencing another prolonged shift in perspective around how a city can look and feel. . A lot has changed since then; and a lot hasn’t. As a recent guest ...
Israel seems on the brink of achieving the war with Iran that Benjamin Netanyahu has been trying all year to provoke. Until now, Iran had not taken the bait. It had not replied in kind to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, its bombing of Iran’s consulate in Damascus, and its assassinations ...
This is the tardiest review I have yet done for The Rings of Power – but, alas, real-life gets in the way sometimes. It has been a busy few days, and it became a matter of finding the time to sit down and express my thoughts. Also, it took a ...
I’m not really sure what to say about this. What else is there?But I think it needs to be acknowledged, and acknowledged angrily and loudly: the end goal of neoliberalism was always privatisation, and National seem to think New Zealand is ready for it right now. After three decades of ...
Boy oh boy, are you as excited as I am for a fresh wave of privatisation? You only need to reflect for a moment on how much better off privatisation has made us these past few decades to see that more of that would be a very good thing.The paragraph ...
I've had enough of scheming and messing around with jerksMy car is parked outside, I'm afraid it doesn't workI'm looking for a partner, someone who gets things fixedAsk yourself this question, do you want to be rich?I've got the brains, you've got the looksLet's make lots of moneyYou've got the ...
This is a very timely post from Bike Auckland, re-published here with kind permission. See also yesterday’s post by Patrick on the abundantly clear case for funding cycling as the powerful “stealth mode” for easy access to and around our city. The short version The central Government’s transport ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff MastersHurricane Helene at sunset on Sep. 26, 2024, as the storm was closing in on the Florida coast as a Cat 4 with 130 mph winds. (Image credit: NOAA/RAMMB-CIRA Satellite Library) After a spectacular burst of rapid intensification, Hurricane ...
Neoliberalism will defend itself. It must, because it has amassed power and wealth in those who are most invested in it.Take John Key, for instance, who has taken the unusual and controversial move of quietly endorsing Donald Trump as a former NZ PM, claiming that not only is Trump likely ...
The timing was fortuitous for Luxon, saving him over $70,000. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, October 2:PM Christopher Luxon was able to escape having to pay ‘brightline’ ...
Hi,I will explain the horrifying painting of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon shortly.But first, I got a text from my friend Aaron over the weekend:In short, Aaron had loaded about a year’s worth of our text history into Google’s AI (privacy, what privacy?) — and instructed the AI to ...
National has a representation issue. Not in terms of gender, or race, or disability, or socio-economic background (though they do also have a lack of all of those), but with its representation for the South Island. Is it any surprise we’re the ones getting shafted when there’s only a single ...
Often when folks ask me what we can do about this government’s short sighted and often dubious policies1, I frequently veer to a similar answer:Share information, stay aware, act locally where you can, stay positive, and wait.Wait - for what?Well tonight it became clear.On 1News tonight, it was revealed Health ...
Whenever our politicians are caught with their hand in the till, they loudly proclaim that their theft from the public was "within the rules". The problem is that they are the ones writing the rules, and there's a certain suspicion that they write them to suit themselves. And so their ...
He dumped us years ago, but the media still pines for him, stalks his Insta, has a little flutter of the heart whenever he saunters back into the room.So naturally Stuff wanted to hear everything John Key had to say about the US election. And although the tape goes for ...
Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, October 1:PM Christopher Luxon has made $460,000 in tax-free income this year from capital gains on the sale of two of his rental properties, almost as much ...
Do you believeIn what you seeMotionless wheelNothing is realWasting my timeIn the waiting lineDo you believe inWhat you seeSongwriters: Henry Binns, Sam Hardaker, Sophie Alexandra Jessica BarkerOctober already. This year feels like it’s going quickly, provided you don’t count it out in WTF moments from the coalition. Before we know ...
Kāinga Ora When Chris Bishop asked Bill English to help him do an “independent review” of Kāinga Ora last year, who here could guess that English’s report said exactly what Bishop already indicated?A reminder of how it went down:For the modest payday of $500,000, Bill English was paid from the ...
Patrick Reynolds is deputy chair of the City Centre Advisory Panel and a candidate in this months Entrust election It might surprise you to learn that in Auckland, our harbour city, wrapped around the shores of the beautiful Waitemata, bikes bring as many people to the city centre in the ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew DesslerlinkYou should probably learn the term compound climate event. It refers to the occurrence of multiple weather- or climate-related hazards happening simultaneously or in close succession, leading to amplified impacts. One of the most feared compound events is ...
We must have sympathy for the right.After all, it’s difficult being a conservative these days. Progressive politics are proceeding at a rapid pace. World leaders preaching kindness and compassion are lavished with praise and acclamations. You can’t hit your kids anymore, you can’t hit your dog, you can’t hit your ...
The news that the University of Waikato med school proposal has passed its cost-benefit analysis just two days after the Dunedin Hospital funding crisis announcement may not be linked, but one certainly impacts the other. POLITIK understands that ACT opposes the Waikato proposal and NZ First is lukewarm, but somehow, ...
The word “blow-out” is such a politically loaded term. It carries a strong whiff of extravagance and incompetence. In fact, and with public health budgets in particular, going “over budget” is a sign that reality has finally caught up with what – from the outset – was always a budget ...
Completed reads for September: Old English Genesis A & B (poetry), by Anonymous Old English Exodus (poetry), by Anonymous The Life of St Guthlac of Crowland (poetry), by Anonymous The Death of St Guthlac (poetry), by Anonymous Maxims I [The Exeter Book Maxims] (poetry), by Anonymous Maxims II [The ...
Delightful piece from Hayden Donnell at The Spinoff (how did I miss it?) — Huge opportunity: Could you be the guy standing behind the PM looking furious? OK, so I thought ‘grim’, right? But Hayden has brought receipts, as the saying goes… and his view is ‘absolutely ropeable’. Lol. “Usually ...
Reader Pete Hodgson was in touch after Saturday’s edition to offer his speech notes from the Dunedin rally. They are excellent, they deserve the widest audience. My name is Pete Hodgson, and I chaired or served on the governance group of the new hospital for 6 years until last Xmas. ...
It's official: coal has been eliminated from the UK's electricity system: Britain’s only remaining coal power plant at Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire will generate electricity for the last time on Monday after powering the UK for 57 years. The power plant will come to the end of its life in ...
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.National Party leader (current), Christopher Luxon, speaking at a public meeting in Gore, in January last year:“Now lets be clear, Dunedin Hospital, started under a National Government, mucked around under a Labour Government for ...
The National Party has been promising Dunedin - and the lower South Island - a new hospital since 2008. Despite those promises, the Key government did nothing during its nine years in office, and it was left to Labour to actually start the process in 2017. National promptly criticised them ...
A bit disoriented this morning. I’ll blame Daylight Savings; I slept late. To be fair, it was probably the new mattress. After going to Rotorua the other week, we realised just how terrible ours was.“Scalloped” is a term that will be familiar to guitarists. It describes how some guitars have ...
Over the weekend, the Minister of Transport Simeon Brown proudly announced his new speed-setting rule, a decision that will undoubtedly lead to greater harm on our roads. It’s a tragically predictable decision by a Minister who seems to be on only nodding acquaintance with both evidence and international norms. Fueled ...
Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday, September 30:Over 35,000 people marched in Dunedin on Saturday to protest against the Government’s plans to downgrade the new hospital being built there.In the scoop of the ...
A listing of 30 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 22, 2024 thru Sat, September 28, 2024. Story of the week Given the headlines dominance of hot oceans lofting water into the atmosphere where it then obeys the Clausius-Clapeyron relationship thereby ...
But what a fool believes, he seesNo wise man has the power to reason awayWhat seems to beIs always better than nothingThan nothing at allSongwriters: Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonaldWe begin.“Welcome to Q&A, I’m Jack Tame. Today, for a government that says it’s fixated on waste, what’s the point in a ...
Oh, you should have seen Reefton in 1888. It glowed. It was illuminated by the future.In August of that year — and I am confident I have my facts right because I am quoting directly from the town's own website — Reefton became the first place in New Zealand and ...
Dunedin is not a happy city at the moment. We are used to being ignored in the nationwide New Zealand media – wrong end of the country and all – but the Government’s recent announcement on the Dunedin Hospital rebuild has got people motivated. How motivated? Well, I couldn’t make ...
A nice bit of news. I can report that I have had a short story success – my 3,600 word gothic horror piece, The One Who Saw Too Much, has been accepted ...
And another pitch shattersAnother little bit gets lostTell me what else really mattersOh, such a costLike pebbles on a beachKicked around, displaced by feetOh, like broken stonesThey're all trying to get homeSong by Paul WellerDoes it feel as though your country has been hijacked? That terrible people have taken the ...
Dame Jacinda Adern would not accept “acceptable death rates” during Covid. But in the UK the Tory government said “Let them die”.Additions belowYesterday, when I saw the news that a Timaru factory with hundreds of jobs on the line was going to close, I couldn't help but think:"I'm so glad ...
1. What did the National party promise Dunedin last election?a. We will build the hospital you needb. We will never give you up, let you down, or Rickroll you c. We will bring back John Keyd. Pandas2. What is the National party promising Dunedin now?a. A sawn-off half-pint watery version of ...
Note: This is obviously a very heavy topic — it took me three days to manage to write it — so please read with care. In saying that, in amongst the awfulness I think this piece also contains some hope, and plenty of humanity. Thanks to those of you who ...
We are extremely sad to say that our esteemed Skeptical Science colleague— and good friend to many of us— John Mason passed away on Friday September 20, 2024. Only last week, we blew a horn of appreciation for John's remarkable gift for telling stories about science. Our expectation was that ...
Stagnation and ContractionIn this column I use the less familiar measure of GDP per capita instead of the GDP measure favoured by the commentariat. I became familiar with it when I began doing international comparisons because of the population differences between countries, while I depended upon the measure while working ...
This is embarrassing: I just had to google who Andrew Jassy is.I come to substack to learn terrible thingsIn my defence, they promoted him during the pandemic and I had other things on my mind. Also watching Amazon injure their workers at a rate of over four times the US ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate news, including research suggesting a doubling of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could trigger 8° of warming ...
Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:A seventh planetary boundary, for ocean acidification will soon be breached, and may have already done so, according to ...
Just a little something for the painHospital food getting you down?Honey now I'm not one to complainBut this hangin' aroundIs wearing me outSong by David Gray.Yesterday, Dr Shane Reti, the Minister of Health, and Chris Bishop, the duty Minister for looking sad, sincere and determined, announced that Dunedin’s promised new ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford still can’t confirm when the Government will deliver the $2 billion worth school upgrades she cut earlier this year. ...
Labour acknowledges the hundreds of workers today losing their jobs as the Winstone Pulp mill closes and what it will mean for their families and community. ...
In Budget '24, the National Government put aside $216 million to pay for a tax cut which mainly benefitted one company: global tobacco giant Philip Morris. Instead of giving hundreds of millions to big tobacco, National could have spent the money sensibly, on New Zealand. ...
Te Whatu Ora’s financials from the last year show the Government has manufactured a financial crisis to justify making cuts that are already affecting patient care. ...
Over 41,000 Palestinian’s have been murdered by Israel in the last 12 months. At the same time, Israel have launched attacks against at least four other countries in the Middle East including Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran. “You cannot play the aggressor and the victim at the same time,” said ...
Associate health minister Casey Costello has made a fool of the Prime Minister, because the product she’s been fighting to get a tax cut for and he’s been backing her on is now illegal – and he doesn’t seem to know it. ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee’s inquiry into climate adaptation is something that must be built on for an enduring framework to manage climate risk. ...
The Government is taking tertiary education down a worrying path with new reporting finding that fourteen of the country’s sixteen polytechnics couldn’t survive on their own,” Labour’s tertiary education spokesperson Dr Deborah Russell says. ...
Today the government announced a $30m cut to Te Ahu o Te Reo Māori- a programme that develops te reo Māori among our kaiako. “This announcement is just the latest in an onslaught of attacks on te iwi Māori,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Rawiri Waititi. ...
The Government has shown its true intentions for the public service and economy – it’s not to get more public servants back to the office, it’s more job losses. ...
The National Government is hiding the gaps in the health workforce from New Zealanders, by not producing a full workforce plan nearly a year into their tenure. ...
Today, the Crown Mineral Amendment Bill was read for the first time, reversing the ban on oil exploration off the coast of Taranaki. It was no accident that this proposed law change was read directly after the Government started to unravel the ability of iwi and hapū Māori to have ...
Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Justice, Tākuta Ferris, has hit out at the Government, demanding the Crown prove its rights to the foreshore, following the Marine and Coastal Area Amendment Bill, passing its first reading. "Māori rights to the foreshore pre-exist the Declaration of Independence, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and ...
The Green Party vows to reinstate the oil and gas ban and revoke permits when it returns to government following the coalition’s introduction of legislation to reopen offshore oil and gas exploration this afternoon. ...
The Government’s introduction of its interventions in the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act threatens to throw relations between Māori and Crown into deeper disharmony. ...
Gun lobbyist Nicole McKee and her conflict of interest has struck again, this time removing safety regulations from shooting clubs and ranges in New Zealand. ...
The Green Party says the Government’s retrograde move to tighten up on Work from Home arrangements is the latest in a series of blows to the Public Service. ...
The National Government is oblivious to the impact cuts to services will have on New Zealanders who are doing the hard yards caring for mentally ill family members. ...
National continues to dismantle environmental protections in the interests of rushing through unsustainable development that will ultimately cost communities. ...
The economy has stagnated and the National Government is having to face the consequences of its atrocious lawmaking, as beneficiary numbers skyrocket past even Treasury’s predictions. ...
Today’s GDP figures combined with the injustice of our tax system will mean more pain for our lowest-income households while those at the top remain relatively unscathed. ...
A new multi-purpose recreation centre will provide a valuable wellbeing hub for residents and visitors to Ruakākā in Northland, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. The Ruakākā Recreation Centre, officially opened today, includes separate areas for a gymnasium, a community health space and meeting rooms made possible with support of ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson announced up to $50,000 in additional Government support for farmers and growers across Southland and parts of Otago as challenging spring weather conditions have been classified a medium-scale adverse event. “The relentless wet weather has been tough on farmers and ...
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay today welcomed a move by the European Commission to delay the implementation of the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by 12 months, describing the proposal as a pragmatic step that will provide much-needed certainty for New Zealand exporters and ensure over $200 million in ...
The Government is taking decisive action in response to the Ministerial Inquiry into School Property, which concludes the way school property is delivered is not fit for purpose. “The school property portfolio is worth $30 billion, and it’s critically important it’s managed properly. This Government is taking a series of immediate actions ...
The Government has announced a new support programme for the residential construction market while the economy recovers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk say. “We know the residential development sector is vulnerable to economic downturns. The lead time for building houses is typically 18 ...
Environment Minister Penny Simmonds has confirmed the final appointee to the refreshed Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board. “I am pleased to welcome Brett O’Riley to the EPA board,” Ms Simmonds says. “Brett is a seasoned business advisor with a long and distinguished career across the technology, tourism, and sustainable business ...
The Government has approved a $226.2 million package of resilience improvement projects for state highways and local roads across the country that will reduce the impact of severe weather events and create a more resilient and efficient road network, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Our Government is committed to delivering ...
Kiwis will see fewer potholes on our roads with road rehabilitation set to more than double through the summer road maintenance programme to ensure that our roads are maintained to a safe and reliable standard, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is a key ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has welcomed the announcement of Sir Jerry Mateparae as an independent moderator, to work with the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Bougainville Government in resolving outstanding issues on Bougainville’s future. “New Zealand is an enduring friend to Papua New Guinea and the ...
The latest 2023 Census results released today further highlight New Zealand’s growing ethnic and cultural diversity, says Ethnic Communities Minister Melissa Lee. “Today’s census results are further evidence of the increasingly diverse nature of our population. It’s something that should be celebrated and also serve as a reminder of the ...
Parents and caregivers are now able to claim for FamilyBoost, which provides low-to-middle-income families with young children payments to help them meet early childhood education (ECE) costs. “FamilyBoost is one of the ways we are supporting families with young children who are struggling with the cost of living, by helping ...
This week’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM) has concluded with a renewed commitment to regional security of all types, Defence Minister Judith Collins says. Defence Ministers and senior civilian and military officials from Australia, Chile, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga gathered in Auckland to discuss defence and security cooperation in the ...
Associate Police Minister Casey Costello has welcomed the Police announcement that recruitment wings at the Police College will be expanded to 100 recruits next year. “This is good news on two fronts – it reflects the fact that more and more New Zealanders are valuing policing and seeing it as ...
Introduction Good morning! What a pleasure to be back in the stunning West Coast at one of my favourite events in the calendar. Every time I come back here, I’m reminded of the Coast’s natural beauty, valuable resources, and great people. Yet, every time I come back here, I’m also ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti welcomes new data from Health New Zealand, saying it demonstrates encouraging progress against the Government’s health targets. Health New Zealand’s quarterly report for the quarter to 30 June will be used as the baseline for reporting against the Government’s five health targets, which came into ...
The launch of a new data tool will provide Kiwis with better access to important data, Statistics Minister Andrew Bayly says. “To grow our economy and improve productivity we must adopt smarter ways of working, which means taking a more data driven approach to decision-making. “As Statistics Minister one of ...
The Government is progressing plans to increase the use of remote inspections to make the building and consenting process more efficient and affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “We know that the building and construction sector suffers from a lack of innovation. According to a recent report, productivity ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes the PPTA putting a proposal to members at its annual conference to change its constitution and allow membership of teachers who work in charter schools. “The PPTA has had a come to Jesus moment on charter schools. This is a major departure from the ...
David Clarke has been announced as the Chief Commissioner of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC). David Clarke is a barrister specialising in corporate and commercial law and he has over 20 years experience in governance roles in commercial, public and charitable sectors. He also is a current TAIC Commissioner. ...
The Government has secured market access for New Zealand blueberries to Korea, unlocking an estimated $5 million in annual export opportunities for Kiwi growers Minister for Trade and Agriculture Todd McClay today announced. “This is a win for our exporters and builds on our successful removal of $190 million in ...
Partnership and looking to the future are key themes as Defence Ministers from across the South Pacific discuss regional security challenges in Auckland today, Defence Minister Judith Collins says. The South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM) brings together Defence Ministers, Chiefs of Defence and Secretaries of Defence from New Zealand, ...
In a triple whammy of good news, 1 October heralds the beginning of the funding of two major health products and a welcome contribution to early childhood fees, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “Keytruda is the first drug to be funded and made available from the $604 million boost we ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti today opened the refurbished Children’s Unit at Rotorua Hospital, which will provide young patients and their families in the Lakes District with a safe, comfortable and private space to receive care. “The opening of this unit is a significant milestone in our commitment to improving ...
It is now easier to make small changes to building plans without having to apply for a building consent amendment, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Previously builders who wanted to make a minor change, for example substituting one type of product for another, or changing the layout of ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced seven diplomatic appointments. “Protecting and advancing New Zealand’s interests abroad is an extremely important role for our diplomats,” Mr Peters says. “We are pleased to announce the appointment of seven senior diplomats to these overseas missions.” The appointments are: Andrew ...
The first iteration of the SuperGold Information Hub is now on-line, Minister for Seniors Casey Costello announced today. “The SuperGold Hub is an online portal offering up-to-date information on all of the offers available to SuperGold cardholders. “We know the SuperGold card is valued, and most people know its use ...
A new Contaminated Sites and Vulnerable Landfills Fund will help councils and landowners clean up historic landfills and other contaminated sites that are vulnerable to the effects of severe weather, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. "This $30 million fund, part of our Q4 Action Plan, increases the Government’s investment in ...
Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed the increased availability of medicines for Kiwis resulting from the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When our Government assumed office, New ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters today wrapped up a week of high-level engagements at the United Nations in New York and in Papeete, French Polynesia. “Our visit to New York was about demonstrating New Zealand’s unwavering support for an international system based on rules and respect for the UN Charter, as ...
The Government’s Quarter Four (Q4) Action Plan will be focused on making it easier and faster to build infrastructure in New Zealand as part of its wider plan to rebuild the economy, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “My Government has been working at pace to get the country back on ...
New Zealanders will be safer as a result of the Government’s crackdown on crime which includes tougher laws for offenders and gangs delivered as part of the Quarter Three (Q3) Action Plan, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “I’m proud to say we have delivered on 39 of the 40 actions ...
The Government is backing a new world-leading programme set to boost vineyard productivity and inject an additional $295 million into New Zealand’s economy by 2045, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay today announced. The Next Generation Viticulture programme will transform traditional vineyard systems, increasing profitability by $22,060 per hectare by 2045 without ...
Over 90 per cent of submissions have expressed broad support for a New Zealand minerals strategy, indicating a strong appetite for a considered, enduring approach to minerals development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. A summary of the 102 submissions on the draft strategy has been published today by the Ministry ...
Catch limits for several fisheries will be increased following a review that shows stocks of those species are healthy and abundant. The changes are being made as part of Fisheries New Zealand’s biannual sustainability review, which considers catch limits and management settings across New Zealand’s fisheries. “Scientific evidence and information ...
The Government is investigating options for a major reform of the building consent system to improve efficiency and consistency across New Zealand, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “New Zealand has some of the least affordable housing in the world, which has dire social and economic implications. At the heart ...
The Government has announced that an initial cost-benefit analysis of establishing a third medical school based at the University of Waikato has been completed and has been found to provide confidence for the project to progress to the next stage. Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti says the proposal will ...
The Government’s new speed limit rule has today been signed to reverse Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions and enable Kiwis to get to where they want to go quickly and safely, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Reverse Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions on local streets, arterial roads, and state highways ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts is travelling to Fiji on Monday to attend a Ministerial Meeting (Talanoa) with Pacific Island Countries, Australia, and New Zealand. “Attending the Talanoa will reinforce New Zealand’s commitment to supporting climate resilience in the Pacific and advancing action in the areas of climate change,” Mr ...
The Government is accepting the majority of human rights recommendations received at the fourth Universal Period Review in Geneva, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We have considered all 259 recommendations from the United Nations. We are supporting 168 and partially supporting 12 of these recommendations. “Recommendations related to women’s rights, ...
The Government is continuing to move at pace on the Northland Expressway, with significant geotechnical investigations now underway for phase one from Warkworth to Te Hana, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “With thousands of motorists and freight travelling through Northland, we’re focused on delivering for this region to grow our economy. ...
Stuck on the wall in the women’s changing room at the West Coast Rangers Football Club is the catchphrase: It means more here.It personifies what it means to players to belong to a club in Auckland’s north-west that’s just three years old, but already has a team who’ve fought their ...
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Dear Granny Herald. Can you explain why you used a picture of a laughing Phil Goff in your web version of the article called MPs in Line for a Big Pay Increase? Goff isn’t quoted in the article at all. And he’s hardly going to be the biggest winner in any rule change. I mean, you could at least try to look impartial…
Get with the programme Tigger, this is responsible paper ownership in process.
I thought that too. Why use Goff’s photo when he is not accused of anything or even mentioned in the article.
It’s pretty obvious that it’s all Phil Goff’s fault. And communists. And that bloody didymo.
Dont mention that didymo to me….I did however find it slightly amusing that it was really good at blocking nozzles in irrigators on the Canterbury Plains.
I thought so too Tigger. I think Granny Herald is beginning to get geared up for the election next year ,so be ready for this type propogander
Did you notice the article regarding Shane Jones. Well according to the Herald Shane hired 50 porn movies. At first it was two however every time I read the Herald or listen to the likes of Garner ,the number of porn films hired increases.The only conclusion I can come too is that Shane is now addicted to Porn Films. I just wish I could apply the same formula to my Super pension.
The Herald now has an article with a grim looking John Key described as being “tight lipped”.
The contrast is so palpable.
The link is at http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10656054
Right are getting panicky about Supercity mayor it seems. Campbell Live had a text in poll with the options: Banks, Brown or neither. Campbell looked rather sick as he announced Brown had attracted 48%, beating neither and Banks into second and third respectively, particularly after running the usual head slapper video several times. Brown just needs to hold his nerve, keep meeting people, and keep away from journos and he could get there. If he does get the job I hope the 4 Manukau staff sent on prof. development can be hired to utilise their new skills!
I just think we can all be happy at yesterday’s news that Auckland CEOs dislike both candidates.
L
Oh, and one more thing, add to my above comment-that Matt McCarten not ad a last minute “wonder’ candidate i.e. splitter candidate. But I won’t hold my breath on that.
Chopper Tolley in Queenstown today! Pity she is only spending 15 minutes with the leaders of her primary schools. Maybe if she sat down and listened for a while, she might get the reasons why they are so united in opposition. It does seem a long way to fly for 15 minutes.
Maybe its the bungy jumping that appeals?
No. Anne Tolley has to leave the Teacher Principals’ Conference to go and open a gymnasium. Gotta get your priorities right!
National have a history of such “education” Ministers. reminbds me of when I trundled in (in those days dragging a tape recorder the size of a Corolla behind me) to interview Las Gandar. I’d just walked in, said hello and shook his hand when the division bells rang and he excused himself.
“No problem,” I said. “I’ll wait here for you”. A look of utter confusion crossed his face. “Oh, I thought you just wanted to meet me” he said.
Yeah Les, I was planning never to wash my hand again.
And Les was followed by Merv Wellington. Those were the days!
News service again at the ready, headlines from around the egdes of the NZ coast outwards…enabling you to know and RELAX (be at one with the rest of the blissfully ignorant).
Leading economic analysts predict the US will resort to printing money, heres why:
The ECRI leading indicator produced by the Economic Cycle Research Institute plummeted yet again last week to -6.9, pointing to contraction in the US by the end of the year. It is dropping faster that at any time in the post-War era.
The latest data from the CPB Netherlands Bureau shows that world trade slid 1.7pc in May, with the biggest fall in Asia. The Baltic Dry Index measuring freight rates on bulk goods has dropped 40pc in a month. This is a volatile index that can be distorted by the supply of new ships, but those who watch it as an early warning signal for China and commodities are nervous.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/7857595/RBS-tells-clients-to-prepare-for-monster-money-printing-by-the-Federal-Reserve.html
News from the markets overnight, flat as…..slightly edgy, but hey relax, Bernanke wants to print paper…will there be enough trees to make enough paper for a zillion zillion $10 notes?
http://markets.on.nytimes.com/research/markets/overview/overview.asp
Meanwhile over the ditch in OZ, the place we slavishly want to emulate…..Peak Mineral predicted…
In the 1950’s, an American geoscientist came up with the term ‘peak oil’, to describe the moment when the maximum rate of petrol extraction from the earth would be hit – and academics in Australia are starting to talk about the very same problems faced by our metal mining industry.
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1245657/Peak-Metals-What-happens-when-we-run-out
Relax, we can grow sheep indefinitely, even give them water…..now over to Polly for local news from South Auckland…..
Thanx Bored 🙂
In following up the latest PEDA LTD revelations as highlighted on Russell Browns Media 7 programme of last night, it appears English and Te Heu Heu have well and truly washed their hands of the debacle.
Signalling their intention to not comment further, by their inattendance at question time in pariliament yesterday, shows a massive disrespect for the institution and the processes of democracy in being answerable to the wider public and those elected officials charged with representing us.
The questions asked at such time generally reflect the views of many concerned citizens and can often be the only voice articulated in parliament on our behalf. That they didn’t deem them worthy of answering is equivalent to giving us the middle finger reply requiring no further response.
I would rather the ministers to whom questions are directed front up, if only to verbally ‘flip the bird’ to the opposition by muttering inane shit that obfuscates the real issues or sit in their well stuffed chairs, rocking back and forwards, humming nyah nyah nyah…we won, you lost. Surely that’s what we pay them for ?… to turn up, take their seat in the big house and act like know it all privileged brats.
Regarding PEDA LTD though. Expecting that the Pasifikan community would fall inline behind them with their hands out, grateful and silent, shows not only do English and Te Heu Heu have no understanding of the community they claim to represent but shows a disgusting unwillingness to personally confront the real cause of massive Pasifikan youth unemployment.
These 2 clowns have gone beyond needing a wake up call to get their arses to parliament and front the issue. They need shown the door, with a one way ticket to Dipton and Tuwharetoa never to be heard from again if thats how they want to play the game.
It’s just not good enough and Lockwood really needs to get a handle on this shit or start docking their pay if they cant produce a medical certificate for legitimate absenteeism.
What risk amongst the Pasifika community to the reputations of Michael Jones and Inga? Or will they be “followed”?
IMHO 🙂
Inga’s already been seen as a lackey and mouthpiece for PEDA LTD while initially denying he had his snout firmly in their trough. The fact he’s involved in a silent partnership with PEDA through the ‘PI chamber of commerce’ and is accepting junket trips for the gov’t doesn’t exactly improve his stock or elevate his standing.
If theres one thing the Pasifika community can’t stand, it’s dishonour and disrespect for protocols and thats what ultimately this is about. The community never forget your instances of it but traditonally would have dealt with it inhouse behind closed doors.
PEDA looked to circumvent these natural processes and heirarchies, thinking the community would settle for hush money, but that only works if you have the mana and respect of the community and you are seen as worthy of being in a postion to act as a provider.
Few if any of this PEDA lot have that. A flash suit, an island shirt and a tidy line in Pasifika inspired bullshit might get you alot in Bill Englishs circles but in ‘real’ Pasifikan culture it means jack shit.
And Michael Jones is seen as a rugby munter with a heart of gold, but his foot firmly planted in his mouth should he be required to speak on anything of note. It’s why you wont hear him say anything about anything unless its talking to kids or John Key about God and rugby. Best he sticks to what he knows. Imagine him in parliament ?
That just leaves Peseta Sam “loves to linger” lingering lovingly in the background, too frightened to peep up in case he unwittingly lands Te Heu Heu and English in the shit by adding another layer of ineptitude and ineloquence to the PEDA bungle cake.
The thing with silence is, in Pasifikan culture, as with politics, it can work against you more than it can work for you, especially if you dont know when to speak up, when to shut up, when to listen and when to act. Watching him grovel for approval in the National party backbenches is, while entertaining, also distressingly humiliating and embarassing for all Pasifikans given he aspires to lead us in the political sphere.
…its just not a good look all round eh ?
What needs to look good on all fronts, is the procurement contract the gov’t puts to PEDA
LTD. It needs to be sound and rock solid, with acutely quantifiable objectives, real measurables outcomes, irrevocable consequences for lack of accountability in allocating any monies to subcontracted providers and transparently open to the Pasifika community for scrutiny and approved buy in by existing providers expected to deliver on PEDA’s promises.
These guys have, according to Bill English’s rhetoric, charged themselves with addressing the piss poor employment stats of pasifikan youth and been given 4.8 mill of our money to do it. Kids these days, especially Pasifikan ones, can smell bullshit and token effort a mile off and if they don’t like what you’re cooking, they’ll just switch off and give you shit with their parents usually none the wiser for it.
So either PEDA LTD need to be able to walk the talk or step to the kerb and walk away. If the plan was to talk the walk, cook the books, take the money and run. I’m afraid thats all gone out the window. That’s how we used to role but no more…enough is enough !!!
PW, this is the most worthwhile thing I’ve read all day. Cheers.
L
Ditto what Lew said – thanks pollywog.
Your Humble Opinion, frankly, mirrors mine.
OH NO HE DIDN”T ???…OH YES HE DID
Now according to pacificeyewitness.com and substantiated by written answers to questions by Su’a Willam Sio directed to the prime minister John Key…
….it appears Key met with Inga, the iceman and the PEDA bros to discuss…erm rugby and God and ummm… handing over 4.8 mill to some dodgy backroom company to address Pasifikan youth unemployment.
If only he could remember…hmmmm
Question 12758 (2010). Su’a William Sio to the Prime Minister (22 Jun 2010): On what date did he meet with JR Pereira, Michael Jones, Va’aiga Tuigamala and National MP, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga in Auckland last year when funding for the Pacific Island community was discussed and where did that meeting take place?
Hon John Key (Prime Minister) replied: 30 Jun 2010
On 11 June 2009 I attended a Pacific Leaders meeting at the Columbus Cafe in the Onehunga Mall with Peseta Sam Lotu-liga, Michael Jones and Va’aiga Tuigamala. There were other people present but I have no recollection of their names. J R Pereira may have been at that meeting.
Question 12764 (2010) to Prime Minister (22 Jun 2010): When he met with JR Pereira, Michael Jones, Va’aiga Tuigamala and National MP, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga in Auckland last year, did he discuss any proposal to provide government funding through the budget process to any private sector provider; if so, what provider or providers were discussed?
Hon John Key (Prime Minister) replied: 30 Jun 2010
Not that I can recall.
http://pacificeyewitness.com/2010/07/02/prime-minister-admits-onehunga-cafe-meet-last-year-with-key-players/
No wonder Georgie didn’t have a clue what was going on and couldn’t answer the initial questions about PEDA LTD….cos she wasnt invited to talk shit with the bro’s.
Surely the mainstream media can’t ignore this story if Goff decides to hammer Key about his involvement now ?
and whats with the troll account by someone using parliament computers to run interference at pacificeyewitness.com ?
To be fair to Labour I think they’re doing a decent job of asking more from the government – particularly at question time. The obfuscation from the government has been very telling.
That said, chucking it back to Goff again can’t be a bad thing given this info.
Amen to that.
You’re onto it Bored…..toss in the stubborn ginormous debt, dropping commodity prices, increasing Sino-US tension, indications of an imminent proverbial sino “turning-inwards” and the inherent confusion/contradiction of current austerity/QE measures, and it’s looking more and more like “double dip”.
Ironic, innit: our own “Double Dipton” and “John W” facing a double-dip-dubya economy in time for the Chrissy hols. Could explain the recent rash of “big gun” Righty PR – Maori-bash, bennie-bash, teacher-bash, Creditgate…and now prisoner-bash.
The Left by-passed the MSM with great success on Mining and Privatisation: learn the lesson and burn that shoe-leather in Auckland for a Supercity Rout to match Jim in Chch.
Good point on the MSM, funny thing is that to come up with the above I got links to MSM sites…the truth cannot be hidden away too tightly despite the “filtering’ we see locally. Overall as you note and add to the trend is very obvious for anybody prepared to atke off the shades.
Im in Wellywood, we have people here working hard against the privatisation of water, a story the MSM ignores…really pleased with the Auckalofa and Chch MSM sidesteps. The next step is to challenge the assumption from the right that what they “contract” out or privatise represents a fait accompli. They are relying on us to stick by the “rules” as they see them. More news to come!!!!
Is John Banks guilty of treating?
Check out http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/3855793/The-battle-for-Auckland where it is disclosed that he did the following:
1. He bought a box of confectionery from one shop, popped into a cafe nearby and gave it to two women.
2. In a TAB, Banks placed a $10 bet and gave the chit to an older woman.
Check out also section 126 of the Local Electoral Act 2001 which says it is an offence punishable by 2 years imprisonment for someone to “corruptly, before, during, or after an election or poll, … gives any food, drink, entertainment, or provision to or for any person—
(a) for the purpose of influencing that person or any other person to vote …; or
(b) for the purpose of obtaining his or her election …”
Is he a treater?
No different to Mike Williams and the KFC.
It was an interesting myth from the 2005 election beloved by moron wingnuts who are suckers for any stupid fable – in other words – you. However that is all it is – a myth.
Try and find a credible (ie not a wingnut blog site) source for the myth and you’ll find it never happened.
And I suppose he never went to Australia to dig up dirt on John Key, is that a myth also?
Bloody wingnuts. They think that politics is a contact sport and not a contest of principles. So if one of their stars gets caught they come out with “but blah blah blah did blah blah blah” and if this does not work they come out with “but blah2 blah2 blah2 did blah2 blah2 blah2”.
It is the same as an admission of defeat. It is as far as an admission as they can go.
They should learn the Catholic mea culpa thing.
The “treating” law is bloody ridiculous. I ran afoul of it for operating a bbq during a campaign. Apparently the price of a vote nowadays is a single friggin sausage.
I admit I was trying to buy their time… no one wants to listen to a would-be pollie these days and I figured if I handed the buggers a snag they’d at least have to listen to me bang on for as long as it took them to wolf it down. But if I thought I could buy votes that cheap I’d have travelled the electorate flinging pounds of suasages at passers-by 😀
There needs to be some minimum value beneath which the gift is seen as so trifling it’s unable to sway a voter… because the alternative is to assume a level of stupidity and venality in the populace which frankly is pretty scary. $10, maybe?
The only positive from two failed parliamentary campaigns, Rex, was the ‘faux apology’ which I used when turning down the opportunity to pay for my round in the pub- “Sorry, couldn’t possibly, it would be treating.”
I certainly saw a lot of stupidity which was scary and enough venality to confirm my politics.
Anti-spam word “crisps”- couldn’t even buy them!
Chopper Tolley our very own Dubya?
On RNZ this morning, en route to meet 500 principals, heh, she said “parents are the silent majority in all of this, and they are being quite vocal…’
LOL Great spotting TM
Aside from the obvious contradiction, is this even true?
It seems Tolley can say what she likes about “parents” supporting National Standards, simply because there is no general organised “parents” union or collective that can say otherwise. It also smacks of telling people what they should think by repeating it over and over, as well as divide and conquer – “you’re a parent, do you identify with other parents who support National Standards, or do you identify with those stuck-up teachers that don’t want to educate your child properly?”.
captcha: thinking
this pic is great. the highlighted ‘spill’ has been moved east so it is physically positioned over the state of Florida landmass. OOOPS. How do they get away with this crap?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthpicturegalleries/7863283/Hurricane-Alex-in-pictures.html
There are very few things that unite the left and right, however, opposition to the proposed 10% increase in MP’s pay should be one of them.
At a time when we are all facing increased costs it is an outrage that these parasites should even consider paying themselves more.
If they really wanted to show leadership they would vote themselves a 10% reduction in pay.
Every single one of them has a sense of entitlement that is breathtaking.
The only thing bigger than their sense of entitlement is the breath taking expectation of the public and media that their representatives lives are an open book, their privacy able to be invaded and their whole existence scrutinised. I would not go near the job for the current money…I might however do it to represent a constituency of like minded.
Bloody oath they should be scrutinised.
If they are unable to deal with that then they should not go into politics, do not forget, they are using our money, we have a right to know what they are doing with it.
And we are using their time (and demanding access to their personal life as a bonus)…bloody oath, we need scrutinizing too. Please send me your expenses receipts NOW!!!!!!
big bruv Can you act as an impassioned advocate also on behalf of nurses of dementia sufferers. What you say about being paid a fair rate from the taxpayers purse should see the nurses pay shoot up. It’s an awfully hard job, underpaid, and still women think it worthwhile and step forward to give it a shot. It’s not something that everybody can or are willing to do. The pay may not match what their peers are receiving and doesn’t reflect the strictures of the job though.
Politicians are in the same basket, but fortunately better paid.
What about those who feel so entitled as to be feel righteous in walking away from their debts by lying and welching on their word? What sort of person would do that, big bruv?
So you support a pay rise for MP’s as well BLiP?
What are you talking about blip?
I have no interest in their personal life as long as I am not funding it, I do not want to pay for flowers for anybodies partner.
I agree that what they do in their own time should remain private just as long as it is legal.
The issue here is that the greedy sods are going to give themselves a pay rise far in excess of what the average bloke can even dream about.
Not much you like do paying for though, is there bruv?
You welching , lying, reneging, bludging, cheating worm.
felix
I take it you support a pay rise for MP’s?
Is that because most Labour party MP’s could never earn that much in the private sector?
I sure as hell don’t like paying for parasites Felix, I detest funding union hacks, failed teachers, dole bludgers and DPB slappers.
1 nil to BB
[lprent: Counting score is a *fast* way to attract my attention. It is a particularly pointless way to start a pointless flame discussion. It is pointless because no-one can agree on the basis for evaluation and the debate (with agree to disagree rules) veers into monumental stupidity that I have to read.
I usually just ban the idiot who I consider started to do it as my particular contribution to that debate. Consider yourself warned. ]
What about those who say one thing and then try to wriggle out of it with lies? Sound familiar, big bruv?
Are you talking about Helen Clark ?
No, he’s talking about you, and your failure to live up to the bet for either $50 or $100, I can’t recall which.
Watch as bb fails to reply to this comment, because he would rather ignore the whole incident!
Lanthanide
As I said last week (it might have been the week before) the debt has been paid to a charity (SPCA), if that is not good enough for you then tough bloody luck, unlike Labour people I am a man of my word.
Now, would you care to debate the issue of our MP’s awarding themselves a pay rise when the rest of NZ is struggling?
Or, do you not really care about that?
Wasn’t the bet to be paid to a charity of the winner’s choice?
But paying the SPCA, as good as that is, doesn’t fulfill the bet.
So you are not an anything of your word, you’re just a reneging liar.
Your word was to pay the charity of the winners choice. You lost, so you don’t get to choose the charity.
People aren’t going to just forget about it you know.
Pascal
Tell you what, prove to me that Wikileaks is a charity and I will donate another $100.
Now, care to comment about the MP’s pay rise?
Pathetic bruv. Wikileaks was mentioned when the bet was accepted. That would have been the time to dispute it. Too late now. Cough up.
Pascal.
I set the terms of the bet, it was to a charity.
Like most pinkos you do not bother letting the facts get in the way of your bullshit do you.
I repeat, prove to me that Wikileaks is a charity and I will gladly send them another $100.
Now, given that you are doing your best to distract from the topic I raised I can only assume that you do not give a toss if our MP’s award themselves a pay rise, I also have to assume that you do not care if the average man in the street is suffering at this time.
Typical, you Chardonnay socialists are all the same, you use the poor for votes and then forget about them.
Typical authoritarian nutjob, thinking that he gets to dictate both sides of a contract.
Here are the terms:
http://www.thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-30052010/#comment-220811
and here’s you tacitly accepting those terms when you stupidly thought you had won:
http://www.thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-30052010/#comment-220795
It’s an open thread so i can talk about what I want, but FTR, I think it is pretty typical tory bs. Much like Key’s grandstanding efforts to turn down a years increase when he knows that the HSC will be required to just make up the shortfall by effectively backdating it at the next review.
Face it, you don’t want to pay wikileaks because they publicise warcrimes you approve of, but too bad, a bet’s a bet.
Here are the terms Pascal
“$100 to the charity of the winners choice ”
Actually, given that BLiP did not nominate a charity then I could have refused to pay anything to anybody.
However, as a conservative and therefore a man of my word I paid the SPCA.
You’ve been learning from King John The Blind of Charmalot in your weasling welching attempt to distort reality by redefining terms post the event. You have no honour and your word is shit.
Still doesn’t work bruv.
You were going to try and make him pay up when you thought you had won. End of story.
Just pay the debt.
.
Pascal
Of course I was going to try and make him pay up, in hindsight it would have been a massive waste of my time as he would have refused to do so given his political leanings.
You can try and twist it as much as you like, I know you are well used to doing so given the way you bent yourself out of shape trying to defend the previous Labour governments theft of tax payer funds but the reality is that the terms of the bet were perfectly clear.
Having said that, I repeat that I am perfectly happy to pay $100 to Wikileaks if you can prove that they are a charity.
BLiP.
Clearly I was correct when I called you an idiot.
Who offered the bet and who owes $100?
I should have realised it was a futile gesture on your part given that you never had any intention of paying up, preferring instead to wear the moniker of lying welcher with the pride reserved only for the self-satisfied, smug who delight in the false belief they’ve got “one over” on the under class. You are the epitome of that which makes Aotearoa weaker.
You said he got to name the charity if he won. He, in advance, named wikileaks.
When you thought you had won the bet, you sought to make him pay up.
When you did this you implicitly accepted the terms under which he entered the bet. Thus, wikileaks is a charity for the purposes of this bet.
Charity is doing good work. Wikileaks exposes war crimes and uncovers other state secrets and wrongdoing. That is good work.
I accept that ‘good work’ is a subjective term, but that’s ok, because the terms of the debate that you brought to the table said ‘of the winners choice’. that means the winner chooses.
You lost so you don’t get to choose, you just get to pay up.
So stop quibbling, lying and pretending you have honour, and pay the damn debt.
You are right though, that the terms of the debate were clear.
They were:
That if the next pref. PM poll shows declining support for John Key, BB would pay wikileaks $100
If not, BLiP would pay the SPCA.
Clear as.
His support did drop.
So pay up.
“Having said that, I repeat that I am perfectly happy to pay $100 to Wikileaks if you can prove that they are a charity.”
While PB has already given you a good response, I’ll just point out that the problem with the above ‘condition’ is that you can simply refuse to accept any evidence or argument that Wikileaks is a charity so you aren’t offering anything really.
wtl,
I think bb sees that as a feature rather than a bug.
wtl
“While PB has already given you a good response, I’ll just point up that the problem with the above ‘condition’ is that you can simply refuse to accept any evidence or argument that Wikileaks is a charity so you aren’t offering anything really.”
PB has given nothing more than a juvenile and petulant response.
For the last time, the conditions of the bet (or challenge if you like) were laid down by me, the loser had to pay the CHARITY of the winners choice the sum of $100.
BLiP did not name a charity, BLiP named a highly dubious left wing website.
You are damn right that I refuse to accept the site nominated by BLiP is a charity because clearly it is not.
Thus, you never had any intention of honouring the bet. Instead, you make up some bullshit story about having paid the SPCA.
Too late bruv.
You already did accept the terms of the debate, including paying wikileaks should you lose, when you sought to seek payment.
In this very thread you said you were right to seek payment. That can only mean you think BLiP was bound by the bet. And he was bound by the bet, on that we agree. He agreed to be bound by the bet and gave his terms, which you accepted and are now reneging on, because that’s the sort of thing you are.
You now, conveniantly, don’t think wikileaks is a charity. What is your argument for that?
Is it that they exposed things of which you approve, but would rather be kept secret? Or just a more generic belief that the state should be deferred to and trusted?
I seem to remember you taking a similar dislike to the NY Times and some reporting they did about torture and extra-constitutional spying and such like. You, ridiculously, called that ‘treason’ if I remember correctly, (not the torture and illegal spying on US citizens by the US state, but the reporting of same in the free press). Is it that sortt f thing that makes you think wikileaks isn’t a charity?
Or perhaps you think charity can only be that if it is registered and given the name by the state. Is that your angle?
Or do you only have foot stamping and flat denials to support your patheticism?
In any case, it doesn’t matter, you asked why wikileaks is a charity in terms of the debate, I told you why.
Cough up.
DPB slappers
Like John Key’s mum and Mauler Benefit you mean?
All experts on Campbell Live agreed that if voter turn out is more than 40% then Len wins. Both sides polling shows we will get a 59% turn out. The “Flood Bank” is broken and John boy is gone – let’s just make sure we all vote!
Questions for the lying Prime Minister Key:
“Prior to your invesments being moved into management of a blind trust, did you or any afiliated person have any direct or indirect investments managed by Global Forest Partners?”
“Subsequent to your invesments being moved into management of a blind trust, have you or has any person under your direction given any form of written or oral investment recommendation to the trustees of that blind trust?”
Pardon my ignorance. Could you please elaborate on the background to those interesting questions? Thanks.
There must be money to be made by interested parties behind the Emissions Trading Scheme supported by national. It will be interesting to know if Key is gaining from it. Could it be?
Farrar’s just posted about a long, boozy lunch with Odgers, Slater and others yesterday. According to Slater’s tweetstream, the “others” included David Fisher (Herald journalist) and Jonathan Marshall. Can we expect more anti-Len muckracking in the Sunday tabloids this weekend?
hah…the marauders
Padfoot, Moony, Wormtail and Prongs. I wonder if they foursquared their location on the marauders map so Rita Skeeter could tattle about it to The Daily Prophet…
…and did John ‘Gringotts’ Banks pick up the tab ?
At least he devulges who he went to lunch with unlike Len’s $810 rort on the ratepayer.
[lprent: Another daft troll style comment with little content and after just being warned. Umm, are you worth keeping around here? Do you add anything to the debate apart from idiotic one-line slogans?
I just had a look through your comments and found absolutely no content of any interest over the last two months. You’ve been warned several times before about looking like a troll. It looks like you’re too stupid to learn.
You’ve earned yourself a permanent ban. I’d suggest that your talents would be best at somewhere with a lower threshold of intellectual ability – gotcha, no minister, or the sewer come to mind. ]
Maybe Dick Quax would like to tell us what was so important that he couldn’t attend a $1500 course the ratepayers paid for . . . and maybe also the reasons why he voted against having to repay the money? Its not as if Dick Quax isn’t exactly fastidious in his own history of claiming back that which he feels entitled to . . . all $1.54 of it. Watta guy.
“…and maybe also the reasons why he voted against having to repay the money…”
Voting when he had such a clear conflict of interest should have some action resulting. He should never have voted. Instead he should have recused himself – not doing so speaks volumes about his lack of suitability for public office.
Why couldn’t the Council just say – “ok – we will just keep the next $1500 worth of expense claims that you submit”. Although that could then have the effect of him claiming for things like the 50cents postage for that letter he mailed out at his own expense.
Or, better than that, why couldn’t Mr Quax have postponed, or cancelled as soon as he knew he could not attend? And failing that, why couldn’t he do the decent thing and pay up?
Probably because he’s a hopeless hypocrite NActoid – says one thing, does the opposite.
True Blue
” Another daft troll style comment with little content and after just being warned. Umm, are you worth keeping around here? Do you add anything to the debate apart from idiotic one-line slogans?”
You have to be aware of the rule around here, simply put there are rules for the left and rules for the right.
Under no circumstances will they allow any comment that shows the left in a negative light, it does not matter how truthful that comment is it will be banned.
[lprent: Wrong again. You do seem to make a habit of that.
In this case true blue made about 40 comments over 2 months. None on them that I saw extended for more than 2 lines. None of them had any content that wasn’t a simple slogan – usually incorrect in terms of facts. No-one was bothering to engage with him any more. He was simply wasted space in the comments section.
From what I know of you – I dislike your politics, personality, and think that your understanding of the world around you has little basis in reality (especially in science). How often have you been banned? I think it happened once in 2008?
You have an ability to argue and debate. true blue doesn’t. ]
I thank you for your kind words 🙂
However, even you would have to admit that the rules do not apply evenly across the board.
Of course, they do not have to, it is your blog and the opinions of 99% of the contributors are clearly wrong but as it is your property you have the right to do as you see fit.
Just don’t pretend that they do.
Meanwhile, you carry on pretending you don’t owe wikileaks $100.
BLiP
Do you know how much I am enjoying being right inside your head?
I have had a very enjoyable day knowing that you are sitting there bashing your keyboard in frustration simply because you were not smart enough to appreciate the bet you accepted.
You need to learn a few things before you start playing with the big boys, first of all you need to be clear about the conditions of the bet, you could have nominated a pinko charity like Barnardoes, having to pay them $100 would have made me ill, instead you nominated a website that is in no way a charity.
Silly, silly boy.
So you admit you had no intention of honouring the bet you made. Goodo.
I had every intent of paying money to a charity of the winners choice, stupidly the winner never nominated a charity.
What else was I supposed to do Felix?
Anyway, the SPCA thanked me very much.
Actually, you never said that the winner would have to nominate a charity before the result was known. Therefore, the winner is entitled to nominate a charity now, and you will have to pay $100 to that charity.
Perhaps we need Graeme or Mickey or one of the other lawyers who visit here to weigh in.
(I suggest offering to have a look at it on a “charitable” basis and then send bruv a bill for your services anyway, as he isn’t really a charity)
The only way I am able to interpret your 14.2.2.1.1.1 comment above is that BLiP was a “Silly, silly boy” for nominating wikileaks whereas you were one of “the big boys” because you realised it gave you a loophole.
It is this realisation which gives you away, bruv. The most (ahem) charitable reading of the situation shows that you believed the conditions of the bet were not being met but went ahead with it anyway.
The alternative is that you believed the conditions were met.
Your choice: Welcher or Cheat.
Wriggle and squirm, bruv. Everyone can see through you.
Welcher or cheat? I’m going with sore loser, felix. Stop whining, BB, and cough up. What happened to personal responsibility, eh? You willingly made the bet, you lost the bet. Pay up, Bruv. Or are you waiting for the state to bail you out, oh mighty Atlas?
Looks open and shut to me. Pay up Big Bruv.
Someone get him wikileaks bank account’s details.
Captcha determines!
heh! Big Boys!! What a dick, you are. My 12 year old nephew would try something like that – but even he would realise the folly. I’d love to see you try it down at my local, we’d quickly see how big a boy you were there. Face it. You lost the bet and now are taking childish delight in refusing to pay up. That’s fine. But don’t expect not to be reminded about your decision to relish the titles liar and welcher. In some ways its quite good to have it out in the open now . . . that way each and every comment you make will be an opportunity to remind you.
And that folks is the typical response of a knuckle dragging Labour supporter.When faced with an argument you cannot win you revert to violence.
Obviously I have got under your skin BLiP, you have no idea how much that pleases me, as for your childish threats, well take a ticket and join the long line of people, I think you might have to wait a while, in the mean time you can have a chat with D4J, he tells me he is at the very front of the line.
I admit that I lost the bet, I also admit that I set the rules of that bet and the loser had to pay $100 to a charity (actually, what bloody part of that do you not understand?) a charity has received the money, the bet is settled.
However, as I have said before, if you can prove to me that Wikileaks is a charity I will bung them a $100 as well.
As for reminding me, go for your life, it is water off a ducks back and only goes to prove how much I have messed with your mind.
Big bruv is a deal welcher and a lame war-mongering Einstein-impersonating corpulent ugolicious rectum-sniffing dickhead (thanks insult.net).
He is not that nice, you insult the types you just mentioned.
Your fear and your ignorance are showing, big bruv. You’re the only one talking violence. Pull your word-twister stunt down my local and it would be well deserved scorn, contempt and ridicule you’d get, and then we’d see how much of a big boy you were drinking on your own with no seat to sit upon and no table to lean at. We don’t bring much into this world and we take even less when we leave. Some of us still have our honour and our word, all you have the $100 that belongs to wikileaks.
“And that folks is the typical response of a knuckle dragging Labour supporter”
I was wondering how long it would take you to try the “commun1st plot” diversion and pretend it’s about politics.
Maybe you’re right. Maybe it is only lefties who wouldn’t see it your way. Maybe that’s why all the righties are leaping to your defence…
You wonder how much money Farrar is making from selling Curia to NationaL? The mercenary is well paid.
I hadn’t heard that Curia was being sold. I doesn’t seem to make much sense – a captive friendly company must have been very useful to channel donations and to get polling done at ‘mates rates’ when needed. It does appear that Farrar has not had a full time job for some time – perhaps National are going to re-employ him; not many buy the ‘independent political commentator’ line any more. Do you have a reference for the purchase of the company?
PM tight-lipped on MPs’ perk review say Granny.
But why would he be tight-lipped? I mean, he doesn’t stand to benefit from any changes, right? He gives his salary away. Doesn’t he? So he’s free to have an opinion, and express it.
Another no-confidence vote for Mr Key, from me.
Me too, all that salary Mr Key and no cycleway. Did you take a helicopter instead of a bike and go fishing with Paul Reynolds to talk about the finer points of “delivery”?
Not a good move by the new Aussie PM but typical of John Key to back a closet racist willing to stir up hate in order to win an election who now has the gall to try and stand for an international position.
Another popularity stunt by Key, but I think he’s misread the NZ public on this one.
Yay!