Any one see any irony in the fact that Kronic and other cannabinoid drugs can be banned within a week – – – this news on the same day as we read about an alcohol-fuelled murder stabbing in Auckland ?
I’m very disappointed with Key’s position. Our kids deserve better – the Prime Minister should be leading with an all party all people approach to this.
Thing could get worse for Labour. It realistically looks like Bill English in 2002 all over again:
The Colmar Brunton Poll results from 2002
February 17 2002 – Labour 51%, National 35%.
March 17 2002 – Labour 49%, National 35%.
April 21 2002 – Labour 50%, National 34%.
May 19 2002 – Labour 51%, National 32%.
June 16 2002 – Labour 53%, National 27%.
June 29 2002 – Labour 51%, National 30%.
July 14 2002 – Labour 46%, National 27%.
July 25 2002 – Labour 44%, National 21%.
Actual election result – Labour 41%, National 21%
The major difference is that if national get 44%, how likely is it that they’ll get an extra 7% in coalition partners?
Let’s assume that this year will be a mirror of the 2002 election.
National 41%, Labour 27%, ACT 7% (REALLY? With Brash not Hyde/Pebble?), Greens 7%, MP+Mana 7% (substituting for United Future), NZ1 10% (doubtful, but I’ll only rule winston out if he is decapitated and a stake thrust through his heart. Even then I’d think it a gamble).
Without ACT getting 7% (and at the moment they need to be gifted Epsom), it is still between two 3/4 party coalitions. Without NZ1, it becomes an open race – although frankly I’d half expect the Greens to support National either way.
As McFlock illuminates, if this is 2002 all over again, then National are actually the ones in real trouble.
If their impressive lead over Labour in the polls goes down to the extent that Labour’s did in 2002 I can’t see how they could govern, assuming that ACT doesn’t do a stunning Lazarus act and the MP don’t take all the Maori seats.
According to your figures, Labour lost 20% of the people who were supporting it a month out from the election (going down from 51% to 41%). If anything like that happened this time to National’s support then we’ll be viewing a very sick looking John Key late on election night – and, in fact, it doesn’t matter to which party those votes go.
So you and John Key better pray this isn’t 2002 all over again.
Edit: I meant “If their impressive polling goes down …”
Salsy Michelle Boag buggered up forgot To mention to dumb national supporters to tick party vote in her hoardings ,And Bill English doing his calender come sex symbol trick probably didn’t help either.No wonder you guys need so many spin doctors cause you can never tell the truth.
Alcohol forms part of that blind trust shonkey’s sheckles are held in so alcohol levies being raised etc……yeah right, been there before they’ll bash some benes to compensate.
The alcohol excise tax was raised on 1st of July. It went from ~$45/litre of alcohol in spirits to ~$49/litre, or about 10%. The rise in beer and wine was less.
It’s funny how National trumpet that they cut taxes for everyone, and then go and raise an alcohol tax and somehow it’s not counted?
I like rugby. My wife, who is from Thailand, is mad keen on it. She also enjoys the cricket, but I think that has more to do with it being an opportunity for a day out in the sun to picnic, nap, read novels, and occasionally ask about the score.
I love rugby, played a lot, one eyed fan etc. The 81 tour was my lifes most schizo moment, wanted to see the Boks desparately but had to stand by conviction and protest. I am sure theres a lot more of us rugby nuts on the Standard, wouldnt be surprised if Gos and Burt lurk on the sidelines screaming the same abuse at the refs I do….
From the bank at Lancaster Park, gave up abusing refs after I reffed. There was an old dude on the bank years back who waited for the first penalty of the game, we would all go silent as he yelled, “Thats right ref, he’s been doin it all day”!
Plenty of rugby fans vto. Also plenty of places elsewhere to talk rugby!
On the issue, I thought imitation was the sincerest form of flattery. Some of the responses, along the lines of NZ somehow “owns” the rights to an all black jersey are a little precious, if not immature.
And also rather ironic given it was a typo by an English journalist that gave rise to the NZ team’s nickname.
Some of the team manipulations of jersey colours is immature too. We could end up with all teams wearing black because statistics show that black wearing teams have the most success at test rugby. And that would improve the black statitiscs even more.
They would be better off just learning to place decent rugby.
I just think it is weak. Reflects poorly on the English.
But you know, rugby has historically been wracked with cheating and underhand behaviour – on and off the field. NZ is pretty good at cheating on the field but our laidback somewhat naive approach to life in general is reflected in how we get nailed tme and again by others in the rugby world. Such as, being shafted by Aussie re the 2003 World Cup, poisoned by the South Africans in the 95 world cup, being made to wear pink off the field and non-black on the field by the Frogs who changed their colour to near-black in the 07 world cup, corrupt and bribed refs back in the ’76 South African tour, the list just goes on and on …
But we will prevail! And through use of another of our traits, namely the unassuming underdog approach. I predict a whitewash of every single game this year … tri-nations and world cup.
Ha! I like the even more surprising statistic that white wearing teams have the most success at test cricket.
I’m sure all the critics realise it’s an alternate strip and the number of times it will be seen won’t be that many. I’m sure they’ve also factored in that up until recently the All Blacks’ alternate strip was/is white and looks like we are going to have to invent a new colour to avoid being hypocrites.
My first test I ever saw live (as a 10 y.o. and can still remember well thanks to that rain) was NZ v Scotland at Eden Park in 1975 – NZ wore white and Scotland wore dark blue.
So in 36 years we’ve gone from being a host gracious enough to give up our “natural colours” to the visitors, to moaning when another team adopts black for an alternate strip, as if we own the rights to the colour.
Yep, I still call it immature.
Edit/PS: I tell my 15 y.o. stepdaughter if someone tries to copy the way she looks it’s actually a compliment because they like the way my stepdaughter dresses/ does her make-up etc etc. Maybe I’m wrong.
Slimy New Zealand “entertainment” writer publicly humiliated
One of the more unpleasant algae to slither into public view after the News of the World tipped over was a New Zealander called DAN WOOTTON. If you fancy seeing him receive a very public kicking, click HERE….
Here’s Rupert Murdoch’s worst nightmare: Nick Davies, the tenacious investigative reporter for the Guardian who has broken much of the Hackinggate story, comes to the U.S. in search of News Corp. crimes and coverup.
Well, it’s come true. Davies arrives in New York today. He’ll be there until Friday, and then he’s going to Los Angeles in pursuit of hacking-type practices that might have been carried out on U.S. soil by Murdoch’s U.S. reporters, by his U.K. reporters working in the U.S., or by private detectives hired by News Corp.
Putin’s Army: tearing off their clothes for victory
They call themselves “Putin’s Army”. They are young, female, and urging others to “rip for Putin” – rip off some of their clothing, that is.
A remarkable bit of video propaganda starring these cleavage-baring footsoldiers has been circulating furiously around Russia, and beyond. Some see it as the handiwork of Nashi, a frankly rather scary Kremlin-supported youth group devoted to exalting Vladimir Putin and demonising (harassing, too) his enemies.
The new campaign can only boost speculation that Putin, now prime minister, will stand again for the presidency in March next year – in doing so moving the centre of power back to that post.
“I’m just crazy about the man who changed our country,” enthuses the young star of the video, according to a translation at GlobalVoices.com. “He is a great politician and an amazing man. He is Vladimir Putin. And although there are millions who admire him, there are some who pour dirt on him, perhaps because they are scared of him or because they themselves are weak and will never be able to take his place.”
A blog for Putin’s Army puts it like this: “We will show that many beautiful and smart young women support Mr Putin! We all share the opinion that Putin is a decent and honest politician, as well as an AMAZING man!
Objective: “Putin – President!”
We accept only young women without complexes! Our campaigns will be roaring across all Russia! Each participant will become an Internet star! Are you ready to show everyone how cool YOU are and how great is YOUR president? Join PUTIN’S ARMY!!!
As a post at Radio Free Europe reminds us, it all suits the careful efforts to project the image of a desirable leader. Tom Balmforth writes:
Vladimir Putin is no stranger to offbeat forms of public veneration. His image adorns T-shirts. Billboards in Moscow and online comic strips have portrayed him as a James Bond-like action hero. And a cult in Siberia worships him as the reincarnation of St Paul …
Putin has cultivated the image of a hard man through a myriad of highly choreographed feats of manliness, including sedating a polar bear and burning rubber at a race track behind the wheel of a Formula One race car.
Why “rip for Putin”? Clearly there is the salacious idea of tearing ripping off clothing, but the phrase rip for in Russian has another, more sinister meaning. According to an analysis in the Moscow Times, it also suggests a threat along the lines of “I’ll rip your head off”.
“The Sexy Soldier in Putin’s Army rips her T-shirt in a (possibly ironic) gesture of threat,” writes Michele A Berdy, “describing what she’s doing and (possibly) promising to beat the daylights out of anyone who insults her idol or (possibly) swearing to do anything to see him win his (possible) electoral campaign.”
Based on previous years data for this site, I’m unsurprised to see that the mid-winter slump in july affects almost all of the blog sites listed at Open Parachute. But out of the sites that I compared, if you look at No Right Turn in May I/S managed to slightly increase his audience.
I’ve never quite figured out why we get a mid-winter slump. But it has happened every year that we have been operating including election year in 2008 (although that was more of a flattening off of exponential growth). It doesn’t appear to be particularly related to numbers of comments.
They come from a public statscounter or sitemeter on the site.
If there isn’t such a counter or Ken doesn’t have the link to the public counter then they aren’t on the site – so Brown or Slater or or Edwards or Trotter or quite a few others are not on it. But what it is is a simple method of looking between sites without any of the interesting algorithms that show up on scubones or other sites.
Louden has a vertical nutter constituency offshore who read his site. Steve Gray, I’d guess has a offshore readership. Both consequently have some quite severe spiking in their monthly readership – Louden’s page views dropped down to half the volume between June and July which was rather extreme. This site gets over 95% of its human readers from NZ.
We did a large drop in page views after May, but that was mostly because of a glitch at Facebook for weeks in April/May that was bumping up the page views. Facebook eventually fixed their irritating servers that were sucking up our bandwidth.
The “visits” calc is a bit subjective as it depends entirely on what is defined as a “visit” in the meter. Visits in google analytics are vastly different to those in sitemeter, which is different to statcounter. It also depends on the layout of your site. On this site we get some pretty long visits according to google because people tend to leave it running pressing refresh periodically to look at who is commenting. Our page view time tends to be pretty long as well. You can get a distorted idea looking at alexa compared to other sites.
I tend to look at the page views as being the least susceptible to site variability. These are the actual loads of the main page, post pages, and ancillary pages like policy etc and ignoring all of the includes of css, images, js, etc (of which there are millions per month) and the robots which do at least 2x the number of page views (currently on the US server only). It is certainly the closest to how I see the NZ server working.
Excluding the bots and spammers. They are about 2-3x the size of the humans if we counted them….
The US based server now gets all of the bots (and acts as the offshore warm site) and the NZ server gets almost all of the humans. Shifting the US one to the cloud and leaving the NZ one as a dedicated box.
Reading things like the Hitchhikers Guide..Galaxy its like a brainstorming session on our conceptions of life. I like this bit when we are introduced to Zaphod Beeblebrox who wants to be Galactic President which sounds very important.
Adams writes – Only six people in the Galaxy knew that the job of the Galactic President was not to wield power but to attract attention away from it.
“You describe yourself as a hero, as a knight. You are no hero,” Ivar Benjamin Oesteboe, who lost five friends in the shootings, said in the letter addressed: “Dear Anders Behring Breivik.”
“But one thing is certain, you have created heroes. On Utoya on that warm July day, you created some of the greatest heroes the world has seen, you united the people of the world,” the teenager wrote.
“We are not responding to evil with evil as you wanted. We are fighting evil with good. And we are winning.
Maybe you think you’ve won. Maybe you think you’ve destroyed the Labour Party and people around the world who stand for a multicultural society by killing my friends and fellow party members.
Know that you failed,”
The situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station seems to go from bad to worse.
The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says it has detected 10,000 millisieverts of radioactivity per hour at the plant. The level is the highest detected there since the nuclear accident in March.
Not the 10,000 mS (=10 sieverts) radiation level, which is enough to provide a lethal dose to most people within one or two minutes.
But the fact that the radiation level is measured at that because it’s all that the instrumentation they have there goes up to.
That’s right, the radiation levels are completely off the charts and their instrumentation is reading offscale maximum.
Japan is frakked, IMO they are hiding how badly they have been hit, there are dangerous levels of hot particles 100km-200km from the Fukushima plant, if not further.
It is an Election. We all populate the pantomime of participation. We are all willing extras and we want to hear the leads orate on the grand desires that spin doctors deign to be good enough for our democracy to discuss. It matters what the last soundbite is before a beer commercial. It is important that the camera cuts away to show glazed possums behind the podiums when an off-script moment leaps out. On a more serious note…This Election year a full debate is more important than usual. The Global situation and our place within that structure is still negotiable.
I propose a radical restructuring of the concept of a Leaders’ Debate. The Leaders’ Debate should be a full engagement with all balloted parties being represented in a week long series of random groupings of three, drawn from a hat a week before in a nationally televised draw, using the ‘lotto rules’ would be good. They are fair, tried and true and the symbolism is not without its mirth.
here is how the draw works:
All parties are put in the hat. The first draw of three is done, those three are left out, next draw, those three are left out, etc,. When the hat is empty, irrespective of how many empty slots remain in the debate being drawn, all parties so far removed are put back in. The process continues until the debate roster is complete. Five nights, three debaters, fifteen slots, all will get representation and none should be favoured over any other
The series of debates are using questions from wherever. It does not really matter, what matters is the draw of the participants. Until we see the ballot we will not know final numbers obviously, but a rotating roster of debates where the Greens may be on stage with just ACT and United would be a good debate. National up against Mana with Progessive along for conscience would have its moments. Labour and Greens and Maori Party would be a riot and i suspect a hasty unforseen event would cause transmission to be interrupted soon into the broadcast.
Give it some consideration. The media driven Election campaigns warrant an event of this scale. More and more influence is attributed to Tv Media so it makes sense for the Public to find a way to ask that the media become a constructive particpant and not just a manipulative tool.
The series of debates are using questions from wherever. It does not really matter, what matters is the draw of the participants. Until we see the ballot we will not know final numbers obviously, but a rotating roster of debates where the Greens may be on stage with just ACT and United would be a good debate. National up against Mana with Progessive along for conscience would have its moments. Labour and Greens and Maori Party would be a riot and i suspect a hasty unforseen event would cause transmission to be interrupted soon into the broadcast.
Give it some consideration. The media driven Election campaigns warrant an event of this scale. More and more influence is attributed to Tv Media so it makes sense for the Public to find a way to ask that the media become a constructive particpant and not just a manipulative tool.
Idiot/Savant has a noce breakdown of this over at NRT:
Instead, National and Labour have colluded to exclude all other parties from the debates, thus denying them coverage – and votes. Its a fine example of their dirty oligarchical tendencies, and why we need to keep them under control.
Yeah, the whole point of MMP was to have better representation but it doesn’t look like we’re getting it from the two main parties. Neither of which wanted MMP in the first place.
They really are just awful people at heart, but even accepting that, you’d think they might realise that all the ‘bad’ mps they show are elected under the fpp electorate system.
You might want to take another look Lanth; the ACT bit is there as the sexy straight non-creepy non-crippled alternative to MMP. It’s not a subtle message.
“The government announced today that it’s changing it’s emblem to a CONDOM, because it more accurately reflects the government’s political stance. A condom allows for inflation, halts productions, destroys the next generations, protects a bunch of dicks, and gives you a sense of security while you’re being screwed. It just doesn’t get more accurate than that.”
Been doing the rounds since 2010 – I think the original was.
‘The Government today announced that it is changing its emblem from an Eagle to a CONDOM because it more accurately reflects the government’s political stance… A condom allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of dicks, and gives you a sense of security while you’re actually being screwed!’
US inspired obviously but can be applied to most governments.
Most Kiwis have no interest in the Rubber Wool Cup. About as many people loath it as actually want to watch it – the rest are neutral.
The poll showed 37 percent of Kiwis were keen for the Rugby World Cup to kick-off, while 35 percent were not looking forward to it and 29 percent were neutral.
Wonder what would have happened if this had been put to a referendum…
Fuck no. It is an absolute saviour in any of those awkward enforced social situations where you have to try to find something useful to say to some 60 year old guy. A working knowledge is an easy out.
Trust me Oleole, that 60 yr old guy doesn’t want to talk to you either. You’re just making it weirder for everyone.
Besides, if you’re not a completely boring cnut you won’t find it a problem just being yerself.
And if you weren’t wasting your time maintaining your working knowledge for the supposed benefit of men who don’t want to talk to you anyway, you could be well on your way to being a less boring cnut.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 18.2.1.2.1
I will always remember a very sad event in 1981 that I heard of in the news. A boy, the son of a diplomat from South America, ended up with permanent damage in a – is the word ‘ruck’? That was the first (but not the last time) I had heard of that happening. Now I am very thankful that my brother and my sons all somehow managed to avoid being forced to play rugby at school!
More brain injuries than those caused by traffic “accidents” we don’t need!
The numbers will probably change once it’s under way.
I’m not interested in all the lead up stuff to any major sports events, including opening ceremonies, but I enjoy the sport once it gets under way, and it’s good to get out and meet people visiting the country – that was the highlight for me in the last RWC here.
But I guess we could try and stop anything from happening if in advance the majority of the population aren’t interested in it.
yeah – the Romans knew that you needed to provide BREAD as well as circuses, otherwise the peasants will still rebel. DonKey’s only doing half the distraction/pacification routine – good for the Left.
I have a project going to it first public outing at the end of October. I can’t go on holiday or die before then. Does feel a bit unusual for me to be scheduled on a project with a major milestone in an election year. But my time schedule plans got scuppered in the financial chaos at the end of 2009.
So I will have to put up with the RWC idiocy, especially since Eden park is too damn close.
Debate it all you want – just use facts. Oh, that’s right, you can’t because all the facts show that MMP is the best system of representative democracy available.
But, that’s not all:
I am a believer in the cornerstone of neo-democracy in such a large welfare state that New Zealand now has is that there should be no representation unless you pay net taxation.
Yep, she doesn’t want all those poor people* voting even though it is their society and should have a say in it’s direction.
The call of the dictator is the cry of property rights which is Acts central theme and Cactus Kate has just proved that Act is bunch of dictators by saying that she wants only her preferred people voting.
* Who are only poor because of the policies Act promote.
I am a believer in the cornerstone of neo-loyalty in that if you leave NZ in your 20’s to chase bucks then your opinion on NZ affairs means diddly-squat and you should STFU
@RobC – How can young people know the world from just staying in the country facebooking or watching videos for experience. You yourself have to go and live it. When you are over there it’s in your face, there is no avoiding the reality as it hits you. Also going overseas to do advanced study enriches the graduate’s expertise and if we can get them back then we have increased our IQ.
Just staying in NZ would lead us back to the narrow-minded types we were before the Second World War caused thousands of our people to do an OE and thousands of displaced Europeans and others to come here and show us their culture and way of thinking.
Hi Prism, you’ve read too much into my comment – I just find it rather amusing that someone who has lived/worked overseas until just recently (?) and probably has paid F.A. net tax in NZ comes out with no representation without paying net taxation.
But if only net taxpayers can vote that means Sam Morgan can’t vote, virtually all the farmers can’t vote (perhaps that is an angle for the left), and the only voters left are the working, hard slogging wage and salary earners.
Or perhaps we take Cactus Kate (never read her but she sounds horrid) approach and extend it a little so that a person gets a number of votes, that number rising or falling depending on the proportion of their income that ends up in the government coffers… smokers and boozers would get the most votes … equals Cactus Kate equals zombie.
I see that the Nat government is going to pay to those red-zoned homeowners with insurance, if they accept the governments offer to purchase, a deposit of up to 50% (max $50,000) once signed… if that aint an election stimulant I don’t know what is. I betcha the cheques arrive well in time.
And btw, what was the reason for only insured homeowners receiving the governments offer?
Boscowen – someone tell him that the word is horrific not hirrofic. Perhaps if he spoke from within rather than reading a prepared script he might be a little more credible, (especially as he repeated the same error when re-reading the phrase).
Ilargi over at Theautomaticearth posted this today and it pretty much sums up the world and the state of our polity today. its a DIRE WARNING.
Once a society or country allows money to enter its politics, the outcome is inevitable: the money interests will come to rule that country. This is evident all over the western world, whether you look at the Greek, Irish and other EU bail-outs, or at the debt dungeon debate the US is presently digging its way into ever deeper, with the respective bills handed to the people and their children.
As we speak, and as we watch the wall-sized media coverage of the debt dungeon chasm, municipalities and counties are on the cusp of bankruptcy. Services will be cut across the board. That is our future.
A future that won’t involve growth, but which be all about austerity and cutting back and outright poverty for rapidly increasing numbers of people. Just not for the politicians and their puppeteers, not for those who get to decide who will hurt the most.
That is the main issue today. Who are you going to let decide how bad your future will be? If you opt for Washington, anyone in Washington, or Brussels if you’re in Europe, your future will hurt something bad. When it comes to that future of yours and, of your offspring, the debt dungeon debate is the wrong focus. There’s nothing beneficial for you in there.
This is nothing less than outright class warfare where those with the means are stealing ours and our childrens future and liberty.
I can’t get through the code word barrier to send a Contact message. I have tried three times and am sure I was correct the last two. I wear glasses but thought I was seeing well the last two times. I was trying to say that none of my personal posts show up since July 31. Cheers
Obama got nothing except forcing Republicians to agree to reductions in militrary spending in return for keeping the unfordable tax cuts for the richest. Obama delayed the debate until after the pay off, mid term elections, where military constituencies will make Repubalicians pay for their greed.
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Pacific Media Watch Journalists who report on environmental issues are encountering growing difficulties in many parts of the world, reports Reporters Without Borders. According to the tally kept by RSF, 200 journalists have been subjected to threats and physical violence, including murder, in the past 10 years because they were ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Pōneke based peace activists staged a silent protest at the ANZAC day service to highlight New Zealand’s complicity in war and genocide, and urge the government to take concrete steps to stop the genocide in Palestine. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Until this month, Auckland swimmer Hazel Ouwehand had never met a qualifying time in an Olympic event for a New Zealand team, even as a junior. Now she’s very likely off to the Paris Olympics after swimming well under the qualifying standard in the 100m butterfly twice – both in ...
While Anzac Day has experienced a resurgence in recent years, our other day of remembrance has slowly faded from view.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Hope McConnell.First published in 2022.The high school’s head girl and ...
Australian and New Zealand volunteers fought together in the Waikato War, yet still its place in the Anzac tradition is unacknowledged by our defence forces or Returned Services Association.First published in 2018.When I was a boy cub I attended Anzac Day services in the South Auckland suburb of ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 25 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Wilmot, Senior Lecturer, Film, Deakin University Among the many Australian who served during the second world war, there is a small group of people whose stories remain largely untold. These are the Muslim men and women who, while small in number, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
A leaked document shows the Canterbury/Waitaha arm of health agency Te Whatu Ora is scurrying to save $13.3 million by July. The “financial sustainability target”, which was “allocated” to Waitaha, is consistent with what’s happening in other districts, says Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. ...
Any one see any irony in the fact that Kronic and other cannabinoid drugs can be banned within a week – – – this news on the same day as we read about an alcohol-fuelled murder stabbing in Auckland ?
Grass clippings sprayed with nasty chemicals…yuck.
Kids don’t need to be smoking that shit eh.
good riddance
why do people go to the shop for Dairy Whip when there are plenty of cows in the field
Jiggling the cows makes them angry.
Time to moove on, methinks.
Ry Cooder sings: No banker left behind
Just like to reiterate a message from yesterdays “All the world a square”.
Innocent bankers, innocent financiers, innocent politicians, innocent police, innocent media!
Guilty citizens.
Thats how the powers who be portray their culpable guilt, pure denial and blame others. Its psycho behavoir.
Yep, blame the victim, works with rape and in a round about sort of way this is rape too!
Clare Curran touches on it here: The essentials
And I expand on it: Key, knee, jerk
I’m very disappointed with Key’s position. Our kids deserve better – the Prime Minister should be leading with an all party all people approach to this.
“Ultimately parties are going to have to campaign on what they believe is the right solution for those problems.”
And where is National’s policy? A Green paper with responses (and consideration) deferred for 7 months – well after the next election.
Oerhaps that is just part of the “plan for New Zealand” that is making him so popular.
Thing could get worse for Labour. It realistically looks like Bill English in 2002 all over again:
The Colmar Brunton Poll results from 2002
February 17 2002 – Labour 51%, National 35%.
March 17 2002 – Labour 49%, National 35%.
April 21 2002 – Labour 50%, National 34%.
May 19 2002 – Labour 51%, National 32%.
June 16 2002 – Labour 53%, National 27%.
June 29 2002 – Labour 51%, National 30%.
July 14 2002 – Labour 46%, National 27%.
July 25 2002 – Labour 44%, National 21%.
Actual election result – Labour 41%, National 21%
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/jessica-mutch-polls-could-get-worse-labour-4328514
See my comment above…guilty media. No fucker there tells the truth.
The major difference is that if national get 44%, how likely is it that they’ll get an extra 7% in coalition partners?
Let’s assume that this year will be a mirror of the 2002 election.
National 41%, Labour 27%, ACT 7% (REALLY? With Brash not Hyde/Pebble?), Greens 7%, MP+Mana 7% (substituting for United Future), NZ1 10% (doubtful, but I’ll only rule winston out if he is decapitated and a stake thrust through his heart. Even then I’d think it a gamble).
Without ACT getting 7% (and at the moment they need to be gifted Epsom), it is still between two 3/4 party coalitions. Without NZ1, it becomes an open race – although frankly I’d half expect the Greens to support National either way.
As McFlock illuminates, if this is 2002 all over again, then National are actually the ones in real trouble.
If their impressive lead over Labour in the polls goes down to the extent that Labour’s did in 2002 I can’t see how they could govern, assuming that ACT doesn’t do a stunning Lazarus act and the MP don’t take all the Maori seats.
According to your figures, Labour lost 20% of the people who were supporting it a month out from the election (going down from 51% to 41%). If anything like that happened this time to National’s support then we’ll be viewing a very sick looking John Key late on election night – and, in fact, it doesn’t matter to which party those votes go.
So you and John Key better pray this isn’t 2002 all over again.
Edit: I meant “If their impressive polling goes down …”
Salsy Michelle Boag buggered up forgot To mention to dumb national supporters to tick party vote in her hoardings ,And Bill English doing his calender come sex symbol trick probably didn’t help either.No wonder you guys need so many spin doctors cause you can never tell the truth.
Alcohol forms part of that blind trust shonkey’s sheckles are held in so alcohol levies being raised etc……yeah right, been there before they’ll bash some benes to compensate.
The alcohol excise tax was raised on 1st of July. It went from ~$45/litre of alcohol in spirits to ~$49/litre, or about 10%. The rise in beer and wine was less.
It’s funny how National trumpet that they cut taxes for everyone, and then go and raise an alcohol tax and somehow it’s not counted?
Alcohol levies up: Doesn’t count.
Tobacco levies up: Doesn’t count
GST up: Doesn’t count.
ACC levies up: Doesn’t count.
Petrol levies up: Doesn’t count.
Car registration up: Doesn’t count.
PAYE down a couple of bucks a week: Fucking economic miracle!
lovin it
I thought the whole point of joining the navy was to get very drunk in foreign ports.
He’s had the rum, now comes the sodomy and the lash …
The England rugby team playing in all black makes them so very lame. Weak lame pussies, no longer the lion hearts.
Not that many on here semm to be rugby fans …
I like rugby. My wife, who is from Thailand, is mad keen on it. She also enjoys the cricket, but I think that has more to do with it being an opportunity for a day out in the sun to picnic, nap, read novels, and occasionally ask about the score.
I love rugby, played a lot, one eyed fan etc. The 81 tour was my lifes most schizo moment, wanted to see the Boks desparately but had to stand by conviction and protest. I am sure theres a lot more of us rugby nuts on the Standard, wouldnt be surprised if Gos and Burt lurk on the sidelines screaming the same abuse at the refs I do….
I was a ref – where did you scream abuse??
I’ve also played a lot too, before and after I refereed. Going to the first Foobar Stadium game, North Otago versus West Coast this Sunday.
From the bank at Lancaster Park, gave up abusing refs after I reffed. There was an old dude on the bank years back who waited for the first penalty of the game, we would all go silent as he yelled, “Thats right ref, he’s been doin it all day”!
Look at my gravatar ‘:wink:’
Ex A grade player 12 years
Ex ref before I got too old
Eden park is my hangout when I can afford it (and when it’s not too cold – piss weak I know but I’m getting a bit old lol)
i object, the battles i have finding a good stream on test nights is totally worthy of a supporter’s pin
Plenty of rugby fans vto. Also plenty of places elsewhere to talk rugby!
On the issue, I thought imitation was the sincerest form of flattery. Some of the responses, along the lines of NZ somehow “owns” the rights to an all black jersey are a little precious, if not immature.
And also rather ironic given it was a typo by an English journalist that gave rise to the NZ team’s nickname.
Some of the team manipulations of jersey colours is immature too. We could end up with all teams wearing black because statistics show that black wearing teams have the most success at test rugby. And that would improve the black statitiscs even more.
They would be better off just learning to place decent rugby.
I just think it is weak. Reflects poorly on the English.
But you know, rugby has historically been wracked with cheating and underhand behaviour – on and off the field. NZ is pretty good at cheating on the field but our laidback somewhat naive approach to life in general is reflected in how we get nailed tme and again by others in the rugby world. Such as, being shafted by Aussie re the 2003 World Cup, poisoned by the South Africans in the 95 world cup, being made to wear pink off the field and non-black on the field by the Frogs who changed their colour to near-black in the 07 world cup, corrupt and bribed refs back in the ’76 South African tour, the list just goes on and on …
But we will prevail! And through use of another of our traits, namely the unassuming underdog approach. I predict a whitewash of every single game this year … tri-nations and world cup.
I predict a whitewash of every single game this year … tri-nations
Maybe that’s possible.
and world cup.
Are you serious? I wonder if you realize that France is in the same first round pool as the All Blacks?
Ha! I like the even more surprising statistic that white wearing teams have the most success at test cricket.
I’m sure all the critics realise it’s an alternate strip and the number of times it will be seen won’t be that many. I’m sure they’ve also factored in that up until recently the All Blacks’ alternate strip was/is white and looks like we are going to have to invent a new colour to avoid being hypocrites.
My first test I ever saw live (as a 10 y.o. and can still remember well thanks to that rain) was NZ v Scotland at Eden Park in 1975 – NZ wore white and Scotland wore dark blue.
So in 36 years we’ve gone from being a host gracious enough to give up our “natural colours” to the visitors, to moaning when another team adopts black for an alternate strip, as if we own the rights to the colour.
Yep, I still call it immature.
Edit/PS: I tell my 15 y.o. stepdaughter if someone tries to copy the way she looks it’s actually a compliment because they like the way my stepdaughter dresses/ does her make-up etc etc. Maybe I’m wrong.
Not sure if that would improve the black wiining figures PeteG, it may actually worsen them if the team is pathetic.
don’t tell Don Brash pete it could be a very bad move if that statistic transfered to politics
Slimy New Zealand “entertainment” writer publicly humiliated
One of the more unpleasant algae to slither into public view after the News of the World tipped over was a New Zealander called DAN WOOTTON. If you fancy seeing him receive a very public kicking, click HERE….
http://www.listener.co.nz/commentary/hackgate-twitterspat-flamewars-moran-wootton-monbiot-aaronovitch/
Watch out Rupert, The Guardian’s investigative reporter Nick Davies is off to the USofA.
Here’s Rupert Murdoch’s worst nightmare: Nick Davies, the tenacious investigative reporter for the Guardian who has broken much of the Hackinggate story, comes to the U.S. in search of News Corp. crimes and coverup.
Well, it’s come true. Davies arrives in New York today. He’ll be there until Friday, and then he’s going to Los Angeles in pursuit of hacking-type practices that might have been carried out on U.S. soil by Murdoch’s U.S. reporters, by his U.K. reporters working in the U.S., or by private detectives hired by News Corp.
Look out Nick, they have lots of guns in the USA and they know how to use them.
http://www.listener.co.nz/commentary/putin-army-rip-for-putin-russia-election-president/
Putin’s Army: tearing off their clothes for victory
They call themselves “Putin’s Army”. They are young, female, and urging others to “rip for Putin” – rip off some of their clothing, that is.
A remarkable bit of video propaganda starring these cleavage-baring footsoldiers has been circulating furiously around Russia, and beyond. Some see it as the handiwork of Nashi, a frankly rather scary Kremlin-supported youth group devoted to exalting Vladimir Putin and demonising (harassing, too) his enemies.
The new campaign can only boost speculation that Putin, now prime minister, will stand again for the presidency in March next year – in doing so moving the centre of power back to that post.
“I’m just crazy about the man who changed our country,” enthuses the young star of the video, according to a translation at GlobalVoices.com. “He is a great politician and an amazing man. He is Vladimir Putin. And although there are millions who admire him, there are some who pour dirt on him, perhaps because they are scared of him or because they themselves are weak and will never be able to take his place.”
A blog for Putin’s Army puts it like this: “We will show that many beautiful and smart young women support Mr Putin! We all share the opinion that Putin is a decent and honest politician, as well as an AMAZING man!
Objective: “Putin – President!”
We accept only young women without complexes! Our campaigns will be roaring across all Russia! Each participant will become an Internet star! Are you ready to show everyone how cool YOU are and how great is YOUR president? Join PUTIN’S ARMY!!!
As a post at Radio Free Europe reminds us, it all suits the careful efforts to project the image of a desirable leader. Tom Balmforth writes:
Vladimir Putin is no stranger to offbeat forms of public veneration. His image adorns T-shirts. Billboards in Moscow and online comic strips have portrayed him as a James Bond-like action hero. And a cult in Siberia worships him as the reincarnation of St Paul …
Putin has cultivated the image of a hard man through a myriad of highly choreographed feats of manliness, including sedating a polar bear and burning rubber at a race track behind the wheel of a Formula One race car.
Why “rip for Putin”? Clearly there is the salacious idea of tearing ripping off clothing, but the phrase rip for in Russian has another, more sinister meaning. According to an analysis in the Moscow Times, it also suggests a threat along the lines of “I’ll rip your head off”.
“The Sexy Soldier in Putin’s Army rips her T-shirt in a (possibly ironic) gesture of threat,” writes Michele A Berdy, “describing what she’s doing and (possibly) promising to beat the daylights out of anyone who insults her idol or (possibly) swearing to do anything to see him win his (possible) electoral campaign.”
http://www.listener.co.nz/commentary/putin-army-rip-for-putin-russia-election-president/
You’ll give Johnny boy ideas.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/5373516/Computer-failure-hits-papers
oh dear the propoganda machine got busted and the locals get to see how little of their news is actually written by anyone in their local Newspaper.
Yep, and it also shows the weakness of outsourcing sub-editing to Oz and design and technical back up to India.
Weekly NZ Lefty paper please. 12 pages long, $1 per copy, half goes to the seller. Pick volunteer from worth causes.
News, interviews and analysis and nothin’ but.
Oh, except half a page of very funny cartoons alongside half a page of very interesting political economic NZ history.
Based on previous years data for this site, I’m unsurprised to see that the mid-winter slump in july affects almost all of the blog sites listed at Open Parachute. But out of the sites that I compared, if you look at No Right Turn in May I/S managed to slightly increase his audience.
I’ve never quite figured out why we get a mid-winter slump. But it has happened every year that we have been operating including election year in 2008 (although that was more of a flattening off of exponential growth). It doesn’t appear to be particularly related to numbers of comments.
Eh? Trevor Louden gets more views than Kiwiblog or The Standard? And Russel’s dinner party doesn’t feature at all?
What kind of stats are these?
They come from a public statscounter or sitemeter on the site.
If there isn’t such a counter or Ken doesn’t have the link to the public counter then they aren’t on the site – so Brown or Slater or or Edwards or Trotter or quite a few others are not on it. But what it is is a simple method of looking between sites without any of the interesting algorithms that show up on scubones or other sites.
Louden has a vertical nutter constituency offshore who read his site. Steve Gray, I’d guess has a offshore readership. Both consequently have some quite severe spiking in their monthly readership – Louden’s page views dropped down to half the volume between June and July which was rather extreme. This site gets over 95% of its human readers from NZ.
We did a large drop in page views after May, but that was mostly because of a glitch at Facebook for weeks in April/May that was bumping up the page views. Facebook eventually fixed their irritating servers that were sucking up our bandwidth.
The “visits” calc is a bit subjective as it depends entirely on what is defined as a “visit” in the meter. Visits in google analytics are vastly different to those in sitemeter, which is different to statcounter. It also depends on the layout of your site. On this site we get some pretty long visits according to google because people tend to leave it running pressing refresh periodically to look at who is commenting. Our page view time tends to be pretty long as well. You can get a distorted idea looking at alexa compared to other sites.
I tend to look at the page views as being the least susceptible to site variability. These are the actual loads of the main page, post pages, and ancillary pages like policy etc and ignoring all of the includes of css, images, js, etc (of which there are millions per month) and the robots which do at least 2x the number of page views (currently on the US server only). It is certainly the closest to how I see the NZ server working.
Ah so.
95% from NZ is amazing! Good to know about the winter slump as well.
Excluding the bots and spammers. They are about 2-3x the size of the humans if we counted them….
The US based server now gets all of the bots (and acts as the offshore warm site) and the NZ server gets almost all of the humans. Shifting the US one to the cloud and leaving the NZ one as a dedicated box.
Reading things like the Hitchhikers Guide..Galaxy its like a brainstorming session on our conceptions of life. I like this bit when we are introduced to Zaphod Beeblebrox who wants to be Galactic President which sounds very important.
Adams writes – Only six people in the Galaxy knew that the job of the Galactic President was not to wield power but to attract attention away from it.
all six parts of that trilogy fall into the rare cadre of books that you can never read too many times
Dune by Frank Herbert…
From and open letter to the Norwegian killer:
“You describe yourself as a hero, as a knight. You are no hero,” Ivar Benjamin Oesteboe, who lost five friends in the shootings, said in the letter addressed: “Dear Anders Behring Breivik.”
“But one thing is certain, you have created heroes. On Utoya on that warm July day, you created some of the greatest heroes the world has seen, you united the people of the world,” the teenager wrote.
“We are not responding to evil with evil as you wanted. We are fighting evil with good. And we are winning.
Maybe you think you’ve won. Maybe you think you’ve destroyed the Labour Party and people around the world who stand for a multicultural society by killing my friends and fellow party members.
Know that you failed,”
The situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station seems to go from bad to worse.
The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says it has detected 10,000 millisieverts of radioactivity per hour at the plant. The level is the highest detected there since the nuclear accident in March.
I’ll tell you something hilarious*.
Not the 10,000 mS (=10 sieverts) radiation level, which is enough to provide a lethal dose to most people within one or two minutes.
But the fact that the radiation level is measured at that because it’s all that the instrumentation they have there goes up to.
That’s right, the radiation levels are completely off the charts and their instrumentation is reading offscale maximum.
Japan is frakked, IMO they are hiding how badly they have been hit, there are dangerous levels of hot particles 100km-200km from the Fukushima plant, if not further.
*in a horrific graveyard kind of way
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/5374887/Key-I-ll-only-debate-Goff
i smell roast tory in the oven
who the fuck do these politicians think they are?
It is an Election. We all populate the pantomime of participation. We are all willing extras and we want to hear the leads orate on the grand desires that spin doctors deign to be good enough for our democracy to discuss. It matters what the last soundbite is before a beer commercial. It is important that the camera cuts away to show glazed possums behind the podiums when an off-script moment leaps out. On a more serious note…This Election year a full debate is more important than usual. The Global situation and our place within that structure is still negotiable.
I propose a radical restructuring of the concept of a Leaders’ Debate. The Leaders’ Debate should be a full engagement with all balloted parties being represented in a week long series of random groupings of three, drawn from a hat a week before in a nationally televised draw, using the ‘lotto rules’ would be good. They are fair, tried and true and the symbolism is not without its mirth.
here is how the draw works:
All parties are put in the hat. The first draw of three is done, those three are left out, next draw, those three are left out, etc,. When the hat is empty, irrespective of how many empty slots remain in the debate being drawn, all parties so far removed are put back in. The process continues until the debate roster is complete. Five nights, three debaters, fifteen slots, all will get representation and none should be favoured over any other
The series of debates are using questions from wherever. It does not really matter, what matters is the draw of the participants. Until we see the ballot we will not know final numbers obviously, but a rotating roster of debates where the Greens may be on stage with just ACT and United would be a good debate. National up against Mana with Progessive along for conscience would have its moments. Labour and Greens and Maori Party would be a riot and i suspect a hasty unforseen event would cause transmission to be interrupted soon into the broadcast.
Give it some consideration. The media driven Election campaigns warrant an event of this scale. More and more influence is attributed to Tv Media so it makes sense for the Public to find a way to ask that the media become a constructive particpant and not just a manipulative tool.
Excellent ideas! 🙂
Idiot/Savant has a noce breakdown of this over at NRT:
Yeah, the whole point of MMP was to have better representation but it doesn’t look like we’re getting it from the two main parties. Neither of which wanted MMP in the first place.
This shit makes me mad.
Courtesy of Boganette we have some of Vote for Change’s reasons for changing from MMP.
If you have a weak stomach or have just eaten I suggest not looking.
They really are just awful people at heart, but even accepting that, you’d think they might realise that all the ‘bad’ mps they show are elected under the fpp electorate system.
Comes across as mostly anti-Labour.
Guess they threw in the ACT bit as a way to deflect.
You might want to take another look Lanth; the ACT bit is there as the sexy straight non-creepy non-crippled alternative to MMP. It’s not a subtle message.
That was the bit that forced me to write the warning…
Sent to me courtesy of my daughter lol
😆
🙂 🙂 🙂
Been doing the rounds since 2010 – I think the original was.
‘The Government today announced that it is changing its emblem from an Eagle to a CONDOM because it more accurately reflects the government’s political stance… A condom allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of dicks, and gives you a sense of security while you’re actually being screwed!’
US inspired obviously but can be applied to most governments.
Yeah, thought I’d seen it before but couldn’t remember where or when.
, Thanks! I needed a laugh.
Most Kiwis have no interest in the Rubber Wool Cup. About as many people loath it as actually want to watch it – the rest are neutral.
Wonder what would have happened if this had been put to a referendum…
The comments under the article, especially the ones about haters and wreckers are hilarious 😆
Should veneration of a contact sport as part of good social stupification be a criminal offence in NZ?
Fuck no. It is an absolute saviour in any of those awkward enforced social situations where you have to try to find something useful to say to some 60 year old guy. A working knowledge is an easy out.
What? Why don’t you just talk about heroin or buttsex like a normal person would.
Won’t be having Mr awkward convo for long. Gauranteed.
And it’ll give him something to be shocked about to his mates.
Win/Win
Trust me Oleole, that 60 yr old guy doesn’t want to talk to you either. You’re just making it weirder for everyone.
Besides, if you’re not a completely boring cnut you won’t find it a problem just being yerself.
And if you weren’t wasting your time maintaining your working knowledge for the supposed benefit of men who don’t want to talk to you anyway, you could be well on your way to being a less boring cnut.
What is a cnut?
It’s a vile little mis-print! (Or so Rik Mayall’s character Adolphus Cnut was told in the sitcom Believe Nothing.) 😀
If it weren’t the national sport, I’m sure it would be considered child abuse to send children along to such a dangerous activity.
Brain injuries sustained from contact sports probably play a part in underachievement at school.
I will always remember a very sad event in 1981 that I heard of in the news. A boy, the son of a diplomat from South America, ended up with permanent damage in a – is the word ‘ruck’? That was the first (but not the last time) I had heard of that happening. Now I am very thankful that my brother and my sons all somehow managed to avoid being forced to play rugby at school!
More brain injuries than those caused by traffic “accidents” we don’t need!
Yeah Vicky now you can understand why they all end up in the National party!
Good point, mik e! 🙂
veneration of a contact sport
Actually rugby is more of a running, jumping and kicking sport than a contact sport. If you want to see a violent contact sport, watch THIS…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfYQKBQ5VdA&playnext=1&list=PLECA513A17E5DD471
The numbers will probably change once it’s under way.
I’m not interested in all the lead up stuff to any major sports events, including opening ceremonies, but I enjoy the sport once it gets under way, and it’s good to get out and meet people visiting the country – that was the highlight for me in the last RWC here.
But I guess we could try and stop anything from happening if in advance the majority of the population aren’t interested in it.
The numbers WILL probably change once it is underway. Which WAY they will change is the question 🙂
yeah – the Romans knew that you needed to provide BREAD as well as circuses, otherwise the peasants will still rebel. DonKey’s only doing half the distraction/pacification routine – good for the Left.
Channel Four is positioning itself as the channel of No Rugby in their latest advertising campaign. Some of the ads are actually pretty funny.
Gets my watch. In fact the less I see of the RWC the happier I will be.
I was planning to exit the country for a month, unfortunately my plans have been scuppered.
I have a project going to it first public outing at the end of October. I can’t go on holiday or die before then. Does feel a bit unusual for me to be scheduled on a project with a major milestone in an election year. But my time schedule plans got scuppered in the financial chaos at the end of 2009.
So I will have to put up with the RWC idiocy, especially since Eden park is too damn close.
I am one of the loathers! I am very much not looking forward to it.
And Cactus Kate is up to her normal bigotry.
Debate it all you want – just use facts. Oh, that’s right, you can’t because all the facts show that MMP is the best system of representative democracy available.
But, that’s not all:
Yep, she doesn’t want all those poor people* voting even though it is their society and should have a say in it’s direction.
The call of the dictator is the cry of property rights which is Acts central theme and Cactus Kate has just proved that Act is bunch of dictators by saying that she wants only her preferred people voting.
* Who are only poor because of the policies Act promote.
I am a believer in the cornerstone of neo-loyalty in that if you leave NZ in your 20’s to chase bucks then your opinion on NZ affairs means diddly-squat and you should STFU
@RobC – How can young people know the world from just staying in the country facebooking or watching videos for experience. You yourself have to go and live it. When you are over there it’s in your face, there is no avoiding the reality as it hits you. Also going overseas to do advanced study enriches the graduate’s expertise and if we can get them back then we have increased our IQ.
Just staying in NZ would lead us back to the narrow-minded types we were before the Second World War caused thousands of our people to do an OE and thousands of displaced Europeans and others to come here and show us their culture and way of thinking.
“Chasing bucks” vs “OE”.
Hi Prism, you’ve read too much into my comment – I just find it rather amusing that someone who has lived/worked overseas until just recently (?) and probably has paid F.A. net tax in NZ comes out with no representation without paying net taxation.
On the flip side, if votes were apportioned to how much net tax you paid, say 1 vote for every $10k, we’d probably see less tax evasion.
But if only net taxpayers can vote that means Sam Morgan can’t vote, virtually all the farmers can’t vote (perhaps that is an angle for the left), and the only voters left are the working, hard slogging wage and salary earners.
Or perhaps we take Cactus Kate (never read her but she sounds horrid) approach and extend it a little so that a person gets a number of votes, that number rising or falling depending on the proportion of their income that ends up in the government coffers… smokers and boozers would get the most votes … equals Cactus Kate equals zombie.
“neo-democracy”. pffft.
Sounds like “new coke” to me.
I see that the Nat government is going to pay to those red-zoned homeowners with insurance, if they accept the governments offer to purchase, a deposit of up to 50% (max $50,000) once signed… if that aint an election stimulant I don’t know what is. I betcha the cheques arrive well in time.
And btw, what was the reason for only insured homeowners receiving the governments offer?
Boscowen – someone tell him that the word is horrific not hirrofic. Perhaps if he spoke from within rather than reading a prepared script he might be a little more credible, (especially as he repeated the same error when re-reading the phrase).
Ilargi over at Theautomaticearth posted this today and it pretty much sums up the world and the state of our polity today. its a DIRE WARNING.
Once a society or country allows money to enter its politics, the outcome is inevitable: the money interests will come to rule that country. This is evident all over the western world, whether you look at the Greek, Irish and other EU bail-outs, or at the debt dungeon debate the US is presently digging its way into ever deeper, with the respective bills handed to the people and their children.
As we speak, and as we watch the wall-sized media coverage of the debt dungeon chasm, municipalities and counties are on the cusp of bankruptcy. Services will be cut across the board. That is our future.
A future that won’t involve growth, but which be all about austerity and cutting back and outright poverty for rapidly increasing numbers of people. Just not for the politicians and their puppeteers, not for those who get to decide who will hurt the most.
That is the main issue today. Who are you going to let decide how bad your future will be? If you opt for Washington, anyone in Washington, or Brussels if you’re in Europe, your future will hurt something bad. When it comes to that future of yours and, of your offspring, the debt dungeon debate is the wrong focus. There’s nothing beneficial for you in there.
This is nothing less than outright class warfare where those with the means are stealing ours and our childrens future and liberty.
I can’t get through the code word barrier to send a Contact message. I have tried three times and am sure I was correct the last two. I wear glasses but thought I was seeing well the last two times. I was trying to say that none of my personal posts show up since July 31. Cheers
Obama got nothing except forcing Republicians to agree to reductions in militrary spending in return for keeping the unfordable tax cuts for the richest. Obama delayed the debate until after the pay off, mid term elections, where military constituencies will make Repubalicians pay for their greed.
US is in a political and economic death spiral. The aim is to get re-elected, not lead the country or help the people.