Fairfux media’s (no doubt unscientific) survey of the nation – no surprises really though: a tale of, not just 2 nations, but of several – with many people and families doing it tough (including middleclass people with permanent jobs). Many are still looking to that brighter future, but just as many see no improvement on the horizon – others reckon they are doing OK. They don’t seem to have interviewed any of the top 5%…. or even of the top 15-20% on the income/wealth scale:
The place where we speak in aphorism, cliche and well-worn metaphor. Where we are operating on a ”hand out mentality”, but have ”everything going for us”. Where the people are ”resilient” but retailers are ”fragile”. Where we say the average wage is not keeping up with the cost of living while declaring Winston Peters to be ”the only one honest enough to let people know what’s going on”.
…
Ask Donna Koveskali about suffering. After two years battling with Housing New Zealand she has finally moved out of a damp, mouldy state house in Titahi Bay and scored a drier home in Tawa. But it’s come with a cost. With her 23-year-old daughter Danielle fighting kidney failure and her 18-year-old son also sick, Donna says she has little to be optimistic about. Don’t get her started on Prime Minister John Key. ”He is useless.”
She knows nothing of the stock market and has no money to invest even if she did. Living day to day on a sickness benefit is enough without having to worry about asset sales.
Ask Hamilton stay at home mum Jazzman Nelson about worry. She has three young kids and a fourth on the way. Her husband’s wage as a school teacher is spreading thinner and thinner. ”We are making ends meet but we are a one income family and not able to get ahead.”
She isn’t complaining about New Zealand. Wouldn’t dream of it. Loves the place. But with paying food, electricity, telephone all the while living with her mother-in-law, it’s tough to be sunny. She and her husband want to save to buy their own place. ”There’s a future,” she says, ”but I am not sure if it’s bright.”
It’s worth clicking on the interactive map to get the brief run-down on the circumstances of each individual/family.
And of course, the Fairfux reporter is still keeping us all focused on the brighter future, highlighting the optimism, and ending on a hopeful note.
And of course, the Fairfux reporter is still keeping us all focused on the brighter future, highlighting the optimism, and ending on a hopeful note.
Of course, that is the role of the press, and those who are chosen to work inside that “busines”
They must be (not very bright), uninformed, and then unable to critically question the system that pays their wages!
One wonders how long the charade will continue to go on, before even those with serious bias, or limited capacity to observe, start to notice reality.
Hey what about those All Blacks, and how about Angelina and Brad, do you think they might marry, oh, and Kate, won’t she just make the best royal mum, also that naughty uncle Harrys a little bit of wild isn’t he…
Don’t overlook Sonny Bill Williams – quite often the newspapers have at least two glowing features (and pictures) on him on any given day! Thank God we have that to focus upon in the midst of our misery.
The question remains, John, John and co, if these schools work well, why aren’t they being set up within the existing education system, with guaranteed qualified teachers etc?
And why aren’t all schools and all children within the existing system getting the benefit of these small class sizes and individual attention?
Tamihere never misses an opportunity to suck up any available funds to increase his empire, as long as there are others to take the fall if it goes pear shaped.
What will a Tamahere school’s attitude be to the small group of children who deliberately dismantle school property, teacher resources and generally destroy classroom tone and climate, and sap the energy out of those erstwhile highly motivated and dedicated teachers?
(Perhaps they will simply be despatched back to the mainstream schools).
Nah, more likely, they will be screened out before enrollment.
In fact, these charter schools are supposed to address the issue of the “tail”. Perhaps they should be required to recruit only the children who are the tail.
It’s John Banks Trophy time again… DUM QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Award No. 3: for the week ending 01/09/2012
*******
Gosman
*******
Now, regular Standard readers will be aware that dear old Gosman has a role on this forum as a fall-guy, the bloke who sets himself up for a verbal caning, the sayer of things that sane people would never even have considered, the writer of things that honest people would not even imagine anyone would be depraved or stupid enough to write. His contributions are designed to provoke outrage and they usually do. He plays the same role on this forum that John Banks played in the 1990-99 parliament: good for a laugh occasionally, not often terribly witty but usually amusing because of the excesses his crazed mind sometimes takes him to.
Usually anything Gosman says is almost immediately firmly refuted by three or four other people. Not debated, mind you; Gosman seems incapable of sustaining a reasoned argument, and his outlandish contributions are so easily put down, like rabid dogs, there is just no room for civilized discussion ensuing from them.
Several regulars, including myself, soon pointed out the lack of credibility of his source as well as its hypocrisy. Tellingly, Gosman never formulated a response.
And here he is stridently defending the corner of global warming-deniers, like a low-rent version of (God help us all but especially Gosman) that addle-pated shock jock Leighton Smith…
“Organic farming takes far more land area to produce the same amount of food output as intensive non-organic farming. This is a fact.”
Note the deadly seriousness with which he delivers the line “This is a fact.” That’s simply unimprovable. Steve Coogan eat your heart out.
In a contribution to the thread “RIP Neil Armstrong”, he treats us to the following….
“I have more respect for Creationists than I do for Christian’s [sic!] who also accept the reality of Evolution. At least the Creationist is logically consistent.”
What nonsense. What a completely idiotic statement that was.
For these sterling (albeit unwitting) efforts in the service of surreal humor and black comedy, Gosman is a deserved winner of the third John Banks Trophy.
The Economist notes that about 90 percent of traffic accidents are caused by human error, meaning that if humans are taken out of the process, there’s a strong probably that accident rates will plummet.
Even so, the bill requires the cars to have a flesh-and-blood human being behind the wheel if something goes wrong.
“It sounds space age, but it’s almost here,” Padilla told the San Jose Mercury News. “If we can reduce the number of accidents, that alone is worth doing this bill.”
Translation:We will remove humans from various the processes slowly, so they won;t notice, machines are better, we don’t need/want all those useless eater/feeders
But wait….
Bay Area tech giant Google has been leading the way in self-driving cars. The team behind the project asserts that the technology is largely already there and their self-driving cars are ready to hit the road right now.
Earlier this year, Google took a number of state legislators on a test non-drive of their driverless cars.
I thought it was about reducing the number of road deaths…
No this is about restricting human movement, tracking every journey that you make (already done in reality), if you are “lucky” enough to either be “allowed” to drive (because thats what this is also about), but the article tells what these psychopaths think about human beings!
Good. Soon I’ll be able to send my car to work, it’ll then transform into a walking bot and do my job for me. Meanwhile I’ll spend my day I as I please, and make sure my pay still gets lodged in my bank.
A person can dream….
Don’t they realise cars are not going to be the main machines of the future?
I find plenty to do with my time; history, politics, social issues and research, popular culture and its relation to social context, visual arts (especially photography, screen fiction etc).
Despite the bill’s widespread political support, some quarters have voiced reservations, particularly over what happens if driverless cars crash and lawsuits are filed. “This does not protect adequately the manufacturers for liability concerns,” Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers spokesman Dan Gage told the Mercury News.
Interesting, obviously, if the car crashes while in autonomous mode the manufacturer of the car is at fault as, essentially, they’re the ones driving the car.
No this is about restricting human movement,
Don’t know how you get that.
tracking every journey that you make (already done in reality),
To be honest, I don’t have a problem with that either just so long as there’s strict rules about looking at the data and the use that it’s put to.
if you are “lucky” enough to either be “allowed” to drive (because thats what this is also about),
Nobody should be allowed to drive – cars are highly inefficient and should be banned outright with this self-drive capability then used in public transport.
but the article tells what these psychopaths think about human beings!
I didn’t see anything of that in the article which would indicate that your seeing things that aren’t there.
Technology is not democratic!
Technology is merely there, the use that it’s put to is up to us which is democratic.
The Con trains last 40to60 years cars 15 to 20 on average trains cost 1sixtieth the cost of a car to move that person from a to b that includes construction and running costs.
Fuel cells are ridiculously dear and will probably never be economical.
The primary source is H which is extracted from H2O. You’re right, the cell is the storage device. But the fuel comes from water….and the by-product is water.
My point here, which is what I’d like Draco to comment on, is does he dislike the idea of private vehicles because of the ecological/oil cost or because he doesnt think there should be a private vehicle class in the first place.
Get fucked Draco you fucking cunt. Being a prick for the sake of being prick makes you look like an asshole. A car with a fuel cell would solve your ‘inefficient’ problem but as the crazy ideologue you just dislike the idea of someone having private transportation. Luckily your strange ideas gain no traction.
Don’t know how you get that. Do some further reading then
tracking every journey that you make (already done in reality),
To be honest, I don’t have a problem with that either just so long as there’s strict rules about looking at the data and the use that it’s put to. Im a little surprised at your response to this one DTB. Strict rules, argh, yeah ok mate! Maybe google cars, google wallet, google earth, google st view, google search, google mail, google cloud & (TPPA), could well be an example of where the strict rules you refer could fall over!
if you are “lucky” enough to either be “allowed” to drive (because thats what this is also about),
Nobody should be allowed to drive – cars are highly inefficient and should be banned outright with this self-drive capability then used in public transport. They are inneficient, but thats about all I can find common ground with, the rest of it, you are talking nonsense, but helps me understand some other comments you put in the post, above and below
but the article tells what these psychopaths think about human beings!
I didn’t see anything of that in the article which would indicate that your seeing things that aren’t there. Or you are not seing what is, and I am not just referring to this article!
Technology is not democratic!
Technology is merely there, the use that it’s put to is up to us which is democratic. While true at the end user consumer market, outside of that is what I was actually referring
“the use that it’s put to is up to us which is democratic.”
Some years ago, the previous National govt wanted all cars to be trackable and for the state to be able to tell which cars were going where and when and tie that into registration and WOF data (amongst others), as well as road tolls and user pays.
Weka, yes this subject is something of a uptopian dream for these people, but don’t be fooled by thinking its just the national govt, or act etc, it has little if nothing to do with political ideology!
Its ideological, but not in the way most people want to believe it is.
There is no good reason for the govt to have a tracker in my car that outweighs the privacy concerns, or the wider political agenda (privatising roads).
I can’t believe you just argued for less privacy rights on the basis that ‘at least it’s the govt’ who holds the info. Again, hands up who trusts the the National Govt? I wouldn’t trust Labour with this one either btw.
Maybe google cars, google wallet, google earth, google st view, google search, google mail, google cloud & (TPPA), could well be an example of where the strict rules you refer could fall over!
Did you note the lack of rules and the fact that anybody can accumulate data if you give permission? By using Google you give permission. If you don’t want to be tracked by Google then don’t use them. Of course, that pretty much can’t happen as Google happens to be pretty much everywhere.
They are inneficient, but thats about all I can find common ground with, the rest of it, you are talking nonsense, but helps me understand some other comments you put in the post, above and below
In what way is getting rid of inefficiency, which we can’t afford, nonsense?
Or you are not seing what is, and I am not just referring to this article!
About the only thing they said that even came close to being negative about humans was that they stated the fact that most crashes are caused by human error.
While true at the end user consumer market, outside of that is what I was actually referring
Which makes no sense. The consumer doesn’t have any democratic say in anything but we could use technology to improve our democracy.
Google cars… that’d be a good one. Each week you get into the car on any given morning and they’ve moved where the indicators are, or the lights switch, or the gear stick 🙄 Plus the gear stick doesn’t really do what it used to, so you have to fiddle with all the other knobs to figure out how to drive the car. Some of the things you find useful have been taken out completely, but you can rest assured, because google are the Good Guys so you know that it’s all for the best.
charter skools are the febrile manifestation of the wannabee drongos in nz society who think they know everything but more to the point want a government salary without having any qualifications.
The EU is banning incandescent light bulbs. Gasp! I wonder if this loss of a fundamental civil and political right will have citizens out on the street protesting the challenge to their freedoms …
So we will see this forced change in NZ soon enough then, and won’t Phillips be pleased, what a boon for them its been, and will be eh!
I’m sure all the energy use reductions will be mirrored by the decreasing costs of energy bills accross EU nations….
Quite sure that people have more pressing issues which are/will get(ting) them onto the streets over the coming years, so will assume the comment was /sarc
Isn’t it the lightbulb banning issue that cost Helen Clark her last election? So the story goes. People were incensed at having their rights so badly denied. Incandescent even.
/sarc 😉
Personally I think banning incandescents is rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. It’s symbolic of a world that thinks that we have climate change because we bought the wrong toys.
Actually, it’s symbolic of the realisation that resources are limited which is exactly what is needed if we want to change to a better system. Unbanning them is the result of the idea that BaU will continue.
If we only take small steps we are stuffed mickey. One of the reasons we are only taking small steps is because we think that changing lightbulbs will make a difference. It won’t. It will just enable bean counters to tell us we have made x savings and therefore we are doing the right thing and so we can relax a bit.
I don’t see any evidence that societies are moving towards using less power or creating less emissions in any meaningful way.
If we only take small steps we are stuffed mickey.
A small step that people can come to understand and that will allow bigger steps later.
I don’t see any evidence that societies are moving towards using less power or creating less emissions in any meaningful way.
That’s because societies are still told that there are no limits. Inform them of the limits and people will stop using resources (i.e, water shortages in which people conserve water). Our socio-economic system can’t handle that though as it’s predicated on using as resources as possible so as to make a few people rich.
I appreciate that, my friend. I just think you should be careful about using Hillary Clinton as an exemplar for anything. As horrible as Key is, he doesn’t have blood on his hands like she does.
He was a Mormon missionary to France in the 1960s, studied at the almost-exclusively Mormon Brigham Young university and rose to become first bishop, then “Stake President” (diocesan leader) in his home state of Massachusetts.
He led Sunday services, ran Bible classes for children and looked after a 4,000-strong congregation in Boston for five years in the 1980s.
Like all Mormons, he is expected to give 10% of his annual income – no-one knows how much he is worth, but it is estimated at anywhere from $150 million to $1 billion – to the Church and not drink tea, coffee or alcohol.
Committed Mormons wear special under-garments, and Romney is believed to follow this tenet of his faith too.
After the death of Joseph Smith, Pratt and his family were among the Latter Day Saints who emigrated to Utah Territory and continued on as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) under the direction of Brigham Young. Pratt was involved in establishing the refugee settlements and fields at both Garden Grove and Mt. Pisgah, Iowa, and personally led a pioneer company along the Mormon Trail to the Salt Lake Valley. Sometime in the mid 1850s, working with George D. Watt, he helped develop the Deseret alphabet. In 1854, Pratt went to California to preside over the Pacific Mission of the LDS Church headquartered in San Francisco.
Any thoughts on Rodney Hide’s column in today’s Sunday Herald? I gain the impression that it might be out and out racist in tone, have I got it wrong?
I haven’t read it yet, but I’d be prepared to wager poor old Clint Eastwood’s Republican convention appearance fee that your suspicion is correct. I’ll come back with my analysis after I’ve seen it, but the following factors mean it’s highly likely….
1.) It’s an article by Rodney Hide, who has frequently made crude racist statements on the radio and television;
2.) It’s in the Herald on Sunday, which is a forum for some of the most bizarrely racist and deranged writing in the country.
He needs to learn to speak Maori, he’ll start to understand that they are a “Life” oriented culture at that point.
The article definitely has no respect for their beliefs. Nor does it recognise their growth as a people.
Which does not make it all that pertinent to NZ in 2012.
But the clincher is to recognise the river’s life force. Then it’s yours.
The likes of RH et al, have no concept what so ever of “life forces or energy”, which is why being able to exude such ignorance in this article, comes freely and naturally, the rac*sm unavoidable for him, because, like those who rule over this planet, that is what they are in their very core, and the Rodneys selected, because that too is what they are!
The types who permeate the “halls of power”, are the winners of a selection process, so can you imagine what those who pull the strings represent!
Because kiwis (those who do actually think, and even some who don’t), are easy to get on-board with things like maori rights and rac*sm etc, it means that the support which will be derived for traditional “rights” will stay in focus, which while I am not for “ownership” by any group, at this stage , has to be considered a good thing.
While I’m uneasy about the maori elite, or their ability to not be corrupted further by white men, at this point in time, they are about the only signifigant barrier to those same white men, stealing the lot, again!
I have now sacrificed a couple of minutes of my life and read it and, sure enough, it is as racist, and as ill informed as I feared.
Perhaps even worse than Hide’s moronic, ignorant views is the Herald website’s warning to anyone who might be thinking of posting a reply to the distinguished thinker: “We aim to have healthy debate. But we won’t publish comments that abuse others.”
Clearly no such limitations apply to their own columnists.
I only read the first couple of lines, and the last. Even that demonstrated hypocrisy of such epic proportions I couldn’t bring myself to read the rest.
I read Hide’s column. I see it as an attempt to stir up racism among ignorant pakeha in the interests of selling of our assets to greedy pakeha and foreign corporates. To my way of thinking, that makes it racist, which is about what I’ve come to expect from Rodney Hide.
After madly screeching himself into mass derision (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5FzCeV0ZFc) during his disastrous bid for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, Howard Dean has gone onto a career as a “pundit”, where he smiles like a nice guy and expresses his admiration for killing peasants in Asia and Africa by drone aircraft. Watch and cringe as he does his shallow schtick here…
At the start of the clip, you’ll see good-looking but dim Republican senator Marco Rubio saying something inane about the capture of Gaddafi. Also appearing on the clip is another of those glib Brits that infest American public commentary, Tina Brown.
Balancing out the display of horror is Jeremy Scahill, one of the outstanding journalists in America.
One of the YouTube commenters asks a very good question: “Why can’t Scahill be a senator instead of Rubio? Why can’t we have intelligent people in congress?”
“Can democracy exist without trust”?
Interesting TED talk from Ivan Krastev (transcript available). A small snippet:
….
And when you go to the brain sciences, what political consultants learned from the brain scientists is don’t talk to me about ideas anymore, don’t talk to me about policy programs. What really matters is basically to manipulate the emotions of the people. And you have this very strongly to the extent that, even if you see when we talk about revolutions these days, these revolutions are not named anymore around ideologies or ideas. Before, revolutions used to have ideological names. They could be communist, they could be liberal, they could be fascist or Islamic. Now the revolutions are called under the medium which is most used. You have Facebook revolutions, Twitter revolutions. The content doesn’t matter anymore, the problem is the media.
I’m saying this because one of my major points is what went right is also what went wrong. And when we’re now trying to see how we can change the situation, when basically we’re trying to see what can be done about democracy, we should keep this ambiguity in mind. Because probably some of the things that we love most are going to be also the things that can hurt us most. These days it’s very popular to believe that this push for transparency, this kind of a combination between active citizens, new technologies and much more transparency-friendly legislation can restore trust in politics. You believe that when you have these new technologies and people who are ready to use this, it can make it much more difficult for the governments to lie, it’s going to be more difficult for them to steal and probably even going to be more difficult for them to kill. This is probably true. But I do believe that we should be also very clear that now when we put the transparency at the center of politics where the message is that transparency is stupid.
Transparency is not about restoring trust in institutions. Transparency is politics’ management of mistrust. We are assuming that our societies are going to be based on mistrust. And by the way, mistrust was always very important for democracy. This is why you have checks and balances. This is why basically you have all this creative mistrust between the representatives and those whom they represent. But when politics is only management of mistrust, then — I’m very glad that “1984” has been mentioned — now we’re going to have “1984” in reverse. It’s not going to be the Big Brother watching you, it’s going to be we being the Big Brother watching the political class.
This morning on Chris Laidlaw Radionz Jim Dier a very enthusiastic community builder who has found that he and his fellows have made a lot of difference. So he is not an armchair idealist but a thinking down-and-dirty-hands worker who has a good idea that works. Audio should be up by noon
(or so I thought but it isn’t – may be some pesky damn reason of copyright.)
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday
10:06 Ideas: Growing Communities
Epuni Primary School’s Common Unity Project aims to produce enough fruit and vegetables to feed not only the school’s 110 pupils but their families as well. It’s a classic example of what’s been called Asset Based Community Development – or ABC Development. Ideas visits Epuni Primary School in Lower Hutt and talks to the project’s volunteer coordinator Julia Milne; Jim Diers, a proponent of the ABCD movement, tells Jeremy Rose about Seattle’s Strong Communities Initiative; and Denise Bijoux of Inspiring Communities talks to Chris Laidlaw about the proliferation of asset-based community projects in New Zealand.
Presented by Chris Laidlaw
Produced by Jeremy Rose.
This is a copy of the one I put on open mike 30/8 but then thought it might get missed.
I wonder has anyone noticed that when trying to pull a comment from past days, if the number of them go beyond one page, the search device often won’t find the highlighted comment. Than have to go and scroll down for it.
In their wisdom, the producers at RNZ National have seen fit to resurrect one Karen Zelas who, along with Auckland University’s bloviating Professor John Read provided the main academic cover in the police’s hare-brained, fantastical sex abuse case against Peter Ellis.
In A City Possessed, Lynley Hood’s magisterial demolition of the hysteria, Zelas was comprehensively and irrefutably shown up to be a fraud and a charlatan. But if you imagined this horrid woman had been stewing in her own shame for the last decade and a half, you were wrong.
Apparently, she always wanted to be a writer. Maybe that helps to explain her sympathy for the outlandish fantasies drilled into those children’s brains by that crazed cadre of fundamentalist parents at the Christchurch Civic Creche.
Zelas reckons that forcing little children to repeat their parents’ wild and lurid fantasies has made her into quite the poet: “I suppose my former career has given me a depth of understanding of people, their emotions and relationships and how they behave, which I am able to draw upon in my writing.”
She was just following the latest crap coming from American psychologists at the time. In my experience, psychologists are some of the most dangerous people that exist. Psychology is demonstrably not a science, and follows fashions which change every few years, yet its practicioners can affect people’s lives to more of an extent than most pseudo-scientists except economists. The courts would do no worse if they relied on expert testimony from astrologers.
She was just following the latest crap coming from American psychologists at the time.
She was also validating the psychotic sexual fantasies of some fundamentalist Christian loons in Christchurch. She wasn’t the only one, either; the aforementioned Prof. John Read continues to taunt Ellis with cruel and unsubstantiated allegations, the Children’s Commissioner at the time (Laurie O’Reilly) gave the madness official backing by treating the allegations seriously, as did his successor Roger McClay (who was subsequently convicted for fraud and sent to prison). And the police in Christchurch still occasionally haul Ellis into the station to humiliate him further.
In my experience, psychologists are some of the most dangerous people that exist.
There are certainly some bad ones, all right. And Karen Zelas is one of the very worst.
A ‘March for Jobs’ is going to be held this Tuesday in Greymouth. How’s that brighter future looking Coasters?
From the West Coast miner fb page:
There will be a ‘March for Work’ rally in Greymouth on 4th September to commence at midday from the Skate Park. The march is in support of the coalminers of spring creek and the township of Greymouth. This is an open invitation to march through town to raise awareness that will effect us all if the mine was to close. Damien O’Connor MP, The Mayor and Bernie Monk have confirmed there support and will speak following the march. Please pass on and join the march to save jobs and our community.
wow.
carol zelas and march for jobs side by side.
anyway this is for carol.
I have read recently that the US Supreme court no longer represents the little man.
is this true?
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Our economy has experienced its worst recession since 1991. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 20 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below ...
Twas the Friday before Christmas and all through the week we’ve been collecting stories for our final roundup of the year. As we start to wind down for the year we hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas and new year. If you’re travelling please be safe on ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the year’s news with: on climate. Her book of the year was Tim Winton’s cli-fi novel Juice and she also mentioned Mike Joy’s memoir The Fight for Fresh Water. ...
The Government can head off to the holidays, entitled to assure itself that it has done more or less what it said it would do. The campaign last year promised to “get New Zealand back on track.” When you look at the basic promises—to trim back Government expenditure, toughen up ...
Open access notables An intensification of surface Earth’s energy imbalance since the late 20th century, Li et al., Communications Earth & Environment:Tracking the energy balance of the Earth system is a key method for studying the contribution of human activities to climate change. However, accurately estimating the surface energy balance ...
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and , ...
“Like you said, I’m an unreconstructed socialist. Everybody deserves to get something for Christmas.”“ONE OF THOSE had better be for me!” Hannah grinned, fascinated, as Laurie made his way, gingerly, to the bar, his arms full of gift-wrapped packages.“Of course!”, beamed Laurie. Depositing his armful on the bar-top and selecting ...
Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed a significant slowdown in the economy over the past six months, with GDP falling by 1% in September, and 1.1% in June said CTU Economist Craig Renney. “The data shows that the size of the economy in GDP terms is now smaller ...
One last thing before I quitI never wanted any moreThan I could fit into my headI still remember every single word you saidAnd all the shit that somehow came along with itStill, there's one thing that comforts meSince I was always caged and now I'm freeSongwriters: David Grohl / Georg ...
Sparse offerings outside a Te Kauwhata church. Meanwhile, the Government is cutting spending in ways that make thousands of hungry children even hungrier, while also cutting funding for the charities that help them. It’s also doing that while winding back new building of affordable housing that would allow parents to ...
It is difficult to make sense of the Luxon Coalition Government’s economic management.This end-of-year review about the state of economic management – the state of the economy was last week – is not going to cover the National Party contribution. Frankly, like every other careful observer, I cannot make up ...
This morning I awoke to the lovely news that we are firmly back on track, that is if the scale was reversed.NZ ranks low in global economic comparisonsNew Zealand's economy has been ranked 33rd out of 37 in an international comparison of which have done best in 2024.Economies were ranked ...
Remember those silent movies where the heroine is tied to the railway tracks or going over the waterfall in a barrel? Finance Minister Nicola Willis seems intent on portraying herself as that damsel in distress. According to Willis, this country’s current economic problems have all been caused by the spending ...
Similar to the cuts and the austerity drive imposed by Ruth Richardson in the 1990’s, an era which to all intents and purposes we’ve largely fiddled around the edges with fixing in the time since – over, to be fair, several administrations – whilst trying our best it seems to ...
String-Pulling in the Dark: For the democratic process to be meaningful it must also be public. WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE in New Zealand’s politicians and journalists steadily declining, restoring those virtues poses a daunting challenge. Just how daunting is made clear by comparing the way politicians and journalists treated New Zealanders ...
Dear Nicola Willis, thank you for letting us know in so many words that the swingeing austerity hasn't worked.By in so many words I mean the bit where you said, Here is a sea of red ink in which we are drowning after twelve months of savage cost cutting and ...
The Open Government Partnership is a multilateral organisation committed to advancing open government. Countries which join are supposed to co-create regular action plans with civil society, committing to making verifiable improvements in transparency, accountability, participation, or technology and innovation for the above. And they're held to account through an Independent ...
Today I tuned into something strange: a press conference that didn’t make my stomach churn or the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Which was strange, because it was about the torture of children. It was the announcement by Erica Stanford — on her own, unusually ...
This is a must watch, and puts on brilliant and practical display the implications and mechanics of fast-track law corruption and weakness.CLICK HERE: LINK TO WATCH VIDEOOur news media as it is set up is simply not equipped to deal with the brazen disinformation and corruption under this right wing ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting Secretary Erin Polaczuk is welcoming the announcement from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden that she is opening consultation on engineered stone and is calling on her to listen to the evidence and implement a total ban of the product. “We need ...
The Government has announced a 1.5% increase in the minimum wage from 1 April 2025, well below forecast inflation of 2.5%. Unions have reacted strongly and denounced it as a real terms cut. PSA and the CTU are opposing a new round of staff cuts at WorkSafe, which they say ...
The decision to unilaterally repudiate the contract for new Cook Strait ferries is beginning to look like one of the stupidest decisions a New Zealand government ever made. While cancelling the ferries and their associated port infrastructure may have made this year's books look good, it means higher costs later, ...
Hi there! I’ve been overseas recently, looking after a situation with a family member. So apologies if there any less than focused posts! Vanuatu has just had a significant 7.3 earthquake. Two MFAT staff are unaccounted for with local fatalities.It’s always sad to hear of such things happening.I think of ...
Today is a special member's morning, scheduled to make up for the government's theft of member's days throughout the year. First up was the first reading of Greg Fleming's Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, which was passed unanimously. Currently the House is debating the third reading of ...
We're going backwardsIgnoring the realitiesGoing backwardsAre you counting all the casualties?We are not there yetWhere we need to beWe are still in debtTo our insanitiesSongwriter: Martin Gore Read more ...
Willis blamed Treasury for changing its productivity assumptions and Labour’s spending increases since Covid for the worsening Budget outlook. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 18 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above ...
Today the Auckland Transport board meet for the last time this year. For those interested (and with time to spare), you can follow along via this MS Teams link from 10am. I’ve taken a quick look through the agenda items to see what I think the most interesting aspects are. ...
Hi,If you’re a New Zealander — you know who Mike King is. He is the face of New Zealand’s battle against mental health problems. He can be loud and brash. He raises, and is entrusted with, a lot of cash. Last year his “I Am Hope” charity reported a revenue ...
Probably about the only consolation available from yesterday’s unveiling of the Half-Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) is that it could have been worse. Though Finance Minister Nicola Willis has tightened the screws on future government spending, she has resisted the calls from hard-line academics, fiscal purists and fiscal hawks ...
The right have a stupid saying that is only occasionally true:When is democracy not democracy? When it hasn’t been voted on.While not true in regards to branches of government such as the judiciary, it’s a philosophy that probably should apply to recently-elected local government councillors. Nevertheless, this concept seemed to ...
Long story short: the Government’s austerity policy has driven the economy into a deeper and longer recession that means it will have to borrow $20 billion more over the next four years than it expected just six months ago. Treasury’s latest forecasts show the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s fiscal strategy of ...
Come and join myself and CTU Chief Economist for a pop-up ‘Hoon’ webinar on the Government’s Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) with paying subscribers to The Kākā for 30 minutes at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream to watch our chat. Don’t worry if ...
In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...
New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...
At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...
Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob HensonIn this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...
In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...
On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...
The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...
This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...
And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...
Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...
Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...
This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate.I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...
A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...
The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...
Kiwis planning a swim or heading out on a boat this summer should remember to stop and think about water safety, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop and ACC and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “New Zealand’s beaches, lakes and rivers are some of the most beautiful in the ...
The Government is urging Kiwis to drive safely this summer and reminding motorists that Police will be out in force to enforce the road rules, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“This time of year can be stressful and result in poor decision-making on our roads. Whether you are travelling to see ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...
The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...
A separate passport, citizenship and membership of the United Nations are only available to fully independent nations, Winston Peters' office says. ...
By Emma Andrews, Henare te Ua Māori Journalism Intern at RNZ News The New Zealand fuel company Z Energy is swapping out street names for “correct” kupu on service stops around the country, with the help of local hapū. When Z took over 226 fuel sites from Shell in 2010, ...
Summer reissue: Was it a false measurement, a full-blown conspiracy or just some mild incompetence? Mad Chapman uncovers the truth of Maddi Wesche’s final throw. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Old, Associate Professor, Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Western Sydney University Dmitry Chulov, Shutterstock At this time of year, images of reindeer are everywhere. I’ve had a soft spot for reindeer ever since I was a little girl. Doesn’t everyone? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grozdana Manalo, Career Services Manager (Education), University of Sydney hedgehog94/Shutterstock Getting casual work over summer, or a part-time job that you might continue once your tertiary course starts, can be a great way to get workplace experience and earn some extra ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ty Ferguson, Research associate in exercise, nutrition and activity, University of South Australia Peera_Stockfoto/Shutterstock It’s never been easier to stay connected to work. Even when we’re on leave, our phones and laptops keep us tethered. Many of us promise ourselves we ...
The NZ Media Council upheld the complaint under principle four: comment and fact On 5 September 2024, The Spinoff published a brief article titled Made in Palestine, found in 1970s Hastings, which highlighted an upcoming art exhibition featuring photographs of vintage cosmetic products labelled “Made in Palestine.” The piece, described ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kasey Symons, Lecturer of Communication, Sports Media, Deakin University We are well and truly in cricket season. The Australian men’s cricket team is taking centre stage against India in the Border Gavaskar Trophy series while the Big Bash League is underway, as ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Woods, Lecturer, Nursing, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University FTiare/Shutterstock Summer is here and for many that means going to the beach. You grab your swimmers, beach towel and sunscreen then maybe check the weather forecast. Did you think to ...
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Fairfux media’s (no doubt unscientific) survey of the nation – no surprises really though: a tale of, not just 2 nations, but of several – with many people and families doing it tough (including middleclass people with permanent jobs). Many are still looking to that brighter future, but just as many see no improvement on the horizon – others reckon they are doing OK. They don’t seem to have interviewed any of the top 5%…. or even of the top 15-20% on the income/wealth scale:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7595624/How-do-you-feel-New-Zealand
It’s worth clicking on the interactive map to get the brief run-down on the circumstances of each individual/family.
And of course, the Fairfux reporter is still keeping us all focused on the brighter future, highlighting the optimism, and ending on a hopeful note.
And of course, the Fairfux reporter is still keeping us all focused on the brighter future, highlighting the optimism, and ending on a hopeful note.
Of course, that is the role of the press, and those who are chosen to work inside that “busines”
They must be (not very bright), uninformed, and then unable to critically question the system that pays their wages!
One wonders how long the charade will continue to go on, before even those with serious bias, or limited capacity to observe, start to notice reality.
Hey what about those All Blacks, and how about Angelina and Brad, do you think they might marry, oh, and Kate, won’t she just make the best royal mum, also that naughty uncle Harrys a little bit of wild isn’t he…
Carry on!
Don’t overlook Sonny Bill Williams – quite often the newspapers have at least two glowing features (and pictures) on him on any given day! Thank God we have that to focus upon in the midst of our misery.
Great – John Tamihere leading the charter school charge.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7595641/An-alternative-charter
The question remains, John, John and co, if these schools work well, why aren’t they being set up within the existing education system, with guaranteed qualified teachers etc?
And why aren’t all schools and all children within the existing system getting the benefit of these small class sizes and individual attention?
Tamihere never misses an opportunity to suck up any available funds to increase his empire, as long as there are others to take the fall if it goes pear shaped.
He’s found his niche as a radio rant show host.
Exactly, tc. I’ve always thought of John Tamihere as Pita Sharples minus the ponytail and ethics.
larf. wotta u like
National are trying to break the teachers Union of course
What will a Tamahere school’s attitude be to the small group of children who deliberately dismantle school property, teacher resources and generally destroy classroom tone and climate, and sap the energy out of those erstwhile highly motivated and dedicated teachers?
(Perhaps they will simply be despatched back to the mainstream schools).
Nah, more likely, they will be screened out before enrollment.
In fact, these charter schools are supposed to address the issue of the “tail”. Perhaps they should be required to recruit only the children who are the tail.
It’s John Banks Trophy time again…
DUM QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Award No. 3: for the week ending 01/09/2012
*******
Gosman
*******
Now, regular Standard readers will be aware that dear old Gosman has a role on this forum as a fall-guy, the bloke who sets himself up for a verbal caning, the sayer of things that sane people would never even have considered, the writer of things that honest people would not even imagine anyone would be depraved or stupid enough to write. His contributions are designed to provoke outrage and they usually do. He plays the same role on this forum that John Banks played in the 1990-99 parliament: good for a laugh occasionally, not often terribly witty but usually amusing because of the excesses his crazed mind sometimes takes him to.
Usually anything Gosman says is almost immediately firmly refuted by three or four other people. Not debated, mind you; Gosman seems incapable of sustaining a reasoned argument, and his outlandish contributions are so easily put down, like rabid dogs, there is just no room for civilized discussion ensuing from them.
A good example of this could be seen last Thursday when the poor fellow supplied the following piece of black anti-democratic propaganda from an extremist site….
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-30082012/comment-page-1/#comment-515179
Several regulars, including myself, soon pointed out the lack of credibility of his source as well as its hypocrisy. Tellingly, Gosman never formulated a response.
And here he is stridently defending the corner of global warming-deniers, like a low-rent version of (God help us all but especially Gosman) that addle-pated shock jock Leighton Smith…
“Organic farming takes far more land area to produce the same amount of food output as intensive non-organic farming. This is a fact.”
http://thestandard.org.nz/climate-models-fail-to-accurately-predict-arctic-ice-deniers-fail-to-notice/#comment-513693
Note the deadly seriousness with which he delivers the line “This is a fact.” That’s simply unimprovable. Steve Coogan eat your heart out.
In a contribution to the thread “RIP Neil Armstrong”, he treats us to the following….
“I have more respect for Creationists than I do for Christian’s [sic!] who also accept the reality of Evolution. At least the Creationist is logically consistent.”
What nonsense. What a completely idiotic statement that was.
For these sterling (albeit unwitting) efforts in the service of surreal humor and black comedy, Gosman is a deserved winner of the third John Banks Trophy.
Previous Banksy winners…
No. 1: Te Reo Putake (awarded 17/8/2012)
No. 2: Monique Watson (awarded 25/08/2012)
or
“i would go out tonight, but i havn’t got a stitch to wear…..?”
Ho ho ho. Nice one, buddy.
The California state legislature just moved that dream a little closer to reality by approving a bill paving the way for driverless cars to be allowed on Golden State freeways.
Translation:We will remove humans from various the processes slowly, so they won;t notice, machines are better, we don’t need/want all those useless eater/feeders
But wait….
I thought it was about reducing the number of road deaths…
No this is about restricting human movement, tracking every journey that you make (already done in reality), if you are “lucky” enough to either be “allowed” to drive (because thats what this is also about), but the article tells what these psychopaths think about human beings!
Technology is not democratic!
Good. Soon I’ll be able to send my car to work, it’ll then transform into a walking bot and do my job for me. Meanwhile I’ll spend my day I as I please, and make sure my pay still gets lodged in my bank.
A person can dream….
Don’t they realise cars are not going to be the main machines of the future?
So, what would you do with your time? Personally, I get into art, politics and trying to keep up with technological advances (which feeds back into my politics).
IMO, that’s what we should be aiming for because it would allow us to engage more, do more and be self-governing.
interesting. semi, quietism leads me there and here
I find plenty to do with my time; history, politics, social issues and research, popular culture and its relation to social context, visual arts (especially photography, screen fiction etc).
believed i was on the correct page
I was responding to DTB’s question about what I’d do with my time if I was working less.
Quoting article:
Interesting, obviously, if the car crashes while in autonomous mode the manufacturer of the car is at fault as, essentially, they’re the ones driving the car.
Don’t know how you get that.
To be honest, I don’t have a problem with that either just so long as there’s strict rules about looking at the data and the use that it’s put to.
Nobody should be allowed to drive – cars are highly inefficient and should be banned outright with this self-drive capability then used in public transport.
I didn’t see anything of that in the article which would indicate that your seeing things that aren’t there.
Technology is merely there, the use that it’s put to is up to us which is democratic.
slap that bit
“cars are highly inefficient and should be banned outright with this self-drive capability then used in public transport.”
Bahahahahahahaha. Do you drive a car, Draco?
No.
But you’re more than happy to ensure no one else does either?
Have you got a good reason to maintain the inefficiency?
Yes, I have a disability that makes me dependent on my car.
That’s an exception and not a good enough reason to keep cars.
So if cars were completely powered by hydrogen fuel cells would you still argue people should only use public transport?
The Con trains last 40to60 years cars 15 to 20 on average trains cost 1sixtieth the cost of a car to move that person from a to b that includes construction and running costs.
Fuel cells are ridiculously dear and will probably never be economical.
Doesn’t matter what they’re powered by they’re still inefficient.
“Doesn’t matter what they’re powered by they’re still inefficient.”
Errr, what?
A hydrogen fuel cell is inefficient?
Bearing in mind that a hydrogen fuel cell is not a primary source of energy, merely a store of energy.
The primary source is H which is extracted from H2O. You’re right, the cell is the storage device. But the fuel comes from water….and the by-product is water.
My point here, which is what I’d like Draco to comment on, is does he dislike the idea of private vehicles because of the ecological/oil cost or because he doesnt think there should be a private vehicle class in the first place.
I think you’ve missed a step in the energy equation. Which is: where does the energy come from to extract H from water.
Whatever powers your extraction process is the primary energy source. Not the hydrogen.
There is an anode and a cathode. O reacts with one a H reacts with the other.
Like a battery. There is no extraction.
No you moron, cars are inefficient.
“No you moron, cars are inefficient.”
Get fucked Draco you fucking cunt. Being a prick for the sake of being prick makes you look like an asshole. A car with a fuel cell would solve your ‘inefficient’ problem but as the crazy ideologue you just dislike the idea of someone having private transportation. Luckily your strange ideas gain no traction.
This is not likely to ever happen, I’m afraid.
It’s a hypothetical question.
No this is about restricting human movement,
Don’t know how you get that.
Do some further reading then
tracking every journey that you make (already done in reality),
To be honest, I don’t have a problem with that either just so long as there’s strict rules about looking at the data and the use that it’s put to.
Im a little surprised at your response to this one DTB. Strict rules, argh, yeah ok mate! Maybe google cars, google wallet, google earth, google st view, google search, google mail, google cloud & (TPPA), could well be an example of where the strict rules you refer could fall over!
if you are “lucky” enough to either be “allowed” to drive (because thats what this is also about),
Nobody should be allowed to drive – cars are highly inefficient and should be banned outright with this self-drive capability then used in public transport.
They are inneficient, but thats about all I can find common ground with, the rest of it, you are talking nonsense, but helps me understand some other comments you put in the post, above and below
but the article tells what these psychopaths think about human beings!
I didn’t see anything of that in the article which would indicate that your seeing things that aren’t there.
Or you are not seing what is, and I am not just referring to this article!
Technology is not democratic!
Technology is merely there, the use that it’s put to is up to us which is democratic.
While true at the end user consumer market, outside of that is what I was actually referring
“the use that it’s put to is up to us which is democratic.”
Some years ago, the previous National govt wanted all cars to be trackable and for the state to be able to tell which cars were going where and when and tie that into registration and WOF data (amongst others), as well as road tolls and user pays.
Hands up who trusts the National govt?
Weka, yes this subject is something of a uptopian dream for these people, but don’t be fooled by thinking its just the national govt, or act etc, it has little if nothing to do with political ideology!
Its ideological, but not in the way most people want to believe it is.
on to it
I’d prefer the government getting the data than a private firm:
a) The government can use the data to actually improve our lives
b) The government can be held to account
Neither of these things is true of private companies.
There is no good reason for the govt to have a tracker in my car that outweighs the privacy concerns, or the wider political agenda (privatising roads).
I can’t believe you just argued for less privacy rights on the basis that ‘at least it’s the govt’ who holds the info. Again, hands up who trusts the the National Govt? I wouldn’t trust Labour with this one either btw.
Did you note the lack of rules and the fact that anybody can accumulate data if you give permission? By using Google you give permission. If you don’t want to be tracked by Google then don’t use them. Of course, that pretty much can’t happen as Google happens to be pretty much everywhere.
In what way is getting rid of inefficiency, which we can’t afford, nonsense?
About the only thing they said that even came close to being negative about humans was that they stated the fact that most crashes are caused by human error.
Which makes no sense. The consumer doesn’t have any democratic say in anything but we could use technology to improve our democracy.
Google cars… that’d be a good one. Each week you get into the car on any given morning and they’ve moved where the indicators are, or the lights switch, or the gear stick 🙄 Plus the gear stick doesn’t really do what it used to, so you have to fiddle with all the other knobs to figure out how to drive the car. Some of the things you find useful have been taken out completely, but you can rest assured, because google are the Good Guys so you know that it’s all for the best.
charter skools are the febrile manifestation of the wannabee drongos in nz society who think they know everything but more to the point want a government salary without having any qualifications.
Nope, charter schools is all about a few rich people getting government handouts in the millions of dollars per year.
The EU is banning incandescent light bulbs. Gasp! I wonder if this loss of a fundamental civil and political right will have citizens out on the street protesting the challenge to their freedoms …
So we will see this forced change in NZ soon enough then, and won’t Phillips be pleased, what a boon for them its been, and will be eh!
I’m sure all the energy use reductions will be mirrored by the decreasing costs of energy bills accross EU nations….
Quite sure that people have more pressing issues which are/will get(ting) them onto the streets over the coming years, so will assume the comment was /sarc
Isn’t it the lightbulb banning issue that cost Helen Clark her last election? So the story goes. People were incensed at having their rights so badly denied. Incandescent even.
/sarc 😉
Personally I think banning incandescents is rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. It’s symbolic of a world that thinks that we have climate change because we bought the wrong toys.
Actually, it’s symbolic of the realisation that resources are limited which is exactly what is needed if we want to change to a better system. Unbanning them is the result of the idea that BaU will continue.
Small steps weka but if we do not even take these small steps we are irreversibly stuffed.
The trick is to try and remember that no configuration of the deck chairs, no matter how clever, will stop the Titanic from going under.
If we only take small steps we are stuffed mickey. One of the reasons we are only taking small steps is because we think that changing lightbulbs will make a difference. It won’t. It will just enable bean counters to tell us we have made x savings and therefore we are doing the right thing and so we can relax a bit.
I don’t see any evidence that societies are moving towards using less power or creating less emissions in any meaningful way.
A small step that people can come to understand and that will allow bigger steps later.
That’s because societies are still told that there are no limits. Inform them of the limits and people will stop using resources (i.e, water shortages in which people conserve water). Our socio-economic system can’t handle that though as it’s predicated on using as resources as possible so as to make a few people rich.
I’d love to know when this “later” you are referring to might be. If its after about 2016 or 2018 we’re shit out of luck.
Yeah, well, we took the step and then we voted this government in and took several dozen backwards. Thems the breaks.
After 2016 I suspect people will be clamouring to take that step and several others.
What’s next? Their sacred showerheads?
“Eureka”
“now, i see”
“I Believe”
(btw, numerous microethnomethodological studies strongly suggest, science conducted by faith)
RONS just wrong
wow! what a start to His day; R.Smalley (in black) followed by J-A G (au natural) and some very considerate discourse. we live and pray
thought for today? am i my brother/s keeper
plus, the channel 3 news last pm was just one deleterious social impacting event after another;
at least there is always the anasthetic of alcohol….
not sure if this has been shared here in the last few days as i have been doing other things
but i think we have a new caption contest candidate
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2012-08/29/131815695_21n.jpg
Photoshop?
No, it’s real:
http://www.3news.co.nz/John-Key-welcomed-in-Rarotonga/tabid/417/articleID/267255/Default.aspx
Might put it up as a caption comp some time…
Hopefully they’re carting him off to the tip, or the out-house where his shite belongs…
Anyone get a pic of the armed guards standing off frame who ordered this to happen? /sarc
I really enjoyed the emerson cartoon, with key being carried on the litter by the alcohol lobby.
Hillary Clinton’s a bit more important than John Key. She walked.
(you can imagine the conversation –
Staffer: “Madam Secretary, the Cook Islands protocol involves you being carried on the backs of the natives, like a colonial master, and … ”
Hillary: “You’ve got to be kidding! Are we trying to lose the election? Ain’t gonna happen.”)
Hillary Clinton’s a bit more important than John Key. She walked.
Yes, Hillary Clinton’s an outstanding champion of human rights. Ask any person living in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Occupied Territories.
Here she is with another really humane leader, re-affirming to the world just how committed to human rights they both are….
There is no connection whatsoever between what I said and your “Yes”.
(But you knew that already).
I appreciate that, my friend. I just think you should be careful about using Hillary Clinton as an exemplar for anything. As horrible as Key is, he doesn’t have blood on his hands like she does.
I took gs’s comment to be about Clinton having more PR nous than Key (and probably self respect). Nothing to do with her credibility or ethics.
Yes, yes, weka, I understood too. I just couldn’t resist having a go at her, though.
“I have repeatedly warned the Tsar…”
Unbelievable! 😀
This picture of Romney’s family paints a couple of thousand words.
On the stump Mitt Romney, 65, has avoided mentioning Mormonism, instead talking generally about his faith, but he has been an active lifelong member of the church.
Then there is his great-great grandfather
This picture of Romney’s family paints a couple of thousand words.
No, it paints one. And the word is “Photoshop”.
It’s almost as funny as the “Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan” rearrangement “My ultimate Ayn Rand porn” (hat tip TheContrarian)
Burning Man gallery, scroll down for the live feed.
Direct stream here.
In a time of austerity, we are asking for some to pay for their job interview process.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/30/us-usa-campaign-spending-idUSTRE77T3ZX20110830
Any thoughts on Rodney Hide’s column in today’s Sunday Herald? I gain the impression that it might be out and out racist in tone, have I got it wrong?
Any thoughts on Rodney Hide’s column in today’s Sunday Herald? I gain the impression that it might be out and out racist in tone, have I got it wrong?
I haven’t read it yet, but I’d be prepared to wager poor old Clint Eastwood’s Republican convention appearance fee that your suspicion is correct. I’ll come back with my analysis after I’ve seen it, but the following factors mean it’s highly likely….
1.) It’s an article by Rodney Hide, who has frequently made crude racist statements on the radio and television;
2.) It’s in the Herald on Sunday, which is a forum for some of the most bizarrely racist and deranged writing in the country.
He needs to learn to speak Maori, he’ll start to understand that they are a “Life” oriented culture at that point.
The article definitely has no respect for their beliefs. Nor does it recognise their growth as a people.
Which does not make it all that pertinent to NZ in 2012.
He needs to learn to speak Maori, he’ll start to understand that they are a “Life” oriented culture
Life is very important in Maori culture, because if something’s not alive you can’t kill it and eat it. Plants… animals… other people… very important.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the racist right wing.
Look out, fellas—it’s a moron.
The consumption of life and “life force” is at the heart of all animistic cultures, of which the NZ Maori is just one.
But the clincher is to recognise the river’s life force. Then it’s yours.
The likes of RH et al, have no concept what so ever of “life forces or energy”, which is why being able to exude such ignorance in this article, comes freely and naturally, the rac*sm unavoidable for him, because, like those who rule over this planet, that is what they are in their very core, and the Rodneys selected, because that too is what they are!
The types who permeate the “halls of power”, are the winners of a selection process, so can you imagine what those who pull the strings represent!
Because kiwis (those who do actually think, and even some who don’t), are easy to get on-board with things like maori rights and rac*sm etc, it means that the support which will be derived for traditional “rights” will stay in focus, which while I am not for “ownership” by any group, at this stage , has to be considered a good thing.
While I’m uneasy about the maori elite, or their ability to not be corrupted further by white men, at this point in time, they are about the only signifigant barrier to those same white men, stealing the lot, again!
It’s online. Read at your own risk.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/religion-and-beliefs/news/article.cfm?c_id=301&objectid=10831075
I have now sacrificed a couple of minutes of my life and read it and, sure enough, it is as racist, and as ill informed as I feared.
Perhaps even worse than Hide’s moronic, ignorant views is the Herald website’s warning to anyone who might be thinking of posting a reply to the distinguished thinker: “We aim to have healthy debate. But we won’t publish comments that abuse others.”
Clearly no such limitations apply to their own columnists.
I only read the first couple of lines, and the last. Even that demonstrated hypocrisy of such epic proportions I couldn’t bring myself to read the rest.
I read a bit (yuk!) then started to read the comments…. so many, too many, people congratulating RH on his article and endorsing it.
Reading the comments in that is rather sickening. The racism and ignorance is much worse in the comments than what was in RH’s spiel.
Dunno why but your link doesn’t work for some reason. This one does.
The racism and ignorance is much worse in the comments than what was in RH’s spiel.
Really? Hide is about as extreme as they come.
I read Hide’s column. I see it as an attempt to stir up racism among ignorant pakeha in the interests of selling of our assets to greedy pakeha and foreign corporates. To my way of thinking, that makes it racist, which is about what I’ve come to expect from Rodney Hide.
Sunday Funnies
Whatever happened to Howard Dean?
After madly screeching himself into mass derision (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5FzCeV0ZFc) during his disastrous bid for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, Howard Dean has gone onto a career as a “pundit”, where he smiles like a nice guy and expresses his admiration for killing peasants in Asia and Africa by drone aircraft. Watch and cringe as he does his shallow schtick here…
At the start of the clip, you’ll see good-looking but dim Republican senator Marco Rubio saying something inane about the capture of Gaddafi. Also appearing on the clip is another of those glib Brits that infest American public commentary, Tina Brown.
Balancing out the display of horror is Jeremy Scahill, one of the outstanding journalists in America.
One of the YouTube commenters asks a very good question: “Why can’t Scahill be a senator instead of Rubio? Why can’t we have intelligent people in congress?”
http://www.ted.com/talks/ivan_krastev_can_democracy_exist_without_trust.html
“Can democracy exist without trust”?
Interesting TED talk from Ivan Krastev (transcript available). A small snippet:
….
Ta JS, something to think about.
whoever designed john banks should have another look at the plans!
This morning on Chris Laidlaw Radionz Jim Dier a very enthusiastic community builder who has found that he and his fellows have made a lot of difference. So he is not an armchair idealist but a thinking down-and-dirty-hands worker who has a good idea that works. Audio should be up by noon
(or so I thought but it isn’t – may be some pesky damn reason of copyright.)
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday
10:06 Ideas: Growing Communities
Epuni Primary School’s Common Unity Project aims to produce enough fruit and vegetables to feed not only the school’s 110 pupils but their families as well. It’s a classic example of what’s been called Asset Based Community Development – or ABC Development. Ideas visits Epuni Primary School in Lower Hutt and talks to the project’s volunteer coordinator Julia Milne; Jim Diers, a proponent of the ABCD movement, tells Jeremy Rose about Seattle’s Strong Communities Initiative; and Denise Bijoux of Inspiring Communities talks to Chris Laidlaw about the proliferation of asset-based community projects in New Zealand.
Presented by Chris Laidlaw
Produced by Jeremy Rose.
This is a copy of the one I put on open mike 30/8 but then thought it might get missed.
Further to 16
It is on line now if you want to listen to it.
plenty of inspirational roots-level community development building here in HB
I wonder has anyone noticed that when trying to pull a comment from past days, if the number of them go beyond one page, the search device often won’t find the highlighted comment. Than have to go and scroll down for it.
LUNATIC POET ALERT!
Expect an unpleasant blast of foul air from Christchurch to burst from your radio at 2:35 this afternoon at 2:35 p.m….
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/artsonsunday
In their wisdom, the producers at RNZ National have seen fit to resurrect one Karen Zelas who, along with Auckland University’s bloviating Professor John Read provided the main academic cover in the police’s hare-brained, fantastical sex abuse case against Peter Ellis.
In A City Possessed, Lynley Hood’s magisterial demolition of the hysteria, Zelas was comprehensively and irrefutably shown up to be a fraud and a charlatan. But if you imagined this horrid woman had been stewing in her own shame for the last decade and a half, you were wrong.
Apparently, she always wanted to be a writer. Maybe that helps to explain her sympathy for the outlandish fantasies drilled into those children’s brains by that crazed cadre of fundamentalist parents at the Christchurch Civic Creche.
Zelas reckons that forcing little children to repeat their parents’ wild and lurid fantasies has made her into quite the poet: “I suppose my former career has given me a depth of understanding of people, their emotions and relationships and how they behave, which I am able to draw upon in my writing.”
http://www.peterellis.org.nz/LawReform/Evidence/2003-0831_SST_AreCourtsOverZelas.htm
She was just following the latest crap coming from American psychologists at the time. In my experience, psychologists are some of the most dangerous people that exist. Psychology is demonstrably not a science, and follows fashions which change every few years, yet its practicioners can affect people’s lives to more of an extent than most pseudo-scientists except economists. The courts would do no worse if they relied on expert testimony from astrologers.
She was just following the latest crap coming from American psychologists at the time.
She was also validating the psychotic sexual fantasies of some fundamentalist Christian loons in Christchurch. She wasn’t the only one, either; the aforementioned Prof. John Read continues to taunt Ellis with cruel and unsubstantiated allegations, the Children’s Commissioner at the time (Laurie O’Reilly) gave the madness official backing by treating the allegations seriously, as did his successor Roger McClay (who was subsequently convicted for fraud and sent to prison). And the police in Christchurch still occasionally haul Ellis into the station to humiliate him further.
In my experience, psychologists are some of the most dangerous people that exist.
There are certainly some bad ones, all right. And Karen Zelas is one of the very worst.
A ‘March for Jobs’ is going to be held this Tuesday in Greymouth. How’s that brighter future looking Coasters?
From the West Coast miner fb page:
There will be a ‘March for Work’ rally in Greymouth on 4th September to commence at midday from the Skate Park. The march is in support of the coalminers of spring creek and the township of Greymouth. This is an open invitation to march through town to raise awareness that will effect us all if the mine was to close. Damien O’Connor MP, The Mayor and Bernie Monk have confirmed there support and will speak following the march. Please pass on and join the march to save jobs and our community.
I dunno but maybe they could allow some more mining to happen on the coast.
wow.
carol zelas and march for jobs side by side.
anyway this is for carol.
I have read recently that the US Supreme court no longer represents the little man.
is this true?
Karl Popper
anyway, at the community meals there are just rows and rows of tangata whenua tamariki and moko’
every week
after week
(middle class-daydream)
there is no forgiveness in NZ? reminds me of “There is no depression in NZ….”
who loves James K. Baxter? Wow!