Mark Mitchell has had his meeting with Andrew Coster. According to Mitchell the meeting lasted two hours; was positive and Mitchell will respect the office of the police commissioner( why?). He wants police to get back to core policing.
So fucking disappointing. I think of all the victims that crime will continue to churn out under Mitchell's watch as police minister. I really can't in all honesty continue to bag Poto Williams when her replacement will be little better.
Sure, National may increase police numbers by 300. Open two closed police stations. Have a foot patrol every second day down Auckland's empty CBD. But that's just tinkering.
1- Will they arm the police?
2-Will they ban all gang patches in public areas?
3- Will they build a huge super max prison so criminals who commit minor offences repeatedly with few consequences at present, can be jailed?
Nope.
Hell, I could cut drink driving offences by 20-35% overnight. I could get an 80% success rate in resolving who had killed a Maori baby. The whanau would be more than happy to cough up the offender.
According to Mitchell the meeting lasted two hours; was positive and Mitchell will respect the office of the police commissioner (why?)
Would you prefer politicians with the police portfolio did not resect the office of the police commissioner?
I don't think you would because this means police would be under direct control of the government which is, by definition, a police state.
Mitchell has been told off for telling the police what to do in the media. He appears to have got the message which is good but his behaviour should worry all Kiwis; you can imagine the daily interference in police operations were he ever minister.
''Would you prefer politicians with the police portfolio did not respect the office of the police commissioner?''
Respect is earnt. When the commissioner is not doing a good job, that should be pointed out to him and options explored. Mitchell failed on that account. The Commissioner and his office are basically intertwined.
''Mitchell has been told off for telling the police what to do in the media.''
I know nothing of this. Could you explain further?
In this context respect is not earned, it is formally prescribed. See the two bullet points under definition 2 below:
verb respect
admire (someone or something) deeply, as a result of their abilities, qualities, or achievements.
"she was respected by everyone she worked with"
have due regard for (someone's feelings, wishes, or rights).
"I respected his views"
avoid harming or interfering with.
"it is incumbent upon all hill users to respect the environment"
agree to recognize and abide by (a legal requirement).
"the crown and its ministers ought to respect the ordinary law"
My reading was that in the meeting Mitchell had been asked by Coster to stop interfering in police operational matters via the media (told off). That's why he has said, "he will respect the office of the police commissioner".
Eh? Mitchell supposedly said "respect the office". That's nothing to do with individuals – it's respecting the constitutional arrangement that makes police operational matters a no go area for politicians. As Muttonbird said – without that, you've taken the first step towards a police state. Most likely, Mitchell said "respect the office" to make it clear that he didn't respect the individual. Mitchell has always appeared to me as a sub-verbal, incipient thug – not surprising he needs something as simple as the importance of this constitutional convention pointed out to him.
According to Mitchell the meeting lasted two hours; was positive and Mitchell will respect the office of the police commissioner
I think you will find this statement was made in reference that he wouldn't talk about what was discussed in the meeting on the open airways and I can't find fault with that.
As soon as Labour has gone so is Coster. History will show him a failure as is Poto Williams. Crime under Labour just like the public Service always goes up.
Simon who? History will show who of those two was the greatest failure.
Coster's decision to rule out "enforcement action" was criticised by the National Party's police spokesman Mark Mitchell, who claimed that Coster had lost credibility as Police Commissioner. On 2 March, Police evicted the remaining anti-mandate protesters following a violent riot.
Seems you’re right P4L, not only would Coster be gone under a National party-led govt, I doubt that he would have been appointed in the first place.
And the public service numbers needed to rise. After National cut it so much as to make it dysfunctional. Very obvious in health, education and other services. Then they lost any savings by employing a whole heap of private contractors.
Who do you think does all that covid tracing, vaccinations, border control and health services, for one.
Those data indeed show that the headcount in the Public Service increased 2000-2007 and 2017-2021 under Labour Governments and was fairly static 2008-2016 under National. However, the same trend was observed for the headcount in the Private Sector. In fact, it is strikingly similar with a very high correlation. So, Labour governments are good for employment overall; don’t you hate the facts, sometimes
Over the last five years, the overall public sector workforce increased by 13.7% (with central government up 13.9% and local government up 12.4%). This compares with an 8.9% growth in the private sector over the same period.
''Eh? Mitchell supposedly said "respect the office". That's nothing to do with individuals – it's respecting the constitutional arrangement that makes police operational matters a no go area for politicians.''
Like I said, the office of the commissioner and the commissioner( individual) are intertwined. The constitutional separation of the office from political interference is a given( but not proven over the years). The man in the street doesn't make such a fine distinction.
''Most likely, Mitchell said "respect the office" to make it clear that he didn't respect the individual.''
That is supposition. If true, it means Mitchell is playing games hoping voters ( wink,wink) can read between the lines. Many won't.
Again, if National had any intentions of introducing hardline policing, Mitchell should have gone after the commissioner… and it shouldn't have taken two hours. Two hours is a mighty long time. Maybe they had gingernuts, a latte and a chat about rugby.
Mitchell has been told off for telling the police what to do in the media. He appears to have got the message which is good but his behaviour should worry all Kiwis; you can imagine the daily interference in police operations were he ever minister.
There is a reason why the police, armed forces, judiciary, and a few other branches are directly responsible to the crown. In other words at exactly the same level as parliament. Parliament allocates funding for them, but has no direct operational control. They are subject to the crown.
Basically because no-one trusts a politicians over the long term. There are always a few idiots with a limited understanding of how our society operates at a structural level and inclined towards short-term stupidity.
Similar could be said for many other Crown entities:
ACC, NZSuperFund, NZTA, Kainga Ora, Crown Infrastructure partners, NZPost/Kiwibank, all Universities, Kiwirail, RBNZ, TVNZ, Transpower, the majority shareholdings in power generators, and a lot more.
Some still respond to Ministerial direction and media grief, but often quite faintly. Some are statutorily protected. Most would have the independence to tell even the Minister of Finance where to stick it. A few have workarounds.
Raises the question of how the new water entities will be treated as kinds of public entity.
3- Will they build a huge super max prison so criminals who commit minor offences repeatedly with few consequences at present, can be jailed?"
Maybe "they" will.
National has a long track record of ignoring evidence and doing the things that increase, not reduce crime. Like sending minor offenders, the mentally ill, literacy challenged, and silly teenagers to "crime University"/Prisons. Dog whistling to those who ignore the evidence and think “tough on crime” actually works.
The Police commissioner is heading towards evidence based approaches, that really do reduce crime. Reducing crime is the goal, is it not?
Your revenge fantasies are the approaches that have been shown not to work. What will you say if your prescription is adopted and there is more crime, recidivism, and crime victims.
''Your revenge fantasies are the approaches that have been shown not to work. What will you say if your prescription is adopted and there is more crime, recidivism, and crime victims.''
The day you front up with some original ideas of your own, is the day I will take you seriously. That goes for Peter above who's forced to copy my korero.
But, to be fair, you sometimes fluke good points. For example:
What will you say if your prescription is adopted and there is more crime, recidivism, and crime victims.''
Good point. I would say. ''Well, I'm wrong. What I have suggested, hasn't worked. I'm sorry, we need to try something else. At least it's one strategy we can cross off the list.''
See, I care about innocent victims. I want something that helps them. I don't have a ego regarding this issue. I'm not trying to protect an ideological position like so many on this blog. Hence my caning of those liberal sops who call themselves the National Party.
Oh. I've fronted up with plenty of ideas about what works.
Don't need "original ones". I leave that to people who have researched it at length. Who have proof of what works. I'll leave those who think their individual uneducated "opinions" mean jack shit, to Facebook warriors like yourself.
If you cared about "innocent victims" you would, like me be advocating for approaches to crime reduction that works.
I know it is over your head, but less crimes equal less victims.
Your approach has been tried for decades. It doesn’t fucking work!
Tough on crime nitwits, and politicians who pander to them, do not address underlying causes, so we get more victims.
Look, your trouble is you are believing your own bullshit.
”Don't need original ones". I leave that to people who have researched it at length.”
You aren't capable of original ideas. People who have researched things at length don't have a mortgage on good ideas. If they did we wouldn't have as much crime as we have today.
''Your approach has been tried for decades. It doesn’t fucking work!''
No, it hasn't. I have two original ideas to start with that haven't been tried.
1-How to reduce drink driving offences overnight,
2- How to make whanau cough up a suspected baby killer.
Provide a link. I'm calling you out. You are a liar. And you need to be shown as such. Your comments are vacuous and sloppy. You put nothing into your posts…and it shows.
Don't deflect. I'm not letting you get away with lies and trolling when you can't muster an argument, or back yourself up. Here's an example:
''Really lost the plot. Eh. It is OK to ask for help with your violent fantasies, you know!''
Sad bottom of the barrel stuff.
Of course you could apologise and admit you may have got things wrong. I had to do that yesterday.
Blade…
2 June 2022 at 9:54 pm
That was incorrect. My apologies.
What I should have wrote was ”I’m a beneficiary of the trust board,” not a member of the trust board.
You did not have to correct yourself and apologise, you chose this on your own accord. We would have been none the wiser about your ‘error’. In fact, you had an earlier opportunity to correct your ‘error’ (here: https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-31-05-2022/#comment-1891353), but you failed to do so then!?
Seems to me you’re making up stuff here to suit your narrative and when it does no longer suit your narrative you ‘correct’ it (aka twist & change). If so, that would be disingenuous and not commenting in good faith and it would mean we cannot take your comments at face value.
''You did not have to correct yourself and apologise, you chose this on your own accord. We would have been none the wiser about your ‘error’. In fact, you had an earlier opportunity to correct your ‘error’ (here: https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-31-05-2022/#comment-1891353), but you failed to do so then!?''
I had to correct myself when you pointed my error out indirectly because what I had written was factually incorrect. I hadn't previously corrected my error because I hadn't noticed it until your post.
''Seems to me you’re making up stuff here to suit your narrative and when it does no longer suit your narrative you ‘correct’ it (aka twist & change). If so, that would be disingenuous and not commenting in good faith and it would mean we cannot take your comments at face value.''
Fair enough, I can't change your perceptions of me. Would your perceptions also apply to the KJT's comments above?
Interesting / scary comment on the video around 2:30' – "30% of enquiries to the dairy and small business Association from dairy / small business owners, was asking how they obtain a gun licence"
They have decided to take security matters in to their own hands. It will only be a matter of time until one does fight back.
It's good to see they've been arrested, however I think Jimmy's point may be that apparently most of the perpetrators are under 15. I'm not sure they'll spend long in custody.
Yep, Jimmy, arming the dairy owners is common sense to me. I have suggested previously on this blog a three months small arms course for those shop owners wanting to protect themselves with a gun.
Of course it will never happen. I don't think this government understands the shit storm that's hanging over their heads. Either a ram raider is going to be killed by a shop owner…or a shop owner is going to be killed by a robber. In this political climate all hell could break loose. That will be on Labours head.
Democracy means different things to different people. This is a short thread on the 2022 Democracy Perception Index Report 2022 – the world’s largest annual study on how people perceive democracy.
It is commissioned by "The Alliance of Democracies Foundation", founded by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former NATO Secretary General and former Prime Minister of Denmark.
Every year, this is by far the most interesting study on democracy because it doesn't rely on the opinion of "experts" but on people's actual perceptions.
As such the results are often surprising and it raises profound questions of what democracy actually is.
What is states – crimes against property has gone down. I suspect people are no longer reporting as they know the crime won't be resolved.
Crime against people has gone up.
I firmly believe that I am correct in my original statement.
We know gun violence has gone through the roof. Auckland has more shooting incidence per week than Mahuta has MFAT meetings. Gang violence is out of control, Labour is soft on crime, it is just a fact that NZ knows
[Nope, you’re still 2 links short and you’re wasting my time because this clearly doesn’t support your assertion.
I don’t care if you go for the easiest one or if you genuinely believe your own assertions to be correct or what you suspect or if “it is just a fact that NZ knows”. I care about you providing evidential support for your claims, which shouldn’t be too hard if they’re correct, as you allege. If somebody else provides them for you in the meantime you’ll still receive a ban – how unfair is that? Put up or shut up.
You did so well with your other link about the Public Service under Labour!
Since you mention Mahuta again, a few days ago you hinted at corruption charges (https://thestandard.org.nz/nationals-policies-dont-add-up/#comment-1891222) but you never followed up on these when I asked you about it. Here’s your chance and use your words carefully. The odds have been raised to a fortnight ban – Incognito]
Kainga Ora is now structured commercially so that it keeps delivering housing construction no matter which party is in parliament. It does this by ensuring that it raises its own capital through property sales, and then spends it on intensive housing on the remaining land. Might not sound particularly leftie in the socialist sense of controlling the means of production, but it's a way of extracting the politics out of it as much as possible.
This has been going on for a while. The results you can see for yourself.
If you went up to the Sky City revolving restaurant you might just see the extent of it from Pt England to Mangere to Oranga to Mt Roskill to Hobsonville to Northcote.
Brand new high quality intensified integrated communities.
Yeah so commercial they (this time last year) issued a 300m$ inflation bond( coupon rate 2.5%) going to be paying 7.5% for a longtime unless they get cost inflation out of their builds.
Debt has blown out to 7.1 billion,with new debt being around 4.2% .NZ building costs have increased by 20% last 12 months,Australia 9%.
Australia also has seen building consents for new houses decrease by 33% over the last 12 months,and mortgage pain has not even started there.
In the US where markets are better informed,construction costs responded in real time (as did unsold new housing stock) with lumber falling 55% in 2 months.( 58 cents a board foot)
Absolutely. There are sites that are more suitable for the kind of medium density housing that Kainga Ora is delivering now, and there are sites that are not suitable for it. It makes sense to sell the latter, particularly if they are small, and fragmented from previous sell offs by National governments. Also some sites on major arterials are less suitable for the kind of community based developments and also need extensive noise attenuation and particulate control from 30 to 40 thousand vehicle movements per day. In many cases the private sector can develop these better.
I saw a meme earlier in those colours saying if 10% of people want a fair pay agreement 100% of people get it. Thought their comms team needed to sit and have a bit of a think about that.
According to the committee, they will "present previously unseen material documenting January 6th, receive witness testimony, preview additional hearings, and provide the American people a summary of its findings about the coordinated, multi-step effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and prevent the transfer of power."
This Labour government has gone from being a band of merry socialists, to a band of perpetual losers. Do you have any advice for them Puck? Advice the can be printed that is.
Pick people based on talent, not on diversity and realise that the people most affected by the rise in crime are most likely Labour voters so they risk a massive backlash if they don't do something and quickly
As an example how long is this guy actually going to spend in prison:
From your link "The data, given to the NZ Herald through the Official Information Act, showed annual assaults on staff increased in seven of the last 10 years"
"He cited what he considered a long-standing problem"
"In a statement, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis referenced the "prison crisis" inherited by the Government in 2017 when the prison population had increased beyond 10,000. Since then, it had reduced 27 per cent. However, he said more serious offenders – including gang members – had been locked up during this time which posed a risk to staff. "This brings its own challenges, particularly to staff who have to manage a heightened environment where mental health issues and methamphetamine addiction are also increasingly more prevalent," he said. Davis said staff deserved to feel safe and the Violence and Aggression plan was one way to reduce assaults. He referenced the $23 million from Budget 2022 given to hire an extra 64 staff across the three prisons facing the most challenges in this area – Auckland Prison, Christchurch Men's and Mt Eden. That was part of the extra 518 staff who would be hired during the next four years"
Since then, it had reduced 27 per cent ( prison population)
Question: where are the people who would have formally been in prison for more minor offences?
''However, he said more serious offenders – including gang members – had been locked up during this time which posed a risk to staff. ''
Correct. However, the gang population is exploding. 10 years ago a major hole in gang numbers would have occurred with the number of gangsters now locked up. Nowadays the gangs always have the numbers to fill in shortfalls in their ranks.
"the gang population is exploding" because of growing demand for meth. Fucked if I now why is it a coping mechanism like booze or to stay awake longer or some kind of sexual performance thing or the stress of modern life maybe. The gangs have a crucial supply role anyway and good on them. Not much else while prostitutes are legal and I'm guessing because of our low wages not so much demand for trafficked slave labour – no idea if they are into bribing small businesses with threats of violence – after all who would let the cat out of the bag on that one ?
On home detention as work was done to find suitable lodging for them. I can't remember where I read it so can't give a source, but the main reason people are declined home detention is lack of a suitable address to serve the sentence. Sounds like work has been done to remove that barrier.
Yes, but my point is they haven't been in the wheel house for the past 6 years – Labour has. The blood is on Labours hands. Just like Labours responsibility for crime will be passed on to National next year, regardless of what Labour has or hasn't done regarding crime.
''Do you have a link to cover your last paragraph?''
No, I don't. There is no need. It is general knowledge and has been in the news time and again. In fact, on another blog, I pointed to a huge increase in gang numbers close to a year before the issue started being reported in MSM. How did I know?From extended family in the mob who told me about new recruiting methods being employed. It's all about numbers.
You acknowledge that National were in power during that time, but then claim its all Labour's fault, despite efforts to address long standing issues. No one said it could be sorted over night. Consequences from the National government didn't suddenly disappear when National got kicked out in late 2017. It hasn't been 6 years.
Well if you think Labour has blood on its hands, then so does National.
"Just like Labours responsibility for crime will be passed on to National next year"
Like Labour inherited the shambles National left and there is no guarantee that National will win the election next year.
You obviously can't understand what I'm writing, or you are being wilfully ignorant.
I'm noticing when you Lefties run out of an argument you become surly and nasty very fast.
I'll try one more time.
National is not in power. Labour is. National cannot do a fucking thing about crime because they are not in power. Labour can do something about crime because they are in power. It matters not what National did before. It matters not what supposed mess National left Labour. It doesn't matter. But it matters big time for Labour because they are the government.
BTW.., have you read that link you posted? Talk about a gift for people like me. It's also a record for future generations to understand the dynamics of failure when ideology trumps common sense and real world needs.
Quote from your link. Talk about bs of the first water. Tell that crap to crime victims, frightened citizens and dairy owners.
”Government goal:
This Government has made a commitment to create a more effective criminal justice system and safer New Zealand. Achieving these long-term objectives will require systemic reform consistent with New Zealand values and aspirations, across the whole of the criminal justice system and the social sector. This will involve public engagement, partnerships with iwi/Māori and other community groups, legislative reform, investment in new services and operational change – amongst other things.”
"I'm noticing when you Lefties run out of an argument you become surly and nasty very fast"
That's what you are doing and you are being deliberately obtuse.
"showed annual assaults on staff increased in seven of the last 10 years"
National had been in power during some of those years. Labour has only been in power since late 2017, not 6 years like you falsely claimed and they are trying to do something about it. You cannot discount National's time in govt because it doesn't suit your narrative. National left an appalling legacy.
Re link, I don't think you understood it.
“This Government has made a commitment to create a more effective criminal justice system and safer New Zealand. Achieving these long-term objectives will require systemic reform consistent with New Zealand values and aspirations, across the whole of the criminal justice system and the social sector. This will involve public engagement, partnerships with iwi/Māori and other community groups, legislative reform, investment in new services and operational change”
So what’s wrong in that exactly?
Tell me, when National were in govt, did you blame them for the “crime victims, frightened citizens and dairy owners” or have you conveniently forgotten the ram raids, the attacks on the dairies, liquor stores?
You’ve been told before that you can argue your opinions but not your facts.
Yes, but my point is they haven't been in the wheel house for the past 6 years – Labour has.
You are wrong! Megan Woods said in a debate in Parliament 2 days ago that they have been in government for four and a half years.
It's all about numbers.
You raised it, you should put up the numbers, and it is that simple. You cannot hide behind “It is general knowledge and has been in the news time and again” and some vague stuff you may have heard from your “extended family in the mob”. The media megaphone is rarely a good source of facts but a very good source for hype & emotion.
You are an unreliable commenter with regards to facts and supporting claims of facts. You must lift your game or your comments will be moderated.
Seems to me I may have misjudged the general knowledge of some on this blog.
What I thought was apparent general knowledge, apparently is not, even though it's on the screens and in the papers nearly every week. I could have added many more links, but stopped in the name of brevity.
''You are wrong! Megan Woods said in a debate in Parliament 2 days ago that they have been in government for four and a half years.''
Quite true. I took a liberty knowing nothing would improve under Labour. Even my 6 years will fall a few months short depending on the election. Peripheral issues count.
''Some vague stuff you may have heard from your “extended family in the mob”.
It's not vague stuff. I have stated on this blog that in a change of tack, many chapters of the mob allow a patch to be bought. Of course there is still a probation period. That story will eventually come to light in MSM. Just like I was talking about gang numbers increasing roughly a year before MSM pick up the story.
That’s a lovely selection of links some of which even contain actual useful numbers that allow us to distinguish hype & spin from fact, thank you.
From a couple of your links it seems the steepest increase year-on-year in gang members was under National. Oops.
You must not take no liberty with facts. You made up shit about how long Labour has been (not: will have been) in Government. We cannot mind-read and we should not have to second-guess either what twisted facts you construct to suit your narrative.
It is vague and anecdotal stuff when you say “it’s all about numbers” and cannot produce anything other than what you may have heard at your family gatherings. You talk a lot of shit and your vague reckons are worth shit unless you can back them up. What will eventually be reported in and by the media is anybody’s guess and your predilections may come true or quite possibly not ever and at all.
In any case, it is not about the general knowledge of some (but not all?) readers of this blog, it is about what you claim here and do or do not support when asked.
I’m done with this convo, as I made myself crystal clear and don’t see any point in spending more time & effort on this.
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Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The cruelty of short-term memory loss is that each time you ask where she is, you get the fresh shock and grief of the news. That was Dad's day yesterday.Comfortingly, it seems to be less so today. Last night he looked crumpled, today he seems more settled. There's a card ...
Photo by Alvan Nee on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...
Buzz from the Beehive One minister is talking tough while a colleague – whose ministry had acted tough and drawn a barrage of flak – has shown an official softening. Some ministers are doing what Labour was good at, which is distributing public funds to causes regarded as worthy or ...
A ballot for 4 Member's Bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Insurance Contracts Bill (Duncan Webb) Income Tax (Clean Transport FBT Exclusion) Amendment Bill (Julie Anne Genter) Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill (Greg Fleming) Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) ...
One of the strongest narratives about "our" spy agencies is that they are basically institutional traitors, working for foreign powers (or just themselves), without any control or oversight by the elected government. And today, we have yet another report from the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security which explicitly confirms this. ...
“It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April to meet the Prime Minister’s ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
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Sounds like the police had a good night last night in Pakuranga arresting 12 people. Good result as long as its not a catch and release policy.
Pakuranga arrests: Residents 'frightened' after gang incident in east Auckland overnight | Stuff.co.nz
And Andrew Coster apologises!!!!!! He's obviously getting some pretty harsh feedback from the front line officers.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster apologises after backlash from officers over pursuit comments | Newshub
Coster is a good cop. But he's not a man for our times. Someone with an attitude like this chap is:
https://www.laworderreferendum.org.nz/Tait.htm
Yep agreed. Thanks ….very interesting article.
Mark Mitchell has had his meeting with Andrew Coster. According to Mitchell the meeting lasted two hours; was positive and Mitchell will respect the office of the police commissioner( why?). He wants police to get back to core policing.
So fucking disappointing. I think of all the victims that crime will continue to churn out under Mitchell's watch as police minister. I really can't in all honesty continue to bag Poto Williams when her replacement will be little better.
Sure, National may increase police numbers by 300. Open two closed police stations. Have a foot patrol every second day down Auckland's empty CBD. But that's just tinkering.
1- Will they arm the police?
2-Will they ban all gang patches in public areas?
3- Will they build a huge super max prison so criminals who commit minor offences repeatedly with few consequences at present, can be jailed?
Nope.
Hell, I could cut drink driving offences by 20-35% overnight. I could get an 80% success rate in resolving who had killed a Maori baby. The whanau would be more than happy to cough up the offender.
Then there's this paywalled BOPT headline:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/gang-member-prison-rates-at-seven-year-low-but-proportion-of-incarcerated-gangsters-increases/SFTUUA23F2VQKYDYDOQEGXFIQY/
https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/pollies-mps-mark-mitchell-and-megan-woods-on-mitchells-meeting-with-andrew-coster-the-pacific-and-mahuta-and-the-latest-polls/
Aotearoa…a gangsters paradise.
Would you prefer politicians with the police portfolio did not resect the office of the police commissioner?
I don't think you would because this means police would be under direct control of the government which is, by definition, a police state.
Mitchell has been told off for telling the police what to do in the media. He appears to have got the message which is good but his behaviour should worry all Kiwis; you can imagine the daily interference in police operations were he ever minister.
''Would you prefer politicians with the police portfolio did not respect the office of the police commissioner?''
Respect is earnt. When the commissioner is not doing a good job, that should be pointed out to him and options explored. Mitchell failed on that account. The Commissioner and his office are basically intertwined.
''Mitchell has been told off for telling the police what to do in the media.''
I know nothing of this. Could you explain further?
In this context respect is not earned, it is formally prescribed. See the two bullet points under definition 2 below:
My reading was that in the meeting Mitchell had been asked by Coster to stop interfering in police operational matters via the media (told off). That's why he has said, "he will respect the office of the police commissioner".
Eh? Mitchell supposedly said "respect the office". That's nothing to do with individuals – it's respecting the constitutional arrangement that makes police operational matters a no go area for politicians. As Muttonbird said – without that, you've taken the first step towards a police state. Most likely, Mitchell said "respect the office" to make it clear that he didn't respect the individual. Mitchell has always appeared to me as a sub-verbal, incipient thug – not surprising he needs something as simple as the importance of this constitutional convention pointed out to him.
A reply to all.
According to Mitchell the meeting lasted two hours; was positive and Mitchell will respect the office of the police commissioner
I think you will find this statement was made in reference that he wouldn't talk about what was discussed in the meeting on the open airways and I can't find fault with that.
As soon as Labour has gone so is Coster. History will show him a failure as is Poto Williams. Crime under Labour just like the public Service always goes up.
That would be a first time for Mitchell.
I wonder what was said off the record?
Maybe off the record Mitchell told him that when the national/Act Government comes in they'll:
1 – Arm the police
2 – Ban all gang patches in public areas
3 – Build a huge super max prison so criminals who commit minor offences can be jailed
4 – Increase police numbers by 300.
5 – Open two closed police stations.
6 – Have a foot patrol every second day down Auckland's empty CBD
7 – Cut drink driving offences by 20-35% overnight.
Oh, and go along with ACT and liberalise gun laws.
Simon who? History will show who of those two was the greatest failure.
Seems you’re right P4L, not only would Coster be gone under a National party-led govt, I doubt that he would have been appointed in the first place.
https://www.transparency.org.nz/blog/transparency-and-intelligence
[links required]
But. He wants more police. Are they not "Public service".
Joined up thinking not his strong point?
The way to lower
measuredcrime rates is to electa party which games the stats,National.They are not part of the Public Service as defined by the Public Service Act 2020. They are obviously part of the public or state sector, however.
https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/our-work/workforce-data/public-sector-composition/workforce-size
Despite claims NZ's policing is too 'woke', crime rates are largely static — and even declining (theconversation.com)
And the public service numbers needed to rise. After National cut it so much as to make it dysfunctional. Very obvious in health, education and other services. Then they lost any savings by employing a whole heap of private contractors.
Who do you think does all that covid tracing, vaccinations, border control and health services, for one.
Thank you.
Those data indeed show that the headcount in the Public Service increased 2000-2007 and 2017-2021 under Labour Governments and was fairly static 2008-2016 under National. However, the same trend was observed for the headcount in the Private Sector. In fact, it is strikingly similar with a very high correlation. So, Labour governments are good for employment overall; don’t you hate the facts, sometimes
Looking forward to your other link 😊
''Eh? Mitchell supposedly said "respect the office". That's nothing to do with individuals – it's respecting the constitutional arrangement that makes police operational matters a no go area for politicians.''
Like I said, the office of the commissioner and the commissioner( individual) are intertwined. The constitutional separation of the office from political interference is a given( but not proven over the years). The man in the street doesn't make such a fine distinction.
''Most likely, Mitchell said "respect the office" to make it clear that he didn't respect the individual.''
That is supposition. If true, it means Mitchell is playing games hoping voters ( wink,wink) can read between the lines. Many won't.
Again, if National had any intentions of introducing hardline policing, Mitchell should have gone after the commissioner… and it shouldn't have taken two hours. Two hours is a mighty long time. Maybe they had gingernuts, a latte and a chat about rugby.
How do you know? Where you present at the 2-hour meeting? Did you read a full first-hand account in the media? No? Then you’re making up stuff again.
Nope
There is a reason why the police, armed forces, judiciary, and a few other branches are directly responsible to the crown. In other words at exactly the same level as parliament. Parliament allocates funding for them, but has no direct operational control. They are subject to the crown.
Basically because no-one trusts a politicians over the long term. There are always a few idiots with a limited understanding of how our society operates at a structural level and inclined towards short-term stupidity.
Similar could be said for many other Crown entities:
ACC, NZSuperFund, NZTA, Kainga Ora, Crown Infrastructure partners, NZPost/Kiwibank, all Universities, Kiwirail, RBNZ, TVNZ, Transpower, the majority shareholdings in power generators, and a lot more.
Some still respond to Ministerial direction and media grief, but often quite faintly. Some are statutorily protected. Most would have the independence to tell even the Minister of Finance where to stick it. A few have workarounds.
Raises the question of how the new water entities will be treated as kinds of public entity.
"1- Will they arm the police?
2-Will they ban all gang patches in public areas?
3- Will they build a huge super max prison so criminals who commit minor offences repeatedly with few consequences at present, can be jailed?"
Maybe "they" will.
National has a long track record of ignoring evidence and doing the things that increase, not reduce crime. Like sending minor offenders, the mentally ill, literacy challenged, and silly teenagers to "crime University"/Prisons. Dog whistling to those who ignore the evidence and think “tough on crime” actually works.
The Police commissioner is heading towards evidence based approaches, that really do reduce crime. Reducing crime is the goal, is it not?
Your revenge fantasies are the approaches that have been shown not to work. What will you say if your prescription is adopted and there is more crime, recidivism, and crime victims.
''Your revenge fantasies are the approaches that have been shown not to work. What will you say if your prescription is adopted and there is more crime, recidivism, and crime victims.''
The day you front up with some original ideas of your own, is the day I will take you seriously. That goes for Peter above who's forced to copy my korero.
But, to be fair, you sometimes fluke good points. For example:
What will you say if your prescription is adopted and there is more crime, recidivism, and crime victims.''
Good point. I would say. ''Well, I'm wrong. What I have suggested, hasn't worked. I'm sorry, we need to try something else. At least it's one strategy we can cross off the list.''
See, I care about innocent victims. I want something that helps them. I don't have a ego regarding this issue. I'm not trying to protect an ideological position like so many on this blog. Hence my caning of those liberal sops who call themselves the National Party.
Oh. I've fronted up with plenty of ideas about what works.
Don't need "original ones". I leave that to people who have researched it at length. Who have proof of what works. I'll leave those who think their individual uneducated "opinions" mean jack shit, to Facebook warriors like yourself.
If you cared about "innocent victims" you would, like me be advocating for approaches to crime reduction that works.
I know it is over your head, but less crimes equal less victims.
Your approach has been tried for decades. It doesn’t fucking work!
Tough on crime nitwits, and politicians who pander to them, do not address underlying causes, so we get more victims.
Look, your trouble is you are believing your own bullshit.
”Don't need original ones". I leave that to people who have researched it at length.”
You aren't capable of original ideas. People who have researched things at length don't have a mortgage on good ideas. If they did we wouldn't have as much crime as we have today.
''Your approach has been tried for decades. It doesn’t fucking work!''
No, it hasn't. I have two original ideas to start with that haven't been tried.
1-How to reduce drink driving offences overnight,
2- How to make whanau cough up a suspected baby killer.
Two that are not original and that have been tried and failed elsewhere.
Eco-ing the "Sensible sentencing trust is hardly "original thought".
That's a lie. Don't flounder around, provide a link.
To your "original thoughts"?
Don't think I want to rummage around in that mess.
Provide a link. I'm calling you out. You are a liar. And you need to be shown as such. Your comments are vacuous and sloppy. You put nothing into your posts…and it shows.
Really lost the plot. Eh.
It is OK to ask for help with your violent fantasies, you know!
Don't deflect. I'm not letting you get away with lies and trolling when you can't muster an argument, or back yourself up. Here's an example:
''Really lost the plot. Eh. It is OK to ask for help with your violent fantasies, you know!''
Sad bottom of the barrel stuff.
Of course you could apologise and admit you may have got things wrong. I had to do that yesterday.
Blade…
2 June 2022 at 9:54 pm
That was incorrect. My apologies.
What I should have wrote was ”I’m a beneficiary of the trust board,” not a member of the trust board.
You did not have to correct yourself and apologise, you chose this on your own accord. We would have been none the wiser about your ‘error’. In fact, you had an earlier opportunity to correct your ‘error’ (here: https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-31-05-2022/#comment-1891353), but you failed to do so then!?
Seems to me you’re making up stuff here to suit your narrative and when it does no longer suit your narrative you ‘correct’ it (aka twist & change). If so, that would be disingenuous and not commenting in good faith and it would mean we cannot take your comments at face value.
You may have got the wrong end of the stick.
''You did not have to correct yourself and apologise, you chose this on your own accord. We would have been none the wiser about your ‘error’. In fact, you had an earlier opportunity to correct your ‘error’ (here: https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-31-05-2022/#comment-1891353), but you failed to do so then!?''
I had to correct myself when you pointed my error out indirectly because what I had written was factually incorrect. I hadn't previously corrected my error because I hadn't noticed it until your post.
''Seems to me you’re making up stuff here to suit your narrative and when it does no longer suit your narrative you ‘correct’ it (aka twist & change). If so, that would be disingenuous and not commenting in good faith and it would mean we cannot take your comments at face value.''
Fair enough, I can't change your perceptions of me. Would your perceptions also apply to the KJT's comments above?
My perceptions depend on context and (can) change over time. My perceptions of your comments don’t apply equally to comments by others.
I got it.
I sincerely doubt it but time will tell.
Maybe try living in the States.
The cops are armed, got a death penalty, super-max prisons, Hell they even have a incarceration industry they've gotta have crime under control…
Totally.
National plan's been hatched watching 'Mayor of Kingstown' as a way to regenerate provincial NZ via incarceration.
Their justice system is shot. They have regional police forces. They have poorly trained police who rely more on toys and gizmos to get the job done.
But they send people away for life. They never taste freedom again. You can't commit crime if you are in jail.
Check out my clip I posted the other day – China v USA.
Interesting / scary comment on the video around 2:30' – "30% of enquiries to the dairy and small business Association from dairy / small business owners, was asking how they obtain a gun licence"
They have decided to take security matters in to their own hands. It will only be a matter of time until one does fight back.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/06/calls-for-pm-jacinda-ardern-to-declare-crime-crisis-as-dairy-owners-arm-themselves-amid-spike-in-violent-robberies.html
Why bother. Most of the ram raiders will be in jail soon.
More than 80 people arrested for ram raids since February 1 | Stuff.co.nz
Arrested by those "soft on crime" cops.
I hope you are right. But many are back out there the following evening.
[Link required – Incognito]
And. You know that, how?
It's good to see they've been arrested, however I think Jimmy's point may be that apparently most of the perpetrators are under 15. I'm not sure they'll spend long in custody.
Mod note
Yep, Jimmy, arming the dairy owners is common sense to me. I have suggested previously on this blog a three months small arms course for those shop owners wanting to protect themselves with a gun.
Of course it will never happen. I don't think this government understands the shit storm that's hanging over their heads. Either a ram raider is going to be killed by a shop owner…or a shop owner is going to be killed by a robber. In this political climate all hell could break loose. That will be on Labours head.
Democracy means different things to different people. This is a short thread on the 2022 Democracy Perception Index Report 2022 – the world’s largest annual study on how people perceive democracy.
It is commissioned by "The Alliance of Democracies Foundation", founded by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the former NATO Secretary General and former Prime Minister of Denmark.
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1532236805143027713.html
Yes I know it behind a paywall. You can get a summery of facts over at the Daily Blog
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/sale-of-the-century-55-60-of-aucklands-large-scale-state-land-to-be-sold-for-private-ownership/F6WLWIURSPW2UMRKGUD5Z6PUTY/
Good ole Labour, such a party of the left.
[You’re now 2 links short of a Happy Meal. Put up the links or take a week off. In Pre-Mod until you oblige – Incognito]
Mod note
Only one Link short and here it is:
https://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/publications/crime-at-a-glance-dec2020.pdf
Bit old but the easiest one I could find.
What is states – crimes against property has gone down. I suspect people are no longer reporting as they know the crime won't be resolved.
Crime against people has gone up.
I firmly believe that I am correct in my original statement.
We know gun violence has gone through the roof. Auckland has more shooting incidence per week than Mahuta has MFAT meetings. Gang violence is out of control, Labour is soft on crime, it is just a fact that NZ knows
[Nope, you’re still 2 links short and you’re wasting my time because this clearly doesn’t support your assertion.
I don’t care if you go for the easiest one or if you genuinely believe your own assertions to be correct or what you suspect or if “it is just a fact that NZ knows”. I care about you providing evidential support for your claims, which shouldn’t be too hard if they’re correct, as you allege. If somebody else provides them for you in the meantime you’ll still receive a ban – how unfair is that? Put up or shut up.
You did so well with your other link about the Public Service under Labour!
Since you mention Mahuta again, a few days ago you hinted at corruption charges (https://thestandard.org.nz/nationals-policies-dont-add-up/#comment-1891222) but you never followed up on these when I asked you about it. Here’s your chance and use your words carefully. The odds have been raised to a fortnight ban – Incognito]
Mod note
Kainga Ora is now structured commercially so that it keeps delivering housing construction no matter which party is in parliament. It does this by ensuring that it raises its own capital through property sales, and then spends it on intensive housing on the remaining land. Might not sound particularly leftie in the socialist sense of controlling the means of production, but it's a way of extracting the politics out of it as much as possible.
This has been going on for a while. The results you can see for yourself.
If you went up to the Sky City revolving restaurant you might just see the extent of it from Pt England to Mangere to Oranga to Mt Roskill to Hobsonville to Northcote.
Brand new high quality intensified integrated communities.
Yeah so commercial they (this time last year) issued a 300m$ inflation bond( coupon rate 2.5%) going to be paying 7.5% for a longtime unless they get cost inflation out of their builds.
I can't speak to their commerciality …
… but best of luck to them if they can generate fixed price contracts that all the main banks seem to require for lending now.
Debt has blown out to 7.1 billion,with new debt being around 4.2% .NZ building costs have increased by 20% last 12 months,Australia 9%.
Australia also has seen building consents for new houses decrease by 33% over the last 12 months,and mortgage pain has not even started there.
In the US where markets are better informed,construction costs responded in real time (as did unsold new housing stock) with lumber falling 55% in 2 months.( 58 cents a board foot)
https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/commodities/lbs
Absolutely. There are sites that are more suitable for the kind of medium density housing that Kainga Ora is delivering now, and there are sites that are not suitable for it. It makes sense to sell the latter, particularly if they are small, and fragmented from previous sell offs by National governments. Also some sites on major arterials are less suitable for the kind of community based developments and also need extensive noise attenuation and particulate control from 30 to 40 thousand vehicle movements per day. In many cases the private sector can develop these better.
Dairy owners would have a far easier and safer life if they stopped pushing drugs like cigarettes and vape shit.
So many of them are marginal that about half of them need to shut anyway.
Not a fun prospect but it's more likely you will buy milk and bread from the petrol station anyway. It's just that kind of society.
depends on what part of the country you live in.
Avoid Papakura at the moment, there has been a daytime shooting.
Police operation underway in Papakura, Auckland – NZ Herald
I'm going to talk smack about the propaganda coming out of businessnz.
So if you don't like that sort of thing please scroll past – thank you.
It's just another think tank from the school of hard right shitfuckery trying to manipulate the agenda with fake experts.
With their half baked adds all over YouTube, full of fear and half truths.
I'm surprised, they have not cried "think of the Children"
https://www.yourworkyourway.co.nz/
Greedy wankers are going to be greedy wanker I suppose. And screw working people actually getting a decent wage from you greedy scum.
Working people will never get a fair go, when so many have let cupidity taint their souls.
I saw a meme earlier in those colours saying if 10% of people want a fair pay agreement 100% of people get it. Thought their comms team needed to sit and have a bit of a think about that.
June 9th is when the US January 6th Commission finally goes straight into prime time tv.
(75) Pat Attention – YouTube
According to the committee, they will "present previously unseen material documenting January 6th, receive witness testimony, preview additional hearings, and provide the American people a summary of its findings about the coordinated, multi-step effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and prevent the transfer of power."
That's our calendar next Friday.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-january-6-committee-hearing-june-9-primetime/
This is when some of the darker group texts, QAnon influence, and attack orders get truly exposed as the insurrection plan they actually were.
Here's more scary stuff. Time Kelvin Davis was shown the door.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/assaults-on-corrections-staff-up-156-per-cent-6000-workdays-lost/CVRFXXRWAI6B4Y6ARKRNABU774/
Way past time he was shown the door.
This Labour government has gone from being a band of merry socialists, to a band of perpetual losers. Do you have any advice for them Puck? Advice the can be printed that is.
Pick people based on talent, not on diversity and realise that the people most affected by the rise in crime are most likely Labour voters so they risk a massive backlash if they don't do something and quickly
As an example how long is this guy actually going to spend in prison:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/128138095/man-jailed-after-breaking-eye-sockets-of-fourmonthold-baby
Great reply. Sage advice that unfortunately won't be followed.
”As an example how long is this guy actually going to spend in prison”
About 4-5 years. Nothing too strenuous.
Meanwhile this happened in Hastings.
Warning: disturbing video.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/three-year-old-toddler-covered-in-blood-after-hastings-park-brawl-involving-gang-member/HIS3GMEOYHPN3SCVRRN4S53ROE/
When National were in power, did you blame them for every criminal act that was committed?
How is that Labour's fault? and that's a court's decision.
"the people most affected by the rise in crime are most likely Labour voters"
Do you have a link to back up that claim?
Why?
From your link "The data, given to the NZ Herald through the Official Information Act, showed annual assaults on staff increased in seven of the last 10 years"
"He cited what he considered a long-standing problem"
"In a statement, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis referenced the "prison crisis" inherited by the Government in 2017 when the prison population had increased beyond 10,000. Since then, it had reduced 27 per cent. However, he said more serious offenders – including gang members – had been locked up during this time which posed a risk to staff. "This brings its own challenges, particularly to staff who have to manage a heightened environment where mental health issues and methamphetamine addiction are also increasingly more prevalent," he said. Davis said staff deserved to feel safe and the Violence and Aggression plan was one way to reduce assaults. He referenced the $23 million from Budget 2022 given to hire an extra 64 staff across the three prisons facing the most challenges in this area – Auckland Prison, Christchurch Men's and Mt Eden. That was part of the extra 518 staff who would be hired during the next four years"
First off, National aren't on duty. Labour is.
Since then, it had reduced 27 per cent ( prison population)
Question: where are the people who would have formally been in prison for more minor offences?
''However, he said more serious offenders – including gang members – had been locked up during this time which posed a risk to staff. ''
Correct. However, the gang population is exploding. 10 years ago a major hole in gang numbers would have occurred with the number of gangsters now locked up. Nowadays the gangs always have the numbers to fill in shortfalls in their ranks.
"the gang population is exploding" because of growing demand for meth. Fucked if I now why is it a coping mechanism like booze or to stay awake longer or some kind of sexual performance thing or the stress of modern life maybe. The gangs have a crucial supply role anyway and good on them. Not much else while prostitutes are legal and I'm guessing because of our low wages not so much demand for trafficked slave labour – no idea if they are into bribing small businesses with threats of violence – after all who would let the cat out of the bag on that one ?
https://www.1news.co.nz/2019/10/06/drugs-a-main-factor-in-rise-of-gangs-in-new-zealand-police-say/
"showed annual assaults on staff increased in seven of the last 10 years"
National was on duty during that time.
https://www.corrections.govt.nz/resources/strategic_reports/statements-of-intent/statement_of_intent_2018-2022/our_strategic_direction
Do you have a link to cover your last paragraph?
On home detention as work was done to find suitable lodging for them. I can't remember where I read it so can't give a source, but the main reason people are declined home detention is lack of a suitable address to serve the sentence. Sounds like work has been done to remove that barrier.
''National was on duty during that time.''
Yes, but my point is they haven't been in the wheel house for the past 6 years – Labour has. The blood is on Labours hands. Just like Labours responsibility for crime will be passed on to National next year, regardless of what Labour has or hasn't done regarding crime.
''Do you have a link to cover your last paragraph?''
No, I don't. There is no need. It is general knowledge and has been in the news time and again. In fact, on another blog, I pointed to a huge increase in gang numbers close to a year before the issue started being reported in MSM. How did I know? From extended family in the mob who told me about new recruiting methods being employed. It's all about numbers.
You acknowledge that National were in power during that time, but then claim its all Labour's fault, despite efforts to address long standing issues. No one said it could be sorted over night. Consequences from the National government didn't suddenly disappear when National got kicked out in late 2017. It hasn't been 6 years.
Well if you think Labour has blood on its hands, then so does National.
"Just like Labours responsibility for crime will be passed on to National next year"
Like Labour inherited the shambles National left and there is no guarantee that National will win the election next year.
So you cant back yourself up. I am not surprised.
You obviously can't understand what I'm writing, or you are being wilfully ignorant.
I'm noticing when you Lefties run out of an argument you become surly and nasty very fast.
I'll try one more time.
National is not in power. Labour is. National cannot do a fucking thing about crime because they are not in power. Labour can do something about crime because they are in power. It matters not what National did before. It matters not what supposed mess National left Labour. It doesn't matter. But it matters big time for Labour because they are the government.
BTW.., have you read that link you posted? Talk about a gift for people like me. It's also a record for future generations to understand the dynamics of failure when ideology trumps common sense and real world needs.
Quote from your link. Talk about bs of the first water. Tell that crap to crime victims, frightened citizens and dairy owners.
”Government goal:
This Government has made a commitment to create a more effective criminal justice system and safer New Zealand. Achieving these long-term objectives will require systemic reform consistent with New Zealand values and aspirations, across the whole of the criminal justice system and the social sector. This will involve public engagement, partnerships with iwi/Māori and other community groups, legislative reform, investment in new services and operational change – amongst other things.”
"I'm noticing when you Lefties run out of an argument you become surly and nasty very fast"
That's what you are doing and you are being deliberately obtuse.
"showed annual assaults on staff increased in seven of the last 10 years"
National had been in power during some of those years. Labour has only been in power since late 2017, not 6 years like you falsely claimed and they are trying to do something about it. You cannot discount National's time in govt because it doesn't suit your narrative. National left an appalling legacy.
Re link, I don't think you understood it.
“This Government has made a commitment to create a more effective criminal justice system and safer New Zealand. Achieving these long-term objectives will require systemic reform consistent with New Zealand values and aspirations, across the whole of the criminal justice system and the social sector. This will involve public engagement, partnerships with iwi/Māori and other community groups, legislative reform, investment in new services and operational change”
So what’s wrong in that exactly?
Tell me, when National were in govt, did you blame them for the “crime victims, frightened citizens and dairy owners” or have you conveniently forgotten the ram raids, the attacks on the dairies, liquor stores?
You’ve been told before that you can argue your opinions but not your facts.
You are wrong! Megan Woods said in a debate in Parliament 2 days ago that they have been in government for four and a half years.
You raised it, you should put up the numbers, and it is that simple. You cannot hide behind “It is general knowledge and has been in the news time and again” and some vague stuff you may have heard from your “extended family in the mob”. The media megaphone is rarely a good source of facts but a very good source for hype & emotion.
You are an unreliable commenter with regards to facts and supporting claims of facts. You must lift your game or your comments will be moderated.
Seems to me I may have misjudged the general knowledge of some on this blog.
What I thought was apparent general knowledge, apparently is not, even though it's on the screens and in the papers nearly every week. I could have added many more links, but stopped in the name of brevity.
https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2018/02/14/why-new-zealand-has-so-many-gang-members
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/gang-member-numbers-almost-double-around-the-country-in-five-years/MDXZ4BWDVO3P4I7CWWW6Y6UAPA/
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2105/S00150/more-than-8000-gang-members-in-new-zealand.htm
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/300464553/gang-numbers-have-nearly-doubled-in-five-years-police-say
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/10/number-of-gang-members-on-national-list-rises-but-government-says-it-s-not-complete-picture.html
https://www.national.org.nz/gang-numbers-surge-53-per-cent-under-labour
https://www.act.org.nz/government_s_spin_on_gang_numbers_exposed
''You are wrong! Megan Woods said in a debate in Parliament 2 days ago that they have been in government for four and a half years.''
Quite true. I took a liberty knowing nothing would improve under Labour. Even my 6 years will fall a few months short depending on the election. Peripheral issues count.
''Some vague stuff you may have heard from your “extended family in the mob”.
It's not vague stuff. I have stated on this blog that in a change of tack, many chapters of the mob allow a patch to be bought. Of course there is still a probation period. That story will eventually come to light in MSM. Just like I was talking about gang numbers increasing roughly a year before MSM pick up the story.
That’s a lovely selection of links some of which even contain actual useful numbers that allow us to distinguish hype & spin from fact, thank you.
From a couple of your links it seems the steepest increase year-on-year in gang members was under National. Oops.
You must not take no liberty with facts. You made up shit about how long Labour has been (not: will have been) in Government. We cannot mind-read and we should not have to second-guess either what twisted facts you construct to suit your narrative.
It is vague and anecdotal stuff when you say “it’s all about numbers” and cannot produce anything other than what you may have heard at your family gatherings. You talk a lot of shit and your vague reckons are worth shit unless you can back them up. What will eventually be reported in and by the media is anybody’s guess and your predilections may come true or quite possibly not ever and at all.
In any case, it is not about the general knowledge of some (but not all?) readers of this blog, it is about what you claim here and do or do not support when asked.
I’m done with this convo, as I made myself crystal clear and don’t see any point in spending more time & effort on this.