Paul, did you hear Rachel Stewart on Mora’s chat show yesterday? It was her first guest appearance on the Panel, and she spoke clearly and without any blather about the destruction of the environment being wrought by Dirty Dairy.
Interestingly, right at the end of the show, as Mora thanked his guests in the normal fashion, he seemed quite put out: she had walked away without waiting for pleasantries. I think she was upset by his crass and ignorant comments that technology was going to save us, and therefore her worries about pollution were unnecessary.
It will be intriguing to see if she is invited back on.
Gawd sounds horrendous eh.
Well I’m a dairy farmer so already the hairs on Pauls neck are standing on end, relax Paul.
I did watch this emotive stuff 4min through 10ish.
1st point On video,
Farmers require a constant supply of pregnant cows, this is achieved by repeatedly rapeing a cow on a rape rack.
Holy smoke, sounds terrible.
Reality on my farm is, we closely look out for “bulling” cows, this means we are looking for a group of cows hanging out together who are obviously sexually active (riding each other), the next day they are artificially inseminated, which is a 30secound encounter with the technician, no rape rack involved, whatever that is.
Or if they are late ovulating they will meet the bull.
2nd point on video
Baby’s taken away so we can steal mothers milk.
True calves are taken away almost immediately, we let new calves have one feed off mother cow.
However the reason for this is not so we can steal the calfs milk, the cow will produce enough milk for 20 calves.
Most cows but not all, will not call out or miss there calves at all, most wonder what the hell just happened (birth) and get on with eating grass.
3rd point on video, cows bond intensely with calves.
Not in my experience, cows are more interested in feeding/grazing than there own calf. Might not suit your world view, but it’s true.
4th point on video
Cows are regarded as spent at 4 or 5 years old
Not true a cow is regarded at her prime at 6 years old and is likely to be in the herd up to 12 years old
5th point on video
Cows are culled when they are pregnant,
In most cases not true a pregnant cow is valuable, and would not be culled.
6th point on video
Cows are pumped full of antibiotics and hormones
Not true in NZ, hormones to increase milk production are banned totally in NZ, antibiotics are used sparingly for cows that are suffering an injury or illness.
Please this anti farming vegan extremism is not true and not fair.
Have a great evening from the Naki
Hey mate, I’ve been vegan for more than 30 years and am fit and active. Take your preconceptions and shove them into the orifice you’re currently talking out of.
Take a more conciliatory approach, Sanctuary. At the low cost of just spending the rest of your life closely monitoring your food intake to ensure that you get sufficient nutrition to maintain your health, you could become the moral superior of most people on the planet and lecture them from that lofty perch. How can you resist?
I’m sure much can be done in the modern kitchen to ameliorate the boring tryanny of pulses and vegetables. But just as trying to camouflage a red bus in a paddock by putting some green branches on it would simply result in what looked like a camouflaged red bus, the basic beast remains, observable by all those disconsolate “guests” at vegan cafes as they lugubriously munch on their lentil porridge “enlivened” by curry powder and some rather glum cranberries. Still, I would imagine the cereals would positively dance, the green leafy things would twinkle like stars on frosty night with crunch, compared to the dire conversation of an earnest, fervent, engaged, concerned, and monumentally boring vegan host.
I wonder if any vegans voted for trump – can’t imagine it. I bet statistically most of the brainboxes that voted for him ate much meat, copious flesh, lovely blood and offal. I might see if any studies have been made…
I suspect there’re two major dietary schools amongst his voters:
those people who eat only processed foods and are surprised that “mince” comes from living furry animals; and
cannibals who enjoy fava beans and a nice chianti.
Robet Guyton
I have a scheme you might like. We are having a book reading over a month of E F Schumacher Small is Beautiful then we are going to have a post and discuss the best and worst bits and have a thinkfest, I hope. We are starting on Sunday 12th and will put up a post with more details and different ways to obtain the book simply.
Interested? Your brain ticks over pretty fast. And there is time over the month to get through it without bursting a foofoo valve. So what do you say?
Can you reply to this comment and let me know.
I hear on RNZ that US commentators expect Trump’s paternal attitude towards the poor, struggling pharmaceutical companies to cost countries like NZ a lot more than the deal that would have been included in the TPPA (which would already have put pressure on Pharmac). What a victory for all those who argued voting for the bully boy was the only way to stop the deal(which it wasn’t) & it would be worth it (which it won’t)!
no credible TPPA opponent in NZ that I am aware of ever advocated voting for Trump
it is a right wing meme doing the rounds that any position you hold that may coincide with all or part of one of Trumps means you are thereby a Trump supporter
I’m not sure CV ever explicitly said people should vote for Trump.
CV just obsessively slandered Trump’s opponents and incessantly praised trump’s intelligence and abilities bigly. But he was too slimy to actually endorse voting for trump.
“Actually plenty of people on this site made just that argument, CV being the most prominent/repetitive/enthusiastic.”
+1 Even at the level of Tr*mp being the lesser of evils compared to Clinton. And yes there were enthusiastic supporters of Tr*mp who also opposed the TPPA. I have also talked to people in real life who oppose the TPPA and who would have voted Tr*mp if they were US voters. Like those on TS, they are people that would otherwise vote on the left or for Peters.
Actually plenty of people on this site made just that argument, CV being the most prominent/repetitive/enthusiastic.
Well, if there were “plenty” then name them and link to their comments advocating a vote for Trump on the basis of his position on the TPPA (or, indeed, on any basis whatsoever). I’d be surprised if you come up with any more than 2 or 3 Lefties.
Even CV explicitly qualified his support … with a particular emphasis on averting WWIII with Russia and Hillary’s murderous foreign adventures (and an acknowledgement that Trump’s domestic policies would be less than pleasant).
Sure you’re not confusing principled criticism of Clinton’s abysmal record with explicit support for Trump ?
Or are you one of those dishonest little Clintonista McCarthyites who cheerfully conflate those two things ? (while, at the same time, claiming to be “liberal” and “progressive”).
red-blooded
Life is just too complicated complex and constantly changing for you to understand.
It certainly is hard for you when you have just made up your mind to have to alter it to meet differing circumstances. Why don’t you give up and let other people do the worrying.
Looking forward to a reply (on NBR – subscriber only) from Gareth Morgan to my following question:
“Gareth – do you and your Opportunities Party support transparency in the spending of public monies on private consultants and contractors (at both local and central government level)?
Do you agree that the following information on awarded contracts should be made available for public scrutiny?
* The unique contract number.
* The name of the consultant or contractor.
* A brief description of the scope of the contract.
* The contract start and finish dates.
* The exact dollar value of every contract, including those sub-contracted.
* How the contract was awarded – by direct appointment or public tender.
Kind regards
Penny Bright
‘Fair’, fiery and ferociously Independent future MP for Mt Albert 🙂 “
Lol at Flavell here: “He’ll have to resign from positions! That’s really hard! He couldn’t possibly do that!”
Desperately trying to make it seem like Jackson can’t run for parliament.
Yes a stupid flippant comment from WJ.
As for Labour……Willie always watches to see which side his bread is buttered (Brown or White bread) ….. Example, he’s against a lot of Natz policies, but happy to have Shonkey around to his place for a BBQ.
Yeah, but I expect for lesser offences he’d just give her the bash.
He had some pretty awesome contributions to rape culture following the Roastbusters case, as well. From what I remember he and Tamihere got sacked from Radio Live after that one, in which their considered opinion was that boys will be boys and girls only have themselves to blame if they get drunk at parties.
You obviously realise that if they were to put up an idiot, rather than some intelligent, humane, rational, sensible person, there would be no difference in the voting. He/she/it would win.
Hi ianmac and marty mars
This idea came to me as we have to think hard about ways to go for the future, first the election and beyond. We could spark new ideas and old ones reworked with some new perspectives gained from a reading group where we all read the same book and had a great post on it at the end. The suggestion is a month to read the first book which would be E F Schumacher Small is Beautiful.
Would you both like to be in and get the first book group going? I have been talking about it, getting some good feedback and am now looking for a core group of committed people to ensure that we get enough good thinking. I have asked a few regular commenters who could be interested and put this blurb below about it. Could you let me know by replying to this comment today. Thanks.
You always bring good political ideas and vision to the problems facing us.
We need new approaches to get through this maze we wander in. I had the idea that new ideas and thoughts could spring from studying books on the important subjects relating to our politics. Could you find the time to be in this – over a month first reading and noting about E F Schumaker and his Small is Beautiful and then having a great discussion on a Sunday post at end of month? It would be great if you could be in. Could you reply to this comment today if poss. Thanks.
I am writing similarly to other regular commenters who I feel would be interested, but of course it is a matter of time available. Regards.
What do we know about the McGuinness Institute? that did a survey relating to social engineering that National is interested in?
Mentioned on Radionz this morning I think when they did a peice on the Three Mayors – Far North (National John Carter), Rotorua (Labour Steve Chadwick) and – can’t remember. They are going to sort out their pockets of social problems from cradle to grave, babes to grandparents. I hope in a caring and co-operative way with a community leader in charge to co-ordinate. Sort of like these unaccountable czars that get appointed in neo Lib society.
Could be good, but being given authority to look at every aspect of life. Sounds too top-down to me.
You can find out about the McGuinness Institute by googling it, greywarshark.
It sounds like its full of heavyweight intellectuals all with good intentions providing a great many reports on essential subjects like poverty, public policy etc.
But what results from all those reports and workshops they undertake ?
I’ve just had a quick look at the McGuiness website, greywarshark – and I’m thinking like you – a bit too top-down to the bottom, and perhaps also a bit unrealistic.
For instance, a workshop on poverty in the Far North had a comment about how local business couldn’t compete with BIG business rolling into town. But absolutely no sign that Big business would have been wooing, and been welcomed, by the local council to the detriment of the local start-up enterprises such as CBEC which developed over 20 years – with local people – a business of waste management, only to have the whole lot transferred to incoming Big business by the Far North Council a few years ago.
No wonder people leave their towns when their councils remove their livelihoods.
An interesting, if naive, comment from the summary of that report –
When big businesses arrived in provincial towns without a local mandate, some local independent businesses could not compete and were forced to shut down. Money spent at these big businesses has simply left town, leaving behind empty high streets. Both Kaitaia and Kaikohe have recently seen waning populations…..
Exactly Jenny – when you’ve got a report being brooded on then you’ve got something hatching. Or so everyone expects. Only everyone’s eggs are addled if
they assume that. Thanks for info. When thinking of something else on here it pays to ask while one remembers and someone will know. And if that goes on the post then everyone knows. So that’s an advantage of asking one of the gurus? here. Collectively the site is a near-complete guru anyway.
And I think, why not get universities who study up that sort of thing to do it? Trouble might be, they might come up with the wrong sort of statistics. So, best idea is shut down the Humanities and let the private sector find out the necessary information to match the planned policies (one of which is to do nothing at all.)
greywarshark – the McGuinness Institute was set up by Mark and Wendy McGuinness (Willis Bond & Co.) who are property speculators whose projects are significantly financed by ACC and the Superannuation Fund. You might want to draw your own conclusions.
Houthi rebels from Yemen attacked a Saudi frigate; White House spokesman Sean Spicer falsely claimed that this was Iranian forces attacking a US Naval ship and thus an act of war; no one from the White House press corps corrected him or followed up.
The White House Press corps wanted to know what being put “on notice” entailed, and Spicer responded by claiming that Iran’s government took actions against a U.S. naval vessel, which would be an act of war. “I think General Flynn was really clear yesterday that Iran has violated the Joint Resolution that Iran’s additional hostile actions that it took against our navy vessel are ones that we are very clear are not going to sit by and take,” he said.
Pentagon Spokesman Christopher Sherwood confirmed to The Intercept that the attack was in fact conducted against a Saudi warship, and that the Pentagon suspects Houthi rebels. “It was a Saudi ship – it was actually a frigate” said Sherwood. “It was [conducted by] suspected Houthi rebels off the coast of Yemen.”
Meet Gina Haspel, new deputy director of CIA, who ran the agency's first black site in Thailand where detainees were tortured. Background pic.twitter.com/XhAWZJXpXq— Jason Leopold (@JasonLeopold) February 2, 2017
New Deputy CIA Director was officer who carried out order by Jose Rodriguez to destroy torture tapes https://t.co/qyDAtXdcGK— Mark Mazzetti (@MarkMazzettiNYT) February 2, 2017
I wondered if you would have time to be in the book reading that is being set up and starting on Sunday 12 February, all going well. A month to read and note stuff to comment on in a discussion on a special Sunday post. Starting off with E F Schumacher Small is Beautiful. Could get some interesting ideas to look at from today’s viewpoint. Would you indicate on reply to this today. Thanks
This is the blurb explaining it in general.
You always bring good political ideas and a breadth of vision to the problems facing us. We need new approaches to get through this maze we wander in. I had the idea that new ideas and thoughts could spring from studying books on the important subjects relating to our politics.
Could you find the time to be in this – over a month first reading and noting about E F Schumaker and his Small is Beautiful: Economics as if people mattered – and then there will be a big discussion on a Sunday post at end of month? It would be great if you could be in. Could you reply to this comment today if poss.
I am writing similarly to other regular commenters who I feel would be interested, but of course it is a matter of time available. Regards.
It was a 2008/9 hacked version of a plug in. It didn’t survive a wordpress upgrade last year(?). Either the newer version of the plug in to sphinx needs hacking (bad idea – I have tried) or I need to write something maintainable on top of sphinx.
Awaiting time to do it. Between work and their frequent demands to go offshore, and the rest of my life, I haven’t found the required block of free time.
What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture.
Quoted from Neil Postman’s book ‘Amusing Ourselves to Death’ in an article published in the Guardian by his son, Andrew.
That Huxley stuff, reminds me of a Walter Benjamin quote that came into my twitter feed this morning. I had a brief discussion about Benjamin and the Frankfurt School of Marxists a few days ago.
Benjamin said that, underlying cultural activities (entertainment, art, movies, shopping arcade signages) was capitalism and material relationships (who owned property etc).
He called the cultural expressions (art, popular culture) “aesthetics”. He talked about the aestheticisation of politics. ie. use of propaganda by the Third Reich where popular culture, art etc were used to influence the masses.
Throughout the 2nd half of the twentieth century we got an increase in the aestheticisation of politics: ie the use of marketing techniques to manipulate voters. Trump, reality TV celebrity, become president, is the latest stop on this journey.
It’s basically about diverting people from the underlying power structure where those at the top of the property ownership hierarchy retain their power. Meanwhile, it’s all cultural distractions for the masses. But also, it allows people to express themselves through art (social media these days?), etc, but doesn’t allow them to change the property relationship of capitalism.
The growing proletarianization of modern man and the increasing formation of masses are two aspects of the same process. Fascism attempts to organize the newly created proletarian masses without affecting the property structure which the masses strive to eliminate. Fascism sees its salvation in giving these masses not their right, but instead a chance to express themselves. The masses have a right to change property relations; Fascism seeks to give them an expression while preserving property. The logical result of Fascism is the introduction of aesthetics into political life.
NB: Benjamin was a German Jew who tried to escape the Third Reich to Spain. When he believed he was going to be captured and returned to Germany, he killed himself.
Thanks Bill for recalling us to Orwell and Huxley.
My notable memory is that Huxley wrote to Orwell after `1984′ I think, not Animal Farm, and said it conveyed the looming shadow of autocratic politics and control well, but in Huxley’s opinion it would be the continuing quest for efficiency that would dehumanise and strip us of our spirit and potential.
“Who can be appalled when the coin of the realm in public discourse is not experience, thoughtfulness or diplomacy but the ability to amuse – no matter how maddening or revolting the amusement?”
It has been thusly for a couple of hundred years. The writer should sit back and reflect on the histories of political movements. They are run a different way now, and it’s not a bad thing.
The stratification of different kinds of thinking from scholars and specialists, to television commentariat, to water-cooler and twitter chatter, seems to be the same as ever to me.
You could also argue however far less pessimistically for the power of the relational networks that are only now possible. People complain about how Twitter surges and distorts public opinion – but as we can see even with Trump, we quickly get inured to different levels of outrage. The outrage instigators peak, burn out, fade away, like a 1990s boy band.
The outrage instigators also get held to account far faster – usually on the same media. (The same old limits of what mass protest can do in realpolitik terms still apply however, even if they are more diverse).
We do see the newer communicative technologies forming relational networks of shared interest and political activism as never before. Sure, old-style parties are dying, and the old-style centralised town hall of single civic dialogue is pretty much dead. But what has taken its place is a revolution in message distribution and connection.
Sooner or later Critical Theory will catch up with the fact that we are beyond oligopolies of opinion from newspapers and television, and we are also well past the historical conditions for fascism. This era needs newer, fresher theorising.
I’ve been hearing about this great Habermasian democratic space of new digital technologies, at least since the 1980s. But the corporate take over of digital technologies has increased. Ditto,the technologies of invasive surveillance.
Sure we get some counter-resistance.
But, in the last decades we have been delivered a deterioration in democratic political processes; an increase of all pervasive neoliberal values and politics; Tony Blair; the Bushes; John Key; David Cameron; Donald Trump; Theresa May; rise in the alt-right; increased wealth and income gaps between the top and bottom deciles; increased homelessness; wars; civilian “collateral damage”; widespread refugee displacements; etc, etc.
And all the time we get first hand knowledge of it via digital technologies.
Don’t think this great democratisation through new digital technologies has actually been happening. Just more celebrity culture, circuses, and digital technology diversions.
Time for some on the ground collaborative engagement; a focus political direction, and ways to provide an alternative to the technologies of distraction.
“Sooner or later Critical Theory will catch up with the fact that we are beyond oligopolies of opinion from newspapers and television, and we are also well past the historical conditions for fascism. This era needs newer, fresher theorising.”
Dear Sam Mahon, we would love to see your sculpture in Nelson, September is a wonderful time of year funnily enough it could coincide nicely with Nickoffs Street Corner evening meetings, which he likes to do during election time.
THIS IS SOOOO GOOD… love ART, if it creates a talking point, then it’s art, no matter if it offends or flatters the person viewing it. 😀
“Winston Peters betrayed Maori – here’s the proof. The questions are (1) Why does he refuse to even answer questions on these facts? and (2) Why don’t Maori leaders call him out on his betrayal?”
One is, how will this go down with Māori? It’s a front on attack, and is basically a Pākehā man telling Māori what to do about another Māori. I don’t know what connections if any Morgan has within Māoridom, or where he gets his advice from on Māori issues, so I’ll be interested to see what the response is.
Two, the video itself is smart and well thought through, and if taken separately from Morgan or TOP is a pretty interesting history of Peters’ politics around Māori and ethnicity in NZ. It’s easy to forget how radical he is, because he’s all grin, right?
Three, he’s obviously timing this for Waitangi Weekend, but I’m not quite seeing the strategy. Do NZF get party votes from Māori that TOP wants?
Four, I care. Both because TOP could end up being highly influential in this election, and because he’s addressing Māori and treaty issues strongly. I also think that Peters is a huge problem politically for NZ so am not unhappy with someone calling him on his integrity.
Recently Morgan said something else controversial. On RNZ Morgan pretty much said it was basically calculated to get attention and start a conversation.
I suspect Morgan is aiming to take a leaf from Trump’s campaign. Get attention by stirring up some race-based controversy.
I guess, but I’m still trying to figure out how attacking Peters over his position on Māori is going to get TOP votes. I mean, I think what he says about Peters is useful, and I’m certainly in favour of Peters being called on those things, but I doubt he’s going after the white liberal greenie vote with this move. Not so sure about Morgan’s framing it as a challenge to Māori. Which votes is he after? NZF’s? Māori votes, from where? etc
If it’s just noise to raise his profile, that’s a different thing.
The Republican-led House of Representatives has voted to overturn an Obama-era regulation preventing people with severe mental illnesses from buying guns.
The vote on Thursday (local time) was 235-180 – mostly along party lines.
Under the Obama administration’s rule, people who receive disability benefits and have severe mental disorders would be reported by the Social Security Administration to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
This database is used to determine eligibility for buying a firearm.
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Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
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Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
The Prime Minister has committed to resuming direct flights to Thailand. But it’s not a promise he will be able to deliver on anytime soon. The post Prime Minister jumps the gun in Thailand appeared first on Newsroom. ...
It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
FICTION 1 Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) There’s commercial fiction, like this book, and then there’s quality fiction, quality writers, quality literature; the forthcoming Auckland Writers Festival is full of quality, and ReadingRoom has two tickets to give away to the following events: Paul Lynch (Dublin ...
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You can’t have missed the Gallipoli story as the movies, documentaries, essays and books capture what it was like for New Zealand troops in their eight-month campaign on the Peninsula. But this Anzac Day the Auckland War Memorial Museum has published a book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the free-for-all between the Australian government and Big Tech boss Elon Musk this week, the government had to be on a winner. Most people would have little sympathy with Musk’s vociferous opposition to ...
Asia Pacific Report Chief Mandla Mandela, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has joined the Freedom Flotilla in istanbul as the ships prepare to sail for Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. Mandela is also the ambassador for the Global Campaign to Return to ...
Pacific Media Watch Journalists who report on environmental issues are encountering growing difficulties in many parts of the world, reports Reporters Without Borders. According to the tally kept by RSF, 200 journalists have been subjected to threats and physical violence, including murder, in the past 10 years because they were ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Pōneke based peace activists staged a silent protest at the ANZAC day service to highlight New Zealand’s complicity in war and genocide, and urge the government to take concrete steps to stop the genocide in Palestine. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Until this month, Auckland swimmer Hazel Ouwehand had never met a qualifying time in an Olympic event for a New Zealand team, even as a junior. Now she’s very likely off to the Paris Olympics after swimming well under the qualifying standard in the 100m butterfly twice – both in ...
While Anzac Day has experienced a resurgence in recent years, our other day of remembrance has slowly faded from view.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Hope McConnell.First published in 2022.The high school’s head girl and ...
Australian and New Zealand volunteers fought together in the Waikato War, yet still its place in the Anzac tradition is unacknowledged by our defence forces or Returned Services Association.First published in 2018.When I was a boy cub I attended Anzac Day services in the South Auckland suburb of ...
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Dairy farmers claim that recent criticisms are unfair and that they love their animals.
Watch this video from 4:30 to 10:30 and decide for yourself whether dairy farmers really care for animals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrlfkxvJNj0
[link fix – weka]
Paul, did you hear Rachel Stewart on Mora’s chat show yesterday? It was her first guest appearance on the Panel, and she spoke clearly and without any blather about the destruction of the environment being wrought by Dirty Dairy.
Interestingly, right at the end of the show, as Mora thanked his guests in the normal fashion, he seemed quite put out: she had walked away without waiting for pleasantries. I think she was upset by his crass and ignorant comments that technology was going to save us, and therefore her worries about pollution were unnecessary.
It will be intriguing to see if she is invited back on.
Gawd sounds horrendous eh.
Well I’m a dairy farmer so already the hairs on Pauls neck are standing on end, relax Paul.
I did watch this emotive stuff 4min through 10ish.
1st point On video,
Farmers require a constant supply of pregnant cows, this is achieved by repeatedly rapeing a cow on a rape rack.
Holy smoke, sounds terrible.
Reality on my farm is, we closely look out for “bulling” cows, this means we are looking for a group of cows hanging out together who are obviously sexually active (riding each other), the next day they are artificially inseminated, which is a 30secound encounter with the technician, no rape rack involved, whatever that is.
Or if they are late ovulating they will meet the bull.
2nd point on video
Baby’s taken away so we can steal mothers milk.
True calves are taken away almost immediately, we let new calves have one feed off mother cow.
However the reason for this is not so we can steal the calfs milk, the cow will produce enough milk for 20 calves.
Most cows but not all, will not call out or miss there calves at all, most wonder what the hell just happened (birth) and get on with eating grass.
3rd point on video, cows bond intensely with calves.
Not in my experience, cows are more interested in feeding/grazing than there own calf. Might not suit your world view, but it’s true.
4th point on video
Cows are regarded as spent at 4 or 5 years old
Not true a cow is regarded at her prime at 6 years old and is likely to be in the herd up to 12 years old
5th point on video
Cows are culled when they are pregnant,
In most cases not true a pregnant cow is valuable, and would not be culled.
6th point on video
Cows are pumped full of antibiotics and hormones
Not true in NZ, hormones to increase milk production are banned totally in NZ, antibiotics are used sparingly for cows that are suffering an injury or illness.
Please this anti farming vegan extremism is not true and not fair.
Have a great evening from the Naki
Since when did teh Standard suddenly get infested by enthusiastic, pasty looking and probably anaemic people who tire easily?
Hey mate, I’ve been vegan for more than 30 years and am fit and active. Take your preconceptions and shove them into the orifice you’re currently talking out of.
If only the fish were so easy.
Lean a bit closer, Sanctuary; I can smell the death on your breath.
Well, that got erotic pretty quickly…
hopefully this is not needed
http://sayitwithbeef.com/
Trump just needs a nap, ok.
Take a more conciliatory approach, Sanctuary. At the low cost of just spending the rest of your life closely monitoring your food intake to ensure that you get sufficient nutrition to maintain your health, you could become the moral superior of most people on the planet and lecture them from that lofty perch. How can you resist?
I’m sure much can be done in the modern kitchen to ameliorate the boring tryanny of pulses and vegetables. But just as trying to camouflage a red bus in a paddock by putting some green branches on it would simply result in what looked like a camouflaged red bus, the basic beast remains, observable by all those disconsolate “guests” at vegan cafes as they lugubriously munch on their lentil porridge “enlivened” by curry powder and some rather glum cranberries. Still, I would imagine the cereals would positively dance, the green leafy things would twinkle like stars on frosty night with crunch, compared to the dire conversation of an earnest, fervent, engaged, concerned, and monumentally boring vegan host.
I wonder if any vegans voted for trump – can’t imagine it. I bet statistically most of the brainboxes that voted for him ate much meat, copious flesh, lovely blood and offal. I might see if any studies have been made…
I suspect there’re two major dietary schools amongst his voters:
those people who eat only processed foods and are surprised that “mince” comes from living furry animals; and
cannibals who enjoy fava beans and a nice chianti.
I suspect there would be a very large group among Trump voters who only eat organic free range meat.
Otherwise known as “hunters”
lol
not if the EPA gets whacked – even wildlife will be basted in pesticides and carcinogens #funnycoztrue
hunters and greenies joining forces.
Cheese Whizz is a dietary staple over there, so fava beans and mince are probably too fancy.
Cranberries, glum ???
U jest, shorely.
Robet Guyton
I have a scheme you might like. We are having a book reading over a month of E F Schumacher Small is Beautiful then we are going to have a post and discuss the best and worst bits and have a thinkfest, I hope. We are starting on Sunday 12th and will put up a post with more details and different ways to obtain the book simply.
Interested? Your brain ticks over pretty fast. And there is time over the month to get through it without bursting a foofoo valve. So what do you say?
Can you reply to this comment and let me know.
I know, right???? #sadcranberries #damnyouvegans
I hear on RNZ that US commentators expect Trump’s paternal attitude towards the poor, struggling pharmaceutical companies to cost countries like NZ a lot more than the deal that would have been included in the TPPA (which would already have put pressure on Pharmac). What a victory for all those who argued voting for the bully boy was the only way to stop the deal(which it wasn’t) & it would be worth it (which it won’t)!
no credible TPPA opponent in NZ that I am aware of ever advocated voting for Trump
it is a right wing meme doing the rounds that any position you hold that may coincide with all or part of one of Trumps means you are thereby a Trump supporter
Actually plenty of people on this site made just that argument, CV being the most prominent/repetitive/enthusiastic.
nonononononononono
I’m not sure CV ever explicitly said people should vote for Trump.
CV just obsessively slandered Trump’s opponents and incessantly praised trump’s intelligence and abilities bigly. But he was too slimy to actually endorse voting for trump.
“Actually plenty of people on this site made just that argument, CV being the most prominent/repetitive/enthusiastic.”
+1 Even at the level of Tr*mp being the lesser of evils compared to Clinton. And yes there were enthusiastic supporters of Tr*mp who also opposed the TPPA. I have also talked to people in real life who oppose the TPPA and who would have voted Tr*mp if they were US voters. Like those on TS, they are people that would otherwise vote on the left or for Peters.
Well, if there were “plenty” then name them and link to their comments advocating a vote for Trump on the basis of his position on the TPPA (or, indeed, on any basis whatsoever). I’d be surprised if you come up with any more than 2 or 3 Lefties.
Even CV explicitly qualified his support … with a particular emphasis on averting WWIII with Russia and Hillary’s murderous foreign adventures (and an acknowledgement that Trump’s domestic policies would be less than pleasant).
Sure you’re not confusing principled criticism of Clinton’s abysmal record with explicit support for Trump ?
Or are you one of those dishonest little Clintonista McCarthyites who cheerfully conflate those two things ? (while, at the same time, claiming to be “liberal” and “progressive”).
Theres always the option of not accepting any deal offered.
strangely that doesn’t appear to be an option for the current lot…
red-blooded
Life is just too complicated complex and constantly changing for you to understand.
It certainly is hard for you when you have just made up your mind to have to alter it to meet differing circumstances. Why don’t you give up and let other people do the worrying.
Looking forward to a reply (on NBR – subscriber only) from Gareth Morgan to my following question:
“Gareth – do you and your Opportunities Party support transparency in the spending of public monies on private consultants and contractors (at both local and central government level)?
Do you agree that the following information on awarded contracts should be made available for public scrutiny?
* The unique contract number.
* The name of the consultant or contractor.
* A brief description of the scope of the contract.
* The contract start and finish dates.
* The exact dollar value of every contract, including those sub-contracted.
* How the contract was awarded – by direct appointment or public tender.
Kind regards
Penny Bright
‘Fair’, fiery and ferociously Independent future MP for Mt Albert 🙂 “
One can hope this will happen. As the Dakota pipe line is a bad joke.
http://www.maoritelevision.com/news/latest-news/seattle-puts-major-us-bank-on-notice-it-may-lose-3-billion-over-dakota-pipeline
Follow the money, and in this case you can’t completely. Who funded the trump inauguration?
https://www.publicintegrity.org/2017/01/31/20651/donald-trumps-inauguration-fueled-tobacco-oil-and-drug-company-money
It would appear we have to wait till Sunday to get the truth from Willie Jackson.
http://www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/conflicts-interest-may-arise-if-willie-jackson-stands-labour
Good luck with that
Lol at Flavell here: “He’ll have to resign from positions! That’s really hard! He couldn’t possibly do that!”
Desperately trying to make it seem like Jackson can’t run for parliament.
Yeah that was what I was thinking too. Bit of desperation from Flavell.
Except of course, Flavell and/or the rest of the Māori Party want/ed Jackson running for parliament for their party…. soooo…. yeah, nah.
He wants to go to heaven,
But he doesn’t want to die.
Ad sometimes you are a bad bad man, but it’s worth the giggles 🙂
Might be of interest to all the Trumpeters, It appears he is keeping up the good work started by Mr Obama.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/02/trump-approved-yemen-raid-five-days-after-inauguration
The Labour Party needs Willie Jackson like it needs a hole in the head
One day on the Willie and J.T. show, RadioLive, about seven years ago….
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-08062013/#comment-645516
Like it needed Shane jones…..
Yes a stupid flippant comment from WJ.
As for Labour……Willie always watches to see which side his bread is buttered (Brown or White bread) ….. Example, he’s against a lot of Natz policies, but happy to have Shonkey around to his place for a BBQ.
Yeah, but I expect for lesser offences he’d just give her the bash.
He had some pretty awesome contributions to rape culture following the Roastbusters case, as well. From what I remember he and Tamihere got sacked from Radio Live after that one, in which their considered opinion was that boys will be boys and girls only have themselves to blame if they get drunk at parties.
Indeed, Milt. If you and I can remember these incidents, it’s easy to imagine how the Whaleoil-run National Party would use them.
Can you select this idiot, National. Please.
Whanganui barrister Harete Hipango is seeking the National Party nomination to become its next Whanganui electorate candidate.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503426&objectid=11793256
What’s her stance on knife killing?
Pay her and she’ll tell you herself.
You obviously realise that if they were to put up an idiot, rather than some intelligent, humane, rational, sensible person, there would be no difference in the voting. He/she/it would win.
Does anyone know what happened to Dim-Post? It was at dim-post.wordpress.com, but has apparently been marked private
Ed-The explanation I got was that Danyl was taking a time out so his site is in neutral. He will return – I hope.
Thanks. I don’t always agree with him, but he is always worth reading.
science geekery
https://qz.com/296941/interactive-graphic-every-active-satellite-orbiting-earth/
so many of the wee buggers and that was as at a year or so ago
Staggering marty!
Hi ianmac and marty mars
This idea came to me as we have to think hard about ways to go for the future, first the election and beyond. We could spark new ideas and old ones reworked with some new perspectives gained from a reading group where we all read the same book and had a great post on it at the end. The suggestion is a month to read the first book which would be E F Schumacher Small is Beautiful.
Would you both like to be in and get the first book group going? I have been talking about it, getting some good feedback and am now looking for a core group of committed people to ensure that we get enough good thinking. I have asked a few regular commenters who could be interested and put this blurb below about it. Could you let me know by replying to this comment today. Thanks.
You always bring good political ideas and vision to the problems facing us.
We need new approaches to get through this maze we wander in. I had the idea that new ideas and thoughts could spring from studying books on the important subjects relating to our politics. Could you find the time to be in this – over a month first reading and noting about E F Schumaker and his Small is Beautiful and then having a great discussion on a Sunday post at end of month? It would be great if you could be in. Could you reply to this comment today if poss. Thanks.
I am writing similarly to other regular commenters who I feel would be interested, but of course it is a matter of time available. Regards.
What do we know about the McGuinness Institute? that did a survey relating to social engineering that National is interested in?
Mentioned on Radionz this morning I think when they did a peice on the Three Mayors – Far North (National John Carter), Rotorua (Labour Steve Chadwick) and – can’t remember. They are going to sort out their pockets of social problems from cradle to grave, babes to grandparents. I hope in a caring and co-operative way with a community leader in charge to co-ordinate. Sort of like these unaccountable czars that get appointed in neo Lib society.
Could be good, but being given authority to look at every aspect of life. Sounds too top-down to me.
You can find out about the McGuinness Institute by googling it, greywarshark.
It sounds like its full of heavyweight intellectuals all with good intentions providing a great many reports on essential subjects like poverty, public policy etc.
But what results from all those reports and workshops they undertake ?
I’ve just had a quick look at the McGuiness website, greywarshark – and I’m thinking like you – a bit too top-down to the bottom, and perhaps also a bit unrealistic.
For instance, a workshop on poverty in the Far North had a comment about how local business couldn’t compete with BIG business rolling into town. But absolutely no sign that Big business would have been wooing, and been welcomed, by the local council to the detriment of the local start-up enterprises such as CBEC which developed over 20 years – with local people – a business of waste management, only to have the whole lot transferred to incoming Big business by the Far North Council a few years ago.
No wonder people leave their towns when their councils remove their livelihoods.
An interesting, if naive, comment from the summary of that report –
When big businesses arrived in provincial towns without a local mandate, some local independent businesses could not compete and were forced to shut down. Money spent at these big businesses has simply left town, leaving behind empty high streets. Both Kaitaia and Kaikohe have recently seen waning populations…..
http://www.mcguinnessinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/20170202-TPNZ-Far-North-Discussion-paper.pdf
Exactly Jenny – when you’ve got a report being brooded on then you’ve got something hatching. Or so everyone expects. Only everyone’s eggs are addled if
they assume that. Thanks for info. When thinking of something else on here it pays to ask while one remembers and someone will know. And if that goes on the post then everyone knows. So that’s an advantage of asking one of the gurus? here. Collectively the site is a near-complete guru anyway.
And I think, why not get universities who study up that sort of thing to do it? Trouble might be, they might come up with the wrong sort of statistics. So, best idea is shut down the Humanities and let the private sector find out the necessary information to match the planned policies (one of which is to do nothing at all.)
greywarshark – the McGuinness Institute was set up by Mark and Wendy McGuinness (Willis Bond & Co.) who are property speculators whose projects are significantly financed by ACC and the Superannuation Fund. You might want to draw your own conclusions.
aom
Thanks. I take your point and what I had e.s.p about.
aom – that clarifies it !! thanks.
Spoiling for a fight?.
Houthi rebels from Yemen attacked a Saudi frigate; White House spokesman Sean Spicer falsely claimed that this was Iranian forces attacking a US Naval ship and thus an act of war; no one from the White House press corps corrected him or followed up.
http://boingboing.net/2017/02/02/sean-spicer-claims-that-houthi.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Tonkin_incident
Back in business.
Hi joe90
I wondered if you would have time to be in the book reading that is being set up and starting on Sunday 12 February, all going well. A month to read and note stuff to comment on in a discussion on a special Sunday post. Starting off with E F Schumacher Small is Beautiful. Could get some interesting ideas to look at from today’s viewpoint. Would you indicate on reply to this today. Thanks
This is the blurb explaining it in general.
You always bring good political ideas and a breadth of vision to the problems facing us. We need new approaches to get through this maze we wander in. I had the idea that new ideas and thoughts could spring from studying books on the important subjects relating to our politics.
Could you find the time to be in this – over a month first reading and noting about E F Schumaker and his Small is Beautiful: Economics as if people mattered – and then there will be a big discussion on a Sunday post at end of month? It would be great if you could be in. Could you reply to this comment today if poss.
I am writing similarly to other regular commenters who I feel would be interested, but of course it is a matter of time available. Regards.
Has the search function that used to live on The Standard disappeared? Or is it just me
I hear a voice. But I see…I see nothing. Spooky.
It was a 2008/9 hacked version of a plug in. It didn’t survive a wordpress upgrade last year(?). Either the newer version of the plug in to sphinx needs hacking (bad idea – I have tried) or I need to write something maintainable on top of sphinx.
Awaiting time to do it. Between work and their frequent demands to go offshore, and the rest of my life, I haven’t found the required block of free time.
Cheers Lynn
I use google’s advanced by site search. You get better control over key words, and the results are better too.
Quoted from Neil Postman’s book ‘Amusing Ourselves to Death’ in an article published in the Guardian by his son, Andrew.
Well worth the read.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/feb/02/amusing-ourselves-to-death-neil-postman-trump-orwell-huxley
That Huxley stuff, reminds me of a Walter Benjamin quote that came into my twitter feed this morning. I had a brief discussion about Benjamin and the Frankfurt School of Marxists a few days ago.
Benjamin said that, underlying cultural activities (entertainment, art, movies, shopping arcade signages) was capitalism and material relationships (who owned property etc).
He called the cultural expressions (art, popular culture) “aesthetics”. He talked about the aestheticisation of politics. ie. use of propaganda by the Third Reich where popular culture, art etc were used to influence the masses.
Throughout the 2nd half of the twentieth century we got an increase in the aestheticisation of politics: ie the use of marketing techniques to manipulate voters. Trump, reality TV celebrity, become president, is the latest stop on this journey.
Today’s Benjamin tweet:
It’s basically about diverting people from the underlying power structure where those at the top of the property ownership hierarchy retain their power. Meanwhile, it’s all cultural distractions for the masses. But also, it allows people to express themselves through art (social media these days?), etc, but doesn’t allow them to change the property relationship of capitalism.
The tweeted quoted is from Benjamin’s The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction
NB: Benjamin was a German Jew who tried to escape the Third Reich to Spain. When he believed he was going to be captured and returned to Germany, he killed himself.
Thanks Bill for recalling us to Orwell and Huxley.
My notable memory is that Huxley wrote to Orwell after `1984′ I think, not Animal Farm, and said it conveyed the looming shadow of autocratic politics and control well, but in Huxley’s opinion it would be the continuing quest for efficiency that would dehumanise and strip us of our spirit and potential.
From the article:
“Who can be appalled when the coin of the realm in public discourse is not experience, thoughtfulness or diplomacy but the ability to amuse – no matter how maddening or revolting the amusement?”
It has been thusly for a couple of hundred years. The writer should sit back and reflect on the histories of political movements. They are run a different way now, and it’s not a bad thing.
The stratification of different kinds of thinking from scholars and specialists, to television commentariat, to water-cooler and twitter chatter, seems to be the same as ever to me.
You could also argue however far less pessimistically for the power of the relational networks that are only now possible. People complain about how Twitter surges and distorts public opinion – but as we can see even with Trump, we quickly get inured to different levels of outrage. The outrage instigators peak, burn out, fade away, like a 1990s boy band.
The outrage instigators also get held to account far faster – usually on the same media. (The same old limits of what mass protest can do in realpolitik terms still apply however, even if they are more diverse).
We do see the newer communicative technologies forming relational networks of shared interest and political activism as never before. Sure, old-style parties are dying, and the old-style centralised town hall of single civic dialogue is pretty much dead. But what has taken its place is a revolution in message distribution and connection.
Sooner or later Critical Theory will catch up with the fact that we are beyond oligopolies of opinion from newspapers and television, and we are also well past the historical conditions for fascism. This era needs newer, fresher theorising.
I’ve been hearing about this great Habermasian democratic space of new digital technologies, at least since the 1980s. But the corporate take over of digital technologies has increased. Ditto,the technologies of invasive surveillance.
Sure we get some counter-resistance.
But, in the last decades we have been delivered a deterioration in democratic political processes; an increase of all pervasive neoliberal values and politics; Tony Blair; the Bushes; John Key; David Cameron; Donald Trump; Theresa May; rise in the alt-right; increased wealth and income gaps between the top and bottom deciles; increased homelessness; wars; civilian “collateral damage”; widespread refugee displacements; etc, etc.
And all the time we get first hand knowledge of it via digital technologies.
Don’t think this great democratisation through new digital technologies has actually been happening. Just more celebrity culture, circuses, and digital technology diversions.
Time for some on the ground collaborative engagement; a focus political direction, and ways to provide an alternative to the technologies of distraction.
“Sooner or later Critical Theory will catch up with the fact that we are beyond oligopolies of opinion from newspapers and television, and we are also well past the historical conditions for fascism. This era needs newer, fresher theorising.”
Last i checked critical theorists were regularly appearing here, https://mobile.twitter.com/realpeerreview?lang=en
Is that the kind of fresh new thinking we need to be on the lookout for?
Artist and activist Sam Mahon is raising funds to make a giant sculpture of Environment Minister Nick Smith doing a poo.
Oh yeah… and check it out.. it’s a talking point that’s for sure
Dear Sam Mahon, we would love to see your sculpture in Nelson, September is a wonderful time of year funnily enough it could coincide nicely with Nickoffs Street Corner evening meetings, which he likes to do during election time.
THIS IS SOOOO GOOD… love ART, if it creates a talking point, then it’s art, no matter if it offends or flatters the person viewing it. 😀
I’d suggest a poopier-mache of dessicated cowshit and epoxy as the contruction media…
I like his style and a I like how it revolves too!
Wow!
http://live.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Trump-warns-Israel-Stop-announcing-new-settlements-480446
Trump Tells Israel to Hold Off on Building New Settlements
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/02/world/middleeast/iran-missile-test-trump.html?_r=0
Inside a month every leader will have learned to discount shouty-ranty thing into proper scale.
He’s crying wolf on such a broad field it may as well be to the moon.
Titles of video says it all, but wait for the guy at the end. Truly classic. 4:37 min video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-9H0vfn5j8
“Winston Peters betrayed Maori – here’s the proof. The questions are (1) Why does he refuse to even answer questions on these facts? and (2) Why don’t Maori leaders call him out on his betrayal?”
Just now, on facebook…from Gareth Morgan.
Why Gareth?? Who cares?
It gets Gareth some much-needed publicity, Siobhan – that’s the main thing he’s after.
https://www.facebook.com/garethmorgannz/videos/1390155431026291/
Just having a look at context.
Wow. Ok, a few thoughts.
One is, how will this go down with Māori? It’s a front on attack, and is basically a Pākehā man telling Māori what to do about another Māori. I don’t know what connections if any Morgan has within Māoridom, or where he gets his advice from on Māori issues, so I’ll be interested to see what the response is.
Two, the video itself is smart and well thought through, and if taken separately from Morgan or TOP is a pretty interesting history of Peters’ politics around Māori and ethnicity in NZ. It’s easy to forget how radical he is, because he’s all grin, right?
Three, he’s obviously timing this for Waitangi Weekend, but I’m not quite seeing the strategy. Do NZF get party votes from Māori that TOP wants?
Four, I care. Both because TOP could end up being highly influential in this election, and because he’s addressing Māori and treaty issues strongly. I also think that Peters is a huge problem politically for NZ so am not unhappy with someone calling him on his integrity.
Recently Morgan said something else controversial. On RNZ Morgan pretty much said it was basically calculated to get attention and start a conversation.
I suspect Morgan is aiming to take a leaf from Trump’s campaign. Get attention by stirring up some race-based controversy.
Attention from the media?
Well, if it’s on facebook, then maybe attention from both mainstream media and social media, I guess?
Ultimately, Morgan uses social media, plus mainstream media. The aim is surely to get attention of voters.
I guess, but I’m still trying to figure out how attacking Peters over his position on Māori is going to get TOP votes. I mean, I think what he says about Peters is useful, and I’m certainly in favour of Peters being called on those things, but I doubt he’s going after the white liberal greenie vote with this move. Not so sure about Morgan’s framing it as a challenge to Māori. Which votes is he after? NZF’s? Māori votes, from where? etc
If it’s just noise to raise his profile, that’s a different thing.
I suspect he’s after any votes not committed to the bigger parties. And yes, to create noise and get some attention in the lead up to Waitangi Day
The Republican-led House of Representatives has voted to overturn an Obama-era regulation preventing people with severe mental illnesses from buying guns.
The vote on Thursday (local time) was 235-180 – mostly along party lines.
Under the Obama administration’s rule, people who receive disability benefits and have severe mental disorders would be reported by the Social Security Administration to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
This database is used to determine eligibility for buying a firearm.
However it was strongly opposed by both the Republican Party and the National Rifle Association.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2017/02/republicans-allow-severely-mentally-ill-to-buy-guns.html
It looks like any regulations the last administration passed are on the way out no matter how sensible they were.
Hillary will be at fault.
Or will they blame Bernie?
Wadaya reckon about this CV ?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11794343