Open mike 04/08/2014
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6:30 am, August 4th, 2014 - 84 comments
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- Alert Level 2 in Wellington, Wairarapa and Kāpiti CoastAlert Level 2 measures are now in place for Wellington, Wairarapa and Kāpiti Coast to the north of Ōtaki, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says. These measures are precautionary, following the potential exposure of New Zealanders to a COVID-19 case from Sydney. The person visited a range of locations in ...19 hours ago
- Speech to the India New Zealand Business Council Summit5pm, Wednesday 23 June 2021 [CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY] Tuia te Rangi e tū nei Tuia te Papa e takoto nei Tuia te here tangata Ka rongo te pō, ka rongo te Ao Tihei Mauri Ora Introduction Namaskar, tēnā koe and good evening. Thank you for your kind invitation to ...20 hours ago
- Financial support for caregivers widenedChildren’s Minister Kelvin Davis has welcomed changes that will make it easier for caregivers looking after children outside of the state care system to access much-needed financial assistance. The Social Security (Financial Assistance for Caregivers) Amendment Bill will also allow these caregivers to access further benefits previously unavailable to them. ...22 hours ago
- Agencies to have powers to secure maritime domainA Bill introduced to Parliament today aims to prevent serious criminal offending at sea, including transnational offending and organised crime, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced. “Aotearoa New Zealand will be better placed to keep our maritime environment secure against threats like drugs trafficking, wildlife trafficking and human trafficking with the ...23 hours ago
- Critical support for New Zealand’s budding researchersFellowships to attract and retain talented researchers in the early stages of their career, have been awarded to 30 New Zealanders, Associate Research, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “I am pleased to congratulate these researchers, who will be receiving funding through the MBIE Science Whitinga Fellowship. ...1 day ago
- Bill to stop taxpayers having to fund oil field decommissionsThe Government is preventing taxpayers picking up the bill for the decommissioning of oil fields, says Energy and Resource Minister Dr Megan Woods. “After the Crown had to take responsibility for decommissioning the Tui oil field, it became clear to me that the current requirements around decommissioning are inadequate and ...1 day ago
- Quarantine Free Travel from New South Wales to New Zealand to pauseNew Zealand’s Quarantine Free Travel from New South Wales to New Zealand will be paused while the source of infection of new cases announced in Sydney is investigated, says COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins. There are 10 new community cases of COVID-19 today in New South Wales, taking the Australian ...2 days ago
- Milestone reached for Iwi Affiliation Population CountsIwi affiliation data released today provides updated population counts for all iwi and addresses gaps in Māori data originating from the 2018 Census, says Associate Minister of Statistics Meka Whaitiri. “The release of the 2018 Iwi Affiliation Estimated Counts is a really important step, and I acknowledge the hard work ...2 days ago
- Ngāti Rangitihi Claims Settlement Bill passes first readingTreaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little welcomed Ngāti Rangitihi to Parliament today to witness the first reading of The Ngāti Rangitihi Claims Settlement Bill. “I know it took a lot of hard work, time and patience by all parties involved to reach this significant milestone. I am honoured to ...2 days ago
- Speech to the Sustainable Healthcare and Climate Health Conference AotearoaMihi Tēnā tātou katoa Kei ngā pou o te whare hauora ki Aotearoa, kei te mihi. Tēnā koutou i tā koutou pōwhiri mai i ahau. E mihi ana ki ngā taura tangata e hono ana i a tātou katoa, ko te kaupapa o te rā tērā. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, ...2 days ago
- Infrastructure Acceleration Fund opening for businessCriteria to access at least $1 billion of the $3.8 billion Housing Acceleration Fund (HAF), announced in March, is now available, and an invitation for expressions of interest will be released on 30 June, Housing Minister Megan Woods has announced. “This is a key milestone in our plan to accelerate ...2 days ago
- Bringing back the health of Hauraki GulfNew marine protection areas and restrictions on fishing are among a raft of changes being put in place to protect the Hauraki Gulf for future generations. The new strategy, Revitalising the Gulf – Government action on the Sea Change Plan, released today, draws on input from mana whenua, local communities, ...2 days ago
- Speech to AI Forum – Autonomous Weapons SystemsAI Forum New Zealand, Auckland Good evening and thank you so much for joining me this evening. I’d like to start with a thank you to the AI Forum Executive for getting this event off the ground and for all their work and support to date. The prospect of autonomous ...3 days ago
- New Zealand boosts support to Fiji for COVID-19 impactAotearoa New Zealand is providing additional support to Fiji to mitigate the effects of the current COVID-19 outbreak on vulnerable households, Foreign Minister Hon Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “Recognising the increasingly challenging situation in Fiji, Aotearoa will provide an additional package of assistance to support the Government of Fiji and ...3 days ago
- Round 2 of successful energy education fund now open$1.65 million available in Support for Energy Education in Communities funding round two Insights from SEEC to inform future energy hardship programmes Community organisations that can deliver energy education to households in need are being invited to apply for the second funding round of the Support for Energy Education in ...3 days ago
- New Ngarimu scholarships to target vocational trainingAssociate Education Minister Kelvin Davis today announced three new scholarships for students in vocational education and training (VET) are to be added to the suite of prestigious Ngarimu scholarships. “VET learners have less access to study support than university students and this is a way to tautoko their learning dreams ...3 days ago
- Recognising the volunteers who support our health systemNominations have opened today for the 2021 Minister of Health Volunteer Awards, as part of National Volunteer Week. “We know that New Zealanders donate at least 159 million hours of volunteer labour every year,” Minister of Health Andrew Little said in launching this year’s awards in Wellington. “These people play ...3 days ago
- Drug Free Sport supported to deal with new doping challengesDrug Free Sport New Zealand will receive a funding boost to respond to some of the emerging doping challenges across international sport. The additional $4.3 million over three years comes from the Sport Recovery Fund announced last year. It will help DFSNZ improve athletes’ understanding of the risks of doping, ...3 days ago
- Government support for South Auckland community hit by tornadoThe Government is contributing $100,000 to a Mayoral Relief Fund to support Auckland communities impacted by the Papatoetoe tornado, Acting Minister for Emergency Management Kris Faafoi says. “My heart goes out to the family and friends who have lost a loved one, and to those who have been injured. I ...4 days ago
- Celebrating World Refugee DayWorld Refugee Day today is an opportunity to celebrate the proud record New Zealanders have supporting and protecting refugees and acknowledge the contribution these new New Zealanders make to our country, the Minister of Immigration Kris Faafoi said. “World Refugee Day is also a chance to think about the journey ...4 days ago
- Face to face meeting delivers significant progress on NZ-UK FTANew Zealand and the UK have committed to accelerating their free trade agreement negotiations with the aim of reaching an agreement in principle this August, Trade Minister Damien O’Connor announced. “We’ve held constructive and productive discussions towards the conclusion of a high-quality and comprehensive FTA that will support sustainable and inclusive trade, and ...5 days ago
- Government taking action to protect albatrossNew population figures for the critically endangered Antipodean albatross showing a 5 percent decline per year highlights the importance of reducing all threats to these very special birds, Acting Minister of Conservation Dr Ayesha Verrall says. The latest population modelling, carried out by Dragonfly Data Science, shows the Antipodean albatross ...6 days ago
- Adoption laws under reviewNew Zealand’s 66-year-old adoption laws are being reviewed, with public engagement beginning today. Justice Minister Kris Faafoi said the Government is seeking views on options for change to our adoption laws and system. “The Adoption Act has remained largely the same since 1955. We need our adoption laws to reflect ...6 days ago
- Wider roll-out of cameras on boats to support sustainability and protect marine lifeUp to 300 inshore commercial fishing vessels will be fitted with on-board cameras by 2024 as part of the Government’s commitment to protect the natural marine environment for future generations. Minister for Oceans and Fisheries David Parker today announced the funding is now in place for the wider roll out ...7 days ago
- Plan for vaccine rollout for general population announcedNew Zealanders over 60 will be offered a vaccination from July 28 and those over 55 from August 11, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. The rollout of the vaccine to the general population will be done in age groups as is the approach commonly used overseas, with those over ...7 days ago
- New Zealand introduces Belarus travel bansNew Zealand has imposed travel bans on selected individuals associated with the Lukashenko regime, following ongoing concerns about election fraud and human rights abuses after the 2020 Belarus elections, Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta has announced. The ban covers more than fifty individuals, including the President and key members of ...7 days ago
- NZ economy grows driven by households, construction and business investmentThe Government’s efforts to secure the recovery have been reflected in the robust rebound of GDP figures released today which show the economy remains resilient despite the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Grant Robertson said. GDP increased 1.6 percent in the first three months of 2021. The Treasury had ...1 week ago
- Milestone 250th tower continues to improve rural connectivityThe Government has welcomed the completion of the 250th 4G mobile tower, as part of its push for better rural connectivity. Waikato’s Wiltsdown, which is roughly 80 kilometres south of Hamilton, is home to the new tower, deployed by the Rural Connectivity Group to enable improved service to 70 homes ...1 week ago
- Quarantine Free Travel pause with Victoria to lift on TuesdayFollowing a further public health assessment of the COVID-19 outbreak in greater Melbourne, New Zealand’s Quarantine Free Travel pause with Victoria has been extended to 11.59pm on Tuesday 22 June, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says. It has been determined that the risk to public health in New Zealand continues ...1 week ago
- Prime Minister mourns passing of Dr Sir Ian HassallPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern is mourning the passing of Dr Sir Ian Hassall, New Zealand’s first Children’s Commissioner and lifelong champion for children and children’s health. As a paediatrician Sir Ian contributed to a major world-first cot death study that has been directly credited with reducing cot deaths in New ...1 week ago
- APEC structural reform meeting a successAPEC ministers have agreed working together will be crucial to ensure economies recover from the impact of COVID-19. Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs David Clark, chaired the virtual APEC Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting today which revolved around the overarching theme of promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and secure growth ...1 week ago
- Digital hub to boost investment in forestryA new website has been launched at Fieldays to support the forestry sector find the information it needs to plant, grow and manage trees, and to encourage investment across the wider industry. Forestry Minister Stuart Nash says the new Canopy website is tailored for farmers, iwi and other forestry interests, ...1 week ago
- Government continues support for rangatahi to get into employment, education and trainingOver 230 rangatahi are set to benefit from further funding through four new He Poutama Rangatahi programmes, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced today. “We’re continuing to secure our economic recovery from COVID by investing in opportunities for rangatahi to get into meaningful employment, education or training ...1 week ago
- NCEA subjects up for consultationThe education sector, students, their parents, whānau and communities are invited to share their thoughts on a list of proposed NCEA subjects released today, Education Minister Chris Hipkins says. This is a significant part of the Government’s NCEA Change Programme that commenced in 2020 and will be largely implemented by ...1 week ago
- Good bye and good riddance to Auckland’s worst live music venue
When a concert venue shuts down, it’s usually a bleak day for New Zealand’s entertainment industry. But in the case of the Logan Campbell Centre, Chris Schulz couldn’t be happier.First published on Chris Schulz’s newsletter Boiler Room.At the beginning of 2018, in the middle of an absolutely legendary run of summer ...5 mins ago - Prison For Directors Who Fail To Report On Climate Risks Unduly Harsh, Says The Institute Of Directo...
Directors should not face jail time for failing to comply with proposed new climate-reporting standards, stressed the Institute of Directors (IoD). The IoD appeared before the Economic Development, Science and Innovation select committee today to present its ...28 mins ago - Chief Human Rights Commissioner Should Stay In His LaneThe Free Speech Union says that Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt wasn’t hired to tell artists what work they can and can’t produce. He should start defending human rights, not stand against freedom of expression. A spokesperson for the Union, ...48 mins ago
- Eat it, haters. NZ are the champions, the greatest test side in the worldHistorically, Black Caps tragics have not had an easy time of it but today’s result confirmed how dramatically that had changed. Now, finally, is the time for unbridled joy, writes Samuel Flynn-Scott. Drifting in and out of a fitful sleep, I stopped resisting and picked up my phone one last time. ...2 hours ago
- Safer Drinking Water Key Issue For New ZealandersWater New Zealand says events such as the Havelock North contamination crisis and the frequent number of boil water notices in some parts of the country have led to drinking water becoming identified as our number one infrastructure issue. Chief ...2 hours ago
- Taxpayers’ Union Calls Out “coding Error” ExcuseThe Taxpayers’ Union is calling BS on claims that inappropriate spending of parliamentary funds by MP Harete Hipango was the result of a “coding error”. Union spokesperson Jordan Williams says, “A number of our staff used to work at Parliament and would ...2 hours ago
- Employment Indicators: Weekly As At 21 June 2021The experimental weekly series provides an early indicator of employment and labour market changes in a more timely manner than the monthly employment indicators series. Key facts The 6-day series includes jobs with a pay period equal to or less than ...2 hours ago
- We just watched the Blackcaps make cricket historyThe Offspin’s Alex Braae celebrates the Blackcaps’ monumental overnight World Test Championship victory, and the culmination of six days of intense early-morning podcasting.Follow The Offspin on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast provider.Six nights of tension. Two years of dominating the international circuit. Eight years of cultural reform and ...3 hours ago
- New Report Reveals New Zealanders' Views On Infrastructure IssuesOver 23,000 New Zealanders have called for action to address the country’s infrastructure issues in a new report published today by the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga. ...3 hours ago
- NZ Needs To Sign Up To International Law Making Workplaces Free From Violence And HarassmentA new international law to keep workplaces free from violence and harassment comes into effect on Friday 25 June. "The International Labour Organisation (an agency of the United Nations) adopted the Violence and Harassment Convention , 2019 (190) ...4 hours ago
- NZ’s housing market is broken and we’ve got the maps to prove itInspired by a map of the US housing market, analyst Emma Vitz created a graph showing how much people needed to earn to afford a property in their region. It quickly went viral.From the comfort of my 23 square metre apartment that I most definitely do not own, I mapped ...4 hours ago
- Dirty secrets: sediment DNA reveals a 300,000-year timeline of ancient and modern humans living in S...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elena Zavala, PhD Student, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Collection of sediment DNA samples in the Main Chamber of Denisova Cave. Bert Roberts, Author provided In the foothills of the Altai Mountains in southern Siberia lies Denisova Cave. It is the ...5 hours ago - With Aung San Suu Kyi facing prison, Myanmar’s opposition is leaderless, desperate and ready to fi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Simpson, Senior Lecturer, University of South Australia As Aung San Suu Kyi finally faced court last week to defend herself against a litany of politically motivated charges, Myanmar is continuing its downward spiral into state failure. Suu Kyi was arrested following ...5 hours ago
- Stopping, blocking and dampening – how Aussie drugs in the pipeline could treat COVID-19Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vasso Apostolopoulos, Professor of Immunology and Associate Provost, Research Partnerships, Victoria University Shutterstock While widespread vaccination is key in our fight against COVID-19, people who are infected still need better treatment to improve their chance of survival and making a ...5 hours ago
- The government’s idea of ‘national environment standards’ would entrench Australia’s global ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Martine Maron, ARC Future Fellow and Professor of Environmental Management, The University of Queensland A growing global push to halt biodiversity decline, most recently agreed at the G7 on Sunday, leaves Australia out in the cold as the federal government walks away ...5 hours ago
- ‘You’re the best!’ Your belief in your kids’ academic ability can actually improve their gra...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philip D. Parker, Professor and Deputy Director, Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University Shutterstock We have all met the parent who thinks their kid is the next Picasso or Einstein regardless of the evidence. But it’s hard ...5 hours ago
- Meat pies, desert, bloody dingoes: new Australian film Buckley’s Chance brims with dated cultural ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ari Mattes, Lecturer in Communications and Media, University of Notre Dame Australia Transmission Films Review: Buckley’s Chance, directed by Tim Brown. It’s a classic trope of Australian cinema: a foreigner comes here and discovers a wild, rugged place, replete with ...5 hours ago
- The adaptation era arrivesFor decades, climate change discussions have been dominated by what we can do to stop it, but there is a growing focus on how we live with its consequences.In recent years the conversation about climate change has been growing larger and louder, with everyone from activist investors to right-leaning politicians ...5 hours ago
- Live updates, June 24: Testing in the spotlight as Wellington wakes to alert level twoWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for June 24, bringing you the latest news updated throughout the day. Get in touch at stewart@thespinoff.co.nzWe’re doing our utmost to keep you updated on all the Covid-19 coverage. We can’t do it without the generous support of our members. If you want ...5 hours ago
- The Bulletin: Wellington waits nervously amid move to level twoGood morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Wellington waits nervously amid move to level two, Todd Muller leaving politics at next election, and banks making major profits amid big lending demand.For the first time ever, Wellington’s Covid restrictions are more stringent than that of the rest of ...6 hours ago
- Soaring power prices drive firms to invest in solar energy
The rising cost of wholesale power is forcing some businesses to consider investing in solar energy, writes Nicholas Pointon. Many firms are facing significant hikes to renew their fixed power contracts, as dry weather, low hydro lake levels and a shortage of natural gas puts upward pressure on prices. Christchurch-based manufacturing firm, ...6 hours ago - Amount earned from managed isolation and quarantine fees far less than expected
Officials have told the government they are sometimes struggling to identify who needs to pay for their managed isolation stay. ...6 hours ago - The future of NZ First and its leaderThe Detail - From positions of power to periods in the political wilderness, the party's chances of a return to its glory days seem to rest with long-time leader Winston Peters. ...7 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 24 June
Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...8 hours ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Thursday 24 June
...8 hours ago - Memory Games: The boxer floored by the haka
Alexis Pritchard - the first New Zealand female boxer to win an Olympic bout, in London 2012 - recalls watching a swimming legend with her grandpa, being overwhelmed by the haka, and her message for boxer David Nyika, in the Memory Games Q&A with LockerRoom writers who've been to the Olympics. ...8 hours ago - Saving the mighty albatross
It's not too late to turn around the decline of our albatross populations, despite the multiple threats they face today. Ariel Micaiah-Heswall looks at how. Albatrosses are an amazing group of animals. They spend an incredible 84 percent of their lives soaring across the ocean, foraging and migrating thousands of ...8 hours ago - Covid outbreak either easy to contain or out of control
On the one hand, the ramifications of the Sydney Covid-19 case who visited Wellington should be easy to handle. On the other, the Delta variant could throw health officials for a loop, Marc Daalder writes. Analysis: New Zealand has dealt with Covid-19 outbreaks before and always succeeded in eliminating the virus. But the ...8 hours ago - Bringing back Winston
From positions of pivotal power in governments to periods in the political wilderness, NZ First is the enigma of New Zealand politics. The party's chances of a return to its glory days seem to rest, as they always do, with its long-time leader Winston Peters. They're out, but they're not ...8 hours ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Friday 25 June
...8 hours ago - Newsroom's daily sudoku, Thursday 24 June
...8 hours ago - How Laurel Hubbard’s road to Tokyo is forcing a rethink on what inclusivity really meansThe trans weightlifter’s inclusion in New Zealand’s Olympic team has generated debate about transgender athletes and sport. But it has led also to a global conversation about how we design our systems to be safe and inclusive, for everyone, writes Laura Walters.Kiwi weightlifter Laurel Hubbard is making global headlines after ...8 hours ago
- We, the children of Centrepoint, are breaking through the silenceAs Centrepoint once again becomes a focus of media attention, Dr Caroline Ansley, a survivor of the North Shore commune, asks why the work of grappling with its legacy continues to fall on those who suffered. The most recent cover article of North & South left a greasy, nauseated feeling in ...8 hours ago
- Wake up ministers – Covid doesn't sleep
‘Go hard and go early’ has been a winning formula against Covid-19. But as the virus rears its head again, some mistakes are being made too many times, writes political editor Jo Moir. Journalists are familiar with the expression ‘news knows no time’. The biggest stories and tips often come ...8 hours ago - Wake up ministers – Covid doesn't sleepAs Covid-19 rears its head again, some mistakes are being made too many times, ...8 hours ago
- Job market swings in favour of workers, with record listings
Job seekers are gaining power as closed borders shut migrants out of the employment market ...8 hours ago - Is the America's Cup price really too high?
There's a reason why governments for the past 30 years have funded and basked in national sports successes, writes Peter Dunne, and that's why the America's Cup won't necessarily end up offshore. ...8 hours ago - $5K Surrey-Newsroom writers residency open
Announcing the 2021 Surrey Hotel-Newsroom writers residency Calling all writers wanting the rare chance to sit down in privacy and comfort to work on their latest masterpiece. Applications open today, as of now, this very second, for the prestigious 2021 Surrey Hotel-Newsroom writers residency - with an added bonus of ...8 hours ago - China, Australia and NZ: 'Anxiety and a sense of danger'
Who is to blame for tensions between the Asian superpower and our neighbours, and what does it mean for us? ...8 hours ago - Covid infections in Fiji soar with record 279 cases – four deathsBy Timoci Vula in Suva Fiji has reported its highest daily total of positive covid-19 infections with 279 cases reported as of 8am today as the outbreak continues to soar. The ministry has also reported four deaths attributed to the virus. Health Secretary Dr James Fong announced these figures in ...14 hours ago
- NZ’s capital moves to covid alert level 2 after Sydney tourist scareRNZ News The Wellington region moved to alert level 2 at 6pm today after an Australian tourist who visited the New Zealand capital on the weekend tested positive for covid-19 on his return to Sydney. Wellington, Wairarapa and Kāpiti Coast are now at alert level 2 until 11.59pm on Sunday ...14 hours ago
- Fiji records two covid deaths amid record 180 new casesBy Lice Movono, RNZ Pacific correspondent in Suva Fiji’s covid19 case count broke records again yesterday as medical authorities recorded another two deaths at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWM) in the capital Suva. Two men, a 68-year-old and a 42-year-old are the latest certified covid deaths. The CWM Hospital ...14 hours ago
- Bridging visas for three months granted to Tamil familySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Three members of the Biloela Tamil family have been given bridging visas for three months, which will allow the parents work and study rights. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has granted the visas to Nades and ...14 hours ago
- Politics with Michelle Grattan: Sussan Ley and Terri Butler on the Great Barrier Reef being ‘in da...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The government’s response to the UNESCO recommendation that the Great Barrier Reef be listed as “in danger” was one of surprise and shock. The recommendation will be considered at UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee meeting next ...16 hours ago
- Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – Excess Deaths by Age Cohort: New Zealand and comparator countriesAnalysis by Keith Rankin. New Zealand, concerns for all age groups. Chart by Keith Rankin. The international source for these data calculates the percentage increase (decrease if negative) of deaths compared to ‘expected deaths’. There is a weakness in the data, in that ‘expected deaths’ is simply the average for ...16 hours ago
- Vessels in international waters: Agencies to gain powers to stop, search, detainParliament has introduced a bill that gives agencies powers to stop any suspected serious criminal offending on ships in international waters. ...18 hours ago
- Siouxsie Wiles: Why the Covid-19 delta strain’s weekend in Wellington is so seriousHow did we get here, why is the alert level change necessary, and could this all have been avoided?After several scares, it’s finally actually happened. The uber-infectious delta variant of Covid-19 has hitched a ride to Aotearoa. It’s come via a visitor from Sydney who took advantage of the trans-Tasman ...20 hours ago
- Eight incredible moments from the new series of MatangireiaHeartbreak, scandal and intrigue are never far away in the new conversations with former Māori MPs. Leonie Hayden points to the highlights. Maybe it’s only ever possible to see the true humanity of politicians once they’ve left politics. Take away the campaigning, the party lines, the spin and the relentlessness of ...20 hours ago
- Who is Wellington’s Next Top Mould-el?Wellington’s most mouldy flat is finally getting the recognition it deserves. A City for People shares the grand prize winner of Wellington’s Next Top Mould-el, plus spot prizes. Mushrooms, perma-soggy floors, and mummified rats: the biodiversity of our capital city’s “character”-filled rental homes has been flooding the inbox of A City ...20 hours ago
- Charting New Zealand's vaccine rollout
How many people have been vaccinated in New Zealand? How does that stack up with the rest of the world? Newsroom presents a weekly dashboard of everything you need to know about our country's vaccine rollout. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var e in a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var t=document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-"+e)||document.querySelector("iframe[src*='"+e+"']");t&&(t.style.height=a.data["datawrapper-height"][e]+"px")}}))}(); In the past week, New Zealand ...21 hours ago - The case for a Tasmanian AFL team, from an economist’s point of viewSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Harcourt, Industry Professor and Chief Economist, University of Technology Sydney No one did a cost-benefit analysis before accepting Tasmania into the Commonwealth. Should the Australian Football League do the same? Tasmanians have pushed for their own AFL team since the 1980s, ...22 hours ago
- What is the ‘unified protocol’ for PTSD? And how can it help?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Berle, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology, University of Technology Sydney ChameleonsEye/www.shutterstock.com Many of us experience at least one potentially traumatic event in our lifetime. These can include accidents, natural disasters, exposure to war and combat, or physical and sexual ...22 hours ago
- A lone tree makes it easier for birds and bees to navigate farmland, like a stepping stone between h...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carla Archibald, Research Fellow, Conservation Science, Deakin University Shutterstock Vast, treeless paddocks and fields can be dangerous for wildlife, who encounter them as “roadblocks” between natural areas nearby. But our new research found even one lone tree in an otherwise ...22 hours ago
- What is COVAX-19, the most advanced of Australia’s remaining local COVID vaccine candidates?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Griffin, Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, The University of Queensland David Mariuz/AAP Australia’s current crop of COVID-19 vaccines consists of a shot by American biotechnology company Pfizer, which we import, and the vaccine by British-Swedish multinational AstraZeneca, the ...22 hours ago
- Seymour nettles the PM with questions about EVs, “feebate”, the Auckland cycle bridge and the di...
Parliament, mostly a humdrum affair these days, nevertheless has moments which fascinate long-time aficinados. One such moment came at Question Time yesterday when ACT’s David Seymour was probing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern over the “feebate” scheme which the government is introducing to accelerate the introduction of EVs. The Prime Minister ...23 hours ago - Bus Operator Surprised At Rejection Of Latest Pay OfferNZ Bus says it is surprised at the rejection of its latest pay offer to Wellington bus drivers. The revised offer was developed with help from Greater Wellington Regional Council and recommended to drivers by the Tramways Union. “The decision is a surprise ...23 hours ago
- Maniapoto Deed Of Settlement Ready For Iwi RatificationThe Maniapoto Māori Trust Board (MMTB) have reached the final step in resolving their historical Treaty of Waitangi claims. Maniapoto whānau are now encouraged to support the process by voting on and accepting the Maniapoto Deed of Settlement ...23 hours ago
- Why New Zealand is more vulnerable to a new COVID-19 outbreak than ever beforeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Hobbs, Senior Lecturer in Public Health, University of Canterbury Sydney’s community outbreak of COVID-19 has been dominated by the delta variant. Bai Xuefei/Xinhua via Getty Images Health authorities have raised the COVID-19 alert to level 2 for Wellington, from 6pm today ...23 hours ago
- Newsroom challenges Crown lawyers' conduct
Papers filed with the district court reveal Newsroom’s arguments against a charge of breaching the Family Court Act. David Williams reports Newsroom’s written court submissions throw light on police and Crown Law behaviour the news website’s lawyer maintains is unfair and, perhaps, predetermined. Yesterday, Newsroom appeared in the Christchurch District ...23 hours ago - After 71 years, we must end the Korean War – and NZ has a role to playIt’s easy to forget the Korean War never ended. As the armistice anniversary approaches, New Zealand must lend its weight to help end the on-going stalemate, writes Rebekah Jaung. Just past the Parnell Rose Gardens, lies the Auckland Korean War Memorial Rock. A giant slab of Korean stone, engraved with the ...23 hours ago
- Woods protects taxpayers from oil and gas decommissioning costs – but she invites applications to ...
One Beehive announcement from Megan Woods steers the public to around $1 billion sloshing around in a $3.8 billion trough in her Housing bailiwick by announcing eligibility criteria. Partnership with Maori will be helpful for those who are keen to line up for a slice of the action. Another announcement ...1 day ago - NZ-US Trade Flows Show Impact Of COVID-19 But Underlying ResilienceNZUS Council executive director, Jordan Small said today the latest quarterly data on New Zealand’s trade with the United States looks bad but underneath the headline number is resilience in high value exports that bodes well for a future beyond the ...1 day ago
- The Antarctic Treaty is turning 60 years old. In a changed world, is it still fit for purpose?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Donald Rothwell, Professor of International Law, Australian National University AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC DIVISION/PR Handout The 1959 Antarctic Treaty celebrates its 60th anniversary today. Negotiated during the middle of the Cold War by 12 countries with Antarctic interests, it remains the only ...1 day ago
- Kura Forrester relives the horror of being the Eagle Boys mascotThe comedian and actor tells us about her actual first appearance on Shortland Street, first job and more in the latest episode of FIRST.Kura Forrester was living in London and working as a waitress when a friend invited her to watch an open mic night. “It was kind of inspiring,” ...1 day ago
- Amid a labour shortage, here’s how businesses could hire more refugees — and gain a strategic ad...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jeannie Eun Su Lee, Lecturer, University of Newcastle Shutterstock Australia is in the grip of a labour shortage, as pandemic border closures stem the flow of workers from other countries. At the same time, Australia has an untapped talent pool ...1 day ago
- Feedback Sought On Fisheries Catch LimitsFisheries New Zealand is inviting people to have their say on proposed changes to catch limits and other settings across a range of fisheries for the new fishing year, beginning 1 October. “The consultation is part of a regular cycle of reviews that ...1 day ago
- Australians are not aware news outlets are in financial trouble: new reportSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caroline Fisher, Co-author of the Digital News Report: Australia 2020, Deputy Director of the News and Media Research Centre, and Associate Professor of Journalism, University of Canberra Shutterstock During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 150 Australian news outlets have contracted, ...1 day ago
- Collins dismisses review idea, says Little responsible for slow mental health spendNational Party leader Judith Collins says the Health Minister is responsible for the slow roll-out of a $1.9 billion investment in mental health services and that a review into the matter isn't necessary. ...1 day ago
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- Brown Optimism, by J.C. SturmIt is believed that Sturm wrote this poem between 1946 and 1948, in her 20s. It was likely published in a student newspaper and has just been rediscovered in a box of her old clippings. Read more about the poem and how it was found here. Brown OptimismWith dust of labour on ...1 day ago
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Some music to brighten up your day/ From Wellington’s wonderful bluesman Darren Watson, who’s a friend of Labour. The song is called Planet Key, and the video, by Jeremy Jones, is such fantastic.
Oh I did like the Slug n Smug. A very very good song and video.
Try it for a 🙂 today
Brilliant riffer-just shared on Facebook.
Its BRILLIANT, so cutting! It doesn’t miss it’s targets!! And its really catchy!!
that’s just the best
WOW!!!! Awesome track and amazing video. That is a stunner.
It needs to get ALOT of airplay
Great track. A sure vote winner for Key. The left don’t get humour. The smugness is all on the Left who genuinely think this resonates with voters. All real people see is John Key the success.
He’s an idiot, that Fisiani.
Every day on http://archiedarival.blogspot.co.nz/ I’m putting up a new John Key Lie of the Day, with links where you can hear and see Key doing the lying.
Much of the raw material I got from this site, thank you.
Great tune Darren. Lovely stuff.
Great tune and video. It will win hundreds of votes for John Key. The Left don’t get how to do humour obviously from the comments above.
Which comment are you referring to, srylands?
Fishyanal you haven’t come up with one funny thing since you have been posting on this site nor have you come up with one original idea..
In the whole World their are no right wing comedians funny that!
Fishy plenty of clowns like yourself though you should be made to watch good morning Vietnam for a week nonstop fitianal you and the right remind me of the jerk that Robin Williams opposed in that movie.
the right are to anally retentive to be funny fishy to busy trying to play monopoly to be team players!
Have a chuckle and make your own billboard…
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Im-relaxed/906405082708477
More lols. Excellent!
There’s no satire these days so we to go down the home made road if we are to turn the mirrors back on those in power.
does this remind anyone of anyone..?..
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/03/bill-maher-internet-political-correctness_n_5645586.html?ref=topbar
(you know who you are..!..)
“after lamenting the PC culture of the internet where people “lay in wait” to attack someone for saying something they don’t agree with.”
Do you think he includes making passive aggressive attack posts in his piece?
If not, he should, he would have knocked it out of the park.
Being introspective is good for the soul, well done phil
i wonder if this will have the desired effect..?
…(my five cents/tinnys? worth on that med-pot show that screened on sunday last nite..)
http://whoar.co.nz/2014/the-segment-on-medical-marijuana-that-screened-on-sunday-last-nite/
Pretty noisy from the baidu spiders this morning.
Hopefully I have quelled them now.
Could Christine Rankin be just the ‘tool’ needed to chisel Epsom from the grasp of ACT, every little bit helps,
Rankin, if She drags in more of the ACT vote than that She takes off of National will make the electorate a much easier ask for Labour and Green supporters in Epsom to use their electorate votes ‘tactically”,
We can only hope that both Parties, Green and Labour, spend plenty of energy in the Epsom electorate this election identifying and convincing their supporters how crucial ‘tactical voting’ could be in September,
Rankin,likely to only be able to scrape a couple of thousand votes from Epsom may like the whole Conservative % of the party vote be a ‘gift’ for the left this election un-thought of a couple of weeks ago…
Not likely, Epsom will go with Act
Don’t cross Cray-Cray. He’ll send Rankin to spoil your party 😆
Hell hath no fury apparently, a Colon scorned is said to be extremely upsetting to the bowels of some, Slippery the Prime Minister might live to regret passing that particular prune in favor of the more ‘known’ quantity of Winston Peters,
Colons Conservatives seem to take votes from across the spectrum, National/Labour/NZFirst, for National and Labour the effect is pretty much neutral, for NZFirst tho, especially if the latest Roy Morgan is anywhere near accurate, the deliberate targeting of the ‘waiting for God vote’ by Craig might well see Winston pushed into enforced retirement…
‘Spankin’ Rankin” has no show but will annoy the Nats one way or another. Lets give Goldsmith the win he so desperately doesn’t want.
2011 Election Results – Epsom Electorate
Candidate Valid Votes Share (%)
BANKS, John (ACT) 15,835 44.10
GOLDSMITH, Paul (NAT) 13,574 37.80
PARKER, David (LAB) 3,751 10.45
HAY, David (GP) 2,160 6.01
KAN, Simon (CNSP) 342 0.95
BRIGHT, Penny (IND) 124 0.35
O’DEA, Pat (MANA) 66 0.18
GOODE, Matthew (IND) 59 0.16
Interestingly ACT came in 5th on the party vote after Nat. Lab., Green and NZ First at just 2.55%.
Hope this works
Just proves that Mike Hosking is an absolute pratt to putt it mildly. Is his misspelling of David Cunliffe’s surname a typo or deliberate? It appears that the actual graphics haven’t appeared, but it’s a tweet from him.
Shame.
The solution is to stop collecting crime statistics, and tax cuts.
Ha ! SSLands nutting away on Open Mike yesterday about Jonah Lomu’s endorsing TheGodKey.
https://twitter.com/JONAHTALILOMU/status/495059431894155265
Poor Jonah. Off the field he was always a hapless, naive fool. Still remember the clinical way in which the narcissistic short man Holmes secured his griefing up over very personal, very private family matters on prime time TV. Duped again it would seem.
Still, there is that spare knighthood floating around somewhere…….the one ThreeHandKey offered to Richie McCaw (who declined bemusedly) and then mouthed off all over town that he’d offered it.
Political value in this latest stunt ? Not much I’d expect. Whom, now, is Jonah Lomu ? I’ll check back after the expected parading of one-time working class hero The Mad Butcher Leitch.
The National Party’s fascination with cheap celebrity what ?
Did the kidnapping of IDF soldier Hadar Goldin cause the breakdown within the hour of the most recent truce or were hostilities resumed to cover up the implementation of the Hannibal directive?.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannibal_Directive
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannibal_Directive#Incidents_where_the_directive_was_invoked
@ joe90 …it is more sinister than a simple case of retribution….Israels long term strategy …Crimes Against Humanity…Genocide?…there are gas and oil issues in the mix
‘Israel’s Military Strategy:”Obliterate Them Completely”. Overwhelming Evidence of Genocide, Precise Data on Death and Destruction in Gaza’
Death Toll Exceeds that of “Cast Lead”, 2008-2009
By Prof Michel Chossudovsky
“Genocide directed against Palestinians has become a “New Normal” according to the Times of Israel.
Under certain circumstances –according to the Times of Israel article–“Genocide is Permissible” because it is directed against Palestinians who are “terrorists” and who should be “obliterated…..
http://www.globalresearch.ca/israels-military-strategyobliterate-them-completely-overwhelming-evidence-of-genocide-precise-data-on-death-and-destruction-in-gaza/5394678
http://www.globalresearch.ca/turning-a-blind-eye-to-israeli-atrocities-middle-east-peace-envoy-tony-blair-parties-as-gaza-burns/5394625
http://www.rense.com/general84/guess.htm
http://washingtonexaminer.com/hamas-keeps-gazas-economic-future-bottled-up-by-blocking-natural-gas-development/article/2551529?custom_click=rss
Yep, the genocide by the jewish nation continues unabated.
Oh, and the infanticide.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/middle-east/10343523/Deadly-Israeli-strike-on-UN-school-condemned
Israel is evil.
The arrogant Netanyahu has no intention to make any sort of peace.
http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/39692/fibi-netanyahu
Netanyahu may be a big man but he is certainly not wise is he….
Ghandi, Mandela, people like this are wise
Netanyahu, H1tler, people like this are fools
Can you blame him when Hamas keeps breaking it?
Breaking what, the truce the IDF broke when troops entered an Hamas tunnel where they met resistance and rather than let Hadar Goldin be kidnapped the Hannibal directive was enacted and he was murdered by his own comrades. That truce?.
Chomsky’s take on the Gaza situation.
Interestingly, he contrasts reaction to that situation to the official outrage voiced over the downing of the Malaysian airliner.
As ever his analysis is intense with a dry sarcasm that strips away the rhetorical veneer of pro-Israeli reactions and exposes all the bald inconsistencies inherent in maintaining that position.
It was interesting to watch Campbell Live on Friday evening (the only time I every watch TV when visiting the olds) and see John Campbell say that after so much bad news it was time for some happy news to end the week with – so far so good.
Then follows a story on a far north century old hotel that has closed down with the land and building now owned by the local iwi who have decided that they don’t want to allow one last drink up by the locals to mark the hotel’s closing as their elders feel alcohol has harmed Maori in the district for such a long time. At this point everyone in New Zealand is invited to give their opinion on whether the local iwi were right or or wrong in turning it down.
Interesting piece of positive news – start a divisive debate along racial lines.
Then it had a weird story about a country school that has gone to almost no students to about 90 in a year or tow, somehow inspired by someone donating some money. However, the amount of money is never disclosed and how this and anything else was done to achieve these results is quite unclear, including just where all these new pupils were coming from. Very odd storyt that seemed to be making some sort of point but delivers no useful information. It was described as a public school but whether it had anything to do with charter schools was kept completely in the dark.
And then, Fambo, there is the story in today’s Herald about marvellous happenings in Kawerau – turning around youth from life of crime etc etc – and comment that similar pilot funding has done the same things in other small towns such as Kaikohe.
Well – I’ve been told the Kaikohe township pilot started off with a coordinator new to the town, that its floundering, and although the local community put up a similar pilot scheme, the funding went to the stooges appointed by the Govt .
What is more, this story appears on the very day that Labour is due to announce its own scheme for turning youth unemployment into a future of hope, apprenticeships, jobs, etc etc.
Surprise, surprise !!
Stumbled onto one of my favourite quotes from Orwell. Thought it was a timely reminder of what happening in the here and now.
“Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations.”
― George Orwell
I prefer:
“That rifle on the wall of the labourer’s cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there.”
Take note Greens
what? sounds all out of context and a bit useless
I think the point is that if ‘we’ (presumably the middle/upper classes) don’t run things to ensure democracy for all, then the working classes will rise in violent revolution, and that the GP should be scared of that because they’re so anti-democracy for poor/working people. So yeah, out of context, time wise, geographically, culturally and politically. Or perhaps PR could point to some specific anti-working class policies from the GP.
If wielding firearms = guaranteeing democracy, then the USA sure has one heck of a lot of democracy going on at the moment.
Yeah. Strange how a bunch of communists realized that to destroy capitalism all they had to do was get rich by denuding economics of any science. ACT are fifth column communists. Force the working classes to hold their guns close and also ramp up debt on them so they rise up and remove the capitalist system.
More that the Greens want to make semi-autos illegal and from there it’ll be a short step to making firearms available to only a select few and then removed completely
Rubbish.
Whys it rubbish? They want to get rid of our defence force and make it some sort of “peace keeping” malarky so disarming the entire population isn’t that strange
We need to completely re-purpose our Defence Forces away from imperial interventions to a homeland/Pacific self protection and civil works role.
“They want to get rid of our defence force and make it some sort of “peace keeping” malarky so disarming the entire population isn’t that strange”
Link to actual policy please.
Actual GP policy on gun control:
Gun Control
In order to reduce risks associated with guns and their use in crime, the Green Party will:
Make private ownership of fully functional semi-automatic weapons illegal.Investigate the benefits and costs of a low fee, centralised gun registration system and database.
Reduce the licensing period from ten years to five, in line with practices in the UK, Australia, and Canada.
Review the vetting procedures in the firearms acquisition certificate, to ensure that they are in line with best practice.</i>
https://www.greens.org.nz/policy/justice#P12
“That rifle on the wall of the labourer’s cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there.”
from my cold dead hands eh…..
I don’t agree with everything the NRA says or does (assuming you’re referring to former head of the NRA Charlton Heston) In fact if the USa followed what NZ does they’d be a much better place but as I understand it gun laws are set at State level
There no reason other than ideological for semi-autos to be banned in NZ
Do you have something planned because killing lots of things quickly is the only reason one would need a semi-automatic firearm.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramoana_massacre
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Arthur_massacre_%28Australia%29
Sure do, shooting semi-autos is fun and are not in any way the major firearm used in crime and simply because you don’t like them is no reason to impede on my legal right to do the hobby I enjoy
The firearms laws were changed after Aramoana (which happened over 2 decades ago) which is why the laws don’t need to be changed because they’re working
The Greens want to protect people then they can go and sort out that which kills people more than guns do: health, disease, cars etc etc
Well I’ll be damned …. we have a real live NRA nutter amongst us in puckish rogue, parading all the useless one-liners he can muster in order to “have fun” doing something which only NRA nutters get their rocks off on …. and that is something to be very very afraid of.
“Sure do, shooting semi-autos is fun and are not in any way the major firearm used in crime and simply because you don’t like them is no reason to impede on my legal right to do the hobby I enjoy”
Am curious now. Where do you shoot your semi-automatic rifle? Any reason it can’t be done in a controlled setting like a gun club?
“The Greens want to protect people then they can go and sort out that which kills people more than guns do: health, disease, cars etc etc”
Funnily enough the Greens have lots of policy to sort out cars, but you lot scream like babies every time they’re mentioned.
Aramoana. – and other overseas massacres. You want the the time delay of people having to stop and reload. And why would you average citizen need a semiautomatic- you’d hardly go hunting with it.
I’ve been away for a while… is this a known bug? The standard keeps dropping my name and email from the comment fields. Seems to hold them for a period of time, then they’re blank. Blank multiple times over a day so they’re not being held very long. Or is it Firefox?
[lprent: Probably time that cookies are told to remain. I will check after work. ]
My name and email has been dropping out that way for 3-4 weeks, and it seems to have affected others as well.
Hi Weka,
Oops, filled out my email field incorrectly and went into moderation; yes, have had the fields blanking for 3-4 weeks, and it seems to be affecting other commenters too.
thanks ER. Has anyone said anything to Lynn?
Hi weka. Same, for the last few weeks. I did mention it to Lynn but got distracted for a few days and didn’t go back and check if there was a reply from him.
I have been toying with the idea of having a zany new handle every time.
Not meant to be happening. Will look at after I get home.
Ta 🙂
Move on, nothing to see..
/
In 2006, manufacturing was the biggest employment sector in New Zealand with 11.6 per cent of people employed in the sector. The 2013 Census revealed that this figure had dropped to 9.8 per cent of the population, with 29,472 fewer people employed in the sector since 2006.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11303447
National party slogans:
“Facts don’t count”
“Analysis of the facts doesn’t count”
“We are the ones that get to say what reality is”
“There are no problems in NZ if we shut our eyes”
“It is all good here because we say so.”
“Don’t listen to the truth – buy our unique brand of fiction”
“Ban education for all”
“Sweet lies are preferable than having a grasp on reality”
“Vote for Sweet Lies”
“Go back to sleep”
Breaking News:
The World Changes!
That could only be breaking news to a typically poorly informed Nat supporter.
Those who are curious about the world and have an interest in history and what others’ think know that people have known about the ever-changing nature of the world for well over two millennium.
FYI
There is a US Chamber of Commerce briefing at the MFAT office on Quay St at which Minister of Trade, Tim Groser will be speaking.
TOMORROW: Tuesday 5 August
5pm
139 Quay St Auckland City.
Where’s the ‘People’s Briefing’?
Where’s the ‘open, transparent and democratic accountability’ with these Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiations?
What sort of ‘PARTNERSHIP’ excludes the public?
After 30 years of neo-liberal ‘Rogernomic$’ – haven’t the public learned that what’s good for big business isn’t usually good for the the public majority?
How come over 600 corporate ‘trade advisors’ get to see the TPPA text – but the public don’t?
http://www.citizen.org/TPP
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): Job Loss, Lower Wages and Higher Drug Prices
Have you heard? The TPP is a massive, controversial “free trade” agreement currently being pushed by big corporations and negotiated behind closed doors by officials from the United States and 11 other countries – Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. In one fell swoop, this secretive deal could:
offshore millions of American jobs,
roll back Wall Street reforms,
sneak in SOPA-like threats to Internet freedom,
ban Buy American policies needed to create green jobs,
jack up the cost of medicines,
expose the U.S. to unsafe food and products,
and empower corporations to attack our environmental and health safeguards.
Although it is called a “free trade” agreement, the TPP is not mainly about trade.
Of TPP’s 29 draft chapters, only five deal with traditional trade issues.
One chapter would provide incentives to offshore jobs to low-wage countries.
Many would impose limits on government policies that we rely on in our daily lives for safe food, a clean environment, and more.
Our domestic federal, state and local policies would be required to comply with TPP rules.
The TPP would even elevate individual foreign firms to equal status with sovereign nations, empowering them to privately enforce new rights and privileges, provided by the pact, by dragging governments to foreign tribunals to demand taxpayer compensation over policies that they claim undermine their expected future profits.
We only know about the TPP’s threats thanks to leaks – the public is not allowed to see the draft TPP text.
Even members of Congress, after being denied the text for years, are now only provided limited access.
Meanwhile, more than 600 official corporate “trade advisors” have special access.
The TPP has been under negotiation for five years, and the Obama administration wants to sign the deal by early 2014.
Opposition to the TPP is growing at home and in many of the other countries involved.
Whose interests are being served by the TPPA?
Follow the dollar ……..
What do you expect from this John Key led National Government, when this ex-Wall Street banker is STILL a shareholder in the Bank of America?
http://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-nz/00CLOOCMPPFinInterests20141/2e04287ad20ee5da12a308149e59bb16d7f47ce5
“Rt Hon John Key (National, Helensville)
2 Other companies and business entities
Little Nell – property investment, Aspen, Colorado
Bank of America – banking ”
“The will of the people is the basis of the authority of government”!
NO PUBLIC SAY – NO TPPA!
https://www.facebook.com/ItsOurFutureNZ
It’s time to ROLLBACK ‘Rogernomic$’ and corrupt corporate control – not extend it.
Open the books!
Cut out the private sector contractors and consultants!
Return essential public services back to direct democratic control, with
‘in-house’ employees, under the ‘public service’ – NOT commercialised or privatised model!
The neo-liberal mantra that ‘public is bad – private is good’ – has been proven over the last 30 years to be a complete and utter rort and fraud perpetrated on the public.
In my considered opinion, the only ones who have benefited from public services being run in a more ‘business-like’ (privatised) way – is those businesses who have secured the contracts.
It’s time for the public majority to benefit from our public monies at central and local government – not a corporate minority – helped by politicians who serve their interests.
The TPPA will extend this corrupt, powerful corporate control, both nationally and internationally.
ENOUGH!
My very clear position as a fiercely independent anti-corruption and anti-privatisation Public Watchdog, is that this NZ National-led Government must NOT sign the TPPA.
Penny Bright
2014 Independent Candidate for the Helensville electorate
2009 Attendee Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference
2010 Attendee Transparency International Anti-Corruption Conference
2013 Attendee Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference
2009 Attendee G20 Anti-Corruption Conference
2013 Auckland Mayoral Candidate (polled 4th with 11,723 votes)
If you are able to join the protest there at 5pm at 139 Quay St, Auckland then this would be fantastic.
It’s our future website has a good rundown on the positions taken on the TPPA by the political parties.
http://www.itsourfuture.org.nz/elections-2014-voting-against-the-tppa/
any chance of anyone leaving a mike in the room accidentally? or will an OIA get the speech
Looks like there is an issue with the cron picking up the feeds. Drat…
@ lprent 2.56
It’s not the end of the world to have to put name/mail in. In Firefox if I forget a get a good service with a notice and then can return and find my comment still there. And on Firefox I have name/mail saved and just have to put the first letter and up comes the details for me to click.
National has just Nationalised Novopay.
Steven Joyce deserves credit for biting this bullet.
Novopay is sold by Talent2, formerly known as Morgan & Banks.
Andrew Banks graduated from Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art, travelled globally, ran a Sydney restaurant, and moved into personnel management to form Morgan & Banks in Sydney.
It coincided with the early application of the internet to job search and competition with sites such as < http://www.seek.com.au > – Melbourne based but with significant investment and involvement by James Packer contributing pressure for M&B to expand beyond Australia.
Strangely, it is now difficult to find anything about this period on the net.
http://www.about-monster.com/content/tmp-worldwide-acquires-morgan-banks
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:9jT0btMJA7MJ:www.nida.edu.au
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novopay#Talent2_background
Both major parties in NZ are implicated in one way or another.
Joyce has done the right thing, but it exposes the small pond of people and ideas that is NZ politics.
If ‘Talent2′ cannot get it right in NZ, what are their prospects to do this globally ?
We look forward to seeing Steven Joyce crossing the house on other matters of national importance.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/10344928/Questions-remain-about-Novopay-deal
You can’t blame labour for any of this mess as they were going to trial it for 6 months in Canterbury to see if it had any faults and if those faults could be fixed . Nationals Hekia Parata went ahead and fully implemented right across the country knowing full and well it needed trialling HEkia Parata has used Novapay to bully teachers!
I believe that the original contract via Labour was changed and scope extended when National took over. So Labour cannot be blamed as the later Novopay contract had nothing to do with them.
This is President Obama in the last day or so:
‘Obama said the United States “unequivocally condemned “barbaric” Hamas and the Palestinian factions that were responsible for killing two Israeli soldiers, and abducting a third almost minutes after a ceasefire had been announced”.’
WTF is this man on ? Do we hear him describe as “barbaric” the artillery shelling of a UN establishment offering refuge to 3,000 rendered homeless (15 including children killed) – when the IDF had been given the location co-ordinates of that establishment THIRTY THREE times, the last occasion being only a couple of hours before the hit.
I despise Obama frankly hearing that. Particularly when the US continues to fund the IDF to the tune of $US 3,000,000,000 (3 billion) ANNUALLY.
“Do we hear him describe as “barbaric” the artillery shelling of a UN establishment…”. We also didn’t hear him say anything about the UN envoy who was talking about the rockets found in the Gaza UN school compounds. Bastard isn’t he ? One eyed or what ?
Latest from Snowden- US implicated
Cash, Weapons and Surveillance: the U.S. is a Key Party to Every Israeli Attack
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/08/04/cash-weapons-surveillance/
Heard Chris Finlayson on Radio Live tonight with Grant Robertson and Duncan Garner – it seems that Finlayson has decided to copy Steven Joyce’s method of being interviewed – tried to talk right over the top of Grant Robertson and got mighty nasty at times too, he kept on the “xenophobia” rant over the latest farm sale to the Chinese!! Crosby Textor must have had a master class for all the Nats on how to drown out all opposition to their short-sighted policies! No mention of it in the Herald that I saw, and certainly the media aren’t exploring the story of the Conservation Land that the Nats have given to the purchasers of the Crafar Farms!
From 4-5pm on newstalk Mr. Slater employed the same technique. Almost makes you want to switch over to listen to Jono playing this …
It is because they have no answer and nothing decent to say
So they begin to shout like drunks in a pub
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/personal-finance/news/article.cfm?c_id=12&objectid=11302589
Assuming these purchases are made in a company the profits are taxed at 43 per cent (being 15 per cent GST and 28 per cent company tax rate). – And Andrew Bruce is knowledgable in the area !!!!!
Well he may not know this but, the coy purchasing the property would be able to claim a refund of 15% of the purchase price from the IRD: reducing their cash cost and the required borrowings. Even if there is no GST applicable to the sale under 2nd Hand Goods GST would still be able to be claimed, and 100% of the income is the companies there is no GST attributable to the rent received. The truth has been lost in this article in its attempt to portray that landlords are paying more than their fair share, also given the $1.2b subsidy from Housing supplements from the govt
http://www.interest.co.nz/property/60426/govt-reviewing-accommodation-supplement-rent-subsidy-housing-minister-heatley-says-go
If these did not exist then IMO rents would be dramatically reduced as they allow for a greater rent to be paid that the current tenants would be unable to afford.
InternetMana roadshow in Wellington tonight, 4–500 people, a pretty full house, solid applause for all with especially strong support for both Annette Sykes and Lailla Harre,
More tomorrow when i have sorted the event through in my nut…