Personally I’m still of the opinion those similarities are coincidental. Trump simply doesn’t have the attention span or thought processes to actually carry out a sustained strategy. Seems to me the correct view of whatever “communication” comes from Trump is that blurting out whatever is simply scratching an itch he’s got at that moment.
In 2009 Bill English was found to have rorted taxpayers by claiming $900 a week accommodation allowance for his Wellington home. The Auditor General came down with a finding that the Wellington home is his primary residence and the Dipton home was effectively a holiday home. Yes, I know that this is old news.
The twist is, where did Bill English register to vote for this period? Southland = electoral fraud: Wellington = allowance fraud. Check the historical electoral roles for Simon William English, Born 30 December 2016.
What’s the difference between Meteria Turei enrolling to vote in an electorate she didn’t live in (Mt Albert), and John and Bronagh Key enrolling in the Epsom electorate when they lived in Helensville?
I worry for the future of this country if you think we need a Green Government.
I have no problem with a Green Party, a proper Green Party.
The one we have though is a Communist Party masquerading as a Green Party.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
I thought it was 10% The Greens couldn’t crack; they must be making strong gains. In any case, calling them “communists”? That’s no way to engage in a meaningful discussion with Green supporters, imo. I notice you, RedLogix, don’t resort to inappropriate inflammatory lables, though I duid think your pffffffft was a bit unseemly.
How long has this Party been about for? How many conferences, how much money, how much effort and life energy has been poured into it? Look at all the lovely detailed policy and wonderful intentions … and still 15%. If you think that’s a ‘strong gain’ I’ve a bridge for sale.
An honest person at this point would ask themselves, just what are we doing wrong here? What’s holding us back?
Well in my experience it’s precisely this perception … right or wrong … that Greg expressed. Not so much the Green Party is a hotbed of closet Marxist loonies, but that your economic narrative doesn’t hold much appeal.
Yes we need to shut down industries that spew carbon, pollute the groundwater and fuck the planet over. But where do we go from there? That 85% who won’t vote for you still want to know where next weeks pay packet is coming from.
“and still 15%”
I sure they would be absolutely delirious to get to 15%.
They did once get 11% in an election but that was a couple of elections ago and was the absolute peak of their popularity.
Can’t see it this time though. Arden is a great deal more likeable that Little and will suck back quite a bit of the Green Party vote I should think.
Except I don’t believe labour lost votes to the greens because of the leader (unless it was Shearer). In my own case, and those I’ve read of here, it’s the too centrist policy, career politicians hanging in there for dear life and Robertson and his gang.
If Ardern’s labour moves left and chases the green vote, then sure, some old reds may switch back, but I doubt that will happen.
I expect labour will aim it’s campaign at the center, and whilst paying lip service to the underclass, will mostly hope to sway soft blue swing voters, NZ1st defectors and the bizarrely misguided voting Top.
When Labour dumped Shearer they were on about 34%. They dumped him and have been going downhill ever since. Meanwhile the Green Party and Winston’s mob have been picking up votes. I really don’t think, based on the polls of the time, that Shearer lost the Labour Party any significant number of votes.
I would have voted for a Shearer led Labour Party in this election. Not in 2014 but this year. They would have been a viable Government.
Who were the idiots who got rid of Shearer in order to get the hapless Cunliffe and the hopeless Little?
Because there was no way that Shearer got the labour party. No point in helping him win with the dumbarse attitudes he had. In the end even John Key looked better.
I’ve jumped nowhere. I’ll be voting in this election for a Green electorate candidate and my preferred outcome would be a quite interesting coalition of Lab/Grn/TOP/MP (in that order).
That would probably be, as you say, quite interesting. It would however be only about 45 seats in the house in my view.
Hardly the makings of a stable Government is it?
Why would you do that and vote green electorate candidate?
Unless they’re a dead cert to win, which I don’t think any candidate is, if you want to change the government you have to tactical vote and vote labour, who will be in either first or second position.
You sure you want to get rid of English? I’m dubious about your methodology.
Ditching mmp has nothing to do with voting for someone who will likely lose over someone who could hold or take a seat off the nats. That’s undeniably sound methodology if you want them out.
So again, why would you not vote tactically if your aim is to change the government?
I don’t agree with you about the communist bit Greg, as I’d call the current Greens left wing but not communist, but I do agree about the need for a distinctly Green party.
I’m interested in a party that can gain power to ensure that environmental issues are always sensibly represented irrespective of whether National or Labour lead the government.
That way something good is always being achieved (not just when a particular lead party is in power) and, over time, most people start to understand that supporting the environmental does not mean bad stuff happens to them.
Hence, I find myself somewhat drawn towards TOP, but as yet undecided.
So with the proper Green Party still not cracking 15% (and that’s being generous) after what is it now … 7 elections … just when do you expect them to ever have any effective influence?
I’ve given them my full card vote the past four elections; and I’m running short on justifications to ‘waste’ it a fifth time.
notice davis siding with bennett here – just saying…
“The Greens have made their bed and now they have to lie in it,” said Labour Deputy leader Kelvin Davis…
“It’s pretty ugly and I just think if you’re going to open up about yourself like that, then you’ve got to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth”.
On the same AM Show panel, Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett said it was a “serious” matter.
“Is she someone you can sit down at a Cabinet table with, and have her running portfolios?”
Davis acknowledged that was a good question, and Labour would be assessing how much Turei’s electoral revelation could damage their own party, which has just switched leadership teams due to languishing polls seven weeks from the General Election.
Agreed. Not a promising start. This is what I meant when I used the “one hand in my pocket and the other doing a high five” line. Optimistic but waiting to see how things turned out.
It seems to me that everyone in politics has just discovered they have some feet they haven’t shot to pieces yet.
Davis’ correct play here is to dead bat it by saying that concerns about appropriate electoral activities from 20 years ago, well before someone was involved in politics, are a matter for the person concerned and not anything that the Labour party needs to comment on.
And then make a vague allusion to there being a lot of hypocrisy going around about Metiria’s actions. Make Bennett squirm a bit.
he isn’t experienced at all – that is his problem – he is well outside his pay grade and yet here he is deputy – THIS is how I know I’m getting old – when this shit happens.
+1 My hope here is that because Labour MPs routinely speak out without consensus that he might just have been speaking from his own views not that of Ardern’s or the caucus. Probably a slim hope though.
The juxtaposition of a professional class white woman getting lots of ups vs a brown working class woman being pilloried is quite something, and something that NZ is going to have to come to terms with at some point.
Davis has a experience of being in opposition, and his technique seems to suggest that he aims to pick up the “other” votes by voicing the reactionary concerns to issues.
ie. If Metiria has gained votes from people who see the untenable reality of welfare support – then there is no use going after those votes, collect the ones from those who still have a unresolved sense of disquiet.
His determination to get Mana out of Parliament last election, was noticeable in the collusion with National. Mana somehow was the enemy, because that was a button he could push – and National was not.
Collusion is the wrong word choice (by me). National hated Mana, and made that apparent. They made it obvious that they would prefer a government without any Mana Party representation.
Instead of focusing on getting rid of National, Davis took that sentiment by National and ran with it, doing their work for them without even being asked.
The failure of Labour to support those on the left of politics is what I am constantly disappointed by.
In that case, Davis didn’t even have to support Mana, he only had to run a parallel campaign. But he couldn’t resist putting the boot in.
I have some trouble with ‘guilt by association’, Marty Mars. Your ‘just saying’ is plain wrong btw.
Just because I agree with someone over an issue does not mean that I agree with that person over other important issues. That involves a serious problem of logic.
Secondly it detracts from the issue as being the important thing.
The issue is one of probity. Should a person register in another electorate in order to vote for a friend?
It raises another issue- that of wisdom. This case involves breaking the law in order to achieve something which was not then achievable- the election of a Green candidate in Mt Albert. An illegal act to achieve the unlikely.
Shades of Oscar Wilde’s quote about fox-hunting – in this case “the illegal in pursuit of the unelectable.”
He agreed with her on this issue – I have been portending these events for weeks – I am quoting and then commenting on the quotes based upon my view – I don’t like or trust either davis or bennett.
I gather you don’t trust Davis. I share your distrust of Bennett, but if Paula Bennett was to concur with Davis that Bill English was also for example a rorter that would not make her a Labour supporter.
You can’t in logic use a guilt by association argument without a large amount of proof. Your throwaway “just saying'” indicates that you know that you are stretching the bow of logic to its breaking point. Your dislike of Davis colours your thinking and thereby discounts your credibility.
Your ‘just saying’ comment indicates to me that you were being at least mischievous………… It doesn’t excuse faulty logic.
fair cop – I was stretching it slightly and legitimately I think – and borne out with the actual quotes
my point was davis sliding with bennett not the other way around – he didn’t need to say what he did – all he did is sow distrust against the left and legitimates bennett’s false and misleading statements – and HE is wrong too – look at all of the others who have done this from the PM down, and also look at what anyone did as a 23 year old and hold that standard up now – no, davis sided with bennett against a potential coalition partner – why? you tell me – I’ve said what I think.
First I’d say that I was just arguing for logic in argument- otherwise, we on the left could be accused of being just as bad as the right in the use of denigratory tactics.
I’d then say that Turei was wrong in her 23 year old action. Another commentator argues this was ‘de minimis’ which though it be a legal tenet that the law does nor bother itself with trifles, especially those twenty years old- otherwise they’d be after me for that undetected speeding offence last century- ordinary people have to consider issues of judgment, wisdom, and innate honesty.
The voters and the media will excuse her or they’ll have a mistrust of her judgement.
The Greens and Labour have an agreement. They are seen to be on the same side. That same guilt by association argument might well be used against Labour who are seen to be consorting with politicians with two admitted illegalities.
These admissions of Turei then give oxygen to the opponents of the left. They can say, as they are, that Labour as the major partner is harmed by its association with the Greens. Should Davis have pronounced as he did? He is faced with a situation which required a response. He responded. Otherwise, he can be tainted with collusion, or woolly soft thinking, or have people saying of him exactly what we say of the Right when they perform illegal or unwise actions a la Barclay, et al.
These have been, in my opinion, unwise events. A wise person should have seen that the argument and the issues would be diverted by admissions of illegality away from the issue of the plight of the impoverished.
Now we have the added electoral burden of our opponents scratching through the debris looking for other misjudgments. Consider what arrived in Australia out of the politician who had dual citizenship!
The point is- here we are, being diverted.
When recently a man died in the cold sleeping rough in God’s Own Country.
I rate Davis, I think he is naturally a man of action. Politicians typically have ripped jaw muscles, expert talkers. A common put-down towards politicians is their lack of experience in the ‘real world’. Headmaster Kelvin turned a crappy criminal prep school in the Far North right around. Made a big difference. Some of his methods were a little unorthodox but highly effective.
Folklore has it….If he suspected a kid was having a tough time at home, he’d put off calling the relevant government agencies and at the end of the school day throw the kid in the seat beside him and drive them home, walk up past the empties at the back door, knock and have a chat with Mum and/or Dad. Someone with Kelvin’s mana only needs to do something like that half a dozen times and the grapevines would be abuzz.
Nobody else was over at those tropical island bullshit jails the Aussies have Kiwis tucked up in and trying to make a difference. Kelvin doesn’t have his secretary flick out a press release about domestic violence, he buys 3 pairs of Nikes and joins the Hikoi.
I believe Kelvin is a bit green, finding his way, but I also see a guy that is at the front of the line when it comes to rolling up sleeves. He is not paying lip service to lowering prisoner return visits, he’s going to give it his best shot. I see lots to admire in the guy.
Ha, yes I’ll be voting left Marty. If I was on the TTT roll I’d vote for Kelvin. Stronger than my left inclination is my admiration of people of action. People that get things done, make a tangible difference. I may well be wrong…again…but at this stage I don’t feel my faith in Kelvin is misplaced.
“I believe Kelvin is a bit green, finding his way”.
He must be a very slow learner then.
He originally got into Parliament in 2008. That was the same year as Jacinda Arden and Stephen Joyce.
He should have been able to “find his way” by now.
yep, exactly, anything else is either malicious or inexperience and totally UNNECESSARY – this is the big point – he’ll try to fuck the Greens up because he hasn’t a clue of the bigger ‘left’ picture – he is just interested in his own little wee sandpit.
This sort of non-transparency from David Carter and the National Party government just adds to the perception they are corrupt and it adds to the perception that New Zealand is becoming more corrupt under them.
What better way to clean up fraud and the intimidation of whistle-blowers than to be absolutely transparent on this issue. But no, not David Carter, and not the National Party.
You are aware, I hope, that the decision not to complete the committee report and not to release the preliminary version was a UNANIMOUS one by the committee members.
That was members representing the Labour, Green, and New Zealand First as well as the National and Maori parties. The only parties not represented were ACT and United Future.
Still, I suppose you never let a few facts get in the way of your prejudices.
I think the Nats are going to try and bring you down. They will use Metiria Turei’s current situation to the hilt, and may even start trying to denigrates other Green MPs. Their DP team will be sifting through files and trawling social media for tid-buts they can blow up into supposed scandals. Not unlike what they did to Labour in 2014. Remember the nonsense over a letter Cunliffe’s office received 11 years earlier which he had no recall of seeing because his staff handled the matter for him? That is what they were employed to do. At the time you would have thought it was the crime of the century.
It will depend on the amount of traction gained by Labour which looks to me like it is now on track to deliver a final result that might even surpass their expectations. So, the next best thing will be to attempt to destroy their potential partner, the Greens.
Sighs. And after that shameful saga over Cunliffe’s letter John Armstrong admitted far too late that he was completely in the wrong. But no accountability and no consequences, so they keep doing it.
winnie to the rescue ( the irony will be thick) – the white night with the texts of truth and the billshitter dealt a blow, a dragon down, a reputation in tatters, a dip in the dipton gnat vote – and that is just next weeks shenanigans.
I mean he will rescue Metiria – you must admit the content of those billshitter tapes is shaping up to be a real game breaker – this will be like lomu (winnie) pushing though those hapless english (the gnats) for the try – so good to watch.
Looks very similar to 2014 to me too Anne. Hooton’s getting his ducks lined up, the right in the MSM are going hard, and the privileged classes are entrenching into their rules and money are more important than people position.
The main thing I am thinking of today is that lefties need to be good to each other. If Labour throw beneficiaries under a bus over this, it’s going to get much uglier.
Agree Anne. They will most likely have compiled a list of minor issues that they will continue to drop at regular intervals in the lead up to the election, giving the public an impression of a huge scandal.
Unfortunately, the attack dogs of National are our own journalists who are so used to playing ‘gotcha’ they enjoy the experience, and have forgotten how to critique and process revelations before playing them to an audience.
I hope the access to alternative views and media is being to take hold in NZ, which will reduce the influence of MSM.
Benefits are trivial at best, and more usefully achieved by improved face-to-face communication. But that doesn’t stop the author from promoting the use of such technology. It comes as no surprise that he is a CEO of a productivity research company.
It’s started. Some of the current journo upstarts are a perfect example of the Johnnie Come Lately syndrome. They are politically ignorant beyond the narrow bounds of current political developments and they have bugger-all knowledge or experience of past political eras. You see it all the time – brash, stupid memes that are continuously shown up to be gobbledygook. Yet their arrogance is such they just carry on doing it time after time after time.
so effectively Patrick Gower is the leader of the labour party then and Jacinda is the ‘pretty face’ to hide the fact that Patrick Gower is leader of the labour party who can / will tell her what to do? I mean the Media / he wanted Jacinda, bingo got that and now kill Turei?
Anyone wanting to know what is going on in Venezuela needs to check out Abby Martin’s documentaries that she did after she returned from a three week trip there.
The opposition are the ones doing most of the violence and murder
There is an economic war against the government by those corporations that control key commodities such as toilet paper and wheat. Supermarkets are full of other food stuffs
A tv clip I saw yesterday showed a man and his protruding rib cage bemoaning the hyper inflation that causes him to miss meals so his children can eat once a day.
By contrast, the pics of Maduro, show he isn’t short of a few good dinners.
That’s the real problem with Venezuela right now. Starving people, fat el presidente.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
[you’re on a progressive political blog with a left wing bent, stop trolling (yes, I saw the rest of this the other day). If you want to retain your privilege of commenting here, then stop trying to wind people up, and definitely don’t do it off-topic on posts. Two week ban to have a think about that. – weka]
I was mulling over TOP’s offer to Labour – and it makes a kind of sense. Since the great leap to the right under Douglas, Labour has been managerialist, and in many ways like the current government, a faux technocracy. It’s faux because it isn’t working at all. Take out the migration capital inflows and the ideologically driven sacrifices of the last three decades have achieved nothing whatsoever.
A good example of the failure is the fisheries quota management system – touted as a groundbreaking resource management tool, it is in fact an economist’s charade that pretends to monetize natural resources, and thus lends itself to economic controls. What it doesn’t do is respond to variations in fish populations from either environmental or fishery inputs, and thus its impacts exaggerate negative effects – overfishing when a resource is struggling is self-defeating. So fisheries have not produced any part of a rising tide that would lift all boats because the technocratic expertise was lacking.
Morgan has an interesting menu of reforms, and some are quite promising. But his variation of the CGT would tend to push low income single home owners out of their dwellings, which is probably undesirable. His tax reform is interesting, but the focus is apparently on achieving a flat tax outcome rather than prosperity for all New Zealanders.
I doubt Labour will take up a significant proportion of his policies, but in some respects they should. The only tenable position for a managerialist government is as a successful technocracy. Of course it would be preferable if they learned the lessons of the US and UK and adopted a popular left position. But I have a feeling that hell would freeze over first.
I may have a jaundiced view of our sexist culture and the way women are treated – I am constantly appalled by how bad it is, how unfair and how sick it is – the right will use anything and everything to ensure they win – that is the lesson from dirty politics for me.
According to my partner who’s involved in marketing, it’s highly the double entendre is intentional.
One meaning for the guys as a play on Jacinda’s “hotness” and the other at women with the “yay we’re all strong women lets all get in behind Jacinda and win!”
Your partner is an idiot. There’s no deliberate marketing behind it, just a tag line she’s used previously which developed on its own to be a strong and memorable line.
I think it’s good. Direct yet broad, memorable, potential to be a cult meme, and t’s energising.
Delivering for New Zealand is boring just like Bingles. What are they delivering? Tens of thousands of cheap immigrants to keep wages down and house prices high?
TOP’s is “Care. Think. Vote.” I just laugh when I picture someone actually doing this.
Cycling again on the footpath, slowed to walking pace as I passed by a pedestrian walker, we kept the same distance any two pedestrians would. Police don’t enforce this bylaw, they rightly enforce a lacked of a helmet on my head. Reason people believe that kids cycling with their parents on the footpath while walking, should that be cycling, the dog. Coz that’s what I saw later on cycling home. Bad law criminalizes good people who cause no harm. Sure cyclists are hurt when a fellow cyclist weaponizes themselves and intention crashes into a old person, but the majority act like pedestrians on the footpath and avoid contact with older people because of their frail and notable argumentative natures. Except of course older bikers who are lovely and not at all grumpy.
You obviously are blind. A person wanted by police obviously, was on a bike with a loud speaker on the front. Maybe they had being using said loud speaker to get around previous noisy irrational acts of selfish disregard… …anyway said police officer rightly saw an opportunity to separate said person from the bike and have them fall safely onto the grass. Rather than a much more harmful arresting style of a metal bike between his legs. Was it reasonable,yeah. I pointed out how using a taser on a person poised to fall into the Waikato would have been a mistake, similarly using a taser on a person on a bike compared to just pushing them to the grass. And hey good vid almost like it was intention setup.
Police I believe have a duty to protect citizens from their citizens own potential self harming. A bike is very unstable, without a helmet,causing trouble with a loudspeaker, and liable to self harm if they were to usbike in desperate attempt to flee… …no, sorry like to help but that bike could harm him, separating them was quite reasonable. Bikes are weapons,loud speakers are… …many years ago I saw a boy racer reving his very very loud car in front of young kids, his own as it was in his driveway,now we know noise causes deafness even more so in kids. Was this child abuse, I.e did it abuse children causing them harm,sure. Now you seem to think wasting police time,causing nuisance, videoing entrapment, etc are qualifications for higher ethical standing. I do not. Police should be helped, so they move onto the child molestors murderers etc rather than waste time with nick-picking obviously poorly parented youth seeking attention.
“Police need to be conspicuously scrupulous in their use of violence. “
Therein is the crux of the matter.
Irritation with the victim, does not excuse the police to act in this manner.
I’ve seen a few of these cycling teens in and around Otara, Manurewa and Mangere. There is actually quite a skill in how they ride their bikes, and if they do it on the roads or in carparks – then you should ask, why? Is it because that is their only option?
Also, have seen (and heard) a couple of them with the megaphone. A brief glimpse and soundbite of immaturity and bravado and usually they are on their way.
If the outcome is to change behaviours, the police actions in the video are unlikely to do so.
Nothing to do with intentionality, any more than car drivers intentionally hit cyclists on the road.
“Most” cyclists are fine, but the thing is that a few bad apples do indeed ruin the barrel for everyone. You can’t just identify or exclude bad cyclists – it’s unenforcable. Cars have registration plates, but one lycra arse looks like another. So ban the lot of ’em, and try to ping the ones that draw attention to themselves.
Pedestrians should not be put at risk just because cyclists choose to cycle.
Making stuff illegal because you can imagine it harmful is not a standard for anyone but a moron since we’d have to make everything illegal. Police do not enforce bad bylaws where nobody is harmed, or better laws exist that regard harms that eventuate. People giveaway on the footpath, whether walking, cycling, skateboarding, jogging, laughing, etc, it ain’t a problem bad bylaws are a waste of ratepayers money.
No harm no foul. Cyclists and Pedestrians have no trouble passing one another and giving way to each other. Only authoritarians like yourself can imagine the evilness of all cycling. Just because old people who are not used to it should not be reason to make illegal what is harmless. I’ve pointed this out many times to you, that the state is not in the business, should not be in the business of listening to cretians.
lol “cretian” has to be a variation of Muphry’s law 🙂
Thing is, “no harm no foul” only works in the absence of harm. The fact is that people are actually hit by cyclists, just as cyclists are actually hit by cars.
What you’ve failed to point out is why I should be put at risk on the footpath just because you want to ride a bike. At least have the integrity to assume the risks of your recreational choices, rather than offloading those risks onto me.
The slight risk that a cyclist will hit you on the footpath, as against the high risk that the cyclist will be killed on the road. On balance the cyclist should be allowed on the footpath along with pedestrians, skateboards and mobility scooters.
Noting that fast cyclists prefer the road, anyway.
Even if your “slight” vs “high” risk estimate were based on actuarial data, it doesn’t say why pedestrians should bear the risks of a cyclist’s choice of transport.
And doesn’t explain why cyclists should bear the risks of motorist’s choice of transport either. And given we had one close family member killed on her cycle by a grossly irresponsible motorist just a few years ago … I’m not being all that flippant.
Overall I’m with KJT. A cyclist on the footpath, albeit moving at a modest speed, is highly unlikely to kill or seriously injure a pedestrian. There is a risk I admit, and it’s not ideal for both to have to share the same space.
But the risks to cyclists being forced to always share space with motor vehicles (small trucks are the worst offenders in my experience) are much higher. I cycle about 7km to work most days, and rarely a week goes by without some close call. I’ve just gotten good at being really defensive.
In the absence of dedicated cycle lanes cyclists are constantly forced into risky spaces. We learn all sorts of mitigating strategies that aren’t in the road code.
Same with me on a motor scooter, but at least I can make a decent wicket keeping up in traffic. And I fully accept the risks of being the littlest, squishiest guy on the road – I don’t expect other people to take those risks for me.
Someone driving to work on roads designed for vehicles is the same as someone walking to work on a footpath. Movement is a necessary part of society, and we’ve designed around that. But cycling is a personal choice, too uncontrolled and fast for footpaths and too slow and fragile for road safety.
I’m in favour of decent cycle lanes, having worked near a stretch of road that’s killed several cyclists in my time here (deaths since the lanes were redesigned: zero). At the same time, I know people who have been minding their own business walking along the footpath and then been hit by cyclists.
From what I can see, if anyone tried putting cyclists through OSH or workplace safety assessments, the department of labour would press charges, regardless of whether they were on the road with cars or on the footpath with old people or kids in prams. It’s insane. And making other people assume the risks of what is essentially a selfish choice – that’s just even more selfish.
For forward motion, we need energy. Regardless of the mode of transportation. Even on foot, a person weighing 70 kg has an energy consumption of around 0.075 kWh per kilometre. This makes walking the second-most efficient form of transport. Only cycling is a more energy-saving form of transport, with a peak value of 0.025 kWh. At the other end of the scale is the car (0.56 kWh), according to the Federal Environment Agency. According to the French energy and environmental agency ADEME, aeroplanes (0.52 kWh) and motorbikes (0.51 kWh) are similarly inefficient. The most energy-saving form of public transport is the tram or underground train, at just 0.05 and 0.08 kWh per kilometre travelled. Using the ADEME calculator, energy and CO2 consumption can also be calculated for the selected form of mobility.
To find out which mode of transportation is the fastest in urban environments, the German Traffic Club (VCD) carried out a test in Berlin. The test involved the route from Schlesisches Tor to Humboldt University. The winner? The bicycle.
Food doesn’t have to be grown with fossil fuels, but it is.
So what’s the efficiency of a meat engine compared to internal combustion? And then compared to an electric motor? I don’t know, but as far as I’m concerned it’s up to the cycle missionaries to demonstrate it before I believe their preference is anything other than decorative.
And making other people assume the risks of what is essentially a selfish choice – that’s just even more selfish.
Sorry but I can equally apply that logic to motorists. They’re the ones who kill and main with their tonnes of useless, carbon-spewing metal. They’re the one’s who need the community carving motorways, that generate endless animal kill, that keep people poor, obese and unfit.
By contrast the cycle is the only form of transport humans have ever invented that’s capable of routinely carrying a payload 10 times it’s own weight. It’s quiet, clean, uses modest paths and almost never kills other beings. If you’re a little too old or need to travel further, get an electric motor. They’re bloody amazing.
If cars were all one person and barely carried the night’s dinner, I might agree.
But cars can do so much more than that, can pool and do the school run in one go, and that’s before the fact that we’d still need buses and trucks on the roads even if we had no cars.
2: and yet the ten speed or mountain bike is the one always seen on the streets. Oh, and one guy rides one of those stupid recliner cycles. That’s about it.
I doubt if there’s many ten speed around now. And just because NZ retail hasn’t been bringing in the cargo bikes and others doesn’t mean that they’re not available. What that shows is NZ managers failure to adjust to the situation, to keep thinking along the failed lines of last century.
Dunno much about styles, but 99.9% of the ones I see still seem to have two wheels and one rider (albeit in various stages of arse-presentation).
Talk all you want about management failures, the fact is that the cycles of the past are apparently still cycles of the present, even if the cycle of the future is actually a trike with a little trailer.
You’d still be slower than cars, and you’d fill up even more of the footpath, too. And still look like a bit of a twat.
Fast cycling on a footpath is very dangerous as cars coming out of driveways… ..look flock is a fool he won’t understand that people don’t as a rule break their social conditioning, I.e avoiding trouble, conflict, collision, and feels older people fear should rule all law making.
“Let’s do this! /
Rrrrolling with de Rrred Army /
Let’s do this! /
For de love of your country!”
I think Labour should lift the campaign ad in full and just superimpose Labour over the PNM logo. It really is catchy and on-message with the relentless positivity thing.
On the plus side, the PNM seem less likely to sue than Eminem.
Firstly, read the about. It will help prevent you from looking like a moronic troll.
We come from a variety of backgrounds and our political views don’t always match up but it’d be fair to say that all of us share a commitment to the values and principles that underpin the broad labour movement and we hope that perspective will come through strongly as you read the blog.
Broad labour movement does not equal Labourite. If you are too ignorant to understand the difference, then don’t hesitate to ask. We like educate the political illiterates
Secondly, as far as I am aware I’ve never heard Stephen Mills. That probably because I’m working hard on Monday mornings. Clearly you are not. I leave the implications about what kind of audience is being targeted at that timeslot and for your simpleton mind.
If you want to try any other implied “when did you last beat your child?” types of ‘questions’, then I will be happy to continue discussing your intellectual and moral deficiencies. Otherwise if you don’t want to be labelled as just another fuckwit troll then learn to engage in robust debate.
{ but what I expect the sounds of a troll whining about how I am so nasty 😈 despite answering the question fulsomely }
I enjoyed the virulently rich, snarling sarcasm. In amongst the sort of nonsense you normally only have to take from your boss, having read through my recent posts, I have repeated myself on this topic. And ‘broad Labour Movement’ was a point.
You know, almost everything I could be doing at this moment is more important than this, and — unlike yourself –I lead an exquisitely trivial existence.
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
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. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
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 ...
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The similarities between Trump’s nonstop repetition of utter horseshit and Putin’s propaganda techniques.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/08/trump-nonstop-lies/
Personally I’m still of the opinion those similarities are coincidental. Trump simply doesn’t have the attention span or thought processes to actually carry out a sustained strategy. Seems to me the correct view of whatever “communication” comes from Trump is that blurting out whatever is simply scratching an itch he’s got at that moment.
In 2009 Bill English was found to have rorted taxpayers by claiming $900 a week accommodation allowance for his Wellington home. The Auditor General came down with a finding that the Wellington home is his primary residence and the Dipton home was effectively a holiday home. Yes, I know that this is old news.
The twist is, where did Bill English register to vote for this period? Southland = electoral fraud: Wellington = allowance fraud. Check the historical electoral roles for Simon William English, Born 30 December 2016.
What’s the difference between Meteria Turei enrolling to vote in an electorate she didn’t live in (Mt Albert), and John and Bronagh Key enrolling in the Epsom electorate when they lived in Helensville?
I worry for the future of this country if you think we need a Green Government.
I have no problem with a Green Party, a proper Green Party.
The one we have though is a Communist Party masquerading as a Green Party.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Dear Deeply Concerned
pfffffffffft
That’s unseemly Robert.
A lot of people like Greg have considerable sympathy with the Greens stated aims, a fairer society and much better protection of the environment etc.
Where they fall over is they aren’t compelled by the means by which the Greens expect to achieve these ends.
And that’s a legitimate discussion for another thread sometime.
If they were interested in genuine conversation, sure. But their use of the word communist is both inaccurate and a blatant derail.
“The one we have though is a Communist Party masquerading as a Green Party.”
you’re defending that statement red – which is patently untrue, over the top and idiotic. really pffft is a mellow response to that imo.
And the perception Greg is expressing, albeit crudely, is exactly why after all these years the Greens still cannot crack 15%.
pfffffft yourself.
I thought it was 10% The Greens couldn’t crack; they must be making strong gains. In any case, calling them “communists”? That’s no way to engage in a meaningful discussion with Green supporters, imo. I notice you, RedLogix, don’t resort to inappropriate inflammatory lables, though I duid think your pffffffft was a bit unseemly.
How long has this Party been about for? How many conferences, how much money, how much effort and life energy has been poured into it? Look at all the lovely detailed policy and wonderful intentions … and still 15%. If you think that’s a ‘strong gain’ I’ve a bridge for sale.
An honest person at this point would ask themselves, just what are we doing wrong here? What’s holding us back?
Well in my experience it’s precisely this perception … right or wrong … that Greg expressed. Not so much the Green Party is a hotbed of closet Marxist loonies, but that your economic narrative doesn’t hold much appeal.
Yes we need to shut down industries that spew carbon, pollute the groundwater and fuck the planet over. But where do we go from there? That 85% who won’t vote for you still want to know where next weeks pay packet is coming from.
time ticking – hits us all – let it go – young persons game and gain – reconcile this for happiness
“and still 15%”
I sure they would be absolutely delirious to get to 15%.
They did once get 11% in an election but that was a couple of elections ago and was the absolute peak of their popularity.
Can’t see it this time though. Arden is a great deal more likeable that Little and will suck back quite a bit of the Green Party vote I should think.
Except I don’t believe labour lost votes to the greens because of the leader (unless it was Shearer). In my own case, and those I’ve read of here, it’s the too centrist policy, career politicians hanging in there for dear life and Robertson and his gang.
If Ardern’s labour moves left and chases the green vote, then sure, some old reds may switch back, but I doubt that will happen.
I expect labour will aim it’s campaign at the center, and whilst paying lip service to the underclass, will mostly hope to sway soft blue swing voters, NZ1st defectors and the bizarrely misguided voting Top.
Shearer losing votes to the Greens?
When Labour dumped Shearer they were on about 34%. They dumped him and have been going downhill ever since. Meanwhile the Green Party and Winston’s mob have been picking up votes. I really don’t think, based on the polls of the time, that Shearer lost the Labour Party any significant number of votes.
I would have voted for a Shearer led Labour Party in this election. Not in 2014 but this year. They would have been a viable Government.
Who were the idiots who got rid of Shearer in order to get the hapless Cunliffe and the hopeless Little?
Because there was no way that Shearer got the labour party. No point in helping him win with the dumbarse attitudes he had. In the end even John Key looked better.
I know a few people who swore off labour because of captain snapper.
cos they is commies lol
you’ve jumped ship to the opps and some of us have come back home to the Greens – I’m happy, are you?
I’ve jumped nowhere. I’ll be voting in this election for a Green electorate candidate and my preferred outcome would be a quite interesting coalition of Lab/Grn/TOP/MP (in that order).
I apologise – with all of your opp postings and defense i thought you had jumped to gareth’s baby.
Fair enough … peace. All I’m attempting is to make the case that gareth’s baby isn’t necessarily ‘opposition’.
That would probably be, as you say, quite interesting. It would however be only about 45 seats in the house in my view.
Hardly the makings of a stable Government is it?
Why would you do that and vote green electorate candidate?
Unless they’re a dead cert to win, which I don’t think any candidate is, if you want to change the government you have to tactical vote and vote labour, who will be in either first or second position.
You sure you want to get rid of English? I’m dubious about your methodology.
If you really want a dead cert methodology you’d ditch MMP and go back to FPP.
Ditching mmp has nothing to do with voting for someone who will likely lose over someone who could hold or take a seat off the nats. That’s undeniably sound methodology if you want them out.
So again, why would you not vote tactically if your aim is to change the government?
I didn’t mean to be unseemly, RedLogics – I just found the comment unconvincing. I’ll aim for 100% seemliness from here on in.
It is… but they’d better come with a set of pearls to clutch. Fran O’S could set herself up in bizz as their advisor
Bollocks. Can you back up that statement with facts?
the Green Party we have is a proper Green Party. You don’t like it because National can’t throw them in to a nice little box and ignore them.
And it’s coming clearer by the day that neither Labour nor National can address the biggest problem we have – capitalism.
I don’t agree with you about the communist bit Greg, as I’d call the current Greens left wing but not communist, but I do agree about the need for a distinctly Green party.
I’m interested in a party that can gain power to ensure that environmental issues are always sensibly represented irrespective of whether National or Labour lead the government.
That way something good is always being achieved (not just when a particular lead party is in power) and, over time, most people start to understand that supporting the environmental does not mean bad stuff happens to them.
Hence, I find myself somewhat drawn towards TOP, but as yet undecided.
Clearly you need a blue-green party. Please find one and vote for them – spare us your teenaged angst.
Nope – not blue-green.
Just green alone would be good.
But yes, I’ll look out for one and let you know if I find it.
So with the proper Green Party still not cracking 15% (and that’s being generous) after what is it now … 7 elections … just when do you expect them to ever have any effective influence?
I’ve given them my full card vote the past four elections; and I’m running short on justifications to ‘waste’ it a fifth time.
notice davis siding with bennett here – just saying…
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/95438005/metiria-tureis-electoral-admission-not-good–labour
you have made a BIG mistake promoting davis labour – and you’ll find out soon enough.
Agreed. Not a promising start. This is what I meant when I used the “one hand in my pocket and the other doing a high five” line. Optimistic but waiting to see how things turned out.
It seems to me that everyone in politics has just discovered they have some feet they haven’t shot to pieces yet.
Davis’ correct play here is to dead bat it by saying that concerns about appropriate electoral activities from 20 years ago, well before someone was involved in politics, are a matter for the person concerned and not anything that the Labour party needs to comment on.
And then make a vague allusion to there being a lot of hypocrisy going around about Metiria’s actions. Make Bennett squirm a bit.
Exactly. And Davis is far too experienced to have made such a mistake innocently. He must have known precisely what message he’s sending.
he isn’t experienced at all – that is his problem – he is well outside his pay grade and yet here he is deputy – THIS is how I know I’m getting old – when this shit happens.
+1 My hope here is that because Labour MPs routinely speak out without consensus that he might just have been speaking from his own views not that of Ardern’s or the caucus. Probably a slim hope though.
The juxtaposition of a professional class white woman getting lots of ups vs a brown working class woman being pilloried is quite something, and something that NZ is going to have to come to terms with at some point.
Again I’m with you on that. Philip Field’s bloody story has the same ugly element buried in too.
Davis has a experience of being in opposition, and his technique seems to suggest that he aims to pick up the “other” votes by voicing the reactionary concerns to issues.
ie. If Metiria has gained votes from people who see the untenable reality of welfare support – then there is no use going after those votes, collect the ones from those who still have a unresolved sense of disquiet.
His determination to get Mana out of Parliament last election, was noticeable in the collusion with National. Mana somehow was the enemy, because that was a button he could push – and National was not.
How did Kelvin Davis collude with National?
Ironic that it’s now Hone Harawira doing deals with the National led Maori Party.
Collusion is the wrong word choice (by me). National hated Mana, and made that apparent. They made it obvious that they would prefer a government without any Mana Party representation.
Instead of focusing on getting rid of National, Davis took that sentiment by National and ran with it, doing their work for them without even being asked.
The failure of Labour to support those on the left of politics is what I am constantly disappointed by.
In that case, Davis didn’t even have to support Mana, he only had to run a parallel campaign. But he couldn’t resist putting the boot in.
He is appears to be doing the same with Metiria.
I have some trouble with ‘guilt by association’, Marty Mars. Your ‘just saying’ is plain wrong btw.
Just because I agree with someone over an issue does not mean that I agree with that person over other important issues. That involves a serious problem of logic.
Secondly it detracts from the issue as being the important thing.
The issue is one of probity. Should a person register in another electorate in order to vote for a friend?
It raises another issue- that of wisdom. This case involves breaking the law in order to achieve something which was not then achievable- the election of a Green candidate in Mt Albert. An illegal act to achieve the unlikely.
Shades of Oscar Wilde’s quote about fox-hunting – in this case “the illegal in pursuit of the unelectable.”
He agreed with her on this issue – I have been portending these events for weeks – I am quoting and then commenting on the quotes based upon my view – I don’t like or trust either davis or bennett.
I gather you don’t trust Davis. I share your distrust of Bennett, but if Paula Bennett was to concur with Davis that Bill English was also for example a rorter that would not make her a Labour supporter.
You can’t in logic use a guilt by association argument without a large amount of proof. Your throwaway “just saying'” indicates that you know that you are stretching the bow of logic to its breaking point. Your dislike of Davis colours your thinking and thereby discounts your credibility.
Your ‘just saying’ comment indicates to me that you were being at least mischievous………… It doesn’t excuse faulty logic.
fair cop – I was stretching it slightly and legitimately I think – and borne out with the actual quotes
my point was davis sliding with bennett not the other way around – he didn’t need to say what he did – all he did is sow distrust against the left and legitimates bennett’s false and misleading statements – and HE is wrong too – look at all of the others who have done this from the PM down, and also look at what anyone did as a 23 year old and hold that standard up now – no, davis sided with bennett against a potential coalition partner – why? you tell me – I’ve said what I think.
Thanks for replying.
First I’d say that I was just arguing for logic in argument- otherwise, we on the left could be accused of being just as bad as the right in the use of denigratory tactics.
I’d then say that Turei was wrong in her 23 year old action. Another commentator argues this was ‘de minimis’ which though it be a legal tenet that the law does nor bother itself with trifles, especially those twenty years old- otherwise they’d be after me for that undetected speeding offence last century- ordinary people have to consider issues of judgment, wisdom, and innate honesty.
The voters and the media will excuse her or they’ll have a mistrust of her judgement.
The Greens and Labour have an agreement. They are seen to be on the same side. That same guilt by association argument might well be used against Labour who are seen to be consorting with politicians with two admitted illegalities.
These admissions of Turei then give oxygen to the opponents of the left. They can say, as they are, that Labour as the major partner is harmed by its association with the Greens. Should Davis have pronounced as he did? He is faced with a situation which required a response. He responded. Otherwise, he can be tainted with collusion, or woolly soft thinking, or have people saying of him exactly what we say of the Right when they perform illegal or unwise actions a la Barclay, et al.
These have been, in my opinion, unwise events. A wise person should have seen that the argument and the issues would be diverted by admissions of illegality away from the issue of the plight of the impoverished.
Now we have the added electoral burden of our opponents scratching through the debris looking for other misjudgments. Consider what arrived in Australia out of the politician who had dual citizenship!
The point is- here we are, being diverted.
When recently a man died in the cold sleeping rough in God’s Own Country.
I rate Davis, I think he is naturally a man of action. Politicians typically have ripped jaw muscles, expert talkers. A common put-down towards politicians is their lack of experience in the ‘real world’. Headmaster Kelvin turned a crappy criminal prep school in the Far North right around. Made a big difference. Some of his methods were a little unorthodox but highly effective.
Folklore has it….If he suspected a kid was having a tough time at home, he’d put off calling the relevant government agencies and at the end of the school day throw the kid in the seat beside him and drive them home, walk up past the empties at the back door, knock and have a chat with Mum and/or Dad. Someone with Kelvin’s mana only needs to do something like that half a dozen times and the grapevines would be abuzz.
Nobody else was over at those tropical island bullshit jails the Aussies have Kiwis tucked up in and trying to make a difference. Kelvin doesn’t have his secretary flick out a press release about domestic violence, he buys 3 pairs of Nikes and joins the Hikoi.
I believe Kelvin is a bit green, finding his way, but I also see a guy that is at the front of the line when it comes to rolling up sleeves. He is not paying lip service to lowering prisoner return visits, he’s going to give it his best shot. I see lots to admire in the guy.
are you a left voter David?
plus this mythology around davis is not necessarily correct.
Ha, yes I’ll be voting left Marty. If I was on the TTT roll I’d vote for Kelvin. Stronger than my left inclination is my admiration of people of action. People that get things done, make a tangible difference. I may well be wrong…again…but at this stage I don’t feel my faith in Kelvin is misplaced.
I see Shane Jones V2.0
“I believe Kelvin is a bit green, finding his way”.
He must be a very slow learner then.
He originally got into Parliament in 2008. That was the same year as Jacinda Arden and Stephen Joyce.
He should have been able to “find his way” by now.
Yes, I think Davis faltered.
The answer to any “What do you think of what the Greens are doing?” questions is as simple as Jacinda made it at her press conference.
“They have their campaign, we have ours, (insert Labour policy favourable outcome here)”
It doesn’t matter what the question is re: the Greens, that can be the answer, varied by the insertion of the Labour bumper sticker soundbite.
yep, exactly, anything else is either malicious or inexperience and totally UNNECESSARY – this is the big point – he’ll try to fuck the Greens up because he hasn’t a clue of the bigger ‘left’ picture – he is just interested in his own little wee sandpit.
This sort of non-transparency from David Carter and the National Party government just adds to the perception they are corrupt and it adds to the perception that New Zealand is becoming more corrupt under them.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/336462/speaker-defends-call-to-keep-fraud-handling-report-secret
What better way to clean up fraud and the intimidation of whistle-blowers than to be absolutely transparent on this issue. But no, not David Carter, and not the National Party.
You are aware, I hope, that the decision not to complete the committee report and not to release the preliminary version was a UNANIMOUS one by the committee members.
That was members representing the Labour, Green, and New Zealand First as well as the National and Maori parties. The only parties not represented were ACT and United Future.
Still, I suppose you never let a few facts get in the way of your prejudices.
Of course, Labour did it too!
Beware Greens!
I think the Nats are going to try and bring you down. They will use Metiria Turei’s current situation to the hilt, and may even start trying to denigrates other Green MPs. Their DP team will be sifting through files and trawling social media for tid-buts they can blow up into supposed scandals. Not unlike what they did to Labour in 2014. Remember the nonsense over a letter Cunliffe’s office received 11 years earlier which he had no recall of seeing because his staff handled the matter for him? That is what they were employed to do. At the time you would have thought it was the crime of the century.
It will depend on the amount of traction gained by Labour which looks to me like it is now on track to deliver a final result that might even surpass their expectations. So, the next best thing will be to attempt to destroy their potential partner, the Greens.
Be prepared!
I expect the GCSB will be looking into things.
Sighs. And after that shameful saga over Cunliffe’s letter John Armstrong admitted far too late that he was completely in the wrong. But no accountability and no consequences, so they keep doing it.
Nonsense, this will all be Labour driven.
Labours got Jacinda now who needs the Greens? Jacinda is going to romp in with at least 90% of the vote.
winnie to the rescue ( the irony will be thick) – the white night with the texts of truth and the billshitter dealt a blow, a dragon down, a reputation in tatters, a dip in the dipton gnat vote – and that is just next weeks shenanigans.
That was always Labours preference
A Labour/NZ First coalition.
I mean he will rescue Metiria – you must admit the content of those billshitter tapes is shaping up to be a real game breaker – this will be like lomu (winnie) pushing though those hapless english (the gnats) for the try – so good to watch.
Looks very similar to 2014 to me too Anne. Hooton’s getting his ducks lined up, the right in the MSM are going hard, and the privileged classes are entrenching into their rules and money are more important than people position.
The main thing I am thinking of today is that lefties need to be good to each other. If Labour throw beneficiaries under a bus over this, it’s going to get much uglier.
Agree Anne. They will most likely have compiled a list of minor issues that they will continue to drop at regular intervals in the lead up to the election, giving the public an impression of a huge scandal.
Unfortunately, the attack dogs of National are our own journalists who are so used to playing ‘gotcha’ they enjoy the experience, and have forgotten how to critique and process revelations before playing them to an audience.
I hope the access to alternative views and media is being to take hold in NZ, which will reduce the influence of MSM.
Cheerleading article in The Independent for the practice of microchipping employees.
Benefits are trivial at best, and more usefully achieved by improved face-to-face communication. But that doesn’t stop the author from promoting the use of such technology. It comes as no surprise that he is a CEO of a productivity research company.
The dropped pie wants Ardern to rule out Turei from government now because, wait for it, John Key did it!
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/08/patrick-gower-jacinda-ardern-must-rule-out-metiria-turei-if-she-won-t-stand-down.html
It’s started. Some of the current journo upstarts are a perfect example of the Johnnie Come Lately syndrome. They are politically ignorant beyond the narrow bounds of current political developments and they have bugger-all knowledge or experience of past political eras. You see it all the time – brash, stupid memes that are continuously shown up to be gobbledygook. Yet their arrogance is such they just carry on doing it time after time after time.
A journo version of the Dunning-Kruger effect?
so effectively Patrick Gower is the leader of the labour party then and Jacinda is the ‘pretty face’ to hide the fact that Patrick Gower is leader of the labour party who can / will tell her what to do? I mean the Media / he wanted Jacinda, bingo got that and now kill Turei?
right?
oh fucking dear.
Good article on the costs to the British taxpayer of the Private Finance Initiative, from the Guardian.
(Good short video on the economic benefit of flying to Berlin in order to get from Sheffield to Essex – rather than catching the train.)
Anyone wanting to know what is going on in Venezuela needs to check out Abby Martin’s documentaries that she did after she returned from a three week trip there.
The opposition are the ones doing most of the violence and murder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig6yFP8HjVQ
There is an economic war against the government by those corporations that control key commodities such as toilet paper and wheat. Supermarkets are full of other food stuffs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUYWrPiUeWY
Here’s the perspective of the government on what is going on from the Economy Minister
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk1qlKu_RJo&t=156s
A tv clip I saw yesterday showed a man and his protruding rib cage bemoaning the hyper inflation that causes him to miss meals so his children can eat once a day.
By contrast, the pics of Maduro, show he isn’t short of a few good dinners.
That’s the real problem with Venezuela right now. Starving people, fat el presidente.
What is a ‘RWNJ’?
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
[you’re on a progressive political blog with a left wing bent, stop trolling (yes, I saw the rest of this the other day). If you want to retain your privilege of commenting here, then stop trying to wind people up, and definitely don’t do it off-topic on posts. Two week ban to have a think about that. – weka]
I think example might be more useful than explanation in this instance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8Q-sRdV7SY
Your request for clarification probably belongs on Open Mike however.
Look in the mirror.
No reflection!
First choose a four figure number consisting of the numbers 1,2,or 3.
Then consult the table below.
1. right woolly nincompoop joker
2. really witless nutter job
3. rabid woo-woo ninny jejune
For example a 3123 is a ”right woolly nutter jejune” person.
I’m sure you can have similar fun with LWNJ.
I hope that the political debate 2017 descends no lower than this.
I was mulling over TOP’s offer to Labour – and it makes a kind of sense. Since the great leap to the right under Douglas, Labour has been managerialist, and in many ways like the current government, a faux technocracy. It’s faux because it isn’t working at all. Take out the migration capital inflows and the ideologically driven sacrifices of the last three decades have achieved nothing whatsoever.
A good example of the failure is the fisheries quota management system – touted as a groundbreaking resource management tool, it is in fact an economist’s charade that pretends to monetize natural resources, and thus lends itself to economic controls. What it doesn’t do is respond to variations in fish populations from either environmental or fishery inputs, and thus its impacts exaggerate negative effects – overfishing when a resource is struggling is self-defeating. So fisheries have not produced any part of a rising tide that would lift all boats because the technocratic expertise was lacking.
Morgan has an interesting menu of reforms, and some are quite promising. But his variation of the CGT would tend to push low income single home owners out of their dwellings, which is probably undesirable. His tax reform is interesting, but the focus is apparently on achieving a flat tax outcome rather than prosperity for all New Zealanders.
I doubt Labour will take up a significant proportion of his policies, but in some respects they should. The only tenable position for a managerialist government is as a successful technocracy. Of course it would be preferable if they learned the lessons of the US and UK and adopted a popular left position. But I have a feeling that hell would freeze over first.
Now official!
I hope they’ve considered this carefully, I really do.
What are your reservations? That it’s open to some attack from National by association with other uses of the phrase?
double entendre springs to mind – probably just my devious mind
Oh, I see what you mean. Not sure it’s a route of attack for the National Party though.
I may have a jaundiced view of our sexist culture and the way women are treated – I am constantly appalled by how bad it is, how unfair and how sick it is – the right will use anything and everything to ensure they win – that is the lesson from dirty politics for me.
You weren’t the only one.
Good Grief!
🙄
According to my partner who’s involved in marketing, it’s highly the double entendre is intentional.
One meaning for the guys as a play on Jacinda’s “hotness” and the other at women with the “yay we’re all strong women lets all get in behind Jacinda and win!”
Your partner is an idiot. There’s no deliberate marketing behind it, just a tag line she’s used previously which developed on its own to be a strong and memorable line.
I think it’s good. Direct yet broad, memorable, potential to be a cult meme, and t’s energising.
Delivering for New Zealand is boring just like Bingles. What are they delivering? Tens of thousands of cheap immigrants to keep wages down and house prices high?
TOP’s is “Care. Think. Vote.” I just laugh when I picture someone actually doing this.
UF’s is ‘Vote Peter Dunne’. Amaaaaazing!
Caring is laughable.
Thinking is laughable.
Voting is laughable.
Attempting all three at once must be a complete riot I guess …
I agree.
It reminds me of Nike’s “Just Do It”.
It’s quite possibly what went through Jacinda Ardern’s mind when she had to decide to become the Leader of the Opposition.
“Vote Peter Dunne” just wants me to get some of his hair and make a Voodoo doll …
Cycling again on the footpath, slowed to walking pace as I passed by a pedestrian walker, we kept the same distance any two pedestrians would. Police don’t enforce this bylaw, they rightly enforce a lacked of a helmet on my head. Reason people believe that kids cycling with their parents on the footpath while walking, should that be cycling, the dog. Coz that’s what I saw later on cycling home. Bad law criminalizes good people who cause no harm. Sure cyclists are hurt when a fellow cyclist weaponizes themselves and intention crashes into a old person, but the majority act like pedestrians on the footpath and avoid contact with older people because of their frail and notable argumentative natures. Except of course older bikers who are lovely and not at all grumpy.
Police are selective in their enforcement of cycling.
http://www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/teen-pushed-bike-police-officer
Helmets have caused a drop in cycling that renders their effectiveness moot.
You obviously are blind. A person wanted by police obviously, was on a bike with a loud speaker on the front. Maybe they had being using said loud speaker to get around previous noisy irrational acts of selfish disregard… …anyway said police officer rightly saw an opportunity to separate said person from the bike and have them fall safely onto the grass. Rather than a much more harmful arresting style of a metal bike between his legs. Was it reasonable,yeah. I pointed out how using a taser on a person poised to fall into the Waikato would have been a mistake, similarly using a taser on a person on a bike compared to just pushing them to the grass. And hey good vid almost like it was intention setup.
Tasers are for use against armed assailants. The cyclist wasn’t armed.
Police I believe have a duty to protect citizens from their citizens own potential self harming. A bike is very unstable, without a helmet,causing trouble with a loudspeaker, and liable to self harm if they were to usbike in desperate attempt to flee… …no, sorry like to help but that bike could harm him, separating them was quite reasonable. Bikes are weapons,loud speakers are… …many years ago I saw a boy racer reving his very very loud car in front of young kids, his own as it was in his driveway,now we know noise causes deafness even more so in kids. Was this child abuse, I.e did it abuse children causing them harm,sure. Now you seem to think wasting police time,causing nuisance, videoing entrapment, etc are qualifications for higher ethical standing. I do not. Police should be helped, so they move onto the child molestors murderers etc rather than waste time with nick-picking obviously poorly parented youth seeking attention.
Police need to be conspicuously scrupulous in their use of violence.
You have tried and convicted the cyclist without being fully apprised of the facts – a judge might well reach a very different conclusion.
“Police need to be conspicuously scrupulous in their use of violence. “
Therein is the crux of the matter.
Irritation with the victim, does not excuse the police to act in this manner.
I’ve seen a few of these cycling teens in and around Otara, Manurewa and Mangere. There is actually quite a skill in how they ride their bikes, and if they do it on the roads or in carparks – then you should ask, why? Is it because that is their only option?
Also, have seen (and heard) a couple of them with the megaphone. A brief glimpse and soundbite of immaturity and bravado and usually they are on their way.
If the outcome is to change behaviours, the police actions in the video are unlikely to do so.
Nothing to do with intentionality, any more than car drivers intentionally hit cyclists on the road.
“Most” cyclists are fine, but the thing is that a few bad apples do indeed ruin the barrel for everyone. You can’t just identify or exclude bad cyclists – it’s unenforcable. Cars have registration plates, but one lycra arse looks like another. So ban the lot of ’em, and try to ping the ones that draw attention to themselves.
Pedestrians should not be put at risk just because cyclists choose to cycle.
Making stuff illegal because you can imagine it harmful is not a standard for anyone but a moron since we’d have to make everything illegal. Police do not enforce bad bylaws where nobody is harmed, or better laws exist that regard harms that eventuate. People giveaway on the footpath, whether walking, cycling, skateboarding, jogging, laughing, etc, it ain’t a problem bad bylaws are a waste of ratepayers money.
But I’m not imagining harm. I know harm has occurred. To people I know.
Not all people give way. Sometimes people bump into each other. Why should your choice of transport or recreation endanger me?
No harm no foul. Cyclists and Pedestrians have no trouble passing one another and giving way to each other. Only authoritarians like yourself can imagine the evilness of all cycling. Just because old people who are not used to it should not be reason to make illegal what is harmless. I’ve pointed this out many times to you, that the state is not in the business, should not be in the business of listening to cretians.
lol “cretian” has to be a variation of Muphry’s law 🙂
Thing is, “no harm no foul” only works in the absence of harm. The fact is that people are actually hit by cyclists, just as cyclists are actually hit by cars.
What you’ve failed to point out is why I should be put at risk on the footpath just because you want to ride a bike. At least have the integrity to assume the risks of your recreational choices, rather than offloading those risks onto me.
He may have meant “all Cretians lie”. 🙂
The slight risk that a cyclist will hit you on the footpath, as against the high risk that the cyclist will be killed on the road. On balance the cyclist should be allowed on the footpath along with pedestrians, skateboards and mobility scooters.
Noting that fast cyclists prefer the road, anyway.
Even if your “slight” vs “high” risk estimate were based on actuarial data, it doesn’t say why pedestrians should bear the risks of a cyclist’s choice of transport.
And doesn’t explain why cyclists should bear the risks of motorist’s choice of transport either. And given we had one close family member killed on her cycle by a grossly irresponsible motorist just a few years ago … I’m not being all that flippant.
Overall I’m with KJT. A cyclist on the footpath, albeit moving at a modest speed, is highly unlikely to kill or seriously injure a pedestrian. There is a risk I admit, and it’s not ideal for both to have to share the same space.
But the risks to cyclists being forced to always share space with motor vehicles (small trucks are the worst offenders in my experience) are much higher. I cycle about 7km to work most days, and rarely a week goes by without some close call. I’ve just gotten good at being really defensive.
In the absence of dedicated cycle lanes cyclists are constantly forced into risky spaces. We learn all sorts of mitigating strategies that aren’t in the road code.
Same with me on a motor scooter, but at least I can make a decent wicket keeping up in traffic. And I fully accept the risks of being the littlest, squishiest guy on the road – I don’t expect other people to take those risks for me.
Someone driving to work on roads designed for vehicles is the same as someone walking to work on a footpath. Movement is a necessary part of society, and we’ve designed around that. But cycling is a personal choice, too uncontrolled and fast for footpaths and too slow and fragile for road safety.
I’m in favour of decent cycle lanes, having worked near a stretch of road that’s killed several cyclists in my time here (deaths since the lanes were redesigned: zero). At the same time, I know people who have been minding their own business walking along the footpath and then been hit by cyclists.
From what I can see, if anyone tried putting cyclists through OSH or workplace safety assessments, the department of labour would press charges, regardless of whether they were on the road with cars or on the footpath with old people or kids in prams. It’s insane. And making other people assume the risks of what is essentially a selfish choice – that’s just even more selfish.
Driving and thus pushing climate change is the selfish choice.
Well, that’s arguable.
How efficient is a meat-engine running on food grown largely with fossil-fertilisers vs an internal combustion engine?
Food doesn’t have to be grown with fossil fuels.
And the efficiency’s good:
So, yeah, the twits are still the ones in cars.
Food doesn’t have to be grown with fossil fuels, but it is.
So what’s the efficiency of a meat engine compared to internal combustion? And then compared to an electric motor? I don’t know, but as far as I’m concerned it’s up to the cycle missionaries to demonstrate it before I believe their preference is anything other than decorative.
And making other people assume the risks of what is essentially a selfish choice – that’s just even more selfish.
Sorry but I can equally apply that logic to motorists. They’re the ones who kill and main with their tonnes of useless, carbon-spewing metal. They’re the one’s who need the community carving motorways, that generate endless animal kill, that keep people poor, obese and unfit.
By contrast the cycle is the only form of transport humans have ever invented that’s capable of routinely carrying a payload 10 times it’s own weight. It’s quiet, clean, uses modest paths and almost never kills other beings. If you’re a little too old or need to travel further, get an electric motor. They’re bloody amazing.
If cars were all one person and barely carried the night’s dinner, I might agree.
But cars can do so much more than that, can pool and do the school run in one go, and that’s before the fact that we’d still need buses and trucks on the roads even if we had no cars.
Cycles… not so much.
For example:
https://cargocycles.com.au/
The fastest growing category in Europe.
Lots of incredibly talented people coming up with a hugely diverse range of designs the past few years. Your grandfathers’ ten speed is history.
1: bwahahahaha
2: and yet the ten speed or mountain bike is the one always seen on the streets. Oh, and one guy rides one of those stupid recliner cycles. That’s about it.
I doubt if there’s many ten speed around now. And just because NZ retail hasn’t been bringing in the cargo bikes and others doesn’t mean that they’re not available. What that shows is NZ managers failure to adjust to the situation, to keep thinking along the failed lines of last century.
Dunno much about styles, but 99.9% of the ones I see still seem to have two wheels and one rider (albeit in various stages of arse-presentation).
Talk all you want about management failures, the fact is that the cycles of the past are apparently still cycles of the present, even if the cycle of the future is actually a trike with a little trailer.
You’d still be slower than cars, and you’d fill up even more of the footpath, too. And still look like a bit of a twat.
Fast cycling on a footpath is very dangerous as cars coming out of driveways… ..look flock is a fool he won’t understand that people don’t as a rule break their social conditioning, I.e avoiding trouble, conflict, collision, and feels older people fear should rule all law making.
So it seems Labour’s fresh new slogan was already used by the People’s National Movement in Trinidad and Tobago last year. Here is their campaign ad:
https://youtu.be/gNesq_P4luE
“Let’s do this! /
Rrrrolling with de Rrred Army /
Let’s do this! /
For de love of your country!”
I think Labour should lift the campaign ad in full and just superimpose Labour over the PNM logo. It really is catchy and on-message with the relentless positivity thing.
On the plus side, the PNM seem less likely to sue than Eminem.
Too late , but do any of you supposed Labourites support Stephen Mills as the voice of the Left on RNZ’s Monday morning ‘Left v. Right’ ?
Firstly, read the about. It will help prevent you from looking like a moronic troll.
Broad labour movement does not equal Labourite. If you are too ignorant to understand the difference, then don’t hesitate to ask. We like educate the political illiterates
Secondly, as far as I am aware I’ve never heard Stephen Mills. That probably because I’m working hard on Monday mornings. Clearly you are not. I leave the implications about what kind of audience is being targeted at that timeslot and for your simpleton mind.
If you want to try any other implied “when did you last beat your child?” types of ‘questions’, then I will be happy to continue discussing your intellectual and moral deficiencies. Otherwise if you don’t want to be labelled as just another fuckwit troll then learn to engage in robust debate.
{ but what I expect the sounds of a troll whining about how I am so nasty 😈 despite answering the question fulsomely }
I enjoyed the virulently rich, snarling sarcasm. In amongst the sort of nonsense you normally only have to take from your boss, having read through my recent posts, I have repeated myself on this topic. And ‘broad Labour Movement’ was a point.
You know, almost everything I could be doing at this moment is more important than this, and — unlike yourself –I lead an exquisitely trivial existence.