Typically, two of Parliament's most notable thugs, one of whom has also been alleged to be a war criminal, are called on to pontificate on MM Kingdom's change initiative: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/117925405/newage-gangsters-business-prospects-volunteer-work-and-giving-up-drugs. No doubt, the usual tough on crime brigade will kick the gang's positive intentions into the fire's of hell – the same as in the past when there have been rays of hope for some of societies disaffected whose only 'familial' security was in gangs, often after prolonged State abuse as children.
Another example of the fear driven messaging the CA scandal showed us all that exists in the global media now across the globe.
This kicks it off and then Social media riffs on the divides in the background. Rent a right wing ranters mitchell and Jones duely oblige showing the humanity one expects from a couple of mercenary troughers.
Leadership opportunity for JA here. Go one better than chch massacre and outlaw this shite while you can or condemm godzone to being another outpost of the global messaging/maniplualtion industry.
Mark Mitchell said, "They enjoy the life style; they enjoy intimidating people, they enjoy not having to work hard to earn lots of cash, and they love the status that it gives them."
Give the man a mirror and let him discuss which parts of that apply to him.
Lol! But he'd genuinely have no idea what you meant. I met some civilian contractors during the Iraq War and self-reflection was very much not among their strong points…
If he engaged with Iraqi militia who, because of their resistance to invaders, could be considered part of a national liberation movement, he could well be considered a war criminal.
since 1968 the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a firm position stating that the practice of employing mercenaries against national liberation movements is a criminal act
So are you saying “IF” Jacinda did the things I’ve read on Twitter they could be true as well ?
Depends. Did Ardern go off to work as a mercenary for private interests in a foreign country and now refuses to say how many of the locals she killed? Because I'm pretty sure she didn't…
It's not an unproven rumour that Mark Mitchell worked as a mercenary for private interests in Iraq and that his job was to protect those private interests from Iraqis opposed to the occupation of their country. Given the potential for war crimes to result from that, it's reasonable to ask Mark Mitchell how many people he killed in that job, and on what basis he killed them. It's his refusal to answer those reasonable questions that opens him up to suspicion. Idle gossip you may have heard about Ardern isn't even remotely in a similar category.
Btw – are we allowed to make serious claims based on unsourced allegations now – coz there are some doozies I’ve heard about Jacinda and the good old DJ days
(no not going to post them – but making a point when making such strong allegations against someone there should be something to back it up. And accusations without any basis shouldn’t be a source).
Claims about Mitchell have been around for years with them being described in various ways.
Did aom1 make a serious claim merely by saying there'd been allegations, something which had been publicly reported and discussed?
By that standard will there be complaints to the Press Council about the story on Stuff today?
"National MP Jian Yang organised Simon Bridges' controversial China trip, emails show." There are insinuations in that far more that in aom1's comment.
Did aom1 make a serious claim merely by saying there'd been allegations, something which had been publicly reported and discussed?
where has it been reported (in a reasonable media outlet) about Mark Being a war criminal?
If using Twitter as a source (or something equally stupid) and then just putting “alleged” in front of it – you have to be fair and allow others to do it as well. Especially when it’s something so significant as indicating someone might be a war criminal
James, if you're referring to the comment @1 that the Honourable Mark Mitchell has "been alleged to be a war criminal", then this is indeed the case. Here's a link containing that allegation. I cannot speak to the veracity of the allegation, only that the allegation is real, and therefore that the the quoted comment @1 is accurate. You're welcome
There was some concern (in 2018) among lefties about the prospect of the Honourable Mark Mitchell being chosen to lead the National party, but that’s water under the Bridges.
Ok – so to clarify before I post them – as long as I have a link to the allegations made by people I can post that jacinda allegedly is a xyz?
and at that point it would be a valid and correct post?
as I said before – I would expect when repeated allegations they should come from a better source than Twitter it in this case the daily blog. But since the bar is that low – we should be ok.
note to mods – I’m not actually going to post them. Just making a point of how stupid the comment is.
but happy to take your direction if you are ok with posting allegations from second rate sources.
[here’s how it works. Someone makes a claim that seems dubious (in this case they said there were allegations that someone was a war criminal). Other people then ask for this to be backed up with some kind of evidence. That evidence needs to have some level of credibility, so no, random reckons about JA from the dirty politic crew probably don’t count.
By and large on a daily basis it gets left to the commentariat to set the culture of what counts as credible, but there is an expectation that a certain standard will be maintained and authors and moderators over time are involved in that.
If you were serious about the issue today, you could simply have asked for the evidence. Instead you’ve run a number of stupid and inflammatory lines that look more designed to have a go at commenters and lefties. Nevertheless people have answered your questions at face value, so I’m not sure what you are on about here. If you think the explanations are wrong, then make the argument. This is what we do here. – weka]
James, everyone reading this understands your motivation for commenting here.
I'll leave it to readers to judge whether my reply @1.5.2 fairly addresses you initial question/complaint.
"Btw – are we allowed to make serious claims based on unsourced allegations now – coz there are some doozies I’ve heard about Jacinda and the good old DJ days"
The relevant point being that aom @1 made no "serious claims based on unsourced allegations"; they simply stated that the allegations exists. Aom did opine that the Honourable Mark Mitchell is a thug – once again I cannot attest to the veracity of that rather distasteful opinion.
Indeed, it’s almost as distasteful as your repeated reference to the unspecified “doozies” of allegations about our current Prime Minister – isn’t she marvelous!
btw, if you remove blank lines in your comment before posting, or edit to remove then you won't end up with those big gaps in or below your comment (which I would appreciate).
Very short term, but still utterly unthinkable. It’s a tiny automated weather station location high in the Victorian Alps and unmanned. There would have likely been no-one there at the time, but still it has to be unsurvivable if you were exposed to it for more than an hour or so.
I once worked in temps in the mid 40's at a mine site for a few months. Stepping outside was literally like standing in a hair dryer, merely walking a few minutes from one air conditioned building to another was quite enough for me. In the Canadian Arctic I got to briefly experience -60degC for a few minutes … and that’s equally brutal.
Listening to 2GB in early this AM and a caller pointed out a temperature reading on the BOM site of around 68c. The host checked and sure enough, it was wavering between 50-60>c
The thrust of that article is that the attack on Scomo is political and cynical. Tony Abbott was attacked for personally fighting the fires while Scomo is attacked for doing too little. It's pathetic.
[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.]
Ross, I moderated you yesterday. Please respond to this comment with an acknowledgement that you understand and will abide by what I say. In full moderation now until this is resolved.
Anyone see Scotty from marketing add promoting his goats actions re the bush fires, while upbeat music is playing………….
I am afraid marketing not going to cut it…………..
also on fb a communication from pubs owner in the town where Morrison was verbally abused. Said pub owner is supposedly mortified by those outspoken “no hopers” destroying the towns reputation and is desperate to let the world no.
personally I think those outspoken people have enhanced the town’s reputation
Just like he would've gone in boots and all if it'd been his son in the situation of Otto Warmbier. It wasn't, he didn't, and Kim Jong-un remained his best new mate.
Yes it is seriously weird what is happening. We live in precarious times. I wonder how people who are asthmatic are getting on. Myself I am struggling with a chest which has a ton of concrete on it and no end in sight for it clearing up. The other day the sun was a blood red ball in a leaden sky and that was seriously weird shit too.
Poor Aus as much as we like to think they are awful people, they are suffering the likes they have never seen before. If it is lousy trying to breathe here spare some thoughts for the people, the animals and the countryside over there which is slowly destroying itself.
just before christmas i encountered a young girl from OZ with the worst cough i have ever heard in such a young person. Deep, throughty as if she just had smoked a pack of Gitanes without filter. Her mom had taken her to NZ for a week to get out of the smoke of Sidney.
I wonder how many people will have permanently damaged lungs / chronic bronchitis and such after having lived and worked in the Smog for the last two month now?
My friend in Auckland said that her house was orange in the inside. That cloud is full of smog particles. I saw a picture of the glaciers being turned to caramel color due to the sod of the smoke cloud.
I wonder how much of this could have been prevented had the Prime Idiot Scott Morrison put his pride behind country and send defense force/navy/army etc out to help with the containment of the fires much earlier then he did. He should have done that three month ago. But then i hear that his holiday in Hawaii was a breather.
Hamilton West MP Tim Macindoe is getting his little blob of publicity on the Natz 'smash 'em high, smash 'em low' crusade. In wanting no parole for convicted murderers if they don't reveal the location of their victim's body, he says he's not worried about risking punishing those wrongly convicted.
With due respect to the MP and accepting it shows the same level of thinking that he and his leader exhibit, I think it would be appropriate if someone from his family or among his friends suffers from the sort of fascism he wants in New Zealand.
[You disapprove but at the same time you wish this upon an MP’s family member or friend!? I hope you can see how twisted your comment really is. Please don’t stoop to gutter level to make a point – Incognito]
I appreciate I should have been more careful with my wording.
I should have just asked what level of fascism he wants in New Zealand and if he was prepared for citizens to suffer and be victims under such a regime, including himself and his family.
He and his boss apparently think the same way about insignificant things like the Bill of Rights, the presumption being that they will be the lords and masters with tyrannical powers over others ruling justly and fairly.
Australian leaders “have been found wanting”. It behoves our leaders here to step into the breach and give a lead.
How can we in good faith ask the Australians to cut back their coal industry when we are not prepared to?
Just as she did over the issuing all new deep sea oil and gas exploration permits, Prime Minister Ardern needs to step in and cancel Australian company Bathurst permit to explore for more coal on crown land in Huntly.
…..An anti-coal activist has expressed dismay over the Government's decision to grant a coal mining exploration permit on Crown land in Waikato.
Information obtained by Newshub shows since the September 2017 election, five mining or exploration permits have been granted on Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) land, including one for coal exploration.
The coal exploration permit was granted to BT Mining Ltd in September 2018. Its parent company is Wellington-based Bathurst Resources, a major player in the New Zealand coal mining industry…..
I hope the damage is now high enough for Scott Morrison to realise that he really is the Prime Minister of all of OZ and thoughts and prayers are not really an answer to the great burning down of rural/coastal/small town/large town Oz.
""Why is the leader of New Zealand's biggest opposition party meeting with the head of China's secret police? And why is he in Beijing with a New Zealand member of parliament who spent 15 years working for Chinese military intelligence?""
The question is not whether the Prime Minister could do it.
Of course she could.
The question is whether she would do it.
It is not as if she doesn't have grounds. Have you seen the photos of our South Island glaciers?
New Zealand's iconic white glaciers are turning shades of brown as a result of the smoke that has travelled to New Zealand from the bushfires in New South Wales and Victoria.
Our world reknowned glaciers are already in retreat, getting coated in heat absorbing dark muck from the Australian bush fires will hasten the process.
If she wanted to, the PM could cut short her holiday to call her cabinet together for an emergency meeting on this crisis.
In a show of solidarity with our beleagured cousins across the ditch.
Rescinding Bathurst's coal exploraton permits could be put on the agenda of that meeting for a vote.
As the leader of the country the Prime Minister could argue strongly for the motion.
It's called leadership.
Are we in a climate crisis or are we not?
Have you seen the movie 'Darkest Hour'?
If you have, then you will know Incognito what a real leader can do.
The Prime Minister did it with her ban on new oil and gas exploration permits.. She could do it again for new coal exploration permits.
Prime Minister Ardern said; "Climate change is my generation's nuclear free moment."
This is her New Coal Free moment.
Will she take it?
Will our Prime Minister step up and become the leader she was meant to be and give the world an example of what needs to be done?
As James Hanson said, “If we can’t stop coal it is all over for the climate”.
Agree PM Ardern probably can't, however such grand-standing would highlight (again) which NZ political parties are leaders and which parties are laggards as far as curtailing fossil fuel prospecting/mining/drilling/exporting is concerned.
Maybe there won't be any real reduction in Australian coal mining/exports, the wildfires being a "small price to pay", but 'the planet' can hope. Similarly re Amazon forest clearances – we really are a daft lot (and there are a lot of us.)
Delay may be a wise political strategy, and maybe it will serve NZ well.
Maybe the tragedy of the Australian fires, however, is an opportunity to get more voters on board re the seriousness of AGW.
But how to show voters you're serious, and not just grand-standing?
In light of recent events, I find myself increasingly sympathetic to calls for rapid and radical action, however politically impractical that may be. I’m due to travel to Victoria in less than a month, and fear that humankind may be leaving its run to combat AGW a little late.
When public opinion starts to shift what previously looked politically impractical or even like political suicide might start to look less radical, acceptable, and politically desirable even.
Political parties will be re-calibrating their policies and doing internal polling for the upcoming election campaign. The manoeuvring for voters has already started. Some will campaign positively and others will not.
Will it still be “it’s the economy, stupid!” or will we finally see a shift, be it a subtle one or a sea change?
A good leader will be able to persuade the (voting) public of a viable way forward. A good leader will also be in touch with the mood of the people and resonate with it. Negative leadership produces dissonance.
"Delay" is not the strategy. "Not pissing off the people you could well need if you want to sit at the cabinet table again" is the strategy. Refer to National, the Biggest Losers.
The fires in Aus, and the fires in the regions here, might be enough of a wakeup call for NZ1 to prioritise long term well-being over short term regional employment in fossil fuels.
But anyone who wants to be serious about Climate Change already knows to vote Green. I mean, seriously: how many people for whom climate change is a significant voting factor are, e.g., voting National because they think National has a good AGW policy?
But anyone who wants to be serious about Climate Change already knows to vote Green.
Thing is McFlock the Greens can't do it on their own. There's a block inside the Labour Party who are just as passionate about Climate Change. I'm one of them and mickeysavage of course is another.
We would likely fit well in the Green Party too, but we choose to fight our corner inside Labour. We're getting there. I think our power inside the party has probably significantly increased due to the bushfires.
Reality is setting in among the populace and about bloody time too.
"Delay is not the strategy" – fair enough then, delay is an outcome of pragmatic politics. Granted, that delay might be more protracted under a National-led government, but delay is delay – BAU GDP growth.
How genuine are all our political leaders about making the necessary changes – and I'm not talking electric cars.
Here are three paragraphs from a 2012 book: Investment and growth in the time of climate change
"The first common theme is that climate change poses a resource allocation challenge like few others. When allocating resources to climate action and other uses, society faces a variety of complex trade-offs. Most obviously, there is the trade-off between a safer climate in the future and more consumption today. There is broad agreement that it is sensible to forgo some of today’s consumption in return for a safer climate. The choices are harder when considering the trade-off between a safer climate and increased future consumption. This trade-off arises because resources allocated to climate action today might be at the expense of an expansion of the productive capital stock that will determine the extent of future consumption options. Finally, assessing trade-offs indeed becomes daunting when the choice is between climate action and spending in areas that many people would find worthy of receiving a bigger share of resources, such as research and development, healthcare and conflict prevention and resolution."
"Answering this question – the quest for appropriate climate action more generally – is difficult. The answer needs to be found in an environment characterised by deep uncertainty; possibly big, abrupt and catastrophic climate change; and the irreversibility of the stock of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Equally importantly, the answer crucially depends on how much weight is given to the welfare of future generations relative to the welfare of current generations. This weight depends on economic considerations, but also hinges on ethical judgements. The more today’s generation cares about the welfare of future generations, the more it should invest in cutting emissions. If this appears too obvious a choice, it should not be forgotten that about two billion people today live in dire poverty and doing more today for a safer future climate absorbs resources that could be used to fight poverty here and now. This substantially qualifies the seemingly agreeable statement made above that it might be easy to choose in favour of climate action if it comes at the expense of consumption. The thorny question is: whose consumption?"
"The second theme common to all chapters is the role of governments. Regardless of the degree of climate action that society might wish to see, markets left to their own devices will not deliver it because of a variety of externalities, behavioural failures, barriers to investment and other market failures. Of particular importance are the negative climate-change externality of greenhouse-gas emissions, and the closely-related collective-action problem of reaching an international agreement to cut emissions. There is thus a role for government policies to help overcome these obstacles and to work towards meeting climate objectives at least cost."
And it's that idea about NZ1 that put the nats into opposition.
Maybe this is an opportunity to further push back on denialists an any particular party (who knows, Labour probably has a couple, and even some Greens might prefer economic rather than legal controls). But change will not be a "gun laws will change" given, with support from all-but-one in the House. It will be a moderated agreement passed in the collective name of the coalition.
An error was introduced into the equations on 'the meaning of life the universe and everything' by the intervention of aliens expelled from their home planet of Golgafrinchan for being useless.
The Golgafrinchans first act on reaching Earth, after choosing the leaf as their unit of exchange?
Set fire to the forests to fight inflation and increase the value of their new currency.
Possible passive/aggressive comment on the current state of affairs. Adds nothing to what we here in New Zealand can do to address the bush fire crisis in solidarity with the suffering citizens and flora and fauna of Australia.
Possible passive/aggressive comment on the current state of affairs. Adds nothing to what we here in New Zealand can do to address the bush fire crisis in solidarity with the suffering citizens and flora and fauna of Australia.
Your comments resemble a monologue between two people: you and yourself.
No shame in that.
However, I would like to take this opportunity to thank McFlock, Drowsy M. Kram, Sacha and even yourself and for contributing to this discussion. Much appreciated.
she has said and done nothing on this threat that would demand a warning. This is the open mike, anyone can posts thoughts, ideas, and other assorted bullshit and it would not make a world of difference.
She was disrespectful to no one, she is not calling any one out and frankly you come across as if you were on a personal vendetta.
As I said, she has form. She’s been a long-term commenter and has been warned and banned for the same shit many times. Her last ban (Aug 2019) was for three months. Yet she continues to waste Moderator time; you don’t know what goes on in the back-end. You may perceive it as a “personal vendetta” and I’d say my patience is/was running out. Please note that she is now in Moderation for ignoring a request to leave moderation to Moderators and for unsupported allegations based on mixing up words and meanings, again, and taking things too far, as usual. I do find some (a few) of her comments/commenting disrespectful, which is another reason why I bother with them/her, to no avail. It is tedious and tiresome.
Random point…I purchased a newspaper today, weekend edition. The price has gone up to $4. The paper looks much the same. Sort of felt let down because despite the price it is definitely not ad free.
Of course they have got a replacement lined up. It's almost like Australia have a got a conveyor belt of prospective Prime Ministers.
When one PM stumbles and fails to act on climate change, another fresh one is minted straight away.
Climate change brought down another prime minister in Australia. Here’s what happened.
Joshua Busby, Washington Post, August 27, 2018
…..Why is climate such a politically explosive issue in Australia? Depending on whose count, this is the third or seventhtime that an Australian prime minister has been brought down by climate issues.
Australia is quite vulnerable to climate change, but complicated domestic politics have prevented the country from addressing the problem…..
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The decision to unilaterally repudiate the contract for new Cook Strait ferries is beginning to look like one of the stupidest decisions a New Zealand government ever made. While cancelling the ferries and their associated port infrastructure may have made this year's books look good, it means higher costs later, ...
Hi there! I’ve been overseas recently, looking after a situation with a family member. So apologies if there any less than focused posts! Vanuatu has just had a significant 7.3 earthquake. Two MFAT staff are unaccounted for with local fatalities.It’s always sad to hear of such things happening.I think of ...
Today is a special member's morning, scheduled to make up for the government's theft of member's days throughout the year. First up was the first reading of Greg Fleming's Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, which was passed unanimously. Currently the House is debating the third reading of ...
We're going backwardsIgnoring the realitiesGoing backwardsAre you counting all the casualties?We are not there yetWhere we need to beWe are still in debtTo our insanitiesSongwriter: Martin Gore Read more ...
Willis blamed Treasury for changing its productivity assumptions and Labour’s spending increases since Covid for the worsening Budget outlook. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 18 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above ...
Today the Auckland Transport board meet for the last time this year. For those interested (and with time to spare), you can follow along via this MS Teams link from 10am. I’ve taken a quick look through the agenda items to see what I think the most interesting aspects are. ...
Hi,If you’re a New Zealander — you know who Mike King is. He is the face of New Zealand’s battle against mental health problems. He can be loud and brash. He raises, and is entrusted with, a lot of cash. Last year his “I Am Hope” charity reported a revenue ...
Probably about the only consolation available from yesterday’s unveiling of the Half-Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) is that it could have been worse. Though Finance Minister Nicola Willis has tightened the screws on future government spending, she has resisted the calls from hard-line academics, fiscal purists and fiscal hawks ...
The right have a stupid saying that is only occasionally true:When is democracy not democracy? When it hasn’t been voted on.While not true in regards to branches of government such as the judiciary, it’s a philosophy that probably should apply to recently-elected local government councillors. Nevertheless, this concept seemed to ...
Long story short: the Government’s austerity policy has driven the economy into a deeper and longer recession that means it will have to borrow $20 billion more over the next four years than it expected just six months ago. Treasury’s latest forecasts show the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s fiscal strategy of ...
Come and join myself and CTU Chief Economist for a pop-up ‘Hoon’ webinar on the Government’s Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) with paying subscribers to The Kākā for 30 minutes at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream to watch our chat. Don’t worry if ...
In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...
New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...
At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...
Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob HensonIn this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...
In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...
On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...
The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...
This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...
And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...
Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...
Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...
This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate.I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...
A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...
The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...
Kiwis planning a swim or heading out on a boat this summer should remember to stop and think about water safety, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop and ACC and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “New Zealand’s beaches, lakes and rivers are some of the most beautiful in the ...
The Government is urging Kiwis to drive safely this summer and reminding motorists that Police will be out in force to enforce the road rules, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“This time of year can be stressful and result in poor decision-making on our roads. Whether you are travelling to see ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...
The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...
A separate passport, citizenship and membership of the United Nations are only available to fully independent nations, Winston Peters' office says. ...
By Emma Andrews, Henare te Ua Māori Journalism Intern at RNZ News The New Zealand fuel company Z Energy is swapping out street names for “correct” kupu on service stops around the country, with the help of local hapū. When Z took over 226 fuel sites from Shell in 2010, ...
Summer reissue: Was it a false measurement, a full-blown conspiracy or just some mild incompetence? Mad Chapman uncovers the truth of Maddi Wesche’s final throw. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Old, Associate Professor, Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Western Sydney University Dmitry Chulov, Shutterstock At this time of year, images of reindeer are everywhere. I’ve had a soft spot for reindeer ever since I was a little girl. Doesn’t everyone? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grozdana Manalo, Career Services Manager (Education), University of Sydney hedgehog94/Shutterstock Getting casual work over summer, or a part-time job that you might continue once your tertiary course starts, can be a great way to get workplace experience and earn some extra ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ty Ferguson, Research associate in exercise, nutrition and activity, University of South Australia Peera_Stockfoto/Shutterstock It’s never been easier to stay connected to work. Even when we’re on leave, our phones and laptops keep us tethered. Many of us promise ourselves we ...
The NZ Media Council upheld the complaint under principle four: comment and fact On 5 September 2024, The Spinoff published a brief article titled Made in Palestine, found in 1970s Hastings, which highlighted an upcoming art exhibition featuring photographs of vintage cosmetic products labelled “Made in Palestine.” The piece, described ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kasey Symons, Lecturer of Communication, Sports Media, Deakin University We are well and truly in cricket season. The Australian men’s cricket team is taking centre stage against India in the Border Gavaskar Trophy series while the Big Bash League is underway, as ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Woods, Lecturer, Nursing, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University FTiare/Shutterstock Summer is here and for many that means going to the beach. You grab your swimmers, beach towel and sunscreen then maybe check the weather forecast. Did you think to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Saman Khalesi, Senior Lecturer and Discipline Lead in Nutrition, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity Australia Dean Clarke/Shutterstock The holiday season can be a time of joy, celebration, and indulgence in delicious foods and meals. However, for many, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ari Mattes, Lecturer in Communications and Media, University of Notre Dame Australia Late Night With The Devil. Maslow Entertainment Marketing is critical to the success of commercial films, and companies will often spend half as much again on top of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Francisco Jose Testa, Lecturer in Earth Sciences (Mineralogy, Petrology & Geochemistry), University of Tasmania The Conversation As a kid, it was tough for me to grasp the massive time scale of Earth’s history. Now, with nearly two decades of experience as ...
Opinion: The latest Trends in International Mathematics and Science report was announced earlier this month, yet it didn’t get the flurry of media attention and political hand-wringing that typically accompanies these announcements. This might be because it presented good news, or you could argue, no news; the results paint a ...
NewsroomBy Dr Lisa Darragh, Dr Raewyn Eden and Dr David Pomeroy
Te Pāti Māori has had to adopt a new way of debating, operating and even thinking in Parliament in response to the Government’s “onslaught” against te ao Māori, co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says.In an end-of-year interview with Newsroom, the Te Tai Hauauru MP reflected on how 2024 has differed from her ...
At long last, The Spinoff shells out for a nut ranking. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today.It recently came to The Spinoff’s attention ...
I was one of hundreds of people who lost my government job this week. Here’s exactly how it played out. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a ...
Summer reissue: One anxiously attentive passenger pays attention to an in-flight safety video, and wonders ‘Why can’t I pick up my own phone?’ The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up ...
Summer reissue: Why do those Lange-Douglas years cast such a long shadow 40 years on? The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today. First published June ...
An unrelenting faith in “swift transition” has driven Tauranga Whai to their first Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship. At a boisterous Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre, the visiting Tokomanawa Queens were blown away 90-71 in the final.Whai led by 20 points at halftime as their urgent movement and unflinching faith in three-point shooting from anywhere ...
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The Government’s social housing agency has backed out of a billion-dollar infrastructure alliance that would have built about 6000 new homes in Auckland – less than 18 months after signing a five-year extension.Labour says the decision to rip up the contract and sell off existing state houses could lead to ...
ByKoroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor New Zealand’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) says impending bad weather for Port Vila is now the most significant post-quake hazard. A tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to move into Vanuatu waters, bringing heavy rainfall. Authorities have issued warnings to people ...
Cosmic CatastropheThe year draws to a close.King Luxon has grown tired of the long eveningsListening to the dreary squabbling of his Triumvirate.He strolls up to the top floor of the PalaceTo consult with his Astronomer Royal.The Royal Telescope scans the skies,And King Luxon stares up into the heavensFrom the terrestrial ...
Spinoff editor Mad Chapman and books editor Claire Mabey debate Carl Shuker’s new novel about… an editor. Claire: Hello Mad, you just finished The Royal Free – overall impressions? Mad: Hi Claire, I literally just put the book down and I would have to say my immediate impression is ...
Christmas and its buildup are often lonely, hard and full of unreasonable expectations. Here’s how to make it to Jesus’s birthday and find the little bit of joy we all deserve. Have you found this year relentless? Has the latest Apple update “fucked up your life”? Have you lost two ...
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Typically, two of Parliament's most notable thugs, one of whom has also been alleged to be a war criminal, are called on to pontificate on MM Kingdom's change initiative: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/117925405/newage-gangsters-business-prospects-volunteer-work-and-giving-up-drugs. No doubt, the usual tough on crime brigade will kick the gang's positive intentions into the fire's of hell – the same as in the past when there have been rays of hope for some of societies disaffected whose only 'familial' security was in gangs, often after prolonged State abuse as children.
Another example of the fear driven messaging the CA scandal showed us all that exists in the global media now across the globe.
This kicks it off and then Social media riffs on the divides in the background. Rent a right wing ranters mitchell and Jones duely oblige showing the humanity one expects from a couple of mercenary troughers.
Leadership opportunity for JA here. Go one better than chch massacre and outlaw this shite while you can or condemm godzone to being another outpost of the global messaging/maniplualtion industry.
I wish commenters would apply more thought to the use of acronyms. What the hell is the "CA" scandal?
I so agree!
Cambridge Analytica?
"Charlie's Angels"?
Has to be Chartered Accountants, surely. Up to their elbows in scandal.
Apologies had to dash away, yes Cambridge analytica who've just had alot more dumped that show the extent and reach.
Mark Mitchell said, "They enjoy the life style; they enjoy intimidating people, they enjoy not having to work hard to earn lots of cash, and they love the status that it gives them."
Give the man a mirror and let him discuss which parts of that apply to him.
Lol! But he'd genuinely have no idea what you meant. I met some civilian contractors during the Iraq War and self-reflection was very much not among their strong points…
" gang's positive intentions"
Yeah and I have a bridge to sell you
Would that be one of the ones Simon promised us up here?
Yeah right next to the light rail system
oh please please lefties – please use that for the election year social media’s.
you don’t sound like tin foil hat wearing morons at all.
If he engaged with Iraqi militia who, because of their resistance to invaders, could be considered part of a national liberation movement, he could well be considered a war criminal.
since 1968 the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a firm position stating that the practice of employing mercenaries against national liberation movements is a criminal act
http://archive.li/Yj5lx#selection-635.49-647.39
So are you saying “IF” Jacinda did the things I’ve read on Twitter they could be true as well ?
i could give a link here to the legislation that would make the action alleged illegal.
And I could say all sorts of things about a former cabinet minister, her brother, and his kit, too.
My point exactly
So are you saying “IF” Jacinda did the things I’ve read on Twitter they could be true as well ?
Depends. Did Ardern go off to work as a mercenary for private interests in a foreign country and now refuses to say how many of the locals she killed? Because I'm pretty sure she didn't…
That’s a stupid argument.
jacinda hasn’t answered questions about what people say about here other.
do you think that unproven rumours should be allowed to be posted here – or Mitchell being a alleged war criminal- or jacinda xyz?
cant have it both ways.
It's not an unproven rumour that Mark Mitchell worked as a mercenary for private interests in Iraq and that his job was to protect those private interests from Iraqis opposed to the occupation of their country. Given the potential for war crimes to result from that, it's reasonable to ask Mark Mitchell how many people he killed in that job, and on what basis he killed them. It's his refusal to answer those reasonable questions that opens him up to suspicion. Idle gossip you may have heard about Ardern isn't even remotely in a similar category.
Wow! There's an opportunity for me – my new mission in life can go to shops and turn or hide magazines and newspapers with mentions of Mitchell!
False equivalence and a blatant attempt to diversion. Why tempt fate, James?
A Merky past does not a war crim make jimbo.
Btw – are we allowed to make serious claims based on unsourced allegations now – coz there are some doozies I’ve heard about Jacinda and the good old DJ days
(no not going to post them – but making a point when making such strong allegations against someone there should be something to back it up. And accusations without any basis shouldn’t be a source).
Claims about Mitchell have been around for years with them being described in various ways.
Did aom1 make a serious claim merely by saying there'd been allegations, something which had been publicly reported and discussed?
By that standard will there be complaints to the Press Council about the story on Stuff today?
"National MP Jian Yang organised Simon Bridges' controversial China trip, emails show." There are insinuations in that far more that in aom1's comment.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/118419927/national-mp-jian-yang-organised-simon-bridges-controversial-china-trip-emails-show
where has it been reported (in a reasonable media outlet) about Mark Being a war criminal?
If using Twitter as a source (or something equally stupid) and then just putting “alleged” in front of it – you have to be fair and allow others to do it as well. Especially when it’s something so significant as indicating someone might be a war criminal
I wonder who funded the travel by Slick to facetoface his handlers.
James, if you're referring to the comment @1 that the Honourable Mark Mitchell has "been alleged to be a war criminal", then this is indeed the case. Here's a link containing that allegation. I cannot speak to the veracity of the allegation, only that the allegation is real, and therefore that the the quoted comment @1 is accurate. You're welcome
There was some concern (in 2018) among lefties about the prospect of the Honourable Mark Mitchell being chosen to lead the National party, but that’s water under the Bridges.
Ok – so to clarify before I post them – as long as I have a link to the allegations made by people I can post that jacinda allegedly is a xyz?
and at that point it would be a valid and correct post?
as I said before – I would expect when repeated allegations they should come from a better source than Twitter it in this case the daily blog. But since the bar is that low – we should be ok.
note to mods – I’m not actually going to post them. Just making a point of how stupid the comment is.
but happy to take your direction if you are ok with posting allegations from second rate sources.
[here’s how it works. Someone makes a claim that seems dubious (in this case they said there were allegations that someone was a war criminal). Other people then ask for this to be backed up with some kind of evidence. That evidence needs to have some level of credibility, so no, random reckons about JA from the dirty politic crew probably don’t count.
By and large on a daily basis it gets left to the commentariat to set the culture of what counts as credible, but there is an expectation that a certain standard will be maintained and authors and moderators over time are involved in that.
If you were serious about the issue today, you could simply have asked for the evidence. Instead you’ve run a number of stupid and inflammatory lines that look more designed to have a go at commenters and lefties. Nevertheless people have answered your questions at face value, so I’m not sure what you are on about here. If you think the explanations are wrong, then make the argument. This is what we do here. – weka]
James, everyone reading this understands your motivation for commenting here.
I'll leave it to readers to judge whether my reply @1.5.2 fairly addresses you initial question/complaint.
The relevant point being that aom @1 made no "serious claims based on unsourced allegations"; they simply stated that the allegations exists. Aom did opine that the Honourable Mark Mitchell is a thug – once again I cannot attest to the veracity of that rather distasteful opinion.
Indeed, it’s almost as distasteful as your repeated reference to the unspecified “doozies” of allegations about our current Prime Minister – isn’t she marvelous!
I think it's adorable how James takes issue with comments he thinks "stupid".
Adorable.
mod note for you James.
btw, if you remove blank lines in your comment before posting, or edit to remove then you won't end up with those big gaps in or below your comment (which I would appreciate).
Odd times in Mallacoota
Date: January 31st, 2019
Temps:
7:59am 36.5C
8:00am 49.0C
8:11am 34.3C
Shown in this video at 25:46mins
Entirely possible for a gust of fire driven wind to cause that to happen. As a blatant one-up how about this one 🙂
https://www.reddit.com/r/australia/comments/ejtdp9/cabramurra_peaked_at_698_c_today_at_0426pm_these/
This morning that number has been deleted on the BOM site, but at 4:27pm it's still clocked in at an insane 57 degC.
http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60903/IDN60903.95916.shtml
Very short term, but still utterly unthinkable. It’s a tiny automated weather station location high in the Victorian Alps and unmanned. There would have likely been no-one there at the time, but still it has to be unsurvivable if you were exposed to it for more than an hour or so.
I once worked in temps in the mid 40's at a mine site for a few months. Stepping outside was literally like standing in a hair dryer, merely walking a few minutes from one air conditioned building to another was quite enough for me. In the Canadian Arctic I got to briefly experience -60degC for a few minutes … and that’s equally brutal.
Listening to 2GB in early this AM and a caller pointed out a temperature reading on the BOM site of around 68c. The host checked and sure enough, it was wavering between 50-60>c
It’s crazy times out there.
I was wondering what ..fried your…brain.
The thrust of that article is that the attack on Scomo is political and cynical. Tony Abbott was attacked for personally fighting the fires while Scomo is attacked for doing too little. It's pathetic.
[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.]
Yes that is one of several themes in Joe's article … it also gives Albanese thumbs up for not joining in the same cynical attack.
Ross, I moderated you yesterday. Please respond to this comment with an acknowledgement that you understand and will abide by what I say. In full moderation now until this is resolved.
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-04-01-2020/#comment-1676988
Anyone see Scotty from marketing add promoting his goats actions re the bush fires, while upbeat music is playing………….
I am afraid marketing not going to cut it…………..
also on fb a communication from pubs owner in the town where Morrison was verbally abused. Said pub owner is supposedly mortified by those outspoken “no hopers” destroying the towns reputation and is desperate to let the world no.
personally I think those outspoken people have enhanced the town’s reputation
i
i
Trump has been very clear is Iran attack any US assets.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2020/01/soleimani-killing-united-states-targetting-52-iranian-sites-will-strike-if-iran-attacks.html
and he’s proven he will back it up.
You know he'd back it up too.
Just like he would've gone in boots and all if it'd been his son in the situation of Otto Warmbier. It wasn't, he didn't, and Kim Jong-un remained his best new mate.
What better place to make threats of war than Twitter.
FFS.
/
btw, the deliberate targeting and destruction of cultural heritage sites is a war crime under the Hague Convention
edit:
http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=15391&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
All good there except USA doesn't seem to be a signatory to any UNESCO conventions. War crimes being for other people / loosers
https://www.un.org/press/en/2017/sc12764.doc.htm
Well there is a Trump Tweet for every occassion:
Clever and funny, despite the gravity of current events – Trump channelling Trump.
How would Russia and China respond to the U.S. hitting 52 Iranian targets?
They've got chumpy right where they want him jimbo.
An insightful article… however simon does not want to comment… lol!
Simon Bridges' controversial China visit was organised by Jian Yang, the National MP who admitted to training Chinese spies, official emails show.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/118419927/national-mp-jian-yang-organised-simon-bridges-controversial-china-trip-emails-show
Simon initially replied "Méiyǒu yìjiàn". He then realised the reporter didn't speak Mandarin and said "No comment".
Lmfao !!
fun fun fun…
https://twitter.com/HindsightFiles/status/1212848706619351060
https://twitter.com/hindsightfiles
Smoke on the water fire in the sky.
2.pm on a bright summers day Auckland's sky goes dark, queer orange tinged sunlight.
Is it like this in other places?
Yes it is seriously weird what is happening. We live in precarious times. I wonder how people who are asthmatic are getting on. Myself I am struggling with a chest which has a ton of concrete on it and no end in sight for it clearing up. The other day the sun was a blood red ball in a leaden sky and that was seriously weird shit too.
Poor Aus as much as we like to think they are awful people, they are suffering the likes they have never seen before. If it is lousy trying to breathe here spare some thoughts for the people, the animals and the countryside over there which is slowly destroying itself.
just before christmas i encountered a young girl from OZ with the worst cough i have ever heard in such a young person. Deep, throughty as if she just had smoked a pack of Gitanes without filter. Her mom had taken her to NZ for a week to get out of the smoke of Sidney.
I wonder how many people will have permanently damaged lungs / chronic bronchitis and such after having lived and worked in the Smog for the last two month now?
My friend in Auckland said that her house was orange in the inside. That cloud is full of smog particles. I saw a picture of the glaciers being turned to caramel color due to the sod of the smoke cloud.
I wonder how much of this could have been prevented had the Prime Idiot Scott Morrison put his pride behind country and send defense force/navy/army etc out to help with the containment of the fires much earlier then he did. He should have done that three month ago. But then i hear that his holiday in Hawaii was a breather.
Waikato west coast is like a sepia/yellow filters been applied.
Surreal and sad knowing it's cause.
I wonder what kind of sunset we will get?
Hamilton West MP Tim Macindoe is getting his little blob of publicity on the Natz 'smash 'em high, smash 'em low' crusade. In wanting no parole for convicted murderers if they don't reveal the location of their victim's body, he says he's not worried about risking punishing those wrongly convicted.
With due respect to the MP and accepting it shows the same level of thinking that he and his leader exhibit, I think it would be appropriate if someone from his family or among his friends suffers from the sort of fascism he wants in New Zealand.
[You disapprove but at the same time you wish this upon an MP’s family member or friend!? I hope you can see how twisted your comment really is. Please don’t stoop to gutter level to make a point – Incognito]
See my Moderation note @ 2:35 PM.
I appreciate I should have been more careful with my wording.
I should have just asked what level of fascism he wants in New Zealand and if he was prepared for citizens to suffer and be victims under such a regime, including himself and his family.
He and his boss apparently think the same way about insignificant things like the Bill of Rights, the presumption being that they will be the lords and masters with tyrannical powers over others ruling justly and fairly.
As Auckland is covered in orange smog from the Australian bush fires.
Australian leaders “have been found wanting”. It behoves our leaders here to step into the breach and give a lead.
How can we in good faith ask the Australians to cut back their coal industry when we are not prepared to?
Just as she did over the issuing all new deep sea oil and gas exploration permits, Prime Minister Ardern needs to step in and cancel Australian company Bathurst permit to explore for more coal on crown land in Huntly.
https://extinctionrebellion.nz/2019/09/25/protesters-target-ardern-for-climate-change-hypocrisy-as-she-takes-world-stage/
Come on Prime Minister, the world is crying out for a climate Churchill.
This is your nuclear free moment.
Cancel Bathurst's permits now!
Australian political leaders 'have been found wanting'.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, "climate change is my generation's nuclear free moment."
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/08/jacinda-ardern-climate-change-is-my-generation-s-nuclear-free-moment.html
This is now our New Coal Free moment.
Will our leaders also be 'found wanting' and let the moment pass?
Climate Summit at Rotowaro Coal Mine
https://www.facebook.com/XRAuckland/photos/gm.755457494907200/2116687325306275/?type=3&theater
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/118596151/climate-change-led-here-australian-pm-scott-morrison-says-amid-bushfire-crisis?fbclid=IwAR2EUjqvae9mZ1BXIimJptxUtocpSZFjwj4KhZonbGp2AXNCangze84RMy4
yeah, yeah, say it ain't so
the first video is the one to watch.
I hope the damage is now high enough for Scott Morrison to realise that he really is the Prime Minister of all of OZ and thoughts and prayers are not really an answer to the great burning down of rural/coastal/small town/large town Oz.
"Thoughts and prayers" = SFA.
""Why is the leader of New Zealand's biggest opposition party meeting with the head of China's secret police? And why is he in Beijing with a New Zealand member of parliament who spent 15 years working for Chinese military intelligence?""
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/118419927/national-mp-jian-yang-organised-simon-bridges-controversial-china-trip-emails-show?fbclid=IwAR1-mc7rhVsv6eeirTSJPE0fHqlUTRPwMJcYW6SjliF2hF6l_Td8_eC_A7w
Bears repeating. Again and again.
New Coal Free New Zealand
When will New Zealand's leaders act?
We did it over nuclear weapons.
We did it over votes for women.
We did it over Social Welfare.
When will New Zealand show the way?
When will New Zealand stop opening new coal mines?
When will the “horror” stop?
Prime Minister Ardern needs to step in and cancel Bathurst’s permit to explore for new coal on crown owned land.
How and through what mechanism or process would the PM achieve this feat?
To me, your comment(s) has the whiff of hot air. Show us the path, if you can, and do your user name justice.
The question is not whether the Prime Minister could do it.
Of course she could.
The question is whether she would do it.
It is not as if she doesn't have grounds. Have you seen the photos of our South Island glaciers?
Our world reknowned glaciers are already in retreat, getting coated in heat absorbing dark muck from the Australian bush fires will hasten the process.
If she wanted to, the PM could cut short her holiday to call her cabinet together for an emergency meeting on this crisis.
In a show of solidarity with our beleagured cousins across the ditch.
Rescinding Bathurst's coal exploraton permits could be put on the agenda of that meeting for a vote.
As the leader of the country the Prime Minister could argue strongly for the motion.
It's called leadership.
Are we in a climate crisis or are we not?
Have you seen the movie 'Darkest Hour'?
If you have, then you will know Incognito what a real leader can do.
The Prime Minister did it with her ban on new oil and gas exploration permits.. She could do it again for new coal exploration permits.
Prime Minister Ardern said; "Climate change is my generation's nuclear free moment."
This is her New Coal Free moment.
Will she take it?
Will our Prime Minister step up and become the leader she was meant to be and give the world an example of what needs to be done?
As James Hanson said, “If we can’t stop coal it is all over for the climate”.
Well, it would probably require legislative change which means cross-partisan support at least within the coalition.
The Greens would be on board.
NZ1? Doubtful.
So no, she probably can't.
Agree PM Ardern probably can't, however such grand-standing would highlight (again) which NZ political parties are leaders and which parties are laggards as far as curtailing fossil fuel prospecting/mining/drilling/exporting is concerned.
Maybe there won't be any real reduction in Australian coal mining/exports, the wildfires being a "small price to pay", but 'the planet' can hope. Similarly re Amazon forest clearances – we really are a daft lot (and there are a lot of us.)
We know which ones are the laggards. Putting out legislation to call your coalition partner a dick is not conducive to further coalition agreements.
Yes, we know.
Is this how the art of the possible ends? Slow, and ‘steady‘…
I suspect anyone who cares about AGW knows.
Which makes the antagonism of a coalition partner quite worthless.
Delay may be a wise political strategy, and maybe it will serve NZ well.
Maybe the tragedy of the Australian fires, however, is an opportunity to get more voters on board re the seriousness of AGW.
But how to show voters you're serious, and not just grand-standing?
In light of recent events, I find myself increasingly sympathetic to calls for rapid and radical action, however politically impractical that may be. I’m due to travel to Victoria in less than a month, and fear that humankind may be leaving its run to combat AGW a little late.
Radical action is not going to come from this government.
Nor from (m)any other governments, which is problematic if radical action is a prerequisite for minimising AGW. 'We' are in a bind.
When public opinion starts to shift what previously looked politically impractical or even like political suicide might start to look less radical, acceptable, and politically desirable even.
Political parties will be re-calibrating their policies and doing internal polling for the upcoming election campaign. The manoeuvring for voters has already started. Some will campaign positively and others will not.
Will it still be “it’s the economy, stupid!” or will we finally see a shift, be it a subtle one or a sea change?
A good leader will be able to persuade the (voting) public of a viable way forward. A good leader will also be in touch with the mood of the people and resonate with it. Negative leadership produces dissonance.
Organise outside political parties and apply pressure from there. Be interested to hear how the Aussies are doing that when you visit.
"Delay" is not the strategy. "Not pissing off the people you could well need if you want to sit at the cabinet table again" is the strategy. Refer to National, the Biggest Losers.
The fires in Aus, and the fires in the regions here, might be enough of a wakeup call for NZ1 to prioritise long term well-being over short term regional employment in fossil fuels.
But anyone who wants to be serious about Climate Change already knows to vote Green. I mean, seriously: how many people for whom climate change is a significant voting factor are, e.g., voting National because they think National has a good AGW policy?
Thing is McFlock the Greens can't do it on their own. There's a block inside the Labour Party who are just as passionate about Climate Change. I'm one of them and mickeysavage of course is another.
We would likely fit well in the Green Party too, but we choose to fight our corner inside Labour. We're getting there. I think our power inside the party has probably significantly increased due to the bushfires.
Reality is setting in among the populace and about bloody time too.
"Delay is not the strategy" – fair enough then, delay is an outcome of pragmatic politics. Granted, that delay might be more protracted under a National-led government, but delay is delay – BAU GDP growth.
How genuine are all our political leaders about making the necessary changes – and I'm not talking electric cars.
Here are three paragraphs from a 2012 book:
Investment and growth in the time of climate change
Maybe, maybe not.
It is in times of crisis that real leaders shine.
The Prime Minister was able to drag NZ First behind in her wake over banning all new deep sea oil drilling permits.
Remember this?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12030956
New Zealand First love their baubles of office too much to throw it all away just to please an Australian coal company.
After what they have done to their own country, Aussie Coal companies should have few friends in New Zealand.
NZ First along with the rest of the coalition government will have no trouble selling a ban on new coal exploration to their supporters.
Just look at the sky.
And it's that idea about NZ1 that put the nats into opposition.
Maybe this is an opportunity to further push back on denialists an any particular party (who knows, Labour probably has a couple, and even some Greens might prefer economic rather than legal controls). But change will not be a "gun laws will change" given, with support from all-but-one in the House. It will be a moderated agreement passed in the collective name of the coalition.
Yes, and there would be accompanying concessions to Winston First like even more regional investment in other industries for mining regions.
Your comments resemble a monologue between two people: you and yourself.
The question was how.
Just won't listen to herself. 🙂
‘
The answer was leadership
42
I
An error was introduced into the equations on 'the meaning of life the universe and everything' by the intervention of aliens expelled from their home planet of Golgafrinchan for being useless.
The Golgafrinchans first act on reaching Earth, after choosing the leaf as their unit of exchange?
Set fire to the forests to fight inflation and increase the value of their new currency.
Possible passive/aggressive comment on the current state of affairs. Adds nothing to what we here in New Zealand can do to address the bush fire crisis in solidarity with the suffering citizens and flora and fauna of Australia.
QED
@14.1.1.2
5 January 2020 at 8:35 pm
Your comments resemble a monologue between two people: you and yourself.
No shame in that.
However, I would like to take this opportunity to thank McFlock, Drowsy M. Kram, Sacha and even yourself and for contributing to this discussion. Much appreciated.
This is not a platform for monologue but a place for robust debate. Please keep your singing in the shower.
oh good grief, her comment is as good as any here.
Or maybe LPrent should set up rules as to what is singing in the shower and what is a robust debate on the OPEN MIKE!
She has form, she receives a warning, she ignores it. Rinse and repeat.
she has said and done nothing on this threat that would demand a warning. This is the open mike, anyone can posts thoughts, ideas, and other assorted bullshit and it would not make a world of difference.
She was disrespectful to no one, she is not calling any one out and frankly you come across as if you were on a personal vendetta.
just me two cents.
As I said, she has form. She’s been a long-term commenter and has been warned and banned for the same shit many times. Her last ban (Aug 2019) was for three months. Yet she continues to waste Moderator time; you don’t know what goes on in the back-end. You may perceive it as a “personal vendetta” and I’d say my patience is/was running out. Please note that she is now in Moderation for ignoring a request to leave moderation to Moderators and for unsupported allegations based on mixing up words and meanings, again, and taking things too far, as usual. I do find some (a few) of her comments/commenting disrespectful, which is another reason why I bother with them/her, to no avail. It is tedious and tiresome.
Imagine giving your all for the fires an being penalised by Centerlink for it
https://twitter.com/Girrali/status/1211173432840220672
https://imgur.com/gallery/IqG4OtC
As the country's leader Scott Morrison not only has the ability to order these payments to continue but the moral duty to do so.
these guys should not need unemployment benefits, they should be paid the wage of a fire fighter with all benefits that come with that employment.
seriously, what the fuck is wrong with people.
Scomofo sees the unemployed as undeserving of the opportunity to risk their lives.
Random point…I purchased a newspaper today, weekend edition. The price has gone up to $4. The paper looks much the same. Sort of felt let down because despite the price it is definitely not ad free.
The world isn't impressed by Scomo's response to the bush fires.
Jacinda Ardern should make a visit to the region to show him how it's done!
this was just missing a
yeah, right TUI
A Question on an Aussie mates Facebook page, he's a pretty right wing banana bender,
He answered, No
End of line for Scotty from Marketing?
I'm sure they've got a replacement lined up. It's not like your mate is saying he doesn't support the whole party, right?
Of course they have got a replacement lined up. It's almost like Australia have a got a conveyor belt of prospective Prime Ministers.
When one PM stumbles and fails to act on climate change, another fresh one is minted straight away.
“complicated domestic politics” being of course, a euphemism for powerful coal lobby.
Tone Yabber on the comeback?
Goodbye Sergeant York,and captain commando, WW3 will be between hackers with high BMI fueled by pepsi.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/05/us-government-agency-website-hacked-by-group-claiming-to-be-from-iran