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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Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
TL;DR:Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it: We want our country to be a ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading → ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
What was that judge thinking?Peter Williams writes – That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop:Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
Today marks a tragic milestone for New Zealanders as the Coalition Government side with big tobacco to repeal the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins and Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti. Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
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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