Of course, it is serious and political. So, start a proper debate here that is non-polarising and non-divisive instead of regurgitating the same talking points day-in-day-out and in your idiosyncratic way (AKA baiting). The way things sound are not necessarily the way things are.
Take it away, James, OM is yours to start the discussion.
As much as I want to be wrong, I think NZ First may have complied with the letter of the law, if not the spirit.
Using multiple related entities to donate $14,995 each, to get past disclosure appears legal, but is clearly dodgy and done solely to get around the intention of the law.
New Zealand politics would be in a better place without Winston and Shane involved in so it is my hope that this sinks them forever.
A truly progressive government, without the handbrake of the inherently conservative, bigoted and nasty NZ First party involved is a realistic and likely post election scenario.
A Green Labour government is now within our reach.
Regardless of NZF & Nats competing to see who can do shady donations mishandling best, the most interesting aspect is why all those wealthy capitalists are giving big donations to NZF. I presume they've decided that National have lost the plot.
Now they have been doxed they've got no reason to restrict their support to maintain anonymity.
Could go two ways, either they'll get scared and abandon NZF or they'll be out for utu. I don't see Graeme Hart and the others as shrinking violets. Might get interesting
The battle for the extreme right is hotting up. You can assume immigrants from South Africa will know how it ought to be done, particularly if they have Boer in their name. Dieuwe de Boer knows what's right:
"When I first saw the New Conservative launch in 2018, I panned the idea. The "new conservatives are just as boring as the old" was my response. I didn't expect to hear much of them ever again, but then something unexpected happened. I got a message from deputy leader Elliot Ikilei, who told me that he had read my critically dismissive review, he thought I had some good points, and he wanted to meet up to talk about it. That one simple olive branch changed my life".
"He plays up his own Pacific heritage, throws in a few phrases of Samoan and Maori, and says that western culture is superior to all other cultures—it can be adopted by all ethnicities and transcends all cultures. That's a line you won't hear from any politician. "Our civilisation is the greatest ever built," he says with energy and passion. Those statements would likely have been front page news if they had been said anywhere outside of aNew Conservative meeting."
"Victoria O'Brien, firearms spokeswoman, gave her first speech at this meeting. She was able to demonstrate the importance of the freedom to access information from her own experience of authoritarianism in Singapore. She brings a lot of knowledge and credibility to the New Conservative firearms policy, having been an E-Endorsement holder at the time the recent amendments started to roll in. Like Leighton and Elliot, she expresses her reluctance for getting into politics, but all three are doing this because someone has too. They're worried about losing the country they love to the progressive darkness."
He's even got a sense of humour: "Between ACT and NC there is also a great chasm on a philosophical level with libertarian individualism pitted against the conservative focus on the family, morality, and nation. I'll tell you what National's philosophy is once I figure it out."
"New Conservative is building up a grassroots movement and much of their rhetoric is honed in on fighting the culture war. For me, that's key." Once that type of thinking dominated our country. In theory, they ought to be able to pull together the remnants of it. In reality, I suspect too many have died, and the rest have moved on.
But we ought to feel compassion for those unable to see the light, eh? Disabilities can be a debilitating affliction. A cadre of leftist virtue-signallers ought to be sent into the hinterland to enlighten the natives. The missionary spirit may not be totally dead. Evangelists may be able to help them see the light in that darkness, so they can wend their way towards it gradually thereafter.
No, I did not receive your e-mail about the name change; I don’t have access to the site’s e-mail account. To avoid confusion, I have changed your user handle back to the original.
Because the disease is contagious, you can't treat cases as independent events. If the disease broke out in a university campus in Guangdong and in a rest home in Honk Kong then that explains the difference in fatalities and spread without there being any other difference.
That might be true if it were only one Chinese province. Several minutes into the video a list of several areas (approx 2000 cases) with only a 2 or 3 deaths reported.
I'm done here. It is clear that on this site there is no willingness at all to see this for what it is – a serious pandemic which is already causing supply chain disruption.
Since I love y'all despite you seeing me as a loon, at least take some basic steps:
– instead of waiting to get sick before buying flu supplies buy them in advance including electrolytes or make them at home in advance
– buy or make elderberry syrup as this is scientifically proven to lessen symptoms and reduce duration of the illness (+better tasting than olive leaf extract). The major concern with this virus is the high complication rate that requires hospital admission
A, when the last potential pandemic scare happened, we had lots of conversations here with some people *insisting that within so many days/weeks there would massive deaths globally. Didn't happen obviously. The new coronavirus might become a pandemic, but it's not currently. I think we should be taking it seriously, and am glad NZ is now putting boundaries in at the border. I'm cautious about what the impact might be here, but I don't see the need to prepare for this as any more pressing than for a flood or quake.
mpledger's point about the stats is valid. I was going to say that you can't tell much from such small numbers. There are good reasons why we have public health experts in contagious disease, because they have the experience and knowledge in how to assess what is going on. Keep watching the videos, but I hope you're also following the relevant health authorities and science based commentary online.
I don't think everyone here is dismissing your concerns. It's entirely natural that people will vary in their responses to this kind of threat, from the entirely nonchalant to the closed off and fearful … and every shade in between.
On the data we have so far I think this has the potential to become a major problem, but it's not likely to be a repeat of the 1918 Spanish Flu. Our tools for fighting this are so much more sophisticated now.
The big complicating factor for me is that I really don't trust any damn thing the CCP says. Hell they may be telling us the gospel truth on this one, but their track record is so bad how would we know?
"A serious misinfodemic is occurring – fake news, unsubstantiated rumours, and crazy talk are spreading way more than the coronavirus. This is concerning and the World Health Organisation have all hands to deck to try and counter the nonsense."
Controversial independent MP Jami-Lee Ross is again under investigation after misconduct allegations saw three of the four staff in his Botany office placed on special leave.
The latest complaints, understood to include bullying, are from the past year and relate to staff in the office he set up as an independent MP after his spectacular falling out with National.
Having been down that road (cost me my career and much more besides) I know how people love to believe a scandal and/or other serious misdemeanors. It is invariably the claimant who has all to hide.
Stop with the victim blaming. People have come forward and laid complaints that are being investigated- and you with zero knowledge say it sounds like a setup.
Should have known it would be you who came up with that line – a convenient misinterpretation.
I know more about what it is like to be a victim of crime and slander than you will ever know. There's a word for people like you you and it ain't nice.
If they are legitimate we'll know soon enough and that will be the end of the line for JLR.
You say you know what it’s like to be a victim of slander and what did you do in your first comment “sounds like a possible setup”. – slandering the Victims.
yeah – all those independent women are setting him up. And having to put up with people like you casting aspersions at them (while claiming how bad it was when people did it to you).
Dear God, you are a creep. You would fit nicely in the world of the chief of creeps, Donald Trump.
Who knows if there was a set up. Who knows who might have been behind it if there was one. Who knows whether the office staff were a part of the set up. You're just a with an inferiority complex who thinks bullying a woman online makes him a somebody.
Now off you go – your turn. I'm off to greener pastures.
James is very good at manipulating a target's comments so as to seemingly mean something else. He chooses his targets carefully and women seem to dominate in his selection.
So, why did you hone in on me. I was agreeing with ianmac who wondered if there was a bit of "revenge" in the mix. So, I call it a "possible set up". Same thing mate.
You chose me because its more satisfying to go after a woman – especially one who is not afraid to call you out for your misogyny and spite.
Seems like a stretch to believe 3 people would get them selves employed by jlr just so they could drag him down 8 months out from an election hes gonna lose anyway.
And people who go and knowingly work for known shit bags usually have an eye for the main chance and can be easily incentivised to be even bigger shit bags
Oil giant OMV has already had a serious accident off the coast of Southland and Otago, cutting through its own drill! Good grief! No oil spilled, but only because they haven't got to it yet!
"International oil giant OMV could be millions of dollars out of pocket after accidentally cutting its own drill pipe while operating off the Otago coast."
OMV Australasia senior vice-president Gabriel Selischi told the Otago Daily Times the preventer had been ‘‘unnecessarily engaged’’ during a test by crew on board the COSL Prospector drill ship.
Oh great, our ocean and coastline is in the hands of people who can't even bring themselves to use honest language about their mistakes.
No surprise. The chopped-off their own drill! Imagine the scene and the language! We should have confidence in these people, this process? Hell no. The accident will be buried in pabulum, unless members of the public cite it again and again. So much for their assurances of competence!
Soper on pork: "The National leader told the Māori crowd more than once the Government hasn't delivered and that as Prime Minister he'd have a four-lane highway built between Auckland and Whangarei. Even for Bridges that'd be a long way to roll a pork barrel. It'd be right up there with the 10 bridges he once promised as Transport Minister to rebuild in the Northland byelection that Peters won five years ago." https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12306060
"Peters apparently wasn't planning to speak but was so incensed he got to his feet and told the crowd that Bridges' super highway would take 68 years to build and doubted whether the youthful Nat would be around to see completed. The old campaigner had a point but then lost it by quoting Elvis".
Soper reckons Bridges made a mistake: “It’s as though Bridges has rejected MMP, believing National will be first past the post with 51 percent of the vote at the coming election, something no party has achieved since the electoral system came into being in 1996.” https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12305909
That was my first impression too. FPP thinking, binary frame. Not just Simon, it would’ve been widely consulted upon. The giveaway is reference since to NZF as part of the troika, so they believe they can defeat Winston by removing his centrist leverage. Big gamble.
The only binary that matters to Simon is winning vs. losing (AKA all or nothing). If NZF drops below 5% and drops out of Parliament it effectively becomes an FPP election.
I was lazy and took a shortcut by lumping the Greens together with Labour. My bad. That said, under FPP, the party with the plurality vote is (usually) the winner, which, in this case could by National (again) or Labour.
The Fiordland-Southland floods are reminiscent of the ones that required the village of Kelso to be removed completely from near Riversdale. Early 1980s. Hasn't happened very often in our history.
They're extensive and severe. The Mataura River is a special concern. Everyone there has been wishing no foods at all would occur because of the aluminium dross stored beside the river – now there's a very serious flood happening.
Although in random events groups of high or low values do occur, their tendency to occur in natural events is greater. … There is no obvious periodicity, but there are long stretches when the floods are generally high, and others when they are generally low. These stretches occur without any regularity either in their time of occurrence or duration
By ‘Noah Effect’ we designate the observation that extreme precipitation can be very extreme indeed, and by ‘Joseph Effect’ the finding that a long period of unusual (high or low) precipitation can be extremely long. Current models of statistical hydrology cannot account for either effect and must be superseded. As a replacement, ‘self‐similar’ models appear very promising. They account particularly well for the remarkable empirical observations of Harold Edwin Hurst. The present paper introduces and summarizes a series of investigations on self‐similar operational hydrology.
The importance of long term memory is well established with Hurst ( in regard to the Nileometer (and the long scales implied)
Fires and floods abound, yet some still prefer to believe that there is no trend, no evidence of anything out of the ordinary. Try covering your eyes, ears and mouth while holding your nose… ain’t hands wonderful.
You should think again before accusing anyone of climate change denial.
Since you don't understand the Southland floods of the late 1970s and early 1980s that I mentioned, you need to exercise your little brain and research New Zealand with a bit more historical depth than Wikipedia.
Does make me wonder if Jamie would have committed these crimes given the previous accusations. Sounds convenient timing with wondering who to benefit from at least a smear? All three women staff members complaining? Coincidence?
Luckily we have James to set us straight on justice. (see James @ 6.1.1)
Former National MP Jami-Lee Ross says a new report of alleged misconduct and bullying levelled against him are part of a wider politically-motivated attack.
However, Ross is not clear as to who is behind these attacks, saying only they been orchestrated "by those who want see me out of a job".
A by-election in Botany within the next few months. Luxon wins Botany. National's poll results slide and Simon Bridges becomes even more unpopular. Luxon rolls Bridges and leads the National Party into this year's general election.
A win for the dark overlords who control the National Party.
Do Germans have a thing about 99? They gave us "99 Red Balloons", now some german loaded 99 phones into a kid's wagon and pulled them around city streets outside Google's office to make a phantom traffic jam on google maps.
Meanwhile, in UK: "The idea that anyone could be leftwing and remain, let alone hard left and hard remain, has been completely erased from the narrative of Brexit; despite the fact that this was pretty much the entire Labour party."
"This is the phase of the Labour leadership contest in which people try and guess at what the candidates believe via means other than what they say." Ah, would that be because people automatically disbelieve Labour MPs?
"Starmer currently enjoys a convincing lead among constituency Labour party nominations. The deadline isn’t until Valentine’s Day; so far 231 CLPs have nominated (233 have nominated for deputy), and Starmer has a clear lead, with 138 nominations, and that seems to be accelerating: three-quarters of the local parties that declared over the weekend chose him. Long-Bailey has 58, Nandy 26, Thornberry nine. Historical loyalty to Corbyn (if we can call the past five years a history) is no definite indicator of a nomination for Long-Bailey: North Norfolk and Brent Central nominated Corbyn in both 2015 and 2016, and went for Starmer, while North Devon and Elmet and Rothwell, with the same 2015-16 pattern, chose Long-Bailey."
"And there are known unknowns, principally which way the 100,000 new joiners will jump, since they weren’t allowed to vote on nominations, but will be allowed to vote on the leader. Internal polling and general hunches suggest that they will be voting against Long-Bailey, on the basis that if you wanted a Corbyn continuity candidate, you’d need a very good reason not to have already been a member." https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/04/labour-leadership-battle-left-right-divide
Establishment dude. Solid enough to make Boris look flakey by comparison. Well, that wouldn't be hard, but likely to reassure punters dismayed by Jeremy. "Keir was named after the first Labour Party MP, Keir Hardie."
"Although he accepted the knighthood, he prefers not to be called Sir." Maybe not conservative then.
Concern over ouvea premix With peak water flows yet to arrive at Mataura, there is concern about the ouvea premix stored at the Mataura paper mill. Emergency services and others have carried out further flood protection works by sandbagging around the building. However, with 2,660 cumecs of water expected at Mataura at 11.50am it is uncertain what impact this will have on the paper mill. Emergency Management Southland and other agencies have yet to determine what the environmental impact may be. Emergency Management Southland is coordinating with other relevant agencies, including iwi. Ouvea premix can produce ammonia when wet. The risks associated with the premix have been considered when setting the evacuation zones around the paper mill. DO NOT BE COMPLACENT Residents of Wyndham and surrounding low-lying areas should evacuate immediately. The Mataura River is expected to peak with 2,740 cumecs at Wyndham at 3.20pm today. Residents of the township and surrounding low-lying areas should gather key personal belongings and proceed to the Mokoreta Hall or the Mimihau Hall as soon as possible to await further information. Take a grab bag with you containing medication, clothing and personal items including documents. If you are evacuating with pets, ensure they are contained on a leash or in a cage and that you have food for them. The Mataura River was expected to peak at 2,450 cumecs at Gore at 9.20am, and at Mataura with 2,660 cumecs at 11.50am. People in affected areas are warned not to be complacent because the sun is shining and there is no wind. EMS reiterates that the peak flows have yet to arrive. A map outlining the evacuation areas of Gore and Mataura is available on http://www.facebook.com/cdsouthland<https://www.facebook.com/cdsouthland> and http://www.civildefencesouthland.govt.nz<http://www.civildefencesouthland.govt.nz/>
With 62% of precincts reporting in Iowa, there's some interesting patterns emerging.
Sanders mostly won where there's cities. Rural areas split between Biden, Buttigieg and Klobuchar. Even though Warren was third overall, ahead of Biden and Klobuchar, she didn't win a single county.
Kinda goes against the idea that Sanders is the candidate most likely to win back those disaffected flyover state voters that turned to the dark side with Darth Drumpf.
It was a good day all around Aotearoa celebrating Waitangi day.
Condolences to Kirk Douglas whanau.
Yes we need to recycle more but the best option is to stop using plastic all together. The elephant in the room is the huge plastic manufacturing company's have to much influence on other companies that use their rubbish.
It was great to see A Wahine speaking at the Marae at Waitangi.
Good to see Wahine paddlers on Waka to.
Ka pai to the Australian indigenous people for going for a treaty settlement of their own for losses to the Australian government.
Its awesome to see Tangata whenua getting the respect we deserve I have seen the attitude other cultures had towards Maori a couple of years ago in Tamiki Makaru.
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
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We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
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Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff is calling on all political parties to support the new Member’s Bill from Labour’s workplace relations and safety spokesperson Camilla Belich MP that would ensure negligent companies are held accountable when their employees ...
A historian with an uncanny track record of predicting US election winners tells RNZ's Sunday Morning that President Biden looks to be on track for another term, but things could still go very wrong for him. ...
Ngaio Marsh House is one of Christchurch’s best kept secrets – and contains more than a few mysteries of its own.Trust Ngaio Marsh to leave more than a few mysteries scattered through her house long after her departure. For a start, there’s the curious concrete portal in the garden, ...
Appointment viewing has been lost to the mists of time, but memories of Montana Sunday Theatre can still be conjured by hitting play on a particular piece of classical music. “You’re not going to be able to sell it.” Over 30 years on, Karen Bieleski still recalls how the task ...
Performance Review King Luxon sat behind His massive polished oak desk. It is Performance Review time. There is a knock on the door. “Enter!” says the King. In steps Minister of Disabilities and Carer Pedicures, Penny Simmonds. “I can explain everything …” she begins. “Fine,” says King Luxon, pressing the ...
The pair opened their first fully collaborative exhibition, Nina for Flowers, last Saturday. Gabi Lardies visited their studio to find out who Nina is and what working together was like.‘It didn’t start out like, ‘This is a show about Nina,’” says Josephine Jelicich, gripping a thermos of peppermint tea. ...
Thank you, Dr Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner, for your brilliant invention. I’m another mid-20s Kiwi who had an OE last year. I hopped on my bicycle where France meets the Atlantic and cycled east. I pedalled through the Loire Valley, down rivers lined with willows and ancient wisteria-draped chateaus. I relished ...
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
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 The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
Believe you are donating to NZ First – then find out your money has been taken by another “foundation”. Sounds like fraud – https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/408843/nz-first-foundation-donor-thought-they-were-giving-to-party
This is going to be interesting
And four 'Natz' are in court on the 25 feb.
No they are not.
a) we don’t know who it is and
b) it’s not national
sad try.
https://www.sfo.govt.nz/sfo-files-charges-in-national-party-donations-case
Maybe stop baiting here, yes?
Yes – and that has been discussed a lot on here.
however this is a different issue – is potentially very serious and is political.
when you believe you are donating to a political party and a seperate entity “takes” the funds without you knowing – it sounds very much like fraud.
why not discuss it in open mike ?
Of course, it is serious and political. So, start a proper debate here that is non-polarising and non-divisive instead of regurgitating the same talking points day-in-day-out and in your idiosyncratic way (AKA baiting). The way things sound are not necessarily the way things are.
Take it away, James, OM is yours to start the discussion.
As much as I want to be wrong, I think NZ First may have complied with the letter of the law, if not the spirit.
Using multiple related entities to donate $14,995 each, to get past disclosure appears legal, but is clearly dodgy and done solely to get around the intention of the law.
New Zealand politics would be in a better place without Winston and Shane involved in so it is my hope that this sinks them forever.
A truly progressive government, without the handbrake of the inherently conservative, bigoted and nasty NZ First party involved is a realistic and likely post election scenario.
A Green Labour government is now within our reach.
Organised crooks always use minions on the outside to do their dirty work.
Not as interesting as watching that Bridge collapse.
While NZ First and National sling mud at each other, Labour is the real winner.
I disagree NZFirst and labour are joined at the hip. It reflects bad on this government.
Regardless of NZF & Nats competing to see who can do shady donations mishandling best, the most interesting aspect is why all those wealthy capitalists are giving big donations to NZF. I presume they've decided that National have lost the plot.
Now they have been doxed they've got no reason to restrict their support to maintain anonymity.
Could go two ways, either they'll get scared and abandon NZF or they'll be out for utu. I don't see Graeme Hart and the others as shrinking violets. Might get interesting
The battle for the extreme right is hotting up. You can assume immigrants from South Africa will know how it ought to be done, particularly if they have Boer in their name. Dieuwe de Boer knows what's right:
"When I first saw the New Conservative launch in 2018, I panned the idea. The "new conservatives are just as boring as the old" was my response. I didn't expect to hear much of them ever again, but then something unexpected happened. I got a message from deputy leader Elliot Ikilei, who told me that he had read my critically dismissive review, he thought I had some good points, and he wanted to meet up to talk about it. That one simple olive branch changed my life".
"He plays up his own Pacific heritage, throws in a few phrases of Samoan and Maori, and says that western culture is superior to all other cultures—it can be adopted by all ethnicities and transcends all cultures. That's a line you won't hear from any politician. "Our civilisation is the greatest ever built," he says with energy and passion. Those statements would likely have been front page news if they had been said anywhere outside of aNew Conservative meeting."
"Victoria O'Brien, firearms spokeswoman, gave her first speech at this meeting. She was able to demonstrate the importance of the freedom to access information from her own experience of authoritarianism in Singapore. She brings a lot of knowledge and credibility to the New Conservative firearms policy, having been an E-Endorsement holder at the time the recent amendments started to roll in. Like Leighton and Elliot, she expresses her reluctance for getting into politics, but all three are doing this because someone has too. They're worried about losing the country they love to the progressive darkness."
Only a whiff of Trumpism, but you can see an attempt emerging to ride that wave. So there's now this website for those with the right minds: https://www.rightminds.nz/articles/2020-new-conservative-year
He's even got a sense of humour: "Between ACT and NC there is also a great chasm on a philosophical level with libertarian individualism pitted against the conservative focus on the family, morality, and nation. I'll tell you what National's philosophy is once I figure it out."
"New Conservative is building up a grassroots movement and much of their rhetoric is honed in on fighting the culture war. For me, that's key." Once that type of thinking dominated our country. In theory, they ought to be able to pull together the remnants of it. In reality, I suspect too many have died, and the rest have moved on.
"Progressive Darkness", heh.
But we ought to feel compassion for those unable to see the light, eh? Disabilities can be a debilitating affliction. A cadre of leftist virtue-signallers ought to be sent into the hinterland to enlighten the natives. The missionary spirit may not be totally dead. Evangelists may be able to help them see the light in that darkness, so they can wend their way towards it gradually thereafter.
Lovely oxymoron!
To : Cognito
May I ask you to confirm that I have served my 6 month ban. Also, did you receive my email requesting "Simplicity" as a new name.
many thanks
Yes, your ban finished on 28 Jan.
No, I did not receive your e-mail about the name change; I don’t have access to the site’s e-mail account. To avoid confusion, I have changed your user handle back to the original.
I've just finished my six month ban too!
It’s like a reunion
Interesting stat.
Hong Kong, 15 infections, 1 death
Guangdong, 797 infections, no deaths
Because the disease is contagious, you can't treat cases as independent events. If the disease broke out in a university campus in Guangdong and in a rest home in Honk Kong then that explains the difference in fatalities and spread without there being any other difference.
That might be true if it were only one Chinese province. Several minutes into the video a list of several areas (approx 2000 cases) with only a 2 or 3 deaths reported.
I'm done here. It is clear that on this site there is no willingness at all to see this for what it is – a serious pandemic which is already causing supply chain disruption.
Since I love y'all despite you seeing me as a loon, at least take some basic steps:
– instead of waiting to get sick before buying flu supplies buy them in advance including electrolytes or make them at home in advance
– buy or make elderberry syrup as this is scientifically proven to lessen symptoms and reduce duration of the illness (+better tasting than olive leaf extract). The major concern with this virus is the high complication rate that requires hospital admission
Take care x
A, when the last potential pandemic scare happened, we had lots of conversations here with some people *insisting that within so many days/weeks there would massive deaths globally. Didn't happen obviously. The new coronavirus might become a pandemic, but it's not currently. I think we should be taking it seriously, and am glad NZ is now putting boundaries in at the border. I'm cautious about what the impact might be here, but I don't see the need to prepare for this as any more pressing than for a flood or quake.
mpledger's point about the stats is valid. I was going to say that you can't tell much from such small numbers. There are good reasons why we have public health experts in contagious disease, because they have the experience and knowledge in how to assess what is going on. Keep watching the videos, but I hope you're also following the relevant health authorities and science based commentary online.
I don't think everyone here is dismissing your concerns. It's entirely natural that people will vary in their responses to this kind of threat, from the entirely nonchalant to the closed off and fearful … and every shade in between.
On the data we have so far I think this has the potential to become a major problem, but it's not likely to be a repeat of the 1918 Spanish Flu. Our tools for fighting this are so much more sophisticated now.
The big complicating factor for me is that I really don't trust any damn thing the CCP says. Hell they may be telling us the gospel truth on this one, but their track record is so bad how would we know?
"A serious misinfodemic is occurring – fake news, unsubstantiated rumours, and crazy talk are spreading way more than the coronavirus. This is concerning and the World Health Organisation have all hands to deck to try and counter the nonsense."
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/02/05/1018647/coronavirus-a-global-misinfodemic
Is this for real? Could it be revenge?
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/02/05/1019443/new-allegations-surround-mp-jami-lee-ross
Sounds like a possible set-up to me.
Having been down that road (cost me my career and much more besides) I know how people love to believe a scandal and/or other serious misdemeanors. It is invariably the claimant who has all to hide.
Time will reveal the truth, it always does.
Stop with the victim blaming. People have come forward and laid complaints that are being investigated- and you with zero knowledge say it sounds like a setup.
They could be very legitimate victims in this.
Stop with the victim blaming.
Should have known it would be you who came up with that line – a convenient misinterpretation.
I know more about what it is like to be a victim of crime and slander than you will ever know. There's a word for people like you you and it ain't nice.
If they are legitimate we'll know soon enough and that will be the end of the line for JLR.
You say you know what it’s like to be a victim of slander and what did you do in your first comment “sounds like a possible setup”. – slandering the Victims.
yeah – all those independent women are setting him up. And having to put up with people like you casting aspersions at them (while claiming how bad it was when people did it to you).
" – slandering the victims." No.
– possibly slandering the victims, thankyou. Anne only said a 'possible' setup.
If you are going to pose as morally meticulous, please be equally meticulous in your reasoning, and don't exaggerate when it suits you.
Dear God, you are a creep. You would fit nicely in the world of the chief of creeps, Donald Trump.
Who knows if there was a set up. Who knows who might have been behind it if there was one. Who knows whether the office staff were a part of the set up. You're just a with an inferiority complex who thinks bullying a woman online makes him a somebody.
Now off you go – your turn. I'm off to greener pastures.
James loves to stand up for victims. Unless they are the victims of the alleged Parliamentary 'rapist'.
It's all in their head, apparently.
I’ll stand up for the victims of rape.
but you know there was no victim of rape and he didn’t rape anyone.
so he’s exactly as guilt of being a rapist as you are.
would you be happy being called a rapist ?
Your criteria for who you will and will not stand up for is curious. How do you work it out?
James is very good at manipulating a target's comments so as to seemingly mean something else. He chooses his targets carefully and women seem to dominate in his selection.
So sad.
🙂
Your the one who said it sounds like a possible setup – now you say “who knows if there was a setup”. Well the answer to that is not you obviously.
but you are happy to suggest or infer it – making it sound like its possibly the women.
Two women and one man.
But it probably sounds worse if he's only accused of bullying women, so good job to you.
So, why did you hone in on me. I was agreeing with ianmac who wondered if there was a bit of "revenge" in the mix. So, I call it a "possible set up". Same thing mate.
You chose me because its more satisfying to go after a woman – especially one who is not afraid to call you out for your misogyny and spite.
James:
Not 'infer'. The word you are struggling for is 'imply'. Look them up.
Seems like a stretch to believe 3 people would get them selves employed by jlr just so they could drag him down 8 months out from an election hes gonna lose anyway.
Add to that he has form for being a shit bag .
Looks like there might be another side to this story. We will have to wait and see.
I was only agreeing with ianmac @ 6. Don't know why I'm being targeted.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119294814/jamilee-ross-alleges-politicallymotivated-trial-by-media-following-report
And people who go and knowingly work for known shit bags usually have an eye for the main chance and can be easily incentivised to be even bigger shit bags
Oil giant OMV has already had a serious accident off the coast of Southland and Otago, cutting through its own drill! Good grief! No oil spilled, but only because they haven't got to it yet!
"International oil giant OMV could be millions of dollars out of pocket after accidentally cutting its own drill pipe while operating off the Otago coast."
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/omv-cut-through-drill-shaft-accident
Oh great, our ocean and coastline is in the hands of people who can't even bring themselves to use honest language about their mistakes.
No surprise. The chopped-off their own drill! Imagine the scene and the language! We should have confidence in these people, this process? Hell no. The accident will be buried in pabulum, unless members of the public cite it again and again. So much for their assurances of competence!
If you find any more online about it, let me know and I'll put up a post. I checked Greenpeace NZ's twitter and they haven't said anything yet.
At least the front didn't fall off.
They can just tow it outside the environment.
It worked.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowout_preventer#Deepwater_Horizon_blowout
Soper on pork: "The National leader told the Māori crowd more than once the Government hasn't delivered and that as Prime Minister he'd have a four-lane highway built between Auckland and Whangarei. Even for Bridges that'd be a long way to roll a pork barrel. It'd be right up there with the 10 bridges he once promised as Transport Minister to rebuild in the Northland byelection that Peters won five years ago." https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12306060
"Peters apparently wasn't planning to speak but was so incensed he got to his feet and told the crowd that Bridges' super highway would take 68 years to build and doubted whether the youthful Nat would be around to see completed. The old campaigner had a point but then lost it by quoting Elvis".
Soper reckons Bridges made a mistake: “It’s as though Bridges has rejected MMP, believing National will be first past the post with 51 percent of the vote at the coming election, something no party has achieved since the electoral system came into being in 1996.” https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12305909
That was my first impression too. FPP thinking, binary frame. Not just Simon, it would’ve been widely consulted upon. The giveaway is reference since to NZF as part of the troika, so they believe they can defeat Winston by removing his centrist leverage. Big gamble.
The only binary that matters to Simon is winning vs. losing (AKA all or nothing). If NZF drops below 5% and drops out of Parliament it effectively becomes an FPP election.
Um, Greens.
I was lazy and took a shortcut by lumping the Greens together with Labour. My bad. That said, under FPP, the party with the plurality vote is (usually) the winner, which, in this case could by National (again) or Labour.
The Fiordland-Southland floods are reminiscent of the ones that required the village of Kelso to be removed completely from near Riversdale. Early 1980s. Hasn't happened very often in our history.
They're extensive and severe. The Mataura River is a special concern. Everyone there has been wishing no foods at all would occur because of the aluminium dross stored beside the river – now there's a very serious flood happening.
Looks like it's being taken very seriously, people dragged off in handcuffs..
https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/southland-top-stories/119290751/man-handcuffed-after-refusing-to-leave-animals-during-matarau-evacuation
Hasn't happened very often in our history.
Hydrology has long term memory ( persistence over long scales) the problem with Noah effects are well documented.
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/WR004i005p00909
As Hurst wrote.
Although in random events groups of high or low values do occur, their tendency to occur in natural events is greater. … There is no obvious periodicity, but there are long stretches when the floods are generally high, and others when they are generally low. These stretches occur without any regularity either in their time of occurrence or duration
That link didn't work for me.
What was the point you were making for this flood area?
The abstract reads as such.
By ‘Noah Effect’ we designate the observation that extreme precipitation can be very extreme indeed, and by ‘Joseph Effect’ the finding that a long period of unusual (high or low) precipitation can be extremely long. Current models of statistical hydrology cannot account for either effect and must be superseded. As a replacement, ‘self‐similar’ models appear very promising. They account particularly well for the remarkable empirical observations of Harold Edwin Hurst. The present paper introduces and summarizes a series of investigations on self‐similar operational hydrology.
The importance of long term memory is well established with Hurst ( in regard to the Nileometer (and the long scales implied)
Review article here.
https://arxiv.org/abs/1406.6018
Fires and floods abound, yet some still prefer to believe that there is no trend, no evidence of anything out of the ordinary. Try covering your eyes, ears and mouth while holding your nose… ain’t hands wonderful.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperatures_Rising
You should think again before accusing anyone of climate change denial.
Since you don't understand the Southland floods of the late 1970s and early 1980s that I mentioned, you need to exercise your little brain and research New Zealand with a bit more historical depth than Wikipedia.
Ad, sorry that you interpreted my comment as an accusation directed at you – was not my intent.
What https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119287951/new-allegations-surround-mp-jamilee-ross? Are National worried about Botany and using the usual suspects to muddy the JLR waters?
Does make me wonder if Jamie would have committed these crimes given the previous accusations. Sounds convenient timing with wondering who to benefit from at least a smear? All three women staff members complaining? Coincidence?
Luckily we have James to set us straight on justice. (see James @ 6.1.1)
Two women, one man, says Newsroom: https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/02/05/1019443/new-allegations-surround-mp-jami-lee-ross
But what does Paula Bennett say? She’s the go-to girl for these things.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12306302
Here's a cunning plan:
A by-election in Botany within the next few months. Luxon wins Botany. National's poll results slide and Simon Bridges becomes even more unpopular. Luxon rolls Bridges and leads the National Party into this year's general election.
A win for the dark overlords who control the National Party.
Do Germans have a thing about 99? They gave us "99 Red Balloons", now some german loaded 99 phones into a kid's wagon and pulled them around city streets outside Google's office to make a phantom traffic jam on google maps.
https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/artist-google-traffic-jam-alert-trick-scli-intl/index.html
Meanwhile, in UK: "The idea that anyone could be leftwing and remain, let alone hard left and hard remain, has been completely erased from the narrative of Brexit; despite the fact that this was pretty much the entire Labour party."
"This is the phase of the Labour leadership contest in which people try and guess at what the candidates believe via means other than what they say." Ah, would that be because people automatically disbelieve Labour MPs?
"Starmer currently enjoys a convincing lead among constituency Labour party nominations. The deadline isn’t until Valentine’s Day; so far 231 CLPs have nominated (233 have nominated for deputy), and Starmer has a clear lead, with 138 nominations, and that seems to be accelerating: three-quarters of the local parties that declared over the weekend chose him. Long-Bailey has 58, Nandy 26, Thornberry nine. Historical loyalty to Corbyn (if we can call the past five years a history) is no definite indicator of a nomination for Long-Bailey: North Norfolk and Brent Central nominated Corbyn in both 2015 and 2016, and went for Starmer, while North Devon and Elmet and Rothwell, with the same 2015-16 pattern, chose Long-Bailey."
"And there are known unknowns, principally which way the 100,000 new joiners will jump, since they weren’t allowed to vote on nominations, but will be allowed to vote on the leader. Internal polling and general hunches suggest that they will be voting against Long-Bailey, on the basis that if you wanted a Corbyn continuity candidate, you’d need a very good reason not to have already been a member." https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/04/labour-leadership-battle-left-right-divide
What is Mr Starmer like?
Well, glancing at his photo here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keir_Starmer, I thought he looked like Rudolf Hess. He was " a defence lawyer specialising in human rights issues. In 2008, he was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), holding the role until 2013. He was appointed Queen's Counsel (QC) in 2002 and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2014 New Year Honours. He was sworn in as a Privy Councillor in 2017."
Establishment dude. Solid enough to make Boris look flakey by comparison. Well, that wouldn't be hard, but likely to reassure punters dismayed by Jeremy. "Keir was named after the first Labour Party MP, Keir Hardie."
"Although he accepted the knighthood, he prefers not to be called Sir." Maybe not conservative then.
Concern over ouvea premix With peak water flows yet to arrive at Mataura, there is concern about the ouvea premix stored at the Mataura paper mill. Emergency services and others have carried out further flood protection works by sandbagging around the building. However, with 2,660 cumecs of water expected at Mataura at 11.50am it is uncertain what impact this will have on the paper mill. Emergency Management Southland and other agencies have yet to determine what the environmental impact may be. Emergency Management Southland is coordinating with other relevant agencies, including iwi. Ouvea premix can produce ammonia when wet. The risks associated with the premix have been considered when setting the evacuation zones around the paper mill. DO NOT BE COMPLACENT Residents of Wyndham and surrounding low-lying areas should evacuate immediately. The Mataura River is expected to peak with 2,740 cumecs at Wyndham at 3.20pm today. Residents of the township and surrounding low-lying areas should gather key personal belongings and proceed to the Mokoreta Hall or the Mimihau Hall as soon as possible to await further information. Take a grab bag with you containing medication, clothing and personal items including documents. If you are evacuating with pets, ensure they are contained on a leash or in a cage and that you have food for them. The Mataura River was expected to peak at 2,450 cumecs at Gore at 9.20am, and at Mataura with 2,660 cumecs at 11.50am. People in affected areas are warned not to be complacent because the sun is shining and there is no wind. EMS reiterates that the peak flows have yet to arrive. A map outlining the evacuation areas of Gore and Mataura is available on http://www.facebook.com/cdsouthland<https://www.facebook.com/cdsouthland> and http://www.civildefencesouthland.govt.nz<http://www.civildefencesouthland.govt.nz/>
RNZ radio NZ has a live update on the situation. Otherwise, check out the civil defence links that Robert suggests.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/408884/southland-flooding-live-updates
With 62% of precincts reporting in Iowa, there's some interesting patterns emerging.
Sanders mostly won where there's cities. Rural areas split between Biden, Buttigieg and Klobuchar. Even though Warren was third overall, ahead of Biden and Klobuchar, she didn't win a single county.
Kinda goes against the idea that Sanders is the candidate most likely to win back those disaffected flyover state voters that turned to the dark side with Darth Drumpf.
https://edition.cnn.com/election/2020/state/iowa
edit: heh, Warren got close to her worst result in Pocahontas County with 4.7%
Kia Ora Newshub.
It was a good day all around Aotearoa celebrating Waitangi day.
Condolences to Kirk Douglas whanau.
Yes we need to recycle more but the best option is to stop using plastic all together. The elephant in the room is the huge plastic manufacturing company's have to much influence on other companies that use their rubbish.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
It was great to see A Wahine speaking at the Marae at Waitangi.
Good to see Wahine paddlers on Waka to.
Ka pai to the Australian indigenous people for going for a treaty settlement of their own for losses to the Australian government.
Its awesome to see Tangata whenua getting the respect we deserve I have seen the attitude other cultures had towards Maori a couple of years ago in Tamiki Makaru.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora The Am Show.
Of course our migrants and their cultures should be treated respectfully.
We do need more Maori in Media and broadcasting telling good stories about Maori not just the negative stuff.
Its shows someone has no morels.
A new dawn for race relations is great for Aotearoa.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Newshub.
Its good to see Maori tau toko Maori.
There you go a big company trying to take advantage of people CPB.
Glacier are vanishing before our eyes in Antarctica. The positive news in now most people know the cause is human caused climate change.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Good to see all the Ropu in the Kapa Haka in Opotiki.
Its awesome to see Counties Manakau changing their system to deliver a better health service to Maori and Pacific tangata.
Ka pai to the indigenous culture gathering in Hawaii to show the Papatuanuku Our Great Cultures and teach the tamariki how great their cultures are.
I think that the changes to RadioNZ and TVNZ is good if you don't adapt you no what happens.
Ka kite Ano
Donna was helping her tangata not herself it shows with all the tau toko she has kia kaha.
Kia Ora Newshub.
Climate change is the cause of Antarctica warning temperature Ka pai.
The farmarmy is doing great mahi it looks like the grass is still ok.
The Gay Pride Parade looks like a good day kia kaha.
Alcohol causes heaps of harm to our society I think those bars should be treated like all other bars.
Ka kite Ano.
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
That's awesome that Rangitane has had their Pukaha reserve returned as part of their Treaty Settlement.
Good that interest in Te reo Māori is starting to grow fast.
Te Ka pa Haka was great in Opotiki today.
Ka kite Ano