James’ I know what it is like to be in receipt of a smile and wave of an august personage. When I was young I got a wave from the Queen all to myself as I trudged alone up the road on my paper run and she and the Duke motored past to their next engagement.
Tell us your story of when John Key (Sir KCMGABCDand BAR) similarly looked at you and conveyed his magic influence that has inspired you ever since to be a great and better person eager to make NZ and yourself great again?
I had completely forgotten him until this morning. Such was the scale of his achievements. The temporary unpleasantness of being reminded he existed will rapidly fade
We’re bitter about the reality of the damage that John Key and National have done to NZ to make a few pathetic and psychopathic people richer.
The fact that you think he was a ‘fantastic PM’ just makes you one of the gullible authoritarian followers that is the hallmark of National Party voters.
Or is being responsible for overseeing increasing poverty, increasing environmental destruction and an increasing inequality gap now considered a service?
Most frustrating. Up at 4:30. Make a nice flat white on the coffee machine. Turn on the fire and the lights – then the blinking americas cup racing get delayed due to lack of wind. Grrrrr.
Nah – cave-men light a fire. (with twigs then increasingly bigger bits) People who “turn on a fire” are soft ACT voters who like to boast of their imagined self-reliance.
James, enjoy the day off work, weather is not too bad to watch sport all day.
But if you are interested, there are many various art exhibitions on. Look up the site http://www.eventfinda.co.nz/exhibitions/events
I am sure you will be enthralled 😉
I wonder if it is possible to sponsor a private bill through parliament undoing the return of knighthoods and backdating it to 2008 – so we don’t reward plonkers for fucking the country?
Yep, I was expecting Key but discovering Julie Christie had been made a Dame made me want to throw up. She is a greedy, vindictive, nasty person through and through.
Francis McRae @FrankMcRae 2h2 hours ago
“Julie Christie trash tv peddler is a notorious work place bully who delights in destroying people’s careers. Today she received an honour”
It is a insult to all of New Zealand, imagine a country where someone with the depth of humanity like Helen Kelly is not honored in any way..yet a vacuous reality star is…is that the level we are at…really?
Very good. I like the bit about Labour understands that Britain only works if working people are ok. I don’t get the reaction I do with NZ Labour when they focus on work, because I know that Corbyn’s Labour really do mean to work for the wellbeing of everyone, whereas NZ Labour are still prevaricating about the beneficiaries and others seen as lesser than hard working Kiwis (as if beneficiaries don’t work hard). I think Little wants to run the country for everyone, but I don’t think NZ Labour are there yet. Those videos show the difference.
Maybe you should do a bit more research on the UK Labour Party and the criticisms of their policies for those on low incomes before you make use them to attack the NZ Labour Party.
btw, I’m not attack NZ Labour, I’m critiquing one aspect of what they are doing. I like what Labour are doing here generally, although I’d prefer to see them going further left at some point. I just think that the ‘don’t talk about the benes’ thing is still a huge problem (one they share with the Greens).
It seemed to me that instead of just saying what great ads (as they are) you were using to opportunity to slag off NZ Labour without doing any research to back your claims up. Corbyn is great but his voice is still a minority one in the British Labour caucus. Hopefully, if they do manage to pull off a win, his hand will be strengthened.
I’m not sure what you see as my beliefs about Labour, but I spent a lot of time last year pushing back against Labour bashing on TS. I already think that Labour is moving left, and my comments of late haven’t been suggesting otherwise.
In this instance, I think it’s still a valid view that UK Labour are going to be better for beneficiaries than NZ Labour. I’m also open to Little proving me wrong. The problem is that I’ve seen things improve for beneficiaries under Clark’s Labour but they also did some really shitty stuff to beneficiaries. I don’t expect Little’s Labour to do the shitty stuff (I believe him when he hints at doing well by everyone), but until they are in a position to speak up for beneficiaries, I don’t expect there to be much improvement for the non-working poor. Not no improvement, but probably not enough to redress the shit that’s gone down both structurally and within the culture. So I notice how NZ Labour won’t talk about beneficiaries, but UK Labour will and for me that makes a huge difference.
I appreciate your comments on commenting on Labour, and I am thinking through how I am commenting myself, more so about how to critique constructively rather than stopping critiquing at all.
I don’t think you should stop critiquing at all, but IMO your comment came across as both ill-informed about the British Labour Party and an unnecessary attack on the NZ Labour Party that was based on a general impression that was not not backed up by any examples from current direction and policies.
For me, Clark government’s two major failings were the S & F legislation and not reversing the benefit cuts. There were some improvements made for beneficiaries but they were not adequate.
Unfortunately beneficiaries have been demonised in the media for so long now that it would take a very brave party to say, in an election year, that they will increase increase benefits substantially. Do I wish they were braver? Absolutely. If they were in a stronger position then they may take more risks, but they are not in a strong position currently.
I believe that the majority of probable Labour MPs do want to increase benefits and change the WINZ culture, and if they don’t then I will be campaigning to change their minds.
The other major things Clark’s govt did re beneficiaries was to scrap Special Benefit and to exclude non-working beneficiaries from WFF. So it wasn’t just a failure to reverse something National did, it was actual benefit cuts of their own and building financial and cultural prejudice into the structure of welfare.
I feel better informed from your links, but I still feel there are important differences between the two parties that is worth commenting on. I’m not sure about most NZ Labour MPs wanting to do right by beneficiaries, but hope you are right and certainly with people like Shearer no longer there it seems more possible. I agree about the difficult position Labour is in (and have mostly been arguing this for a long time).
Shearer had the awful Paganis as his advisors. They are well gone.
There are only also 4 from the Clark government era standing this year: Ruth Dyson, Nanaia Mahuta, David Parker and Trevor Mallard. If Mallard does scrape in (he is well down on the list) then he will be speaker so have no influence on policy.
Unfortunately, although she suggests: “Just some brilliant stuff coming out of Team Corbyn this week” ……. dare I say it ……. two of the vids are from the 2015 General Election Campaign, when Corby was still in short trousers, politically-speaking ……. (specifically the Steve Coogan and Martin Freeman ads)
As a mild political junkie I am thoroughly enjoying all the machinations between the Trump White House and the Russian government. And the results of all the investigations will be thrilling politics.
But.
Those Labour 2017 adverts Boots Theory has collected is a good reminder that maybe the Democrats are focusing too much on historical issues and not on the actual stuff that will give people something positive to think about the Democratic Party.
I have to respect Corbyn for putting on a terrific campaign that’s really rallying hearts and minds.
Maybe Corbyn should just take a breath while the investigations roll on, and leave Trump to his own sky-falling flame-ball of orange shit. Maybe I’ve enjoyed Trump too much, for the same reasons I like James Bond movies: action, hot girls, cold-war rhetorical worlds, and perpetual intrigue. But together with the super-cycled media, the media and the investigations can be comfortably left to get on with joining Trump in that great sky-falling flame-ball of orange shit.
The adverts UK Labour have done show me it’s not that hard to see fresh political reality. To get to the why of politics. What is Labour’s why?
…the Democrats are focusing too much on historical issues…
???
The Democratic National Committee has been pushing its hypocritical “Russian meddling” line, which nobody outside of the Clintons and their small clique of diehard admirers cares about.
Such calls look at politics as a game in which one less valued policy can be traded away for a ministerial role, where politics can be modelled, sculpted, and scenarios of the perfect parliament simulated as if it were a computer game. Intricate coalition negotiations! Data driven policy formulation! Political junkies love it, and many love the idea of a smart, new, technocratic centrist party of government. Could the Greens not occupy that space?
The reason why they couldn’t is about the people that actually elect governments.
Like it or not, they are about purism over politics.
That purism over politics would suggest they couldn’t negotiate with Labour or NZ First either. You can’t get away from politics – negotiationism and pragmatism – in politics.
To borrow one of their favourite words, the only sustainable option for the Greens is to simply continue doing what they’re doing. Keep growing slowly, keep the base happy, keep winning the odd skirmish from opposition.
Green MPs may not get a chance to ride in ministerial limos this time around, or even the next. But if they are careful, by the time they do get there, they’ll be big enough to actually wield power. Only then will the party be able to survive government.
That sounds like they are virtually conceding this election, and any election until they get into power without having to negotiate their policies politically.
It’s almost as if they fear what will happen to the party if they get into government.
With this approach it’s unlikely the Greens will ever be big enough to actually wield power.
Perhaps if Labour+Greens get enough votes to put together a viable coalition the attraction of power will override Green purism, but they won’t help their chances if they appear to fear what will happen if they get there.
The Greens are never going to achieve anything until they work out how MMP operates,
MMP is all about negotiation, bartering, trading etc, does this deluded little minor party think Labour and NZ First are just going to be there to rubber stamp all their policies? that the next government is going to be a green government only?
BM
This 3 day break from norm has given you time to recharge your batteries.
Now you can batter the Greens severely with your virtual brain from the game where you build communities and political parties and direct them at your will.
Luckily the real ones will survive and find ways to connect to those people who still have a thinking brain and don’t operate out of an amygdala that flashes on and off like a traffic light, changing standards, methods and values in the direction of the perceived flow of major traffic.
If the right track is achieving nothing but providing Turei and the rest of the Green MPs a salary miles above their true paygrade, then yes they’re on the right track.
We never get this ‘purity critique’ about the Maori Party, Act, or United Future, because they are happy to go into coalition with National.
But the right-hand side of New Zealand politics has zero fresh ideas.
It’s not up to me to determine whether it’s time for fresh ideas – the electorate will.
But the real surprise when they do get into government is that their ideas will appear fresh and clear and real.
Don’t you worry Pete – they’ll be worth waiting for.
Labour doesn’t get associated with purism either, in fact I see a lot of complaints here about their lack of it.
Greens can’t maintain purism in a coalition with Labour. They will be lucky to be given a significant role by Labour, who seem to view the Greens like they view their Moari support, a one way street.
I am sure you are aware Pete, the Greens are not required to go into power with anyone.
I have never got a sense from the Greens that they aspire to power.
If they come to acceptable coalition terms with Labour, great.
If they don’t, Labour is more the loser.
The Greens just need to keep on doing precisely what they are doing.
They are solid for 10%, not much more.
They are designed to be pure.
There is no need for them to change that brand at all.
The reaction to their vote with National will have told them that, loud and clear.
This is a telling argument for making the change and voting to get Labour on the road again. The old vehicle needs a push, it may have to be cranked but by God we can do it if we have half the passion and persistence and ideals of old Harry!
Labour’s message in 1945 was a bold declaration that society must be about fair play, decency, merit and compassion to those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
It is why on June 8th, you have to rise up and be counted because you are worth more than flat wages. You are worth more than eternal austerity. You are worth more than hard Brexit. You are worth more than student debt and zero hour contracts. You are worth more than the greed of the 1% and the incompetence of the Tories.
Within you is the blood of your grandparents and great grandparents that sacrificed their lives on the battle fields of Europe and Asia. Within you is the DNA of all your ancestors who fought for the rights of women to vote. Within you is the echo of all those who battled for their right to an NHS that provided health care to all not just the well to do.
Within you is the spark to become the greatest generation of the 21st century. So, I ask you as a very old man who has seen Britain at its worst and greatest to stand strong and send the Tories Packing because you deserve a future that has hope, prosperity and purpose.
Christ, I had visions of my late grandmother saying almost the same thing to me just before 91 elections while I job hunting in Nelson and now wished I had taped it among other things like singing the old workers songs etc. My grandmother was hard core labour to the day she died and she was never scared to say anything about any tropic incl LGBT issues. As one person from the LGBT branch found out to their discomfort after a lecture from her on LGBT rights and had the nerve to ask who was Noel Pearson then she went off belt feed mortar again.
BTW for those don’t know who Noel Pearson was? He was primary school treacher in Blackball during the 30- 40’s who was a gay, because of his sexuality he given refuge by my great grandparents and like him were follow socialists. Noel Pearson wrote a book called ” Coal Flat” which is based around grandmothers family in Blackball. Because of Noel’s sexuality and the way he was treated by members of the Blackball community and also no doubtly being associated with my great grandparents he got transferred out of Blackball through my great grandparents contacts within Labour Party at the time.
Hi I found copies of Coal Flat on Trademe. I’ll see if I can get an affordable one, let you know when I do if you would like to read it again. Might have it in stack at library too.
Dear ma’am or sir, thank you for kind offer on a copy of Coal Flat. I believe my parents got a copy while they were waiting for the ferry in Picton as my father had renew his Australian passport last month. I’m hoping to re read it again when I get back to warm sunny Darwin in a couple of weeks.
This Government bill that steals a valued public reserve for non-affordable housing speaks volumes as to how this government thinks and acts. Surely all the other parties will vote it down in parliament? Or will the useless Maori Party screw this up too?
The Auckland Plan now permits massively denser housing development in many zones-that should be the priority.
Meanwhile the Special Housing Area along Ladies Mile at the entrance to Queenstown rammed through by Nick Smith and the QLDC to satisfy developer mates (when in fact there is plenty of other land zoned for residential use) is now causing ructions. Read it in the ODT here:
Nature issues statement saying climate change cannot be negotiated with
Your header is precisely accurate!
CC is now beyond human amelioration. In other words it’s doing its own thing and is accelerating. We are not invited to a negotiating table to protest this fact.
[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.]
[for future reference, I consider lines of “it’s too late” to be a form of climate change denial. I don’t allow denialist lines to be run under my posts. If this bothers you, I suggest you read the Policy – weka]
I worked in Russia for a short period some years back. Absolutely fascinating experience and I’ve very loosely followed Putin with some interest ever since. When you live and work with people for even a short while it becomes very hard to see them as enemies.
And it also gives a glimpse into their different history and how their viewpoints are shaped. From that perspective Putin is by far the very best leader the Russians have had since probably Catherine the Great.
Absolutely he’s no great left wing socialist reformer, he doesn’t lead a government of angels. Judged by our western ideals he’s no hero; but then again how well do we measure up either?
Yet he’s unquestionably a very intelligent and connected leader very much in touch with the huge nation he leads. He remains very popular with ordinary Russians, and over the past almost 20 years he has transformed an economy that was utterly crippled at the turn of the century into a reasonably modern and thriving place.
For instance the city I was working in which looked like the administration wing of a monstrous gulag at the time, when I look at on google maps now , I barely recognise the street views. Huge reconstruction and modernisation everywhere. Rows of the old soviet apartment blocks I stayed in are gone, replaced by modern attractive buildings and parks.
We like to demonise Putin as some kind of Uncle Joe-lite; remote and imperious, issuing death orders from behind some impenetrable Kremlin desk. Yet the truth is he’s a remarkably accessible and transparent leader; long in the habit of giving long form interviews and remarkably forthright statements that address issues thoughtfully and in depth.
Just a little item from Brit as I looked up latest news.
A wildflower centre with building and cafe, promoting flower growing, seeds, interest in gardening had found costs too high and had to close. Another centre had taken an interest but hadn’t been able to pick up the task, and six months later it is unused and being vandalised.
“The Court Hey Park attraction closed in January despite two petitions to save it attracting thousands of signatures between them.”
The Cornwall based famous Eden Project had made a bid to keep it open but it wasn’t successful. It had been open since 2001, and possibly needed some new ideas. There was a comment made that the local bus wouldn’t provide a bus service so presumably that limited the number of visitors.
My comment is that it takes a lot of effort and thought starting up what are useful community facilities and that investment in time and charitable or government funds is just thrown away as being without value if the support is not continued, and not aided with some business mentor advice. Some things are worth having as beneficial in themselves, in this case for encouraging gardening and biodiversity and probably flowers which are used by bees and are untainted by insecticides.)
Sport can be funded, and gardening is important too. Perhaps it needed excitement, interest, competition – growing the biggest, flower fights, a day to create flower pictures with judging in the afternoon and prizes?
A few commenters, sounding young asked where the lottery money had gone, and that it should be pulled down.
(I have noticed lately that many young adults seem quite separated from community, and working for something beyond immediate gratification and instead for services or attractions beyond their interests.) http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/vandalised-neglected-shocking-state-huytons-13136843
“Can bullying behaviour be eliminated from our schools? Probably not, people being what they are. But, with the right culture, schools can make it very hard for bullying to flourish.”
The extent of the problem is measured by how bullying in schools is seen to be a dilemma yet bullying ON schools is accepted. Whether the levels of that will lessen with Hekia Parata gone remains to be seen but Nikki Kaye has been inculcated into a system in which bullying is de rigueur. Angela Fitchett, the author of the piece, refers to the lip-service paid to safe environments in Ministry of Education policies.
While the focus of her article is on different aspects of bullying, Ministry and Ministerial bullying has to be acknowledged and the irony of them expecting schools to deal with bullying in their realm.
I have a relation who tries to bring out the best in the kids she has at primary fairly low decile, but she doesn’t stand for much rubbish. And she reports as they are, not as it is convenient for the school and parents. She has a couple of children who know their parents can be relied on to come down and chew her ear off if the kids complain about her. She heard them one day planning to make up a story about her to get her sacked. She cares about the children, they do a wide range of things, and she has mostly successes.
She has to put up with bullying from some of the children, and manage that. Also
bullying from some of the parents and stand firm against that. And bullying from the sometimes management oriented principal and deputy principal who are trying to get all their boxes ticked off, and wonder why she gives low marks for reading compared to those carried forward from last year, given in desperation.
A teacher’s life is not a happy one when ruled by industrial-plan government, with their targets. So many fish fingers pass along within a set time, and get packed into the same-sized boxes no matter what their shape, readiness or attributes. Not time to bring out the inner genius or lurking enthusiasm under the neolibs.
Closing of borders
Saudi Arabia has closed air, land and sea borders with Qatar. The UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have closed both air and sea borders with Qatar. Also, the Arab coalition has said it has suspended Qatar’s participation in all efforts to restore legitimacy in Yemen.
The coalition said it severed all ties with Qatar given the latter’s dealings with militias and its support of al-Qaeda and ISIS as reasons behind the decision, a statement read.
Doha has long faced accusations that it is a state sponsor of terror. Qatari individuals have been sanctioned by the US Treasury for terror-financing activities.
It was also criticized for providing a sanctuary to former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal, who earlier this month used his Doha base — where he has lived in exile for several years — to launch a new policy document.
The Afghan Taliban opened an office in Doha in 2013.
I know little of macro finance, I’m flat out keeping fuel up to my outboard and the lights glowing.
As I understand it governments with a rating like ours can access money at a pretty handy rate.
Currently our home buyers are depositing billions with companies that have their primary ownership in Australia.
This might be a really dumb question but wouldn’t our country be a whole lot better off if we said “Sure you can have a mortgage, the great news is that you get an ace rate through Kiwibank and that’s the only option. Mortgage profit steered back into NZ.
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Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
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 ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra Shutterstock An important principle was invoked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week in defence of the government’s Future Made in Australia industry ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Security forces reinforcements were sent from France ahead of two rival marches in the capital Nouméa today, at the same time and only two streets away one from the other. One march, called by Union Calédonienne party (a component of the ...
A poll last August found that just 16% of New Zealanders oppose bringing back the ‘Three Strikes’ law. The nationwide poll of 1,000 New Zealanders was commissioned by Family First NZ and carried out by Curia Market Research. ...
The solo show from Ana Scotney is both sprawling and intimate, and a must-see, writes Mad Chapman. In the opening moments of Scattergun: After the Death of Rūaumoko, writer and performer Ana Scotney lays out the groundwork, literally. Silently moving around the square stage, Scotney is not so much dancing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Burridge, Professor of Linguistics, Monash University Who makes the words? Why are trees called trees and why are shoes called shoes and who makes the names? – Elliot, age 5, Eltham, Victoria Good question Elliot! Let’s start with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne at amRawpixel.com/Shutterstock Roles of health professionals are still unfortunately often stuck in the past. That is, before the ...
COMMENTARY:By Malcolm Evans Last week’s leaked New York Times staff directive, as to what words can and cannot be used to describe the carnage Israel is raining on Palestinians, is proof positive, since those reports are published verbatim here in New Zealand, that our understanding of the conflict is ...
In the case of New Zealand, the results confirm that there is no popular support for the vicious austerity program being imposed by the National Party-led government, which is backed in all fundamental respects by the opposition Labour Party. ...
The ‘Vampire’ singer has never visited our part of the world, but that might all be about to change. We assess the evidence.Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour is pulling in massive crowds as it whips around the US and Europe, even helping to catapult regular supporting act Chappell Roan ...
Testing of drinking water in rural Canterbury over the weekend by Greenpeace revealed that several public town supplies were reaching levels of nitrate above 5 mg/L - the threshold which a growing body of scientific evidence has linked to increased ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rohan Fisher, Information Technology for Development Researcher, Charles Darwin University It may come as a surprise to hear 2023 was Australia’s biggest bushfire season in more than a decade. Fires burned across an area eight times as big as the 2019–20 Black ...
Responding to the Government’s announcement of changes to resource management laws, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said: “These changes are a step in the right direction in terms of removing ideological and unworkable ...
More than two years after the Human Rights Council called for the establishment of a national human rights commission, such a body has yet to be formed. ...
Comment:An emergency management system with wide variations in performance, significant capability gaps, funding shortfalls and above all a setup that is not meeting the needs of New Zealanders at times of crisis. The Government’s inquiry into the response to Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events in the North ...
Welcome to the whirring wonders of one brain trying to align its actions with its beliefs within a system it thinks is evil. My brain has been spiralling in a woke conundrum ever since I found out a bookshop I’ve never been to was shutting down. Good Books, a bookshop ...
We repeat our call for criminal justice policy to be based on evidence, something the three strikes regime neglects to recognise – with no evidence that it either reduces crime or assists with rehabilitation. ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara With only four more seats in the 50-member Parliament yet to be officially declared, there is no outright winner in the Solomon Islands elections. As of Monday, the two largest blocs in the winner’s circle, independents and the incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh ...
Two/fiftyseven is a multi-purpose space hidden in the heart of Wellington that is paving a way for sustainable building and responsible landlording in Aotearoa and beyond.By 2060 the world is predicted to double its entire building stock, which equates to building an entire New York City every 34 days, ...
Popstars wasn’t just a reality television revolution, it was also a huge moment for Y2K fashion.It’s 25 years since girl group TrueBliss was formed on New Zealand national television, breaking new ground for both the reality television industry and the shiny clothing industry. With the first episode on NZ ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Pepping, Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology, Griffith University Marvin / Shutterstock Are all single people insecure? When we think about people who have been single for a long time, we may assume it’s because single people have insecurities that make ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William Geary, Lecturer in Quantitative Ecology & Biodiversity Conservation, The University of Melbourne Trismegist san, Shutterstock Landscapes that have escaped fire for decades or centuries tend to harbour vital structures for wildlife, such as tree hollows and large logs. But these ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Gladstone-Gallagher, Lecturer in Marine Science, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Shutterstock/S Curtis Why are we crossing ecological boundaries that affect Earth’s fundamental life-supporting capacity? Is it because we don’t have enough information about how ecosystems respond to change? Or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Crocker, PhD Student in Economics, Deakin University Here’s something for the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia to ponder as it meets next month to set interest rates. It has pushed up rates on 13 occasions since it began its ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a charity director outlines how she’s saving for retirement and buying secondhand. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.Gender: Female Age: 45 Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: Charity director, mum of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sophie Yates, Research Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Many Australians with disability feel on the edge of a precipice right now. Recommendations from the disability royal commission and the NDIS review were released late last year. Now a ...
It’s been called a failed experiment and a judicial straightjacket but the government says the revised three strikes law will be a more workable regime, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Three ...
New Zealand’s Palestinian community and Palestinian Youth Aotearoa are voicing alarm and disappointment with the lack of factual rigour present during the Israeli Ambassador’s appearance as a guest on TVNZ’s Q+A With Jack Tame Sunday (21/04). ...
Both ACT leader David Seymour, who played a key role in drawing up the assisted dying law, and hospice leaders say it's time the legislation was changed. ...
Public submissions on proposed gang control laws are being heard today. Rising gang membership has been cited as rationale for a crackdown – but what do we actually know about how many people belong to gangs in New Zealand?What’s all this then?A rise in the number of gang ...
Climate activists are setting their sights on an unpopular target, and hoping to bring lots of the public with them. It’s hard to miss the Majestic Princess: the enormous cruise ship, docked at Auckland’s Prince’s Wharf, looms over the nearby buildings. The ship, which can fit nearly 6,000 people, ...
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The following korero between Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku, author of the newly published memoir Hine Toa, one of the year’s most important books, and Dale Husband from e-tangata, was first published in October. It traverses her involvement with the activist group Ngā Tamatoa at Auckland University in the early 1970s, her ...
In the 16 years since it was bought by the government for $690 million, KiwiRail has had several overhauls and turnaround plans worth billions of dollars. Its ambitions as a successful, profitable operator of tourism, freight and ferries have often been derailed by disasters from earthquakes to cyclones, mine explosions ...
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Well done Sir John.
While some on here are all bitter and cannot say anything but negative and pathetic insults – there are a lot is us who think you were a fantastic PM.
He did nothing for Auckland – infrastructure still not good enough, housing bubble went on for years, only now taking a breather. All under his watch.
Those knighthoods are a joke.
OK
Counter the list with Keys achievements James.
(On mickys Post).
James’ I know what it is like to be in receipt of a smile and wave of an august personage. When I was young I got a wave from the Queen all to myself as I trudged alone up the road on my paper run and she and the Duke motored past to their next engagement.
Tell us your story of when John Key (Sir KCMGABCDand BAR) similarly looked at you and conveyed his magic influence that has inspired you ever since to be a great and better person eager to make NZ and yourself great again?
I had completely forgotten him until this morning. Such was the scale of his achievements. The temporary unpleasantness of being reminded he existed will rapidly fade
+ 1 yep whatsisname is forgettable, a nobody, no substance, a grey blend of wanker banker.
Who is John Keys?
We’re bitter about the reality of the damage that John Key and National have done to NZ to make a few pathetic and psychopathic people richer.
The fact that you think he was a ‘fantastic PM’ just makes you one of the gullible authoritarian followers that is the hallmark of National Party voters.
He did wonder when he gets the pony.
Can you name these “services to the state” James?
Or is being responsible for overseeing increasing poverty, increasing environmental destruction and an increasing inequality gap now considered a service?
Most frustrating. Up at 4:30. Make a nice flat white on the coffee machine. Turn on the fire and the lights – then the blinking americas cup racing get delayed due to lack of wind. Grrrrr.
1st world problems James
Turn on the fire sounds almost cavemanish lol
Nah – cave-men light a fire. (with twigs then increasingly bigger bits) People who “turn on a fire” are soft ACT voters who like to boast of their imagined self-reliance.
Sounds like you’re all set up to do a early morning coffee run downtown for the homeless.
James shares one thing with his idol Key.
He also only cares about himself.
James, enjoy the day off work, weather is not too bad to watch sport all day.
But if you are interested, there are many various art exhibitions on. Look up the site http://www.eventfinda.co.nz/exhibitions/events
I am sure you will be enthralled 😉
What the Crapping Christ !!!
____________________________________________________________
James
___________________________________________________________
It’s not often I see “blinking” employed as a euphemism these days, James – wonderfully polite and old-fashioned of you.
Instantly reminded me of Rick to Neil in The Young Ones
“Oh, stop being so blinking Bore-joy-zee* !!!”
* as in the bourgeoisie
I wonder if it is possible to sponsor a private bill through parliament undoing the return of knighthoods and backdating it to 2008 – so we don’t reward plonkers for fucking the country?
Yep.
But also because we could do without endorsing the association with the imperialistic values of autocracy and inequality.
End imperialistic gongs in NZ!
Julie Christie a frigging Dame! The people making these awards are taking the piss! Surely that’s a joke?
Services to Empire.
Distracting and dumbing down NZ’s citizens.
Appears to have worked a treat in your case and in that of the beloved troll Paul.
Yep, I was expecting Key but discovering Julie Christie had been made a Dame made me want to throw up. She is a greedy, vindictive, nasty person through and through.
It serves only to highlight that the world constructed for the masses is built on a foundation of lies and deceit
The more Keys and Christies are held up as becons of the establishment, the greater numbers of those who will turn their backs
Leave them to it, and take it as a positive…
This tweet sums up Christie perfectly:
Francis McRae @FrankMcRae 2h2 hours ago
“Julie Christie trash tv peddler is a notorious work place bully who delights in destroying people’s careers. Today she received an honour”
That’s Dame Julie to you, Karen, you oik.
Sounds like a perfect National Party person – no wonder she got rewarded.
It is a insult to all of New Zealand, imagine a country where someone with the depth of humanity like Helen Kelly is not honored in any way..yet a vacuous reality star is…is that the level we are at…really?
The answer to your question Adrian is “yes”.
That does appear to be how far we’ve sunk.
We need more classy people to be knighted. People like this…
https://static2.stuff.co.nz/1273832779/125/3701125.jpg
Some vulgar oick (and extremely poor writer compared to his very talented younger brother) has replaced your photo with his own.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blpe_sGnnP4
Some recipients are responsible for their own undoing…..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_revocations_of_appointments_to_orders_and_awarded_decorations_and_medals_of_the_United_Kingdom
All of you pop over to Boots Theory and check out the UK Labour adverts:
https://bootstheory.wordpress.com/2017/06/05/amazing-labour-ads-coming-out-of-the-uk/
The Foreign Affairs guy is excellent.
The Foreign Affairs guy is excellent.
I even thought he was for real at the start. 🙂
That’s a brilliant video.
Very good. I like the bit about Labour understands that Britain only works if working people are ok. I don’t get the reaction I do with NZ Labour when they focus on work, because I know that Corbyn’s Labour really do mean to work for the wellbeing of everyone, whereas NZ Labour are still prevaricating about the beneficiaries and others seen as lesser than hard working Kiwis (as if beneficiaries don’t work hard). I think Little wants to run the country for everyone, but I don’t think NZ Labour are there yet. Those videos show the difference.
Maybe you should do a bit more research on the UK Labour Party and the criticisms of their policies for those on low incomes before you make use them to attack the NZ Labour Party.
Can you give a couple of examples?
btw, I’m not attack NZ Labour, I’m critiquing one aspect of what they are doing. I like what Labour are doing here generally, although I’d prefer to see them going further left at some point. I just think that the ‘don’t talk about the benes’ thing is still a huge problem (one they share with the Greens).
It seemed to me that instead of just saying what great ads (as they are) you were using to opportunity to slag off NZ Labour without doing any research to back your claims up. Corbyn is great but his voice is still a minority one in the British Labour caucus. Hopefully, if they do manage to pull off a win, his hand will be strengthened.
In spite of what many here seem to think the NZ Labour Party has moved leftwards – not nearly as much as I would like but there has definitely been a shift, and there will be even more of a shift after the election because of some of the new candidates.
A couple of links for you:
NZ Labour
Look at page 14
https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/nzlabour/pages/2371/attachments/original/1478147235/43230_LoO_Future_of_Work_Front_End_Summary_20pp_2_LR.pdf?1478147235
UK British Labour Party
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/may/20/labour-manifesto-keep-planned-tory-benefit-cuts-resolution-foundation
Thanks, those are both interesting links.
I’m not sure what you see as my beliefs about Labour, but I spent a lot of time last year pushing back against Labour bashing on TS. I already think that Labour is moving left, and my comments of late haven’t been suggesting otherwise.
In this instance, I think it’s still a valid view that UK Labour are going to be better for beneficiaries than NZ Labour. I’m also open to Little proving me wrong. The problem is that I’ve seen things improve for beneficiaries under Clark’s Labour but they also did some really shitty stuff to beneficiaries. I don’t expect Little’s Labour to do the shitty stuff (I believe him when he hints at doing well by everyone), but until they are in a position to speak up for beneficiaries, I don’t expect there to be much improvement for the non-working poor. Not no improvement, but probably not enough to redress the shit that’s gone down both structurally and within the culture. So I notice how NZ Labour won’t talk about beneficiaries, but UK Labour will and for me that makes a huge difference.
I appreciate your comments on commenting on Labour, and I am thinking through how I am commenting myself, more so about how to critique constructively rather than stopping critiquing at all.
I don’t think you should stop critiquing at all, but IMO your comment came across as both ill-informed about the British Labour Party and an unnecessary attack on the NZ Labour Party that was based on a general impression that was not not backed up by any examples from current direction and policies.
For me, Clark government’s two major failings were the S & F legislation and not reversing the benefit cuts. There were some improvements made for beneficiaries but they were not adequate.
Unfortunately beneficiaries have been demonised in the media for so long now that it would take a very brave party to say, in an election year, that they will increase increase benefits substantially. Do I wish they were braver? Absolutely. If they were in a stronger position then they may take more risks, but they are not in a strong position currently.
I believe that the majority of probable Labour MPs do want to increase benefits and change the WINZ culture, and if they don’t then I will be campaigning to change their minds.
The other major things Clark’s govt did re beneficiaries was to scrap Special Benefit and to exclude non-working beneficiaries from WFF. So it wasn’t just a failure to reverse something National did, it was actual benefit cuts of their own and building financial and cultural prejudice into the structure of welfare.
I feel better informed from your links, but I still feel there are important differences between the two parties that is worth commenting on. I’m not sure about most NZ Labour MPs wanting to do right by beneficiaries, but hope you are right and certainly with people like Shearer no longer there it seems more possible. I agree about the difficult position Labour is in (and have mostly been arguing this for a long time).
Shearer had the awful Paganis as his advisors. They are well gone.
There are only also 4 from the Clark government era standing this year: Ruth Dyson, Nanaia Mahuta, David Parker and Trevor Mallard. If Mallard does scrape in (he is well down on the list) then he will be speaker so have no influence on policy.
thanks, that’s good to know.
Unfortunately, although she suggests: “Just some brilliant stuff coming out of Team Corbyn this week” ……. dare I say it ……. two of the vids are from the 2015 General Election Campaign, when Corby was still in short trousers, politically-speaking ……. (specifically the Steve Coogan and Martin Freeman ads)
(Getting around to answering your question here, Ad https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-04062017/#comment-1336484 … probably tomorrow – like to do these things properly, so need a bit of spare time)
As a mild political junkie I am thoroughly enjoying all the machinations between the Trump White House and the Russian government. And the results of all the investigations will be thrilling politics.
But.
Those Labour 2017 adverts Boots Theory has collected is a good reminder that maybe the Democrats are focusing too much on historical issues and not on the actual stuff that will give people something positive to think about the Democratic Party.
I have to respect Corbyn for putting on a terrific campaign that’s really rallying hearts and minds.
Maybe Corbyn should just take a breath while the investigations roll on, and leave Trump to his own sky-falling flame-ball of orange shit. Maybe I’ve enjoyed Trump too much, for the same reasons I like James Bond movies: action, hot girls, cold-war rhetorical worlds, and perpetual intrigue. But together with the super-cycled media, the media and the investigations can be comfortably left to get on with joining Trump in that great sky-falling flame-ball of orange shit.
The adverts UK Labour have done show me it’s not that hard to see fresh political reality. To get to the why of politics. What is Labour’s why?
Corbyn’s team are answering.
…the Democrats are focusing too much on historical issues…
???
The Democratic National Committee has been pushing its hypocritical “Russian meddling” line, which nobody outside of the Clintons and their small clique of diehard admirers cares about.
Most of the US-based MSM seems to care about it quite a bit.
And the results of the investigations will be perfectly newsworthy.
Correct, Ad. The MSM, as usual, are faithful conduits of DNC propaganda.
The MSM do what the Democratic Party want?
That’s amazing!
James Shaw calls this “one of the most on-the-money insights into the @NZGreens political positioning in relation to other parties I’ve yet read”.
From Alex Braae: Greens would be fools to court National
That purism over politics would suggest they couldn’t negotiate with Labour or NZ First either. You can’t get away from politics – negotiationism and pragmatism – in politics.
That sounds like they are virtually conceding this election, and any election until they get into power without having to negotiate their policies politically.
It’s almost as if they fear what will happen to the party if they get into government.
With this approach it’s unlikely the Greens will ever be big enough to actually wield power.
Perhaps if Labour+Greens get enough votes to put together a viable coalition the attraction of power will override Green purism, but they won’t help their chances if they appear to fear what will happen if they get there.
🙄
“Getting elected: a candidates guide”, a self-published novella by Peter George.
Your stalking is getting more lame, lamer.
Stop talking shit and I’ll have less material.
How come you know everything Pete? Are you a know-all?
The greens have less political nous than Donald Trump.
They’re just idealogical morons with no idea how to achieve anything, what a waste of time they are no wonder Gareth Morgan set up TOP.
*ideological
The Greens fail to pick up the raving bigot vote yet again!
The Greens are never going to achieve anything until they work out how MMP operates,
MMP is all about negotiation, bartering, trading etc, does this deluded little minor party think Labour and NZ First are just going to be there to rubber stamp all their policies? that the next government is going to be a green government only?
Raving bigots are telepathic? Wow.
BM
This 3 day break from norm has given you time to recharge your batteries.
Now you can batter the Greens severely with your virtual brain from the game where you build communities and political parties and direct them at your will.
Luckily the real ones will survive and find ways to connect to those people who still have a thinking brain and don’t operate out of an amygdala that flashes on and off like a traffic light, changing standards, methods and values in the direction of the perceived flow of major traffic.
BM craps his pants = the Greens are on the right track.
Another Green policy win, harnessing the methane from Jamie Whyte and the ACT voters.
If the right track is achieving nothing but providing Turei and the rest of the Green MPs a salary miles above their true paygrade, then yes they’re on the right track.
We never get this ‘purity critique’ about the Maori Party, Act, or United Future, because they are happy to go into coalition with National.
But the right-hand side of New Zealand politics has zero fresh ideas.
It’s not up to me to determine whether it’s time for fresh ideas – the electorate will.
But the real surprise when they do get into government is that their ideas will appear fresh and clear and real.
Don’t you worry Pete – they’ll be worth waiting for.
Labour doesn’t get associated with purism either, in fact I see a lot of complaints here about their lack of it.
Greens can’t maintain purism in a coalition with Labour. They will be lucky to be given a significant role by Labour, who seem to view the Greens like they view their Moari support, a one way street.
I am sure you are aware Pete, the Greens are not required to go into power with anyone.
I have never got a sense from the Greens that they aspire to power.
If they come to acceptable coalition terms with Labour, great.
If they don’t, Labour is more the loser.
The Greens just need to keep on doing precisely what they are doing.
They are solid for 10%, not much more.
They are designed to be pure.
There is no need for them to change that brand at all.
The reaction to their vote with National will have told them that, loud and clear.
Bernie Sanders Endorses Jeremy Corbyn…..
Has Andrew Little given his thoughts about Corbyn yet?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_v0S0QSdqw
Official NZ Labour line has always been “he’s unelectable”.
Very moving article from the wonderful Harry Leslie Smith, aged 94, on the importance of young people voting in the UK election.
https://politicsmeanspolitics.com/election-diary-june-4th-todays-young-must-be-the-tide-to-raise-all-boats-f63ef8f1298a
This is a telling argument for making the change and voting to get Labour on the road again. The old vehicle needs a push, it may have to be cranked but by God we can do it if we have half the passion and persistence and ideals of old Harry!
Labour’s message in 1945 was a bold declaration that society must be about fair play, decency, merit and compassion to those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
It is why on June 8th, you have to rise up and be counted because you are worth more than flat wages. You are worth more than eternal austerity. You are worth more than hard Brexit. You are worth more than student debt and zero hour contracts. You are worth more than the greed of the 1% and the incompetence of the Tories.
Within you is the blood of your grandparents and great grandparents that sacrificed their lives on the battle fields of Europe and Asia. Within you is the DNA of all your ancestors who fought for the rights of women to vote. Within you is the echo of all those who battled for their right to an NHS that provided health care to all not just the well to do.
Within you is the spark to become the greatest generation of the 21st century. So, I ask you as a very old man who has seen Britain at its worst and greatest to stand strong and send the Tories Packing because you deserve a future that has hope, prosperity and purpose.
Christ, I had visions of my late grandmother saying almost the same thing to me just before 91 elections while I job hunting in Nelson and now wished I had taped it among other things like singing the old workers songs etc. My grandmother was hard core labour to the day she died and she was never scared to say anything about any tropic incl LGBT issues. As one person from the LGBT branch found out to their discomfort after a lecture from her on LGBT rights and had the nerve to ask who was Noel Pearson then she went off belt feed mortar again.
BTW for those don’t know who Noel Pearson was? He was primary school treacher in Blackball during the 30- 40’s who was a gay, because of his sexuality he given refuge by my great grandparents and like him were follow socialists. Noel Pearson wrote a book called ” Coal Flat” which is based around grandmothers family in Blackball. Because of Noel’s sexuality and the way he was treated by members of the Blackball community and also no doubtly being associated with my great grandparents he got transferred out of Blackball through my great grandparents contacts within Labour Party at the time.
Hi I found copies of Coal Flat on Trademe. I’ll see if I can get an affordable one, let you know when I do if you would like to read it again. Might have it in stack at library too.
Dear ma’am or sir, thank you for kind offer on a copy of Coal Flat. I believe my parents got a copy while they were waiting for the ferry in Picton as my father had renew his Australian passport last month. I’m hoping to re read it again when I get back to warm sunny Darwin in a couple of weeks.
Kind regards Ex.
Excellent article on the Pt. England Development Enabling Bill in the Herald today here.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11869590
This Government bill that steals a valued public reserve for non-affordable housing speaks volumes as to how this government thinks and acts. Surely all the other parties will vote it down in parliament? Or will the useless Maori Party screw this up too?
The Auckland Plan now permits massively denser housing development in many zones-that should be the priority.
Meanwhile the Special Housing Area along Ladies Mile at the entrance to Queenstown rammed through by Nick Smith and the QLDC to satisfy developer mates (when in fact there is plenty of other land zoned for residential use) is now causing ructions. Read it in the ODT here:
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/fears-spurred-ladies-mile-development
She’s doomed….
http://normanfinkelstein.com/2017/06/03/liar-liar-may-on-fire/
Being a lackey has its compensations
http://normanfinkelstein.com/2017/06/03/a-community-organizers-life-is-not-an-easy-one/
Nature issues statement saying climate change cannot be negotiated with
Your header is precisely accurate!
CC is now beyond human amelioration. In other words it’s doing its own thing and is accelerating. We are not invited to a negotiating table to protest this fact.
[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.]
[for future reference, I consider lines of “it’s too late” to be a form of climate change denial. I don’t allow denialist lines to be run under my posts. If this bothers you, I suggest you read the Policy – weka]
We wanted endless growth. CC is mirroring our desire, just not we expected! 🙁 🙁
This look interesting.
Heading – Let’s build our own internet.
We don’t need 5G. We need a resilient, community-owned internet that uses less energy.
http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2015/10/how-to-build-a-low-tech-internet.html
Jonathon Pie…Hate and Anger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIvZ2EBqdEQ
OMG this looks so good….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrBoj760aD8
I worked in Russia for a short period some years back. Absolutely fascinating experience and I’ve very loosely followed Putin with some interest ever since. When you live and work with people for even a short while it becomes very hard to see them as enemies.
And it also gives a glimpse into their different history and how their viewpoints are shaped. From that perspective Putin is by far the very best leader the Russians have had since probably Catherine the Great.
Absolutely he’s no great left wing socialist reformer, he doesn’t lead a government of angels. Judged by our western ideals he’s no hero; but then again how well do we measure up either?
Yet he’s unquestionably a very intelligent and connected leader very much in touch with the huge nation he leads. He remains very popular with ordinary Russians, and over the past almost 20 years he has transformed an economy that was utterly crippled at the turn of the century into a reasonably modern and thriving place.
For instance the city I was working in which looked like the administration wing of a monstrous gulag at the time, when I look at on google maps now , I barely recognise the street views. Huge reconstruction and modernisation everywhere. Rows of the old soviet apartment blocks I stayed in are gone, replaced by modern attractive buildings and parks.
We like to demonise Putin as some kind of Uncle Joe-lite; remote and imperious, issuing death orders from behind some impenetrable Kremlin desk. Yet the truth is he’s a remarkably accessible and transparent leader; long in the habit of giving long form interviews and remarkably forthright statements that address issues thoughtfully and in depth.
Just a little item from Brit as I looked up latest news.
A wildflower centre with building and cafe, promoting flower growing, seeds, interest in gardening had found costs too high and had to close. Another centre had taken an interest but hadn’t been able to pick up the task, and six months later it is unused and being vandalised.
“The Court Hey Park attraction closed in January despite two petitions to save it attracting thousands of signatures between them.”
The Cornwall based famous Eden Project had made a bid to keep it open but it wasn’t successful. It had been open since 2001, and possibly needed some new ideas. There was a comment made that the local bus wouldn’t provide a bus service so presumably that limited the number of visitors.
My comment is that it takes a lot of effort and thought starting up what are useful community facilities and that investment in time and charitable or government funds is just thrown away as being without value if the support is not continued, and not aided with some business mentor advice. Some things are worth having as beneficial in themselves, in this case for encouraging gardening and biodiversity and probably flowers which are used by bees and are untainted by insecticides.)
Sport can be funded, and gardening is important too. Perhaps it needed excitement, interest, competition – growing the biggest, flower fights, a day to create flower pictures with judging in the afternoon and prizes?
A few commenters, sounding young asked where the lottery money had gone, and that it should be pulled down.
(I have noticed lately that many young adults seem quite separated from community, and working for something beyond immediate gratification and instead for services or attractions beyond their interests.)
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/vandalised-neglected-shocking-state-huytons-13136843
“Can bullying behaviour be eliminated from our schools? Probably not, people being what they are. But, with the right culture, schools can make it very hard for bullying to flourish.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz
The extent of the problem is measured by how bullying in schools is seen to be a dilemma yet bullying ON schools is accepted. Whether the levels of that will lessen with Hekia Parata gone remains to be seen but Nikki Kaye has been inculcated into a system in which bullying is de rigueur. Angela Fitchett, the author of the piece, refers to the lip-service paid to safe environments in Ministry of Education policies.
While the focus of her article is on different aspects of bullying, Ministry and Ministerial bullying has to be acknowledged and the irony of them expecting schools to deal with bullying in their realm.
Full link to story: http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/opinion/93349722/bullying-an-unsolvable-problem
I have a relation who tries to bring out the best in the kids she has at primary fairly low decile, but she doesn’t stand for much rubbish. And she reports as they are, not as it is convenient for the school and parents. She has a couple of children who know their parents can be relied on to come down and chew her ear off if the kids complain about her. She heard them one day planning to make up a story about her to get her sacked. She cares about the children, they do a wide range of things, and she has mostly successes.
She has to put up with bullying from some of the children, and manage that. Also
bullying from some of the parents and stand firm against that. And bullying from the sometimes management oriented principal and deputy principal who are trying to get all their boxes ticked off, and wonder why she gives low marks for reading compared to those carried forward from last year, given in desperation.
A teacher’s life is not a happy one when ruled by industrial-plan government, with their targets. So many fish fingers pass along within a set time, and get packed into the same-sized boxes no matter what their shape, readiness or attributes. Not time to bring out the inner genius or lurking enthusiasm under the neolibs.
A great day because a very positive step reached to ensure the protecton of te waikoropupu – yay!!!
http://i.stuff.co.nz/environment/93311347/environment-minister-accepts-water-conservation-order-to-protect-te-waikoropupu-springs
Great news marty mars
And this – being dealt with urgently?
High levels of E coli found in creek near treasured springs’ reserve
Well it is Nick Smith but hopefully the wheels are in motion.
Middle east- UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt sever ties with Qatar.
https://twitter.com/AlArabiya_Eng
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2017/06/05/Main-reasons-why-Saudi-UAE-Bahrain-and-Egypt-severed-ties-with-Qatar.html
Early shots in President Bannon’s war with Iran?.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/otaiba-ambassador-uae-leaked-emails_us_5932bf04e4b02478cb9bec1c
On the other hand at least they know where al Queda people are?
I know little of macro finance, I’m flat out keeping fuel up to my outboard and the lights glowing.
As I understand it governments with a rating like ours can access money at a pretty handy rate.
Currently our home buyers are depositing billions with companies that have their primary ownership in Australia.
This might be a really dumb question but wouldn’t our country be a whole lot better off if we said “Sure you can have a mortgage, the great news is that you get an ace rate through Kiwibank and that’s the only option. Mortgage profit steered back into NZ.