“Dotcom no longer appears on the share register for Mega, although his estranged wife Mona continues to hold some 16 percent of the company, as does an apparent associate, Wolf Dieter Ortmann. The majority shareholder today is a Hong Kong-based donor to New Zealand’s governing National Party, Shen Zhao Wu, with an 18 percent shareholding.”
A nat donor is mega’s biggest shareholder as well as having Boag on the scene. No, this doesn’t look good for the committed lefty with gifts for NZ.
Shows not only does money buy cheap politicians, but also enough wool to cover their greedy eyes.
Still, maybe some of the less gullible amongst us will start switching on any time about now.
It’s a mistake to think that people involved with technology are necessarily progressive. The liberal spectrum (which the internet party appeals to) ranges from libertarian gun nuts (Eric Raymond) to progressive lefties (Lawrence Lessig).
The youth that are getting politicised by this could go either way – and so could a party based on their platform. Involvement from the established libertarian right wing is to be expected, as this movement looks exactly like the scrappy start-up they are used to absorbing, idea-asset-stripping and eventually discarding.
I’ve no reason to agree or disagree otherwise with your first paragraph. It’s not a point I’ve ever made or laboured.
As for youth being politicised, again no argument from me, although it’s a shame for some of them their first exposure to politics will be totally disingenuous horse trading and pork barrelling, which will, I’m sure, turn many off altogether.
As for the party direction, well, it will be whatever kdc wants it to be. Left/right/center, which ever is most expedient and self serving.
But nat donor is biggest shareholder in megal, that’s a who(a)re moment for the ‘principled’ mana.
Laila Harre i have great faith in!….and also Hone Harawira.!..both would NOT sell out the Left …and it is NOT in Dotcoms interests to do so either
…if you want to win a war sometimes you have to get help from the likes of Boag who is really a mercenary up for the money from any side …if she is the best they can find, then why not? …also it will soften them in the eyes of some potential voters
…the youth so politicised to vote Internet Party do not have a beef with the Mana Party and will probably continue to vote for them if the Internet party is disestablished, which i thought it would be sometime after the Election
” … if the Internet party is disestablished, which i thought it would be sometime after the Election”
I don’t have time to check the Internet Mana alliance agreement right now, but my understanding is that the agreement provides for the alliance to be reviewed six weeks after the election. This review could lead to the continuation, or dissolution, of the alliance between the two parties – not the disestablishment of the Internet Party. If the alliance is dissolved, then the two parties would continue as separate parties.
The IMP alliance can split anytime it chooses to (with a weeks notice), but we’re hoping that we’ll be able to work together for the longterm. The; “six weeks after the 2014 General Election”, has been played-up by many as a point of instability. But it is really just a nominal deadline for a review of how the alliance has functioned after the distraction of campaigning is done with.
The most likely reason for a split at that point would be if a third party felt that it was unable to work with one of the constituent parties. But I think that we’d be reluctant to accede to such coercion unless it was an absolute necessity in changing the government. The allied IP & MANA on the crossbenches would be likely more effective together giving C&S, plus support on an issue by issue basis, than one group of (say; IP, given NZFs antiMANA stance) MPs getting minor ministerial positions as payment for repudiating their allies.
either component party may give seven days written notice of their intention to terminate this agreement. The notice must state the reasons for the party wanting to terminate the agreement and must give an opportunity for the New Party Council to meet and for the other party to respond to the initiating party’s notice at least three days before it takes effect… this agreement will remain in force until at least six weeks after the 2014 General Election polling day. The component parties will meet together within five weeks of the 2014 General Election to review the agreement.
Much clearer than my rushed attempt to point out that the Internet Party is very unlikely to be disestablished after the election – and that the alliance agreement provides for ‘review’ not ‘dissolution’ after the election.
The continual spin that the has been put out that the alliance agreement would be dissolved (rather than just reviewed) six weeks after the election has really annoyed me and has been intended to suggest instability, as you say.
Key found New Zealand to wreck its people and our country for the long haul for the primary benefit of the wealthy at tremendous price to the rest of the population. At least KDC has been transparent about his political dealings.
if you want to win a war sometimes you have to get help from the likes of Boag who is really a mercenary up for the money from any side …if she is the best they can find, then why not? …also it will soften them in the eyes of some potential voters
Neither Mega nor Boag have anything to do with the Internet Party.
the youth so politicised to vote Internet Party do not have a beef with the Mana Party and will probably continue to vote for them if the Internet party is disestablished, which i thought it would be sometime after the Election
the Internet Party will continue because of it’s inclusive decision making. IMO, That’s what makes a party survive over time.
Oops, I didn’t mean to imply you were mistaken, I was just soliloquising. I’m talking about the Internet part of Internet/Mana. I’m hoping Mana can exploit this opportunity to become a permanent part of the left, as I have more than a sneaking regard for their position. I can imagine the Internet part fracturing faster than a Trotskyist Tea party though.
Dotcom sounded eloquent and in fine form talking to Brent Edwards on Morning Report this morning explaining how Key’s secret raid on his house had brought about a change in his life and touring with the IMP roadshow had brought home to him the problems in NZ being ignored by Key who only represented the top 1% and corporate interests. KDC said he had never criticised Labour.
There was another later report from IMP’s well attended (300 people) meeting in Wellington where it was made plain IMP would not support the TPP deal.
Fantastic publicity for IMP and both reports well worth a listen.
“Shen Zhao Wu with 18.3 percent, a regular donor to the National Party through his Contue Jinwan Enterprise Group. Contue donated $49,220.18 to National in January”
Nearly as much as kim to Banks, though I doubt Shen wrote anonymous cheques, even after thinking it an insult.
“Shen and his wife, Susan Chou, were reported by the New Zealand Herald to have made a $200,000 donation in 2010.”
” … his companies biggest shareholder donates to key.”
Mega is no longer KDC’s company. IIRC KDC divested himself of his interest/shares in the company in about Oct/Nov 2013.
You yourself @ 2 above quoted from the NBR article which MS linked to @ 1 to the effect that KDC is no longer listed as a shareholder, although his estranged wife, Mona DC, still retains 16% of the shares.
So it is incorrect IMHO to still refer to Mega as KDC’s company if he no longer has any financial interest in, or control over, Mega.
Although I have seen nothing to support this, the sale of KDC’s shares in Mega may well be a source of the money that he has given to the Internet Party. Just speculation on my part.
EDIT
Here are the two Morning Report items on KDC and last night’s IM Road Show meeting in Wellington.
Actually, more recent than that as told on stuff and tvnz sites today, but yeah, still kim’s company. Happy to call it kims old company though.
“The Dotcom family’s share in Mega has fallen to 16.2 per cent and the share owned by chief technology officer Mathias Ortmann, who was understood to be in day-to-day charge of the firm, after former chief executive Stephen Hall stepped down, dropped to 16.6 per cent.”
dotcom is very believable when he talks (in that interview..) of having his eyes opened to the poverty/inequality in new zealand..
..one thing you can be sure from this roadshow all over new zealand..
..is that harwira and sykes have made sure to show him the realities of that poverty..
..and i’m guessing dotcom has also grasped that economics 101-fact..
..that the best/fastest way to stimulate/enliven an economy…
..is to increase the incomes of those who are the poorest..
..for the simple fact that money churns back into the economy straight away..
..used buying the basics/services of life…
..and this if course is one of the strongest arguments for a universal basic income..
..on the ‘moral’-level..yes..it will end poverty…
..but it will also stimulate the economy…
..(and it has long puzzled me..that mote in the rights’ eyes..
..that they think it is a good idea to have a poverty-stricken underclass..
..an underclass unable to purchase their widgets/trinkets..(!)..).
..the proof of that ec. 101 maxim was also seen in the retail-recession that followed ‘strewth’ richardsons mother-of-all-budgets/gutting of state-support…in the name/cause of rogernomics..
..’cos that money was sucked straight out of retailers/service-providers bottom-lines..
..i guess they must be blinded/eye-moted by their randian-ideological-beliefs..eh..?
It is no longer his company – as you yourself have noted; “Dotcom no longer appears on the share register for Mega”. Even Baboom has fallen a bit by the wayside as he has concentrated his energies upon the election.
If I were to sell a car which was then bought by a Boagan who promptly pranged it into the nearest lamp-post because they’d flogged off the brakes would that be my fault?
As for your relentless assault upon the IMPs; could you please change the record? Yes, I get that you don’t trust us, or the IP founder. But your time might be better spent in discussing the policies &/or advantages of voting for the party that you do support, rather than incessantly dissing a tactical ally. The one undeniable thing about KDC & the IMP alliance is that we are committed to ousting the National government.
Unless you’d rather lose with purity, than compromise with those with whom you have disagreements?
Baboom has fallen by the wayside because it’s investor shy.
“could you please change the record?”
Sorry, can’t do that. Politicians being bought my money doesn’t sit easily, and just because it’s on the left, doesn’t make it all of a sudden good.
You’re tainted by kim. You didn’t have to do a deal. Caveat emptor.
“a tactical ally”
Last cab of the rank tactical ally.
“The one undeniable thing about KDC & the IMP alliance is that we are committed to ousting the National government.”
The gullible might believe it, the self serving totally reliant on it.
Your tone would be better suited to TradeMe Message Board, Kiwiblog or Kelvin’s stillborn site The Al1en, where sticking your fingers in your ears qualifies as discussion.
Hardly fair, I’ve outlined some good points and am always open to considered opinion.
Yet the ‘leave Brittney alone’ meme is quality stuff?
Gullible and partisan it is.
Don’t worry though, If it’s to be the not done thing to criticise kim and hone, I’ll be bold texted out of here before too long.
It’s about principles and as I see it, a lack of them on the extreme left. Sue Bradford has them, and I’m pleased she never sold them or herself out, and she was forced out by the blind, greedy and gullible at mana.
I wrote ages ago that for some, kdc was their last, best hope at ousting key, which apart from being wrong, speaks volumes about the strength of their own message and conviction in their personnel, especially when you consider Harre aside (though not by much), what has come after – A singer and a list of nobodies.
mana is a really small party, less than act, less than the conservatives and maybe slightly bigger than uf. It doesn’t belittle hh’s representation of his electorate, but reached the limits of popularity vote wise is about correct.
Of all the parties shown the cash, only hone took it. It’s dirty, and I hope it backfires. 🙂
I take it you mean Chris Yong by; “a singer”, though I think of him more as guitarist/ producer. Not being from Aotearoa, I wouldn’t expect you to have much of an inkling about the local music scene; just accept that he is a respected figure.
You reluctantly concede that Laila Harré is notable, if you care at all about Kiwi culture then you have to admit the same about Yong. So, of the three IP candidates likely to make it into parliament (no meant offense to Currin, but 8 IMP MPs this election is far less likely than 6) that leaves us:
Miriam Pierard – most notable for her work as the spokesperson for Aotearoa Is Not For Sale movement, but you may also have read her posts on TDB. A committed activist, only someone entirely ignorant of the NZ left would claim that she is a part of “a list of nobodies”.
So, that’s the IP likely MPs, How about MANA? Their top 3 are; Hone Harawira, Annette Sykes, John Minto. Again, only someone entirely ignorant of the NZ left would claim that are a part of “a list of nobodies”. I’m not familiar with the 4th ranked MANA candidate (7th on joint list); James Papali’i, but as “Mangere East Labour Branch Party for the past 15 years”, he certainly has a presence in the Auckland Samoan community.
If they weren’t nobodies they wouldn’t need kim’s loot to advance them towards electability, but you have to say that, don’t you?
I surmise
The internet party, harre aside have kapisi as a ‘youth drawcard’ and no-one.
hone at mana may or may not get in depending on how well KD plays his hand. 55/45 at the moment, but could easily become to close to call.
sykes might get in if the maori party vote collapses, but after she represented the owners of the dog that savaged the rotorua child the other year, hopefully not.
minto would never get in without the dosh.
Your pathetic personal attacks deserve only this 🙄 Alien, you are simply revealing yourself as one sad, sick (expletive deleted),
Everyone has the right to be represented when charged in a court of law, guess what Annette Sykes does for a crust besides campaigning as a politician…
“revealing yourself as one sad, sick (expletive deleted),”
What? For not swallowing the mip marriage, or because I don’t respect sykes for defending the owners of a dog which savaged a child, maybe to save them having to pay out compo?
“Everyone has the right to be represented when charged in a court of law,guess what Annette Sykes does”
Ah, the latter.
Not the sort I want representing me or mine in court or in politics.
Just because you haven’t heard of them doesn’t make them nobodies. If you have a look throughout history some of the greatest leaders started off as people who weren’t well known but they worked their way through the opposition anyway. As far as I’m concerned Key is a nobody and Cunliffe isn’t much better because they both represent the height of success in a failed system.
mana is a really small party, less than act, less than the conservatives and maybe slightly bigger than uf.
Actually, it’s consistently polled higher than those others combined.
Another saddo’s comment Alien, Bradford was ‘forced out’, i again laughed out loud, naive to describe your commentary would be ‘mild’,
If you really want to get down and dirty with the ‘personal’ how bout we discuss the two free trips to China extended Sue’s way, any ‘influence’ used there and where that ‘influence’ might have come from…
I attended a few of the GCSB events in Auckland – before the Snowden revelations and before the legislation was passed when Kim Dotcom was in attendance.
On two occasions, my location put me directly in line with Kim Dotcom while the other speakers were talking. Both times I returned home to my partner, and said that watching his face during the talks was informative, as he seemed both invigorated and humbled by what was being said.
Most speakers spoke from a perspective of “equal justice” and “equal rights” for all NZ’ers – not support for Kim Dotcom as a person – but the context put his rights (along with everyone elses) front and centre, and I’m surmising here – but those kind of conversations are not likely to be found in the company of John Banks et al.
From those admittedly small glimpses of the man, I’m willing to accept the fact that he has had a political awakening of sorts. As regular readers and commentors on this site – we should at least be able to understanding how addictive that can be.
I’m just appreciative of the fact that this time his financial support went to the party he deems worthy – rather than that which would benefit him personally.
i laughs out loud, it is so funny to hear the constant whine about DotComs money, who is connected to the Mega company etc etc,
Tell us Alien who is it exactly you plan to vote for, who is it you support that is so holier than thou, so pure and pristine, unsullied by the cash of the corporates,
Which Party of the left is not sucking on the teat of corporate cash Alien???
You claim ‘some here’ should wake up, i suggest you go look in the mirror….
The blinkers, given the context of mana voters and kim, that is funny.
I’m a red/green voter not an apologist or party member, but according to the elections site, one person gave over 30k to each totalling $60,000 G and $64,999 L. Labour also had another 50k and a 430k estate plus a union donation.
I wouldn’t know how many corporates donated less than the declarable figure, and I suspect, unless told, neither would you.
Again, it comes down to whether you see kim as a corporate donor, or motive driven, agenda setting, politician buying sort of bloke, and whether hone has been played and bought.
I get why you mip sorts are pissed at the criticism, because I’m sure it’s something you’d rather see swept under the rug of denial, but it is what it is.
Final proof, if it were needed, that the ideologues of the right are shameless. And that the state runs some enterprises better than the private sector ever can:
This is Cullen and Labour back in 2007 after the sale of Poronui.
“We welcome foreign investment that has real benefits for New Zealand. Westervelt plans to expand the hunting business and market the lodge more aggressively overseas, which will help our tourism profile.
“This is further proof that the process introduced by the Overseas Investment Act in 2005 to ensure land sales benefit New Zealand is working.”
This was from one American company to another American company. I understand no Chinese involved, but still no Kiwi investment and no block from labour.
Agreed-surely parties are allowed to change their mind and reformulate policy as facts and public opinion change? This is what Cunliffe/Labour are doing.
Key/National are simply behind the 8-ball on this issue (mostly because Key supports an unfettered free market) and are now even at odds with their mates at Fed Farmers.
No DJ, not hypocrisy at all. I opposed that sale as much as this one. maybe you weren’t around then.
There is no benefit to having foreign landlords. None. That has been my position for a very long time. My vote turns on this exact issue, such is its importance to the long term strength of our society and communities.
So don’t equate me with Cullen and Labour – I helped vote them out and this was one of the main reasons. I even exchanged some correspondence with Cullen over it.
But if you wish to discuss Labour – I imagine they are slowly changing their policy around foreign ownership of our land. For three reasons… one, political parties change policies over time as the world changes around them. Two, they are beginning to understand the wisdom of not having foreign landlords. Three, they see that this is what the people of NZ actually want.
So be careful with the assumptions and accusations as now you just have mud on your face.
With the exception of Clark & Cullen – who you “voted against” everybody else on that list was a member of the last labour government, or a senior staffer for Clark, an MP now, and standing in this election.
You must have a lot of faith in the ability of tigers to change their stripes.
Politicians do that all the time though nadis. Tigers never.
Anyway, that wee comment on Labour in no way means my vote will be going their way. I am sure you are aware that the Greens and Mana have very robust policies around foreign ownership of our country.
and of course so do Winston and Colin, but they change their stripes way too often and are highly untrustworthy, especially the Winston.
DJ to give it another spin,thats partly why labour got voted out last time and is languishing at 30% in the polls Dear in the headlights John.
John Key will be their to if he carries on being hypocritical.
But unlike labour Key has put his foot in mouth big time and said we can’t become tenants in our own land then done the opposite.
The Media have had a field day (sarc farmers joke) dining out on brain fade Keys own quotes!
maybe you should write him a letter Dear leader or better still Dear John
Okay so I am trying to stay positive, and it has been great to see so many of the MPs and members starting to stick to the positive message. But can someone please punch Kelvin Davis in the throat so he cannot talk until election day? Us members on the doorsteps trying to convince the people we have a positive message are getting pretty fucking sick of self-centered MPs contradicting that.
The Davis situation is a glorious cock up and completely unnecessary. What do you expect Davis to do? Labour gives him an unwinnable place in the list and then expects him to roll over and not compete in the electorate?
For someone supposedly as brilliant at strategy as McCarten, and a self described genius like Cunliffe, this treatment of Davis is a clusterfck of epic proportions.
So simple to avoid, yet this stupid, stupid strategic decision could be the reason why the left is unable to cobble together a majority coalition. If nothing else it will continue to rip maori support – esp in Te Tai Tokerau – away from Labour.
Davis will be in parliament on the list if Labour gets about 28.5%. The most accurate of the polls now has then at 30% and rising, and this before the recent excellent policy releases on minimum wage, work for young people, Joyce’s disastrous appearance on The Nation and National getting on the wrong side of the selling farmland overseas issue.
A vote for Hone in Te Tai Tokerau will get you both Hone and Davis.
The one poll out of many is the only one that’s the least bit accurate, PR. It also, so I’m told, mirrors what both the Nats and Labours’ internal polling says. Davis is going to be an MP, one way or the other. Whether he’s going to be a good MP is the only unknown at the moment.
Morally bankrupt liar says that X is good.
1: Is the liar telling another lie in the hope that we think X is good when X is, in fact, bad?
2: Or is the liar aware of his reputation and is therefore telling the truth in the knowledge that people will think he is lying and so think that X is bad?
3: Or is the morally bankrupt liar completely disinterested and merely saying something true on the grounds that it will microscopically improve the liar’s standing for when the liar wishes to go with option 1 on another matter?
4: who gives a shit what the morally bankrupt liar says, anyway?
thats fair. I thought he needed about 34% but you are right, depending on electorate seats he could get in as low as 28% which Labour have a high chance of exceeding.
Not sure if that makes the current imbroglio more or less amusing given how unnecessary it is.
My point though is that hes dealing with his career based on a gamble on what may or may not happen whereas he can go hard and try to guarantee his win
LABOUR SELLS OUT TO NATIONAL
MANA leader and Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira
Mon 3 Aug 2014
“If there’s any truth to what I have seen today, then somebody’s head should roll” said MANA leader and Tai Tokerau MP Hone Harawira when told of emails suggesting Kelvin Davis’ campaign team in Tai Tokerau was planning to launch an attack campaign against him with money solicited from National.
“Changing the government is going to be tough enough – it’ll be bloody impossible if Labour does dirty deals with National” said Harawira.
“National has been directly responsible for driving up unemployment, homelessness, ill health, and poverty for Maori right across the north” said Harawira. “I’m trying to get rid of them and Kelvin Davis and his crew are doing deals with them!”
“I’m gutted, and Maori in Tai Tokerau will be seriously troubled that Davis and his mates are cozying up to the people who have caused so much damage to our communities”
“And don’t buy this rubbish about me having more money because of Kim Dotcom either” said Harawira. “You’re only allowed to spend $25,000 anyway and I’d already banked mine before MANA signed its deal with the Internet Party”
“Where does this go now?”
“As a matter of principle, Davis should either admit that he knew what was going on here and resign, or state categorically that he didn’t and sack his campaign team”
“Either way, he owes the people of the north an apology”
I hope this story is incorrect.
The move comes after it was revealed a smear campaign was being planned against the incumbent.
A series of emails leaked to 3 News showed Davis’ campaign team had designed a website to attack Harawira and his financial backer, Internet Party founder Kim Dotcom.
In a message to Labour Party general secretary Tim Barnett, a member of Davis’ campaign team, Kaye Taylor said the fight in the northern electorate was “unique”.
“We are fighting against Hone who is being funded by a multi-millionaire, who is frankly trying to buy his way into parliament,” she wrote.
“The website is confrontational, as it is a wake-up call, it’s not aimed at traditional supporters. Honestly, I think National supporters may contribute.”
Your second quote proves that Hone was lying when he said it was a dirty deal with National, Marty. No deal, just wishful thinking from someone on the LEC team hoping that some Nat supporters might contribute financially. Despite all the rhetoric, I think Hone knows he is in trouble in the seat and Davis has the edge. Hence the bluster and bullshit.
Hone said as his first line, “If there’s any truth to what I have seen today, then somebody’s head should roll…” I think that disproves the lie aspect. Does it disturb you that someone on the LEC team was hoping that? Oh and got the website underway.
I’ll also add that framing the statement that way is good politics, 101 even – it lets you say what you want to say and still have an escape clause and everyone knows it so quite transparent yet effective.
Not quite. The lie is in the headline (Labour sells out to National) and this line: “I’m trying to get rid of them and Kelvin Davis and his crew are doing deals with them!”
Both are bullshit.
As to the proposed website, the party leadership was right to knock it on the head as soon as they knew about it. What I take from the whole thing is that an LEC member got carried away, the would be MP didn’t spot the problem quickly enough, but the internal party apparatus worked as it should to stop it in its tracks.
Just to clarify the latter part, all LEC’s and candidates have to have ads/hoardings/websites etc vetted before they go live. And this shows why. Vote Positive! 😉
In the past, there has been the odd L.P. member doing or saying idiotic things and nearly bringing the party into disrepute.
Back in the 1970s and 80s there was a former Mt.Albert member who had a habit of ringing various journos making statements of fiction about Labour personnel. Fortunately only one newspaper listened to her and no prizes for guessing it was The Truth newspaper.
If I could have a minute of my life back for every time some Labour MP/Activist/Member said something silly over the past 40 years I could become a very old man …
As you know I’m a National voter so this is good news but what I don’t get is why K. Davis wasn’t offered a decent place on the list?
If Labour get 28.5% of the vote he might get in but then if a couple of electorates go Labours way (Gosgrove anyone?) then hes a gonner so why didn’t Labour place him highly on the list and avoid all this?
+1
Hey, at least they can say they have a higher % of female MP’s when they loose the next election due to the in-fighting caused by needing more females ahead of Kelvin Davis on the list.
Winning isn’t everything and they will still get a certificate of participation.
“National’s pollster David Farrar and Whaleoil blogger Cam Slater both donated about $100 to Mr Davis’ campaign after a Facebook post Mr Davis wrote criticising Kim Dotcom and the deal with Internet Mana, and asking for donations.”
Opportunistic media grabbing by them. $200 bucks and they get a major article in the Herald. Kelvin’s response, to give the money to Women’s Refuge, was very good.
Yep his response, when he found himself in the corner of his own making, was quite good – I don’t mind a bit of rope-a-dope but less dope more rope would be good from him. Frankly the whole mess is an embarrassment and doesn’t bode well for his time in parliament if he gets in that is.
I have a bad feeling that Kelvin Davies will be a liability for Labour in the long run just as John Tamihere and Shane Jones were.
I hope I will be proved wrong.
Pity he was given a fairly high place on the list. I wonder why the wise selection committee put him lower at the last election!
He has demeaned Labour by his tactics, bringing Labour into disrepute and on the back foot. We can do without this sort of crap.
May be in the future, the party members should have a more significant say in the selection of candidates. I can think of hundreds of citizens who would be more worthy of place on the Labour list.
Your got that right Phil he is in trouble of holding out Davis. Plenty of people have seen Kelvin and his team helping out with the flood relief during the bad weather up North. Meanwhile Hone & Dotcom are on the road together giving the impression of living it up. Mega rich Dotcom with his up market euro helicopter and his flash limo is too far removed from sticking to the kopapa of his rohe. I hope for Mana they have plan C in Sykes as a back up to plan B of getting over 5%.
”’Living it up” what a frigging load, did it take you days/weeks to think that one up, have you seen the ‘roadshow bus’ Pfft, ”living it up” in an old 80’s diesel bus, suuu-uure…
I find it hard to believe that Armstrong himself wrote it – in fact, the style of writing somehow doesn’t ‘compute’. imo. But maybe. perhaps, some of the hard hitting comments he has had to his articles over recent months have finally penetrated.
Remember how Donghua Liu could speak no English according to Williamson?
“I want to focus on transforming that awful paddock of long grass and weeds that you can see when coming into the city from the Newmarket Viaduct into a first-class residential development,” Liu told the Herald in June.
It is a direct quote according to the Herald re Liu being in court for offences in his building program. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11303946 (by Jared Savage by the way. Remember the $90,000 bottle of wine?)
Chris Barton: Joining the dots in the Dotcom conspiracy. Today 5 August.
“The Kiwi Connection conspiracy has the hallmarks of abuse of process everywhere you look.
We have to consider the likelihood the conspiracy is real because of the sterling investigative work of David Fisher, who has uncovered some hitherto unseen documents which indicate murkiness beyond the pale.” http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11303736
Watching the new last night during the ad break did you notice Genesis Energy ad which appears to be a dirty rotten endoresment that I feel boarders on breeching the electoral rules.
The ad promotes a $300 discount for signing up to both power & gas with the slogan mirroring something similar to ‘working for you’ It come across as a ringing endorsement for the National sale of this power asset. If you saw it you will know what i mean, if you haven’t have a look. Looks like a ‘snake oil’ PR stunt.
Haven’t seen it but if it’s coming across that way to you then I suggest you complain to the Electoral Commission about it. What you describe sounds eerily similar to what the Exclusive Brethren did.
Vandalising other peoples property is a crime.
Why do the Greens supporters believe they have a right to vandalise National hoardings up and down the country?
They are just criminals.
Freedom of speech does not allow you to alter National hoardings in any way.
have you any proof of who is vandalising the hoardings maybe you could get the GSCB and theSIS or the Police to investigate.
otherwise you are defaming!
While we know who is vandalising our environment egalitarian society freedoms our democracy and formerly independent media!
you don’t complain about that or who is doing it!
Roman times when the peasants aren’t happy read the graffitti.
poor we fisitantrum.
Oh come on fisiani it happens to all party hoardings. I noticed God Botherer Col Craig got one of his hoardings absolutely smashed to bits over night Saturday. Both National and Conservatives have the dough & Brethren’s to go out and replace, usually in the early morning or dusk time.
Just might have to go out and get in their face with a camera and reignite the sketchy underground connection between National-Conservative moonie sect.
It does NOT happen to all party hoardings and you well know that. There is a concerted regular vandalism campaign against National billboards nationwide. This is criminal damage, not a bit of fun.
Oh bugger off fizzyanus.. You pick the weirdest things to get your nose out of joint about and quite frankly, you have not a skerrick of evidence to support your assertion.
but national are so popular that it would be impossible to vandalise the image of our lord john key without immediately being set upon by an angry mob who would restrain the miscreant until the police arrived. Neighbourhood watch schemes have been set up across the country to protect that glorious visage from being sullied by the three remaining far-left (i.e. thought twice before voting national) zealots in NZ… /sarc
Labour’s signs tend to be ripped down rather than vandalised (that’s the case in my electorate, at least). It’s less noticeable, since the signs simply disappear, but the hit rate is similar. The effect is similar though, and Labour doesn’t have the funding from multimillionaire backers for large numbers of replacement signs.
A tale of two New Zealands, i limped past Te Papa, the national museum, last night on my way to Wellington leg of the InternetMana roadshow,
Hekia’s gas guzzling 4×4 was on show out front as along with the brass bands and uniforms from the era the National Party celebrated the 1914-1918 war, its causes deeply rooted in inequality, of peoples, of nations, of fear from the masters that the wave of Socialism sweeping Europe would remove these Lords, Ladies, and Barons from their wealth, from their centuries of privilege,
The reggae beat next door at Macs events center is a welcome contrast as a warm up to the main event as out of Wellingtons Winter darkness came 400–500 of us with one thing on our minds, the removal of those cavorting in their customary regalia in a celebration of the death/mutilation of 5% of the New Zealand population at the time, from the levers of power who with deliberation fuel the very inequalities that lead directly to the atrocity that is such wars,
InternetMana what can i say, i am not there for the political speeches, and, there were some rousing words from the cast of characters all of whom have obviously been pushing themselves as the ‘roadshow’ snaked its way down the country to Wellington, some look and sound like they could do with a rest,(i hope they pace themselves theirs still 8 weeks of this organized mayhem),
In the background, its where i like to be, there’s talk of New Branches, that’s what i like to hear,hurried swapping of email addy’s and plans for later meetings are made both befor and after the main event, my ears are not used to such a muted roar of conversation, my psyche equally unused to the human energy, the wairua,mauri, flowing around the packed events center,
The meeting flyer says it all, ”A Message from the Future”, in the background, Annette Sykes confronts me as i try to sneak, into the background, i get to plant a big kiss on the cheek of the next MP for Waiariki, there’s way to much action happening here to say anything any other way,
It’s another day and my waking thought is that the only other politician i planted such a kiss upon was Helen Clark not long befor she became the Prime Minister,
There’s work to be done, lots of it, there’s not enough time, but the real fun will be in the doing, InternetMana has packed every venue so far, 4–5–600 people at them all, there’s a sniff of 5% in the air and i am already looking ahead to 2017, the fun has just begun,
this has been, of course, ”A Message from the Future” InternetMana, be there….
Indeed Karol, from the applause given i would say the loudest was for both Annette and Lailla, Hone, obviously with deliberation was way laid back letting the 2 Internet candidates and the 2 from Mana do most of the talking,
The Wellington turnout was pretty much a cross section of New Zealand, so where Winston Peters gets His ‘race based party’ bullshit from is beyond me,
Georgina Beyer, the candidate for Te Tai Tonga made a good speech, spoiled somewhat i would suggest by Her ‘version’ of events surrounding the foreshore and seabed Legislation when She was a Labour MP,
DotCom’s references to what happened after the Mansion raids where the plods asset stripped Him of everything sounded a bit jaded obviously because we all already knew this aspect of the raid, perhaps He needs to refresh the delivery a bit,
i can relate to what happened there, in the ‘hood’ the stripping of everything, bank cards, cars,(in one case the car taken had a stuffed gearbox and hadn’t moved for a year), happens weekly as the plods conduct their version of the ‘war on drugs’ and like DotCom found, when this does occur someone will step in to gift the basics, its the way we roll….
2014:
This time around, some previous votes cast for Goldsmith and Seymour, (I am assuming 4%+4%), may shift to Rankin and the result may look like this: (Of course there may be larger shift from ACT to CONs in this electorate given that ACT is practically dead and the CONS may yet be born again somewhat here which may actually work in Goldsmith’s favour)
The only way for the progressives to be more sure of defeating ACT and NATIONAL would be for MOST, if not all, of Labour and Greens voters to give their candidate vote to GOLDSMITH.
Assuming there is a 50% improvement in the Labour and Green strategic voting tactics, (5% and 3% rather than the previous election’s 10% and 6% ) the result could look like this:
For those who commented about it yesterday on handles disappearing at the client side.
There does appear to be a problem with the time for the cookies used for putting handles, emails, and websites in for the non-loggedin comments.
It is set for a day and resets every time that a comment is made. It is meant to be at least a week. But it doesn’t sound like the problem people reported.
Could I have some details about browsers and if you have anything constraining javascript. It fills in those fields from javascript because that has been the most reusable option.
Not sure what exactly you need in the way of info LPrent, i am using Firefox, and the prob with the info disappearing out of the name required etc box has been apparent since the major outage the other week,
My opinion, its not such a biggy, it simply means that everyone has to LOOK to ensure the name is there befor ‘submit comment’ is hit,
Having said that i am still NOT looking at every comment to make sure the required details are there, it amazes me just how long it has taken to learn to do this,
i can actually go right off the Standard by loading another page, then re-access the Standard using my ‘most visited’ icon and the username/email are still there, at other times just travelling around pages within the Standard removes it,
Kind of a lottery, there’s a logical explanation for it doing this, but, the primitive lurking in the recesses of my mind has now given to the Standard ‘mauri’, a life force, as it ‘chooses’ to have the username/email either there or not at its own whim…
@bad12, could be firefox addons causing the problem. Adblock, noscript, ghostery will screw around with javascript and cookies. Try whitelisting this site
Could be addons I guess, have used Safari, Mavericks OSX, ‘disconnect’ and ‘ad blocker’ for months but only have had to fill in name and email the last two weeks.
Lolz ropata thanks for the tip, now for the really dumb question, what is ‘white-listing this site’,
i doubt that will do much as my internet connection is so tenuous any changes i make cannot be saved, that’s a long story better left for some other less busy time,
i don’t actually mind how the username/email thing has shape up, its gone from giving me a major case of the shits at myself to now being a major source of self depreciation, seriously how hard can it be to re-wire the brain to perform a simple task like looking to see if the information is there or not befor pressing ”submit comment”??
Pretty frigging hard if you have a nut like mine i must say, i am about half way there but still havn’t quite formed the habit or broken the one where the small function was performed for me,
Note: just for info, most of the time after the username/email has been inserted when it does the ‘disappear’ it only takes one letter of both the username/email to refill the blank spaces, while you remain online for that session it seems to be there in that format? until an actual logging off the net occurs…
When the username/email disappear they don’t really, now i am trying to confuse you as much as i manage to confuse me,
Its still there in a drop down, as in when i slap the B for bad in the username box the drop down appears with the bad12 in it, same for the email,
Don’t ask me about cookies i am an accidental ungenius too fearful to go anywhere near such things in my laptop in case i completely total my tenuous connection to the net altogether…
Ok, the ‘B’ is from a different ‘level’. That is the browser itself remembering. Problem is that is specific to each browser (although it is getting a lot more standardised these days).
When I implemented the system that is meant to be in use, it attempted to stop as much of that as was possible because in 2007 it was freaking unreliable.
Running Firefox 31.0 with Adblock Plus, on Windows 7 Professional Service Pack 1.
I don’t think I’ve set Adblock to block anything at the Standard, but I do have pop-ups blocked (which intermittently works).
I’ve noticed other shenanigans as well recently – e.g. when downloading a .pdf document it no longer opens automatically – it just goes straight into downloads.
The first bit is your recurring nightmare. All that mip trollerising for nothing.
The second your wet dream pu, and probably far removed from reality of a Lab/Green/Winston government, but do tell me, in ’17, does mana get 51% of the party vote? 😆
Cunliffe knows that IMP have nowhere to go other than to support him on confidence and supply. So he can rule them out of government and avoid the coat-tailing/hypocrisy tag being thrown at him by National while still becoming PM with IMP’s support.
Bearded Git, only if you truly believe that a), Winston Peters and NZFirst will be back in the next Parliament, and b), that Winston will not take the side of National in a coalition,
Neither of the above propositions are a certainty, with Colon’s conservatives going after NZFirst’s votes deliberately targeting Grey-Power meetings and the ‘tactical voters’ having walked away from that Party there’s a 50/50 of Winston not being able to secure His Party the needed 5%,
It’s obviously a 50/50 also as to who can buy NZFirst support in forming a coalition, His first demand will be to be made Prime Minister, when that ambit fails the demand will be Minister of Finance as well as Deputy PM,
Toss a coin, will Slippery the Prime Minister push His Finance Minister under the bus, could He do so without Ripping the National Caucus apart,
Toss the coin again, ask the same question of David Cunliffe,
Who in the left ‘really’ wants another Government of ‘business as usual’ because that’s what i see a coalition that involves NZFirst becoming again…
Nope Bearded git, i didn’t miss your earlier prediction my point being that i have strong doubts that NZFirst will attain 5% of the vote on September 20,
i don’t agree with the prediction, but, its not a point i will spend all day haggling about, as within those numbers there can be a three % point movement among the 3 parties that still spells out a Government of the left,
My pick is Labour 33%, Greens 12%, Internet Mana 5%,
i am also picking NZFirst 4.5% and Colons conservatives 3.2%,
IF, such numbers on the night of September 20 are what occurs i hope that David Parker has factored into His first budget a comprehensive ‘food in schools program’ as the first part of a confidence and supply agreement from InternetMana…
I guess now that IMP doesn’t have a chance of being in Govt. the Greens will gain some votes and anti-IMP swing voters have the option of Labour again and Winston has the option of going with Lab/Greens.
Link Please? Nothing on; Stuff, Scoop, or even NZH.
Has Cunliffe ruled out accepting IMP votes on confidence & supply? Or is it simply that he sees no place for them in a Labour-led coalition? Does this apply to both individual parties, or just the combined IMP alliance?
[edit] It seems it was on TVNZ (no clip obvious yet):
[Cunliffe] saying on Breakfast this morning that he had ruled them out completely. “I’ve said yesterday, I’ve said before Mana will not be part of a government I lead, fullstop.”
It sounds like what he has been saying previously re no ministerial post for Mana – no coalition with Mana…doesn’t sound like a ruling out on confidence and supply.
I accept the reasoning that Labour may need to distance themselves from Mana due to certain perceptions about criminal behaviour and KDC* but this is starting to grate – I don’t really like Cunliffe sounding so bloody sure that he won’t give Hone or Laila a cabinet position – it would seen that Labour could do with a few members in caucus that are experienced, level-headed and can deal with the media excellently too.
*The biggest criminals in the world are in the financial industry – they have been consistently ripping off millions of people and destroying lives and last time I checked John Phillip Key was part of that industry (has it ever been confirmed whether he ever left it – last photo I saw of JPK, he was in a black shirt promoting AIG?). If it came to criminal dodgy behaviour who really would win that race: KDC or JPK? Double standards abound in this fucked up country of ours.
And KDC has been very upfront with his German convictions has a teenager. The German Government eventually invested money in his first IT business after the court concluded that he was an extraordinary young technology talent – albeit somewhat misguided.
The latest stoush with Hollywood – well – that’ still very much in the works, and as we have seen, has been full of political interference from the get-go of his immigration approval to NZ.
As to your main point: ruling out experienced Parliamentarians from your Cabinet is definitely a move which limits very many future options.
I agree, but we don’t really know the political reasoning behind this strategy.
My own guess, worth 2c is this:
Obviously Labour does not want to disadvantage itself before the election by losing some of its own potential support from their traditional Labour voters or from the soft non-commited voters of National, NZF, Maori and other progressive parties, especially as there is a substantial constituency of voters who are anti KDC, anti Hone or ambiguous about them.
I think their legitimate fear is that if they unconditionally endorse any other progressive party, especially IMP, before the election, then their own votes may siphon out to National or other minor parties.
Also, ruling IMP out of government will cripple/handicap National’s potential attack weapon against Labour, based on present and past histories of
KDC and Harawira.
Labour’s stand may also calm fears of some of the Labour caucus members in terms of cabinet positions etc and it would also be easier to manage if NZF are the king makers after the election.
So, for Labour, politically and electorally it makes more sense not to be too pally with IMP.
As I said, that is just my 2c worth opinion, which may of course be far out.
I just read that article you linked to and some of the comments Kelvin has made on his facebook page.
Kelvin sounds as dodgy as hell. I would prefer if people want to join forces with the likes of Farrar and Slater that they do it as an independent candidate and not under Labour’s umbrella.
I wonder if Kelvin was the ‘insider’ criticising Cunliffe’s holiday? (or did he openly refute that?).
…And doesn’t that Kelvin dude stop and think for even a moment about why that Nat sycophant Farrar would be supporting him??
The problem is that Cunliffe makes so many stuff ups its difficult to break them down into specific flip flops vs brain farts but theres a quick three flip flops for you to digest
Cunliffe has previously said that IMP would not get Ministerial positions. Has he ruled them out of being in coalition altogether? How about a Confidence and Supply agreement?
Most of the socialist left in Mana as opposed to Internet Mana strategic alliance don’t feel Mana should be officially part of a government anyway. Cunliffe has to placate his party people and potential voters but if it shakes out that Internet Mana MPs are needed for a change of government an arrangement will surely be reached particularly if it does not involve NZ First.
Labour (minus the rogernomes) wants a change of government as does Internet Mana and Mana and Internet Party and of course quiet achiever the Greens. If the left is fortunate enough to be be in the position of forming a government it will be done even if Internet Mana was just formally represented by say Internet Party MPs.
He hasn’t ruled out the Internet Party, the words were very specific; “Mana will not be part of a government I lead”. But the immediate precursor statement was that “coalition [with NZF] has always been on the cards” (2:22 in Blue Leopard link above).
Personally I think that the IP should stay in alliance with MANA even if it costs them ministerial seats (which won’t be highly placed in any case) in this next parliamentary term. The point is to get rid of the current corrupt tory regime. And even on the crossbenches; their votes will still count just as much. Also, they won’t be bound by cabinet collectivity restrictions, can bargain for support on individual bills, introduce private member’s bills to the lottery, and generally position themselves for 2017 when they will have a clear track record and comprehensive policies.
I think your analysis is spot on. IMP need some freedom to continue to establish and distinguish themselves as a separate party outside of Labour’s shadow.
Puckish, dumb by accident or design???, i have money Puckish, not the supposed millions that Kim DotCom is said to have at His disposal,
But,
Enough to supply the paper and the printing to put an A4 sized pamphlet in every letterbox in the electorate i reside in, and, guess what, that’s exactly what i plan on doing,
i plan on doing this Puckish you ‘accident’ not because DotCom has or doesn’t have money, not because DotCom is a crook or is not a crook, but, because i believe very strongly in two planks of the Mana policy that’s also now part of the InternetMana Alliance, the food in schools program, and, a proper robust State House rebuilding program,i also agree with a hell of a lot more of the policy platform,
What exactly do you believe in Puckish, Dribbling Shit seems to be about the extent of your commenting ability, and, that appears to me to be the extent of the total election policies of the right leading into election 2014, A Dribble of Shit, full stop…
Good on you Bad12, Key’s final flight to Hawaii is going to be booked vote by hard won vote. It is ‘hand to hand combat’ that will do it. Like Rosie’s mates campaigning for Hairdo to move on and my partner running workshops on “get out and vote” for unionists to spread the word about enrolment and early voting. There may be locals who will donate to your costs?
This is as Mickysav I believe called it the ‘phoney war’ period, once the Nats have effectively run out of time on August 26 to pull candidates, names will appear on the ballot papers regardless. Then the rubber meets the road.
Lolz Tiger, those ‘locals’ they already have, i will say no more, i have a budget, it aint huge,
Take out the cost of labour, specially at a commercial printing organization,(sorry printers union),and, my budget as far as i can calculate will cover at least 1 electorate…
Sam is a young guy from rural NZ who thinks voting matters and hosts a web show about Dctor Who. He wanted some fuller answers about the internet and education in New Zealand, so he decided to do an interview.
Published on 4 Aug 2014
The latest 0800 Tardis News Hosted by Sam Somers interviewing Laila Harre and Callum Valentine from the Internet Party, talking about Internet Party Policies in a less formal situation,
I actually thoroughly enjoyed it after the initial few moments of serious doubt.
What a novel way of bringing politics, politicians, parties and policies from a simple private living room to the world at large!
The questions asked and the answers were very good with lots of fun in a relaxed friendly
setting. Both Laila Harre and Callum Valentine were excellent. One can easily sense that Harre is such a lovely, pleasant, caring and very intelligent person. Callum Valentine came across as a smart, nice cool dude too!
I felt that the host Somers needs some more practice and training to make his presentation clearer and better.
This is the type of format that modern political parties and campaigners of good causes should use to spread their message. No ads, no rubbish, no spin, no scandals, no controversies! Just good questions and answers about policies. Let the viewer take in the message and decide one way or the other.
Good news from the Greens for tertiary students and apprentices travelling. They are introducing a Green card for travel – free off-peak public transport. That will be a transport of delight!
The unemployed could use one of them, a green card, it costs to ‘look’ for employment and it costs to trot off to the local WINZ office to fulfill the same obligations that were ‘filled’ in eaxactly the same way the week befor and the week befor that,
A missed opportunity???, or a deliberate move away from what used to be the bread and butter representation of the Green Party???…
ACT leader Jamie “Socrates” Whyte obviously gets all his ideas from Fox News, as do the likes of Leighton Smith and Larry “Lackwit” Williams. So do a few of the right wing provocateurs that infest this site. They all need to watch the following…..
80% of scientists surveyed didn’t like the government’s 133 million dollar project to find and fund the most urgent areas for research. Joyce says that this is not the views of most scientists.
“Do they land in Gaza? Ha!”
The laughs just keep coming on The Panel
Radio NZ National, Monday 4 August 2014
Jim Mora, Virginia Larson, Tainui Stephens, Zara Potts
Consider the following selection of gruesome twosomes. Barry Corbett and Ali Jones. Chris Wikaira and Linda Clark. Christine Spankin’ Rankin and Jock Anderson. Dita Di Boni and Sam Pease. Lindsey Dawson and Stephen Franks. And last but not least, the nastiest, smuggest, gruesomest twosome of all—Boag and Edwards. I could, but for the sake of readers’ sensibilities will not, go on.
Long time sufferers of Jim Mora’s godawful, moribund radio light chat show The Panel will have recognized these dreadful duos immediately—they are regular guests, recycled every few weeks, carefully selected to pretty much agree with one another and to pass comment on various matters in a manner that will not piss off anyone that matters. So criticism of the prime minister—someone who matters—has been pretty much kiboshed. So has criticism of racist juries in the Deep South, at least when someone like Chris Trotter is on the program to learnedly admonish those foolish enough to speak out against the jury who acquitted the vigilante who killed Trayvon Martin.
But criticism of, or more accurately, rancorous denunciation of and sneering at, people who do not matter—like political dissidents and fugitives of state vengeance, or the victims of knife attacks in South Auckland or mass murder in Gaza—is quite acceptable. All of these outcast groups have been ridiculed, joked about and pompously denounced on The Panel.
Clearly the producers of The Panel think seriousness is boring, compassion is an irritation and knowledge is intolerable. So it’s out with the likes of Anna Chinn, Gordon Campbell and Bomber Bradbury, and in with the likes of Graham Bell, Jeremy Elwood and Rosemary McLeod.
And, as noted above, clearly the producers of The Panel make a point of getting two really shallow, reactionary people on the show whenever possible. Today, however, they only got it half right. Someone slipped up and made the mistake of inviting Tainui Stephens, who is NOT a moral imbecile, onto the show. The pre-show segment started at 3:45 p.m. ….
JIM MORA: Zara Potts with what the world’s talking about. Qantas changes its flight path at last? ZARA POTTS: Yes, Qantas has announced it’s not going to fly over Iraqi air space any more. However, the extra time is only ten minutes. MORA: Is the extra time only ten minutes? ZARA POTTS: Yes it is. VIRGINIA LARSON:
A little later….
MORA: And what’s this about a secret Qatari airline? ZARA POTTS: The airline’s full name is Qatar Amiri Flight. It’s an airline for both the royal family and high ranked government staff of Qatar. Its fleet is reportedly eleven to thirteen strong and consists of Airbus planes, except for a few 747s. It staffs about a hundred cabin crew and only hires Captains. First Officers need not apply. MORA: Do they land in Gaza? Ha! ZARA POTTS: Ha ha. No they don’t. MORA: There’s a lot of money in Qatar. ….
After the 4 o’clock news, it was time for the introductions of today’s Panelists. Usually this is a dire, teeth-grindingly dull seven or eight minutes of inane breezy nothingness. Not today, however. Tainui Stephens talked about his eleven-year-old daughter, who has been deeply affected by the suffering of the people of Gaza during the latest ramping up of Israel’s violence. She and her friends accompanied him on the recent protest march in Wellington, and Tainui expressed how he was deeply moved by these young people, and everyone else at the march. Of course, Jim Mora could not leave alone a provocation as brazen as that statement of solidarity with the Palestinians. He felt it incumbent on himself to play Devil’s Advocate….
MORA: Ahhhh. We hear from a lot of people who say that there is killing in Ukraine, on both sides probably, and killing in Syria, and killing in Egypt, ahhh, but we don’t hear much or anything about them. Ahhhh. But we hear about Gaza, don’t we….
I’m sure Tainui Stephens replied to that, but if so, I missed it as my friend B_______ screamed for a considerable amount of time about the wretched state of radio commentary in this country.
A little later, Mora was back at his tricks, fishing for bigoted right wing comments….
MORA: Now what do we make of THIS? The Labour Party wants a Ministry of Disarmament.
Virginia Larson scoffed at the idea, which she reckons is a luxury: “After all, we haven’t got two hundred and fifty million Indonesians on our doorstep.” After that rather mystifying remark, she embarked on a wandery rant against Vladimir Putin, calling him a “sabre-rattler” and an aggressor.
MORA:[speaking very slowly, with exaggerated enunciation, to emphasize deep seriousness] I was reading about the bright young people in Gaza who are just as bright as the young people in Israel. But they haven’t been able to stop what’s going on there, have they? Can we EVER stop war?
Tainui Stephens, who is clearly a serious and intelligent person, must have felt like walking out of the studio. But he somehow found it in himself to respond to this idiocy by fobbing him off with a Mora-style bromide…..
TAINUI STEPHENS: I guess we have to appeal to the better angels of our nature. MORA:[sighs deeply, then speaks with reverent intensity] Here’s to the better angels of our nature.
Nat MP McIndoe always stares fixedly/longingly at the back of English’s neck in the House which may have caused him to get things wrong.
“National’s Hamilton West MP Tim Macindoe has been referred to police along with Free FM in Hamilton for allegedly airing an election advertisement outside the proper period……”
How sad.
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Yesterday the government announced its changes to tenancy laws, including an end to no-cause evictions, limits on rent increases, and anonyminity for tenants who defend their rights against bad landlords (sadly necessary because landlords are scum who maintain blacklists of "uppity" tenants). They're all good moves, and have resulted in ...
In 2003 New Zealand sent a Provincial Reconstruction Team to Afghanistan to support America's doomed war there. While there, they conducted regular weapons practice on local firing ranges, littering the landscape with unexploded ammunition. These ranges weren't secure - they're on land used by locals for animal herding - so ...
Green MP Gareth Hughes has announced he will retire at the election. Its understandable - he's been there ten years, and wants to actually see his children grow up rather than miss it while drowning in the toxic parliamentary sewer. But his departure is also a huge loss for the ...
Words and images by Jacqui GibsonGone are Auckland Museum’s days of doing science using a museum-centric academic approach, after Māori land rights holders Ngāti Kuri gave the museum an ultimatum.Tom Trnski holding a fossilised whale tooth from the Far North.Aussie-born Head of Natural Sciences at Auckland Museum ...
MediaWorks announced in October 2019 that it intended to sell off its struggling television business and cancel or cut back on several popular local programmes, including New Zealand Today, Married at First SightNew Zealand and 7 Days. Its radio and outdoor advertising arms are currently performing well, but MediaWorks’ ...
Westminster voting intention:CON: 44% (+3)LAB: 28% (-1)LDEM: 14% (-1)BREX: 6% (-)via @OpiniumResearch, surveyed this weekChgs. w/ 08 Nov— Britain Elects (@britainelects) 16 November 2019 This, of course, doesn't look good. Labour have been chucking big, headline grabbing policies left, right and centre ... Well, maybe not right. Left, left ...
Some readers may remember that I mentioned last year that I was applying for NZ citizenship. I filled out the paperwork and had my original citizenship interview in February. Everything went well until they discovered that, because I had spent five months in the US in 2017, I had not ...
by Deirdre O’Neill It is becoming quite acceptable for certain sections of the left to declare that people like me – women who are ‘gender critical’ – should not be allowed in leftist or anarchist spaces. Leaving aside the arrogance and implicit authoritarianism of this claim, its lack of critical ...
There is an article in The Conversation, written by Jeremy P. Shapiro (Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychological Sciences, Case Western Reserve University), about what he sees as the psychologically-based underpinnings of three main matters that seem to vex people all around the planet. The article is titled “The Thinking ...
. . Blogger Martyn Bradbury has won his case against unreasonable search and surveillance against the NZ Police; and subsequent Police attempts to produce evidence in secrecy, in a closed Court. His case highlights a disturbing growing trend in Aotearoa New Zealand for State power to be used against ...
The Committee of Disobedient Women has intercepted an email from Dr Emma Eejut, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Massey University to the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Jan Thomas. Dear Jan, Thank you for your courageous move. I think 10 pages of blether** should tie any of the students game enough to try holding ...
That's the only response to the findings of the Ombudsman's investigation into LGOIMA practices at the Christchurch City Council:My investigation identified serious concerns about the Council’s leadership and culture, and its commitment to openness and transparency. In particular, Council staff raised concerns with me about various methods employed by some ...
NZ First seems to be nakedly trying to enrich itself from public office:A powerful New Zealand First figure helped establish a forestry company that then pushed for money from two key funding streams controlled by a New Zealand First Minister. An RNZ investigation has found Brian Henry, lawyer for Winston ...
Behrouz Boochani is an award winning author and journalist. He is also a refugee, who for the past six years has been detained in Australia's offshore gulag on Manus Island, and in Papua New Guinea. But last night, with the cooperation of the WORD Christchurch festival and Amnesty International, he ...
Different Strokes: If a multicultural immigration policy imposes no obligation on immigrant communities to acknowledge and ultimately embrace their host nation’s most cherished traditions and values, then how is that nation to prevent itself from being reduced to a collection of inward-looking and self-replicating ethnic and cultural enclaves?THE COALITION GOVERNMENT’S ...
Protective Zone: Reading the rules and guidelines released by Massey University, it is impossible to avoid the conclusion that its governing body considers the whole concept of free speech a disruptive threat to the orderly imparting of orthodox academic knowledge.IN TRUE ORWELLIAN fashion, Massey University has announced its commitment to ...
Farmers held a hate-march on Parliament today, complete with MAGA hats, gun-nut signs, and gendered insults. While supposedly about a grab-bag of issues - including, weirdly, mental health - it was clear that the protest was about one thing, and one thing only: climate change. And specifically, forestry "destroying" rural ...
The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security released their annual report today, and I've been busy reading through it. In amongst the usual review of what they've been doing all year, there's a few interesting bits. For example, a discussion on "agency retention and disposal of information", which points out that ...
Recently more than 150 post-graduate students and young scientists presented an open letter to the Green Party via The Spinoff, encouraging them to reconsider their position on genetic modification. Their target is tackling climate change issues.[1] Can any party continue to be dismissive about genetic modification (GM) contributing to ...
by Deirdre O’Neill Under Thatcher and then Blair and continuing up until our contemporary moment, the working class has seen its culture slowly and progressively destroyed. The change from an industrial society to a service society produced a marked shift in focus from the working class as the backbone of ...
Since 2013, the Australian government has detained refugees without trial in Pacific gulags, where they are abused, tortured, and driven to suicide. The policy is not just an abuse of human rights and possible crime against humanity; it has also had a corrosive effect on the states Australia uses as ...
It seems fair to say that we currently live in a problematic political moment in world history. Democracies are in decline and dictatorships are on the rise. Primordial, sectarian and post-modern divisions have re-emerged, are on the rise or have been accentuated by political evolutions of the moment such as ...
Last month, Greenpeace head Russel Norman surrendered his speaking slot at an EPA conference to student climate activist Sorcha Carr, who told the EPA exactly what she thought of them. It was a bold move, which confronted both regulators and polluters (or, as the EPA calls them, "stakeholders") with the ...
The core principle supposedly underlying New Zealand's electoral finance regime is transparency: parties can accept large donations from rich people wanting to buy policy, but only if they tell the public they've been bought. Most parties abide by this, so we know that TOP was wholly-owned by Gareth Morgan, and ...
Today is a Member's Day, probably the second-to-last one of the year, and its a big one, with the Third Reading of David Seymour's End of Life Choice Bill. last Member's Day it was reported back from committee, after MPs voted narrowly to make it subject to a (rules TBA) ...
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nzThe growth of the human population over the last 70 ...
by The Council of Disobedient Women In her excellent oral submission to the Abortion reform select committee on 31st October on behalf of Otago University’s Department of Public Health, historian and public health researcher Hera Cook stated: “We would ask that the committee not use the term ‘pregnant persons’ and ...
by Don Franks In 1957, E M Forster wrote, of his greatest work: “The India described in ‘A Passage to India’ no longer exists either politically or socially. Change had begun even at the time the book was published ( 1924) and during the following quarter of a century it ...
The Referendums Framework Bill was due back from select committee today. But there's no report on it. Instead, the bill has been bounced back to the House under Standing order 29593) because the Committee didn't bother to produce one. They probably tried. But given the membership of the committee (which ...
Two years into New Zealand’s Labour-led government, the long-delayed Zero Carbon Bill became law on 7 November. Passed essentially unanimously, the lengthy public debates and political manoeuvring faded away until the final passage was even anticlimactic: Flipping through the @nzstuff@DomPost I was starting to wonder if I’d dreamt ...
Now the Zero Carbon Bill is law, what's next? Obviously, the ETS changes currently before select committee are going to be the next battleground. But we're also going to get a good idea of where we're going, and if the progress the Zero Carbon Act promises is good enough, during ...
Grant PearceThe effects of the current Australian bushfires in New South Wales and Queensland (and also again in California) are devastating and far-reaching. To date, the fires have resulted in several lives being lost and many homes and properties destroyed. Here in New Zealand, the impacts have been only ...
A passing comment in a post the other day about the labour force participation rates of older people prompted me to pull down the fuller data and see what we could see about various participation rates over the decades since the HLFS began in 1986. As it happens, the ...
Distract And Divert: The rise of what we have come to call “Identity Politics” represents the ideological manifestation of the ruling class’s objective need to destroy class politics, and of the middle-class’s subjective need to justify their participation in the process.THE RELIEF of the ruling class can only be imagined. ...
"I saw a newspaper picture,From the political campaignA woman was kissing a child,Who was obviously in pain.She spills with compassion,As that young child'sFace in her hands she gripsCan you imagine all that greed and avariceComing down on that child's lips?" ...
Dr Matt Boyd, Prof Michael Baker, Prof Nick WilsonThe Global Health Security Index which considers pandemic threats has just been published. Unfortunately, NZ scores approximately half marks (54/100), coming in 35th in the world rankings – far behind Australia. This poor result suggests that the NZ Government needs to ...
The Zero Carbon Act is inadequate, with a weak methane target designed to give farmers a free ride. But it turns out it could have been worse: Climate Change Minister James Shaw was so desperate to get National on board, he wanted to gut that target, and leave it in ...
The Herald reprints an Australian story on a couple of tragic deaths in Bali from drinking cocktails that had methanol in them. The story argues that methanol is likely the result of home distillation. But what the young tourists were experiencing was far from a hangover. They’d consumed a toxic cocktail ...
Last month, the police announced a trial of specialist roaming armed units, which would drive round (poor, brown) areas in armoured SUVs, armed to the teeth. When they announced the trial, they told us it was about having armed police "ready to attend major incidents at any time if needed". ...
Spain went to the polls today in the second elections this year, after the Socialists (who had come to power in a confidence vote, then gone to the polls in April) rejected the offer of a coalition with the left-wing PoDemos, and instead decided to gamble n a better outcome ...
A couple of days ago I attended (and spoke at) the University of Waikato’s “LearnFest” event. There were lots of talks and sessions on very diverse aspects of teaching, mostly at tertiary level. One was by Myra Williamson from Te Piringa Faculty of Law here at Waikato, on Contract Cheating ...
There will be a transit of Mercury – the planet Mercury will pass across the face of the Sun – taking place at sunrise in New Zealand on Tuesday, 12th November. It was by observing such an event 250 years ago that James Cook and his scientist colleagues were able ...
Since becoming the world’s first openly transexual mayor and member of parliament, Georgina Beyer has been recognised as a trailblazer for trans rights. Daphna Whitmore talks with her about where she sees the current trans movement We start out talking about legislation the government put on hold that would have ...
If FFNZ really put their faith in “Top Medical Journals” they would now be amending their billboards to recognise new research results. Image from FFNZ but updated to agree with the latest research. ...
National Messiah? Chris Luxon identifies himself as an evangelical Christian. If he is genuine in this self-characterisation, then he will take every opportunity his public office provides to proselytise on behalf of his faith. He will also feel obliged to bear witness against beliefs and practices he believes to be ...
I'm going to make a Reckless Prediction™ that the Tories have 'topped out' in the 'poll of polls' / Britain Elects multipoll tracker at about 38%, and in the next week we will start to see Labour creep up on them.In fact, we might just be seeing the start of ...
by The Council of Disobedient Women Lizzie Marvelly: “I may have missed this… has @afterellen gone all terf-y? Or am I reading something incorrectly? “ https://twitter.com/LizzieMarvelly/status/1191840059105742849 After Ellen is a lesbian website that is unashamedly pro-lesbian, as you’d expect. So why is Ms Marvelly so bothered about lesbians having their ...
Did you know there once was a time when it was illegal to be a gypsy (aka Romani) in Britain?That was between 1530, when the Egyptians Act was passed, and 1856, when it was repealed.Amongst other things, the act forbade the entry of 'Egyptians' into England, ordered those already there ...
Some days I sit and think, “what will I write…?” What do you say when you get to 1000 posts? Maybe you just start where you are, diverge to where this all began, then offer a collection of reader’s favourite posts, and a few of your own? (And throw in ...
Counter-Puncher: The “activists” and “radicals” (his own words) from the Indian community who took such strong exception to Shane Jones’ remarks about Immigration NZ’s treatment of arranged marriages, may end up bitterly regretting their intervention. Jones is not the sort of person who turns the other cheek to his critics.SHANE ...
In the spirit of Remember, remember the fifth of November, let's keep this in mind FOREVER.
Oh dear. Extraordinary interview on PM with Andrew Bridgen and @EvanHD just now. Bridgen was defending Jacob Rees Mogg’s Grenfell comments. Evan asked him if JRM had meant to say he would have left ...
New Zealand First are celebrating the announcement of an investment of $3.5 million into five new trapping devices. These are a range of bait and trap devices, all designed to be left unattended for long periods of time. NZ First conservation spokesperson Jenny Marcroft says that this latest development will ...
Clayton Mitchell, Spokesperson for Consumer Affairs The ‘wheel clamping’ Bill that will cap clamper fees to $100 passed its third readinginParliament today. New Zealand First welcomes The Land Transport (Wheel Clamping) Amendment Bill to combat predatory wheel clamping behaviour in what is currently a largely unregulated business. Cowboy clampers are: gouging ...
Jenny Marcroft, Spokesperson for Health New Zealand First welcomes the passage of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Bill through its first reading in Parliament. “Today’s progress takes serious action on the mental health and addiction crisis the country is facing,” says New Zealand First Health Spokesperson Jenny Marcroft. “The re-establishment ...
Mark Patterson, Spokesperson for Primary Industries Today the Government announced the delivery of the promise to protect New Zealand interests by applying a new National Interest Test to the sales of our most sensitive and high risk assets to overseas buyers. This further strengthening of the Overseas Investment Act will ...
The Coalition Government is delivering on its promise to protect New Zealanders’ interests by applying a new national interest test to the sales of our most sensitive and high-risk assets to overseas buyers. Under current Overseas Investment Act (OIA) rules, assets such as ports and airports, telecommunications infrastructure, electricity and ...
Rt Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First Allegations raised this morning by Stuff Limited / Fairfax concern a party matter but I am confident that New Zealand First has operated within electoral laws, now and for the last 27 years. Declarable donations were declared to the Electoral Commission. Our ...
The chairman of the Upper North Island Supply Chain Strategy (UNISCS) working group, Wayne Brown, has hit back at critics of his group’s recommendations to relocate the Ports of Auckland cargo operations to Whangarei’s deepwater port of Northport. The working group's recommendation to close Auckland waterfront to all but cruise ...
Jenny Marcroft MP, Spokesperson for Health New Zealand First backs the public to decide on the End of Life Choice Bill via a referendum at the 2020 General Election. The Bill, with New Zealand First’s referendum provision incorporated, passed its final reading in Parliament this evening. New Zealand First Spokesperson for ...
Darroch Ball, Spokesperson for Justice New Zealand First is proud that a key Coalition Agreement commitment which will provide for a more transparent and effective criminal justice system has been realised. Legislation to establish the Criminal Cases Review Commission, an independent body focused on identifying and responding to possible miscarriages of ...
"Today we have made a choice that will leave a legacy... I hope that means that future generations will see that we, in New Zealand, were on the right side of history." - Jacinda Ardern, Third Reading of the Zero Carbon Bill ...
Darroch Ball, New Zealand First List MP A Member’s bill has been proposed that would provide income tax exemptions for all New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel while on operational deployment overseas. The Income Tax (Exemption for Salary or Wages of NZDF Members on Active Deployment) Amendment Bill proposed by New Zealand First ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, New Zealand First Leader New Zealand First is proud to have brought common sense to the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill, which passed its final reading in Parliament today. Party Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters says months of hard work went into negotiating a balanced ...
Jenny Marcroft MP, Spokesperson for Health New Zealand First has listened to calls to recognise paramedics as registered health professionals under the Health Practitioners’ Competence Assurance Act (the Act).Today, the Coalition Government announced plans for paramedics to be registered as health practitioners under the Act, and the establishment of a ...
The Coalition commitment to add 1800 new Police officers to frontline policing has been achieved with the graduation of 59 constables from the Royal New Zealand Police College today. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters say today’s graduation means 1825 new Police have been deployed all ...
Ensuring APEC work gets input from diverse New Zealand business and trade interests is behind three new appointments to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. Rachel Taulelei, Malcolm Johns and Toni Moyes have been appointed to represent New Zealand on the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ...
Nau mai, haere mai. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tatou katoa. Thank you for having me to speak today. To start, I’d like to acknowledge Sharron Lloyd, the General Manager of the Trans–Tasman Business Circle, the partners for this event Westpac’s David McLean, and Derek McCormack from AUT, and, of course ...
A four-month investigation by former Environment Court judge Professor Peter Skelton found that Otago’s freshwater planning system is not fit for purpose to manage the region’s rivers, lakes and aquifers and that the Council has inadequate rules for the taking of water and the discharge of nutrients. “Existing planning provisions ...
Introduction Thank you for the invitation to speak to you today. This is the first opportunity I’ve had to speak to an LGNZ meeting since the local elections, and I’m delighted to see the fresh faces of newly elected mayors. To returning mayors here today, as well as chief ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters departs New Zealand today to attend the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Nagoya at the invitation of this year’s G20 President, Japan. “This is the first time New Zealand will attend a G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and we are deeply honoured that it is at ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today announced the appointment of diplomat Carl Reaich as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the European Union. “The Ambassador to the EU is one of the most important and senior roles in New Zealand’s foreign service, advocating for New Zealand’s interests with the EU institutions,” Mr ...
Innovation and technology are behind five new tools to give nature a helping hand by helping eliminate predators, funded through the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF), Minister for Conservation Eugenie Sage and Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced today. “The new tools will be trialled in ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has welcomed the first reading of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation 2021 (APEC 2021) Bill in Parliament today. The temporary bill supports New Zealand’s security preparations for hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in 2021. “APEC is the leading economic and trade forum ...
The Government is making progress on improving the wellbeing of the one million New Zealanders under the age of 18,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on World Children’s Day. The Government has today recommitted to the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history – the United Nation’s Convention on ...
Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter has released a new report celebrating the contribution of Māori women in business across Aotearoa New Zealand. “Māori women are leaders in our communities, they employ many people and support our economy and our communities,” Julie Anne Genter said. The report, Ngā wāhine kaipakihi: ...
Four parcels of land have been bought in Omokoroa, in the Western Bay of Plenty District, for an education facility that will accommodate both a primary and secondary school on a campus-like facility, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. Two parcels were acquired from private land owners and two were ...
1 million New Zealanders warmed by the Winter Energy Payment 36,000 families bank the Best Start Payment in first year 6,000 more families received the Family Tax Credit, 220,600 in total They receive an increase too – from an average of $117 to $157 a week for Inland Revenue clients, ...
New rules to clamp down on overzealous wheel clamping and extortionate fees charged in order to release a vehicle have passed their final stage in Parliament today. The Land Transport (Wheel Clamping) Amendment Bill has now passed its third reading. “These changes mean $100 will be the maximum wheel clamping ...
An independent Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission is a step closer after it unanimously passed its first vote in Parliament today. The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Bill lays the groundwork for establishing the Commission as a fully independent crown entity – delivering on a key recommendation of He Ara ...
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to screen travellers for border and immigration risks off-shore before they travel to New Zealand. It was launched in August and became mandatory on 1 October 2019. More than 500,000 NZeTAs have been issued since ...
A proposed national plan of action to reduce the number of seabirds caught in fisheries is being circulated for public feedback. Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage say New Zealand is a global centre of seabird diversity with about 145 species in our waters. It has more ...
The Government is delivering on its promise to protect New Zealanders’ interests by applying a new national interest test to the sales of our most sensitive and high risk assets to overseas buyers. Associate Finance Minister David Parker said under current Overseas Investment Act rules, assets such as ports and ...
The Government is building special housing to accommodate one of Aotearoa’s greatest taonga- our kaumātua, says the Minister for Māori Development, Hon Nanaia Mahuta. Speaking at a National Kaumātua Service Providers Conference in Rotorua today, the Minister reinforced the importance kaumātua play in maintaining and passing on mātauranga Māori, knowledge, ...
Eleven men from a pilot forestry training programme for prisoners in Northland now have full time jobs or job offers upon release, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis and Forestry Minister Shane Jones announced today. The ‘release to work’ programme was a collaboration between Te Uru Rākau and the Department of Corrections, ...
Minister of State Services Chris Hipkins today introduced into Parliament a Bill that will make it easier for the public service to tackle the biggest challenges facing Governments. The Bill represents the most significant change in the public service in 30 years. The State Sector Act 1988 will be repealed ...
The families of more than 416,000 students will be better off next year as their schools have signed up to the Government’s donations scheme, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said today. The scheme will see almost $62.5 million in additional Government funding go to schools nationwide next year. “I’m really pleased ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced further support as the Government of Samoa responds to a serious measles outbreak. “New Zealand will deploy a further 18 vaccination nurses, bringing the total to 30 working in Samoa over the next four weeks,” Mr Peters said. “A New Zealand Medical Assistance ...
Fa’atalofa atu, malo e lelei, Kia ora koutou katoa Thank you to the Child Poverty Action Group for asking me to be here today to provide an update on some of the things that have been happening across my the social development portfolio. Can I firstly acknowledge the vast ...
***Please check against delivery*** Good morning everyone. It is a pleasure to be with you this morning to open this year’s New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Conference and AGM. Firstly, thank you Dr Alan Jackson, NZTR Chair for your introduction. And let us acknowledge also: The NZTR Board; Dean McKenzie, Chair ...
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer and more secure, Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing) Kris Faafoi has announced today. Both renters and landlords will benefit from the suite of practical changes to the Residential ...
A marine conservation milestone - the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve - is being celebrated today at a community event in Tairāwhiti/East Coast attended by the Minister of Conservation, Eugenie Sage. “The creation of this marine reserve in November 1999 was a game ...
The Government is asking the food industry to step up work to tackle obesity including reducing sugar, fat and salt in their products, better information for consumers, and tighter restrictions on advertising to children. Health Minister David Clark and Food Safety Minister Damien O’Connor have responded to a ...
ew, modern emergency department and outpatient facilities at Queenstown’s Lakes District Hospital mean better emergency care for the growing tourist mecca’s visitors and locals, says Health Minister David Clark. Today Dr Clark officially opened the hospital’s redeveloped Emergency Department and Outpatient facilities. The new facilities include: • An extended Emergency Department ...
Associate Health Minister Julie Anne Genter says today’s release of sexual and reproductive health data reinforces the significance of the Government’s commitment to providing free or very low-cost contraception. The Ministry of Health today published statistics from the Ministry of Health’s 2014/15 Health Survey. “It is important people can make ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced that at the request of the Samoan Government, New Zealand will be providing further support to Samoa as it faces a worsening measles outbreak. “In response to a request from the people of Samoa, New Zealand is providing 3000 measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) ...
“The new Disability Action Plan 2019–2023 moves us towards the inclusive and accessible New Zealand that this government has committed to,” Minister for Disability Issues Carmel Sepuloni announced today. “The Action Plan was designed by disabled people, their family and supporters, the disability sector and government agencies. It will ensure ...
Third Singapore-New Zealand Defence Ministers’ Meeting 14 November 2019 Joint Statement 1. Defence Ministers Ron Mark and Dr Ng Eng Hen today conducted their third annual Singapore-New Zealand Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Singapore. 2. Building on the Enhanced Partnership signed between both countries in May this year, this annual meeting ...
A Bill to improve the court system’s response to sexual violence has passed its first reading in Parliament today. Justice Minister Andrew Little says the Sexual Violence Legislation Bill will reduce the trauma sexual violence complainants experience in court, while maintaining defendants’ fundamental rights and making sure the trial process ...
Streamlined payment practices are a step closer for Kiwi businesses with the formal launch of New Zealand’s e-Invoicing framework. Small Business Minister Stuart Nash says the government has now established the structure to enable automated and direct data exchange between the accounting systems of buyers and sellers. “The move to ...
Another 51 quarantine officers and four new biosecurity detector dog teams will help protect New Zealand from invasive pests and diseases this summer, says Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor. “The Government is delivering on its commitment to strengthen New Zealand’s biosecurity system and support our valuable primary sector “New Zealand’s flora, fauna ...
A new report has found New Zealand’s space sector contributed $1.69 billion to the economy in the last financial year and employs 12,000 people, Minister for Economic Development Phil Twyford announced today. The report by Deloitte was commissioned by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and shows New Zealand ...
Judge Coral Shaw has been appointed as the new Chair of the Royal Commission into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions, Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin announced today. "Judge Shaw, who is currently one of the inquiry commissioners, is extremely well qualified for the ...
The Government has confirmed its third major mental health facility upgrade since the Budget, this time at Palmerston North Hospital. The Prime Minister and Health Minister today visited MidCentral DHB to announce that $30 million has been allocated to upgrade its acute mental health facility. It follows earlier announcements in ...
The roll out of the National Bowel Screening Programme has reached the halfway mark, with 10 out of 20 District Health Boards now part of the programme. MidCentral DHB, which covers Palmerston North, Manawatu and surrounding districts, this week became the latest to DHB to offer free bowel screening to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Christoff, Associate Professor, School of Geography, University of Melbourne A new United Nations report shows the world’s major fossil fuel producing countries, including Australia, plan to dig up far more coal, oil and gas than can be burned if the world ...
New Zealand First leader and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters with Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.New Zealand is officially one of the least corrupt countries in the world. But it could be argued that our political system is still biased in favour of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scott Hamilton, Strategic Advisory Panel Member, Australian-German Energy Transition Hub, University of Melbourne The possibilities presented by hydrogen are the subject of excited discussion across the world – and across Australia’s political divide, notoriously at war over energy policy. Read more: Hydrogen ...
The Real Pod assembles to dissect the week in reality television and real life, with special thanks to Nando’s.We’re still buzzing after the rip-roaring success of the Corny Christmas party this week and we won’t even let a rogue earwig in the studio dampen our spirits. There’s a lot of exciting ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Heidi Norman, Professor, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains images and names of deceased people.Review: Linear, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney The value of Australian First Peoples’ scientific ...
Sam Brooks reviews the latest generation of the Pokémon games which finally hits the big-ish screen.“I love Pokémon but I wish I could play it on my TV.”I’ve been playing Pokémon for 20 years and that’s been the main thing I’ve heard from my fellow Pokémon friends/fans. The games have been engrossing, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Helen Dickinson, Professor, Public Service Research, UNSW National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Minister Stuart Robert this month announced a number of “practical changes” to the scheme. Acknowledging the NDIS is not consistently living up to expectations, he said these improvements will put ...
The trustee of the New Zealand First Foundation and Winston Peters' personal lawyer has threatened a $30 million lawsuit against a National MP, in the latest twist of the donations scandal. ...
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional economic forum based in the Asia-Pacific Region. New Zealand will host APEC 2021 in November 2021, with related events running for a year from December 2020 until November 2021. ...
Business is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he talks to Dr Brian Ward of soft-tissue repair company Aroa.Dr Paul Callaghan, who inspired Callaghan ...
Emerging political leaders from 15 Pacific countries and territories will be in New Zealand next week to meet with one and other, and their New Zealand counterparts, to discuss major challenges and opportunities in the Pacific. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Billingsley, Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences, UNSW The small number of Australians being held in prison camps in northern Syria has been an ongoing, albeit low-level, challenge for the Australian government. There are believed to be eight Australian fighters for ...
Louise Mensch is set to hit New Zealand airwaves this evening. Who is this conspiracy theorist and what could she possibly be saying to Lisa Owen?Who is Louise Mensch?She’s a former Tory MP, founder of the Rupert Murdoch-funded “no safe spaces” website Heat Street, a romance novelist, and a conspiracy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dennis McNevin, Professor of Forensic Genetics, University of Technology Sydney Designer baby, anyone? A New Jersey startup company, Genomic Prediction, might be able to help you. Genomic Prediction claims to be able to use DNA testing to predict disease risk in an ...
Marion McLeod revels in the return of Olive Kitteridge, the compassionate curmudgeon who won Elizabeth Strout a Pulitzer Prize. It’s the year of the sequel: My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, Toy Story 4, Rambo 5 … Do movies ever make it to double figures? Books and miniseries certainly do. Genre ...
National is questioning those in charge of the Provincial Growth Fund after it was revealed a NZ First-linked forestry company made an application to the fund, headed by NZ First MP Shane Jones. ...
James Borrowdale spent the last cricket season examining Neil Wagner and his unique approach to bowling. Today, in the first test of the Black Caps’ summer, Wagner returns.Neil Wagner has a wicket. He freezes mid-pitch, fists clenched at his side, knees slightly bent, a roar on his lips. His brows ...
A record volume of resales of units in its retirement villages has boosted Ryman's first half profit with the second half expected to be stronger than the first, the company says. ...
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So Michelle Boag is doing work for Kim Dotcom’s Mega. I guess if the price is right …
http://m.nbr.co.nz/article/graham-gaylard-named-megas-fourth-ceo-ck-160310#bmb=1
“Dotcom no longer appears on the share register for Mega, although his estranged wife Mona continues to hold some 16 percent of the company, as does an apparent associate, Wolf Dieter Ortmann. The majority shareholder today is a Hong Kong-based donor to New Zealand’s governing National Party, Shen Zhao Wu, with an 18 percent shareholding.”
A nat donor is mega’s biggest shareholder as well as having Boag on the scene. No, this doesn’t look good for the committed lefty with gifts for NZ.
Shows not only does money buy cheap politicians, but also enough wool to cover their greedy eyes.
Still, maybe some of the less gullible amongst us will start switching on any time about now.
It’s a mistake to think that people involved with technology are necessarily progressive. The liberal spectrum (which the internet party appeals to) ranges from libertarian gun nuts (Eric Raymond) to progressive lefties (Lawrence Lessig).
The youth that are getting politicised by this could go either way – and so could a party based on their platform. Involvement from the established libertarian right wing is to be expected, as this movement looks exactly like the scrappy start-up they are used to absorbing, idea-asset-stripping and eventually discarding.
I’ve no reason to agree or disagree otherwise with your first paragraph. It’s not a point I’ve ever made or laboured.
As for youth being politicised, again no argument from me, although it’s a shame for some of them their first exposure to politics will be totally disingenuous horse trading and pork barrelling, which will, I’m sure, turn many off altogether.
As for the party direction, well, it will be whatever kdc wants it to be. Left/right/center, which ever is most expedient and self serving.
But nat donor is biggest shareholder in megal, that’s a who(a)re moment for the ‘principled’ mana.
Laila Harre i have great faith in!….and also Hone Harawira.!..both would NOT sell out the Left …and it is NOT in Dotcoms interests to do so either
…if you want to win a war sometimes you have to get help from the likes of Boag who is really a mercenary up for the money from any side …if she is the best they can find, then why not? …also it will soften them in the eyes of some potential voters
…the youth so politicised to vote Internet Party do not have a beef with the Mana Party and will probably continue to vote for them if the Internet party is disestablished, which i thought it would be sometime after the Election
” … if the Internet party is disestablished, which i thought it would be sometime after the Election”
I don’t have time to check the Internet Mana alliance agreement right now, but my understanding is that the agreement provides for the alliance to be reviewed six weeks after the election. This review could lead to the continuation, or dissolution, of the alliance between the two parties – not the disestablishment of the Internet Party. If the alliance is dissolved, then the two parties would continue as separate parties.
VV
The IMP alliance can split anytime it chooses to (with a weeks notice), but we’re hoping that we’ll be able to work together for the longterm. The; “six weeks after the 2014 General Election”, has been played-up by many as a point of instability. But it is really just a nominal deadline for a review of how the alliance has functioned after the distraction of campaigning is done with.
The most likely reason for a split at that point would be if a third party felt that it was unable to work with one of the constituent parties. But I think that we’d be reluctant to accede to such coercion unless it was an absolute necessity in changing the government. The allied IP & MANA on the crossbenches would be likely more effective together giving C&S, plus support on an issue by issue basis, than one group of (say; IP, given NZFs antiMANA stance) MPs getting minor ministerial positions as payment for repudiating their allies.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1405/S00428/internet-party-mana-partnership-a-win-for-digital-generation.htm
given the dynamics/shared goals between mana and the internet party..
(..and the rapport both party leaders/members enjoy with each other..)
..i wd be very surprised if that six week post-election escape-clause was activated..
..i for one have supported this proposed coming-together since day one..
..and am working to support/help them with the expectation that working together will continue/flourish in the next parliament..
..not end post-election..
An excellent comment, Pasupial. Thanks.
Much clearer than my rushed attempt to point out that the Internet Party is very unlikely to be disestablished after the election – and that the alliance agreement provides for ‘review’ not ‘dissolution’ after the election.
The continual spin that the has been put out that the alliance agreement would be dissolved (rather than just reviewed) six weeks after the election has really annoyed me and has been intended to suggest instability, as you say.
To paraphrase Ted Dibiase: “Everybodys got a price for the Million Dollar Man” and KDC found the price for Hone, Laila and Michelle
pr..how do you feel about those who contribute large monies to the right..?
..do you also scorn them..and those politicians who accept..?
..or are you saving it all up for internet/mana..?
..and have you never before come across the syndrome of wealth being directed the way of progressive political parties..?
..not every wealthy person is a greedy/uncaring-scum-sack…eh..?
Its good to know that politicians on the left are as open to being bought and paid for as politicians on the right
Everyones the same which is nice 🙂
@ pr..
..r u really as dim as yr words make you appear..?
..so..in yr simplified world..any politician who accepts financial donations to their party is inherently corrupt..?..
..and ‘bought’..?..beholden to the donor..?
..what a bleak/cynical world you inhabit there..p.r..
Key found New Zealand to wreck its people and our country for the long haul for the primary benefit of the wealthy at tremendous price to the rest of the population. At least KDC has been transparent about his political dealings.
Did you miss the part where Hone already sold out?
Neither Mega nor Boag have anything to do with the Internet Party.
the Internet Party will continue because of it’s inclusive decision making. IMO, That’s what makes a party survive over time.
Oops, I didn’t mean to imply you were mistaken, I was just soliloquising. I’m talking about the Internet part of Internet/Mana. I’m hoping Mana can exploit this opportunity to become a permanent part of the left, as I have more than a sneaking regard for their position. I can imagine the Internet part fracturing faster than a Trotskyist Tea party though.
The party will go the way the party decides. It has a very open and democratic process of discussing and deciding upon policies.
Dotcom sounded eloquent and in fine form talking to Brent Edwards on Morning Report this morning explaining how Key’s secret raid on his house had brought about a change in his life and touring with the IMP roadshow had brought home to him the problems in NZ being ignored by Key who only represented the top 1% and corporate interests. KDC said he had never criticised Labour.
There was another later report from IMP’s well attended (300 people) meeting in Wellington where it was made plain IMP would not support the TPP deal.
Fantastic publicity for IMP and both reports well worth a listen.
Cool story bro, but hardly relevant. He’s sucked up the gullible left while his companies biggest shareholder donates to key.
I’m not surprised you’re having to spin for kim.
“Shen Zhao Wu with 18.3 percent, a regular donor to the National Party through his Contue Jinwan Enterprise Group. Contue donated $49,220.18 to National in January”
Nearly as much as kim to Banks, though I doubt Shen wrote anonymous cheques, even after thinking it an insult.
“Shen and his wife, Susan Chou, were reported by the New Zealand Herald to have made a $200,000 donation in 2010.”
Tories and their donations, eh!
” … his companies biggest shareholder donates to key.”
Mega is no longer KDC’s company. IIRC KDC divested himself of his interest/shares in the company in about Oct/Nov 2013.
You yourself @ 2 above quoted from the NBR article which MS linked to @ 1 to the effect that KDC is no longer listed as a shareholder, although his estranged wife, Mona DC, still retains 16% of the shares.
So it is incorrect IMHO to still refer to Mega as KDC’s company if he no longer has any financial interest in, or control over, Mega.
Although I have seen nothing to support this, the sale of KDC’s shares in Mega may well be a source of the money that he has given to the Internet Party. Just speculation on my part.
EDIT
Here are the two Morning Report items on KDC and last night’s IM Road Show meeting in Wellington.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/20144326/dotcom-says-he-would-never-have-started-party-if-there-had-been-no-raid
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/20144344/internet-mana-pulls-no-punches-at-labour
Actually, more recent than that as told on stuff and tvnz sites today, but yeah, still kim’s company. Happy to call it kims old company though.
“The Dotcom family’s share in Mega has fallen to 16.2 per cent and the share owned by chief technology officer Mathias Ortmann, who was understood to be in day-to-day charge of the firm, after former chief executive Stephen Hall stepped down, dropped to 16.6 per cent.”
Way I see it, that’s 33% control.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/10347280/Mega-ditches-Dotcom
http://tvnz.co.nz/business-news/mega-sheds-dotcom-in-favour-kiwi-connections-6046493
dotcom is very believable when he talks (in that interview..) of having his eyes opened to the poverty/inequality in new zealand..
..one thing you can be sure from this roadshow all over new zealand..
..is that harwira and sykes have made sure to show him the realities of that poverty..
..and i’m guessing dotcom has also grasped that economics 101-fact..
..that the best/fastest way to stimulate/enliven an economy…
..is to increase the incomes of those who are the poorest..
..for the simple fact that money churns back into the economy straight away..
..used buying the basics/services of life…
..and this if course is one of the strongest arguments for a universal basic income..
..on the ‘moral’-level..yes..it will end poverty…
..but it will also stimulate the economy…
..(and it has long puzzled me..that mote in the rights’ eyes..
..that they think it is a good idea to have a poverty-stricken underclass..
..an underclass unable to purchase their widgets/trinkets..(!)..).
..the proof of that ec. 101 maxim was also seen in the retail-recession that followed ‘strewth’ richardsons mother-of-all-budgets/gutting of state-support…in the name/cause of rogernomics..
..’cos that money was sucked straight out of retailers/service-providers bottom-lines..
..i guess they must be blinded/eye-moted by their randian-ideological-beliefs..eh..?
..those dumbarse rightwingers..
In English or don’t bother me with it, there’s a luv.
T Allen
It is no longer his company – as you yourself have noted; “Dotcom no longer appears on the share register for Mega”. Even Baboom has fallen a bit by the wayside as he has concentrated his energies upon the election.
If I were to sell a car which was then bought by a Boagan who promptly pranged it into the nearest lamp-post because they’d flogged off the brakes would that be my fault?
As for your relentless assault upon the IMPs; could you please change the record? Yes, I get that you don’t trust us, or the IP founder. But your time might be better spent in discussing the policies &/or advantages of voting for the party that you do support, rather than incessantly dissing a tactical ally. The one undeniable thing about KDC & the IMP alliance is that we are committed to ousting the National government.
Unless you’d rather lose with purity, than compromise with those with whom you have disagreements?
+1 Pasupial
Baboom has fallen by the wayside because it’s investor shy.
“could you please change the record?”
Sorry, can’t do that. Politicians being bought my money doesn’t sit easily, and just because it’s on the left, doesn’t make it all of a sudden good.
You’re tainted by kim. You didn’t have to do a deal. Caveat emptor.
“a tactical ally”
Last cab of the rank tactical ally.
“The one undeniable thing about KDC & the IMP alliance is that we are committed to ousting the National government.”
The gullible might believe it, the self serving totally reliant on it.
🙄
Quality comment mars, I expected less, but you delivered again. 😆
you t 🙄 I 🙄
Your tone would be better suited to TradeMe Message Board, Kiwiblog or Kelvin’s stillborn site The Al1en, where sticking your fingers in your ears qualifies as discussion.
Hardly fair, I’ve outlined some good points and am always open to considered opinion.
Yet the ‘leave Brittney alone’ meme is quality stuff?
Gullible and partisan it is.
Don’t worry though, If it’s to be the not done thing to criticise kim and hone, I’ll be bold texted out of here before too long.
“..I’ve outlined some good points and am always open to considered opinion..’
funniest one-liner of the thread..so far..
Show me a considered opinion and I’ll take it on board.
All I see so far are fanbois.
@Pasupial
It’s about principles and as I see it, a lack of them on the extreme left. Sue Bradford has them, and I’m pleased she never sold them or herself out, and she was forced out by the blind, greedy and gullible at mana.
I wrote ages ago that for some, kdc was their last, best hope at ousting key, which apart from being wrong, speaks volumes about the strength of their own message and conviction in their personnel, especially when you consider Harre aside (though not by much), what has come after – A singer and a list of nobodies.
mana is a really small party, less than act, less than the conservatives and maybe slightly bigger than uf. It doesn’t belittle hh’s representation of his electorate, but reached the limits of popularity vote wise is about correct.
Of all the parties shown the cash, only hone took it. It’s dirty, and I hope it backfires. 🙂
T Allen
I take it you mean Chris Yong by; “a singer”, though I think of him more as guitarist/ producer. Not being from Aotearoa, I wouldn’t expect you to have much of an inkling about the local music scene; just accept that he is a respected figure.
You reluctantly concede that Laila Harré is notable, if you care at all about Kiwi culture then you have to admit the same about Yong. So, of the three IP candidates likely to make it into parliament (no meant offense to Currin, but 8 IMP MPs this election is far less likely than 6) that leaves us:
Miriam Pierard – most notable for her work as the spokesperson for Aotearoa Is Not For Sale movement, but you may also have read her posts on TDB. A committed activist, only someone entirely ignorant of the NZ left would claim that she is a part of “a list of nobodies”.
https://internet.org.nz/candidates
So, that’s the IP likely MPs, How about MANA? Their top 3 are; Hone Harawira, Annette Sykes, John Minto. Again, only someone entirely ignorant of the NZ left would claim that are a part of “a list of nobodies”. I’m not familiar with the 4th ranked MANA candidate (7th on joint list); James Papali’i, but as “Mangere East Labour Branch Party for the past 15 years”, he certainly has a presence in the Auckland Samoan community.
http://mana.net.nz/2011/10/mangere-james-papali%e2%80%99i/#sthash.JbODKUXr.dpuf
+1 again, Parsupial.
I am particularly impressed with Miriam Pierard.
Her posts on TDB are well worth reading for their depth for one so young. Her speech to Women’s Refuge at the same synposium as Cunliffe’s well discussed speech, is a must read
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/07/05/guest-blog-miriam-pierard-dreams-become-reality-when-we-take-action-a-response-to-the-nz-womens-refuge-symposium-and-the-attacks-on-david-cunliffe/
Miriam also gave a very good interview on Sunday Mornings with Wallace Chapman last Sunday.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/20144108/internet-party-candidate-miriam-pierard
If they weren’t nobodies they wouldn’t need kim’s loot to advance them towards electability, but you have to say that, don’t you?
I surmise
The internet party, harre aside have kapisi as a ‘youth drawcard’ and no-one.
hone at mana may or may not get in depending on how well KD plays his hand. 55/45 at the moment, but could easily become to close to call.
sykes might get in if the maori party vote collapses, but after she represented the owners of the dog that savaged the rotorua child the other year, hopefully not.
minto would never get in without the dosh.
Your pathetic personal attacks deserve only this 🙄 Alien, you are simply revealing yourself as one sad, sick (expletive deleted),
Everyone has the right to be represented when charged in a court of law, guess what Annette Sykes does for a crust besides campaigning as a politician…
“revealing yourself as one sad, sick (expletive deleted),”
What? For not swallowing the mip marriage, or because I don’t respect sykes for defending the owners of a dog which savaged a child, maybe to save them having to pay out compo?
“Everyone has the right to be represented when charged in a court of law,guess what Annette Sykes does”
Ah, the latter.
Not the sort I want representing me or mine in court or in politics.
Just because you haven’t heard of them doesn’t make them nobodies. If you have a look throughout history some of the greatest leaders started off as people who weren’t well known but they worked their way through the opposition anyway. As far as I’m concerned Key is a nobody and Cunliffe isn’t much better because they both represent the height of success in a failed system.
Actually, it’s consistently polled higher than those others combined.
Yes, mana, powerhouses they are, consistently polled 0.5 – 1.5%
Another saddo’s comment Alien, Bradford was ‘forced out’, i again laughed out loud, naive to describe your commentary would be ‘mild’,
If you really want to get down and dirty with the ‘personal’ how bout we discuss the two free trips to China extended Sue’s way, any ‘influence’ used there and where that ‘influence’ might have come from…
Sue’s record speaks for itself, I don’t have to defend her.
I used the word “personnel”, but if you want to go with “personal”, fire away to yourself.
I attended a few of the GCSB events in Auckland – before the Snowden revelations and before the legislation was passed when Kim Dotcom was in attendance.
On two occasions, my location put me directly in line with Kim Dotcom while the other speakers were talking. Both times I returned home to my partner, and said that watching his face during the talks was informative, as he seemed both invigorated and humbled by what was being said.
Most speakers spoke from a perspective of “equal justice” and “equal rights” for all NZ’ers – not support for Kim Dotcom as a person – but the context put his rights (along with everyone elses) front and centre, and I’m surmising here – but those kind of conversations are not likely to be found in the company of John Banks et al.
From those admittedly small glimpses of the man, I’m willing to accept the fact that he has had a political awakening of sorts. As regular readers and commentors on this site – we should at least be able to understanding how addictive that can be.
I’m just appreciative of the fact that this time his financial support went to the party he deems worthy – rather than that which would benefit him personally.
i laughs out loud, it is so funny to hear the constant whine about DotComs money, who is connected to the Mega company etc etc,
Tell us Alien who is it exactly you plan to vote for, who is it you support that is so holier than thou, so pure and pristine, unsullied by the cash of the corporates,
Which Party of the left is not sucking on the teat of corporate cash Alien???
You claim ‘some here’ should wake up, i suggest you go look in the mirror….
“Tell us Alien who is it exactly you plan to vote for”
I’ve said it many times before, Moroney electorate, party vote Green.
“Which Party of the left is not sucking on the teat of corporate cash Alien”
If you see kdc’s money as simply “corporate cash” and not the blatant attempt at buying politicians it is.
Right Alien, and you do not see of course the Green Party taking big money off of the corporates as anything but corporate altruism right,
Take off the blinkers, Green and Labour have their hands in the same pockets for the same reasons…
The blinkers, given the context of mana voters and kim, that is funny.
I’m a red/green voter not an apologist or party member, but according to the elections site, one person gave over 30k to each totalling $60,000 G and $64,999 L. Labour also had another 50k and a 430k estate plus a union donation.
I wouldn’t know how many corporates donated less than the declarable figure, and I suspect, unless told, neither would you.
Again, it comes down to whether you see kim as a corporate donor, or motive driven, agenda setting, politician buying sort of bloke, and whether hone has been played and bought.
I get why you mip sorts are pissed at the criticism, because I’m sure it’s something you’d rather see swept under the rug of denial, but it is what it is.
RETURNS OF PARTY DONATIONS EXCEEDING $30,000
http://www.elections.org.nz/parties-candidates/registered-political-parties/party-donations/donations-exceeding-30000/returns
@ m.s..
“..So Michelle Boag is doing work for Kim Dotcom’s (former company) Mega..”
..there ya go..!..corrected that for ya..
..so that proves boag will work for (professed) enemies..
..and what else..?..exactly..?
and election nite is going to be a big disappointment for those here who have long sneered at the very idea of internet/mana..having any success..
..even that voice-of-the-right..’hoots’..is now saying 4-5 internet/mana mp’s is pretty much a given..
..i think it will be more..
Agreed on IMP Phillip-they will surprise. 7% I reckon’
Talking of election night, voting actually starts on 3rd September-that is 29 days away.
Good idea to help any Left voters who might not be able to get along on the 20th to get to an Advanced Vote polling place between 3/9 and 19/9.
Final proof, if it were needed, that the ideologues of the right are shameless. And that the state runs some enterprises better than the private sector ever can:
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/aug/04/east-coast-mainline-fury-reprivatisation-plan
Well spotted stever.
Signs of insanity in the British government.
Funny how Key says we don’t need to own assets…
when his entire personal wealth position is owning assets ….
the far right
hypocrites and liars
they don’t want the people to own assets because that removes the people from the power and control of the rich.
Funny how Key says he doesn’t want to see us as tenants in our own land
then allows transactions which result in us becoming tenants in our own land
the far right
hypocrites and liars
This is Cullen and Labour back in 2007 after the sale of Poronui.
“We welcome foreign investment that has real benefits for New Zealand. Westervelt plans to expand the hunting business and market the lodge more aggressively overseas, which will help our tourism profile.
“This is further proof that the process introduced by the Overseas Investment Act in 2005 to ensure land sales benefit New Zealand is working.”
This was from one American company to another American company. I understand no Chinese involved, but still no Kiwi investment and no block from labour.
Hypocrisy much?
@ dj..
..roberston..during that brawl with joyce..said that labour has recognised they were wrong..(on allowing wholesale land-sales..)
..and cunnliffe has noted that he is running a different labour to the last labour govt..
..so yr quote from cullen (circa 2007)..is kinda irrelevant..eh..?
..bullshit..?..much..?
Agreed-surely parties are allowed to change their mind and reformulate policy as facts and public opinion change? This is what Cunliffe/Labour are doing.
Key/National are simply behind the 8-ball on this issue (mostly because Key supports an unfettered free market) and are now even at odds with their mates at Fed Farmers.
this (what is recycled green/nz first) policy will be a winner for labour..
..and a big loser for national/key..
..the public mood has moved from indifference on this..
..and this is the peril for key/national/the right..
yep phillip-see Armstrong article I just posted below
Labour have agreed (now that they’re out of power) they were wrong
“but labour did it too” is no excuse dickwad
No DJ, not hypocrisy at all. I opposed that sale as much as this one. maybe you weren’t around then.
There is no benefit to having foreign landlords. None. That has been my position for a very long time. My vote turns on this exact issue, such is its importance to the long term strength of our society and communities.
So don’t equate me with Cullen and Labour – I helped vote them out and this was one of the main reasons. I even exchanged some correspondence with Cullen over it.
But if you wish to discuss Labour – I imagine they are slowly changing their policy around foreign ownership of our land. For three reasons… one, political parties change policies over time as the world changes around them. Two, they are beginning to understand the wisdom of not having foreign landlords. Three, they see that this is what the people of NZ actually want.
So be careful with the assumptions and accusations as now you just have mud on your face.
“So don’t equate me with Cullen and Labour”
I think you really mean:
Clark, Cullen, Cunliffe, Parker, Robertson, King, Mahuta, Cosgrove, Hipkins, Moroney, Sio, Street, Goff, Mackey, Huo, O’Connor, Mallard, Dyson, etc.
With the exception of Clark & Cullen – who you “voted against” everybody else on that list was a member of the last labour government, or a senior staffer for Clark, an MP now, and standing in this election.
You must have a lot of faith in the ability of tigers to change their stripes.
Politicians do that all the time though nadis. Tigers never.
Anyway, that wee comment on Labour in no way means my vote will be going their way. I am sure you are aware that the Greens and Mana have very robust policies around foreign ownership of our country.
and of course so do Winston and Colin, but they change their stripes way too often and are highly untrustworthy, especially the Winston.
true that vto
DJ to give it another spin,thats partly why labour got voted out last time and is languishing at 30% in the polls Dear in the headlights John.
John Key will be their to if he carries on being hypocritical.
But unlike labour Key has put his foot in mouth big time and said we can’t become tenants in our own land then done the opposite.
The Media have had a field day (sarc farmers joke) dining out on brain fade Keys own quotes!
maybe you should write him a letter Dear leader or better still Dear John
Okay so I am trying to stay positive, and it has been great to see so many of the MPs and members starting to stick to the positive message. But can someone please punch Kelvin Davis in the throat so he cannot talk until election day? Us members on the doorsteps trying to convince the people we have a positive message are getting pretty fucking sick of self-centered MPs contradicting that.
Cunliffe said on Morning Report today that Labour head office has “given Davis some guidance”.
preferably to go and do serial-laps of ninety mile beach..
..between now and sept. 20th..
The Davis situation is a glorious cock up and completely unnecessary. What do you expect Davis to do? Labour gives him an unwinnable place in the list and then expects him to roll over and not compete in the electorate?
For someone supposedly as brilliant at strategy as McCarten, and a self described genius like Cunliffe, this treatment of Davis is a clusterfck of epic proportions.
So simple to avoid, yet this stupid, stupid strategic decision could be the reason why the left is unable to cobble together a majority coalition. If nothing else it will continue to rip maori support – esp in Te Tai Tokerau – away from Labour.
Nadis don’t make things up.
Davis will be in parliament on the list if Labour gets about 28.5%. The most accurate of the polls now has then at 30% and rising, and this before the recent excellent policy releases on minimum wage, work for young people, Joyce’s disastrous appearance on The Nation and National getting on the wrong side of the selling farmland overseas issue.
A vote for Hone in Te Tai Tokerau will get you both Hone and Davis.
That’s correct Kelvin does not have a subterranean list position, if Labour performs as it needs to he will easily be in parliament.
If Labour gets 28.5% and one poll (out of many) has Labour on 30% whereas the rest of the polls have Labour below 28.5%
So if you’re K. Davis and you want to be in parliament its a helluva gamble to make when its your job on the line
The one poll out of many is the only one that’s the least bit accurate, PR. It also, so I’m told, mirrors what both the Nats and Labours’ internal polling says. Davis is going to be an MP, one way or the other. Whether he’s going to be a good MP is the only unknown at the moment.
He seems to be a good man
That would be one of them conundrae, I guess:
Morally bankrupt liar says that X is good.
1: Is the liar telling another lie in the hope that we think X is good when X is, in fact, bad?
2: Or is the liar aware of his reputation and is therefore telling the truth in the knowledge that people will think he is lying and so think that X is bad?
3: Or is the morally bankrupt liar completely disinterested and merely saying something true on the grounds that it will microscopically improve the liar’s standing for when the liar wishes to go with option 1 on another matter?
4: who gives a shit what the morally bankrupt liar says, anyway?
You were referring to Key, right?
thats fair. I thought he needed about 34% but you are right, depending on electorate seats he could get in as low as 28% which Labour have a high chance of exceeding.
Not sure if that makes the current imbroglio more or less amusing given how unnecessary it is.
My point though is that hes dealing with his career based on a gamble on what may or may not happen whereas he can go hard and try to guarantee his win
That’s the risk of going into politics as such it shouldn’t make him act like an idiot.
His real career is being a school teacher.
Thanks nadis- much appreciated.
By the way my theory is that Davis has been told to act like a prat so that Labour voters will be happy to candidate vote Hone.
IMHO this clever strategy is working really well.
@ b.g..
..he didn’t need to be told…
lol
Guidance from the school of Malcolm Tucker, maybe.
From Hone
I hope this story is incorrect.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10348888/Te-Tai-Tokerau-candidates-square-off
Dirty deeds done dirt cheap.
Your second quote proves that Hone was lying when he said it was a dirty deal with National, Marty. No deal, just wishful thinking from someone on the LEC team hoping that some Nat supporters might contribute financially. Despite all the rhetoric, I think Hone knows he is in trouble in the seat and Davis has the edge. Hence the bluster and bullshit.
Hone said as his first line, “If there’s any truth to what I have seen today, then somebody’s head should roll…” I think that disproves the lie aspect. Does it disturb you that someone on the LEC team was hoping that? Oh and got the website underway.
I’ll also add that framing the statement that way is good politics, 101 even – it lets you say what you want to say and still have an escape clause and everyone knows it so quite transparent yet effective.
Not quite. The lie is in the headline (Labour sells out to National) and this line: “I’m trying to get rid of them and Kelvin Davis and his crew are doing deals with them!”
Both are bullshit.
As to the proposed website, the party leadership was right to knock it on the head as soon as they knew about it. What I take from the whole thing is that an LEC member got carried away, the would be MP didn’t spot the problem quickly enough, but the internal party apparatus worked as it should to stop it in its tracks.
Just to clarify the latter part, all LEC’s and candidates have to have ads/hoardings/websites etc vetted before they go live. And this shows why. Vote Positive! 😉
I suppose it shows that it is now the time of the patu – a pity.
In the past, there has been the odd L.P. member doing or saying idiotic things and nearly bringing the party into disrepute.
Back in the 1970s and 80s there was a former Mt.Albert member who had a habit of ringing various journos making statements of fiction about Labour personnel. Fortunately only one newspaper listened to her and no prizes for guessing it was The Truth newspaper.
If I could have a minute of my life back for every time some Labour MP/Activist/Member said something silly over the past 40 years I could become a very old man …
On that basis I would live until I was 150 at least.
🙂
As you know I’m a National voter so this is good news but what I don’t get is why K. Davis wasn’t offered a decent place on the list?
If Labour get 28.5% of the vote he might get in but then if a couple of electorates go Labours way (Gosgrove anyone?) then hes a gonner so why didn’t Labour place him highly on the list and avoid all this?
External genitalia.
+1
Hey, at least they can say they have a higher % of female MP’s when they loose the next election due to the in-fighting caused by needing more females ahead of Kelvin Davis on the list.
Winning isn’t everything and they will still get a certificate of participation.
It’s clear Davis is, in the Shane Jones mould, not a team player.
Maybe they don’t trust him? I know I don’t.
+1
I don’t trust him either –
“National’s pollster David Farrar and Whaleoil blogger Cam Slater both donated about $100 to Mr Davis’ campaign after a Facebook post Mr Davis wrote criticising Kim Dotcom and the deal with Internet Mana, and asking for donations.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11304222
he is a liability inducing loose cannon
plus + 2 to Weepu’s Beard and Marty Mars 🙁
Dear Mr McCully,
About those jobs you create for Labour party politicians. I have another who would be just excellent for one of those positions.
Please would you jack one up for him too?
Please
Thank you so much
Opportunistic media grabbing by them. $200 bucks and they get a major article in the Herald. Kelvin’s response, to give the money to Women’s Refuge, was very good.
Yep his response, when he found himself in the corner of his own making, was quite good – I don’t mind a bit of rope-a-dope but less dope more rope would be good from him. Frankly the whole mess is an embarrassment and doesn’t bode well for his time in parliament if he gets in that is.
I have a bad feeling that Kelvin Davies will be a liability for Labour in the long run just as John Tamihere and Shane Jones were.
I hope I will be proved wrong.
Pity he was given a fairly high place on the list. I wonder why the wise selection committee put him lower at the last election!
He has demeaned Labour by his tactics, bringing Labour into disrepute and on the back foot. We can do without this sort of crap.
May be in the future, the party members should have a more significant say in the selection of candidates. I can think of hundreds of citizens who would be more worthy of place on the Labour list.
“.. I think Hone knows he is in trouble in the seat and Davis has the edge..”
dream on trp..eh..?
.got any facts/stats to back that..?
..or just a random orifice-pluck..?
Your got that right Phil he is in trouble of holding out Davis. Plenty of people have seen Kelvin and his team helping out with the flood relief during the bad weather up North. Meanwhile Hone & Dotcom are on the road together giving the impression of living it up. Mega rich Dotcom with his up market euro helicopter and his flash limo is too far removed from sticking to the kopapa of his rohe. I hope for Mana they have plan C in Sykes as a back up to plan B of getting over 5%.
u seem confused about my meaning..there..skinny..
”’Living it up” what a frigging load, did it take you days/weeks to think that one up, have you seen the ‘roadshow bus’ Pfft, ”living it up” in an old 80’s diesel bus, suuu-uure…
“Dirty deeds done dirt cheap.”
You gotta be kidding me, right? 😆
Kelvin Davis – Self Interest is #1!
Kelvin needs to pull his head in, Labour needs Shane Jones Mk.II like it needs a hole in the head.
(heh..!..)
“..How to Date a Vegan..
..Dating a vegan isn’t any more difficult than dating anyone else –
(cont..)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zoe-eisenberg/diet-and-nutrition_b_5631354.html
Are the Condoms to pull over head when you kiss
nah..!..to carry snacks in..
A fair article from Armstrong in the Tory-Herald today. Hard to believe I know but here it is:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11303914
It is a fair article, and worth reading.
I find it hard to believe that Armstrong himself wrote it – in fact, the style of writing somehow doesn’t ‘compute’. imo. But maybe. perhaps, some of the hard hitting comments he has had to his articles over recent months have finally penetrated.
john oliver unpacks sponsored-content..
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/04/john-oliver-advertising-news-last-week-tonight_n_5647255.html
Remember how Donghua Liu could speak no English according to Williamson?
“I want to focus on transforming that awful paddock of long grass and weeds that you can see when coming into the city from the Newmarket Viaduct into a first-class residential development,” Liu told the Herald in June.
It is a direct quote according to the Herald re Liu being in court for offences in his building program.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11303946 (by Jared Savage by the way. Remember the $90,000 bottle of wine?)
Good spot ianmac.
So the NAct government is still running youth boot camps?!!! Who knew?! Why do we never hear about them and their (supposed) wonderful successes?
Chris Barton: Joining the dots in the Dotcom conspiracy. Today 5 August.
“The Kiwi Connection conspiracy has the hallmarks of abuse of process everywhere you look.
We have to consider the likelihood the conspiracy is real because of the sterling investigative work of David Fisher, who has uncovered some hitherto unseen documents which indicate murkiness beyond the pale.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11303736
OMG! And from the Herald, no less.
A space worth watching, this one.
Our esteemed PM may yet be totally skewered….;)
Watching the new last night during the ad break did you notice Genesis Energy ad which appears to be a dirty rotten endoresment that I feel boarders on breeching the electoral rules.
The ad promotes a $300 discount for signing up to both power & gas with the slogan mirroring something similar to ‘working for you’ It come across as a ringing endorsement for the National sale of this power asset. If you saw it you will know what i mean, if you haven’t have a look. Looks like a ‘snake oil’ PR stunt.
Haven’t seen it but if it’s coming across that way to you then I suggest you complain to the Electoral Commission about it. What you describe sounds eerily similar to what the Exclusive Brethren did.
Vandalising other peoples property is a crime.
Why do the Greens supporters believe they have a right to vandalise National hoardings up and down the country?
They are just criminals.
Freedom of speech does not allow you to alter National hoardings in any way.
have you any proof of who is vandalising the hoardings maybe you could get the GSCB and theSIS or the Police to investigate.
otherwise you are defaming!
While we know who is vandalising our environment egalitarian society freedoms our democracy and formerly independent media!
you don’t complain about that or who is doing it!
Roman times when the peasants aren’t happy read the graffitti.
poor we fisitantrum.
Oh come on fisiani it happens to all party hoardings. I noticed God Botherer Col Craig got one of his hoardings absolutely smashed to bits over night Saturday. Both National and Conservatives have the dough & Brethren’s to go out and replace, usually in the early morning or dusk time.
Just might have to go out and get in their face with a camera and reignite the sketchy underground connection between National-Conservative moonie sect.
It does NOT happen to all party hoardings and you well know that. There is a concerted regular vandalism campaign against National billboards nationwide. This is criminal damage, not a bit of fun.
Oh bugger off fizzyanus.. You pick the weirdest things to get your nose out of joint about and quite frankly, you have not a skerrick of evidence to support your assertion.
but national are so popular that it would be impossible to vandalise the image of our lord john key without immediately being set upon by an angry mob who would restrain the miscreant until the police arrived. Neighbourhood watch schemes have been set up across the country to protect that glorious visage from being sullied by the three remaining far-left (i.e. thought twice before voting national) zealots in NZ… /sarc
That would be a conspiracy theory fisiani.
The truth is that the majority of people are really pissed off by being screwed over by National.
Labour’s signs tend to be ripped down rather than vandalised (that’s the case in my electorate, at least). It’s less noticeable, since the signs simply disappear, but the hit rate is similar. The effect is similar though, and Labour doesn’t have the funding from multimillionaire backers for large numbers of replacement signs.
A tale of two New Zealands, i limped past Te Papa, the national museum, last night on my way to Wellington leg of the InternetMana roadshow,
Hekia’s gas guzzling 4×4 was on show out front as along with the brass bands and uniforms from the era the National Party celebrated the 1914-1918 war, its causes deeply rooted in inequality, of peoples, of nations, of fear from the masters that the wave of Socialism sweeping Europe would remove these Lords, Ladies, and Barons from their wealth, from their centuries of privilege,
The reggae beat next door at Macs events center is a welcome contrast as a warm up to the main event as out of Wellingtons Winter darkness came 400–500 of us with one thing on our minds, the removal of those cavorting in their customary regalia in a celebration of the death/mutilation of 5% of the New Zealand population at the time, from the levers of power who with deliberation fuel the very inequalities that lead directly to the atrocity that is such wars,
InternetMana what can i say, i am not there for the political speeches, and, there were some rousing words from the cast of characters all of whom have obviously been pushing themselves as the ‘roadshow’ snaked its way down the country to Wellington, some look and sound like they could do with a rest,(i hope they pace themselves theirs still 8 weeks of this organized mayhem),
In the background, its where i like to be, there’s talk of New Branches, that’s what i like to hear,hurried swapping of email addy’s and plans for later meetings are made both befor and after the main event, my ears are not used to such a muted roar of conversation, my psyche equally unused to the human energy, the wairua,mauri, flowing around the packed events center,
The meeting flyer says it all, ”A Message from the Future”, in the background, Annette Sykes confronts me as i try to sneak, into the background, i get to plant a big kiss on the cheek of the next MP for Waiariki, there’s way to much action happening here to say anything any other way,
It’s another day and my waking thought is that the only other politician i planted such a kiss upon was Helen Clark not long befor she became the Prime Minister,
There’s work to be done, lots of it, there’s not enough time, but the real fun will be in the doing, InternetMana has packed every venue so far, 4–5–600 people at them all, there’s a sniff of 5% in the air and i am already looking ahead to 2017, the fun has just begun,
this has been, of course, ”A Message from the Future” InternetMana, be there….
It’ll be good to see Annette Sykes in the House.
Indeed Karol, from the applause given i would say the loudest was for both Annette and Lailla, Hone, obviously with deliberation was way laid back letting the 2 Internet candidates and the 2 from Mana do most of the talking,
The Wellington turnout was pretty much a cross section of New Zealand, so where Winston Peters gets His ‘race based party’ bullshit from is beyond me,
Georgina Beyer, the candidate for Te Tai Tonga made a good speech, spoiled somewhat i would suggest by Her ‘version’ of events surrounding the foreshore and seabed Legislation when She was a Labour MP,
DotCom’s references to what happened after the Mansion raids where the plods asset stripped Him of everything sounded a bit jaded obviously because we all already knew this aspect of the raid, perhaps He needs to refresh the delivery a bit,
i can relate to what happened there, in the ‘hood’ the stripping of everything, bank cards, cars,(in one case the car taken had a stuffed gearbox and hadn’t moved for a year), happens weekly as the plods conduct their version of the ‘war on drugs’ and like DotCom found, when this does occur someone will step in to gift the basics, its the way we roll….
I posted this in the Rankin topic earlier, but may be better here for any discussions.
EPSOM: ACT’s SEYMOUR CAN SNEAK THROUGH…..unless…..MOST OF LABOUR and GREEN votes go to Goldsmith. Here is why:
2011 Election
BANKS(ACT)=44%
GOLDSMITH(NAT)=38%
PARKER(LAB)=10%
HAY(GP)=6%
REST=2%
RESULT=ACT’s BANKS won!
2014:
This time around, some previous votes cast for Goldsmith and Seymour, (I am assuming 4%+4%), may shift to Rankin and the result may look like this: (Of course there may be larger shift from ACT to CONs in this electorate given that ACT is practically dead and the CONS may yet be born again somewhat here which may actually work in Goldsmith’s favour)
SEYMOUR(ACT)=44-4=40%
GOLDSMITH(NAT)=38-4=34%
RANKIN(CONS)=8%
WOOD(LAB)=10%
GENTER(GP)=6%
REST=2%
RESULT=ACT’s Seymour wins!
The only way for the progressives to be more sure of defeating ACT and NATIONAL would be for MOST, if not all, of Labour and Greens voters to give their candidate vote to GOLDSMITH.
Assuming there is a 50% improvement in the Labour and Green strategic voting tactics, (5% and 3% rather than the previous election’s 10% and 6% ) the result could look like this:
SEYMOUR(ACT)=40%
GOLDSMITH(NAT)=34+5%+3%=42%
RANKIN(CONS)=8%
WOOD(LAB)=5%
GENTER(GP)=3%
REST=2%
RESULT=NATIONAL’S Mr PAUL GOLDSMITH MP RELUCTANTLY WINS!…Now, who wouldn’t want such a lovely result!
Yep Clemengeopin although Seymour is no Banks. I suspect many National voters will not hold their noses as they vote …
did you mean to say, ‘will not’ or ‘will’ hold their noses as they vote…?
For those who commented about it yesterday on handles disappearing at the client side.
There does appear to be a problem with the time for the cookies used for putting handles, emails, and websites in for the non-loggedin comments.
It is set for a day and resets every time that a comment is made. It is meant to be at least a week. But it doesn’t sound like the problem people reported.
Could I have some details about browsers and if you have anything constraining javascript. It fills in those fields from javascript because that has been the most reusable option.
It happens to me on Firefox, LP. No java issues that I know of. I’m going to try on Chrome and see if it does the same.
Not sure what exactly you need in the way of info LPrent, i am using Firefox, and the prob with the info disappearing out of the name required etc box has been apparent since the major outage the other week,
My opinion, its not such a biggy, it simply means that everyone has to LOOK to ensure the name is there befor ‘submit comment’ is hit,
Having said that i am still NOT looking at every comment to make sure the required details are there, it amazes me just how long it has taken to learn to do this,
i can actually go right off the Standard by loading another page, then re-access the Standard using my ‘most visited’ icon and the username/email are still there, at other times just travelling around pages within the Standard removes it,
Kind of a lottery, there’s a logical explanation for it doing this, but, the primitive lurking in the recesses of my mind has now given to the Standard ‘mauri’, a life force, as it ‘chooses’ to have the username/email either there or not at its own whim…
@bad12, could be firefox addons causing the problem. Adblock, noscript, ghostery will screw around with javascript and cookies. Try whitelisting this site
Could be addons I guess, have used Safari, Mavericks OSX, ‘disconnect’ and ‘ad blocker’ for months but only have had to fill in name and email the last two weeks.
Lolz ropata thanks for the tip, now for the really dumb question, what is ‘white-listing this site’,
i doubt that will do much as my internet connection is so tenuous any changes i make cannot be saved, that’s a long story better left for some other less busy time,
i don’t actually mind how the username/email thing has shape up, its gone from giving me a major case of the shits at myself to now being a major source of self depreciation, seriously how hard can it be to re-wire the brain to perform a simple task like looking to see if the information is there or not befor pressing ”submit comment”??
Pretty frigging hard if you have a nut like mine i must say, i am about half way there but still havn’t quite formed the habit or broken the one where the small function was performed for me,
Note: just for info, most of the time after the username/email has been inserted when it does the ‘disappear’ it only takes one letter of both the username/email to refill the blank spaces, while you remain online for that session it seems to be there in that format? until an actual logging off the net occurs…
It does sound like a cookie timeout.
I wonder if it is not refreshing the cookie timestamp.
When the username/email disappear they don’t really, now i am trying to confuse you as much as i manage to confuse me,
Its still there in a drop down, as in when i slap the B for bad in the username box the drop down appears with the bad12 in it, same for the email,
Don’t ask me about cookies i am an accidental ungenius too fearful to go anywhere near such things in my laptop in case i completely total my tenuous connection to the net altogether…
Ok, the ‘B’ is from a different ‘level’. That is the browser itself remembering. Problem is that is specific to each browser (although it is getting a lot more standardised these days).
When I implemented the system that is meant to be in use, it attempted to stop as much of that as was possible because in 2007 it was freaking unreliable.
Hi Lynn. Using Chrome. Java needs updating I’ve been told……………
Java shouldn’t matter. We don’t do anything with it.
Javascript is a completely different beast.
Note – must look at this again. But after I finish crunching the roll.
Running Firefox 31.0 with Adblock Plus, on Windows 7 Professional Service Pack 1.
I don’t think I’ve set Adblock to block anything at the Standard, but I do have pop-ups blocked (which intermittently works).
I’ve noticed other shenanigans as well recently – e.g. when downloading a .pdf document it no longer opens automatically – it just goes straight into downloads.
Ok. Across all major browsers. I’ll assume it is a site problem.
First time I will have to deal with it is at the weekend.
Billboard images – John Key’s lies.
A great job there by archiedarival. A cherry on top would be a link and credit to Blip’s List
Seriously, a good show in putting up these electronic billboards.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11304222
hilarious; now lets hope Rape Crisis refuses Whaleboil’s ‘donation’.
should anyone encounter colin (moon-landing-denier) craig on their travels..
..they should catch his gaze..then automatically point to the sky..
..and say:..’look out..!..chem-trails..!’..
..and see if he does the duck ‘n cover..
Cunliffe has just ruled out working with Internet Mana.
That’s it then. Three more years of National, guys, three more years.
And bye -bye David after this election.
should labour limp over the line..and get what they seem to want..winston peters..
..and then should they do pretty much nothing very much at all..
..for three yrs..(being in power being ‘all’..)
..and with int/mana holding them to account all the way..
..labour will be decimated in ’17..
The first bit is your recurring nightmare. All that mip trollerising for nothing.
The second your wet dream pu, and probably far removed from reality of a Lab/Green/Winston government, but do tell me, in ’17, does mana get 51% of the party vote? 😆
No phillip wrong.
Cunliffe knows that IMP have nowhere to go other than to support him on confidence and supply. So he can rule them out of government and avoid the coat-tailing/hypocrisy tag being thrown at him by National while still becoming PM with IMP’s support.
It’s a clever stance to take.
Bearded Git, only if you truly believe that a), Winston Peters and NZFirst will be back in the next Parliament, and b), that Winston will not take the side of National in a coalition,
Neither of the above propositions are a certainty, with Colon’s conservatives going after NZFirst’s votes deliberately targeting Grey-Power meetings and the ‘tactical voters’ having walked away from that Party there’s a 50/50 of Winston not being able to secure His Party the needed 5%,
It’s obviously a 50/50 also as to who can buy NZFirst support in forming a coalition, His first demand will be to be made Prime Minister, when that ambit fails the demand will be Minister of Finance as well as Deputy PM,
Toss a coin, will Slippery the Prime Minister push His Finance Minister under the bus, could He do so without Ripping the National Caucus apart,
Toss the coin again, ask the same question of David Cunliffe,
Who in the left ‘really’ wants another Government of ‘business as usual’ because that’s what i see a coalition that involves NZFirst becoming again…
bad-you missed my earlier prediction which I still hold to: 31+11+7=Cunliffe.
NZF are not needed in this scenario.
Nope Bearded git, i didn’t miss your earlier prediction my point being that i have strong doubts that NZFirst will attain 5% of the vote on September 20,
i don’t agree with the prediction, but, its not a point i will spend all day haggling about, as within those numbers there can be a three % point movement among the 3 parties that still spells out a Government of the left,
My pick is Labour 33%, Greens 12%, Internet Mana 5%,
i am also picking NZFirst 4.5% and Colons conservatives 3.2%,
IF, such numbers on the night of September 20 are what occurs i hope that David Parker has factored into His first budget a comprehensive ‘food in schools program’ as the first part of a confidence and supply agreement from InternetMana…
Well, that’s fucked it.
Actually I think it’ll be OK. Until confirmed otherwise its just another iteration of Cunliffe saying no IMP Ministers in Cabinet.
+1 Colonial
I guess now that IMP doesn’t have a chance of being in Govt. the Greens will gain some votes and anti-IMP swing voters have the option of Labour again and Winston has the option of going with Lab/Greens.
amirite
Link Please? Nothing on; Stuff, Scoop, or even NZH.
Has Cunliffe ruled out accepting IMP votes on confidence & supply? Or is it simply that he sees no place for them in a Labour-led coalition? Does this apply to both individual parties, or just the combined IMP alliance?
[edit] It seems it was on TVNZ (no clip obvious yet):
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/election-2014/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503581&objectid=11304222
An article about DPF & Slater donating to Davis’ campaign wasn’t the most obvious place to look.
I think it is this:
http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/david-cunliffe-we-don-t-want-become-tenants-in-our-own-country-video-6046681
‘Won’t be part of the government’
It sounds like what he has been saying previously re no ministerial post for Mana – no coalition with Mana…doesn’t sound like a ruling out on confidence and supply.
[edit: Ah! I see you found reference to it]
Yep. No Cabinet positions.
I accept the reasoning that Labour may need to distance themselves from Mana due to certain perceptions about criminal behaviour and KDC* but this is starting to grate – I don’t really like Cunliffe sounding so bloody sure that he won’t give Hone or Laila a cabinet position – it would seen that Labour could do with a few members in caucus that are experienced, level-headed and can deal with the media excellently too.
*The biggest criminals in the world are in the financial industry – they have been consistently ripping off millions of people and destroying lives and last time I checked John Phillip Key was part of that industry (has it ever been confirmed whether he ever left it – last photo I saw of JPK, he was in a black shirt promoting AIG?). If it came to criminal dodgy behaviour who really would win that race: KDC or JPK? Double standards abound in this fucked up country of ours.
And KDC has been very upfront with his German convictions has a teenager. The German Government eventually invested money in his first IT business after the court concluded that he was an extraordinary young technology talent – albeit somewhat misguided.
The latest stoush with Hollywood – well – that’ still very much in the works, and as we have seen, has been full of political interference from the get-go of his immigration approval to NZ.
As to your main point: ruling out experienced Parliamentarians from your Cabinet is definitely a move which limits very many future options.
I agree, but we don’t really know the political reasoning behind this strategy.
My own guess, worth 2c is this:
Obviously Labour does not want to disadvantage itself before the election by losing some of its own potential support from their traditional Labour voters or from the soft non-commited voters of National, NZF, Maori and other progressive parties, especially as there is a substantial constituency of voters who are anti KDC, anti Hone or ambiguous about them.
I think their legitimate fear is that if they unconditionally endorse any other progressive party, especially IMP, before the election, then their own votes may siphon out to National or other minor parties.
Also, ruling IMP out of government will cripple/handicap National’s potential attack weapon against Labour, based on present and past histories of
KDC and Harawira.
Labour’s stand may also calm fears of some of the Labour caucus members in terms of cabinet positions etc and it would also be easier to manage if NZF are the king makers after the election.
So, for Labour, politically and electorally it makes more sense not to be too pally with IMP.
As I said, that is just my 2c worth opinion, which may of course be far out.
@ Parsupial
I just read that article you linked to and some of the comments Kelvin has made on his facebook page.
Kelvin sounds as dodgy as hell. I would prefer if people want to join forces with the likes of Farrar and Slater that they do it as an independent candidate and not under Labour’s umbrella.
I wonder if Kelvin was the ‘insider’ criticising Cunliffe’s holiday? (or did he openly refute that?).
…And doesn’t that Kelvin dude stop and think for even a moment about why that Nat sycophant Farrar would be supporting him??
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2014/08/kelvin_davis_on_dotcom_and_mana.html
Farrar says Hipkins has ‘liked’ Kelvin’s comments
WTF LABOUR PARTY????????????????????
Where do you get that info from Amrite?
Being that its Cunliffe he’ll probably change his position on it tomorrow
so the CT line is to tar him with key’s brush, eh?
Direct hit.
http://www.3news.co.nz/Labour-U-turns-over-dolphin-sanctuary-drilling/tabid/1607/articleID/350010/Default.aspx
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11300818
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/david-cunliffe-we-don-t-want-become-tenants-in-our-own-country-6046694
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/250643/tvnz-assures-labour-over-debate
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/07/cowardly-cunliffe-caught-another-lie/#more-146734 (this ones a link to an audio from NewstalkZB
The problem is that Cunliffe makes so many stuff ups its difficult to break them down into specific flip flops vs brain farts but theres a quick three flip flops for you to digest
Even if I bothered to read those links and not be aghast at how you, the media, and’or the slug abused the English language to make that list, it would be the merest and most delicate sigh before the thunderstorm that is Dunnokeyo.
Cunliffe has previously said that IMP would not get Ministerial positions. Has he ruled them out of being in coalition altogether? How about a Confidence and Supply agreement?
Most of the socialist left in Mana as opposed to Internet Mana strategic alliance don’t feel Mana should be officially part of a government anyway. Cunliffe has to placate his party people and potential voters but if it shakes out that Internet Mana MPs are needed for a change of government an arrangement will surely be reached particularly if it does not involve NZ First.
Labour (minus the rogernomes) wants a change of government as does Internet Mana and Mana and Internet Party and of course quiet achiever the Greens. If the left is fortunate enough to be be in the position of forming a government it will be done even if Internet Mana was just formally represented by say Internet Party MPs.
Thanks TM
CV
He hasn’t ruled out the Internet Party, the words were very specific; “Mana will not be part of a government I lead”. But the immediate precursor statement was that “coalition [with NZF] has always been on the cards” (2:22 in Blue Leopard link above).
Personally I think that the IP should stay in alliance with MANA even if it costs them ministerial seats (which won’t be highly placed in any case) in this next parliamentary term. The point is to get rid of the current corrupt tory regime. And even on the crossbenches; their votes will still count just as much. Also, they won’t be bound by cabinet collectivity restrictions, can bargain for support on individual bills, introduce private member’s bills to the lottery, and generally position themselves for 2017 when they will have a clear track record and comprehensive policies.
I think your analysis is spot on. IMP need some freedom to continue to establish and distinguish themselves as a separate party outside of Labour’s shadow.
The IMP will fold as quickly as every other two-bit political party has after this election, no KDC no money
Puckish, dumb by accident or design???, i have money Puckish, not the supposed millions that Kim DotCom is said to have at His disposal,
But,
Enough to supply the paper and the printing to put an A4 sized pamphlet in every letterbox in the electorate i reside in, and, guess what, that’s exactly what i plan on doing,
i plan on doing this Puckish you ‘accident’ not because DotCom has or doesn’t have money, not because DotCom is a crook or is not a crook, but, because i believe very strongly in two planks of the Mana policy that’s also now part of the InternetMana Alliance, the food in schools program, and, a proper robust State House rebuilding program,i also agree with a hell of a lot more of the policy platform,
What exactly do you believe in Puckish, Dribbling Shit seems to be about the extent of your commenting ability, and, that appears to me to be the extent of the total election policies of the right leading into election 2014, A Dribble of Shit, full stop…
Good on you Bad12, Key’s final flight to Hawaii is going to be booked vote by hard won vote. It is ‘hand to hand combat’ that will do it. Like Rosie’s mates campaigning for Hairdo to move on and my partner running workshops on “get out and vote” for unionists to spread the word about enrolment and early voting. There may be locals who will donate to your costs?
This is as Mickysav I believe called it the ‘phoney war’ period, once the Nats have effectively run out of time on August 26 to pull candidates, names will appear on the ballot papers regardless. Then the rubber meets the road.
Lolz Tiger, those ‘locals’ they already have, i will say no more, i have a budget, it aint huge,
Take out the cost of labour, specially at a commercial printing organization,(sorry printers union),and, my budget as far as i can calculate will cover at least 1 electorate…
Grass roots as it gets
Sam is a young guy from rural NZ who thinks voting matters and hosts a web show about Dctor Who. He wanted some fuller answers about the internet and education in New Zealand, so he decided to do an interview.
Published on 4 Aug 2014
The latest 0800 Tardis News Hosted by Sam Somers interviewing Laila Harre and Callum Valentine from the Internet Party, talking about Internet Party Policies in a less formal situation,
Thanks freedom for that link.
I actually thoroughly enjoyed it after the initial few moments of serious doubt.
What a novel way of bringing politics, politicians, parties and policies from a simple private living room to the world at large!
The questions asked and the answers were very good with lots of fun in a relaxed friendly
setting. Both Laila Harre and Callum Valentine were excellent. One can easily sense that Harre is such a lovely, pleasant, caring and very intelligent person. Callum Valentine came across as a smart, nice cool dude too!
I felt that the host Somers needs some more practice and training to make his presentation clearer and better.
This is the type of format that modern political parties and campaigners of good causes should use to spread their message. No ads, no rubbish, no spin, no scandals, no controversies! Just good questions and answers about policies. Let the viewer take in the message and decide one way or the other.
Not perfect, but early days!
I liked it!
Good news from the Greens for tertiary students and apprentices travelling. They are introducing a Green card for travel – free off-peak public transport. That will be a transport of delight!
that is a clever policy from the greens..
..and i have no problems with int/mana not being in cabinet/bound by cabinet muzzling-rules..
..for one thing..labour support a tpp..
..int/mana want to rip it up…
..and a weak/do nothing lab/nz first coalition..will just weaken labour further..
..and a potent int/mana on the cross-benches..free to argue etc..
..is fine with me..
..i wd just like there to be a lot of them..
..and then..in 2017…
The unemployed could use one of them, a green card, it costs to ‘look’ for employment and it costs to trot off to the local WINZ office to fulfill the same obligations that were ‘filled’ in eaxactly the same way the week befor and the week befor that,
A missed opportunity???, or a deliberate move away from what used to be the bread and butter representation of the Green Party???…
Is Fox News More Dangerous Than Isis?
ACT leader Jamie “Socrates” Whyte obviously gets all his ideas from Fox News, as do the likes of Leighton Smith and Larry “Lackwit” Williams. So do a few of the right wing provocateurs that infest this site. They all need to watch the following…..
Campbell Live poll.
16 000 votes.
Should we sell our farms to overseas owners ?
6% in favour.
The Nats should be afraid.
50 cents to vote so only this poll doesn’t even include the less affluent in society.
I just listened to this RNZ brilliant interview of Kim Dot Com by Brent Edwards.
A great interview. KDC comes across as excellent and very sincere.
Have a listen here:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/20144326/dotcom-says-he-would-never-have-started-party-if-there-had-been-no-raid
80% of scientists surveyed didn’t like the government’s 133 million dollar project to find and fund the most urgent areas for research. Joyce says that this is not the views of most scientists.
Sayeeda Warsi’s resignation letter.
“Do they land in Gaza? Ha!”
The laughs just keep coming on The Panel
Radio NZ National, Monday 4 August 2014
Jim Mora, Virginia Larson, Tainui Stephens, Zara Potts
Consider the following selection of gruesome twosomes. Barry Corbett and Ali Jones. Chris Wikaira and Linda Clark. Christine Spankin’ Rankin and Jock Anderson. Dita Di Boni and Sam Pease. Lindsey Dawson and Stephen Franks. And last but not least, the nastiest, smuggest, gruesomest twosome of all—Boag and Edwards. I could, but for the sake of readers’ sensibilities will not, go on.
Long time sufferers of Jim Mora’s godawful, moribund radio light chat show The Panel will have recognized these dreadful duos immediately—they are regular guests, recycled every few weeks, carefully selected to pretty much agree with one another and to pass comment on various matters in a manner that will not piss off anyone that matters. So criticism of the prime minister—someone who matters—has been pretty much kiboshed. So has criticism of racist juries in the Deep South, at least when someone like Chris Trotter is on the program to learnedly admonish those foolish enough to speak out against the jury who acquitted the vigilante who killed Trayvon Martin.
But criticism of, or more accurately, rancorous denunciation of and sneering at, people who do not matter—like political dissidents and fugitives of state vengeance, or the victims of knife attacks in South Auckland or mass murder in Gaza—is quite acceptable. All of these outcast groups have been ridiculed, joked about and pompously denounced on The Panel.
Clearly the producers of The Panel think seriousness is boring, compassion is an irritation and knowledge is intolerable. So it’s out with the likes of Anna Chinn, Gordon Campbell and Bomber Bradbury, and in with the likes of Graham Bell, Jeremy Elwood and Rosemary McLeod.
And, as noted above, clearly the producers of The Panel make a point of getting two really shallow, reactionary people on the show whenever possible. Today, however, they only got it half right. Someone slipped up and made the mistake of inviting Tainui Stephens, who is NOT a moral imbecile, onto the show. The pre-show segment started at 3:45 p.m. ….
JIM MORA: Zara Potts with what the world’s talking about. Qantas changes its flight path at last?
ZARA POTTS: Yes, Qantas has announced it’s not going to fly over Iraqi air space any more. However, the extra time is only ten minutes.
MORA: Is the extra time only ten minutes?
ZARA POTTS: Yes it is.
VIRGINIA LARSON:
A little later….
MORA: And what’s this about a secret Qatari airline?
ZARA POTTS: The airline’s full name is Qatar Amiri Flight. It’s an airline for both the royal family and high ranked government staff of Qatar. Its fleet is reportedly eleven to thirteen strong and consists of Airbus planes, except for a few 747s. It staffs about a hundred cabin crew and only hires Captains. First Officers need not apply.
MORA: Do they land in Gaza? Ha!
ZARA POTTS: Ha ha. No they don’t.
MORA: There’s a lot of money in Qatar. ….
After the 4 o’clock news, it was time for the introductions of today’s Panelists. Usually this is a dire, teeth-grindingly dull seven or eight minutes of inane breezy nothingness. Not today, however. Tainui Stephens talked about his eleven-year-old daughter, who has been deeply affected by the suffering of the people of Gaza during the latest ramping up of Israel’s violence. She and her friends accompanied him on the recent protest march in Wellington, and Tainui expressed how he was deeply moved by these young people, and everyone else at the march. Of course, Jim Mora could not leave alone a provocation as brazen as that statement of solidarity with the Palestinians. He felt it incumbent on himself to play Devil’s Advocate….
MORA: Ahhhh. We hear from a lot of people who say that there is killing in Ukraine, on both sides probably, and killing in Syria, and killing in Egypt, ahhh, but we don’t hear much or anything about them. Ahhhh. But we hear about Gaza, don’t we….
I’m sure Tainui Stephens replied to that, but if so, I missed it as my friend B_______ screamed for a considerable amount of time about the wretched state of radio commentary in this country.
A little later, Mora was back at his tricks, fishing for bigoted right wing comments….
MORA: Now what do we make of THIS? The Labour Party wants a Ministry of Disarmament.
Virginia Larson scoffed at the idea, which she reckons is a luxury: “After all, we haven’t got two hundred and fifty million Indonesians on our doorstep.” After that rather mystifying remark, she embarked on a wandery rant against Vladimir Putin, calling him a “sabre-rattler” and an aggressor.
MORA: [speaking very slowly, with exaggerated enunciation, to emphasize deep seriousness] I was reading about the bright young people in Gaza who are just as bright as the young people in Israel. But they haven’t been able to stop what’s going on there, have they? Can we EVER stop war?
Tainui Stephens, who is clearly a serious and intelligent person, must have felt like walking out of the studio. But he somehow found it in himself to respond to this idiocy by fobbing him off with a Mora-style bromide…..
TAINUI STEPHENS: I guess we have to appeal to the better angels of our nature.
MORA: [sighs deeply, then speaks with reverent intensity] Here’s to the better angels of our nature.
Nat MP McIndoe always stares fixedly/longingly at the back of English’s neck in the House which may have caused him to get things wrong.
“National’s Hamilton West MP Tim Macindoe has been referred to police along with Free FM in Hamilton for allegedly airing an election advertisement outside the proper period……”
How sad.
I don’t mean to waste everyone’s time but is this not hoskings writ large in his brain?