[Moved to Open Mike. Obviously didn’t read the posts or engage brain before commenting.]
This 10-15% reduction is not necessary. You should check out the nzpostcarbon website to see a plan to make nz carbon negative by 2036. Having a percentage reduction is wrong, it should be a straight line, which allows time for society to adapt to the changes. Agriculture, which you don’t talk much about, has to be half of our reductions too. I calculate a 2.8 mtn year on year reduction in gross and an increase of the forest sink from current 24to 36 mats would do the trick.
Some families don’t discuss politics at all, exhusband gets furious that the kids know about politics, apparently kids should not have an opinion on that topic until they are 18. Foolish man, they can’t make an informed decision unless they start learning about it young.
Even funnier is they know more about what’s going on in politics than he does, proud of them, they have taught him much. I guess it depends on peoples upbringing, politics was always discussed when I was grown up, so is the norm, and as a result i make it the norm of my children’s lives.
Should be part of all children’s learning at high school, my kids are at primary school still.
Strongly agree. And kids need to know they don’t have to think like their parents, they just need to think, and parents need to understand that it’s ok for kids to make different choices than them as long as they’ve put thought into it.
A nation of independent thinkers however is not what some governments want. But imagine the inventions it would create, a nation of sheep no more, yes please
The link also highlights a number of flaws in our current political system.
It’s complex. And no matter how politically informed we are, to a large degree we’re all voting blind.
There is nothing preventing parties from introducing new policy (which they never campaigned on, thus we never voted upon) once in power.
Moreover, there is the dilemma of voters not supporting all of the policies of the particular party they select.
A number of these youth grow to become adult non-voters for largely the same reasons.
If we genuinely want to address this and a number of other issues, our current political structure needs to be revisited.
While we’ve made improvements like changing to MMP, more could and should be done. If we want better political outcomes we require to continue to improve our political structure.
A form of Direct Democracy will help address these current flaws, removing a lot of the complexity (allowing voters more opportunity to vote on single issues, opposed to coming to terms with a wide range of issues within a party’s policy manifesto and only voting once every 3 years) while giving voters more say, thus power and control.
NZ First has a form of Direct Democracy on offer, albeit one that could also be improved upon. But it is a start in a more democratic direction.
Like the UBI, a form of Direct Democracy is something that should be put out for wider public discussion and consideration.
Listening to Blinglish on radio NZ lying about P in houses is exactly the same as listening to nicksmith lying about 3% overseas house buyers….. It makes me want to cry that these guys are in charge of anything and destroying NZ…… And just think, DonKey is at the top of his shit mountain
Yes Nick. Bill’s line is that just because a couple of scientists say that the test is wrong is not a reason to change the test. So the evictions will continue for a long time yet.
Could it be a plan concocted from the Beehive?
Thanks to the Chiefs being all over the news Ive had to have a conversation with my 11 yr old girl about how drunk kiwi men behave towards women. Is that why you don’t like drunk men mum? Yes darling it is.
Last time i saw boozey chicks at a hensnight with a male stripper, I was DJing, male stripper was not touched except when he placed the ‘hens’ hands on himself. Sadly he was a terrible stripper. No one asked to lick his arse, no one threw stones at him, no one abuse him, everyone was like, oh we won’t be hiring him again he was terrible (after he left of course).
That being said drunks have no class male or female. Big difference between going to a strip club and having a stripper come to a party, chicks that go to male stripper clubs go crazy, but it is a controlled environment, unlike the chiefs party.
Still the Chiefs are heros in some kids eyes, rugby culture and drinking culture in NZ is disgraceful, hopefully this will continue getting coverage and people will wake up and take control of their own behaviour.
PS I’m no prude, but dang calm down rugby boys, makes one wonder how sad their intimate lives must be if they act like animals when confronted with a woman whom dances to music while removing her clothing. Bikers have more class when they see a stripper perform compared to the Chiefs, food for thought huh?
actually should drunk women and / or men sexually harass, grope a male stripper and expect him to act as a ‘whore’ and refuse to pay him for his services (stripping) that it would be the same scenario.
sexual assault and theft.
how is that so hard to understand? oh, you are one of these apologists…..got it.
James you whitter on about drunk women, this female was a stripper and not drunk and her job was to strip, nothing else was required of her. She is entitled to strip for an income just like guys can strip for an income or be a hooker if they choose. There are rules around these kinds of occupations and if men or women can’t control their groping whilst being in the audience they should remove themselves. Just like being a prostitute, there are rules in place, condoms to be used, no kissing, other requirements as well. Just because women have a more cerebral attitude towards sex and a man’s brain is in his penis doesn’t excuse voyeurs who are looking on to break the rules.
I heard on the news another woman who had stripped for the Chiefs last year got a right old unpleasant time with the guys – maybe their management team need to reign in these cowboys, keep them on home detention and teach them some restraint and manners. They are professional sportsmen and if any staff of a company were to carry on like that at a function with a stripper – and I have been to one with staff – then there would be a right old bollocking by the boss afterwards.
I just wanted to jump on this morning and apologise to anyone I have previously offended for my long held stance that females are already treated as equals in our current society.
After reading about the current situation with the Chiefs rugby team, and the abhorrent responses by both the Chiefs CEO and the representative from Gallagher’s towards the exotic dancer, I can now see that society still has a long way to go before true equality is even close to being reached.
“Major sponsor Gallagher Group on Thursday offered little sympathy for the stripper.
Corporate services executive Margaret Comer said: “If a woman takes her clothes off and walks around in a group of men, what are we supposed to do if one of them tries to touch her.””
What the fuck kind of response is this, and why the fuck has this women not been publicly vilified by her employer??? If a women takes her clothes off and walks around in a group of men, then she should be left the fuck alone, if she is hired to take her clothes off and walk around, she should still be left the fuck alone! She is hired to strip for visual enjoyment, not to be sexually harassed. The fact that there hasn’t been more public outrage over the Chiefs behaviour and the subsequent public responses makes me question how mature we actually are as a nation.
I really hope one of the players gets hauled up in front of the courts for their actions.
She (Margaret Comer (NZ Order of Merit for services to philanthropy)), is a trustee on the board of Waikato Women’s Refuge which just makes her comments that much more disgusting!
It’s the next big step in cultural shift around gender and sex, body sovereignty. None of us have right of access to other people’s bodies without their consent. It’s not what we think that counts, it’s what the person whose body it is thinks that matters.
“It’s the next big step in cultural shift around gender and sex, body sovereignty”
Forgive me for my ignorance, but I had previously been under the impression that this shift had already occurred, the last couple of days have been a massive eye opener for me.
I do think it’s changing, but too many still don’t understand this basic principle, which is part of why we still have such high rates of sexual assault, abuse and harassment. It’s common enough for some men to express confusion over consent issues, as if they don’t understand that it’s not their ideas that count, it’s the ideas of the person’s body they are trying to access. We should be teaching this stuff in school. I think most men want to do the right thing, but are still supported by socialisation that tells them that women’s bodies are objects and attainable.
Hmm ok here we go, delving into this pool is not something I take lightly but here goes nothing…
Most men do indeed want to do the right thing but what makes a man a man?
Remembering back to when I was in my teens there was one thing I wanted more then anything else, I won’t fall to the cliché of saying it was the only thing but it was certainly the most important
So at the time it was very much treat women with respect, girls can do anything etc etc but really I just wanted to get my end away
I think the issue (or at least part of it) is that men, in organised groups, can quite easily revert back to hormone driven teenagers because, for some, being in these organised groups can actually inhibit maturity ie you’re a man at 20 but emotionally you’re still a teen
I’ve seen this for myself, in various forms, from my time in rugby, rowing, uni, the army so I’ve seen how easy it could be for things to go overboard
Now take all that and add in the hero worship factor and the money factor of being a professional sportsperson and I don’t think its a big surprise to anyone that this happens, in fact I’d bet money that this, and similar, happens a lot more often but a supplicant media and “donation” of money to the victim probably helps it go away
But it can be done, the All Blacks appear to have managed to be far and away the best team in the world without being a bunch of a**holes about it (could be good media management though)
So while more stuff can be taught in schools it will only work with buy-in from other organisations such as sports club and other such organisations
If I recall correctly, about ten or twenty years ago the ABs had a spate difficulties with some of their older and younger members getting stonkered and committing crimes of greater or lesser degree.
ISTR at the time they basically said “we have a problem” and talked about instituted mentoring, alcohol bans, media and behaviour training, and even financial advice for new ABs so they don’t blow their “set up for life” salaries on TVs and expensive liquor.
With one or two lapses, admittedly, but without the ongoing dramas that the NRL have committed, it really does come down to the team leadership having to set the limits for acceptable behaviour.
Pack mentality is common with adolescents – it’s the coach’s job to control it, just as much as it is teaching them a new play.
Agreed, the best way to stop this is for the All Blacks management to pass on their “no dickheads” rule down to super 15 teams that behaviour like this will not help anyones chances of getting selected
I agree that the ABs etc do have special responsibilities and things they need to address specificly that come with money and fame, but I’d also point out that the underlying attitudes are not to do with money and fame and this aspect of rape culture exists in lots of places. It’s the socialisation that men have around entitlement to women’s bodies. And that socialisation starts young.
I know its a cliché but in this instance I think the media is most to blame for this
I mean look at Beyoncé, shes held up as a powerful, fierce feminist women making massive strides in business yet the reality is she dresses half naked for her music videos and stays married to a man worth half a billion dollars that’s (allegedly) cheated on her more than once
Or if you want to be famous quickly have sex with someone and release the tape (sorry have the tape released “accidently”)
However attitudes have changed but it seems like one step forward two steps back at the moment
Again, rape culture exists everywhere, even in place without fame and money.
Including in this thread 😉
Beyonce can do what she wants with her body. So can someone wanting to get famous by having sex and releasing it on tape. Whatever we might think of those things in terms of morals or good taste, they’re not about sexual assault. If we think that Beyonce wearing revealing clothing leads men to think that they can touch other women how they want, then we’re saying that women have to take responsibility for men’s lack of sense or self control. Which is hugely regressive, and takes us straight back to rape culture i.e. it’s really women who are to blame.
That’s a good point but it seems like we want to teach boys to respect women while the media simultaneously bombards boys with images of women being sexual playthings that are there for the taking which also teaches young girls that being sexy and hot is all important and that sex is no big deal
I’ve no problems with women being sexual and wearing very little if that’s what they like and choose to do but can young girls differentiate between dressing sexy because you want or dressing sexy because you think that’s what makes you popular and successful?
lols about being glad to be old – the aches are made up for by slightly shallower depths of insecurity, in my experience.
But really, if anyone is clear that she sets the limits, it’s B.
One thing I’ve found fascinating while watching my family’s next generation grow up is that she’s much smarter about self, sexuality and empowerment than I was, even going to the same school. Most of her friends seem smarter about it than kids in my day, as well. However, the boys seems to be as dropkicky as I remember being.
… the underlying attitudes are not to do with money and fame…
Absolutely. The only thing money and fame contributed to this is news media interest – there’s presumably a shitload of other strippers who’ve been molested by customers the media wouldn’t be interested in.
If she is offering a service and being paid for it there is no problem. She was not offering a groping service, so any groping is blatant harassment.
Put it this way, would you accept their actions to be fine if they did it to a bank teller? There is no difference.
Apparently 4 other guys got in on the rimming action but didn’t pay and she wasn’t very happy about not receiving payment for “services” rendered.
Which is probably why this rather sordid behavior is in the media right now.
Don’t think there would be a lot of happy wives/girlfriends in the chiefs community at the mo. Idiots.
How about hanging off the calls for lynching and wait and see what comes out after the investigation.
How much investigation do you figure is needed to establish that you’re not allowed to sexually molest people without their permission? That one’s not really up for debate, is it?
Nicely put Bob, I feel that Womens Refugee should disown Margaret Comer, sadly Gallagher Group are probably big donators, and Womens Refugee need all the help they can get.
Happy this is getting coverage, discussion needs to be had, hopefully with all rugby players tomorrow in the changing rooms at their Saturday games.
Margaret Comer is a trustee of Waikato Women’s Refuge, which apparently withdrew its affiliation to the Women’s Refuge NZ national collective some time ago.
Women’s Refuge NZ has spoken out against Mrs Comer’s comments and Dr Ang Jury, CEO of the collective appeared on Checkpoint last night.
Here is a link to their Twitter account for details and links to Checkpoint etc.
Another stripper has just come out against the Chiefs, interestingly enough in the report on the news, they said that the 2nd stripper was spat at among others things and would rather perform for a gang than the Chiefs. Just wows it’s all coming out now
Yes, the woman, Scarlette, is hired to strip. That is her job. It is a legal and legitimate job. She is covered under the Health and Safety Act as well as the Employment Relations Act.
Her workplace experience, legally, like anyone else’s should be free of abuse, non consensual touching and sexual harassment.
I am sick to death of these thuggish sports players getting away with this shit.
I was even more horrified to hear that the woman who condoned the behaviour of the players, Margaret Comer, is a trustee on the Board of Women’s Refuge.
She needs to stand down as she does not even understand the basics of boundaries and abuse, and of the power imbalance present in this situation. She has no place being any where near Women’s Refuge.
I disagree with you Rosie, This is now getting out of hand. Although I agree with a lot of the comments, I also feel for Comer. I heard the comment on the radio and I thought she was up the sharp end without a spear having no doubt a microphone or possibly on a cell phone with the interviewer demanding an instant opinion, Although I did not like what she said and I feel she really should have said something like “I don’t know the whole story and I will get back to you as soon as possible etc.” but she didn’t and is condemned for her utterances. This has taken the spotlight off the thugs and louts that were the problem in the first place.
It is now turning into a Comer witch hunt. A witch hunt that should be directed to the louts at the function who really should be questioned.
But they are thugby players arn’t they, next to god, so move the spotlight over to another area.
I wouldn’t have any “sympathy” for Comer, as she had had no “sympathy” for Scarlette. There is no need to “feel for her”. She was well out of order.
You are right in the fact that attention has conveniently hovered away from the players momentarily, but these situations can happen side by side, as they have done. No one should accept what the players have done, or how Comer indulged in victim blaming. Both situations are equally horrific in different ways.
Sure, people make mistakes, but Margaret Comer is on the board of trustees for Women’s Refuge Waikato. Her words are intolerable for someone in her position. She is meant to be standing besides victims and standing up for them, not kicking them while they’re down.
Kind of like having that woman abusing PM as a white ribbon ambassador FFS.
The lease stated the shop must act as a “general food store”, and the authority argued the local community was not being served well without alcohol and pork products in the store.
They may think they have a point but…I’d side with the shop on this, if they want to sell Halal only then good on them, they may or may not lose out on some business but that should be their decision
The french only allow a certain number of shop types in a particular area.
For example there can be only xxx number of butchers to this ratio of people, the whole idea being that the butchers can make a living and are not put out of business by excessive competition.
I’d say the same rule would apply to a “general food store”, you might only be allowed to have one “general food store” in that particular area and because it’s not selling pork or booze it’s not fulfilling it’s obligations to all members of that community.
New Zealand One News June 17 2016
Pharmac unsure when heart medicine shortage resolved
Metoprolol supplies rationed to Pharmacists Pharmac cannot say when
shortage will be resolved ,supplies are on way from Indian factory.
Pharmac news August 1st 2016.
More than 280,000 Kiwis depend on one of these tablets every day and they are being rationed and have been for most of 2016 in my experience.
good job, maybe she is not being “touched” in her intimate life, could be why she came out in support of the chiefs, frigid angry woman sides with drunk rugby perverts. Jealousy aint classy Ms Comer, get a grip you foolish woman, toys a plenty up KRoad, he’s a gift voucher, sort your self out if no one else will. Dang !
maybe, but i needed to get that out, everyone has needs and if a persons needs are not being met their behaviour will reflect it. Consensual loving intimacy creates less stress as well as more understanding and self control. Taboo topic for some perhaps.
maybe i was too rude in my wording, it was not meant to offend, let me put it into a scientific perspective, we need more Oxytocin in the world, that would heal and help so many, it’s part of what is missing in today’s society. Whether Oxytocin is self administered or through another. I’m glad she apologised, and I too apologise if any took my comments offensively. However so many things are not said, and maybe they should be.
If you are not too sure what Oxytocin is or how to get it…. here is a link http://io9.gizmodo.com/5925206/10-reasons-why-oxytocin-is-the-most-amazing-molecule-in-the-world
Making the suggestion that any woman needs certain kinds of sexual activity is hugely problematic, not least because it is part of rape culture. There are people who believe that some women just need a good fuck, and use this to dismiss rape. Your comment wasn’t quite that, but it was patronising to suggest that you know anything about the woman concerned or she does or doesn’t need. The whole issue here is around body sovereignty and people’s right to choose what happens to their bodies.
I know what you mean about oxytocin, but I’m not sure there is way to bring that into this political conversation without being offensive. To me she came across as thoughtless and probably bigoted, nothing to do with hormones.
I too apologise if any took my comments offensively
So you’re apologising for the state of people’s minds now. Is it an attempt to add insult to your existing injurious behaviour, or just thoughtlessness?
Apologise for your own behaviour (when appropriate) or don’t bother.
[Any more trolling will see you exited from this site. Start writing original comments rather than repasting the same idea repeatedly. Only warning. TRP]
In his last autobiography, Byrd explained that he was a KKK member because he “was sorely afflicted with tunnel vision — a jejune and immature outlook — seeing only what I wanted to see because I thought the Klan could provide an outlet for my talents and ambitions.” Byrd also said, in 2005, “I know now I was wrong. Intolerance had no place in America. I apologized a thousand times … and I don’t mind apologizing over and over again. I can’t erase what happened.”
Joe90’s comment started with a single word sentence, but then was self explanatory in the next sentence. It was complete in and of itself.
Yours was one word and a link. If you want to put up links, you need to put at least a basic explanation of where the link goes to avoid wasting people’s time. In this case you have linked to a mendacious right wing film on youtube that makes unsubstantiated claims about the next president of the USA.
And please don’t accuse me of censoring you. I left the link up and didn’t alter your comment in any way. Lying about an author is an automatic six week ban. If the sun wasn’t shining on a beautiful Friday afternoon, you’d already be gone.
Could you provide an insight in how you believe the emotional investment required in ‘taking sides’ (of the next POTUS) might raise the collective consciousness of humanity?
Perhaps I have misinterpreted your comments regarding the presidential ‘race’, but it appears to me that you are heavily attached to a certain outcome. Why?
What happens next, from your perspective following either eventual ‘winner’ ?
Usually, I’d be saying piss off you pompous git at about this point, but beautiful day etc. I’ve written plenty of posts in recent weeks. The answers you seek are most probably there.
It was a sincere query, formed by reading your confused and frantic musings
Your writings and moderating approach exhibit such heavy bias, it is reasonable to presume you see yourself in Hillary Clinton, and whatever it is she represents
By not attaching ourselves, we gain space to observe and self evaluate which in turn enables the activation of critical external evaluation senses
The more honestly we can evaluate and understand ourselves, the more transparent ‘our world’ becomes and the less our human ego can blind and mislead us
The web of life unfolds through new neural networks. True identity self interacts with boundless belonging. Therefore, Nature imparts reality to cosmic joy.
Deep stuff, indeed! I’ll just note that one two significantly undermines his philosophical detachment theory by attaching himself to a bullshit right wing hate site.
If a tree falls in the forest does it sound like one hand clapping?
I’ve explained my philosophical position to you in very simple terms, you don’t get alter or define that on my behalf, not even if it scares the daylights out of you
While the Gummint are restructuring Child, Youth and Family Services (yet again) and are doing the whole ‘re-branding’ thing with their nifty new name….exactly what form is the new structure going to take?
Large private foster agencies are offering cash incentives to recruit foster carers working for English local authorities – and then charging more for the service, councils say.
Some agencies pay “golden hellos” of around £3,000, but then charge councils more to care for the same child.
A recent independent review of residential care by government adviser Sir Martin Narey said that in 2014-15, eight commercial fostering agencies made around £41m in profit.
The president of ADCS, Dave Hill, said that companies should not be profiteering from children in care and that they objected very strongly to “golden hellos”.”
Repeat….eight commercial fostering agencies made around $41 MILLION PROFIT.
Sorry to shout….but this is really important.
The vulnerable child becomes a cash cow for unscrupulous businesses.
Exactly the case for disabled New Zealanders, especially those under Ministry of Health, Disability Support Services.
Marlborough, 5 August 2016. 80 hectare Lake Elterwater is usually 1.5-2 meters deep at this time. Still bone dry at the end of winter. Marlborough Express headline “Lake so dry it’s now a field of oats.”
No one, regardless of the type of work being carried out for payment, stripping, prostitution and dancing included, deserves to be groped, or touched in an unwanted or threatening manner that causes offence or fear. To do so is assault, where if proven to have taken place, attracts penalties through the law.
In this situation, the drunken rugby team members involved were driven it seems by an uncontrolled misogynistic attitude, combined with a feral pack mentality!
Everyone still going round and round in outrage about Comer and the Chiefs?
Think strategically FFS. Get the Chiefs suspended from participating in the Investec Super Rugby organisation until a full independent investigation is completed.
nah mate, the outrage is about the sexual assault. The rest is just the usual head in hands i can’t believe that in 2016 we still have to explain to certain people what consent and lack thereof means.
Workers are picketing Centre City New World in Dunedin this morning because their employers have refused to enter into negotiations with them. A group of employees are trying to hand out leaflets to the public, outlining their grievances, but security guards have been employed by the management to try to obstruct their protest. An acquaintance of mine confronted one of the guards after he snatched a leaflet out of his hand. The guard argued that the management didn’t want the public to read these. Is this legal?
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Salvation Army’s State of the Nation 2025 report highlights falling living standards, the highest unemployment rates since the 1990s and half of all Pacific children going without food. There are reports of hundreds if not thousands of people are applying for the same jobs in the wake of last year’s ...
Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Correction: On the article The Condundrum of David Seymour, Luke Malpass conducted joint reviews with Bryce Wilkinson, the architect of the Regulatory Standards Bill - not Bryce Edwards. The article ...
Tomorrow the council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee meet and agenda has a few interesting papers. Council’s Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport Every year the council provide a Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport which is part of the process for informing AT of the council’s priorities and ...
All around in my home townThey're trying to track me down, yeahThey say they want to bring me in guiltyFor the killing of a deputyFor the life of a deputySongwriter: Robert Nesta Marley.Support Nick’s Kōrero today with a 20% discount on a paid subscription to receive all my newsletters directly ...
Hi,I think all of us have probably experienced the power of music — that strange, transformative thing that gets under our skin and helps us experience this whole life thing with some kind of sanity.Listening and experiencing music has always been such a huge part of my life, and has ...
Business frustration over the stalled economy is growing, and only 34% of voters are confidentNicola Willis can deliver. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 12 are:Business frustration is growing about a ...
I have now lived long enough to see a cabinet minister go both barrels on their Prime Minister and not get sacked.It used to be that the PM would have a drawer full of resignations signed by ministers on the day of their appointment, ready for such an occasion. But ...
This session will feature Simon McCallum, Senior Lecturer in Engineering and Computer Science (VUW) and recent Labour Party candidate in the Southland Electorate talking about some of the issues around AI and how this should inform Labour Party policy. Simon is an excellent speaker with a comprehensive command of AI ...
The proposed Waimate garbage incinerator is dead: The company behind a highly-controversial proposal to build a waste-to-energy plant in the Waimate District no longer has the land. [...] However, SIRRL director Paul Taylor said the sales and purchase agreement to purchase land from Murphy Farms, near Glenavy, lapsed at ...
The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has been a vital tool in combatting international corruption. It forbids US companies and citizens from bribing foreign public officials anywhere in the world. And its actually enforced: some of the world's biggest companies - Siemens, Hewlett Packard, and Bristol Myers Squibb - have ...
December 2024 photo - with UK Tory Boris Johnson (Source: Facebook)Those PollsFor hours, political poll results have resounded across political hallways and commentary.According to the 1News Verizon poll, 50% of the country believe we are heading in the “wrong direction”, while 39% believe we are “on the right track”.The left ...
A Tai Rāwhiti mill that ran for 30 years before it was shut down in late 2023 is set to re-open in the coming months, which will eventually see nearly 300 new jobs in the region. A new report from Massey University shows that pensioners are struggling with rising costs. ...
As support continues to fall, Luxon also now faces his biggest internal ructions within the coalition since the election, with David Seymour reacting badly to being criticised by the PM. File photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Not since 1988 when Richard Prebble openly criticised David Lange have we seen such a challenge to a Prime Minister as that of David Seymour to Christopher Luxon last night. Prebble suggested Lange had mental health issues during a TV interview and was almost immediately fired. Seymour hasn’t gone quite ...
Three weeks in, and the 24/7 news cycle is not helping anyone feel calm and informed about the second Trump presidency. One day, the US is threatening 25% trade tariffs on its friends and neighbours. The reasons offered by the White House are absurd, such as stopping fentanyl coming in ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Wherever you look, you'll hear headlines claiming we've passed 1.5 degrees of global warming. And while 2024 saw ...
Photo by Heather M. Edwards on UnsplashHere’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s politics and economy in the week to Feb 10 below. That’s ahead of live chats on the Substack App and The Kākā’s front page on Substack at 5pm with: on his column in The ...
Is there anyone in the world the National Party loves more than a campaign donor? Why yes, there is! They will always have the warmest hello and would you like to slip into something more comfortable for that great god of our age, the High Net Worth Individual.The words the ...
Waste and fraud certainly exist in foreign aid programs, but rightwing celebration of USAID’s dismantling shows profound ignorance of the value of soft power (as opposed to hard power) in projecting US influence and interests abroad by non-military/coercive means (think of “hearts and minds,” “hugs, not bullets,” “honey versus vinegar,” ...
Health New Zealand is proposing to cut almost half of its data and digital positions – more than 1000 of them. The PSA has called on the Privacy Commissioner to urgently investigate the cuts due to the potential for serious consequences for patients. NZNO is calling for an urgent increase ...
We may see a few more luxury cars on Queen Street, but a loosening of rules to entice rich foreigners to invest more here is unlikely to “turbocharge our economic growth”. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Let us not dance daintily around the elephant in the room. Our politicians who serve us in the present are not honest, certainly not as honest as they should be, and while the right are taking out most of the trophies for warping narratives and literally redefining “facts”, the kiwi ...
A few weeks ago I took a look at public transport ridership in 2024. In today’s post I’m going to be looking a bit deeper at bus ridership. Buses make up the vast majority of ridership in Auckland with 70 million boardings last year out of a total of 89.4 ...
Oh, you know I did itIt's over and I feel fineNothing you could say is gonna change my mindWaited and I waited the longest nightNothing like the taste of sweet declineSongwriters: Chris Shiflett / David Eric Grohl / Nate Mendel / Taylor Hawkins.Hindsight is good, eh?The clarity when the pieces ...
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 16 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 10The Kākā’s weekly wrap-up of news about politics and the economy is due at midday, followed by webinar for paying subscribers in Substack’s ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, February 2, 2025 thru Sat, February 8, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
Today, I stumbled across a Twitter Meme: the ending of The Lord of the Rings as a Chess scenario: https://x.com/mellon_heads/status/1887983845917564991 It gets across the basic gist. Aragorn and Gandalf offering up ‘material’ at the Morannon allows Frodo and Samwise to catch Sauron unawares – fair enough. But there are a ...
Last week, Kieran McAnulty called out Chris Bishop and Nicola Willis for their claims that Kāinga Ora’s costs were too high.They had claimed Kāinga Ora’s cost were 12% higher than market i.e. private devlopersBut Kāinga Ora’s Chair had already explained why last year:"We're not building to sell, so we'll be ...
Stuff’s Political Editor Luke Malpass - A Fellow at New Zealand IniativeLast week I half-joked that Stuff / The Post’s Luke Malpass1 always sounded like he was auditioning for a job at the New Zealand Initiative.Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. For a limited time, subscriptions are 20% off. Thanks ...
At a funeral on Friday, there were A4-sized photos covering every wall of the Dil’s reception lounge. There must have been 200 of them, telling the story in the usual way of the video reel but also, by enlargement, making it more possible to linger and step in.Our friend Nicky ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is methane the ...
The Government’s idea is that the private sector and Community Housing Providers will fund, build and operate new affordable housing to address our housing crisis. Meanwhile, the Government does not know where almost half of the 1,700 children who left emergency housing actually went. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong ...
Oh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youOh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youSongwriters: Alexander Ebert / Jade Allyson CastrinosMorena,I’m on a tight time frame this morning. In about an hour and a half, I’ll need to pack up and hit the road ...
This is a post about the Mountain Tui substack, and small tweaks - further to the poll and request post the other day. Please don’t read if you aren’t interested in my personal matters. Thank you all.After oohing-and-aahing about how to structure the Substack model since November, including obtaining ...
This transcript of a recent conversation between the Prime Minister and his chief economic adviser has not been verified.We’ve announced we are the ‘Yes Government’. Do you like it?Yes, Prime Minister.Dreamed up by the PR team. It’s about being committed to growth. Not that the PR team know anything about ...
The other day, Australian Senator Nick McKim issued a warning in the Australian Parliement about the US’s descent into fascim.And of course it’s true, but I lament - that was true as soon as Trump won.What we see is now simply the reification of the intention, planning, and forces behind ...
Among the many other problems associated with Musk/DOGE sending a fleet of teenage and twenty-something cultists to remove, copy and appropriate federal records like social security, medicaid and other supposedly protected data is the fact that the youngsters doing the data-removal, copying and security protocol and filter code over-writing have ...
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tuneBird fly high by the light of the moonOh, oh, oh, JokermanSong by Bob Dylan.Morena folks, I hope this fine morning of the 7th of February finds you well. We're still close to Paihia, just a short drive out of town. Below is the view ...
It’s been an eventful week as always, so here’s a few things that we have found interesting. We also hope everyone had a happy and relaxing Waitangi Day! This week in Greater Auckland We’re still running on summer time, but provided two chewy posts: On Tuesday, a guest ...
Queuing on Queen St: the Government is set to announce another apparently splashy growth policy on Sunday of offering residence visas to wealthy migrants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, February 7:PM Christopher ...
The fact that Waitangi ended up being such a low-key affair may mark it out as one of the most significant Waitangi Days in recent years. A group of women draped in “Toitu Te Tiriti” banners who turned their backs on the politicians’ powhiri was about as rough as it ...
Hi,This week’s Flightless Bird episode was about “fake seizure guy” — a Melbourne man who fakes seizures in order to get members of the public to sit on him.The audio documentary (which I have included in this newsletter in case you don’t listen to Flightless Bird) built on reporting first ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The 119th Congress comes with a price tag. The oil and gas industry gave about $24 million in campaign contributions to the members of the U.S. House and Senate expected to be sworn in January 3, 2025, according to a ...
Early morning, the shadows still long, but you can already feel the warmth building. Our motel was across the road from the historic homestead where Henry Williams' family lived. The evening before, we wandered around the gardens, reading the plaques and enjoying the close proximity to the history of the ...
Thanks folks for your feedback, votes and comments this week. I’ll be making the changes soon. Appreciate all your emails, comments and subscriptions too. I know your time is valuable - muchas gracias.A lot is happening both here and around the world - so I want to provide a snippets ...
Data released today by Statistics NZ shows that unemployment rose to 5.1%, with 33,000 more people out of work than last year said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “The latest data shows that employment fell in Aotearoa at its fastest rate since the GFC. Unemployment rose in 8 ...
National’s cuts to disability support funding and freezing of new residential placements has resulted in significant mental health decline for intellectually disabled people. ...
The hundreds of jobs lost needlessly as a result of the Kinleith Mill paper production closure will have a devastating impact on the Tokoroa community - something that could have easily been avoided. ...
Today Te Pāti Māori MP for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, released her members bill that will see the return of tamariki and mokopuna Māori from state care back to te iwi Māori. This bill will establish an independent authority that asserts and protects the rights promised in He Whakaputanga ...
The Whangarei District Council being forced to fluoridate their local water supply is facing a despotic Soviet-era disgrace. This is not a matter of being pro-fluoride or anti-fluoride. It is a matter of what New Zealanders see and value as democracy in our country. Individual democratically elected Councillors are not ...
Nicola Willis’ latest supermarket announcement is painfully weak with no new ideas, no real plan, and no relief for Kiwis struggling with rising grocery costs. ...
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF). Mr McClay recently hosted Minister Farrell in Rotorua for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting, where ANZLF presented on ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific Presenter/Bulletin editor France’s top diplomat in the Pacific region says talks around the “unfreezing” of New Caledonia’s highly controversial electoral roll are back on the table. The French government intended to make a constitutional amendment that would lift restrictions prescribed under the Nouméa Accord, which ...
By bringing these global voices to the fight for free expression in New Zealand, we’ll continue to protect and expand our culture of free speech, says Nathan Seiuli, the Free Speech Union's Events Manager. ...
The issue is no longer a hypothetical one. US President Donald Trump will not explicitly suggest death camps, but he has already consented to Israel’s continuing a war that is not a war but rather a barbaric assault on a desolate stretch of land. From there, the road to annihilation is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cecelia Cmielewski, Research Fellow, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University To be selected as the artist and curator team to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale is considered the ultimate exhibition for an artistic team. To have your selection rescinded, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steve Turton, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Geography, CQUniversity Australia Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia is bearing down on the northwest coast of Australia and is likely to make landfall early Friday evening. It’s a monster storm of great concern to Western Australia. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danielle Ireland-Piper, Associate Professor, ANU National Security College, Australian National University A Victorian government decision to allow dingo culling in the state’s east until 2028 has reignited debate over what has been dubbed Australia’s most controversial animal. Animals Australia, an animal welfare ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University Overnight, Robert F. Kennedy Jr was confirmed as the secretary of the US Health and Human Services Department. Put simply, this makes him the most influential figure in overseeing the health and wellbeing of more ...
Everything you missed from day five of the Treaty principles bill hearings, when the Justice Committee heard eight hours of submissions.Read our recaps of the previous hearings here.It was another work from home day for the Justice Committee, the only people in Room 3 being security guards, committee ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne Juris Teivans/Shutterstock In Australia, fatal road crashes are climbing again, especially since the pandemic, and despite years of attempts to reduce road trauma, the numbers ...
In its eagerness to appease supporters of Israel, the media is happy to ride roughshod over due process and basic rights. It’s damaging Australia’s (and New Zealand’s?) democracy.COMMENTARY:By Bernard Keane Two moments stand out so far from the Federal Court hearings relating to Antoinette Lattouf’s sacking by the ...
“The reality is we’re getting poorer. The government this year is leaning heavy on chasing economic growth, which is absolutely the right thing to do.” ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 The Vegetarian by Han Kang (Granta, $28) Han Kang’s astounding novel was based on an ...
This new docuseries about two single comedians looking for love is also a joyful celebration of female friendship. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. “How many people do you think are boning right now?” Kura Forrester asks Brynley Stent as the bright ...
A new poem by Freya Turnbull. Hunger Song – After Kaveh Akbar (Untitled With Hunger And Matcheads) I hold my age in ripped fishnet hold an empty vessel oldyoung body cracks like gunshot like killa i was a father ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominik Koll, Honorary Lecturer, Australian National University View of the Pacific Ocean from the International Space Station.NASA Earth must have experienced something exceptional 10 million years ago. Our study of rock samples from the floor of the Pacific Ocean has found ...
Troy Rawhiti-Connell reviews Kia Tupu Te Ara, a documentary chronicling the meteoric rise of Aotearoa’s groundbreaking metal band. “Two brothers attempt to storm the world of thrash metal with the Māori language, despite the fact they’re both still teenagers,” reads the synopsis of Kent Belcher’s documentary, Kia Tupu Te Ara. ...
Three freelance writers have been awarded grants to work on their ambitious journalism projects. In January, The Spinoff announced the Vince Geddes In-Depth Journalism Fund, supported by the Auckland Radio Trust (ART). The fund was established to provide much-needed financial and editorial support to talented freelance journalists, empowering them to ...
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist in Avarua, Rarotonga China has confirmed details of its meeting with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown for the first time, saying Beijing “stands ready to have an in-depth exchange” with the island nation. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters during his ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ 2023 strategic foreign policy assessment, “Navigating a shifting world”, accurately foresaw a more uncertain and complex time ahead for New Zealand. But already it feels out of date. The ...
Our parliamentary throuple may be the longest running in the country, but cracks are showing. Gabi Lardies wonders if differing attachment styles may be to blame. Though no one ever anticipated happiness or roses in the three-way coalition, the relationship has wobbled on for over a year without breaking up. ...
As Mike White’s dark satire returns for a third season, we look back on some of The White Lotus’s most memorable characters. The White Lotus looks like a dream holiday, but this resort is anything but paradise. Set in an exclusive five star hotel resort, HBO’s award-winning series is a ...
Analysis: Would the last scientist to leave the building please turn out the lights? Because the confirmation of Robert F Kennedy Jr as US Secretary of Health suggests we’re heading back to the dark ages.It’s a sad irony that President John F Kennedy propelled America into the space age; now his nephew ...
The crux of my message today is that New Zealand needs to bend two curves. One is the long-term economic growth trajectory, which needs to bend upwards to expand our productive capacity and national real incomes. The second is our net public debt ...
Away from the tense scenes on the paepae, under a closely guarded canvas tent, te iwi Māori do the real work of Waitangi: talking. We were invited inside to listen. ...
The Jono & Ben star is self-aware and surrounded by extraordinary women in Three’s latest local comedy series. The first episode of Vince, written by and starring Jono Pryor, opens with intrigue, a loincloth and a man in the middle of some kind of breakdown. As the titular character, a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Barclay, ARC Future Fellow and Professor, Macquarie University Wikimedia “1,000 Letters and 15,000 Kisses” screamed the headline in an 1898 edition of the English newspaper, the Halifax Evening Courier. Harriet Ann McLean, a 32-year-old laundry maid, was suing Francis ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lena Wang, Associate Professor in Management, RMIT University Supplied/AppleTV+ The highly anticipated season two of Severance, released in weekly instalments, has continued to draw interest among viewers around the world. A gripping psychological thriller, this TV series provides an extreme ...
[Moved to Open Mike. Obviously didn’t read the posts or engage brain before commenting.]
This 10-15% reduction is not necessary. You should check out the nzpostcarbon website to see a plan to make nz carbon negative by 2036. Having a percentage reduction is wrong, it should be a straight line, which allows time for society to adapt to the changes. Agriculture, which you don’t talk much about, has to be half of our reductions too. I calculate a 2.8 mtn year on year reduction in gross and an increase of the forest sink from current 24to 36 mats would do the trick.
The Youth Vote
http://www.vice.com/en_au/video/vice-asks-why-the-youth-vote-matters
Thoughts?
Some families don’t discuss politics at all, exhusband gets furious that the kids know about politics, apparently kids should not have an opinion on that topic until they are 18. Foolish man, they can’t make an informed decision unless they start learning about it young.
Even funnier is they know more about what’s going on in politics than he does, proud of them, they have taught him much. I guess it depends on peoples upbringing, politics was always discussed when I was grown up, so is the norm, and as a result i make it the norm of my children’s lives.
Should be part of all children’s learning at high school, my kids are at primary school still.
Great link ty for sharing
Time learning and teaching practical skills arming youngsters thorough processes for the ability to think critically and logically
Then they will be capable of nagivating the corrupted human constructs such as politics, which people believe are ‘necessary’ and ‘real’. They are not
Giving children the skills of critical evaluation techniques should be the one of the primary objectives of parents
Strongly agree. And kids need to know they don’t have to think like their parents, they just need to think, and parents need to understand that it’s ok for kids to make different choices than them as long as they’ve put thought into it.
A nation of independent thinkers however is not what some governments want. But imagine the inventions it would create, a nation of sheep no more, yes please
The link also highlights a number of flaws in our current political system.
It’s complex. And no matter how politically informed we are, to a large degree we’re all voting blind.
There is nothing preventing parties from introducing new policy (which they never campaigned on, thus we never voted upon) once in power.
Moreover, there is the dilemma of voters not supporting all of the policies of the particular party they select.
A number of these youth grow to become adult non-voters for largely the same reasons.
If we genuinely want to address this and a number of other issues, our current political structure needs to be revisited.
While we’ve made improvements like changing to MMP, more could and should be done. If we want better political outcomes we require to continue to improve our political structure.
A form of Direct Democracy will help address these current flaws, removing a lot of the complexity (allowing voters more opportunity to vote on single issues, opposed to coming to terms with a wide range of issues within a party’s policy manifesto and only voting once every 3 years) while giving voters more say, thus power and control.
NZ First has a form of Direct Democracy on offer, albeit one that could also be improved upon. But it is a start in a more democratic direction.
Like the UBI, a form of Direct Democracy is something that should be put out for wider public discussion and consideration.
https://youtu.be/OMPvxPox1kA
great link, I enjoy your outlook, and intelligent thoughts, gives one much food for thought and fresh information, thanks Chairman much appreciated
Nice. Thanks Jenz.
Listening to Blinglish on radio NZ lying about P in houses is exactly the same as listening to nicksmith lying about 3% overseas house buyers….. It makes me want to cry that these guys are in charge of anything and destroying NZ…… And just think, DonKey is at the top of his shit mountain
Yes Nick. Bill’s line is that just because a couple of scientists say that the test is wrong is not a reason to change the test. So the evictions will continue for a long time yet.
Could it be a plan concocted from the Beehive?
Thanks to the Chiefs being all over the news Ive had to have a conversation with my 11 yr old girl about how drunk kiwi men behave towards women. Is that why you don’t like drunk men mum? Yes darling it is.
What about drunk women?
Ive seen some terrible behaviour by women when they have been drinking (Hens nights etc) – and you should see how they treat male strippers?
Piss off idiot, you weren’t a male stripper in a past life.
Didnt say I was. I was a barman.
Now how about answering the question – or are ill-informed insults all you have?
Why answer a pointless diversion that makes a mockery of a serious problem.
You’re right. It’s really shite when drunk women behave like drunk men. No respect.
Last time i saw boozey chicks at a hensnight with a male stripper, I was DJing, male stripper was not touched except when he placed the ‘hens’ hands on himself. Sadly he was a terrible stripper. No one asked to lick his arse, no one threw stones at him, no one abuse him, everyone was like, oh we won’t be hiring him again he was terrible (after he left of course).
That being said drunks have no class male or female. Big difference between going to a strip club and having a stripper come to a party, chicks that go to male stripper clubs go crazy, but it is a controlled environment, unlike the chiefs party.
Still the Chiefs are heros in some kids eyes, rugby culture and drinking culture in NZ is disgraceful, hopefully this will continue getting coverage and people will wake up and take control of their own behaviour.
PS I’m no prude, but dang calm down rugby boys, makes one wonder how sad their intimate lives must be if they act like animals when confronted with a woman whom dances to music while removing her clothing. Bikers have more class when they see a stripper perform compared to the Chiefs, food for thought huh?
actually should drunk women and / or men sexually harass, grope a male stripper and expect him to act as a ‘whore’ and refuse to pay him for his services (stripping) that it would be the same scenario.
sexual assault and theft.
how is that so hard to understand? oh, you are one of these apologists…..got it.
+1
Well said.
+ another 1
James you whitter on about drunk women, this female was a stripper and not drunk and her job was to strip, nothing else was required of her. She is entitled to strip for an income just like guys can strip for an income or be a hooker if they choose. There are rules around these kinds of occupations and if men or women can’t control their groping whilst being in the audience they should remove themselves. Just like being a prostitute, there are rules in place, condoms to be used, no kissing, other requirements as well. Just because women have a more cerebral attitude towards sex and a man’s brain is in his penis doesn’t excuse voyeurs who are looking on to break the rules.
I heard on the news another woman who had stripped for the Chiefs last year got a right old unpleasant time with the guys – maybe their management team need to reign in these cowboys, keep them on home detention and teach them some restraint and manners. They are professional sportsmen and if any staff of a company were to carry on like that at a function with a stripper – and I have been to one with staff – then there would be a right old bollocking by the boss afterwards.
Good one jenz
NZ has problems with sport and alcohol? It’s not rocket science.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/small-business/82807995/new-bat–beer-pong-product-thirstbat-labelled-as-juvenile-and-silly
and yet there is nothing to $top this $tuff. The brains behind it promote ‘re$pon$ible drinking’.
As daft as those yard long glasses miravox.
Yup… we’re meant to be getting better at this sort of thing.
I just wanted to jump on this morning and apologise to anyone I have previously offended for my long held stance that females are already treated as equals in our current society.
After reading about the current situation with the Chiefs rugby team, and the abhorrent responses by both the Chiefs CEO and the representative from Gallagher’s towards the exotic dancer, I can now see that society still has a long way to go before true equality is even close to being reached.
“Major sponsor Gallagher Group on Thursday offered little sympathy for the stripper.
Corporate services executive Margaret Comer said: “If a woman takes her clothes off and walks around in a group of men, what are we supposed to do if one of them tries to touch her.””
What the fuck kind of response is this, and why the fuck has this women not been publicly vilified by her employer??? If a women takes her clothes off and walks around in a group of men, then she should be left the fuck alone, if she is hired to take her clothes off and walk around, she should still be left the fuck alone! She is hired to strip for visual enjoyment, not to be sexually harassed. The fact that there hasn’t been more public outrage over the Chiefs behaviour and the subsequent public responses makes me question how mature we actually are as a nation.
I really hope one of the players gets hauled up in front of the courts for their actions.
“If a woman takes her clothes off and walks around in a group of men, what are we supposed to do if one of them tries to touch her.””
Completely agree, this guy needs to be fired as there is no justification for that at all
She (Margaret Comer (NZ Order of Merit for services to philanthropy)), is a trustee on the board of Waikato Women’s Refuge which just makes her comments that much more disgusting!
That’s even worse, that’s victim blaming
Nice one Bob, on both counts.
It’s the next big step in cultural shift around gender and sex, body sovereignty. None of us have right of access to other people’s bodies without their consent. It’s not what we think that counts, it’s what the person whose body it is thinks that matters.
“It’s the next big step in cultural shift around gender and sex, body sovereignty”
Forgive me for my ignorance, but I had previously been under the impression that this shift had already occurred, the last couple of days have been a massive eye opener for me.
I do think it’s changing, but too many still don’t understand this basic principle, which is part of why we still have such high rates of sexual assault, abuse and harassment. It’s common enough for some men to express confusion over consent issues, as if they don’t understand that it’s not their ideas that count, it’s the ideas of the person’s body they are trying to access. We should be teaching this stuff in school. I think most men want to do the right thing, but are still supported by socialisation that tells them that women’s bodies are objects and attainable.
Hmm ok here we go, delving into this pool is not something I take lightly but here goes nothing…
Most men do indeed want to do the right thing but what makes a man a man?
Remembering back to when I was in my teens there was one thing I wanted more then anything else, I won’t fall to the cliché of saying it was the only thing but it was certainly the most important
So at the time it was very much treat women with respect, girls can do anything etc etc but really I just wanted to get my end away
I think the issue (or at least part of it) is that men, in organised groups, can quite easily revert back to hormone driven teenagers because, for some, being in these organised groups can actually inhibit maturity ie you’re a man at 20 but emotionally you’re still a teen
I’ve seen this for myself, in various forms, from my time in rugby, rowing, uni, the army so I’ve seen how easy it could be for things to go overboard
Now take all that and add in the hero worship factor and the money factor of being a professional sportsperson and I don’t think its a big surprise to anyone that this happens, in fact I’d bet money that this, and similar, happens a lot more often but a supplicant media and “donation” of money to the victim probably helps it go away
But it can be done, the All Blacks appear to have managed to be far and away the best team in the world without being a bunch of a**holes about it (could be good media management though)
So while more stuff can be taught in schools it will only work with buy-in from other organisations such as sports club and other such organisations
If I recall correctly, about ten or twenty years ago the ABs had a spate difficulties with some of their older and younger members getting stonkered and committing crimes of greater or lesser degree.
ISTR at the time they basically said “we have a problem” and talked about instituted mentoring, alcohol bans, media and behaviour training, and even financial advice for new ABs so they don’t blow their “set up for life” salaries on TVs and expensive liquor.
With one or two lapses, admittedly, but without the ongoing dramas that the NRL have committed, it really does come down to the team leadership having to set the limits for acceptable behaviour.
Pack mentality is common with adolescents – it’s the coach’s job to control it, just as much as it is teaching them a new play.
Agreed, the best way to stop this is for the All Blacks management to pass on their “no dickheads” rule down to super 15 teams that behaviour like this will not help anyones chances of getting selected
I agree that the ABs etc do have special responsibilities and things they need to address specificly that come with money and fame, but I’d also point out that the underlying attitudes are not to do with money and fame and this aspect of rape culture exists in lots of places. It’s the socialisation that men have around entitlement to women’s bodies. And that socialisation starts young.
I know its a cliché but in this instance I think the media is most to blame for this
I mean look at Beyoncé, shes held up as a powerful, fierce feminist women making massive strides in business yet the reality is she dresses half naked for her music videos and stays married to a man worth half a billion dollars that’s (allegedly) cheated on her more than once
Or if you want to be famous quickly have sex with someone and release the tape (sorry have the tape released “accidently”)
However attitudes have changed but it seems like one step forward two steps back at the moment
Again, rape culture exists everywhere, even in place without fame and money.
Including in this thread 😉
Beyonce can do what she wants with her body. So can someone wanting to get famous by having sex and releasing it on tape. Whatever we might think of those things in terms of morals or good taste, they’re not about sexual assault. If we think that Beyonce wearing revealing clothing leads men to think that they can touch other women how they want, then we’re saying that women have to take responsibility for men’s lack of sense or self control. Which is hugely regressive, and takes us straight back to rape culture i.e. it’s really women who are to blame.
That’s a good point but it seems like we want to teach boys to respect women while the media simultaneously bombards boys with images of women being sexual playthings that are there for the taking which also teaches young girls that being sexy and hot is all important and that sex is no big deal
I’ve no problems with women being sexual and wearing very little if that’s what they like and choose to do but can young girls differentiate between dressing sexy because you want or dressing sexy because you think that’s what makes you popular and successful?
I’m just glad I’m not young anymore
lols about being glad to be old – the aches are made up for by slightly shallower depths of insecurity, in my experience.
But really, if anyone is clear that she sets the limits, it’s B.
One thing I’ve found fascinating while watching my family’s next generation grow up is that she’s much smarter about self, sexuality and empowerment than I was, even going to the same school. Most of her friends seem smarter about it than kids in my day, as well. However, the boys seems to be as dropkicky as I remember being.
… the underlying attitudes are not to do with money and fame…
Absolutely. The only thing money and fame contributed to this is news media interest – there’s presumably a shitload of other strippers who’ve been molested by customers the media wouldn’t be interested in.
Nice one. agree 200%
How about when she accepts $50.00 in exchange for getting her arsehole licked.
Bit more than just stripping happening here, obviously quite a bit of audience participation going on .
How about hanging off the calls for lynching and wait and see what comes out after the investigation.
Do you accept that she has a basic right in that job to determine what happens with her body? Or do you think that the men in the room get to decide?
If she is offering a service and being paid for it there is no problem. She was not offering a groping service, so any groping is blatant harassment.
Put it this way, would you accept their actions to be fine if they did it to a bank teller? There is no difference.
Apparently 4 other guys got in on the rimming action but didn’t pay and she wasn’t very happy about not receiving payment for “services” rendered.
Which is probably why this rather sordid behavior is in the media right now.
Don’t think there would be a lot of happy wives/girlfriends in the chiefs community at the mo. Idiots.
What ever happened to the raffle?.
Total cheating cheap skate morons.
BM – To know so much, you can only be an insider..?
@ Bob (6.4.2) … I’d go further than call it harassment. If the woman involved did not give permission to be touched, she was assaulted!
I stand corrected
How about hanging off the calls for lynching and wait and see what comes out after the investigation.
How much investigation do you figure is needed to establish that you’re not allowed to sexually molest people without their permission? That one’s not really up for debate, is it?
Nicely put Bob, I feel that Womens Refugee should disown Margaret Comer, sadly Gallagher Group are probably big donators, and Womens Refugee need all the help they can get.
Happy this is getting coverage, discussion needs to be had, hopefully with all rugby players tomorrow in the changing rooms at their Saturday games.
Completely agree.
As for Margaret Comer, she’s now apologised which is a start I guess: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11687856
Margaret Comer is a trustee of Waikato Women’s Refuge, which apparently withdrew its affiliation to the Women’s Refuge NZ national collective some time ago.
Women’s Refuge NZ has spoken out against Mrs Comer’s comments and Dr Ang Jury, CEO of the collective appeared on Checkpoint last night.
Here is a link to their Twitter account for details and links to Checkpoint etc.
https://twitter.com/womensrefugenz
Update – further discussion on Comer, links etc at 10 below.
Another stripper has just come out against the Chiefs, interestingly enough in the report on the news, they said that the 2nd stripper was spat at among others things and would rather perform for a gang than the Chiefs. Just wows it’s all coming out now
.
On ya Bob.
Yes, the woman, Scarlette, is hired to strip. That is her job. It is a legal and legitimate job. She is covered under the Health and Safety Act as well as the Employment Relations Act.
Her workplace experience, legally, like anyone else’s should be free of abuse, non consensual touching and sexual harassment.
I am sick to death of these thuggish sports players getting away with this shit.
I was even more horrified to hear that the woman who condoned the behaviour of the players, Margaret Comer, is a trustee on the Board of Women’s Refuge.
She needs to stand down as she does not even understand the basics of boundaries and abuse, and of the power imbalance present in this situation. She has no place being any where near Women’s Refuge.
I disagree with you Rosie, This is now getting out of hand. Although I agree with a lot of the comments, I also feel for Comer. I heard the comment on the radio and I thought she was up the sharp end without a spear having no doubt a microphone or possibly on a cell phone with the interviewer demanding an instant opinion, Although I did not like what she said and I feel she really should have said something like “I don’t know the whole story and I will get back to you as soon as possible etc.” but she didn’t and is condemned for her utterances. This has taken the spotlight off the thugs and louts that were the problem in the first place.
It is now turning into a Comer witch hunt. A witch hunt that should be directed to the louts at the function who really should be questioned.
But they are thugby players arn’t they, next to god, so move the spotlight over to another area.
I wouldn’t have any “sympathy” for Comer, as she had had no “sympathy” for Scarlette. There is no need to “feel for her”. She was well out of order.
You are right in the fact that attention has conveniently hovered away from the players momentarily, but these situations can happen side by side, as they have done. No one should accept what the players have done, or how Comer indulged in victim blaming. Both situations are equally horrific in different ways.
Sure, people make mistakes, but Margaret Comer is on the board of trustees for Women’s Refuge Waikato. Her words are intolerable for someone in her position. She is meant to be standing besides victims and standing up for them, not kicking them while they’re down.
Kind of like having that woman abusing PM as a white ribbon ambassador FFS.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/82842289/french-halal-supermarket-told-to-sell-alcohol-and-pork-or-face-closure
The lease stated the shop must act as a “general food store”, and the authority argued the local community was not being served well without alcohol and pork products in the store.
They may think they have a point but…I’d side with the shop on this, if they want to sell Halal only then good on them, they may or may not lose out on some business but that should be their decision
The french only allow a certain number of shop types in a particular area.
For example there can be only xxx number of butchers to this ratio of people, the whole idea being that the butchers can make a living and are not put out of business by excessive competition.
I’d say the same rule would apply to a “general food store”, you might only be allowed to have one “general food store” in that particular area and because it’s not selling pork or booze it’s not fulfilling it’s obligations to all members of that community.
Ah ok I wasn’t aware of how France do things but it wouldn’t be so bad if we had something like that here, especially in regards to 2 dollar shops…
A little socialism can be useful…only a little though
Why am I unable to find any posts on TS about the Vancouver tax on house sales to foreign buyers? thought it was in open mike a day or two ago.
http://globalnews.ca/news/2861138/metro-vancouver-home-sales-dropped-by-75-after-foreign-buyer-tax-announcement-realtor/
Vancouver/British Columbia similar populations to Auckland & NZ .
It’s there. The post is called “government puts 15% tax on foreign buyers”
Thanks JT but I must being doing something wrong as I cannot open the post.
I saw something about that the other day too. I don’t think the search function is working though.
New Zealand One News June 17 2016
Pharmac unsure when heart medicine shortage resolved
Metoprolol supplies rationed to Pharmacists Pharmac cannot say when
shortage will be resolved ,supplies are on way from Indian factory.
Pharmac news August 1st 2016.
More than 280,000 Kiwis depend on one of these tablets every day and they are being rationed and have been for most of 2016 in my experience.
Ms Comer is getting an absolute shellacking on twitter.
good job, maybe she is not being “touched” in her intimate life, could be why she came out in support of the chiefs, frigid angry woman sides with drunk rugby perverts. Jealousy aint classy Ms Comer, get a grip you foolish woman, toys a plenty up KRoad, he’s a gift voucher, sort your self out if no one else will. Dang !
and that comment was about as vile and useless as her comment.
maybe, but i needed to get that out, everyone has needs and if a persons needs are not being met their behaviour will reflect it. Consensual loving intimacy creates less stress as well as more understanding and self control. Taboo topic for some perhaps.
Your comment above is just as much a part of the problem as what’s happened with the Cheifs. It’s not taboo, it’s blatant misogyny.
+ 1
maybe i was too rude in my wording, it was not meant to offend, let me put it into a scientific perspective, we need more Oxytocin in the world, that would heal and help so many, it’s part of what is missing in today’s society. Whether Oxytocin is self administered or through another. I’m glad she apologised, and I too apologise if any took my comments offensively. However so many things are not said, and maybe they should be.
If you are not too sure what Oxytocin is or how to get it…. here is a link
http://io9.gizmodo.com/5925206/10-reasons-why-oxytocin-is-the-most-amazing-molecule-in-the-world
Making the suggestion that any woman needs certain kinds of sexual activity is hugely problematic, not least because it is part of rape culture. There are people who believe that some women just need a good fuck, and use this to dismiss rape. Your comment wasn’t quite that, but it was patronising to suggest that you know anything about the woman concerned or she does or doesn’t need. The whole issue here is around body sovereignty and people’s right to choose what happens to their bodies.
I know what you mean about oxytocin, but I’m not sure there is way to bring that into this political conversation without being offensive. To me she came across as thoughtless and probably bigoted, nothing to do with hormones.
+1 weka. Well said.
I too apologise if any took my comments offensively
So you’re apologising for the state of people’s minds now. Is it an attempt to add insult to your existing injurious behaviour, or just thoughtlessness?
Apologise for your own behaviour (when appropriate) or don’t bother.
I agree, Sabine – especially as I read somewhere online today that Mrs Comer’s husband of many years died suddenly and unexpectedly a few months ago.
that is awful in that case she needs some oxytocin, big hugs to her for her loss
Good joe90. Good comments. Glad to see a male comedian chipping in too.
Desperation..?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7LYRUOd_QoM
‘Balance’
[Any more trolling will see you exited from this site. Start writing original comments rather than repasting the same idea repeatedly. Only warning. TRP]
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IPL2JlJBuqs
Racists?
Not racists.
In his last autobiography, Byrd explained that he was a KKK member because he “was sorely afflicted with tunnel vision — a jejune and immature outlook — seeing only what I wanted to see because I thought the Klan could provide an outlet for my talents and ambitions.” Byrd also said, in 2005, “I know now I was wrong. Intolerance had no place in America. I apologized a thousand times … and I don’t mind apologizing over and over again. I can’t erase what happened.”
Not in your opinion
In my opinion they are!
Could you coherently articulate the difference between J90 comment and my own, which you appear so eager to censor?
I mirrored J90 technique using a single descriptor for which you accused me of trollling, but not did not apply the same threat elsewhere
Joe90’s comment started with a single word sentence, but then was self explanatory in the next sentence. It was complete in and of itself.
Yours was one word and a link. If you want to put up links, you need to put at least a basic explanation of where the link goes to avoid wasting people’s time. In this case you have linked to a mendacious right wing film on youtube that makes unsubstantiated claims about the next president of the USA.
And please don’t accuse me of censoring you. I left the link up and didn’t alter your comment in any way. Lying about an author is an automatic six week ban. If the sun wasn’t shining on a beautiful Friday afternoon, you’d already be gone.
As I do not attach myself to ‘things or stuff’ …
Could you provide an insight in how you believe the emotional investment required in ‘taking sides’ (of the next POTUS) might raise the collective consciousness of humanity?
Perhaps I have misinterpreted your comments regarding the presidential ‘race’, but it appears to me that you are heavily attached to a certain outcome. Why?
What happens next, from your perspective following either eventual ‘winner’ ?
Usually, I’d be saying piss off you pompous git at about this point, but beautiful day etc. I’ve written plenty of posts in recent weeks. The answers you seek are most probably there.
It was a sincere query, formed by reading your confused and frantic musings
Your writings and moderating approach exhibit such heavy bias, it is reasonable to presume you see yourself in Hillary Clinton, and whatever it is she represents
By not attaching ourselves, we gain space to observe and self evaluate which in turn enables the activation of critical external evaluation senses
The more honestly we can evaluate and understand ourselves, the more transparent ‘our world’ becomes and the less our human ego can blind and mislead us
The web of life unfolds through new neural networks. True identity self interacts with boundless belonging. Therefore, Nature imparts reality to cosmic joy.
Deep stuff, indeed! I’ll just note that one two significantly undermines his philosophical detachment theory by attaching himself to a bullshit right wing hate site.
If a tree falls in the forest does it sound like one hand clapping?
I’ve explained my philosophical position to you in very simple terms, you don’t get alter or define that on my behalf, not even if it scares the daylights out of you
The past is a foreign country.
/
While the Gummint are restructuring Child, Youth and Family Services (yet again) and are doing the whole ‘re-branding’ thing with their nifty new name….exactly what form is the new structure going to take?
And what is it going to cost?
From the UK…http://www.bbc.com/news/education-36975478
“Foster carers ‘poached with golden hellos’
Large private foster agencies are offering cash incentives to recruit foster carers working for English local authorities – and then charging more for the service, councils say.
Some agencies pay “golden hellos” of around £3,000, but then charge councils more to care for the same child.
A recent independent review of residential care by government adviser Sir Martin Narey said that in 2014-15, eight commercial fostering agencies made around £41m in profit.
The president of ADCS, Dave Hill, said that companies should not be profiteering from children in care and that they objected very strongly to “golden hellos”.”
Repeat….eight commercial fostering agencies made around $41 MILLION PROFIT.
Sorry to shout….but this is really important.
The vulnerable child becomes a cash cow for unscrupulous businesses.
Exactly the case for disabled New Zealanders, especially those under Ministry of Health, Disability Support Services.
Interesting links from war is boring.
https://warisboring.com/to-understand-chinese-expansionism-look-to-the-opium-wars-fc96e2bba94#.4yg00gfk1
https://warisboring.com/donald-trump-has-americanized-vladimir-putins-war-on-truth-1a09f95b67d9#.ffkpyiz3m
Marlborough, February 2016. Lake Elterwater dries out for first time since 2004
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/76659054/Marlborough-lake-dries-out-for-first-time-since-2004
Marlborough, 5 August 2016. 80 hectare Lake Elterwater is usually 1.5-2 meters deep at this time. Still bone dry at the end of winter. Marlborough Express headline “Lake so dry it’s now a field of oats.”
http://nvs24.com/news/world/Marlborough-farmers-staring-at-3-year-drought-use-dry-lake-bed-to-feed-stock-7568308.html
Oh, look over there, the Olympic Games!
Re the Chiefs and the woman stripper …
No one, regardless of the type of work being carried out for payment, stripping, prostitution and dancing included, deserves to be groped, or touched in an unwanted or threatening manner that causes offence or fear. To do so is assault, where if proven to have taken place, attracts penalties through the law.
In this situation, the drunken rugby team members involved were driven it seems by an uncontrolled misogynistic attitude, combined with a feral pack mentality!
Everyone still going round and round in outrage about Comer and the Chiefs?
Think strategically FFS. Get the Chiefs suspended from participating in the Investec Super Rugby organisation until a full independent investigation is completed.
That’ll learn ‘m.
It’s the foul, dirty sponsors that I blame.
nah mate, the outrage is about the sexual assault. The rest is just the usual head in hands i can’t believe that in 2016 we still have to explain to certain people what consent and lack thereof means.
but do continue, you were sayin?
Workers are picketing Centre City New World in Dunedin this morning because their employers have refused to enter into negotiations with them. A group of employees are trying to hand out leaflets to the public, outlining their grievances, but security guards have been employed by the management to try to obstruct their protest. An acquaintance of mine confronted one of the guards after he snatched a leaflet out of his hand. The guard argued that the management didn’t want the public to read these. Is this legal?