The MSM are palpably relieved their chosen one has got his ‘mojo’ back,
Not any coherent substance, just his mojo.(ability to shout slogans over someone else speaking)
But hey, thats good enough for Garner and co.
Even a cursory glance at Keys record at forecasting growth /jobs, shows how completely unhinged from reality he is.
Garner, your ghost journalism isn’t keeping the country informed bro.
Garners dribbling performance on last nights news was appalling to me. I suspect that since he put all his eggs in Key’s basket, now his credibility is on the line and is desperate that Phil does not do well.
Bennet in the Herald thinks Labour’s books are $400mil out whereas Key now says its um $6bil out. What happened to the $17bil that Key/English said they were out? Questions from Garner? Never!
In spite of the quality of modern communications it seems to me that Key etc have managed to deflate enthusiasm for scrutiny and participation. Democracy? In our hands be it.
The gnome in the Herald today
“… New Zealanders no longer have control and have to endure the rapaciousness of privatised Telecom for 30 years…”
Come, come. Such strident vocabulary.
How come it has taken you so long to vent in such a way about privatisation?
Your little darling Jokey get a bit bruised, did he?
Neither Henry’s nor Cunliffe’s comments were humorous to me. My wife was appalled.
If you got out more, ooyside your red bubble, you wouild know how pissed off many people are with the behaviour of politicians. It’s obviously not all politicians that give them a bad name, I’d expect Goff to be very embarrassed by this.
“how pissed off many people are with the behaviour of politicians”
yeah like you pete and your singlehanded attempted demolition of hope and the future – I hope you’re proud of yourself – how’s occupypete going falsetalker?
and have you tried being positive instead of the slime tactics – you could be a hero pete not a zero and you may actually get legitamised for wearing your undies over your trousers unlike now where people just don’t get it.
I am attacking the constant grubbing around to find an issue to get airtme pete – as for what they have said I haven’t listened and won’t – it’s nothing new just the same old same old.
I get upset about a number of things. Climate change, the destruction of our environment, resource depletion, unemployment, poverty, the increasing gap between the rich and the poor and the appalling job this Government is doing with our future to name a few.
Someone saying something not very nice about someone else does not rate by comparison.
You really should get out more and experience things.
“It was an unfortunate comment, I sincerely regret it and I have rung her to apologise. I should not have been in that conversation and it was the wrong thing to say.”
That would have to be one of the better apologies from a politician I’ve heard (it sounded genuine).
One would have to be a fool to defend Henry – he makes a living from saying inappropriate things about people – it is practically his trademark.
As for ‘Crusher’ Collins – since she has chosen to cultivate a militant and aggressive public persona I don’t think anyone can be surprised that she is not considered good mating material – pointing it out is just stating the obvious.
Luva – Clark did not embrace the stereotype that she assigned by the media – Collins clearly has.
Anyway no one cares about this trivia apart from you and Pete G – there are more important things going on.
If Cunliffe says what Pete says he did then that’s a horrible thing to say about anyone and he shouldn’t have gone there. Apparently he’s apologised so that’s something.
These Nats are horrible in so many ways there’s no excuse for resorting to fat-hate or sexist bullshit or things to do with their families.
We don’t need to waste time on this sort of crap so let’s acknowledge the slip and the apology, and lift our game and get on with it. We’ve got an election to win after all.
I try not to consume the bias crap that spills from granny and the MSM, it’s as predictable as the Nats abuse of process and telling of the porkys is.
Focus on informing the swinging voters people, that’s the best return for the effort as CT in association with Joyce etc rigged that game long ago.
Key wouldn’t last 6 months after tranzrail against the Oz media and they certainly would’ve seen the ACC BS for what it was at the time not like the compliant extensions of govt PR we have here.
well garner and espiner get away with it because no one complains.
they are slimy little turds yet the coronation st type fawning adulation just because they are on the teevee gives them power above their station.
start writing to the papers, the teevee staion and the BSA and cut them down to size.
start writing to the papers, the teevee staion and the BSA and cut them down to size.
The papers don’t print the letters.
The teevee station pass it on to a bevy of lawyers who bury the authors’ letters in a plethora of legal mumbo jumbo.
The BSA consists of a bunch of lily livered Tory sycophants who don’t have the guts to uphold anything that might undermine their political lords and masters.
I’m mildly surprised that no-one has bothered to comment on Paul Holmes pathetic column in Granny Herald today – I’ve been thinking about it, but can’t get my brain into gear at present. Acshully if I’m really honest, I’m glad there hasn’t been a comment – because it’s really not worth commenting on. Now wait for Murphy’s Law to kick in!
I rang them and the woman said do write of course which I hope to do,even tho’ Iagree with Anne about the frustration involved. I’m hoping even even one letter pointing out the fabrication and false advertising should be enough to get them to remove it. Saw the fraud last night and the false smarm and self righteousness of it makes me so furious.
hmmm, I tend to think that the psychological impact of a physical act is the worst. The physical will heal (in most cases).
Just questioning because our society is one of the very few that has ever existed that does not allow for physical sanction to resolve conflict (except war of course). Most societies had duels or similar, or hard labour, floggings, etc. Also, the nats announcement re tougher penalties on protection orders brought it to mind again. Also, the state itself, while prohibiting the physical allows itself to conduct the physical (well, until about 1960 I think). And why does the state condemn the physical and not the psychological?
I guess the physical has the most potential to cause heavy damage if out of control, although people subjected to a long period of the psychological are generally even more badly damaged and more difficult to heal.
“There’s no way to separate #1 and #2 because both can leave you completely debilitated and unable to function.”
True, they’re interconnected, especially in long-term abuse such as domestic violence. But physical violence in something like domestic violence is experienced by innocent onlookers (children) as well as by the intended victim, whereas psychological violence might not be understood so well by kids. Physical violence can also lead to murder, so IMO for both these reasons, is worse. I guess the answer would depend on experience and circumstances. Verbal violence – awful and there is no excuse – but there are more options for the victim so to me is the lesser of the 3 evils.
Simple verbal violence is not going to hurt unless it has a psychologically violent effect.
Though depending on the level.
Ostracism and other forms of psychological torture can blight entire lives.
The same level of physical violence can be overcome.
Punchups between boys at school are common and usually quickly forgotten.
It is the psychological effect of violence and bullying which causes the ongoing hurt even if it is partly physical.
I see many parents now, who discipline their kids with put downs and what could only be described as constant psychological abuse. I am going to get flamed here, but a smack on the bum would be a lot kinder.
maybe … kids in the playground. They have some ongoing conflict. The ‘stronger’ one whacks the weaker on occasion but other than that they get on ok. Or… the ‘stronger’ one ostracises and abuses the other one on an ongoing basis resulting in the exclusion of the weaker.
but that’s just it. … it would be the ongoing psychological impact of the continuing smacks that would get to me (provided the physical damage was not damaging). ??
I guess what I was wondering was if the opinions would be similar to mine in that the psychological is at least as bad as the physical and that society needs to acknowledge that, through general daily living, legislation, media, etc etc. Currently there is an imbalance.
Well not much. In fact all three usually wallop at once. One nearly always has a component of one of the others. But verbal can be fleeting. The other tends to linger. Mr Bastard below makes a good point, and the point above about how it is slowly being acknowledged through, for example, workplace stress and bullying.
One of the most cogent factors imo is the fact that a bruise will heal quicker than a putdown. A bruise is limited in effect. A mind / spirit attack has an effect that can be widespread for the victim though more difficult to spot, as Mr Bastard says.
Side effects are usually discounted to a larger degree than is justifiable. I have just been holding the watering hose on our vege patch (and lying on the lounger) because unattended watering is a no-no in post-quake Chch with its limited water supplies. And a side effect of that is a sunburned tummy and a tiddly feeling due to beer necessities …
that the psychological is at least as bad as the physical
I actually think it’s far worse. People who have had their spirit broken don’t engage with the rest of society and tend not to do anything worthwhile with their lives due to self-doubt that has been implanted by that abuse.
National policies about welfare, especially the bene bashing that they engage in, is the state engaging in psychological abuse.
Physical violence by a nose, but they are all bad. Many people commit number 3 and then praise themselves with that childhood chant about “sticks and stones”, which is bollices in fact!
For example, Karen Carpenter became anorexic because of some verbal violence by a self-satisfied little man “reviewing” a concert by the Carpenters.
Pete George.
I see UFs’ latest fabricated concern is water quality.
How does that gel with propping up the only Political party thats promoting further degradation of our common water resource.(assuming acts gone).
Apparantly UF is also concerned about selling state assets.
Crap, Peter Dunne could announce today that hes not backing National if they go ahead with asset sales,but he wont
What UFs’ overiding concern is ,Peter Dunnes’ absolute need for an income after the 26th Nov.
Put up or shut up.
United Future have much more chance of getting action on water quality than Greens. UF#2 Doug Stevens is a strong promoter of environmental and outdoor issues and water quality is a major one.
No NZ would have a much better chance of getting action on water quality if UF didn’t continue to support a Government that has protected polluters and reduced funding for water quality.
United Future top 5 policy priorities includes: * Establishing a robust National Environmental Standard for all freshwater waterways.
If UF have a few MPs and are part of government (2 of the top 5 on the list have environment/outdoor policy priorities, 3 of the top 8, 4 of the top 10) as is likely, with the backing of Greens outside government, the UF voice is the best chance of getting something happening on this next term.
Cow crap Pete George, United Future and National have weakened environmental standards.
Actions speak louder than a thousand words.
Good bye Pete George
Good bye United Future
The 2005 Confidence and Supply Agreement between United Future and Labour included a provision that United Future would be involved in the development of a nationwide pest reduction strategy. As a result $200 000 was allocated in Budget 2007 for a consultation panel to be established to look at recreational and environmental issues surrounding deer, chamois, tahr and pigs. The panel is made up of environmental, recreational and scientific experts and intends to hold a public submission process before reporting back to Government in early 2008.
No mention of anything coming of it, or even if it happened at all. Just vague promises to talk about things at some point. Blah blah. It’s even unclear whether this was a UF initiative at all.
Also worth noting that this single pathetic environmental achievement wasn’t a result of UF working with the Nats, but with Labour.
Where’s UF’s record of working with National to protect our environment, Pete?
If UF even just get one more MP it will make a big difference to how much that can be achieved. If we get five it will impact a lot on environmental influence, especially if UF end up holding balance of power. And if we get 8 we will rock 🙂
While Peter Dunne is an essential part of UF there’s much more to the party, it’s rebuilding with some very determined outdoor interests involved. Very different to the current term.
Pete, UF has had several MPs in parliament in previous terms.
They’ve also had the influence of the outdoor recreation lobby in previous terms.
If either of those factors were relevant to UF’s record on environmental legislation, you’d be able to provide us with some examples of the achievements.
But you can’t, because there haven’t been any.
And now that UF is wedded to the Nats whose only consideration of our environment is how many cows they can pack into it, you expect us to believe they’re about to turn the corner and become green champions?
Pull the other one Pete, it’s full of mastitis. UF has had plenty of time in govt to advance any environmental agenda they might have and they’ve utterly failed to do so.
PG you should advocate for anne tolley to set and enforce them then seen as you can do so much sucking up to any one maybe you guys could suck all the pollution out of the rivers and streams . but as per usual the only one to benefit will be mr sensible he will get a ministerial appointment for being a good we boy and not rocking the boat so he can drive round in a bmw and get a ministerial pay!
Interesting interview on RNZ this morning with economist Ravi Batra. Didn’t agree with everything he said (e.g, the virtues of increased production), but his explanation about our current economic woes arising from a disparity between supply (productivity) and demand (wages) made a lot of sense to me, as a non-expert in such matters.
Thanks for the tip. Listening to it. Interesting. But I’m not sure about his faith in economic democracy coming soon, as spear-headed by the occupy movement. Over-optimistic?
Ute talks about Ravi Batra’s views on the current financial crisis.
Batra wrote a book on the coming 1997 crisis which never arrived, actually we had the .com boom.
Be wary of these economists, many are pushing a book. Harry Dent is another US economist who has his views pushing a new book.
From Fran O’Sullivan, who past shilling apart, is disturbingly saying the things I’m thinking over and over again:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10763961
“Last Saturday, Goff chalked up the plaudits for Labour having “the balls” to go where Key does not dare by raising the age of entitlement for superannuation. It didn’t seem to matter to Labour that its proposal would not be implemented until most of the baby boomers are in their 80s thus rendering it completely useless.”
Labour’s policy is still intergenerational theft. The baby boomers will in the majority be the beneficiaries of the recent tax cuts, they’ve benefited from the welfare state as they grew up and then dismantled, had their houses paid off by inflation, had their education for free and now those 44 and younger are going to be paying the cost for their retirement and health care cost.
This fucks me right off. And National are worse.
Oh and while I’m here- Kiwisaver isn’t government guaranteed making it an incredibly scary way to save for your retirement. Especially if it becomes compulsory.
While Fran O’Sullivan is technically correct; she’s overlooking the simply reality that you cannot implement this sort of policy overnight… it has to be phased in over a period of time… and as a nation we’ve left it too late.
The reason why we left it too late is because for the last 30 odd years anyone who looked like doing something about the problem got bashed by the likes of Fran O’Sullivan.
I agree, but unfortunately that’s symptomatic of our politics – bash first, and don’t care about the consequences later. Politicians, media, online media and the public all share the blame.
A priority next term, no matter what configuration of government, should be to discuss, debate, and decide the future of national super and everything related to it. One of my biggest criticisms of Key is his intransigence on this. If he remains Prime Minister he won’t deal with it of his own accord, so it needs to be forced on him.
If Labour get back in some of those baby boomers, who find themselves having to work two extra years, will be cursing Jim Bolger for scrapping the the surcharge.
Actually, I think most boomers I know would have been OK with the super age having been raised to 67yrs earlier so that they would have had to work 2 extra years.
We boomers started working believing we would retire at 60 years. The super age was raised to 65 years in the mid 90s. All the boomers I know accepted this as being necessary and don’t complain about it.
The problem is that politicians should have got onto this earlier so that the age was raised to 67 yrs before most boomers retired.
“We boomers started working believing we would retire at 60 years.”
Hmm yes and no.
Baby boomers were aged between 11 and 29 in 1975 when Muldoon lowered the age so quite a chunk ( more than 50%) started their working life when it was still 65 and therefore voted for this change along with the earlier older generation.
As important as the age change was Muldoon’s move from contribution based to universal. It is also worth noting that in 1959 a national government also removed asset (property) testing.
I have always found it somewhat odd that National doesn’t see these types of changes as increasing the welfare state and continually bleat about Labour increasing the welfare state.
The recent changes to gifting will also make it easier for people to hide their assets and declare no income so doubt more well off will now get their underage partners included and further increase the demand on the state.
National’s dishonesty in having a go at sole parents (originally partially existing as a deserted wives benefit) and the unemployed while somehow elevating the super population to some sacrosanct sacred cow is both economically and intellectually dishonest.
Bloody nice that, innit? The ‘worm’ twists peoples’ perceptions. TV debates don’t use it any more. (Thankfully)
But John Key wants (needs?) a ‘worm’ component added to debates. His government gives TV3 (how many$$?) and – hey presto! – TV3 supplies and advertises an i phone app that is essentially a worm (but even more bias) and whose activities can be broadcast during debates.
tv3 tested the worm on tv last night, just showed a random set of clips & we got to watch it go up & down, clips of key, goff, graham henry, basketball, kardashians etc…& it didnt wiggle much, complete waste of time of course, but when it finished the presenter straightaway said “oh you all liked john key didnt you?”, which was bizarre coz the worm didnt even move that mich wither way for anything! i guess he had it written on the teleprompt already, & so it goes.
Not just another candidate’s debate. Members of unions and community organisations will be speaking about their experiences and asking candidates to respond to their questions on:
WELFARE, INEQUALITY AND A LIVING WAGE — PUBLIC SERVICES, HEALTH AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION — DISABLED PEOPLE’S ISSUES — CARING WORK — ACC and more.
A bit late for the discussion on David Cunliffes bad remark but…
The question that he was asked by Henry was “who he would make children with if other passengers on a plane he was on or other Parliamentarians were the only people left on the planet.”
In that context he answered and while I would steer very far from Miss Collins persona David has apologised for something that is in the modern idiom. (Will you go out with me? No! Not even if you were the last person on the planet!)
A dumb response just the same in an election.
I see the Herald is at it again in todays issue. Is this once good paper now completly owned by the political Right and National. I just hope that Labour members will not forget the way the Herald has treated them .I hope they take my example and cancel their subscripton .
The man who whacked John Key
New Zealand Herald – Jarrod Booker – 12 hours ago
I’ll never forgive him for scamming me at padder tennis. I got done over by him.” Mr Key mentioned his run-in with Mr Buzzard when he and Labour leader Phil …
Key scammed me at tennis
The Press West Coast – 6 hours ago
The man who punched the Prime Minister while at intermediate school says he still hasn’t forgiven John Key for “scamming him” at a game of padder tennis. …
A man who punched John Key in a schoolyard spat almost 40 years ago says he was "done over" by the Prime Minister in a game of padder tennis.
Mr Key yesterday outed Greg Buzzard in a light-hearted interview for hitting him at Christchurch's Cobham Intermediate and said he still hadn't forgiven him.
Mr Buzzard said he didn't remember throwing a punch, but still recalls a dodgy umpiring decision by Mr Key which cost him his place on the court.
[…]Mr Buzzard, a competitive table tennis player, recalls the future prime minister making the wrong call against him when Mr Key was next in line to take the court.
“He definitely called it out when it wasn’t. I’ll never forgive him for scamming me at padder tennis. I got done over by him.”
Made this comment last year. I was back at NPBHS earlier in this year and still nothing has changed.
“I sure learned more about New Zealand history after leaving school than I did at it.
Part of what got me interested more deeply was going to NPBHS school centenary. Albert Wendt was an old boy and had been asked to write an article for the centennial magazine. He had previously been asked to do this for the 75th Jubilee and had written an article then about how he had to leave school to learn about Parihaka and how could this be when it was such an important part of NZ history – and so close to the school to boot.
Twenty five years later nothing had changed and so he simply asked for the article to be repeated.
A couple of years ago I met a teacher from the school and asked whether this was yet being taught, whether the school ever made the effort to visit Parihaka. Sadly Albert Wendt would have to repeat the article yet again.”
Reads to me as if the IMF is still trying to keep the neo-liberal line while saying that there’s lessons to be learned. In other words, they’ll keep doing what they’ve always done while saying that they’ll consider other options.
Anne, you are right. the papers are the problem.
the easiset way to get at the manques is to name them on a blog.
eventually the search engines pick it up and hopefully it goes viral.
It is amazing how naive kiwis are and how they let little arsewipes like garner and espiner tell them what to think.
I ran across a recent essay from The Brothers Krynn, which attempts to map common horror monsters onto the Seven Deadly Sins: https://canadianculturecorner.substack.com/p/horror-monsters-and-vice My interest, however, is not in the meat of the piece, but rather the opening paragraph: It is an interesting fact that in recent decades, Vampires have ...
Buzz from the Beehive Transport Minister Simeon Brown dutifully issued advice to all road users to keep safe on our roads during the Easter weekend. He encouraged them to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. ...
Oliver Hartwich writes – New Zealanders recently learned about a new feature film. It will be about former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern – and taxpayers will subsidise it to the tune of NZ$800,000. Ardern had nothing personally to do with either the film or the subsidy. But her government’s ...
TL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above that was recorded yesterday afternoon above between and The Kākā’s climate correspondent : An independent review panel into the emergency response to Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawkes Bayconcluded “that ...
There are now only a few days left to give feedback on the Draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport 2024-34 (see our earlier post this week on GPS submission guides). As we’ve reported, the GPS is a disaster for Local Government, so we were particularly interested to hear ...
Willis has pledged to go ahead with the debt-funded tax cuts, despite growing opposition from her own supporters worried about appearing fiscally irresponsible. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for ...
Open access notables A survey of interventions to actively conserve the frozen North, van Wijngaarden et al., Climatic Change:The frozen elements of the high North are thawing as the region warms much faster than the global mean. The dangers of sea level rise due to melting glacier ice, increased ...
Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure. The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On ...
In 2015, then-Prime Minister John Key announced plans for a huge ocean sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands, banning fishing and mining from 15% of Aotearoa's EEZ. It was bold, it was ambitious, and it suggested that National might actually care about the environment. Except they fucked it up: Key failed ...
1. Who has just been given the accolade New Zealander of the Year?a. The Kokakob. The Cook Strait Ferryc. Fair God. Dr Jim Salinger 2. Which of these is an affront to decent society?a. Dame Edna Everageb. Mrs Doubtfire c. Dr. Frank-N-Furterd. Brian 3. Who is Penny Simmonds?a. The aspiring actress in Big ...
New Zealand’s biggest-ever political donations scandal is finally at an end. But what is the conclusion? No one can really be sure.The Court of Appeal released its judgement on Tuesday about the Serious Fraud Office case against the NZ First Foundation. On the face of it, the court found ...
Buzz from the Beehive Waves of rain are set to lash much of the North Island during Easter Weekend as a low-pressure system forms east of New Zealand, according to a weather forecast published in the past day or so. Niwa was warning of a “moisture-laden” long weekend, with rain expected ...
Look around us…Nicola Willis’ promises of balancing the books, of cutting spending without reducing services, and of delivering game changing tax cuts are disappearing before her eyes.Everyday we see stories of violent crime ending in horrific injuries, or worse. The cost of living worsens, whereas the PM claimed renters would ...
TL;DR: My top six news of note on the morning of Thursday, March 28 include:The Government will have to borrow between $10 billion to $15 billion more than previously expected in order to make up for a slowing economy and to pay for $14.9 billion of tax cuts, according to ...
This story by Naveena Sadasivam and Kate Yoder was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The long-awaited jobs board for the American Climate Corps, promised early in the Biden administration, will open next month, according to details shared exclusively ...
Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don’t think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of ...
Treasury’s first report on the economy since the change of government presents a damning indictment of Labour’s economic management. The problem for National is that it is so damning that logically, coupled with a rapidly slowing economy, Finance Minister Nicola Willis should respond to it by postponing or even cancelling ...
Budget tensions are becoming evident within the Coalition Government. Winston Peters made numerous political points in his speech to the NZF annual conference. But the attack on his own government’s fiscal policies raised issues of substance. ‘Today in the Sunday Star Times, journalist and former advisor to the Labour ...
Buzz from the Beehive The media – sure enough – have been binging on Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ release of the Budget Policy Statement and a statement headed Government announces Budget priorities This assures us – or rather, this parrots the Luxon team mantra – that the Budget “will deliver ...
The Ides of March brought me COVID followed by a bereavement. No wonder they tell you to be careful of them.I’m home now and have resumed the interrupted recuperation. Very much looking forward to getting back to regular things. Meanwhile, some thoughts…OneThis new Prime Minister guy just keeps getting more dire. ...
News that the Chinese ATP 40 cyber-hacking unit penetrated parliamentary internet networks in 2021 has renewed concerns about the PRC’s malign intentions in Aotearoa. But is the hack that significant given the length of time that has passed since its … Continue reading → ...
When Parliament passed the Intelligence and security Act in 2017, they assured us all that it was full of safeguards. Any intrusive surveillance of New Zealanders would be subject to a "triple lock", requiring the approval of the Minister and (supposedly independent) Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, as well as post-facto ...
Eric Crampton writes – Richard Harman’s Politik newsletter provides a bit of the context that ought to have been showing up in other media reports on potential reductions in public service staffing. Media has been reporting on staffing cuts on the order of about 7%. Is that ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – It’s becoming increasingly apparent that many perceive free speech to have become the preserve of the politically right wing, the religiously conservative, the libertarian fringe, the anti-trans, the anti-Māori and…. well, just fill in with whatever groups or individuals you don’t like and don’t ...
Don Brash writes – As everybody who is not blind and deaf is aware, there is a huge political preoccupation with climate change at the moment, a widespread (though by no means unanimous) belief that global temperatures are rising mainly as a result of the greenhouse gases created ...
TL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy on Wednesday, March 27 include:Chris Bishop laid out his vision for filling Aotearoa-NZ’s $100 billion infrastructure deficit in a speech yesterday, emphasising user pays and private funding, but failed to say how to achieve bipartisanship on population, public borrowing and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Former Finance Minister Grant Robertson and former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins have been conveying how unhappy they are with the tax system. Last week in his valedictory speech, Robertson called for the introduction of a wealth or capital gains tax. And this week Hipkins ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
COMMENTARY:By Ronny Kareni Since the atrocious footage of the suffering of an indigenous Papuan man reverberates in the heart of Puncak by the brute force of Indonesia’s army in early February, shocking tactics deployed by those in power to silence critics has been unfolding. Nowhere is this more evident ...
Analysis - Nicola Willis is holding firm on tax cuts despite the economic outlook being worse than forecast and critics urging her to wait, writes Peter Wilson for The Week In Politics. ...
Opposition MPs and unions are criticising a proposal by New Zealand’s Ministry of Pacific Peoples to cut staff by 40 percent. The country’s largest trade union — The Public Service Association — says the ministry has informed staff that it is looking to shed 63 of 156 positions. Opposition MPs ...
A poem by Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook 2024 featured poet Carin Smeaton. Daughtr of the 90s when she gets promoted to usherette a baby blu eel carries her all the way up to mothership she’s hovering high she lets the underaged in to see keanu reeves she lets the only lonely ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. My earlier article – Can ‘Good’ be the Greater Evil? – looked at the issue of how wars should end, and how Good versus Evil ...
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 AMMA by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press, $38)A stunning debut novel reviewed by Brannavan ...
From Steve Martin to Ricky Stanicky, a pick’n’mix of things worth watching and listening to this long weekend. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If you’re at a loss for something to occupy yourself with this Easter, don’t panic: The Spinoff’s got ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 29 March appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Miller-Jones, Professor, Curtin University Nuclear explosions on a neutron star feed its jets. Danielle Futselaar and Nathalie Degenaar, Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, CC BY-SA How fast can a neutron star drive powerful jets into space? The answer, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Shutterstock The federal government has bowed to pressure from the car industry, announcing it will relax proposed emissions rules for utes and vans and delay enforcement of the new standards ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Rutland, Professor Emerita, University of Sydney In his latest book, Jewish Life in Medieval Spain, Jonathan Ray focuses on the tumult of the 14th century in Spain – a time of the plague, civil strife and war between the two largest ...
While creating a slate of world-class shows, Whakaata Māori also developed a generation of world-class creatives. Television is an odd word. It mixes the Ancient Greek and Latin languages, and its most literal meaning is “far-off sight”. In the contemporary and living language of te reo Māori, “whakaata” as a ...
Yesterday the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. This significant step and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza prompted an urgent debate in the New Zealand Parliament. Leader ...
The Government’s decision to reduce access to continuous glucose monitors (CGM) not only threatens the lives of children with type 1 diabetes and increases the potential for ‘Dead in Bed’ syndrome, but also threatens the health of their parents an ...
Apples are available year-round, but the wide variety on offer involves intensive scientific research – and large-scale commercialisation. What’s beautiful, red, sweet and crunchy? Tony Martin’s favourite kind of apple: Sassy. The CEO of apple and pear breeding organisation Prevar, Martin’s fondness for Sassy represents professional success as well as ...
Family violence specialist service Shine is calling on employers to stop asking for proof of domestic violence in order for employees to access domestic violence leave. The call comes five years after the introduction of the Domestic Violence ...
The Deputy Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for public submissions on the Budget Policy Statement 2024. The Budget Policy Statement 2024 (BPS) sets out the Government's priorities for the 2024 Budget. It explains the approach ...
Brutal government spending cuts that will see the size of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples slashed by 40% will hit Pasifika communities hard, the PSA says. The Ministry has told staff that it is seeking voluntary redundancies, and to redeploy and reassign ...
I live with five people I mostly love, but our different ideas about generosity are starting to really irk me.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,This is a bit of a random one but here goes. I’m 22 and work an OK job (OK meaning I get paid ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria Nicholas, Senior Lecturer in Language and Literacy Education, Deakin University Earlier this month, the New South Wales government announced it would roll out programs for gifted students in every public school in the state. This comes amid concerns gifted school ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Rudge, Law lecturer, University of Sydney Massachusetts General Hospital In a world first, we heard last week that US surgeons had transplanted a kidney from a gene-edited pig into a living human. News reports said the procedure was a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Tombs, Howard Paterson Chair of Theology and Public Issues, University of Otago The 5th-century Maskell panel showing Jesus in a loincloth.British Museum, CC BY-NC-SA When Jesus is shown on the cross, he is almost always depicted wearing a loincloth around ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University Shutterstock When you think about a red object, you might picture a red carpet, or the massive ruby in the Queen’s crown. Indeed, Western monarchies and marketing from brands such ...
COMMENTARY:Jewish Voice for Peace The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Monday — and for the first time since the beginning of the Israeli military’s genocide of Palestinians, the United States abstained rather than vetoing it. Security Council resolutions are legally binding, ...
Asia Pacific Report A New Zealand investigative journalist and author says the US spy system hosted by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) appears to be a controversial intelligence system used in global capture-kill operations. Writing a commentary for RNZ News today, Nicky Hager, author of Secret Power, a 1996 ...
While Nicola Willis wouldn’t give any details on its size, she said a package of tax cuts is definitely still coming in this year’s budget, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the investigation into the Department of Internal Affairs after it was revealed that the Department’s Chief Executive personally reached out to expedite a DJs passport application. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns ...
Finance minister Nicola Willis delivers her first budget statement, and unwittingly helps Joel MacManus save his relationship. Nicola Willis strode into the Beehive Theatrette. Around me, on the green foldout seats, were the country’s top business and political journalists. They were all here to see her announce the Budget Policy ...
Twenty years ago today, Māori Television launched after much controversy. Jamie Tahana looks back on its survival and impact across two decades. Chad Chambers stepped onto the stage, the brim of his cap casting a shadow across his face. His smile beamed as bright as his white freezing works gumboots, ...
Tauranga, Rotorua, Wellsford, Onehunga, Westhaven marina – Gavin Strawhan walks the meanish streets of New Zealand in his entertaining debut novel The Call, almost sure to roar into the number 1 position on the Nielsen bestseller chart, its front cover bearing a rave from somebody: “A really good and genuinely ...
On a Thursday in February, at Wellington’s Conservation House, the Conservation Authority, a statutory body advising the eponymous department and minister, Tama Potaka, opened its 195th meeting. Under consideration that afternoon was an agenda item written by Tim Bamford, chief advisor in the Department of Conservation’s biodiversity, heritage and visitors ...
The MSM are palpably relieved their chosen one has got his ‘mojo’ back,
Not any coherent substance, just his mojo.(ability to shout slogans over someone else speaking)
But hey, thats good enough for Garner and co.
Even a cursory glance at Keys record at forecasting growth /jobs, shows how completely unhinged from reality he is.
Garner, your ghost journalism isn’t keeping the country informed bro.
Garners dribbling performance on last nights news was appalling to me. I suspect that since he put all his eggs in Key’s basket, now his credibility is on the line and is desperate that Phil does not do well.
Bennet in the Herald thinks Labour’s books are $400mil out whereas Key now says its um $6bil out. What happened to the $17bil that Key/English said they were out? Questions from Garner? Never!
In spite of the quality of modern communications it seems to me that Key etc have managed to deflate enthusiasm for scrutiny and participation. Democracy? In our hands be it.
Garner would be at home on Fox News. His bias is appalling.
The gnome in the Herald today
“… New Zealanders no longer have control and have to endure the rapaciousness of privatised Telecom for 30 years…”
Come, come. Such strident vocabulary.
How come it has taken you so long to vent in such a way about privatisation?
Your little darling Jokey get a bit bruised, did he?
Some awful comments by Paul Henry on Metiria Turia, followed by David Cunliffe with a nasty personal attack:
“I have thought that if Judith Collins was the last woman on earth, the species would probably become extinct.”
Sound clip here.
Pete you need to get out more. And you need to get a sense of humor. And you should not run Slater attack lines.
Neither Henry’s nor Cunliffe’s comments were humorous to me. My wife was appalled.
If you got out more, ooyside your red bubble, you wouild know how pissed off many people are with the behaviour of politicians. It’s obviously not all politicians that give them a bad name, I’d expect Goff to be very embarrassed by this.
“how pissed off many people are with the behaviour of politicians”
yeah like you pete and your singlehanded attempted demolition of hope and the future – I hope you’re proud of yourself – how’s occupypete going falsetalker?
and have you tried being positive instead of the slime tactics – you could be a hero pete not a zero and you may actually get legitamised for wearing your undies over your trousers unlike now where people just don’t get it.
People are getting it marty, people who want to make a difference. I get attacked by people who don’t want party power moved to people power.
Back to the issue raised, what do you think of what Henry and Cunliffe said?
Acceptable bloky banter or a bad look?
Or are you just going to attack me for mentioning that too?
I am attacking the constant grubbing around to find an issue to get airtme pete – as for what they have said I haven’t listened and won’t – it’s nothing new just the same old same old.
You don’t have to listen, I included the quote in my first comment here – did you not boither to read what this is actually about?
I don’t think that’s acceptable from any broadcaster or politician.
Pete enought with the faux outrage.
I get upset about a number of things. Climate change, the destruction of our environment, resource depletion, unemployment, poverty, the increasing gap between the rich and the poor and the appalling job this Government is doing with our future to name a few.
Someone saying something not very nice about someone else does not rate by comparison.
You really should get out more and experience things.
Cunliffe has just apologised on The Nation and says he has apologised to Judith Collins.
He must have apologised because of your bleating here, Pete.
And Judith has graciously accepted the apology.
“It was an unfortunate comment, I sincerely regret it and I have rung her to apologise. I should not have been in that conversation and it was the wrong thing to say.”
That would have to be one of the better apologies from a politician I’ve heard (it sounded genuine).
Please take note then Pete so you can better imitate the tone of voice.
You have a wife!
Micky, are you honestly trying to defend cunliffe and Henry.
One would have to be a fool to defend Henry – he makes a living from saying inappropriate things about people – it is practically his trademark.
As for ‘Crusher’ Collins – since she has chosen to cultivate a militant and aggressive public persona I don’t think anyone can be surprised that she is not considered good mating material – pointing it out is just stating the obvious.
Just change the name Collins for Clark
Now how does it sit?
Luva – Clark did not embrace the stereotype that she assigned by the media – Collins clearly has.
Anyway no one cares about this trivia apart from you and Pete G – there are more important things going on.
I would rather gnaw my toe nails than defend Henry.
But you would defend Cunlifffe even if your foot was in your mouth?
Typical left wing arrogance. Purporting to speak on behalf of all
Where?
Lol I bet this pissed a few people off… they were probably all National voters anyway 🙂
Ms. Collins is late-fifties, early-sixties? I’d wager that Judith Collins is likely post-menopausal and therefore I reckon the comment to be accurate.
🙂
And like most of the cabinet she was raised in Matamata – probably the most racist little shithole in NZ
Oh for fuck’s sake all of you get a grip.
If Cunliffe says what Pete says he did then that’s a horrible thing to say about anyone and he shouldn’t have gone there. Apparently he’s apologised so that’s something.
These Nats are horrible in so many ways there’s no excuse for resorting to fat-hate or sexist bullshit or things to do with their families.
We don’t need to waste time on this sort of crap so let’s acknowledge the slip and the apology, and lift our game and get on with it. We’ve got an election to win after all.
I reckon he apoligised because her husbands from Samoa and a former cop so hes worried he might get the bash
But I agree, it was a pretty tasteless comment and hes apoligised so time to move on and focus on the rest of Labours joke campaign
So Pete would you take her out for a hoon ?
How about throwing Basher Bennett in the back of the van for a quicky ? Nah ?…Steaming Hot Tolley more your cup of tea ?
ooh you are awful…
remember the old saying the truth hurts. !
Well to tell the truth one look into those cold eyes would put even the most desparate man off. Only women left or not.
It seems like the bullies are cheering on the other bullies. Duncan Garner’s comments on 3 news last night a good example.
The MSM coverage of the election is sickening.
Perhaps we should start interventions to rescue some of the MSM reporters before it’s too late and they completely overdose on brand Key.
I try not to consume the bias crap that spills from granny and the MSM, it’s as predictable as the Nats abuse of process and telling of the porkys is.
Focus on informing the swinging voters people, that’s the best return for the effort as CT in association with Joyce etc rigged that game long ago.
Key wouldn’t last 6 months after tranzrail against the Oz media and they certainly would’ve seen the ACC BS for what it was at the time not like the compliant extensions of govt PR we have here.
STV in Australia is an essential monopoly for neo-liberalism. They
even fine people for not voting.
well garner and espiner get away with it because no one complains.
they are slimy little turds yet the coronation st type fawning adulation just because they are on the teevee gives them power above their station.
start writing to the papers, the teevee staion and the BSA and cut them down to size.
start writing to the papers, the teevee staion and the BSA and cut them down to size.
The papers don’t print the letters.
The teevee station pass it on to a bevy of lawyers who bury the authors’ letters in a plethora of legal mumbo jumbo.
The BSA consists of a bunch of lily livered Tory sycophants who don’t have the guts to uphold anything that might undermine their political lords and masters.
We need a left wing MSM
I’m mildly surprised that no-one has bothered to comment on Paul Holmes pathetic column in Granny Herald today – I’ve been thinking about it, but can’t get my brain into gear at present. Acshully if I’m really honest, I’m glad there hasn’t been a comment – because it’s really not worth commenting on. Now wait for Murphy’s Law to kick in!
Has any one written to the advertising council regarding nationals infrastructure election ad using Labour’s infrastucture as examples?
http://thestandard.org.nz/nats-ad-claims-credit-for-labs-infrastructure/
I rang them and the woman said do write of course which I hope to do,even tho’ Iagree with Anne about the frustration involved. I’m hoping even even one letter pointing out the fabrication and false advertising should be enough to get them to remove it. Saw the fraud last night and the false smarm and self righteousness of it makes me so furious.
A question for standardistas … Which of these is worse?
1. Physical violence.
2. Psychological violence.
3. Verbal violence.
I’d have to say that #3 is certainly the least bad, as it can only potentially lead to #2.
There’s no way to separate #1 and #2 because both can leave you completely debilitated and unable to function.
hmmm, I tend to think that the psychological impact of a physical act is the worst. The physical will heal (in most cases).
Just questioning because our society is one of the very few that has ever existed that does not allow for physical sanction to resolve conflict (except war of course). Most societies had duels or similar, or hard labour, floggings, etc. Also, the nats announcement re tougher penalties on protection orders brought it to mind again. Also, the state itself, while prohibiting the physical allows itself to conduct the physical (well, until about 1960 I think). And why does the state condemn the physical and not the psychological?
I guess the physical has the most potential to cause heavy damage if out of control, although people subjected to a long period of the psychological are generally even more badly damaged and more difficult to heal.
Probably because for a long time psychological damage wasn’t even recognised but that’s now changing. Look at new laws about workplace stress etc.
“There’s no way to separate #1 and #2 because both can leave you completely debilitated and unable to function.”
True, they’re interconnected, especially in long-term abuse such as domestic violence. But physical violence in something like domestic violence is experienced by innocent onlookers (children) as well as by the intended victim, whereas psychological violence might not be understood so well by kids. Physical violence can also lead to murder, so IMO for both these reasons, is worse. I guess the answer would depend on experience and circumstances. Verbal violence – awful and there is no excuse – but there are more options for the victim so to me is the lesser of the 3 evils.
I think all 3 are equally bad. They just affect people in different ways.
I agree one and two are equal..
Simple verbal violence is not going to hurt unless it has a psychologically violent effect.
Though depending on the level.
Ostracism and other forms of psychological torture can blight entire lives.
The same level of physical violence can be overcome.
Punchups between boys at school are common and usually quickly forgotten.
It is the psychological effect of violence and bullying which causes the ongoing hurt even if it is partly physical.
I see many parents now, who discipline their kids with put downs and what could only be described as constant psychological abuse. I am going to get flamed here, but a smack on the bum would be a lot kinder.
That is a real shame to hear kjt.
You are more likely to die from Physical violence than the other two.
The world is still ruled by violence and thats not about to change any time soon.
Not sure which is worse, death of the body, or death of the spirit (which then leads to premature disease and death of the body).
I guess it depends.
Can you give an example?
maybe … kids in the playground. They have some ongoing conflict. The ‘stronger’ one whacks the weaker on occasion but other than that they get on ok. Or… the ‘stronger’ one ostracises and abuses the other one on an ongoing basis resulting in the exclusion of the weaker.
Ok so would you rather be ostracised from a group, told you’re useless or smacked in the face?
Assuming all of the above will happen on a regular basis.
smacked in the face.
but that’s just it. … it would be the ongoing psychological impact of the continuing smacks that would get to me (provided the physical damage was not damaging). ??
Appreciate the opinions. Keep ’em coming.
I guess what I was wondering was if the opinions would be similar to mine in that the psychological is at least as bad as the physical and that society needs to acknowledge that, through general daily living, legislation, media, etc etc. Currently there is an imbalance.
What’s the practical difference between verbal and psychological violence as you see it?
Well not much. In fact all three usually wallop at once. One nearly always has a component of one of the others. But verbal can be fleeting. The other tends to linger. Mr Bastard below makes a good point, and the point above about how it is slowly being acknowledged through, for example, workplace stress and bullying.
One of the most cogent factors imo is the fact that a bruise will heal quicker than a putdown. A bruise is limited in effect. A mind / spirit attack has an effect that can be widespread for the victim though more difficult to spot, as Mr Bastard says.
Side effects are usually discounted to a larger degree than is justifiable. I have just been holding the watering hose on our vege patch (and lying on the lounger) because unattended watering is a no-no in post-quake Chch with its limited water supplies. And a side effect of that is a sunburned tummy and a tiddly feeling due to beer necessities …
I actually think it’s far worse. People who have had their spirit broken don’t engage with the rest of society and tend not to do anything worthwhile with their lives due to self-doubt that has been implanted by that abuse.
National policies about welfare, especially the bene bashing that they engage in, is the state engaging in psychological abuse.
Physical violence by a nose, but they are all bad. Many people commit number 3 and then praise themselves with that childhood chant about “sticks and stones”, which is bollices in fact!
For example, Karen Carpenter became anorexic because of some verbal violence by a self-satisfied little man “reviewing” a concert by the Carpenters.
Pete George.
I see UFs’ latest fabricated concern is water quality.
How does that gel with propping up the only Political party thats promoting further degradation of our common water resource.(assuming acts gone).
Apparantly UF is also concerned about selling state assets.
Crap, Peter Dunne could announce today that hes not backing National if they go ahead with asset sales,but he wont
What UFs’ overiding concern is ,Peter Dunnes’ absolute need for an income after the 26th Nov.
Put up or shut up.
United Future have much more chance of getting action on water quality than Greens. UF#2 Doug Stevens is a strong promoter of environmental and outdoor issues and water quality is a major one.
Stevens is far more likely to be an infuential part of the next government than anyone from Greens. He has a good track record: http://yournz.org/2011/11/03/blogview-uf2-doug-stevens/
No NZ would have a much better chance of getting action on water quality if UF didn’t continue to support a Government that has protected polluters and reduced funding for water quality.
United Future top 5 policy priorities includes:
* Establishing a robust National Environmental Standard for all freshwater waterways.
If UF have a few MPs and are part of government (2 of the top 5 on the list have environment/outdoor policy priorities, 3 of the top 8, 4 of the top 10) as is likely, with the backing of Greens outside government, the UF voice is the best chance of getting something happening on this next term.
Cow crap Pete George, United Future and National have weakened environmental standards.
Actions speak louder than a thousand words.
Good bye Pete George
Good bye United Future
Nonsense Pete.
A couple of weeks ago I asked you what Dunne and UF had ever done with regard to environmental legislation and all you could point to was a this note on their website: http://www.unitedfuture.org.nz/balanced-pest-game-management/
No mention of anything coming of it, or even if it happened at all. Just vague promises to talk about things at some point. Blah blah. It’s even unclear whether this was a UF initiative at all.
Also worth noting that this single pathetic environmental achievement wasn’t a result of UF working with the Nats, but with Labour.
Where’s UF’s record of working with National to protect our environment, Pete?
Nowhere, that’s where.
One MP limits what you can influence. Next term that will change, with significant and determined outdoor/environmental voices being added to the mix.
It has already been happening – http://yournz.org/2011/11/03/blogview-uf2-doug-stevens/ – but it’s not something the media are interested in, so if you don’t look for it you don’t find out.
If UF even just get one more MP it will make a big difference to how much that can be achieved. If we get five it will impact a lot on environmental influence, especially if UF end up holding balance of power. And if we get 8 we will rock 🙂
While Peter Dunne is an essential part of UF there’s much more to the party, it’s rebuilding with some very determined outdoor interests involved. Very different to the current term.
Pete, UF has had several MPs in parliament in previous terms.
They’ve also had the influence of the outdoor recreation lobby in previous terms.
If either of those factors were relevant to UF’s record on environmental legislation, you’d be able to provide us with some examples of the achievements.
But you can’t, because there haven’t been any.
And now that UF is wedded to the Nats whose only consideration of our environment is how many cows they can pack into it, you expect us to believe they’re about to turn the corner and become green champions?
Pull the other one Pete, it’s full of mastitis. UF has had plenty of time in govt to advance any environmental agenda they might have and they’ve utterly failed to do so.
No, you’re wrong, UF haven’t had anywhere near the outdoor influence as high in the party that they have now. It’s a significant change.
How many years has Peter Dunne been an MP now Pete?
Not as long as Phil Goff, who’s saying he would do things he hasn’t already done. I presume then you don’t believe he’d do anything different either.
Phil Goff was there when NZ went nuclear free. It seems to me that Goff is well ahead of Dunne on actual environmental achievements.
PG you should advocate for anne tolley to set and enforce them then seen as you can do so much sucking up to any one maybe you guys could suck all the pollution out of the rivers and streams . but as per usual the only one to benefit will be mr sensible he will get a ministerial appointment for being a good we boy and not rocking the boat so he can drive round in a bmw and get a ministerial pay!
PG how come under your watch i.e. 1 man band the rivers have deteriorated markedly
Can you show evidence of that?
Have cows only started shitting in the last three years?
Interesting interview on RNZ this morning with economist Ravi Batra. Didn’t agree with everything he said (e.g, the virtues of increased production), but his explanation about our current economic woes arising from a disparity between supply (productivity) and demand (wages) made a lot of sense to me, as a non-expert in such matters.
Thanks for the tip. Listening to it. Interesting. But I’m not sure about his faith in economic democracy coming soon, as spear-headed by the occupy movement. Over-optimistic?
Ravi Batra:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/20111105
4. Cultural Violence
Perhaps Adele, in the wider sense. Anyone with maori, scot, jewish, muslim, irish, waitaha … (add as appropriate) ancestry could relate to that.
Actually I find Henry and Cunliffe’s comments trivial compared to Campbell Larsons nasty vindictive wishing the Mad Butcher “would hurry up and die”
Careful Wayne91, I’m just itching to use my voodoo again, and you seem like a a deserving recipient.
Ute talks about Ravi Batra’s views on the current financial crisis.
Batra wrote a book on the coming 1997 crisis which never arrived, actually we had the .com boom.
Be wary of these economists, many are pushing a book. Harry Dent is another US economist who has his views pushing a new book.
Woooo Campbell Larson Im terrified of some faceless coward who makes nasty comments and threatens people form behind thier keyboard
Lolz – I warned you buddy, getting out the pins now…
From Fran O’Sullivan, who past shilling apart, is disturbingly saying the things I’m thinking over and over again:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10763961
“Last Saturday, Goff chalked up the plaudits for Labour having “the balls” to go where Key does not dare by raising the age of entitlement for superannuation. It didn’t seem to matter to Labour that its proposal would not be implemented until most of the baby boomers are in their 80s thus rendering it completely useless.”
Labour’s policy is still intergenerational theft. The baby boomers will in the majority be the beneficiaries of the recent tax cuts, they’ve benefited from the welfare state as they grew up and then dismantled, had their houses paid off by inflation, had their education for free and now those 44 and younger are going to be paying the cost for their retirement and health care cost.
This fucks me right off. And National are worse.
Oh and while I’m here- Kiwisaver isn’t government guaranteed making it an incredibly scary way to save for your retirement. Especially if it becomes compulsory.
As you were.
While Fran O’Sullivan is technically correct; she’s overlooking the simply reality that you cannot implement this sort of policy overnight… it has to be phased in over a period of time… and as a nation we’ve left it too late.
The reason why we left it too late is because for the last 30 odd years anyone who looked like doing something about the problem got bashed by the likes of Fran O’Sullivan.
I agree, but unfortunately that’s symptomatic of our politics – bash first, and don’t care about the consequences later. Politicians, media, online media and the public all share the blame.
A priority next term, no matter what configuration of government, should be to discuss, debate, and decide the future of national super and everything related to it. One of my biggest criticisms of Key is his intransigence on this. If he remains Prime Minister he won’t deal with it of his own accord, so it needs to be forced on him.
If Labour get back in some of those baby boomers, who find themselves having to work two extra years, will be cursing Jim Bolger for scrapping the the surcharge.
Actually, I think most boomers I know would have been OK with the super age having been raised to 67yrs earlier so that they would have had to work 2 extra years.
We boomers started working believing we would retire at 60 years. The super age was raised to 65 years in the mid 90s. All the boomers I know accepted this as being necessary and don’t complain about it.
The problem is that politicians should have got onto this earlier so that the age was raised to 67 yrs before most boomers retired.
“We boomers started working believing we would retire at 60 years.”
Hmm yes and no.
Baby boomers were aged between 11 and 29 in 1975 when Muldoon lowered the age so quite a chunk ( more than 50%) started their working life when it was still 65 and therefore voted for this change along with the earlier older generation.
As important as the age change was Muldoon’s move from contribution based to universal. It is also worth noting that in 1959 a national government also removed asset (property) testing.
I have always found it somewhat odd that National doesn’t see these types of changes as increasing the welfare state and continually bleat about Labour increasing the welfare state.
The recent changes to gifting will also make it easier for people to hide their assets and declare no income so doubt more well off will now get their underage partners included and further increase the demand on the state.
National’s dishonesty in having a go at sole parents (originally partially existing as a deserted wives benefit) and the unemployed while somehow elevating the super population to some sacrosanct sacred cow is both economically and intellectually dishonest.
so can we at least reverse the tax cuts then?
and get started with the phasing in the age change sooner?
I just feel like the baby boomers are the reason a we are doing this and they aren’t having to chip in at all. Felt like that for a while.
@mikesh if it only applies to those currently 44 and under that ISN’T the baby boom
The Worm Turns
The worm in fact refers to a little squiggly line that walks across peoples TV and is meant to register the publics votes about the broadcast.
Bloody nice that, innit? The ‘worm’ twists peoples’ perceptions. TV debates don’t use it any more. (Thankfully)
But John Key wants (needs?) a ‘worm’ component added to debates. His government gives TV3 (how many$$?) and – hey presto! – TV3 supplies and advertises an i phone app that is essentially a worm (but even more bias) and whose activities can be broadcast during debates.
tv3 tested the worm on tv last night, just showed a random set of clips & we got to watch it go up & down, clips of key, goff, graham henry, basketball, kardashians etc…& it didnt wiggle much, complete waste of time of course, but when it finished the presenter straightaway said “oh you all liked john key didnt you?”, which was bizarre coz the worm didnt even move that mich wither way for anything! i guess he had it written on the teleprompt already, & so it goes.
Didn’t John Key’s government bailout TV3 and lend them about $35 million dollars?
Of course they would have to say that – TV3 is compromised.
$43 million to Mediaworks.
Political Speed Dating
Not just another candidate’s debate. Members of unions and community organisations will be speaking about their experiences and asking candidates to respond to their questions on:
WELFARE, INEQUALITY AND A LIVING WAGE — PUBLIC SERVICES, HEALTH AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION — DISABLED PEOPLE’S ISSUES — CARING WORK — ACC and more.
A bit late for the discussion on David Cunliffes bad remark but…
The question that he was asked by Henry was “who he would make children with if other passengers on a plane he was on or other Parliamentarians were the only people left on the planet.”
In that context he answered and while I would steer very far from Miss Collins persona David has apologised for something that is in the modern idiom. (Will you go out with me? No! Not even if you were the last person on the planet!)
A dumb response just the same in an election.
ffs, that question says everything about the wanker Henry.
And Cunliffe’s lack of judgement in even going there.
Was this a set up by Henry?
Move Your Money
Today the Occupy movement has reminded us that it’s Move Your Money day, which targets banks where it hurts…
I see the Herald is at it again in todays issue. Is this once good paper now completly owned by the political Right and National. I just hope that Labour members will not forget the way the Herald has treated them .I hope they take my example and cancel their subscripton .
http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5914711/Do-you-forgive-me-John-Key
Fuck you, MSM, this is not important! Hang your heads in shame as your business model erodes beneath you.
Actually when that article first appeared, and when I first saw it on Stuff, it’s headline was scammed by John Key
The headlines show up in a google search, but the article has been changed;
http://www.google.co.nz/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&tbm=nws&source=hp&q=Key+scammed+me+at+tennis+&pbx=1&oq=Key+scammed+me+at+tennis+&aq=f&aqi=&aql=1&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=209131l209131l2l209585l1l1l0l0l0l0l344l344l3-1l1l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=baf810a18c8a65f5&biw=1152&bih=678
NZH version:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10763998
Cancelled my subscription.
130 years ago today race relations in NZ took a backward step
130 years ago today, people were choosing to live a life that was different to that introduced by the settlers.
130 years ago today, the nation should remember what happened, and hang it’s head in shame,.
Remember Parihaka.
Remember wanton bloodshed and rape.
Remember that the government condoned it then.
And still condone it now.
Where’s the apology? Where’s the remembrance?
Oh, there is none. And very little in the media about it too.
Made this comment last year. I was back at NPBHS earlier in this year and still nothing has changed.
“I sure learned more about New Zealand history after leaving school than I did at it.
Part of what got me interested more deeply was going to NPBHS school centenary. Albert Wendt was an old boy and had been asked to write an article for the centennial magazine. He had previously been asked to do this for the 75th Jubilee and had written an article then about how he had to leave school to learn about Parihaka and how could this be when it was such an important part of NZ history – and so close to the school to boot.
Twenty five years later nothing had changed and so he simply asked for the article to be repeated.
A couple of years ago I met a teacher from the school and asked whether this was yet being taught, whether the school ever made the effort to visit Parihaka. Sadly Albert Wendt would have to repeat the article yet again.”
John Roughan saying Goff has no class.
Nixon should have got up and said “I’m not a crook. I just live in a dinamic environment”
I remember Terry Pratchett saying that the rich are never crazy, just eccentric.
John Roughan is right in a sense: Goff has no respect of class. If Key told a lie, he isn’t dinimac, he’s a liar.
Iceland’s Unorthodox Policies Suggest Alternative Way Out of Crisis – IMF Survey online
Decision not to make taxpayers liable for bank losses was right, economists say.
Iceland set an example by managing to preserve, and even strengthen, its welfare state during the crisis.
Recent IMF research has shown that countries tend to grow faster and more consistently when income distribution is more equitable.
Capital controls were necessary and are now seen as useful addition to policy toolkit.
There are clear advantages to having a heterodox toolkit – more tools are better than fewer.
More here: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2011/CAR110311A.htm
That IMF link is fascinating. Remarkable because of who is saying it.
Quietly it amounts to a complete repudiation of the entire neo-liberal madness.
Don’t get too excited. The IMF is still acting to help the top 0.1% exploit the physical resources and assets of the 99.9% at very cheap rates.
Also watch this from 12 mins (Keiser Report ep 205; interview with Icelandic MP
Lesson: don’t believe the PR of the new “cuddly” IMF.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlzgtbEY-Vc
Reads to me as if the IMF is still trying to keep the neo-liberal line while saying that there’s lessons to be learned. In other words, they’ll keep doing what they’ve always done while saying that they’ll consider other options.
Cryptome: Women Protest Worldwide Photos 4.
Paul Henry rewarded with position on Australian Breakfast TV
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10764120
Hahaha seriously.
It’s easy to be Green right now!
http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.com/2011/11/its-not-so-hard-being-green.html
Anne, you are right. the papers are the problem.
the easiset way to get at the manques is to name them on a blog.
eventually the search engines pick it up and hopefully it goes viral.
It is amazing how naive kiwis are and how they let little arsewipes like garner and espiner tell them what to think.