When US President Donald Trump suggested that US service members could open fire at the thousands of migrants currently on their way to the American border, he likely wanted to reach two audiences: voters demanding a hard-line stance on immigration and the migrants making their way through Mexico.
But his words were also heard much farther away from Washington: in Nigeria, where Trump has a higher approval rating than anywhere else in Africa. On Friday (local time), the Nigerian army took to Twitter to defend its decision open fire at Shiite protesters in the capital, Abuja – by citing Trump.
“Please Watch and Make your Deductions,” read the tweet, which included a video clip in which Trump says: “Anybody throwing stones, rocks … we will consider that a firearm because there is not much difference.”
Gun-carrying civilian groups and border vigilantes have heard a call to arms in US President Donald Trump’s warnings about threats to American security posed by caravans of Central American migrants moving through Mexico.
They’re packing coolers and tents, oiling rifles and tuning up aerial drones, with plans to form caravans of their own and trail American troops to the border.
“We’ll observe and report, and offer aid in any way we can,” said Shannon McGauley, a bail bondsman in the Dallas suburbs who is president of the Texas Minutemen. McGauley said he was preparing to head for the Rio Grande in coming days….
,,,,,,,The Rio Grande is less than a mile from Metz’s living room window, and a section of border wall crosses his property. He has watched for years as border-crossers ford the river and walk onto his land, their first step on American soil. The wall has slowed the flow significantly, he said, but between 50 and 100 people a day still cross through the farm next door.
He worries that the caravan, which includes many women and children, will surge through the area, but he doesn’t want armed vigilantes on his farm.
“The militia just needs to stay where they are,” said Metz, a Republican. “We don’t need fanatical people. We don’t need anybody here with guns. Why do they have guns? I have dealt with illegals for 30 years, and all of them have been scared, asking for help. The militias need to stay up north where they belong. We have no use for them here. They might shoot someone or hurt someone.”….
“James Shaw’s progress on our climate change goals, and with the ambition of New Zealand First in the mix, our plan to plant one billion trees is well under way – for those who don’t follow the tree counter as religiously as I do, we are up to 60.6 million”.
It was at least mentioned, fair enough to have missed it though.
And I guess we better ignore the fact that there are many people rather sceptical about the idea that the Emissions Trading Scheme is ever going to be the key to dealing with cataclysmic climate change.
And what exactly did Jacinda mean by “and with the ambition of New Zealand First in the mix”?.
“In the nineteenth century, there was no superannuation or sick leave or paid holidays. People fought so hard to win those rights and now we’re glibly throwing them away.”
“It’s time to bring employment law into the twenty-first century and ensure all employees, gig or salaried have flexible working opportunities, but also the same protections and benefits. This stops arbitrage of hard-won, and necessary, protections,”
“If you wouldn’t wear a T-shirt made in a sweatshop,” don’t take an Uber,
The last time I took a conventional taxi he charged $30 for a 10 minute drive. That’s 1 way Aotea Square to Westmere. The gig I did that night paid the princely sum of $40. The bus in was $2.20 (with student discount).
Then WINZ wanted all manner of paperwork as I, a student, earned fuck all. They added the $40 to an $80 teaching gig and penalized me for the lot refusing to discount travel expenses.
So it was not worth leaving the house if taxis were required.
I attended Tarun Mohanbhai’s Comedy festival show Uber Funny in May this year. It was about his journey to being, and experiences as, an uber driver. Sounded like a total rort on the operators and next to no responsibility for management.
Abandoning Uber wont help the drivers. Closer scrutiny and regulation might.
Uber is a great example of a few people getting very, very rich on the work of lots and lots of other people who don’t actually get enough from their hard work to even pay their way. It’s pure exploitation that sucks wealth and money out of the community while providing SFA.
This is why the capitalists love it so much.
Helping the drivers would be the government setting up similar software that NZ taxi drivers could use that paid for by taxes. This would have it so that the convenience is there for the customers but the drivers actually get to keep all their income rather than having most of it syphoned off to rich bludgers.
It’s way past time to bring employment law into the 21stC – we’re 18 bloody years in!
And one of the big issues to be dealt with is the way corporates and others try to outsource their responsibilities whilst being able to clip the ticket.
It’s taken a change in government for the Labour Inspectorate to get off its chuff and start to take it all seriously (albeit as under-resourced as it has been, although one of its managers was assuring us all that there were sufficient inspectors not long before the last election).
And at least we have some prepared to keep the pressure on:
Congratulations to Teuila Fuatai of Newsroom who is not going to let one instance of it all die: https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/11/05/306076/chorus-speaks-out-on-migrant-exploitation and https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/10/08/269274/migrant-exploitation-and-the-true-cost-of-ufb
Then there’s the so-called “independent contractors” who are actually DEPENDENT courier drivers. The corporates have shunted their costs onto the subcontractor and bound them through contracts that should (if they are not already) be illegal.
Again, it’s all been working as designed over the past decade.
What we should be asking is
– how long is it going to be before the bloody big shakeup taht’s quite obviously necessary, and
– are the ticket clippers going to be held to account, or will it be another Wellington wet bus ticket approach which will simply result in quite a few being tempted to try it all on again
In regards to the truckies/couriers, John Campbell started looking at this just before he left RNZ.
It would be good if someone followed up on the traction gained.
A similar dodgy practice is construction firms having their apprentices as sub contractors.
We do @Patricia, and they shouldn’t need bloody stab proof vests
( https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/103790349/labour-inspectors-now-wearing-stabproof-vests-but-say-theyre-not-cops ). If ever there were signals that show what their priorities are/ere, that was one of them.
It took MoBIE a while to realise why nobody wanted to come forward to report cases of exploitation and immigration fraud as well.
Many still don’t want to, and its completely understandable why.
Yep @ gsays. I doubt John Campbell will leave it to die. And there are others who I think will try and keep it all alive. (Laura Toupu? from RNZ appears to have left and gone to New Shub, and there are others such as Michael Morrah, Gil Bonnett scattered around the place).
What we (lil ole yeah/nah Nu Zull) did was create a structure and policies which NORMALISED exploitation in the workplace. Passing on costs and driving down wages to small self-employed – often immigrants not entitled to any state benefits (income support, medical support, child care et al), and often so that the only way they could survive and recover from their indebtedness was to rip others off.
(I’ll try and find a link, but several weeks ago – either on NinetoNoon or Saturday, there was a review/author interview of a book I think – whereby an immigrant was confessing to sins he’d never have taken part in till he came here and tried to survive)
I know there are some in here that hold the view that we can’t save the world and that now we’ve created this situation, we should just boot ’em out and start again. My view is that if we don’t take responsibility for the past structure and policies we’re just setting ourselves up for it all to happen again, and as we do, we descend into the 3rd World.
And the worst part about it all is that once the indebted get themselves out of the shit (often through exploitative practices), they’re tempted towards the greedy, just like a lot of others.
NZ had a duty to properly resource agencies such as NZQA, and INZ, and the Labour Inspectorate, AND have them do their fucking job ethically and competently. The good thing is, there are signs they’re getting the message.
As we embraced the rogernomics, so can we formulate and embrace another revolution.
Especially with kindness as one of its central themes.
Sharing needs to be at the core too.
Get profit out of the money system, have the state issue $s.
Take the profit out of landlording.
Part of the frustration I sense here on TS is that with this government the key people and ingredients are in place.
Winnie who has said neo liberalism has failed and must go, a mother Premiere who has repeated kindness as a motto, and a populace young and old ready for radical change.
The Uber-economy f**ks us all: How “permalancers” and “sharer” gigs gut the middle class
The “sharing” economy sounds groovy: politically neutral, anti-consumerist. Wait until it comes for your job
They said education and hard work would set you free, maybe not …award winning qualified people are now scrabbling around to make ends meet as wages are no longer enough or secure enough to survive on …
‘Frederic Larson enjoyed a successful 30-year career as a staff photographer with the San Francisco Chronicle, during which time he won numerous awards, including being a Pulitzer Prize finalist. As Forbes reports, he was downsized during the recession, and needing income he “monetized his assets.” He turned his house into an Airbnb hotel and his spiffy Prius into a Lyft taxi. Now for 12 nights a month—40% of his life—he shutters himself in a rabbit hole inside his own home and showers at the local gym while complete strangers have the run of his place. This award-winning professional photographer has been turned into an innkeeper in his own home and a taxi driver in his own car.’
P>S> That seems to be the future of NZ, but be aware, a friend of mine from Eastern Europe once said there is saying in their country.
“we pretend to work and they pretend to pay us”
Might explain NZ productivity levels.
So is the government’s end game that our wages are so out of line with expenses, that a professional like a teacher does a 8 hour day, then goes home and does a few uber hours to make ends meet, while staying at friends while they rent out their house for a few extra dollars, just to pay for escalating power, housing, rates, insurance, water, food etc costs…. as their job no longer keeps pace with that.
Funny enough, polluting cruise ships are exempt from the paltry tourist taxes though, nice to be a multinational probably domiciled in a tax haven, and have the locals picking up the tab all the time!
And one of the big issues to be dealt with is the way corporates and others try to outsource their responsibilities whilst being able to clip the ticket.
Yes, the corporates and other businesses loved it when 20th century employment laws were taken back to the 19th century. National was, and is still trying, to take those laws even further back to produce more poverty so that the rich can be richer and more powerful.
Then there’s the so-called “independent contractors” who are actually DEPENDENT courier drivers. The corporates have shunted their costs onto the subcontractor and bound them through contracts that should (if they are not already) be illegal.
When I first went to Otago uni I looked for work at a labour temping agency. One of the clauses pretty much prevented me from even looking for work if I’d signed the contract as it prevented me from accepting work from any of the employers in the region who’d used the labour agency.
Completely against anything that could be considered a ‘free-labour market’ as it purposefully constrained what the employee could do.
“pretty much prevented me from even looking for work if I’d signed the contract”
This behavior is or was prevalent in a lot of comedy clubs in the UK 2000’s
Which went something along the lines of, if you do a gig here you can’t play other clubs within x time or x distance or both. Some of them probably still try this crap on. Like they think they own you if they hire you.
Looking at full time jobs today to see what it’s like. Many ask for people who are ‘flexible with hours’ – for ‘working weekends and overtime’. So not enough work or way too much is at their discretion really. They think they own your whole life. I’ve worked for A’holes like this they don’t give a shit about you or your own commitments. Flexibility means be my bitch. And the call for ‘flexibility’ is more common than not.
Employers whinge cos they can’t get good people. Anyone with half a clue, and the slightest choice, would reject that shit.
If you want good people be good people, you twats.
“If you want good people be good people, you twats”
Ae!
It probably still hasn’t dawned on the gNats yet though, or indeed one or two public servants who were angling to set up some kind of Peter Dutton type Border Force with spots on a Joolie Krusty reality TV show.
And Thompson and Clark are probably still pondering the size of their dicks in the realisation they weren’t as big as they imagined.
Deny Uber any IP protection for their apps etc. due to their bad behaviour.
Encourage the drivers to form driver-cooperatives and the like using the same technology.
Exploitative, globalised ticket-clipping because you happen to have invented some shitty little app is a grotesquely disproportionate reward.
National’s Nice Cop, Nasty Cop routine: Paula “Snitch” Bennett,
assisted by Sidekick Simon, goes after Jami-Lee Ross
Monday, Nov. 5, 2018
This is a real, unbowdlerized, transcript of that infamous conversation…..
JAMI-LEE ROSS: So it would be for medical reasons?
PAULA BENNETT: If THAT’s what you want. So you either—I think either medical or family’s your best option.
JAMI-LEE ROSS: Medical’s TRUU-U-UE.
SIMON BRIDGES: Yeah.
PAULA BENNETT: If that’s—
SIMON BRIDGES: Yeah. No that’s RIGHT. That’s RIGHT.
PAULA BENNETT: And—
SIMON BRIDGES: There’s no SHAME in that.
PAULA BENNETT: No. And it mee-e-eans that everyone will back OFF you too – the media and all that sort of stuff. Which I think’s important. …. Just SUCH the lightest option we possibly can in the light of what we’ve got in front of us. And it’s out of respect to the girls.
JAMI-LEE ROSS: You haven’t even TOLD me what I’ve supposedly done. I don’t even KNOW.
PAULA BENNETT: Simon told you ALL ABOUT the disloyalty stuff, Jami-Le-e-ee, and quite frankly if that was put to caucus, that would be enough.
JAMI-LEE ROSS: The stuff around harassing STAFF, which I reject, that is the worst, ‘cos, and I don’t even know what that IS.
PAULA BENNETT: Well you DO know what the disloyalty stuff is, and that’s been put to you really clearly, and if that was put to caucus, that would be enough.
JAMI-LEE ROSS: [exasperated sigh]
PAULA BENNETT: You know? We are trying to give you the LIGHTEST POSSIBLE, um, way out of this.
SIMON BRIDGES: ‘Cos when we’re finished, Jami-Lee, we can get through it. And you can get through it. And you can come out the other side if your attitude, um, after the time out is, is GOOD and POSITIVE, and you can be promoted again. …. I give you my one HUNDRED percent assurance that if you go with the statement along the lines we’ve talked about, I will NEVER badmouth you in relation to this – privately, publicly, in background, off the record in any way. I will do everything within my power to keep the things we talked about last week out of the public [inaudible]. I will do everything.
Hi Antoine, JLR has not become a darling in my eyes, but more a symptom of all that lies beneath in the National party. I am glad its surfacing through him. Again I am unsure of his motivations, what really happened with the women. (we have seen text evidence of behaviour from one of the women he had an affair with though.
I wish anyone suffering from a mental illness all the very best in their recovery.
Oh yes and I do have a small amount of sympathy for Bridges……………..just a very small amount.
Its too early to tell if JLR is a geniune whistle blower or just seeking revenge. Or maybe a bit of both
I believe it in your case but I think others are starting to see him as a martyr. Remember the enemy of your enemy is not your friend. Shades of Kim dot com
A.
Despite all the noise, numerous allegations and speculation…. from what I heard of the tape, JLR clearly sounded di/stressed!
And as MS rightly pointed out in his Post yesterday; “It is noteworthy that the allegations only came out publicly when National decided to counterattack after Ross’s stand up conference in Parliament.
Ross’s mental health was not a significant consideration for them at that time.” (or at anytime!)
Clearly Bridges and Bennett’s behaviour was totally abhorrent!
abhorrent
/əbˈhɒr(ə)nt/
adjective
inspiring disgust and loathing; repugnant.
So OUR commons turned over so individuals can earn more profit. Water is our life and you farmer-capitalists are abusing that resource. Shame on them and the day of reckoning is coming, of that I have no doubt.
A controversial Mackenzie Basin high country station can now turn the irrigators on over a chunk of it – but the situation could have been different if it had applied for consents later, according to Environment Canterbury.
ECan put out a statement on Monday to announce Simons Pass Station could begin irrigating a portion of its land on either side of State Highway 8 in the Mackenzie Basin.
The area covers 700ha of the 9700ha station, but Simons Pass wants to irrigate up to 4500ha – and has the ECan-issued water consents required for that area…
… However, Greenpeace’s agriculture spokesperson Gen Toop said allowing the station to turn on the irrigators was a particularly bad decision because it granted consent without the station even undertaking a baseline ecological survey of the dryland area.
“The irrigators should never be allowed to be turned on,” Toop said.
“It’s an infuriating decision. What we see here is ECan not even following its own rules designed to minimise the impact of conversions in ecologically fragile environments. They’ve just ignored them.”
Toop said it was time for the Government to step in and provide stronger rules for land use in sensitive areas.
“Something has to be done. ECan has served the interest of the irrigation and dairy industries for the last eight years,” she said.
It makes me so angry that the demolition of ECan was done so easily and without undue reaction from we the people. And as Newsroom article says, “Doubts and fears sown in 2010 have bloomed into a concern that ECan is putting irrigation interests ahead of the environment.” https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/11/05/307965/council-caves-on-dairy-consent?preview=1
“The seeds were sown eight years ago, critics say. In 2010, the John Key-led Government sacked Canterbury’s regional councillors over “urgent problems with water management”.
David Parker, Minister for the Environment: For the sake of our rivers, our climate and the unique and precious Mackenzie country, I call on you to stop all new dairy conversions and intensification of existing livestock farming by making them both prohibited activities, effective immediately, in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater.
Yes, because saving the environment and the people while living sustainably is so very, very extreme.
National and other RWNJs tell us that we must live within our means while doing everything to prevent us living sustainably so as to boost profits for the capitalists.
As far as I can make out, the entire capitalist edifice that the politicians and most economists promote is complete bollocks. It’s all based upon false assumptions about human behaviour, drives and economics.
Notice Granny is still promoting the deal where rich individuals get free public land worth billions in return for a white elephant Stadium that nobody wants and the poorer folks have no access too aka paid events, even if they could afford the petrol to come into the city centre.
Note any buildings built on wharves cost 7 times more in maintenance, probably more these days.
So not only is there a white elephant Stadium that is being pushed as an agenda that nobody wants, but if it even got built, even BEFORE global warming, it is going to cost 7 times more at least to maintain than MT Eden.
So work harder people, Auckland council is going to need a lot more rates in the future, as we all know money is no object to them.
Auckland council might soon be running a city that has no teachers or Doctors or Police, but full of empty spec homes…and the working poor sleeping in the parks and cars..
But who cares, a few individuals have make a killing developing in MT Eden with free billion dollar land. Now that is capitalism!
Too true,
This council is fixated on every facility and business being in the CBD, at our expense. It is time that they reversed this philosophy and took the facility’s and jobs to the people in the form of satellite towns. It makes no sense to keep shifting people and goods into an ever increasingly populated area until it freezes from lack of maneuverability.
Also with our record of constructing leaky buildings any building at the mercy of the sea would appear to be an extremely risky venture
“Note any buildings built on wharves cost 7 times more in maintenance, probably more these days.”
This I find difficult to believe
“Stadium that nobody wants”
“pushed as an agenda that nobody wants”
While I don’t live in Auckland so care very little, I think you might be slightly thinking everyone else agrees with you and those you hang out with, when they probably don’t
Yes, Chris T you don’t live in Auckland and therefore have few insights into what people want here, and the last thing on anyone’s minds is wasting money on a white elephant stadium after all the other stupid ideas put upon us like the Supercity.
And yep do some checks and you will find wharf buildings cost 7x more in maintenance and that is before global warming and an idea to sink the stadium into the sea. Costs a lot more to maintain infrastructure underwater, go figure!
I think that a better idea for the Stadium is private practise own it, pay to build it, pay for the land and run it, independent of the council and pay for the maintenance off their ticket sales but we all know that won’t happen because the stadium is going to generate huge costs to the taxpayers and ratepayers and on going loses and private practise want the taxpayers to pay for it. Oh and don’t steal the harbour to do it.
A stadium is great for all those offshore luxury waterfront hotels, probably less fun for the residents of Auckland who live in the centre and a big headache for anyone struggling in Auckland, on a fixed income, or who have just been hit with a petrol tax and higher rates (or rents).
We have sewerage going into the harbour, massive congestion, housing inequity, full hospitals and schools, but the Stadium is where the granny headlines and the council is focused on.
Could stadiums be built in two stages? First get a roof-ready bunch of walls and facilities up, then add a roof – of some sort. In Wellington it would have to withstand regular strong winds. A retractable one then? A canvas one that wouldn’t be a huge loss if torn to ribbons and could be replaced? Something that wouldn’t turn into a flying weapon?
It’s ok. The caketin is what happens when you compromise and end up with something that doesn’t really suit anyone. Athletic Park was much better to watch footy at.
They should have built a rectangular stadium on the waterfront as 80% of sport played at the stadium is on a rectangular field. Then built a large stand at the Basin to increase capacity and there might have been some money leftover to start getting Light Rail to the Basin built.
I don’t think I caught a game at Athletic park. Although I have heard Keith Quinn recall the south stand move in one of the local breezes.
As an outsider, I probably couldn’t tell you how to get there.
Have seen several rugby games there, including Jonah’s last hurricanes game. There isn’t a bad seat in the house.
Coming from the provinces, it’s great.
Drive to Raumati, get on the train, day in Wellys, footy, then train back up the line then home.
I get there are impacts on rate bills, but with a bit of imagination this can be ameliorated. E.g. $1 a ticket for the first 5years goes to the stadium.
Perhaps they could sell the tickets out of the stadium, because there seems to be some fat in the prices ticketec, ticketmaster charge for their services.
It is a total lack of common sense to build yet another public building that will focus thousand of people into the smallest, narrowest part of New Zealand. An area already congested with other public buildings such as the university which already pulls 20,000 people into the same space.
For the same reason the port should not be developed any further either. The sea front of central Auckland should become a beautiful public recreational seafront for all to enjoy.
Get real !
I also totally disagree with the privatisation of the Auckland waterfront (I live in Auckland). And with the current approach to centralising all the city’s main events and corporate activities.
I love the idea of an Auckland version of Brisbane’s south bank as a people’s location for enjoying the waterfront.
Mother Agnes Mariam de la Croix wades into the Syria debate and talks about the phony White Helmets and Russia’s helpful contributions. Thank you Mother Superior.
Oh look, another apologist for the Assad regimes war crimes.
I've informed organizers of @STWuk that I will not participate in their conference if Mother Agnes is on the platform.— jeremy scahill (@jeremyscahill) November 15, 2013
The AMP demutualised some decades ago. Now it is getting out of life insurance and other things and has sold much of its business to a ‘closed book ‘ investor that apparently will just manage the present policies.
Is NZ getting uninsurable? As Ryan asked is it the growing numbers of people who won’t die (of course she didn’t use such stark description), also the earthquake and other risks we face, make us hard to quantify for insurance businesses? There was a mention that we are the second riskiest country in the world.
Something mentioned was that young people are not taking out insurance. That would fit in with the lack of care that many take as they go blindly or optimistically on their way as can be noticed when crossing roads. No look right or left, just step out with your eyes on your Device and whoosh for real.
I’m thinking of hard times earlier when often unions formed welfare societies which have been declining in NZ. This is in line with the idea that we didn’t need these any more as we had a welfare state, and had trustable commitment from government to provide a helpful environment for all citizens and to extend this to those in need. ACC was started under this mindset. And as a rather somnolent accepting society, we have been slow to complain about a decline from this, slow to feel concern even outrage on behalf of other people being badly treated, and of course the decline spreads like a creeping bindweed.
Start looking at deliberately forming local groups that assist in a practical way that are funded from locals for locals, and let us start having education sessions on how to manage our society, making the point that Margaret Thatcher and her ilk were talking ideological BS when saying ‘there is no such thing as society’. Also how to protect ourselves, where needed, what our vision is. Because without that there won’t be time to form a vision, it will be just inadequate immediate disaster relief, and repeat.
Right with you on the local organising.
I assume it is an Amish way, insurance comes from community, someones house, barn burns down, the community rebuilds it.
Your mention of unions reminds me of what we have lost.
My father had a massive stroke at work. He didn’t recover.
Two men knocked on my mother’s door, gave her an envelope.
It was enough for Dads funeral expenses and a little bit more.
Gsays, yes communities where unions were strong helped in bad times. Often it was union money plus a “whip round” with the hat, to top it up. I have always wondered what was done for the families of those forestry workers killed on the job. No union no rights.
The Amish are a cult and it is always dangerous to look at cults as the way to go, though their integrated community helping each other is probably what we need. I understand rural people mid 20th century in some areas of NZ could be a good template for what we need now. Their communal barn raising practice is a good symbol of what could be accomplished with more friendly cohesion.
The Mafia grew cult-like out of a poverty stricken area. The Exclusive Brethren are an example of a tightly bound group, and perhaps some of the Maori gangs are also tightly bound.
But cults or gangs or clans are cohesive and want to hold together. The best ones look out for each other, and that is what i thought we had in NZ but apparently no. And it seems to me that once people get comfortable they get bound up in wealth and its enjoyment and the past of striving is dismissed as another world. So my simple ideas that people would put into community some of what they had and the more they had, the more they could and would give; that is the remainder of a child’s idea.
Community and commitment both start the same way, and are fixed in partnership. So we should keep talking about that, while the sleek predators look to see what they can get hold of and use up majorly for their own benefit.
The clever predator will offer some deal to the community, but they need to check out net gains and look for fish hooks. And sometimes those who would be the most beneficial get overlooked in favour of another idea group which looks better until you unpick it and see the tell-tale lack of commitment to all the people.
I know of two small communities that are organising in case TSHTF.
Asking my friend who is a senior chappie in one of them, ‘post ‘Shit going down’ will you greet a stranger with a hug or a gun?’
He responded that a gun would be the first step back towards this mess we are in now.
The best thing would be to start doing something now before the mess we are in now becomes overwhelming.
I keep being drawn back to John Wyndham’s journey in The Day of the Triffids in which he has the man go from his convalescence in hospital to a temporary sanctuary in a distant rural area, along with a sighted woman partner he rescued from a bunch of blind thugs, and the remaining child of two whose parents, and her brother had been killed by the dangerous triffids. Then with his partner and the teenage girl, they join with a blind pair whose farm they have found sanctuary on, and escape from a dictatorship that has assumed the role of government by the use of arms, outwitting them. They go to an island group that has formed a civilised community which can defend itself and manage to wipe out the triffids there.
But on the way he stops at a large farm that has tried to take in everyone who arrives and is having trouble helping and feeding everyone. A disease spreads quickly and all the able-bodied flee, leaving the man who is a newcomer. He finds a girl still alive who talks to him knowing she is dying and wishes him well. He helps when she asks him for some sleeping tablets and water so she can take her own life when she wishes. There isn’t much he can do as an individual, most others he comes across have joined into the armed dictatorship run by a few hard men using force. He travels on towards an area where he thinks his partner has gone, offers friendship to the girl and they go on with patient determination and wise decision making till they find his partner.
It is rather along the lines of some USA films being made about dislocated people, with zombies rather than triffids as a menace. In them there are problems of food, relationships, trust, guns, wariness and privation. To have food it takes at least a month to grow anything, and whether there is anything that can be utilised like wild plants, berries, meat and fish and simple medications (I believe dock plants are useful), keeping alive would be a problem. I would rather we gathered ourselves together now rather than have to face the hard situations forced on us when resources run out.
I feel that guns and revolution are a last resort. But that trying to be both kind and practical as a guideline will enable people to enjoy a limited life compared to what we have been used to. And we may be able to conserve some of the things we have, think of ways to manage things we can’t influence or control. And I think of Dylan Thomas – he’s enigmatic and so is our future. Rage against the dying of the night, will keep us appreciating each other and our wonderful world, so much taken for granted.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2cgcx-GJTQ
It doesn’t feel grim, as the protagonist manages to solve problems and becomes part of a band of strong-minded, capable, practical people as a little family and they have hope for the future, and are inventive as to how to manage. The young man is not a drug addict or alcoholic, and is able to plan and imagine the outcomes of different scenarios and is capable, a hard worker and kind, brave, honest and true. Too nice to be a human really. /sarc
A few years ago I saw Tama, Dilworth Karaka and Tama Lundon unplugged at the Whanagnui Opera house.
Their set list, harmonies and innate showmanship, Tama’s guitar antics, the opera house acoustics and the crowd made it probably the best show I’d been to since the pub rock events of my youth.
Did anyone consider Jane Pattison’s article NZ Herald on the NZ Labour Conference contrived.
My reaction was Jane wanted to “minimize any impact through faint praise and suggested problems”
Some aspects. “Locked down” “Empty seats” “No fanfare” “No mention of Helen Clarke” “Journalists not allowed to see divisions or blood on the floor during discussions” “One good idea approved by the people”
Jane did you go to the same conference as Micky and Te Reo Putake? You needed to remove your blue tinted glasses.
She’s used to the Nat’s either buying or threatening journalists in order to push a message. She’s used to overhyped X-factor/evangelical-sermon Nat party conferences.
She doesn’t know what to do in the absence of that.
I wasn’t there, but I did attend the famous 2012 conference and saw first hand the way the media distorted, lied and created a mountainous drama from tiny molehills. I saw them hounding and harassing MPs on both sides of the factional divide, and I even saw them hanging around outside the outer door of the men’s loo and pouncing on MPs as they emerged. They couldn’t even go and have a quiet pee.
After that performance is it any wonder they prefer to go into ‘lock-down’ when deliberating on policy matters and issues of the day.
Anne if the journalists had really been razor sharp they would have gone in and done their questioning as they stood side by side doing their business. So they could be said to show a little respect for their victims!
“Did anyone consider Jane Pattison’s article NZ Herald on the NZ Labour Conference contrived.”
???? Jane Patterson is Senior Political Editor for RNZ and does not write for NZ Herald. She does write for the Listener and their online site, Noted, but has not done so on the Conference as yet apparently.
I am not a great fan of Jane’s but personally I did not think her RNZ reports on the Conference were contrived. While they were not over the top “Ra Ra” reports, I thought they were reasonable and I could also not find the terms you quoted above in her articles on the Conference.
Apologies… RNZ not The Herald. My opinion was she was annoyed at being excluded from parts of the conference and wrote accordingly. Audrey did write a reasonable piece. Great picture of Jacinda Neve and Clarke.
Patricia
These phrases that you quoted did indeed seem to intend to diminish and
concentrate on the negative. Were they balanced by positives do you think?
These quoted comments have a weighted negativity about them. Some aspects. “Locked down” “Empty seats” “No fanfare” “No mention of Helen Clarke” “Journalists not allowed to see divisions or blood on the floor during discussions” “One good idea approved by the people”
Yes possibly I felt a little more up beat tenor would have been suitable, however, I must admit Jane was the only ? reporter to note the reaction to the 1080 protesters, that closed the doors when quote “hundreds were lined up”.
Apparently there was a death threat made. The PM discussed it later.
I was just reading a column by Chris Trotter in which he says the Labour Caucus no longer has to comply with the party manifesto after last weekend’s conference but he doesn’t give any links and I can’t find anything on Google. Does anyone have a suitable link about this?
Conference endorsed this change. It’s to allow for flexibility in coalition talks. It’s not a free pass to ignore the manifesto, rather it lets the leadership make practical compromises when forming a Government.
I suggest you do read it, as he deftly connects the event to the last LP conference in Dunedin 30 years ago. I’m often critical of his analyses but this essay lacks any flaw to pounce on, so 9/10. Didn’t see distortion but I’ll leave that judgment to others, here’s the relevant paragraph plus the prior to provide context (literary afficionados may find the shakespearean mythos subtext insufficiently subtle):
” What Harman doesn’t say is that the only reason such political legerdemain is even possible is because Jacinda Ardern is such an extraordinary electoral asset. Single-handed, she has resurrected Labour’s morale; refilled her coffers, boosted her membership, and filled her activist base with confidence and delight. Her “relentlessly positive” personality is like a powerful spotlight, illuminating brilliantly that little part of Labour’s stage upon which she sits and smiles. Meanwhile, in the darkness her brilliance does so much to render impenetrable, the party leadership does all within its power to render a genuine shift to the left impossible.”
“It is fitting, in a way, that the decision to free the caucus from its crucial constitutional obligation to uphold the party’s manifesto – its policy platform – was taken in Dunedin. Justified as a practical and necessary concession to the exigencies of MMP, it nevertheless severs the last of the ties that bind the parliamentary wing to the party organisation. The caucus is now officially “Corbyn proof”. Thirty years after stabbing her in the back, the centrists have finally summoned-up the courage to drive the dagger of pragmatism deep into Labour’s democratic-socialist heart.”
I guess Trotter’s going through the depressive part of his cycle.
True democracy can barely be practiced by contemporary parties. The ‘gotcha’ media hang on every word, and are as likely to go downtown on a policy discussion as the Exclusive Brethren were to sabotage Jeanette Fitzsimons awhile back.
Parties have to nut out policy in camera, not on camera, and the best that we can hope of them is a sincere effort to serve our interests, neither a simple kowtowing to the nonsensus of public opinion, nor an avid pursuit of possible funders.
An ideal democratic party will not follow public opinion, it will try to anticipate it, in the same way an astute business anticipates customer needs and desires. At this stage in the electoral cycle, while the horrors of National misrule are fresh in people’s minds, and the coalition have few or none of their own, it’s not so hard.
Let them lose touch with people though, and like entropy, the Gnats, in some form will be there, carrying out their role as decomposers, preparing the soil for the next round of growth.
I have no knowledge of the actual remit. However, I do agree with the general thrust of Trotter’s post.
My understanding is that Labour Party conference remits in the past, may or may not be picked up in total by the caucus. It does sound like this latest agreed party policy further severs the links between the policies agreed by rank and file members and the caucus.
I don’t agree with the way Trotter and Bradbury are dismissive of so-called “identity politics”. But I do agree with their latest posts in which they argue that the left needs a radical shift to re-instate solid left wing values and policies.
Bradbury argues that it is climate change that will derail incrementalism and the current middle class/centrist focus of the Green Party and Labour.
It’s too soon to tell with the Greens. They were knee-capped during the last election, and Davidson is still finding her feet as co-leader.
I don’t agree it is climate change alone that will derail centrist incrementalism, but it also the current state of effective disenfranchisement of those on low incomes, plus the radical sections of gender, LGBT+ and ethnic politics that will come to the fore.
I agree with Trotter’s summation:
Jacinda Ardern is such an extraordinary electoral asset. Single-handed, she has resurrected Labour’s morale; refilled her coffers, boosted her membership, and filled her activist base with confidence and delight. Her “relentlessly positive” personality is like a powerful spotlight, illuminating brilliantly that little part of Labour’s stage upon which she sits and smiles. Meanwhile, in the darkness her brilliance does so much to render impenetrable, the party leadership does all within its power to render a genuine shift to the left impossible.
Peruvian villagers face murder and intimidation from land traffickers
Invaders continue to seize land within the Chaparrí ecological reserve, one of Peru’s most biodiverse forests
“These killers, potential and actual, will be stopped only by real actions, not virtual ones,” reformist lawmaker Mustafa Nayyem wrote , saying the outpouring of condolences on social media wouldn’t be enough.
“Whether they will continue to drench us with acid, slaughter us in doorways, and shoot us in the back in our own country depends on how and what we do now,” Nayyem added.
In NZ high country foreign? land owner gets to use precious water without having satisfied guardian regulations so that he can irrigate unsuitable areas to make a quick buck while the milk rush is still on. Controlling body ECan is fairly relaxed, as it is still in the control of rich-list or easy-rider fascist interests who replaced locally elected civil government body.
Peru or New Zealand, enabling the phallic rise of the neo liberal man with capital accretion strengthening his mind and body all over the world will be our death knell.
David Seymour had his “Um, what can I say to get in the news today?” moment.
His, “Um, what would be a good populist issue to use” opportunity.
I remember the headlines he garnered when he went crook about John Key and Jonathan Coleman going to England for All Black games in 2015. His public stand, speaking out loud and long when Bill English defended the use of taxpayer dollars, was quite memorable.
For a Parliamentary Under-Secretary and Minister to be so outspoken was quite dramatic.
I made all that last stuff up. David Seymour is playing a pathetic parody of the principled. Again.
Yep the waste of time drongo has outed two troughing fatcats – waste of money – you guys have enough, and your perks and your pensions – pay it back and admit you just abused the priviledge WE, the people, gave you.
You would think would be an easy one, NZ public good and risks of aquifer outweigh Chinese majority owned private company getting more water but no… also raised point how consent can change use, but no come back as it was formally Kaputone Wool Scour and was unlikely to have used much of the water it was allocated.
reposted…
“Genevieve Robinson
Christchurch, New Zealand
NOV 5, 2018 —
ECan has received an application from Cloud Ocean Water to take water from their 180m bore.
Ecan is currently considering whether to notify the application.
The Christchurch City Council is concerned that the proposal will put the community water supply at risk.
Aotearoa Water Action is also concerned about the potential environmental effects.
AWA believes that if the application can be considered at all, it must be publicly notified – this is because the aquifer is already fully allocated, and because City Council testing shows the community water supply WILL be adversely affected, which is of huge public interest in the matter.
We believe that ECan needs to hear both the public’s views (including your views) and the evidence of additional experts.
AWA will be speaking at ECans meeting this Thursday, November 8, at 11am – so please add your comments below!
Let’s make sure the whole country gets to weigh in on this!”
Nestle has been doing it for years, they operate in poor areas/countries with few regulations…. or on indigenous people’s land… as being easier targets
“Luster lives in Flint, Michigan, and here, residents believe tap water is good for one thing: to flush the toilet.
“I don’t even water my plants with it,” she said.
Flint became synonymous with lead-poisoned water after government officials, looking to save money, switched the city’s water supply from Detroit city water to water from the corrosive Flint river.
Once the city had switched, the number of children with elevated lead exposure doubled; residents reported unexplained rashes and losing hair. An unpublished study recently found fetal deaths in Flint increased by 58% during the crisis.”
While Flint battles a water crisis, just two hours away the beverage giant pumps almost 100,000 times what an average Michigan resident uses into plastic bottles
Pretty sure that is the NZ designer top (and trousers) that JA wore on her trip to Paris to meet Macron earlier this year (April/May?) when she was about 7 – 8 months’ pregnant.
Today’s is: “I am done talking about Jami-Lee Ross”.
He is not going to talk about yesterday’s audio release and said everything yesterday, and people can now hear the tape and decide for themselves, and he won’t be talking about any other recordings … … …
[Repeat, repeat, repeat, and again, repeat. ]
Somehow, I don’t think people like Barry Soper will just accept that. Bridges may not want to talk about Ross, but in fact the real subject is Bridges and Bennett, and their fitness to be Leader and Deputy Leader of the National Party.
SImon Bridges is keen to point out his role in opposition in holding the government to account” even as he reworks the same questions on fuel taxes ad nauseam in Question TIme.
But he doesn’t seem to want to afford the same role to the media regarding his effectiveness as Leader of the Opposition and as the leader of a major party. His effectiveness has been reduced by disowning an MP, his party is less effective.
The media has a part in this, albeit uncomfortable or downright dangerous to his career as he might feel threatened.
How would he function as PM if this is his current tolerance of media interest?
I don’t even think Trump has managed to get caught on tape, selling donations and entry to MP’s for $100k and thinking 2 Chinese were better than 2 Indians.
They have shown themselves unfit for the job. Imagine the embarrassing nightmare if they were running the country – they make t.rump look like a brainiac.
With over half of New Zealand households cutting back on heating their homes in winter due to the high cost of heating, I was dismayed to hear new Kiwibuild homes won’t be fitted with solar power. Which leads one to ask has solar power for new state owned homes also been overlooked?
A common factor I noticed from reports of people being hospitalised due to cold and damp homes was they couldn’t afford to utilize the heating supplied.
Therefore, while these new homes may be better insulated thus cheaper to heat, one would expect the Government (especially with the Greens in there) would be doing the upmost to keep heating cost at a minimum. Meaning not only would homes be cheaper to heat but heating would also be cheaper to run.
So what do we know? We know we have to reduce energy demand. We know we have to move energy generation away from fossil and bio. We know that heat kills far more readily than cold does. We know the world is warming. Hmm.
Energy performance of Building regulations requirements
Mandatory standards that social housing providers have to achieve, often more ambitious than for the rest of the building stock for the global energy performance of new built dwellings are generally applied to all type of buildings.Thus, from 2020, all new buildings in the EU will have to be nearly zero. In most of the cases this means that not only homes will have to be extremely well insulated, but that they will have to compensate the energy for heating and hot water by using renewable energy or efficient systems like heat pumps.
I’m guessing they are referring to a net zero carbon footprint. But fck it. NZs just fine….NZ doesn’t need any new fangled means of energy generation. Global warming and climate change is “over there”…until it’s over here and some damned heatwave, or weather event accompanying a heatwave, knackers supply in one way or another (resulting in either brown outs or black outs) and people in housing only designed for a cooler 20th C are unable to cool themselves at night.
Mr Twyford told Newshub it’s too expensive at the moment. He says it could’ve added $15,000 in price to each home…
… According to My Solar Quotes New Zealand, the average price to install solar power is $9000.
Mr Twyford has kept the door open for solar in future…
…However, energy efficiency advice was provided in relation to design standards for the homes.
“We’re also at the moment looking at design standards for Kiwibuild that could mean that all Kiwibuild homes will have to be fitted for solar, wired up so that it would be really easy and cost free in the future to install solar panels…
… Despite the Green Party pushing for solar, co-leader Marama Davidson doesn’t seem too upset about it.
“The problem is the provision of solar panels might be better provided at a community collective level rather than an individual house level….
The government could even create a revenue stream for itself by allowing decent rates for power returned to the grid, and then collecting on any excess returned to the grid from HNZ properties. Put those profiteering power companies in their place and let all generators play on the grid.
Sadly the NZ government likes to clip the ticket and price gouge on power, hiding behind “market forces”. Yeah, right. Therefore little incentive to change to solar and not get that lucrative clip of the ticket. Instead they ‘give away’$500 payment to pretend they care . Meanwhile everyone, in particular those under 65 are being ripped off apart from corporate welfare to Tiwai Pt who get million dollar hand outs. Yes it all stems from the Natz, but Labour haven’t exactly been keen to address the power rip offs.
Which leads one to ask has solar power for new state owned homes also been overlooked?
Sounds like it. State houses should have maximum amount of solar PV and solar water heating on them. The people going in to them are in dire straights and so such things that reduce power usage should be mandatory really.
Yes no point making everyone have a heater, if nobody can afford to turn it on. Personally think it’s disgusting especially with all the outages that every new house is not designed to be fitted with solar. It is not an end game but a way for extra power to be generated with the increasing population and with increasing outages and disasters people can at least have some free power when they either can’t afford it or the power is off.
The power companies are talking about importing more oil and gas because the hydro lakes are down!
And NZ unlike the rest of the world they are trying to tax solar so the power companies can maintain their excessive profits and rip offs.
By the way…… does anyone know where @ Wayne is?
Normally he’d be on duty to counter some of the ‘scurrilous’ claims being made on this ‘hard left’ blogsite.
I suppose it is possible that he’s just realised the gNats left a couple of ‘young bucks’ in charge of the chicken coup, and they just shat everywhere.
And that the only thing worth trying to salvage is the manure that could be marketed as an aid to reconditioning the soil they’ve been dumping on for the past ten years.
Ah well, there ya go! That’s real dedication – was that yesterday you say?
Well he could be rehearsing his lines I ‘spose for his next gig on one of those panelistas on the weekend ‘incisive raisin affairs shows’ like New Shub Nayshun or Q+A. OR maybe he’s even slumming it with Jum Mora – I’ll have a listen.
And by the way, has anybody thought about poor old Krus Finalysin? I mean, there goes a rilly rilly decent man. A man that can truly empasoise with all his decent predecessors – loyal to the last man standing as well as to the Caci Clinic’s re-imaging efforts, and with an obvious lerv of leopard skin. WHAT a brick!
Perhaps he went to Japan to watch rugby? Or he has been meeting with his cronies since the year dot to watch the Melbourne races and drink up and talk up how great they are, how great Gnats are.
OMG LMAO lay on the floor kicking my feet upward whilst watching channel 86, and whilst planning how the fuck to get out of here
Maureen Pugh – list Neshnool M Poi, channeling Cilla Black.
Oh fuck! and now the square jawed Chris Penk in a beautiful blue ensemble with a matching spotted toi, and equipped with good intention, and possibly one of a gNatsi ‘good guy ‘ flag for the future (going forward), but with a tonne of Bennett and Bridges effluent immediately above ground.
Which is why your idols are in the state of panic they are now in.
They were never that ‘very’ nice.
Whether it was a Nafe (who’d never inhaled) travelling south stopping off at a Rangoli that’s been one of the most complicit in ripping off immigrants on the Ka Piti, or the next pretender to whatever you think is your self-entitled throne.
(Btw, I actually did due diligence on that Rangoli and there was a shitload of video that went with it, because the oicon John Koi went with it. It IS possible I could resurrect the video
But you know …… next (the next….. these days come thick and fast).
These days as I age, I can’t really be that fucked, because I’ve come to realise that arseholes usually get their just deserts in the end, although I’m up for an @ BM challenge at any time.
I really would like to know what the @ BM post was that I’m not now privy to, but I appreciate this site isn’t a dick measuring pissing contest
Shame you’re not up to putting your mouth where your dick is. I’d be happy to indulge though any time your wankness feels up to the challenge and bearing in mind I’m probably now knocking twice your age.
The Standard though is not the time nor place for this duel So suffice it to say I think you’re a wanker and you’ll resort to whatever softcock response you have in your armoury.
Oh how I would have loved to have been able to test your bullshit.
I you can think of a way – rest assured I’m up for it.
Unfortunately, the likes of you sometimes force people to challenge your wankery.
PLEASE – think of a way.
( I never thought I’d be saying all this, but things must when dickheads think they are prevailing )
ED
I don’t think Once was Tim or other regulars care too much about BM ans his slanted remarks. Just enjoy the show Ed and let the man be BM, or Bloody Morose as his friends call him.
Nothing like a crazy rant eh Tim. I’ve been talking about John Wyndham and his style of writing which he called logical fantasy. Recognising the fantasy, it is logical to let off steam now and then. You will never be as cute as a kitten rolling on its back with its feet in the air though.
I and I would suspect some other regular visitors but irregular posters don’t find him so amusing. A bitter nasty piece of work is a bitter, nasty piece of work.
He/she and a few others of their ilk are the reason I visit here less often.
What is it? When and how did it get there? Who is responsible?
Was it some negligent Kiwi forces armourer who took it home as a souvenir?
It looks expensive. How much is it worth?
There must have been at least one casualty. To do his job so poorly, (it must have been a he), the unnamed journalist covering this story must have died of boredom halfway through writing it up.
One of the ex-army lads will be along to put me right soon I guess, but I would think it is a dummy shell for a field artillery piece. Too small for most naval guns for a shell of that age. Maybe an 18 or 25 pounder?? Looks too old for the light howitzer they were using from the 70’s. Prepared to be corrected by those who know..
It looks to long and skinny for a 25pdr, it could be one of the following a 3.7inch AA, a 20pdr HE round from the old Centurion Tanks or 17pdr AT HE round. But from my understanding is that 17pdr AT gun never enter service in NZ Army, but some were sent out from the UK from testing and evaluation in the 50’s when the NZ Army was structure for fighting in the Middle East up until the late 50’s.
P.S I’ve a feeling it could be an 76mm HE round from the old M-41 Walker Bulldog Tank that was in service during the late 60’s until it was replaced by the CVR(T) Scorpion Tank. Which to was a backwards step as the M41 was still useful in SEA with it’s 76mm gunand it could punch its way through the Jungle at the time due to its weight. All we had to was upgrade the power pack and fire control systems.
Only Navy round I could think of could from the old Dido Class Anti Aircraft Cruisers from the 50’s to 60’s which were armed a 5.5inch semi automatic DP gun and again it look’s to long and skinny to be an 4.5inch HE round from the old Type 12 Frigates. I do know the rounds for the 5inch auto gun on the ANZAC Frigates is long skinny one and I hope it’s one of those or else there might be some please explain WTF going on. But it looks too old for one those by blueing and surface corrosion on the shell, anyway it’s an interesting find.
Were there any old ammunition depots near the find?
It looks far to big to be a 76mm (12 pounder) round (hard to tell though) And anyway, as far as I can recall the only time the RNZN operated 12 pounder (76mm) guns was in WW2 on the 13 Castle Class Minesweepers we had, but they were all out of Naval Service by 1946. Since the round conforms to NATO standard colour markings it is unlikely to be from the late 1940s!
The paint job on that round is deep bronze green – for HE type ammunition – and a white band indicating an illumination round.
Look at this image of a 4.5″ shell casing and note how the shape of the neck of the brass casing is the same –
Yeah I’m starting to think it’s either a 4.5 or possibly a 5.25 inch round since I’ve been pouring over my Naval books this afternoon that I use for build model ships.
The round 76mm gun on M41 Tank is long skinny one, I’m never to sure about what gets written up in the media these days and or what they put up on their news website.
Kia ora The Am Show I agree with Mark the Speaker and Jerry going on a working Holiday to Japan its hard work being a MP nit picking .
Cyber crime is a big issue for NZ I’m experiencing that every couple of weeks .
There you go Idris Elba is voted the world’s most handsome man Time’s are changing some will need a lot of tissues .
Mike some can see the big picture about the mid term elections in America unlike some who cannot see past there Ego’s.
Hone I don’t think some should encourage you to use those word’s on TV te mokopuna’s will be watching 3 of the 4 of my offspring don’t smoke and we never smoke in the same room or car with the mokopuna’s I say a advertising campaign on the bad effects on secondhand smoke and Alcohol .
Did you catch a Taxi to work yesterday.
Can’t you see we have a idiot behaving badly in the world media and it affects other idiots with small———the 1080 threat’s.
There are a few troll’s lined up for the poll today I new the stat’s will start correcting as the morning.
There you got I told everyone Wahine are more intelligent than man I seen it in my raising my children and my moko’s Equality is needed the schooling system does not teach te moko the the skill’s the children need to work out the best way to climb up there ladder’s of life .
Azees I told you the trump trolls have been waiting for your poll.
Eco Maori say’s Ka pai How Taylor Swift turned her Instagram into a get-out-the-vote fan page Americans get out and vote
American leg of her Reputation Tour at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Taylor Swift announced on Instagram for the first time ever who she’d be voting for: Democrats Phil Bredesen and Jim Cooper.She’s among the most followed people on the social network, with more 112 million followers, link below Ka kite ano
This is what the media can do with a small story spin a mountain out of a mole hill
Jacinda did not say she received death threats this is just another cheating neo liberal capitalist play the actors who are making these treats are there puppets ka kite ano
link is below.
Kia ora Tekaea
its cool That Jacinda is at the Ratana 100 year commemoration ka pai.
Nanaia that is a good start to the Papakainga package $1.7 million .
Mark Dunajtsik has made a huge gift to te tangata a new hospital .
Haunui Waka back in Aotearoa from the Norfolk Islands good experiences for the young Wahine and Tane ka pai Ka kite ano
Kia ora Newshub The House was won by Democrats ka pai its not over say Bernie Sanders
Unemployment has dropped that’s cool to it’s lowest in ten years a bit of positive wairua from the new Coalition Goverment .
I had thought that would be the outcome off the Ross saga a vote for New Zealand First
You will always find someone to find a negative comment from someone anywhere the Ratana commemorations for 100 years and the Labour Party’s delivering to tangata whenua some have a very short memorie .
The weed debate well we know that making it illegal is a dumb and has failed.
Immunization is the best way to stop Meningococcal disease .
Ka kite ano P.S got distracted our offspring were picking up the mokopuna’s car after I fixed it
Kia ora The Crowd Goes Wild James & Wairangi
Thats a very good over 46 for 2020 cricket from Darryl T.
That good that the British League player has a 4 week ban and a small fine its better than nothing .
Lets hope the Football Ferns & there new Coach will get a good wairua going.
Ka kite ano
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Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
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Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
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 ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Pōneke based peace activists staged a silent protest at the ANZAC day service to highlight New Zealand’s complicity in war and genocide, and urge the government to take concrete steps to stop the genocide in Palestine. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
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Careful Draco, this is a safe space, we can’t let people’s feelings be hurt
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
The Syrianisation of the World
Nigerian army defends shooting protesters by citing Trump’s migrant caravan remarks
Rick Noack – November 3, 2018
Armed American militias heed Trump and head south to confront caravan
Mary Lee Grant & Nick – November 5, 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR6G__fcWEU
…..or the original when America used to be great again
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2eO65BqxBE
Just remember corporate media – just don’t mention climate change….then it’s not happening, is it?
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/108363183/get-your-fan-out-its-about-to-get-really-hot-parts-of-nz-could-reach-30c
Was there any mention, at the Labour Party conference?
Yes. Read the speech.
Was there any other mention, by anyone?
“James Shaw’s progress on our climate change goals, and with the ambition of New Zealand First in the mix, our plan to plant one billion trees is well under way – for those who don’t follow the tree counter as religiously as I do, we are up to 60.6 million”.
It was at least mentioned, fair enough to have missed it though.
And I guess we better ignore the fact that there are many people rather sceptical about the idea that the Emissions Trading Scheme is ever going to be the key to dealing with cataclysmic climate change.
And what exactly did Jacinda mean by “and with the ambition of New Zealand First in the mix”?.
“In the nineteenth century, there was no superannuation or sick leave or paid holidays. People fought so hard to win those rights and now we’re glibly throwing them away.”
“It’s time to bring employment law into the twenty-first century and ensure all employees, gig or salaried have flexible working opportunities, but also the same protections and benefits. This stops arbitrage of hard-won, and necessary, protections,”
“If you wouldn’t wear a T-shirt made in a sweatshop,” don’t take an Uber,
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12154870
Uber is fantastic!!!!! So much better than the old taxi model. Use it in the city all the time
Uber eats is sadly not out our way – but whenever travelling for work I use it most nights.
But I have no idea where my t-shirt comes from other than Rod and gun.
James without scruples? Surely not? (sarc)
Yes James we know you don’t care.
As long James get what James wants , he doesn’t care a hoot for others.
Sweatshop workers, Uber drivers, Child Labourers, …..
Of course, if James doesn’t get what he wants, he’ll throw a tantrum.
Pretty much because everything that he wants should be the price he wants to pay rather than what it actually costs.
This is the problem with believing that the price should be what you want to pay as told us by politicians and economists.
Lemme guess: when you’re not baiting low-self-control commenters here, you get your kicks shooting fish in a barrel.
LOL……..Rod & Gun (sic)!
busted
The last time I took a conventional taxi he charged $30 for a 10 minute drive. That’s 1 way Aotea Square to Westmere. The gig I did that night paid the princely sum of $40. The bus in was $2.20 (with student discount).
Then WINZ wanted all manner of paperwork as I, a student, earned fuck all. They added the $40 to an $80 teaching gig and penalized me for the lot refusing to discount travel expenses.
So it was not worth leaving the house if taxis were required.
I attended Tarun Mohanbhai’s Comedy festival show Uber Funny in May this year. It was about his journey to being, and experiences as, an uber driver. Sounded like a total rort on the operators and next to no responsibility for management.
Abandoning Uber wont help the drivers. Closer scrutiny and regulation might.
I’m not ‘abandoning ‘ them.
I just don’t use them.
Uber is a great example of a few people getting very, very rich on the work of lots and lots of other people who don’t actually get enough from their hard work to even pay their way. It’s pure exploitation that sucks wealth and money out of the community while providing SFA.
This is why the capitalists love it so much.
Helping the drivers would be the government setting up similar software that NZ taxi drivers could use that paid for by taxes. This would have it so that the convenience is there for the customers but the drivers actually get to keep all their income rather than having most of it syphoned off to rich bludgers.
It’s way past time to bring employment law into the 21stC – we’re 18 bloody years in!
And one of the big issues to be dealt with is the way corporates and others try to outsource their responsibilities whilst being able to clip the ticket.
It’s taken a change in government for the Labour Inspectorate to get off its chuff and start to take it all seriously (albeit as under-resourced as it has been, although one of its managers was assuring us all that there were sufficient inspectors not long before the last election).
And at least we have some prepared to keep the pressure on:
Congratulations to Teuila Fuatai of Newsroom who is not going to let one instance of it all die: https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/11/05/306076/chorus-speaks-out-on-migrant-exploitation and https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/10/08/269274/migrant-exploitation-and-the-true-cost-of-ufb
Then there’s the so-called “independent contractors” who are actually DEPENDENT courier drivers. The corporates have shunted their costs onto the subcontractor and bound them through contracts that should (if they are not already) be illegal.
Again, it’s all been working as designed over the past decade.
What we should be asking is
– how long is it going to be before the bloody big shakeup taht’s quite obviously necessary, and
– are the ticket clippers going to be held to account, or will it be another Wellington wet bus ticket approach which will simply result in quite a few being tempted to try it all on again
In regards to the truckies/couriers, John Campbell started looking at this just before he left RNZ.
It would be good if someone followed up on the traction gained.
A similar dodgy practice is construction firms having their apprentices as sub contractors.
Businesses with all workers as subcontractors. We need more inspectors with teeth and the ability to enforce orders.
We do @Patricia, and they shouldn’t need bloody stab proof vests
( https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/103790349/labour-inspectors-now-wearing-stabproof-vests-but-say-theyre-not-cops ). If ever there were signals that show what their priorities are/ere, that was one of them.
It took MoBIE a while to realise why nobody wanted to come forward to report cases of exploitation and immigration fraud as well.
Many still don’t want to, and its completely understandable why.
Yep @ gsays. I doubt John Campbell will leave it to die. And there are others who I think will try and keep it all alive. (Laura Toupu? from RNZ appears to have left and gone to New Shub, and there are others such as Michael Morrah, Gil Bonnett scattered around the place).
What we (lil ole yeah/nah Nu Zull) did was create a structure and policies which NORMALISED exploitation in the workplace. Passing on costs and driving down wages to small self-employed – often immigrants not entitled to any state benefits (income support, medical support, child care et al), and often so that the only way they could survive and recover from their indebtedness was to rip others off.
(I’ll try and find a link, but several weeks ago – either on NinetoNoon or Saturday, there was a review/author interview of a book I think – whereby an immigrant was confessing to sins he’d never have taken part in till he came here and tried to survive)
I know there are some in here that hold the view that we can’t save the world and that now we’ve created this situation, we should just boot ’em out and start again. My view is that if we don’t take responsibility for the past structure and policies we’re just setting ourselves up for it all to happen again, and as we do, we descend into the 3rd World.
And the worst part about it all is that once the indebted get themselves out of the shit (often through exploitative practices), they’re tempted towards the greedy, just like a lot of others.
NZ had a duty to properly resource agencies such as NZQA, and INZ, and the Labour Inspectorate, AND have them do their fucking job ethically and competently. The good thing is, there are signs they’re getting the message.
As we embraced the rogernomics, so can we formulate and embrace another revolution.
Especially with kindness as one of its central themes.
Sharing needs to be at the core too.
Get profit out of the money system, have the state issue $s.
Take the profit out of landlording.
Part of the frustration I sense here on TS is that with this government the key people and ingredients are in place.
Winnie who has said neo liberalism has failed and must go, a mother Premiere who has repeated kindness as a motto, and a populace young and old ready for radical change.
The Uber-economy f**ks us all: How “permalancers” and “sharer” gigs gut the middle class
The “sharing” economy sounds groovy: politically neutral, anti-consumerist. Wait until it comes for your job
https://www.salon.com/2015/10/31/the_uber_economy_fks_us_all_how_permalancers_and_sharer_gigs_guts_the_middle_class/
They said education and hard work would set you free, maybe not …award winning qualified people are now scrabbling around to make ends meet as wages are no longer enough or secure enough to survive on …
‘Frederic Larson enjoyed a successful 30-year career as a staff photographer with the San Francisco Chronicle, during which time he won numerous awards, including being a Pulitzer Prize finalist. As Forbes reports, he was downsized during the recession, and needing income he “monetized his assets.” He turned his house into an Airbnb hotel and his spiffy Prius into a Lyft taxi. Now for 12 nights a month—40% of his life—he shutters himself in a rabbit hole inside his own home and showers at the local gym while complete strangers have the run of his place. This award-winning professional photographer has been turned into an innkeeper in his own home and a taxi driver in his own car.’
https://www.salon.com/2015/12/29/the_sharing_economy_partner/
P>S> That seems to be the future of NZ, but be aware, a friend of mine from Eastern Europe once said there is saying in their country.
“we pretend to work and they pretend to pay us”
Might explain NZ productivity levels.
So is the government’s end game that our wages are so out of line with expenses, that a professional like a teacher does a 8 hour day, then goes home and does a few uber hours to make ends meet, while staying at friends while they rent out their house for a few extra dollars, just to pay for escalating power, housing, rates, insurance, water, food etc costs…. as their job no longer keeps pace with that.
meanwhile our councils are increasing rates, extra charges and petrol taxes, while spending it on Stadiums and Billion dollar yacht races…? and extra charges, don’t forget they fully want to extract that share of that ‘shared’ economy https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/363069/airbnb-hosts-angered-by-auckland-council-s-bed-tax
Funny enough, polluting cruise ships are exempt from the paltry tourist taxes though, nice to be a multinational probably domiciled in a tax haven, and have the locals picking up the tab all the time!
Go figure that one out.
Yes, the corporates and other businesses loved it when 20th century employment laws were taken back to the 19th century. National was, and is still trying, to take those laws even further back to produce more poverty so that the rich can be richer and more powerful.
When I first went to Otago uni I looked for work at a labour temping agency. One of the clauses pretty much prevented me from even looking for work if I’d signed the contract as it prevented me from accepting work from any of the employers in the region who’d used the labour agency.
Completely against anything that could be considered a ‘free-labour market’ as it purposefully constrained what the employee could do.
“pretty much prevented me from even looking for work if I’d signed the contract”
This behavior is or was prevalent in a lot of comedy clubs in the UK 2000’s
Which went something along the lines of, if you do a gig here you can’t play other clubs within x time or x distance or both. Some of them probably still try this crap on. Like they think they own you if they hire you.
Looking at full time jobs today to see what it’s like. Many ask for people who are ‘flexible with hours’ – for ‘working weekends and overtime’. So not enough work or way too much is at their discretion really. They think they own your whole life. I’ve worked for A’holes like this they don’t give a shit about you or your own commitments. Flexibility means be my bitch. And the call for ‘flexibility’ is more common than not.
Employers whinge cos they can’t get good people. Anyone with half a clue, and the slightest choice, would reject that shit.
If you want good people be good people, you twats.
“If you want good people be good people, you twats”
Ae!
It probably still hasn’t dawned on the gNats yet though, or indeed one or two public servants who were angling to set up some kind of Peter Dutton type Border Force with spots on a Joolie Krusty reality TV show.
And Thompson and Clark are probably still pondering the size of their dicks in the realisation they weren’t as big as they imagined.
Deny Uber any IP protection for their apps etc. due to their bad behaviour.
Encourage the drivers to form driver-cooperatives and the like using the same technology.
Exploitative, globalised ticket-clipping because you happen to have invented some shitty little app is a grotesquely disproportionate reward.
+111
Uber is a great example of capitalism and it’s rentier MO.
National’s Nice Cop, Nasty Cop routine: Paula “Snitch” Bennett,
assisted by Sidekick Simon, goes after Jami-Lee Ross
Monday, Nov. 5, 2018
This is a real, unbowdlerized, transcript of that infamous conversation…..
JAMI-LEE ROSS: So it would be for medical reasons?
PAULA BENNETT: If THAT’s what you want. So you either—I think either medical or family’s your best option.
JAMI-LEE ROSS: Medical’s TRUU-U-UE.
SIMON BRIDGES: Yeah.
PAULA BENNETT: If that’s—
SIMON BRIDGES: Yeah. No that’s RIGHT. That’s RIGHT.
PAULA BENNETT: And—
SIMON BRIDGES: There’s no SHAME in that.
PAULA BENNETT: No. And it mee-e-eans that everyone will back OFF you too – the media and all that sort of stuff. Which I think’s important. …. Just SUCH the lightest option we possibly can in the light of what we’ve got in front of us. And it’s out of respect to the girls.
JAMI-LEE ROSS: You haven’t even TOLD me what I’ve supposedly done. I don’t even KNOW.
PAULA BENNETT: Simon told you ALL ABOUT the disloyalty stuff, Jami-Le-e-ee, and quite frankly if that was put to caucus, that would be enough.
JAMI-LEE ROSS: The stuff around harassing STAFF, which I reject, that is the worst, ‘cos, and I don’t even know what that IS.
PAULA BENNETT: Well you DO know what the disloyalty stuff is, and that’s been put to you really clearly, and if that was put to caucus, that would be enough.
JAMI-LEE ROSS: [exasperated sigh]
PAULA BENNETT: You know? We are trying to give you the LIGHTEST POSSIBLE, um, way out of this.
SIMON BRIDGES: ‘Cos when we’re finished, Jami-Lee, we can get through it. And you can get through it. And you can come out the other side if your attitude, um, after the time out is, is GOOD and POSITIVE, and you can be promoted again. …. I give you my one HUNDRED percent assurance that if you go with the statement along the lines we’ve talked about, I will NEVER badmouth you in relation to this – privately, publicly, in background, off the record in any way. I will do everything within my power to keep the things we talked about last week out of the public [inaudible]. I will do everything.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/11/new-leaked-recording-suggests-simon-bridges-paula-bennett-planned-jami-lee-ross-cover-up.html
Police wont press charges – why?
https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/108321403/horse-trainer-michael-breslin-sexually-assaulted-woman-but-penalty-not-tough-enough
A deep insight into mental illness by journalist Virginia Winder who talks about her journey with bipolar disorder.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/107864708/this-is-a-story-about-how-to-save-your-own-life
In this context, it is appropriate to quote from I Am a Strange Loop, a book by Douglas Hofstadter:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_a_Strange_Loop
Thank you Incognito. Real food for thought. JLR has been used imo. He is fighting back.
I find it bizarre that JLR is becoming the new darling of the left
A.
Hi Antoine, JLR has not become a darling in my eyes, but more a symptom of all that lies beneath in the National party. I am glad its surfacing through him. Again I am unsure of his motivations, what really happened with the women. (we have seen text evidence of behaviour from one of the women he had an affair with though.
I wish anyone suffering from a mental illness all the very best in their recovery.
Oh yes and I do have a small amount of sympathy for Bridges……………..just a very small amount.
Its too early to tell if JLR is a geniune whistle blower or just seeking revenge. Or maybe a bit of both
No, not at all. Just used and abused.
This was to Antoine
I believe it in your case but I think others are starting to see him as a martyr. Remember the enemy of your enemy is not your friend. Shades of Kim dot com
A.
“I find it bizarre that JLR is becoming the new darling of the left”
Yep JLR is a delusional sleaze bag, It shows how one eyed many on the left are when suddenly they become a fanboy of low-lifes like Ross and Slater.
True Nastiman, but Pullya and Slick are major arseholes and would sell their grannies for organ transplants.
Oh, well JLR must be nice then
A.
Except that he hasn’t.
What he has shown is the corruption that is inherent in the National Party.
Despite all the noise, numerous allegations and speculation…. from what I heard of the tape, JLR clearly sounded di/stressed!
And as MS rightly pointed out in his Post yesterday; “It is noteworthy that the allegations only came out publicly when National decided to counterattack after Ross’s stand up conference in Parliament.
Ross’s mental health was not a significant consideration for them at that time.” (or at anytime!)
Clearly Bridges and Bennett’s behaviour was totally abhorrent!
abhorrent
/əbˈhɒr(ə)nt/
adjective
inspiring disgust and loathing; repugnant.
synonyms: detestable, detested, hateful, hated, loathsome, loathed, despicable, despised, abominable, abominated, execrable, execrated, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, disgusting, distasteful, horrible, horrid, horrifying, awful, heinous, reprehensible, obnoxious, odious, nauseating, offensive, contemptible
Just like the 9 years of their tenure
As above!
Yes, I agree.
So OUR commons turned over so individuals can earn more profit. Water is our life and you farmer-capitalists are abusing that resource. Shame on them and the day of reckoning is coming, of that I have no doubt.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/108361446/greenpeace-lashes-out-at-infuriating-irrigation-decision-in-mackenzie
It makes me so angry that the demolition of ECan was done so easily and without undue reaction from we the people. And as Newsroom article says, “Doubts and fears sown in 2010 have bloomed into a concern that ECan is putting irrigation interests ahead of the environment.”
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/11/05/307965/council-caves-on-dairy-consent?preview=1
IMO, the whole point of National’s canning of ECan was to put the interests of the irrigators above everyone else and the environment.
“The seeds were sown eight years ago, critics say. In 2010, the John Key-led Government sacked Canterbury’s regional councillors over “urgent problems with water management”.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/11/05/307965/council-caves-on-dairy-consent
snap!
But it could be worser …
https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/105202179/ecan-elections-may-be-very-dangerous-if-extremists-elected-warns-farming-leader
But what if they elect farmer extremists?
Exactly!
Sign the PETITION; (its going Nuts!)
David Parker, Minister for the Environment: For the sake of our rivers, our climate and the unique and precious Mackenzie country, I call on you to stop all new dairy conversions and intensification of existing livestock farming by making them both prohibited activities, effective immediately, in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater.
https://act.greenpeace.org/page/23869/petition/1?locale=en-NZ&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=agriculture&utm_content=ecan+consent
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/108049548/Ng-i-Tahu-Farming-replaces-forestry-with-14-000-cows-at-Eyrewell
Yes, because saving the environment and the people while living sustainably is so very, very extreme.
National and other RWNJs tell us that we must live within our means while doing everything to prevent us living sustainably so as to boost profits for the capitalists.
https://larspsyll.wordpress.com/2018/11/04/solow-on-the-non-existence-of-a-natural-rate-of-unemployment/
Robert Solow explains that NZs main economic policy initiative for several decades (the OCR and inflation targeting) is based on fiction.
As far as I can make out, the entire capitalist edifice that the politicians and most economists promote is complete bollocks. It’s all based upon false assumptions about human behaviour, drives and economics.
Notice Granny is still promoting the deal where rich individuals get free public land worth billions in return for a white elephant Stadium that nobody wants and the poorer folks have no access too aka paid events, even if they could afford the petrol to come into the city centre.
Note any buildings built on wharves cost 7 times more in maintenance, probably more these days.
So not only is there a white elephant Stadium that is being pushed as an agenda that nobody wants, but if it even got built, even BEFORE global warming, it is going to cost 7 times more at least to maintain than MT Eden.
So work harder people, Auckland council is going to need a lot more rates in the future, as we all know money is no object to them.
Auckland council might soon be running a city that has no teachers or Doctors or Police, but full of empty spec homes…and the working poor sleeping in the parks and cars..
But who cares, a few individuals have make a killing developing in MT Eden with free billion dollar land. Now that is capitalism!
Too true,
This council is fixated on every facility and business being in the CBD, at our expense. It is time that they reversed this philosophy and took the facility’s and jobs to the people in the form of satellite towns. It makes no sense to keep shifting people and goods into an ever increasingly populated area until it freezes from lack of maneuverability.
Also with our record of constructing leaky buildings any building at the mercy of the sea would appear to be an extremely risky venture
“Note any buildings built on wharves cost 7 times more in maintenance, probably more these days.”
This I find difficult to believe
“Stadium that nobody wants”
“pushed as an agenda that nobody wants”
While I don’t live in Auckland so care very little, I think you might be slightly thinking everyone else agrees with you and those you hang out with, when they probably don’t
Yes, Chris T you don’t live in Auckland and therefore have few insights into what people want here, and the last thing on anyone’s minds is wasting money on a white elephant stadium after all the other stupid ideas put upon us like the Supercity.
And yep do some checks and you will find wharf buildings cost 7x more in maintenance and that is before global warming and an idea to sink the stadium into the sea. Costs a lot more to maintain infrastructure underwater, go figure!
I think that a better idea for the Stadium is private practise own it, pay to build it, pay for the land and run it, independent of the council and pay for the maintenance off their ticket sales but we all know that won’t happen because the stadium is going to generate huge costs to the taxpayers and ratepayers and on going loses and private practise want the taxpayers to pay for it. Oh and don’t steal the harbour to do it.
A stadium is great for all those offshore luxury waterfront hotels, probably less fun for the residents of Auckland who live in the centre and a big headache for anyone struggling in Auckland, on a fixed income, or who have just been hit with a petrol tax and higher rates (or rents).
We have sewerage going into the harbour, massive congestion, housing inequity, full hospitals and schools, but the Stadium is where the granny headlines and the council is focused on.
Is an underwater stadium a good idea christy?
FWIW, the caketin in Wellys is a great regional asset.
Shoulda put a roof on it…
Did they thinh it needed a cap on the cost?
Could stadiums be built in two stages? First get a roof-ready bunch of walls and facilities up, then add a roof – of some sort. In Wellington it would have to withstand regular strong winds. A retractable one then? A canvas one that wouldn’t be a huge loss if torn to ribbons and could be replaced? Something that wouldn’t turn into a flying weapon?
Scrap the roof and everyone brings a raincoat?
It might come to that when TSHTF.
It’s ok. The caketin is what happens when you compromise and end up with something that doesn’t really suit anyone. Athletic Park was much better to watch footy at.
They should have built a rectangular stadium on the waterfront as 80% of sport played at the stadium is on a rectangular field. Then built a large stand at the Basin to increase capacity and there might have been some money leftover to start getting Light Rail to the Basin built.
I don’t think I caught a game at Athletic park. Although I have heard Keith Quinn recall the south stand move in one of the local breezes.
As an outsider, I probably couldn’t tell you how to get there.
Have seen several rugby games there, including Jonah’s last hurricanes game. There isn’t a bad seat in the house.
Coming from the provinces, it’s great.
Drive to Raumati, get on the train, day in Wellys, footy, then train back up the line then home.
I get there are impacts on rate bills, but with a bit of imagination this can be ameliorated. E.g. $1 a ticket for the first 5years goes to the stadium.
Perhaps they could sell the tickets out of the stadium, because there seems to be some fat in the prices ticketec, ticketmaster charge for their services.
It is a total lack of common sense to build yet another public building that will focus thousand of people into the smallest, narrowest part of New Zealand. An area already congested with other public buildings such as the university which already pulls 20,000 people into the same space.
For the same reason the port should not be developed any further either. The sea front of central Auckland should become a beautiful public recreational seafront for all to enjoy.
Get real !
Well it seems money does not buy brain power or common sense… apparently approx 50% of the rates money is spend on paying themselves…
Auckland Council wages bill nearing $1 billion
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12142579
Sounds like you channelling Penny’s bright ideas RIP.
Lived in Auckland for a number of years, including post and prior Americas Cup.
That new development proposed sounds epic. Am imagining a type of ‘south bank brisbane’, now that would be wonderful for Auckland city.
The Auckland waterfront should be developed for all to enjoy.
Build a stadium somewhere else.
I also totally disagree with the privatisation of the Auckland waterfront (I live in Auckland). And with the current approach to centralising all the city’s main events and corporate activities.
I love the idea of an Auckland version of Brisbane’s south bank as a people’s location for enjoying the waterfront.
Mother Agnes Mariam de la Croix wades into the Syria debate and talks about the phony White Helmets and Russia’s helpful contributions. Thank you Mother Superior.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSMSaawexA8
Oh look, another apologist for the Assad regimes war crimes.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
?
A tweet from 2013 that came off the back of a campaign mounted by Pulse media – known liberal interventionists.
She withdrew from the conference. Jones later said he withdrew on the basis that Scahill had withdrawn.
Now, maybe Mother Agnes is the evil critter that Pulse Media say she is (conspiring in the murder of journalists and refugees). Or then again….
The AMP demutualised some decades ago. Now it is getting out of life insurance and other things and has sold much of its business to a ‘closed book ‘ investor that apparently will just manage the present policies.
Is NZ getting uninsurable? As Ryan asked is it the growing numbers of people who won’t die (of course she didn’t use such stark description), also the earthquake and other risks we face, make us hard to quantify for insurance businesses? There was a mention that we are the second riskiest country in the world.
I think this move will bring an important matter to our attention. All thinking people who visit this blog should listen to this interview and get a worms eye view of what is going on. Later we can aim for a birds eye view but we need to investigate the ground situation of insurance here and what we will need to do.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018669955/impact-of-amp-s-life-insurance-exit
Something mentioned was that young people are not taking out insurance. That would fit in with the lack of care that many take as they go blindly or optimistically on their way as can be noticed when crossing roads. No look right or left, just step out with your eyes on your Device and whoosh for real.
I’m thinking of hard times earlier when often unions formed welfare societies which have been declining in NZ. This is in line with the idea that we didn’t need these any more as we had a welfare state, and had trustable commitment from government to provide a helpful environment for all citizens and to extend this to those in need. ACC was started under this mindset. And as a rather somnolent accepting society, we have been slow to complain about a decline from this, slow to feel concern even outrage on behalf of other people being badly treated, and of course the decline spreads like a creeping bindweed.
Start looking at deliberately forming local groups that assist in a practical way that are funded from locals for locals, and let us start having education sessions on how to manage our society, making the point that Margaret Thatcher and her ilk were talking ideological BS when saying ‘there is no such thing as society’. Also how to protect ourselves, where needed, what our vision is. Because without that there won’t be time to form a vision, it will be just inadequate immediate disaster relief, and repeat.
Right with you on the local organising.
I assume it is an Amish way, insurance comes from community, someones house, barn burns down, the community rebuilds it.
Your mention of unions reminds me of what we have lost.
My father had a massive stroke at work. He didn’t recover.
Two men knocked on my mother’s door, gave her an envelope.
It was enough for Dads funeral expenses and a little bit more.
Gsays, yes communities where unions were strong helped in bad times. Often it was union money plus a “whip round” with the hat, to top it up. I have always wondered what was done for the families of those forestry workers killed on the job. No union no rights.
The Amish are a cult and it is always dangerous to look at cults as the way to go, though their integrated community helping each other is probably what we need. I understand rural people mid 20th century in some areas of NZ could be a good template for what we need now. Their communal barn raising practice is a good symbol of what could be accomplished with more friendly cohesion.
The Mafia grew cult-like out of a poverty stricken area. The Exclusive Brethren are an example of a tightly bound group, and perhaps some of the Maori gangs are also tightly bound.
But cults or gangs or clans are cohesive and want to hold together. The best ones look out for each other, and that is what i thought we had in NZ but apparently no. And it seems to me that once people get comfortable they get bound up in wealth and its enjoyment and the past of striving is dismissed as another world. So my simple ideas that people would put into community some of what they had and the more they had, the more they could and would give; that is the remainder of a child’s idea.
Community and commitment both start the same way, and are fixed in partnership. So we should keep talking about that, while the sleek predators look to see what they can get hold of and use up majorly for their own benefit.
The clever predator will offer some deal to the community, but they need to check out net gains and look for fish hooks. And sometimes those who would be the most beneficial get overlooked in favour of another idea group which looks better until you unpick it and see the tell-tale lack of commitment to all the people.
I know of two small communities that are organising in case TSHTF.
Asking my friend who is a senior chappie in one of them, ‘post ‘Shit going down’ will you greet a stranger with a hug or a gun?’
He responded that a gun would be the first step back towards this mess we are in now.
The best thing would be to start doing something now before the mess we are in now becomes overwhelming.
I keep being drawn back to John Wyndham’s journey in The Day of the Triffids in which he has the man go from his convalescence in hospital to a temporary sanctuary in a distant rural area, along with a sighted woman partner he rescued from a bunch of blind thugs, and the remaining child of two whose parents, and her brother had been killed by the dangerous triffids. Then with his partner and the teenage girl, they join with a blind pair whose farm they have found sanctuary on, and escape from a dictatorship that has assumed the role of government by the use of arms, outwitting them. They go to an island group that has formed a civilised community which can defend itself and manage to wipe out the triffids there.
But on the way he stops at a large farm that has tried to take in everyone who arrives and is having trouble helping and feeding everyone. A disease spreads quickly and all the able-bodied flee, leaving the man who is a newcomer. He finds a girl still alive who talks to him knowing she is dying and wishes him well. He helps when she asks him for some sleeping tablets and water so she can take her own life when she wishes. There isn’t much he can do as an individual, most others he comes across have joined into the armed dictatorship run by a few hard men using force. He travels on towards an area where he thinks his partner has gone, offers friendship to the girl and they go on with patient determination and wise decision making till they find his partner.
It is rather along the lines of some USA films being made about dislocated people, with zombies rather than triffids as a menace. In them there are problems of food, relationships, trust, guns, wariness and privation. To have food it takes at least a month to grow anything, and whether there is anything that can be utilised like wild plants, berries, meat and fish and simple medications (I believe dock plants are useful), keeping alive would be a problem. I would rather we gathered ourselves together now rather than have to face the hard situations forced on us when resources run out.
I feel that guns and revolution are a last resort. But that trying to be both kind and practical as a guideline will enable people to enjoy a limited life compared to what we have been used to. And we may be able to conserve some of the things we have, think of ways to manage things we can’t influence or control. And I think of Dylan Thomas – he’s enigmatic and so is our future. Rage against the dying of the night, will keep us appreciating each other and our wonderful world, so much taken for granted.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2cgcx-GJTQ
I have a vague memory of day of the triffids movie from my youth.
Your synopsis reminds me of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road.
A very grim affair.
It doesn’t feel grim, as the protagonist manages to solve problems and becomes part of a band of strong-minded, capable, practical people as a little family and they have hope for the future, and are inventive as to how to manage. The young man is not a drug addict or alcoholic, and is able to plan and imagine the outcomes of different scenarios and is capable, a hard worker and kind, brave, honest and true. Too nice to be a human really. /sarc
true.. happening in Island communities with Chinese money.
The community is the insurance.
But, of course, if it’s done that way then the capitalists can’t make a profit from doing nothing.
The wonderful Tama Renata has passed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKK3sjJhm0g
https://www.waateanews.com/waateanews/x_news/MjA1MDU/Tears-shed-for-shredder-Renata
RIP Tama.
So evocative that tune.
So gut thumping that movie.
A few years ago I saw Tama, Dilworth Karaka and Tama Lundon unplugged at the Whanagnui Opera house.
Their set list, harmonies and innate showmanship, Tama’s guitar antics, the opera house acoustics and the crowd made it probably the best show I’d been to since the pub rock events of my youth.
joe90
It would be great if someone had recorded or videoed that. I wonder….
Did anyone consider Jane Pattison’s article NZ Herald on the NZ Labour Conference contrived.
My reaction was Jane wanted to “minimize any impact through faint praise and suggested problems”
Some aspects. “Locked down” “Empty seats” “No fanfare” “No mention of Helen Clarke” “Journalists not allowed to see divisions or blood on the floor during discussions” “One good idea approved by the people”
Jane did you go to the same conference as Micky and Te Reo Putake? You needed to remove your blue tinted glasses.
She’s used to the Nat’s either buying or threatening journalists in order to push a message. She’s used to overhyped X-factor/evangelical-sermon Nat party conferences.
She doesn’t know what to do in the absence of that.
I wasn’t there, but I did attend the famous 2012 conference and saw first hand the way the media distorted, lied and created a mountainous drama from tiny molehills. I saw them hounding and harassing MPs on both sides of the factional divide, and I even saw them hanging around outside the outer door of the men’s loo and pouncing on MPs as they emerged. They couldn’t even go and have a quiet pee.
After that performance is it any wonder they prefer to go into ‘lock-down’ when deliberating on policy matters and issues of the day.
Anne if the journalists had really been razor sharp they would have gone in and done their questioning as they stood side by side doing their business. So they could be said to show a little respect for their victims!
I think the male journos would understand trickle down theory and also the nature of slashing comments from males who cannot multi-task………..
Razor sharp mac1
Unfortunately half of them were female. 😐
Patricia, I read a little of Jane’s article and the headline and thought it was an attempt to make it look lackluster to say the least.
I take it nothing about queues of people who couldn’t get in for her speech????? Also thought Q and A did a very pedestrian report…………………………………….
Jane was the one who had a go at Marion Hobbs around the time of the Claire Curran affair…………….2+2 =
“Did anyone consider Jane Pattison’s article NZ Herald on the NZ Labour Conference contrived.”
???? Jane Patterson is Senior Political Editor for RNZ and does not write for NZ Herald. She does write for the Listener and their online site, Noted, but has not done so on the Conference as yet apparently.
I am not a great fan of Jane’s but personally I did not think her RNZ reports on the Conference were contrived. While they were not over the top “Ra Ra” reports, I thought they were reasonable and I could also not find the terms you quoted above in her articles on the Conference.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/370223/labour-party-conference-relatively-locked-down-low-key-affair
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/370182/600-new-support-roles-for-kids-with-special-needs-govt
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/370139/wellbeing-budget-to-give-mental-health-focus-it-deserves
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/370127/labour-s-president-says-national-s-sense-of-entitlement-on-display
Perhaps you have confused her with someone else?
Re NZ Herald, Audrey Young was their main reporter there, but again I did not think her reports were too bad, despite Young’s leanings.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12154399
IMO Tracey Watkins at Stuff also did not do too bad a job on reporting either.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/108349572/Jacinda-Arderns-message-to-the-party-faithful-we-can-t-do-it-all
Apologies… RNZ not The Herald. My opinion was she was annoyed at being excluded from parts of the conference and wrote accordingly. Audrey did write a reasonable piece. Great picture of Jacinda Neve and Clarke.
Patricia
These phrases that you quoted did indeed seem to intend to diminish and
concentrate on the negative. Were they balanced by positives do you think?
These quoted comments have a weighted negativity about them.
Some aspects. “Locked down” “Empty seats” “No fanfare” “No mention of Helen Clarke” “Journalists not allowed to see divisions or blood on the floor during discussions” “One good idea approved by the people”
Reading her article I think you are being over sensitive
The empty seats you have taken out of context. She talks about the 1080 protester risk being the cause, so not even a crtiticism
Helen Clark not being mentioned is note worthy as she is her mentor and the only other female Labour PM
Fan Fare and the blood bit aren’t even in the article on the web, so not sure what you were reading
Is it something different to this
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/370223/labour-party-conference-relatively-locked-down-low-key-affair
Yes possibly I felt a little more up beat tenor would have been suitable, however, I must admit Jane was the only ? reporter to note the reaction to the 1080 protesters, that closed the doors when quote “hundreds were lined up”.
Apparently there was a death threat made. The PM discussed it later.
I was just reading a column by Chris Trotter in which he says the Labour Caucus no longer has to comply with the party manifesto after last weekend’s conference but he doesn’t give any links and I can’t find anything on Google. Does anyone have a suitable link about this?
Conference endorsed this change. It’s to allow for flexibility in coalition talks. It’s not a free pass to ignore the manifesto, rather it lets the leadership make practical compromises when forming a Government.
So Trotter is exaggerating? again?
Not sure, haven’t read his article. It wasn’t controversial at conference and it would be a shame if Trotter is trying to distort the intention.
I suggest you do read it, as he deftly connects the event to the last LP conference in Dunedin 30 years ago. I’m often critical of his analyses but this essay lacks any flaw to pounce on, so 9/10. Didn’t see distortion but I’ll leave that judgment to others, here’s the relevant paragraph plus the prior to provide context (literary afficionados may find the shakespearean mythos subtext insufficiently subtle):
” What Harman doesn’t say is that the only reason such political legerdemain is even possible is because Jacinda Ardern is such an extraordinary electoral asset. Single-handed, she has resurrected Labour’s morale; refilled her coffers, boosted her membership, and filled her activist base with confidence and delight. Her “relentlessly positive” personality is like a powerful spotlight, illuminating brilliantly that little part of Labour’s stage upon which she sits and smiles. Meanwhile, in the darkness her brilliance does so much to render impenetrable, the party leadership does all within its power to render a genuine shift to the left impossible.”
“It is fitting, in a way, that the decision to free the caucus from its crucial constitutional obligation to uphold the party’s manifesto – its policy platform – was taken in Dunedin. Justified as a practical and necessary concession to the exigencies of MMP, it nevertheless severs the last of the ties that bind the parliamentary wing to the party organisation. The caucus is now officially “Corbyn proof”. Thirty years after stabbing her in the back, the centrists have finally summoned-up the courage to drive the dagger of pragmatism deep into Labour’s democratic-socialist heart.”
http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2018/11/labours-dunedin-conference-returning-to.html
I guess Trotter’s going through the depressive part of his cycle.
True democracy can barely be practiced by contemporary parties. The ‘gotcha’ media hang on every word, and are as likely to go downtown on a policy discussion as the Exclusive Brethren were to sabotage Jeanette Fitzsimons awhile back.
Parties have to nut out policy in camera, not on camera, and the best that we can hope of them is a sincere effort to serve our interests, neither a simple kowtowing to the nonsensus of public opinion, nor an avid pursuit of possible funders.
An ideal democratic party will not follow public opinion, it will try to anticipate it, in the same way an astute business anticipates customer needs and desires. At this stage in the electoral cycle, while the horrors of National misrule are fresh in people’s minds, and the coalition have few or none of their own, it’s not so hard.
Let them lose touch with people though, and like entropy, the Gnats, in some form will be there, carrying out their role as decomposers, preparing the soil for the next round of growth.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/11/06/labours-dunedin-conference-returning-to-the-scene-of-the-crime/
thanks
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/11/06/labours-dunedin-conference-returning-to-the-scene-of-the-crime/
I have no knowledge of the actual remit. However, I do agree with the general thrust of Trotter’s post.
My understanding is that Labour Party conference remits in the past, may or may not be picked up in total by the caucus. It does sound like this latest agreed party policy further severs the links between the policies agreed by rank and file members and the caucus.
I don’t agree with the way Trotter and Bradbury are dismissive of so-called “identity politics”. But I do agree with their latest posts in which they argue that the left needs a radical shift to re-instate solid left wing values and policies.
Bradbury argues that it is climate change that will derail incrementalism and the current middle class/centrist focus of the Green Party and Labour.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/11/05/this-is-why-the-current-nz-political-spectrum-will-snap/
It’s too soon to tell with the Greens. They were knee-capped during the last election, and Davidson is still finding her feet as co-leader.
I don’t agree it is climate change alone that will derail centrist incrementalism, but it also the current state of effective disenfranchisement of those on low incomes, plus the radical sections of gender, LGBT+ and ethnic politics that will come to the fore.
I agree with Trotter’s summation:
“I was just reading a column by Chris Trotter in which he says the Labour Caucus no longer has to comply with the party manifesto…”
The Greens talked of doing similar at their last AGM, allowing their MPs more freedom to act without consulting members on every decision.
Ukraine activist Kateryna Handzyuk dies from acid attack
Campaigner’s death sparks protests and EU concern about violence against civil society
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/05/ukraine-activist-kateryna-handzyuk-dies-from-acid-attack
Peruvian villagers face murder and intimidation from land traffickers
Invaders continue to seize land within the Chaparrí ecological reserve, one of Peru’s most biodiverse forests
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/03/peruvian-villagers-face-and-intimidation-from-land-traffickers
“These killers, potential and actual, will be stopped only by real actions, not virtual ones,” reformist lawmaker Mustafa Nayyem wrote , saying the outpouring of condolences on social media wouldn’t be enough.
“Whether they will continue to drench us with acid, slaughter us in doorways, and shoot us in the back in our own country depends on how and what we do now,” Nayyem added.
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-activist-death-triggers-calls-for-ouster-of-law-enforcement-officials/29584083.html
The horrific acid attack that led to Handzyuk’s death is merely one of several dozen attacks against Ukrainian activists in the past year.
Re-upping this – another tragic story of a Ukrainian activist murdered while fighting for justice.
https://www.rferl.org/a/tragedy-on-sunshine-street/29318285.html
In NZ high country foreign? land owner gets to use precious water without having satisfied guardian regulations so that he can irrigate unsuitable areas to make a quick buck while the milk rush is still on. Controlling body ECan is fairly relaxed, as it is still in the control of rich-list or easy-rider fascist interests who replaced locally elected civil government body.
Peru or New Zealand, enabling the phallic rise of the neo liberal man with capital accretion strengthening his mind and body all over the world will be our death knell.
Well that is something that doesn’t happen often.
David Seymour says something I tend to agree with.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1811/S00042/mallard-brownlee-should-repay-cost-of-junket.htm
David Seymour had his “Um, what can I say to get in the news today?” moment.
His, “Um, what would be a good populist issue to use” opportunity.
I remember the headlines he garnered when he went crook about John Key and Jonathan Coleman going to England for All Black games in 2015. His public stand, speaking out loud and long when Bill English defended the use of taxpayer dollars, was quite memorable.
For a Parliamentary Under-Secretary and Minister to be so outspoken was quite dramatic.
I made all that last stuff up. David Seymour is playing a pathetic parody of the principled. Again.
Yep the waste of time drongo has outed two troughing fatcats – waste of money – you guys have enough, and your perks and your pensions – pay it back and admit you just abused the priviledge WE, the people, gave you.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/108389082/mps-attacked-for-watching-all-blacks-on-taxpayerfunded-trade-junket-to-japan
You would think would be an easy one, NZ public good and risks of aquifer outweigh Chinese majority owned private company getting more water but no… also raised point how consent can change use, but no come back as it was formally Kaputone Wool Scour and was unlikely to have used much of the water it was allocated.
reposted…
“Genevieve Robinson
Christchurch, New Zealand
NOV 5, 2018 —
ECan has received an application from Cloud Ocean Water to take water from their 180m bore.
Ecan is currently considering whether to notify the application.
The Christchurch City Council is concerned that the proposal will put the community water supply at risk.
Aotearoa Water Action is also concerned about the potential environmental effects.
AWA believes that if the application can be considered at all, it must be publicly notified – this is because the aquifer is already fully allocated, and because City Council testing shows the community water supply WILL be adversely affected, which is of huge public interest in the matter.
We believe that ECan needs to hear both the public’s views (including your views) and the evidence of additional experts.
AWA will be speaking at ECans meeting this Thursday, November 8, at 11am – so please add your comments below!
Let’s make sure the whole country gets to weigh in on this!”
It doesn’t matter if it’s the Chinese, English or Antarcticans – NO to taking our water I say.
Nestle has been doing it for years, they operate in poor areas/countries with few regulations…. or on indigenous people’s land… as being easier targets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPIEaM0on70
“Luster lives in Flint, Michigan, and here, residents believe tap water is good for one thing: to flush the toilet.
“I don’t even water my plants with it,” she said.
Flint became synonymous with lead-poisoned water after government officials, looking to save money, switched the city’s water supply from Detroit city water to water from the corrosive Flint river.
Once the city had switched, the number of children with elevated lead exposure doubled; residents reported unexplained rashes and losing hair. An unpublished study recently found fetal deaths in Flint increased by 58% during the crisis.”
While Flint battles a water crisis, just two hours away the beverage giant pumps almost 100,000 times what an average Michigan resident uses into plastic bottles
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/29/nestle-pays-200-a-year-to-bottle-water-near-flint-where-water-is-undrinkable
“You would think would be an easy one, NZ public good and risks of aquifer outweigh Chinese majority owned private company getting more water but no…”
Could the impact of this (link below) be why the decision isn’t so easy?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/108379364/serious-storm-clouds-threaten-nz-democracy–report
And the big question on every ones mind…….
Will simon ask about fuel prices in question time today?
Or why is Iain Lees-Galloway still Minister of Immigration?
[Or should that be an “And/Or”?]
He certainly will not be talking about JLR… See 20 below. Not a happy chappy. LOLZ!
Just noticed Bridges has two questions to the PM today – Q1 and Q4. Both the usual
” Does she stand by all of her Government’s statements and actions?”
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/order-paper-questions/list-of-oral-questions/oral-questions-6-november-2018/
Also I see a certain female MP is in the House today after two weeks away. Must not name.
Lmao !!! V.V you called that one big time 🙂
Yes it was immigration and Iain.
Wonder if fuel will be Q4?
It’s like groundhog day again.
simon, nothing about fuel? Too much excitement out there about electric trains huh?
Meanwhile Jacinda’s blouse is gorgeous, kudos to the creators, beautiful sleeves, love the wide cuffs and cowl neck line.
Pretty sure that is the NZ designer top (and trousers) that JA wore on her trip to Paris to meet Macron earlier this year (April/May?) when she was about 7 – 8 months’ pregnant.
Yes – here is a link and photo.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/355269/ardern-hails-trade-vision-france-s-macron-to-visit-nz
And of course, I then needed to find who the designer was!
Here it is – Harman Grubiša .
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/104309838/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-seeks-advice-on-designers-use-of-her-image-to-promote-brands
Hate to say it, I don’t actually like it. Too fussy for my taste but each to their own. Sorry ….
O.O Thanking you very much V.V.
It might not be your style of garment, but still you went out of your way to find the name of the fashion house, which is very much appreciated.
You are awesome V.V, thanks again.
Harman Grubiša, love, love your work ladies, keep it up.
Simon Bridges’ Daily Theme
Today’s is: “I am done talking about Jami-Lee Ross”.
He is not going to talk about yesterday’s audio release and said everything yesterday, and people can now hear the tape and decide for themselves, and he won’t be talking about any other recordings … … …
[Repeat, repeat, repeat, and again, repeat. ]
Somehow, I don’t think people like Barry Soper will just accept that. Bridges may not want to talk about Ross, but in fact the real subject is Bridges and Bennett, and their fitness to be Leader and Deputy Leader of the National Party.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/national-video/news/video.cfm?c_id=1503075&gal_cid=1503075&gallery_id=200274
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/108384318/simon-bridges-im-done-talking-about-jamilee-ross
SImon Bridges is keen to point out his role in opposition in holding the government to account” even as he reworks the same questions on fuel taxes ad nauseam in Question TIme.
But he doesn’t seem to want to afford the same role to the media regarding his effectiveness as Leader of the Opposition and as the leader of a major party. His effectiveness has been reduced by disowning an MP, his party is less effective.
The media has a part in this, albeit uncomfortable or downright dangerous to his career as he might feel threatened.
How would he function as PM if this is his current tolerance of media interest?
I don’t even think Trump has managed to get caught on tape, selling donations and entry to MP’s for $100k and thinking 2 Chinese were better than 2 Indians.
They have shown themselves unfit for the job. Imagine the embarrassing nightmare if they were running the country – they make t.rump look like a brainiac.
With over half of New Zealand households cutting back on heating their homes in winter due to the high cost of heating, I was dismayed to hear new Kiwibuild homes won’t be fitted with solar power. Which leads one to ask has solar power for new state owned homes also been overlooked?
A common factor I noticed from reports of people being hospitalised due to cold and damp homes was they couldn’t afford to utilize the heating supplied.
Therefore, while these new homes may be better insulated thus cheaper to heat, one would expect the Government (especially with the Greens in there) would be doing the upmost to keep heating cost at a minimum. Meaning not only would homes be cheaper to heat but heating would also be cheaper to run.
So what do we know? We know we have to reduce energy demand. We know we have to move energy generation away from fossil and bio. We know that heat kills far more readily than cold does. We know the world is warming. Hmm.
From the EU
Energy performance of Building regulations requirements
Mandatory standards that social housing providers have to achieve, often more ambitious than for the rest of the building stock for the global energy performance of new built dwellings are generally applied to all type of buildings.Thus, from 2020, all new buildings in the EU will have to be nearly zero. In most of the cases this means that not only homes will have to be extremely well insulated, but that they will have to compensate the energy for heating and hot water by using renewable energy or efficient systems like heat pumps.
I’m guessing they are referring to a net zero carbon footprint. But fck it. NZs just fine….NZ doesn’t need any new fangled means of energy generation. Global warming and climate change is “over there”…until it’s over here and some damned heatwave, or weather event accompanying a heatwave, knackers supply in one way or another (resulting in either brown outs or black outs) and people in housing only designed for a cooler 20th C are unable to cool themselves at night.
That’ll be fun.
Good article on it.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/10/solar-panels-weren-t-considered-for-kiwibuild.amp.html
Absolutely.
The government could even create a revenue stream for itself by allowing decent rates for power returned to the grid, and then collecting on any excess returned to the grid from HNZ properties. Put those profiteering power companies in their place and let all generators play on the grid.
Sadly the NZ government likes to clip the ticket and price gouge on power, hiding behind “market forces”. Yeah, right. Therefore little incentive to change to solar and not get that lucrative clip of the ticket. Instead they ‘give away’$500 payment to pretend they care . Meanwhile everyone, in particular those under 65 are being ripped off apart from corporate welfare to Tiwai Pt who get million dollar hand outs. Yes it all stems from the Natz, but Labour haven’t exactly been keen to address the power rip offs.
Sounds like it. State houses should have maximum amount of solar PV and solar water heating on them. The people going in to them are in dire straights and so such things that reduce power usage should be mandatory really.
Yes no point making everyone have a heater, if nobody can afford to turn it on. Personally think it’s disgusting especially with all the outages that every new house is not designed to be fitted with solar. It is not an end game but a way for extra power to be generated with the increasing population and with increasing outages and disasters people can at least have some free power when they either can’t afford it or the power is off.
The power companies are talking about importing more oil and gas because the hydro lakes are down!
And NZ unlike the rest of the world they are trying to tax solar so the power companies can maintain their excessive profits and rip offs.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/102708888/way-to-be-cleared-for-big-electricity-players-to-prey-on-lowincome-households
I tuned into Question Time to be again entertained by Paula Bennet’s facial contortions, but alas so far she has been subdued almost normal. Damn.
She has been very restrained for the last two weeks. Wonder why?
Xanax for the Natz?
By the way…… does anyone know where @ Wayne is?
Normally he’d be on duty to counter some of the ‘scurrilous’ claims being made on this ‘hard left’ blogsite.
I suppose it is possible that he’s just realised the gNats left a couple of ‘young bucks’ in charge of the chicken coup, and they just shat everywhere.
And that the only thing worth trying to salvage is the manure that could be marketed as an aid to reconditioning the soil they’ve been dumping on for the past ten years.
He did have something on TS yesterday I think.
Ah well, there ya go! That’s real dedication – was that yesterday you say?
Well he could be rehearsing his lines I ‘spose for his next gig on one of those panelistas on the weekend ‘incisive raisin affairs shows’ like New Shub Nayshun or Q+A. OR maybe he’s even slumming it with Jum Mora – I’ll have a listen.
And by the way, has anybody thought about poor old Krus Finalysin? I mean, there goes a rilly rilly decent man. A man that can truly empasoise with all his decent predecessors – loyal to the last man standing as well as to the Caci Clinic’s re-imaging efforts, and with an obvious lerv of leopard skin. WHAT a brick!
Perhaps he went to Japan to watch rugby? Or he has been meeting with his cronies since the year dot to watch the Melbourne races and drink up and talk up how great they are, how great Gnats are.
OMG LMAO lay on the floor kicking my feet upward whilst watching channel 86, and whilst planning how the fuck to get out of here
Maureen Pugh – list Neshnool M Poi, channeling Cilla Black.
Oh fuck! and now the square jawed Chris Penk in a beautiful blue ensemble with a matching spotted toi, and equipped with good intention, and possibly one of a gNatsi ‘good guy ‘ flag for the future (going forward), but with a tonne of Bennett and Bridges effluent immediately above ground.
How the Hell did it come to this!
[Deleted. You should know better – MS]
Is that necessary?
It’s the only conclusion I can come to, that post is really ticking all the unhinged/batshit crazy boxes.
Which is why your idols are in the state of panic they are now in.
They were never that ‘very’ nice.
Whether it was a Nafe (who’d never inhaled) travelling south stopping off at a Rangoli that’s been one of the most complicit in ripping off immigrants on the Ka Piti, or the next pretender to whatever you think is your self-entitled throne.
(Btw, I actually did due diligence on that Rangoli and there was a shitload of video that went with it, because the oicon John Koi went with it. It IS possible I could resurrect the video
But you know …… next (the next….. these days come thick and fast).
These days as I age, I can’t really be that fucked, because I’ve come to realise that arseholes usually get their just deserts in the end, although I’m up for an @ BM challenge at any time.
I really would like to know what the @ BM post was that I’m not now privy to, but I appreciate this site isn’t a dick measuring pissing contest
Don’t worry old fella, it was a rather mundane comment about you not taking your medication.
In these rather sensitive, sparkle pony dominated times obviously considered unacceptable, so was purged.
Shame you’re not up to putting your mouth where your dick is. I’d be happy to indulge though any time your wankness feels up to the challenge and bearing in mind I’m probably now knocking twice your age.
The Standard though is not the time nor place for this duel So suffice it to say I think you’re a wanker and you’ll resort to whatever softcock response you have in your armoury.
Oh how I would have loved to have been able to test your bullshit.
I you can think of a way – rest assured I’m up for it.
Unfortunately, the likes of you sometimes force people to challenge your wankery.
PLEASE – think of a way.
( I never thought I’d be saying all this, but things must when dickheads think they are prevailing )
> Shame you’re not up to putting your mouth where your dick is. I’d be happy to indulge
Please save it for the bedroom guys!
A.
ED
I don’t think Once was Tim or other regulars care too much about BM ans his slanted remarks. Just enjoy the show Ed and let the man be BM, or Bloody Morose as his friends call him.
Nothing like a crazy rant eh Tim. I’ve been talking about John Wyndham and his style of writing which he called logical fantasy. Recognising the fantasy, it is logical to let off steam now and then. You will never be as cute as a kitten rolling on its back with its feet in the air though.
Not as cute as racoons
Check out the cheeky little bastard at the 1-minute mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiQMPH9EeHY
I and I would suspect some other regular visitors but irregular posters don’t find him so amusing. A bitter nasty piece of work is a bitter, nasty piece of work.
He/she and a few others of their ilk are the reason I visit here less often.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAlTOfl9F2w
Unfortunately @ BM – I missed your reply. I’d love to have been privy to it.
Don’t start us on privies. You know my humour can drop to low depths.
This must be the most unsatisfyingly slipshod and poorly reported news story of all time.
We sometimes gets stories of unexploded ordinance from the Land wars, which peaked my interest in this story.
Metre-long live naval shell found by contractors at a Te Puke address
Waikato Times, November 06 2018
This is not 19th C it looks more like a 20th C piece of ordinance.
However on earth did it get there? And When? Is it a World War II piece?
I am no expert but it looks more modern than that.
Whatever happened to the ABC of journalism, What When Why Who and how.
What is it? When and how did it get there? Who is responsible?
Was it some negligent Kiwi forces armourer who took it home as a souvenir?
It looks expensive. How much is it worth?
There must have been at least one casualty. To do his job so poorly, (it must have been a he), the unnamed journalist covering this story must have died of boredom halfway through writing it up.
One of the ex-army lads will be along to put me right soon I guess, but I would think it is a dummy shell for a field artillery piece. Too small for most naval guns for a shell of that age. Maybe an 18 or 25 pounder?? Looks too old for the light howitzer they were using from the 70’s. Prepared to be corrected by those who know..
3″ anti aircraft gun?
It looks to long and skinny for a 25pdr, it could be one of the following a 3.7inch AA, a 20pdr HE round from the old Centurion Tanks or 17pdr AT HE round. But from my understanding is that 17pdr AT gun never enter service in NZ Army, but some were sent out from the UK from testing and evaluation in the 50’s when the NZ Army was structure for fighting in the Middle East up until the late 50’s.
P.S I’ve a feeling it could be an 76mm HE round from the old M-41 Walker Bulldog Tank that was in service during the late 60’s until it was replaced by the CVR(T) Scorpion Tank. Which to was a backwards step as the M41 was still useful in SEA with it’s 76mm gunand it could punch its way through the Jungle at the time due to its weight. All we had to was upgrade the power pack and fire control systems.
Only Navy round I could think of could from the old Dido Class Anti Aircraft Cruisers from the 50’s to 60’s which were armed a 5.5inch semi automatic DP gun and again it look’s to long and skinny to be an 4.5inch HE round from the old Type 12 Frigates. I do know the rounds for the 5inch auto gun on the ANZAC Frigates is long skinny one and I hope it’s one of those or else there might be some please explain WTF going on. But it looks too old for one those by blueing and surface corrosion on the shell, anyway it’s an interesting find.
Were there any old ammunition depots near the find?
One of these? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_3-inch_20_cwt
If you use the bic pen in the picture as a reference I’d say it looks like a 3″ calibre or close to that.
You could be right IRT it being a 3inch round? It been a while since I’ve mucked around with Big Spud Guns such as these.
Here is the
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_3.7-inch_AA_gun
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_4.5_inch_Mk_I_%E2%80%93_V_naval_gun
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_5.25_inch_Mark_I_naval_gun
And the M41 Bulldog Tank https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/M41_Walker_Bulldog
The 20pdr Gun
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordnance_QF_20-pounder
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordnance_QF_17-pounder and the the good old Centurion tank that became to be like “Granddads old axe” over the years.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centurion_tank
The top 3 as they were used in Senior Service.
It looks far to big to be a 76mm (12 pounder) round (hard to tell though) And anyway, as far as I can recall the only time the RNZN operated 12 pounder (76mm) guns was in WW2 on the 13 Castle Class Minesweepers we had, but they were all out of Naval Service by 1946. Since the round conforms to NATO standard colour markings it is unlikely to be from the late 1940s!
The paint job on that round is deep bronze green – for HE type ammunition – and a white band indicating an illumination round.
Look at this image of a 4.5″ shell casing and note how the shape of the neck of the brass casing is the same –
http://www.deactivated-guns.co.uk/militaria/inert-rare-pre-falklands-war-british-navy-4-5-inch-practice-round/prod_6427.html
Therefore to me it looks like a 4.5″ Illumination round from a Type 12 or Leander class frigate.
Yeah I’m starting to think it’s either a 4.5 or possibly a 5.25 inch round since I’ve been pouring over my Naval books this afternoon that I use for build model ships.
The round 76mm gun on M41 Tank is long skinny one, I’m never to sure about what gets written up in the media these days and or what they put up on their news website.
Kia ora The Am Show I agree with Mark the Speaker and Jerry going on a working Holiday to Japan its hard work being a MP nit picking .
Cyber crime is a big issue for NZ I’m experiencing that every couple of weeks .
There you go Idris Elba is voted the world’s most handsome man Time’s are changing some will need a lot of tissues .
Mike some can see the big picture about the mid term elections in America unlike some who cannot see past there Ego’s.
Hone I don’t think some should encourage you to use those word’s on TV te mokopuna’s will be watching 3 of the 4 of my offspring don’t smoke and we never smoke in the same room or car with the mokopuna’s I say a advertising campaign on the bad effects on secondhand smoke and Alcohol .
Did you catch a Taxi to work yesterday.
Can’t you see we have a idiot behaving badly in the world media and it affects other idiots with small———the 1080 threat’s.
There are a few troll’s lined up for the poll today I new the stat’s will start correcting as the morning.
There you got I told everyone Wahine are more intelligent than man I seen it in my raising my children and my moko’s Equality is needed the schooling system does not teach te moko the the skill’s the children need to work out the best way to climb up there ladder’s of life .
Azees I told you the trump trolls have been waiting for your poll.
Ka kite ano
Eco Maori say’s Ka pai How Taylor Swift turned her Instagram into a get-out-the-vote fan page Americans get out and vote
American leg of her Reputation Tour at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Taylor Swift announced on Instagram for the first time ever who she’d be voting for: Democrats Phil Bredesen and Jim Cooper.She’s among the most followed people on the social network, with more 112 million followers, link below Ka kite ano
.https://edition.cnn.com/2018/11/06/politics/taylor-swift-instagram-gotv/index.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYa1eI1hpDE
Eco Maori Music for the minute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aGlcUK_GkM
There was a sunset rainbow in Washington on Election DayAs Washington, D.C. voters left polling places on Tuesday evening, they were treated to the unexpected view of a rainbow set against a scarlet sunset. Ka kite ano link below
https://dynaimage.cdn.cnn.com/cnn/livestory/w_900/442b6648-0690-48be-a49e-f30b6bb299ed.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM7MFYoylVs
Beyoncé endorses Texas Democrat Beto O’Rourke: ‘When we are truly united we are unstoppable’ ka kite ano.Link below.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12156030
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnVUHWCynig
This is what the media can do with a small story spin a mountain out of a mole hill
Jacinda did not say she received death threats this is just another cheating neo liberal capitalist play the actors who are making these treats are there puppets ka kite ano
link is below.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/07/jacinda-ardern-receives-death-threat-as-pesticide-row-grows
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1RVyJiGYes
Kia ora Tekaea
its cool That Jacinda is at the Ratana 100 year commemoration ka pai.
Nanaia that is a good start to the Papakainga package $1.7 million .
Mark Dunajtsik has made a huge gift to te tangata a new hospital .
Haunui Waka back in Aotearoa from the Norfolk Islands good experiences for the young Wahine and Tane ka pai Ka kite ano
Kia ora Newshub The House was won by Democrats ka pai its not over say Bernie Sanders
Unemployment has dropped that’s cool to it’s lowest in ten years a bit of positive wairua from the new Coalition Goverment .
I had thought that would be the outcome off the Ross saga a vote for New Zealand First
You will always find someone to find a negative comment from someone anywhere the Ratana commemorations for 100 years and the Labour Party’s delivering to tangata whenua some have a very short memorie .
The weed debate well we know that making it illegal is a dumb and has failed.
Immunization is the best way to stop Meningococcal disease .
Ka kite ano P.S got distracted our offspring were picking up the mokopuna’s car after I fixed it
Kia ora The Crowd Goes Wild James & Wairangi
Thats a very good over 46 for 2020 cricket from Darryl T.
That good that the British League player has a 4 week ban and a small fine its better than nothing .
Lets hope the Football Ferns & there new Coach will get a good wairua going.
Ka kite ano