The first of many. https://i.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/109110152/canteens-taranaki-branch-may-face-closure-after-proposed-restructure
Taranaki is just one of the regions, towns and cities about to lose its AYA cancer service with the majority of CanTeen’s specialist care workers facing redundancy. Regional face-to-face patient support services to be axed and replaced by an online “portal”.
Ironically, the AYA conference currently taking place in Australia stresses the importance of face-to-face support to ensure optimum outcomes for young cancer patients. Third world stuff.
Agree – it is not working for many and the solutions proposed don’t address it in relation to tangata whenua.
The chair of Suicide Prevention Australia and the Auckland District Māori Council says Māori are sick of turning up for a karakia and cup of tea and then being told to leave the table.
Matthew Tukaki says that’s his immediate response to He Ara Oranga, the report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction.
He says there was a compete disregard of the need for Māori co-design of mental health and suicide prevention initiatives, and all the power remains in the hands of the Health Ministry.
What was needed was an investigation into the failure of the health system for Māori.
“The highest suicide rate per head of population in the world is our people. The largest number of people who are filtering through the mental health system per head of population are our people. The highest number of people who are facing everything from addiction to P and alcoholism and all the rest, they’re our people so why in god’s green earth were our stories and our narratives as a first nations people overwhelmed by everybody else,” Mr Tukaki says…
You popped into my mind last Sunday Marty. I watched the final ‘The Hui’ for the year. The entire show featured Mike King addressing a Whanganui school with a predominately Maori roll.
Wow, so much of what he said rang so true for me. He led me to consider things I never had. By the end of the show I had my pick for New Zealander of the Year.
Best TV I’ve seen for some time, the medium used as it should be. If you haven’t seen it, please have a look Marty. If you did catch it, I’d like to hear your thoughts please. It’s free to watch on demand but I’m not able to provide a direct link as watching a TV 3 show on demand requires a free registration and log-in to the service…this content makes the ads worth tolerating.
Cool veuto, it changed the way I see many things. Like the futility of prohibition of the vices that harm us. Mike puts it like this: “Drugs, alcohol and bullying others weren’t a problem for me, they were a solution.”
I think it’s worthy of being at the top of your list veuto.
Hey Marty,
While I haven’t seen it yet, although I will as it is been recommended to me three times, I can’t help but feel that not feeling connected contributes.
Whether that connection is to a job, interest/hobby, community group or primarily family.
The history for Maori since WW2 is terrible.
Having lost their best in foreign wars, they were told leave your rural/marae/communal way of life, and come live in the cities. Work in the factories. Until we close them.
Do that, (leave your traditional/familiar way of being and go to an isolated way of life), to anyone they will be lost.
Yes I do this the disconnect is a real part of the problem. It’s good you bring it up because we must look multi dimensionally at this imo and consider the spiritual and other other non materialistic aspects of living a life.
These statistics are an utter tragedy and disgrace.
I work in the area. I try to do my best for all my patients and deliver evidenced based strategies……..I realize the context of colonization that is uniquely stressful and that people get triggered into mental health problems when they are under stress. One of the things I am really aware of is the negative believe about self Maori have internalized due to racism.
It’s an overwhelming problem. We need to change our social environment. But we need good treatment by skilled practitioners when people become unwell
Totally agree. There are so many converging and connecting aspects to this tragedy – we’ve got to holistically look at this and do what you and Mike king are doing – talk to people, work with them and help them and educate them. Kia kaha to you and Kia ora for your mahi.
Kia Ora Marty Mars. I feel privileged to work in the area and see people get their mental health back. If you don’t have your mental health, you have nothing.
It’s quite upsetting to think that things have got worse since I started out. They have undoubtedly got worse over the 9 years of National. Funding for mental health in primary care slashed. A training course that was world class axed, access to crisis services increasingly difficult
Just in case the sickening platitudes being spewed out for the war criminal and racist George H.W. Bush by all media including our own supposedly neutral RNZ are starting grate on your nerves, here is the balance that all our media lack the capacity to deliver…
‘The Ignored Legacy of George H.W. Bush: War Crimes, Racism, and Obstruction of Justice’
Adrian T
Thanks. At last something that’s relevant and balanced USA news. The sickening tsunami from the USA when we are supposed to be global, internationally savvy, shows us up as colonials wanting to be attached perhaps as a major territory. We seem lost and seeking a port, and in the absence of that following the nearest USA cruise ship as The Dingy Dinghy.
@greywarshark
I often wonder whether a new local media service that offered fair and balanced news might actually do quite well..imagine this scenario for a moment…
You wake up, turn on your radio to this new radio programme, they announce the funeral of HW Bush in the hourly news bulletin in a neutral way, then proceed over the next couple of hours to have one puntit who tells us all the good things Bush did, then another pundit who unpacks HW Bush’s unsavoury actions as POTUS, our hard hitting presenter grills both of them to make sure their facts and figures are in order. Then we have the daily report on Workers news and issues, ending with a comment from a reputable economist, followed by the Market update which ends (as it often does) with comments from a paid bank economist.. now that would be an interesting comparison to keep a track of…anyway I am sure you can see where I am going with this.
Email to Jim Mora this morning submitting a One Quick Question for their consideration….
Hello Jim, or Jim’s helper, I have a question for your segment.
Why does media, (including RNZ) not cover the life of the deceased former POTUS George H.W. Bush with any kind of balance?
Of course it is right to cover his good points, and the better parts of his character, but why can’t the media also cover the many negative points of his presidency which negatively impacted hundreds of thousands of humans (especially in South America and The Middle East), do they not deserve this same right of media coverage?
I understand that, but HW Bush is not a private citizen, he was leader of the most powerful country in the world, I see absolutely no reason why his record in that role can’t be commented on in a fair and balanced way during this time, other wise his legacy will (actually IS as we speak) be completely whitewashed by a compliant media, just as Regan was, and just as we have seen lately with terrorist John Mccain.
Yes, some will honour America’s youngest ever military jet pilot, others will consider the airman that fires missles into villages of innocents at age 20. The most touching thing about his passing for me was the loyalty of his Labrador. I guess I’m just saying that right or wrong, for most, the right thing to do is to wait until his corpse is cold before sledging the guy and his legacy.
We’re all snowflakes Grey. The staunchest of us melt. The easiest way to knock cage fighting legend Mark Hunt out is to lay a hand on his daughter. The frequency of the melting light varies but we’re all snowflakes
Sorry, but fuck him, do you seriously think the media will ever get around to discussing the thousands of humans who were killed, maimed, raped and destroyed as a direct result of HIS decisions? no they will leave the public with the vision of a American hero who was gentle man with a loyal dog who loved his family…the right thing to do is be honest about what he did and who he did it too…today not tomorrow, because as we know tomorrow will never comes for the MSM to present even the slightest balance around the legacy of the racist, war criminal H.W. Bush.
As far as I concerned people like him are the enemy of most humans and for that matter the future of the planet as a whole.
BTW I love my dogs, and have had dogs all my life, so I also know dogs give their loyalty pretty easily, I wouldn’t read too much into his loyal dog thing myself.
I don’t despise the individual as much as you do Adrian, I don’t think most do. You highlighted ‘HIS Decisions’. He didn’t walk into an Oval Office meeting one morning and declare ‘Gather around Generals, this week we’re bombing these bastards.’ It was a Whitehouse/Pentagon team effort.
I admired the loyalty of his dog because it prompted me to hug mine.
David Mac
Don’t stand for office for anything because I will blame you for what you do or don’t do that’s bad. That’s the rub, and having a dog doesn’t preclude you from the results of the people’s disappointment.
I get sad about parents trying to save their little children, dying in pain or running away, starving, and having their living destroyed and if their sons manage to get away, not being accepted anywhere or locked up somewhere like Manus Island.
I’ve looked at that excellent link on Bush senior you put up.
I noticed the malicious infrastructure bombing (as opposed to the necessary strategic bombing, which was also malicious) and how it was done to cause the maximum pressure and hardship on the Iraqi people and their leaders. (1991)
There seems to be a trend here looking at post WW2 to what was done in Iraq. Was Bush worse than the others – seems like BAU savagery crops up throughout.
WW2 Roosevelt dies and Harry Truman takes over. He wants to finish the war quickly so after a couple of days of conference and planning, drops two atom bombs on Japan (because they have got them, cuts any Japanese resistance, and is opportunity to trial the bombs and indicate to Germany their prowess). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_Harry_S._Truman
(1945)
And I remembered about North Korea where the US Air Force bombed North Korean (against UN? agreements) irrigation infrastructure so affecting their food growing ability causing hardship. (1950+) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_North_Korea_1950-1953
“seems like BAU savagery crops up throughout” exactly right, and great point, so by letting the media just eulogize HW Bush, with no reference to the devastation, destruction and misery HIS orders/policies and decisions have caused, just normalizes this type of brutal leadership.. it’s like, well you know he did some fucked up things, you know, lied out in the open, ran an openly racist political campaign, rained bombs on innocent humans etc etc..but you know, they all do it.
But it is not normal to do these things to other human beings, that should be the message our media delivers today, well they could at least even hint at it FFS.
How are we ever going to evolve to be better humans, when these idiots in the media don’t at least help a little to shine a path to a better more fair and just humanity? and worse, it seems a lot of the time our media is actually dragging us backwards.
Yes Adrian T
My own thoughts. Won’t say more but it is interesting to be gently reminded to be nice because he’s dead and wait before criticising.
There is a guidebook of etiquette on how long to extend the period of mourning and sanctity before acknowledging the truth, in a country of free speech?
I know I won’t get a response, no it more of a therapeutic action for me, helps release a bit of tension so I can get on with my day, which reminds me…
A quick shout out to the good people of Blenheim. I accidentally left my phone on a bench in the main street. I went to the Police station, mainly to get a report recorded for the insurance claim, and was gobsmacked to find that some good citizen had handed it in a few minutes earlier.
So thanks, Blenheim, you rock. For any readers who visit the town, my recommendation for coffee and eats is the truly wonderful Ritual Cafe, Maxwell Rd. If readers fancy a beer, the Waterfront (the old Royal) and the Yard Bar are the go. And if you lose anything, the local Police are definitely there to help.
And while we are lauding Blenheim’s good points – a plug for Turkish restaurant Akbabas at 2 Maxwell Road, Blenheim. Good people and good food. https://www.akbabaskebabs.co.nz/our-story/
The good people of Blenheim thank you. There is a bit more to the town and the eateries and bars mentioned.
There are craft breweries and bars, wineries, the PM has announced a year round version of the Coastal Express with upgraded train stations, great walks, tramps, fishing, hunting, and theatre.
Just like the rest of NZ, really……..
The main advantage though is a population of 45,000 in an area the size of Israel.
Great weather and lifestyle attracts senior citizens and Marlborough has the highest numbers of senior citizens in the country per capita. With 1% of the country’s population Grey Power Marlborough has 9% of the nation-wide Grey Power membership.
So 9% of the voices of boomer generation who owe the rest of us many thanks for being able to retire in sunny climes, while younger generations toil away unable to afford a decent house in colder and damper areas to pay for your retirement.
Good to know what areas to be suspect of when the super issue is raised
I think, in your penny’s worth, that you may just have not realised that today’s seniors have paid taxes all their lives, I can recall 60% top rate being paid, and willingly, to pay for the generation that went before us who came out of the Depression era and were supported properly in their turn by us.
So enough of the intergenerational rivalry crap, Tuppence. Envy will consume you, narcissism will afflict you, entitlement and consumerism eat at your very vitals.
Respect your elders, Tuppence. After all, they reared you, taught you what you know, changed your nappies, tolerated your tantrums and excused your ignorance.
As did my parents in their turn.
If I didn’t think you were trolling, I’d pity you………
Thank you mac1 – husband and I are certainly part of that cohort – paid plenty of pretty high tax in our working life and still pay tax on our superannuation payments, withholding tax (however modest) and GST on day to day purchases.
“Generation Snowflake, or Snowflake Generation, is a neologistic term used to characterize the young adults of the 2010s as being more prone to taking offense and less resilient than previous generations, or as being too emotionally vulnerable to cope with views that challenge their own.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Snowflake
Growing up insulated by technology, this new generation gets traumatised by differences between people. Humans learn to socialise by living in communal environments. Gen Snowflake has matured without that learning, apparently. Now we are beginning to see political consequences of their tech-warp effect.
“The term “Generation Snowflake”, or its variant “Snowflake Generation”, probably originated in the United States and came into wider use in the United Kingdom in 2016 following the publication of Claire Fox’s book I Find That Offensive!. In it she wrote about a confrontation between Yale University students and faculty Head of College, Nicholas Christakis. The confrontation arose after Christakis’s wife, Erika Christakis, a lecturer at the university, had suggested students should “relax a bit rather than labeling fancy dress Halloween costumes as culturally insensitive”, according to Fox. Fox described the video showing the students’ reaction as a “screaming, almost hysterical mob of students”. Fox said the backlash to the viral video led to the disparaging moniker “generation snowflake” for the students.”
“Snowflake generation” was recognised as one of Collins Dictionary’s 2016 words of the year. Collins defines the term as “the young adults of the 2010s, viewed as being less resilient and more prone to taking Offense than previous generations”.
“Similarly, in 2016 the Financial Times included snowflake in their annual Year in a Word list, defining it as “a derogatory term for someone deemed too emotionally vulnerable to cope with views that challenge their own, particularly in universities and other forums once known for robust debate” and noting that the insult had been aimed at an entire generation.”
“The term snowflake has been used to refer to children raised by their parents in ways that give them an inflated sense of their own uniqueness. This usage of snowflake has been attributed to Chuck Palahniuk’s 1996 novel Fight Club, and its 1999 film adaptation. Both the novel and the film include the line “You are not special. You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake.” In January 2017, Palahniuk claimed credit for coining snowflake, adding that the young adults of the 2010s exhibit “a kind of new Victorianism”. An article published by Merriam-Webster stated that Palahniuk was not the first person to use snowflake metaphorically, saying, “It’s the stuff of self-help books and inspirational posters and elementary school assurances. The imagery before negation is lovely; we are each unique snowflakes, each worth treasuring because each is uniquely beautiful.”
So there’s a positive side, but. Everyone is unique. Just a question of acceptance being more sensible than self-promotion. And, given that Lasch’s diagnosis of the culture of narcissism (1979) applies to all generations born since WWII, this positive side isn’t really the point. Politics is a team sport, and those who play must conform to team rules. Gen Snowflake doesn’t want to play. Will they grow old apolitical? Or will their strident self-assertion constellate a common ground?
The people who complain about snowflakes are the real snowflakes. They just need to realise that they have had enough and are not taking any crap anymore.
Totally – and the ones who sneer at supposed snowflakes are usually the ones imposing or benefiting from the crappy conditions that the snowflakes are complaining about.
Just the usual human dynamic of power and domination by one person over another.
“By setting up more roadblocks and hurdles for landlords, and raising compliance costs, many landlords have decided not to rent out their properties. As a result more people are forced to rely on publicly funded social housing.”
Nothing to do with the fact that so many people are now priced out of the private market, and the social housing waiting list is now the longest it has ever been due the combination of a)this and b)the systematic sell-off of State Housing under the last regime? Simon O’Conner, your sudden concern for the vulnerable is touching.
I think the quote and your thoughts are 2 edges of the same sword Kay.
One of the reasons people are being priced out of the private rental market is because landlords are considering “For it to be worth my while, I’ll need to up the rent $150 on my place.”
Our current government rest on: ‘It’s a supply and demand thing, we’re in this mess because the other jokers did nothing for a decade’. This does absolutely nothing about addressing the problem and is entirely about ‘Don’t blame me, it’s his fault.’
I try hard to be an optimist, but I’m struggling with our housing outlook. National passed a law requiring all landlords in NZ to insulate their rentals by July 31st next year. Those that don’t can expect heavy fines and if called out, required to pay exemplary damages to tenants that take their non complying landlord to the tribunal. For some tenants, the largest cash sum they’ve ever had in their lives.
Up in the Far North where the landscape is rich and job prospects poor, many families live in older simple baches that the owners were using less for holidays as their kids found other things to do. Rather than sell many hang on to them for the next generation of kids, for 3 generations to spend Christmases there. In the meantime, many have become low cost housing for those of us that live up here on tight budgets.
I’m concerned for the many people up here in the sub-tropical Far North that come next July, will be living in illegal houses.
https://www.labour.org.nz/housing
“KiwiBuild homes will only be sold to first home buyers. To avoid buyers reaping windfall gains, a condition of sale will require them to hand back any capital gain if sold on within 5 years.”
So a Labour election pledge was broken by 2 labour ministers (Tywford & Robertson) and then re instated by the PM.
When should an election promise be kept and when is it ok to break a promise ??
What that min Tywford announces that there would be a reduced 3 year cap gain time limit, that he had no authority to make, that was also in conflict with an election promise. That our PM also was not aware of.
Not sure what else anyone needs to know but I am open to hear alternative views 🤔 https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12156833
Here is a link to the changes that the govt made.
“But speaking to media this afternoon, Twyford said the Government had changed the rules.“ so who is this government that had changed the rules ??
But the link I supplied ex nzherald had a quote from min Tywford. “But speaking to media this afternoon, Twyford said the Government had changed the rules.”
The GOVERNMENT (my bold not shouting” so the government is at odds with he PM ??🤔I am confused, does the PM not agree with her government?
But the link I supplied ex nzherald had a quote from min Tywford. “But speaking to media this afternoon, Twyford said the Government had changed the rules.”
The GOVERNMENT (my bold not shouting” so the government is at odds with he PM ??🤔I am confused, does the PM not agree with her government?
“but with unsubstantiated allegations about how the PM feels about it.” not sure how I can assist. I imagine our PM is unimpressed as
How can a minister change the rules which was in breach of the Labour manifesto
How can we, the voter trust Labour to keep their promises ?
But I imagine any lack of justification will be taken as Labour lied to us. 🤥
You are being quite unfair to Ms Ardern by suggesting that she wasn’t involved in the decision.
She was going to consider the matter as soon as she had settled the most important thing on her agenda. https://spy.nzherald.co.nz/spy-news/pm-reveals-plans-for-baby-neves-first-xmas/
I’m sure that as soon this is sorted out, which shouldn’t take more than a couple of weeks, she will look at what Twyford has been up too.
What do trivial things like Kiwibuild matter anyway? After all, when people see the places they don’t buy them and refuse to go through with the purchase.
Perhaps someone can explain to me how studio apartments can really be affordable at $380,000 or one bedroom places at $500,000 are “affordable for first home buyers” anyway?
Is that really meant to get young families into homes, as Twyford promised?
With all the Santa hood ha of late I though some here would be interested to know that little old reatihi lead the way with last years Santa being a Maori woman. Not a ripple was made . Good a?
There has been a couple of cases here in Australia, where the Unions and various State and Federal Government Departments have gone in to bat for the Chinese workers and have come down hard the companies/ firms that have employed the Chinese workers over wages and entitlements. Further investigations by the Unions involve and the relevant Government Dept’s have also found that the worker are here illegally because of breaches in their Visas obtained by the companies that the poor workers are working for.
During the last mining boom and the current up lift in mining atm, a number of companies are trying to bring Chinese workers to help construct the various mining projects to keeps cost downs aka wages and WHS etc. But the Unions have kept this in check so far.
So without strong Unions and strong Government Departments in NZ this is going to happen in a regular basis unless the Unions and Government isn’t prepared to step up enforce or strengthen the various laws and ensure that the NZ workers get a fair go/ deal. The same could be said IRT to training future NZ workers in whatever trade discipline he or she chooses as would also further erode pay and conditions and WHS which quite possibly lead to further outcomes like these Chinese workers atm.
“Wanzhou Meng, the deputy chair of Huawei’s board and the daughter of company founder Ren Zhengfei, was arrested in Vancouver, the Globe and Mail reported. The arrest was at the request of US authorities. “Wanzhou Meng was arrested in Vancouver on December 1. She is sought for extradition by the United States, and a bail hearing has been set for Friday,” US Justice department spokesperson Ian McLeod said.” https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/world/109139920/huaweis-chief-financial-officer-arrested-in-canada
Interesting that they sat on the news for five days. Maybe China threatened Canada with feng shui if they didn’t release her & Canadian experts took a while to evaluate the threat.
Not for CC reasons unfortunately, but because it was cheaper to heavily subsidise the service than try and increase network capacity. There’s a few places (Frankton Road is one) where that’s not possible.
One line I heard was that the $2.00 charge is only there because NZTA didn’t have a way of doing it for free. $2.00 would hardly cover the costs of handling the money anyway.
The comments are the first dozen or so messages of support on the petition page in support of Julian Assange and free speech and journalism. Sorry, I should have tidied up all the little admin. odds and ends, but the message is clear, I think: a lot of people want to see the Grauniad face consequences for its fraudulent reporting, i.e. its flagrant disinformation campaign against someone who is, in stark contrast to the likes of Emma Brockes and Luke Harding and James Ball, a real journalist.
Yes you’re right, I don’t understand what criminal libel is….If it’s criminal I’m thinking it’s a matter for the Police to look into and I already make a regular donation to them.
A student, ahhh that explains it, I’ve not seen anyone else use the term ‘Grauniad’.
I would certainly like to see the Guardian taken to account for publishing unverifiable tabloid bullshit that suits the aims of those who want to take Assange down
Take Assange down and all journalists worth the name are in the firing line.
For those who still can’t get it past their faulty belief system, Assange is a journalist
“Extraneous”? I would have thought that the supportive comments of those democratically minded lovers of journalism was the very heart of this matter. The attempt to destroy Assange is an attempt to silence all of us.
And please look up the definition of journalist. It’s not what you think it is.
Crikey, you had to go all the way back to 2014 for that zinger? I’m impressed I haven’t said anything more recent you could have used. btw, shutting down a media organisation is not what “democratically minded lovers of democracy” do.
Meanwhile, in real journalist news, here’s some dead people:
The Grauniad is, sadly, a propaganda arm of the British state.
I don’t think it should be closed down, but I certainly think that liars like Luke Harding should be fired, and also that rubbish editor. Rubbisher’s his name, isn’t it.
“The International Energy Agency’s data also shows rising emissions in 2018. Its executive director, Fatih Birol, said: “This turnaround should be another warning to governments as they meet in Katowice this week.””
Why bother giving govts more warnings? Since when has that ever worked? “The “dark news” of rising emissions is merging with two other alarming trends, according to Prof David Victor, at the University of California, San Diego, in an article with colleagues also published in Nature on Wednesday.”
“Falling air pollution is enabling more of the sun’s warmth to reach the Earth’s surface, as aerosol pollutants reflect sunlight, while a long-term natural climate cycle in the Pacific is entering a warm phase. Victor said: “Global warming is accelerating. [These] three trends will combine over the next 20 years to make climate change faster and more furious than anticipated.””
“The Global Carbon Budget, produced by 76 scientists from 57 research institutions in 15 countries, found the major drivers of the 2018 increase were more coal-burning in China and India as their economies grew, and more oil used in more transport. Industry also used more gas. Renewable energy grew rapidly, but not enough to offset the increased use of fossil fuel.”
A couple of interesting reports IRT to CC, one on the ice melt in Greenland and the other the NZDF and likely CC effects they NZDF is now likely to in counter as the science starts to firm up its evidence IRT CC.
Awa’ an’ bile yer heid ‘n’ pick a windae, yer leavin’ wi’ yer foodbank, ye piece o’ tory jobby . *
. ANGRY protestors chased Scotland’s only Conservative MP out of town after he turned up to open a food bank.
Protestors shouted “Shame on you” and screamed at Scottish Secretary David Mundell after he sneaked out the back door of the Trussell Trust-operated facility in the Dumfries and Galloway town.
They surrounded the white Ford Focus motor he was in, which had to slowly edge its way through the raging mob with the help of a police escort.
People banged on the windows and at first refused to let the vehicle move, until four uniformed police officers arrived to part the crowd.
sounds just like the film I Daniel Blake. Privileged idiots creating hell on earth for those without an influential voice.
Lucky for english and key that those living in cars and recorded as having a roof over their heads didn’t turn up at parliament in protest, but the first rule of destroying opposition to poverty fightback is to remove the means, so they could not afford the petrol. Unlike the tractors and the trucks, all backed by big money to attack Labour Governments.
Funny atmosphere in QT today. Subdued? Quiet? Questions delivered and answers polite and full. Though the Paula Bennett attack about “leaking” the address of the estranged wife, the Opposition were told repeatedly that the said women did not seek or accept secrecy. So Bennett and Woodhouse were chasing a non target.
With any Parliamentary opposition dead until at least 2020,
a popular government,
really low unemployment,
lots and lots of money to spend,
and the most progressive legislative agenda New Zealand has had in 50 years, well ……………………………………..
……………………. maybe we’re running out of things to complain about!
“Protecting the Umpire
by Andrew Geddis
Did you know that Parliament could imprison you for saying that Trevor Mallard is biased in favour of Jacinda Ardern over Simon Bridges? But it (almost certainly) won’t….
…So, for example, consider political editor Audrey Young’s published account of Thursday’s events in the Herald: “Parliament’s Speaker, Trevor Mallard, has an inbuilt bias against National Party leader Simon Bridges and a soft spot for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.” Such a public accusation of overt favouritism on the part of the Speaker likely could be punished as a contempt, if Parliament wanted to do so….”
Would love to see that happen now and again to certain individuals, just to keep everyone on their toes and just the GG the Speaker does some awesome/ powerful rules/ powers in their playbook that a lot of people don’t know unless you are like old mate Andrew Geddis..
Suppose a clever lawman like Young Simon or for that matter Old A Young would know the rules, unless their aim is the Dead Cat thing.
Audrey is pretty biased herself isn’t she?
Now I am wondering if, behind the scenes today, something is happening to the Leadership. After all, Simon did declare Jamie as the Leaker in spite of his denial and now Simon’s judgement must be in further question. Might explain the deflated National Caucus today? No histrionics and few interjections
Certainly some-one should have! The Speaker also showed firm control again today, and with the double dismissals yesterday, the bullies of the opposition
got shown the consequences of thoughtless, undisciplined and self-centred behaviour.
It raises the question, though, who would be counselling Bridges and Brownlee, the opposition leader and shadow leader of the House? The National Party president? English? Key? Shipley? Bulger? The Business Round Table? Australian bankers? American oil interests? Insert your national/international conspiracy theory here?
So Gracie managed to make it through South America, yet she’s missing in NZ. This is seriously a very nasty place for women. Hopefully, all women are looking for her. Hoping for a good outcome.
The Public servants had predicted that there m8 would win big boxes of tissues were required after the election .Ka pai Jacinda .
Public servants responsible for the transition between governments failed to support new ministers as no-one had planned for a full scale, new administration.Officials were caught on the hop after last year’s general election, having planned for change no greater than a Cabinet reshuffle – that caused problems like being unable to supply laptops and mobile phones and a lack of experienced staff for incoming ministers
I see it been 2 years since the BANKERS MAN shonky got pushed out of our Parliament .links below ka kite ano
Kia ora Newshub I say that the education systems needs a big shake up for the money invested we are not getting very good results for the lower classes of students minority cultures are not even getting a 30% pass rate into a higher paying jobs we have to import those skills and in the process the lower classes youth are ending on the scrap heap.
The Westpac Helicopter serves is run by retired WHO guess and you will be correct Eco Maori nemeses they have the same raciest attitude to because he is out of the force he has lost his suppression cover .
We must keep our bio security up and keep the threats out of Aotearoa it will destroy our farming and horticulture.
I say Lady Ga Ga and Bradleys movie A Star Is Born is a awesome move you know the old saying silence about a problem is like rot it just keep’s snowballing into a big mess if you watch the movie you will get what I getting at.
Mann I see how the justice system works I will be doing a post on this subject later Hollie .
There you go trump spraying wai on the rest of the World the good Chinese lady from Huawei being arrested in Canada wtf trump and his admin does not give a stuff about Aotearoa’s well being they just want to cling to power weather .
The Yemen crises has more string attached than that it is a big proxy war Mess and the poor children are dieing in there tens of thousands probley hundreds of thousands as they cover up the facts idiots.
Lloyd that will be a good movie he must not have been looking in the correct place A .
lol E hoa Ka kite ano
Kia ora from Storm & Anna The Crowd Goes Wild .
Wai it should be a good boxing match .
The Gypsies did have a very good come back fight when one thinks of the time he had off boxing is a sport were one needs to be quite fit to go the distance .
Ka pai to the Black sticks.
Storm the preseason training seams quite strenuous .
Brad Weber had a good season I have had a couple in the club .
I was hoping you did a story on Shawn I gave him a bit of Eco tau toko and he pihau one with any intelligence knows it takes two to have a problem enough said.
Ka kite ano
I had to got to Auckland on Whano duties and the sandflies know exactly why and the still swarm around us endangering my mokopunas they don’t give a stuff . They get there m8 to play cat and mouse with me —-me off trying to get my license taken off me the PEE heads ano to kai ka kite ano P.S only the wealthy get justice us poor people just get shit on by this system
Here is the speech that Maya Forstater gave at the Woman’s Place UK Women’s Liberation 2020 conference at UCL on February 1st In a recent newsletter she wrote: it was an amazing day (and brilliant to meet so many people in real life). I talked about what makes people and ...
NZ First portrays itself as an anti-establishment party, standing up for "the little guy" (always a guy) against Big Auckland Money and its tool-parties. But it turns out that its secret slush fund is funded by the very people it claims to oppose:Stuff can reveal a longer list of donors ...
Peter TalleyI really don’t envy Jacinda Ardern’s position as Prime Minister of New Zealand. She’s probably got the hardest job in the country. Not only does she have to ensure her own MPs are behaving properly, she has to negotiate with Winston Peters and other NZ First MPs who seem ...
Will She, Or Won't She? Jacinda’s white vestments may look impressive on the cover of the international edition of TIME magazine, but every day Labour’s relationship with Winston Peters and NZ First continues, her ability to go on wearing them back home in New Zealand – without exciting derision – diminishes.IT WAS ...
BAMS survey of 2018 extreme weather The Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society has published a collection of articles examining unusually extreme weather events of 2018 and connections of those to climate change. These investigations are listed separately below but thanks to the generosity of AMS appear free for ...
Less than two months after China told the WHO there was a problem, a lot has happened. Sadly, deaths, confirmed cases and countries affected are increasing every day. However, on a scientific and medical level, what is going on to contain, cure and prevent this new disease is truly inspirational. ...
From 2015 to 2019 the NSA ran a program of mass surveillance of Americans' domestic communications. It was intrusive, totalitarian, and a collosal waste of money:A National Security Agency system that analyzed logs of Americans’ domestic phone calls and text messages cost $100 million from 2015 to 2019, but yielded ...
I must say that it’s at loggerheads with the inclusive and free society we want to create in New Zealand that one of our largest media outlets, MediaWorks, would allow Hannah Tamaki to perform on their show, Dancing With The Stars.Hannah Tamaki and her husband Brian are after all well-known ...
The media is reporting that an Auckland man has been charged with terrorism. Unfortunately, that's all we know, because all details have been suppressed. Who are they? What are they alleged to have done? Its all secret. There may be good reason for some of this (e.g. protection of the ...
Dr David ChagnéNew Zealand is involved in a US$12.8 million USDA grant to improve the quality of blueberry and cranberry. The four-year project, led by North Carolina State University, is part of the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative, which funds multi-year, multi-institutional collaborative ...
The Cranky Uncle vs. Climate Change book is now available! The book uses cartoons, humor, and critical thinking to expose how and why some people reject climate science. It's now available for sale on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book outlets. If you're near the DC area, you're very welcome to ...
by the Council of Disobedient Women When Moana Maniapoto recently lamented that Rachel Stewart was no longer writing for the Herald, political commentator Morgan Godfery was quick to brag on Twitter, like a schoolyard bully, how proud he was of “driving Rachel Stewart from the Herald”. What a contrast Morgan ...
You’re probably aware that the Achievement Standards used to assess senior school students’ learning are being reviewed. Science is one of the ‘pilot’ subjects in this process, where a ‘Subject Expert Group’ has developed 4 draft Science standards¹ (a significant step away from the current 30+, and a response to ...
John MacCormickTo succeed in an unpredictable and changing world, adaptability is the key. Let’s be chameleons. Technology continues to change people’s jobs and work environments. But change so far is not as fast and extensive as some pundits claim. Nor is it as fast and extensive as it needs ...
It seems we can’t even get through a week these days without the National Party's leader, Simon Bridges, making some sort of silly announcement about a policy that doesn’t actually exist.Usually concerning Bridges’ gut instinct and the undoing of whatever the Government has recently announced, National’s reactionary opinions and uncosted ...
Oh look! NZ First's secret slush fund was laundering donations from Talley's:One of the country's biggest fishing companies, Talley's, and its managing director donated nearly $27,000 to the New Zealand First Foundation, which has been bankrolling the New Zealand First Party. The foundation received $26,950 from seafood giant Talley's and ...
Janet Hoek, Richard Edwards, Andrew Waa, Nick Wilson, George ThomsonMinister Jenny Salesa announced the Government’s long-awaited Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill on Sunday 23 February. The Bill contains some important provisions as it works to strike a balance between ensuring regulated products are available to ...
Surprisingly enough, one could argue (as I often do) that the day inserted into a leap year is not that we label 29th February, but actually the 24th of February. Here I explain why, briefly. Almost everyone assumes that the day added into February in a leap year is the ...
If you haven’t watched Newsroom’s video showing Oranga Tamariki staff attempting to uplift a newborn baby yet you should do so. Although it's not the worst case as far as interventions go, it’s certainly not a good look for the Government. Because of this controversy there’s been a plethora of ...
Genesis Energy is planning to build the country's biggest PV solar farm:Power generator and retailer Genesis Energy says it is in advanced discussions to build New Zealand's biggest solar farm in northern Waikato. The company, which earlier reported a 15 per cent decline in operating earnings to $167.2 million, said ...
Transport is our second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Any credible effort to reduce emissions to net-zero has to target it. So what is the government doing? Subsidising some of the dirtiest, most inefficient vehicles on the roads:New Zealand's favourite cars - double cab utes - are largely exempt ...
You’ve really got to wonder what the NZ First Party was thinking and drinking last Friday? Not only did they hamstring the Greens by halting one of their main environmental policies, the electric vehicle fee-bate scheme, a policy that the public was led to believe was a done deal…but they ...
High Risk Call: Insensitive though it may seem to even pose the question: how will the electorate respond to what the Prime Minister’s opponents will undoubtedly characterise as an attack on New Zealanders’ freedom of speech? At more than twelve month’s remove from the terrible events of 15 March 2019, ...
Story of the Week... Opinion of the Week... El Niño/La Niña Update... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... Climate change leads to more violence against women, girlsRape, domestic violence, forced marriages: A new ...
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week, i.e., Sun, Feb 16, 2020 through Sat, Feb 22, 2020 Editor's Pick JP Morgan economists warn climate crisis is threat to human raceLeaked report for world’s major fossil fuel financier says ...
Last week the Wall Street Journal published an article ‘The Dangerous Denial of Sex by two scientists Colin Wright and Emma Hilton. Write is an evolutionary biologist at Penn State and Hilton is a developmental biologist at the University of Manchester. It is well worth reading the article in full. Here ...
I am about to mail my overseas ballot to Florida so that it can be counted in the Democratic primary on March 17. In Florida you have closed as opposed to open primaries, which means that one must declare a party preference in order to vote in a party primary. ...
Winston Peters - Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the NZ First PartyWe all know that politics can be pretty messy at times. Just look at the Dirty Politics saga in New Zealand, the misgovernment of the Australian bushfires or the recent Trump impeachment debacle in the US. In a ...
Last Monday SpaceX launched another clutch of Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit, bringing up to 300 the number of these units intended to bring 5G internet to the whole globe. In this post I present a movie showing how all 300 such satellites will be zipping around our planet over ...
The recent floods in Southland have highlighted the issue of Rio Tinto's illegal toxic waste dump in Mataura. But according to Newsroom, there's an even worse mess in Ruakaka near Whangarei:A Northland property stockpiled one million litres of flammable and toxic chemicals. Almost two years since the situation came to ...
It’s amazing just how many attack ads $100,000 buys you these days. The National Party has really been going to town lately, with their latest Twitter campaign making a number of questionable and blatantly false assertions, one being that poverty has worsened under the Labour led Government.The National Party's claim ...
OMV's exploratory drilling in the Great South Basin has failed to find oil. Good. Firstly, because we can't afford to burn the oil and gas we've already found, so there's just no point looking for more. And secondly, because offshore, deep-water drilling poses a risk of an environmental catastrophe, which ...
The government has announced it will strengthen whistleblower protections. The major change is "allowing people to report serious wrongdoing direct to an external authority if they wish", which fixes one of the big flaws in the Act. At present, whistleblowers must generally make their disclosure direct to the body they ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bruce Lieberman CARLSBAD, CA. – When it comes to paying the electric bill, most people don’t give it a second thought – it’s something that in effect is “baked in.” But across California and several other states, local governments increasingly are ...
Excerpts from Being and Being Bought, by Kajsa Ekis Ekman, Spinifex Press, 2013. Part 4 Ekman, a Swedish journalist and critic, brings together a Marxist and feminist analysis of prostitution and surrogacy in this groundbreaking book. This is the fourth part of a synopsis and brief commentary of the book by Daphna ...
The Democracy Virus: China’s authoritarian political system enables a level of social surveillance and control that liberal democratic societies cannot match. The Chinese Government makes full use of the latest digital technology to both punish – and reward – its citizens. The plans it formulates cannot be challenged, or hindered. Where ...
Another day, another IPCA report on criminal conduct by policy. This time they kicked a child in the head when he was handcuffed:Police chased him and yelled out for him to stop. When he turned to face the police, he threatened them with a hammer. That's when the officers tasered ...
The investigation of two of the five parties in Parliament for fraud around their election donations has pushed the issue of party funding back into the spotlight. And while there are obvious things we can do to tighten up the donations regime - a much lower declaration threshold, realtime disclosure ...
While the south of New Zealand has been struggling with too much rain in recent days, here in the north we are so very short of it (though Saturday’s forecast looks promising). Basically, we have had almost none since Christmas.As someone who relies on rain to wash the car, ...
Former National Party MP Jami-Lee RossIt comes as no surprise that Jami-Lee Ross has been named as one of the defendants in the X2 $100,000 National Party donations case currently before the courts. Click bait journalists who were chaffing at the bit to discredit the former senior whip had already ...
Stand Clear! Winston Peters is encouraging voters to think of RNZ as belonging to “The Media Party”. He wants them to see it as a politically partisan institution with its own, vicious attack-dogs in the electoral fight. If he succeeds, it will be, and probably should be, the end of ...
"You're going to need a longer runway" Gratton et al explore the ongoing effects of upward-creeping temperatures on aviation in Greece in the period since 1955 at a range of airports in that country. For longer runways impacts are measurable but with little impact on operations. For airports with shorter runways, ...
In mid-December the Israeli secret police, the Shin Beit, revealed it had arrested dozens of Palestinian left-wing activists, including members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), in the previous few months. Among those arrested was one of the central leaders of the PFLP, Khalida Jarrar. As ...
Former National Party chief whip Jami-Lee Ross is one of the four people charged over National's multiple fraudulent donations. How unsurprising. Meanwhile, just days ago National leader Simon Bridges was trying to pretend the charges were nothing to do with his party. Yeah, right. When your chief whip effectively publicly ...
If you've been watching FYI for a while, you'll have noticed that the police have a bad habit of demanding ID from requesters. They have apparently been repeatedly told to stop doing this by the Ombudsman, but we all know what law enforcement thinks of the law, so thye keep ...
Collateral Damage: For the Green Phoenix to be reborn, the funeral pyre so patiently assembled by its identity politicians over the course of many fractious years – but with growing intensity over the past three – first has to be ignited. The terrible probability, of course, is that, in setting ...
If you follow politics in New Zealand you've likely noticed that the right wing have been going on and on about the Coalition Government failing to reduce poverty. In fact they’ve been incessantly claiming, in the absence of any conclusive data, that poverty has been getting worse.Yesterday, NewstalkZB reported:Mike Hosking: ...
The Herald reported over the weekend that an Auckland business owner is being targeted with asset forfeiture laws over a workplace death:A workplace fatality has seen police use a law usually associated with drugs and organised crime to seize millions of dollars in assets from a business owner because of ...
Just days after talking about how people feel "squeezed" and promising tax and service cuts as a "solution", National is talking about cancelling a rise in the minimum wage if elected: National is considering scrapping the Government's planned minimum wage increase if it wins this year's election, the party's finance ...
Nobody thinks about the next century anymore. That at least is Sci-Fi writer William Gibson’s observation (in this BBC 4 short interview, starting at 1:43:50 ). He calls it “Futures Fatigue”, but isn’t judgemental about it. Gibson notes that in the 20th century speculation about the 21st (and beyond) was common. Now ...
A Labour government desperate for the numbers crawls into bed with Winston Peters. Winston ignores the law and secretly takes money under the table from someone. When it is exposed just months out from an election, he is investigated by the Serious Fraud Office. That's what happened back in 2008. ...
So the Serious Fraud Office has another secret $100,050 National Party donation before the Courts in a major scandal that looks set to quash any chances Simon Bridges had of winning the 2020 election.Yesterday, Newsroom reported:The Serious Fraud Office prosecution of four people over donations to the National Party involves ...
Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Claim Review... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... Story of the Week... Iceberg twice the size of Washington, D.C., breaks off Pine Island glacier in Antarctica Story Highlights: The Pine Island ...
Prof Philippa Howden-ChapmanHousing policy is building up to be the key election issue again. In this blog I reflect on the importance of the role of the New Zealand Government in improving access to affordable housing. I look at what the Government has been doing to increase quality public housing ...
Writing on The Spinoff, Danyl Mclauchlan argues that we have a vacuum in our political system, in that there is no longer an anti-establishment party anymore:I think there’s a vacuum in our political system. There are obvious problems with the status quo but no real critics offering reform. It’s a ...
Stuff today has a piece about the government discovering it has been oversubsidising polluters for a decade under the Emissions Trading scheme:The Government is pledging to urgently fix an issue within the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), after it emerged some polluters are likely being over-compensated with taxpayer-funded carbon credits. [...] ...
The Marlborough District Council, tired of public scrutiny, wants to increase the amount it charges for LGOIMA requests:The cost of requesting official information from Marlborough's government agency could almost double after a jump in "fishing expeditions". Charges could be raised from $60 to $100 an hour for information supplied by ...
When Winston Peters was caught money laundering donations and stalking journalists, the Greens were conspicuous by their silence. It was another example of how getting along with their government partners was eroding their values and their own reputation. It was obviously unsustainable, and so now James Shaw has finally spoken ...
I am among the most pro-free speech people I know. I don’t doubt there are others more strident than me, but I’m certainly up there. And my support for freedom of expression isn’t limited to opposition to government-imposed restrictions. It extends to a belief that employers should have limited powers ...
With over 69,000 confirmed cases and 1,600 deaths, here’s your round-up of the latest coronavirus news. New disease and virus have now officially been named On the 11th February, the WHO Director General announced a new name for the disease: COVID-19 which is short for coronavirus disease 2019. The naming ...
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week, i.e., Sun, Feb 9, 2020 through Sat, Feb 15, 2020 Editor's Pick ANALYSIS-Climate change opens up 'frontier' farmland, but at what cost to the planet?Climate change could expand farmland globally by ...
After cross-examination Jones knew he would lose the defamation case he took against film maker Renae Maihi. That’s why he threw in the towel. The weight of evidence was clearly against the old tycoon with the defense presenting fifty articles to confirm Jones’ racist views.Being unable to harass somebody into ...
Sprung! Former NZ First president, Lester Gray, chats with RNZ's Guyon Espiner in the carpark of a Tauranga shopping centre.(Photo supplied anonymously to NZ First and The BFD.)IT’S CLEAR THAT an important aspect of Jacinda Ardern’s political success is her willingness to seek – and take – advice. This ...
Ruth Cunningham, Charlotte Paul, Andrew MoorePublic health responses to infectious diseases such as COVID-19 require us to draw on our common humanity and be explicit about our values. Recognising this will help us make good decisions in difficult situations so that, for example, the need to impose restrictive measures ...
The Helen Clark Foundation has released its report on the housing crisis, and found that house-hoarders are to blame for it:Property investors are to blame for New Zealand's high house prices, a new research paper published by the Helen Clark Foundation says. [...] McArthur said previous attempts to address housing ...
The Abortion Legislation Committee has reported back on the Abortion Legislation Bill and recommended that it be passed with some amendments. Unfortunately, the latter include even more hoops to jump through for those seeking abortions after 20 weeks, including a time-wasting requirement to consult a second doctor. No-one casually seeks ...
Brexit is likely to be a disaster for the UK (how sad, never mind). But now that they're out of the EU, the latter has finaly taken the opportunity to blacklist one of their key tax havens:The Cayman Islands, a British overseas territory, is to be put on an EU ...
Fletcher Tabuteau MP, New Zealand First Deputy Leader A total delivery of 2,000 new Police Officers has been achieved. New Zealand First Deputy Leader, Fletcher Tabuteau attended the latest police graduation of Recruit Wing 335 in Porirua today. Mr Tabuteau said, “Increasing police numbers and boosting their resources was one of ...
Taupō District mayor David Trewavas has welcomed today’s announcement from regional economic development minister Shane Jones outlining $5.87m of funding for the re-development of the Taupō Airport. The bulk of the investment ($5 million) will come from the Provincial Growth Fund, while the rest will be from the New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has defended multi-million dollar provincial growth fund money for Northland water storage. The New Zealand First leader, along with Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones, were recently in Dargaville to announce up to $12.745 million PGF funding top-up for water storage initiatives in the ...
One of our most immediate priorities upon forming Government was to get people out of sleeping in cars, garages, or on the street and into safe and warm housing. Since then, we've made major progress towards breaking the cycle of homelessness, including expanding Housing First, building more state houses, and ...
Kids learn better with a full stomach. That's why we launched our Lunches in Schools programme, which is already providing free and healthy school lunches to thousands of children so they can focus on what's important - learning. ...
Mark Patterson MP, New Zealand First List MP based in Clutha-Southland This afternoon to a crowd of over 100 people in Mataura -- Mark Patterson, New Zealand First List MP based in Clutha-Southland launched a parliamentary petition regarding the aluminium dross issue in Mataura, Southland. The petition asks that the ...
Fletcher Tabuteau MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development New Zealand First Deputy Leader and Spokesperson for Finance, Fletcher Tabuteau has welcomed Statistics New Zealand’s latest report as a timely reminder of the value that this Coalition Government brings to every day New Zealanders: “This Coalition Government has meant a ...
Today New Zealand First made a pledge to campaign at the election to fund St John Ambulance the 90 per cent it has asked for. Government funding would allow St. John’s to achieve fully funded status. Leader of New Zealand First, Rt Hon Winston Peters publicly declared his determination to deliver ...
Darroch Ball MP, Spokesperson for Law and Order Newly released Police data shows once again the number of fleeing drivers have continued to skyrocket with a record 512 incidents occurring in December – almost tripling the number of incidents occurring just ten years ago, says New Zealand First Law and ...
While the Provincial Growth Fund has provided $2 million to set up temporary water supplies in Kaikohe and Kaitaia, Regional Economic Minister Shane Jones said he is greatly concerned that there are “issues” in implementing the projects. The Minister said the immediate solution was to pipe water from a bore ...
Mark Patterson MP, New Zealand First List MP for Clutha-Southland NZ First is calling on Rio Tinto to accept its responsibilities to the Southland community and enable the immediate removal of the toxic Aluminium Dross from the Mataura Paper Mill site. New Zealand First List MP for Clutha-Southland, Mark Patterson ...
The Coalition Government has announced that a further $500,000 will be given to help residents in Southland and Otago to speed up recovery efforts from the floods. It follows prior government assistance of $200,000 earlier this month where the Southland Mayoral Relief Fund received $100,000 to support communities impacted by ...
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones was on RNZ’s Morning Report talking about the recent droughts in the Northland region and what the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is doing to alleviate its impact. The PGF recently announced a funding of $2 million for temporary water supplies to Kaikohe and Kaitaia, ...
Speaking to The Country’s Jamie Mackay, New Zealand First MP and Cabinet Minister Shane Jones talks water storage, plant-based meat imitation, and superstar Hollywood director James Cameron. While water storage may have its critics, Minister Jones defended the scheme by saying: “unless we invest and continue to invest” in this ...
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones is accusing northern iwi leaders of selling out Māori by voting for ideologically-driven court cases rather than practical steps to increase water supply. “I just think that iwi leaders who think that water issues are going to be solved by perpetually fighting in the ...
A dairy owner in St Kilda, Dunedin was delighted to hear that an attempted robbery of his establishment was foiled by a government-funded security system. Sean Lee was delighted at how well the anti-theft smoke system worked. When a knife-wielding man entered the store, the shop assistant immediately pressed a ...
Customs says it stopped more than three tonnes of illegal drugs coming into New Zealand last year. This includes 1,180kg of methamphetamine, 329kg of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine precursors, which could have been converted into 246kg of methamphetamine, 739kg and 6469 pills of MDMA or Ecstasy and 60kg of cocaine. Offshore, ...
Hon. Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development Up to $2 million will be allocated from the Provincial Growth Fund to set up temporary water supplies in Kaikohe and Kaitaia where drought is biting hard, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. Drought conditions in Northland have led to ...
Darroch Ball, Spokesperson for Law and Order New Zealand First welcomes the deployment of an Eagle Police helicopter in Christchurch in what is a step towards fulfilling its long-standing goal to increase the use of police helicopters for the front line, particularly in addressing the scourge of fleeing drivers. Christchurch leads ...
It may have been the first sitting week of 2020, but our Government is already in full-swing - managing a strong economy, investing in infrastructure, and working to break the cycle of homelessness. Read below for all that, and more... ...
In a heated debate in Parliament, National's Deputy Leader Paula Bennett claimed that “nearly 1600 patched gang members have been added” since the Coalition Government took power. To illustrate her point, she altered a chart used by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to show her government’s progress in housing to instead ...
Speech by the Rt Hon Winston Peters at Parliament’s Opening 2020 "We all need insurance" This year New Zealanders are going to have a clear choice to make That choice is between: Optimism versus pessimism; More progress versus back to the future; Investment versus divestment; Unity versus division. New Zealand ...
Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones has slammed the Board of Auckland Airport following the airport's runway closing twice within two weeks due to maintenance. Around 2,000 passengers were affected by last week’s runway closures, according to 1NEWS. Another maintenance closure on January 24 saw two international flights and three domestic flights ...
A milestone has been reached with the graduation of more than 2,000 new Police officers since the Coalition Government took office in October 2017. Police Minister Stuart Nash says the graduation today of Wing 335 marks a surge of 2,023 new officers, and coincides with some significant breakthroughs against organised ...
Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister, Kris Faafoi, and the Minister of Education, Chris Hipkins, have welcomed a new cyber security qualification as a step towards countering cyber threats and keeping New Zealanders safe. Attending the launch of the new Level 6 Diploma of Cyber Security at Auckland’s Unitec Institute ...
Government Ministers today celebrated 20 years of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park/ Ko te Pataka kai o Tikapa Moana/ Te Moananui a Toi, and recognise there is much to celebrate and so much more to do to give nature a helping hand. Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage said “New Zealanders care deeply about nature.I want to ...
Prepared remarks on coronavirus by Finance Minister Grant Robertson to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and Massey University. Good morning ladies and gentlemen, The topic of this speech is the Budget 2020 priorities. But, given the considerable interest that I imagine is in the room about COVID-19 coronavirus, I do ...
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā iwi, e ngā rau rangatira ma. Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa. Ni sa bula vinaka. Namaste Thank you Shamima, Hon. Minister Vuniwaqa, community leaders and Women’s Crisis Centre staff for your warm welcome. It’s an honour and privilege to officially ...
The Government has released a comprehensive response to ensuring New Zealanders get a fairer deal at the petrol pump. This follows the Commerce Commission fuel market study which found motorists were paying more than they should for petrol and includes: Fuel Market Bill drafting, to pass mid-year Industry consultation in ...
E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā iwi, e ngā rau rangatira ma Tēnā koutou katoa Ni sa bula vinaka As-salaam alaikum It is a privilege to be here today. Thank you for welcoming us to your house of prayer. Thank you for your warmth. Thank you for greeting ...
Taupō Airport is to be upgraded and expanded through a $5.9 million Government funding boost, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. “Taupō Airport is the gateway to the Central North Island. It is essential for both keeping local people and businesses connected, but also to bring more people ...
The Minister of Housing Megan Woods has confirmed the Government is working with Rotorua Lakes District Council and Te Arawa for the second place-based assessment to better understand the housing and urban issues affecting the city. “Every New Zealander has a right to a warm, safe and secure place to ...
19 new community homes (in addition to 14 opened in December) delivered in Takanini, Auckland 500 people housed by CORT Housing Trust by end of March 2,290 new public housing homes delivered in Auckland (November 2017 – December 2019). Another nineteen new public housing homes are being delivered in Auckland, ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker met today with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to discuss ways to strengthen ties between New Zealand and India. “India is a priority relationship for New Zealand. We share common democratic traditions, growing two-way trade, extensive people-to-people links, ...
Speech to the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) Delhi, India Wednesday 26 February 2020 [CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY] The Indo-Pacific: from principles to partnerships Distinguished guests, good afternoon and thank you for your invitation. It is good to be here at a time where New Zealand needs less of an introduction than ...
Tihei mauri ora Te Whare e tu nei Te Papa e takoto Tēnā korua No reira tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa Ni sa bula Vinaka It is a real pleasure to be here today, and to have the honour of addressing you all. If you’ll indulge me I’m ...
Improved air quality to support better health and environmental wellbeing is the focus of proposed amendments to air quality regulations, says the Associate Minister for the Environment, Hon Nanaia Mahuta. “Although our air quality is good in most places, during winter certain places have spikes in air pollution, mainly from ...
The remote eastern Bay of Plenty community of Raukokere will receive a Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) investment of $10.6 million for a water storage facility, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says. “This is great news for the rural community. The landowner, Te Whānau a Maruhaeremuri Hapū Trust, will use ...
The Lake Ōkaro lakebed has transferred to Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti Kelvin Davis announced today. Kelvin Davis joined Te Arawa at Te Papaiōuru Marae in Rotorua to celebrate the reinstatement of Te Arawa Lakes Trust as a key decision maker over the bed ...
New legislation is being proposed which aims to reduce the stress and financial hardship caused by late payments to small businesses. The Minister for Small Business Stuart Nash is considering stricter rules around payment practices between businesses. “Late payments from large organisations to smaller suppliers can be crippling for these ...
A new partnership programme between the New Zealand Police and Fiji Police will focus on combatting transnational organised crime and enhancing investigative skills, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on the first day of her visit to Fiji. The programme will see: · New Zealand Institute of Environmental Science and Research ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama met today in Suva, and renewed their commitment to continue to strengthen Fiji-New Zealand relations on a foundation of shared values and equal partnership. The Prime Ministers acknowledged the kinship between Fijians and New Zealanders, one that has endured over ...
A $19.9 million investment from the Provincial Growth Fund will help develop essential infrastructure for an industrial hub in the Bay of Plenty town of Kawerau, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones says. “The funding will go to three projects to further develop the Putauaki Trust Industrial Hub, an industrial ...
The Provincial Growth Fund is investing $8.3 million on a roading package for Mahia that will lead to greater and wider economic benefits for the region and beyond, Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced at an event in Mahia today. The $8.3 million announced consists of: $7 ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has welcomed new reporting showing the Coalition Government is on track to meet its child poverty targets, with 18,400 children lifted out of poverty as a result of the Families Package. Stats NZ has released the first set of comprehensive child poverty statistics since the Government ...
Associate Minister of Transport Julie Anne Genter today announced that Bikes in Schools facilities have been rolled out to 20,000 more kiwi kids under this Government. She made the announcement at the opening of a new bike track at Henderson North School in Auckland. “Bikes in Schools facilities give kids ...
Benefit settings rise in line with wages as of 1 April Main benefits will increase by over 3 percent, instead of 1.66 percent, on 1 April with the Government’s decision to annually adjust benefit rates to increases in the average wage. The Minister for Social Development, Carmel Sepuloni, said ...
Strengthening New Zealand’s political and business ties with India will be the focus of Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters’ and Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker’s visit to India this week. The Ministers are co-leading a high level business delegation to India to support increased people and economic engagement ...
The Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio continues to champion for greater Pacific participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers with the announcement of the Toloa Awards, with 8 recipients of the Toloa Community Fund and 13 Toloa Tertiary Scholarships. “The Toloa Programme encourages more Pacific peoples ...
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage has extended the date for people to have their say on proposed changes to improve management of whitebait across New Zealand. Submissions were due to close on 2 March 2020 but will now remain open until 9am on Monday 16 March 2020. “I have ...
The endangered toroa/Antipodean albatross has new international protection for its 100,000km annual migration, thanks to collaborative efforts led by New Zealand, Australia and Chile. Today, 130 countries agreed to strictly protect Antipodean albatross at the Conference of Parties on the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild ...
No sales to under-18-year-olds No advertising and sponsorship of vaping products and e-cigarettes No vaping or smokeless tobacco in smokefree areas Regulates vaping product safety comprehensively, - including devices, flavours and ingredients Ensure vaping products are available for those who want to quit smoking Vaping regulation that balances ...
Justice Minister Andrew Little will travel to Berlin tomorrow to represent New Zealand at a high-level summit on nuclear disarmament. This year, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) celebrates 50 years since it entered into force. “New Zealand’s proud record and leadership on nuclear disarmament is unwavering, so it’s important we are present ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will visit two of New Zealand’s most important Pacific partners, Fiji and Australia, next week. The visit to Fiji will be the first by a New Zealand Prime Minister in four years and comes during the 50th anniversary of Fijian independence and diplomatic relations between our ...
Justice Minister Andrew Little and New Zealand First MP Darroch Ball, have today announced the appointment of the Chief Commissioner of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), the location, and the membership of the Establishment Advisory Group. Colin Carruthers QC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of the CCRC for an ...
Māori Development Minister Hon Nanaia Mahuta and Agriculture Minister Hon Damien O’Connor co-announced the first horticultural finalists for the Ahuwhenua Trophy celebrating excellence in the Māori agricultural sector. The three finalists are Ngai Tukairangi Trust from Mt Maunganui, Otama Marere Trust from Tauranga, and Hineora Orchard Te Kaha 15B Ahuwhenua ...
A new kete of resources to strengthen support for students with dyslexia will provide extra tools for the new Learning Support Coordinators (LSCs) as they start in schools, Associate Education Minister Tracey Martin announced today. The Minister launched the kete in Wellington this morning, at the first of three induction ...
The Government continues to make progress on a fairer and more secure rental market for renters and landlords with the First Reading of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill and its referral to the Social Services and Community Select Committee. “Now is the opportunity for landlords, tenants and others who want ...
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Hon James Marape will visit New Zealand from 21-25 February, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. “New Zealand and Papua New Guinea have a warm and friendly relationship. I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Marape here and strengthening the relationship between our two countries,” ...
Thousands of children have begun receiving a free lunch on every day of the school week, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. The Government’s free and healthy school lunch programme is under way for 7,000 students at 31 schools in Hawke’s Bay / Tairāwhiti and Bay of Plenty / Waiariki, extending ...
The Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni today announced a new approach that continues to broaden the Government’s social sector focus from a narrow, investment approach to one centred on people and wellbeing. Minister Sepuloni said redefining the previous approach to social investment by combining science, data and lived experience ...
The Government is strengthening the Protected Disclosures Act to provide better protection for whistle blowers, Minister of State Services Chris Hipkins said today. “The Protected Disclosures Act is meant to encourage people to speak up about serious wrongdoing in the workplace and protect them from losing their jobs or being ...
Nǐn hǎo (Hello in Mandarin). Xīn Nián Kuài Lè (Happy New Year in Mandarin) Néi Hóu (Hello in Cantonese). Sun Nin Fai Lok (Happy New Year in Cantonese) Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Thank you for your invitation to attend this celebration today. I would like to acknowledge ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Ardern gets diplomatic, fuel market legislation released, and police pinged over employment records breach.There hasn’t really been much coverage of it in The Bulletin, but it’s worth looking back at quite an important diplomatic week for the PM. She has been ...
This week's biggest-selling New Zealand books, as recorded by the Nielsen BookScan New Zealand bestseller list and described by Steve Braunias.Fiction 1 The Absolute Book by Elizabeth Knox (Victoria University Press, $35) ReadingRoom broke the storydetailing how Knox’s novel was fought over by US publishers in a ...
Sky Sport News presenters Kate King and Goran Paladin deliver the latest news of Kiwi sporting women at home and around the globe. *WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE* Hurdler Portia Bing has reinvented herself in a bid to make the Tokyo Olympics and take another step towards putting last year's disqualification at ...
Embarrassingly for the Department of Conservation, a scheduled ministerial announcement last year was postponed. David Williams reports A much-delayed project to better protect the Mackenzie Basin’s stunning landscapes and bolster biodiversity has a new boss. In the 2018 Budget, Conservation and Lands Minister Eugenie Sage announced $2.6 million to find ...
Trying to reduce drownings - and bring on a new generation of surfers - the Wave Warriors teach kids from low-decile schools water safety wrapped in a surf lesson. Eight-year-old Athena Talavai is less than half the height of the surfboard she’s expected to stand on, and probably only a quarter of the weight. She ...
The decision to give Ihumātao the highest heritage listing available sends a strong signal to the Government and Auckland Council, write Dr Frances Hancock and Nicola Short Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (HNZPT) has upgraded the heritage listing of the Ōtuataua Stonefields Reserve and included adjacent and long-contested land at ...
If Simon Bridges manages to pull off an election victory, his next headache will be choosing his Cabinet from a somewhat uninspiring line-up, writes Peter Dunne Every election year there is a call to use the election as a chance to refresh Parliament and get rid of at least some ...
An anonymous Department of Conservation staff member, who wishes to be known only as the Carefree Vigilante, provides a handy guide to dealing with menstruation, and menstrual products, in the wild.This post was first published on the Department of Conservation blog.I’ve got six or seven rational fears and about 900 ...
There is a surge of cases of the virus outside China. Australia says it expects Covid-19 to turn into a global pandemic. We cannot afford to panic in New Zealand. But we must prepare, writes Dr Siouxsie Wiles.It’s now clear to me that the new coronavirus responsible for Covid-19 is ...
The Serious Fraud Office is once again investigating a headline-generating case. But is it prosecuting the right crimes - or just the winnable ones? Compared with previous famous finance company collapses involving hundreds of millions of dollars the numbers are small; sitting MP Jami-Lee Ross and three Auckland businessmen face SFO charges ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The government would be looking for the private sector to put in four or five times as much as it invests in research and development of particular technologies to reduce emissions, Energy Minister Angus Taylor ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Two issues are currently presenting the Morrison government with fast-moving targets. One is the fallout from the coronavirus, where the picture has been altering on a near-daily basis. The other is very different – the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The federal government has activated its emergency response plan to deal with a spread of the coronavirus locally, in anticipation of it becoming a “pandemic”. It is also considering limited assistance for those hardest hit ...
In an apparent change of tune, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expects to raise the topic of climate change with Australian counterpart Scott Morrison tomorrow. ...
The Government says it wants to protect small businesses from getting shafted by big companies who don’t or won’t pay their bills on time. The move can’t come too soon. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Muecke, Clinical senior lecturer in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Adelaide Humans are physiologically hardwired to love and seek out sweet things. It’s an ancient survival mechanism that evolved to prepare our bodies for periods of fasting when food supplies ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marilyn McMahon, Deputy Dean, School of Law, Deakin University The NSW government has just introduced a bill that will, among other significant reforms, make it easier for a jury to be informed about the prior convictions of a person on trial for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marilyn McMahon, Deputy Dean, School of Law, Deakin University The NSW government has just introduced a bill that will, among other significant reforms, make it easier for a jury to be informed about the prior convictions of a person on trial for ...
By RNZ Pacific Jacinda Ardern has paid tribute to the three Fijians who died in last year’s Christchurch mosque shootings. Ardern spoke today at Lautoka Mosque as part of her trip to Fiji to remember Imam Hafiz Musa Patel, Ashraf Ali Razak and Ashraf Ali, who died almost a ...
The Real Pod reassembles to dissect the cultured fourth week of The Bachelorette NZ with special thanks to Nando’s.This week on The Bachelorette NZ, a burrito bust-up ends in anaphylaxis, Steve chows down on some one-ply, and the Buenos Aires hostel goes full Lord of the Flies. It’s become abundantly ...
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, the Catholic Bishops' agency for justice, peace and development, is concerned that the latestchild poverty numbers show that there has been anincrease in material hardship,with 4100 more children living in ...
Dr Bryce Edwards.Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni described this year’s annual benefit increases of 3 per cent as “significant”, and “a way of sharing the wealth”. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also heralded them as the biggest increase to benefits in nine years, if National’s 2015 one-off adjustments are excluded. ...
Is it the kind of headline that will win votes at the general election? “Rock-star reception in Fijian village” followed by a sub-head “Rapturous greeting for Ardern during visit to launch $3m sanitation project”. The reporter (veteran Barry Soper, Newstalk ZB’s political editor) poses the rhetorical question: “Is there any ...
The New Zealand First Foundation received $100,000 in just one week from two rich-listers, whose donations remained secret because the individual payments fell below the disclosure threshold. ...
BusinessNZ says legislation requiring more transparent petrol pricing will probably be well-received, but there are concerns about the market study that prompted it. The Government has announced it is drafting a Fuel Market Bill to introduce requirements ...
Business is Boring is a weekly podcast series presented by The Spinoff in association with Callaghan Innovation. Host Simon Pound speaks with innovators and commentators focused on the future of New Zealand. This week he talks to Andrea Watson, Sparrows CEO and founder, and Simon Yarrow, who leads Callaghan Innovation’s ...
LGNZ say a new report from the Deep South National Science Challenge is a reminder for central government policy makers to step up the pace on progressing a national strategy on climate change adaption. LGNZ is the peak body representing New Zealand’s ...
Art schools are seen by many as beacons of liberalism. But is this the reality? Former Māori student Anna McAllister recounts her fraught journey through an Auckland art school.In high school, the only subjects I was remotely good at were the practical arts. I stayed in the art block during ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Madeline Taylor, Academic Fellow, University of Sydney This week’s decision by Norwegian company Equinor to abandon a A$200 million plan to drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight surprised both its critics and backers. Equinor says it abandoned the project off ...
Finance Minister sees serious, short-term impact on economy from Covid-19. He says the Government is able to deliver more general fiscal stimulus and sector-specific help if the economic hit is longer and harder. Finance Minister Grant Robertson has given his first comprehensive update on the economic effects expected from the ...
In response to reports that 30,000 New Zealanders earning over $100,000 are taking superannuation, New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Casey Russell says: “It’s clear that many wealthy New Zealanders are collecting superannuation they don’t ...
Fancy a quick trip to Europe without leaving the comfort of your own couch? Tara Ward rounds up the best European drama for your viewing pleasure. Anyone who reckons travel is the only way to expand your mind has never had the pleasure of lying on a couch for three days ...
Child protection social work involves risk. It always will. The right decisions cannot always be made and sometimes it can be a question of choosing between the least damaging alternatives. We have had a long list of child abuse tragedies for over 30 years now – in Aotearoa New Zealand and ...
SFO scrutiny of National and NZ First donations sparked debate about party funding and electoral laws. Now, Transparency International has a warning. ...
Not paying NZ Super out to those on incomes of $100,000 or more would save taxpayers around $608 million. Is it time we shake up who gets paid and what? RNZ‘s Nita Blake-Persen reports.The number of New Zealand retirees getting their superannuation while earning more than $100,000 has topped 30,000, ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s contentCoronavirus John Gibb (ODT): Otago academic fears ‘massive’ impact Chris Trotter (Daily Blog): Nothing Xenophobic Or Racist About The Chinese ...
Dr Bryce Edwards.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won power in 2017 on the basis of statements such as “My goal is to eradicate child poverty in New Zealand”. The Government’s progress on child poverty will be under scrutiny at this year’s general election, but progress is slow, and many are claiming ...
New Zealand King Salmon has had a better-than-expected first half, driven by record prices for its fish products. The Marlborough-based salmon farmer's net profit rose nearly 38 percent to $20.8 million in the six months to December, with the average sale price up 6.6 percent. However, revenue of $84.2m was ...
Reform of superannuation is overdue, with new figures showing more than 30,000 superannuitants are earning more than $100,000 per year. This number is growing fast as more people keep working past 65. More than 126,000 superannuitants (17% of the total) are earning ...
Funding to give nature a helping hand and support community conservation projects opens this week, with $5.6m available for community-led projects. “The Department of Conservation (DOC) Community Fund enables us to go further and faster in our conservation ...
Police acknowledge the findings of the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) in relation to decision-making in a sexual assault investigation in Palmerston North. The IPCA found that the decision-making was sound, and there was no conflict of interest ...
Thursday, February 27: Greenpeace has published an open letter calling on the organisers of music festival WOMAD to dump oil industry sponsorship. Todd Energy and Austrian oil giant OMV are on the bill again this year, despite persistent criticism from ...
The clash between urban cyclists and car drivers has been brewing for several years now. But pedestrians have been advocating for their rights for far longer, writesNot so long ago, the journalist Bernard Hickey predicted that cyclists vs motorists will become one of the political issues of our age. “We ...
A2 Milk has delivered a strong financial result, with increased sales in its infant nutrition business and with better than expected profit margins. The specialty milk company's net profit rose 21 percent in the six months to December to $184.9m, with an underlying sales margin of 32.6 percent. Sales rose ...
Air New Zealand's half year profit has taken a larger hit than expected, falling 33 percent amid slowing demand for air travel and increased costs. Its net profit was $101 million in the six months ended December, compared with $150m the year before. Costs rose due to price hikes for ...
You might be trying to reduce your carbon footprint in everyday life, but what about in death? Alex Casey talks to Becs Bartells, founder of Outside the Box about creating the perfect cardboard casket. Becs Bartells often forgets she has an empty coffin sitting in the back of her station wagon, ...
As government services shut their doors in communities and drive people to interact online, the wellbeing of New Zealand's most vulnerable people is being diminished, says the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). CAB has released the report 'Face to Face ...
New research from justice advocacy group JustSpeak released today shows that structural bias in policing continues to disproportionately harm Māori and demonstrates the urgent need for transformative change across our justice system. Using the Statistics ...
A Spinoff article last year rightly raised concerns that citizens’ assemblies could be yet another imposition of Western ideas on Māori. But assemblies and tino rangatiratanga-based visions in fact share a critique of our current democratic system – and could together transform politics, write Emily Beausoleil and Max Rashbrooke.Nadine Anne ...
More new coronavirus cases have for the first time been reported outside China than inside, World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said. ...
Simon Bridges wouldn't deport mosque shooter Brenton Tarrant if found guilty despite calling for reciprocal policy; and Why climate change should be on the agenda for Jacinda meet Morrison. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David A. Savage, Associate Professor of Behavioural Economics , Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle Recent days have brought reports of shoppers clearing out supermarket shelves from Wuhan and Hong Kong to Singapore and Milan in response to the spread of coronavirus. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato The Christchurch mosque attacks on March 15 last year have prompted a significant rise in tip-offs about people expressing extremist views, according to a report by New Zealand’s Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS). During the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Beirman, Senior Lecturer, Tourism, University of Technology Sydney The coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) has now reached more than 80,000 recorded cases, largely concentrated in China, with a death toll over 2,700 and rising. There are few signs the epidemic is abating. In ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tessa Copp, PhD candidate, University of Sydney Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition. When using the definition supported by the international guidelines, it affects just under one in six young Australian women. To meet the diagnostic criteria of PCOS, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul McGorrery, PhD Candidate in Criminal Law, Deakin University The recent killing of Hannah Clarke and her three children by her estranged husband has raised national attention to the types of behaviour that might lead to such a horrific crime, and how ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominique Hes, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Architecture, University of Melbourne Despite a wealth of evidence to the contrary, some still propagate the myth that the world will need Australian coal for decades to come. Last weekend Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese joined in, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mehmet Ulubasoglu, Professor of Economics, Head of the Department of Economics and Director of the Centre for Energy, the Environment and Natural Disasters, Deakin University My team and I have analysed the incomes of people affected by some of Australia’s worst bushfires, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tiffani J. Howell, Research Fellow, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University Australians are slightly obsessed with our dogs. But are we obsessed enough to watch a reality doggy makeover show? The reality makeover concept has a long history, from ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Saving water becomes crucial amid drought, means testing Super back in the news, and a hard look at a Special Purpose Vehicle.Aucklanders need to get serious about saving water or restrictions will come in. Newshub reports that’s the message from Watercare, who ...
Up-and-coming teenage freeskiier Ruby Andrews has shown she has the boldness and the bravery to become one of the world's top women in not one, but three, different events. There’s no questioning Ruby Andrews’ grit and determination. While most 15-year-olds are spending this summer hanging with friends on the beach, Andrews ...
An anonymous international student at the University of Auckland grapples with when and how she might return to NZ amid the coronavirus outbreak, and what challenges she will face if she makes it back. I am a Chinese international student at the University of Auckland. Having completed my language course and ...
When will there be a vaccine? What can we do and how do we stay up to date? Helen Petousis-Harris gives an update on the COVID-19 global health emergency Less than two months after China told the World Health Organisation there was a problem, a lot has happened. Sadly, deaths, confirmed ...
From February 28, Kiwibank will be cheque-free. Mark Jennings looks at how it has been preparing its customers for the big change. It’s raining heavily in Nelson, something it hasn’t done for a while. Local MP and former cabinet minister Nick Smith hurriedly climbs into an old bus parked outside the city’s library. ...
Experts in far-right extremism see a number of similarities between the Christchurch terror attack and last week's mass shooting in Hanau, Germany. Marc Daalder reports. On the evening of February 19, a man shot up two shisha bars frequented by Muslims in Hanau, Germany. It later emerged that he had released ...
ReadingRoom has devoted all week to the biggest-selling book in New Zealand right now, In The Clearing, a brilliant thriller by Ngāpuhi author JP Pomare, based on creepy Australian cult The Family. We conclude the series with a review by Bill Ralston.JP Pomare's second novel In ...
New Zealand’s travel ban on China has been extended another week. The president of the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations argues for a student exemption.The loss of lives and poor health caused by coronavirus is devastating. We must acknowledge the families, across the globe, who have lost loved ones ...
Open Mike 06/12/2018 
Here is the speech that Maya Forstater gave at the Woman’s Place UK Women’s Liberation 2020 conference at UCL on February 1st In a recent newsletter she wrote: it was an amazing day (and brilliant to meet so many people in real life). I talked about what makes people and ...10 hours ago
A New Hope from the National Party leader ...18 hours ago
NZ First portrays itself as an anti-establishment party, standing up for "the little guy" (always a guy) against Big Auckland Money and its tool-parties. But it turns out that its secret slush fund is funded by the very people it claims to oppose:Stuff can reveal a longer list of donors ...19 hours ago
20 hours ago
Will She, Or Won't She? Jacinda’s white vestments may look impressive on the cover of the international edition of TIME magazine, but every day Labour’s relationship with Winston Peters and NZ First continues, her ability to go on wearing them back home in New Zealand – without exciting derision – diminishes.IT WAS ...20 hours ago
BAMS survey of 2018 extreme weather The Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society has published a collection of articles examining unusually extreme weather events of 2018 and connections of those to climate change. These investigations are listed separately below but thanks to the generosity of AMS appear free for ...1 day ago
Fans are outraged at the prospect of Destiny Church pastor Hannah Tamaki joining the Black Caps ...2 days ago
Less than two months after China told the WHO there was a problem, a lot has happened. Sadly, deaths, confirmed cases and countries affected are increasing every day. However, on a scientific and medical level, what is going on to contain, cure and prevent this new disease is truly inspirational. ...2 days ago
I am about to mail my overseas ballot to Florida so that it can be counted in the Democratic primary on March 17. In Florida you have closed as opposed to open primaries, which means that one must declare a party preference in order to vote in a party primary. ...6 days ago
In mid-December the Israeli secret police, the Shin Beit, revealed it had arrested dozens of Palestinian left-wing activists, including members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), in the previous few months. Among those arrested was one of the central leaders of the PFLP, Khalida Jarrar. As ...1 week ago
I am among the most pro-free speech people I know. I don’t doubt there are others more strident than me, but I’m certainly up there. And my support for freedom of expression isn’t limited to opposition to government-imposed restrictions. It extends to a belief that employers should have limited powers ...2 weeks ago
Fletcher Tabuteau MP, New Zealand First Deputy Leader A total delivery of 2,000 new Police Officers has been achieved. New Zealand First Deputy Leader, Fletcher Tabuteau attended the latest police graduation of Recruit Wing 335 in Porirua today. Mr Tabuteau said, “Increasing police numbers and boosting their resources was one of ...17 hours ago
One of our most immediate priorities upon forming Government was to get people out of sleeping in cars, garages, or on the street and into safe and warm housing. Since then, we've made major progress towards breaking the cycle of homelessness, including expanding Housing First, building more state houses, and ...2 days ago
A milestone has been reached with the graduation of more than 2,000 new Police officers since the Coalition Government took office in October 2017. Police Minister Stuart Nash says the graduation today of Wing 335 marks a surge of 2,023 new officers, and coincides with some significant breakthroughs against organised ...16 hours ago
Cycling the length of NZ has got Rod Oram thinking about farming in the climate change era ...24 mins ago
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Ardern gets diplomatic, fuel market legislation released, and police pinged over employment records breach.There hasn’t really been much coverage of it in The Bulletin, but it’s worth looking back at quite an important diplomatic week for the PM. She has been ...26 mins ago
This week's biggest-selling New Zealand books, as recorded by the Nielsen BookScan New Zealand bestseller list and described by Steve Braunias. Fiction 1 The Absolute Book by Elizabeth Knox (Victoria University Press, $35) ReadingRoom broke the story detailing how Knox’s novel was fought over by US publishers in a ...1 hour ago
Sky Sport News presenters Kate King and Goran Paladin deliver the latest news of Kiwi sporting women at home and around the globe. *WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE* Hurdler Portia Bing has reinvented herself in a bid to make the Tokyo Olympics and take another step towards putting last year's disqualification at ...2 hours ago
Embarrassingly for the Department of Conservation, a scheduled ministerial announcement last year was postponed. David Williams reports A much-delayed project to better protect the Mackenzie Basin’s stunning landscapes and bolster biodiversity has a new boss. In the 2018 Budget, Conservation and Lands Minister Eugenie Sage announced $2.6 million to find ...2 hours ago
Trying to reduce drownings - and bring on a new generation of surfers - the Wave Warriors teach kids from low-decile schools water safety wrapped in a surf lesson. Eight-year-old Athena Talavai is less than half the height of the surfboard she’s expected to stand on, and probably only a quarter of the weight. She ...2 hours ago
The decision to give Ihumātao the highest heritage listing available sends a strong signal to the Government and Auckland Council, write Dr Frances Hancock and Nicola Short Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (HNZPT) has upgraded the heritage listing of the Ōtuataua Stonefields Reserve and included adjacent and long-contested land at ...2 hours ago
If Simon Bridges manages to pull off an election victory, his next headache will be choosing his Cabinet from a somewhat uninspiring line-up, writes Peter Dunne Every election year there is a call to use the election as a chance to refresh Parliament and get rid of at least some ...2 hours ago
The Serious Fraud Office is once again investigating a headline-generating case. But is it prosecuting the right crimes - or just the winnable ones? Compared with previous famous finance company collapses involving hundreds of millions of dollars the numbers are small; sitting MP Jami-Lee Ross and three Auckland businessmen face SFO charges ...3 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The government would be looking for the private sector to put in four or five times as much as it invests in research and development of particular technologies to reduce emissions, Energy Minister Angus Taylor ...6 hours ago
In an apparent change of tune, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expects to raise the topic of climate change with Australian counterpart Scott Morrison tomorrow. ...11 hours ago
The Government says it wants to protect small businesses from getting shafted by big companies who don’t or won’t pay their bills on time. The move can’t come too soon. ...13 hours ago
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, the Catholic Bishops' agency for justice, peace and development, is concerned that the latestchild poverty numbers show that there has been anincrease in material hardship,with 4100 more children living in ...15 hours ago
Is it the kind of headline that will win votes at the general election? “Rock-star reception in Fijian village” followed by a sub-head “Rapturous greeting for Ardern during visit to launch $3m sanitation project”. The reporter (veteran Barry Soper, Newstalk ZB’s political editor) poses the rhetorical question: “Is there any ...16 hours ago
Jacinda Ardern has paid tribute to the three Fijians who died in last year's Christchurch mosque shootings. ...18 hours ago
Finance Minister sees serious, short-term impact on economy from Covid-19. He says the Government is able to deliver more general fiscal stimulus and sector-specific help if the economic hit is longer and harder. Finance Minister Grant Robertson has given his first comprehensive update on the economic effects expected from the ...18 hours ago
Child protection social work involves risk. It always will. The right decisions cannot always be made and sometimes it can be a question of choosing between the least damaging alternatives. We have had a long list of child abuse tragedies for over 30 years now – in Aotearoa New Zealand and ...19 hours ago
New Zealand King Salmon has had a better-than-expected first half, driven by record prices for its fish products. The Marlborough-based salmon farmer's net profit rose nearly 38 percent to $20.8 million in the six months to December, with the average sale price up 6.6 percent. However, revenue of $84.2m was ...20 hours ago
The Government has accepted a majority of the recommendations of the Commerce Commission's retail fuel market study, Marc Daalder reports Energy Minister Megan Woods announced today that the Government will regulate the wholesale fuel market, in line with recommendations from the Commerce Commission. In legislation due to be passed by ...21 hours ago
A2 Milk has delivered a strong financial result, with increased sales in its infant nutrition business and with better than expected profit margins. The specialty milk company's net profit rose 21 percent in the six months to December to $184.9m, with an underlying sales margin of 32.6 percent. Sales rose ...21 hours ago
Air New Zealand's half year profit has taken a larger hit than expected, falling 33 percent amid slowing demand for air travel and increased costs. Its net profit was $101 million in the six months ended December, compared with $150m the year before. Costs rose due to price hikes for ...21 hours ago
More new coronavirus cases have for the first time been reported outside China than inside, World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said. ...23 hours ago
New Zealand is flush with Lotto fever, with a $50 million must-win record jackpot up for grabs this Saturday. ...23 hours ago
Simon Bridges wouldn't deport mosque shooter Brenton Tarrant if found guilty despite calling for reciprocal policy; and Why climate change should be on the agenda for Jacinda meet Morrison. ...23 hours ago
Up-and-coming teenage freeskiier Ruby Andrews has shown she has the boldness and the bravery to become one of the world's top women in not one, but three, different events. There’s no questioning Ruby Andrews’ grit and determination. While most 15-year-olds are spending this summer hanging with friends on the beach, Andrews ...1 day ago
An anonymous international student at the University of Auckland grapples with when and how she might return to NZ amid the coronavirus outbreak, and what challenges she will face if she makes it back. I am a Chinese international student at the University of Auckland. Having completed my language course and ...1 day ago
When will there be a vaccine? What can we do and how do we stay up to date? Helen Petousis-Harris gives an update on the COVID-19 global health emergency Less than two months after China told the World Health Organisation there was a problem, a lot has happened. Sadly, deaths, confirmed ...1 day ago
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The first of many.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/109110152/canteens-taranaki-branch-may-face-closure-after-proposed-restructure
Taranaki is just one of the regions, towns and cities about to lose its AYA cancer service with the majority of CanTeen’s specialist care workers facing redundancy. Regional face-to-face patient support services to be axed and replaced by an online “portal”.
Ironically, the AYA conference currently taking place in Australia stresses the importance of face-to-face support to ensure optimum outcomes for young cancer patients. Third world stuff.
According to out mate James, it’s just cutting the fat.
Why start trolling FOR James? You have plenty of your own opinions millsy. Let’s hear your thunks.
repost from last night
Agree – it is not working for many and the solutions proposed don’t address it in relation to tangata whenua.
https://www.waateanews.com/waateanews/x_news/MjA3MzU/He-Ara-Oranga-overwhelmed-by-mainstream
You popped into my mind last Sunday Marty. I watched the final ‘The Hui’ for the year. The entire show featured Mike King addressing a Whanganui school with a predominately Maori roll.
Wow, so much of what he said rang so true for me. He led me to consider things I never had. By the end of the show I had my pick for New Zealander of the Year.
Best TV I’ve seen for some time, the medium used as it should be. If you haven’t seen it, please have a look Marty. If you did catch it, I’d like to hear your thoughts please. It’s free to watch on demand but I’m not able to provide a direct link as watching a TV 3 show on demand requires a free registration and log-in to the service…this content makes the ads worth tolerating.
https://www.threenow.co.nz/shows/the-hui/125685
Ha, I wrote this an hour ago, I started watching it again and couldn’t stop. Powerful stuff.
Thanks for that, David Mac.
I was thinking the other day about making a list of reading/watching over the slow Summer break.
Your comment prompted me to create a Word doc for the list and your comment plus link in now first on the list.
Cool veuto, it changed the way I see many things. Like the futility of prohibition of the vices that harm us. Mike puts it like this: “Drugs, alcohol and bullying others weren’t a problem for me, they were a solution.”
I think it’s worthy of being at the top of your list veuto.
Powerful as, brought me to tears. Best piece on NZ TV for 2018
Me too Cinny, his honesty made mine tears of hope. Hope that more of us can learn to cook with Mike’s simple recipe.
Wow Kia ora David Mac. Awesome, so needed, so much aroha. I probably wouldn’t have watched it without your recommendation so thanks again.
Sweet Marty. Before watching I wondered why Mike King walked away from his comedic fame. I wonder no more.
Hey Marty,
While I haven’t seen it yet, although I will as it is been recommended to me three times, I can’t help but feel that not feeling connected contributes.
Whether that connection is to a job, interest/hobby, community group or primarily family.
The history for Maori since WW2 is terrible.
Having lost their best in foreign wars, they were told leave your rural/marae/communal way of life, and come live in the cities. Work in the factories. Until we close them.
Do that, (leave your traditional/familiar way of being and go to an isolated way of life), to anyone they will be lost.
Yes I do this the disconnect is a real part of the problem. It’s good you bring it up because we must look multi dimensionally at this imo and consider the spiritual and other other non materialistic aspects of living a life.
These statistics are an utter tragedy and disgrace.
I work in the area. I try to do my best for all my patients and deliver evidenced based strategies……..I realize the context of colonization that is uniquely stressful and that people get triggered into mental health problems when they are under stress. One of the things I am really aware of is the negative believe about self Maori have internalized due to racism.
It’s an overwhelming problem. We need to change our social environment. But we need good treatment by skilled practitioners when people become unwell
Totally agree. There are so many converging and connecting aspects to this tragedy – we’ve got to holistically look at this and do what you and Mike king are doing – talk to people, work with them and help them and educate them. Kia kaha to you and Kia ora for your mahi.
Kia Ora Marty Mars. I feel privileged to work in the area and see people get their mental health back. If you don’t have your mental health, you have nothing.
It’s quite upsetting to think that things have got worse since I started out. They have undoubtedly got worse over the 9 years of National. Funding for mental health in primary care slashed. A training course that was world class axed, access to crisis services increasingly difficult
Just in case the sickening platitudes being spewed out for the war criminal and racist George H.W. Bush by all media including our own supposedly neutral RNZ are starting grate on your nerves, here is the balance that all our media lack the capacity to deliver…
‘The Ignored Legacy of George H.W. Bush: War Crimes, Racism, and Obstruction of Justice’
https://theintercept.com/2018/12/01/the-ignored-legacy-of-george-h-w-bush-war-crimes-racism-and-obstruction-of-justice/
Adrian T
Thanks. At last something that’s relevant and balanced USA news. The sickening tsunami from the USA when we are supposed to be global, internationally savvy, shows us up as colonials wanting to be attached perhaps as a major territory. We seem lost and seeking a port, and in the absence of that following the nearest USA cruise ship as The Dingy Dinghy.
@greywarshark
I often wonder whether a new local media service that offered fair and balanced news might actually do quite well..imagine this scenario for a moment…
You wake up, turn on your radio to this new radio programme, they announce the funeral of HW Bush in the hourly news bulletin in a neutral way, then proceed over the next couple of hours to have one puntit who tells us all the good things Bush did, then another pundit who unpacks HW Bush’s unsavoury actions as POTUS, our hard hitting presenter grills both of them to make sure their facts and figures are in order. Then we have the daily report on Workers news and issues, ending with a comment from a reputable economist, followed by the Market update which ends (as it often does) with comments from a paid bank economist.. now that would be an interesting comparison to keep a track of…anyway I am sure you can see where I am going with this.
If only!
Scoop.
Email to Jim Mora this morning submitting a One Quick Question for their consideration….
Hello Jim, or Jim’s helper, I have a question for your segment.
Why does media, (including RNZ) not cover the life of the deceased former POTUS George H.W. Bush with any kind of balance?
Of course it is right to cover his good points, and the better parts of his character, but why can’t the media also cover the many negative points of his presidency which negatively impacted hundreds of thousands of humans (especially in South America and The Middle East), do they not deserve this same right of media coverage?
Just wondering?
Best
Adrian Thornton.
I think it’s a social construct Adrian. Mora approaches it the way he does for the same reason nobody starts a eulogy with ‘George was an arsehole’.
I understand that, but HW Bush is not a private citizen, he was leader of the most powerful country in the world, I see absolutely no reason why his record in that role can’t be commented on in a fair and balanced way during this time, other wise his legacy will (actually IS as we speak) be completely whitewashed by a compliant media, just as Regan was, and just as we have seen lately with terrorist John Mccain.
Yes, some will honour America’s youngest ever military jet pilot, others will consider the airman that fires missles into villages of innocents at age 20. The most touching thing about his passing for me was the loyalty of his Labrador. I guess I’m just saying that right or wrong, for most, the right thing to do is to wait until his corpse is cold before sledging the guy and his legacy.
David Mac
You old softy eh.
We’re all snowflakes Grey. The staunchest of us melt. The easiest way to knock cage fighting legend Mark Hunt out is to lay a hand on his daughter. The frequency of the melting light varies but we’re all snowflakes
Sorry, but fuck him, do you seriously think the media will ever get around to discussing the thousands of humans who were killed, maimed, raped and destroyed as a direct result of HIS decisions? no they will leave the public with the vision of a American hero who was gentle man with a loyal dog who loved his family…the right thing to do is be honest about what he did and who he did it too…today not tomorrow, because as we know tomorrow will never comes for the MSM to present even the slightest balance around the legacy of the racist, war criminal H.W. Bush.
As far as I concerned people like him are the enemy of most humans and for that matter the future of the planet as a whole.
BTW I love my dogs, and have had dogs all my life, so I also know dogs give their loyalty pretty easily, I wouldn’t read too much into his loyal dog thing myself.
I don’t despise the individual as much as you do Adrian, I don’t think most do. You highlighted ‘HIS Decisions’. He didn’t walk into an Oval Office meeting one morning and declare ‘Gather around Generals, this week we’re bombing these bastards.’ It was a Whitehouse/Pentagon team effort.
I admired the loyalty of his dog because it prompted me to hug mine.
David Mac
Don’t stand for office for anything because I will blame you for what you do or don’t do that’s bad. That’s the rub, and having a dog doesn’t preclude you from the results of the people’s disappointment.
I get sad about parents trying to save their little children, dying in pain or running away, starving, and having their living destroyed and if their sons manage to get away, not being accepted anywhere or locked up somewhere like Manus Island.
@David Mac
Here you go pal, here’s another guy who was just part of a team effort that might prompt you to go and hug your dog…
I’ve looked at that excellent link on Bush senior you put up.
I noticed the malicious infrastructure bombing (as opposed to the necessary strategic bombing, which was also malicious) and how it was done to cause the maximum pressure and hardship on the Iraqi people and their leaders. (1991)
There seems to be a trend here looking at post WW2 to what was done in Iraq. Was Bush worse than the others – seems like BAU savagery crops up throughout.
WW2 Roosevelt dies and Harry Truman takes over. He wants to finish the war quickly so after a couple of days of conference and planning, drops two atom bombs on Japan (because they have got them, cuts any Japanese resistance, and is opportunity to trial the bombs and indicate to Germany their prowess). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_of_Harry_S._Truman
(1945)
And I remembered about North Korea where the US Air Force bombed North Korean (against UN? agreements) irrigation infrastructure so affecting their food growing ability causing hardship. (1950+)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_North_Korea_1950-1953
1955-1975
Vietnam War
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War
“seems like BAU savagery crops up throughout” exactly right, and great point, so by letting the media just eulogize HW Bush, with no reference to the devastation, destruction and misery HIS orders/policies and decisions have caused, just normalizes this type of brutal leadership.. it’s like, well you know he did some fucked up things, you know, lied out in the open, ran an openly racist political campaign, rained bombs on innocent humans etc etc..but you know, they all do it.
But it is not normal to do these things to other human beings, that should be the message our media delivers today, well they could at least even hint at it FFS.
How are we ever going to evolve to be better humans, when these idiots in the media don’t at least help a little to shine a path to a better more fair and just humanity? and worse, it seems a lot of the time our media is actually dragging us backwards.
Yes Adrian T
My own thoughts. Won’t say more but it is interesting to be gently reminded to be nice because he’s dead and wait before criticising.
There is a guidebook of etiquette on how long to extend the period of mourning and sanctity before acknowledging the truth, in a country of free speech?
No doubt you understand the mirage ‘must’ be maintained and carefully managed…
Part of an obvious, and in recent times faltering, psychological operation…
CIA Director GHW Bush…Strong family legacy of crimes against humanity…
‘Pappy Bush’
Good luck with getting a response to that.
We forget that Moras Panel should be classed as light entertainment.
If you’ve heard Moras wife on the radio you will realise that wee Jimmy hasnt been allowed to have an original thought for many years.
Cherchez la femme. again!
I know I won’t get a response, no it more of a therapeutic action for me, helps release a bit of tension so I can get on with my day, which reminds me…
A quick shout out to the good people of Blenheim. I accidentally left my phone on a bench in the main street. I went to the Police station, mainly to get a report recorded for the insurance claim, and was gobsmacked to find that some good citizen had handed it in a few minutes earlier.
So thanks, Blenheim, you rock. For any readers who visit the town, my recommendation for coffee and eats is the truly wonderful Ritual Cafe, Maxwell Rd. If readers fancy a beer, the Waterfront (the old Royal) and the Yard Bar are the go. And if you lose anything, the local Police are definitely there to help.
Better living, NZ!
And while we are lauding Blenheim’s good points – a plug for Turkish restaurant Akbabas at 2 Maxwell Road, Blenheim. Good people and good food.
https://www.akbabaskebabs.co.nz/our-story/
The good people of Blenheim thank you. There is a bit more to the town and the eateries and bars mentioned.
There are craft breweries and bars, wineries, the PM has announced a year round version of the Coastal Express with upgraded train stations, great walks, tramps, fishing, hunting, and theatre.
Just like the rest of NZ, really……..
The main advantage though is a population of 45,000 in an area the size of Israel.
Great weather and lifestyle attracts senior citizens and Marlborough has the highest numbers of senior citizens in the country per capita. With 1% of the country’s population Grey Power Marlborough has 9% of the nation-wide Grey Power membership.
And no traffic lights!
So 9% of the voices of boomer generation who owe the rest of us many thanks for being able to retire in sunny climes, while younger generations toil away unable to afford a decent house in colder and damper areas to pay for your retirement.
Good to know what areas to be suspect of when the super issue is raised
I think, in your penny’s worth, that you may just have not realised that today’s seniors have paid taxes all their lives, I can recall 60% top rate being paid, and willingly, to pay for the generation that went before us who came out of the Depression era and were supported properly in their turn by us.
So enough of the intergenerational rivalry crap, Tuppence. Envy will consume you, narcissism will afflict you, entitlement and consumerism eat at your very vitals.
Respect your elders, Tuppence. After all, they reared you, taught you what you know, changed your nappies, tolerated your tantrums and excused your ignorance.
As did my parents in their turn.
If I didn’t think you were trolling, I’d pity you………
Thank you mac1 – husband and I are certainly part of that cohort – paid plenty of pretty high tax in our working life and still pay tax on our superannuation payments, withholding tax (however modest) and GST on day to day purchases.
Fuck off Tuppence
If youre worried about your retirement, get off your lazy arse and start saving
And I dont even come from Blenheim
A.
“Generation Snowflake, or Snowflake Generation, is a neologistic term used to characterize the young adults of the 2010s as being more prone to taking offense and less resilient than previous generations, or as being too emotionally vulnerable to cope with views that challenge their own.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Snowflake
Growing up insulated by technology, this new generation gets traumatised by differences between people. Humans learn to socialise by living in communal environments. Gen Snowflake has matured without that learning, apparently. Now we are beginning to see political consequences of their tech-warp effect.
“The term “Generation Snowflake”, or its variant “Snowflake Generation”, probably originated in the United States and came into wider use in the United Kingdom in 2016 following the publication of Claire Fox’s book I Find That Offensive!. In it she wrote about a confrontation between Yale University students and faculty Head of College, Nicholas Christakis. The confrontation arose after Christakis’s wife, Erika Christakis, a lecturer at the university, had suggested students should “relax a bit rather than labeling fancy dress Halloween costumes as culturally insensitive”, according to Fox. Fox described the video showing the students’ reaction as a “screaming, almost hysterical mob of students”. Fox said the backlash to the viral video led to the disparaging moniker “generation snowflake” for the students.”
“Snowflake generation” was recognised as one of Collins Dictionary’s 2016 words of the year. Collins defines the term as “the young adults of the 2010s, viewed as being less resilient and more prone to taking Offense than previous generations”.
“Similarly, in 2016 the Financial Times included snowflake in their annual Year in a Word list, defining it as “a derogatory term for someone deemed too emotionally vulnerable to cope with views that challenge their own, particularly in universities and other forums once known for robust debate” and noting that the insult had been aimed at an entire generation.”
“The term snowflake has been used to refer to children raised by their parents in ways that give them an inflated sense of their own uniqueness. This usage of snowflake has been attributed to Chuck Palahniuk’s 1996 novel Fight Club, and its 1999 film adaptation. Both the novel and the film include the line “You are not special. You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake.” In January 2017, Palahniuk claimed credit for coining snowflake, adding that the young adults of the 2010s exhibit “a kind of new Victorianism”. An article published by Merriam-Webster stated that Palahniuk was not the first person to use snowflake metaphorically, saying, “It’s the stuff of self-help books and inspirational posters and elementary school assurances. The imagery before negation is lovely; we are each unique snowflakes, each worth treasuring because each is uniquely beautiful.”
So there’s a positive side, but. Everyone is unique. Just a question of acceptance being more sensible than self-promotion. And, given that Lasch’s diagnosis of the culture of narcissism (1979) applies to all generations born since WWII, this positive side isn’t really the point. Politics is a team sport, and those who play must conform to team rules. Gen Snowflake doesn’t want to play. Will they grow old apolitical? Or will their strident self-assertion constellate a common ground?
The people who complain about snowflakes are the real snowflakes. They just need to realise that they have had enough and are not taking any crap anymore.
Yep, the most powerful force known to man, our attitude, our inner critic, our feelings.
It’s easy to dismiss a trans person’s desire to be referred to as ‘she’. To them, it’s the foundation stone of their life.
Snowflakes do tend to coalesce into a hard ball, soft individually but in your face, quite painful when they are in a mass.
You mean like this…
https://www.news.com.au/world/french-government-caves-to-pressure-after-worst-riots-in-decades/news-story/91fe1eeb0f444b3efe87fff4742e714c
Pretty painful individually too
Totally – and the ones who sneer at supposed snowflakes are usually the ones imposing or benefiting from the crappy conditions that the snowflakes are complaining about.
Just the usual human dynamic of power and domination by one person over another.
Most of us arnt complaining about them – we are laughing at them.
Why laugh at them, James?
Does it make you feel ‘big’ around the bbq to ridiculing others ?….
Why laugh at them?
Because they are very funny.
I prefer soy boys as a classification to snow flake for the male variety
Apparently people being “forced” into social housing is all about the burden placed on private landlords by this current government:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1812/S00056/govt-forcing-more-people-into-social-housing.htm
“By setting up more roadblocks and hurdles for landlords, and raising compliance costs, many landlords have decided not to rent out their properties. As a result more people are forced to rely on publicly funded social housing.”
Nothing to do with the fact that so many people are now priced out of the private market, and the social housing waiting list is now the longest it has ever been due the combination of a)this and b)the systematic sell-off of State Housing under the last regime? Simon O’Conner, your sudden concern for the vulnerable is touching.
I think the quote and your thoughts are 2 edges of the same sword Kay.
One of the reasons people are being priced out of the private rental market is because landlords are considering “For it to be worth my while, I’ll need to up the rent $150 on my place.”
Our current government rest on: ‘It’s a supply and demand thing, we’re in this mess because the other jokers did nothing for a decade’. This does absolutely nothing about addressing the problem and is entirely about ‘Don’t blame me, it’s his fault.’
I try hard to be an optimist, but I’m struggling with our housing outlook. National passed a law requiring all landlords in NZ to insulate their rentals by July 31st next year. Those that don’t can expect heavy fines and if called out, required to pay exemplary damages to tenants that take their non complying landlord to the tribunal. For some tenants, the largest cash sum they’ve ever had in their lives.
Up in the Far North where the landscape is rich and job prospects poor, many families live in older simple baches that the owners were using less for holidays as their kids found other things to do. Rather than sell many hang on to them for the next generation of kids, for 3 generations to spend Christmases there. In the meantime, many have become low cost housing for those of us that live up here on tight budgets.
I’m concerned for the many people up here in the sub-tropical Far North that come next July, will be living in illegal houses.
really …
Newshub can reveal he didn’t even run that past the Prime Minister, and understands she only found out about it while watching our TV story.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/12/exclusive-pm-jacinda-ardern-to-review-housing-minister-s-kiwibuild-house-flipping-penalty
https://www.labour.org.nz/housing
“KiwiBuild homes will only be sold to first home buyers. To avoid buyers reaping windfall gains, a condition of sale will require them to hand back any capital gain if sold on within 5 years.”
So a Labour election pledge was broken by 2 labour ministers (Tywford & Robertson) and then re instated by the PM.
When should an election promise be kept and when is it ok to break a promise ??
“Newshub can reveal .. ”
An awful lot of opining in that story but not much evidence.
What that min Tywford announces that there would be a reduced 3 year cap gain time limit, that he had no authority to make, that was also in conflict with an election promise. That our PM also was not aware of.
Not sure what else anyone needs to know but I am open to hear alternative views 🤔
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12156833
Here is a link to the changes that the govt made.
“But speaking to media this afternoon, Twyford said the Government had changed the rules.“ so who is this government that had changed the rules ??
The reporter’s statements like these have only her reckons to support them:
“Ms Ardern is unimpressed”
“The public didn’t like Mr Twyford’s rorters rule, but he probably didn’t realise his boss agreed.”
But the link I supplied ex nzherald had a quote from min Tywford. “But speaking to media this afternoon, Twyford said the Government had changed the rules.”
The GOVERNMENT (my bold not shouting” so the government is at odds with he PM ??🤔I am confused, does the PM not agree with her government?
But the link I supplied ex nzherald had a quote from min Tywford. “But speaking to media this afternoon, Twyford said the Government had changed the rules.”
The GOVERNMENT (my bold not shouting” so the government is at odds with he PM ??🤔I am confused, does the PM not agree with her government?
My problem is not whether several Ministers changed a policy, but with unsubstantiated allegations about how the PM feels about it.
Newshub has deleted my link here is their latest link
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/12/exclusive-pm-jacinda-ardern-to-review-housing-minister-s-kiwibuild-house-flipping-penalty.
Not to sure why my initial link doesn’t work.
“but with unsubstantiated allegations about how the PM feels about it.” not sure how I can assist. I imagine our PM is unimpressed as
How can a minister change the rules which was in breach of the Labour manifesto
How can we, the voter trust Labour to keep their promises ?
But I imagine any lack of justification will be taken as Labour lied to us. 🤥
“*I imagine* our PM is unimpressed as”
which is a much more honest way of putting it.
👍🏾 Glad I was able to work that out
A future in journalism beckons. 🙂
You are being quite unfair to Ms Ardern by suggesting that she wasn’t involved in the decision.
She was going to consider the matter as soon as she had settled the most important thing on her agenda.
https://spy.nzherald.co.nz/spy-news/pm-reveals-plans-for-baby-neves-first-xmas/
I’m sure that as soon this is sorted out, which shouldn’t take more than a couple of weeks, she will look at what Twyford has been up too.
What do trivial things like Kiwibuild matter anyway? After all, when people see the places they don’t buy them and refuse to go through with the purchase.
Perhaps someone can explain to me how studio apartments can really be affordable at $380,000 or one bedroom places at $500,000 are “affordable for first home buyers” anyway?
Is that really meant to get young families into homes, as Twyford promised?
With all the Santa hood ha of late I though some here would be interested to know that little old reatihi lead the way with last years Santa being a Maori woman. Not a ripple was made . Good a?
Tonight I asked my kid “What race is Santa?”
He immediately responded “A dwarf”
A.
Curious about the context of that peculiar ‘father-to-son’ question.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/17/santa-claus-black-white-christmas-race-debate-fox-news
Poor kid!
Well, I was curious what he would say, and I thought it was a very good answer.
A.
Figures. It sounded dodgy from the start….lots of Chinese needed desperately to built high rise. Whatever.
One thing I can’t stand is these people who think themselves about the law saying things like, “there’s nothing you can do”. Nothing? Nothing at all?
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/377614/chinese-construction-workers-brought-to-nz-believe-they-ve-been-conned
There has been a couple of cases here in Australia, where the Unions and various State and Federal Government Departments have gone in to bat for the Chinese workers and have come down hard the companies/ firms that have employed the Chinese workers over wages and entitlements. Further investigations by the Unions involve and the relevant Government Dept’s have also found that the worker are here illegally because of breaches in their Visas obtained by the companies that the poor workers are working for.
During the last mining boom and the current up lift in mining atm, a number of companies are trying to bring Chinese workers to help construct the various mining projects to keeps cost downs aka wages and WHS etc. But the Unions have kept this in check so far.
So without strong Unions and strong Government Departments in NZ this is going to happen in a regular basis unless the Unions and Government isn’t prepared to step up enforce or strengthen the various laws and ensure that the NZ workers get a fair go/ deal. The same could be said IRT to training future NZ workers in whatever trade discipline he or she chooses as would also further erode pay and conditions and WHS which quite possibly lead to further outcomes like these Chinese workers atm.
Great to see Canada acting on Huawei by arresting their CFO Meng Wanzou, for extradition to the US.
now can they please arrest Zuckerberg for distorting global democracy itself.
Ideally China should do that arrest to make it all even.
Await a major diplomatic war.
“Wanzhou Meng, the deputy chair of Huawei’s board and the daughter of company founder Ren Zhengfei, was arrested in Vancouver, the Globe and Mail reported. The arrest was at the request of US authorities. “Wanzhou Meng was arrested in Vancouver on December 1. She is sought for extradition by the United States, and a bail hearing has been set for Friday,” US Justice department spokesperson Ian McLeod said.” https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/world/109139920/huaweis-chief-financial-officer-arrested-in-canada
Interesting that they sat on the news for five days. Maybe China threatened Canada with feng shui if they didn’t release her & Canadian experts took a while to evaluate the threat.
Arresting her for what the EU is planning to do , trade with Iran and get around the sanctions
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/dec/05/meng-wanzhou-huawei-cfo-arrested-vancouver
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/05/european-union-dependence-on-dollar-to-be-reduced-under-new-proposals
Luxembourg is about to make all public transport free.
What actions did NZ declare at the climate conference this week?
A little investment fund worth $100m?
FFS
Close to free in Queenstown, $2.00 anywhere with a GO Card.
https://www.orc.govt.nz/public-transport/queenstown-buses/fares-and-gocards
Not for CC reasons unfortunately, but because it was cheaper to heavily subsidise the service than try and increase network capacity. There’s a few places (Frankton Road is one) where that’s not possible.
One line I heard was that the $2.00 charge is only there because NZTA didn’t have a way of doing it for free. $2.00 would hardly cover the costs of handling the money anyway.
I guess Queenstown is to New Zealand what Luxembourg is to Europe.
Got to start somewhere; you gave a good example.
Help Wikileaks sue the Grauniad
for publishing that slander by Luke “Fuckwit” Harding.
https://www.gofundme.com/wikileaks-suing-the-guardian-over-manafort-story
[Removed the extraneous guff, Moz. And please look up the definition of journalist. It’s not what you think it is. TRP]
What the h*ll is this comment supposed to be?
A.
The comments are the first dozen or so messages of support on the petition page in support of Julian Assange and free speech and journalism. Sorry, I should have tidied up all the little admin. odds and ends, but the message is clear, I think: a lot of people want to see the Grauniad face consequences for its fraudulent reporting, i.e. its flagrant disinformation campaign against someone who is, in stark contrast to the likes of Emma Brockes and Luke Harding and James Ball, a real journalist.
Do you want me to donate money towards a threat to freedom of speech by prosecuting someone for speaking freely?
Are you Morrissey?
Do you want me to donate money towards a threat to freedom of speech by prosecuting someone for speaking freely?
You don’t understand what criminal libel is.
Are you Morrissey?
Morrissey Breen was a student of mine some years ago.
no longer part of UK law?
noice
“Morrissey Breen was a student of mine some years ago.”
That explains a lot.
Yes you’re right, I don’t understand what criminal libel is….If it’s criminal I’m thinking it’s a matter for the Police to look into and I already make a regular donation to them.
A student, ahhh that explains it, I’ve not seen anyone else use the term ‘Grauniad’.
I think he’s referring to a bit of self-tutelage.
Finds it refreshing to have someone to agree with, even if only a sock.
> I think he’s referring to a bit of self-tutelage.
Self abuse more like
If it’s a sock it’s a sticky one
A.
I’ve not seen anyone else use the term ‘Grauniad’.
That’s because you don’t read Private Eye.
I would certainly like to see the Guardian taken to account for publishing unverifiable tabloid bullshit that suits the aims of those who want to take Assange down
Take Assange down and all journalists worth the name are in the firing line.
For those who still can’t get it past their faulty belief system, Assange is a journalist
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jun/02/julian-assange-martha-gelhorn-prize
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-28/assange-accepts-journalism-award/3698076
https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2017/04/indexawards2008-wikileaks-economist-new-media-award/
and of course played a pivotal part in the publication of the Wikileaks Files
He’s still an honorary member of the Australian Journalist’s union
Removed the extraneous guff…
“Extraneous”? I would have thought that the supportive comments of those democratically minded lovers of journalism was the very heart of this matter. The attempt to destroy Assange is an attempt to silence all of us.
And please look up the definition of journalist. It’s not what you think it is.
Ha! We know what your idea of a journalist is.
Crikey, you had to go all the way back to 2014 for that zinger? I’m impressed I haven’t said anything more recent you could have used. btw, shutting down a media organisation is not what “democratically minded lovers of democracy” do.
Meanwhile, in real journalist news, here’s some dead people:
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/dec/05/journalists-murdered-khashoggi-kuciak-panama-papers
The Grauniad is, sadly, a propaganda arm of the British state.
I don’t think it should be closed down, but I certainly think that liars like Luke Harding should be fired, and also that rubbish editor. Rubbisher’s his name, isn’t it.
I Agee with your “ I don’t think “ Mozz after that you lost me
Just a reminder that democracy is just as much part of the problem as capitalism: “The report estimates CO2 emissions will rise by 2.7% in 2018, sharply up on the plateau from 2014-16 and 1.6% rise in 2017.” https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/05/brutal-news-global-carbon-emissions-jump-to-all-time-high-in-2018
“The International Energy Agency’s data also shows rising emissions in 2018. Its executive director, Fatih Birol, said: “This turnaround should be another warning to governments as they meet in Katowice this week.””
Why bother giving govts more warnings? Since when has that ever worked? “The “dark news” of rising emissions is merging with two other alarming trends, according to Prof David Victor, at the University of California, San Diego, in an article with colleagues also published in Nature on Wednesday.”
“Falling air pollution is enabling more of the sun’s warmth to reach the Earth’s surface, as aerosol pollutants reflect sunlight, while a long-term natural climate cycle in the Pacific is entering a warm phase. Victor said: “Global warming is accelerating. [These] three trends will combine over the next 20 years to make climate change faster and more furious than anticipated.””
“The Global Carbon Budget, produced by 76 scientists from 57 research institutions in 15 countries, found the major drivers of the 2018 increase were more coal-burning in China and India as their economies grew, and more oil used in more transport. Industry also used more gas. Renewable energy grew rapidly, but not enough to offset the increased use of fossil fuel.”
“Democracy” is NOT the problem. Over 80% want action on Anthropogenic global warming.
It is the lack of Democracy!
A couple of interesting reports IRT to CC, one on the ice melt in Greenland and the other the NZDF and likely CC effects they NZDF is now likely to in counter as the science starts to firm up its evidence IRT CC.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/109130891/climate-reality-check-greenland-ice-melt-speeds-up
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2018-12-06/greenland-ice-sheet-melting-accelerating/10581980
https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/109067137/defence-force-we-need-to-prepare-for-climate-change
P.S I’ve just noticed that old mate from No Right Turn has posted the same thing.
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2018/12/climate-change-threat-to-our-security.html
Here is an article from Scoop and has a PDF link I haven’t gone over yet.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1812/S00063/defence-assessment-on-climate-change-and-security-released.htm
Awa’ an’ bile yer heid ‘n’ pick a windae, yer leavin’ wi’ yer foodbank, ye piece o’ tory jobby . *
.
ANGRY protestors chased Scotland’s only Conservative MP out of town after he turned up to open a food bank.
Protestors shouted “Shame on you” and screamed at Scottish Secretary David Mundell after he sneaked out the back door of the Trussell Trust-operated facility in the Dumfries and Galloway town.
They surrounded the white Ford Focus motor he was in, which had to slowly edge its way through the raging mob with the help of a police escort.
People banged on the windows and at first refused to let the vehicle move, until four uniformed police officers arrived to part the crowd.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/watch-angry-protesters-chase-scotlands-6130021?
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-33612612
sounds just like the film I Daniel Blake. Privileged idiots creating hell on earth for those without an influential voice.
Lucky for english and key that those living in cars and recorded as having a roof over their heads didn’t turn up at parliament in protest, but the first rule of destroying opposition to poverty fightback is to remove the means, so they could not afford the petrol. Unlike the tractors and the trucks, all backed by big money to attack Labour Governments.
Funny atmosphere in QT today. Subdued? Quiet? Questions delivered and answers polite and full. Though the Paula Bennett attack about “leaking” the address of the estranged wife, the Opposition were told repeatedly that the said women did not seek or accept secrecy. So Bennett and Woodhouse were chasing a non target.
With any Parliamentary opposition dead until at least 2020,
a popular government,
really low unemployment,
lots and lots of money to spend,
and the most progressive legislative agenda New Zealand has had in 50 years, well ……………………………………..
……………………. maybe we’re running out of things to complain about!
Great that the housing crisis is over, a relief
A.
It was a good show by Peters and Hipkins in Q1 and 2. Bennett was left suitably put in her place.
Links to the videos and more re what was said in my comment here.
“Protecting the Umpire
by Andrew Geddis
Did you know that Parliament could imprison you for saying that Trevor Mallard is biased in favour of Jacinda Ardern over Simon Bridges? But it (almost certainly) won’t….
…So, for example, consider political editor Audrey Young’s published account of Thursday’s events in the Herald: “Parliament’s Speaker, Trevor Mallard, has an inbuilt bias against National Party leader Simon Bridges and a soft spot for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.” Such a public accusation of overt favouritism on the part of the Speaker likely could be punished as a contempt, if Parliament wanted to do so….”
The MPs who flout the rules cannot expect to get away with it though.
https://www.pundit.co.nz/content/protecting-the-umpire
Would love to see that happen now and again to certain individuals, just to keep everyone on their toes and just the GG the Speaker does some awesome/ powerful rules/ powers in their playbook that a lot of people don’t know unless you are like old mate Andrew Geddis..
Suppose a clever lawman like Young Simon or for that matter Old A Young would know the rules, unless their aim is the Dead Cat thing.
Audrey is pretty biased herself isn’t she?
Now I am wondering if, behind the scenes today, something is happening to the Leadership. After all, Simon did declare Jamie as the Leaker in spite of his denial and now Simon’s judgement must be in further question. Might explain the deflated National Caucus today? No histrionics and few interjections
Yes it was very quite today and it does make you wonder if someone had a very quite word to the”No Mates Party” members about yesterday’s antics?
Certainly some-one should have! The Speaker also showed firm control again today, and with the double dismissals yesterday, the bullies of the opposition
got shown the consequences of thoughtless, undisciplined and self-centred behaviour.
It raises the question, though, who would be counselling Bridges and Brownlee, the opposition leader and shadow leader of the House? The National Party president? English? Key? Shipley? Bulger? The Business Round Table? Australian bankers? American oil interests? Insert your national/international conspiracy theory here?
So Gracie managed to make it through South America, yet she’s missing in NZ. This is seriously a very nasty place for women. Hopefully, all women are looking for her. Hoping for a good outcome.
I think we all wish for a happy outcome for this.
I don’t think you can back your stat up and I am sure all good nz men which are by far the majority are praying for a good outcome here as well
> Hopefully, all women are looking for her
Seems vaguely unlikely
A.
Seating arrangement.
https://screenshotscdn.firefoxusercontent.com/images/3cce83d8-b882-4ad5-8e33-0364b8d10b0d.png
On a whano duties to busy to post opinions Ka kite ano
The Public servants had predicted that there m8 would win big boxes of tissues were required after the election .Ka pai Jacinda .
Public servants responsible for the transition between governments failed to support new ministers as no-one had planned for a full scale, new administration.Officials were caught on the hop after last year’s general election, having planned for change no greater than a Cabinet reshuffle – that caused problems like being unable to supply laptops and mobile phones and a lack of experienced staff for incoming ministers
I see it been 2 years since the BANKERS MAN shonky got pushed out of our Parliament .links below ka kite ano
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/377521/beehive-caught-off-guard-by-change-of-government
P.S Thanks to NZFirst & The Greens to for flipping out the neo liberals capitalists party Ka pai ka kite ano
Kia ora Newshub I say that the education systems needs a big shake up for the money invested we are not getting very good results for the lower classes of students minority cultures are not even getting a 30% pass rate into a higher paying jobs we have to import those skills and in the process the lower classes youth are ending on the scrap heap.
The Westpac Helicopter serves is run by retired WHO guess and you will be correct Eco Maori nemeses they have the same raciest attitude to because he is out of the force he has lost his suppression cover .
We must keep our bio security up and keep the threats out of Aotearoa it will destroy our farming and horticulture.
I say Lady Ga Ga and Bradleys movie A Star Is Born is a awesome move you know the old saying silence about a problem is like rot it just keep’s snowballing into a big mess if you watch the movie you will get what I getting at.
Mann I see how the justice system works I will be doing a post on this subject later Hollie .
There you go trump spraying wai on the rest of the World the good Chinese lady from Huawei being arrested in Canada wtf trump and his admin does not give a stuff about Aotearoa’s well being they just want to cling to power weather .
The Yemen crises has more string attached than that it is a big proxy war Mess and the poor children are dieing in there tens of thousands probley hundreds of thousands as they cover up the facts idiots.
Lloyd that will be a good movie he must not have been looking in the correct place A .
lol E hoa Ka kite ano
Kia ora from Storm & Anna The Crowd Goes Wild .
Wai it should be a good boxing match .
The Gypsies did have a very good come back fight when one thinks of the time he had off boxing is a sport were one needs to be quite fit to go the distance .
Ka pai to the Black sticks.
Storm the preseason training seams quite strenuous .
Brad Weber had a good season I have had a couple in the club .
I was hoping you did a story on Shawn I gave him a bit of Eco tau toko and he pihau one with any intelligence knows it takes two to have a problem enough said.
Ka kite ano
I had to got to Auckland on Whano duties and the sandflies know exactly why and the still swarm around us endangering my mokopunas they don’t give a stuff . They get there m8 to play cat and mouse with me —-me off trying to get my license taken off me the PEE heads ano to kai ka kite ano P.S only the wealthy get justice us poor people just get shit on by this system