Open mike 06/05/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 6th, 2013 - 129 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

129 comments on “Open mike 06/05/2013 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Morrissey 1
    6 May 2013 at 9:04 am

    LIARS OF OUR TIME
    
No. 3: John Key

    Commenting on National Party List lout AARON GILMORE, TV1 Breakfast, Monday 6 May 2013….

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
    “Underneath it all he’s a bright guy with ability.”

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    Some minutes later, on Radio NZ National…..

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
    “Yeah we hold MPs to a higher standard.”

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    See also…..
    No. 2: Colin Craig: “Oh, I have a GREAT sense of humour.” (TV3 News, 24 April 2013) http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-25042013/#comment-624381
    No. 1: Barack Obama: “Margaret Thatcher was one of the great champions of freedom and liberty.”

    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-19042013/#comment-621738

    • Lanthanide 1.1
      6 May 2013 at 11:28 am

      “Yeah we hold MPs to a higher standard.”

      It’s difficult to tell since you’ve left off the context, but I suspect what Key is saying here is the ‘public we’ as in “we, the public, hold MPs to a higher standard, so Aaron’s behaviour takes on a bit more weight than it might otherwise”.

      If that indeed is what Key was saying, then I don’t think you can call him a liar.

      • Morrissey 1.1.1
        6 May 2013 at 1:36 pm

        This morning’s “Liars of Our Time” entry brought forth the usual hostile response from our good friend Lanthanide…

        It’s difficult to tell since you’ve left off the context,

        No I have not “left off the context.” Read my post again.

        but I suspect what Key is saying here is the ‘public we’ as in “we, the public, hold MPs to a higher standard, so Aaron’s behaviour takes on a bit more weight than it might otherwise”.

        You’re spinning for John Key. I must say, sadly, that I am not at all surprised to see this. After all, you’ve spun for the Japanese government, a discredited bunch of reprobates which makes John Key look like Honest John the Most Honest Hombre in Honiara.

        If that indeed is what Key was saying, then I don’t think you can call him a liar.

        But then again, you did not think that the Japanese government was lying when it was issuing false statements to the public following the tsunami and nuclear meltdown in March 2011. I’m sure you also chose to believe that halfwit Rob Fyfe, when he went on television to assure New Zealanders that it was perfectly safe to go to Tokyo.

        • Te Reo Putake 1.1.1.1
          6 May 2013 at 2:33 pm

          Lanth is correct to say that you left out the context and you are incorrect to see that as spinning for Key.

          You’ve cherry picked one line (“Yeah we hold MPs to a higher standard.”) without any way of identifying who ‘we’ is. Lanth may be correct that ‘we’ refers to the public. Or ‘we’ may mean the National Party in general or the caucus specifically. Without the context, who knows?

          You heard the report, Moz, can you add some more detail as to who ‘we’ is?

          • Morrissey 1.1.1.1.1
            6 May 2013 at 3:49 pm

            Lanth is correct to say that you left out the context and you are incorrect to see that as spinning for Key.

            I did not leave out the context. Key said that on radio, not long after saying on television that the thuggish List lout was “a bright guy with ability.” Key was quite prepared to throw Gilmore to the wolves, by the way: he said that Gilmore was the lowest on the list in parliament, and that he had not distinguished himself in any way from 2008 to 2011. Whoever Key was concerned about defending, it was not Aaron Gilmore.

            You’ve cherry picked one line (“Yeah we hold MPs to a higher standard.”) without any way of identifying who ‘we’ is.

            I did not “cherry pick” his words, I quoted them directly. Sure, I did not include the usual Key mumbling and any of the hedging ums and ahs, but that is what he said.

            Lanth may be correct that ‘we’ refers to the public. Or ‘we’ may mean the National Party in general or the caucus specifically. Without the context, who knows?

            Whether Key was referring to the public or the National Party caucus does not really matter; the fact is we (all of us, the general public and politicians) do NOT hold politicians to a higher standard, or to any standard at all. If we did, John Key, a notorious liar, would not have survived the publication of Nicky Hager’s damning exposé of his close involvement in the Brethren payments, and even if he had, he would have been drummed out of office for repeatedly misleading parliament.

            You heard the report, Moz, can you add some more detail as to who ‘we’ is?

            See above.

            • Te Reo Putake 1.1.1.1.1.1
              6 May 2013 at 4:16 pm

              “Whether Key was referring to the public or the National Party caucus does not really matter;”

              Er, yes it does. It defines the context in which he made his comment. Lanth was 100% correct and we are none the wiser for you having written the comment in the first place.

              Still, as you yourself admit in this remarkable quote I have just transcribed off the internet:

              “I, Morrissey, must say I am NOT a bright guy with any ability at all. I have spun for the Japanese government, John Key and wolves. I was lying when issuing false statements to the public, I have not distinguished the Brethren in any way. I remain a notorious liar”.

              • Morrissey …
                6 May 2013 at 4:19 pm

                You’re better than that, Te Reo. That was as funny as an anti-gay joke at a Family Fist rally.

                • Te Reo Putake …
                  6 May 2013 at 5:16 pm

                  Your example’s a bit tortured, Moz. An anti-gay joke at a Family Fist rally would surely be regarded as funny as a fit. Context, eh? You really seem to be struggling with it today.

                  • Morrissey …
                    6 May 2013 at 5:21 pm

                    Ouch! You got me there, my friend.

                    By the way, this one always gets a belly laugh with the kiddy-whacking crowd:

                    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

                    God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.

                    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

                    That joke has this effect on Bob McCoskrie and friends….
                    http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_573/1294779444s58lH5.jpg

                  • cardassian …
                    6 May 2013 at 10:08 pm

                    What’s this Family Fist you guys keep talking about? Used to live near a fisting club but pretty sure it wasn’t for families.

          • Populuxe1 1.1.1.1.2
            6 May 2013 at 4:39 pm

            Nor indeed is there any inconsistancy between the two statements.
            “Underneath it all he’s a bright guy with ability, BUT, yeah we hold MPs to a higher standard”

            • North 1.1.1.1.2.1
              6 May 2013 at 7:46 pm

              Don’t know what it is about Morrissey that draws energy so, but here’s why I cannot but support him at 1 above:

              From ShonKey Python – “Yeah we hold MPs to a higher standard.”

              From TV3 tonight – Slurrin’ (Entitled Bully) Erron has apologised to the PM by text message…….his job is safe.

              Morrissey is pissed off and I don’t blame him one bit. We, the public “we”, we hold MPs to a higher standard.

              Do “we” really ?

              Well ShonKey Python’s obviously not part of the “we”. He talks the talk of “higher standard”. He does not walk the walk of “higher standard”. That makes him a liar in my book.

              A double liar given that the obfuscating weasel words are singularly directed to protecting ShonKey Python’s precarious grip on power. There’s absolutely nothing there about observing or enforcing the higher standard he claims to embrace. Nothing !

              Go Morrissey ! The Beltway Phenomenon rears its sneering head again. It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last. Next time though you’d better address “context” in atrophyingly minute detail my man.

              Given its profound appreciation of all and everything The Beltway was entitled to get your patently obvious point without that. It did not. You’ll accommodate next time OK ?

              • Morrissey …
                6 May 2013 at 7:57 pm

                Beautifully said, my friend. As our colleague Te Reo Putake would say, you’ve nailed it.

        • Lanthanide 1.1.1.2
          6 May 2013 at 6:38 pm

          “But then again, you did not think that the Japanese government was lying when it was issuing false statements to the public following the tsunami and nuclear meltdown in March 2011. I’m sure you also chose to believe that halfwit Rob Fyfe, when he went on television to assure New Zealanders that it was perfectly safe to go to Tokyo.”

          Still upset about that, are we?

          Find some evidence that the people who visited Tokyo on those flights have suffered in any way at all. Or, even easier for you, find some evidence that people living in Tokyo have suffered in any way that can be statistically attributed to the nuclear meltdown that occurred at Fukushima.

          Once you have some evidence, you might have some standing on this argument.

          • Rogue Trooper 1.1.1.2.1
            6 May 2013 at 6:52 pm

            probably safer than being a patient at CHCH hospital while contractors track white asbestos everywhere (notified employers, yet ignored for some time).

          • Morrissey 1.1.1.2.2
            6 May 2013 at 8:14 pm

            “But then again, you did not think that the Japanese government was lying when it was issuing false statements to the public following the tsunami and nuclear meltdown in March 2011. I’m sure you also chose to believe that halfwit Rob Fyfe, when he went on television to assure New Zealanders that it was perfectly safe to go to Tokyo.”

            Still upset about that, are we?

            Indeed we are, but we are not one-tenth as upset as the people of Japan were, and are, at the officials who willfully and cynically deceived them.

            Find some evidence that the people who visited Tokyo on those flights have suffered in any way at all.

            I think the documented fact that the Japanese government seriously considered evacuating Tokyo is evidence that Rob Fyfe is not only a damned fool, but an irresponsible and dangerous fool who in any sane and decent society would be shunned like a sheep molester.

            Or, even easier for you, find some evidence that people living in Tokyo have suffered in any way that can be statistically attributed to the nuclear meltdown that occurred at Fukushima.

            Oh, I see what you are driving at! It was a benign and healthful nuclear disaster. Oddly, the scientific community and the government of Japan were not as relaxed and confident about the catastrophe as you pretend to be from the other end of the earth.

            Once you have some evidence, you might have some standing on this argument.

            “This argument”? There is no argument. The Japanese government deceived the general public by issuing statements that said the diametric opposite of what the situation actually was. That has been irrefutably proven, and scores of Japanese officials have made the standard cringing Gomen nasais, although, sadly, not one of them has taken the traditional route of committing hara-kiri. You either know that, and are therefore a liar and a scoundrel of Clintonian dimensions, or you are a bewildered soul who should be given her own show on NewstalkZB immediately.

            • Populuxe1 1.1.1.2.2.1
              6 May 2013 at 8:27 pm

              Provide just one credible source, just one, that Tokyo was ever dangerous to visit due to the Fukushima meltdown. Just one.

              • Morrissey …
                6 May 2013 at 8:37 pm

                Provide just one credible source, just one, that Tokyo was ever dangerous to visit due to the Fukushima meltdown. Just one.

                How about the leaked internal documents that reveal the government almost called for Tokyo to be evacuated? Tokyo, indeed the whole of the north-east of Japan, was in peril of an almost unimaginable order. The government advisers admit all that in their internal communications, when they are actually honest.

                Or are you going to try to deny THAT, too?

                • Populuxe1 …
                  6 May 2013 at 8:56 pm

                  That’s not actually an answer. The operative word in your comment being “nearly”. I ‘nearly’ had fish for dinner, but then I decided I prefered chicken instead. I ‘nearly’ missed the bus, but fortunately I didn’t. Or of greater relevance, “X’s grandfather was nearly hit by a mortar in WW2, but wasn’t, and hence X is can do whatever within the law X likes.

                  • Arfamo …
                    6 May 2013 at 9:02 pm

                    Technically I think the word at issue is “almost”, not “nearly” – though I agree with the conclusion. 🙂

                  • Professor Longhair …
                    7 May 2013 at 12:13 pm

                    “That’s not actually an answer.”

                    Yes, it is, actually. You have been elegantly and thoroughly refuted.

                    Your lame and foolish attempt at syllogism warfare is beneath contempt.

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      7 May 2013 at 6:47 pm

                      You clearly do not understand what a syllogism is, Boolean or Aristotlean, as that is not what I was trying to do. If there is a particle of sanity in your addled bonce, it may detect that “is”, and “almost” and “nearly” are not the same things and I was drawing attention to the weasel ambiguity of its use. One cannot form a testable proof with “almost” or “nearly”.

            • Lanthanide 1.1.1.2.2.2
              6 May 2013 at 8:35 pm

              So no evidence then. Just prevaricating bluster.

              • Morrissey …
                6 May 2013 at 8:38 pm

                The only prevarication and bluster around here, as always, is from you, my friend. I would have named poor old “farmboy” as well, but he’s busy with a farm animal.

                • Lanthanide …
                  6 May 2013 at 9:25 pm

                  No, not really. I pointed out that without the context of your quote, what Key could have said on his RNZ interview could in fact have been quite valid. As usual Key is bad at grammar and speaking english in general, but it is usually possible to decipher the gist of what he’s trying to say, if you give the whole context of the discussion.

                  Instead of admitting that maybe I was right, you attacked me and brought up very old arguments for which you have no evidence to back up your assertions. It is you who is avoiding the argument with bluster, not me.

      • Murray Olsen 1.1.2
        6 May 2013 at 4:50 pm

        Are you suggesting that Key was being truthful when he said “Underneath it all he’s a bright guy with ability.”?

        • Te Reo Putake 1.1.2.1
          6 May 2013 at 5:09 pm

          I wouldn’t suggest Dunnokeyo was ever truthful, Murray. I think Key lies as a form of self adulation; I lie, they believe me, I am like a God to them.

          • Morrissey 1.1.2.1.1
            6 May 2013 at 5:18 pm

            I don’t think you have quite got it right there, Te Reo. I think Key lies for the same reasons anybody lies: he simply can’t afford to tell the truth. Like that rotten liar Bill Clinton, he will continue to lie even when he knows we know he is lying.

            Maybe, as you say, there is an element of ego involved in it; no doubt he is continually astonished that he has gotten away with it, but that will only increase his contempt for the poor saps who can’t or won’t see him for what he is.

            • Te Reo Putake 1.1.2.1.1.1
              6 May 2013 at 5:29 pm

              Yep, your last para nails it. He’s probably felt contempt for others pretty much forever, but the blind acceptance of his lies as a politician would be some sort of justification in his mind for his misanthrope.

              btw, my media contribution for the day is this spell check free headline currently running on Stuff:

              PM sign off enables spys

            • Populuxe1 1.1.2.1.1.2
              6 May 2013 at 8:29 pm

              Hmmm – methinks lying about getting a blow job isn’t really on the same spectrum as lying about a country having WMD as a pretext for an invasion. Or are you just a dessicated prude and that was the only example that came to mind?

              • Morrissey …
                6 May 2013 at 8:33 pm

                Hmmm – methinks lying about getting a blow job isn’t really on the same spectrum as lying about a country having WMD as a pretext for an invasion. Or are you just a dessicated prude and that was the only example that came to mind?

                You hapless fool, I was not even thinking about the blowjobs. (Although I am now, damn you.)

                Clinton’s lies were far more cynical and murderous than that. You really need to do a bit of reading, my friend.

                • Populuxe1 …
                  6 May 2013 at 8:58 pm

                  Worse than Nixon and Bush Jr?

                  • felix …
                    6 May 2013 at 10:16 pm

                    Better be, what with Morrissey saying how Clinton was the worst liar ever, which he never said.

                    Better be worse than Pinocchio too. 🙄

                    • Populuxe1 …
                      7 May 2013 at 6:53 pm

                      Aw, look who’s worked out emoticons. How sweet. I was merely questioning the validity of comparing Key to Clinton when far more damaging and loathesome US Presidents so easily avail themselves. You may stick your head back up your jaxie now.

                    • felix …
                      9 May 2013 at 10:01 pm

                      Really Pop?

                      Cos it looked like you lunged in anger to grasp the wrong end of the stick, and clutching it tightly proceeded to wave it wildly at no-one in particular for no reason at all. As usual.

                      You’re the only commenter I know of here who only ever argues against strawmen and still manages to lose every time.

                      It’s like a sickness with you, Pop. You need help. Seriously.

  2. Rogue Trooper 2
    6 May 2013 at 9:35 am

    Unreported Southern Fried Crime; figures.

    • freedom 2.1
      6 May 2013 at 12:29 pm

      There are many serious problems facing us and I am not meaning any disrespect to those who have suffered. We all know people who have I am sure. Re K2 etc I have never tried the stuff and never will. I am a little fussy about what poisons I partake of. Alcohol, P and K2 (et al) are all dangerous man-made substances that need to be properly dealt with in a non-hysterical manner. But firstly, people should stop calling the man-made poison that people are smoking, synthetic cannabis. It is like putting kerosene in water and calling it Scotch. The cannabis plant (like its cousin hemp) is a safe natural gift whose bounty man has let rot at the behest of power hungry industrialists banksters and chemists.

      Forget for a moment about the Cannabis plant’s recreational properties and just look at the health benefits alone. If you can do so objectively, there is a staggering wealth of information that is growing larger by the day. The benefits of this natural remedy are widespread and of such low risk that any logical discussion supports the use, yet oddly enough big pharma and law enforcement shills still want it demonized and ostracised so the generic myths play out and time slips away accordingly. Which is odd, because if you are one of those who believe that cannabinoids have no medicinal applications, ask yourself why the US Patent office recently granted a patent for the medicinal application of cannabinoids.

      If people want a rational debate then rationality must be applied to all aspects of the topic. Booze would be a good starting point. It is a chemical depressant and is the single most addictive recreational compound ingested by Kiwis (well perhaps second to chocolate) and is arguably responsible for more health and law & order issues than any other product. Correct labelling is essential in discussing the failure that is the War on Drugs.

      • pollywog 2.1.1
        6 May 2013 at 12:38 pm

        Name and shame whoever makes K2 and all their distributors as well.

        Post pics of them handling and selling the shit wholesale.

        Somebody’s making a killing spraying horse tranquilizer on grass clippings and calling it synthetic cannabis.

        And they soooo shouldn’t be!

        • Lanthanide 2.1.1.1
          6 May 2013 at 1:07 pm

          My uncle said that the Lotto shop that is owned and operated by Fresh Choice (supermarket) in Barrington in Christchurch is selling K2.

      • Rogue Trooper 2.1.2
        6 May 2013 at 12:56 pm

        $ $ $ freedom; that is all that is behind barriers to cannabis (I don’t smoke anywhere near as much as I did when I began commenting, in fact, hardly at all, as, with all things, there may be contra-indications) yet, knowing both it and ethanol well, it is blatently apparent which is the most harmful; ask anybody who has seen an angry drunk at full tilt; not pretty, and in some cases it seems, unforgettable. 🙁

        • Ad 2.1.2.1
          6 May 2013 at 4:50 pm

          Your flow isn’t quite as flowy as it was.
          Inhale.

          • Rogue Trooper 2.1.2.1.1
            6 May 2013 at 7:18 pm

            Be the emptiness
            Be the stillness
            Watch everything come and go
            Emerging from the source – returning to the source
            This is the way of nature.

            Be the great peace
            Be conscious of the source
            This is the fulfilment of your destiny
            Know that which never changes
            This is awakening.

            -Lao Tzu

      • North 2.1.3
        7 May 2013 at 1:11 am

        My there are such strangenesses in this world. Who is the only politician who’s had the directness to address the question ? None other than old Don Brash. And mocked to hell he was for it. By media to whom it was then still is common currency no doubt.

        I agree with you entirely there freedom as to the natural cannabis. Indeed how many of today’s 123 or so district court judges haven’t partaken at some stage in their illustrious lives. I personally know a number who have. Common sense has me suspect dozens more. And parliamentarians of some note, at some stage ? Well……!

        Not to make light of the present dangerous pose we are complicit with, a pose which creates a criminal culture around cannabis. Which but for that pose would not exist in any serious way.

        I still love Helen Clark’s somewhat impatiently expressed line when pressed – “I went to university 30-40 years ago (whatever it was).” “OK ?” Stern glare.

        I reckon we better get Morrissey on to the biggest lie.

  3. Rogue Trooper 3
    6 May 2013 at 9:40 am

    Poor vision funding Directors fees = “crisis” looming.

  4. Morrissey 4
    6 May 2013 at 9:41 am

    Here’s one Hollywood star who DOES have a brain.

    Anybody who watched that bewildered old wretch Clint Eastwood frothing incoherently at an empty chair last year will realize just how dismal and stupid and embarrassing Hollywood actors can be.

    However, there are some Hollywood stars who actually do bother to read books, who do think seriously about issues. One is Sean Penn, of course. Another is Matt Damon. Here he is dealing to a couple of shallow morons from a Los Angeles outfit called, hilariously, Reason TV….

    • ianmac 4.1
      6 May 2013 at 11:00 am

      Yep Morrissey. Very telling.

      • freedom 4.1.1
        6 May 2013 at 11:43 am

        love how he calls her out straight away on her ‘facts’
        rumour is, there is actually a full version somewhere but cannot find it

    • North 4.2
      6 May 2013 at 8:00 pm

      Morrissey, you cause me worry. It’s just that my moral compass seems only rarely not to be configured with your own. Sean Penn. Yeah !!!

      He’d better watch out in the crazy old U S of A though. Senator Joe McCarthy, ably assisted by the then young Robert Kennedy ?

  5. Rogue Trooper 5
    6 May 2013 at 10:11 am

    Syria : “a regional crisis”? .If not now, then when?
    Life SupportRequired?
    “Silence     gives consent!

  6. Morrissey 6
    6 May 2013 at 10:27 am

    Can we trust the NZRU medical staff to treat Conrad Smith appropriately?
    Monday 6 May 2013

    Yesterday the Hurricanes star Conrad Smith was knocked out cold for 45 seconds during his team’s loss to the Pretoria Bulls. Incredibly, sports commentators this morning are blithely predicting he’ll be playing again in two weeks. Such moronic talk is exactly what we expect from rugby commentators, but we can surely expect more responsible and intelligent comments from medical men. Right?

    Wrong. This morning on Radio NZ National, Kathryn Ryan interviewed one Ian Murphy, who is billed as the “Medical Director for the NZRU.”

    Dr Murphy made several outlandish statements, but this was perhaps the most outrageously dishonest: “There is no long term evidence that shows there is a link between individual concussions provided you recover fully from them.”

    Although she was clearly concerned about the welfare of the players, Kathryn Ryan did not seem sufficiently well informed on this issue to challenge anything that he said.

    Sadly, we have been through all this horrible business before. Ten years ago, it was another star player who was entrusted to the tender ministrations of the All Blacks’ medical staff…..

    All Blacks’ sawbones defends bogus “neuro-psychometric tests” again
    Sunday 22 June 2003

    Much concern has been expressed lately about the state of health of All Black fullback Leon McDonald, who has pulled out of the team again after severe headaches rendered him incapable of playing. McDonald has suffered a string of quite horrifying head clashes last year and this year, and is still suffering from severe concussion.

    Worryingly, though, the All Black “management” has had Leon McDonald undertake a series of “psychometric tests” (now re-named, interestingly, as “neuro-psychometric tests”) which will, say the All Black “management”, give a more “accurate” assessment of McDonald’s brain injury. These “tests” have been rejected by all reputable health professionals. Just two nights ago, a leading New Zealand neuro-surgeon expressed his contempt for these bogus tests, and his scorn for the “medical staff” who administer them.

    Radio Sport, Thursday 19 June, 7.48 a.m.
    Host Martin Devlin interviews Dr John (“Doc”) Mayhew….

    DEVLIN: Leon McDonald was severely injured LAST YEAR. Did you take that into account?
    DOC MAYHEW: Forget about last year…. Well, obviosly we can’t…. but forget about last year.
    DEVLIN: If a non-athlete like myself came to you and you knew I had just had my THIRD head injury, would you still advise me to play contact sports?
    DOC MAYHEW: [icily] I resent the connotation that I am treating him any differently. He is receiving the best medical treatment…. [continues for an extended time defending his decision to make concussed players do discredited, bogus tests]
    DEVLIN: [grovelling] Oh, John, I didn’t mean for a moment to suggest… [grovels for several minutes]

    It is not known what response the All Blacks’ sawbones has made to recent severe criticism by his medical colleagues.

    • freedom 6.1
      6 May 2013 at 10:58 am

      It is not just the regularity, but the severity of the concussion that matters. There is also a big problem with the pros admitting that there most definitely are a finite number of times it is ok to knock someone unconscious, regardless of the severity, that is in the schoolboy game. The management would have to start tracking all of their KO’s. Declarations of previous head injury that is specifically required for insurance purposes would make the viability of the next star making tv campaign less of a sure thing. And those PR guys spend way too much time and money to be let down by some kid becoming a vegetable and interfering with the long term plans of the NZRFU bank accounts.

      • prism 6.1.1
        6 May 2013 at 9:22 pm

        This reported attitude by the nzrfu reminds me of the boxing promoter that brought a promising fighter from the islands here. This guy fought when he wasn’t well, got knocked around badly and was returned home, mentally unstable and quite often violent in his ordinary life and couldn’t hold down a job. He was supposed to be monitoring his own readiness to fight but it seemed likely that he would not have wanted to look slack by not going through with an arranged fight.

  7. Rogue Trooper 7
    6 May 2013 at 10:37 am

    China Superior to US on tackling climate change.

    E.U Blocks imports of Chinese solar panels.

    Palestine and the Chinese

    The Saudis Build tracks in the sand (with China.Civil-like)

    Uncle Sam promotes Sibling rivalry.

  8. One Anonymous Knucklehead 8
    6 May 2013 at 11:18 am

    A little light relief on a wet Monday morning. Take a moment to savour McCroskie whining: Family First is to be stripped of charitable status.

    • Rogue Trooper 8.1
      6 May 2013 at 11:21 am

      saw that on the news, was gonna link it to the Blind Foundation 😉 , but hay, sometimes the data in the machine gets corrupted.

      “Deregister” =/= “a targeted attempt to shut them up”. These people sure are small thinkers.
      *sigh* Roll on the Catherine Wheel!

    • North 8.2
      6 May 2013 at 8:12 pm

      How fucking uncharitable is that ?

  9. Ed 9
    6 May 2013 at 11:48 am

    Mention of charitable status reminds me of a radio item recently that pointed out that the current government has attached strings to grants to charities binding them not to make certain statements. I can’t recall the details but I got the impression that they were not allowed to criticise the government. There has probably always been pressure not to fund charities that bite the hand that feeds them, but a specific ban on is going another step. I congratulate those charities that have refused. The implication of the radio item was that these gagging agreements are relatively new.

    When a “charity” receives over 90% of funding from the government, I suspect it would be more efficient to have the responsibilities of the charity rolled up in a DHB or WINZ etc – if they are effectively public servants why not recognise them as such – but that would go against the ‘small government’ ideology. Gilmore’s mistake was to be honest in his cups – the art of a true Nat is to be able to continue to lie when pissed.

    • Tim 9.1
      6 May 2013 at 1:04 pm

      I suspect that item may have been yesterday – Chris Laidlaw with Sandra Gray and her research done with Charlie Farley Sedgewick. The gagging is certainly a disturbing trend – but not surprising when we get anti-democratic gubbamints such as we currently have.
      It was interesting to also hear/see Ramos Horta being interviewed by David Frost yesterday – making the comment in passing (to paraphrase) that the likes of these gaggers end up wondering why it is people eventually react after their basic freedoms are continually and systematically removed. (History won’t be too kind to Soimun Brujizz for example)

  11. felix 11
    6 May 2013 at 11:59 am

    National’s appointment processes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esG6tzgSVpA

    • ghostrider888 11.1
      6 May 2013 at 12:03 pm

      pardies for the repetition, just some etafocaccia while awaiting the contrary..

    • Anne 11.2
      6 May 2013 at 12:56 pm

      Temptation too much. Emailed clip to Judith Collins. She’ll never see it of course but someone will…

    • ianmac 11.3
      6 May 2013 at 2:31 pm

      So so apt! Davenport/Devoy sure winners, at least Collins style

    • veutoviper 11.4
      6 May 2013 at 2:54 pm

      Very funny!

      And good on you, Anne for sending to to Collins.

      I have just read this article on Stuff by John Stringer, a former National candidate in Christchurch, which possibly throws more light on the dilemma for Key re Gilmore.

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/share-your-news-and-views/8637312/Gilmore-creating-a-National-dilemma

      The first half of the article/opinion covers the dilemma if Gilmore was thown out as a National Party list member but stayed on as an independent.

      Stringer then raises a further interesting point, although I think he is jumping the gun in claiming that there will be a by-election in Chch:

      “The anomaly of elected “representation” here is that Gilmore came to parliament for a half second term from Wellington (where he lives) as a Christchurch MP on one of National’s regional list places, after the departure of Lockwood Smith.

      There is to be a by-election shortly in Christchurch East, currently held by Hon. Lianne Dalziel, Labour. Due to a rule within National (which is not consistently applied) this is Gilmore’s “seat,” as National list candidates must stand in an electorate.

      This creates a quandary for National. They can hardly field Gilmore in the by-election in the next few months. A National newcomer would not win, or come in on the list. If Gilmore chose not to resign from parliament, National’s next list candidate would not come in, as Gilmore would still hold the parliamentary slot.

      Where this gets sticky is when these machinations affect governing majorities, which are characteristically tiny under MMP. That is John Key’s true dilemma. It is sad that the morality or integrity of this political debacle will be laid aside and determined on the ability to govern rather than the ethics of what is happening. A case of enduring enough bad apples in the basket sufficient to make a palatable apple pie.”

      • Mary 11.4.1
        6 May 2013 at 6:33 pm

        “This creates a quandary for National. They can hardly field Gilmore in the by-election in the next few months. A National newcomer would not win, or come in on the list. If Gilmore chose not to resign from parliament, National’s next list candidate would not come in, as Gilmore would still hold the parliamentary slot.”

        Surely this can’t be right? Horan became an independent and NZ First got a new list MP. What’s different in Christchurch?

        • alwyn 11.4.1.1
          6 May 2013 at 6:44 pm

          That is an interesting theory Mary but “it ain’t necessarily so”.
          Horan is still there and Winnie’s mob did not get a new member.

          • Mary 11.4.1.1.1
            6 May 2013 at 8:55 pm

            Oh, I thought I read somewhere back when it was happening that the next MP on the NZ First’s list entered Parliament. Thanks for sorting that for me.

  12. Penny Bright 12
    6 May 2013 at 2:05 pm

    The actions and behaviour of National MP Aaron Gilmore prove (yet again) that NZ needs an enforceable ‘Code of Conduct’ for MPs?

    Australian MPs have ‘Codes of Conduct’ – both at State and Commonwealth level:

    http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/2012-2013/Conduct#_Toc325623495

    So – how come New Zealand ‘perceived’ to be the ‘least corrupt country in the world’ (along with Denmark and Finland – according to the 2012 Transparency International ‘Corruption Perception Index’) does not?

    http://www.transparency.org/cpi2012/results

    (Same applies to our NZ Judiciary.
    NZ Judges don’t have an enforceable ‘Code of Conduct’ either.)

    So – those in NZ responsible for making the law and enforcing the law, don’t have enforceable mechanisms in place to ensure that THEY are held accountable to the law?

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-corruption/ anti-privatisation’ campaigner

    2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate

    http://www.occupyaucklandvsaucklandcouncilappeal.org.nz

    • Tim 12.1
      6 May 2013 at 3:31 pm

      “….(Same applies to our NZ Judiciary.
      NZ Judges don’t have an enforceable ‘Code of Conduct’ either.)

      So – those in NZ responsible for making the law and enforcing the law, don’t have enforceable mechanisms in place to ensure that THEY are held accountable to the law?

      Penny Bright
      ‘Anti-corruption/ anti-privatisation’ campaigner…..”

      Continuing in that vein – especially in light of privatisation of prisons, and the trend to outsource various aspects of ‘law enforcement’ – EVEN to the extent of Councils outsourcing parking infringement noticess ……
      WHY are we satisfied with the employment of people with dubious backgrounds acting as ‘law enforcers’ (albeit with private companies whose imperative it is to make a return to shareholders), YET the Judiciary, the Public Service and other agencies of state are subjected to greater scrutiny.
      I’m sure McCroskie would LOVE to be ‘a charitable’ enforcer (just so long as there was no scrutiny).

      I note there seems to have been a bit of a crackdown on ‘bouncers’ – in the sense that they’re required to be identifiable with their wee shoulder photoIDs (though not yet quite to the extent that their employers require uniforms that mimic those of the police with numbered epaulets)

      Not so much scrutiny with private prison warders, parking enforcement officers in the employ of Chubb or whoever the fuck they are these days, guarders of crime scenes, enforcers of red zones (and of course we’ve already seen some of the results of that!), and so on.

      One would think that even the most lowly of ‘law enforcers’ should have to swear an oath and be made aware of what their responsibilities are.
      I’ve spoken to a couple of parking wardens recently (probably about to be replaced, so that their replacements can be paid youth rates) who were completely oblivious to concepts of natural justice, and indeed the law (such as it is).

      Personally I find the whole concept of outsourcing agencies of state where it involves law enforcement a complete abomination

  13. Morrissey 13
    6 May 2013 at 2:25 pm

    LIARS OF OUR TIME
    
No. 4: Willie and J.T.

    Radio Live, Monday 6 May 2013, 2:15 p.m. ….

    WILLIE JACKSON: The X-Factor. Nah, nah, there’s some GREAT talent there!
    JOHN TAMIHERE: The groups were just GREAT! Out-STANDING!
    WILLIE JACKSON: There’s some INCREDIBLE talent coming through, isn’t there!
    JOHN TAMIHERE: Homai Te Pakipaki—what a JOKE!…

    See also…..
    No. 3: John Key: “Yeah we hold MPs to a higher standard.”
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-06052013/#comment-628703
    No. 2: Colin Craig: “Oh, I have a GREAT sense of humour.” (TV3 News, 24 April 2013) http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-25042013/#comment-624381
    No. 1: Barack Obama: “Margaret Thatcher was one of the great champions of freedom and liberty.”

    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-19042013/#comment-621738

  14. Morrissey 14
    6 May 2013 at 2:47 pm

    Comedy, chivalry and one mouth-breathing cretin.
    Twenty minutes of Radio Live (Highlights)
    Monday 6 May 2013, beginning 2:20 p.m. ….

    J.T.: What an idiot. What an idiot. Did you hear that?
    WILLIE: What?
    J.T.: You.
    WILLIE: Based on what, FOOL?

    …..Commercial break…..

    WILLIE: All right, Kane, you wanna talk about X-Factor.
    KANE: They need an ugly duckling section. Some of those women are train wrecks to look at. Like that white girl with the glasses, nothing to look at but she has a good set of pipes.
    J.T.: She’s like that girl in Britain.
    WILLIE: Oh yeah, Paul Henry called her a retard.
    J.T.: Yeah, Susan Boyle. She could sing.
    WILLIE: Yeah. Nothing to look at though.

    But the most moronic bit comes next, as a moronic caller from Christchurch, commenting about the Crusaders-Brumbies game, goes on to make a comment about the referee….

    MOUTH-BREATHING CRETIN: He’s a good referee, Joubert. The best in the game.

    WILLIE: [significant pause] Y-y-yeah.

    Radio Live, Monday 6 May 2013, ends at 2:45 p.m. I could stand no more of it.

    • Tim 14.1
      6 May 2013 at 4:00 pm

      @ Morrisey …
      It gets NZoAir funding right??

      I could only watch its utter and untold beauty, because my sister alerted me to the fact that someone we both knew, with talent had decided to enter and MIGHT be present on that particular night’s episode. (they weren’t)
      I saw these 3 ‘judges’ – all full of pithy comments, plasticised intellect, and quite obviously ‘in touch’ with their most inner feelings – including those feelings that were augmented by red hair dye that had faded pink.
      I thought – well maybe one had the credentials to stand in ‘judgement’ given he had success in a similar forum (and lovely tattoos and a cast of thousands in support). Of course – there was this loving family all rarked up to scream rah rah rah as well. I vaguely recall the guy claiming a ‘LIKE’ of Rythym & Blues too.

      I think I’d rather watch, and give whatever support I can to the local ‘talent’ I (or rather my sister) knows on the marae.

      I also hope that supposedly expert ‘judge’ fucks off back to the GC – or wherever it was from whence he came.

      • Populuxe1 14.1.1
        6 May 2013 at 4:46 pm

        Not sure what’s more breathtaking – your mysogyny, your racism, your lack of touch with popular culture, but at least you’re an equal opportunity bigot I suppose…

        • Tim 14.1.1.1
          6 May 2013 at 6:49 pm

          I won’t bother asking for an explanation if that was directed at me Pop. The labels you throw are an easy disguise for the lack of anything meaningful.

          • Populuxe1 14.1.1.1.1
            6 May 2013 at 8:43 pm

            Well let’s see – you attacked a woman (Ruby Frost) on her appearance and for having “feelings” rather than her ability to judge singing talent (something she would presumably know more about about than you, given her credentials http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Frost ), which is bare-arsed mysogyny at its most textbook. FYI, her hair is died pink, it is not a faded version of the colour of your neck. And your comment about Stan Walker in relation to the GC can only be motivated by generalised stereotypes and cliches in relation to Maori Australians. You, sir, are a pig, and an ignorant one at that.

            • Tim 14.1.1.1.1.1
              6 May 2013 at 9:16 pm

              You’ll have to have the last word of course – but reread. I’m not referring to Ruby or whoever she is (unless she’s an “it”). The cynical “untold beauty”, etc. refers to the plasticky, tacky, slick production values of the entire programme and the way the thing is more about the ‘judges’ (and their respective egos) than the contestants themselves. Contrived bullshit – not even SKIN deep – slippery moisturised pap (I’m not referring to the people).
              I just caught the end of tonight’s episode – hold your breathe ….. cell phone calls between judges, camera work focussing on Ford labels on the vehicles carrying them and so on.

              You have a funny definition of mysogeny. The fact that I don’t regard Ruby’s comments that I’ve witnessed so far as being valid apparently is mysogenistic. My impressions relate to her comments, NOT her person. I’d get another textbook if I were you.
              As for the GC bit, I won’t even bother since a sizeable proportion of my extended fit the category. I was quite pleased to see Stan win a few years back – it doesn’t mean I have to regard him as a sage or equipped to judge the contestants currently competing, there but for the grace of a God once went He.

              As I say …. you’ll NEED the last word – so go for it please!

              • Tim …
                6 May 2013 at 9:34 pm

                Oh – I see …. I DID refer to red hair dye fading pink. You might be correct Pop. I’m a mysogenist for thinking it might not be her most attractive look.
                GOT me!
                Of course it still doesn’t mean the otherwise attractive woman utters pithy comments and uses rehearsed finger pointing and producer-inspired mechanisms in order to remain pop ….popu….. err popuLAR

                btw. Does Joolie Christie have anything to do with this abomination?
                If she does, I’ve got a very talented Fijian princely fella stifled under the presence of an X-Factor type production team lingering around a certain island (albeit leaving a load of rubbish as their aftermath) to show you

              • Populuxe1 …
                6 May 2013 at 9:36 pm

                OK, I will. What are your qualifications? Calling her an “it” is just diging the hole deeper, and I wonder how your extended whanua would react to being told to fuck off back to the GC?

                • Tim …
                  6 May 2013 at 9:55 pm

                  Hey – I’M NOT THE ONE CALLING HER AN IT – that’s what your assumption was as you were so ready to associate the comments with her person. The IT is the programme. Otherwise it would have been a her/she had I been referring to ‘her’ – i.e. Ruby the person.

                  So …. OK now have the last word – there’s 4 litres of Pledge ready to make the going easier (as you’ll see below)

  15. farmboy 15
    6 May 2013 at 3:07 pm

    i for one like willy and j.t this is how normal red blooded males talk this is a conversation in any pub or street between two n.z males.I know you probably hang out with p.c soft handed latte drinking left wingers but dont start every day searching for an issue with shit if you dont like it try z.b

    • The Al1en 15.1
      6 May 2013 at 8:12 pm

      “i for one like willy and j.t this is how normal red blooded males talk”

      You’re very easily pleased, and no, no it isn’t.

      “I know you probably hang out with p.c soft handed latte drinking left wingers but dont start every day searching for an issue with shit”

      Says the bloke that hangs out all day with shit stinking animals and start every day pushing their shit into a stream.

      Swap the singlet for a polo, red neck. 😆

      • North 15.1.1
        6 May 2013 at 8:55 pm

        In the context Willie and JT are guffawing wanker bullies. No doubt about it. Handsome remuneration starting at $100K plus (correct me if I’m wrong someone) would virtually demand that delivery. Although as an older fellow who’s seen a bit I gotta say there’s something of a little bit too much of Willie and JT being somewhat “into one another” ??? Excessive mutual verbal slapping ??? Nah, they’re just havin’ every prick on I’m sure.

        As to the real point, surprising ? Not at all. RadioLive is the bugle for that Good Ordinary Joker ShonKey Python to display his facile-ity with the word “munter”. How embarrassing ! You know there’s nothing worse than a non-rugby boy trying too, too hard to be a rugby boy down the rugby club with the real rugby boys bless their hearts. Again, how embarrassing !

        It’s all bullshit ! From bullshitters. The biggest hahaha is that farmboy takes them seriously to the point of defending them. Hahaha !

        Though, in fact, I’m not absolutely sure farmboy ain’t some fairly clever satire going on here.

        • freedom 15.1.1.1
          6 May 2013 at 9:54 pm

          wow, nicely done North, something I thought I would never see. You somehow worked farmboy and clever into the same sentence, 😆

          • North 15.1.1.1.1
            6 May 2013 at 10:41 pm

            Like Obama – in the same sentence (1) Thatcher Witch and (2) defender of freedom and liberty ?????????

    • Morrissey 15.2
      6 May 2013 at 8:26 pm

      farmboy, why don’t you take yourself behind the shed and f*ck a sheep?

      • The Al1en 15.2.1
        6 May 2013 at 8:37 pm

        That’s baaad.

        Silence of the lambs in welsh is ‘shut up ewe’

        • Morrissey 15.2.1.1
          6 May 2013 at 8:41 pm

          I think we could probably say that our rustic friend is “mad about ewe”.

          Or, as the X-Factor‘s hanging judge, Stan Walker, would say, “mad about ewes.”

      • North 15.2.2
        6 May 2013 at 9:01 pm

        It’s worse than that……..repeated bestial offending………shut up eweS !

        Or alternatively, something I hear not infrequently in the parts I live – “Fuck yous all !”

        Baaaaaaah. You talk bullshit !

        Run bull run !

        Yeah, thanks Forrest.

      • Tim 15.2.3
        6 May 2013 at 9:24 pm

        And while he’s at it, he should take Populuxe 1 with him. I’ve got a commercial 4 litre container of Pledge with which he can shine his ‘surfaces’, and maybe even use as lube.
        Unfortunately I don’t have any synthetic substance that could assist with his/her substance as a human ‘being’.

    • Populuxe1 15.3
      6 May 2013 at 8:45 pm

      What, you mean ranting over the top of everyone and not letting them answer?

      • North 15.3.1
        6 May 2013 at 9:04 pm

        Oh Pops……..go away and say a prayer if it’d make ya feel better. Don’t sad up here. No ones’ listening.

  16. Penny Bright 16
    6 May 2013 at 3:07 pm

    For the public record – I do NOT support the intensification (slummification) of the Auckland region, as outlined in the Daft Unitary Plan.

    Why does all this ‘growth’ have to come to Auckland?

    Who benefits apart from property developers, speculators and overseas investors?

    Where is the ‘NATIONAL’ growth strategy?

    Where did the ‘MILLION’ people living in the Auckland region in thirty years time figure come from?

    WHO says Auckland needs to go ‘up’ or ‘out’?

    Based on what?

    I have made OIA requests to get some replies to these rather important questions.

    Will keep you informed.

    Penny Bright
    ‘Anti-corruption/anti-privatisation’ campaigner

    2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate

    • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 16.1
      6 May 2013 at 3:58 pm

      You made an OIA request asking “who benefits apart from property developers, speculators and overseas investors?”.

      Who’d you ask?

    • muzza 16.2
      6 May 2013 at 3:59 pm

      Good questions Penny.

      Will that increase come from internally, through the continued removal of people from the smaller towns and cities, via deliberate underinvestment?

      Goot round the plebs up, get them all in a few places, much easier to control them then they’re not spread all over the place, and it opens up more opportunity for the rich to come and help themselves!

      • Populuxe1 16.2.1
        6 May 2013 at 4:56 pm

        “through the continued removal of people from the smaller towns and cities, via deliberate underinvestment?”

        And yet largely unsupported by fact. Tauranga has the second fastest population growth in the country, and since the Christchurch earthquake smaller South Island towns have now stabilised with population increases anywhere up to ten percent. Very small communities admittedly are shrinking, but as 85.7 percent of the New Zealand population is urbanised, a process that goes back to WW2, that’s hardly surprising.

        • Colonial Viper 16.2.1.1
          7 May 2013 at 12:31 pm

          Tauranga a moneyed retirees paradise…

          But yeah, the ongoing catabolism of Christchurch has been very helpful to neighbouring small towns.

          If this is the kind of “growth” you’re looking for.

          • Populuxe1 16.2.1.1.1
            7 May 2013 at 6:56 pm

            Not really, but it’s quite a different state of affairs to Muzza’s asserion.

    • vto 16.3
      6 May 2013 at 4:48 pm

      Well that unitary plan makes sense doesn’t it?

      I mean, either you Aucklanders have a city like, well, Auckland but much bigger in area (gawd, imagine the driving), or you have a city like so many in Europe with higher density in a small area.

      I don’t understand it. Kiwis love going to Eurpoe and ooohing and aaaahing at the lovely cities and towns, yet they would rather have mcmansion suburbia for themselves to live in……..

      bizarre

    • Populuxe1 16.4
      6 May 2013 at 8:46 pm

      Which is ironic, given that you refuse to pay your rates.

      • North 16.4.1
        6 May 2013 at 9:19 pm

        So what dickhead ? She’s exposing herself to process in the making of a point. Far too little of it in Planet ShonKey Python in my view.

        Ya never gonna reform her baby ‘cos she got balls unlike ShonKey Python cargo-cultists like you.

        • Populuxe1 16.4.1.1
          6 May 2013 at 9:38 pm

          Are you out of your tiny mind? ShonKey Python cargo-cultist? Key is a colossal dickhead and destroying this country! If I am any sort of tory, I am very much of the wet, progressive, red and decidedly nationalist kind you cretin.

          • freedom 16.4.1.1.1
            6 May 2013 at 10:00 pm

            you got any ideas then on how NZ gets rid of him ?
            because right now I think this country wants as many options as it can get

            • Populuxe1 16.4.1.1.1.1
              7 May 2013 at 7:05 pm

              Don’t vote for him? But seriously, Labour needs to offer a credible opposition platform and deal to all the Neoliberal Lite rot in its ranks. The Greens need to advance some actual strategic policy beyond handwavium, warm fuzzy abstract nouns and asking Clint what he thinks. New Zealand First actually offers some really compelling policy if the eccentricities of its caucus can be reined in.

          • North 16.4.1.1.2
            6 May 2013 at 10:29 pm

            Well you’re not what we want then mate, are you ? You were in line for that 2 hundy sinecure until you started talkin’ dirty like that !

            Further Pops…….I think you “misunderestimate” the term “cargo-cult”. It’s a very powerful thing. It’s what got Shonkey Python elected, twice. Which says piss all for New Zealanders in the very small sector of our voting population responsible for that.

            I assume from the thrust of your comment you’re not a Nat/Act voter then.

  17. logie97 17
    6 May 2013 at 6:07 pm

    Messrs Finlayson and Collins are now expressing misgivings about the development of the website “Judge the judges”. A bit rich really because it is their party and partners like ACT, that have pushed this line and pandered to the likes of the SST – faux outrage ne c’est pas?

    • North 17.1
      6 May 2013 at 9:27 pm

      Just wait for the said website to do a trawling back through the historic sentencing decisions of retired District Court judge Barry Lovegrove who on Campbell the other night made it very clear that appointment processes in New Zealand are now attended by no consideration outside of jobs for the bought boys/girls.

      Makes the appointee controllable. Especially when the appointee knows in his/her heart that they wouldn’t be pulling their $200K whatever, except for the patronage.

      Loyalty amongst thieves is an age-old thing preceding even Westminster.

      • North 17.1.1
        6 May 2013 at 11:23 pm

        Stoked the fire for easy morning ignition in the not-winterless North. Off to bed.

        That Garth McVictim is nought more than a big-noting racist arsehole is sickeningly demonstrated by the support which he and SST gave to that psycho’ who stabbed to death the little Maori fulla Pihema.

        To death ! Get that ? To death. For tagging. Nay, for suspicion of tagging. For Fuck’s Sake ! The psycho’ served 2 years from recollection. McVictim was all sadness for the psycho’.

        What might that young fulla have amounted to ? What beautiful kids might he have had ? But for being struck down and life taken by a racist arsehole. Don’t give two fucks whether he would have amounted to “anything” anyway. His life was taken and McVictim, racist, rationalised it.

        A plague on you Garth ! And tearful aroha for that boy’s family. Never rely on loud mouthed bastards like McVictim strutting around with the signature briefcase in and out of Koru clubs all over the show. No morals but lots of “look at me look at me” dining out.

        Piece of vainglorious shit !

  18. Te Reo Putake 18
    6 May 2013 at 6:37 pm

    The Mexican Aaron Gilmore:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22354245

  19. xtasy 19
    6 May 2013 at 9:32 pm

    Radio New Zealand National’s ‘Windows on the World’ program tonight presented a program taken over from the BBC, in which Peter Day, basically rolled out the newest welfare regime approach for sick in the UK.

    It is by now nothing new to the better informed, that they have abolished “sick notes” and introduced “fit notes”, all more or less a result of changes brought in there under the auspices of one Professor Mansel Aylward, former Chief Medical Officer for the Department of Work and Pension, and now head of a special department at Cardiff University, established with the help of controversial Unum insurance corporation, to promote and develop “new ways” to get sick and disabled back into work by abusing the so-called “bio psycho social model” for assessments and rehabilitation.

    Not surprisingly Dame Carol Black (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_M._Black) is mentioned as an advocate to get sick and disabled back into work as soon as possible, same as Welfare Reform Minister Lord Freud (former banker, with no former experience in social matters).

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/windowsontheworld
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p017cr5w

    Now while National Radio is happy to broadcast this “politically correctly wrapped” program to “inform” us of all the “good” and “sincere” intentions, how come that criticism about welfare reforms there, raised here also, is not broadcast about at all??? “Helping” and “supporting” sick back into work they claim. Is that the true agenda though?

    Is this perhaps not rather a softening up agenda also by Radio New Zealand, now towing the government line, to “ready” us for the welfare onslaught that Paula Bennett has prepared to start in July? I have a terrible gut feeling, that the truth is once again not openly reported and discussed.

    The so gently spoken “gentleman” “Lord Freud” is better known through such stories, I must say:
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/nov/22/benefits-system-dreadful-tory-minister
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov/23/lord-freud-welfare-poor-risk

    We also know what our Minister for “Social Development” has stated:
    http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech-medical-professionals

    And we know by now, who tells us more about what really goes on under supposed “independent” assessors of sick and disabled in the UK:
    http://atosvictimsgroup.co.uk/
    http://blacktrianglecampaign.org/2013/04/18/welfare-reform-the-hidden-agenda-by-mo-stewart/

    COST SAVING is the AGENDA, and pressuring sick and disabled into open employment, that is what the experiences in the UK tell us!!!

    • xtasy 19.1
      6 May 2013 at 11:15 pm

      Just one further revealing statement or article on the bizarre work capacity assessment regime now common in the UK, and according to Paula Bennett also planned as the design framework to what WINZ will introduce here:

      http://blacktrianglecampaign.org/2012/09/18/dwpatosunum-scandal-an-academic-responds-with-disbelief-to-professor-aylwards-statement-to-black-triangle-and-dpac-outside-the-ifdm2012-conference-on-11th-september-2012/

      Professor Mansel Aylward will be addressing a medical practitioner conference in New Zealand in the coming weeks or months. So he seems to come here quite frequently now, and perhaps he has set up office or home here, while advising Bennett and the NatACT “natzi” government on how to deal to sick and disabled (supposed “malingerers”) living on benefits.

      See details here:
      http://www.gpcme.co.nz/speakers.php

      He will be speaking on:

      “Health Beyond Health: Another Cardinal Role for General Practice
      The holistic approach embracing the social determinants of health and the importance of work”

      Main Session, Friday, 21 June 2013, Start 09:25am, Duration: 25mins – Baytrust

      P.S.: Like every year, Dr Bratt (WINZ Principal Health Advisor) will speak and/or hold one of his now well known “presentations” there also, likely to again compare “benefit dependence” to “drug dependence”.

      The AGENDA is in FULL SWING!

      Thanks Paula Bennett !

  20. xtasy 20
    6 May 2013 at 10:25 pm

    There was a startling frank comment made by Sean Plunket, new talk-back host on Radio Live (Mon. to Fri. until midday), when talking with John Tamihere just before lunchtime on Monday (today), 06 May 2013.

    He confessed that he got his job at Radio New Zealand many years ago, because Prime Minister Jim Bolger wanting him to get it! As soon as he got the confirmation that he got the job, he even received a congratulation from the then PM, he said on air!

    So if that is how New Zealand “public broadcasting” functions, there can be no surprises at the lack of real, investigative journalism, the lack of truly revealing news, the lack of hard questioning of our politicians and the lack of top quality current affairs or documentaries!

    As this country is so firmly in the control of the Old Boys and Old Girls Networks, it must be presumed that not much has changed at Radio New Zealand or TVNZ.

    The private media care for their own “priorities” of course, to get reporters, moderators and editors that attract high viewer and listener ratings, that present hitting headlines and snippets of infotainment “news”, so that advertisers fill their coffers. No surprises there.

    Thank goodness for a few blogs that present the other side to stories, otherwise we would not know there is a world out there beyond the Tasman, or there are people out there, that are actually NOT living in a supposed “brighter future”.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    17 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    23 hours ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-26T23:52:28+00:00