Heh. To honour Independence Day in the US, the NPR tweeted the Declaration of Independence. Trumpkins lose their shit, thinking NPR is hating on their beloved King Donald the Doll-Handed.
Judith Collins says – Oh no, there weren’t any dodgy trusts registering in NZ before law change; now the amount of paper work is just too difficult for large numbers of said “Trusts”.
And arch-spinner (dis)honourable Mr Key, nowhere to be seen.
I don’t think it is “where IN Motueka” will Winnie be speaking that is important.
For anyone reading this who comes from North of the Bombay hills the question is going to be “where IS Motueka”.
Or even “What is Motueka”.
Or possibly I am judging the residents of Auckland a bit harshly.
marty mars
Yes not many speakers say mor-too-eka. The 21st century and it’s improved education is coming, sometime. (Have I got the sound right of the pronunciation.)
motu – an island, in this case, “on land” island, like an oasis or a grove
weka (eka) – well, they’re birds, ain’t they.
Must have been, back in the day, an distinct areain which weka were readily found, I reckon, that Motueka.
Alwyn if any aren’t sure where Motueka is, am sure they would not have been able to make there in time.
But for any who are unsure…
Motueka is a small seaside town located in the Tasman Bay. We’ve a population of around 7k, 11k including the surrounding areas, such as the Motueka Valley etc. We are rich in horticulture especially pip fruit, Talleys Fisheries HQ is located here, it’s the second largest town in the Tasman District and one of NZ’s Top Towns.
Tis the gateway town to the Abel Tasman National Park, around 15 mins drive to either Kaiteriteri Beach or Marahau where the park entrance is.
We’re on the other side of the Nelson boundary, West Coast/Tasman electorate would be gutted if Dr Custard was our MP.
Are lucky enough to have one of the hardest working most approachable MP’s in the country representing us. Damien O’Connor, he’s awesome, seriously everyone here rates him highly from the hippies to the millionaires.
This bit of independent investigative journalism, using Freedom of Info documents obtained from US intelligence services, gives an indication of the widespread influence these services have on Hollywood movies and TV.
This is not terribly surprising to anyone who has watched a lot of US movies and TV.
Alongside the massive scale of these operations, our new book National Security Cinema details how US government involvement also includes script rewrites on some of the biggest and most popular films, including James Bond, the Transformers franchise, and movies from the Marvel and DC cinematic universes.
A similar influence is exerted over military-supported TV, which ranges from Hawaii Five-O to America’s Got Talent, Oprah and Jay Leno to Cupcake Wars, along with numerous documentaries by PBS, the History Channel and the BBC.
Very interesting and important. The depth and range of their influence is surprising. I wonder what other government groups censor stuff – like CC for instance. Not many movies made about that other than ‘grim umm I’d rather not think about it’ ones.
Another round of serious disquiet in Southland involving the National Party
“Prominent Southlanders have appealed to the associate finance minister to urgently investigate the Community Trust of Southland and the treatment of its now former chief executive John Prendergast.
A copy of a letter addressed to minister Amy Adams, obtained by Stuff, asks her to investigate the current happenings at the Community Trust of Southland “which are causing us grave concern for the integrity of the trust and for the impact on, and implications for, the wider Southland community”.
However, Adams has indicated she would not be investigating, saying on Tuesday evening that the information provided to her has so far not met the high threshold needed to begin an investigation.”
Gnats will give 5 million to the Emirates Americas Cup Team and CUT the funding to the Auckland Women’s Centre.
The Auckland Women’s Centre, which has provided support services to tens of thousands of women since 1975, has been forced to turn to the community for support after a massive cut to its funding.
It supports about 4000 women including those suffering abuse, eating disorders, health issues and those needing parenting support.
It was receiving $100,000 from government a year but as of this month it will not get anything.
but look the gnats are going to blame another group for this
The Ministry of Social Development last year began transferring about $11.3 million in funding from some community organisations to programmes meeting Whānau Ora outcomes, which target the most vulnerable communities including Māori and Pasifika.
It said contracts that did not meet this requirement would not be renewed – and the Auckland Women’s Centre has missed out as result.
Is 5 million being given to the Emirates Americas Cup Team and Government funding to the Auckland Women’s Centre been cut?
The link is that it’s government funding. the link is that 5 million is being given to the Emirates Americas Cup Team and Government funding to the Auckland Women’s Centre has been cut.
I don’t have to try make it sound they’re linked, there is a link.
Totally different budget pools – and if you read they give the reason –
“The Ministry of Social Development last year began transferring about $11.3 million in funding from some community organisations to programmes meeting Whānau Ora outcomes, which target the most vulnerable communities including Māori and Pasifika.
It said contracts that did not meet this requirement would not be renewed – and the Auckland Women’s Centre has missed out as result.”
Its a stupid logic jump that this is linked to the America cup.
For starters – the funding for the cup has just happened – and this has been ongoing for a while.
The government makes a choice on where funding is allocated.
The government has chosen to grant $5 million to the America’s Cup.
The government has decided to not continue the $100,000/annum funding to the Auckland Women’s Centre. As you say, this has been achieved by the oft-used mechanism of requiring changes to administration and focus for continued funding. (Shouldn’t withdrawal of funds from established programmes relate to fraud, failure to be effective?)
This familiar technique is often used to withdraw from programmes with established processes and results, and transfer to new untested ones. When some of those new programmes fall over (which is often the case) that funding is then withdrawn completely.
It’s a long dishonest game, but National is world-class player.
“And that reason that the Nats gave speaks of Billshit. The Women’s Centre obviously also targeted the most vulnerable.”
Another aspect of this type of “reason” is that supporters, workers, volunteers and recipients of programmes like this are conditioned to link their withdrawal of funds to Maaori and Pasifika advocacy.
A quiet foment of dog-whistling provided by the Nats once again.
Are you being obtuse or dumb james? I can’t tell. The whole point of political economy is to decide where money goes, not what is in a funding stream or other such spin.
A jump in logic would be to imply you have a love of violence, and that is extending to women because you won’t support the agencies which protect them. But, then again, in your case that might not be too big a jump.
“A jump in logic would be to imply you have a love of violence, and that is extending to women because you won’t support the agencies which protect them. But, then again, in your case that might not be too big a jump.”
I find that people who make comments like that are normally the most likely to engage in that kind of behaviour themselves.
We obviously went to different logic schools. You went to the same one as Bill English the results of which have been on display for all to see with the Barclay shambles.
It’s taxpayers’ money doled out by the Government. Just like the payout in the Barclay situation, just like the payout to the Saudi sheep man …
Quite right.
To put it more simply, James, it is all water, and quibbling about which puddle – sorry – pool it comes from is truly asinine. The Government has clearly shown its priorities. Live with it.
The comments still are valid. As marty mars says, Susan Devoy seems to have learnt a lot over the last few years and kudos to her for that.
However, there is likely to have been many people who had that knowledge at the time of her appointment, and would have been a better advocate right from the outset.
The point remains: is the RRC role a set of training wheels for one person to work through their prejudices and issues, or is it a place where an experienced and knowledgeable commissioner can be relied upon to deal with convoluted issues?
I’m glad that she is stepping up to the plate now. I’m not persuaded that those who criticised her appointment were wrong to do so.
Anyone heard anything out of the All Blacks this week? Any cheery pop ups on ZM stations for a bit of joucular bro talk and some reinforcing of stereotypes? No? infotainment bits on the news about new players or milestones? No?
There is a deep, black and angry silence this week. I hope the Zambuks have got extra supplies for Saturday, cos dem Lions, they gonna be made to pay.
Haven’t looked forward to a matchup like this since Tetraites the Myrmillo, hero of the camp of Compendium, took on the Gallo-Briton Brexic back in 74AD…
And how about you try and learn to enjoy yourself, you know, not to be an insufferably boring person with no off switch and apparently no ability to think about more than one issue at a time?
I, for one, am looking forward to kicking back with some suitably partisan friends and watching a big rugby game on Saturday. And what is more, I’ll not have some dreary fellow with an enormous chip on his shoulder dictate the conversation in something called “open mike”, so stick that in your pipe and smoke it maaate.
I, for one, am looking forward to kicking back with some suitably partisan friends and watching a big rugby game on Saturday.
That’s the bit I really found hilarious about blinglish’s “I am hu-mon. Hu-mons like sports, jump up and say ‘yes’ when their team wins. I will do this for the America’s Cup. Hu-mons will recognise me as one of them” tweet: the camera went around the room, and it was empty.
The only people he was watching the race with was the person who filmed him being excited, and they were so carried away by the result that they were concentrating on filming his reaction.
Agree. I’ve been impressed by their articles on suicide – they have been putting some strong and multiple articles up. This is another good one. Thanks for highlighting it SM.
thanks from me too, stunned.
i agree with the former coroner.
i reckon the silent approach is largely flawed nowadays.
the prevalence of devices, and cyber places for youngsters to ‘congrgate’ could lead to lots of disinformation.
if there were honest discussions in the public forum, youth and others would have something to compare to what they experience from the ether.
The Nats will change the law to make irrigation possible wherever they want it to go. No wonder they are intent on denuding the Environment Court and the RMA.
Not dead in the water yet as they are looking at changing the law so the swap can go ahead.
They only see the land to be swapped in monetary terms. But the problem is the land value has never been a monetary one. While the monetary value of the land might be lower, its importance to the vulnerable species that live there is extremely high.
I must say that I’ve been thoroughly underwhelmed by Little. The only way he’s dealt with parasites like Robertson and Mallard has been to pander to them.
Yep, Labour has never been a social party. It has always supported and strengthened capitalism. Even now when it’s obvious that capitalism simply doesn’t work.
Why is he saying that Little hasn’t put a lid on Labour ructions? I’d say that it’s one of his strengths over previous leaders: the ones who expect promotion without putting in the work are slowly trickling down the list and pissing off to the tories.
Most politicians have a tendency towards self promotion, but the “levelling down” of infighting and undermining seems to have a decent lid on it. The tories like to talk about barbeques and Ardern’s puff pieces, but the fact is the number of leakers in caucus seems to have dwindled more than a Canterbury aquifer.
Being a newcomer to the Hawkes Bay I was warned not to buy out along the coast around Clifton as erosion and sea level rise is likely to see a lot of land disappear. Sure enough, yesterday saw the sea come 2 metres closer to homes, roads and power lines. This was not caused by some big storm, just a good swell.
Affected locals call for financial compensation from the council or that it build sea walls for about 5 km.
This scenario will be replicated at many other locations as sea level rise by about 3mm per annum. What should we be doing? Build defences, retreat, compensate, relocate infrastructure, leave land owners to sort out their own problem? I am not sure, but one thing we should do today is stop making the problem bigger by allowing more development below the 10m or 20m contour.
The FO option is one that has some merit, but on the other hand we do socialise risk for earthquakes and slips.
I am waiting for all those holiday suburbs like Pawanui to come to the realisation that their sea views will only increase: to the point that the water is lapping the door step. The political power these people can bring will see it rapidly become a central government problem and you just know that they will want to have their losses socialised. For me, paying a cent from the public purse for a holiday home is totally wrong.
Draco T Bastard is correct, the problem of erosion in Huamoana/Clifton has been known for years, the coast has been going backwards there every since I was a little ‘un.
The council is guilty of continuing to allow people to buy – even being 30m back from the beach isn’t safe – but caveat emptor kicks in somewhere and they shouldn’t bleat for ratepayers money when they took a calculated risk on purchase that hasn’t paid off.
Experience in other places (e.g. Waihi Beach) would tend to reinforce a view that protective works are carried out based, mainly, on who owns the property that may be affected.
DTB and Gistle
It is time for Councils to make these moves and refuse building permits so people don’t feel they are safe from risks, that it is just a bunch of old moaners worrying over nothing. Open them up to camping grounds with some reasonable sewerage, allow trailer parks and then they can drive away when the sea hits the sand.
Seems apart from Standard readers who want him banned from the airwaves – Mike Hosking is doing very well and grew his market share of listeners in Auckland.
Of course some people on here will call him all sorts of names – but I just think this shows the disconnect between the general public and some of the commenters on here (who of course think they know better).
“…who want him banned from the airwaves
Link to this? Most comments seem to be about not wanting our state broadcaster to employ him because of his inaccuracies and rants.
He can retain his private employ and continue his inanities for ever as far as I am concerned. He is a good example for media studies.
Some questions for James: you say you don’t listen to Hoskings. Those here who do, dislike what he says and does. Why do you feel the need to post in favour of someone you haven’t (you say) listened too? Are you just trying to wind-up people here?
How is that not trolling?
I dont listen to him. I posted it as an opposing position to the people who seem to call him all sorts of names and want him off radio. Im just pointing out that a lot of normal people listen to him – so perhaps they should look at their biases.
Why does a lot of people listening mean that he shouldn’t be called names?
and the opinions expressed were that he is too partisan to be funded by the state broadcaster, not that he shouldn’t be allowed to be broadcast at all. Sorry to burst your delusions.
I hope you are fine with people doing it about you and your family in real life also.
Unlike with Hosking, I haven’t noticed McFlock pointlessly making a cunt of himself over and over again in the media, so it’s unlikely he’d be called the kinds of names Hosking is. In any case: don’t think of them as “names,” think of them as “reasonably accurate descriptions.” Someone who makes a career out of publicly broadcasting loathesome opinions should expect a fair amount of loathing as a result.
fair call on the banning thing, although I think you’re emphasising a less-common attitude for convenience.
As for calling people names – yeah, I don’t take it personal. That’s how I managed to do venue security for a decade without getting complaints agin me. I didn’t give a shit if someone called me a cunt because I refused them entry. None of it’s personal. None of the hoons calling names as they pass by at night mean it – if they don’t give it a second thought, why should I?
But on the odd occasion someone has called me a name and it did bother me. Because I reflected on why they called me names, and realised they had grounds to do it, and I was in the wrong. I wasn’t upset at them, I was upset at myself. I deserved it, I’d made a stupid move.
Only a fucking idiot gets upset if someone calls them names without cause. The name-caller’s opinion on the matter is obviously worthless. But maybe that’s an insight one only acquires after being screamed at by a drunk fuck for a constant 45 minutes before your offsider takes his turn on the door. And the following night the same drunk fuck thinks he’s your best mate.
I still stand by calling names on people because of your views (if they differ from yours) – and Im referring to others on here not so much you – is wrong.
Yet many on this forum think its reasonable and right.
But (and this is aimed at nobody at all) – lets say your wife / daughter had a view on something – lets say they agree with Hoskins, or liked Trump, or were pro abortion – or whatever.
They have their reasons (whatever they may be). Is it really right that others call them a stupid cunt for their position. Or a fucken baby murderer? What about racist? What about telling people they are racist because they like Trump (the two are not necessarily linked).
Lets call them that to their face, in front of people – write it on public forums so when people searching for them can see the abuse that is leveled at them.
Would you stand by and watch that happen to them and think its OK? IS it OK for people to just let it slide – because they agree with abuser?
NZ Has a suicide problem – on that we can all agree.
Yet many seem happy to ply abuse on people because their views differ – and to me thats never right.
You cannot say its bad to bully and name call a kid, or a transgendered person, or a woman, and then go do it to somebody else because they happen to differ in political views to you.
Well, I try to avoid calling people words like “cunt”, but I’ve definitely called people baby-killers. Anti-vaxxers and/or tories, if I recall correctly.
The thing is, I can and did provide reasons to back it up. It’s not because their opinions differ from mine, it’s because I think that the views they express, and in some cases the very expression of those views, will indirectly cause the deaths of babies.
I think that’s part of the miscommunication: you say it’s because Hosking expresses different views that he is called names. I think that most of the people here who call him names do so because they honestly believe his propaganda validates the very real suffering and hardship, and occasional deaths, of thousands of NZers. And they have reasonable grounds to believe that. That’s one difference between abusing tories and abusing minorities.
The main difference between name-calling someone like Hosking or an advocate for the mismanagement of this government on the one hand, and children/women/minorities on the other, is like the difference between slaves calling a slaveholder a slaveholder and slaveholders calling a slave a slave. There’s a massive power imbalance that your comparison fails to acknowledge. One is a reasonable description that confronts the situation, the other attempts to reinforce the situation.
James said:
“I still stand by calling names on people because of your views (if they differ from yours) – and Im referring to others on here not so much you – is wrong.”
It is possible that Garibaldi meant Public (ie, state-owned) TV when he made his comment. That I would agree with, unless immediate right of reply is given after each rant.
Calling people names, James? James, James, James – who here repeatedly calls Andrew Little, “Angry Andy”, James? James, that’s who.
The stench of hypocrisy wafts from you, James, like … a stench.
Hi James,
another thing that is wrong is being deliberately disingenuous.
I reckon some points of pedantry argued on here, while deliberately avoiding the main thrust is also wrong.
You know, derailling behaviour.
Notice that the dominance of RNZ is not mentioned. I believe Morning Report out-guns little Mike by a hundred thousand or so.
Edit: So true Bearded Git.
By crikey… was wondering why I don’t tune into… but according to their frequency list I’d have to warm up my valve radio, only AM frequency in Nelson region.
With that in mind, not many if any people in the Nelson region listen to Hosking on the radio.
“Quality healthcare is important to all of us and this Government is continuing to deliver a world-class healthcare system with proper mental health support for all Southlanders.”
Southlanders respond:
Cousin aged 55 waited six months , was in pain and was ignored, , finally paid private and is now back full time at work We will remember this election.
5 hours ago
Just think
I know of Southlander’s who have died, because by the time they met the criteria to be seen, it was too late to help them.
7 hours ago
Ruz
This is a political broadcast from the National Party written and authorised by the Office of the Prime Minister.
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The economy isn’t cooperating with the Government’s bet that lower interest rates will solve everything, with most metrics indicating per-capita GDP is still contracting faster and further than at any time since the 1990-96 series of government spending and welfare cuts. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short in ...
Hi,Today is the day sexual assaulter and alleged rapist Donald Trump officially became president (again).I was in a meeting for three hours this morning, so I am going to summarise what happened by sharing my friend’s text messages:So there you go.Welcome to American hell — which includes all of America’s ...
This is a re-post from the Climate BrinkI have a new paper out today in the journal Dialogues on Climate Change exploring both the range of end-of-century climate outcomes in the literature under current policies and the broader move away from high-end emissions scenarios. Current policies are defined broadly as policies in ...
Long story short: I chatted last night with ’s on the substack app about the appointment of Chris Bishop to replace Simeon Brown as Transport Minister. We talked through their different approaches and whether there’s much room for Bishop to reverse many of the anti-cycling measures Brown adopted.Our chat ...
Last night I chatted with Northland emergency doctor on the substack app for subscribers about whether the appointment of Simeon Brown to replace Shane Reti as Health Minister. We discussed whether the new minister can turn around decades of under-funding in real and per-capita terms. Our chat followed his ...
Christopher Luxon is every dismal boss who ever made you wince, or roll your eyes, or think to yourself I have absolutely got to get the hell out of this place.Get a load of what he shared with us at his cabinet reshuffle, trying to be all sensitive and gracious.Dr ...
The text of my submission to the Ministry of Health's unnecessary and politicised review of the use of puberty blockers for young trans and nonbinary people in Aotearoa. ...
Hi,Last night one of the world’s biggest social media platforms, TikTok, became inaccessible in the United States.Then, today, it came back online.Why should we care about a social network that deals in dance trends and cute babies? Well — TikTok represents a lot more than that.And its ban and subsequent ...
Sometimes I wake in the middle of the nightAnd rub my achin' old eyesIs that a voice from inside-a my headOr does it come down from the skies?"There's a time to laugh butThere's a time to weepAnd a time to make a big change"Wake-up you-bum-the-time has-comeTo arrange and re-arrange and ...
Former Health Minister Shane Reti was the main target of Luxon’s reshuffle. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short to start the year in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate: Christopher Luxon fired Shane Reti as Health Minister and replaced him with Simeon Brown, who Luxon sees ...
Yesterday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced a cabinet reshuffle, which saw Simeon Brown picking up the Health portfolio as it’s been taken off Dr Shane Reti, and Transport has been given to Chris Bishop. Additionally, Simeon’s energy and local government portfolios now sit with Simon Watts. This is very good ...
The sacking of Health Minister Shane Reti yesterday had an air of panic about it. A media advisory inviting journalists to a Sunday afternoon press conference at Premier House went out on Saturday night. Caucus members did not learn that even that was happening until yesterday morning. Reti’s fate was ...
Yesterday’s demotion of Shane Reti was inevitable. Reti’s attempt at a re-assuring bedside manner always did have a limited shelf life, and he would have been a poor and apologetic salesman on the campaign trail next year. As a trained doctor, he had every reason to be looking embarrassed about ...
A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, January 12, 2025 thru Sat, January 18, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
After another substantial hiatus from online Chess, I’ve been taking it up again. I am genuinely terrible at five-minute Blitz, what with the tight time constraints, though I periodically con myself into thinking that I have been improving. But seeing as my past foray into Chess led to me having ...
Rise up o children wont you dance with meRise up little children come and set me freeRise little ones riseNo shame no fearDon't you know who I amSongwriter: Rebecca Laurel FountainI’m sure you know the go with this format. Some memories, some questions, letsss go…2015A decade ago, I made the ...
In 2017, when Ghahraman was elected to Parliament as a Green MP, she recounted both the highlights and challenges of her role -There was love, support, and encouragement.And on the flipside, there was intense, visceral and unchecked hate.That came with violent threats - many of them. More on that later.People ...
It gives me the biggest kick to learn that something I’ve enthused about has been enough to make you say Go on then, I'm going to do it. The e-bikes, the hearing aids, the prostate health, the cheese puffs. And now the solar power. Yes! Happy to share the details.We ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Can CO2 be ...
The old bastard left his ties and his suitA brown box, mothballs and bowling shoesAnd his opinion so you'd never have to choosePretty soon, you'll be an old bastard tooYou get smaller as the world gets bigThe more you know you know you don't know shit"The whiz man" will never ...
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.The Numbers2024 could easily have been National’s “Annus Horribilis” and 2025 shows no signs of a reprieve for our Landlord PM Chris Luxon and his inept Finance Minister Nikki “Noboats” Willis.Several polls last year ...
This Friday afternoon, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced an overhaul of the Waitangi Tribunal.The government has effectively cleared house - appointing 8 new members - and combined with October’s appointment of former ACT leader Richard Prebble, that’s 9 appointees.[I am not certain, but can only presume, Prebble went in ...
The state of the current economy may be similar to when National left office in 2017.In December, a couple of days after the Treasury released its 2024 Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update (HEYFU24), Statistics New Zealand reported its estimate for volume GDP for the previous September 24 quarter. Instead ...
So what becomes of you, my love?When they have finally stripped you ofThe handbags and the gladragsThat your poor old granddadHad to sweat to buy you, babySongwriter: Mike D'aboIn yesterday’s newsletter, I expressed sadness at seeing Golriz Ghahraman back on the front pages for shoplifting. As someone who is no ...
It’s Friday and time for another roundup of things that caught our attention this week. This post, like all our work, is brought to you by a largely volunteer crew and made possible by generous donations from our readers and fans. If you’d like to support our work, you can join ...
Note: This Webworm discusses sexual assault and rape. Please read with care.Hi,A few weeks ago I reported on how one of New Zealand’s richest men, Nick Mowbray (he and his brother own Zuru and are worth an estimated $20 billion), had taken to sharing posts by a British man called ...
The final Atlas Network playbook puzzle piece is here, and it slipped in to Aotearoa New Zealand with little fan fare or attention. The implications are stark.Today, writes Dr Bex, the submission for the Crimes (Countering Foreign Interference) Amendment Bill closes: 11:59pm January 16, 2025.As usual, the language of the ...
Excitement in the seaside village! Look what might be coming! 400 million dollars worth of investment! In the very beating heart of the village! Are we excited and eager to see this happen, what with every last bank branch gone and shops sitting forlornly quiet awaiting a customer?Yes please, apply ...
Much discussion has been held over the Regulatory Standards Bill (RSB), the latest in a series of rightwing attempts to enshrine into law pro-market precepts such as the primacy of private property ownership. Underneath the good governance and economic efficiency gobbledegook language of the Bill is an interest to strip ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to stand firm and work with allies to progress climate action as Donald Trump signals his intent to pull out of the Paris Climate Accords once again. ...
The Green Party has welcomed the provisional ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, and reiterated its call for New Zealand to push for an end to the unlawful occupation of Palestine. ...
The Green Party welcomes the extension of the deadline for Treaty Principles Bill submissions but continues to call on the Government to abandon the Bill. ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced three new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ...
Ki te kahore he whakakitenga, ka ngaro te Iwi – without a vision, the people will perish. The Government has achieved its target to reduce the number of households in emergency housing motels by 75 per cent five years early, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The number of households ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced the new membership of the Public Advisory Committee on Disarmament and Arms Control (PACDAC), who will serve for a three-year term. “The Committee brings together wide-ranging expertise relevant to disarmament. We have made six new appointments to the Committee and reappointed two existing members ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora, good morning, talofa, malo e lelei, bula vinaka, da jia hao, namaste, sat sri akal, assalamu alaikum. It’s so great to be here and I’m ready and pumped for 2025. Can I start by acknowledging: Simon Bridges – CEO of the Auckland ...
The Government has unveiled a bold new initiative to position New Zealand as a premier destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) that will create higher paying jobs and grow the economy. “Invest New Zealand will streamline the investment process and provide tailored support to foreign investors, to increase capital investment ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced the largest reset of the New Zealand science system in more than 30 years with reforms which will boost the economy and benefit the sector. “The reforms will maximise the value of the $1.2 billion in government funding that goes into ...
Turbocharging New Zealand’s economic growth is the key to brighter days ahead for all Kiwis, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. In the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation Speech in Auckland today, Christopher Luxon laid out the path to the prosperity that will affect all aspects of New Zealanders’ lives. ...
The latest set of accounts show the Government has successfully checked the runaway growth of public spending, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “In the previous government’s final five months in office, public spending was almost 10 per cent higher than for the same period the previous year. “That is completely ...
The Government’s welfare reforms are delivering results with the number of people moving off benefits into work increasing year-on-year for six straight months. “There are positive signs that our welfare reset and the return consequences for job seekers who don't fulfil their obligations to prepare for or find a job ...
Jon Kroll and Aimee McCammon have been appointed to the New Zealand Film Commission Board, Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “I am delighted to appoint these two new board members who will bring a wealth of industry, governance, and commercial experience to the Film Commission. “Jon Kroll has been an ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hailed a drop in the domestic component of inflation, saying it increases the prospect of mortgage rate reductions and a lower cost of living for Kiwi households. Stats NZ reported today that inflation was 2.2 per cent in the year to December, the second consecutive ...
Two new appointed members and one reappointed member of the Employment Relations Authority have been announced by Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden today. “I’m pleased to announce the new appointed members Helen van Druten and Matthew Piper to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) and welcome them to ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has delivered a refreshed team focused on unleashing economic growth to make people better off, create more opportunities for business and help us afford the world-class health and education Kiwis deserve. “Last year, we made solid progress on the economy. Inflation has fallen significantly and now ...
Veterans’ Affairs and a pan-iwi charitable trust have teamed up to extend the reach and range of support available to veterans in the Bay of Plenty, Veterans Minister Chris Penk says. “A major issue we face is identifying veterans who are eligible for support,” Mr Penk says. “Incredibly, we do ...
A host of new appointments will strengthen the Waitangi Tribunal and help ensure it remains fit for purpose, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says. “As the Tribunal nears its fiftieth anniversary, the appointments coming on board will give it the right balance of skills to continue its important mahi hearing ...
Almost 22,000 FamilyBoost claims have been paid in the first 15 days of the year, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The ability to claim for FamilyBoost’s second quarter opened on January 1, and since then 21,936 claims have been paid. “I’m delighted people have made claiming FamilyBoost a priority on ...
The Government has delivered a funding boost to upgrade critical communication networks for Maritime New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand, ensuring frontline search and rescue services can save lives and keep Kiwis safe on the water, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “New Zealand has ...
Mahi has begun that will see dozens of affordable rental homes developed in Gisborne - a sign the Government’s partnership with Iwi is enabling more homes where they’re needed most, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. Mr Potaka attended a sod-turning ceremony to mark the start of earthworks for 48 ...
New Zealand welcomes the ceasefire deal to end hostilities in Gaza, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Over the past 15 months, this conflict has caused incomprehensible human suffering. We acknowledge the efforts of all those involved in the negotiations to bring an end to the misery, particularly the US, Qatar ...
The Associate Minster of Transport has this week told the community that work is progressing to ensure they have a secure and suitable shipping solution in place to give the Island certainty for its future. “I was pleased with the level of engagement the Request for Information process the Ministry ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour says he is proud of the Government’s commitment to increasing medicines access for New Zealanders, resulting in a big uptick in the number of medicines being funded. “The Government is putting patients first. In the first half of the current financial year there were more ...
New Zealand's first-class free trade deal and investment treaty with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been signed. In Abu Dhabi, together with UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, New Zealand Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, witnessed the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and accompanying investment treaty ...
The latest NZIER Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion, which shows the highest level of general business confidence since 2021, is a sign the economy is moving in the right direction, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “When businesses have the confidence to invest and grow, it means more jobs and higher ...
Events over the last few weeks have highlighted the importance of strong biosecurity to New Zealand. Our staff at the border are increasingly vigilant after German authorities confirmed the country's first outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in nearly 40 years on Friday in a herd of water buffalo ...
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee reminds the public that they now have an opportunity to have their say on the rewrite of the Arms Act 1983. “As flagged prior to Christmas, the consultation period for the Arms Act rewrite has opened today and will run through until 28 February 2025,” ...
Complaints about disruptive behaviour now handled in around 13 days (down from around 60 days a year ago) 553 Section 55A notices issued by Kāinga Ora since July 2024, up from 41 issued during the same period in the previous year. Of that 553, first notices made up around 83 ...
The time it takes to process building determinations has improved significantly over the last year which means fewer delays in homes being built, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “New Zealand has a persistent shortage of houses. Making it easier and quicker for new homes to be built will ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden is pleased to announce the annual list of New Zealand’s most popular baby names for 2024. “For the second consecutive year, Noah has claimed the top spot for boys with 250 babies sharing the name, while Isla has returned to the most popular ...
Work is set to get underway on a new bus station at Westgate this week. A contract has been awarded to HEB Construction to start a package of enabling works to get the site ready in advance of main construction beginning in mid-2025, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“A new Westgate ...
Minister for Children and for Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour is encouraging people to use the resources available to them to get help, and to report instances of family and sexual violence amongst their friends, families, and loved ones who are in need. “The death of a ...
ACT leader David Seymour is being slammed for his "extreme right-wing policies" after saying Aotearoa needs to get past its "squeamishness" about privatisation. ...
By Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor, RNZ Pacific manager RNZ International (RNZI) began broadcasting to the Pacific region 35 years ago — on 24 January 1990, the same day the Auckland Commonwealth Games opened. Its news bulletins and programmes were carried by a brand new 100kW transmitter. The service was rebranded as RNZ ...
If you believe Prime Minister Chris Luxon economic growth will solve our problems and, if this is not just around the corner, it is at least on the horizon. It won’t be too long before things are “awesome” again. If you believe David Seymour the country is beset by much greater ...
Opinion: New Zealand’s universities are failing to prepare students for the entrepreneurial realities of the modern economy. That is a key finding of the Science System Advisory Group report released Thursday as part of the Government’s major science sector overhaul.The report highlights major gaps in entrepreneurship and industry-focused training. PhD ...
I first met Neve at a house party in Mount Maunganui. She was tall, blonde and tanned. An influencer typecast. She wore a string of pearls and a shell necklace that sat around her collarbones, and a silk dress that barely passed her crotch. Her hair was in tight curls—I ...
The Angry LeftSummer in New Zealand, and what does Christopher Luxon do about it? He goes fishing. Unbelievable.And worse, he does it in a boat. How tone-deaf is that? There he is, fishing, at sea, in a boat that would be better put to some practical use, like housing. How ...
A Complete Unknown may be fictionalised but it gets the key parts right. What is biography for? Especially the biopic, in which years and people and facts must be compressed into a mass-audience-friendly, sub-three-hour format. And what does biography do with an artist as immortal, inimitable and unwilling as Bob ...
The pool is a summery delight for swimmers and a smart move from the mayor. Last week I walked through Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter, commando and braless. After smugly setting off that morning for my second swim at the Karanga Plaza pool, dubbed Browny’s Pool by mayor Wayne Brown, I realised ...
Following his headline act in the Christchurch Buskers Festival, Alex Casey chats to Sam Wills about spending two decades as the elusive Tape Face. It’s a Thursday night at The Isaac Theatre Royal in Ōtautahi, and the fly swats, rubbish bags, and coat hangers littered across the stage make it ...
In my late 50s, I discovered long-distance hiking – and woke up to a new life infused with the rhythms of nature. The Spinoff Essay showcases the best essayists in Aotearoa, on topics big and small. Made possible by the generous support of our members.It began innocuously, just before my ...
The comedian and actor takes us through his life in television, including the British sitcom that changed his life and the trauma of 80s Telethons. You may know him best as Murray from Flight of the Conchords, or Stede Bonnet from Our Flag Means Death, but Rhys Darby is taking ...
Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was. Nearly every piece of advice or social trend can be boiled down to encouraging people to say “yes” more or “no” more. Dating advice has a foundation of saying yes, putting yourself out there, being open to new people and possibilities. The ...
Asia Pacific Report The Fijians for Palestine Solidarity Network (FPSN) and its allies have called for “justice and accountability” over Israel’s 15 months of genocide and war crimes. The Pacific-based network met in a solidarity gathering last night in the capital Suva hosted by the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and ...
Analysis - There needs to be recognition of the significant risks associated with focusing on mining and tourism, Glenn Banks and Regina Scheyvens write. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Andriana Syvanych/Shutterstock Most of us are fortunate that, when we turn on the tap, clean, safe and high-quality water comes out. But a senate inquiry ...
Analysis: Try as they might, Christopher Luxon and his partners in NZ First have been unable to distance themselves from the division caused by the Treaty Principles Bill, hampering the potential for further progress in areas where the Prime Minister believes the Crown and tangata whenua can collaborate.While the celebration ...
The Treaty Principles Bill continues to dog the National Party despite Luxon's repeated efforts to communicate the legislation will not go beyond second reading. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julia Richardson, Professor of Human Resource Management, Head of School of Management, Curtin University Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock US President Donald Trump has called time on working from home. An executive order signed on the first day of his presidency this week requires all ...
The prime minister says he can mend the relationship with Māori after the bill is voted down, and he would refuse a future referendum in the next election's coalition negotiations. ...
Forest & Bird will continue to support New Zealanders to oppose these destructive activities and reminds the Prime Minister that in 2010, 40,000 people marched down Queen Street, demanding that high-value conservation land be protected from mining. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Glenn Banks, Professor of Geography, School of People, Environment and Planning, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University Getty Images Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s state-of-the-nation address yesterday focused on growth above all else. We shouldn’t rush to judgement, but at least ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Minister for Health and Medical Services has declared an HIV outbreak. Dr Ratu Atonio Rabici Lalabalavu announced 1093 new HIV cases from the period of January to September 2024. “This declaration reflects the alarming reality that HIV is evolving faster than our current services can cater for,” ...
Acting PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says the ACT proposals would take money from public services and funnel it towards private providers. Privatisation will inevitably mean syphoning money off from providing services for all to pay profits ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Claudio Bozzi, Lecturer in Law, Deakin University Shutterstock On his way to the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro in November, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte to officially open a new US$3.6 billion (A$5.8 billion) deepwater ...
A new poem by Zoë Deans. Fleeced just call me Hemingway because I’m earnest get it? I’m always falling for it, always saying “really?” mammal-eyed me, begging for the next epiphany, gagging for the magic, hot for sweetness and spring. tell me the stories of the world bounding along all ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (Piatkus, $38) “Get your leathers, we have dragons to ride,” goes ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Toby Murray, Professor of Cybersecurity, School of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne Before the end of its first full day of operations, the new Trump administration gutted all advisory panels for the Department of Homeland Security. Among these was ...
Pacific Media Watch The Al Jazeera Network has condemned the arrest of its occupied West Bank correspondent by Palestinian security services as a bid by the Israeli occupation to “block media coverage” of the military attack on Jenin. Israeli soldiers have killed at least 12 Palestinians in the three-day military ...
Heh. To honour Independence Day in the US, the NPR tweeted the Declaration of Independence. Trumpkins lose their shit, thinking NPR is hating on their beloved King Donald the Doll-Handed.
http://www.salon.com/2017/07/05/nprs-declaration-of-independence-tweetstorm-angered-some-trump-supporters/
That was depressing. The cult of ignorance strikes again.
Lab-Green claim win in huge drop in foreign trusts registered in NZ.
Judith Collins says – Oh no, there weren’t any dodgy trusts registering in NZ before law change; now the amount of paper work is just too difficult for large numbers of said “Trusts”.
And arch-spinner (dis)honourable Mr Key, nowhere to be seen.
Yep, saw that. But, IMO, it’s telling that 3000 said that they would withdraw while 5000+ simply, quietly, disappeared.
Morena, Winston Peters will be speaking at the Motueka RSA this morning at 10am if anyone is interested.
Motueka RSA is at the North end of High St, opposite the Top of the Town Dairy.
I don’t think it is “where IN Motueka” will Winnie be speaking that is important.
For anyone reading this who comes from North of the Bombay hills the question is going to be “where IS Motueka”.
Or even “What is Motueka”.
Or possibly I am judging the residents of Auckland a bit harshly.
It ain’t mot chew acre that’s for sure ☺
marty mars
Yes not many speakers say mor-too-eka. The 21st century and it’s improved education is coming, sometime. (Have I got the sound right of the pronunciation.)
motu – an island, in this case, “on land” island, like an oasis or a grove
weka (eka) – well, they’re birds, ain’t they.
Must have been, back in the day, an distinct areain which weka were readily found, I reckon, that Motueka.
+ 1 nice one grey ☺
Alwyn if any aren’t sure where Motueka is, am sure they would not have been able to make there in time.
But for any who are unsure…
Motueka is a small seaside town located in the Tasman Bay. We’ve a population of around 7k, 11k including the surrounding areas, such as the Motueka Valley etc. We are rich in horticulture especially pip fruit, Talleys Fisheries HQ is located here, it’s the second largest town in the Tasman District and one of NZ’s Top Towns.
Tis the gateway town to the Abel Tasman National Park, around 15 mins drive to either Kaiteriteri Beach or Marahau where the park entrance is.
Promotional video…. 😀
Like the look of the beer,quite a few small breweries around the area. Where was nick in the promo?
Aye Motueka grows hops 😀
We’re on the other side of the Nelson boundary, West Coast/Tasman electorate would be gutted if Dr Custard was our MP.
Are lucky enough to have one of the hardest working most approachable MP’s in the country representing us. Damien O’Connor, he’s awesome, seriously everyone here rates him highly from the hippies to the millionaires.
This bit of independent investigative journalism, using Freedom of Info documents obtained from US intelligence services, gives an indication of the widespread influence these services have on Hollywood movies and TV.
This is not terribly surprising to anyone who has watched a lot of US movies and TV.
Very interesting and important. The depth and range of their influence is surprising. I wonder what other government groups censor stuff – like CC for instance. Not many movies made about that other than ‘grim umm I’d rather not think about it’ ones.
Another round of serious disquiet in Southland involving the National Party
“Prominent Southlanders have appealed to the associate finance minister to urgently investigate the Community Trust of Southland and the treatment of its now former chief executive John Prendergast.
A copy of a letter addressed to minister Amy Adams, obtained by Stuff, asks her to investigate the current happenings at the Community Trust of Southland “which are causing us grave concern for the integrity of the trust and for the impact on, and implications for, the wider Southland community”.
However, Adams has indicated she would not be investigating, saying on Tuesday evening that the information provided to her has so far not met the high threshold needed to begin an investigation.”
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/94363134/southlanders-ask-minister-to-investigate-community-trust-of-southland
is Question 11 in today’s #nzqt https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/order-paper-questions/list-of-oral-questions/oral-questions-6-july-2017/
Got it, thanks, Sacha.
Gnats will give 5 million to the Emirates Americas Cup Team and CUT the funding to the Auckland Women’s Centre.
but look the gnats are going to blame another group for this
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/334494/women-s-centre-funding-whisked-away
Divide and conquer the old time proven way of oppressing people and the gnats are expert.
Has anybody modeled what specifically these guys do before funding is allocated?
They have to be doing, speaking, to someone and using statistics to be consistently successful yah.
“Gnats will give 5 million to the Emirates Americas Cup Team and CUT the funding to the Auckland Women’s Centre”
Good try at trying to make them sound as if they are linked.
They are linked by money or financial support from the government.
So you can link anything.
Government invest $$$ in XXX and CUT the funding to the Auckland Women’s Centre.
Yes James money is the link – pretty basic stuff. Hint – governments make CHOICES on what they spend money on.
Yes.
That is right. Government spending indicates priorities.
I’d say values are the link.
Is 5 million being given to the Emirates Americas Cup Team and Government funding to the Auckland Women’s Centre been cut?
The link is that it’s government funding. the link is that 5 million is being given to the Emirates Americas Cup Team and Government funding to the Auckland Women’s Centre has been cut.
I don’t have to try make it sound they’re linked, there is a link.
No there isnt.
Totally different budget pools – and if you read they give the reason –
“The Ministry of Social Development last year began transferring about $11.3 million in funding from some community organisations to programmes meeting Whānau Ora outcomes, which target the most vulnerable communities including Māori and Pasifika.
It said contracts that did not meet this requirement would not be renewed – and the Auckland Women’s Centre has missed out as result.”
Its a stupid logic jump that this is linked to the America cup.
For starters – the funding for the cup has just happened – and this has been ongoing for a while.
You have logic issues.
The government makes a choice on where funding is allocated.
The government has chosen to grant $5 million to the America’s Cup.
The government has decided to not continue the $100,000/annum funding to the Auckland Women’s Centre. As you say, this has been achieved by the oft-used mechanism of requiring changes to administration and focus for continued funding. (Shouldn’t withdrawal of funds from established programmes relate to fraud, failure to be effective?)
This familiar technique is often used to withdraw from programmes with established processes and results, and transfer to new untested ones. When some of those new programmes fall over (which is often the case) that funding is then withdrawn completely.
It’s a long dishonest game, but National is world-class player.
So why cut it?
And that reason that the Nats gave speaks of Billshit. The Women’s Centre obviously also targeted the most vulnerable.
“And that reason that the Nats gave speaks of Billshit. The Women’s Centre obviously also targeted the most vulnerable.”
Another aspect of this type of “reason” is that supporters, workers, volunteers and recipients of programmes like this are conditioned to link their withdrawal of funds to Maaori and Pasifika advocacy.
A quiet foment of dog-whistling provided by the Nats once again.
Yep, that too.
Are you being obtuse or dumb james? I can’t tell. The whole point of political economy is to decide where money goes, not what is in a funding stream or other such spin.
A jump in logic would be to imply you have a love of violence, and that is extending to women because you won’t support the agencies which protect them. But, then again, in your case that might not be too big a jump.
“A jump in logic would be to imply you have a love of violence, and that is extending to women because you won’t support the agencies which protect them. But, then again, in your case that might not be too big a jump.”
I find that people who make comments like that are normally the most likely to engage in that kind of behaviour themselves.
I see you are finally admitting you don’t understand the basics of political economy.
We obviously went to different logic schools. You went to the same one as Bill English the results of which have been on display for all to see with the Barclay shambles.
It’s taxpayers’ money doled out by the Government. Just like the payout in the Barclay situation, just like the payout to the Saudi sheep man …
It’s called priorities.
Quite right.
To put it more simply, James, it is all water, and quibbling about which puddle – sorry – pool it comes from is truly asinine. The Government has clearly shown its priorities. Live with it.
I guess you had no issues when Labour was giving money to Team NZ.
I like it when a tory’s poor reading skills results in friendly fire against other tories. 🙂
I bloody did.
Me too.
I thought the effort was more of a contrast.
Women’s Centers are a fraction of the cost and don’t get a look in. Why?
Ups to Dame Susan for her advocacy of those who suffered at the hands of the state.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201850077/race-relations-commissioner-backs-petitions-call-for-an-inquiry
+ 1
Yep Susan has grown into the role well. I wonder what she thinks of where she was at when she started the role. Massive personal growth is what I see.
Reading some of the comments from around the time Dame Susan was appointed and I reckon there are more than a few apologies due.
The comments still are valid. As marty mars says, Susan Devoy seems to have learnt a lot over the last few years and kudos to her for that.
However, there is likely to have been many people who had that knowledge at the time of her appointment, and would have been a better advocate right from the outset.
The point remains: is the RRC role a set of training wheels for one person to work through their prejudices and issues, or is it a place where an experienced and knowledgeable commissioner can be relied upon to deal with convoluted issues?
I’m glad that she is stepping up to the plate now. I’m not persuaded that those who criticised her appointment were wrong to do so.
Some comments were well beyond criticising the appointment, they were personal attacks on her motives, intellect and ability.
Then those comments were irrelevant to the appointment, and should not have been made.
The comments relating to her experience and knowledge were still valid.
Good discussion. I have posted a sorry to Susan a while ago. Can’t remember what I wrote when she was appointed but I’m sure I was unimpressed.
Anyone heard anything out of the All Blacks this week? Any cheery pop ups on ZM stations for a bit of joucular bro talk and some reinforcing of stereotypes? No? infotainment bits on the news about new players or milestones? No?
There is a deep, black and angry silence this week. I hope the Zambuks have got extra supplies for Saturday, cos dem Lions, they gonna be made to pay.
Haven’t looked forward to a matchup like this since Tetraites the Myrmillo, hero of the camp of Compendium, took on the Gallo-Briton Brexic back in 74AD…
Try radiosport maaate
And how about you try and learn to enjoy yourself, you know, not to be an insufferably boring person with no off switch and apparently no ability to think about more than one issue at a time?
I, for one, am looking forward to kicking back with some suitably partisan friends and watching a big rugby game on Saturday. And what is more, I’ll not have some dreary fellow with an enormous chip on his shoulder dictate the conversation in something called “open mike”, so stick that in your pipe and smoke it maaate.
Or you could try radiosport to get the answers and discussion you want eh dick. ffs.
That’s the bit I really found hilarious about blinglish’s “I am hu-mon. Hu-mons like sports, jump up and say ‘yes’ when their team wins. I will do this for the America’s Cup. Hu-mons will recognise me as one of them” tweet: the camera went around the room, and it was empty.
The only people he was watching the race with was the person who filmed him being excited, and they were so carried away by the result that they were concentrating on filming his reaction.
Well I heard Sonnybill is getting the day off, yay for him!
Why yes… the outgoing PM gave them a mention during his Americas Cup speech
I know right? I was shocked too to hear the name of our national rugby team pass his lips lmfao sarc.
He said something like… if the All Blacks can do as good a job as Team NZ blah blah,
Bill looking for common ground, everyone loves the AB’s give them a mention in an attempt to win some votes, hey it worked for the PM who quit.
Rachel Stewart on twitter:
“How refreshing to hear the ABs got beaten. I love that shit.”
hehe
Best piece I’ve read in the Herald for some time.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11886319
Agree. I’ve been impressed by their articles on suicide – they have been putting some strong and multiple articles up. This is another good one. Thanks for highlighting it SM.
thanks from me too, stunned.
i agree with the former coroner.
i reckon the silent approach is largely flawed nowadays.
the prevalence of devices, and cyber places for youngsters to ‘congrgate’ could lead to lots of disinformation.
if there were honest discussions in the public forum, youth and others would have something to compare to what they experience from the ether.
NPR tweets the Declaration of Independence as part of its regular 4th of July celebration, and followers of the Orangegropenfuhrer freak.
https://www.rawstory.com/2017/07/calling-for-a-revolution-trump-fans-triggered-after-npr-tweets-out-the-declaration-of-independence/
http://americannewsx.com/human-interest/people-take-offense-npr-quoting-declaration-independence/
“Point many missed, re: @NPR DOI hilarity, is not that trump supporters didn’t recognize the doc, but that they DID recognize trump”:
Oh right, Andre at comment 1. Hat tip.
Supreme Court has just held that conservation land cannot be taken to build the Ruataniwha Dam. Nats vanity project dead in the water?
Awesome news!!!
This is massive – a turning point for environmentalists and conservationalists.
+1
Fantastic news. Well done all those groups who have been fighting this for so many years.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11886650
Bill English’s reaction:
“Isaac Davison
@isaac_davison
PM tells @NewstalkZB the law will have to be changed re: land swaps after Supreme Court rules against Ruataniwha dam. @Forest_and_Bird”
We need to change the government.
The Nats will change the law to make irrigation possible wherever they want it to go. No wonder they are intent on denuding the Environment Court and the RMA.
“And we’ve got no Privy Council sob sob……”
Among other things, ag consultant Alison Dewes talks about large scale irrigation pipe dreams.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/201848878/expert-feature-cleaning-up-dairying
Not dead in the water yet as they are looking at changing the law so the swap can go ahead.
They only see the land to be swapped in monetary terms. But the problem is the land value has never been a monetary one. While the monetary value of the land might be lower, its importance to the vulnerable species that live there is extremely high.
Nats quickie legislation on the way?
The Supreme Court has just ruled the land acquisition for the Ruataniwha Dam as unlawful.
Shit will go down.
Any chance you would write a post from that perspective?
Shit will decrease. The two taniwha have twitched.
Dumb arses could have had a nice Forest lake a 170 ha,s more Forest and economic development .
Liking this series by Chris Trotter.
https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2017/07/labour-breaking-bad-second-in-series-of.html
He’s finally noticed?
I must say that I’ve been thoroughly underwhelmed by Little. The only way he’s dealt with parasites like Robertson and Mallard has been to pander to them.
Yep, Labour has never been a social party. It has always supported and strengthened capitalism. Even now when it’s obvious that capitalism simply doesn’t work.
Why is he saying that Little hasn’t put a lid on Labour ructions? I’d say that it’s one of his strengths over previous leaders: the ones who expect promotion without putting in the work are slowly trickling down the list and pissing off to the tories.
Most politicians have a tendency towards self promotion, but the “levelling down” of infighting and undermining seems to have a decent lid on it. The tories like to talk about barbeques and Ardern’s puff pieces, but the fact is the number of leakers in caucus seems to have dwindled more than a Canterbury aquifer.
Not sure why he said that of Little. The Māori caucus? Maybe he knows something.
Maybe. Or maybe he’s just not one to let facts get in the way of his expert opinion.
There is that.
edit: also the fact Chris likes to tease people with information he has.
“Chris likes to tease people with information he has.”
Correction:
Chris likes to pretend he knows stuff when in fact he knows nothing.
Further correction:
Chris likes to weave fiction and fantasy into stuff and then convince himself it’s reality.
Being a newcomer to the Hawkes Bay I was warned not to buy out along the coast around Clifton as erosion and sea level rise is likely to see a lot of land disappear. Sure enough, yesterday saw the sea come 2 metres closer to homes, roads and power lines. This was not caused by some big storm, just a good swell.
Affected locals call for financial compensation from the council or that it build sea walls for about 5 km.
This scenario will be replicated at many other locations as sea level rise by about 3mm per annum. What should we be doing? Build defences, retreat, compensate, relocate infrastructure, leave land owners to sort out their own problem? I am not sure, but one thing we should do today is stop making the problem bigger by allowing more development below the 10m or 20m contour.
They were aware of the risks when they built/bought and so can fuck off.
QFT
The FO option is one that has some merit, but on the other hand we do socialise risk for earthquakes and slips.
I am waiting for all those holiday suburbs like Pawanui to come to the realisation that their sea views will only increase: to the point that the water is lapping the door step. The political power these people can bring will see it rapidly become a central government problem and you just know that they will want to have their losses socialised. For me, paying a cent from the public purse for a holiday home is totally wrong.
Draco T Bastard is correct, the problem of erosion in Huamoana/Clifton has been known for years, the coast has been going backwards there every since I was a little ‘un.
The council is guilty of continuing to allow people to buy – even being 30m back from the beach isn’t safe – but caveat emptor kicks in somewhere and they shouldn’t bleat for ratepayers money when they took a calculated risk on purchase that hasn’t paid off.
Experience in other places (e.g. Waihi Beach) would tend to reinforce a view that protective works are carried out based, mainly, on who owns the property that may be affected.
… and therein lies another risk, that protective works carried out in one location often increase the damage done to neighbouring areas or properties.
DTB and Gistle
It is time for Councils to make these moves and refuse building permits so people don’t feel they are safe from risks, that it is just a bunch of old moaners worrying over nothing. Open them up to camping grounds with some reasonable sewerage, allow trailer parks and then they can drive away when the sea hits the sand.
Seems apart from Standard readers who want him banned from the airwaves – Mike Hosking is doing very well and grew his market share of listeners in Auckland.
Of course some people on here will call him all sorts of names – but I just think this shows the disconnect between the general public and some of the commenters on here (who of course think they know better).
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11886776
I think he could be in for a nice wee bonus.
Oh dear. Proof that Dorkland really is full of dorks.
yes but we take comfort in the fact that our houses are worth zillions
“…who want him banned from the airwaves
Link to this? Most comments seem to be about not wanting our state broadcaster to employ him because of his inaccuracies and rants.
He can retain his private employ and continue his inanities for ever as far as I am concerned. He is a good example for media studies.
Doesn’t NZME also still employ partner-basher Veitch? Fitting company.
Some questions for James: you say you don’t listen to Hoskings. Those here who do, dislike what he says and does. Why do you feel the need to post in favour of someone you haven’t (you say) listened too? Are you just trying to wind-up people here?
How is that not trolling?
I dont listen to him. I posted it as an opposing position to the people who seem to call him all sorts of names and want him off radio. Im just pointing out that a lot of normal people listen to him – so perhaps they should look at their biases.
opposition for the sake of opposition, then.
Why does a lot of people listening mean that he shouldn’t be called names?
and the opinions expressed were that he is too partisan to be funded by the state broadcaster, not that he shouldn’t be allowed to be broadcast at all. Sorry to burst your delusions.
Sorry to burst your lies – but some wanted him pulled from all TV. As in banning.
“garibaldi 2.2
5 July 2017 at 8:10 am
He should be permanently pulled from all public exposure full stop.”
As for calling someone names – if you cannot work that out – I hope you are fine with people doing it about you and your family in real life also.
I hope you are fine with people doing it about you and your family in real life also.
Unlike with Hosking, I haven’t noticed McFlock pointlessly making a cunt of himself over and over again in the media, so it’s unlikely he’d be called the kinds of names Hosking is. In any case: don’t think of them as “names,” think of them as “reasonably accurate descriptions.” Someone who makes a career out of publicly broadcasting loathesome opinions should expect a fair amount of loathing as a result.
no, not so much in the media… 🙂
“loathesome opinions” in your mighty opinion that is.
fair call on the banning thing, although I think you’re emphasising a less-common attitude for convenience.
As for calling people names – yeah, I don’t take it personal. That’s how I managed to do venue security for a decade without getting complaints agin me. I didn’t give a shit if someone called me a cunt because I refused them entry. None of it’s personal. None of the hoons calling names as they pass by at night mean it – if they don’t give it a second thought, why should I?
But on the odd occasion someone has called me a name and it did bother me. Because I reflected on why they called me names, and realised they had grounds to do it, and I was in the wrong. I wasn’t upset at them, I was upset at myself. I deserved it, I’d made a stupid move.
Only a fucking idiot gets upset if someone calls them names without cause. The name-caller’s opinion on the matter is obviously worthless. But maybe that’s an insight one only acquires after being screamed at by a drunk fuck for a constant 45 minutes before your offsider takes his turn on the door. And the following night the same drunk fuck thinks he’s your best mate.
Thanks for the very reasoned reply.
I still stand by calling names on people because of your views (if they differ from yours) – and Im referring to others on here not so much you – is wrong.
Yet many on this forum think its reasonable and right.
But (and this is aimed at nobody at all) – lets say your wife / daughter had a view on something – lets say they agree with Hoskins, or liked Trump, or were pro abortion – or whatever.
They have their reasons (whatever they may be). Is it really right that others call them a stupid cunt for their position. Or a fucken baby murderer? What about racist? What about telling people they are racist because they like Trump (the two are not necessarily linked).
Lets call them that to their face, in front of people – write it on public forums so when people searching for them can see the abuse that is leveled at them.
Would you stand by and watch that happen to them and think its OK? IS it OK for people to just let it slide – because they agree with abuser?
NZ Has a suicide problem – on that we can all agree.
Yet many seem happy to ply abuse on people because their views differ – and to me thats never right.
You cannot say its bad to bully and name call a kid, or a transgendered person, or a woman, and then go do it to somebody else because they happen to differ in political views to you.
Well, I try to avoid calling people words like “cunt”, but I’ve definitely called people baby-killers. Anti-vaxxers and/or tories, if I recall correctly.
The thing is, I can and did provide reasons to back it up. It’s not because their opinions differ from mine, it’s because I think that the views they express, and in some cases the very expression of those views, will indirectly cause the deaths of babies.
I think that’s part of the miscommunication: you say it’s because Hosking expresses different views that he is called names. I think that most of the people here who call him names do so because they honestly believe his propaganda validates the very real suffering and hardship, and occasional deaths, of thousands of NZers. And they have reasonable grounds to believe that. That’s one difference between abusing tories and abusing minorities.
The main difference between name-calling someone like Hosking or an advocate for the mismanagement of this government on the one hand, and children/women/minorities on the other, is like the difference between slaves calling a slaveholder a slaveholder and slaveholders calling a slave a slave. There’s a massive power imbalance that your comparison fails to acknowledge. One is a reasonable description that confronts the situation, the other attempts to reinforce the situation.
Hear, hear. McFlock.
James said:
“I still stand by calling names on people because of your views (if they differ from yours) – and Im referring to others on here not so much you – is wrong.”
QFT
It is possible that Garibaldi meant Public (ie, state-owned) TV when he made his comment. That I would agree with, unless immediate right of reply is given after each rant.
Calling people names, James? James, James, James – who here repeatedly calls Andrew Little, “Angry Andy”, James? James, that’s who.
The stench of hypocrisy wafts from you, James, like … a stench.
Fair point – I do say that.
Hi James,
another thing that is wrong is being deliberately disingenuous.
I reckon some points of pedantry argued on here, while deliberately avoiding the main thrust is also wrong.
You know, derailling behaviour.
Radio NZ Morning Report 430,000 listeners (April) Mike Hoskin 325,000 listeners (July).
Looks like there are a few discerning listeners out there.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2017/05/11/26463/the-rise-and-rise-of-rnz
Notice that the dominance of RNZ is not mentioned. I believe Morning Report out-guns little Mike by a hundred thousand or so.
Edit: So true Bearded Git.
It’s cos people think he’s Jeremy Wells.
By crikey… was wondering why I don’t tune into… but according to their frequency list I’d have to warm up my valve radio, only AM frequency in Nelson region.
With that in mind, not many if any people in the Nelson region listen to Hosking on the radio.
Invercargill MP, Sarah Dowie, National, writes in The Southland Times:
https://i.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/opinion/94397621/healthcare-a-top-priority
Healthcare a top priority
“Quality healthcare is important to all of us and this Government is continuing to deliver a world-class healthcare system with proper mental health support for all Southlanders.”
Southlanders respond:
Cousin aged 55 waited six months , was in pain and was ignored, , finally paid private and is now back full time at work We will remember this election.
5 hours ago
Just think
I know of Southlander’s who have died, because by the time they met the criteria to be seen, it was too late to help them.
7 hours ago
Ruz
This is a political broadcast from the National Party written and authorised by the Office of the Prime Minister.
Admirably clear accessible web design advice from the UK govt: https://accessibility.blog.gov.uk/2016/09/02/dos-and-donts-on-designing-for-accessibility
thanks, that was very interesting.
cheers