Hmmm. 20/20 vision, and all that. The Pacific War was no cakewalk. The Japanese were no pushover, or the surrendering kind. Both sides displayed admirable virtues taken to a destructive extreme – and faced impossible choices. What happend, happened, and can’t be undone. Better to focus on the lessons these days, not the justifications.
None of that addresses the US using a weapon of mass destruction on a civilian population. Even now their justification that it ended the war and saved lives is baseless.
The Japanese didn’t surrender because of the bombs. There were statements made that they didn’t see the difference between losing a whole city to one bomb or to a night of fire bombing as happened in Tokyo earlier in the war.
Their surrender was a result of Russia positioning to directly invade Japan. Seeing what was happening to surrendering soldiers on the eastern front after VE day Japan’s leaders realised they faced a far better chance if they surrendered to the US before the Russian’s landed.
The extreme reluctance of Japanese soldiers to surrender is no myth. There are numerous examples to back it up. Not saying your wrong about the US wanting Japan to surrender to them rather than Russia. No doubt the US wanted that.
One interesting thought I came across while studying it was that the nukes were dropped simply because nobody really considered not dropping them.
The resources put into the Manhatten project and the B29, the prospect of invasion against resistance, it promised to be a quick option, the research data that would be generated, Stalin repositioning… basically, no historian has ever found a memo or diary note asking “should we obliterate a city with a single bomb: pros, cons…”. The question doesn’t seem to have occurred to anyone.
Yeah, if they’d had some generals and cabinet officials on it, rather than it being put in the round filing cabinet and then most of them getting kicked out of weapons work, you might have a point.
The question was never raised in decision-making circles. That petition didn’t even make it one step on from the recipient to the president.
That was one reason the state department was for it.
Ensuring a speedy and unconditional surrender from Japan was another.
The military were concerned about casualties from an invasion, and looked forward to having their new toy demonstrated.
They also needed to demonstrate the fruits of the massive programmes that were needed to develop the bomb and the delivery system (B29).
the navy was happy to have a siege, as it had obliterated most maritime transport by that stage, but the air force was going for gold.
Specific cities had been deliberately untouched by conventional bombing so they could act as testbeds – a possible contingency option that became a fate accompli.
Industry could see justification for continued development, and by that stage the nuclear programme was employing hundreds of thousands across several states.
That’s just off the top of my head – there were lots of reasons nobody would question the assumption that the bombs would be dropped on cities.
I have spoken to a few different Japanese citizens over the years who state that many Japanese blame the Emperor for NOT surrendering earlier. As a result some still refuse to sing the parts of their national anthem which refers to the emperor.
1. Helping Israel to commit human rights atrocities
2. Invading other countries thus committing their own human rights atrocities
3. Still believe in the childish might is right BS that most of us grow out of before we’re five
I really wouldn’t be bothered by the bombing of Hiroshima today if anybody had learned the lessons from it but it’s obvious that the US and many others simply haven’t.
There are many books on the topic (a gross understatement I know) but three I would recommend, to offer a diverse view of the events and the aftermath of Hiroshima, are the following publications.
Day of the Bomb by Dan Kurzman
Dark Sun by Richard Rhodes
Faces of Hiroshima by Anne Chilsolm
No matter how many words get written, films get made or discussions that occur, the truth of the matter is thus:
“Memory and imagination, not nuclear weapons, are the greatest deterrents.”
-Martha Gellhorn
Hypocrisy watch: Mike Hosking is now opposed to privacy.
His lamentable television show gets worse every night Seven Sharp, Television One, Wednesday 5 August 2015
First topic tonight: the controversy following the shooting of Cecil the lion….
MIKE HOSKING: By the outpouring of rage and hate, you’d think the end of the world had happened. TONI STREET: To most of us it looks repulsive and utterly wrong, but on the other side of the world, does a Twitter storm mean anything?
….. Cue sententious sound track, with shots of protestors’ placards, “ROT IN HELL”, “EVIL MONSTER”, an earnest Californian voice saying: “We should really SHAME these people.”….
MIKE HOSKING: ….And now this American accountant Sabrina Corgatelli rubbing salt in the wounds with provocative posts, ….bragging about shooting a giraffe. …. So I spoke to Daryl Crimp, he’s the editor of the Fishing Paper and Hunting News. Daryl, is there an underbelly of people opposed to hunting in this country? DARYL CRIMP: Of course we have social media today, which makes it very easy for keyboard warriors to hide behind a screen and bash off things without actually thinking about what they’re saying. HOSKING: So what are the rules around hunting? When you shot Cecil, is it uncool or not? What’s good, what’s not? DARYL CRIMP: Well, he shouldn’t be called Cecil in the first place. No name is a good name for a lion. Hunting plays an important role in animal welfare. …. It’s a question of perception. I don’t judge other people. …. HOSKING: Is there an irrational emotional attachment, do you think? I mean, it’s like, everyone likes pandas, everyone loves lions, no one seems to get upset about shooting a pig. DARYL CRIMP: Also nobody seems to get incensed about the wanton killing and genocide of huge numbers of PEOPLE in Zimbabwe, where Cecil, um, lives. [As he says that, Hosking smiles ruefully.] It’s what we call bambi-ism, I mean the scientific name for it is anthropomorphism, and it’s simply putting human attributes and emotions on to an animal. It makes it easier for you to become detached from reality.
…..
HOSKING: See, you agree with that, don’t you! We all agreed with him. TONI STREET:[giggling plaintively] I was BULLIED into agreeing with you! HOSKING: You are Russia at the Security Council. You have the veto, the permanent veto.
So, even when he is trying to be clever, Hosking shows how ignorant he is. If he had any knowledge of politics or history, he would have said, “You are America at the Security Council.” But this is Mike Hosking, and as is painfully apparent almost every time he speaks, or writes his Year 9-standard opinion pieces in the Herald, he knows little or nothing about anything.
…………..
At the end of each episode of this ghastly program, there is a brief sub-sophomoric homily, one from each host. Toni Street went first tonight, delivering a stern little lecture about the way that students spend all their student loan money on partying—at least, she giggled, that’s how she and her friends treated their “free money” when they were at university ten years ago. Her solution? Well, it comes straight from the ACT Party’s moronic policy platform: a voucher system for books.
If that was bad, worse was to follow. Hosking’s homily consisted of a spittle-flecked rant against “the madness that is the privacy law in this country.” He sneered at the “earnest do-gooders” who believe in the ridiculous and thoroughly outdated idea of privacy. “Justice minister Amy Adams talked today about the privacy law and its omnipresent ability to hamper our efforts against domestic violence. She is RIGHT!”
Cecil the Lion was covered by Joe Bennett yesterday in the Dominion. Can’t find it online. I suspect that Hosking plagerised Joe’s column. Same idea plus the rather miserable death awaiting aged lions and the money that Zimbabwe makes from hunting. I am rather surprised at the huge raging against the hunter and for the first time ever sort of agree with Hoskings and Bennett even if Hosking did steal his lines from another.
“…So, to say Obama is progress is saying that he’s the first black person that is qualified to be president. That’s not black progress. That’s white progress. There’s been black people qualified to be president for hundreds of years. If you saw Tina Turner and Ike having a lovely breakfast over there, would you say their relationship’s improved? Some people would. But a smart person would go, “Oh, he stopped punching her in the face.” It’s not up to her. Ike and Tina Turner’s relationship has nothing to do with Tina Turner. Nothing. It just doesn’t. The question is, you know, my kids are smart, educated, beautiful, polite children. There have been smart, educated, beautiful, polite black children for hundreds of years. The advantage that my children have is that my children are encountering the nicest white people that America has ever produced. Let’s hope America keeps producing nicer white people….”
The whole interview is quite long, but it covers not just Civil Rights, but his wider political beliefs, being a parent, and style of comedy.
Those three articles are just ‘first off the rank’ pickings from last year in a simple search using “$6 a kilo break even”. The tone is unequivocal. As Dairy fell below $6 a kilo there was concern about the financial position confronting many dairy farmers and the flow-on affects upon the economy.
A year on and RNZ has today reported that nine out of ten farmers are now collecting new debt to cover their losses.
New borrowing means more costs to the farmers. Farmers who are openly admitting that paying off any principal debt is a fantasy. Take into account the ongoing increases in costs of living, that farmers are not magically immune to, and that $6 a kilo break even point from last year has probably risen a bit. This not only increases the hardship these families are facing and all the stresses that go with that, but contain potential to do very real harm to the economic proceeds delivered to the country by the dairy sector.
Bill English will remind us how dairy is only one part of a bigger picture but he will still be demanding these farmers pay their taxes. Taxes are important. They pay for a lot of things. One of the things they pay for are Rural Assistance Payments that WINZ has had a growing number of applications for. I am not suggesting that farmers should not get help to feed their families and pay the rent. I mention it to point out if more and more farmers are already operating below the acknowledged break even point of $6 a kilo, borrowing even more money to only pay debt interest and needing to go to the Government for living assistance, they are probably borrowing money to pay the taxes on those farms.
If, as reported last year, prices of $6 a kilo were going to take an estimated 1.8 billion out of the economy, how many billions are going to be lost when the price hits a figure below $4? How much of our tax take in the coming years is not going to be paid by a farm’s earnings but from interest bearing debt?
$6 a kilo was the bank figure that farmers were expected to do their budgets on…the break even point will vary greatly from operation to operation…..there is another factor that has been greatly ignored to date and that is the land value which in this part of the world has steadily risen to over 45k a hectare on the back of a $7 plus return…..with a projected approx 4-5 dollars for the foreseeable there will be a huge correction with all the associated consequences of the writedowns……1980s all over again
I agree the break-even figure is widely variable but it has been used by all the players as a stable benchmark for quite a while now.
Even reporting back in 2008 references the figure as a breaking point for many operations. Other reports from that period also carry strong warnings about numerous risks to new players who might not have the embedded security of more established farm operations. Since 2008 there have been even more new players enter the sector and all the new debt that goes with it. In 2008 there were warnings about the risks to the sector of a $6 a kilo payout, so just how bad is it really getting for those operations who thought they were onto a winner but are staring down a figure that might begin with a 3?
Naturally the banks saw the potential and dished out the dosh to all and sundry who wandered in. It’s what banks do, they create debt markets. Look at student debt for proof of concept. So what happens next? Well maybe the fact we have a new bank in NZ that is focused on ‘helping’ the agriculture sector is enough proof that before long those debts farmers are struggling with today are going to turn into debts they can no longer handle tomorrow and the feeding frenzy will begin. It will not be pretty. As Blinglish drifts along, dreamily recalling the heydays of the 80’s, I cannot help but notice reality standing over him angrily waving a ‘class of 87’ placard.
According to DairyNZ, during the 2013-2014 year NZ Dairy Farmers worked 1.7 million hectares.
They report NZ surpassed 20 billion litres of milk production.
This produced 1.83 billion kilograms of milk solids
That makes roughly 11765 litres a hectare (rounded up)
or 1077 kilograms of solids per hectare (rounded up)
It is not just the farmers taking on more debt. No matter how accountants and investors spin it, issuing bonds is ‘taking a loan’. Loans are debts. Debts have to be paid and Fonterra have around a half billion of bonds’ debt to pay off by 2021. When its due they’ll just issue more bonds and shuffle things round, but it’s just borrowing from Peter to pay Paula.
Remember: According to the Government, dairy is not in crisis!
I ‘guesstimate’ tomorrow’s announcement is likely to be in the region of $3.85 a kilo.
The May 2015 auction delivered an index rate of 714 with Fonterra forecasting a payout including dividends of $4.40.
So when August 2015’s auction produces an index of only 515 does anyone really expect a payout rate above $4?
Even at $4 that is 33% below the oft referenced break even point of $6, yet the payout rate is likely to be even lower!
Fonterra have little leeway to soften the impact of diminishing returns from the recent auctions. Even if they decide to drink deep to artificially sustain the industry and managed a payout of $4 – $4.20 the sector is still facing a [roughly] 50% collapse in dairy payouts in only the last twelve months.
And the Government says our dairy industry is not in crisis?
This is actually the deep and meaningful insight into key. He keeps it simple and continually answers the question HE wants, no matter what the actual question asked.
How to combat that approach?
Ridicule – keep asking the same question and make fun of the nonsensical answers
Distain – “reeealllly Prime Minister, thaaat is your answer?”
Of course the journos could do it but they won’t so maybe the opposition could give it a try???
Hi MM – I agree with you entirely, I have just read the editorial in the Herald and Jesus wept I now know why I cancelled my Herald on the Monday after the last election. Bloody unbelievable that they are allowed to print such drivel – if the paper’s can be “managed” and told what to print then I can see eventually a police state on the horizon a comin’ complete with tasers and their new weaponry which they have ordered to keep the great unwashed under control. Also I have found in the past 4-5 months that Q & A and The Nation are just as crappy as well. I tape them and watch them on the Sunday and find I am frequently fast forwarding entire segments as they are just cringe worthy rubbish. It wonderful about John Campbell getting a prime slot on RNZ – but I fear they may “get to him” on that station as well but I wish him all the luck in the world.
Until the lazy disengaged segment of NZ start looking for news and information off grid of the MSM we will continue to have this corrupt lot in power. I realise only too well that most of the work force are underpaid, overworked, travel home late at night zonked out tired with kids to care for which is how the Govt likes it to be for obvious reasons and I am sure they just plonk themselves down in front of the TV and watch that lunatic Hoskings – but I still cannot understand for the life of me how they can just sit there tired as they are and just soak it in every night. The Speaker of the House should be sacked and Labour needs Andrew Little to get a heap more of the”cut the crap” back and counter Key much more assertively – even reptiles can be squashed if the will is there. I never really thought we would have corrupt elections but I think for this next election it should be a manual paper vote and keep the electonic jiggery out of it – the whole system of government right now just stinks.
Martyn over on The Daily Blog had a great saying on one of his editorals this week – “We are a junvenile country with the maturity of a can of coke” – it sums up this country so well – my parents are turning in their graves as I write this at the state of our lack of democracy and the lack of interest a whole segment of the citizenry have in it.
A more balanced view on the Saudi fiasco from Vernon Small over at Stuff.
I think John Armstrong (and probably his editor) need to seriously consider his well-being. Really, some of his contributions are going beyond being rational.
Been interesting and enlightening to see the hate on Susan Devoy here recently. I opposed her appointment and worried about the benefits of her appointment and she was still appointed. Devoy has made some calls and I say good on her for that – I happen to agree with a few of them and disagree with others.
The recent smattering of anti devoy shit is because she made a call on labour’s twyford Little racist dog whistle – funny that those deriding her now because she called out their stuff would have been there in the day cheering her on and saying, “I’m so proud (sniff sniff) to be a Kiwi now that we are the squash champion of the world”.
Devoy is a work in progress – kia kaha for that. The whingers are pathetic in their dim perceptions, selective memories and general overall awfulness – get over yourselves ffs.
Would you be chairleeding for her if she had said that she saw nothing racist in labour use Chinese names to point out the overseas investment problem.?
I’d put that one into one of the ones I disagreed with – hardly mind bending stuff – I’m sure I wouldn’t call her names and abuse her for giving it a go – I love watching the hypocrisy of bullies – such cowards.
The recent smattering of anti devoy shit is because she made a call on labour’s twyford Little racist dog whistle
And that call was as wrong as the one you made. It wasn’t racist, it was simply the facts that we need to make informed decisions.
funny that those deriding her now because she called out their stuff would have been there in the day cheering her on and saying, “I’m so proud (sniff sniff) to be a Kiwi now that we are the squash champion of the world”.
Actually, I never knew who she was and really couldn’t give a shit. I am concerned that she doesn’t appear to be up to doing her job. She could grow into it and she has made some good calls but this ain’t one of them. In fact, this seems to be a political call rather than a truth call.
I’m still waiting for the next round of polls to possibly confirm that Labour flamed out over their Chinese gambit and it did zero for them electorally.
If we don’t discuss the underlying issues behind Auckland’s spiralling house prices, it’s only going to get worse.
Overseas speculators are part of the problem.
We should be able to talk about this.
If we’re going to have a conversation about it then lets have a conversation about steps which are actually going to reduce Auckland house prices to affordable levels.
Not just banning overseas investors from buying, but also banning overseas investors from owning. Making houses impossible to profit on in terms of speculative capital gains. Heavily limiting bank lending on everything except a primary home. Driving population growth out of Auckland.
But no one has the guts to do anything except point fingers at the Chinese and that won’t achieve fuck all result in bringing Auckland house prices back under $500K.
I agree with all of your suggestions.
I would add the reinstatement of a massive state housing programme and the nationalisation of Fletcher Building, which forts millions out of I it’s monopoly position.
I’m with you on that too; we need a very far ranging conversation on how our economy and the government treats housing going forward. My cynicism from Labour having picked one populist angle but after weeks I still don’t see them fronting on the more difficult elements of a comprehensive programme.
Can you imagine them going to the middle class electorate and saying – these great house prices you’ve been relying on to fund your retirement portfolio – that’s over now, we’re going to put a stop to it.
The Labour Party shouldn’t be scared to upset those people. They are the very people who have been voting National for the reason their house prices have gone up so they feel richer thanks to Key.
But for the vast majority, they would love to hear a party attacking the buy to rent brigade.
@Paul
How do you see Fletcher getting so much out of the system. Could you spell it out? I have heard that much of our timber is exported and NZs have to pay export prices for it. That Fletchers argue this is because they have to hold a certain amount back for NZs, and to sell it at NZ prices reduces their potential profit!
If we’re going to have a conversation about it then lets have a conversation about steps which are actually going to reduce Auckland house prices to affordable levels.
But when Labour started such a conversation you all cried racist immediately stopping the conversation.
… she has made some good calls but this ain’t one of them. In fact, this seems to be a political call rather than a truth call.
100% right. Remember who appointed her? Judith Collins. Devoy was put there to follow an agreed path laid down by her benefactor. Then the unthinkable happened. Collins lost her ministerial post. But be certain Devoy is still getting “guidance” from said benefactor. I want to lay a complaint about Ms Devoy because she is clearly lacking in comprehension and objectivity – as has been evident on more than one occasion – and I suspect she is not acting independently of the Nat government.
Anyone care to advise me the name of the appropriate person is address the complaint to?
This is why the power companies have to be re nationlised like NOW. It is a too important bit of infrastructure to be in the hands of the fucking spivs. Should have not been sold off in the first place.
Take them back no compensation get rid of the likes of Shipley of failed Mainzeal fame, now chair of Genesis Energy, and tell the rest to fuck off.
Genesis had the fucking cheek to put the standing charges up by 79% last year, and again by 10% this year As Arther Dailey (Minder) would say ” a nice little earner” and we are the fucking mugs who have no choice but to pay these arseholes.
“If the smelter had cut its expected load, the power industry would have faced a big glut of power, and wholesale prices would have slumped.
However others said that if that had happened, the industry would have shut down more power stations to reduce the supply.”
I’m a paramedic. My job requires a broad set of skills: interpersonal, medical, and technical skills, as well as the crucial skill of performing under pressure. I often make decisions on my own, in seconds, under chaotic circumstances, that impact people’s health and lives. I make $15/hr.
And these burger flippers think they deserve as much as me?
So far, so predictable… I thought – then Jen Rushings continues:
Good for them.
Look, if any job is going to take up someone’s life, it deserves a living wage. If a job exists and you have to hire someone to do it, they deserve a living wage. End of story. There’s a lot of talk going around my workplace along the lines of, “These guys with no education and no skills think they deserve as much as us? Fuck those guys.” And elsewhere on FB: “I’m a licensed electrician, I make $13/hr, fuck these burger flippers.”
And that’s exactly what the bosses want! They want us fighting over who has the bigger pile of crumbs so we don’t realize they made off with almost the whole damn cake. Why are you angry about fast food workers making two bucks more an hour when your CEO makes four hundred TIMES what you do? It’s in the bosses’ interests to keep your anger directed downward, at the poor people who are just trying to get by, like you, rather than at the rich assholes who consume almost everything we produce and give next to nothing for it.
Worth reading the whole item. But also good to hear the conversation going in a direction other than that we are now frustratingly used to.
Unfortunately no. But it looks like it might be curtailed a bit,
.Campbell’s arrival dovetails with Jim Mora’s wish to focus on presenting The Panel while his Checkpoint co-host, Mary Wilson, has been promoted to a senior news management role.
Mora said he was looking forward to working with Campbell, Afternoons host Jesse Mulligan and being able to focus on The Panel.
“I’ve been talking about it with Paul Thompson for a while, even before John came into the mix. We have new kinds of interactive ideas, listener-driven, that we want to develop. This gives me the time to do that. The Panel has built up the largest talk audience in New Zealand between 4 and 5 in the afternoon and we’re proud of that.”
+100 “Guyon and Suzie” …yes boring, boring …and more ‘nact patsies’ ( have already got into trouble once today for using that term on Susan Devoy..ha ha…over her accusing Labour of being racist …and Winston…who said i think “Two wongs don’t make a right”…Susan said this was racist too…lol…)
I seriously cannot understand why the collective Opposition hasn’t geared up for a sustained attack about the Government’s inaction about the dairy industry and Fonterra in particular.
Our largest company and exporter by a country mile is in a perilous state, taking 80% of New Zealand’s dairy producers with it.
The Shareholders meeting tomorrow will determine a fresh Board majority, Chair, and a fresh strategic direction for the company and for all of those farmers.
The payout is going to be well below $4.00, and will remain so for the next few years as far as all analysts are saying.
Labour may well wish to remain religiously sector-neutral in its industry development stance, but they seriously need to wake the hell up in a hurry.
The rural sector, and most of the provincial towns and cities, are going to be devastated for years to come over this payout. It will quickly come down to selling stock, culling, selling farm machinery, restructuring loans, then foreclosures and inevitable suicides.
Labour, Greens, NZFirst: work together on this one.
There is so much the government could have done over the last few years to partner with Fonterra and to act in the common interests of New Zealand. Other than the glorious failure of TPPA.
Fonterra’ future and of NZ dairy is the most important economic issue facing New Zealand for the next decade, and if Fonterra slips further, we are permanently weakened as a country.
Fonterra’ future and of NZ dairy is the most important economic issue facing New Zealand for the next decade, and if Fonterra slips further, we are permanently weakened as a country.
What a load of bollocks. Best thing we can do is drop a huge amount of agriculture and start actually developing out economy. Keeping agriculture as such a dominant part of our economy is what’s weakening it and our society.
Your love of Soviet-style Great Leaps Forward is well known.
But let me give you a taste. Just a taste.
On the West Coast, about 400 people are about to lose their jobs in the coal industry from Solid Energy’s collapse. That’s on top of the other mine closures there in the last two years.
On top of that is the 170 Kiwirail jobs that will go because there’s no business using the trains.
On top of that is all the contractors that help those mines operate.
And this impacting three small towns with less than 4,000 people in them each, towns on the West Coast, all of which were going backwards already.
People may well believe coal to be a sunset industry. Fine.
But with no plan to assist nearly 1,000 families keeping the wolf from the door, all you have is massive societal damage.
Call it a Structural Adjustment, a Great Leap Forward, whatever, the result is the same. Damaged people. Damaged families. Dole queues. Generations afterward also damaged. Stuff Labour governments stand up to help.
Now, it would be great to wave a wand a say, oh, bulk milk is a sunset industry. Fine.
Replay the West Coast scenario over every part of rural New Zealand. No plan. Plenty of suicides. Marriage breakups. Foreclosures. Walk-offs. Towns in accelerated decline.
Adjusting the economy is not an armchair exercise. In fact, we used to have unions to stop such Great Leap Backward nonsense.
Put your armchair wand-waving away for once, and face the reality and damage actual families are going through. Any good government would. Any good human would.
The insanity of there not being a sustainable logging industry on the west coast just leaves me shaking my head.
If 1 log was removed per hectare every twenty years and taken to a finished product on the coast it would invigorate the economy there.
Where the hell did all that come from? I said we shouldn’t be putting all our faith in agriculture and that we should be developing our economy which, as a matter of fact, would actually do all that you want. I just don’t believe in the efficacy capitalism to achieve that.
+100 Ad…have to agree that the Opposition need to get cracking and take a lead and show up jonkey nactional ..ie “Labour, Greens, NZFirst: work together on this one”
…for a start forge markets with Russia for dairy products like cheeses and butters …NZ dairy which is grass fed is of the highest quality …and the Russian market has been open to us
I for one do not want to see dairy farmers go to the wall …and their land bought by foreigners…they need urgent financial assistance to weather this crisis, diversify and find new markets
…as well they need help to protect the environment..as well as the waterways ….not have their land sold up and carved up for excessive population growth
Why is it Key thinks that serving the nation is serving himself , we should call his bluff he doesnt know this country hasnt worked it since 1987 and then only to facilitate a financial crash and support Roger the Rip off and his financial fuckin of this nation
He came here to cover up the biggeest financial con in history the 2008 9/11 Crash of the worlds finances and bring Austerity /slavery and the too big to fail bail out and validate the Crimes against our Democracy committed by his associates
Sad to see Mary Wilson go – she is always sharp and incisive. John Campbell talks far too much for us to expect a decent interview. His questions longer than the answers!
maybe Mary Wilson wants/needs a change…yes she is great!…but maybe she is going on to better things at senior management level?….John Campbell is also superb on radio
I agree, Lynda.
John is great for some kinds of interviews, but when it comes to cutting through the bullshit and PR-speak there is nobody as good as Mary Wilson. I shall miss her.
Glad Jim Mora will no longer be on the 5-7pm slot, however. The Panel is easily avoided, but checkpoint is an important news source for me than was devalued by Mora;s presence.
Looks like the Syriza’s government has made things a lot worse in the country with their stubbon refusal to accept the need for reform till the very last minute.
The developer John Lenihan has made a submission to Auckland Council to remove the last piece of protection that stands between the trees and the chainsaws!
John Lenihan will be presenting to the Unitary Plan Independent hearings panel to remove the Significant Ecological Area (SEA) overlay from the area where the Paturoa Kauri remains.
If he succeeds it sets a dangerous precedent for the entire nation and removes all tree protections that currently exist at #SaveOurKauri 40 & 42 Paturoa Rd Titirangi
We will be attending,
Level 16 / Tower 1 / 205 Queen st,
this coming Monday the 10th August at 3:30pm.
What do the developers have to say for themselves?
Will they keep the promise they made to the people of Aotearoa New Zealand and save these trees from the chainsaw?
Come along if you can make it. The developers cannot be allowed to sneak this through.
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Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
COMMENTARY:By Murray Horton New Zealand needs to get tough with Israel. It’s not as if we haven’t done so before. When NZ authorities busted a Mossad operation in Auckland 20 years ago, the government didn’t say: “Oh well, Israel has the right to defend itself.” No, it arrested, prosecuted, ...
NEWSMAKERS:By Vijay Narayan, news director of FijiVillage Blessed to be part of the University of Fiji (UniFiji) faculty to continue to teach and mentor those who want to join our noble profession, and to stand for truth and justice for the people of the country. I was privileged to ...
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While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
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In the case of New Zealand, the results confirm that there is no popular support for the vicious austerity program being imposed by the National Party-led government, which is backed in all fundamental respects by the opposition Labour Party. ...
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Testing of drinking water in rural Canterbury over the weekend by Greenpeace revealed that several public town supplies were reaching levels of nitrate above 5 mg/L - the threshold which a growing body of scientific evidence has linked to increased ...
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Responding to the Government’s announcement of changes to resource management laws, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said: “These changes are a step in the right direction in terms of removing ideological and unworkable ...
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Welcome to the whirring wonders of one brain trying to align its actions with its beliefs within a system it thinks is evil. My brain has been spiralling in a woke conundrum ever since I found out a bookshop I’ve never been to was shutting down. Good Books, a bookshop ...
We repeat our call for criminal justice policy to be based on evidence, something the three strikes regime neglects to recognise – with no evidence that it either reduces crime or assists with rehabilitation. ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara With only four more seats in the 50-member Parliament yet to be officially declared, there is no outright winner in the Solomon Islands elections. As of Monday, the two largest blocs in the winner’s circle, independents and the incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh ...
Two/fiftyseven is a multi-purpose space hidden in the heart of Wellington that is paving a way for sustainable building and responsible landlording in Aotearoa and beyond.By 2060 the world is predicted to double its entire building stock, which equates to building an entire New York City every 34 days, ...
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Good graphic. Hiroshima day today, time to remember mankind’s potential for utter brutality.
And the regime that committed this ultimate crime is lecturing others about human rights seventy years later.
Hmmm. 20/20 vision, and all that. The Pacific War was no cakewalk. The Japanese were no pushover, or the surrendering kind. Both sides displayed admirable virtues taken to a destructive extreme – and faced impossible choices. What happend, happened, and can’t be undone. Better to focus on the lessons these days, not the justifications.
None of that addresses the US using a weapon of mass destruction on a civilian population. Even now their justification that it ended the war and saved lives is baseless.
The Japanese didn’t surrender because of the bombs. There were statements made that they didn’t see the difference between losing a whole city to one bomb or to a night of fire bombing as happened in Tokyo earlier in the war.
Their surrender was a result of Russia positioning to directly invade Japan. Seeing what was happening to surrendering soldiers on the eastern front after VE day Japan’s leaders realised they faced a far better chance if they surrendered to the US before the Russian’s landed.
or the surrendering kind
Nice mythmaking. There was no strategic value in nuking Japan except to prevent them surrendering to the Russians first.
The extreme reluctance of Japanese soldiers to surrender is no myth. There are numerous examples to back it up. Not saying your wrong about the US wanting Japan to surrender to them rather than Russia. No doubt the US wanted that.
One interesting thought I came across while studying it was that the nukes were dropped simply because nobody really considered not dropping them.
The resources put into the Manhatten project and the B29, the prospect of invasion against resistance, it promised to be a quick option, the research data that would be generated, Stalin repositioning… basically, no historian has ever found a memo or diary note asking “should we obliterate a city with a single bomb: pros, cons…”. The question doesn’t seem to have occurred to anyone.
You mean apart from the Szilard Petition
http://www.dannen.com/decision/pet-gif.html
http://www.dannen.com/decision/45-07-17.html with all 69 co-signatories
Yeah, if they’d had some generals and cabinet officials on it, rather than it being put in the round filing cabinet and then most of them getting kicked out of weapons work, you might have a point.
The question was never raised in decision-making circles. That petition didn’t even make it one step on from the recipient to the president.
the bomb was dropped, at least partly, for Stalin’s benefit.
That was one reason the state department was for it.
Ensuring a speedy and unconditional surrender from Japan was another.
The military were concerned about casualties from an invasion, and looked forward to having their new toy demonstrated.
They also needed to demonstrate the fruits of the massive programmes that were needed to develop the bomb and the delivery system (B29).
the navy was happy to have a siege, as it had obliterated most maritime transport by that stage, but the air force was going for gold.
Specific cities had been deliberately untouched by conventional bombing so they could act as testbeds – a possible contingency option that became a fate accompli.
Industry could see justification for continued development, and by that stage the nuclear programme was employing hundreds of thousands across several states.
That’s just off the top of my head – there were lots of reasons nobody would question the assumption that the bombs would be dropped on cities.
I have spoken to a few different Japanese citizens over the years who state that many Japanese blame the Emperor for NOT surrendering earlier. As a result some still refuse to sing the parts of their national anthem which refers to the emperor.
While:
1. Helping Israel to commit human rights atrocities
2. Invading other countries thus committing their own human rights atrocities
3. Still believe in the childish might is right BS that most of us grow out of before we’re five
I really wouldn’t be bothered by the bombing of Hiroshima today if anybody had learned the lessons from it but it’s obvious that the US and many others simply haven’t.
There are many books on the topic (a gross understatement I know) but three I would recommend, to offer a diverse view of the events and the aftermath of Hiroshima, are the following publications.
Day of the Bomb by Dan Kurzman
Dark Sun by Richard Rhodes
Faces of Hiroshima by Anne Chilsolm
No matter how many words get written, films get made or discussions that occur, the truth of the matter is thus:
“Memory and imagination, not nuclear weapons, are the greatest deterrents.”
-Martha Gellhorn
Hypocrisy watch: Mike Hosking is now opposed to privacy.
His lamentable television show gets worse every night
Seven Sharp, Television One, Wednesday 5 August 2015
First topic tonight: the controversy following the shooting of Cecil the lion….
MIKE HOSKING: By the outpouring of rage and hate, you’d think the end of the world had happened.
TONI STREET: To most of us it looks repulsive and utterly wrong, but on the other side of the world, does a Twitter storm mean anything?
….. Cue sententious sound track, with shots of protestors’ placards, “ROT IN HELL”, “EVIL MONSTER”, an earnest Californian voice saying: “We should really SHAME these people.”….
MIKE HOSKING: ….And now this American accountant Sabrina Corgatelli rubbing salt in the wounds with provocative posts, ….bragging about shooting a giraffe. …. So I spoke to Daryl Crimp, he’s the editor of the Fishing Paper and Hunting News. Daryl, is there an underbelly of people opposed to hunting in this country?
DARYL CRIMP: Of course we have social media today, which makes it very easy for keyboard warriors to hide behind a screen and bash off things without actually thinking about what they’re saying.
HOSKING: So what are the rules around hunting? When you shot Cecil, is it uncool or not? What’s good, what’s not?
DARYL CRIMP: Well, he shouldn’t be called Cecil in the first place. No name is a good name for a lion. Hunting plays an important role in animal welfare. …. It’s a question of perception. I don’t judge other people. ….
HOSKING: Is there an irrational emotional attachment, do you think? I mean, it’s like, everyone likes pandas, everyone loves lions, no one seems to get upset about shooting a pig.
DARYL CRIMP: Also nobody seems to get incensed about the wanton killing and genocide of huge numbers of PEOPLE in Zimbabwe, where Cecil, um, lives. [As he says that, Hosking smiles ruefully.] It’s what we call bambi-ism, I mean the scientific name for it is anthropomorphism, and it’s simply putting human attributes and emotions on to an animal. It makes it easier for you to become detached from reality.
…..
HOSKING: See, you agree with that, don’t you! We all agreed with him.
TONI STREET: [giggling plaintively] I was BULLIED into agreeing with you!
HOSKING: You are Russia at the Security Council. You have the veto, the permanent veto.
So, even when he is trying to be clever, Hosking shows how ignorant he is. If he had any knowledge of politics or history, he would have said, “You are America at the Security Council.” But this is Mike Hosking, and as is painfully apparent almost every time he speaks, or writes his Year 9-standard opinion pieces in the Herald, he knows little or nothing about anything.
…………..
At the end of each episode of this ghastly program, there is a brief sub-sophomoric homily, one from each host. Toni Street went first tonight, delivering a stern little lecture about the way that students spend all their student loan money on partying—at least, she giggled, that’s how she and her friends treated their “free money” when they were at university ten years ago. Her solution? Well, it comes straight from the ACT Party’s moronic policy platform: a voucher system for books.
If that was bad, worse was to follow. Hosking’s homily consisted of a spittle-flecked rant against “the madness that is the privacy law in this country.” He sneered at the “earnest do-gooders” who believe in the ridiculous and thoroughly outdated idea of privacy. “Justice minister Amy Adams talked today about the privacy law and its omnipresent ability to hamper our efforts against domestic violence. She is RIGHT!”
Of course, Mike Hosking’s newfound enthusiasm for trashing privacy laws almost certainly stems not from any principle, but from nothing more than his partisan support for the National Government. Not long ago, he was singing a very different tune……
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11481552
Watching 7 Sharp is beyond the call of duty.
Or if you like to watch narcissistic numpties out jerk each other
Hosking has competition and that’s why he’s trying so hard.
He is trying to out-Jeremy Jeremy Wells. Hosking hasn’t worked it out yet and he’s just trying too hard.😊
Cecil the Lion was covered by Joe Bennett yesterday in the Dominion. Can’t find it online. I suspect that Hosking plagerised Joe’s column. Same idea plus the rather miserable death awaiting aged lions and the money that Zimbabwe makes from hunting. I am rather surprised at the huge raging against the hunter and for the first time ever sort of agree with Hoskings and Bennett even if Hosking did steal his lines from another.
Stop watching it you are giving every indication that you are masochistic
many parallels here in New Zealand given the way our brown brothers are overrepresented in our prison population and when it comes to employment,
http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/race-baiting-101/
United we stand divided….. we get more and more of the same as we have right now.
That’s an interesting video, CC. Continuing the trend of his sentiment,
From an interview with Chris Rock, November 30, 2014.
http://www.vulture.com/2014/11/chris-rock-frank-rich-in-conversation.html
“…So, to say Obama is progress is saying that he’s the first black person that is qualified to be president. That’s not black progress. That’s white progress. There’s been black people qualified to be president for hundreds of years. If you saw Tina Turner and Ike having a lovely breakfast over there, would you say their relationship’s improved? Some people would. But a smart person would go, “Oh, he stopped punching her in the face.” It’s not up to her. Ike and Tina Turner’s relationship has nothing to do with Tina Turner. Nothing. It just doesn’t. The question is, you know, my kids are smart, educated, beautiful, polite children. There have been smart, educated, beautiful, polite black children for hundreds of years. The advantage that my children have is that my children are encountering the nicest white people that America has ever produced. Let’s hope America keeps producing nicer white people….”
The whole interview is quite long, but it covers not just Civil Rights, but his wider political beliefs, being a parent, and style of comedy.
https://agrihq.co.nz/article/latest-price-threatens-break-even?p=35
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/dairy/64313213/debt-a-big-hurdle-to-breaking-even
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/rural/251084/lower-payout-could-cost-farmers-$1-point-8b
Those three articles are just ‘first off the rank’ pickings from last year in a simple search using “$6 a kilo break even”. The tone is unequivocal. As Dairy fell below $6 a kilo there was concern about the financial position confronting many dairy farmers and the flow-on affects upon the economy.
A year on and RNZ has today reported that nine out of ten farmers are now collecting new debt to cover their losses.
New borrowing means more costs to the farmers. Farmers who are openly admitting that paying off any principal debt is a fantasy. Take into account the ongoing increases in costs of living, that farmers are not magically immune to, and that $6 a kilo break even point from last year has probably risen a bit. This not only increases the hardship these families are facing and all the stresses that go with that, but contain potential to do very real harm to the economic proceeds delivered to the country by the dairy sector.
Bill English will remind us how dairy is only one part of a bigger picture but he will still be demanding these farmers pay their taxes. Taxes are important. They pay for a lot of things. One of the things they pay for are Rural Assistance Payments that WINZ has had a growing number of applications for. I am not suggesting that farmers should not get help to feed their families and pay the rent. I mention it to point out if more and more farmers are already operating below the acknowledged break even point of $6 a kilo, borrowing even more money to only pay debt interest and needing to go to the Government for living assistance, they are probably borrowing money to pay the taxes on those farms.
If, as reported last year, prices of $6 a kilo were going to take an estimated 1.8 billion out of the economy, how many billions are going to be lost when the price hits a figure below $4? How much of our tax take in the coming years is not going to be paid by a farm’s earnings but from interest bearing debt?
$6 a kilo was the bank figure that farmers were expected to do their budgets on…the break even point will vary greatly from operation to operation…..there is another factor that has been greatly ignored to date and that is the land value which in this part of the world has steadily risen to over 45k a hectare on the back of a $7 plus return…..with a projected approx 4-5 dollars for the foreseeable there will be a huge correction with all the associated consequences of the writedowns……1980s all over again
I agree the break-even figure is widely variable but it has been used by all the players as a stable benchmark for quite a while now.
Even reporting back in 2008 references the figure as a breaking point for many operations. Other reports from that period also carry strong warnings about numerous risks to new players who might not have the embedded security of more established farm operations. Since 2008 there have been even more new players enter the sector and all the new debt that goes with it. In 2008 there were warnings about the risks to the sector of a $6 a kilo payout, so just how bad is it really getting for those operations who thought they were onto a winner but are staring down a figure that might begin with a 3?
Naturally the banks saw the potential and dished out the dosh to all and sundry who wandered in. It’s what banks do, they create debt markets. Look at student debt for proof of concept. So what happens next? Well maybe the fact we have a new bank in NZ that is focused on ‘helping’ the agriculture sector is enough proof that before long those debts farmers are struggling with today are going to turn into debts they can no longer handle tomorrow and the feeding frenzy will begin. It will not be pretty. As Blinglish drifts along, dreamily recalling the heydays of the 80’s, I cannot help but notice reality standing over him angrily waving a ‘class of 87’ placard.
Good points Pat. If they borrow the $45k they’d likely be paying around 6% interest which would cost $2700 per hectare.
What’s the typical annual milk yield per hectare… anyone know?
According to DairyNZ, during the 2013-2014 year NZ Dairy Farmers worked 1.7 million hectares.
They report NZ surpassed 20 billion litres of milk production.
This produced 1.83 billion kilograms of milk solids
That makes roughly 11765 litres a hectare (rounded up)
or 1077 kilograms of solids per hectare (rounded up)
http://www.dairynz.co.nz/news/latest-news/2013-14-dairy-season-one-of-the-best/
http://www.godairy.co.nz/the-big-picture/facts-and-figures (dairynz)
that’s half their pay out gone servicing a loan!
It is not just the farmers taking on more debt. No matter how accountants and investors spin it, issuing bonds is ‘taking a loan’. Loans are debts. Debts have to be paid and Fonterra have around a half billion of bonds’ debt to pay off by 2021. When its due they’ll just issue more bonds and shuffle things round, but it’s just borrowing from Peter to pay Paula.
Remember: According to the Government, dairy is not in crisis!
I ‘guesstimate’ tomorrow’s announcement is likely to be in the region of $3.85 a kilo.
The May 2015 auction delivered an index rate of 714 with Fonterra forecasting a payout including dividends of $4.40.
So when August 2015’s auction produces an index of only 515 does anyone really expect a payout rate above $4?
Even at $4 that is 33% below the oft referenced break even point of $6, yet the payout rate is likely to be even lower!
Fonterra have little leeway to soften the impact of diminishing returns from the recent auctions. Even if they decide to drink deep to artificially sustain the industry and managed a payout of $4 – $4.20 the sector is still facing a [roughly] 50% collapse in dairy payouts in only the last twelve months.
And the Government says our dairy industry is not in crisis?
http://www.globaldairytrade.info/en/product-results/
http://www.fonterra.com/nz/en/Financial/Farmgate+Milk+Price
Armstrong gives those opposed to shitkey the lowdown
“John Key had a simple line and he stuck to it whatever question was asked.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11492611
This is actually the deep and meaningful insight into key. He keeps it simple and continually answers the question HE wants, no matter what the actual question asked.
How to combat that approach?
Ridicule – keep asking the same question and make fun of the nonsensical answers
Distain – “reeealllly Prime Minister, thaaat is your answer?”
Of course the journos could do it but they won’t so maybe the opposition could give it a try???
Hi MM – I agree with you entirely, I have just read the editorial in the Herald and Jesus wept I now know why I cancelled my Herald on the Monday after the last election. Bloody unbelievable that they are allowed to print such drivel – if the paper’s can be “managed” and told what to print then I can see eventually a police state on the horizon a comin’ complete with tasers and their new weaponry which they have ordered to keep the great unwashed under control. Also I have found in the past 4-5 months that Q & A and The Nation are just as crappy as well. I tape them and watch them on the Sunday and find I am frequently fast forwarding entire segments as they are just cringe worthy rubbish. It wonderful about John Campbell getting a prime slot on RNZ – but I fear they may “get to him” on that station as well but I wish him all the luck in the world.
Until the lazy disengaged segment of NZ start looking for news and information off grid of the MSM we will continue to have this corrupt lot in power. I realise only too well that most of the work force are underpaid, overworked, travel home late at night zonked out tired with kids to care for which is how the Govt likes it to be for obvious reasons and I am sure they just plonk themselves down in front of the TV and watch that lunatic Hoskings – but I still cannot understand for the life of me how they can just sit there tired as they are and just soak it in every night. The Speaker of the House should be sacked and Labour needs Andrew Little to get a heap more of the”cut the crap” back and counter Key much more assertively – even reptiles can be squashed if the will is there. I never really thought we would have corrupt elections but I think for this next election it should be a manual paper vote and keep the electonic jiggery out of it – the whole system of government right now just stinks.
Martyn over on The Daily Blog had a great saying on one of his editorals this week – “We are a junvenile country with the maturity of a can of coke” – it sums up this country so well – my parents are turning in their graves as I write this at the state of our lack of democracy and the lack of interest a whole segment of the citizenry have in it.
oops there – a spelling error in the last paragraph – it should read juvenile.
A more balanced view on the Saudi fiasco from Vernon Small over at Stuff.
I think John Armstrong (and probably his editor) need to seriously consider his well-being. Really, some of his contributions are going beyond being rational.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/70841852/saudi-farm-deal-a-creative-solution-too-far-for-new-zealands-good-name
it’s also a deep and meaningful insight into journalists allowing him to dictate.
Been interesting and enlightening to see the hate on Susan Devoy here recently. I opposed her appointment and worried about the benefits of her appointment and she was still appointed. Devoy has made some calls and I say good on her for that – I happen to agree with a few of them and disagree with others.
The recent smattering of anti devoy shit is because she made a call on labour’s twyford Little racist dog whistle – funny that those deriding her now because she called out their stuff would have been there in the day cheering her on and saying, “I’m so proud (sniff sniff) to be a Kiwi now that we are the squash champion of the world”.
Devoy is a work in progress – kia kaha for that. The whingers are pathetic in their dim perceptions, selective memories and general overall awfulness – get over yourselves ffs.
political tribalism blinds
Would you be chairleeding for her if she had said that she saw nothing racist in labour use Chinese names to point out the overseas investment problem.?
+1
I’d put that one into one of the ones I disagreed with – hardly mind bending stuff – I’m sure I wouldn’t call her names and abuse her for giving it a go – I love watching the hypocrisy of bullies – such cowards.
Yet you appear more than willing to name call at will.
Even in this thread you have used terms like ‘whinger’, ‘bully’, ‘coward’, ‘pathetic’.
Pot.
Kettle.
Black?
Yep no mercy for netbullies – sorry if that offendith thee
Fair enough .
With it taking her so long to comment it makes me wonder that at best she’s waited to see which the wind was blowing first.
And that call was as wrong as the one you made. It wasn’t racist, it was simply the facts that we need to make informed decisions.
Actually, I never knew who she was and really couldn’t give a shit. I am concerned that she doesn’t appear to be up to doing her job. She could grow into it and she has made some good calls but this ain’t one of them. In fact, this seems to be a political call rather than a truth call.
“And that call was as wrong as the one you made”
yawn sigh yawn
I’m still waiting for the next round of polls to possibly confirm that Labour flamed out over their Chinese gambit and it did zero for them electorally.
If we don’t discuss the underlying issues behind Auckland’s spiralling house prices, it’s only going to get worse.
Overseas speculators are part of the problem.
We should be able to talk about this.
+100 Paul
It almost seems as if CV does not want this conversation to happen.
If we’re going to have a conversation about it then lets have a conversation about steps which are actually going to reduce Auckland house prices to affordable levels.
Not just banning overseas investors from buying, but also banning overseas investors from owning. Making houses impossible to profit on in terms of speculative capital gains. Heavily limiting bank lending on everything except a primary home. Driving population growth out of Auckland.
But no one has the guts to do anything except point fingers at the Chinese and that won’t achieve fuck all result in bringing Auckland house prices back under $500K.
I agree with all of your suggestions.
I would add the reinstatement of a massive state housing programme and the nationalisation of Fletcher Building, which forts millions out of I it’s monopoly position.
I’m with you on that too; we need a very far ranging conversation on how our economy and the government treats housing going forward. My cynicism from Labour having picked one populist angle but after weeks I still don’t see them fronting on the more difficult elements of a comprehensive programme.
Can you imagine them going to the middle class electorate and saying – these great house prices you’ve been relying on to fund your retirement portfolio – that’s over now, we’re going to put a stop to it.
It almost seems as if CV does want this conversation to happen.
The Labour Party shouldn’t be scared to upset those people. They are the very people who have been voting National for the reason their house prices have gone up so they feel richer thanks to Key.
But for the vast majority, they would love to hear a party attacking the buy to rent brigade.
@Paul
How do you see Fletcher getting so much out of the system. Could you spell it out? I have heard that much of our timber is exported and NZs have to pay export prices for it. That Fletchers argue this is because they have to hold a certain amount back for NZs, and to sell it at NZ prices reduces their potential profit!
Making too much sense as usual CV.
@ tinfoilhat
Stirrer.
But when Labour started such a conversation you all cried racist immediately stopping the conversation.
+100 DTB
100% right. Remember who appointed her? Judith Collins. Devoy was put there to follow an agreed path laid down by her benefactor. Then the unthinkable happened. Collins lost her ministerial post. But be certain Devoy is still getting “guidance” from said benefactor. I want to lay a complaint about Ms Devoy because she is clearly lacking in comprehension and objectivity – as has been evident on more than one occasion – and I suspect she is not acting independently of the Nat government.
Anyone care to advise me the name of the appropriate person is address the complaint to?
+100 Anne
This is why the power companies have to be re nationlised like NOW. It is a too important bit of infrastructure to be in the hands of the fucking spivs. Should have not been sold off in the first place.
Take them back no compensation get rid of the likes of Shipley of failed Mainzeal fame, now chair of Genesis Energy, and tell the rest to fuck off.
Genesis had the fucking cheek to put the standing charges up by 79% last year, and again by 10% this year As Arther Dailey (Minder) would say ” a nice little earner” and we are the fucking mugs who have no choice but to pay these arseholes.
“If the smelter had cut its expected load, the power industry would have faced a big glut of power, and wholesale prices would have slumped.
However others said that if that had happened, the industry would have shut down more power stations to reduce the supply.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/70875427/genesis-to-close-last-two-coalfired-power-units-at-huntly
Apparently, fast-food workers got a $15/hr agreement recently in the US. A paramedic took to Facebook to share that they also got $15/hr.
So far, so predictable… I thought – then Jen Rushings continues:
Worth reading the whole item. But also good to hear the conversation going in a direction other than that we are now frustratingly used to.
Breaking News John Campbell has joined Radio NZ as the drive time host
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/280641/john-campbell-to-join-radio-nz
I approve. I thought he’d go to Radio NZ and this is a prime spot.
Does that mean the end of Mora’s panel?
Unfortunately no. But it looks like it might be curtailed a bit,
.Campbell’s arrival dovetails with Jim Mora’s wish to focus on presenting The Panel while his Checkpoint co-host, Mary Wilson, has been promoted to a senior news management role.
Mora said he was looking forward to working with Campbell, Afternoons host Jesse Mulligan and being able to focus on The Panel.
“I’ve been talking about it with Paul Thompson for a while, even before John came into the mix. We have new kinds of interactive ideas, listener-driven, that we want to develop. This gives me the time to do that. The Panel has built up the largest talk audience in New Zealand between 4 and 5 in the afternoon and we’re proud of that.”
Drive time is 5 to 6.30.
Mora’s drival will continue no doubt.
Yes, now up.
‘Checkpoint host Mary Wilson has also been promoted to a senior news management role, while her co-host Jim Mora will focus on presenting The Panel.
“I’ve been talking about it with Paul Thompson for a while, even before John came into the mix,” Mora told RNZ.’
Very convenient the only decent journalist on the RNZ staff gets promoted out of the way into ‘management’
Yes wish she could take the morning show instead of Guyon and Suzie.
+100 “Guyon and Suzie” …yes boring, boring …and more ‘nact patsies’ ( have already got into trouble once today for using that term on Susan Devoy..ha ha…over her accusing Labour of being racist …and Winston…who said i think “Two wongs don’t make a right”…Susan said this was racist too…lol…)
maybe I should have said “pasties”?..or jam tarts
I seriously cannot understand why the collective Opposition hasn’t geared up for a sustained attack about the Government’s inaction about the dairy industry and Fonterra in particular.
Our largest company and exporter by a country mile is in a perilous state, taking 80% of New Zealand’s dairy producers with it.
The Shareholders meeting tomorrow will determine a fresh Board majority, Chair, and a fresh strategic direction for the company and for all of those farmers.
The payout is going to be well below $4.00, and will remain so for the next few years as far as all analysts are saying.
Labour may well wish to remain religiously sector-neutral in its industry development stance, but they seriously need to wake the hell up in a hurry.
The rural sector, and most of the provincial towns and cities, are going to be devastated for years to come over this payout. It will quickly come down to selling stock, culling, selling farm machinery, restructuring loans, then foreclosures and inevitable suicides.
Labour, Greens, NZFirst: work together on this one.
There is so much the government could have done over the last few years to partner with Fonterra and to act in the common interests of New Zealand. Other than the glorious failure of TPPA.
Fonterra’ future and of NZ dairy is the most important economic issue facing New Zealand for the next decade, and if Fonterra slips further, we are permanently weakened as a country.
+100
+1 Ad
a cynic might say ‘almost like it was planned to, decades ago’
What a load of bollocks. Best thing we can do is drop a huge amount of agriculture and start actually developing out economy. Keeping agriculture as such a dominant part of our economy is what’s weakening it and our society.
Your love of Soviet-style Great Leaps Forward is well known.
But let me give you a taste. Just a taste.
On the West Coast, about 400 people are about to lose their jobs in the coal industry from Solid Energy’s collapse. That’s on top of the other mine closures there in the last two years.
On top of that is the 170 Kiwirail jobs that will go because there’s no business using the trains.
On top of that is all the contractors that help those mines operate.
And this impacting three small towns with less than 4,000 people in them each, towns on the West Coast, all of which were going backwards already.
People may well believe coal to be a sunset industry. Fine.
But with no plan to assist nearly 1,000 families keeping the wolf from the door, all you have is massive societal damage.
Call it a Structural Adjustment, a Great Leap Forward, whatever, the result is the same. Damaged people. Damaged families. Dole queues. Generations afterward also damaged. Stuff Labour governments stand up to help.
Now, it would be great to wave a wand a say, oh, bulk milk is a sunset industry. Fine.
Replay the West Coast scenario over every part of rural New Zealand. No plan. Plenty of suicides. Marriage breakups. Foreclosures. Walk-offs. Towns in accelerated decline.
Adjusting the economy is not an armchair exercise. In fact, we used to have unions to stop such Great Leap Backward nonsense.
Put your armchair wand-waving away for once, and face the reality and damage actual families are going through. Any good government would. Any good human would.
The insanity of there not being a sustainable logging industry on the west coast just leaves me shaking my head.
If 1 log was removed per hectare every twenty years and taken to a finished product on the coast it would invigorate the economy there.
Where the hell did all that come from? I said we shouldn’t be putting all our faith in agriculture and that we should be developing our economy which, as a matter of fact, would actually do all that you want. I just don’t believe in the efficacy capitalism to achieve that.
it came from that foreign place called reality.
No, really, it didn’t.
In that spiel you’re essentially saying that we need to continue as normal despite the fact that BAU has conclusively proven that it doesn’t work.
+100 Ad…have to agree that the Opposition need to get cracking and take a lead and show up jonkey nactional ..ie “Labour, Greens, NZFirst: work together on this one”
…for a start forge markets with Russia for dairy products like cheeses and butters …NZ dairy which is grass fed is of the highest quality …and the Russian market has been open to us
I for one do not want to see dairy farmers go to the wall …and their land bought by foreigners…they need urgent financial assistance to weather this crisis, diversify and find new markets
…as well they need help to protect the environment..as well as the waterways ….not have their land sold up and carved up for excessive population growth
Mora says he looks forward to working with John??? And Mary has been promoted to senior news management.
Is Mora still on the 5-7pm slot?
Why is it Key thinks that serving the nation is serving himself , we should call his bluff he doesnt know this country hasnt worked it since 1987 and then only to facilitate a financial crash and support Roger the Rip off and his financial fuckin of this nation
He came here to cover up the biggeest financial con in history the 2008 9/11 Crash of the worlds finances and bring Austerity /slavery and the too big to fail bail out and validate the Crimes against our Democracy committed by his associates
Sad to see Mary Wilson go – she is always sharp and incisive. John Campbell talks far too much for us to expect a decent interview. His questions longer than the answers!
maybe Mary Wilson wants/needs a change…yes she is great!…but maybe she is going on to better things at senior management level?….John Campbell is also superb on radio
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/201765428/john-campbell-talks-about-joining-radio-nz
I agree, Lynda.
John is great for some kinds of interviews, but when it comes to cutting through the bullshit and PR-speak there is nobody as good as Mary Wilson. I shall miss her.
Glad Jim Mora will no longer be on the 5-7pm slot, however. The Panel is easily avoided, but checkpoint is an important news source for me than was devalued by Mora;s presence.
Looks like the Syriza’s government has made things a lot worse in the country with their stubbon refusal to accept the need for reform till the very last minute.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/aug/03/greek-shares-nosedive-as-manufacturing-data-reveals-economic-crisis
This was all avoidable if they had simply agreed to stick to previous agreements rather than seeking to renegotiate.
No, it wasn’t Syriza that made things worse – it was the Troika acting to protect the wealth of the rich at the expense of the poor.
Greece, Zimbabwe, Venezuela…
Care to discuss issues in New Zealand instead?
Oh here we go again, Hey pal why don’t do a bit of in depth reading to expand that neo fuckwit mind of yours. see Open Mike 4.8.15 #21
fat chance….Gosman isnt big on allowing facts to intrude upon his dogma
The developer John Lenihan has made a submission to Auckland Council to remove the last piece of protection that stands between the trees and the chainsaws!
John Lenihan will be presenting to the Unitary Plan Independent hearings panel to remove the Significant Ecological Area (SEA) overlay from the area where the Paturoa Kauri remains.
If he succeeds it sets a dangerous precedent for the entire nation and removes all tree protections that currently exist at #SaveOurKauri 40 & 42 Paturoa Rd Titirangi
We will be attending,
Level 16 / Tower 1 / 205 Queen st,
this coming Monday the 10th August at 3:30pm.
What do the developers have to say for themselves?
Will they keep the promise they made to the people of Aotearoa New Zealand and save these trees from the chainsaw?
Come along if you can make it. The developers cannot be allowed to sneak this through.