The problem remains – the Left (communists) and AFD have over 50% (c60) of the vote. The CD and SD (under 10%) and FD (barely threshold at 5%) together have under 40% of the vote.
There are effectively three blocks, CD FD and SD, the Left and AFD and none can form a government.
Most likely now is a shift from a FD Premier backed by the right to a SD Premier backed by everyone but AFD (it’s hard to see the Left backing one from the CD (or the FD after this).
One of Die Linke’s 2 main feeder Parties (PDS) certainly had its origins in East Germany’s ruling Socialist Unity Party (SED) – but the PDS founders were very much the new generation from the pro-Gorbachev pro-glasnost pro-perestroika Reformist wing (and were subsequently joined by various dissident leaders from the anti-communist Left) By the end of 89, the last hardline members had either resigned or been expelled
PDS formed an electoral alliance with leading dissident Social Democrats (WASG), (including the former SPD leader, Oskar Lafontaine) in 2005 before unifying into a single left-wing party during 2007.
Despite the usual “their just a bunch of commies” smears – the Party is in fact Democratic Socialist / Left Social Democrat & sits comfortably within the Nordic-style Green Left party grouping … (although it certainly includes different factions, ranging from the dominant Keynesian Social Democrats & Dem Socialists … to Libertarian Socialists … & on to the tiny minority Marxist–Leninist Communist Platform – the latter comprising only around 1% of the party’s national membership.)
"When we have moved past grievance, which I hope all New Zealanders would like to see at some point in time and those historic[al] issues with settlements have been full and final, you do have to say what is the role of the Waitangi Tribunal?" he said.
I guess it would have taken a bit of personal courage to have said that in his speech while looking the people affected by it in the face, so it's understandable someone like him didn't do that.
Is Nga Puhi the only iwi that haven’t settled with government ? (Due to issues with accepting who is the representative iwi for that region). Or are other iwi groups still waiting to settle ? I thought Northland iwi was the final settlement due & when settled then Waitangi Tribunal would be wound up.
If a contractor to build roads with the Govt as a principle, has this attitude towards both Waitangi Day (Just another public holiday) and Staff welfare, then what doe sit say about who we as a country. I hope that there is follow up from up high about such an attitude. 🤬
"It is my expectation if you are not from [New Zealand] then all [e]ngineers should be in work tomorrow and use this day to catch up," the email read.
"If you are from [New Zealand] and Waitangi Day is just another public holiday then I would appreciate if you are also at work."
That is ridiculous. But maybe the guys who come on here every year to moan about Waitangi Day could protest by turning up to work instead of having a day off.
"A recent video by Austria's Green Party celebrating their coming to power begins with a clip of their leader, Werner Kogler". "I'm doing a Clint Eastwood," he says. "We ride into town and the rest surrender."
Dunno if such machismo is appropriate. "The Greens are the junior partner, after attracting 14% of the vote in elections last September, while the conservatives won 37%." https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51383838
However it puts up a fascinating social experiment: Greens + Conservatives = ? Crash and burn, you'd think. But the door is open to a new way ahead. Could be those two political groups pioneer a constructive trend. A blend of caution and progress is always feasible. Self-discipline and group discipline will be essential for it to succeed!
No they have not. The expressed a preference to work with Labour – but would work with both parties – National would just have to have a bigger offer on the table.
National Ditched NZFirst – saying that they will not work with them.
For mine, I believe they're simply talking in a language National would understand – that it's essentially a competitive tender for the Maori Party's affections should they be fortunate enough to acquire any seats to get into Parliament.
Can't see National saying they'd refuse to go into coalition with them because they don't believe in the Maori seats. And they're so desperate to get back into power they'd happily outbid Labour for the Maori party's coalition "partnership".
Your sophustikayshun knows no bounds eh @ James. I'm truly in awe.
Apologies to moderators and the foreskins of the TS Police/ I realise it's a comment that contributes SFA to the discussion, but then we all have the occasional brain fart. And on a QI system of scoring, I think I'm probably in credit, although some sort of ban would probably be the best thing that could happen. It'd really cauterise my ability to comment rather than just peruse and do me a real favour in this space going forward
Look at ……. yea/nah best not. Going back through James' history is a real mind fuck for the masochist
Just want you to know @James – you really are gorgeous
“The target is the minds of the American people,” says a former counter-terrorism head of the NSA. How to hit such tiny targets?? You'd need to employ nuclear physicists, who are trained to hit a minuscule nucleus amidst a vast amount of empty space.
"Anthony Ferrante had just arrived for work at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next door to the White House, when the first attack hit. Around 7 a.m., internet service went out across the United States and parts of Europe. Reddit, Netflix, and The New York Times website wouldn’t load. Ferrante couldn’t check Twitter for updates because that was down too… It was Friday, October 21st, 2016. In two weeks, Americans would pick a new president. When Ferrante, a director in the White House’s cybersecurity team, realized the internet had gone dark across the country, he feared the worst. Ferrante thought he was witnessing a dry run for an attack on the election."
So this year, it won't just be the Russians coming. Every man & his dog all over the world will be competing to see who can hack the US election system. Shadow Inc has showed them US has electoral tech shambles galore, so we can expect spooks of all shapes and sizes to see who can destabilise it first. I bet disgruntled American teenagers are at the head of the pack!!
"Ferrante hacked his first computer when he was 10 and studied computer science at Fordham. He was destined for a cushy career as a cyber expert in the private sector when the September 11th attacks happened. He quit corporate America, joined the FBI, and specialized in tracking terrorists on the internet; in his first case at the bureau, he helped foil the terrorist plot to blow up the PATH train tunnel between New York and New Jersey. Over the next decade, he rose to become one of the FBI’s top cyber-security agents and helped write President Obama’s directive that created the first chain of command in the event of a major cyberattack on U.S. soil."
Hire an outlaw to defend the establishment has been a thing since Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid. "Other foreign nations, including Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and China, are getting in on the act. They’ll be joined, analysts say, by domestic actors — American consultants and candidates and click merchants borrowing and adapting Russia’s tactics to influence an election or make a quick buck. “The most important piece that I tell everybody,” Ferrante says, “is now that it’s been done once, everybody can do it.”"
"The possible compromise of a few counties in a razor-thin race was enough to create doubt, if not inflict real damage, on voters’ perception of the election — and in the age of social media and the instantaneous flow of information, perception was reality. Classified documents leaked by NSA whistleblower Reality Winner revealed that Russian hackers tried to do just that, targeting a voting software company called VR Systems and local government offices right before the election. Today, thousands of county and state election offices are prime targets that need protection. “People will say the way we vote is so distributed and diverse and that makes it more resilient,” says Ferrante, the former FBI cybersecurity expert. “But it also introduces a lot of risk and creates a much larger attack surface.”"
"At the 2018 DEFCON hacker conference, an 11-year-old hacked into a copycat version of Florida’s state election website and changed vote totals in less than 10 minutes. Only three states conduct mandatory, scientifically rigorous post-election audits to ensure the final vote count is accurate. “We’re still in a situation going into 2020 where there are significant gaps left in the security of election infrastructure,” says J. Alex Halderman, a University of Michigan computer science professor who studies voting equipment. “Until we ensure that all of the doors are locked, there will be ample opportunity for foreign adversaries to disrupt or, in the worst-case scenario, change the outcome of close elections.”" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-election-hacking-russia-iran-ransomware-interference-938109/
David Farrar's only post specific to Waitangi Day is a racist mock up of a Tintin cover depicting Maori as savages and Tintin and Haddock as threatened white men.
Didn’t even have the guts to put his own name to the post.
"Didn’t even have the guts to put his own name to the post."
Thats because its under the name of the person who posted it.
There are plenty of post on thestandard that are written under "notices" – does that say something about the people who write them but dont put their name to their post?
The general principle here is that Notices and Features is for things the authors don't write. Sometimes there is an intro, and very occasionally some commentary, but by and large the point of that Author is for posting things from elsewhere. Where they are cross posted from somewhere else, the off-site author is clearly named.
Fair call. But lprent does not get called names for a post going up under another authors name – which is exactly what muttonbird is doing.
the post clearly has the authors name on it and for muttonbirdbrain to infer that it’s farrar writing a post under other names (with zero evidence) is just bullshit.
Others are often called to provide evidence of their claim – where is his / hers on this matter ?
Kokila Patel is the sub-editor…Kokila arranges the daily general debates, and the notices of upcoming political TV shows and the like.
I guess "the like" must include posting racist cartoons on Waitangi Day!
Seriously though, David Farrar does all the posts on Kiwiblog bar General Debate and, as it turns out, racist cartoons.
If you think David Farrar doesn't endorse that post you are more deluded than I thought. And that was a lot.
This is Farrar's way of causing division and stoking the fire of racial intolerance and he throws his sub-ed/helper under the bus rather than standing by it.
James, why do you maintain that lprent has the same role here as Farrar does on his blog, when the truth of the matter has been communicated many many times (and is only ever a click away at 'About' in the header above)?
To be fair, if authors/editors started putting stuff like that up it would indeed say a lot about them, the culture of this site, as well as what it says about the original authors.
Mods and authors here try to crack down on that sort of thing, not post it.
"With 97 percent of precincts reporting, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is leading in the popular vote, banking 44,753 votes to former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s 42,235. Sanders and Buttigieg are tied in pledged delegates, 11 a piece. And Buttigieg is narrowly leading Sanders in state delegate equivalents — 550 to Sanders’ 547 — the metric that has historically gauged success in the Iowa caucuses."
"Sanders went ahead and declared victory in Iowa from New Hampshire on Thursday." "Buttigieg has also declared victory. He did it first on Monday night". Media reported then that zero results had been declared, so it was an exemplary performance of postmodernism. Waiting for the results before declaring victory is ever so 20th century.
"TheNew York Times examined the data from the more than 1,600 precincts and found errors in more than 100 precincts: from simple math errors to evidence that voters didn’t follow the hyperspecific rules". Americans can't even follow specific rules, so why would anyone expect them to do hyperspecific??
"Plan B — if the app failed, or if election officials failed to download it — was to report the numbers by phone, via a hotline set up for this specific purpose. But on caucus night, the hotline was a mess… the high call volume was not just a result of the app. The Iowa Democratic Party confirmed Thursday the caucus hotline “experienced an unusually high volume of inbound phone calls,” including calls from “supporters of President Trump who called to express their displeasure with the Democratic Party. The unexplained, and at times hostile, calls contributed to the delay in the Iowa Democratic Party’s collection of results".
But I still like Stephen Colbert's explanation best: all those elderly volunteer electoral officials trying to download the app to tally the votes, onto their garage-door opener…
I read that too. Further along in the article it is made clear Sanders didn't declare victory he just said that a lead in the popular vote and the same number of delegates was a good result.
If Bernie gets to a delegate equivalent lead i think Pete the Cheat will stick permanently though.
"Jacinda saw in Peters and NZ First precisely the sort of social-conservative hand-brake she and her government needed to protect itself from Labour’s policy enthusiasts and the chronically “woke” Greens."
Light is right: "Jacinda’s regime had no need of subterranean torture chambers to ensure compliance. A gift for diplomacy and the ability to inspire her fellow human-beings was all the new prime minister required, and she had both of those qualities – in spades! Call it “The Incredible Lightness of Being Jacinda”."
"The first question Napoleon Bonaparte is said to have asked whenever a senior officer was recommended for promotion was: “Is he lucky?” Can it be doubted that Jacinda would have climbed very high in Napoleon’s Grand Armee? Has New Zealand ever had such a lucky prime minister? And has a new Zealand Leader of the Opposition ever provided his principal political rival with such a valuable gift? By unequivocally ruling out NZ First as a possible coalition partner for National, Bridges has bolted Jacinda’s conservative handbrake firmly in place."
"With her right flank secured, Jacinda can now re-orient her government decisively towards the moderate centre." "One can only imagine Bridges’ dismay when he is finally forced to acknowledge that ruling out any kind of deal with NZ First was a very, very big mistake. When he realises that, in this country, both the Right and the Left get to the seat of power only after finding themselves a clear path to the Centre."
My prediction: his realisation will be postponed until he sees the election result. Centrists will only shift across the line if given a good enough reason. No such reason currently exists.
Living in Brisbane we have very close connections to a Chinese family. Conditions in Wuhan are deteriorating daily. I'm hearing stories I don't want to repeat; partly because they're macabre and partly because I can't verify them.
No-one trusts the CCP, I'm absolutely not on my own with this. The medical system is overwhelmed and many, many deaths seem to be occurring 'off the record'. Then we get this official announcement:
Sun Chunlan, a vice premier in charge of the government response to the outbreak, gave the order to round up the infected and place them in isolation, quarantine or designated hospitals, The New York Timesreports.
Authorities in the city of 11 million people have scrambled to meet those instructions by setting up makeshift mass quarantine shelters this week, including in a sports stadium, exhibition centre and a building complex.
Ms Sun said investigators should go to every home and check temperatures of every resident and interview the close contacts of infected patients. “Set up a 24-hour duty system. During these wartime conditions, there must be no deserters, or they will be nailed to the pillar of historical shame forever,” she said.
When inspecting the Hongshan Stadium shelter on Tuesday, she said anyone who should be admitted must be rounded up. “It must be cut off from the source!” she said of the virus, according to Chinese news outlet Modern Express. “You must keep a close eye! Don’t miss it!”
Posts circulating on social media have highlighted poor conditions at the makeshift facilities, with many complaining of freezing conditions, lack of medical staff and shortage of supplies.
It's risky trying to interpret the tone and underlying motivation behind this, but to me it strongly suggests the real numbers are much worse than being revealed at present. They have 50m people in lockdown, twice the population of Australia … how long can this be sustained?
The absence of independent data from the Hubei area,would be expected.The arrest of whistleblower doctors for spreading false news in december,and downplaying the risk prior to the NY break ,allowed for underestimating the risk (with its fat tail)
Politically it would have been difficult for the CCP.If say NZ had an outbreak of a disease say prior to Xmas here,and the authorities said NZ had to shut down (no xmas shopping or travel) what would have been the response by the commenteriat.
On the otherside of the argument negation of WHO guidelines,such as fast publication of real risks,with solutions (such as Cordon sanitaire) seemed to have constrained offshore spread.
Which is why the CCP has transferred a battalion of bullshitters to Wuhan.
While such regulations could be seen to stifle and suppress information about the outbreak, they're not new, but a standard part of China's tightly controlled information system.
More intriguing is the announcement, trumpeted by state TV, that the Communist Party's Central Propaganda Department has dispatched 300 journalists to Wuhan and Hubei province.
According to state media, China's leader Xi Jinping has tasked them with "clear requirements" for "education and public opinion guidance", to "help win the battle to control the epidemic".
No I do not think so.The wide reporting of the death may be why fines and house have been applied in this instance.
News of his death swept the country, triggering waves of comments paying respect to Li and expressing anger over whether there had been a cover-up of the outbreak and negligence among government officials in Hubei province.
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
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Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played.“Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
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It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
"The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
Pacific Media Watch Ismail al-Ghoul, an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent who was held for 12 hours at Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital, says Israeli forces rounded up Palestinian journalists at the facility and made them kneel on the ground for hours, while naked and blindfolded. “The occupation forces handcuffed and blindfolded us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute chinasong, Shutterstock Electricity customers in four Australian states can breathe a sigh of relief. After two years in a row of 20% price increases, power prices have finally stabilised. In many places they’re ...
Chumbawamba have reportedly issued the deputy PM a cease-and-desist notice after he used their song 'Tubthumping' before his state of the nation speech. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Lupton, SHARP Professor, Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, UNSW Sydney kitzcorner/Shutterstock The assertion from Queensland’s chief health officer John Gerrard that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio? It can’t be because of the money. In Australia they are paid at rates so low they ...
"Farmers make a point not to tell our urban cousins how to live, yet Chlöe from central Auckland is hell-bent on having her say about farmers," says ACT Rural Communities spokesman Mark Cameron. “On her first day in the House as Green ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Getty Images/Gerald Corsi In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to ...
Uber has argued it does not have as much control over drivers as the unions suggest, and wants a judgment ruling that drivers are employees and not contractors set aside and sent back to the Employment Court. The 2022 ruling followed a three-week hearing in which four drivers sought to ...
What can and can’t be purchased by disabled people or their carers has been slashed in an effort by the Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha to save money. The purchasing guidelines, a set of rules that sets out what can be purchased using the various streams of Government disability funding, ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
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Germany stares into the abyss of the 1930’s and decides to retreat/hold new elections in Thuringa.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51399445
The problem remains – the Left (communists) and AFD have over 50% (c60) of the vote. The CD and SD (under 10%) and FD (barely threshold at 5%) together have under 40% of the vote.
There are effectively three blocks, CD FD and SD, the Left and AFD and none can form a government.
Most likely now is a shift from a FD Premier backed by the right to a SD Premier backed by everyone but AFD (it’s hard to see the Left backing one from the CD (or the FD after this).
.
Nyet Comrade Nyet
One of Die Linke’s 2 main feeder Parties (PDS) certainly had its origins in East Germany’s ruling Socialist Unity Party (SED) – but the PDS founders were very much the new generation from the pro-Gorbachev pro-glasnost pro-perestroika Reformist wing (and were subsequently joined by various dissident leaders from the anti-communist Left) By the end of 89, the last hardline members had either resigned or been expelled
PDS formed an electoral alliance with leading dissident Social Democrats (WASG), (including the former SPD leader, Oskar Lafontaine) in 2005 before unifying into a single left-wing party during 2007.
Despite the usual “their just a bunch of commies” smears – the Party is in fact Democratic Socialist / Left Social Democrat & sits comfortably within the Nordic-style Green Left party grouping … (although it certainly includes different factions, ranging from the dominant Keynesian Social Democrats & Dem Socialists … to Libertarian Socialists … & on to the tiny minority Marxist–Leninist Communist Platform – the latter comprising only around 1% of the party’s national membership.)
communists….good grief.
Under the bed, no less.
Odd that Simon Bridges' speech at Waitangi didn't include this particular announcement:
I guess it would have taken a bit of personal courage to have said that in his speech while looking the people affected by it in the face, so it's understandable someone like him didn't do that.
Is Nga Puhi the only iwi that haven’t settled with government ? (Due to issues with accepting who is the representative iwi for that region). Or are other iwi groups still waiting to settle ? I thought Northland iwi was the final settlement due & when settled then Waitangi Tribunal would be wound up.
Ngāpuhi are last of the big Iwi to settle, but still others going through the process.
If a contractor to build roads with the Govt as a principle, has this attitude towards both Waitangi Day (Just another public holiday) and Staff welfare, then what doe sit say about who we as a country. I hope that there is follow up from up high about such an attitude. 🤬
"It is my expectation if you are not from [New Zealand] then all [e]ngineers should be in work tomorrow and use this day to catch up," the email read.
"If you are from [New Zealand] and Waitangi Day is just another public holiday then I would appreciate if you are also at work."
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12306548
That is ridiculous. But maybe the guys who come on here every year to moan about Waitangi Day could protest by turning up to work instead of having a day off.
"A recent video by Austria's Green Party celebrating their coming to power begins with a clip of their leader, Werner Kogler". "I'm doing a Clint Eastwood," he says. "We ride into town and the rest surrender."
Dunno if such machismo is appropriate. "The Greens are the junior partner, after attracting 14% of the vote in elections last September, while the conservatives won 37%." https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51383838
However it puts up a fascinating social experiment: Greens + Conservatives = ? Crash and burn, you'd think. But the door is open to a new way ahead. Could be those two political groups pioneer a constructive trend. A blend of caution and progress is always feasible. Self-discipline and group discipline will be essential for it to succeed!
It dawns on the Maori Party that their interests and the interest of the National Party are antithesis.
They have finally ditched the National Party.
A good move by Che Wilson which could see their chances of regaining a seat improve significantly.
I suspect Labour would welcome this now that is it apparent they and the Maori Party are now fighting for the same thing.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/409006/maori-party-president-wary-of-national-partnership-it-kicked-us-out
"They have finally ditched the National Party."
No they have not. The expressed a preference to work with Labour – but would work with both parties – National would just have to have a bigger offer on the table.
National Ditched NZFirst – saying that they will not work with them.
See the difference.
Yes agreed,
For mine, I believe they're simply talking in a language National would understand – that it's essentially a competitive tender for the Maori Party's affections should they be fortunate enough to acquire any seats to get into Parliament.
Can't see National saying they'd refuse to go into coalition with them because they don't believe in the Maori seats. And they're so desperate to get back into power they'd happily outbid Labour for the Maori party's coalition "partnership".
" National would just have to have a bigger offer on the table."
Not the same thing as:
"If we ever do talk to National it will have to be a big deal for us to move that way again,'' Wilson said."
Your sophustikayshun knows no bounds eh @ James. I'm truly in awe.
Apologies to moderators and the foreskins of the TS Police/ I realise it's a comment that contributes SFA to the discussion, but then we all have the occasional brain fart. And on a QI system of scoring, I think I'm probably in credit, although some sort of ban would probably be the best thing that could happen. It'd really cauterise my ability to comment rather than just peruse and do me a real favour in this space going forward
Look at ……. yea/nah best not. Going back through James' history is a real mind fuck for the masochist
Just want you to know @James – you really are gorgeous
Yep. Sooooo much better to live in a little bubble of people who think the same and all agree.
even when they are wrong or telling lies.
thanks – I’m wearing a nice shirt today and feeing gorgeous as well.
“The target is the minds of the American people,” says a former counter-terrorism head of the NSA. How to hit such tiny targets?? You'd need to employ nuclear physicists, who are trained to hit a minuscule nucleus amidst a vast amount of empty space.
"Anthony Ferrante had just arrived for work at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next door to the White House, when the first attack hit. Around 7 a.m., internet service went out across the United States and parts of Europe. Reddit, Netflix, and The New York Times website wouldn’t load. Ferrante couldn’t check Twitter for updates because that was down too… It was Friday, October 21st, 2016. In two weeks, Americans would pick a new president. When Ferrante, a director in the White House’s cybersecurity team, realized the internet had gone dark across the country, he feared the worst. Ferrante thought he was witnessing a dry run for an attack on the election."
So this year, it won't just be the Russians coming. Every man & his dog all over the world will be competing to see who can hack the US election system. Shadow Inc has showed them US has electoral tech shambles galore, so we can expect spooks of all shapes and sizes to see who can destabilise it first. I bet disgruntled American teenagers are at the head of the pack!!
"Ferrante hacked his first computer when he was 10 and studied computer science at Fordham. He was destined for a cushy career as a cyber expert in the private sector when the September 11th attacks happened. He quit corporate America, joined the FBI, and specialized in tracking terrorists on the internet; in his first case at the bureau, he helped foil the terrorist plot to blow up the PATH train tunnel between New York and New Jersey. Over the next decade, he rose to become one of the FBI’s top cyber-security agents and helped write President Obama’s directive that created the first chain of command in the event of a major cyberattack on U.S. soil."
Hire an outlaw to defend the establishment has been a thing since Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid. "Other foreign nations, including Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and China, are getting in on the act. They’ll be joined, analysts say, by domestic actors — American consultants and candidates and click merchants borrowing and adapting Russia’s tactics to influence an election or make a quick buck. “The most important piece that I tell everybody,” Ferrante says, “is now that it’s been done once, everybody can do it.”"
"The possible compromise of a few counties in a razor-thin race was enough to create doubt, if not inflict real damage, on voters’ perception of the election — and in the age of social media and the instantaneous flow of information, perception was reality. Classified documents leaked by NSA whistleblower Reality Winner revealed that Russian hackers tried to do just that, targeting a voting software company called VR Systems and local government offices right before the election. Today, thousands of county and state election offices are prime targets that need protection. “People will say the way we vote is so distributed and diverse and that makes it more resilient,” says Ferrante, the former FBI cybersecurity expert. “But it also introduces a lot of risk and creates a much larger attack surface.”"
"At the 2018 DEFCON hacker conference, an 11-year-old hacked into a copycat version of Florida’s state election website and changed vote totals in less than 10 minutes. Only three states conduct mandatory, scientifically rigorous post-election audits to ensure the final vote count is accurate. “We’re still in a situation going into 2020 where there are significant gaps left in the security of election infrastructure,” says J. Alex Halderman, a University of Michigan computer science professor who studies voting equipment. “Until we ensure that all of the doors are locked, there will be ample opportunity for foreign adversaries to disrupt or, in the worst-case scenario, change the outcome of close elections.”" https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-election-hacking-russia-iran-ransomware-interference-938109/
Farrar Watch:
David Farrar's only post specific to Waitangi Day is a racist mock up of a Tintin cover depicting Maori as savages and Tintin and Haddock as threatened white men.
Didn’t even have the guts to put his own name to the post.
Says a lot about the man.
"Didn’t even have the guts to put his own name to the post."
Thats because its under the name of the person who posted it.
There are plenty of post on thestandard that are written under "notices" – does that say something about the people who write them but dont put their name to their post?
The general principle here is that Notices and Features is for things the authors don't write. Sometimes there is an intro, and very occasionally some commentary, but by and large the point of that Author is for posting things from elsewhere. Where they are cross posted from somewhere else, the off-site author is clearly named.
Fair call. But lprent does not get called names for a post going up under another authors name – which is exactly what muttonbird is doing.
the post clearly has the authors name on it and for muttonbirdbrain to infer that it’s farrar writing a post under other names (with zero evidence) is just bullshit.
Others are often called to provide evidence of their claim – where is his / hers on this matter ?
From the Kiwiblog about page:
I guess "the like" must include posting racist cartoons on Waitangi Day!
Seriously though, David Farrar does all the posts on Kiwiblog bar General Debate and, as it turns out, racist cartoons.
If you think David Farrar doesn't endorse that post you are more deluded than I thought. And that was a lot.
This is Farrar's way of causing division and stoking the fire of racial intolerance and he throws his sub-ed/helper under the bus rather than standing by it.
Gutless man.
A good laugh, a beer and a fuck.
Does lprent endorse every post made on here by other authors?
Please point out where Kokila Patel has authored anything on Kiwiblog. The sole author on Kiwiblog is David Farrar.
James, why do you maintain that lprent has the same role here as Farrar does on his blog, when the truth of the matter has been communicated many many times (and is only ever a click away at 'About' in the header above)?
To be fair, if authors/editors started putting stuff like that up it would indeed say a lot about them, the culture of this site, as well as what it says about the original authors.
Mods and authors here try to crack down on that sort of thing, not post it.
Just picturing Farrar's guts fomenting…
eeew!
"It’s Thursday afternoon, the Iowa caucuses ended Monday night, and we still do not know who won." https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/iowa-caucus-democratic-primary-chaos-948677/
"With 97 percent of precincts reporting, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is leading in the popular vote, banking 44,753 votes to former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s 42,235. Sanders and Buttigieg are tied in pledged delegates, 11 a piece. And Buttigieg is narrowly leading Sanders in state delegate equivalents — 550 to Sanders’ 547 — the metric that has historically gauged success in the Iowa caucuses."
"Sanders went ahead and declared victory in Iowa from New Hampshire on Thursday." "Buttigieg has also declared victory. He did it first on Monday night". Media reported then that zero results had been declared, so it was an exemplary performance of postmodernism. Waiting for the results before declaring victory is ever so 20th century.
"The New York Times examined the data from the more than 1,600 precincts and found errors in more than 100 precincts: from simple math errors to evidence that voters didn’t follow the hyperspecific rules". Americans can't even follow specific rules, so why would anyone expect them to do hyperspecific??
"Plan B — if the app failed, or if election officials failed to download it — was to report the numbers by phone, via a hotline set up for this specific purpose. But on caucus night, the hotline was a mess… the high call volume was not just a result of the app. The Iowa Democratic Party confirmed Thursday the caucus hotline “experienced an unusually high volume of inbound phone calls,” including calls from “supporters of President Trump who called to express their displeasure with the Democratic Party. The unexplained, and at times hostile, calls contributed to the delay in the Iowa Democratic Party’s collection of results".
But I still like Stephen Colbert's explanation best: all those elderly volunteer electoral officials trying to download the app to tally the votes, onto their garage-door opener…
I read that too. Further along in the article it is made clear Sanders didn't declare victory he just said that a lead in the popular vote and the same number of delegates was a good result.
If Bernie gets to a delegate equivalent lead i think Pete the Cheat will stick permanently though.
Trotter ponders 2020 electoral strategy: "Why bother to reconstruct Labour as a “broad church” when the same effect can be achieved by creating a broad political “faith” out of three separate parties"? https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2020/02/07/jacindas-political-faith-broader-than-any-church/
"Jacinda saw in Peters and NZ First precisely the sort of social-conservative hand-brake she and her government needed to protect itself from Labour’s policy enthusiasts and the chronically “woke” Greens."
Light is right: "Jacinda’s regime had no need of subterranean torture chambers to ensure compliance. A gift for diplomacy and the ability to inspire her fellow human-beings was all the new prime minister required, and she had both of those qualities – in spades! Call it “The Incredible Lightness of Being Jacinda”."
"The first question Napoleon Bonaparte is said to have asked whenever a senior officer was recommended for promotion was: “Is he lucky?” Can it be doubted that Jacinda would have climbed very high in Napoleon’s Grand Armee? Has New Zealand ever had such a lucky prime minister? And has a new Zealand Leader of the Opposition ever provided his principal political rival with such a valuable gift? By unequivocally ruling out NZ First as a possible coalition partner for National, Bridges has bolted Jacinda’s conservative handbrake firmly in place."
"With her right flank secured, Jacinda can now re-orient her government decisively towards the moderate centre." "One can only imagine Bridges’ dismay when he is finally forced to acknowledge that ruling out any kind of deal with NZ First was a very, very big mistake. When he realises that, in this country, both the Right and the Left get to the seat of power only after finding themselves a clear path to the Centre."
My prediction: his realisation will be postponed until he sees the election result. Centrists will only shift across the line if given a good enough reason. No such reason currently exists.
it's almost as if trotter is on the cusp of understanding the MMP environment.
😀
Wonderful image of the powerful leadership and global peace-work the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern excels at.
Forging real, non-military bonds between the West and the Muslim world is no easy task but our Prime Minister is doing it.
Something decent Kiwis can be immensely proud of.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/119339965/burj-khalifa-lit-up-with-new-zealand-flag-for-waitangi-day
As-salāmu ʿalaykum
ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ
Peace be upon you.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D2RnI17WsAABbFo?format=jpg&name=900×900
Chaos Continues in Iowa as Democrats Mistakenly Award Delegates for Bernie Sanders to Deval Patrick.
https://www.democracynow.org/2020/2/6/iowa_caucuses_bernie_sanders_shadow_app
Bernie to the Iowa Caucuses: Drop Dead
https://www.motherjones.com/2020-elections/2020/02/bernie-to-the-iowa-caucuses-drop-dead/
And those were 'audited' votes as well.
Bit sad when twitter users have to correct the already 'corrected' tallies.
Living in Brisbane we have very close connections to a Chinese family. Conditions in Wuhan are deteriorating daily. I'm hearing stories I don't want to repeat; partly because they're macabre and partly because I can't verify them.
No-one trusts the CCP, I'm absolutely not on my own with this. The medical system is overwhelmed and many, many deaths seem to be occurring 'off the record'. Then we get this official announcement:
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/china-pays-tribute-to-exhausted-coronavirus-staff-as-hospitals-scramble-for-supplies/news-story/95bb3b067270228d1b34f7fb2754070f
It's risky trying to interpret the tone and underlying motivation behind this, but to me it strongly suggests the real numbers are much worse than being revealed at present. They have 50m people in lockdown, twice the population of Australia … how long can this be sustained?
The absence of independent data from the Hubei area,would be expected.The arrest of whistleblower doctors for spreading false news in december,and downplaying the risk prior to the NY break ,allowed for underestimating the risk (with its fat tail)
Politically it would have been difficult for the CCP.If say NZ had an outbreak of a disease say prior to Xmas here,and the authorities said NZ had to shut down (no xmas shopping or travel) what would have been the response by the commenteriat.
On the otherside of the argument negation of WHO guidelines,such as fast publication of real risks,with solutions (such as Cordon sanitaire) seemed to have constrained offshore spread.
https://www.academia.edu/41743064/Systemic_Risk_of_Pandemic_via_Novel_Pathogens_-_Coronavirus_A_Note
https://twitter.com/yaneerbaryam/status/1224875215529881602
Oh how easy it is to be cynical about the Chinese government.
A disease, we are being told, is most serious for the old and the young, has killed the 34 year old whistle-blower doctor in Wuhan.
How terrible convenient! His voice can no longer be heard!
The party line is to constrain heretics.
https://twitter.com/jenniferatntd/status/1225622039400263680
Which is why the CCP has transferred a battalion of bullshitters to Wuhan.
While such regulations could be seen to stifle and suppress information about the outbreak, they're not new, but a standard part of China's tightly controlled information system.
More intriguing is the announcement, trumpeted by state TV, that the Communist Party's Central Propaganda Department has dispatched 300 journalists to Wuhan and Hubei province.
According to state media, China's leader Xi Jinping has tasked them with "clear requirements" for "education and public opinion guidance", to "help win the battle to control the epidemic".
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-06/has-china-been-covering-up-the-coronavirus/11932982
More young healthy Chinese medics to die unexpectedly from the coronavirus in the near future, for exposing the truth?
No I do not think so.The wide reporting of the death may be why fines and house have been applied in this instance.
News of his death swept the country, triggering waves of comments paying respect to Li and expressing anger over whether there had been a cover-up of the outbreak and negligence among government officials in Hubei province.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3049424/coronavirus-hubei-province-reports-69-deaths-and-2447-new
Tony Veitch (not etc) @13.2 … A reminder as to what happens when citizens defy Chinese authority IMO!
Dr Li paid the ultimate price for being truthful, exposing the seriousness of the coronavirus to his colleagues.
RIP Dr Li.