Open mike 07/03/2024
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6:00 am, March 7th, 2024 - 58 comments
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- Simeon Brown Doesn’t Consider Abortion To Be Healthcare As Services Scaled Back
Rod EmmersonThank you to my subscribers and readers - you make it all possible. Tui.Subscribe nowSix updates today from around the world and locally here in Aoteaora New Zealand -1. RFK Jnr’s Autism CrusadeAmerica plans to create a registry of people with autism in the United States. RFK Jr’s department ...49 minutes ago - Another Munich crisis? Understanding the limits of policymaking by analogy
We see it often enough. A democracy deals with an authoritarian state, and those who oppose concessions cite the lesson of Munich 1938: make none to dictators; take a firm stand. And so we hear ...3 hours ago - Wednesday 23 April
370 perioperative nurses working at Auckland City Hospital, Starship Hospital and Greenlane Clinical Centre will strike for two hours on 1 May – the same day senior doctors are striking. This is part of nationwide events to mark May Day on 1 May, including rallies outside public hospitals, organised by ...4 hours ago - Auckland character rules stop building on 20,000 sections
Character protections for Auckland’s villas have stymied past development. Now moves afoot to strip character protection from a bunch of inner-city villas. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories shortest from our political economy on Wednesday, April 23:Special Character Areas designed to protect villas are stopping 20,000 sites near Auckland’s ...5 hours ago - AI is changing Indo-Pacific naval operations
Artificial intelligence is poised to significantly transform the Indo-Pacific maritime security landscape. It offers unprecedented situational awareness, decision-making speed and operational flexibility. But without clear rules, shared norms and mechanisms for risk reduction, AI could ...6 hours ago
- What is a Man?
For what is a man, what has he got?If not himself, then he has naughtTo say the things he truly feelsAnd not the words of one who kneelsThe record showsI took the blowsAnd did it my wayLyrics: Paul Anka.Morena folks, before we discuss Winston’s latest salvo in NZ First’s War ...7 hours ago - Britain recasts AUKUS for a new era
Britain once risked a reputation as the weak link in the trilateral AUKUS partnership. But now the appointment of an empowered senior official to drive the project forward and a new burst of British parliamentary ...20 hours ago
- Australia’s basic-metals problem: old plants and subsidised Chinese competition
Australia’s ability to produce basic metals, including copper, lead, zinc, nickel and construction steel, is in jeopardy, with ageing plants struggling against Chinese competition. The multinational commodities company Trafigura has put its Australian operations under ...22 hours ago
- Rob Campbell – Public Private Partnerships: What a Good Idea! OR ‘There will be no free...
There have been recent PPP debacles, both in New Zealand (think Transmission Gully) and globally, with numerous examples across both Australia and Britain of failed projects and extensive litigation by government agencies seeking redress for the failures.Rob Campbell is one of New Zealand’s sharpest critics of PPPs noting that; "There ...1 day ago - RB spending: the Board and the Minister
On Twitter on Saturday I indicated that there had been a mistake in my post from last Thursday in which I attempted to step through the Reserve Bank Funding Agreement issues. Making mistakes (there are two) is annoying and I don’t fully understand how I did it (probably too much ...1 day ago - Indonesia needs to rethink its approach to military drones
Indonesia’s armed forces still have a lot of work to do in making proper use of drones. Two major challenges are pilot training and achieving interoperability between the services. Another is overcoming a predilection for ...1 day ago
- Help Stop the Gaza Genocide Through Activism
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Donald Trump, who has called the Chair of the Federal Reserve “a major loser”. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories shortest from our political economy on Tuesday, April 22:US markets slump after Donald Trump threatens the Fed’s independence. China warns its trading partners not to side with the US. Trump says some ...1 day ago - One of the Good Ones
1 day ago - AI is reshaping security, and the intelligence review sets good direction
The 2024 Independent Intelligence Review found the NIC to be highly capable and performing well. So, it is not a surprise that most of the 67 recommendations are incremental adjustments and small but nevertheless important ...1 day ago
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This is a re-post from The Climate Brink The world has made real progress toward tacking climate change in recent years, with spending on clean energy technologies skyrocketing from hundreds of billions to trillions of dollars globally over the past decade, and global CO2 emissions plateauing. This has contributed to a reassessment of ...1 day ago - “An A-Grade Teacher’s Pet”
Hi,I’ve been having a peaceful month of what I’d call “existential dread”, even more aware than usual that — at some point — this all ends.It was very specifically triggered by watching Pantheon, an animated sci-fi show that I’m filing away with all-time greats like Six Feet Under, Watchmen and ...1 day ago - Gordon Campbell On Papal Picks, And India As A Defence Ally
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The National Party government is doubling down on a grim, regressive vision for the future: more prisons, more prisoners, and a society fractured by policies that punish rather than heal. This isn’t just a misstep; it’s a deliberate lurch toward a dystopian future where incarceration is the answer to every ...2 days ago
- Don Brash’s NZME Power Grab Must Be Rejected
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- 2025 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #16
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- The “perfect storm” National can use to consolidate slash’n’burn policy is here…
“What I’d say to you is…” our Prime Minister might typically begin a sentence, when he’s about to obfuscate and attempt to derail the question you really, really want him to answer properly (even once would be okay, Christopher). Questions such as “Why is a literal election promise over ...3 days ago - Economic Futures – Climate Change and Modernity
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- Winning Together
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- Cameron Slater’s Creepy Fixation On Jacinda Ardern
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- National’s Water Done Well Will Cost Ratepayers More
When the National Party hastily announced its “Local Water Done Well” policy, they touted it as the great saviour of New Zealand’s crumbling water infrastructure. But as time goes by it's looking more and more like a planning and fiscal lame duck...and one that’s going to cost ratepayers far more ...4 days ago
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Open access notables Recent intensified riverine CO2 emission across the Northern Hemisphere permafrost region, Mu et al., Nature Communications: Global warming causes permafrost thawing, transferring large amounts of soil carbon into rivers, which inevitably accelerates riverine CO2 release. However, temporally and spatially explicit variations of riverine CO2 emissions remain unclear, limiting the ...6 days ago
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- Inflation data confirms real terms minimum wage cut
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- Climate Change: Kicking the can down the road again
Last week, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment recommended that forestry be removed from the Emissions Trading Scheme. Its an unfortunate but necessary move, required to prevent the ETS's total collapse in a decade or so. So naturally, National has told him to fuck off, and that they won't be ...6 days ago - The Spirit for Australia: why Canberra should pursue the B-2 bomber
China’s recent naval circumnavigation of Australia has highlighted a pressing need to defend Australia’s air and sea approaches more effectively. Potent as nuclear submarines are, the first Australian boats under AUKUS are at least seven ...6 days ago
- A bit more unpicking of RB spending and the Funding Agreement
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- Brown unveils unfunded health plan for small NZ
Old and outdated buildings being demolished at Wellington Hospital in 2018. The new infrastructure being funded today will not be sufficient for future population size and some will not be built by 2035. File photo: Lynn GrievesonLong stories short from our political economy on Thursday, April 17:Simeon Brown has unveiled ...6 days ago - Thursday 17 April
Thousands of senior medical doctors have voted to go on strike for 24 hours overpay at the beginning of next month. Callaghan Innovation has confirmed dozens more jobs are on the chopping block as the organisation disestablishes. Palmerston North hospital staff want improved security after a gun-wielding man threatened their ...6 days ago
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1 week ago
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- Making the most of it
I’m on the London Overground watching what the phones people are holding are doing to their faces: The man-bun guy who could not be less impressed by what he's seeing but cannot stop reading; the woman who's impatient for a response; the one who’s frowning; the one who’s puzzled; the ...1 week ago - Maranga Ake
You don't have no prescriptionYou don't have to take no pillsYou don't have no prescriptionAnd baby don't have to take no pillsIf you come to see meDoctor Brown will cure your ills.Songwriters: Waymon Glasco.Dr Luxon. Image: David and Grok.First, they came for the Bottom FeedersAnd I did not speak outBecause ...1 week ago - Bernard’s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Wednesday, April 16
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- Release: Govt funding needed to combat invasive seaweed
The Government must support Northland hapū who have resorted to rakes and buckets to try to control a devastating invasive seaweed that threatens the local economy and environment. ...23 hours ago - New Zealand First Introduces Bill Defining ‘Woman’ and ‘Man’ in Law
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill that would ensure the biological definition of a woman and man are defined in law. “This is not about being anti-anyone or anti-anything. This is about ensuring we as a country focus on the facts of biology and protect the ...1 day ago - Release: Labour marks the passing of Pope Francis
Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins joins those mourning the passing of Pope Francis. ...2 days ago
- Release: Boot camps blog post fails to provide clarity
After stonewalling requests for information on boot camps, the Government has now offered up a blog post right before Easter weekend rather than provide clarity on the pilot. ...6 days ago
- Release: Inflation rises and families feel the squeeze
Inflation is rising again and it’s landing hardest on families already stretched thin. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt doesn’t know how to fund new hospitals
The Government’s health infrastructure plan is big on promises but coy on where the money is coming from. ...7 days ago
- Release: $10 million for only 215 students in charter schools
David Seymour is pouring $10 million into charter schools that only have 215 students enrolled. ...1 week ago
- Release: Food prices further stretching the family budget
Families already stretched by rising costs will struggle with the news food prices are going up again. ...1 week ago
- Release: Mental health staff and patients at risk without plan
More people could be harmed if Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey does not guarantee to protect patients and workers as the Police withdraw from supporting mental health call outs. ...1 week ago
- Release: Driver licensing proposal doesn’t put safety first
The Government’s proposal to change driver licensing rules is a mixed bag of sensible and careless. ...1 week ago
- Release: Students struggling as Govt sits on hands
The Government is continuing to sit on its hands as students struggle to pay rent due to delays with StudyLink. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: More must be done to stop children going hungry
More children are going hungry and statistics showing children in material hardship continue to get worse. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens continue to call for Pacific Visa Waiver
The Green Party recognises the extension of visa allowances for our Pacific whānau as a step in the right direction but continues to call for a Pacific Visa Waiver. ...2 weeks ago - More children going hungry under Coalition govt
The Government yesterday released its annual child poverty statistics, and by its own admission, more tamariki across Aotearoa are now living in material hardship. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Longer wait for treatment under National
New Zealanders have waited longer to get an appointment with a specialist and to get elective surgery under the National Government. ...2 weeks ago
- Ka mate te Pire- Ka ora te mana o Te Tiriti o Waitangi me te iwi Māori
Today, Te Pāti Māori join the motu in celebration as the Treaty Principles Bill is voted down at its second reading. “From the beginning, this Bill was never welcome in this House,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader, Rawiri Waititi. “Our response to the first reading was one of protest: protesting ...2 weeks ago
- Chris Hipkins speech: Treaty Principles Bill second reading
Normally, when I rise in this House to speak on a bill, I say it's a great privilege to speak on the bill. That is not the case today. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: End to the Treaty Principles Bill, but challenges remain ahead for Aotearoa
Ka mate te pire I te rā neiThe bill dies today ...2 weeks ago
- Ka mate te Pire, ka ora Te Tiriti o Waitangi – Treaty Principles Bill dead, Te Tiriti o Waitangi m...
The Green Party is proud to have voted down the Coalition Government’s Treaty Principles Bill, an archaic piece of legislation that sought to attack the nation’s founding agreement. ...2 weeks ago
- Member’s Bill an opportunity for climate action
A Member’s Bill in the name of Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter which aims to stop coal mining, the Crown Minerals (Prohibition of Mining) Amendment Bill, has been pulled from Parliament’s ‘biscuit tin’ today. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Bill to make trading laws fairer passes first hurdle
Labour MP Kieran McAnulty’s Members Bill to make the law simpler and fairer for businesses operating on Easter, Anzac and Christmas Days has passed its first reading after a conscience vote in Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Reserve Bank acts while Govt shrugs
Nicola Willis continues to sit on her hands amid a global economic crisis, leaving the Reserve Bank to act for New Zealanders who are worried about their jobs, mortgages, and KiwiSaver. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Property Law Amendment Bill pulled from ballot
A Bill to protect first home buyers and others from bad faith property vendors has been drawn from the Member’s Ballot. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: More children at risk of losing family connections
Karen Chhour is proposing to scrap Oranga Tamariki targets which aim to connect more children under state care with family and their culture. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: David Parker made a difference – Hipkins
The Labour Leader today acknowledged and celebrated David Parker’s 23-year contribution to the Labour Party and to Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: David Parker to step down from Parliament
Long-serving Labour MP and former Minister David Parker has today announced his intention to leave Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Flaws in Govt’s climate strategy will cost us money
The Government’s plan to achieve our climate goals falls short, and will cost New Zealanders money and jobs. ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party differing view on the Treaty Principles Bill
Read the Green Party's differing view on the Treaty Principles Bill, prepared by Tamatha Paul. ...2 weeks ago
- Te Pāti Māori Urges Governor-General to Block Repeal of 7AA
Today, the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill has passed its third and final reading, but there is one more stage before it becomes law. The Governor-General must give their ‘Royal assent’ for any bill to become legally enforceable. This means that, even if a bill gets voted ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Abortion care quietly shelved amid staff shortage
Abortion care at Whakatāne Hospital has been quietly shelved, with patients told they will likely have to travel more than an hour to Tauranga to get the treatment they need. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Govt guts Kāinga Ora, third of workforce under axe
The gutting of Kāinga Ora shows public housing is not a priority for this Government as it removes a third of the roles at the housing agency. ...3 weeks ago
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The settlement relates to proposed restructures of the Data and Digital and Pacific Health teams at Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora which were subject to litigation before the Employment Relations Authority set down for 22 April 2025. ...55 minutes ago - Scientists claim to have found evidence of alien life. But ‘biosignatures’ might hide more than ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Campbell Rider, PhD Candidate in Philosophy – Philosophy of Biology, University of Sydney Artist’s impression of the exoplanet K2-18b A. Smith/N. Madhusudhan (University of Cambridge) Whether or not we’re alone in the universe is one of the biggest questions in science. A ...1 hour ago - Defence Ministry puts out tender for help strengthening systems ‘increasingly vulnerable’...
Its new Defence Capability Plan envisages spending between $100 million and $300 million on cyber upgrades in the next four years. ...1 hour ago - Questioning Content Is Not Hate
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My understanding from the emergency housing announcement yesterday is that it’s a labelling change dressed up being as something meaningful.
It’s as much garbage as the famous National “Comprehensive Housing Plan.”
How did that work out? And how did the motel angle work out then?
Does the matter raised by joe909 yesterday have any bearing upon this?
joe909
6 March 2024 at 10:29 pm
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
By which I meant, would Judith's on-line messaging be taken into account by the judge if the open letter was to be taken seriously.
What open letter? (ETA presumably the thread on the letter to Judge Glubb)
This was from an X account AFTER the sentencing.
Are you speaking of the victim impact statement that she was not allowed to read in court and which was later released in a redacted form by the Police?
I think that had this case been carefully and correctly handled then the victim would not have felt that she had to say taihoa on all the SM statements that have been swirling around since the sentencing. Some of these are very anti the defendant, mostly around the implication that having Autism/ADHD has some bearing on whether these conditions prevent the ability to know right from wrong.
She is asking that things be dialled down and for that I can only commend her. Her quest was for justice not a witch hunt.
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-letter-to-judge-glubb/
Old habits die hard.
/
Shaun Walker
@shaunwalker7
Population transfers, kidnappings, broken families, deportations and spending on new propaganda outlets. Lots of interviews, as well as info from some leaked Kremlin internal documents, in my story about life in occupied Zaporizhzhia region.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/06/deportation-re-population-russia-occupied-ukraine-zaporizhzhia
https://twitter.com/shaunwalker7/status/1765344370230767786
"The Prime Minister spent two nights at Premier House over Christmas last year and hosted his extended family for festive celebrations despite saying the residence is unlivable."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350203582/premier-house-suitable-big-luxon-family-xmas-bash
His poor, poor family! What a miserable Christmas it must have been, with all that squalor 'n'all.
‘Top’ 10 percenters cop comparatively little public flak for the way they raise their children. They must simply be 'better' parents – but why?
UncookedSelachimorpha's comment on free (school) lunches bears repeating here:
Wonder how many of these wealthy parents have been prosecuted?
Any decision to use taxable income for targeted assistance rather than the Social Security Act means the well-off can rort it.
The income definitions are quite different.
Yes, Robert, that was my take. Like the limo ride, the subsidy, the house, and now the plane… How hard it is to be NZ's PM.
Must have been quite the party if the residence is now unlivable.
Baldrick is having the country on, PM Jacinda Ardern and family members apparently lived there during peak COVID without major issues.
Anything the current PM says needs to be fact checked if possible given his track record, from the hired Merc to drive 200m to being in Hawaii and Aotearoa NZ at the same time!
"lived there during peak COVID"
That was of course about 4 years ago. Old houses where the maintenance is not carried out deteriorate awfully fast.
Yeah- imagine rolling out some crap that was old in the 90s and expecting the country to live with it!
This is the original story from NZ Womans Weekly complete with christmas pyjamas. Classy.
https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/celeb-news/christmas-with-christopher-luxon-and-family-48048/
Jeez, have seen some puff pieces over the years but this one is the puffiest…the PM’s partner looks as mad as a snake.
All reputable psychologists/psychiatrists base their diagnosis on something other than appearances. Though the display here is basic suburban "country lifestyle" for those with wealth.
An early assessment would be class normative, albeit co-dependent (traditional).
It was almost a 2020's version of a Mad Men set
Luxon = Don Draper
Sure, it is co-dependent normative (1950's-60's).
Betty Draper is blonde, Veronica lookx brunette.
Do you somehow think that partners of MPs are now fair game?
A new low, in TS commentary.
A mere observation. Do you recall the critical mass on Kiwiblog and Slateroil that built up against Clarke Gayford on falsely alleged matters?…to the extent where the NZ Police took the rare step of issuing a pre-emptive statement that Mr Gayford “was of no interest to them on any matter”…
A mere observation. Do you understand the frankly misogynist language being used here? Nothing about her political behaviour or convictions (which I doubt the OP either knows or has made any attempt to find out) – simply her appearance. Sheer nastiness.
One can make an argument that politicians place themselves (including their appearance) in the public sphere, and are, to a certain extent, fair game. I don't happen to agree with that attitude – though it appears to be prevalent on TS. However, even that doesn't apply to their family members.
I don't recall Gayford's physical appearance being the subject of comment. Though, there was apparently unfounded gossip about possible criminal activity (I gather. I didn't actually hear or read any of it – but you seem to be better informed).
Do I condemn that unfounded gossip? Of course I do.
Do you equally condemn the misogynist language from the OP commenting on the appearance of the wife of the PM? Well, do you?
I suppose that when you own a stack of houses and are the representative of an affluent blue ribbon seat like Botany then anything less than a mansion is unliveable.
But I bet it is still infinitely better than the places that many people have to live in, and pay huge rent for doing so.
A PM who claimed there was a housing crisis when in opposition and now a few months later avoids mentioning it.
Every day there is more nastiness and arrogance coming from the mouth of one or other of this government's members. Peters, Seymour, Jones. Unbelievable. They are creating a very divided and unsettled nation.
Premier House was not too shabby for Luxon's family Christmas. Perhaps they put decorations over the leaky windows and walls. So the plumbing must have worked. The kitchen was usable and quite adequate for catering for a large group. Spacious dining room with quality tableware. The bedrooms had nice bed linen. Plenty of parking. And housekeeping staff to clear up after. Not exactly "uninhabitable".
I guess it's sitting there. I guess there are people in emergency housing in Wellington who would love to live in it. From today.
I'll help them move in.
There is obviously a major housing supply shortage, yet thousands of properties in are empty.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/497269/as-nz-struggles-to-resolve-its-long-running-housing-crisis-investors-should-be-taxed-for-keeping-homes-empty
Time to enter some of them and occupy on a political well organised basis. Enough squats set up could not be handled by the plods.
Commercial properties, old car dealers etc. in provincial centres that could be used for small business and traders, homeless etc. but landlords prefer to keep empty.
I guess you will have started by now. How many have you moved in since you said you were going to help them with the move?
Or are you, as that great US description has it "All hat and no cattle"?
Great idea though alwyn, don't you think – putting unproductive houses to good use? Like Peter, I'd prioritise the families in emergency accommodation.
Improving the finances of hard-done-by landLords is a key (emergency?) priority for our self-serving coalition govt – whether they're "all hat and no cattle" when it comes placing less-well-off families in homes, time will tell – Lordy Lordy Hallelujah!
The old “Catch 22” meme may make a come back…you must leave stable, if not that great, motel accomodation for a private overpriced dump, from which you can be evicted for no reason…if you refuse you will be homeless…
Landlords will revel in the tenant churn of no cause 90 day evictions.
Reality ….you forgot Willis, Reti, Brown, Goldsmith, Bishop, Stanford, Upston, Collins, Mitchell….etc etc. Not to forget Baldrick the Terrible of course.
Baby tRump has a whinge.
Act Party leader David Seymour has attacked the media industry – and singled out TVNZ political reporter Benedict Collins – implying it is hypocritical to ask for government money while criticising politicians.
Seymour spoke with Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking following criticism of his proposed public sector cuts.
But the conversation shifted when Hosking asked Seymour whether the downfall of some media organisations recently was their own fault.
“That’s not quite true, the media landscape is changing,” Seymour said, detailing how advertisers aren’t spending as much money through media.
But Seymour implied it was hypocritical for the media to ask the Government for money while at the same time criticising them and celebrating slip-ups.
“But it’s also true, I saw a report on 1News, Benedict Collins grinning down the camera about Chris Luxon’s apartment costs.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/david-seymour-blasts-tv-reporter-attacks-media-industry/PGVY4WQLYVFN5LDVMZR3QTG5YE/
Seymour seems to want only privately-owned media to exist. Because given who has the money (and who hasn't) to fund such enterprises, that means wall to wall media that is favourable to the Nat-ACT agenda. It would throw any media that attempts to be merely balanced (let-alone left-aligned) back onto financially fragile foundations such as crowd-sourcing. This is typical of the self-proclaimed champions of free speech that we have had to endure in recent years. For speech to be free it must be relatively equally distributed and heard – being simply not prohibited is insufficient to qualify as ‘free’.
Because he's a vindictive, authoritarian prick, I reckon.
Sam Sachdeva
@SamSachdevaNZ
Perhaps worth noting that the TVNZ journo targeted by David Seymour broke the story of an ACT Party candidate comparing vaccine mandates to Nazi concentration camps during the election campaign – maybe not a coincidence Seymour is singling him out by name?
https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/08/23/act-candidate-who-compared-vaccine-mandates-to-concentration-camps-quits/
https://twitter.com/SamSachdevaNZ/status/1765487070305534022
When I read Seymour's comments my first thought was:
Revenge of the Nerds.
Peters' and Seymour's payback to the media who have said and done rotten things to them over their long parliamentary careers.
Now you lot will get your comeuppance.
"Revenge of the Nerds"
QFT
I doubt if Seymour was a "nerd".
Nerds have brains.
Not unthinking repeaters of others memes.
About that Christmas party at Premier House. Luxative must be taking lessons from our friend Trump. " The more outrageous the hypocrisy the more likely he thinks he will get away with it"
First they came for the scientists and public servants, and now the press.
To Patricia Bremner at 8 : the proposed demise of 'Fair Go' suggests an accommodating motive to those who would cheat customers!
We should complain loudly. Ministerial Q
Old Luxon is something else, isn't he? He has managed to combine complete political obscurity, ineffective messaging and an utter inability to control his coalition partners to the point you'd be forgiven for thinking David Seymour was the PM with an unerring instinct for much reported politically damaging attempts at nickel and diming the taxpayer.
One would imagine that once the poll slide starts (you know, because 94% of the population didn't want David Seymour as PM) the National party grandees will start the process of finding a replacement sooner rather than later.
My money's on Melissa Lee.
Shows empathy, excellent debater in the house, intuitively understands the political landscape (knows who the real leader of the coalition is and goes into bat to defend him).
Also, not willing to make use of urgency with legislation, which makes her stand out amongst her peers.(Shame that, for once, it might have done some good)
hahahahahahahahahahaha. wise up.
Actua-Lee?? Gotta be joking. She is improving, though. Checkpoint finally got her to front up for an on-air interview the other day, and we were treated to only 36 occurrences of her most characteristic verbal tic in that 9-10 minutes.
25 years ago there was rugby league on four nights a week and usually a good clint eastwood or arnold schwarzenegger movie on once a week. now the whole broadcast media has become fractured with pay per view and the free to air channels overloaded with banal trite programming that nobody really wants to watch!
Sounds like my definition of 'banal trite programming that nobody really wants to watch!'
Part of the issue with their business model is that TV comes a very long way down the list of preferred news or entertainment sources for anyone under 80 (Yes, yes, exaggerating for effect. But broadly true) Can't remember the last time my teen voluntarily watched TV (apart from streaming a movie through the big screen).
Broadcast TV is a dying medium.
Not for those over 65, or those with big screen TV's. Home theatre, films and sports.
Well, you say over 65 – I say over 80. But the point is the same.
Broadcast TV is virtually irrelevant to anyone under that age.
Yes, the younger group may still have large TVs – but they are, as you say, streaming films (whether Netflix, or the ‘free’ versions from the library), watching sports (pay channels) and (for a certain demographic) gaming. They are not watching broadcast TV.
I do have friends in roughly the same age demographic as me who are wedded to watching 'Shortie' – but they are becoming fewer and fewer over the years (not, I hasten to say, dying off – but losing their loyalty to the 5.30 pm (or whenever it is!) timeslot).
True they might be trite and banal but jolly good rollicking entertainment for the masses who soaked it up. have you looked at the teevee pages in the press lately and considered how much of it you would really want to watch? Oh and I forgot to mention the endless re-runs of very poor movies and other mindless drivel foisted upon the public not to mention the lawless progs about moonshiners and the boofheads doing illegal street racing.
I watch none of it. Broadcast media is entirely irrelevant to me.
Your definition of ‘good rollicking entertainment’ is my definition of mind-numbing boredom – and, as you said, ‘mindless drivel’
Yes, but your handle suggests you live in a foreign language festival offering. Perhaps looking for the title I once bestowed upon a magnificent acquaintance as Minister for Unpopular Culture’.
BTW can NZ watch Last Week Tonight on YouTube? Because the story on Boeing and its parallels with the current administration are spooky. Or mundane and very very depressing.
Whereas your handle suggests you're a sad news junkie – also unreflective of the mass culture of NZ.
All ad hominems aside. The statistics show, unequivocally, that the vast majority of young (and middle-aged, for that matter) Kiwis do not watch broadcast media. And there is nothing that you can offer them (in the way of content) which will change this.
If you want to know about YouTube content – I suggest you research it yourself.
I'm waiting for the dedicated TS post on the issue of the assault on Marama… "Open Letter to Judge Whomever"… crickets …
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Well, that's weird!
Darien Fenton wrote:
"I am still waiting for the prosecution of the Destiny mob motorcyclist who hit Marama Davidson.
7 March 2024 at 11:28 am
My response seems to be closely aligned and appropriate to her comment, yet got shunted – why, I'm wondering?
That's been well covered here!
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
"Cross posted from Te Whare Whero"
Te Whare Whero has received no comments in response to this post.
The Standard has received but 12.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Again, weird! The post is crossposted, yet referring to the original results in ejection to another thread! Can't understand why.