Well, some are catching the next gravy train out….."charitably"
Departing Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult has put his hand up for another chair around another table.
Since its inception in 2000, the trust has grown its asset base from $155 million, bestowed by the Otago Central Electric Power Trust, to assets totalling $467 million.
The Otago Central Electric Power Trust was OUR Local Power Company. Anyone with a brain could see that Trustpower….(who bought it) was going to want their money back…with Interest ! And of course our power bills….went ballistic.
No surprise that Jim Boult…a Natfan from way back, would be looking at his next option.
And yea ol' Max Bradford….still thinks he did the Right Thing. Well he kinda did. For his peer group. Aye Mr Boult…..
Aurora Energy Ltd acting chief executive Grady Cameron says Central Otago only has itself to blame for the fact it has residents struggling to pay power bills.
They probed Aurora Energy representatives over the "elephant the room" – the six-figure exit package paid to Grady Cameron, chief executive of the council-owned company.
That's fairly typical of systemic under investment in diversity, under grounding, reslience, inspections etc as those trust boards across NZ do like to tub thump that yearly rebate to bill holders, regardless of it's cost.
Nationalise it ! Mick Lynch said it the other week in a UK comedy show that it's just taking back what's yours in the first place. Enough is enough, with the largesse removed and stripping out the quadruplication of audit, management, systems it'll probably fund itself.
We so need a socially focused party on the scene to shake this cosy centrist mob up.
I am amazed that nothing is being done about this by our Govt. High energy costs with the low incomes of many are source of misery. I think as well as Housing we should be starting on things like building up rail again and renationalising energy. Perhaps we could follow the 3 waters model for electricity?
Does the Govt still own a share in electricity. Some of these Crown Enterprises were floated with the Crown holding some important shares that were to provide a brake but which will undoubtedly have been sold.
In April 2013, the Labour Party and the Green Party said if they were to win the 2014 general election, they would introduce a single buyer of electricity akin to Pharmac (the single buyer of pharmaceutical drugs in New Zealand), in order to cut retail costs.The Government responded by calling it "economic vandalism", comparing it to the Soviet Union but Greens co-leader Russel Norman said it would boost the economy and create jobs. By the following day, shares in privately owned power company Contact Energy had fallen by more than 10 percent
If power company execs can't get massive salaries they won't be able to afford the costs of sending the kids to exclusive private schools, travelling to Europe every year for holidays and owning a condo in Queenstown (or a big chunk of the South Island high country).
Ordinary Kiwis would have nothing to aspire to if that ceased.
Does "no one" include transpower? They seem to have highlighted the risk (prior to the line fault) and be coordinating the response (including asking people to voluntarily not use unnecessary power).
When Transpower has managed the outage and fully restored the HVDC line, your saying they can't guarantee it wont happen again in fact no organisation will guarantee it? I agree of course.
"We obviously have to do do a full investigation."
Transpower has said it had made changes since it was held responsible by the electricity watchdog for widespread outages on one of the coldest nights of last year.
A "full Investigation"…I bet. Will there be any ….accountability?
As in a "management" review ?
The Electricity Authority has confirmed Transpower is responsible for unnecessary power cuts to 34,000 consumers on one of the coldest nights of the year.
I understand that as the Electricity Authority saying, yes, Transpower is a member of Sanctuaries, "no one". Maybe that's why there is active management happening this time and so far a major lines fault has caused no brown-outs AFAIK.
There was an insufficient generation warning in effect for today prior,due to forecast low wind generation in the NI,Thermal generation limited,and the high risk if a fault occurred.
A fault did occur on the South North HVDC transfer at haywards, meaning sufficient generation was unavailable,hence Grid emergency for NI declared.Reduction in load by heating control ,large users going to standby,increased co generation and use of liquid thermals (which had been brought to standby positions needing heat up times) saw adequate availability,and forced load reduction alleviated.
There was already reduced load from a calendar effect,of School Holidays,and increased seasonal lighting,and in industrial large users operating secondary systems.
The long term blowback resulting from the Wests and its compliant (to put nicely) media apparent short term memory lapse around the virulent European far Right and more specifically the various well known and documented self-proclaimed Ukrainian para military far Right is going to be brutal and ugly….
"Three years ago, describing an Australian white supremacist charged with massacring 49 people in New Zealand, the New York Times (3/15/19) wrote: “On his flak jacket was a symbol commonly used by the Azov Battalion, a Ukrainian neo-Nazi paramilitary organization.”
"Commanders of Ukraine’s celebrated Azov Battalion have held an emotional reunion with their families in Turkey, Ukrainian officials said, honoring the fighters released from Russian confinement last month as part of the largest prisoner swap since the start of the war.
“Celebrated” is an odd word to describe a group whose founder urged Ukraine to “lead the white races of the world in a final crusade…against Semite-led Untermenschen (subhumans)”
The tedious shroud waving over the Azov battalion by pro-Russian propaganda channels is exactly that, tedious. The ridiculous myth that somehow the Ukraine is a "Nazi" state is a straight out Kremlin lie.
The Azov battalion was purged of it's Nazi and extreme elements in the extensive reforms undertaken by the Ukrainian army post their defeat in the 2014 war with Russia – the results of those reforms are obvious today, and the motivated infantry of the Ukraine (armed by the arsenals of democracy) are putting up a tremendous fight that has so far utterly humiliated Russia and exposed it for the vain-glorious Fascist uber-kleptocracy it really is.
The idea this nonsense is still be peddled as a thing when we now have extensive evidence of the actual brutality of the Russian occupation forces tells me the person posting is little more than a Kremlin shill attempting to manipulate the reality of this war in order to introduce doubt and undermine the determination of the west to support the Ukraine in it’s just war and is therefore undeserving of a serious response.
"The Azov battalion was purged of it's Nazi and extreme elements in the extensive reforms undertaken by the Ukrainian army post their defeat in the 2014 war with Russia"
I see, you seem to well informed…how about some serious (ie; not western MSM) links please.
"armed by the arsenals of democracy"….. Afghanistan, the Libyans, Iraqis, the people of Yemen…etc etc etc…..seems like your "arsenals of democracy" don't work that well for the Brown and Coloured people around the world…but then Western Imperialism was never meant to work for them was it?…it's one of the craziest ironies of recent times how the Liberal class have become the the staunchest supports of the most racist ideology in the world today…Western (US) hegemonic imperialism.
"…"armed by the arsenals of democracy"….. Afghanistan, the Libyans, Iraqis, the people of Yemen…etc etc etc…..seems like your "arsenals of democracy" don't work that well for the Brown and Coloured people around the world…"
OK I will spell in out nice and slow for you….every time your great white "arsenals of democracy" (ie; western arms) are employed around the world, the local populations who also happen to usually be Coloured, suffer…is that clear enough for you.
"Well they are not in the Ukraine"…by this statement we can assume you are in at least tacit agreement that your self described "arsenals of democracy" and by extension their countries of origin have and are in the business of fucking up countries around the globe for various self serving reasons, yet you would have us believe that those very same ultra aggressive powers are now defending the Ukraine for altruistic reasons…
…it is beyond me that you can't see that for those powers ( that we have just agreed have a serious and long history of ultra aggressive international thuggery) the Ukraine and the Ukrainian people are the least important component in this conflict.
"The Azov battalion was purged of it's Nazi and extreme elements in the extensive reforms undertaken by the Ukrainian army post their defeat in the 2014 war with Russia"….
…and finally I see still no neutral links to verify your claims…wonder why that is???
……how about some serious (ie; not western MSM) links please.
"armed by the arsenals of democracy"….. Afghanistan, the Libyans, Iraqis, the people of Yemen…etc etc etc…..seems like your "arsenals of democracy" don't work that well for the Brown and Coloured people around the world…
How about some what-aboutism, Eh Adrian.
What's your message here Adrian?
That Western powers conduct genocidal invasions and wars and takeovers, so Russia should?
I noticed in your list of invasions and interventions, you left Syria off your list.
Is that because Russia's intervention and mass bombardment of civilian centres in Syria gets your tick of approval?
A reported 18,000 Syrians have been killed by Russian forces in Syria. Russia claims they killed 85,000 Syrians, all of them terrorists.
Adrian, you could dispute whether 18,000 or 85,000 Syrians killed by Russian forces is the correct figure. I could dispute whether they were all terrorists.
How about things that can't be denied or disputed?
The images of Aleppo reduced to rubble by Russian bombing, the same images of Mariupol reduced to rubble by genocidal Russian bombing.
You can't deny Adrian that you haven't seen the video of Russian rockets slamming into civilian apartment blocks in Ukraine. Everyone has seen them. Does this atrocity get your stamp of approval because Russia does it?
……Human rights groups accuse Russia of killing thousands of people in Syria, but the Kremlin claims it has killed even more.
On the third anniversary of Russia’s military intervention in Syria, an independent monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Russian air strikes and artillery shells have killed 18,000 people, including nearly 8,000 civilians, .
The Syrian Network for Human Rights, another monitoring group, alleged 6,239 civilians have been killed, including 1,804 children at the hands of Russian forces, according to a 40-page report it issued on Monday.
But the Kremlin says it killed significantly more in its quest to bolster the rule of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. The head of its parliamentary defence committee announced on Sunday that it had killed 85,000 people, calling them all “terrorists”. Russia also claims it has not killed a single civilian in Syria over the last three years…..
I do worry about the way you seemingly promote the symbols used by the Azov Batallion and the convicted NZ mass murderer without even a hint of irony or self-awareness or what you’re doing. Is it meant to wake us up, shock us, or something else altogether? You certainly do have a unique way of trying to make your point, but I doubt that it is effective and could well be counter-productive, although that doesn’t seem to cross your mind at all.
"I do worry about the way you seemingly promote the symbols used by the Azov Batallion"…I worry about the most sophisticated and deadly arms being sent to known extremist Far Right militias/units in the Ukraine without the slightest oversight…
This is the spiritual home of the symbol of the Azov unit…not sure about you, but I find that direct lineage to one of the most savage military units in recent European history very worrying indeed….the fighters the West seem fine with arming for some reason…when this all ends, and it will, these people will still have all those those weapons…are you ok with that?
The origin of the symbol is the wolf trap. It's use within Germany was probably derived from Prussian influence in forming nationalism out of the HRE era.
Don't engage, Kremlin shills WANT you argue over the symbology, in order to manipulate perception and introduce doubt as the righteousness of the Ukrainian fight.
Hat tip to whoever pointed me to Vlad Vexler, very interesting chap and he describes exactly what pro- Putler shills are doing:
One can see the distortion of truth in Putin cultivating support from night wolfs and portraying Ukrainian resistance as a fascist wolf trap.
His problem is that he is no Zhukov, he is not even as good at cheating, chess or the psych out as Hans Niemann (who cheated his way up the rankings to play at tournaments and then demonstrated he was not just better than the worlds "best ever Carlsen" – he did so posing as disinterested during the game as if it was too easy). Carlsen now refused to play him again – Putin's don't make me a loser, or I'll use nukes.
yes my thanks too I saw his interview with Jake Broe and the manipulation is just as he described. Sheds light on alot of whats happening around the world.
Nice try….I think you well know that the symbol is 100% understood to be the Divisional insignia of the notorious 2nd Waffen SS Div….now also widely understood to represent the insignia used by the Ukrainian Azov unit….end of story.
There are a lot of folk co-opting former Nazi symbols – I don't think the Waffen SS would have been impressed by many of them.
But frankly, get off the grass. Russia has proven to be bellicose, inconsiderate of civilians and prisoners well beyond Geneva convention definitions, perfectly chill about using chemical or nuclear weapons, cheerful fakers of ballots, and so frightfully incompetent they're probably automatically eligible for National Party membership.
You've got to serve somebody – better to choose self-defense against malign aggression than the jack-booted minions of the oppressor.
" I don't think the Waffen SS would have been impressed by many of them"…you obviouly don't know the history of the Waffen SS, it is an historical fact that by 1944 the Waffen SS would have welcomed them with open arms.
There was a Ukrainian Waffen SS Div. raised in 1943, which also included Slovaks, Czechs….I guess your Azov, Right Sector soldiers would have found their natural home in this Div.
Lots of new groups for you to accuse of being Nazis.
…..Ales Bialiatski, a human rights activist currently jailed in Belarus, along with who human rights organizations, the group Memorial in Russia, and the Ukraine Center for Civil Liberties, were announced Friday as the winners of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo, Norway.
All of the organizations have worked to highlight rights abuses in Ukraine, Russia, and Russia's close ally Belarus amid President Vladimir Putin's ongoing war in Ukraine.
In the midst of fascist terror in Belarus, Repression in Russia and daily rocket attacks and threats of nuclear weapons being used in Ukraine. For their work to oppose Putin's war of aggression; Russian and Ukrainian and Belarus peace activists opposed to Putin's bloodthirsty war of imperialist aggression, are being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Good on them.
I might be reaching here Adrian in thinking this. Will you also be smearing these Russian, Ukrainian and Belarus anti-war groups as anti-Russian Azov Nazis?
Correct me if I am wrong in this Adrian, but will you soon be accusing the the Nobel Committee of being CIA stooges?
I must admit I have a morbid fascination like that you get from pressing your own bruise to try and grasp exactly why anyone would be so invested in defending a fascist kleptocracy ruled over by a brutal dictator with zero regard for the life or dignity of his nations citizens, or why you are so frantic to justify a brutal and unprovoked war of aggression on the Ukraine.
Anyway, I aint playing you stupid game of false equivalence and shroud waving trying to manipulate reality.
Now I am off to make (another) donation directly to the Ukrainian army.
Heard of the night wolves, Putin fanboys, and their offshoots in the Balkans – a righteous white Orthodox brotherhood?
And Putin's neo-Tsarist alliance with the Russian Orthodox Church and their righteous crusade against western liberal decadence?
The obsession with a sectarian group within Ukrainian nationalism (a historic reaction to over-rule by Russian Bolsheviks – heard of the Ukraine farm collectivisation and the Duginite Novarussia?)
The justification of Russian conquest and annexation and demonisation of Ukraine independence by such slurs is becoming tragic.
'Russia is following American and Russian practice in the ME….'
There you go SPC, fixed it for you.
Russia committed war crimes in Syria, finds UN report
The country was also blamed for indiscriminate attacks in civilian areas without ‘a specific military objective’
Julian Borger in Washington
Mon 2 Mar 2020 23.30 GMT
A UN investigation into atrocities committed in Syria has for the first time accused Russia of direct involvement in war crimes for indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas.
The latest report from the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria focuses on events of July 2019 to January this year, and in particular attacks by “pro-government forces” on civilian targets like medical facilities, driving 700,000 civilians from their homes…..
….The commission focused on two incidents in which it found substantial evidence that Russian aircraft were directly involved in the bombing of civilian areas. The panel has in the past suggested possible Russian responsibility for war crimes, but this is the first time it has found proof of Moscow’s culpability.
The first incident was a series of air strikes on a market place in Ma’arrat al-Nu’man, a densely populated area 33 km south of Idlib city, on 22 July. The commission report describes the attack as a “double tap” air strike, in which a second wave of bombing hit the same target when rescue workers were on the site. Forty-three civilians, including four children, were killed and at least 109 injured.
The second attack investigated was the 16 August bombing of a compound for displaced civilians standing alone in fields just outside Haas in southern Idlib governorate. That attack killed 20 people, including eight women and six children, and injured 40 others.
“Based on the evidence available, including witness testimonies, video footage, data imagery as well as reports by flight spotters, flight communication intercepts and early warning observation reports, the commission has reasonable grounds to believe that a Russian aircraft participated in each incident described above,” the report said.
“In both incidents, the Russian Air Force did not direct the attacks at a specific military objective, amounting to the war crime of launching indiscriminate attacks in civilian areas.”….
….“The UN very rarely attributes attacks like this, and it is really important that they do so in a report like this. Given the position of the UN in Syria though, it’s not surprising it is tucked away in the report and they haven’t made a big thing of it.”…..
involving a violation of moral or social boundaries:
Mongrel Mob gang members often have swastika tattoos, some even have swastikas tattooed on their face and neck. Mongrel Mob wear Wehrmacht styled coal scuttle thelmets, and greet each other with 'Sieg Heil'.
Despite the heavy nazi symbolism Mongrel Mob members are not nazis.
Marginalised groups often try to shock the society that rejected and marginalised them, by using the symbolism of those most detested by that society. That doesn't make them Nazis.
It was well publicised that after the Christchurch shootings the Mongrel Mob guarded the mosques from further racist attacks. The Mongrel Mob's support was accepted and thanked by the Muslim community. Despite all their 'transgressive' swastikas and German helmets, the Muslim community of Christchurch could see through that. For their part the Mongrel Mob could identify with another marginalised community.
Context is everything. Sometimes you have to look past the symbols to see the essence.
The swastika for example is a symbol of peace in India – Context.
The straight armed salute popularised by the German nazis was copied by the Mau in Samoa when fighting for their independence from New Zealand colonial rule – Again Context.
Pro-war propagandists like yourself Adrian looking for a reason to justify Russia's aggression, latch on to anything and willfully try to make something bigger of minority trangressive groups or gangs in society to slander the whole society to fit your pro-war narrative.
……Fatu's gang gave a powerful and passionate haka performance on the roadside outside the mosque immediately after Friday prayers finished.
Afterwards a huge crowd gathered around the gang cheered and applauded and many Mulisms hugged the gang members, shook their hands, hongied and took photographs with them….
….Earlier today, the Herald reported that the world's biggest Mongrel Mob group said it would abandon use of Nazi symbolism in the wake of the attack.
Mongrel Mob Kingdom president Paito Fatu told Maori Television's Te Ao that his organisation would no longer use the Mob's rallying cry of the past 50 years, "sieg heil".
The phrase is German for "hail victory" and was the salute of Adolf Hitler's German National Socialist Party, or Nazi regime.
Instead "Mongrel Mob" will be the new catch-cry, Fatu told Te Ao, in an effort to move away from violent crime including domestic violence and drug abuse.
"I like our brothers and sisters to acknowledge each other by saying 'Mongrel Mob'."….
The hall mark of real fascists is genocide racism and war. When confronted with real fascism the Mongrel Mob abandoned their 'transgressive' symbolism.
The same realisation has probably dawned on Azov Battalion members to abandon their transgressive symbolism in the face of real Russian fascism.
At this point the best option might be to adjust the clean slate legislation as to any custodial sentence for possession of marijuana for personal use.
I have to confess, the Russian ambassador getting all angsty because his countries brutal and unprovoked war of cultural genocide and imperial conquest in the Ukraine has led to the local Ukrainian community saying some unkind things about Russia and Russians has to be the funniest thing I have read today.
I just like to think that in the halls of Valhalla Tītokowaru and Charles Upham smile and high five each other everytime the Ukrainians liberate another one of their towns.
Both jacinda and Luxon were given the opportunity to say goodbye to Susie Ferguson this morning after 8 years on Morning Report. Jacinda did a classy friendly goodbye …Luxon refused the offer. He has no idea on politics
The funny thing was that replaced 7-houses was replaced with Collins who couldn't resist a few snide comments about Susie's interview style.
Luxon may have refused the offer and may have no idea on politics, but not appearing would have had absolutely, totally, no impact on one vote either way or the other.
And when it gets down to it, that's all that counts. Normal human stuff doesn't come into it. The ordinariness of Ardern appearing is normal human stuff and will also have had absolutely, totally, no impact on one vote either way or the other.
I believe he's very well paid and has quite favourable ratings, assuming he enjoys his job he's likely going to be in situ for considerably longer than the PM.
Not surprised at the move. Early morning radio is a tough gig (not the show, but the early hours, and the relentless consistency required) – and she's done MR for 8 years.
Expect to see more of her work throughout the radio broadcast day.
A right wing fringe media broadcaster has a problem
After years in the cable wilderness, he had made a triumphant return to prime time. And his new show, “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” had leapfrogged to the heart of Fox News’s evening lineup just months after Donald J. Trump’s upset victory shattered the boundaries of conventional politics.
But as Mr. Trump thrashed through his first months in office, Mr. Carlson found himself with an unexpected programming challenge: Fox was too pro-Trump.
Mr. Carlson told friends and co-workers that he needed to find a way to reach the Trump faithful, but … didn’t want to get sucked into apologizing for Mr. Trump every day, he told one colleague, because the fickle, undisciplined new president would constantly need apologizing for.
The solution would not just propel Mr. Carlson toward the summit of cable news. It would ultimately thrust him to the forefront of the nationalist forces reshaping American conservatism. “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” the host and his producers decided, would embrace Trumpism, not Mr. Trump.
…For years, as his television career sputtered, Mr. Carlson had adopted increasingly catastrophic views of immigration and the country’s shifting demographics. Now, as Mr. Trump took unvarnished nativism from the right-wing fringe to the Oval Office, Mr. Carlson made it the centerpiece of “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”
Now comes the claim that you can't expect to literally believe the words that come out of Carlson's mouth.
Just read U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil's opinion, leaning heavily on the arguments of Fox's lawyers: The "'general tenor' of the show should then inform a viewer that [Carlson] is not 'stating actual facts' about the topics he discusses and is instead engaging in 'exaggeration' and 'non-literal commentary.' "
She wrote: "Fox persuasively argues, that given Mr. Carlson's reputation, any reasonable viewer 'arrive[s] with an appropriate amount of skepticism' about the statement he makes."
Vyskocil, an appointee of President Trump's, added, "Whether the Court frames Mr. Carlson's statements as 'exaggeration,' 'non-literal commentary,' or simply bloviating for his audience, the conclusion remains the same — the statements are not actionable."
Which might be the courts opinion, and his legal shield supplied by Trump's appointees to the bench from the consequences of his pronouncements, but the mainstream promotion of such "half-truths" is corrosive to the body politic. But this might be consistent with with the now prevailing view of SCOTUS – that popular opinion in the states should be able to have its day, even if that day is pre the civil rights movement and reforms of the 1960's. Thus Nixon's southern strategy is coming into its full bloom.
In the end, Alito may be angry for the same reasons that many conservatives of his demographic are angry—because they find their values increasingly contested; because they feel less culturally authoritative than they once were; because they want to exclude whom they want to exclude, and resent it when others push back. Neil Siegel told me he thought Alito was frustrated because he knows, at some level, that he is fundamentally “dissenting from American culture and where it is ineluctably heading—a society that is increasingly diverse and secular.” As Siegel put it, “The Supreme Court doesn’t really have the power to change that.” Maybe not. But Alito is clearly trying.
"The trauma of not being believed over the years takes its toll. The court of public opinion is often ill-informed and the facts are lost," they said.
"Today we would like first and foremost to acknowledge and thank all of the children who, nearly three decades ago suffered terrible abuse and who live with the effects of that abuse today.
In my opinion the abuse which happened was by the parents of the children involved.
Started by the parents of the 4-year-old who said he didn't like "Peter's black penis".
"In my opinion the abuse which happened was by the parents of the children involved."
The most disgraceful example of bigotry and mass hysteria in the history of this country. They ruined the life of an innocent young man… you could say they killed him.
“The system is so stacked against the little guy. Some people need to take responsibility. They have ruined so many lives, including those of the children.”
Justice too often depends on who you are and who you know. Those with the loudest voices and/or perceived as having a more senior status are almost always believed over the little guy… or gal.
The language and general 'over wroughtness', if that is a word, of the parents in the Civic creche case has similarities with the same language espoused by VFF and other people (NB pejorative word removed and replaced by the word ‘people’) about the Covid vaccinations culminating in the 'happening' at Parliament. Both events driven by forces outside NZ and eagerly lapped up by the conspiracy minded among us.
Lizard people, the grassy knoll, who really toppled the buildings on 9/11 and many more conspiracies.
The Civic creche case was an example of a moral panic
'Moral panic is defined as a public mass movement, based on false or exaggerated perceptions or information that exceeds the actual threat society is facing. Moral panic is a widespread fear and often an irrational threat to society's values, interests, and safety.'
Today the court found there were major problems with the evidence given during the trial by Dr Karen Zelas, a psychiatrist. A Crown witness, Dr Zelas was involved in supervising the interviews of the children and helped the police with their investigation.
Her evidence highlighted 20 behaviours by the children, including bedwetting and sleeping problems, that she testified were consistent with the behaviour of sexually abused children generally.
The Supreme Court found Dr Zelas’ evidence departed from appropriate standards. It found it lacked balance, suffered from problematic circular reasoning and had the overall effect of suggesting to the jury that “clusters” of behaviour support a finding of sexual abuse.
The court said none of those problems were counteracted by cross-examination, the judge’s summing up or the defence’s expert witness. Therefore the court found a substantial miscarriage of justice had occurred.
The Supreme Court also looked into the risk of the children’s evidence being contaminated, particularly by questioning from parents. During the Supreme Court appeal, Ellis’ lawyer relied on new evidence from memory experts, including studies post-dating the trial.
There was substantial agreement from both the experts for the Crown and the appellant that the risk of contamination was higher than the jury in 1993 was led to believe, and that if contamination occurred it would not have been readily detectable.
The Supreme Court found that although the risk of contamination was traversed at the 1993 trial, the jury was not fairly informed of the level of risk."
Hopefully the use of such evidence is more thoroughly vetted nowadays.
The language and general 'over wroughtness', … of the parents in the Civic creche case has similarities with the same language espoused by VFF and other people … about the Covid vaccinations culminating in the 'happening' at Parliament. Both events driven by forces outside NZ and eagerly lapped up by the conspiracy minded among us.
Beautifully put. Thankyou for an excellent detailed account Shanreagh.
As the end of the film 'The Hunt" shows, some stains, no matter how undeserved, can’t be completely erased. There’s a lesson in what happened to Ellis, and no winners.
Profoundly grateful that his name has been cleared, and deeply saddened that he's not here to see it.
Another appalling side effect has been the effective exclusion of virtually all men from working in ECE, and many from working as primary teachers.
Not, because there was anything official – but they saw the writing on the wall and perceived the risk of having their lives destroyed by a mistaken or even malicious child abuse accusation.
"There are several commentators calling for the Labour Government to introduce new rules about lobbying and particularly the revolving door. The problem is that it’s not in Labour’s interests to tighten up the rules. At the moment they’re the worst offenders, so why would they want to introduce tighter laws that would impact negatively on themselves?"
It is worth considering that legality dosnt discount corruption, indeed the worst corruption is legitimised.
And they wonder why they are viewed with disdain(or possibly not)….it's largely deserved.
“Normalization” is one of the big buzzwords of our era: we are constantly told we mustn’t normalize this or that. With the election of Donald Trump, liberals fretted that he would become normalized, but it’s interesting to note that the liberal and conservative strategy for dealing with Benito Mussolini after he became prime minister in 1922 was to normalize him. In fact, one could say that normalization was how Mussolini gained power in the first place: King Victor Emmanuel summoned him to form a government to avoid a violent coup during the March on Rome. The belief was that by channelling the Fascists into the constitutional system they would abandon violence and serve a constructive role.
The old elite also thought they could use this stratagem to sideline the most fascist Fascists, the squadristi who often came from a “national syndicalist” background and envisioned for a social revolution along with a political takeover. While they may have hoped for a revolution, the squadristi beat up and killed Socialists and trades unionists at the behest of landowners and industrialists, so the establishment may be forgiven for thinking Fascism was really on the side of social order. The establishment’s plan was to absorb or transform Fascism, rather than defeat it head on. This appeared plausible since Mussolini was so equivocal and unclear about his true goals: there seemed to be little ideological consistency at all among the Fascists; they could be useful in a number of different ways.
" The problem is that it’s not in Labour’s interests to tighten up the rules. At the moment they’re the worst offenders, so why would they want to introduce tighter laws that would impact negatively on themselves?"
But what about that far away promise of Adern's …what was it ? I will lead an open and transparent government !
Bit like " own your future and LOL # Let's do this …maybe # Let's not eh.
Two different forms of reality …Politicians and real life.
Kherson children will spend autumn holidays in the best health resorts of Crimea
Taking into account the numerous requests and wishes of parents, from October 6 to October 21, 2022, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kherson region of the Russian Federation announces vacations for schoolchildren of general educational institutions in the city of Kherson and in Belozersky, Berislavsky, Kakhovka, Snigiryovsky municipal districts, as well as in the Novokakhovka city district and students of secondary vocational educational institutions.
Children during the vacation period will take part in the health programs of the Russian Federation on the territory of the Republic of Crimea.
They are waiting for educational events, exciting trips and meetings with interesting people.
The Ministry of Education and Science of the Kherson region expresses its deep gratitude to the Government and the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of the Republic of Crimea for the opportunity to improve the health of Kherson children during the velvet season in the best health resorts of Crimea.
Aaron Maté, Max Bumenthal and Katie Halper often take flak – a sure sign they are getting close to the target. They are insightful and articulate reporters, present their arguments clearly and back them with facts.
In this interview hosted by Briahna Joy Gray (former press sec for Bernie Sanders) Maté explores not just the video's headline about who blew up the Nordstream 2 pipeline but also the threat of nuclear war and the complex recent background to the conflict.
Oh, and to either bring joy or fury to the commenters this earlier this afternoon, they cover Azov and fascism.
It's becoming more clear that the USA's reason for proxy war with Russia in Ukraine is about the control and distribution of fossil fuel in Europe. The usual thing – war is about money and power.
This full video is an interesting watch because of the quality of the interviewer and her questions, Aaron outlines his concerns about the sabotage mostly in the first 10-15 minutes. He refers to the comments made by Blinken, Radoslaw Sikorski, Biden amongst others, and also references recent interviews with Jeffrey Sachs (that are worth watching as well)
Secretary of State Blinken said last Friday that "the damage and disruption to the pipelines are being seen in Washington as a tremendous opportunity to greatly reduce European energy imports on Russia"
Former Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski tweeted "Thank you, USA," along with a picture of the massive gas spill in the Baltic Sea, then deleted it. He did not delete another tweet that read "As we say in Polish, a small thing, but so much joy" with the same picture of the bubbling water.
Biden on the 8th Feb 2022 on video: “If Russia invades – that means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine again – then there will no longer be a Nord Stream 2,” Biden said at a press conference with Scholz. “We will bring an end to it.”
What continues to amaze me is the amount of supposedly intelligent people out there waving their little blue and yellow flags and they never even mention the people off the donbass and their eight years of hell its like they dont even exist .
Its not like the nightmare is over either with the referendums being conducted as the ukranians have promised long prison sentences for any civilian exercising his right to self determination by joining the russian federation .
Hopefully if the offensives continue to regain territory they'll be able to escape behind russian lines before the secret police get there !!
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 27 were:1. The Minister for Ford Rangers strikes againTransport Minister Simeon Brown was again the busiest of the Cabinet ministers this week, announcing an ...
You got a fast carAnd I want a ticket to anywhereMaybe we make a dealMaybe together we can get somewhereAny place is betterYesterday’s newsletter, Trust In Me, on the report of abuse in state care, and by religious organisations, between 1950 and 2019, coupled with the hypocrisy of Christopher Luxon ...
New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Carereport released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced$802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Carereport in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquirypublished its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone iconon the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive:Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloittereport for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’sOliver LewisScoop:Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announcedthe Board of Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Orderimage, ...
Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
Waiting In The Wings:For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSAannounced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
Te Rangi e tu nei (The sky above us) Te Papa e takoto nei (The land beneath us) Tatou katoa te hunga ora (To us all the living) Tena koutou katoa (Greetings) ...
A late change to charter school legislation will cheat educators out of fair pay and negotiating power proving charter schools are just a vehicle to make profit out of our education system. ...
In 2004 te iwi Māori rallied against the Crown’s attempt to confiscate our coastlines and moana with the Foreshore and Seabed Act. This led to the largest hīkoi of a generation and the birth of Te Pāti Māori. 20 years later, history is repeating itself. Today the government has announced ...
It has been five and a half years since the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care was established to investigate the abuse of children, young people, and vulnerable adults within state and faith-based institutions. Yesterday, the final report - Whanaketia through pain and trauma, from darkness to light ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to take action off the back of the International Court of Justice ruling on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. ...
On Friday the International Court of Justice reaffirmed what Palestinian’s have been telling us for decades: that the occupation and colonisation of Palestinian lands by Israel is illegal and must end immediately. They also called for reparations for Palestinian’s who have lived under Israeli occupation since it began in 1967. ...
Labour calls on the Government to act after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territories is illegal. ...
The 53.7 percent rise in benefit sanctions over the last year is more proof of this Government’s disdain for our communities most in need of support. ...
Aotearoa could be a country where every child grows up feeling safe, loved and with a sense of belonging in their whānau and community. But for some of our children, this is far from reality. Instead, they are trapped in a maze of intergenerational harm that they can’t escape on ...
Te Pāti Māori are calling for David Seymour to resign as Associate Health Minister in response to his call for Pharmac to ignore the Treaty of Waitangi. “This announcement is just another example of the government’s anti-Tiriti, anti-Māori agenda.” Said Co-leader and spokesperson for health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. “Seymour thinks it ...
The soaring price of renting is driving the rise of inflation in this country - with latest figures from Stats NZ showing rents are up 4.8 per cent on average while annual inflation is at 3.3 per cent. ...
National’s Emissions Reduction Plan will take New Zealand further from the economy we need to ensure the next generation has a stable climate and secure livelihoods. ...
Following consultation with named parties and thorough consideration of privacy interests, the Green Party is in a position to release the Executive Summary of the final report from the independent investigation into Darleen Tana. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon should be asking serious questions of his Minister for Resources Shane Jones now it’s been revealed he misled the public about a dinner with mining companies that he didn’t declare and said wasn’t pre-arranged. ...
Te Pāti Māori have submitted to the Justice Select Committee against the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill. The bill will further entrench racism in our justice system and fails to focus on rehabilitation. “Reinstating Three Strikes will empower a systematically racist system and exacerbate the overrepresentation of Māori in ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee is set to make a determination on the Residential Tenancies Amendment (RTA) Bill in the coming weeks. “This legislation will give landlords the power to kick our whānau out onto the street for no reason” said Housing spokesperson, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “Their solution to the housing ...
“National’s campaign was about tackling crime and the best they can do is a two-year long Ministerial Advisory Group,” Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
“There are more examples of charter schools failing their students than there are success stories. The coalition Government is driving to dismantle our public school system and instead promote a privatised, competitive structure that puts profits before kids,” Jan Tinetti said. ...
“This government is choosing to deliberately mislead and withhold information, keeping our people in the dark about this government’s agenda and the future of our mokopuna,” said co-leader and spokesperson for Health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. The call comes after the demand from the Chief Ombudsman that Associate Minister of Health, Casey ...
“Today’s climate announcement by Simon Watts makes clear the National Government is simply paying lip service to meeting its climate change targets,” Megan Woods said. ...
National is choosing to make life harder for workers by taking away the rights our communities have fought hard for. Here's how they’re taking workers backwards. ...
Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue. We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views. “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
Tēnā tātou katoa, Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts. “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet. “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks. “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. At the heart of this report are the ...
For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
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No one is responsible for ensuring New Zealand has an adequate electricity supply.
The country is in an electricity emergency on a cold morning after the wettest and warmest winter since forever.
People are being asked not to turn on their heaters or use their washing machines.
The shareholders of the power generation companies however get to light their cigars with $100 notes.
Time yet again to say "thanks, Max Bradford" and ask WTF is anyone doing about it?
Well, some are catching the next gravy train out….."charitably"
The Otago Central Electric Power Trust was OUR Local Power Company. Anyone with a brain could see that Trustpower….(who bought it) was going to want their money back…with Interest ! And of course our power bills….went ballistic.
No surprise that Jim Boult…a Natfan from way back, would be looking at his next option.
And yea ol' Max Bradford….still thinks he did the Right Thing. Well he kinda did. For his peer group. Aye Mr Boult…..
Oh yea…..I'd forgotten slimy Grady Cameron ! Aurora Energy/Delta
After running it into the ground slimebag gets close to a $ 1Million payout ! And WE pay more to fix the power poles…and carnage that resulted.
Sickening…
Max Bradford…..was a mistake. Time for a Change.
That's fairly typical of systemic under investment in diversity, under grounding, reslience, inspections etc as those trust boards across NZ do like to tub thump that yearly rebate to bill holders, regardless of it's cost.
Nationalise it ! Mick Lynch said it the other week in a UK comedy show that it's just taking back what's yours in the first place. Enough is enough, with the largesse removed and stripping out the quadruplication of audit, management, systems it'll probably fund itself.
We so need a socially focused party on the scene to shake this cosy centrist mob up.
Absolutely. Bradfords "reforms" were just a fail. Apart from, as stated, for the "few" at the top….
For them..it was an unmitigated success !
I am amazed that nothing is being done about this by our Govt. High energy costs with the low incomes of many are source of misery. I think as well as Housing we should be starting on things like building up rail again and renationalising energy. Perhaps we could follow the 3 waters model for electricity?
Does the Govt still own a share in electricity. Some of these Crown Enterprises were floated with the Crown holding some important shares that were to provide a brake but which will undoubtedly have been sold.
Freaking Nats …..an earlier version of sir Key's "devil beast" slur. Scumbags.
But yeah, Shanreagh. We should just GO FOR IT. For the betterment of the majority of NZers.
Come on, we need to be objective about this.
If power company execs can't get massive salaries they won't be able to afford the costs of sending the kids to exclusive private schools, travelling to Europe every year for holidays and owning a condo in Queenstown (or a big chunk of the South Island high country).
Ordinary Kiwis would have nothing to aspire to if that ceased.
lol. I get it. Its all a bit Joe Hill…and "Pie in the sky".
( I was gonna put links , but you already know ; )
Does "no one" include transpower? They seem to have highlighted the risk (prior to the line fault) and be coordinating the response (including asking people to voluntarily not use unnecessary power).
Transpower might MANAGE the energy supply but…
"No one is responsible for ensuring New Zealand has an adequate electricity supply."
Not sure I understand the distinction.
When Transpower has managed the outage and fully restored the HVDC line, your saying they can't guarantee it wont happen again in fact no organisation will guarantee it? I agree of course.
A "full Investigation"…I bet. Will there be any ….accountability?
As in a "management" review ?
I understand that as the Electricity Authority saying, yes, Transpower is a member of Sanctuaries, "no one". Maybe that's why there is active management happening this time and so far a major lines fault has caused no brown-outs AFAIK.
There was an insufficient generation warning in effect for today prior,due to forecast low wind generation in the NI,Thermal generation limited,and the high risk if a fault occurred.
A fault did occur on the South North HVDC transfer at haywards, meaning sufficient generation was unavailable,hence Grid emergency for NI declared.Reduction in load by heating control ,large users going to standby,increased co generation and use of liquid thermals (which had been brought to standby positions needing heat up times) saw adequate availability,and forced load reduction alleviated.
There was already reduced load from a calendar effect,of School Holidays,and increased seasonal lighting,and in industrial large users operating secondary systems.
The long term blowback resulting from the Wests and its compliant (to put nicely) media apparent short term memory lapse around the virulent European far Right and more specifically the various well known and documented self-proclaimed Ukrainian para military far Right is going to be brutal and ugly….
"Three years ago, describing an Australian white supremacist charged with massacring 49 people in New Zealand, the New York Times (3/15/19) wrote: “On his flak jacket was a symbol commonly used by the Azov Battalion, a Ukrainian neo-Nazi paramilitary organization.”
"Commanders of Ukraine’s celebrated Azov Battalion have held an emotional reunion with their families in Turkey, Ukrainian officials said, honoring the fighters released from Russian confinement last month as part of the largest prisoner swap since the start of the war.
“Celebrated” is an odd word to describe a group whose founder urged Ukraine to “lead the white races of the world in a final crusade…against Semite-led Untermenschen (subhumans)”
https://fair.org/home/action-alert-nyt-celebrates-neo-nazi-azov-unit/
You Ruski lovers are real sore losers.
If you don't like the far right hate groups you're a Ruski lover…Wow I didn't know.
Thanks for the clarification Sanctury.
The tedious shroud waving over the Azov battalion by pro-Russian propaganda channels is exactly that, tedious. The ridiculous myth that somehow the Ukraine is a "Nazi" state is a straight out Kremlin lie.
The Azov battalion was purged of it's Nazi and extreme elements in the extensive reforms undertaken by the Ukrainian army post their defeat in the 2014 war with Russia – the results of those reforms are obvious today, and the motivated infantry of the Ukraine (armed by the arsenals of democracy) are putting up a tremendous fight that has so far utterly humiliated Russia and exposed it for the vain-glorious Fascist uber-kleptocracy it really is.
The idea this nonsense is still be peddled as a thing when we now have extensive evidence of the actual brutality of the Russian occupation forces tells me the person posting is little more than a Kremlin shill attempting to manipulate the reality of this war in order to introduce doubt and undermine the determination of the west to support the Ukraine in it’s just war and is therefore undeserving of a serious response.
"The Azov battalion was purged of it's Nazi and extreme elements in the extensive reforms undertaken by the Ukrainian army post their defeat in the 2014 war with Russia"
I see, you seem to well informed…how about some serious (ie; not western MSM) links please.
"armed by the arsenals of democracy"….. Afghanistan, the Libyans, Iraqis, the people of Yemen…etc etc etc…..seems like your "arsenals of democracy" don't work that well for the Brown and Coloured people around the world…but then Western Imperialism was never meant to work for them was it?…it's one of the craziest ironies of recent times how the Liberal class have become the the staunchest supports of the most racist ideology in the world today…Western (US) hegemonic imperialism.
"…"armed by the arsenals of democracy"….. Afghanistan, the Libyans, Iraqis, the people of Yemen…etc etc etc…..seems like your "arsenals of democracy" don't work that well for the Brown and Coloured people around the world…"
WTF are you talking about? That is gibberish.
OK I will spell in out nice and slow for you….every time your great white "arsenals of democracy" (ie; western arms) are employed around the world, the local populations who also happen to usually be Coloured, suffer…is that clear enough for you.
Well they are not in the Ukraine, they are kicking your sides arse.
"Well they are not in the Ukraine"…by this statement we can assume you are in at least tacit agreement that your self described "arsenals of democracy" and by extension their countries of origin have and are in the business of fucking up countries around the globe for various self serving reasons, yet you would have us believe that those very same ultra aggressive powers are now defending the Ukraine for altruistic reasons…
…it is beyond me that you can't see that for those powers ( that we have just agreed have a serious and long history of ultra aggressive international thuggery) the Ukraine and the Ukrainian people are the least important component in this conflict.
"The Azov battalion was purged of it's Nazi and extreme elements in the extensive reforms undertaken by the Ukrainian army post their defeat in the 2014 war with Russia"….
…and finally I see still no neutral links to verify your claims…wonder why that is???
How about some what-aboutism, Eh Adrian.
What's your message here Adrian?
That Western powers conduct genocidal invasions and wars and takeovers, so Russia should?
I noticed in your list of invasions and interventions, you left Syria off your list.
Is that because Russia's intervention and mass bombardment of civilian centres in Syria gets your tick of approval?
A reported 18,000 Syrians have been killed by Russian forces in Syria. Russia claims they killed 85,000 Syrians, all of them terrorists.
Adrian, you could dispute whether 18,000 or 85,000 Syrians killed by Russian forces is the correct figure. I could dispute whether they were all terrorists.
How about things that can't be denied or disputed?
The images of Aleppo reduced to rubble by Russian bombing, the same images of Mariupol reduced to rubble by genocidal Russian bombing.
You can't deny Adrian that you haven't seen the video of Russian rockets slamming into civilian apartment blocks in Ukraine. Everyone has seen them. Does this atrocity get your stamp of approval because Russia does it?
I do worry about the way you seemingly promote the symbols used by the Azov Batallion and the convicted NZ mass murderer without even a hint of irony or self-awareness or what you’re doing. Is it meant to wake us up, shock us, or something else altogether? You certainly do have a unique way of trying to make your point, but I doubt that it is effective and could well be counter-productive, although that doesn’t seem to cross your mind at all.
"I do worry about the way you seemingly promote the symbols used by the Azov Batallion"…I worry about the most sophisticated and deadly arms being sent to known extremist Far Right militias/units in the Ukraine without the slightest oversight…
This is the spiritual home of the symbol of the Azov unit…not sure about you, but I find that direct lineage to one of the most savage military units in recent European history very worrying indeed….the fighters the West seem fine with arming for some reason…when this all ends, and it will, these people will still have all those those weapons…are you ok with that?
The origin of the symbol is the wolf trap. It's use within Germany was probably derived from Prussian influence in forming nationalism out of the HRE era.
Don't engage, Kremlin shills WANT you argue over the symbology, in order to manipulate perception and introduce doubt as the righteousness of the Ukrainian fight.
Hat tip to whoever pointed me to Vlad Vexler, very interesting chap and he describes exactly what pro- Putler shills are doing:
Oh there is plenty that is true…just not much of it is coming from you today.
One can see the distortion of truth in Putin cultivating support from night wolfs and portraying Ukrainian resistance as a fascist wolf trap.
His problem is that he is no Zhukov, he is not even as good at cheating, chess or the psych out as Hans Niemann (who cheated his way up the rankings to play at tournaments and then demonstrated he was not just better than the worlds "best ever Carlsen" – he did so posing as disinterested during the game as if it was too easy). Carlsen now refused to play him again – Putin's don't make me a loser, or I'll use nukes.
So there is this guy in red square and suddenly he starts shouting "The president is a Nazi and an idiot! The president is a Nazi and an idiot!"
He is quickly surrounded by police who start beating him, but he cries out "No! No! I meant Zelensky! I meant Zelensky!"
To which the cops replied, "We are not fools, everyone knows who the Nazi idiot is."
yes my thanks too I saw his interview with Jake Broe and the manipulation is just as he described. Sheds light on alot of whats happening around the world.
https://youtu.be/2697pPORYuw
Nice try….I think you well know that the symbol is 100% understood to be the Divisional insignia of the notorious 2nd Waffen SS Div….now also widely understood to represent the insignia used by the Ukrainian Azov unit….end of story.
History, is what it is, it shows up the propagandist.
There are a lot of folk co-opting former Nazi symbols – I don't think the Waffen SS would have been impressed by many of them.
But frankly, get off the grass. Russia has proven to be bellicose, inconsiderate of civilians and prisoners well beyond Geneva convention definitions, perfectly chill about using chemical or nuclear weapons, cheerful fakers of ballots, and so frightfully incompetent they're probably automatically eligible for National Party membership.
You've got to serve somebody – better to choose self-defense against malign aggression than the jack-booted minions of the oppressor.
" I don't think the Waffen SS would have been impressed by many of them"…you obviouly don't know the history of the Waffen SS, it is an historical fact that by 1944 the Waffen SS would have welcomed them with open arms.
There was a Ukrainian Waffen SS Div. raised in 1943, which also included Slovaks, Czechs….I guess your Azov, Right Sector soldiers would have found their natural home in this Div.
14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Galician)
Here you go Adrian.
Lots of new groups for you to accuse of being Nazis.
Yeah, you know, you need a little bit more than a dated and flimsy assertion of SS internationalism to fit up anyone you don't like as a Nazi.
But of course you're only running agitprop for the Putin kleptocracy – we know you're not serious.
Breaking News:
In the midst of fascist terror in Belarus, Repression in Russia and daily rocket attacks and threats of nuclear weapons being used in Ukraine. For their work to oppose Putin's war of aggression; Russian and Ukrainian and Belarus peace activists opposed to Putin's bloodthirsty war of imperialist aggression, are being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Good on them.
I might be reaching here Adrian in thinking this. Will you also be smearing these Russian, Ukrainian and Belarus anti-war groups as anti-Russian Azov Nazis?
Correct me if I am wrong in this Adrian, but will you soon be accusing the the Nobel Committee of being CIA stooges?
I must admit I have a morbid fascination like that you get from pressing your own bruise to try and grasp exactly why anyone would be so invested in defending a fascist kleptocracy ruled over by a brutal dictator with zero regard for the life or dignity of his nations citizens, or why you are so frantic to justify a brutal and unprovoked war of aggression on the Ukraine.
Anyway, I aint playing you stupid game of false equivalence and shroud waving trying to manipulate reality.
Now I am off to make (another) donation directly to the Ukrainian army.
I really cannot see your justification for parading those symbols here to try to make a point or something, but you obviously feel it is totally ok.
Those symbols seem to occupy a lot of room inside your mind; are you sure they’re not couchsurfing there?
Heard of the night wolves, Putin fanboys, and their offshoots in the Balkans – a righteous white Orthodox brotherhood?
And Putin's neo-Tsarist alliance with the Russian Orthodox Church and their righteous crusade against western liberal decadence?
The obsession with a sectarian group within Ukrainian nationalism (a historic reaction to over-rule by Russian Bolsheviks – heard of the Ukraine farm collectivisation and the Duginite Novarussia?)
The justification of Russian conquest and annexation and demonisation of Ukraine independence by such slurs is becoming tragic.
I am not justifying anything…just pointing out that if you lay down with dogs you get up with fleas, that is all.
Russia is following American practice in the ME (Iraq, Libya and Syria regime removal) in the Ukraine.
And the USA is following Russian practice (responding to Syrian/Ukraine calls for help).
Such is the wheel of time, while no one is claiming Ukraine is perfect, it is at least as deserving of support as Syria.
'
'Russia is following American and Russian practice in the ME….'
There you go SPC, fixed it for you.
"….indiscriminate attacks in civilian areas without ‘a specific military objective’…."
Sound familiar SPC?
Fleas, or tics …
Not if you've given them their monthly/3 monthly treatment![wink wink](https://cdn2.thestandard.org.nz/wp-content/plugins/ark-wysiwyg-comment-editor/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/wink_smile.png?x42494)
Mongrel Mob gang members often have swastika tattoos, some even have swastikas tattooed on their face and neck. Mongrel Mob wear Wehrmacht styled coal scuttle thelmets, and greet each other with 'Sieg Heil'.
Despite the heavy nazi symbolism Mongrel Mob members are not nazis.
Marginalised groups often try to shock the society that rejected and marginalised them, by using the symbolism of those most detested by that society. That doesn't make them Nazis.
It was well publicised that after the Christchurch shootings the Mongrel Mob guarded the mosques from further racist attacks. The Mongrel Mob's support was accepted and thanked by the Muslim community. Despite all their 'transgressive' swastikas and German helmets, the Muslim community of Christchurch could see through that. For their part the Mongrel Mob could identify with another marginalised community.
Context is everything. Sometimes you have to look past the symbols to see the essence.
The swastika for example is a symbol of peace in India – Context.
The straight armed salute popularised by the German nazis was copied by the Mau in Samoa when fighting for their independence from New Zealand colonial rule – Again Context.
Pro-war propagandists like yourself Adrian looking for a reason to justify Russia's aggression, latch on to anything and willfully try to make something bigger of minority trangressive groups or gangs in society to slander the whole society to fit your pro-war narrative.
The hall mark of real fascists is genocide racism and war. When confronted with real fascism the Mongrel Mob abandoned their 'transgressive' symbolism.
The same realisation has probably dawned on Azov Battalion members to abandon their transgressive symbolism in the face of real Russian fascism.
George Monibot speaking about the neoliberal abomination in the UK, but oh so relevant to NZ with CEO Luxon hovering on the edges of power.
Watch – and tremble:
https://twitter.com/painj/status/1578106761738715136
Our govt should follow and do this.
So we need to revisit I think. It still costs too much for patients.
They need to develop a very low THC level plant variety and let people grow their own.
They might have to adjust current law, or signal an intent to.
https://communitylaw.org.nz/community-law-manual/chapter-34-common-crimes/drug-offences/cannabis-and-other-class-c-drugs/
At this point the best option might be to adjust the clean slate legislation as to any custodial sentence for possession of marijuana for personal use.
I have to confess, the Russian ambassador getting all angsty because his countries brutal and unprovoked war of cultural genocide and imperial conquest in the Ukraine has led to the local Ukrainian community saying some unkind things about Russia and Russians has to be the funniest thing I have read today.
I just like to think that in the halls of Valhalla Tītokowaru and Charles Upham smile and high five each other everytime the Ukrainians liberate another one of their towns.
Both jacinda and Luxon were given the opportunity to say goodbye to Susie Ferguson this morning after 8 years on Morning Report. Jacinda did a classy friendly goodbye …Luxon refused the offer. He has no idea on politics
The funny thing was that replaced 7-houses was replaced with Collins who couldn't resist a few snide comments about Susie's interview style.
Luxon may have refused the offer and may have no idea on politics, but not appearing would have had absolutely, totally, no impact on one vote either way or the other.
And when it gets down to it, that's all that counts. Normal human stuff doesn't come into it. The ordinariness of Ardern appearing is normal human stuff and will also have had absolutely, totally, no impact on one vote either way or the other.
Luxie probably thought he might put his foot in it, and Collins, for all her faults, did.
You have to wonder…
I wonder what Jacinda would say if Mike Hosking retired from radio?
I hope I get the chance to find out – soon. (Hope like hell)
Why would Hosking retire from radio ?
I believe he's very well paid and has quite favourable ratings, assuming he enjoys his job he's likely going to be in situ for considerably longer than the PM.
More shame on us!! What has HE done? Apart from divorce his first wife and buy a flash to show off car!!
Good grief …. take a deep breath and have a cup of tea.
There really are more important things in the world to worry about than Mike Hosking.
Heh I can despise him without thinking about him
Patronise your Mother Higherstandard.!!
My mother passed away a long time ago …. not sure why you want me to patronise her ?
I think she would wish him well. But she would probably smile.
Susie Ferguson is a gem. Enjoyed her insightful questions.
Where is she going now ?
Apparently a new role in RNZ. Not sure what .
Senior presenter and journalist across a range of shows at RNZ. Likely to include podcasts as well.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/470697/susie-ferguson-steps-into-new-role-at-rnz
Not surprised at the move. Early morning radio is a tough gig (not the show, but the early hours, and the relentless consistency required) – and she's done MR for 8 years.
Expect to see more of her work throughout the radio broadcast day.
A right wing fringe media broadcaster has a problem
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/30/us/tucker-carlson-fox-news.html
Of course solving such problems has consequences
https://www.npr.org/2020/09/29/917747123/you-literally-cant-believe-the-facts-tucker-carlson-tells-you-so-say-fox-s-lawye
Which might be the courts opinion, and his legal shield supplied by Trump's appointees to the bench from the consequences of his pronouncements, but the mainstream promotion of such "half-truths" is corrosive to the body politic. But this might be consistent with with the now prevailing view of SCOTUS – that popular opinion in the states should be able to have its day, even if that day is pre the civil rights movement and reforms of the 1960's. Thus Nixon's southern strategy is coming into its full bloom.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/09/05/justice-alitos-crusade-against-a-secular-america-isnt-over
The crazy people of Christchurch had their day and it's taken this long, too long for Peter Ellis to have his.
The Supreme Court has ruled convictions on sex charges against Peter Ellis were based on a miscarriage of justice
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/130089364/supreme-court-quashes-peter-ellis-child-sex-abuse-convictions
OMG and he's dead.
Parents of children involved:
"The trauma of not being believed over the years takes its toll. The court of public opinion is often ill-informed and the facts are lost," they said.
"Today we would like first and foremost to acknowledge and thank all of the children who, nearly three decades ago suffered terrible abuse and who live with the effects of that abuse today.
In my opinion the abuse which happened was by the parents of the children involved.
Started by the parents of the 4-year-old who said he didn't like "Peter's black penis".
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/peter-ellis-convictions-posthumously-quashed-in-landmark-supreme-court-decision/ZHX4Z7WHZJ6A6O4MA55VIXZZ6A/
"In my opinion the abuse which happened was by the parents of the children involved."
The most disgraceful example of bigotry and mass hysteria in the history of this country. They ruined the life of an innocent young man… you could say they killed him.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130102881/proud-tearful-family-of-creche-worker-peter-ellis-say-his-mana-has-been-restored
“The system is so stacked against the little guy. Some people need to take responsibility. They have ruined so many lives, including those of the children.”
It took 30 years to admit a (series of) mistake
Justice too often depends on who you are and who you know. Those with the loudest voices and/or perceived as having a more senior status are almost always believed over the little guy… or gal.
And justice delayed is justice denied…as this instance amply demonstrates
The language and general 'over wroughtness', if that is a word, of the parents in the Civic creche case has similarities with the same language espoused by VFF and other people (NB pejorative word removed and replaced by the word ‘people’) about the Covid vaccinations culminating in the 'happening' at Parliament. Both events driven by forces outside NZ and eagerly lapped up by the conspiracy minded among us.
Lizard people, the grassy knoll, who really toppled the buildings on 9/11 and many more conspiracies.
The Civic creche case was an example of a moral panic
'Moral panic is defined as a public mass movement, based on false or exaggerated perceptions or information that exceeds the actual threat society is facing. Moral panic is a widespread fear and often an irrational threat to society's values, interests, and safety.'
More on moral panics
https://helpfulprofessor.com/moral-panic-examples/
Also of concern was the use of Dr Karin Zelas by the prosecution. The Supreme Court was very critical of her evidence
https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/10/07/peter-ellis-case-supreme-court-quashes-child-abuse-convictions/
'Major problems with psychiatrist's evidence
Today the court found there were major problems with the evidence given during the trial by Dr Karen Zelas, a psychiatrist. A Crown witness, Dr Zelas was involved in supervising the interviews of the children and helped the police with their investigation.
Her evidence highlighted 20 behaviours by the children, including bedwetting and sleeping problems, that she testified were consistent with the behaviour of sexually abused children generally.
The Supreme Court found Dr Zelas’ evidence departed from appropriate standards. It found it lacked balance, suffered from problematic circular reasoning and had the overall effect of suggesting to the jury that “clusters” of behaviour support a finding of sexual abuse.
The court said none of those problems were counteracted by cross-examination, the judge’s summing up or the defence’s expert witness. Therefore the court found a substantial miscarriage of justice had occurred.
The Supreme Court also looked into the risk of the children’s evidence being contaminated, particularly by questioning from parents. During the Supreme Court appeal, Ellis’ lawyer relied on new evidence from memory experts, including studies post-dating the trial.
There was substantial agreement from both the experts for the Crown and the appellant that the risk of contamination was higher than the jury in 1993 was led to believe, and that if contamination occurred it would not have been readily detectable.
The Supreme Court found that although the risk of contamination was traversed at the 1993 trial, the jury was not fairly informed of the level of risk."
Hopefully the use of such evidence is more thoroughly vetted nowadays.
Beautifully put. Thankyou for an excellent detailed account Shanreagh.
This should be a reminder that mass hysteria is indeed a thing.
At least Peter Ellis' name is now (officially) cleared, sadly somewhat belatedly.
Very true, happy that the miscarriage of justice has finally been righted but sad that he's not here to see it.
The TV1 interview, John Campbell and Peter Ellis, just screening right now and never seen before. Peter Ellis was a brave man.
As the end of the film 'The Hunt" shows, some stains, no matter how undeserved, can’t be completely erased. There’s a lesson in what happened to Ellis, and no winners.
No winners in any of it.
Profoundly grateful that his name has been cleared, and deeply saddened that he's not here to see it.
Another appalling side effect has been the effective exclusion of virtually all men from working in ECE, and many from working as primary teachers.
Not, because there was anything official – but they saw the writing on the wall and perceived the risk of having their lives destroyed by a mistaken or even malicious child abuse accusation.
Our education system has been the poorer for it.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/114782450/more-males-needed-as-early-childhood-teachers-to-reflect-true-diversity-advocates-say
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/114783073/group-for-male-early-childhood-teachers-supports-peter-ellis-appeal
Kris Faafoi – a case study of the “revolving door .
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2022/10/07/political-roundup-faafois-lobbying-position-should-be-illegal/
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2022/10/07/political-roundup-faafois-lobbying-position-should-be-illegal/
"There are several commentators calling for the Labour Government to introduce new rules about lobbying and particularly the revolving door. The problem is that it’s not in Labour’s interests to tighten up the rules. At the moment they’re the worst offenders, so why would they want to introduce tighter laws that would impact negatively on themselves?"
It is worth considering that legality dosnt discount corruption, indeed the worst corruption is legitimised.
And they wonder why they are viewed with disdain(or possibly not)….it's largely deserved.
We get the politicians we desreve!!
We get the politicians we desreve!!
Germany did not deserve Hitler and Cambodia did not deserve Pol Pot. Many NZers do not deserve Jacinda Ardern either.
Wow that is the longest bow I have ever seen drawn!
Read it again Barfly.
The price of democracy is eternal vigilance
Well the watchers have certainly been asleep in NZ. Shame the media are too lame to do their job.
We can blame the media as much as we blame ourselves….or rather we should.
But we can work with them.
https://twitter.com/B4DC0FFEE/status/1575603981887602688
https://twitter.com/B4DC0FFEE/status/1575605832443604992
https://twitter.com/B4DC0FFEE/status/1575608792967880704
“Normalization” is one of the big buzzwords of our era: we are constantly told we mustn’t normalize this or that. With the election of Donald Trump, liberals fretted that he would become normalized, but it’s interesting to note that the liberal and conservative strategy for dealing with Benito Mussolini after he became prime minister in 1922 was to normalize him. In fact, one could say that normalization was how Mussolini gained power in the first place: King Victor Emmanuel summoned him to form a government to avoid a violent coup during the March on Rome. The belief was that by channelling the Fascists into the constitutional system they would abandon violence and serve a constructive role.
The old elite also thought they could use this stratagem to sideline the most fascist Fascists, the squadristi who often came from a “national syndicalist” background and envisioned for a social revolution along with a political takeover. While they may have hoped for a revolution, the squadristi beat up and killed Socialists and trades unionists at the behest of landowners and industrialists, so the establishment may be forgiven for thinking Fascism was really on the side of social order. The establishment’s plan was to absorb or transform Fascism, rather than defeat it head on. This appeared plausible since Mussolini was so equivocal and unclear about his true goals: there seemed to be little ideological consistency at all among the Fascists; they could be useful in a number of different ways.
https://johnganz.substack.com/p/the-matteotti-crisis?
Some can work with "them"….and some make 'them' inevitable
" The problem is that it’s not in Labour’s interests to tighten up the rules. At the moment they’re the worst offenders, so why would they want to introduce tighter laws that would impact negatively on themselves?"
But what about that far away promise of Adern's …what was it ? I will lead an open and transparent government !
Bit like " own your future and LOL # Let's do this …maybe # Let's not eh.
Two different forms of reality …Politicians and real life.
I think i have made my opinion of (successful?) politicians quite clear….and it is impartial.
The sinister abduction of children for use as human shields.
https://twitter.com/niktwick/status/1577941657030377472
Kherson children will spend autumn holidays in the best health resorts of Crimea
Taking into account the numerous requests and wishes of parents, from October 6 to October 21, 2022, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kherson region of the Russian Federation announces vacations for schoolchildren of general educational institutions in the city of Kherson and in Belozersky, Berislavsky, Kakhovka, Snigiryovsky municipal districts, as well as in the Novokakhovka city district and students of secondary vocational educational institutions.
Children during the vacation period will take part in the health programs of the Russian Federation on the territory of the Republic of Crimea.
They are waiting for educational events, exciting trips and meetings with interesting people.
The Ministry of Education and Science of the Kherson region expresses its deep gratitude to the Government and the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of the Republic of Crimea for the opportunity to improve the health of Kherson children during the velvet season in the best health resorts of Crimea.
google translate
https://t.me/VGA_Kherson/3858
Aaron Maté, Max Bumenthal and Katie Halper often take flak – a sure sign they are getting close to the target. They are insightful and articulate reporters, present their arguments clearly and back them with facts.
In this interview hosted by Briahna Joy Gray (former press sec for Bernie Sanders) Maté explores not just the video's headline about who blew up the Nordstream 2 pipeline but also the threat of nuclear war and the complex recent background to the conflict.
Oh, and to either bring joy or fury to the commenters this earlier this afternoon, they cover Azov and fascism.
It's becoming more clear that the USA's reason for proxy war with Russia in Ukraine is about the control and distribution of fossil fuel in Europe. The usual thing – war is about money and power.
This full video is an interesting watch because of the quality of the interviewer and her questions, Aaron outlines his concerns about the sabotage mostly in the first 10-15 minutes. He refers to the comments made by Blinken, Radoslaw Sikorski, Biden amongst others, and also references recent interviews with Jeffrey Sachs (that are worth watching as well)
Gee whiz I guess those sneaky yanks are Just so Lucky that Putin invaded Ukraine huh?
/Tui add
You don't have to think too much when you live inside the submissive void.
What continues to amaze me is the amount of supposedly intelligent people out there waving their little blue and yellow flags and they never even mention the people off the donbass and their eight years of hell its like they dont even exist .
Its not like the nightmare is over either with the referendums being conducted as the ukranians have promised long prison sentences for any civilian exercising his right to self determination by joining the russian federation .
Hopefully if the offensives continue to regain territory they'll be able to escape behind russian lines before the secret police get there !!