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 !!
Hi,I am just going to state something very obvious: American police are fucking crazy.That was a photo gracing the New York Times this morning, showing New York City police “entering Columbia University last night after receiving a request from the school.”Apparently in America, protesting the deaths of tens of thousands ...
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
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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
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)
hehehe!! same!! Mike.
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 !!