Some links to docos you might enjoy CV ….. although you may have seen them before …….. others could enjoy or learn from them …..
When I’m reading an article on the net and a name or operation I know nothing about is mentioned …. I ‘right click’ and search to see where the information leads and how it ties into things … it can end up very informative sometimes. …
Doug Valentine is a investigative journalist who after 4 years of research and interviews with C.I.A agents wrote a book “The Phoenix Program ” which ran during the Vietnam war …. “,…. it’s described as “A shocking exposé of
the covert CIA program of widespread torture, rape, and murder of civilians during America’s war in Vietnam,” …..
In this radio interview Doug Valentine describes his upbringing with a WWII vet father and how he got onto the phoenix program which was unknown to the public and had been a secret for 20 odd years https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkPUqUAhBg8 ……..
A lot of the doco explains specific propaganda and manipulation used to gain support for mass murder ( war )…………… He also gives a review of how he thinks Trump will operate… which is both critical and hopeful … Its a pack of murderers Trump will have to deal with and they certainly will not want to stop their sadistic blood democracy
But of course Vietnam and The Phoenix Program was just a continuation of using the worst psychopathic killers to suppress real democracy , murder political rivals, start wars, starve innocent civilians ….. and misinform us about it the whole time ….
“Operation Gladio” involved the C.I.As predecessor O.S.S and was specifically about the recruitment of Nazis,ultra-fascists and extreme right wingers after WWII was over………….. they were hidden militias/terrorist
The Govt sponsered nazis Killed many many innocent people …. which was then most often blamed on communists/socialist … using the resulting public outrage to kill or persecute them.
Which all leads me to ask ……. why do we …. as in New Zealand ….have a trade embargo against Russia for protecting ethnic russians and others from a proto fascist govt installed after destabilization and a violent coup ????….
“The International Criminal Court prosecutes individuals who have committed genocide and other major war crimes. Over 120 countries support it, but the United States is not one of them ……. ”
It all seems very disrespectful to WWII vets …. democracy u.s.a style ……….supporting Nazis
At least by not having a real air-force we did not become part of the ISIS aerial fighting wing like the Aussies and yanks did ….
Which all leads me to ask ……. why do we …. as in New Zealand ….have a trade embargo against Russia for protecting ethnic russians and others from a proto fascist govt installed after destabilization and a violent coup ????….
It certainly would be highly questionable, if the situation you describe reflected reality rather than fiction.
Thank you reason. The USA utterly destroyed its credibility with its actions in Vietnam, and has never come to terms with how appalling they really are(still).
Cheers garibaldi ………. one of the truly evil deeds done at the end of WWII was when the Brits reinstated the Fascist Nazi collaborators as police and Government in Greece ….. while waging war on the anti Nazi Greek partisan fighters who had liberated their country shortly before the Brits arrived …
….” as the December Battle of Athens had begun – known in Greece as the Dekemvriana – fought not between the British and the Nazis, but the British alongside supporters of the Nazis against the partisans. ” ……
“And thereafter Greece’s descent into catastrophic civil war: a cruel and bloody episode in British as well as Greek history which every Greek knows to their core”
” In France or Italy, if you fought the Nazis, you were respected in society after the war, regardless of ideology; they were heroes. In Greece, you found yourself fighting – or imprisoned and tortured by – the people who had collaborated with the Nazis, on British orders. There has never been a reckoning with that crime,” …. https://libcom.org/history/british-perfidy-greece-story-worth-remembering-ed-vulliamy-helena-smith
Those other Docos I posted up for Puckish were probably a bit long for Puckish …….. Here’s a 6 minute music one which has a simple message for him https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5yYjcxnpCs
thank you reason. It seems that we have to educate some privileged citizens of the US-Anglo empire what their own recent history is. I bet some still think that the Contras were the “popularly supported freedom fighters”
My sister made some purchases in Briscoes yesterday. The salesman produced a plastic bag which she said she didn’t want. We were told they had to either give us a bag or put a ‘sold’ sticker on every item. Grrr!!
Once they’re paid for they belong to you and you can do whatever you like with them, including deciding you don’t want extra stickers. Plus what Ffloyd said.
They’d probably then insist on stickering or bagging them before the transaction was completed. There’s probably something politically creative to do with the bag or stickers at that point 😈
when this happen, accept the bag, go to the next rubbish bin outside of the shop and put any surplus packaging, plastic bags, plastic wrappings etc in said rubbish bin.
If someone from the Mall asks why you do that you simply state that you did not want the plastic bag/packaging/plastic wrapping and thus you leave it behind to let the store deal with the rubbish.
IF/when enough people do that and the shops/mall have ot empty their rubbish containers several times more a day some businesses will stop using any extra packaging.
I do that often at the Supermarket/Paknslave with plastic wrappers around boxes around bottles and the likes. Not gonna schlepp that stuff home.
it will be a company policy. Their bags are branded and while you walk around with your briscoes bag, your pak n slave bags etc etc you are a walking talking advertisement for the company and in many cases you have to pay 10 cents for the privelege.
Kick a fuss with the company and then start leaving all the surpluss packaging behind in the shops and let them deal with the rubbish.
Why would you a. schlepp that stuff home and b. pay for having it removed as rubbish?
When I’m reading an article on the net and a name or operation I know nothing about is mentioned I ‘right click’ and search to see where
the information leads and how it ties into things …
Doug Valentine is a investigative journalist who after 4 years of research and interviews with C.I.A agents wrote a book “The Phoenix Program ” which ran during the Vietnam war …. “,…. it’s described as “A shocking exposé of
the covert CIA program of widespread torture, rape, and murder of civilians during America’s war in Vietnam,” …..
In this radio interview he describes his upbringing with a WWII vet father and how he got onto the phoenix program which was unknown to the public and had been a secret for 20 odd years https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkPUqUAhBg8 ……..
A lot of the doco explains specific propaganda and manipulation used to gain support for mass murder ( war )…………… He also gives a review of how he thinks Trump will operate… which is both critical and hopeful … Its a pack of murderers Trump will have to deal with and they certainly will not want to stop.
But of course Vietnam and The Phoenix Program was just a continuation of using the worst psychopathic killers to suppress real democracy , murder political rivals, start wars, starve innocent civilians ….. and misinform us about it the whole time ….
“Operation Gladio” involved the C.I.As predecessor O.S.S and was specifically about the recruitment of Nazis,ultra-fascists and extreme right wingers after WWII was over………….. they were hidden militias/terrorist
The Govt sponsered nazis Killed many many innocent people …. which was then most often blamed on communists/socialist … using the resulting public outrage to kill or persecute them.
Which all leads me to ask ……. why do we …. as in New Zealand ….have a trade embargo against Russia for protecting ethnic russians and others from a proto fascist govt installed after destabilization and a violent coup ????….
“The International Criminal Court prosecutes individuals who have committed genocide and other major war crimes. Over 120 countries support it, but the United States is not one of them ……. ”
Its mainly our farmers who are paying for NZs support of fascism at the moment .. ….. good to see National party supporters paying for their policy
At least by not having a real air-force we did not become part of the ISIS aerial fighting wing like the Aussies and yanks did ….
Like our building industry where we sell raw materials for peanuts to buy back for a fortune, we can now give our water away to buy back in plastic bottles for $3. Bad for the environment, bad for the economy, but obviously a great profit for those getting the resource consents being dished out like lollies.
Yup, water should only be free if you harvest it off your roof or your own ponds, if you start taking from National parks, lakes, aquifers then you should have to pay per cubic meter for the water to the government and a levy to the local community and ONLY if it will have a minimal environmental effects.
The resource consents should be able to be modified or nulled if there are any negative effects and the consents should only be for 5 – 10 year periods not forever, so that if there is a drought or what have you – the consents can be modified.
It is crazy how the council and government are just giving away our public resources. Wonder who the company is and who they know in government and council?
Not sure where you live BM but many of us on town water seemed to be already charged for water, therefore why should a small group of people be able to take out millions of litres of water for their business from NZer’s without also paying for their useage?
If you want to avoid water charges collect from your roof or ponds for farms. Not some individuals diverting and taking water from everyone for their own benefit and selling if off shore while many locals are forced to pay for it.
Na mate, they are the first step in sorting out wasteful, entitled bludgers who think they can use as much water as they like and not have to pay for it. Bonus effect in allowing reticulation managers to get a handle on location and quantity of losses from their reticulation. So the result of metering is lower costs to most water users, apart from the wasteful entitled bludgers, who get to pay for their usage.
It’s the political clout of the wasteful entitled bludgers that keeps our water supplies un-metered, and uncontrolled.
The councils seem to be giving away the rate payers water that’s what I am objecting to, by giving private companies resource consent to harvest water for nothing.
It’s one of those things about economics that most people simply do not understand: We need to measure how much of a resource we have, how much of it can be used sustainably per year and how much and where is actually being used.
For some strange reason we’ve developed this idea that we can just take it all without worrying about it.
So, yes, every house, farm and business needs to have a water metre. And if we keep a market system then everyone needs to be charged for each unit that they use.
Like water is so scarce on the West Coast that there is not nearly enough to export.
Seriously, get real here. Why wouldn’t you export water from the West Coast? Standardnistas are always going on about the lack of jobs, especially in the regions, but obviously when they are created you are against them. Go figure.
One of the problems many have with this issue Wayne is the resource belongs to all New Zealanders, yet it will be a privately owned venture that is going to directly profit from this.
If we are going to bulk export water it should be done through Government and for the benefit of all New Zealanders.
I think that if you harvest from your own roof for residential use it should be free or if you irrigate stock from your own pond it should be free. What I object to, is that some locals paying a fortune for water, while other councils are giving it away for export (probably to cronies). Where is the fairness in that?
The point is that our present economic system mistakes money for wealth. Exporting resources actually makes us poorer even though a few people will have more money in the bank.
The Chump says he’s saving jobs in the US. A few hundred at a time. By individually bullying companies (into doing things they were going to do anyway, but the Chump and the company both get good press from bullshitting about it). But he’s promised to trash clean energy, which is one of the fastest growing and high value segments of the US economy. Meanwhile China is creating millions of jobs by getting serious about clean energy.
Trump is into good business and good deals. If “clean energy” can demonstrate its place in the US economy, it’ll have a very good run under Trump.
Meanwhile China is creating millions of jobs by getting serious about clean energy.
NB China is still opening up new thermal plants every month.
The Chump says he’s saving jobs in the US. A few hundred at a time. By individually bullying companies
It’s good to see that we finally have a US President who understands how business makes decisions and doesn’t believe in the free market mumbo jumbo of the Clintons and the Obamas.
Mexican press already complaining that Trump has cost Mexico at least 3600 jobs which were due to move from the US to Mexico.
@ Colonial Viper, Are you seriously saying that you believe Trump ( himself in the1% class) will operate outside his own class ideology, and help workers achieve better more stable conditions/pay over other (1% ers) industrialists/corporatists profit motives, and that he doesn’t believe in a totally free market?
What has he ever done in his own business ventures to have you believe those things?
He’s already doing those things. And it’s not just about Mexico – he’s just fired shots at the Toyota Corporation telling them if they do not build their next plant in the USA, they will face a 35% tariff at the border.
BTW you need to realise that the “elites” are not a monolithic block. History shows us that the “elites” often have conflicting or competing agendas. We can see this quite clearly with the deep state attempting to take the Trump Administration down before it even gets in.
Trump has expressed support for so-called right-to-work legislation, which allows workers to avoid paying union dues. Republican leaders in Congress have consistently sought such a change at the national level. Labor unions say such laws are aimed at undermining collective bargaining and workers’ rights.
It’s ok though, because a shithead propagandist says water is dry.
Trump is making the USA more attractive for business. He’ll threaten businesses who want to move jobs out of the USA. But he’ll also give them lower taxes and more compliant workforce conditions if they stay.
It’s a classic business-like carrot and stick approach.
Obama was just letting Detroit jobs walk away to Mexico – destroying US worker unions that way.
That’s the way of it. Trump can deliver some things, but given the political establishment he is up against, he won’t be able to deliver everything by himself.
You’ll have to point out where I said that. Indeed, I said above that elites often have conflicting or competing interests and that can be seen in how the Deep State is attempting to take Trump and his Administration down. (Implicitly suggesting that Trump is indeed part of the elite).
If anything, saying that Trump is part of the 1% is not wholly accurate. He is more correctly thought of as part of the 1% of the 1%.
Trump’s fellow elitists have long known that they cannot control him like they could control Reagan, Bush, Clinton and (they were hoping), Rodham Clinton.
OK, so just to be clear, are you saying that you believe that American workers, American civil rights, and freedom of speech will all improve overall under a Trump Presidency?
Also what historical episode are you alluding to where ‘elites’ ( a word I loath to use for the leeching class) have turned on their own class for the benefit of workers in a long term and substantive way?
OK, so just to be clear, are you saying that you believe that American workers, American civil rights, and freedom of speech will all improve overall under a Trump Presidency?
They’ll deteriorate at an equal or slower rate than under President Obama’s time.
I can almost guarantee that Trump will prosecute FEWER whistleblowers than the record breaking Orwellian Obama.
Recently, two U.S. coal companies, Peabody Energy Corporation and Arch Coal, filed for bankruptcy amid tumbling coal prices. These companies had invested significantly to acquire coal mines and were particularly hurt by low consumption in China.
Indications are that it will be lower from coal fired generation. So that would indicate that it does matter that China is going to add even more gigawatts of renewable power generation.
Krugman on the Chump’s phony jobs policy and how he’s playing the media with his “saving jobs” schtick.
“In other words, it may have sounded as if Mr. Trump was doing something substantive by intervening with Carrier, but he wasn’t. This was fake policy — a show intended to impress the rubes, not to achieve real results.”
Clinton Camper Krugman is just pissed that he didn’t get the White House position Hillary promised him, and has been losing his mind for the last two months over it.
If Krugman was really interested in policies which make a substantial difference to the US jobs market he should not have been dead-set against Gerald Friedmans estimates of the US economys future under Bernie Sanders economic policy.
Friedman was discussing policies which might actually make a dent in the 75,000 odd churn of the jobs market each day in the US.
The main point is, (as Krugman says), that “Friedman is implicitly assuming that the U.S. economy is (and will continue to be for a long time) dramatically below its productive capacity.” which he disputes. But given that Krugman is saying there that the US is actually much closer to full capacity utilization when dealing with Friedman (which means almost all of the 75,000 turnover will find other jobs quickly) why does he also claim some re-shoring is insignificant because many will languish without jobs for many many years, when dealing with Trump. Of course its because Krugman thinks he can have it both ways on this issue.
Also, despite claiming its fake policy, Krugman does nothing to actually show that the policy doesn’t do exactly what it says it does. e.g the headline of Krugmans piece is based on a lie! (most probably by the editor).
Society and civilisation is already collapsing for the bottom one to two billion in the world.
The stuck up ignorant intellectual-yet-idiots in first class don’t think anything is wrong with the Titanic, but those in steerage have noticed that the water is up to their knees and rising fast.
Even the wealthy locations around the world are experiencing weird, severe weather events year on year. But don’t worry we’re this close to self driving cars and drone courier deliveries which will of course solve all our problems.. not.
Alex Jones and Max Keiser (mid Dec): the Trump effect, death of the MSM, the rise of alternative media, RT as “fake news”, creating jobs in America, Vladimir Putin
I’m putting this in the reply because you mentioned the magic words “fake news”.
Check out this bizzare story of a dating site (yes really) attacking Assange.
There is a link in the article that goes to another story where Wikileaks threatening to sue CNN (the king of all fake news sites IMHO) for labeling Assange as a pedocrim.
thanks for the link. Mildly amazed it made it to mcclatchy as being newsworthy. US Gov has influence over tonnes of front people and front organisations to do this kind of nonsense with, not to mention offsiders like Soros etc funding NGOs who do similar under direction.
Cantabrians, is this an actual issue? Bubbling under the radar or out there in public? Or do people accept the destruction of public good for private profit as just capitalism NZ style in action?
Pretty good piece by Owen Jones here, maybe some on the left could actually now start expend some of their energy on T May, rather than bagging Corbyn for a change, you know divided we fall and all that….I know many free market liberals despise and fear a real socialist Left Wing voice..but maybe 2017 is time for them to wake up and understand that the neo liberal freemarket project as has been vigorously promoted by various ‘centre left’ western political parties is over, exposed as nothing more than a economic ponzi scheme.
“Theresa May backing Donald Trump over Israel is a disgrace” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysiscxw1dcw
Thanks for that, Adrian. It’s worth remembering though, that not all Labour Party MPs are moral reprobates, cowards and chickenhawks like Hilary Benn, Tony Blair and Ed Miliband….
I agree, just wish we could get back to having a real Left Labour in New Zealand, one that we could all really fight for, but no, just the same old centrist bullshit.
Who wants to fight for that…nobody that’s who, the best Labour can hope for in 2017 is people voting for them because they are either sick of National, or don’t feel they have any other choice…but certainly not because they are passionate and inspired about Labour as a vehicle of real and needed economic/political change.
Turn Labour Left.
Sorry to pop the hot air balloon – but in my considered opinion, New Zealand is a corrupt, polluted tax haven.
The tip of the giant New Zealand corruption iceberg has been revealed in the ‘Reasons for the Verdict’ of Justice Sally Fitzgerald dated 9 December 2016.
(International ‘Anti-Corruption Day’ – as it happens!)
CRI-2015-044-001286
[2016] NZHC 2970
THE QUEEN v
STEPHEN JAMES BORLASE
MURRAY JOHN NOONE
225 pages – which I have spent DAYS studying.)
The bribes paid by just ONE corrupt private contractor to just ONE corrupt ‘public official’ totalled $1.2 million over 7 years.
How many thousands of ‘public officials’ and thousands of private contractors are there in New Zealand, perceived’ for so many years to be ‘the least corrupt country in the world’ – (according to the, in my view, the effectively bogus and completely meaningless Transparency International ‘Corruption Perception Index’?)
How is it either proper, or lawful, for ‘public officials’ to simultaneously be ‘private consultants’?
(Which has been proven to be the mechanism for the corrupt payment of bribes in the above-mentioned Judgment.)
How is it proper or lawful to have a policy of ‘collaboration’ and
‘co-operation’ between public officials and private consultants and contractors?
In my view, this policy of ‘collaboration’ and ‘co-operation’ between public officials and private consultants/ contractors has now been proven to breed corruption.
How widespread is this policy of ‘collaboration’ and ‘co-operation’ across local and central government?
Anyone else asking – or checking?
How much of this now proven to be fundamentally flawed, policy of ‘collaboration’ and ‘co-operation’ between public officials and private consultants/contractors has come about because of the, in my view, infestation of public official roles with private sector businesspeople?
And the commercialisation of public services, locally, nationally and internationally?
The NZ National Business Review (NBR) has led the charge and published two in-depth investigative articles revealing corruption in the NZ roading industry.
(16 and 23 December 2016
SPECIAL Investigation – Investigative journalist Karyn Scherer).
As a proven anti-corruption campaigner, who has attended five international
anti-corruption conferences, and ‘blown the whistle’ against corruption and the lack of transparency in the spending of public spending on private consultants and contractors for the last ten years – I now feel absolutely vindicated.
I’m standing as an Independent ‘anti-corruption’ candidate in the upcoming Mt Albert by-Election, and look forward to being able to ask some stinking hard questions about corruption in the House under Parliamentary privilege.
The strongest message, in my view, that can be given to this Government that decent New Zealanders want a STOP to corruption is to vote a proven anti-corruption ‘Public Watchdog’ into Parliament.
THAT will send a message that cannot be ignored – locally, nationally and internationally.
SEIZE THE MOMENT!
Penny Bright.
2017 Independent candidate in the Mt Albert by-election.
Attendee: 2010 Transparency International Conference -Bangkok.
Attendee: 2009, 2013, 2015 Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conferences.
“How is it either proper, or lawful, for ‘public officials’ to simultaneously be ‘private consultants’?”
It often isn’t. The public sector routinely uses Conflict of Interest processes to manage potentially competing interests including private business dealings.
It is impossible to prevent immoral arseholes like the primary convict in this case from lying on official COI forms and to successive managers, as revealed in the judgement notes. Yet they were still caught because colleagues had the moral fibre to pursue matters and the public records and testimony convinced the judge to find guilt. Result.
English Grammar
The NZ Herald must be finding it hard to find reporters that have any idea of writing an article and obviously do not proof read.
Refer Split in Trump’s Team.
I always thought that a person’s name was in capital letters and also the name of a organisation. Apparently the US is us. Have also noticed the “word” if that is what you call gotten is creeping in with some.
From the Financial Times: in the UK inherited wealth reinforces/increases wealth inequalities – according to the report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, an economic research organisation.
Basically, it’s increasingly hard for younger generations to build up their own wealth, if they don’t have wealthy parents. The wealthiest among older generations are likely to leave a sizeable sum to their children.
PM May says she aims to decrease inequalities, but her party’s promise to reduce inheritance taxes will work against this.
The amount of wealth held by elderly households has increased rapidly during the past decade because of rising home ownership and higher house prices. The average wealth of households where all members are aged 80 or older rose from £160,000 in 2002 to £230,000 in 2012, the most recent year for which data are available. Owner-occupied housing made up 70 per cent of this in 2012.
This rise has been accompanied by an increase in the share of elderly households expecting to leave a bequest.
…
But the wealth of elderly households is not equally distributed — the richest half hold 90 per cent of the wealth. “Hence a ‘lucky half’ of younger households look likely to get the vast majority of the inherited wealth,” said the authors of the report.
That “lucky half” are likely to already be well-off in their own right. Among people born in the 1970s, nearly 87 per cent of those in the highest income fifth expect to receive some form of inheritance or have already received one. This compares with 58 per cent of those in the lowest income fifth.
So, the housing bubble is feeding into growing wealth inequalities.
The hysterical anti-Russian lies being whipped up by the bitter and thoroughly discredited leadership of the Democratic Party have been mindlessly repeated in this country, with RNZ National and other major outlets leading every bulletin yesterday (Friday 6 January) with the (completely unsupported) allegations made by the notorious perjurer James Clapper…. https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-06012017/#comment-1283256
One of the targets of the Clintonistas’ wrath has been Glenn Greenwald, the outstanding scholar and journalist who in 2014 was labeled “a loser” by our former prime minister John “Quitter” Key. He writes about it at the end of this typically excellent article….
The Washington Post Is Richly Rewarded for False News
About Russia Threat While Public Is Deceived
by GLENN GREENWALD, The Intercept, January 5 2017
….That Russia is a Grave Menace attacking the U.S. has — for obvious reasons — become a critical narrative for Democrats and other Trump opponents who dominate elite media circles on social media and elsewhere. They reward and herald anyone who bolsters that narrative, while viciously attacking anyone who questions it.
Indeed, in my 10-plus years of writing about politics on an endless number of polarizing issues — including the Snowden reporting — nothing remotely compares to the smear campaign that has been launched as a result of the work I’ve done questioning and challenging claims about Russian hacking and the threat posed by that country generally. This is being engineered not by random, fringe accounts, but by the most prominent Democratic pundits with the largest media followings.
I’ve been transformed, overnight, into an early adherent of alt-right ideology, an avid fan of Breitbart, an enthusiastic Trump supporter, and — needless to say — a Kremlin operative. That’s literally the explicit script they’re now using, often with outright fabrications of what I say (see here for one particularly glaring example).
They, of course, know all of this is false. A primary focus of the last 10 years of my journalism has been a defense of the civil liberties of Muslims. I wrote an entire book on the racism and inequality inherent in the U.S. justice system. My legal career involved numerous representations of victims of racial discrimination. I was one of the first journalists to condemn the misleadingly “neutral” approach to reporting on Trump and to call for more explicit condemnations of his extremism and lies. I was one of the few to defend Jorge Ramos from widespread media attacks when he challenged Trump’s immigration extremism. Along with many others, I tried to warn Democrats that nominating a candidate as unpopular as Hillary Clinton risked a Trump victory. And as someone who is very publicly in a same-sex, inter-racial marriage — with someone just elected to public office as a socialist — I make for a very unlikely alt-right leader, to put that mildly.
The malice of this campaign is exceeded only by its blatant stupidity. Even having to dignify it with a defense is depressing, though once it becomes this widespread, one has little choice.
But this is the climate Democrats have successfully cultivated — where anyone dissenting or even expressing skepticism about their deeply self-serving Russia narrative is the target of coordinated and potent smears; where, as The Nation’s James Carden documented yesterday, skepticism is literally equated with treason. And the converse is equally true: Those who disseminate claims and stories that bolster this narrative — no matter how divorced from reason and evidence they are — receive an array of benefits and rewards.
That the story ends up being completely discredited matters little. The damage is done, and the benefits received. Fake News in the narrow sense of that term is certainly something worth worrying about. But whatever one wants to call this type of behavior from the Post, it is a much greater menace given how far the reach is of the institutions that engage in it.
Good one Morrissey.
There are many on this site falling hook, line and sinker for the ‘Democrat’ propaganda maelstrom. It’s a pity the Democrats still can’t come to terms with the fact they ran a poor campaign with an unsuitable candidate.
None of all this bullshit Presidency of Trump would have happened if the DNC hadn’t had their heads up their arses and had had enough nous to see the need for change.
Their pathetic attempts to blame everyone else but themselves just shows what total disarray their Party is in. Shame on them.
You do get that it’s possible for senior Democrats to be trashing Glenn Greenwald and for Russian intelligence services to have hacked the DNC emails, right? The two are not mutually exclusive.
You don’t seem to understand how this stuff works. The source of the allegations isn’t Clapper, it’s the US intelligence services – which, however much we might not like them, do actually have a job to do and to some extent at least they actually do it. Your thoughts on the credibility of the results are no doubt of importance to you, but there’s no reason they should be important to anyone else. What counts is what US government officials think of it, and so far they’re taking it seriously.
The source of the allegations isn’t Clapper, it’s the US intelligence services
Plenty of bullshit allegations and assertions, zero fucking proof. Bill Binney, Ray McGovern, John Kiriakou, Murray Craig, Julian Assange have all been very clear on this.
On the other side of the equation the “intelligence services” keep releasing pointless shit reports like the recent FBI/DHS one and the declassified version of the ODNI report which don’t say a fucking thing except for providing more evidence-free assertions and conclusions.
As usual, you declare claims you don’t like to be “bullshit” “evidence-free assertions,” while those you do like are accepted at face value as “very clear” self-evident truth. That can be funny in a sit-com character, but is simply irritating in a live human.
1. The reports have no credibility.
2. Members of the US Congress and Senate take them seriously, meaning that…
3. We have a problem. A fucking huge one given that it’s all revolving around cranking up tensions with Russia.
The fight against the privatisation of State housing – for which there was never an electoral mandate.
FYI.
As an Independent candidate in the upcoming Mt Albert by-election, I absolutely support the brave stand by Niki Rauiti as a directly-affected State tenant who is fighting the privatisation of State housing by refusing to be evicted.
I will be coming on the march to help defend Niki and State housing on 17 January 2017, and supporting the proceeding occupation.
Let’s help make this a key Mt Albert by-election issue and put a HUGE spotlight on the housing issue that CANNOT be ignored!
Who’s coming with us?
Who else can help get this message out?
THANKS!
Penny Bright
‘Anti-privatisation / anti-corruption Public Watchdog.
2017 Independent candidate
Mt Albert by-election.
______________________________
Tēnā koutou,
We are writing requesting support for Ioela ‘Niki’ Rauti, a long-term tenant who is being evicted from her home at 14 Taniwha Road, Glen Innes.
Niki is to be evicted so that private houses for the wealthy can be built on former Housing New Zealand land.
Niki intends to resist this eviction but requires support in order to be successful.
We will be holding two marches in support of Niki on the 17 January 2017, starting at 6:00pm.
There will be two starting points, the first will be Glen Innes Library, and the second will be the corner of Line Road and West Tāmaki Drive.
Both marches will meet at Niki’s home at 14 Taniwha.
If either the government or the redevelopment company, the Tāmaki Redevelopment Company, have not by this stage halted the eviction, an occupation of the surrounding land will be set up to act as a barrier of defense for Niki.
Niki is an elderly tenant who is also suffering from illness.
Niki is making a stand for the elderly, sick, disabled and for all tenants facing discrimination and eviction due to housing reform and profit-driven redevelopment.
We believe that the ‘housing crisis’ is not addressed through evictions, selling state housing and gentrifying communities.
This eviction is part of nationwide reforms that have led to eviction, displacement, increased homelessness, and transiency.
This fight for Niki is a fight for all tenants facing eviction and displacement.
We are making a call out for support for Niki to try and keep her home, and to make a stand against the Government’s housing policy.
A few suggestions are listed below:
Joining the March on 17 January 2017 as well as the proceeding occupation.
Public support for Niki on your Facebook, through a press release etc.
Sending out details about the occupation to your email lists.
Donating resources such as tents, full list available on the facebook page.
Sending donations to the Tāmaki Housing Group 38-9014-0147012-00
Most importantly we ask for your presence during Niki’s occupation of her home.
Human beings (en masse) are stupid so perhaps as a species we will indeed cease to exist in the not too distant future. We repeat the same mistakes and patterns time after time.
Consider ….diminishing resources+ resurgent eugenics+ Trump…. and be very afraid.
Cold War rhetoric isnt worth repeating because it’s so transparent. Every American intervention from Greece in 1947 to Syria today features a mythical Russian threat.
One thing has changed since 1947, the speed at which finance can travel the globe has increased dramatically transforming the great game from chess (Atrittion) to Go. Ask any Go master why they make a move, they reply, because it feels right.
So The United States doesn”t like overseas interference in their elections. Get over it you guys. The UK and New Zealand have been getting it for years, it’s called, CrosbyTextor.
Two smart home assistants hold a conversation than never sticks to the point and evades any evidence to support outrageous claims. It also includes allegations of lying, assertions of what was said and subsequent denials, and apparently at least one claim to be a god…
Bolivia proving that Socialism works and is profitable.
“Since 2006, Bolivia has been run by socialists every bit as militant as Venezuela’s. The country has experienced a spectacular run of economic growth and poverty reduction with no hint of the chaos that has plagued Venezuela. While inflation spirals toward the 1000 per cent mark in Venezuela, in Bolivia it runs below 4 per cent a year. Shortages of basic consumption goods – rampant in Caracas – are unheard of in La Paz………..
……. Bolivia was running budget surpluses every year between 2006 and 2014. This allowed it to draw down the public sector’s debt, which fell from 83 per cent of GDP in 2003 to just 26 per cent in 2014, even as Bolivia built up its international reserves dramatically, from US$1.7b in 2005 to US$15.1b at the end of the boom in 2014.
Ok Bolivia is resource rich but compared to Venezuela (and some other countries) The Washington Post is applauding the way Socialism and careful management is working there.
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 ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
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 ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
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. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Wilmot, Senior Lecturer, Film, Deakin University Among the many Australian who served during the second world war, there is a small group of people whose stories remain largely untold. These are the Muslim men and women who, while small in number, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
A leaked document shows the Canterbury/Waitaha arm of health agency Te Whatu Ora is scurrying to save $13.3 million by July. The “financial sustainability target”, which was “allocated” to Waitaha, is consistent with what’s happening in other districts, says Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. ...
A look at the state of the previous government’s affordable housing scheme, and what could come next.Remind me: What’s KiwiBuild again?First announced in 2012, KiwiBuild was a flagship policy of the Labour Party heading into both its 2014 and 2017 election campaigns. With Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, ...
Labour in opposition will be shocked to learn which party had six years in power but squandered any chance to make real change. Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech was a predictably entertaining trip down memory lane. The acid-tongued incoming Otago University chancellor administered a sick burn to the coalition government. He ...
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is seen some as its ‘silicon shield’ against invasion – but how will overseas expansion affect that protection? The post The state of Taiwan’s silicon shield appeared first on Newsroom. ...
There’s relief for building owners bending under the weight of earthquake strengthening rules – and costs – that came into force seven years ago. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a scheduled 2027 review of the earthquake-prone building regulations will now start this year. Owners will also get ...
Opinion: It has been announced that nine percent of roles at Oranga Tamariki will be disestablished, presumably to help fund the tax cuts promised by the coalition Government. I am reminded of the graphics used to illustrate pandemic events, where five thousand people are standing in a field and then ...
After more than two sleepless days, running through savage terrain, Greig Hamilton didn’t know if he was going to finish one of the most gruelling psychological assaults in sport. He was metres away from the finish line, a yellow gate made famous in a Netflix documentary; a race he’d dreamed ...
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The following interview with former Green Party MP Sue Kedgley came about because she features in the new memoir Hine Toa by activist Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku; the two knew each other at the University of Auckland in the early 70s, when they were both took on leadership roles in the ...
COMMENTARY:By Murray Horton New Zealand needs to get tough with Israel. It’s not as if we haven’t done so before. When NZ authorities busted a Mossad operation in Auckland 20 years ago, the government didn’t say: “Oh well, Israel has the right to defend itself.” No, it arrested, prosecuted, ...
NEWSMAKERS:By Vijay Narayan, news director of FijiVillage Blessed to be part of the University of Fiji (UniFiji) faculty to continue to teach and mentor those who want to join our noble profession, and to stand for truth and justice for the people of the country. I was privileged to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Lowry, Ice Sheet & Climate Modeller, GNS Science Hugh Chittock/Antarctica New Zealand, CC BY-SA As the climate warms and Antarctica’s glaciers and ice sheets melt, the resulting rise in sea level has the potential to displace hundreds of millions of ...
The government's plan to reintroduce a three strikes regime is being strongly opposed by lawyers, who argue there is no evidence it reduces crime or helps people rehabilitate. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Jerker B. Svantesson, Professor specialising in Internet law, Bond University Do Australian courts have the right to decide what foreign citizens, located overseas, view online on a foreign-owned platform? Anyone inclined to answer “yes” to this question should perhaps also ask ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey caught the headlines yesterday, courtesy of a blistering speech condemning the latest GST carve-up. New South Wales, he claimed, would be A$11.9 billion worse off over the ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra Shutterstock An important principle was invoked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week in defence of the government’s Future Made in Australia industry ...
with some capabilities to ensure increased NZ self sufficiency in a deglobalising world.
[I”ve asked you to stay out of commenting on my posts, please don’t do it again – weka]
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Colonial Viper
Don’t know what that’s about CV and don’t want to know but I agree with your comment.
It is a practical and necessary path to follow.
Cheers GWS.
Some links to docos you might enjoy CV ….. although you may have seen them before …….. others could enjoy or learn from them …..
When I’m reading an article on the net and a name or operation I know nothing about is mentioned …. I ‘right click’ and search to see where the information leads and how it ties into things … it can end up very informative sometimes. …
It was while watching a doco about Kissinger and his huge crimes against humanity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLMf-E9VRxc
http://www.globalresearch.ca/reliving-agent-orange-rethinking-the-cost-of-vietnam-war/5566106 …. that lead
me to Douglas Valentine …. http://www.douglasvalentine.com/bio.htm
Doug Valentine is a investigative journalist who after 4 years of research and interviews with C.I.A agents wrote a book “The Phoenix Program ” which ran during the Vietnam war …. “,…. it’s described as “A shocking exposé of
the covert CIA program of widespread torture, rape, and murder of civilians during America’s war in Vietnam,” …..
In this radio interview Doug Valentine describes his upbringing with a WWII vet father and how he got onto the phoenix program which was unknown to the public and had been a secret for 20 odd years https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkPUqUAhBg8 ……..
A lot of the doco explains specific propaganda and manipulation used to gain support for mass murder ( war )…………… He also gives a review of how he thinks Trump will operate… which is both critical and hopeful … Its a pack of murderers Trump will have to deal with and they certainly will not want to stop their sadistic blood democracy
But of course Vietnam and The Phoenix Program was just a continuation of using the worst psychopathic killers to suppress real democracy , murder political rivals, start wars, starve innocent civilians ….. and misinform us about it the whole time ….
“Operation Gladio” involved the C.I.As predecessor O.S.S and was specifically about the recruitment of Nazis,ultra-fascists and extreme right wingers after WWII was over………….. they were hidden militias/terrorist
Put in place to fight, kill and suppress democratic movements or governments …calling them socialists/communists …. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trGfQREzScY …
The Govt sponsered nazis Killed many many innocent people …. which was then most often blamed on communists/socialist … using the resulting public outrage to kill or persecute them.
Which all leads me to ask ……. why do we …. as in New Zealand ….have a trade embargo against Russia for protecting ethnic russians and others from a proto fascist govt installed after destabilization and a violent coup ????….
http://nsnbc.me/2014/05/10/odessa-massacre-detail-investigation/
These nazi fascist scum are what the russians lost over 20 million citizens fighting against in WWII ………
Its mainly our farmers who are paying for NZs support of fascism at the moment .. ….. good to see National party supporters paying for their fascist support policy http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2016/11/united-states-votes-anti-nazi-un-resolution/
“The International Criminal Court prosecutes individuals who have committed genocide and other major war crimes. Over 120 countries support it, but the United States is not one of them ……. ”
It all seems very disrespectful to WWII vets …. democracy u.s.a style ……….supporting Nazis
At least by not having a real air-force we did not become part of the ISIS aerial fighting wing like the Aussies and yanks did ….
Which all leads me to ask ……. why do we …. as in New Zealand ….have a trade embargo against Russia for protecting ethnic russians and others from a proto fascist govt installed after destabilization and a violent coup ????….
It certainly would be highly questionable, if the situation you describe reflected reality rather than fiction.
Thank you reason. The USA utterly destroyed its credibility with its actions in Vietnam, and has never come to terms with how appalling they really are(still).
Cheers garibaldi ………. one of the truly evil deeds done at the end of WWII was when the Brits reinstated the Fascist Nazi collaborators as police and Government in Greece ….. while waging war on the anti Nazi Greek partisan fighters who had liberated their country shortly before the Brits arrived …
….” as the December Battle of Athens had begun – known in Greece as the Dekemvriana – fought not between the British and the Nazis, but the British alongside supporters of the Nazis against the partisans. ” ……
“And thereafter Greece’s descent into catastrophic civil war: a cruel and bloody episode in British as well as Greek history which every Greek knows to their core”
” In France or Italy, if you fought the Nazis, you were respected in society after the war, regardless of ideology; they were heroes. In Greece, you found yourself fighting – or imprisoned and tortured by – the people who had collaborated with the Nazis, on British orders. There has never been a reckoning with that crime,” …. https://libcom.org/history/british-perfidy-greece-story-worth-remembering-ed-vulliamy-helena-smith
True Heroes and decent people were killed and slaughtered and its quite bloody tragic ………. “Greek politician, physician, track and field athlete, pacifist……. ” …….. http://2013.100daysproject.co.nz/project/day/80/2013/118
Those other Docos I posted up for Puckish were probably a bit long for Puckish …….. Here’s a 6 minute music one which has a simple message for him https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5yYjcxnpCs
He might learn a new language …………..:)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_casualties_in_World_War_II
thank you reason. It seems that we have to educate some privileged citizens of the US-Anglo empire what their own recent history is. I bet some still think that the Contras were the “popularly supported freedom fighters”
My sister made some purchases in Briscoes yesterday. The salesman produced a plastic bag which she said she didn’t want. We were told they had to either give us a bag or put a ‘sold’ sticker on every item. Grrr!!
I would have thought that a till receipt gives you all the proof of purchase you need.
Exactly – and when every other company is ( or says it is) trying to cut back on plastic waste, what does this Australian company think it’s up to?
Once they’re paid for they belong to you and you can do whatever you like with them, including deciding you don’t want extra stickers. Plus what Ffloyd said.
They’d probably then insist on stickering or bagging them before the transaction was completed. There’s probably something politically creative to do with the bag or stickers at that point 😈
Indeed that was what happened.
Hi weka, I would cynically suggest, insisting on a bag is no more than an advertising initiative.
when this happen, accept the bag, go to the next rubbish bin outside of the shop and put any surplus packaging, plastic bags, plastic wrappings etc in said rubbish bin.
If someone from the Mall asks why you do that you simply state that you did not want the plastic bag/packaging/plastic wrapping and thus you leave it behind to let the store deal with the rubbish.
IF/when enough people do that and the shops/mall have ot empty their rubbish containers several times more a day some businesses will stop using any extra packaging.
I do that often at the Supermarket/Paknslave with plastic wrappers around boxes around bottles and the likes. Not gonna schlepp that stuff home.
Not a bad idea, but if this is a company policy I think I need to kick up a public fuss as well
it will be a company policy. Their bags are branded and while you walk around with your briscoes bag, your pak n slave bags etc etc you are a walking talking advertisement for the company and in many cases you have to pay 10 cents for the privelege.
Kick a fuss with the company and then start leaving all the surpluss packaging behind in the shops and let them deal with the rubbish.
Why would you a. schlepp that stuff home and b. pay for having it removed as rubbish?
Thank you Polly.
Predatory health professionals should be put in prison IMHO. Instead the system continues protects them.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11694042
When I’m reading an article on the net and a name or operation I know nothing about is mentioned I ‘right click’ and search to see where
the information leads and how it ties into things …
It was while watching a doco about Kissinger and his huge crimes against humanity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLMf-E9VRxc
http://www.globalresearch.ca/reliving-agent-orange-rethinking-the-cost-of-vietnam-war/5566106 …. that lead
me to Douglas Valentine …. http://www.douglasvalentine.com/bio.htm
Doug Valentine is a investigative journalist who after 4 years of research and interviews with C.I.A agents wrote a book “The Phoenix Program ” which ran during the Vietnam war …. “,…. it’s described as “A shocking exposé of
the covert CIA program of widespread torture, rape, and murder of civilians during America’s war in Vietnam,” …..
In this radio interview he describes his upbringing with a WWII vet father and how he got onto the phoenix program which was unknown to the public and had been a secret for 20 odd years https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkPUqUAhBg8 ……..
A lot of the doco explains specific propaganda and manipulation used to gain support for mass murder ( war )…………… He also gives a review of how he thinks Trump will operate… which is both critical and hopeful … Its a pack of murderers Trump will have to deal with and they certainly will not want to stop.
But of course Vietnam and The Phoenix Program was just a continuation of using the worst psychopathic killers to suppress real democracy , murder political rivals, start wars, starve innocent civilians ….. and misinform us about it the whole time ….
“Operation Gladio” involved the C.I.As predecessor O.S.S and was specifically about the recruitment of Nazis,ultra-fascists and extreme right wingers after WWII was over………….. they were hidden militias/terrorist
Put in place to fight, kill and suppress democratic movements or governments …calling them socialists/communists …. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trGfQREzScY …
The Govt sponsered nazis Killed many many innocent people …. which was then most often blamed on communists/socialist … using the resulting public outrage to kill or persecute them.
Which all leads me to ask ……. why do we …. as in New Zealand ….have a trade embargo against Russia for protecting ethnic russians and others from a proto fascist govt installed after destabilization and a violent coup ????….
http://nsnbc.me/2014/05/10/odessa-massacre-detail-investigation/
These nazi fascist scum are what the russians lost over 20 million citizens fighting against in WWII ………
Yet here we are ……http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2016/11/united-states-votes-anti-nazi-un-resolution/
“The International Criminal Court prosecutes individuals who have committed genocide and other major war crimes. Over 120 countries support it, but the United States is not one of them ……. ”
Its mainly our farmers who are paying for NZs support of fascism at the moment .. ….. good to see National party supporters paying for their policy
At least by not having a real air-force we did not become part of the ISIS aerial fighting wing like the Aussies and yanks did ….
A wealthy Nigerian Prince has died and left his entire £12 million fortune to his cat.
He was quoted as saying, “I’ve tried to give it away on numerous occasions over the years but no one ever responded to my e-mails”
Haha Macro.
From national park to overseas: Plan to export billions of litres of West Coast water
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/88099749/from-national-park-to-overseas-plan-to-export-billions-of-litres-of-west-coast-water
– Great to see that we just give our natural resources away to anyone who puts in a resource consent. sarc.
It comes in two flavours: norovirus and campylobacter.
Wot? They’ve dropped giardia from the lineup?
Silly billies, the buggy water is saved for Kiwis.
Like our building industry where we sell raw materials for peanuts to buy back for a fortune, we can now give our water away to buy back in plastic bottles for $3. Bad for the environment, bad for the economy, but obviously a great profit for those getting the resource consents being dished out like lollies.
Some political party should revoke all these fucking water exporting rights. Labour, get on to it
Yup, water should only be free if you harvest it off your roof or your own ponds, if you start taking from National parks, lakes, aquifers then you should have to pay per cubic meter for the water to the government and a levy to the local community and ONLY if it will have a minimal environmental effects.
The resource consents should be able to be modified or nulled if there are any negative effects and the consents should only be for 5 – 10 year periods not forever, so that if there is a drought or what have you – the consents can be modified.
It is crazy how the council and government are just giving away our public resources. Wonder who the company is and who they know in government and council?
So, water meters for all residential properties.?
Not really too excited about that one.
Not sure where you live BM but many of us on town water seemed to be already charged for water, therefore why should a small group of people be able to take out millions of litres of water for their business from NZer’s without also paying for their useage?
If you want to avoid water charges collect from your roof or ponds for farms. Not some individuals diverting and taking water from everyone for their own benefit and selling if off shore while many locals are forced to pay for it.
Water meters are the first step in privatisation.
I don’t want our water supply sold off to a multinational, I’d prefer the city and rate payers stay in control of the water supply.
Wow, BM. That’s very socialist of you.
That seems to be a major disconnect from what’s actually happening.
The private companies are getting hold of our water and are exporting it with minimal controls and they’re not paying for it either.
Na mate, they are the first step in sorting out wasteful, entitled bludgers who think they can use as much water as they like and not have to pay for it. Bonus effect in allowing reticulation managers to get a handle on location and quantity of losses from their reticulation. So the result of metering is lower costs to most water users, apart from the wasteful entitled bludgers, who get to pay for their usage.
It’s the political clout of the wasteful entitled bludgers that keeps our water supplies un-metered, and uncontrolled.
+111
The councils seem to be giving away the rate payers water that’s what I am objecting to, by giving private companies resource consent to harvest water for nothing.
Traitor to the right!
Auckland has had them for at least 40 years.
It’s one of those things about economics that most people simply do not understand: We need to measure how much of a resource we have, how much of it can be used sustainably per year and how much and where is actually being used.
For some strange reason we’ve developed this idea that we can just take it all without worrying about it.
So, yes, every house, farm and business needs to have a water metre. And if we keep a market system then everyone needs to be charged for each unit that they use.
Strongly agree.
CV,
Like water is so scarce on the West Coast that there is not nearly enough to export.
Seriously, get real here. Why wouldn’t you export water from the West Coast? Standardnistas are always going on about the lack of jobs, especially in the regions, but obviously when they are created you are against them. Go figure.
Go and ask Damian O’Connor what he thinks.
That’s not a good argument for tax evasion, Wayne!
One of the problems many have with this issue Wayne is the resource belongs to all New Zealanders, yet it will be a privately owned venture that is going to directly profit from this.
If we are going to bulk export water it should be done through Government and for the benefit of all New Zealanders.
Yes, correct.
Why do you RWNJs always think that resources are unlimited?
How to make a country poor: Export all its resources for money
I think that if you harvest from your own roof for residential use it should be free or if you irrigate stock from your own pond it should be free. What I object to, is that some locals paying a fortune for water, while other councils are giving it away for export (probably to cronies). Where is the fairness in that?
The point is that our present economic system mistakes money for wealth. Exporting resources actually makes us poorer even though a few people will have more money in the bank.
The Chump says he’s saving jobs in the US. A few hundred at a time. By individually bullying companies (into doing things they were going to do anyway, but the Chump and the company both get good press from bullshitting about it). But he’s promised to trash clean energy, which is one of the fastest growing and high value segments of the US economy. Meanwhile China is creating millions of jobs by getting serious about clean energy.
https://thinkprogress.org/trump-to-abandon-millions-of-high-wage-jobs-to-china-3554a04796b1#.qyh3a1owu
Trump is into good business and good deals. If “clean energy” can demonstrate its place in the US economy, it’ll have a very good run under Trump.
NB China is still opening up new thermal plants every month.
It’s good to see that we finally have a US President who understands how business makes decisions and doesn’t believe in the free market mumbo jumbo of the Clintons and the Obamas.
Mexican press already complaining that Trump has cost Mexico at least 3600 jobs which were due to move from the US to Mexico.
@ Colonial Viper, Are you seriously saying that you believe Trump ( himself in the1% class) will operate outside his own class ideology, and help workers achieve better more stable conditions/pay over other (1% ers) industrialists/corporatists profit motives, and that he doesn’t believe in a totally free market?
What has he ever done in his own business ventures to have you believe those things?
He’s already doing those things. And it’s not just about Mexico – he’s just fired shots at the Toyota Corporation telling them if they do not build their next plant in the USA, they will face a 35% tariff at the border.
BTW you need to realise that the “elites” are not a monolithic block. History shows us that the “elites” often have conflicting or competing agendas. We can see this quite clearly with the deep state attempting to take the Trump Administration down before it even gets in.
Meanwhile, on Earth:
It’s ok though, because a shithead propagandist says water is dry.
Trump is making the USA more attractive for business. He’ll threaten businesses who want to move jobs out of the USA. But he’ll also give them lower taxes and more compliant workforce conditions if they stay.
It’s a classic business-like carrot and stick approach.
Obama was just letting Detroit jobs walk away to Mexico – destroying US worker unions that way.
“…more compliant workforce conditions…”
TRANSLATION: Few if any workers’ rights, no overtime pay, little or no safety regulations, instant dismissal at the whim of the boss….
That’s the way of it. Trump can deliver some things, but given the political establishment he is up against, he won’t be able to deliver everything by himself.
” … less tax for the worker, more money in workers’ pockets, more spending power …”
You’re welcome.
“…dead at the bottom of a mineshaft…”
You’re welcome.
Why do you not think that Trump is an elite?
You’ll have to point out where I said that. Indeed, I said above that elites often have conflicting or competing interests and that can be seen in how the Deep State is attempting to take Trump and his Administration down. (Implicitly suggesting that Trump is indeed part of the elite).
If anything, saying that Trump is part of the 1% is not wholly accurate. He is more correctly thought of as part of the 1% of the 1%.
Trump’s fellow elitists have long known that they cannot control him like they could control Reagan, Bush, Clinton and (they were hoping), Rodham Clinton.
BINGO – you got it, millsy.
OK, so just to be clear, are you saying that you believe that American workers, American civil rights, and freedom of speech will all improve overall under a Trump Presidency?
Also what historical episode are you alluding to where ‘elites’ ( a word I loath to use for the leeching class) have turned on their own class for the benefit of workers in a long term and substantive way?
They’ll deteriorate at an equal or slower rate than under President Obama’s time.
I can almost guarantee that Trump will prosecute FEWER whistleblowers than the record breaking Orwellian Obama.
@Adrian: Yes, CV really is that special kind of stupid.
China Bans New Coal-fired Power Plants
from the link
No worries…
The Chump will reopen the US mines and bring back heaps of jobs!
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/20/world/americas/alienated-and-angry-coal-miners-see-donald-trump-as-their-only-choice.html?_r=0
Oh Wait! That’s from the NY Times – purveyors of Fake News!
Oh Wait! No matter what Trump says – Mining jobs are not returning to W Virginia
CV response in … 1, 2, 3,….
A temporary ban/slow down on new thermal units due to overcapacity and falling profitability, not due to environmental concerns
http://www.powermag.com/despite-policy-shifts-china-faces-huge-coal-fired-overcapacity/
And yet they’re also pushing massive investment in renewable energy.
Let’s get down to brass tacks, Draco. Is China’s CO2 emissions in 2017 going to be higher or lower than in 2015 and 2016?
Because if it’s higher then it doesn’t matter a rat’s arse if China adds a million square kilometres of solar panels.
Indications are that it will be lower from coal fired generation. So that would indicate that it does matter that China is going to add even more gigawatts of renewable power generation.
Krugman on the Chump’s phony jobs policy and how he’s playing the media with his “saving jobs” schtick.
“In other words, it may have sounded as if Mr. Trump was doing something substantive by intervening with Carrier, but he wasn’t. This was fake policy — a show intended to impress the rubes, not to achieve real results.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/06/opinion/the-age-of-fake-policy.html?ref=opinion&_r=0
Clinton Camper Krugman is just pissed that he didn’t get the White House position Hillary promised him, and has been losing his mind for the last two months over it.
A bit like you and the Labour Party, eh.
Explain? The Labour Party has no money to pay people with. It relies on free work done for it at no cost to keep functioning.
lol now you’re parroting Pauline Hanson, but without the courtesy of a “please”.
Perhaps you can explain then? Please?
Only if you clearly explain your obsession with pizza parlours. Maybe you should “self investigate”.
If Krugman was really interested in policies which make a substantial difference to the US jobs market he should not have been dead-set against Gerald Friedmans estimates of the US economys future under Bernie Sanders economic policy.
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/02/26/romer-and-romer-on-friedman/
Friedman was discussing policies which might actually make a dent in the 75,000 odd churn of the jobs market each day in the US.
The main point is, (as Krugman says), that “Friedman is implicitly assuming that the U.S. economy is (and will continue to be for a long time) dramatically below its productive capacity.” which he disputes. But given that Krugman is saying there that the US is actually much closer to full capacity utilization when dealing with Friedman (which means almost all of the 75,000 turnover will find other jobs quickly) why does he also claim some re-shoring is insignificant because many will languish without jobs for many many years, when dealing with Trump. Of course its because Krugman thinks he can have it both ways on this issue.
Also, despite claiming its fake policy, Krugman does nothing to actually show that the policy doesn’t do exactly what it says it does. e.g the headline of Krugmans piece is based on a lie! (most probably by the editor).
Indeed. Krugman is Killarys handbag, like Podesta, aka one job, all they had to do was say yes.
Heh. More Chump job creation. Nervous companies hire more PR people for rapid response to 3am tweets.
http://www.salon.com/2017/01/06/donald-trumps-early-morning-tweetstorms-are-creating-jobs-for-nervous-pr-people/
Interesting science prediction. There will be a red nova sometime around 2022 from a binary star finally collapsing into itself.
http://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/1/6/14184094/scientists-predict-stars-colliding
Joke science prediction: society will collapse within 10 years! It’s real! It’s based on actual math and social science and stuff!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/peter-turchin-cliodynamics-society-collapse_us_586f1e22e4b02b5f85882988?section=us_science
(Sorry if this excites the “We’re doomed Dooooomed I tells ya” crowd)
Society and civilisation is already collapsing for the bottom one to two billion in the world.
The stuck up ignorant intellectual-yet-idiots in first class don’t think anything is wrong with the Titanic, but those in steerage have noticed that the water is up to their knees and rising fast.
Even the wealthy locations around the world are experiencing weird, severe weather events year on year. But don’t worry we’re this close to self driving cars and drone courier deliveries which will of course solve all our problems.. not.
Alex Jones and Max Keiser (mid Dec): the Trump effect, death of the MSM, the rise of alternative media, RT as “fake news”, creating jobs in America, Vladimir Putin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUAadLdfShw
I’m putting this in the reply because you mentioned the magic words “fake news”.
Check out this bizzare story of a dating site (yes really) attacking Assange.
There is a link in the article that goes to another story where Wikileaks threatening to sue CNN (the king of all fake news sites IMHO) for labeling Assange as a pedocrim.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article110904727.html
thanks for the link. Mildly amazed it made it to mcclatchy as being newsworthy. US Gov has influence over tonnes of front people and front organisations to do this kind of nonsense with, not to mention offsiders like Soros etc funding NGOs who do similar under direction.
I don’t think AI is quite ready to go Terminator on us. Bizarrely hilarious.
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2017/01/thousands-of-people-are-watching-two-google-homes-argue-with-each-other-on-twitch/
Cantabrians, is this an actual issue? Bubbling under the radar or out there in public? Or do people accept the destruction of public good for private profit as just capitalism NZ style in action?
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/01/the-selwyn-river-s-unbelievable-decline.html
Pretty good piece by Owen Jones here, maybe some on the left could actually now start expend some of their energy on T May, rather than bagging Corbyn for a change, you know divided we fall and all that….I know many free market liberals despise and fear a real socialist Left Wing voice..but maybe 2017 is time for them to wake up and understand that the neo liberal freemarket project as has been vigorously promoted by various ‘centre left’ western political parties is over, exposed as nothing more than a economic ponzi scheme.
“Theresa May backing Donald Trump over Israel is a disgrace”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysiscxw1dcw
Thanks for that, Adrian. It’s worth remembering though, that not all Labour Party MPs are moral reprobates, cowards and chickenhawks like Hilary Benn, Tony Blair and Ed Miliband….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMGuYjt6CP8
I agree, just wish we could get back to having a real Left Labour in New Zealand, one that we could all really fight for, but no, just the same old centrist bullshit.
Who wants to fight for that…nobody that’s who, the best Labour can hope for in 2017 is people voting for them because they are either sick of National, or don’t feel they have any other choice…but certainly not because they are passionate and inspired about Labour as a vehicle of real and needed economic/political change.
Turn Labour Left.
Who wants our ‘clean, green’ New Zealand back?
Sorry to pop the hot air balloon – but in my considered opinion, New Zealand is a corrupt, polluted tax haven.
The tip of the giant New Zealand corruption iceberg has been revealed in the ‘Reasons for the Verdict’ of Justice Sally Fitzgerald dated 9 December 2016.
(International ‘Anti-Corruption Day’ – as it happens!)
CRI-2015-044-001286
[2016] NZHC 2970
THE QUEEN v
STEPHEN JAMES BORLASE
MURRAY JOHN NOONE
225 pages – which I have spent DAYS studying.)
The bribes paid by just ONE corrupt private contractor to just ONE corrupt ‘public official’ totalled $1.2 million over 7 years.
How many thousands of ‘public officials’ and thousands of private contractors are there in New Zealand, perceived’ for so many years to be ‘the least corrupt country in the world’ – (according to the, in my view, the effectively bogus and completely meaningless Transparency International ‘Corruption Perception Index’?)
How is it either proper, or lawful, for ‘public officials’ to simultaneously be ‘private consultants’?
(Which has been proven to be the mechanism for the corrupt payment of bribes in the above-mentioned Judgment.)
How is it proper or lawful to have a policy of ‘collaboration’ and
‘co-operation’ between public officials and private consultants and contractors?
In my view, this policy of ‘collaboration’ and ‘co-operation’ between public officials and private consultants/ contractors has now been proven to breed corruption.
How widespread is this policy of ‘collaboration’ and ‘co-operation’ across local and central government?
Anyone else asking – or checking?
How much of this now proven to be fundamentally flawed, policy of ‘collaboration’ and ‘co-operation’ between public officials and private consultants/contractors has come about because of the, in my view, infestation of public official roles with private sector businesspeople?
And the commercialisation of public services, locally, nationally and internationally?
The NZ National Business Review (NBR) has led the charge and published two in-depth investigative articles revealing corruption in the NZ roading industry.
(16 and 23 December 2016
SPECIAL Investigation – Investigative journalist Karyn Scherer).
As a proven anti-corruption campaigner, who has attended five international
anti-corruption conferences, and ‘blown the whistle’ against corruption and the lack of transparency in the spending of public spending on private consultants and contractors for the last ten years – I now feel absolutely vindicated.
I’m standing as an Independent ‘anti-corruption’ candidate in the upcoming Mt Albert by-Election, and look forward to being able to ask some stinking hard questions about corruption in the House under Parliamentary privilege.
The strongest message, in my view, that can be given to this Government that decent New Zealanders want a STOP to corruption is to vote a proven anti-corruption ‘Public Watchdog’ into Parliament.
THAT will send a message that cannot be ignored – locally, nationally and internationally.
SEIZE THE MOMENT!
Penny Bright.
2017 Independent candidate in the Mt Albert by-election.
Attendee: 2010 Transparency International Conference -Bangkok.
Attendee: 2009, 2013, 2015 Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conferences.
Attendee: 2014 G20 Anti-Corruption Conference.
I’m sure that is just the tip of the Iceberg, Penny.
Indeed it is …..
“How is it either proper, or lawful, for ‘public officials’ to simultaneously be ‘private consultants’?”
It often isn’t. The public sector routinely uses Conflict of Interest processes to manage potentially competing interests including private business dealings.
It is impossible to prevent immoral arseholes like the primary convict in this case from lying on official COI forms and to successive managers, as revealed in the judgement notes. Yet they were still caught because colleagues had the moral fibre to pursue matters and the public records and testimony convinced the judge to find guilt. Result.
English Grammar
The NZ Herald must be finding it hard to find reporters that have any idea of writing an article and obviously do not proof read.
Refer Split in Trump’s Team.
I always thought that a person’s name was in capital letters and also the name of a organisation. Apparently the US is us. Have also noticed the “word” if that is what you call gotten is creeping in with some.
From the Financial Times: in the UK inherited wealth reinforces/increases wealth inequalities – according to the report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, an economic research organisation.
Basically, it’s increasingly hard for younger generations to build up their own wealth, if they don’t have wealthy parents. The wealthiest among older generations are likely to leave a sizeable sum to their children.
PM May says she aims to decrease inequalities, but her party’s promise to reduce inheritance taxes will work against this.
So, the housing bubble is feeding into growing wealth inequalities.
The hysterical anti-Russian lies being whipped up by the bitter and thoroughly discredited leadership of the Democratic Party have been mindlessly repeated in this country, with RNZ National and other major outlets leading every bulletin yesterday (Friday 6 January) with the (completely unsupported) allegations made by the notorious perjurer James Clapper….
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-06012017/#comment-1283256
One of the targets of the Clintonistas’ wrath has been Glenn Greenwald, the outstanding scholar and journalist who in 2014 was labeled “a loser” by our former prime minister John “Quitter” Key. He writes about it at the end of this typically excellent article….
The Washington Post Is Richly Rewarded for False News
About Russia Threat While Public Is Deceived
by GLENN GREENWALD, The Intercept, January 5 2017
Read more….
https://theintercept.com/2017/01/04/washpost-is-richly-rewarded-for-false-news-about-russia-threat-while-public-is-deceived/
Good one Morrissey.
There are many on this site falling hook, line and sinker for the ‘Democrat’ propaganda maelstrom. It’s a pity the Democrats still can’t come to terms with the fact they ran a poor campaign with an unsuitable candidate.
None of all this bullshit Presidency of Trump would have happened if the DNC hadn’t had their heads up their arses and had had enough nous to see the need for change.
Their pathetic attempts to blame everyone else but themselves just shows what total disarray their Party is in. Shame on them.
+1 garibaldi
@Morrissey +1
You do get that it’s possible for senior Democrats to be trashing Glenn Greenwald and for Russian intelligence services to have hacked the DNC emails, right? The two are not mutually exclusive.
Sure I do, Milt. There’s just the slight problem of credibility, however, when the source of these allegations is the world’s most notorious perjurer.
You don’t seem to understand how this stuff works. The source of the allegations isn’t Clapper, it’s the US intelligence services – which, however much we might not like them, do actually have a job to do and to some extent at least they actually do it. Your thoughts on the credibility of the results are no doubt of importance to you, but there’s no reason they should be important to anyone else. What counts is what US government officials think of it, and so far they’re taking it seriously.
Plenty of bullshit allegations and assertions, zero fucking proof. Bill Binney, Ray McGovern, John Kiriakou, Murray Craig, Julian Assange have all been very clear on this.
On the other side of the equation the “intelligence services” keep releasing pointless shit reports like the recent FBI/DHS one and the declassified version of the ODNI report which don’t say a fucking thing except for providing more evidence-free assertions and conclusions.
As usual, you declare claims you don’t like to be “bullshit” “evidence-free assertions,” while those you do like are accepted at face value as “very clear” self-evident truth. That can be funny in a sit-com character, but is simply irritating in a live human.
1. The reports have no credibility.
2. Members of the US Congress and Senate take them seriously, meaning that…
3. We have a problem. A fucking huge one given that it’s all revolving around cranking up tensions with Russia.
STOP Niki’ eviction!
The fight against the privatisation of State housing – for which there was never an electoral mandate.
FYI.
As an Independent candidate in the upcoming Mt Albert by-election, I absolutely support the brave stand by Niki Rauiti as a directly-affected State tenant who is fighting the privatisation of State housing by refusing to be evicted.
I will be coming on the march to help defend Niki and State housing on 17 January 2017, and supporting the proceeding occupation.
Let’s help make this a key Mt Albert by-election issue and put a HUGE spotlight on the housing issue that CANNOT be ignored!
Who’s coming with us?
Who else can help get this message out?
THANKS!
Penny Bright
‘Anti-privatisation / anti-corruption Public Watchdog.
2017 Independent candidate
Mt Albert by-election.
______________________________
Tēnā koutou,
We are writing requesting support for Ioela ‘Niki’ Rauti, a long-term tenant who is being evicted from her home at 14 Taniwha Road, Glen Innes.
Niki is to be evicted so that private houses for the wealthy can be built on former Housing New Zealand land.
Niki intends to resist this eviction but requires support in order to be successful.
We will be holding two marches in support of Niki on the 17 January 2017, starting at 6:00pm.
There will be two starting points, the first will be Glen Innes Library, and the second will be the corner of Line Road and West Tāmaki Drive.
Both marches will meet at Niki’s home at 14 Taniwha.
If either the government or the redevelopment company, the Tāmaki Redevelopment Company, have not by this stage halted the eviction, an occupation of the surrounding land will be set up to act as a barrier of defense for Niki.
Niki is an elderly tenant who is also suffering from illness.
Niki is making a stand for the elderly, sick, disabled and for all tenants facing discrimination and eviction due to housing reform and profit-driven redevelopment.
We believe that the ‘housing crisis’ is not addressed through evictions, selling state housing and gentrifying communities.
This eviction is part of nationwide reforms that have led to eviction, displacement, increased homelessness, and transiency.
This fight for Niki is a fight for all tenants facing eviction and displacement.
We are making a call out for support for Niki to try and keep her home, and to make a stand against the Government’s housing policy.
A few suggestions are listed below:
Joining the March on 17 January 2017 as well as the proceeding occupation.
Public support for Niki on your Facebook, through a press release etc.
Sending out details about the occupation to your email lists.
Donating resources such as tents, full list available on the facebook page.
Sending donations to the Tāmaki Housing Group 38-9014-0147012-00
Most importantly we ask for your presence during Niki’s occupation of her home.
Ngā mihi nui,
Niki & the Tāmaki Housing Group
Email: nikieviction@gmail.com
Twitter: defend_Niki
Instagram: tamaki_housing
Facebook page: facebook.com/THISHOMEISOCCUPIED
Human beings (en masse) are stupid so perhaps as a species we will indeed cease to exist in the not too distant future. We repeat the same mistakes and patterns time after time.
Consider ….diminishing resources+ resurgent eugenics+ Trump…. and be very afraid.
Just to add a bit of optimism and cheer, a return to wondering about mushroom clouds.
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/william-perry-nuclear-weapons-proliferation-214604
His hypothesise is incorrect because the Soviet Union doesn’t exist anymore.
Nukes aren’t a first strick option because your soldiers will assassinate you.
That’s a hopeful scenario. Alternatively, you might have surrounded yourself with hawks who have never played the game of nuclear brinkmanship before.
Because it’s not about “Soviets vs Yanks”, it’s about power blocs with nukes and expansionist territorial demands.
Cold War rhetoric isnt worth repeating because it’s so transparent. Every American intervention from Greece in 1947 to Syria today features a mythical Russian threat.
One thing has changed since 1947, the speed at which finance can travel the globe has increased dramatically transforming the great game from chess (Atrittion) to Go. Ask any Go master why they make a move, they reply, because it feels right.
That’s nice.
Does the world burn if they lose?
Wrong game. You’re still playing checkers. Try and upgrade yourself to Connect Four before trying again.
And you can go fish, you fascist troll.
Donald Trump, greatest American president since Reagan, says 20th Jan will be a great show!
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/817341196251070464
Indeed it will, Mr Trump. Indeed it will.
So The United States doesn”t like overseas interference in their elections. Get over it you guys. The UK and New Zealand have been getting it for years, it’s called, CrosbyTextor.
Some of the arguments on TheStandard have been had before.
Two smart home assistants hold a conversation than never sticks to the point and evades any evidence to support outrageous claims. It also includes allegations of lying, assertions of what was said and subsequent denials, and apparently at least one claim to be a god…
It got nasty while I was watching. One of them took offence at a “knock, knock” lead-in and tried Avada kedavra on the other…
Bolivia proving that Socialism works and is profitable.
“Since 2006, Bolivia has been run by socialists every bit as militant as Venezuela’s. The country has experienced a spectacular run of economic growth and poverty reduction with no hint of the chaos that has plagued Venezuela. While inflation spirals toward the 1000 per cent mark in Venezuela, in Bolivia it runs below 4 per cent a year. Shortages of basic consumption goods – rampant in Caracas – are unheard of in La Paz………..
……. Bolivia was running budget surpluses every year between 2006 and 2014. This allowed it to draw down the public sector’s debt, which fell from 83 per cent of GDP in 2003 to just 26 per cent in 2014, even as Bolivia built up its international reserves dramatically, from US$1.7b in 2005 to US$15.1b at the end of the boom in 2014.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11778233
Ok Bolivia is resource rich but compared to Venezuela (and some other countries) The Washington Post is applauding the way Socialism and careful management is working there.
The poster known as Gosman will hate this.