Isn’t this the same AMI that, after taking people’s premiums for earthquake insurance for decades, got bailed out to the tune of $1 billion by the tax payer, for not coughing up when the earthquake struck?
AMI need to be publicly shamed into returning this charity group back into their rental accommodation.
So Maori are taking the Government to Court in response to the Government’s proposal to stop the treaty from being applied to the Power Companies. Fair enough. Water is clearly a taonga preserved to Maori by the treaty. Just as gentrified English have retained wealth within their families for centuries why should not Maori retain what was originally theirs?
The remedy sought causes concern. One potion is for Maori to be provided shares in the companies. If this happens it will at least in part legitimise the privatisation of community assets. And instead of all Maori owning them the shareholding will be concentrated in the hands of an elite who will enjoy disproportionately the benefits of doing so. The Sealord settlement springs to mind.
Maori should instead insist that the privatisation not go ahead. Or if it does insist that the companies pay proper compensation for their water and rivers. That should prevent the share sales going through and retaining ownership of the companies in NZ as a whole will mean that Maori will benefit.
One further comment, some have questioned the suggestion that this is deliberate dog whistling by Key. But you just have to wonder about the timing of the release. The Treaty clause has obviously been an issue for months but in the week of Waitangi it is released. Key then gets what he wanted, film of conflict and the chance to say a few Crosby Textor designed red neck appealing slogans. Utterly appalling.
What was more appalling was Mike Hosking’s interview on Close Up last night.
There was no questioning or interviewing. Hosking simply outlined his own views which conveniently fitted into what Key wanted to portray. Hosking should just stay on talkback – that is all his shallow abilities are worth.
It was one of the most woeful displays I have ever seen.
PB – His 2 TV series Accent of Money and War of the World, I found interesting and for the time they were on justified the sky subscription, it was worth reviewing the repeats of both series. 😉 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niall_Ferguson
“The Psychology Of Systemic Collapse”
“Again, it’s a misconception of scale. Industrial society is based almost entirely on fossil fuels, and such an enormous population is not possible without these fuels. When the fuel is gone, so is the population. Because the size of the population is so closely correlated to the fuel supply, between now and the year 2050 about 2.5 billion people will die of famine, while lost and averted births will amount to another 2.5 billion. And the proposal for avoiding such an unprecedented catastrophe is to install solar panels? People with these ideas surely cannot be serious.”
“The truly fundamental problem of understanding systemic collapse, however, is that the human brain cannot assimilate it emotionally. If I were standing in front of a judge, and he told me I was being sentenced to death for murder, I suspect I’d be focusing on the sound of a sparrow outside the window. The brain just goes into neutral. But as academics, as intellectuals, that excuse is not good enough.
What might be called “the Pollyanna Principle” is the belief that “everything will turn out all right in the end.” It might also be called “the Doll’s House Principle,” with reference to Ibsen’s play. But closing our eyes to the grim reality does not change the facts. A different perspective can be reached by doing some reading about what actually happens during a famine. Cecil Woodham-Smith, in The Great Hunger, describes the Irish potato-famine of the 1840s: “Bodies half-eaten by rats were an ordinary sight.”
My thoughts are he’s right, but all of us are so caught up in day to day living that this future simply isn’t real to us. And the vast majority don’t know and aren’t interested in the connection between population numbers and fossil fuel energy availability. Fossil fuels are our Irish potato! What happens when our industrialised food source begins its terminal availability? As with Climate Change this issue is the biggest Macro concern of our time.
There are links to the petition and also the latest one page fact sheet. Please check it out, the answers to most of the right’s lies about the fight are in there.
“This meme of southern verses northern Māori is common as muck and often used to try and divide – I’ve heard it a million times and it doesn’t work, it does the opposite – it binds us together.”
There are no words in the Englsih language to do justice to the offense I feel in Bill English’s remarks. While the manaakitanga of Te Rau Aroha is legendary, it is equally fantastic, although different, at marae all over the country.
That there were no protests at Mr English’s presence saddens me, I am sure that he heard plenty during one on one discussion.
Anyway, although I wasn’t there, it is not impossible that there were things said in Maori that he didn’t understand 🙂
REALLY IMPORTANT OCCUPY AUCKLAND COURT CASE TOMORROW!
8 PEACEFUL OCCUPY AUCKLAND PROTESTORS POTENTIALLY FACING JAIL FOR BREACHING A COURT ORDER WHICH (in my considered opinion) TREATED THE FACTS, THE EVIDENCE AND THE LAW WITH CONTEMPT!
8 peaceful protestors from Occupy Auckland are in the Auckland District Court (Albert St) tomorrow – Wednesday 8 February 2012.
Solidarity protest outside from 9.00am – then the hearing on the ‘Order of Committal for Contempt of Court’ starting at 10am.
This is SERIOUS.
8 named parties (including myself) are potentially facing imprisonment for allegedly breaching the Court Order made on 21 December 2011 by Judge Wilson by continuing to peacefully protest /camp at Aotea Square.
Judge Wilson, in my considered opinion, treated the FACTS, the EVIDENCE and the LAW with contempt.
I for one, treat his ‘Court Order’ with contempt.
Decisions which are not based upon the RULE OF LAW – deserve to be treated with contempt.
“WHEN INJUSTICE BECOMES LAW _ RESISTANCE BECOMES DUTY!”
Council By Laws cannot ‘trump’ our lawful rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression – end of story.
(s.155(3) Local Government Act 2002)
I will NOT be silenced or bow down to municipal and judicial bullying and intimidation.
I for one, am prepared to go to jail in order to defend these fundamental human rights.
This should help to cast a national and international spotlight on how our corporate-controlled Auckland Council is a $UPERCITY for the 1%, and how NZ status – ‘perceived’ to be the ‘least corrupt country in the world’ (according to Transparency International’s 2011 ‘Corruption Perception Index’) – is not worth the paper upon which it is written.
Tomorrow, in my opinion, will be a milestone case, for those representing the interests of the wealthy, corporate 1% vs the public majority 99%.
Much as I believe that freedom of speech and expression is important, when I think of the venal degrading nature of James 3’s comments I wonder if to make the world a better place James 3 should be stopped from wasting my bandwidth.
Much as I believe that freedom of speech and expression is important
Do you? Really? 😀 😀 😀
(You might, most others here don’t think freedom of speech matters at all, unless they agree with what’s being expressed. Otherwise…)
Fisani
Have to agree did you see Parker get assinated on the Crafer Farm Sales. When he was in charge of Land sales in a Labour Government he let go 410,000 hectares. Why would they even bring it up talk about shooting yourself in the Foot. Clayton Cosgrove said in the house in 2005 quote (its impossible to sto land sales to overseas people if that was to happen would lthe last person out in New Zealand please turn out the lights)
Does that mean that Labour says and does one thing in Government, and does the exact opposite in opposistion. Very hypocritical ,and not really a party that would engender any trust
No, fuckwit, it means that Labour has finally caught on to the fact the majority of NZers don’t like our land being sold to foreigners. If that 410,000 had been as well published as the Crafar farm sale had been then the opposition would have started a lot sooner. I’m pretty sure that NAct understand that which is why they’re trying to stop any information flow from the government to the people. NAct really can’t have the people being informed and educated because then they will try to stop what NAct are doing to the country.
The FTA just says we have to do with China on no-worse grounds than any other country.
So that just means we put the same limits on sales to all foreign countries, as Labour is proposing, and then China isn’t being treated any worse than any other country.
Lanthanide – I suppose then by default the stipulation will be that of what we allow Australian investors to do. As we would have to also bar Aussies from being able to acquire land. And I have yet to hear or read any comments limiting Aussie investment !!
The selling off of pre-existing assets and capabilities for no new added value or additional processing technology or capabilties is the absolute lowest quality “investment”.
Clare Trevett’s article in todays Herald is a sure sign that the Right are going to try and pull the same trick on Shearer as they did with the unforunate Phil Goff. Labour members must make sure that any plan to denigrate David Shearer is niped in the bud now!
Regardless of what the article says (haven’t read it), the fact remains that Labour opted for personality over political substance. So I’m afraid Mr Dithering Bleeding Heart Sh-eh-ahr-er deserves all that flies in his direction.
ffs! Where are we going when people are jailed for possessing magazine articles/pamphlets? From the UK.
Baum, also of Solingen, admitted (…) having an article entitled “39 Ways Of Participating or Serving in Jihad”. He was jailed for 12 months after the prosecution said the document was at the lower end of the extremist literature spectrum.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said this afternoon that about $6 million of tax-payer cash had been “squandered” on a Whanau Ora programme that funded “family reunions”.
“Whanau Ora is a waste of tax-payer’s money. It’s going to be a disaster for Maoridom. It’s a pet idea of the Maori Party and John Key is selling out on separatist policies,” Peters said.
He said an official Whanau Ora report showed more than 200 applications for the scheme – known as “Whanau Integration, Innovation and Engagement funding” – had been accepted.
The report says the fund is “available to support whanau, who, among other things, want to strengthen whanau ties”.
It details the case of Johni Rutene who ”wants to reconnect his 180-strong family with each other and their Wairarapa turangawaewae, strengthen their bonds and improve their overall whanau ora”.
Maori “seperatism” is just one of the drums Peters beats, and will continue to do so.
A must watch!
Campbell Live covered the Mr Dotcom “invasion” tonight. First an escort through the house (mansion?) by the bodyguard through the premises decribing the timing and actions of the police.
Then Assistant Commissioner who authorised the program.
One of the questions from Campbell,”Has there ever been a precedent where such force was used against a white collar alleged criminal?” Mmmm.
Fascinating viewing. http://www.3news.co.nz/Campbell-Live-enters-Kim-Dotcoms-Coatesville-mansion/tabid/367/articleID/242116/Default.aspx
A must watch!
Campbell Live covered the Mr Dotcom “invasion” tonight. First an escort through the house (mansion?) by the bodyguard through the premises decribing the timing and actions of the police.
Wow! How cool is Clint Eastwood? I watched this yesterday and was quietly amazed, but thought it was odd coming from a bloke I always thought was an arch Republican. Not so much anymore, apparently.
Cant help thinking what a master hand Hone Harawira played at Waitangi. The man (who I have branded a racist etc with good reason) certainly won my respect for his deft handling of the asset sales issue.
Hone knew the Maori Party had to be detached from the Nats, and he knews this has to be made a constitutional matter because the Nats still had a majority of one. Most importantly he needed to keep the media from branding him a “Maori radical” at Waitangi thereby providing Key with a smokescreen.
Master stroke one: shame the Maori Party amongst Maori hapu / iwi and council with the prospect of a retreat on Treaty Principles. Turn up the heat in the kitchen.
Master stroke two: make it evident that their is no clear majority in parliament supporting asset sales and raise the issue of constitutional matters before the Govenor General and the representatives of the legal hierachy: Keys weak point is a disdain for constitutional law. Voila, a legal challenge appears and the Courts are primed.
Master stroke three : know that the radicals would be outside making a noise that the media would use to support Keys case. Then have his mother sit with Key and himself challenge the radicals thereby disarming Keys most potent weapon: a media so friendly they fall for his photo op imagery and faux populism. No Harawiras to take the blame, no popular bad guy radical to focus the smokescreen on.
In Berlin today, last night was the coldest on record for 25 years (just saying).
By coincidence I am attending a conference on Green technologies, they are predicting global cooling now (which on past performance willl brobably lead to things getting warmer).
Never bad weather, just wrong clothes 😉 I invested in a heavy duty coat after last winter in Vienna. Finally I can use it (still haven’t matched last year’s minimum though). The first snowfall of the season last night, it usually snows in December – so it’s worth going out in the cold now.
At 7.55pm, Tuesday 7 February 2012, at the Auckland Central Police Station, I filed a formal complaint, alleging perjury against the Auckland Council Manager for Risk and Assurance, Natalie Verdouw.
“(1) Perjury is an assertion as to a matter of fact, belief, or knowledge made by a witness in a judicial proceeding as part of his evidence on oath, whether the evidence is given in open court or by affidavit or otherwise, that assertion being known to the witness to be false and being intended by him to mislead the tribunal holding the proceeding.”
EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS COMPLAINT:
A) Supplementary affidavit of Natalie Verdouw in support of application for injunction to prevent breach of bylaw, CIV-2011-404-002497, between Auckland Council (Applicant) and The Occupiers of Aotea Square (Respondents) sworn 2 December 2011:
Paragraph 9
” On Monday 28 November 2011 Conor Roberts (the Mayor’s chief political advisor) telephoned me to arrange a further meeting to be held that day to hear the responses from Occupy Auckland to the Mayor’s requests. I called Andrew Hendrie to determine whether resolutions had been made by the group during the course of the two General Assembly meetings held over the weekend.
He told me that no resolutions had been made. ……..”
B) Email from Andrew Hendrie to Penny Bright, dated 6 December 2011:
“Penny,
To answer your question from Sunday, council called on Monday to find out the outcome from the GA and I advised them of my understanding of the situation, which is what I have done for the last 6 weeks with them, that was that the GA had agreed to invite the mayor and council to the GA. that was the only resolution communicated to me from Chris…………………
I know about this one resolution because I saw the letter from Sunday’s GA and I signed it. ”
(Also – pages 4 – 32 of the Notes of Evidence taken before Judge DM Wilson QC, Hearing Date 8 December 2011, CIV-2011-004-002497 )
SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS COMPLAINT:
It was from this one allegedly untrue telephone conversation between the Auckland Council Manager for Risk and Assurance, Natalie Verdouw and ONE member of the Occupy Auckland Council Liaison Team, Andrew Hendrie, that triggered the ongoing Court proceedings between Auckland Council and Occupy Auckland peaceful protestors.
On Wednesday 8 February 2012, as a ‘Named Respondent’ I am facing an Order of Committal for contempt of Court, and in so doing, am facing imprisonment. I have broken no law. Council Bylaws cannot ‘trump’ our lawful rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, and Judge Wilson’s decision is under appeal.
Had Court proceedings arguably not been precipitiously triggered by Ms Verdouw’s perjurious statement(s), myself and other peaceful Occupy Auckland protestors would not now be facing jail.
Please be reminded of your Police Oath, and, without ‘favour or affection, malice or illwill’ uphold the law of New Zealand in a proper way help ensure that ‘ justice is done and is seen to be done’.
Yours sincerely,
COMPLAINANT: Penelope Mary Bright (aka Penny Bright)
__________________________________________________________
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As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Next week the government will again next try to get its legislation through to deal with non-citizens who won’t cooperate with efforts to deport them. The bill, which the opposition and crossbench refused to rush ...
A long-term project that will set out an alternative vision for Aotearoa that looks beyond the narrow confines of the policy straight jacket adopted by successive governments. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bree Hurst, Associate Professor, Faculty of Business and Law, QUT, Queensland University of Technology TK Kurikawa/Shutterstock A much-awaited report into Coles and Woolworths has found what many customers have long believed – Australia’s big supermarkets engage in price gouging. What started ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Ghezelbash, Associate Professor and Deputy Director, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Law & Justice, UNSW Sydney The Albanese government wanted to avoid an inquiry into its migration amendment bill. The report, handed down yesterday by a senate committee that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joo-Cheong Tham, Professor, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne Lobbying is at the heart of government. Who has access to and influence over key government officials shapes the decisions governments make – and how they make them. The ability to influence ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Myfany Turpin, Associate Professor, Ethnomusicology, Linguistics and Ethnobiology, University of Sydney The act representing Australia at this year’s Eurovision contest has sadly not qualified for the grand final. Yet for Zaachariaha Fielding and Michael Ross, the duo that makes up Electric Fields, ...
In announcing changes to the school lunches programme, David Seymour said kids would no longer be served ‘woke’ foods. To clear up any confusion, The Spinoff has compiled a guide to the wokeness levels of some common food items. Apple = NOT WOKE Avocado = WOKE Avocado, smashed = EVEN ...
The Minister Responsible for GCSB and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security have been notified of this review, and have been provided a finalised Terms of Reference. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Minglu Chen, Senior Lecturer, Government and International Relations, University of Sydney Robert Way/Shutterstock As the past few years have illustrated so clearly, the Australia-China relationship is complicated. As such, it is crucial for Australians to develop a more nuanced understanding of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mariana Campbell, Research Lecturer, Conservation, Charles Darwin University Marilyn Connell Australian freshwater turtles are facing an alarming trend. Almost half of these species are listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. The Mary River turtle (Elusor macrurus) is one of Australia’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Debbie Passey, Digital Health Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Algorithms have become integral to our lives. From social media apps to Netflix, algorithms learn your preferences and prioritise the content you are shown. Google Maps and artificial intelligence are nothing without ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Josephine Barbaro, Associate Professor, Principal Research Fellow, Psychologist, La Trobe University Unsplash We’ve come a long way in terms of understanding that everyone thinks, interacts and experiences the world differently. In the past, autistic people, people with attention deficit hyperactive disorder ...
PNG Post-Courier Papua New Guinea’s deputy opposition leader James Nomane has accused the government of “reckless economic management” that has forced devaluation to manage loan repayments in foreign currency and placate the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Prime Minister James Marape “must stop lying to the people of Papua New Guinea”, ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Bookseller Confessional, in which we get to know Aotearoa’s booksellers. This week: Jane Arthur, author of Brown Bird, and former bookseller at Good Books.The book I wish I’d writtenI have been working on not comparing myself to others. On accepting that what I can ...
The final decision on the Wellington District Plan makes it official: High-density housing is legal across most of Wellington. Housing minister Chris Bishop has announced his decision on the Wellington District Plan, approving a series of amendments to radically upzone most of Wellington, allowing tens of thousands of new townhouses ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to ...
RNZ News As Israel presses ahead with strikes in Rafah and seizing the Rafah crossing from Egypt, aid agencies are sounding the alarm of a “catastrophic humanitarian situation”. Rafah was “significant” because it was the only part in Gaza that had not been terribly damaged by the conflict, United Nations ...
With funding set to be scrapped for the Hamilton-Auckland commuter train, Te Huia enthusiast Georgie Dansey argues for it to be thrown a lifeline. It’s 5.45am and the chain of my crappy old bike falls off slugging up the one hill in Hamilton. I contemplate yeeting the bike into the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Cooke, Honorary Fellow, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland We feel ecological grief when we lose places, species or ecosystems we value and love. These losses are a growing threat to mental health and wellbeing globally. We all see ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shauna Brail, Associate Professor, Institute for Management & Innovation, University of Toronto A shift to hybrid and remote work continues to affect worker presence in Toronto’s downtown.(Shutterstock) Downtown Toronto, the core of Canada’s largest city, continues to reel from the lingering ...
Responding to an Auditor-General's report slamming failures in the administration of the 2023 General Election, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: ...
Productivity apps now make up a big chunk of the software market. But do they work? And why do they all have AI integrations?Despite being firmly on the record as a physical planner fan, I sometimes dream of something better than my pretty diary and its scrawled, ugly, interior ...
The Taxpayers’ Union says the Beehive need to lead by example, following reports of more than $50,000 spent upgrading video conferencing equipment and furniture in the Prime Minister’s office. Taxpayers’ Union Campaign Manager, Connor Molloy, ...
An objective list of the 50 most powerful people in New Zealand, as judged by the Spinoff Editorial Board. It’s power list season, baby, and we want in on the action. Sure, there’s the rich list and the powerful “c-suite” list and the young people with power (hmmm) but here, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thalia Anthony, Professor of Law, University of Technology Sydney ShutterstockThis article contains information on deaths in custody and the names of deceased people, and describes ongoing colonial violence towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. First Nations people in Australia ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Simpson, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Macquarie University Netflix Baby Reindeer’s phenomenal success has much to do with its writer and lead, Richard Gadd, who plays Donny in a tender semi-autobiographical account of sexual abuse, harassment and stalking. Gadd’s story has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Collins, Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle KarolinaGrabowska/Pexels If you didn’t have food allergies as a child, is it possible to develop them as an adult? The short answer is yes. But the reasons why are much ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Moon, Professor of History, Auckland University of Technology Ans Westra, self-portrait, c. 1963. National Library ref AWM-0705-F They try but invariably fail – those writers who believe they are capable of encapsulating in prose or verse the essence of ...
Stewart Sowman-Lund looks at the growing concern around the world in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. What’s all this? When Covid-19 arrived on our shores in early 2020, some argued we were too slow, or crucially, ill-prepared for a pandemic. So ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Franco Montalto, Professor of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering and Director, Sustainable Water Resource Engineering Laboratory, Drexel University Water runs into a storm drain in a Los Angeles alley on Aug. 19, 2023, during Tropical Storm Hilary.Citizen of the Planet/Universal Images ...
The inquest into the death of Gore toddler Lachlan Jones has turned up a new witness who says he saw two teenagers and a small child in a high vis vest in the area where the boy’s body was found the day he died. Lachie’s body was discovered face up ...
Stories from the tenancy trenches, featuring spider infestations, cupboard rats and same-sex discrimination. Lucy’s brother was living in a damp 1930s building in Mt Eden where “he had to tie the cupboard doors closed so the rats didn’t get in”. Although he shared custody of his six-year-old son, his property ...
Simeon Brown, Chris Luxon, and Wayne Brown climbed into a hole and announced a plan to solve Auckland’s water woes. This is how it’ll work. New Zealand’s pipes are munted. They’re cracked and leaking, and struggling to handle all the extra poos excreted by our rising population. It’s a big, ...
I knew Taika Waititi quite well when he was a kid. His mother lived in a tall narrow house in Aro St, and my youngest sister had a similar house two doors along. They were both single mums, they each had a son aged seven. Taika and my nephew Stepan ...
Opinion: “As time passes, knowledge of the circumstances of the August 2016 outbreak will fade and its immediate impact will be lost.” This statement is from the 2017 report of the Official Inquiry into the Havelock North campylobacteriosis outbreak. The then National-led government established the inquiry after the outbreak left ...
Opinion: Nicholas Khoo looks at two key points in the high-stakes foreign policy pact debate – and asks if NZ can engage with as little drama as possible. The post Where to next for the Aukus ruckus? appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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Opinion: ‘Reference-class forecasting’ is at the heart of improving pricing a project and identifying the expected timeframe but it doesn’t appear to be in use here The post ‘Think fast and act slowly’ is failing big projects appeared first on Newsroom. ...
What do a sombrero in Argentina and cognitive driving tests have in common? Don’t worry, we’re not setting up a bad joke. Hinengaro Clinic dementia clinician Gregory Winkelman has the answer on today’s episode of The Detail. “We ask a patient’s spouse or son or daughter: If you went to ...
Wellington long jumper Phoebe Edwards is back and she’s having fun again. Until this year, Edwards, a top athlete in her teens, had never competed as a senior athlete in New Zealand. In March, the 26-year-old won a national long jump title in a lifetime best of 6.28m after ...
After replacing a fifth of their caucus in just four months, the Greens’ opportunity to reset, reshuffle and refocus on the Government is quickly slipping away The post Persistent Green Party scandals delay caucus reset appeared first on Newsroom. ...
ANALYSIS:By Olli Hellmann, University of Waikato When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day today on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also to mark a defining event for national identity. The battle of Gallipoli against ...
By Robin Martin, RNZ News reporter A New Zealand local authority, Whanganui District Council, has passed a motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, condemnation of all acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides of the conflict and the immediate return of hostages. It comes as ...
Asia Pacific Report The Aotearoa chapter of the Women’s International league for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) has appealed to the New Zealand government to call out Israel over the “cruel and barbaric use of force” in Gaza and demand a permanent ceasefire. The league’s open letter was sent to Prime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government will invest $566 million over a decade on data, maps and other tools to promote exploration and development in Australia’s resources industry. The project will fund “the first comprehensive map of what’s ...
Asia Pacific Report Following an open letter by Auckland University academics speaking out in support of their students’ right to protest against the genocidal Israeli war on Gaza, a group of academics at Otago University have today also called on New Zealand academic institutions to “repair colonial violence” and end ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Linda J. Graham, Professor and Director of the Centre for Inclusive Education, Queensland University of Technology Ryan Tauss/ Unsplash, CC BY Two male students have been expelled from a Melbourne private school for their involvement in a list ranking female students. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The Reserve Bank is now assuming Australians will see no interest rate cuts this year – and quite possibly none before the next federal election, due next May. That’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University The Victorian budget offered more of the same on Tuesday, with the only change being how the budget papers were packaged. The usual shrink wrap was gone, hinting at savings in the pages ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Coalition is demanding extensive amendments to the government’s legislation targeting non-citizens who refuse to co-operate with their removal. In a dissenting report to the senate inquiry into the legislation, the Coalition says it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vanita Yadav, Senior Research Fellow, Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University Brett Boardman/Belvoir The complex and grappling issue of violence against women takes centre stage in the soul-stirring solo dance drama Nayika: A Dancing Girl. During a dinner conversation ...
Disruption to patient care from a nationwide junior doctors strike is bordering on unsafe, a senior doctor claims, despite what health officials say. ...
AM I a blood sucking vampire squid?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6373313/Landlord-forced-to-evict-welfare-group
Isn’t this the same AMI that, after taking people’s premiums for earthquake insurance for decades, got bailed out to the tune of $1 billion by the tax payer, for not coughing up when the earthquake struck?
AMI need to be publicly shamed into returning this charity group back into their rental accommodation.
So Maori are taking the Government to Court in response to the Government’s proposal to stop the treaty from being applied to the Power Companies. Fair enough. Water is clearly a taonga preserved to Maori by the treaty. Just as gentrified English have retained wealth within their families for centuries why should not Maori retain what was originally theirs?
The remedy sought causes concern. One potion is for Maori to be provided shares in the companies. If this happens it will at least in part legitimise the privatisation of community assets. And instead of all Maori owning them the shareholding will be concentrated in the hands of an elite who will enjoy disproportionately the benefits of doing so. The Sealord settlement springs to mind.
Maori should instead insist that the privatisation not go ahead. Or if it does insist that the companies pay proper compensation for their water and rivers. That should prevent the share sales going through and retaining ownership of the companies in NZ as a whole will mean that Maori will benefit.
One further comment, some have questioned the suggestion that this is deliberate dog whistling by Key. But you just have to wonder about the timing of the release. The Treaty clause has obviously been an issue for months but in the week of Waitangi it is released. Key then gets what he wanted, film of conflict and the chance to say a few Crosby Textor designed red neck appealing slogans. Utterly appalling.
What was more appalling was Mike Hosking’s interview on Close Up last night.
There was no questioning or interviewing. Hosking simply outlined his own views which conveniently fitted into what Key wanted to portray. Hosking should just stay on talkback – that is all his shallow abilities are worth.
It was one of the most woeful displays I have ever seen.
Pathetic.
I thought TVNZ was talkback with pictures
vto +1. It was a shocker.
He is grotesque – a redneck embarrasment. I felt so ashamed with overseas guests in the house watching that.
+1
Niall Ferguson is someone I’ve been recomended to read, but I’ve never gotten around to doing so.
This piece http://bit.ly/yBLy84 does not encourage me to do so.
Leaving aside the conclusions, the arguments he presents there are fucking woeful.
Does he even know what “realism” is? given his self selected beat, he should be all over that shit, but nah.
PB – His 2 TV series Accent of Money and War of the World, I found interesting and for the time they were on justified the sky subscription, it was worth reviewing the repeats of both series. 😉
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niall_Ferguson
what shearer and key read on their holidays..(cartoon..)
http://whoar.co.nz/2012/the-first-ever-whoar-political-cartoon-2/
[email look alike deleted].
I thought this post was more interesting:
http://whoar.co.nz/2012/nz-tax-on-rich-lowest-in-the-world/
With a nod to afewknowthetruth and Robert Atack. Here is another article by Goodchild about our future to 2050.
Refer link: http://www.countercurrents.org/goodchild060212.htm
“The Psychology Of Systemic Collapse”
“Again, it’s a misconception of scale. Industrial society is based almost entirely on fossil fuels, and such an enormous population is not possible without these fuels. When the fuel is gone, so is the population. Because the size of the population is so closely correlated to the fuel supply, between now and the year 2050 about 2.5 billion people will die of famine, while lost and averted births will amount to another 2.5 billion. And the proposal for avoiding such an unprecedented catastrophe is to install solar panels? People with these ideas surely cannot be serious.”
“The truly fundamental problem of understanding systemic collapse, however, is that the human brain cannot assimilate it emotionally. If I were standing in front of a judge, and he told me I was being sentenced to death for murder, I suspect I’d be focusing on the sound of a sparrow outside the window. The brain just goes into neutral. But as academics, as intellectuals, that excuse is not good enough.
What might be called “the Pollyanna Principle” is the belief that “everything will turn out all right in the end.” It might also be called “the Doll’s House Principle,” with reference to Ibsen’s play. But closing our eyes to the grim reality does not change the facts. A different perspective can be reached by doing some reading about what actually happens during a famine. Cecil Woodham-Smith, in The Great Hunger, describes the Irish potato-famine of the 1840s: “Bodies half-eaten by rats were an ordinary sight.”
My thoughts are he’s right, but all of us are so caught up in day to day living that this future simply isn’t real to us. And the vast majority don’t know and aren’t interested in the connection between population numbers and fossil fuel energy availability. Fossil fuels are our Irish potato! What happens when our industrialised food source begins its terminal availability? As with Climate Change this issue is the biggest Macro concern of our time.
MUNZ, the CTU and activists have set up a webpage to encourage support and lay out the real facts of the POAL dispute:
http://www.saveourport.com/
There are links to the petition and also the latest one page fact sheet. Please check it out, the answers to most of the right’s lies about the fight are in there.
+1
Signed and Facebooked.
Bill English at Te Rau Aroha marae in bluff yesterday
“If the northern tribes could run a marae properly, New Zealand might have a more positive view of the Treaty.”
H.T. – http://robertguyton.blogspot.co.nz/2012/02/english-insults-maori.html
My response
“This meme of southern verses northern Māori is common as muck and often used to try and divide – I’ve heard it a million times and it doesn’t work, it does the opposite – it binds us together.”
http://mars2earth.blogspot.co.nz/2012/02/all-are-insulted-by-dipton-dipstick.html
There are no words in the Englsih language to do justice to the offense I feel in Bill English’s remarks. While the manaakitanga of Te Rau Aroha is legendary, it is equally fantastic, although different, at marae all over the country.
That there were no protests at Mr English’s presence saddens me, I am sure that he heard plenty during one on one discussion.
Anyway, although I wasn’t there, it is not impossible that there were things said in Maori that he didn’t understand 🙂
REALLY IMPORTANT OCCUPY AUCKLAND COURT CASE TOMORROW!
8 PEACEFUL OCCUPY AUCKLAND PROTESTORS POTENTIALLY FACING JAIL FOR BREACHING A COURT ORDER WHICH (in my considered opinion) TREATED THE FACTS, THE EVIDENCE AND THE LAW WITH CONTEMPT!
8 peaceful protestors from Occupy Auckland are in the Auckland District Court (Albert St) tomorrow – Wednesday 8 February 2012.
Solidarity protest outside from 9.00am – then the hearing on the ‘Order of Committal for Contempt of Court’ starting at 10am.
This is SERIOUS.
8 named parties (including myself) are potentially facing imprisonment for allegedly breaching the Court Order made on 21 December 2011 by Judge Wilson by continuing to peacefully protest /camp at Aotea Square.
Judge Wilson, in my considered opinion, treated the FACTS, the EVIDENCE and the LAW with contempt.
I for one, treat his ‘Court Order’ with contempt.
Decisions which are not based upon the RULE OF LAW – deserve to be treated with contempt.
“WHEN INJUSTICE BECOMES LAW _ RESISTANCE BECOMES DUTY!”
Council By Laws cannot ‘trump’ our lawful rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression – end of story.
(s.155(3) Local Government Act 2002)
I will NOT be silenced or bow down to municipal and judicial bullying and intimidation.
I for one, am prepared to go to jail in order to defend these fundamental human rights.
This should help to cast a national and international spotlight on how our corporate-controlled Auckland Council is a $UPERCITY for the 1%, and how NZ status – ‘perceived’ to be the ‘least corrupt country in the world’ (according to Transparency International’s 2011 ‘Corruption Perception Index’) – is not worth the paper upon which it is written.
Tomorrow, in my opinion, will be a milestone case, for those representing the interests of the wealthy, corporate 1% vs the public majority 99%.
Corporate rights (wrongs) – vs human rights?
If you can make it – please be there!
Cheers! Penny Bright
(Named Respondent)
Penny Who Cares hope theyall get fined and have to pay to put the park back to where it was prior to the occupation
Back home from school early, James? You probably should have stayed on for the English class at least.
“… pay to put the park back to where it was prior to the occupation”
The park hasn’t moved, doofus.
Glad to see you using mother english, and not Te Reo
Ignorant pillock… Not that I should really be surprised..
Kia ira Hemi tokotoru
Kei kora tonu te papa takaro. Ehara tera he whenua nekeneke
A horrid little troll like yourself is lucky people aren’t speaking norse at you.
Much as I believe that freedom of speech and expression is important, when I think of the venal degrading nature of James 3’s comments I wonder if to make the world a better place James 3 should be stopped from wasting my bandwidth.
Do you? Really? 😀 😀 😀
(You might, most others here don’t think freedom of speech matters at all, unless they agree with what’s being expressed. Otherwise…)
… they also speak. And use words like “bigot”.
Question Time 7/2/12
12 nil.
Was that the best the Opposition can do?
Fisani
Have to agree did you see Parker get assinated on the Crafer Farm Sales. When he was in charge of Land sales in a Labour Government he let go 410,000 hectares. Why would they even bring it up talk about shooting yourself in the Foot. Clayton Cosgrove said in the house in 2005 quote (its impossible to sto land sales to overseas people if that was to happen would lthe last person out in New Zealand please turn out the lights)
Does that mean that Labour says and does one thing in Government, and does the exact opposite in opposistion. Very hypocritical ,and not really a party that would engender any trust
No, fuckwit, it means that Labour has finally caught on to the fact the majority of NZers don’t like our land being sold to foreigners. If that 410,000 had been as well published as the Crafar farm sale had been then the opposition would have started a lot sooner. I’m pretty sure that NAct understand that which is why they’re trying to stop any information flow from the government to the people. NAct really can’t have the people being informed and educated because then they will try to stop what NAct are doing to the country.
More like 650k ha were sold under the 5th Lab govt. 🙁
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10681304
Still I have not read how after signing a FTA with China how we now can put a halt on this and still be compliant within the FTA. We already have Sold our NZ soul.
There are simple means to overcome the barrier- Just do a JV with an iwi, just like how we sold away our fishing rights overseas. This issue has ben addressed many time here before.
http://thestandard.org.nz/labour-moves-on-slave-fishing/#comment-400462
http://www.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/home/template/news_item.jsp?cid=414934
The FTA just says we have to do with China on no-worse grounds than any other country.
So that just means we put the same limits on sales to all foreign countries, as Labour is proposing, and then China isn’t being treated any worse than any other country.
Lanthanide – I suppose then by default the stipulation will be that of what we allow Australian investors to do. As we would have to also bar Aussies from being able to acquire land. And I have yet to hear or read any comments limiting Aussie investment !!
The selling off of pre-existing assets and capabilities for no new added value or additional processing technology or capabilties is the absolute lowest quality “investment”.
Clare Trevett’s article in todays Herald is a sure sign that the Right are going to try and pull the same trick on Shearer as they did with the unforunate Phil Goff. Labour members must make sure that any plan to denigrate David Shearer is niped in the bud now!
Regardless of what the article says (haven’t read it), the fact remains that Labour opted for personality over political substance. So I’m afraid Mr Dithering Bleeding Heart Sh-eh-ahr-er deserves all that flies in his direction.
The debate around the need for a constitution is a worthy one:
http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2012/02/waitangi-day-constitution-and-waituna.html
ffs! Where are we going when people are jailed for possessing magazine articles/pamphlets? From the UK.
(emph. added)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/06/germans-al-qaida-terror-dover
book burning as a “terrorism prevention measure” on the way next.
Winston all but accused Tariana Turia of corruption in question time today.
Claimed Whanau Ora had paid for the birthday bash of a well healed Maori business family.
Could he be forcing a resignation?
as covered here.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6378062/Whanau-Ora-a-waste-of-money
Maori “seperatism” is just one of the drums Peters beats, and will continue to do so.
It was the money paid to a wealthy family wasn’t it?
A must watch!
Campbell Live covered the Mr Dotcom “invasion” tonight. First an escort through the house (mansion?) by the bodyguard through the premises decribing the timing and actions of the police.
Then Assistant Commissioner who authorised the program.
One of the questions from Campbell,”Has there ever been a precedent where such force was used against a white collar alleged criminal?” Mmmm.
Fascinating viewing.
http://www.3news.co.nz/Campbell-Live-enters-Kim-Dotcoms-Coatesville-mansion/tabid/367/articleID/242116/Default.aspx
It was scary stuff indeed!
Wow! How cool is Clint Eastwood? I watched this yesterday and was quietly amazed, but thought it was odd coming from a bloke I always thought was an arch Republican. Not so much anymore, apparently.
Hone pulls Nacts teeth, masterly work.
Cant help thinking what a master hand Hone Harawira played at Waitangi. The man (who I have branded a racist etc with good reason) certainly won my respect for his deft handling of the asset sales issue.
Hone knew the Maori Party had to be detached from the Nats, and he knews this has to be made a constitutional matter because the Nats still had a majority of one. Most importantly he needed to keep the media from branding him a “Maori radical” at Waitangi thereby providing Key with a smokescreen.
Master stroke one: shame the Maori Party amongst Maori hapu / iwi and council with the prospect of a retreat on Treaty Principles. Turn up the heat in the kitchen.
Master stroke two: make it evident that their is no clear majority in parliament supporting asset sales and raise the issue of constitutional matters before the Govenor General and the representatives of the legal hierachy: Keys weak point is a disdain for constitutional law. Voila, a legal challenge appears and the Courts are primed.
Master stroke three : know that the radicals would be outside making a noise that the media would use to support Keys case. Then have his mother sit with Key and himself challenge the radicals thereby disarming Keys most potent weapon: a media so friendly they fall for his photo op imagery and faux populism. No Harawiras to take the blame, no popular bad guy radical to focus the smokescreen on.
Genius, my hats off to you Hone.
In Berlin today, last night was the coldest on record for 25 years (just saying).
By coincidence I am attending a conference on Green technologies, they are predicting global cooling now (which on past performance willl brobably lead to things getting warmer).
Yip, that weather system they got over there at the moment sure isn’t something, ain’t it?
went out for dinner last night, walked about half an hour from the hotel, absolutely froze through, these germans are tough!
Never bad weather, just wrong clothes 😉 I invested in a heavy duty coat after last winter in Vienna. Finally I can use it (still haven’t matched last year’s minimum though). The first snowfall of the season last night, it usually snows in December – so it’s worth going out in the cold now.
Continental climates are somewhat extreme. Give me ocean encircled islands anytime, provided they have hills.
OCCUPY AUCKLAND FIGHTBACK!!
At 7.55pm, Tuesday 7 February 2012, at the Auckland Central Police Station, I filed a formal complaint, alleging perjury against the Auckland Council Manager for Risk and Assurance, Natalie Verdouw.
_____________________________________________________
Under the NZ Crimes Act 1961, 108 Perjury defined
“(1) Perjury is an assertion as to a matter of fact, belief, or knowledge made by a witness in a judicial proceeding as part of his evidence on oath, whether the evidence is given in open court or by affidavit or otherwise, that assertion being known to the witness to be false and being intended by him to mislead the tribunal holding the proceeding.”
EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS COMPLAINT:
A) Supplementary affidavit of Natalie Verdouw in support of application for injunction to prevent breach of bylaw, CIV-2011-404-002497, between Auckland Council (Applicant) and The Occupiers of Aotea Square (Respondents) sworn 2 December 2011:
Paragraph 9
” On Monday 28 November 2011 Conor Roberts (the Mayor’s chief political advisor) telephoned me to arrange a further meeting to be held that day to hear the responses from Occupy Auckland to the Mayor’s requests. I called Andrew Hendrie to determine whether resolutions had been made by the group during the course of the two General Assembly meetings held over the weekend.
He told me that no resolutions had been made. ……..”
B) Email from Andrew Hendrie to Penny Bright, dated 6 December 2011:
“Penny,
To answer your question from Sunday, council called on Monday to find out the outcome from the GA and I advised them of my understanding of the situation, which is what I have done for the last 6 weeks with them, that was that the GA had agreed to invite the mayor and council to the GA. that was the only resolution communicated to me from Chris…………………
I know about this one resolution because I saw the letter from Sunday’s GA and I signed it. ”
(Also – pages 4 – 32 of the Notes of Evidence taken before Judge DM Wilson QC, Hearing Date 8 December 2011, CIV-2011-004-002497 )
SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS COMPLAINT:
It was from this one allegedly untrue telephone conversation between the Auckland Council Manager for Risk and Assurance, Natalie Verdouw and ONE member of the Occupy Auckland Council Liaison Team, Andrew Hendrie, that triggered the ongoing Court proceedings between Auckland Council and Occupy Auckland peaceful protestors.
On Wednesday 8 February 2012, as a ‘Named Respondent’ I am facing an Order of Committal for contempt of Court, and in so doing, am facing imprisonment. I have broken no law. Council Bylaws cannot ‘trump’ our lawful rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, and Judge Wilson’s decision is under appeal.
Had Court proceedings arguably not been precipitiously triggered by Ms Verdouw’s perjurious statement(s), myself and other peaceful Occupy Auckland protestors would not now be facing jail.
Please be reminded of your Police Oath, and, without ‘favour or affection, malice or illwill’ uphold the law of New Zealand in a proper way help ensure that ‘ justice is done and is seen to be done’.
Yours sincerely,
COMPLAINANT: Penelope Mary Bright (aka Penny Bright)
__________________________________________________________
this may amuse some..
http://whoar.co.nz/2012/5-ridiculous-sex-myths-everyone-believes/
excerpt:..
“…In truth, sperm are hardier than the fragile balls that birthed them.
They can stay alive and viable for days after ejaculation – watching and waiting for their opportunity to make a happy accident.
Just how long can a sperm survive in the wild and terrible world?
BabyMed says five days – WebMD concurs.
The Mayo Clinic allows that they can survive “perhaps even longer.”..”
(cont..)
[email look alike deleted].