TOTALITARIANISM NEWS
The state-led persecution of Assange continues
From a Sydney Morning Herald article by Elizabeth Farrelly….
Assange notes that ”not even the most rabid or hawkish general in the Pentagon has produced evidence or even claimed that we have led to the death or harming of any person – and if we had, they most certainly would”.
As to ”facing the music”, everything hinges on the genuineness of the case and the probability of a fair trial.
Here, it’s critical how far the two simultaneous cases – of ”rape” in Sweden and of illegal publishing in the US – are in fact separate. If the ”rape” case is genuine, the Swedish government should have no problem (a) sending the prosecutor to interview Assange in London, as repeatedly invited, (b) if necessary, charging him here and (c) guaranteeing against his extradition to the United States.
The Australian government should be strenuously advocating to this end. In fact, both governments have not only refused such guarantees but have actively maligned Assange in a way that diminishes his chance of fair trial in either country. The Swedish prosecutor has said Assange will be seized and imprisoned – potentially in solitary, incommunicado and indefinitely – the minute he sets foot there.
The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has never retracted her public (mis)statement that Assange had committed ”an illegal act”. The Swedish Prime Minister, Frederik Reinfeldt, has never retracted his public mis-statement that Assange had been charged with rape. Why not?
Assange points out that Sweden’s is a culture of profound conformism; a population half the size of Australia’s with a language spoken (and a culture therefore scrutinised) by no one else on earth. A country that, unlike say Germany, ”never denazified” after World War II. Never pushed the reset button.
So when the Social Minister, Goran Hagglund, publicly describes Assange as ”sick … a coward … a lowlife … a pitiful wretch”, and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs tweets ”you do not dictate the terms if you are a suspect. Get it?”, the press follow suit.
Sweden’s largest-circulation daily, Dagens Nyheter, calls Assange ”paranoid” and a ”querulant”. A prominent journalist for the Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet, Martin Aagard, calls him an ”Australian pig”, linking Assange with Rupert Murdoch. ”There are many good reasons to criticise Assange. One … is that he’s a repugnant swine.”
We all want a hero. After WikiLeaks released the infamous Collateral Murder video in 2010, showing US troops gunning down a dozen civilians in Iraq, I jokingly asked if Assange was the new Jason Bourne, on the run and persecuted by the state. It would be a tragedy if a man who has done so much good were to end up tolerating only disciples and unwavering devotion, more like an Australian L Ron Hubbard.
The placing of the building company Mainzeal into receivership seems to have at its heart the supposed non-payment of as little as 1.2 million dollars from the parent company Richina-Pacific,
Mainzeal construction is contrary to my initial belief currently fulfilling contract work in Christchurch and it appears that such work was guaranteed into the future,
It appears that the Bank(s) that are owed 20 million dollars by Mainzeal construction did not instigate the receivership of Mainzeal,
Into the picture comes ex-National Party Leader Jenni Shitly who as Chairman of Mainzeal’s board of directors approached the Bank(s) to have the company She sits at the head of placed into receivership,
Very interesting bad12. The same Shitly, as you so aptly call her, is I’m sure also on the Board of Fletcher’s AND she is of course on the Christchurch re-building Committee. Someone needs to take a good look at all of that old trougher’s activities and what vested interests she has.
I am still trying to get a complete view of the occurrences surrounding Shitly’s role in the receivership of Mainzeal Construction,
It appears that there has been an attempt to remove Her as a director of at least one board of Directors connected with the Mainzeal Group of companies,
It also appears that Shitly and at least 3 other’s resigned as Directors from Mainzeal Construction it’self a number of months ago,
Are we looking at a Boardroom power struggle here that as a consequence has the ability to collapse up to a third of the building industry in Auckland,
People connected with the industry talking on RadioNZ as i type this comment are talking 1200 employers and employees who are unsecured creditors who will get it in the neck if Mainzeal folds completely or ‘morphs’ into a different company altogether…
Makes it easy for Shitley & co so pick it up cheaply, And then run it into the ground, and make a killing on the backs of honest workers, who are the ones who pay the price for such avarice.
So let’s get this clear. The banks are quite happy with Mainzeal’s repayment plans for paying back their debt of $20 million.
But Shipely who is also a director for a competing company is winding Mainzeal up, and destroying the lives of many workers, over a debt of $1 million.
I am starting to form the belief that the 1.2 or 1.8 million dollars that the RichinaPacific group was supposed to pay to Mainzeal Construction might have been to cover fees specifically to pay those directors that apparently quit the Board of Mainzeal construction some weeks/months ago???,
I fail to understand how IF Shitly and a number of others quit as Board members of MainZeal Construction a number of weeks/months ago they can then approach the BNZ to have the company placed into receivership,
Were Shitly and the other directors who quit the MainZeal Board owed directors fees and so as creditors of ‘some sort’ in a fit of pique moved to wind that company up???,
Shiply’s Prime Minister ship under a National Government was at it’s best ‘Ugly’ and is this just another case of ‘uglyness’ from the former National Party Prime Minister not giving a toss how many get damaged or how severe that damage becomes both to the workers involved and the economy it’self…
Were Shitly and the other directors who quit the MainZeal Board owed directors fees and so as creditors of ‘some sort’ in a fit of pique moved to wind that company up???,
I certainly hope so, becaause it might be demonstrated that they acted against the best interests of the company and its shareholders, as directors.
But that is the question CV, were they directors when yesterday they approached the BNZ to place Mainzeal Construction into receivership,
My impression is that Shitly and at least 3 others resigned from the board of Mainzeal weeks or months ago,
The question that arises from this is did Shiply use Her profile as a former Prime Minister and Her present connections to the Slippery lead National Government to leverage the BNZ to call in the receivers,
If She was not a director of the company then the only right to demand the BNZ place Mainzeal into receivership would seem to come about by being a secured creditor or perhaps an unsecured creditor…
You call that piece of sanitized garbage ‘facts’, nice try but an absolute FAIL just like the Slippery lead National Government you support is,
Was Jenny Shitly lying to New Zealand when She appeared on my TV news last night stating that it was She that approached the BNZ to have the company put into receivership,
She appears to have major issues of conflicting interests where She is on the boards of various companies which will directly profit from the Christchurch rebuild and also a representative of the structure that is charged with allocating work and thus allocating Government funds,but, trust the Herald to not even mention such a tangled web of connections…
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 2.3.1.1
I know you think that this is an insult, bad12, but you might want to reflect that it is a name I have given to myself. You may like to consider that, under these circumstances, the scope for wounding me with this name is rather diminished.
PLEASE COME AND HEAR UK DOCO-MAKER HARRY FEAR, & ROGER FOWLER REPORT BACK ON THEIR RECENT FACT-FINDING MISSION TO GAZA WHEN THE ISRAELI BOMBARDMENTS TOOK PLACE.
TONIGHT: 7pm at AUCK UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Room B28.
FREE SOUTH AUCKLAND BUS leaves at 6pm from the Mangere East Community Learning Centre, 372 Massey Rd (behind the Library).
Lengendary reggae band ‘Unity Pacific’ will launch their stunning version of the Kia Ora Gaza solidarity anthem: “We Are All Palestinians”
Palestinian dancers will welcome everyone. Not-to-be-missed. Bring your friends & family.
No door charge, but donations welcome.
Hosted by Students For Justice in Palestine. Organised by Kia Ora Gaza [Website: kiaoragaza.net. Email: office@kiaoragaza.net]
> Subject: Auckland event: GAZA REPORT UK documentary maker & activist HARRY FEAR
Like to go but, thought i would stay at home and watch another town in Syria being destroyed. Bought some chips … Tonight a apartment block is again destroyed.All dead… chive dips tonight .Hope those silly UN people do not spoil my entertainment Who cares? 65000 dead and counting.
On TV One News last night they had a clip of John Key’s Waitangi Day speech whine about protesters. That was immediately followed by a clip of Titewhai Harawira’s reply that the potesters weren’t the problem but bad Govt policies were the the problem. Priceless.
+1 Yes, also the comment by Peter Sharples, saying that he thought protest was perfectly o.k if people weren’t happy with something (can’t remember the exact words). I put up a comment on the Waitangi day thread re this, how the talk over referred to Key’s as a “broadside speech”. Good stuff TV1.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 6
Heard Turei on the wireless yesterday praising Titewhai’s work as an anti violence campaigner. Guess she is willing to overlook the assault on the mental health patient under Harawira’s care.
Refer to the extended debate here on The Std about that. My position IRCC was that he probably should have been allowed into NZ, but plenty disagreed with me.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 6.1.1.1.1
I don’t care about Tyson. If Turei’s position is that Harawira’s assault of a highly vulnerable person under her care can be overlooked because she has been punished for it, doesn’t she have to hold the same position in relation to Tyson?
Does it need to be the same because you think the two crimes were the same, or because Turei is a computer programme which needs to generate the same result every time you press a button?
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
So tell me again why you think Turei needs to treat Tyson and Harawira the same? You know, before you move us on to some bullshit off track discussion.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
No. I accept I am wrong. It is just sensible for a person who assaults mentally ill people under her care to be praised for her anti-violence work on the basis that the crime can be forgotten once the sentence has been served. Contemporaneously, another person who has been convicted of a violent offence and served the penalty should be vilified.
Hi Ole, you can’t really say that until you have thought about it.
Is Harawira still going around in public laughing and making jokes about violent assaults of exactly the type she committed? Does she still maintain that there was nothing wrong with what she did?
Are those relevant factors in your program at all?
Does that help you imagine any other possible factors that might be computed?
You’re the only person here who can’t seem to get their head around the idea that many people make mistakes, and once they’ve repaid society, its time to let them move on. Nothing is forgotten. Maybe not even forgiven. So what’s illogical about it?
Just like a soldier who comes back from Afghanistan or Iraq and decides to become an anti-war campaigner because of what they’ve seen.
Or a drink driver who’s killed someone, coming out of jail and deciding to take a stance against drink driving because they’ve realised the harm it causes.
Or someone who has been convicted of family violence, standing up years later on TV speaking out against family violence because they’ve realised that other people need to hear their story too.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
Because in the background of every conversation with Mrs Harawira – and she is as aware of it as anyone – are the ghouls of her past. Not least her 1989 conviction for assaulting a psychiatric patient.
She says, emphatically, that she regrets nothing in her past – “No. Nothing.” If other people can’t get over it, well “that’s fine. I can accept that.”
Many good anti-violence workers are good because they’ve had to deal with their own violence. You obviously know shit about this gormless, so give it up eh?
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
“Not sure what the difference you are referring to is, Felix.”
Well for a start I don’t see Harawira repeatedly and publicly cracking jokes about what she did. That’d put her in a different category of bastard I’d have thought, ymmv.
I’d also note that the quote you linked to – worrying as it may be – wasn’t actually an answer to a question about the issue you (and the herald writer) are linking it to. Not that that’s necessarily important but context is usually worth noting.
You just want people to see her for what she is – what a load of shit gormless – at least be honest ffs.
I have researched and written about Titewhai and I can fully understand her statement that she has nothing to regret in her past. I think she has a lot to be proud of – she was groomed for greatness by her grandfather and she has delivered on that, right from the time she started school. She has done more for the benefit of this country than 1000 john keys or any politician I can think of. That is what being a mana wahine means – not that you gormless would know the first thing about that.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
Am probably way too late on this but No Right Turn’s take on Shearer’s “let’s all be nice” approach to Waitangi Day is spot on. Yet one more, but a pretty important, reminder about whether Shearer really is PM material.
Cheers Mary. Also last night on 3 News he was interviewed in regard to his view on the PM’s spazzo about “a few Maori extremists………protesters………..blah blah blah”. Shearer actually agreed that it was fine to say that…….”BUT, say it on the Marae and don’t say something like that and then go running of to your getaway plane”, or words to that effect.
Part of that rang true, that is if you’re going to say something challenging don’t drop it and then run, stay to back it up, however the worse bit was that he seemed to agree that it was ok or even right to say it in the first place. I really don’t know where this guy is coming from.
Apologies for repitition but if we are in any way going to make progress on the Left we really have to pull toegther and unify and most importantly educate and motivate those non voters. We already had a challenge but it has been made all the harder by the choice of leader for the Labour Party. Gawd, imagine what the leaders debates are going to be like next year:
“errr, just, ummm, you know John, you do have a good point there but errrr, well………….” JK will be laughing like a school boy at his luck.
What protests tho was Slippery the Prime Minister whining about, as Maanu Paul fromthe Maori Council put it such a simpering whine gave a great impression of a 4 year old having a wee wah wah wah over having lost His marbles, (in more than one way i would suggest Maanu),
There were 30,000 people at Waitangi this year, a good mixture of both Maori and Pakeha and the only disruption was at the point of the Prime Minister being lead onto the Marae, as Winston Peters pointed out Slippery the Prime Minister brought this situation about because Marae protocol would be that it would be the guest being Karanga-ed onto the Marae who chooses which Kuia will accompany Him,
It is more than obvious that Slippery expected a large hostile protest to be directed at Him at Waitangi and the fact that this failed to materialize has got our Prime Minister exhibiting,as He does when things don’t go His way, a childish snivel as if someone has snuck off with His marbles,
Having a prepared speech directed at denigrating protestors at Waitangi the empty suitcase of intellectual rigor which is Slippery the Prime Minister of New Zealand having left the speech writers in Wellington did not have anything but the ability to address the breakfast gathering at the Waitangi Marae in terms of what was essentially bull defecation,
Not having the stomach at the Marae to give that speech to those gathered on the paepae earlier in the proceedings as anyone with an ounce of ‘heart’ would have Slippery the Prime Minister then gave a grand display of yellow by scarpering out the back door for the safety of His waiting limo…
Hi bad12. Lol, you know shonkey doesn’t let the facts get the way of a good ol’ spin. My guess is that he saw Waitangi as a good opportunity to put some more wood on the fires of prejudice and ignorance. Its in his interests to keep the trad Pakeha Nat voters in an anti Maori frame of mind. He’s framing them as the bad guys challenging his asset sales mission and he needs to keep the division going in order to bring his trad voters to heel. They are making quiet nosies about not being happy about asset sales after all. What better way to stir the pot than to than to highjack an event that is bound in media sensation whose goal it is to paint those that need to air their legitimate grievances as “bad” as “separatists” or gasp, even “protesters” god forbid. etc. Suit his purposes does it not?
Which reminds me: If y’all are in Wellington on Wednesday, 13th Feb head down to Frank Kitts Park at 6pm to the anti asset sales rally. Speakers include Jane Kelsey, Maanu Paul and Mayor Celia Wade-Brown.
Shearer’s performance shows how Labour deserves to lose the Maori vote. Even Winston Peters on Morning Report this morning showed he understands how integral robust discussion and protest over the big issues, including how entrenched disadvantage ignores the Treaty, are to the annual celebration. With Shearer at the reigns heaven help us. The guy really is a plonker.
Poll in the Dom Post today shows 60% of people want a 4 year parliamentary term (28% 3 years). Labour/Greens might pick up a some votes by offering a 4-year term as a policy at the next election.
Not a good idea, in my view. In a country without an upper chamber or a written constitution the only safeguard against parliamentary excess is frequent elections. Limiting our democracy an the absence of checks and balances would be harmful to our country.
Why do people think that an upper chamber gives any safeguard against parliamentary excess? Just have to look at the US and the UK to see that that idea is a load of BS.
A written constitution might do it – if you can get everyone to agree on what the constitution actually means.
Four years would probably be best for effective policies to be seen to work or vice versa. But I would want to see leadership change be legislated for so that two terms would be all.
It appears to me that many of these skilled trapeze artists who get to the big top, just can’t be got down again and they use their precocious skills to maintain their position and to hell with the rest of the circus.
CV Hmmmm? How would the USA have gone then if they had not changed I wonder?
At least an egregious leader can be chucked in favour of one with more grasp, of the work and responsibility to all, than the money and esteem. Then if someone is very good it becomes hard to replace the favourite even when he dances naked in the street, and starts taking huge bribes. The 20 years thing would definitely be needed then.
CV
Have just had my reply wiped by the remote server. I mentioned daft pollies dancing na..k..d in the streets. I wonder if we are having good old USA morality dished out by machine?
Then of course there is the small print. The term limits in Russia, for example, were useless at getting rid of Putin. We’re already heading presidential-style as an MSM-friendly way of stabilising power to two main parties (another reason I’m happy for Labour to be in the thirties rather than well into the forties).
And technically the governments in NZ area different governments after each election – new parliament, new coalition.
Personally I favour things like campaign finance controls and advertising restrictions rather than term limits. Term limits are too fixated on a possible symptom (demagogue) rather than the problem (subversion of democracy).
I wrote and posted this last night, and I’ll choose to believe it’s not been seen yet because it’s lost at the bottom of yesterdays open mike 😀
Apologies to all guitarists, except one (joke), as I’m using software.
Actually, in the spirit of glasnost and perestroika, if DS wants to hit me up with some core Labour policy, he can strap on his axe and rock it with me on Campbell live and we’ll all live happy ever after.
You say it’s all right, sometime, we’ll get it done.
Well sometimes you just suck. I’ve got the fight to say.
You should never grab at something you couldn’t take.
You say you’re all right, sometime, you’ll get it done.
And sometimes you just say I’ve got to learn to wait.
Well you should never hit on someone you couldn’t break.
What you gonna wash away? How you gonna wash me away?
For no better reason than I’ve got no reason to fake.
If I got a reason I got the will and the way.
No help coming, no one running away.
Firing treason, here with the freaks and the snakes.
What you gonna wash away? How you gonna wash me way?
You say he’s all right, sometime, he’ll get it done.
Well sometime is just words far too easy to say.
You should never try on something if you can’t fake.
You say it’s all right, sometime, you’ll get it done.
And sometimes you just say I’ve got to learn to heal.
Well you should never count on something that you can’t steal from under my nose.
What you gonna wash away? How you gonna wash me way?
For no better reason than I’ve got no reason to fade.
I got the meaning, I got the will and the way.
No hope running, no joke coming to play.
Firing reason, here with the freaks and the snakes.
What you gonna wash away? How you gonna wash me way?
For no better reason than I’ve got no reason to fake.
I got a reason I got the will and the way.
No helps coming, no one’s running away.
Firing treason, here with the freaks and the snakes.
What you gonna wash away? How you gonna wash me way?
PreSonus Studio one v2 as my sequencer/recorder, and on this track, just two instances of Musiclab real LPC and a vocoder to pitch and colour my awful vocals.
Apart from that, I use an ancient but sadly discontinued vsti synth plugin and the brilliant U-he Diva. And that’s it.
The way I figure it, being minimally talented, if the songs ever get picked up they’ll all be re-done properly in a studio anyway, no matter what I do with them at home, so I rather focus on writing and saving the world and just hope the right person gets to hear the songs through the mess. 🙂
I don’t use Twitter, but I have started to get an email every so often saying ‘here’s what is happening on Twitter” I clicked on it today and was pleasantly surprised to be directed to: http://vital.org.nz/entry/2013/02/
It fits in with comments others have made about National deliberately trying to remove all discussion on political topics – and Holmes was (perhaps but perhaps not) an unwitting supporter of the removal of debate from our media. I do think it is a bit hard on Shearer – including honours to make it partly a celebration of achievement does not mean taking away discussion on issues where we do not agree.
Teh November post to that blog is also interesting. I have come to think that some posters to The Standard are deliberately trying to undermine informed discussion, and to represent their views as those of the majority or the Green Party , or of the Labour Party – collectively, I think both the Green and Labour Parties are much more tolerant, and also much kinder to each other than many posters would like to try to convince us.
I would be interested in how many different posters there are to The Standard. It is being followed more by media (or at least acknowledged more) – I suspect it has a wider number of posters than some otehr well known blogs. Could a count be made of the number of different posters for say each of the last few months?
Thanks Ed, that’s a good piece of writing by Judd. The problem I have with Shearer and Waitangi is that he thinks it’s cause for celebration. The whole ‘happy Waitangi Day’ thing grates, for precisely the reasons that Judd goes into. It reminds me of when Otago had its 150 anniversary as a province. The council and organisers of events called it a celebration, and then local iwi spoke up and said hang on, for some of the people that live in Otago, the arrival of settlers and setting up of the province was extremely painful and not something to celebrate (call it a commemoration instead). Until we accept that Maori have distinct and entirely valid experiences of NZ that are quite different than most Pakeha, we are at an impasse. Trying to make Waitangi Day a ‘happy’ day just doesn’t work.
“I have come to think that some posters to The Standard are deliberately trying to undermine informed discussion,”
I saw the point of Judds article as saying that it is possible for a discussion to allow for a range of different viewpoints. I read him as effectively saying that calling for some celebration on a public holiday does not mean that we cannot at the same time address other issues. That’s like saying that until we return to budget surpluses we cannot afford to increase the minimum wage . . .
A public holiday is usually an indication that the country felt, at least at one time, that we could celebrate some achievement, and in relation to the Treaty, I believe there are things to celebrate. If that can also include celebrating achievements of New Zealanders, let that not distract from understanding that we still have some matters to resolve; we can celebrate a Treaty that is still capable of assisting shape our actions . . .
I don’t wish to personalise my comment about the motives of some posters to The Standard, but a number of times a post about a problem caused by the current government seem to turn very quickly into an attack on Shearer, or to seek to cast doubt on whether Labour and Green can work together – they appear to me to be attempts to divert discussion from the effects of government action or inaction, towards perceived deficiencies in current opposition parties. Many seem amazed, disappointed, even furious that there clear determinations of the will of the people are not shared by the leadership of the Labour and Green parties – and imply that it would be better for those parties to remain in opposition than to accept ‘imperfect’ policies from their definition of true left ideals.
Judd said ( http://vital.org.nz/entry/2012/11/ )
“I’m discouraged by the conviction with which journalists report their opinions as fact, and I’m equally discouraged by the way political bloggers and commentators have done the same, building on the journalists’ reports. The Cunliffe vs Shearer story and the 40% vs simple majority story are intertwined, but they are not the same, yet we can’t be sure where and how they overlap. I know I’m going to give a lot more credit to analysis that acknowledges these uncertainties instead of glossing over them for the sake of a clear story.”
I am similarly discouraged by reporting of opinions as fact in many comments to The Standard – your mileage may wary.
Of course no one will be held to account, the Slippery lead National government seem delighted that the teaching profession will be traumatized by having their pay f**ked up for at least the next 2 years,
From what i heard this morning the ‘attack’ upon schools continue’s unabated with schools having their operating budgets destroyed by having to pay some teachers monies owed to them for wages out of the operating budget,
Any of these schools having had to destroy their budgets because of No-No Pay that have a smaller role this year are now being told to immediately refund part of that operating budget and it appears that the Education Department and the Minister couldn’t really give a toss whether the schools have had their operating budgets wrecked or not,
Yeah typical Tory attitude, how would you like it if you were told that for the next 2 years it will be a lottery if you are paid or not,
Schools are legally obliged to pay their employees and the only means of doing this under the present system is to pay out of the operating account when No-No Pay makes yet another ‘mistake’,
To then send out letters to schools demanding monies back from that operating budget for pupils that have left the school is to simply put even more pressure on those attempting to run those schools within such budgets,
The fact that you couldn’t really care is obvious…
If i bore you there’s an easy solution, when you come across the bad12’s as you scroll down the page keep on scrolling,
I spose you consider Hekia’s smiling face and karma comment on the fact that those at the Ministry of Education also had their pay round made a mess of the other week as a bit of light entertainment…
The latest household labourforce survey figures are out and no doubt the Government will jump on the reduction in the unemployment rate from 7.3% to 6.9% as something to celebrate.
However the figures are all screwy:
The number of people unemployed decreased by 10,000 people BUT the employment rate fell 0.8 percentage points, to 62.6 percent AND the number of people employed decreased by 23,000 (down 1.0 percent) AND the labour force participation rate fell 1.2 percentage points, to 67.2 percent AND the number of people in the labour force decreased by 33,000.
Obviously more people are dropping out or giving up but I cannot imagine that it is because of the ageing population.
Reminds me of the US where every new monthly jobs figure looks good, makes good press, but the next month is quietly and substantially revised for the worse. Cynicism.
The best that can be said about those figures is that Paula’s travel agency is working well and another positive contribution to the Australian economy has shown to have been made by NZ workers,
Wonder when the next set of unemployment benefit numbers are due out…
Econophysics might start being worth looking at if socialists start doing it. A lot of what I’ve seen so far treats the maths in a very naive way, and is basically designed to guide speculators. This work looks much more interesting.
No,
The $20bil superfund is now only just breaking even with the massive debt that National has gifted us and our children.
The solution is apparently to get rid of the asset and continue business as usual. The thought of addressing the systemic causes of our government debt is not apparently on the table. Mostly because that would involve taxing the job creators destroyers.
To Gormless. the NZ Super fund is not a crock. See its record from its December 2012 statement and
remember that any investment for the long term – which is what the NZ Super Fund is – has its ups and downs . On the whole the NZ Super Fund performs well – even during difficult economic downturns.
Also remember – the Labour Govt’s first super scheme was wiped by Muldoon, and it would have saved the country billions if it had been left in place. The comments by the researcher Michael Littlewood look to me like they’re just another attempt by Nats to do the same sort of thing ie destroy NZ’s super scheme!
“Fund Performance to 31 December 2012
Posted On: Tuesday, 22 January 2013
The New Zealand Superannuation Fund returned 19.17% for the 12 months ended 31 December 2012.
The Fund finished the year at a record high for the month-end of $20.92 billion, up from $17.73 billion at the end of 2011.
Since inception in September 2003 the Fund has returned 7.92%,exceeding the 90-day Treasury Bill rate by 2.84%. The Fund’s long-term performance expectation is that it will beat the Treasury Bill rate by at least 2.5%.”
Open Letter to the Mayor and Councillors who are members of the CEO Review Sub-Committee of Auckland Council:
Len Brown (Chairperson)
Christine Fletcher (Deputy Chairperson)
Ann Hartley
Penny Hulse
Richard Northey
Penny Webster
RE: THE MEETING OF THE AUCKLAND COUNCIL CEO REVIEW SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING TODAY – THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2013: (2pm)
Dear Mayor and Councillors,
Please confirm that the following Agenda Items C1 and C2 items pertaining to the performance of the CEO have been removed from ‘Confidential’ as they are a matter of considerable public interest, and there is a difference between protecting the ‘privacy’ of individuals and ensuring public transparency and accountability for those in public office, particularly the ‘Principal Administrative Officer’ of Auckland Council – the CEO.
C1 Report on the Chief Executive’s Performance Against the 2012/2013 Objectives
Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter
Particular interest(s) protected (where applicable)
Ground(s) under section 48(1) for the passing of this resolution
The public conduct of the part of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for
which good reason for withholding exists under section 7. s7(2)(a) –
The withholding of the information is necessary to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of a deceased person.
In particular, to enable the Chief Executive Review Subcommittee to examine and discuss in detail, progress against agreed objectives to the Council’s executive team, including free and full discussion on sensitive issues including privacy and contract issues..
s48(1)(a)
The public conduct of the part of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for
which good reason for withholding exists under section 7.
C2 CEO Recruitment Process
Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter
Particular interest(s) protected (where applicable)
Ground(s) under section 48(1) for the passing of this resolution
The public conduct of the part of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for
which good reason for withholding exists under section 7. s7(2)(h) – The withholding of the
information is necessary to enable the local authority to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage,
commercial activities.
In particular to enable the Chief Executive Review Subcommittee to discuss the detail of the Chief
Executive recruitment before information is released to the market and potential candidates.. s48(1)(a)
The public conduct of the part of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for
which good reason for withholding exists under section 7.
“TERMS OF REFERENCE
The Chief Executive Review Committee is established to review the Chief Executive’s performance during the 2010/2012 term of the Council and to negotiate terms and conditions of the CE’s employment including any performance agreement measures and annual remuneration.
Relevant legislation includes but is not limited to:
The Local Government Act 2002; and
The Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2002. ”
Please be reminded of your following statutory duties as enshrined in the Local Government Act 2002:
(a)to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities; and
(b)to meet the current and future needs of communities for good-quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses.
(2)In this Act, good-quality, in relation to local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions, means infrastructure, services, and performance that are-
(a)efficient; and
(b)effective; and
(c)appropriate to present and anticipated future circumstances.
Section 10(1)(b): replaced, on 5 December 2012, by section 7(1) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).
Section 10(2): inserted, on 5 December 2012, by section 7(2) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).
(1)In performing its role, a local authority must act in accordance with the following principles:
(a)a local authority should—
(i)conduct its business in an open, transparent, and democratically accountable manner; and
(ii)give effect to its identified priorities and desired outcomes in an efficient and effective manner:
(b)a local authority should make itself aware of, and should have regard to, the views of all of its communities; and
(c)when making a decision, a local authority should take account of—
(i)the diversity of the community, and the community’s interests, within its district or region; and
(ii)the interests of future as well as current communities; and
(iii)the likely impact of any decision on the interests referred to in subparagraphs (i) and (ii):
(d)a local authority should provide opportunities for Maori to contribute to its decision-making processes:
(e)a local authority should collaborate and co-operate with other local authorities and bodies as it considers appropriate to promote or achieve its priorities and desired outcomes, and make efficient use of resources; and
(f)a local authority should undertake any commercial transactions in accordance with sound business practices; and
(fa)a local authority should periodically—
(i)assess the expected returns to the authority from investing in, or undertaking, a commercial activity; and
(ii)satisfy itself that the expected returns are likely to outweigh the risks inherent in the investment or activity; and
(g)a local authority should ensure prudent stewardship and the efficient and effective use of its resources in the interests of its district or region; and
(h)in taking a sustainable development approach, a local authority should take into account—
(i)the social, economic, and cultural interests of people and communities; and
(ii)the need to maintain and enhance the quality of the environment; and
(iii)the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations.
(2)If any of these principles conflict in any particular case, the local authority should resolve the conflict in accordance with the principle in subsection (1)(a)(i).
Section 14(1)(c)(iii): replaced, on 5 December 2012, by section 8(1) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).
Section 14(1)(fa): inserted, on 27 November 2010, by section 6 of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 124).
Section 14(1)(h)(i): amended, on 5 December 2012, by section 8(2) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).
Section 14(2): amended, on 5 December 2012, by section 8(3) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).
Please be advised that in order to defend the above-mentioned principles of ‘open, transparent and democratically accountable’ local government – I for one – give notice that I will refuse to be excluded from the meeting, and shall refuse to leave the room, if Items C1 and C2 are kept in ‘CONFIDENTIAL’.
It was Pak N Save, so, in fairness, three of those 21 items were plastic bags. But they should count, shouldn’t they?
When she was being served there were two people behind me, so three in all. No pick n mix and no fruit and vege. But still…
I think she was clearly over the line. My question though is, do I owe future shoppers a duty to make it clear to her it’s not on? Should I leave that to Pak N Save? Or, if it’s not troubling me, should I just leave it?
I’d head to the check out supervisor or service desk to complain. If they put a sign up and it is their policy, then their staff need to be enforcing it in a fair and reasonable manner.
Yes CV, having been in the industry and a supervisor,the best anyone can do
is to alert the supervisor and it is their job to ‘have a chat’ later with the operator,
to get her/him to enforce the policy.
Checkout operators should know the policy and adhere to it though, they only
need to politely say ‘Sorry, this is an express lane, you have too many items’
If WW3 breaks out,best just to get them done and outta there.
To be fair to the check-out operators it must be hard to cause a scene.
A couple of months ago I was behind a middle aged woman at the express check-out. She had at least 20 items – possibly more. She was well dressed and not a strand of hair out of place. She reeked financial comfort and confidence. The body language said don’t mess with me girl or I’ll cause trouble for you. The girl didn’t. I saw the woman out in the car-park a few minutes later and I wanted to have a little ‘tete a tete’ (can’t do the French stroke thing) with her, but I didn’t. Was angry with myself for being a coward. I despise those types.
My fav this month is having a couple in their 30’s push their way through security screening airport queues because they were carrying a baby.
I let them past (because everyone else was and the bloody peer pressure thing) but regretted it because I looked at their faces and they clearly knew they were taking the piss.
btw baby was out to it on her shoulder without a care in the world, ignorant that mum and dad were using her for personal advantage.
All things considered I’d have to agree, she was clearly taking the piss. But what to do? Most of us don’t like to make a fuss, and we’d hope the checkout operator would enforce the limit.
But by the time they don’t enforce it, it’s too late to do much about it. And then is making a fuss going to hold up the queue even more than letting it slide? And I’d feel a bit guilty causing strife for the checkout operator, it’s a fairly thankless job already without me putting my oar in.
I reckon programming the registers in those aisles so they can only physically scan x amount of items before totaling up might be a way to fix it. Kind of lets everyone off the hook without confrontation.
Not sure if I’d include plastic bags in the count or not. I suppose they do take time to process and that’s the whole point, so yeah you’re probably right on second thought.
Should have done what I did last xmas eve and asked the shoppers in front if they’d been good for santa, and when they said yes, wished them luck in receiving big boxes of less ignorance.
The checkout girl laughed.
Id suggest that you just get over it and temper you internal scorning. Queing is a very serious issue to the English, you know the old story .
Put three Welsh together and you a choir
Put three Irish together and you have a party
Put three scots together and you have a fight
Put three English together and you have a que.
I trust that your comment is not serious. It would be WISE of you not to say anything.
Proverbs 18,7 ” A fools mouth is his destruction and his lips are the snare of his soul.”
Not really. Jesus was an advocate who was vocal on a number of issues. Jesus spent a large part of his life talking, he often voiced his concern. Jesus was wise because he did say things.
That proverb you have given us does not apply to every situation.
i never quite got the difference between left and right – but just had a look at KiwiBlog regarding an a blog on the PM and Waitangi day.
What a horrible site. It looked like the KKK logged in there>
And then I look at this site, and the difference is day and night 🙂
Thanks people, I feel better now.
Kiaora Ana, yeah we sweat laugh and scream here, but, buckle yourself in and join the fray, where you visited is known here as the Sewer it’s mostly inhabited by a primitive form of amoeba…
“He is described as a veteran newspaper and radio journalist and South Island editor of Challenge Weekly, a non-denominational and independent Christian newspaper.”
Permitting a girl as young as 11 to have an abortion without her parents’ knowledge is a form of child abuse, Maxim Institute told a select committee hearing today.
The provision is contained in Section 37 of the Care of Children Bill.
Maxim researcher John McNeil told the hearing into the Bill that there is growing evidence worldwide that abortion has significant health risks, at least as great as those which are now being recognised in the case of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
“We are asking a child to make a decision about a medical procedure which can have profoundly adverse effects, when she is not of sufficient maturity to do so, even if she is advised of the possible consequences.”
The situation is made even worse by the Privacy Act. Mr McNeil said Maxim was aware of a case where a young high school girl told the school counsellor of her pregnancy. The counsellor whipped her off for an abortion, and then allowed the girl to attend a gymnasium session in PE the same afternoon.
“The PE teacher was furious when she finally found out, but the counsellor said the girl’s right to privacy came first,” Mr McNeil said. “This is madness, when the girl could have suffered serious harm.
“If she had, the parents would have probably been kept in the dark, while still being held responsible for her care.
“Not only that, but men who are getting under-age girls pregnant are often getting off scot-free, because of the girl’s ‘right’ to privacy.”
A major construction company goes to the wall threatening the livelihoods of 1000,s of workers and subcontractors,
Quick start a distraction, hence Slippery the Prime Minister blathering on about a 4 year electoral cycle,
See nothing hear nothing do nothing that’s the Slippery lead National Government, 2014 cannot come quick enough to get rid of this Shyster and the incompetents that surround Him…
Can anyone put together a reciprocal video of Key’s shocking diction, mispronunciations, the idiot comments and stupid/nasty actions – the three way handshake and the cut-throat gesture towards Phil Goff spring to mind.
Suggested musical back-ground – Handel-Adagio Movement 4.
Rather astounded at just having seen an item on Positive Money on “Seven Sharp”. Just caught the end of it; I guess it will be viewable at 8pm on TV1 plus One. In case anyone is interested. They were explaining how money came out of nowhere. I thought that was sacrilege for mainstream. Seems I was wrong.
Would be interested to hear your opinion if you can catch it. I think it must have been the first item. One of the guys on it said something odd in the summary of the story, but only caught last part of it, so will watch it again myself!
Given that the Government debt left for the next Government to come to terms with by the Slippery lead National Government will be well over 60 billion dollars by the time they are given the kick in 2014 maybe TV1 is preparing those that are mostly asleep in charge of their own minds for the inevitable…
LOLZ, TV1 after 7 telling the truth about where money comes from has me thinking that that particular program will not be with us for very much longer,
Their Lordships of the banking world aint going to like having their little scam broadcast for all to see across the nation at a time when most of them are at least half awake,
They are of course correct, as many of us here at the Standard have been banging on about endlessly for months any Government is quite capable of creating money just as the banks do, type a set of numbers into the computer and hey presto you have MONEY,
After7 points out that any Government contribution to the Christchurch rebuild could,(and i say should) have been via money it had printed for it’s own use,
State Housing could be built by the 1000 by the 10,000 by the 100,000 by Government simply printing the monies needed to build such,
There’s a simple codicil to this and that is any monies spent into the economy by printing extra amounts of the stuff need be spent into that economy so as to give full regard to the Reserve Bank’s inflation targets band,
Of course i don’t expect the primitive band of chimps in control of the place at the moment to do any such thing even tho they were advised just after the 2008 election by no less than the IMF to do just that…
“..has me thinking that that particular program will not be with us for very much longer, ~bad12
Lol, had similar thoughts myself, or rather, that “the magazine style news show” appears to have become a case of the worm that turned….not what I would have expected anyway!
I was a bit stunned they made no mention of the bank having to have a certain amount of assets in order to loan that money. That is the point usually raised in discussions on whether a bank prints money out of thin air or not.
And the comment Greg Boyd made re confidence; banks’ll never collapse because we kiwis always want houses…that seemed odd. Is it my imagination or is that what did occur and continues to occur? i.e. Global Financial Crisis….& the only reason it hasn’t is ..well….because….someone, somewhere is “printing” lotsa money aswel as perhaps false confidence in US dollars due to the military&oil industry demanding these products get paid in US dollars?
Last count if my memory serves me correctly is that 184 billion dollars of private bank loans are on the books of New Zealand banks,
There is an expectation that Banks have a certain amount of cash on hand but that cash’s relationship to the amount of monies on loan to private interests isn’t as far as i can ascertain any relevant % of such monies and seems more an at the Government’s whim type regulation, there was talk a while ago of both increasing this and increasing the amount of cash Joe Lunchbox needed to put up as a deposit so as to get His/Her hands on the en-pixie-lated prize of the big loan,
the whole system of course is in fact one of insanity simply allowing the Banking System to f**k off with a large part of the production of New Zealand that’s been paid out as wages of the serfs enamored of the ownership model and willing to do anything, including rob their own mother’s, to get on the ladder…
There is an expectation that Banks have a certain amount of cash on hand but that cash’s relationship to the amount of monies on loan to private interests isn’t as far as i can ascertain any relevant % of such monies
The only actual “cash on hand” a bank might hold is in the form of “loan loss reserves” to cover bad loans. I don’t think this is a formal requirement in NZ anyway.
Usually banks are cheapskates and assume that they can cover all of their reserve requirements with short term funding from the money markets. (In NZ because of the CFR they can’t do that as much).
Which is why during the GFC, when banks didn’t trust each another enough to loan each other even overnight monies, the whole system of debts covering debts covering debts ground to a halt.
Remember the cardinal rule which few people understand in banking – banks will lend out money first, then look for any reserves that they need to cover those loans, later.
The wider public is cottoning onto the worlds largest ever ponzi scheme scam which is banking.
It’s slow though. It is surprising how many don’t know about this though – even multi-multi-millionaires I have regaled with this scam don’t know about it.
Time is up mr banker. And you know it. I am sure you will be making preparations right now, whilst at the same time telling your customers that everything is fine.
” It is surprising how many don’t know about this though”~vto
Yes, this is why I am rather amazed and impressed that “Seven Sharp” had that little item on. It was easy to understand and actually appeared to be informative without the need to have the little scathing comment at the end of it, which I’ve noticed often occurs when out of the ordinary or “less than mediocre information” is being imparted.
What was very interesting too, is that they had a Raf Manji on who was introduced as a “former London banker and former colleague of John Key”. Who was advocating that the Government “print” money for the Chch rebuild because then interest would not be required to be paid for the “loan”.
My opinion is that if the media imparted more information like this New Zealand would become a more informed people and circumstances would improve.
Don’t know if it was because Waitangi Day fell on a Wednesday, but from observation it appears to me that this was the least observed holiday, so many people I have come across at work today worked yesterday. be it a few hours ( like me) or a full day, as if it was just a normal Wednesday. And these people have no connection with the MOE, schools or nopay
I just looked at the link Outofbed provided. Lolz I see what you mean CV, perhaps they could simply go for a tiled wallpaper of Mr Shearer in the background too? 😀
I don’t know why they bother with their PR companies, um have they got one? …Well, if they have, which they don’t appear to, (or perhaps its one that specializes in promoting farm animals?) they should perhaps fire them and just read the Standard instead. Plenty of good advice here. heh.
I don’t know why they bother with their PR companies, um have they got one?
I doubt it. Their Head Office in Wellington is run on a shoe string. Partly their own fault. If the parliamentary wing stopped playing silly buggers with the membership, we might resume out donations.
if the plan is to repeat the feat in the future, the shots next time should be with a round-neck plain t-shirt so that the reverse picture will not look so jarring
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Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nzHow much does our use of air travel contribute to the ...
Minor planet/asteroid (2309) Mr. Spock is named not for the character in Star Trek, but for a cat that was itself imperturbable, logical, intelligent and had pointed ears. In a preceding blog post I introduced one of my favourite asteroids, (2472) Bradman, and also mentioned (6581) Sobers amongst a few ...
Today the death toll from measles in Samoa rose to 32. All but four of the dead were less than 5 years old. Absolutely terrible, heartbreaking, news. That statistic alone should be enough to give the lie to the common claim by antivaccination activists plague enthusiasts that “measles is a ...
by Gearóid Ó Loingsigh It is late here in Bogotá, almost 11.30pm on Monday the 25th of November as I write this. The day began full of hope with yet more massive marches throughout the country, a mix of the International Day of Non-Violence Against Women and the National Strike. ...
Anti-fluoride activists are rubbing their hands in glee over what they claim is “yet another study” showing fluoride harms the brains of children. But their promotion relies on IQ relationships which the paper’s authors acknowledge disappearing when outliers or other factors are considered. And they completely ignore other relationships ...
The feature below is the conclusion of A History of Economic Thought, whose author was a leading Marxist economist in Russia in the early 20th century, Isaac Ilyich Rubin. The book arose from a course he ran at Moscow University following the Russian Revolution. First published in Russian in 1929, ...
There are many thousands of asteroids with formal names, some humdrum but other more noteworthy (depending on your predilections). One of my favourites, the name of which I was involved in suggesting, is (2472) Bradman, named for the Australian cricketing great. As a minor planet (synonym: asteroid) spotter, I have ...
Tory manifesto: big on austerity, low on promise, non-existent on delivery. The Tories: the party so big on ambition they couldn't be arsed writing a manifesto. MLK: "I have a dream!"BJ: "I'll just have a nap." Labour: Broadband!Tories: Narrow minds! Labour have hope, dreams and ambition. The Tories will save ...
The Ministry of Health has announced that “people under the age of 50 travelling from New Zealand to Samoa, Tonga, Philippines and Fiji” are now on the list of national priorities for MMR vaccination. Given the outbreaks of measles in Samoa, Tonga, Philippines and Fiji, the Ministry of Health is ...
Hong Kong has been protesting for six months for, demanding democracy, human rights, and an end to police violence. Today, they went to the polls in district council elections - a low-level of government with virtually no power, similar to community boards in New Zealand. But while the positions themselves ...
Text and photos by Gearóid Ó Loingsigh On Friday 22nd of November a curfew came into effect and troops were deployed on the streets, here in Bogota. It was the first time since September 1977 that a curfew had been imposed on the city. The decision was a cynical pre-planned ...
Meanwhile, while the government is planning to restore voting rights to prisoners, National is promising to turn our prisons into US-style slave-labour camps:The Opposition is proposing compulsory education, training or employment for prisoners who are serving sentences of two years or more. [...] On Sunday, National Party Leader Simon Bridges ...
Excerpts from Being and Being Bought, by Kajsa Ekis Ekman Spinifex Press, 2013. Ekman, a Swedish journalist and critic, brings together a Marxist and feminist analysis of prostitution and surrogacy in this groundbreaking book. This is the second part of a synopsis and brief commentary of the book by Daphna ...
Dalmeet Singh ChawlaIn 2008, psychologists proposed that when humans are shown an unfamiliar face, they judge it on two main dimensions: trustworthiness and physical strength. These form the basis of first impressions, which may help people make important social decisions, from who to vote for to how long a ...
Claas Kirchhelle, University of Oxford; Adam Roberts, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, and Andrew Singer, Centre for Ecology & HydrologyAntibiotics are among the most important medicines known to humankind, but we are running out of this crucial resource. Decisive action is needed if we are to retain access to ...
Things That Make You Go - Hmmmm: “All right. Let me come at this another way. I’m guessing that what you’ve got in that box contains names, dates, bank account numbers – all the details you need to put Winston Peters and Jacinda Ardern squarely in the cross-hairs. So, the first ...
A new defence report has mapped out how New Zealand's soldiers will navigate rising seas, and a year after the Defence Force announced its need to prepare for climate change. In the “Responding to the Climate Crisis” report, the Force restates its operational plan and sets goals to tackle climate ...
Mark Patterson, Spokesperson for Primary Industries New Zealand First spokesperson for Primary Industries, Mark Patterson, has called for awareness to be raised and more stringent biosecurity checks to be put in place for African Swine Fever (ASF), a widespread virus that is uncontrolled in most of Asia and a serious ...
Jenny Marcroft MP, Spokesperson for Human Rights A critical step has been taken to end gender based violence against women and girls in Parliament this evening. New Zealand First Spokesperson for Human Rights Jenny Marcroft MP has welcomed the passing of the first reading of the Crimes (Definition of Female ...
New Zealand First MP Shane Jones says it's time to recognise market forces haven't led to the expected reduction in Māori smoking rates and try a new approach. The Party had recently invoked the agree to disagree clause in their Coalition Agreement with the Labour Party, and will not support ...
Live from the Whanganui Opera House, on the final day of the 2019 Labour Party Conference, Jacinda Ardern announced the largest investment in school property in 25 years. ...
The Coalition Government will be banning foreign donations to political parties and candidates, ahead of next year’s general elections. Legislation will be introduced to Parliament and passed under urgency – emphasising the need for such restrictions to safeguard our democracy. The bill introduces a new requirement that party secretaries and ...
Associate Transport Minister Shane Jones opened Taipā's $19 million bridge recently, improving transport infrastructure in the Northland region. The two-lane bridge is 107m long with a 2.5m-wide shared walking and cycling path, and will reduce the congestion that the old one-lane bridge was notorious for. The project had also included ...
The Overseas Investment Office have rejected the application of Mercury Agriculture LP, which is 92 per cent controlled by Canadian interests, to purchase more than 2000 hectares of South Canterbury and Otago land. Mercury wanted to buy 2000ha at Rangitata, 1494ha near Ashburton, 816ha near Cromwell and 212ha near Temuka. ...
This weekend was Labour's 103rd Party Conference! We welcomed over 500 of our Labour whānau in red to Whanganui, where we reflected on the last two years in Government, and looked ahead to 2020 and beyond. We know the long-term challenges facing New Zealand won't be tackled overnight, but we're making ...
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced that the Provincial Growth Fund will invest $9.6 million to seal the final unsealed section of State Highway 43 from Stratford to Taumarunui. The Minister said sealing the 12-kilometre gravel section of the highway – also called the “Forgotten World Highway” - through ...
Former Finance Minister and former chair of the Tax Working Group, Sir Michael Cullen, has voiced his support for New Zealand First’s decision to oppose the planned increase in tobacco excise tax. In an interview with The Weekend Collective, he said that increasing the price was no longer effective in ...
Māori are natural storytellers. On the marae we use stories to tell our history, to teach the next generation life lessons and to let people know, in our most creative of ways, who we are and where we have come from. ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, New Zealand First Leader New Zealand First has invoked the ‘Agree to Disagree’ provisions of the Coalition Agreement because it cannot support the announced 11.46 percent increase in the tobacco excise from 1 January 2020. “Studies show that the automatic tobacco excise increases are having less effect ...
Taupō-based company Geo40 has made a breakthrough in extracting near battery-grade lithium from geothermal fluid which its says could be a gamechanger. Its chief executive John Worth said the earth mineral was highly prized, with battery-grade lithium selling for US$10,000 (NZ$15,600) a tonne. Geo40 was founded in 2010 to find ...
Crown research institute AgResearch Ltd, as part of its Future Footprint plan, had intended to relocate top scientists and support staff — particularly those focused on sheep genetics and genomics — from Invermay to Lincoln. However, those plans seem to have been shelved at the request of the Coalition Government. ...
Ten engineering firms in Southland are receiving a total of $2.13 million in Provincial Growth Fund funding to lift productivity and create new jobs. Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced in Invercargill that the 10 engineering and manufacturing firms would receive funding to assist them with buying equipment that ...
The number of new residents to New Zealand is the lowest it has been in nearly two decades and it has earned the ire of the immigration industry. The industry alleges that 'Trump-style extreme vetting' is being put in place aimed at keeping a lid on immigration numbers. June Ranson, ...
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is one step closer to modernising its fleet after the United States State Department recently approved the sale of five new C-130J Hercules aircraft to New Zealand. Arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin, in Fort Worth, Texas, will provide the aircraft, but as a "foreign military ...
Forestry Minister Shane Jones wants to create a log barging facility at Hicks Bay and turn the area into a Special Economic Zone. The move would be part of protecting New Zealand's forests from being depleted by India and China, he said. It follows his announcement last week to strengthen ...
New Zealand First supports the changes recommended by the Winter Grazing Taskforce to improve animal welfare outcomes through the winter months, and the establishment of a pan-sector action group to implement them. New Zealand First Primary Industries Spokesperson Mark Patterson says the report highlights areas of concern about the animal ...
Former prime ministers Helen Clark and Sir John Key, formerly from the Labour and National parties respectively, have joined forces in support of New Zealand First’s plan to relocate Auckland's port to Whangārei. While Ms Clark and Sir John spent their political careers on opposite sides of the political divide, ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is in Japan for the Foreign Ministers' meeting of the G20 grouping of countries as one of nine "invited" countries. He has used the opportunity to cast a spotlight on the plight of Pacific countries, calling out countries which still offered subsidies or Government assistance to ...
It's been a great week of progress: we've celebrated Children's Day, we've made communities safer with 1800 new police, and we've seen almost 90% of eligible schools take up Government funding to scrap school donations - taking pressure off the families of more than 416,000 students. ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister of Forestry The Government will further strengthen New Zealand’s wood processing sector as part of our focus on ‘value over volume’ in our forestry industry, Forestry Minister Shane Jones says. Minister Jones will today meet with forestry representatives in Northland to signal new measures to help the ...
New Zealand First are celebrating the announcement of an investment of $3.5 million into five new trapping devices. These are a range of bait and trap devices, all designed to be left unattended for long periods of time. NZ First conservation spokesperson Jenny Marcroft says that this latest development will ...
Darroch Ball, Spokesperson for Police New Zealand First is proud to have delivered on a key Coalition Agreement commitment to adding 1800 new frontline police, with the graduation of Recruit Wing 332 in Porirua today. Law and Order Spokesperson Darroch Ball says increasing police numbers and boosting their resources was one ...
Jenny Marcroft, Spokesperson for Conservation New Zealand First is proud to announce the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) has allocated $3.5 million to develop innovative predator control approaches which will reduce the need for repeated 1080 use. $19.5 million of PGF funding was announced for Predator Free 2050 Limited in February ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has welcomed the first reading of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation 2021 (APEC 2021) Bill in Parliament today. The temporary bill supports New Zealand’s security preparations for hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum ...
Clayton Mitchell, Spokesperson for Consumer Affairs The ‘wheel clamping’ Bill that will cap clamper fees to $100 passed its third readinginParliament today. New Zealand First welcomes The Land Transport (Wheel Clamping) Amendment Bill to combat predatory wheel clamping behaviour in what is currently a largely unregulated business. Cowboy clampers are: gouging ...
Jenny Marcroft, Spokesperson for Health New Zealand First welcomes the passage of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Bill through its first reading in Parliament. “Today’s progress takes serious action on the mental health and addiction crisis the country is facing,” says New Zealand First Health Spokesperson Jenny Marcroft. “The re-establishment ...
The Government will fund the bulk of the cost of a rural water supply for the Ohakea community affected by PFAS contamination, Environment Minister David Parker announced today at a meeting of local residents. This new water scheme will provide a reliable and clean source of drinking water to the ...
I have had the opportunity to be briefed on the details of the volcanic eruption of Whakaari/White Island, off the coast of Whakatane in the Bay of Plenty. The eruption happened at 2.11pm today. It continues to be an evolving situation. We know that there were a number of tourists ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Minister of Civil Defence Peeni Henare have today confirmed initial Government support of $100,000 for communities affected by the severe weather that swept across the South Island and lower North Island over the weekend. The contribution will be made to Mayoral relief funds across the ...
New Zealand's High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, Tessa Temata, died in Palmerston North over the weekend, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said today. Ms Temata, 52, had recently returned to New Zealand for medical treatment. "On behalf of the Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, we extend ...
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today announced construction is underway on Wellington commuter rail upgrades which will mean more frequent services and fewer breakdowns. The upgrades include converting the Trentham to Upper Hutt single track section to a double track, with a new signalling system, upgraded stations and level crossings, and ...
Minister of Defence Ron Mark and Minister for Climate Change James Shaw have announced the release of a Defence Climate Change Implementation Work Plan, titled Responding to the Climate Crisis: An Implementation Plan. The plan sets out a series of recommendations based on the 2018 New Zealand Defence Assessment, The ...
A medium-scale adverse event has been declared for the South Canterbury district, which will see up to $50,000 in funding made available to support farming communities which have been significantly affected by recent heavy rain and flooding in the area, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. “Two weeks of solid rain ...
Thank you Professor Juliet Gerrard and your team for the comprehensive and extremely helpful report and recommendations. Thank you too to all the stakeholders and interested parties who have contributed ideas and thinking to it. “Making best practice, standard practice” is a great framework for change and the action plan ...
The Government will phase out more single-use plastics following the success of its single-use plastic bag ban earlier this year and the release today of a pivotal report for dealing with waste. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has welcomed the Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealandreport, released by her Chief Science Advisor ...
International education continues to thrive as the Government focuses on quality over quantity, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said. The tuition revenue from international education increased to $1.16 billion last year with the average tuition fee per student increasing by $960. The total number of international students enrolled in New Zealand ...
Health Minister Dr David Clark says new appointments to DHBs represent a significant changing of the guard, with 13 new chairs including four Māori chairs. Today 76 appointments have been announced to complement elected board members, as well as eight elected members appointed as either chair or deputy chair. Four ...
Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Fletcher Tabuteau, is travelling to Germany, Poland, Austria, and Spain next week to bolster New Zealand’s political and trade relationships in Europe. While in Spain, Mr Tabuteau will represent New Zealand at the 14th Asia-Europe (ASEM) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Madrid. “New Zealand strongly supports ...
“I’ve spoken to Minister Faafoi, who has apologised for his poor handling of this issue,” Jacinda Ardern said. “I have confidence in Kris as a hardworking and effective Minister, but this should have been dealt with in a much clearer manner, and I’ve made my views on that very clear ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters met with Tongan Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa in Wellington today. The pair signed a Statement of Partnership setting out joint priorities for cooperation out to 2023. “We welcomed Prime Minister Tu'i'onetoa on his first visit to New Zealand as Prime Minister. Tonga ...
The Minister of Police Stuart Nash says his sympathies are with the family of a man who died after being shot by Police in Kurow. “Initial reports are that Police were called by a family member to help the man who was threatening to harm himself,” Mr Nash says. “However ...
Ethnic communities will be able to plan and deliver more community initiatives thanks to an increase in Government funding, Minister for Ethnic Communities Hon Jenny Salesa said today. “Ensuring Aotearoa New Zealand is a place we can all be proud to call home has been a key priority of our ...
Healthier waterways, better productivity and farmer wellbeing are front and centre in a new project involving more than 1000 Southland farmers and growers. Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor today announced that the Thriving Southland Change and Innovation Project is the first region-wide extension programme supported by the $229 million Sustainable ...
Work to look after nature and restore freshwater quality in Te Hoiere/Pelorus River catchment is getting a significant boost, thanks to new Government funding support Minister for Conservation Eugenie Sage announced in Canvastown today. “Every New Zealander should be able to swim in their local river without getting sick, and ...
Eight Queen’s Counsel have been appointed under a process that includes the new criterion of a commitment to improving access to justice, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. “The new criterion was included this year. It emphasises that excellence and leadership in the profession can be seen through a wider, community ...
Onslow College in Wellington will get 20 new classrooms for more than 400 students, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. The much-needed investment will relieve growth pressure the school has been experiencing for some time. Seven existing classrooms which have deteriorated over time will also be replaced, bringing the total ...
More than 250 young New Zealanders will add international experience to their education, thanks to the latest Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia (PMSA) and Latin America (PMSLA), Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. This round of scholarships supports 252 recent graduates or current students to undertake study, research or internships ...
Consumers will benefit from a more competitive, transparent retail fuel market as a result of changes the Government will be making in response to the findings of the Commerce Commission’s study of the fuel sector. “We accept the Commission’s findings and, as the Prime Minister has said, we’re ready to ...
Five new cancer medicines have now been funded this year, meaning thousands of people have more treatment options PHARMAC has today announced that it has approved two new medicines for funding – fulvestrant for breast cancer and olaparib for ovarian cancer. This follows earlier decisions on advanced lung cancer treatment alectinib, ...
The Minister of Local Government, Hon Nanaia Mahuta says the Government will consider making changes to local electoral legislation before the 2022 elections to fix the problems that have arisen where elections are settled by a coin toss. The Minister says the recount process in the Murupara- Galatea ward at ...
New Zealand will sign up to new international maritime regulations to reduce ship emissions and lift air quality around ports and harbours, Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter announced today. Subject to completion of the Parliamentary treaty examination process, New Zealand will sign up to Annex VI of MARPOL, an ...
New legislation to transform our urban areas and create sustainable, inclusive and thriving communities will tomorrow be introduced to Parliament, Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford said. “The Urban Development Bill gives Kāinga Ora-Homes and Communities the tools it needs to partner with councils, communities, mana whenua and private developers to ...
Today’s launch of He taonga te Tamaiti: Every child a taonga: The Early Learning Action Plan 2019-2029 provides the foundation for long-lasting changes to early learning, Education Minister Chris Hipkins says. “Early learning will be one of the Government’s top education priorities going into 2020,” Chris Hipkins said. ...
Major decisions made by the Government will now be considered under a climate change lens, Minister for Climate Change James Shaw announced today. “Cabinet routinely considers the effects of its decisions on human rights, the Treaty of Waitangi, rural communities, the disability community, and gender – now climate change will ...
Education Minister Chris Hipkins today announced the appointment of Māori education specialist Dr Wayne Ngata and Business NZ head Kirk Hope to the Board of the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). Dr Alastair MacCormick has been reappointed for another term. “Wayne Ngata, Kirk Hope and Alastair MacCormick bring a great deal ...
The next phase of the Pike River Re-entry project is underway, Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry Andrew Little says. “Fresh air will be pumped into the Pike River Mine drift this week, following acceptance of the plan for re-entry beyond the 170m barrier by New Zealand’s independent health and ...
New Zealand consumers will have greater certainty about their insurance cover when they need to make claims as a result of proposed government changes. “Insurance is vitally important in supporting consumers and businesses to be financially resilient when unexpected events happen,” Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Kris Faafoi said. ...
The Crown is providing an opportunity for the hapu of Ngāpuhi to rebuild its framework from the ground up for collective negotiations to deal with its historical Treaty claims, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little and Minister for Māori Development Nanaia Mahuta announced today. The Crown is also ...
A Bill enabling referendums to be held with the 2020 General Election has passed its third reading. Justice Minister Andrew Little says the Act is important for upholding the integrity of New Zealand’s electoral process. “The Government has committed to holding a referendum on legalising recreational cannabis at the next ...
The first release of public information on the two referendums to be held at next year’s General Election was made today with an informative new Government website going live. Additionally, the draft Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill has been released, showing the strict controls on cannabis that will apply if ...
The Government is taking action to protect New Zealand from foreign interference in our elections by banning foreign donations to political parties and candidates, Justice Minister Andrew Little announced today. Legislation will be introduced to Parliament this afternoon and passed under urgency. “There’s no need for anyone other than New ...
Governments and tech companies are holding a two-day workshop, hosted by YouTube/Google in Wellington, to test the Christchurch Call Shared Crisis Response Protocol. The workshop aims to refine and strengthen the response in the event of a terrorist attack with online implications. Companies, governments, civil society experts and NGOs will ...
The new independent Cancer Control Agency has formally opened today, delivering on the Government’s plan to improve cancer care in New Zealand. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Minister of Health David Clark marked the occasion by announcing the membership of the Advisory Council that will be supporting ...
Small businesses who deal with government departments are set to be paid faster and have improved cash flow as a result, under a new strategy released today. The Government is backing recommendations from the Small Business Council (SBC) and has agreed to implement three initiatives immediately to support business and ...
The Education and Training Bill 2019, introduced in Parliament today, proposes the biggest education changes in decades and is an important step towards improving success for all our learners, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said. “The Bill’s rewrite of education legislation is long overdue. Indeed one Education Act, parts of which ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio will travel to Bali to represent New Zealand at the 12th Bali Democracy Forum that will be held on the 5-6 December. “The Forum is a valuable opportunity for Asia-Pacific countries to share experiences and best practice in building home-grown democracy and fostering ...
Welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Death toll from Whakaari eruption likely to rise, cabinet agrees Auckland port must move, and expensive Christchurch stadium details released.A tragic death toll from the eruption of Whakaari/White Island is likely to rise. The number of those killed is currently five at the time ...
Aerial reconnaissance missions have flown over Whakaari-White Island since the eruption on Monday afternoon and there are no signs of any survivors, police say. ...
The world number one in long drive golf, Kiwi Phillis Meti, wants to see equal pay for women, and more Maori and Polynesian girls striking the ball ...
How can we protect our privacy online in the face of increasingly clever marketing and retailing ploys? Victoria University of Wellington's Dr Marcin Betkier has some thoughts. ...
The British people have a chance to stop the new age of hostility and belligerence before it is fully unleashed in the country's most significant election in 40 years, writes Neal Curtis. ...
Commercial media, a business that requires public trust and goodwill, is in a tough financial position right now. Gaurav Sharma says that’s in part because of its poor job of reaching immigrant communities, in the first of a new monthly column for The Spinoff.Let’s start with a test, about references ...
We don’t normally see these eruptions coming, no matter how much we would like to. Many systems are already ‘primed’ for such events, but the triggers are poorly understood, writes Shane Cronin of the University of Auckland.As of Monday night five people have been confirmed dead, 18 had been rescued ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shane Cronin, Professor of Earth Sciences, University of Auckland Five people have been confirmed dead, 23 have been rescued and several remain unaccounted for after a sudden volcanic eruption on Whakaari/White Island off the east coast of New Zealand. The island is ...
One person is dead, 23 have been rescued and potentially two dozen people are unaccounted for on Whakaari/White Island, after it erupted on Monday. ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters are to be commended for their leadership on the Upper North Island port issue, Waterfront 2029 Spokesperson Michael Goldwater said today. The Prime Minister today announced that ...
In partnership with the JR McKenzie Trust and University of Otago, Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft has today released the annual Child Poverty Monitor at childpoverty.org.nz which shows more bold and sustainable action is needed. ...
Today’s child poverty figures , revealing that nearly 150,000 children are living in material hardship in New Zealand, show the need for tax relief says the Taxpayers’ Union . ...
Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) welcomes the 2019 Child Poverty Monitor report , and says more can be done to help families who have need of welfare assistance. ...
A rescue operation is under way on Whakaari/White Island in the Bay of Plenty, with reports of up to 20 people injured, some critical.What’s going on?Whakaari/White Island, New Zealand’s most active cone volcano, located 48km off the eastern coast of the Bay of Plenty, is erupting. Large plumes of steam ...
Auckland bus operators are enraged at the inconvenience to passengers affected by continued bus driver strike action. Even those operators not directly affected by strikes are appalled at the behaviour of First Union and Tramways Union and their ...
The publication of the Child Poverty Monitor 2019, released today, is a reminder of the need to accelerate efforts to lift our children / tamariki out of poverty. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniela Kaleva, Associate Head Research and Scholarship, Australian Institute of Music Review: Farnace, composed by Vivaldi, Pinchgut Opera When a performance of Farnace was cancelled at the theatre of Ferrara after the artistic failure of Vivaldi’s opera Siroe re di Persia in ...
OPINION: In the fifth part of the series with our partners at Flick Electric Co to help you make better energy choices, Flick’s Nikki Cockburn breaks down the sources of our electricity.So we know that regardless of which power company we’re with, the electricity we use is at the mercy ...
The recent accident near Kaikoura, where two Malaysian children and their parents were killed in a head-on collision with a truck, was easily preventable, says the car review website dogandlemon.com . ...
Former Auditor-General Martin Matthews is petitioning Parliament to reopen his case, claiming MPs "held a gun to his head" to force his resignation. ...
Auckland Council recently announced a citywide food scrap collection scheme that will be kicking off in 2021. Most of us already know the main gist of composting, but what’s happening to this waste? What will I have to pay? And can I opt out if I don’t need it?New Zealanders ...
Central and local government, including Auckland Council, have been debating the future of the Ports of Auckland but there seems to be something missing in the debate - how much more greenhouse gases will Aotearoa emit if we move the port from the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Humphery-Jenner, Associate Professor of Finance, UNSW Westpac can expect a bumper turnout of shareholders at its annual general meeting in Sydney on Thursday, many of them angry at its alleged role in facilitating child exploitation in the Philippines, its 23 million ...
More than a billion dollars has wiped off the value of New Zealand's biggest company this morning following the surprise resignation of A2 Milk's chief executive. ...
Cindy Baxter is at COP25 – her 17th climate change conference – and for the first time, New Zealand is one of the good guys. But are we?As we head into the second week of the climate talks in Madrid, I’ve been reflecting over the first week, and the strange ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David King, Senior Lecturer, The University of Queensland Growing up, no one ever gave me the rundown on how or what I should do to keep my penis clean […] I’ve never read any reliable answer beyond washing it with water. ...
You’ve probably never heard of him, but an artist called Cavetown is coming to Auckland in January for a show that’s already sold out. We explain where he came from, how this happened, and why you should be listening.What, pray tell, is a Cavetown?Cavetown is the stage name of Robin ...
Three glaze recipes to take your festive feast from ho-hum to ham-azing.In the middle of November, my aunt suggested in our family WhatsApp group that Christmas lunch should go meat-free in acknowledgement of climate change. I froze at my desk where I’d taken a moment to procrastinate. While I support ...
The Climate Change Minister James Shaw says he is hopeful the final hurdles can be cleared for fixing the final rules of Paris Agreement before it kicks in next year. ...
"Youllbefine, Rockmaster, Cossack Warrior and now Valtteri are the four horses who have been killed on New Zealand race tracks in just three weeks" said Frances Baker, Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) spokesperson. ...
Former finance minister Steve Joyce says an NBR journalist told him its columnist Matthew Hooton had ‘gone completely troppo’ in a column about to be published by the business website about the MP. ...
A truly ambitious solution would keep jobs in Southland, delivering on the promise of the Zero Carbon Act to make NZ all but carbon neutral by 2050, writes Nicola Gaston in a post co-authored with Sally Brooker, Justin Hodgkiss and David Williams of The MacDiarmid Institute.Tiwai Point is in the ...
The housing market is heating up ahead of the holidays, with positive signs of growth, according to ASB's latest quarterly housing confidence survey. ...
The New Zealand Maori Council has called the latest childhood poverty statistics released by the Children’s Commissioner as appalling for a first world nation and has called upon the Government to do more. Matthew Tukaki, the Councils Executive ...
The next phase in the Democrats’ plan to impeach US President Donald Trump begins at 9am Monday morning Washington DC when the House judiciary committee meets to consider a report from the intelligence committee – and hear academic argument on the way forward. The judiciary committee is expected to draft ...
It’s been a Sunday morning staple for Kiwi kids for decades, but What Now may be facing new challenges in the era of social media. New Zealand children’s show What Now has utilised many different ways of engaging with its young audience over the past 38 years. Whether it was getting ...
New Zealand Police has taken delivery of three Armoured Special Purpose Vehicles. The vehicles are unmarked and look like standard Toyota Land cruisers. ...
Polystyrene meat trays, cups and takeaway food containers are the next targets in the battle to phase out single-use plastics, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced. ...
All workers contracted by InterGroup to carry out street cleaning and litter control for Hutt City Council are now receiving the living wage as a minimum. ...
Kris Faafoi apologises to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, does not offer to resign; and Government moves to ban plastic fruit stickers, cutlery, and cotton buds. ...
We may be called fuckwits. We may be called idiots. But the optimism keeps on, writes Chris Cessford.As spring lurches into summer, Wellington wakes up to another day of a crazy-making gusty northerly gale. Or, as we cyclists in the southern suburbs call it, a head wind.I fasten my helmet ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Kewley, Director, ARC Centre for Excellence in All-Sky Astrophysics in 3D, Australian National University Australian astronomy punches well above its weight, in terms of the research it leads and the facilities it houses. We have made remarkable discoveries in the past ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vicki Lowik, PhD candidate, CQUniversity Australia This article is the first in a series exploring gender and Christianity. Jane* was a member of Australia’s evangelical Christian community, and throughout her marriage she heard many sermons on honouring a husband’s authority. These sermons ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yousuf Mohammed, Dermatology researcher, The University of Queensland If you’ve ever Googled the causes of a skin complaint or damaged hair, chances are someone on the internet has pointed the finger at SLS, or sodium lauryl (or laureth) sulfate, a common ingredient ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Nelson, Associate Professor of Economics, Griffith University Household electricity bills in Australia have increased sharply in the past decade. But new official figures show they are projected to fall markedly – in some cases by 20%. In-house modelling we conducted at ...
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Open mike 07/02/2013 
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TOTALITARIANISM NEWS
The state-led persecution of Assange continues
From a Sydney Morning Herald article by Elizabeth Farrelly….
Assange notes that ”not even the most rabid or hawkish general in the Pentagon has produced evidence or even claimed that we have led to the death or harming of any person – and if we had, they most certainly would”.
As to ”facing the music”, everything hinges on the genuineness of the case and the probability of a fair trial.
Here, it’s critical how far the two simultaneous cases – of ”rape” in Sweden and of illegal publishing in the US – are in fact separate. If the ”rape” case is genuine, the Swedish government should have no problem (a) sending the prosecutor to interview Assange in London, as repeatedly invited, (b) if necessary, charging him here and (c) guaranteeing against his extradition to the United States.
The Australian government should be strenuously advocating to this end. In fact, both governments have not only refused such guarantees but have actively maligned Assange in a way that diminishes his chance of fair trial in either country. The Swedish prosecutor has said Assange will be seized and imprisoned – potentially in solitary, incommunicado and indefinitely – the minute he sets foot there.
The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has never retracted her public (mis)statement that Assange had committed ”an illegal act”. The Swedish Prime Minister, Frederik Reinfeldt, has never retracted his public mis-statement that Assange had been charged with rape. Why not?
Assange points out that Sweden’s is a culture of profound conformism; a population half the size of Australia’s with a language spoken (and a culture therefore scrutinised) by no one else on earth. A country that, unlike say Germany, ”never denazified” after World War II. Never pushed the reset button.
So when the Social Minister, Goran Hagglund, publicly describes Assange as ”sick … a coward … a lowlife … a pitiful wretch”, and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs tweets ”you do not dictate the terms if you are a suspect. Get it?”, the press follow suit.
Sweden’s largest-circulation daily, Dagens Nyheter, calls Assange ”paranoid” and a ”querulant”. A prominent journalist for the Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet, Martin Aagard, calls him an ”Australian pig”, linking Assange with Rupert Murdoch. ”There are many good reasons to criticise Assange. One … is that he’s a repugnant swine.”
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/held-in-a-gilded-cage-optimism-still-reigns-supreme-for-assange-20130206-2dykj.html#ixzz2K8yacMEj
heh – thought it was a wee bit random that the Assange thing has been resurrected again, but then I see in Stuff that one of the celebs who paid his bail thinks he should go back to Sweden. Oh, and that his supporters are a bit cult-like.
Bit of pre-emptive spinning, from the collective, eh?
Damn, I thought that dog was sleeping.
The article.
http://www.newstatesman.com/2013/02/jemima-khan-inside-story-how-julian-assange-alienated-his-allies
We all want a hero. After WikiLeaks released the infamous Collateral Murder video in 2010, showing US troops gunning down a dozen civilians in Iraq, I jokingly asked if Assange was the new Jason Bourne, on the run and persecuted by the state. It would be a tragedy if a man who has done so much good were to end up tolerating only disciples and unwavering devotion, more like an Australian L Ron Hubbard.
edit: Yoko gets in on the act.
http://www.digitaltrends.com/international/yoko-ono-gives-julian-assange-a-special-award-for-bravery/
The placing of the building company Mainzeal into receivership seems to have at its heart the supposed non-payment of as little as 1.2 million dollars from the parent company Richina-Pacific,
Mainzeal construction is contrary to my initial belief currently fulfilling contract work in Christchurch and it appears that such work was guaranteed into the future,
It appears that the Bank(s) that are owed 20 million dollars by Mainzeal construction did not instigate the receivership of Mainzeal,
Into the picture comes ex-National Party Leader Jenni Shitly who as Chairman of Mainzeal’s board of directors approached the Bank(s) to have the company She sits at the head of placed into receivership,
Who would have thunk it…
Very interesting bad12. The same Shitly, as you so aptly call her, is I’m sure also on the Board of Fletcher’s AND she is of course on the Christchurch re-building Committee. Someone needs to take a good look at all of that old trougher’s activities and what vested interests she has.
I am still trying to get a complete view of the occurrences surrounding Shitly’s role in the receivership of Mainzeal Construction,
It appears that there has been an attempt to remove Her as a director of at least one board of Directors connected with the Mainzeal Group of companies,
It also appears that Shitly and at least 3 other’s resigned as Directors from Mainzeal Construction it’self a number of months ago,
Are we looking at a Boardroom power struggle here that as a consequence has the ability to collapse up to a third of the building industry in Auckland,
People connected with the industry talking on RadioNZ as i type this comment are talking 1200 employers and employees who are unsecured creditors who will get it in the neck if Mainzeal folds completely or ‘morphs’ into a different company altogether…
Makes it easy for Shitley & co so pick it up cheaply, And then run it into the ground, and make a killing on the backs of honest workers, who are the ones who pay the price for such avarice.
That should be looked into very closely. She is known to do the underhand under the table deals for exchanges.
So let’s get this clear. The banks are quite happy with Mainzeal’s repayment plans for paying back their debt of $20 million.
But Shipely who is also a director for a competing company is winding Mainzeal up, and destroying the lives of many workers, over a debt of $1 million.
My question is: Why isn’t this woman in prison?
The Christchurch rebuild is a huge money trough.
Not really surprised it’s surrounded by a greedy pig or six dozen waiting to chomp on, are we?
I am starting to form the belief that the 1.2 or 1.8 million dollars that the RichinaPacific group was supposed to pay to Mainzeal Construction might have been to cover fees specifically to pay those directors that apparently quit the Board of Mainzeal construction some weeks/months ago???,
I fail to understand how IF Shitly and a number of others quit as Board members of MainZeal Construction a number of weeks/months ago they can then approach the BNZ to have the company placed into receivership,
Were Shitly and the other directors who quit the MainZeal Board owed directors fees and so as creditors of ‘some sort’ in a fit of pique moved to wind that company up???,
Shiply’s Prime Minister ship under a National Government was at it’s best ‘Ugly’ and is this just another case of ‘uglyness’ from the former National Party Prime Minister not giving a toss how many get damaged or how severe that damage becomes both to the workers involved and the economy it’self…
I certainly hope so, becaause it might be demonstrated that they acted against the best interests of the company and its shareholders, as directors.
But that is the question CV, were they directors when yesterday they approached the BNZ to place Mainzeal Construction into receivership,
My impression is that Shitly and at least 3 others resigned from the board of Mainzeal weeks or months ago,
The question that arises from this is did Shiply use Her profile as a former Prime Minister and Her present connections to the Slippery lead National Government to leverage the BNZ to call in the receivers,
If She was not a director of the company then the only right to demand the BNZ place Mainzeal into receivership would seem to come about by being a secured creditor or perhaps an unsecured creditor…
A link with some facts would be nice.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10863857
You call that piece of sanitized garbage ‘facts’, nice try but an absolute FAIL just like the Slippery lead National Government you support is,
Was Jenny Shitly lying to New Zealand when She appeared on my TV news last night stating that it was She that approached the BNZ to have the company put into receivership,
She appears to have major issues of conflicting interests where She is on the boards of various companies which will directly profit from the Christchurch rebuild and also a representative of the structure that is charged with allocating work and thus allocating Government funds,but, trust the Herald to not even mention such a tangled web of connections…
Is Jenny Shipley now divine?
NO, but you are still the gormless fool around here…
I know you think that this is an insult, bad12, but you might want to reflect that it is a name I have given to myself. You may like to consider that, under these circumstances, the scope for wounding me with this name is rather diminished.
Nope, it was a name that Lprent gave you and which you then took for yourself as you thought it was amusing.
You got me there. I am crushed.
How divine of you to say so, nonetheless a gormless fool you are…
Dear friends:
PLEASE COME AND HEAR UK DOCO-MAKER HARRY FEAR, & ROGER FOWLER REPORT BACK ON THEIR RECENT FACT-FINDING MISSION TO GAZA WHEN THE ISRAELI BOMBARDMENTS TOOK PLACE.
TONIGHT: 7pm at AUCK UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Room B28.
FREE SOUTH AUCKLAND BUS leaves at 6pm from the Mangere East Community Learning Centre, 372 Massey Rd (behind the Library).
Lengendary reggae band ‘Unity Pacific’ will launch their stunning version of the Kia Ora Gaza solidarity anthem: “We Are All Palestinians”
Palestinian dancers will welcome everyone. Not-to-be-missed. Bring your friends & family.
No door charge, but donations welcome.
Hosted by Students For Justice in Palestine. Organised by Kia Ora Gaza [Website: kiaoragaza.net. Email: office@kiaoragaza.net]
> Subject: Auckland event: GAZA REPORT UK documentary maker & activist HARRY FEAR
Like to go but, thought i would stay at home and watch another town in Syria being destroyed. Bought some chips … Tonight a apartment block is again destroyed.All dead… chive dips tonight .Hope those silly UN people do not spoil my entertainment Who cares? 65000 dead and counting.
New unemployment numbers out this morning, I wonder how bad they will be, and how the Nats will spin them.
true…hope Slippery has been practicing his Gangnam
On TV One News last night they had a clip of John Key’s Waitangi Day speech whine about protesters. That was immediately followed by a clip of Titewhai Harawira’s reply that the potesters weren’t the problem but bad Govt policies were the the problem. Priceless.
+1 Yes, also the comment by Peter Sharples, saying that he thought protest was perfectly o.k if people weren’t happy with something (can’t remember the exact words). I put up a comment on the Waitangi day thread re this, how the talk over referred to Key’s as a “broadside speech”. Good stuff TV1.
Heard Turei on the wireless yesterday praising Titewhai’s work as an anti violence campaigner. Guess she is willing to overlook the assault on the mental health patient under Harawira’s care.
yeah mate, its called paying your debt to society and moving on.
You, you need to keep paying, you’re not there yet.
Yet Turei is opposed to Mike Tyson coming to New Zealand on the basis of his violent past. Has he not paid his debt to society?
Refer to the extended debate here on The Std about that. My position IRCC was that he probably should have been allowed into NZ, but plenty disagreed with me.
I don’t care about Tyson. If Turei’s position is that Harawira’s assault of a highly vulnerable person under her care can be overlooked because she has been punished for it, doesn’t she have to hold the same position in relation to Tyson?
Does it need to be the same because you think the two crimes were the same, or because Turei is a computer programme which needs to generate the same result every time you press a button?
So, there are two classes of crime. One where we “move on” once the perpetrator pays his or her debt to society and one where we do not.
Interesting.
How do we decide which crimes fall into each class?
So tell me again why you think Turei needs to treat Tyson and Harawira the same? You know, before you move us on to some bullshit off track discussion.
No. I accept I am wrong. It is just sensible for a person who assaults mentally ill people under her care to be praised for her anti-violence work on the basis that the crime can be forgotten once the sentence has been served. Contemporaneously, another person who has been convicted of a violent offence and served the penalty should be vilified.
It makes perfect sense when you think about it.
Hi Ole, you can’t really say that until you have thought about it.
Is Harawira still going around in public laughing and making jokes about violent assaults of exactly the type she committed? Does she still maintain that there was nothing wrong with what she did?
Are those relevant factors in your program at all?
Does that help you imagine any other possible factors that might be computed?
You’re the only person here who can’t seem to get their head around the idea that many people make mistakes, and once they’ve repaid society, its time to let them move on. Nothing is forgotten. Maybe not even forgiven. So what’s illogical about it?
Just like a soldier who comes back from Afghanistan or Iraq and decides to become an anti-war campaigner because of what they’ve seen.
Or a drink driver who’s killed someone, coming out of jail and deciding to take a stance against drink driving because they’ve realised the harm it causes.
Or someone who has been convicted of family violence, standing up years later on TV speaking out against family violence because they’ve realised that other people need to hear their story too.
Oh, she’s repentant? That changes everything, Felix.
Oh, got a link?
Meantime:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=889385
Because in the background of every conversation with Mrs Harawira – and she is as aware of it as anyone – are the ghouls of her past. Not least her 1989 conviction for assaulting a psychiatric patient.
She says, emphatically, that she regrets nothing in her past – “No. Nothing.” If other people can’t get over it, well “that’s fine. I can accept that.”
Very good Ole, now you’re thinking. Any other differences you can think of?
Many good anti-violence workers are good because they’ve had to deal with their own violence. You obviously know shit about this gormless, so give it up eh?
Not sure what the difference you are referring to is, Felix.
I have given up. Harawira beats up the most vulnerable members of society and is unrepentant about it. I accept that there is nothing wrong with this.
I get it now Ole. You’d like Harawira to do a tearful mea culpa on Oprah. Because that would make all the difference to you.
Nope. I just want people to see her for what she is.
“Not sure what the difference you are referring to is, Felix.”
Well for a start I don’t see Harawira repeatedly and publicly cracking jokes about what she did. That’d put her in a different category of bastard I’d have thought, ymmv.
I’d also note that the quote you linked to – worrying as it may be – wasn’t actually an answer to a question about the issue you (and the herald writer) are linking it to. Not that that’s necessarily important but context is usually worth noting.
You just want people to see her for what she is – what a load of shit gormless – at least be honest ffs.
I have researched and written about Titewhai and I can fully understand her statement that she has nothing to regret in her past. I think she has a lot to be proud of – she was groomed for greatness by her grandfather and she has delivered on that, right from the time she started school. She has done more for the benefit of this country than 1000 john keys or any politician I can think of. That is what being a mana wahine means – not that you gormless would know the first thing about that.
Marty, you are going to have to explain to me what is admirable about assaulting the mentally unwell.
ah no I’m not – mainly because I am not buying into your bullshit – believe what you want – I just wanted other readers to hear a contrary view.
It is bullshit that she was convicted of assaulting a mentally ill person who she was supposed to be looking after?
Or is the bullshit something else?
Marty, is any of your writing about Titewhai online? I’d be interested to read it. I had a look on your blog but couldn’t find it.
No my writing on Titewhai is not online but was for a paper I did last year. However the interview below is illuminating even though it is from 2005.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/collections/treatyofwaitangi/audio/2533140/titewhai-harawira,-m-ori-activist
I’d ask that you notice how she handles the very, very nasty personal attacks.
Kiaora marty, that was a real treat. That degree of fearlessness is awesome. And yes I did note her handling of some pretty offensive questions.
Am probably way too late on this but No Right Turn’s take on Shearer’s “let’s all be nice” approach to Waitangi Day is spot on. Yet one more, but a pretty important, reminder about whether Shearer really is PM material.
http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2013/02/shearer-on-waitangi-day.html
Cheers Mary. Also last night on 3 News he was interviewed in regard to his view on the PM’s spazzo about “a few Maori extremists………protesters………..blah blah blah”. Shearer actually agreed that it was fine to say that…….”BUT, say it on the Marae and don’t say something like that and then go running of to your getaway plane”, or words to that effect.
Part of that rang true, that is if you’re going to say something challenging don’t drop it and then run, stay to back it up, however the worse bit was that he seemed to agree that it was ok or even right to say it in the first place. I really don’t know where this guy is coming from.
Apologies for repitition but if we are in any way going to make progress on the Left we really have to pull toegther and unify and most importantly educate and motivate those non voters. We already had a challenge but it has been made all the harder by the choice of leader for the Labour Party. Gawd, imagine what the leaders debates are going to be like next year:
“errr, just, ummm, you know John, you do have a good point there but errrr, well………….” JK will be laughing like a school boy at his luck.
What protests tho was Slippery the Prime Minister whining about, as Maanu Paul fromthe Maori Council put it such a simpering whine gave a great impression of a 4 year old having a wee wah wah wah over having lost His marbles, (in more than one way i would suggest Maanu),
There were 30,000 people at Waitangi this year, a good mixture of both Maori and Pakeha and the only disruption was at the point of the Prime Minister being lead onto the Marae, as Winston Peters pointed out Slippery the Prime Minister brought this situation about because Marae protocol would be that it would be the guest being Karanga-ed onto the Marae who chooses which Kuia will accompany Him,
It is more than obvious that Slippery expected a large hostile protest to be directed at Him at Waitangi and the fact that this failed to materialize has got our Prime Minister exhibiting,as He does when things don’t go His way, a childish snivel as if someone has snuck off with His marbles,
Having a prepared speech directed at denigrating protestors at Waitangi the empty suitcase of intellectual rigor which is Slippery the Prime Minister of New Zealand having left the speech writers in Wellington did not have anything but the ability to address the breakfast gathering at the Waitangi Marae in terms of what was essentially bull defecation,
Not having the stomach at the Marae to give that speech to those gathered on the paepae earlier in the proceedings as anyone with an ounce of ‘heart’ would have Slippery the Prime Minister then gave a grand display of yellow by scarpering out the back door for the safety of His waiting limo…
Hi bad12. Lol, you know shonkey doesn’t let the facts get the way of a good ol’ spin. My guess is that he saw Waitangi as a good opportunity to put some more wood on the fires of prejudice and ignorance. Its in his interests to keep the trad Pakeha Nat voters in an anti Maori frame of mind. He’s framing them as the bad guys challenging his asset sales mission and he needs to keep the division going in order to bring his trad voters to heel. They are making quiet nosies about not being happy about asset sales after all. What better way to stir the pot than to than to highjack an event that is bound in media sensation whose goal it is to paint those that need to air their legitimate grievances as “bad” as “separatists” or gasp, even “protesters” god forbid. etc. Suit his purposes does it not?
Which reminds me: If y’all are in Wellington on Wednesday, 13th Feb head down to Frank Kitts Park at 6pm to the anti asset sales rally. Speakers include Jane Kelsey, Maanu Paul and Mayor Celia Wade-Brown.
Very soon he will be calling them “terrorists” or “insurgents” or any other of these fiendish labels.
Shearer’s performance shows how Labour deserves to lose the Maori vote. Even Winston Peters on Morning Report this morning showed he understands how integral robust discussion and protest over the big issues, including how entrenched disadvantage ignores the Treaty, are to the annual celebration. With Shearer at the reigns heaven help us. The guy really is a plonker.
Perhaps it is because David Shearer is actually just a bit shit?
I dare you to watch the video without cringing. Goodluck Labour 2014!
http://www.facebook.com/abitshit
Poll in the Dom Post today shows 60% of people want a 4 year parliamentary term (28% 3 years). Labour/Greens might pick up a some votes by offering a 4-year term as a policy at the next election.
I wondered about this. Shonkey and Shearer have another area of apparent agreement – they both want a 4 year term.
Not a good idea, in my view. In a country without an upper chamber or a written constitution the only safeguard against parliamentary excess is frequent elections. Limiting our democracy an the absence of checks and balances would be harmful to our country.
Why do people think that an upper chamber gives any safeguard against parliamentary excess? Just have to look at the US and the UK to see that that idea is a load of BS.
A written constitution might do it – if you can get everyone to agree on what the constitution actually means.
Four years would probably be best for effective policies to be seen to work or vice versa. But I would want to see leadership change be legislated for so that two terms would be all.
It appears to me that many of these skilled trapeze artists who get to the big top, just can’t be got down again and they use their precocious skills to maintain their position and to hell with the rest of the circus.
Better be careful with term limits for leaders. The USA never used to have term limits and who said they have done better with them.
However something like a maximum of 5 consecutive terms (20 years) in Parliament might be an interesting thing to look at.
CV Hmmmm? How would the USA have gone then if they had not changed I wonder?
At least an egregious leader can be chucked in favour of one with more grasp, of the work and responsibility to all, than the money and esteem. Then if someone is very good it becomes hard to replace the favourite even when he dances naked in the street, and starts taking huge bribes. The 20 years thing would definitely be needed then.
CV
Have just had my reply wiped by the remote server. I mentioned daft pollies dancing na..k..d in the streets. I wonder if we are having good old USA morality dished out by machine?
PS But lo, it has arisen from the dead. wtf
AFAIK the Republicans instituted the term limit rule so that the USA could never see another FDR again.
It took a constitutional amendment. You don’t get one of those passed in the US without extremely broad support.
Then of course there is the small print. The term limits in Russia, for example, were useless at getting rid of Putin. We’re already heading presidential-style as an MSM-friendly way of stabilising power to two main parties (another reason I’m happy for Labour to be in the thirties rather than well into the forties).
And technically the governments in NZ area different governments after each election – new parliament, new coalition.
Personally I favour things like campaign finance controls and advertising restrictions rather than term limits. Term limits are too fixated on a possible symptom (demagogue) rather than the problem (subversion of democracy).
I wrote and posted this last night, and I’ll choose to believe it’s not been seen yet because it’s lost at the bottom of yesterdays open mike 😀
Apologies to all guitarists, except one (joke), as I’m using software.
Actually, in the spirit of glasnost and perestroika, if DS wants to hit me up with some core Labour policy, he can strap on his axe and rock it with me on Campbell live and we’ll all live happy ever after.
https://soundcloud.com/theal1en/getting-it-done
You say it’s all right, sometime, we’ll get it done.
Well sometimes you just suck. I’ve got the fight to say.
You should never grab at something you couldn’t take.
You say you’re all right, sometime, you’ll get it done.
And sometimes you just say I’ve got to learn to wait.
Well you should never hit on someone you couldn’t break.
What you gonna wash away? How you gonna wash me away?
For no better reason than I’ve got no reason to fake.
If I got a reason I got the will and the way.
No help coming, no one running away.
Firing treason, here with the freaks and the snakes.
What you gonna wash away? How you gonna wash me way?
You say he’s all right, sometime, he’ll get it done.
Well sometime is just words far too easy to say.
You should never try on something if you can’t fake.
You say it’s all right, sometime, you’ll get it done.
And sometimes you just say I’ve got to learn to heal.
Well you should never count on something that you can’t steal from under my nose.
What you gonna wash away? How you gonna wash me way?
For no better reason than I’ve got no reason to fade.
I got the meaning, I got the will and the way.
No hope running, no joke coming to play.
Firing reason, here with the freaks and the snakes.
What you gonna wash away? How you gonna wash me way?
For no better reason than I’ve got no reason to fake.
I got a reason I got the will and the way.
No helps coming, no one’s running away.
Firing treason, here with the freaks and the snakes.
What you gonna wash away? How you gonna wash me way?
What software are you using?
PreSonus Studio one v2 as my sequencer/recorder, and on this track, just two instances of Musiclab real LPC and a vocoder to pitch and colour my awful vocals.
Apart from that, I use an ancient but sadly discontinued vsti synth plugin and the brilliant U-he Diva. And that’s it.
The way I figure it, being minimally talented, if the songs ever get picked up they’ll all be re-done properly in a studio anyway, no matter what I do with them at home, so I rather focus on writing and saving the world and just hope the right person gets to hear the songs through the mess. 🙂
I don’t use Twitter, but I have started to get an email every so often saying ‘here’s what is happening on Twitter” I clicked on it today and was pleasantly surprised to be directed to:
http://vital.org.nz/entry/2013/02/
It fits in with comments others have made about National deliberately trying to remove all discussion on political topics – and Holmes was (perhaps but perhaps not) an unwitting supporter of the removal of debate from our media. I do think it is a bit hard on Shearer – including honours to make it partly a celebration of achievement does not mean taking away discussion on issues where we do not agree.
Teh November post to that blog is also interesting. I have come to think that some posters to The Standard are deliberately trying to undermine informed discussion, and to represent their views as those of the majority or the Green Party , or of the Labour Party – collectively, I think both the Green and Labour Parties are much more tolerant, and also much kinder to each other than many posters would like to try to convince us.
I would be interested in how many different posters there are to The Standard. It is being followed more by media (or at least acknowledged more) – I suspect it has a wider number of posters than some otehr well known blogs. Could a count be made of the number of different posters for say each of the last few months?
Thanks Ed, that’s a good piece of writing by Judd. The problem I have with Shearer and Waitangi is that he thinks it’s cause for celebration. The whole ‘happy Waitangi Day’ thing grates, for precisely the reasons that Judd goes into. It reminds me of when Otago had its 150 anniversary as a province. The council and organisers of events called it a celebration, and then local iwi spoke up and said hang on, for some of the people that live in Otago, the arrival of settlers and setting up of the province was extremely painful and not something to celebrate (call it a commemoration instead). Until we accept that Maori have distinct and entirely valid experiences of NZ that are quite different than most Pakeha, we are at an impasse. Trying to make Waitangi Day a ‘happy’ day just doesn’t work.
“I have come to think that some posters to The Standard are deliberately trying to undermine informed discussion,”
Can you give an example or two?
I saw the point of Judds article as saying that it is possible for a discussion to allow for a range of different viewpoints. I read him as effectively saying that calling for some celebration on a public holiday does not mean that we cannot at the same time address other issues. That’s like saying that until we return to budget surpluses we cannot afford to increase the minimum wage . . .
A public holiday is usually an indication that the country felt, at least at one time, that we could celebrate some achievement, and in relation to the Treaty, I believe there are things to celebrate. If that can also include celebrating achievements of New Zealanders, let that not distract from understanding that we still have some matters to resolve; we can celebrate a Treaty that is still capable of assisting shape our actions . . .
I don’t wish to personalise my comment about the motives of some posters to The Standard, but a number of times a post about a problem caused by the current government seem to turn very quickly into an attack on Shearer, or to seek to cast doubt on whether Labour and Green can work together – they appear to me to be attempts to divert discussion from the effects of government action or inaction, towards perceived deficiencies in current opposition parties. Many seem amazed, disappointed, even furious that there clear determinations of the will of the people are not shared by the leadership of the Labour and Green parties – and imply that it would be better for those parties to remain in opposition than to accept ‘imperfect’ policies from their definition of true left ideals.
Judd said ( http://vital.org.nz/entry/2012/11/ )
“I’m discouraged by the conviction with which journalists report their opinions as fact, and I’m equally discouraged by the way political bloggers and commentators have done the same, building on the journalists’ reports. The Cunliffe vs Shearer story and the 40% vs simple majority story are intertwined, but they are not the same, yet we can’t be sure where and how they overlap. I know I’m going to give a lot more credit to analysis that acknowledges these uncertainties instead of glossing over them for the sake of a clear story.”
I am similarly discouraged by reporting of opinions as fact in many comments to The Standard – your mileage may wary.
Good article re Waitangi day thanks Ed.
And the debacle continues.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/8271027/Novopay-round-labelled-a-shocker
Will anyone do a mea culpa or be held to account ?
Of course no one will be held to account, the Slippery lead National government seem delighted that the teaching profession will be traumatized by having their pay f**ked up for at least the next 2 years,
From what i heard this morning the ‘attack’ upon schools continue’s unabated with schools having their operating budgets destroyed by having to pay some teachers monies owed to them for wages out of the operating budget,
Any of these schools having had to destroy their budgets because of No-No Pay that have a smaller role this year are now being told to immediately refund part of that operating budget and it appears that the Education Department and the Minister couldn’t really give a toss whether the schools have had their operating budgets wrecked or not,
Hekia’s revenge perhaps…
Yes, yes it’s all a plan by the reverse vampires to take over the world……. first the school payrolls, next who knows ?
Its pretty serious stuff HS. A lot of kids educations and a lot of families lives are being disrupted by this debacle.
It is entirely amusing that the new zealand government is incapable of ensuring teachers are paid.
The most basic of tasks and it is entirely incapable.
what a joke.
Do you think that the Nats “might” do something about if they weren’t getting payed and the Opposition Parties were?
Sorry, that was a dream.
Yeah typical Tory attitude, how would you like it if you were told that for the next 2 years it will be a lottery if you are paid or not,
Schools are legally obliged to pay their employees and the only means of doing this under the present system is to pay out of the operating account when No-No Pay makes yet another ‘mistake’,
To then send out letters to schools demanding monies back from that operating budget for pupils that have left the school is to simply put even more pressure on those attempting to run those schools within such budgets,
The fact that you couldn’t really care is obvious…
I do care, I just get bored with your comments regarding Novopay being a dastardly plot by the current government.
I don’t think it is a dastardly plot HS, but on the other had I think that privately they are more than slightly amused by the situation.
If i bore you there’s an easy solution, when you come across the bad12’s as you scroll down the page keep on scrolling,
I spose you consider Hekia’s smiling face and karma comment on the fact that those at the Ministry of Education also had their pay round made a mess of the other week as a bit of light entertainment…
The latest household labourforce survey figures are out and no doubt the Government will jump on the reduction in the unemployment rate from 7.3% to 6.9% as something to celebrate.
However the figures are all screwy:
The number of people unemployed decreased by 10,000 people BUT the employment rate fell 0.8 percentage points, to 62.6 percent AND the number of people employed decreased by 23,000 (down 1.0 percent) AND the labour force participation rate fell 1.2 percentage points, to 67.2 percent AND the number of people in the labour force decreased by 33,000.
Obviously more people are dropping out or giving up but I cannot imagine that it is because of the ageing population.
The report is at http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/income-and-work/employment_and_unemployment/HouseholdLabourForceSurvey_HOTPDec12qtr.aspx
LOLZ, it will be interesting to try and hunt out exactly who and where those who have left the workforce are,
Will definitely get back to this later…
Reminds me of the US where every new monthly jobs figure looks good, makes good press, but the next month is quietly and substantially revised for the worse. Cynicism.
Interesting!
The best that can be said about those figures is that Paula’s travel agency is working well and another positive contribution to the Australian economy has shown to have been made by NZ workers,
Wonder when the next set of unemployment benefit numbers are due out…
Here’s some econophysics on laws of motion of capitalism.
Note falling profits in China and financial tsunami spreading across Pacific.
http://spiritofcontradiction.eu/rowan-duffy/2013/02/06/interview-paul-cockshott-on-econophysics-and-socialism#more-1180
Econophysics might start being worth looking at if socialists start doing it. A lot of what I’ve seen so far treats the maths in a very naive way, and is basically designed to guide speculators. This work looks much more interesting.
Stuff Poll: Four year Parliamentary term? Y/N
The Yes is winning 3 to 1 at the moment out of 1000 votes…..so the right wingnut network is engaged.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8270952/Key-wants-four-year-term-for-Parliament
“One hundred and 73 years after the “…
Editors at my workplace would go spare at that mashing of formats.
Stuff, keeping New Zealand’s sub-editing capabilities on par with it’s journalistic expertise since nineteen 9(…
Lol,the RWNJ network is engaged EVERYDAY on the stuff.co.nz comment forums and polls, – them and the just plain vacuous.
Turns out the Super Fund is a crock:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/8270688/NZ-Super-Fund-returns-fail-to-justify-debt-cost
No,
The $20bil superfund is now only just breaking even with the massive debt that National has gifted us and our children.
The solution is apparently to get rid of the asset and continue business as usual. The thought of addressing the systemic causes of our government debt is not apparently on the table. Mostly because that would involve taxing the job
creatorsdestroyers.To Gormless. the NZ Super fund is not a crock. See its record from its December 2012 statement and
remember that any investment for the long term – which is what the NZ Super Fund is – has its ups and downs . On the whole the NZ Super Fund performs well – even during difficult economic downturns.
Also remember – the Labour Govt’s first super scheme was wiped by Muldoon, and it would have saved the country billions if it had been left in place. The comments by the researcher Michael Littlewood look to me like they’re just another attempt by Nats to do the same sort of thing ie destroy NZ’s super scheme!
“Fund Performance to 31 December 2012
Posted On: Tuesday, 22 January 2013
The New Zealand Superannuation Fund returned 19.17% for the 12 months ended 31 December 2012.
The Fund finished the year at a record high for the month-end of $20.92 billion, up from $17.73 billion at the end of 2011.
Since inception in September 2003 the Fund has returned 7.92%,exceeding the 90-day Treasury Bill rate by 2.84%. The Fund’s long-term performance expectation is that it will beat the Treasury Bill rate by at least 2.5%.”
Published in full – FYI.
7 February 2013
Open Letter to the Mayor and Councillors who are members of the CEO Review Sub-Committee of Auckland Council:
Len Brown (Chairperson)
Christine Fletcher (Deputy Chairperson)
Ann Hartley
Penny Hulse
Richard Northey
Penny Webster
RE: THE MEETING OF THE AUCKLAND COUNCIL CEO REVIEW SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING TODAY – THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2013: (2pm)
Dear Mayor and Councillors,
Please confirm that the following Agenda Items C1 and C2 items pertaining to the performance of the CEO have been removed from ‘Confidential’ as they are a matter of considerable public interest, and there is a difference between protecting the ‘privacy’ of individuals and ensuring public transparency and accountability for those in public office, particularly the ‘Principal Administrative Officer’ of Auckland Council – the CEO.
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/AboutCouncil/meetings_agendas/committees/Pages/ceoreviewsub-committee.aspx
C1 Report on the Chief Executive’s Performance Against the 2012/2013 Objectives
Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter
Particular interest(s) protected (where applicable)
Ground(s) under section 48(1) for the passing of this resolution
The public conduct of the part of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for
which good reason for withholding exists under section 7. s7(2)(a) –
The withholding of the information is necessary to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of a deceased person.
In particular, to enable the Chief Executive Review Subcommittee to examine and discuss in detail, progress against agreed objectives to the Council’s executive team, including free and full discussion on sensitive issues including privacy and contract issues..
s48(1)(a)
The public conduct of the part of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for
which good reason for withholding exists under section 7.
C2 CEO Recruitment Process
Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter
Particular interest(s) protected (where applicable)
Ground(s) under section 48(1) for the passing of this resolution
The public conduct of the part of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for
which good reason for withholding exists under section 7. s7(2)(h) – The withholding of the
information is necessary to enable the local authority to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage,
commercial activities.
In particular to enable the Chief Executive Review Subcommittee to discuss the detail of the Chief
Executive recruitment before information is released to the market and potential candidates.. s48(1)(a)
The public conduct of the part of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for
which good reason for withholding exists under section 7.
“TERMS OF REFERENCE
The Chief Executive Review Committee is established to review the Chief Executive’s performance during the 2010/2012 term of the Council and to negotiate terms and conditions of the CE’s employment including any performance agreement measures and annual remuneration.
Relevant legislation includes but is not limited to:
The Local Government Act 2002; and
The Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2002. ”
Please be reminded of your following statutory duties as enshrined in the Local Government Act 2002:
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2002/0084/latest/whole.html#DLM171803
10Purpose of local government
(1)The purpose of local government is—
(a)to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities; and
(b)to meet the current and future needs of communities for good-quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses.
(2)In this Act, good-quality, in relation to local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions, means infrastructure, services, and performance that are-
(a)efficient; and
(b)effective; and
(c)appropriate to present and anticipated future circumstances.
Section 10(1)(b): replaced, on 5 December 2012, by section 7(1) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).
Section 10(2): inserted, on 5 December 2012, by section 7(2) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).
___________________________________________________________________________
14Principles relating to local authorities
(1)In performing its role, a local authority must act in accordance with the following principles:
(a)a local authority should—
(i)conduct its business in an open, transparent, and democratically accountable manner; and
(ii)give effect to its identified priorities and desired outcomes in an efficient and effective manner:
(b)a local authority should make itself aware of, and should have regard to, the views of all of its communities; and
(c)when making a decision, a local authority should take account of—
(i)the diversity of the community, and the community’s interests, within its district or region; and
(ii)the interests of future as well as current communities; and
(iii)the likely impact of any decision on the interests referred to in subparagraphs (i) and (ii):
(d)a local authority should provide opportunities for Maori to contribute to its decision-making processes:
(e)a local authority should collaborate and co-operate with other local authorities and bodies as it considers appropriate to promote or achieve its priorities and desired outcomes, and make efficient use of resources; and
(f)a local authority should undertake any commercial transactions in accordance with sound business practices; and
(fa)a local authority should periodically—
(i)assess the expected returns to the authority from investing in, or undertaking, a commercial activity; and
(ii)satisfy itself that the expected returns are likely to outweigh the risks inherent in the investment or activity; and
(g)a local authority should ensure prudent stewardship and the efficient and effective use of its resources in the interests of its district or region; and
(h)in taking a sustainable development approach, a local authority should take into account—
(i)the social, economic, and cultural interests of people and communities; and
(ii)the need to maintain and enhance the quality of the environment; and
(iii)the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations.
(2)If any of these principles conflict in any particular case, the local authority should resolve the conflict in accordance with the principle in subsection (1)(a)(i).
Section 14(1)(c)(iii): replaced, on 5 December 2012, by section 8(1) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).
Section 14(1)(fa): inserted, on 27 November 2010, by section 6 of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 124).
Section 14(1)(h)(i): amended, on 5 December 2012, by section 8(2) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).
Section 14(2): amended, on 5 December 2012, by section 8(3) of the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 93).
(My underlining).
__________________________________________________________________________
Please be advised that in order to defend the above-mentioned principles of ‘open, transparent and democratically accountable’ local government – I for one – give notice that I will refuse to be excluded from the meeting, and shall refuse to leave the room, if Items C1 and C2 are kept in ‘CONFIDENTIAL’.
Yours sincerely,
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
Auckland Mayoral Candidate 2013
I just went to the supermarket.
The woman in front of me in the express queue had 21 items.
Was it weak of me to not say anything?
12 item queue or 20 item queue?
12 item queue.
Hmmm, that’s pushing it alright.
Was it busy? Like, was it just her and you in the queue or were there already other people to wait for before her?
And was it 21 quick items? Or 21 different pieces of fruit to weigh and bags of pick n mix with missing numbers to look up?
Good questions.
It was Pak N Save, so, in fairness, three of those 21 items were plastic bags. But they should count, shouldn’t they?
When she was being served there were two people behind me, so three in all. No pick n mix and no fruit and vege. But still…
I think she was clearly over the line. My question though is, do I owe future shoppers a duty to make it clear to her it’s not on? Should I leave that to Pak N Save? Or, if it’s not troubling me, should I just leave it?
Tricky.
I’d head to the check out supervisor or service desk to complain. If they put a sign up and it is their policy, then their staff need to be enforcing it in a fair and reasonable manner.
Yes CV, having been in the industry and a supervisor,the best anyone can do
is to alert the supervisor and it is their job to ‘have a chat’ later with the operator,
to get her/him to enforce the policy.
Checkout operators should know the policy and adhere to it though, they only
need to politely say ‘Sorry, this is an express lane, you have too many items’
If WW3 breaks out,best just to get them done and outta there.
If WW3 breaks out, best just to get them done and outta there.
That’s what the cheats rely on VV. Best to get the supervisor to talk to them.
To be fair to the check-out operators it must be hard to cause a scene.
A couple of months ago I was behind a middle aged woman at the express check-out. She had at least 20 items – possibly more. She was well dressed and not a strand of hair out of place. She reeked financial comfort and confidence. The body language said don’t mess with me girl or I’ll cause trouble for you. The girl didn’t. I saw the woman out in the car-park a few minutes later and I wanted to have a little ‘tete a tete’ (can’t do the French stroke thing) with her, but I didn’t. Was angry with myself for being a coward. I despise those types.
Future reference – the best way to start a discussion like that is rudely and sharply 😉
If they apologise or look sheepish you can cool down and say that you over-reacted and everybody does it
If they go bloody minded you already got a full head of steam to work with 🙂
My fav this month is having a couple in their 30’s push their way through security screening airport queues because they were carrying a baby.
I let them past (because everyone else was and the bloody peer pressure thing) but regretted it because I looked at their faces and they clearly knew they were taking the piss.
btw baby was out to it on her shoulder without a care in the world, ignorant that mum and dad were using her for personal advantage.
It’s an ethical minefield alright.
All things considered I’d have to agree, she was clearly taking the piss. But what to do? Most of us don’t like to make a fuss, and we’d hope the checkout operator would enforce the limit.
But by the time they don’t enforce it, it’s too late to do much about it. And then is making a fuss going to hold up the queue even more than letting it slide? And I’d feel a bit guilty causing strife for the checkout operator, it’s a fairly thankless job already without me putting my oar in.
I reckon programming the registers in those aisles so they can only physically scan x amount of items before totaling up might be a way to fix it. Kind of lets everyone off the hook without confrontation.
Not sure if I’d include plastic bags in the count or not. I suppose they do take time to process and that’s the whole point, so yeah you’re probably right on second thought.
Seems to me she may have suffered from Dyslexia.
Dyscalculia.
Oh! Sorry I’m not that good at English.
But isn’t that the same thing that Slippery JK suffers from.
Should have done what I did last xmas eve and asked the shoppers in front if they’d been good for santa, and when they said yes, wished them luck in receiving big boxes of less ignorance.
The checkout girl laughed.
All class.
When Tony Blair went on about a classless society, I always thought he meant me.
Id suggest that you just get over it and temper you internal scorning. Queing is a very serious issue to the English, you know the old story .
Put three Welsh together and you a choir
Put three Irish together and you have a party
Put three scots together and you have a fight
Put three English together and you have a que.
“Id suggest that you just get over it and temper you internal scorning.”
It’s us v the ignorant. Zero tolerance to nuggets.
“Put three English together and you have a que.”
But only on the costa del sol.
After living in England I’d say something. Got used to that English way of having full blown screaming matches with strangers in public places.
That’d be my mum, sorry for that 😆
I trust that your comment is not serious. It would be WISE of you not to say anything.
Proverbs 18,7 ” A fools mouth is his destruction and his lips are the snare of his soul.”
Not really. Jesus was an advocate who was vocal on a number of issues. Jesus spent a large part of his life talking, he often voiced his concern. Jesus was wise because he did say things.
That proverb you have given us does not apply to every situation.
Don’t know if that reply is to me, but if so, it’s your religion and your soul to save.
Nothing to do with me, John, or wise for that matter.
i never quite got the difference between left and right – but just had a look at KiwiBlog regarding an a blog on the PM and Waitangi day.
What a horrible site. It looked like the KKK logged in there>
And then I look at this site, and the difference is day and night 🙂
Thanks people, I feel better now.
Best not to go near Whale Oil then. That sites looks as if the KKK were chased away for being reasonable and inclusive.
Kiaora Ana, yeah we sweat laugh and scream here, but, buckle yourself in and join the fray, where you visited is known here as the Sewer it’s mostly inhabited by a primitive form of amoeba…
There’s not that many right supporters.
Just a few – and they stand out like a – John Key moment.
OK so much for my theory that we live in a wonderful society. And I thought the Ansell site was disgusting
I don’t normally recommend a full decontamination shower but in this case…
“He is described as a veteran newspaper and radio journalist and South Island editor of Challenge Weekly, a non-denominational and independent Christian newspaper.”
Surprise!
http://t.co/ZXNRF0Rb
In my experience, anyone who wears tone-on-tone is a paedophile.
Via Paul Litterick: at fundypost:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0311/S00171.htm
http://fundypost.blogspot.co.nz/2013/02/whatever-happened-to.html?spref=tw
A major construction company goes to the wall threatening the livelihoods of 1000,s of workers and subcontractors,
Quick start a distraction, hence Slippery the Prime Minister blathering on about a 4 year electoral cycle,
See nothing hear nothing do nothing that’s the Slippery lead National Government, 2014 cannot come quick enough to get rid of this Shyster and the incompetents that surround Him…
More to ignore.
/
http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/50924/iditarod+dogsled+race+preparations+hampered+by+lack+of+snow/
http://grist.org/news/a-tropical-disease-takes-hold-in-a-warming-alaska/
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/
Can anyone put together a reciprocal video of Key’s shocking diction, mispronunciations, the idiot comments and stupid/nasty actions – the three way handshake and the cut-throat gesture towards Phil Goff spring to mind.
Suggested musical back-ground – Handel-Adagio Movement 4.
Rather astounded at just having seen an item on Positive Money on “Seven Sharp”. Just caught the end of it; I guess it will be viewable at 8pm on TV1 plus One. In case anyone is interested. They were explaining how money came out of nowhere. I thought that was sacrilege for mainstream. Seems I was wrong.
Interesting.
Would be interested to hear your opinion if you can catch it. I think it must have been the first item. One of the guys on it said something odd in the summary of the story, but only caught last part of it, so will watch it again myself!
Given that the Government debt left for the next Government to come to terms with by the Slippery lead National Government will be well over 60 billion dollars by the time they are given the kick in 2014 maybe TV1 is preparing those that are mostly asleep in charge of their own minds for the inevitable…
LOLZ, TV1 after 7 telling the truth about where money comes from has me thinking that that particular program will not be with us for very much longer,
Their Lordships of the banking world aint going to like having their little scam broadcast for all to see across the nation at a time when most of them are at least half awake,
They are of course correct, as many of us here at the Standard have been banging on about endlessly for months any Government is quite capable of creating money just as the banks do, type a set of numbers into the computer and hey presto you have MONEY,
After7 points out that any Government contribution to the Christchurch rebuild could,(and i say should) have been via money it had printed for it’s own use,
State Housing could be built by the 1000 by the 10,000 by the 100,000 by Government simply printing the monies needed to build such,
There’s a simple codicil to this and that is any monies spent into the economy by printing extra amounts of the stuff need be spent into that economy so as to give full regard to the Reserve Bank’s inflation targets band,
Of course i don’t expect the primitive band of chimps in control of the place at the moment to do any such thing even tho they were advised just after the 2008 election by no less than the IMF to do just that…
“..has me thinking that that particular program will not be with us for very much longer, ~bad12
Lol, had similar thoughts myself, or rather, that “the magazine style news show” appears to have become a case of the worm that turned….not what I would have expected anyway!
I was a bit stunned they made no mention of the bank having to have a certain amount of assets in order to loan that money. That is the point usually raised in discussions on whether a bank prints money out of thin air or not.
And the comment Greg Boyd made re confidence; banks’ll never collapse because we kiwis always want houses…that seemed odd. Is it my imagination or is that what did occur and continues to occur? i.e. Global Financial Crisis….& the only reason it hasn’t is ..well….because….someone, somewhere is “printing” lotsa money aswel as perhaps false confidence in US dollars due to the military&oil industry demanding these products get paid in US dollars?
Last count if my memory serves me correctly is that 184 billion dollars of private bank loans are on the books of New Zealand banks,
There is an expectation that Banks have a certain amount of cash on hand but that cash’s relationship to the amount of monies on loan to private interests isn’t as far as i can ascertain any relevant % of such monies and seems more an at the Government’s whim type regulation, there was talk a while ago of both increasing this and increasing the amount of cash Joe Lunchbox needed to put up as a deposit so as to get His/Her hands on the en-pixie-lated prize of the big loan,
the whole system of course is in fact one of insanity simply allowing the Banking System to f**k off with a large part of the production of New Zealand that’s been paid out as wages of the serfs enamored of the ownership model and willing to do anything, including rob their own mother’s, to get on the ladder…
Core funding ratio set by the reserve bank
http://www.economist.com/node/14363244
The only actual “cash on hand” a bank might hold is in the form of “loan loss reserves” to cover bad loans. I don’t think this is a formal requirement in NZ anyway.
Usually banks are cheapskates and assume that they can cover all of their reserve requirements with short term funding from the money markets. (In NZ because of the CFR they can’t do that as much).
Which is why during the GFC, when banks didn’t trust each another enough to loan each other even overnight monies, the whole system of debts covering debts covering debts ground to a halt.
Remember the cardinal rule which few people understand in banking – banks will lend out money first, then look for any reserves that they need to cover those loans, later.
And to think that banks have the nerve to castigate others about being highly leveraged – ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Yes to all of the above.
The wider public is cottoning onto the worlds largest ever ponzi scheme scam which is banking.
It’s slow though. It is surprising how many don’t know about this though – even multi-multi-millionaires I have regaled with this scam don’t know about it.
Time is up mr banker. And you know it. I am sure you will be making preparations right now, whilst at the same time telling your customers that everything is fine.
Time is up Mr Banker .
Speaking of Mr Banker…Mr Simon Power just got a nice promotion at Westpac
http://www.interest.co.nz/bonds/63020/westpac-nz-says-its-mortgage-growth-remains-below-overall-market-levels-continuing-cross
With Power getting his advanced bankster experience in now, he’ll be a shoe in for PM down the track.
@vto,
” It is surprising how many don’t know about this though”~vto
Yes, this is why I am rather amazed and impressed that “Seven Sharp” had that little item on. It was easy to understand and actually appeared to be informative without the need to have the little scathing comment at the end of it, which I’ve noticed often occurs when out of the ordinary or “less than mediocre information” is being imparted.
What was very interesting too, is that they had a Raf Manji on who was introduced as a “former London banker and former colleague of John Key”. Who was advocating that the Government “print” money for the Chch rebuild because then interest would not be required to be paid for the “loan”.
My opinion is that if the media imparted more information like this New Zealand would become a more informed people and circumstances would improve.
Don’t know if it was because Waitangi Day fell on a Wednesday, but from observation it appears to me that this was the least observed holiday, so many people I have come across at work today worked yesterday. be it a few hours ( like me) or a full day, as if it was just a normal Wednesday. And these people have no connection with the MOE, schools or nopay
I don’t want to be critical but the Labour Party web site is so bad its an embarrassment
I can’t for the life of me figue out what Labour is pushing at the moment. Wait. I just counted 10 different David Shearer photos on their home page.
I just looked at the link Outofbed provided. Lolz I see what you mean CV, perhaps they could simply go for a tiled wallpaper of Mr Shearer in the background too? 😀
i think three of them are the same (one just reversed)
yes, one would think they could take more photos, instead of reversing the same one 😐
Reversing photos is a huge no-no in most professional PR circles as it completely distorts the face of your principal.
I don’t know why they bother with their PR companies, um have they got one? …Well, if they have, which they don’t appear to, (or perhaps its one that specializes in promoting farm animals?) they should perhaps fire them and just read the Standard instead. Plenty of good advice here. heh.
That’d be Claire Curran (snigger) I guess
I don’t know why they bother with their PR companies, um have they got one?
I doubt it. Their Head Office in Wellington is run on a shoe string. Partly their own fault. If the parliamentary wing stopped playing silly buggers with the membership, we might resume out donations.
~ ~ ~ g r o a n ~ ~ ~
the reverse is so obvious
if the plan is to repeat the feat in the future, the shots next time should be with a round-neck plain t-shirt so that the reverse picture will not look so jarring
Ha Just noticed It says “Labour a new direction.”.. obviously talking about the pics
lolz!