Speaking to Takapuna businessmen about growth opportunities for Auckland he demonstrated very clearly his total detachment from reality. For Key there is only growth per se, no other reality, no other concept. Which may help him heat the mansion as the planetary temperature rises. Conversely he may be astounded to find himself and the Takapuna businessmen starving amongst the extra million Aucklanders in twenty years time.
There you go though, this level of vision and leadership might also be found not too far distant from the Treasury benches. I also heard Shearer mention the magic words “growth” recently.
But – Oh nos, he said it but didn’t really mean it – it’s just that head office stuff – but I did really mean it really, it’s contracting due to Auckland’s growth.
Seems a bit like ‘we’d love to see wages drop’ but really I didn’t mean it, but really did.
Wellington is a very popular spot for general Tourism, especially amongst wealthy travellers. It is widely regarded as the coolest little Capital in the world, and often hosts some of the more important conferences that head to this side of the planet. All of this seems to highlight a bit of ignorance on the part of the Minister of Tourism
Yeah, weird choice of words, talk about giving the the left wing contingent of the media something to beat you with.
Dying is rather final, you don’t tend to come back from dying, stagnating, weak,vulnerable would have been a lot better.
I know very little about the economy of Wellington so I can’t really comment on it.
I’m stunned the Key would make such a dumb comment, the only thing I can think of that he was ad libbing part of his speech and dying popped into his head, stuck so he went with that.
If it was part of a written speech I’d be pretty disappointed as it really shows a lack of nous.
Unfortunately he is right…and it his government’s fault too (although to be fair, some of the blame should be shouldered by Wellington’s hopeless council).
Likely setting the scene for a new round of attacks on the public service. The changes to industrial legislation, the welfare reforms and the start of privatising those services, charter schools, health changes like the new mental health unit in Hawkes Bay having half the beds they have now and mention of services being provided in the community instead of by the hospital, traditional service providers like Presbyterian Support and polytechs losing contracts all over the place in the last few years. Crisis in the various departments publicised and publicised and publicised, all of government contracting removing any sense of autonomy, government aim of online transactions, the offloadimg of support to do your tax return from a free service by IRD staff to a paid service by the private sector (disadvantaging the intellectually disabled for instance who are unlikely to access paid services but used to go to IRD previously), government property being looked at to reduce the cost of this including the amount of space per person.
That’s just a random few things that have been through the news in the last year or so.
There seems to be a pattern emerging.
I’m picking a real go at teachers, more contracting to private sector and a considerable downsizing of the Wellington Public Service.
Just waiting for someone in the media to suggest moving government to Auckland next. Where’s Hooten?
I really suggest you don’t go to a private service. They get to act as your tax agent and charge you every year unless you go to IRD and have them taken off.
People will no doubt cite Auckland’s higher population growth as evidence of Wellington malaise, but I think at present the opposite is true: Auckland grows like Topsy and has serious systemic problems, exacerbated by Rodney Hide’s faith-based incompetence, and other examples of Tory sloth and idiocy.
K, if you take the precept that when somebody wants something to happen badly they must have a vested interest: ergo you understand the call for a super city from the Right. Hence the call for amalgamations must be about some bugger getting something at the expense of the rest of us.
Of course the correct precept is that calls for amalgamation of councils are a sure sign that the opposite should occur. They should be fragmented, small is beautiful after all.
Kea, the networking organisation for rich expats (sorry… ‘for business growth through networks’) that somehow received funding from MoBIE, NZTE, MFAT and TPK, is running a survey called ‘Every Kiwi Counts’, to get views from Expats that will be disseminated to very important people in NZ.
I’ve filled it in with a very left wing slant in the comments sections – Environment, social inequality, health, education, democracy (CERA, ECAN soon to be Auckland), shoulder tapping etc. I’m thinking there won’t be too many lefties on the mailing list, so here’s the link if you want your voice heard by very important people.
The World Class New Zealand event was held later that evening at Time Warner. The event was hosted by Mr. Mark D’Arcy and attended by the Prime Minister who was welcomed by Time Warner Chairman and CEO Mr. Jeff Bewkes.
Yep, that’s them. All very sales and marketing. Another go-getter ‘World Class’ business organisation that is quite happy to take taxpayer’s money to run survey to mirror its own values.
Ralston Saul in his dictionary of such matters defined the words “World Class” as uttered by the likes of business leaders as a guarantee of “provincialism”.
Which exemplifies the oh so ethical “networking” being crudely promoted by this right wing business and government funded Uriah Heep organisation. Even more reason to fill in their online survey with some frank opinions about the state of NZ and where the current political and environmental policies are seriously damaging our reputation overseas
I filled it in on behalf of my wife who is working in South Asia. The slant seemed to be a search for highly paid leadership/investment people. Just an impression. Last comment box was opportunity to express concern about NZ direction under current Govt.
And I agree it is a shocker. It completely undermines a number of careful balances that had been reached between individual’s rights and the needs of the state.
One area of concern for me is what information will this now allow our overseas allies to obtain? My understanding is that one of the reasons for the GCSB being set up is that it allowed cooperation with foreign spy agencies without the danger of information about Kiwis being sent overseas. From the looks of the new bill this protection will no longer be there.
The bill may be by design as bad as it looks. Peters was on Radio New Zealand this morning sounding remarkably sanguine about the Government. It may be that the price of NZ First’s support are some dampening of the worst excesses of the bill, intentionally inserted into the legislation so that they could then be taken out to show flexibility on the part of the Government and relevance on the part of NZ First.
All in all this is developing as a major threat to Kiwis’ civil liberties. Be afraid, be very afraid …
And in relation to I/S’s mention of the national security function to include “economic well being”, this in the Stuff article this morning:
It would also be able to help public and private organisations but where that required spying on New Zealanders, it would need signoff from the minister responsible – usually the prime minister – and the commissioner of security warrants.
While I emphatically agree the underlying concern here, the question of the GCSB assisting other public and private sector organisations is probably intended as a reference to the need to set standards and SOP’s around cybersecurity. For example in the USA there are a number of govt. organisations who are active in this area, without any apparent overlap into spying as such.
Spooks are as much involved in maintaining systems integrity and security from outside threats and attacks as they are in actively seeking out other people’s information. In that sense assisting other public and private sector organisations to build and maintain their own defenses can be seen as relatively a benign activity.
This country is so small that what we are doing here is rolling multiple functions into one agency, the GCSB. As we have already seen our spooks have problems with boundaries, so while it may appeal to Key to ‘efficiently’ put them all under one roof; it merely sets us up for more problems in the future.
Spooks are as much involved in maintaining systems integrity and security from outside threats and attacks as they are in actively seeking out other people’s information.
Key says that the legislation stops the GCSB from doing this right now but I am not so sure.
Section 14 of the GCSB Act says:
“Neither the Director, nor an employee of the Bureau, nor a person acting on behalf of the Bureau may authorise or take any action for the purpose of intercepting the communications of a person (not being a foreign organisation or a foreign person) who is a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident.”
The way I read this section it does not prevent assistance from being given to other Government Departments. All it does is stop the GCSB from intercepting communications of Kiwis. As long as, for instance, the SIS had obtained information legally there is nothing stopping the GCSB from analysing it or collating it.
The basic problem is that apart from the Kim Dotcom fiasco the public has no idea what the operational problems are. Key is basically asking us to trust him on this. And I for one am not inclined to do so.
Crickey, for one second there I thought I had woken up in some kind of totalitarian state but then I remembered that you are just a nutter prone to exageration.
KK, where is the exaggeration? Every item on the list has happened or is happening. As an ape you should already be aware that nature is a good teacher and ostriches really do not have the longest life spans.
Which of those is incorrect, or even an exaggeration? Which one? Tell me do. You sound like the typical kiwi, she’ll be right, can’t happen here, yadda yadda yadda ……..
I would suggest that it is you who is the nutter prone to blinkerism and refusal-to-see syndrome.
I really can’t be bothered with this as it is like arguing with the mentally deranged about the existence of fairys at the bottom of the garden.
However, just to humour you, we will start at the first point. Who has been stripped of their vote? and to be clear, so you don’t come back with details on the change in constitution of your local Dungeon and Dragons club, we are talking about national and local elections.
“I really can’t be bothered with this as it is like arguing with the mentally deranged about the existence of fairys at the bottom of the garden.”
Why did you bother posting then?
” Who has been stripped of their vote? and to be clear, so you don’t come back with details on the change in constitution of your local Dungeon and Dragons club, we are talking about national and local elections.”
People in Canterbury, with direct threats made by david Carter to other Councils.
http://parliamenttoday.co.nz/2013/02/ecan-election-suspension-bill-debated/
this latest instalment is only from February, do we really need to pull out every article on ECAN since 2008, or can you admit you are being a stirring prat? You are so disingenuous sometimes it is pitiful and whatever you think you are achieving is not what most people would call socially useful. But then again society is of no interest to you and your ilk, you just like the baubles it can courier to your door.
Great King Kong, thanks for the admission that you got the first on the list wrong.
Next one you raise, forcing off the land.
People in Christchurch are being forced off their land. If you like I can dig out some links to people bitterly unhappy at what this government is doing. Both in the CBD and in Chch East, but as someone who seems to claim to have an awareness of goings-on in the country there should be no need.
As for your facile commentary and smart alec comments ……………………………….
“I really can’t be bothered with this as it is” reality and reality scares me and reality means my selfish ignorant know it all attitude might be shown to be nothing more than slogans and lies
“Who has been stripped of their vote?”
how about CHCH you fucking dickhead
About spying? If you want to send a message privately, only send information which has meaning for the intended recipient due to shared private context.
Eg “Meet me at our favourite restaurant”, not “Meet me at McDonalds”.
About being forced of your land? Know the law of the land. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
“The government is able to enact any law it wishes without limitation.”
That is the body politic would like you to think, but it is pure BS. If it were true then there would be no effective difference between lawful government and conspiracy by the body politic.
If a deal is struck it should also put a cold shiver through Labour’s leadership, because they are still giong to need Winston to form the next coalition government. If Winston can still do deals with Key, then National just got itself a potential coalition partner and can consign Labour and Greens to 9 years in Opposition, rather than 6.
I agree Ad that Labour should be very afraid. Peters’s language was remarkably conciliatory. He obviously wants to be a player. And he seemed to be generally in favour of an increase in powers.
He was asked specifically if he thought National was trying to build a relationship. He ruled out a pre-election understanding being reached. He also made asset sales a bottom line. If one of the SOEs has not been privatized then this will be a bottom line. He also said that agreement to buy back the shares was a bottom line but time will tell.
Winston could easily get a higher weighting for local ownership through amending the investment criteria for ACC, EQC and NZSuper – maybe even amending the Kiwisaver legislation – that would have the effect of buying back a whole lot more of the share % of those 49% companies, and claim a “bottom line” policy win, and Key would take the country back using Winston as the foil that achieved it – and Key would then get to have his asset sale cake, and eat it as well.
Dare we dream that Winnie has a plan? That is to say, might he be planning a bait n switch. Sidling on up to the the slippery one, letting the arrogance of the fool present the details and then expose the mofo for what he is really planning? Just lately in the House Peters has been fighting a good fight and seems genuinely angry with the direction NZ is being steered. I am no fan, but I don’t see Peters rolling for a belly scratch this late in the game.
I will wait to see where Peters goes with the GCSB issue. I’ve read 2 reports (an earlier one on ZB’s website), and this one, claiming that Peters was pissed off that Key had announced Peters was likely to be on board, without consulting him.
Winston Peters is angry at being kept in the dark over proposed laws that will see a major shake up at the country’s top spy agency.
The Government plans to ask Parliament to head into urgency this week so two bills that make changes to our spying laws can pass their first readings.
The New Zealand First leader says he hasn’t been informed of that, or shown the bill – despite the Prime Minister speaking to media about it.
He says he can’t promise to vote for the legislation when he hasn’t had a chance to read it.
“We’ve not received any communication on this issue, so our position is what we set out on the 16th of April.
“And we clearly said that there was need for protection and safety with respect to the privacy and rights of New Zealanders.”
Not as much as he hates Russell Norman and the other Green losers. Plus, NZF voters would drive their zimmer frames up the steps of parliament if Peters ever cuddled up to those hippy pinkos.
“He ruled out a pre-election understanding being reached. He also made asset sales a bottom line. If one of the SOEs has not been privatized then this will be a bottom line. He also said that agreement to buy back the shares was a bottom line but time will tell.”
He seems genuine. He looks trustworthy. I think the government can do business with this Winston Peters.
definitely. That and 5% is a lot more useful than 0.5%.
We all knew Key would come sucking up to Winston this time, the only question was how susceptible Winnie is to the soft words and trinkets (well, very – but we shall see if Key has the style 🙂 )
edit:
heh – didn’t see Karol’s link above.
Apparently JK has been boasting to his mates before actually popping the question to Winston 🙂
As I recall, John Key was specific about the fact that he would not go into any arrangement with Winston until he clarified the truth about the Owen Glenn donations …
“National Party leader John Key has ruled out Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters having a role in any future National coalition, unless he can provide an explanation on the Owen Glenn saga.”
I don’t think Winston has made any clarification about that so far.
He’s being typically shrewd with the wording there Puddleglum. The key word (heh) is “can”.
Statement to come: “No, Mr Peters has not provided me with an explanation but I never asked that he did, I only asked that he can. Mr Peters assures me that indeed he can and I take his word for that.”
Inter-mission : at 3:30
for Ads and The Big yanC Tucker Inn.
Silowet Ablended Sound Sulcate
Schools in for Winter Elgar
movies form like tears
all floats buoyed on a rising tide.
Abreast in dreams
Islands lie apart.
“non verbis” sed rebus
Knots and Crosses from The Black Book
-(A Good Hanging and other Melting Moments)
some Dharma there to peck at Gregory.
Pebylls wobble but they don’t sink down!
La’ Bealltainn smelt, bog-iron ore
-a 1000 points of light.dragoons
dialled up in a robust stable
And Moors forever reflect
This is Not a lap dance;
If it don’t fit,
Faucet a bit; short hair is so attractive.
-Jamie : Sweet you rock and sweet you roll.
Recipe for creation:
Ingredients- Standard as gone before.
Prep time- 30 minuets, give or take an entry or two.
Compost- Two commercial bricks interrupting Criminal Minds.
Presentation- As You Like It. savioured not strained.
Condiments- Watties Tomato Sauce (salty) on Everything.
Dessert- is beautiful in it’s own way, When The War is Over.
j.j.e.
“There is only a now that includes memories and expectations. I grant” (until now) “that our language is not able to express this.”
-Erwin Schroedinger
“Something unknown” (This Way Comes) “is doing we don’t know what”
-Yes Siree Arthur Eddington.
(if these crumbs are Scooped up, that would be tidey).
” it allowed cooperation with foreign spy agencies without the danger of information about Kiwis being sent overseas. From the looks of the new bill this protection will no longer be there.”
which all fits snugly into the TPPA plans to steal all the IP, everywhere and anywhere it can. The employment merry go round of US Government agencies and Corporate appoinments has been carefully planned and they will no doubt be lining up to share the keys to the back door.
I for one am very seriously worried about the precedent of the “rights” of the state removing the rights of the individual, and even more fearful that the decision to allow this rests with an individual who helped put his man at the helm. A truly slippery slope
Chris Trotter points out in todays’ Press strongly and clearly that the Labor Greens must not back down to the bullying excess of the business world, as expressed over NZ Power.
As he states in the article – if business continues to make threats to the major political grouping in New Zealand then all bets are off. It is to war with business we go.
Strap your big balls on Shearer and Norman, you are taking us over a fulcrum in New Zealand’s politics not seen since 1984. Go hard. Get the fuckers. They claim they are all important but as everyone knows, most espcially those in business, nobody is irreplaceable.
Fight and fight hard. No flinch. Steel. Straight back. Step forward, never backwards.
Its twoo, its twoo. I saw some rather hungry cows on teev last night. Their cockie must be distraught. Some lawyer bloke with no idea was hassling him. Just cos he could see the cows backbone, ribs, hips, neck etc etc.
The backbone is the cultural heart of the country. The heartland. The place where most work is done, most decisions stem from, most people are. That is the cities and towns and suburbs. Can you handle that reality?
ha ha, yep, silly people like farmboy are so indoctrinated with their belief system that they are unable to think independently.
Farmboy, do you realise that Fonterra is a full-blown socialist organisation utilising the full array of the collectivist approach to organisation for the benefit of the people? Do you?
Fonterra is not a ‘right wing’ creation. It takes its cue from the left.
Try opening your eyes and thinking for yourself. Then you may realise that the success of the Fonterra structure, if applied elsewhere in our economy, would help the rest of the country. But you will need to confront them blinkers wrapped tightly against your eyes.
If suggesting that you be required by law to take your drinking water from the downstream boundary of your property constitutes an “attack” then I’m guilty as charged, I guess. Keep up the riparian planting initiative 🙂
So,Aaron Gilmore is now a fully paid up member of key’s lying little inner sanctum. Listening to Radio at the moment with the EXPLANATION of what happened and everyone else has got it wrong.Has he spent the last week being schooled up in what to say to the media.Apologise .cry,”not my fault ,they got it wrong, the waiter started it etc. etc. Another one of nats toads who I can’t bear to look at.
Got to go now, I need to laught my head off!
He needs a lesson from Shane Jones on how to apologise.
I think he has actually made things worse by disputing the DPMC referral threat. This will only invite a response from the waiter or the lawyer if they feel sufficiently aggrieved by this.
And who would you believe? A pissed self confessed dickhead or a sober waiter AND a lawyer who has nothing to gain by making the allegation?
“…AND a lawyer who has nothing to gain by making the allegation?”
AND is a lawyer who apparently specialises in employment law and civil litigation. Rather relevant to the circumstances. I can fully understand why Riches would not want to be associated with Gilmore’s supposed remarks and behaviour.
Oh, dear. A bit embarrassing for RT, who are usually a bit more on to it. Mind you, I’m sure you liked this contribution in the comment thread, freedom. It says what we’re all thinking!
‘RT thank you for sharing! Great to get some real solid news! Stay un-biased for the love of Freedom!’
I find it strange you have no questions whatsoever about a Craft International Team being at the event, the denial of bomb drill announcements over the public address system, the chief of Police’s reference to actors or who exactly was the individual stripped naked and escorted away by police?
but good to know you like your cotton wool served warm and cosy
It’s the mad (potential) conspiracy theory bits I found embarrassing, freedom. Not everything is as it seems, but some things actually are. Boston is very straightforward and the only thing unknown at this point is whether they had external assistance (ie, did the dead terrorist go on a bomb making clinic while he was in the east?).
btw, I understand the conspiracy ‘o’ the day actually concerns one James Gilkerson. Why don’t see what fun you can have with that freedom lover’s death?
contrary to whatever fantasy you believe I do not blindingly swallow the ‘conspiracy of the day’
Boston is far from straight forward. It is however a classic patsy job and with today’s tech etc they are easier and easier to pull off, mainly due to the plethora of disinfo that is now organically produced by the web itself. Many of those who distrust the official story of Boston want one simple question answered ( well a half dozen but)
Who is the naked guy the police led away? The feds will not answer, the cops will not answer. This only promotes further doubt, which creates further debate which creates further disinfo which makes the patsy easier to sell.
They have been doing this a long time. They are very good at it. People no longer believe what they see or hear until they are told what it is they are looking at. That takes skill.
=========
As far as the guy shooting up a cop car, first I had seen of it but it looks like he is just a nut job with an automatic weapon who felt he had no other option. With absolutely no back info it is hard not to come to the suggestion he had some things on his mind So yeah, looks like a nutjob with an automatic weapon. America has millions so them, most wear uniforms and do their mindless slaughter in foreign lands though.
What interests you about it? the books? If he had had a copy of Catcher in the Rye would we be warning POTUS?
the only thing unknown at this point is whether they had external assistance (ie, did the dead terrorist go on a bomb making clinic while he was in the east?).
You missed small things like motive, why they made major preparations for the operation but seemed to have no plan to get out, didn’t seem to realise (or care) that there were cameras all through the target site which would allow them to be immediately identified
Not sure about the bomb drills thing but a former NZ reporter who was there said on RNZ that bomb dogs and teams had done sweeps through the whole course and the finish area before the event started (and might still have been present).
They’d aleady considered a suicide bombing, CV, so I guess getting away with wasn’t high on the priorities list.
And, yes, there were bomb sweeps. But before the killers got there, obviously. Remember, they killed the victims well after the serious athletes had finished, so at a guess, the security was a bit more relaxed then.
As for the photoshopping? Meh, just a paper trying to hide the truth from it’s readers, so nothing to see there … oh, wait 😉
there is that small detail about neither of the patsy backpacks matching the type recovered, just dumb luck i guess, what with the quantum world in constant physical flux and all, colours change, styles alter, turning from silver grey to Craft black is a hell of a trick though 🙂
Personally I love how the BBC and CNN are shills and liars, whereas Russian state-funded telly is unbiased regarding western affairs and are unafraid to speak truth to power.
no-one is saying that, and I have seen many many words against Putin on RT. Far more than I have ever witnessed against Obama on CNN MSN NBC or anyone of the other thirty thousand stations newspapers or radio networks owned by AOL/Warner.
As for the BBC, well they still have a good documentary group,( a good friend is a producer with strong values about journalism and says the difference between BBC news and their dept is chalk and cheese)
It is bizarre how the BBC (broadcast division) censor or cancel the presentation of docos the BBC itself created. BBC is far from innocent. The background links between BBC/CNN and Aljazeera are also worth noting.
I really recommend that you watch a few hours of RT and then say it does not leave every other media network in the dust on International News. Let alone the huge resources they make available via various net and mobile services. There are hundreds of hours of past shows, documentaries from all over the world that you normally have to wait for festivals to see, and a vast collection of viewer contributions. ( which CNN started doing very soon afterwards)
As far as RT not doing hard stories on Russia that is simply not true, but sure they protect their interest, they are a media company after all. Now if American media want to start doing the RT treatment to Russian stories all the better. Don’t hold your breathe though. If US media was even half credible do you really think The Daily Show and The Colbert Report would turn up in polls about current affairs shows?
All media has an agenda but there are quantifiable chasms of difference. RT is about as good as we could hope for in this modern world but if you insist on believing the reds under the beds tripe then nothing I say can change your mind.
I’d say it’s pretty good on those areas of news that do not affect Russian foreign policy. As is the BBC with areas that don’t involve British foreign policy.
Whether strong internal US stability is consistent with Russian foreign policy – that is the question. Whether Chechen-related violence spreading beyond Russian borders is in the Russian interest – that is another question.
like how ‘following the money’ was declared by the administration to be of no importance following that little thing that went down that day in that place with those people
Then perhaps Te Reo you’d be so kind as to take a look at this link and scroll down to the parts that show the stills from video taken after the blast that show no blood despite one guy having had his legs blown off. See as an ex army medic this has been baffling me for the past week.
Since your saying everything is as it seems with the Boston marathon it would be good if you can clear this up for me, because for me this is definitely in the category of an unknown.
Yeah, I can explain it. It’s madness. As an ex army medic you’re probably familiar with that too, if the later MASH TV shows are any guide. What a truly awful site, trading on the pain of the victims as it does. Pathetic, truly pathetic.
ps your first clue that site was authored by lunatics was the link to Glenn Beck (Beck gives Obama till Monday to declare this was an inside job – Yeah, right)
‘If it bleeds, it leads’ has long been a motto associated with the media. Even better if the blood has a local link. I vaguely remember a bogus headline: ‘Earthquake in India; thousands dead. No Britons hurt’, that sort of sums it up.
The weird thing is that people are killed by bombs every day, but it’s only of interest to the media, and conspiracy theorists like yourself, when it happens in the States. Cleverer folk than I might be able to draw some conclusions as to what that means about the blinkered world view of both groups.
“but it’s only of interest to the media, and conspiracy theorists like yourself, when it happens in the States”
I can only speak for me but that is categorically untrue. I could write several lengthy qualifications supporting that statement but you either choose to believe it or you won’t.
The problem is many are too afraid to ask questions around things like this because doing so and getting an answer they aren’t prepared for is something they are just not prepared to deal with mentally. Much better to stay wrapped up nice and safe in their cocoon rather than have to rethink the entire world they live in.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
disappointing – bit of a non answer really, google boston bombings no blood and find ones that comment on this without Glenn beck if that better spins your wheels, but other than that it appears you have providing an explanation more than anything. Are you perhaps saying the pictures are fake? I mean that would at leas be an explanation; not a very good one but an explanation none the less.
If you can’t explain it, it’s cool, just say so. I can’t either.
Well on second thoughts I can but you wouldn’t like the answer…
P.S. wanting to know the truth is not limited to the domain of right wing saddos. It’s right wing saddos and those people that have the ability to think for themselves. But then in my view those that really have the ability to think for themselves do not have their views entrenched with one political party or another, or even within the System for that matter.
There’s nothing to explain, PP. It’s a fantasy. Anytime something bad happens in the states, a segment of the right will blame the gummint. It’s boring and its sad. And it obviously pretty offensive to characterise someone who has just has his legs blown off as an ‘actor’. But if you’re cool with being deluded, fine by me. Just don’t waste my time linking to offensive websites and asking me to comment.
That’s ok I’ll just put you in the category of comfortable living in a cocoon when it comes to this sort of thing. But you are right – A guy gets his legs blown off and there’s no blood…. that is indeed a fantasy. Yet that’s what the pictures show… so unfortunately the reality, well that’s the opposite.
The world is the way it is because too many don’t want to actually see what is going on.
Their should have been blood from before the tourniquet was applied. If you have a look at the pics you can see his stumps with no blood on them at all and no tourniquet.
Scroll down to the series of photos on here – this was sent to me in another link a few days ago somewhere but I couldn’t find the original but these are the same pics.
Ok let me rephrase for your benefit – I am open to suggestions that use logic and common sense. i.e. if a guy has his legs freshly blown off their should be blood and a lot of it.
Having this conversation has been effectively me saying this ‘5’ looks like the number 5 and could their be any other explanation I haven’t considered……? Then you come along and say unicorns smell nice.
But hey I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt in that perhaps you misunderstood the question? The guy in the photo has just had his legs blown off. There is no blood on him, his stumps or the people he is lying on. Why?
…. I’m all ears.
Happy to help, PP. The answer is that you’ve been visiting sites that are full of venomous shit. It’s affected your usual empathy for your fellow humans, making it hard for you to spot the bleeding obvious.
I hope your considering a career in politics – you would be stellar.
So just to get this right – Your saying the reason the pictures of the guy with his legs blown off show no blood on him or anyone around him is because………I have been visiting venomous sites.. and further to this, doing so has damaged my ability to empathize. Have I got that right?
Se now the bit that gets me is that can empathize just fine. I just wanted to know why he has no blood on his legs and as I live in a world of logic and common sense…….. I simply cannot accept your answer.
Really based on what. Based on the fact that you can’t give a straight answer. The only one lacking in logic and common sense is you. Seriously have you read your posts!?!
You want to live in a nice safe warm cocoon and this threatens that. I get it. To be honest I was really hoping you would give me a plausible explanation so that I, like you, could crawl back into my nice safe cocoon. But you failed dismally.
Here’s some advice – Stay there. Stay in your cocoon for as long as you can. The rest of your natural life if possible. Its a happier world in there and don’t let anyone take it away from you. When the Government and the MSM tell you something, believe it, never question it. If things don’t look right change the channel and keep changing it until you hear the story you want to hear. In your world that would be the logical and common sense thing to do and I envy you for being able to. seriously I do.
Yeah, what ever. To be fair, PP, you haven’t come up with some whackjob theory of your own, which is the next stage, so there may be hope for you yet. But, seriously, this stuff is astonishly sick. Remember, the site you sent me to claimed the victims were actors. Actors, FFS. Not people who’ve just had their legs blown off by arseholes, but actors. How sick to you have to be write that shit?
“The socialism I believe in is everybody working for the same goal and everybody having a share in the rewards. That’s how I see football, that’s how I see life.”
Liverpool FC Manager, Bill Shankly.
“The area started to decline in the early 1990s with the city’s economic problems. But Liverpool football club accelerated the decline, by leaving good houses empty and boarded up. It wasn’t a natural decline; it was engineered.”
Anyone notice that Mr Key said at his Press Conference yesterday that he had been speaking with NZF about supporting the GCSB reform and about matters to do with the economy. Mr Peters said there had been no discussions with him about either matter. The Media told him that a letter was coming about the GCSB.
Could Mr Key have mis-spoken or even lied? Watch this space.
The funniest thing about the Gilmore Grill is how he texted the PM an apology.
Seriously? texted the apology ! Is this how the PM now operates so as to limit how often he can be caught out in silly statements. If you were an MP and had caused this fracas, would you not speak directly to your party leader? Key admits numerous discussions between his chief of staff and Gilmore but that he himself only heard from Gilmore by text. So what did Key instruct his chief of staff to do and say and just how much autonomy does the staff have?
But a text apology? What was it?
‘sry bout bn a dkhd’
it’s an apology to the PM. You are not reminding him to grab some milk. These clowns are a frikkin embarassment to the country (wow, so getting tired of writing that line)
You can’t even txt in to take a day off sick at most firms in NZ, but bringing your employer into disrepute apparently can be sorted by txt if you are a National MP. Higher standards, anyone?
Just as an aside, this sends a msg to all Nat backbench MP’s. And that message is ‘we’ve only got a one seat majority, so it’d be nice if you don’t publicly embarrass us, but if you feel you must, well that’s cool too.’
I saw the interview on TV3. My recollection was that the discussions with Mr Peters was said by Mr Key (as well as the letter mention) and that matters of finance had been also discussed with NZF.
Mr English was asked this morning on Morning Report about the “financial discussions.” He said you would have to ask Mr Key about that. (Implying that he knew nothing about that.) Might be wrong karol. Will see.
On TV3 News last night there was the reference that I was looking for starting at about 6:50min in. Mr Key became embarrassed about the detail. http://www.tv3.co.nz/tabid/3692/MCat/3102/Default.aspx
Might be totally unimportant but I had to look.
I thought maybe that Peters was being cute. He said no one had talked directly to him about it. Doesn’t stop lower level conversations taking place and given National’s love of power I would not be surprised if this was the case.
Attacking the Messenger
In Praise of Richard Falk
by LAWRENCE DAVIDSON, May 6, 2013
Shortly after the 15 April 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, Richard Falk, professor emeritus of international law at Princeton University and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Palestinian territories, published an analysis of the episode entitled “A Commentary on the Marathon Murders.”
In this analysis Falk pointed out that there are “serious deficiencies in how the U.S. sees itself in the world. We should be worried by the taboo . . . imposed on any type of self-scrutiny [of U.S. foreign policy] by either the political leadership or the mainstream media.” This taboo essentially blinds us to the reality of our situation. Falk continues, “The American global domination project is bound to generate all kinds of resistance in the post-colonial world. . . . Especially if there is no disposition to rethink U.S. relations with others . . . starting with the Middle East.”
……………./
Thus, looked at from outside of the self-justifying perspective of the United States government, everything Richard Falk says is accurate. However, from the inside of the official government worldview, Falk is a heretic and his message dangerous verbal poison. Therefore, the reaction of those dedicated to customary policies and alliances has been shrill.
For instance, Washington’s ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, said that she was “outraged by Richard Falk’s highly offensive Boston comments. Someone who spews such vitriol has no place at the UN. Past time for him to go.” Similar statements came from members of Congress who are collecting signatures on a letter demanding that President Obama “take action” against Falk. The British mission to the UN released a statement to the effect that “this is the third time we have had cause to express our concerns about Mr. Falk’s anti-Semitic remarks.” This is an embarrassingly ignorant statement that confuses criticism of Israel with hostility to Jews in general. By the way, Richard Falk is Jewish. For its part, Israel has long barred Falk from even entering the Palestinian territories for which he has responsibility. Finally, Zionists have accused Falk of being “an anti-American and pro-radical Islam activist.” This is another statement that is both factually incorrect and ignorant, because Falk is a deeply knowledgable American trying to talk some sense to politicians leading the nation toward a dangerous cliff, and because it confuses criticism of Israel with supporting “radical Islam.”
The ugly fact is that, most Americans have been kept dangerously ignorant of the wanton damage caused by their government’s foreign policies, and those who would prevent them from knowing the truth are, at the very least, indirectly responsible for terrorist attacks launched in reaction to those policies.
Richard Falk’s crime is to be a person of note, an esteemed academic and a respected servant of the United Nations, who is trying to break through with the truth. It is all the more frightening to the U.S. and its allies that, in this effort, Falk has access to an independent platform. He regularly reports to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, where he has the ear of many of the 47 nations that make up this body. Unfortunately, the one group most in need of Falk’s wisdom, the American public, remains beyond the range of his voice.
If it could get away with it, the U.S. government would probably cart Richard Falk off to some hellhole prison, or keep him confined to some foreign embassy (as it has done to Julian Assange). However, despite disturbing signs to the contrary, Washington isn’t yet ready to take such actions against a man of Falk’s stature. However, do not mistake such forbearance for the mark of a mature and stable society. No. Such societies (just like mature and stable adults) are capable of self-criticism. At least at the level of leadership and media, the United States is not capable of such self-reflection and so its citizens are likely to be the last to know that much of the terrorism they fear is a product of their own government’s continuing barbarism.
Do YOU think that Auckland Council CEO Doug McKay, as a supposedly ‘apolitical public servant’ should be a member of the unelected ‘invitation-only’ extremely powerful private sector lobby group, the Committee for Auckland?
I don’t.
I think the Governing Body of Auckland Council should ensure that CEO Doug McKay, terminates his membership of the Committee for Auckland, in order to comply with his ‘apolitical’ role as a ‘public servant, and have requested speaking rights at the upcoming Auckland Council Governing Body meeting to raise this with them directly.
______________________________________________________________________________
Request for speaking rights at Public Forum of the upcoming Governing Body meeting of Auckland Council, Thursday 9 May 2013 at 11am.
Reception Lounge
Auckland Town Hall
301-305 Queen Street
Auckland
Dear Mayor Len Brown,
My subject matter is:
Auckland Council Local Government Election Year Policy
“Neutrality of Public Servants”.
At this Governing Body meeting of Auckland Council, you are discussing the proposed ‘Auckland Council Local Government Election Year Policy’.
“Who does this policy apply to?
4) This policy applies to all Auckland Council elected members and Auckland Council employees.”
“Neutrality of Public Servants
12. A major characteristic of New Zealand’s constitutional arrangements is that public servants are apolitical. This applies to public servants in local and central government.”
If Auckland Council employees are supposed to be apolitical ‘public servants’ – then why is Auckland Council CEO, Doug McKay, still a member of the ‘invitation-only’, powerful private sector lobby group – the Committee for Auckland?
Please be reminded of the LGOIMA reply I received from Wendy Brandon, General Counsel for Auckland Council dated 10 February 2012
(“Official Information Request No: 9000114213:)
“1. I have advised you previously that Mr McKay is a member of the Committee for Auckland in his capacity as Chief Executive of Auckland Council.
2. Mr McKay is an honorary member of the Committee for Auckland. As such, there was no joining fee charged or paid.
3. No resolution of any committee of the Auckland Council was sought or given in relation to Mr McKay’s membership of the Committee for Auckland.
The Committee for Auckland is an independent organisation and its aims and objectives are a matter of public record.”
Please be reminded that membership of the Committee for Auckland is ‘invitation’ only
_____________________________________________________________________________
Membership to the Committee for Auckland is by invitation. Members meet quarterly and are invited to be involved in those aspects of the work programme that interest them.
Members are Chairs of Boards, Directors and Chief Executives
Corporate Membership annual fee $10,000.
Associate and Individual Membership comprises organisations or individuals who support the aims and purpose of the Committee but who, for various reasons, are unable to take a full part in contributing to the Committee’s portfolio of initiatives.
Associate Membership annual fee $5,000
Individual Membership annual fee $2,500
For further information about Membership, please contact theExecutive Director”
______________________________________________________________________________
How many Auckland Council or Auckland CCO contracts are going to member companies of the Committee for Auckland?
How can this not be a ‘perceived conflict of interest’ for the Principal Adminstrative Officer of Auckland Council – the CEO Doug McKay – to be a member of this private sector lobby group, particularly when his membership has not been ‘authorised /endorsed’ by elected members of Auckland Council?
Is the Governing Body of Auckland Council going to ensure that CEO Doug McKay, terminates his membership of the Committee for Auckland, in order to comply with his ‘apolitical’ role as a ‘public servant?
Yes I did freedom. Gave up in the end. Got told it was a server problem.
Actually I’m getting sick of all the gremlins trying to watch online Parliament TV. It started at the beginning of this year. Last year and previous to that the reception was excellent.
The further descents of K2; There is an article in The Herald about the boffin who developed the synthetic cannabinoids claiming they were definitely Not for human consumption. I was interviewed for the paper (photo taken) today on my (informed) opinion on this rubbish. 😀
(photo may not develop, being ecto-plasmic and all that…)
Some very good speeches for Parekura, nice mixture of speaking styles, many funny and warm.
It’s just a shame that two of the poorest speakers in Parliament are the PM and PM-in-waiting. Every time there’s a tribute in the House, they fail to rise to the occasion. Pretty much every MP who followed them showed how to do it, but there’s this leaden log-jam at the top, Messrs Dull and Duller.
AT LAST! JOHN BANKS IS IN THE AUCKLAND DISTRICT COURT (Albert St) Wednesday 8 May 2013 for a first appearance at 10am to face a private prosecution brought by Graham McCready for electoral fraud.
Plan to have banners up outside Court from 9am.
WHEN IS PRIME MINISTER JOHN KEY GOING TO STAND DOWN JOHN BANKS AS A MINISTER?
Details about this case and background information is available here:
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Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s move to increase speed limits substantially on dozens of stretches of rural and often undivided highways will result in more serious harm. ...
In her first announcement as Economic Growth Minister, Nicola Willis chose to loosen restrictions for digital nomads from other countries, rather than focus on everyday Kiwis. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF). Mr McClay recently hosted Minister Farrell in Rotorua for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting, where ANZLF presented on ...
A new monthly podiatry clinic has been launched today in Wairoa and will bring a much-needed service closer to home for the Wairoa community, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.“Health New Zealand has been successful in securing a podiatrist until the end of June this year to meet the needs of ...
The Judicial Conduct Commissioner has recommended a Judicial Conduct Panel be established to inquire into and report on the alleged conduct of acting District Court Judge Ema Aitken in an incident last November, Attorney-General Judith Collins said today. “I referred the matter of Judge Aitken’s alleged conduct during an incident ...
Students who need extra help with maths are set to benefit from a targeted acceleration programme that will give them more confidence in the classroom, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Last year, significant numbers of students did not meet the foundational literacy and numeracy level required to gain NCEA. To ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced three new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ...
Ki te kahore he whakakitenga, ka ngaro te Iwi – without a vision, the people will perish. The Government has achieved its target to reduce the number of households in emergency housing motels by 75 per cent five years early, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The number of households ...
The opening of Palmerston North’s biggest social housing development will have a significant impact for whānau in need of safe, warm, dry housing, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The minister visited the development today at North Street where a total of 50 two, three, and four-bedroom homes plus a ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced the new membership of the Public Advisory Committee on Disarmament and Arms Control (PACDAC), who will serve for a three-year term. “The Committee brings together wide-ranging expertise relevant to disarmament. We have made six new appointments to the Committee and reappointed two existing members ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora, good morning, talofa, malo e lelei, bula vinaka, da jia hao, namaste, sat sri akal, assalamu alaikum. It’s so great to be here and I’m ready and pumped for 2025. Can I start by acknowledging: Simon Bridges – CEO of the Auckland ...
The Government has unveiled a bold new initiative to position New Zealand as a premier destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) that will create higher paying jobs and grow the economy. “Invest New Zealand will streamline the investment process and provide tailored support to foreign investors, to increase capital investment ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced the largest reset of the New Zealand science system in more than 30 years with reforms which will boost the economy and benefit the sector. “The reforms will maximise the value of the $1.2 billion in government funding that goes into ...
Turbocharging New Zealand’s economic growth is the key to brighter days ahead for all Kiwis, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. In the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation Speech in Auckland today, Christopher Luxon laid out the path to the prosperity that will affect all aspects of New Zealanders’ lives. ...
The latest set of accounts show the Government has successfully checked the runaway growth of public spending, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “In the previous government’s final five months in office, public spending was almost 10 per cent higher than for the same period the previous year. “That is completely ...
The Government’s welfare reforms are delivering results with the number of people moving off benefits into work increasing year-on-year for six straight months. “There are positive signs that our welfare reset and the return consequences for job seekers who don't fulfil their obligations to prepare for or find a job ...
Today I’ve had a bit on. I’m living in a 23.4 metre tug off the coast of Samoa and have been for a few weeks now. I’m on a top-secret mission to help save the planet from another potential environmental disaster.I’m currently tasked with looking out the window and making ...
The ‘loneliness epidemic’ is apparently spreading around the world, but what does it look like here in New Zealand? Rachel Judkins reports. It’s a beautiful summer evening in Cornwall Park, with families scattered on the grass and a live band playing a backing track to their laughter. Sprawled on a ...
The Act leader gets a telling-off from the principal and prime minister Christopher Luxon loses his cool in a heated question time. Echo Chamber is The Spinoff’s dispatch from the press gallery, recapping sessions in the House. Columns are written by politics reporter Lyric Waiwiri-Smith and Wellington editor Joel MacManus. ...
The High Court isn’t the appropriate place to solve a South Island iwi’s claims over freshwater, the Crown says.Ngāi Tahu leaders, and the collective Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, are taking legal action against the Attorney-General, demanding to be involved in decision-making over freshwater. Iwi want the Crown to recognise ...
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Opinion: It was the 10th anniversary of UNESCO’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science this week, the theme being ‘Unpacking STEM Careers: Her Voice in Science’. It is 2025, but we still need a lot more of her voices in science.In New Zealand, a 2021 survey found that ...
NewsroomBy Dr Jennifer Kruger and Dr Kelly Burrowes
A Government proposal to axe the only two jobs in New Zealand’s health sector of people who were working on a national strategy for palliative care has angered those in the sector, which is already under immense strain.It’s put another wedge between those who want terminally ill patients to live ...
COMMENTARY:By Sawsan Madina I watched US President Donald Trump’s joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week in utter disbelief. Not that the idea, or indeed the practice, of ethnic cleansing of Palestine is new. But at that press conference the mask has fallen. Recently, fascism ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government will on Wednesday announce it is willing, as a last resort, to purchase the collapsed Rex Airlines, in its latest bid to prop up aviation services to regional and remote areas. As ...
Jotham Napat has been elected as the new prime minister of Vanuatu. Napat was elected unopposed in Port Vila today, receiving 50 votes with two void votes. He is the country’s fifth prime minister in four years and will lead a coalition government made up of five political parties — ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By A J Brown, Professor of Public Policy & Law, Centre for Governance & Public Policy, Griffith University Australia has turned the corner on its decade-long slide on Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), once again ranking in the top ten least ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Bridges, Senior Lecturer in Public Relations and Director of Academic Program – Communication, Creative Industries, Screen Media, Western Sydney University Stock Rocket/Shutterstock For new parents struggling with challenges such as breastfeeding and sleep deprivation, social media can be a great ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scott French, Senior Lecturer in Economics, UNSW Sydney US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have stated an exemption for Australia from Trump’s executive order placing 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imported into the US is “under consideration”. ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon's attempts to turn the tables back on the Opposition at Question Time today went down like a lead balloon, Jo Moir writes. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brenton Griffin, Casual Lecturer and Tutor in History, Indigenous Studies, and Politics, Flinders University American Primeval/Netflix On January 24, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, more commonly known as the Mormon Church, penned a statement condemning the ...
It comes as Whangārei District Council is under fire from the Director General of Health Dr Diana Sarfati after it voted in December against adding fluoridation to the water. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Strangio, Emeritus Professor of Politics, Monash University Is history repeating itself in Labor’s fortress state of Victoria? At the 1990 federal election, Bob Hawke’s Labor government had a near-death experience when it lost nine seats in Victoria. A furious Hawke laid ...
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The government is taking far too long to allocate the 1500 social homes it announced nine months ago and the hold up is stalling desperately-needed homes, says a community housing provider. ...
The agency is setting a 12-week limit on how much rent debt a tenant can accumulate as part of a change in approach that will also see almost half of the outstanding dept wiped away. ...
The media is rife with headlines about people killing animals for kicks. Please don’t.In memory of an Auckland swan, a Bay of Plenty octopus and a Taranaki striped marlin.Imagine this. It’s 7.15am. You’re paddling around on a serene lake with your sweetheart. It seems likely that she’ll give ...
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Pacific Media Watch Israeli police have confiscated hundreds of books with Palestinian titles or flags without understanding their contents in a draconian raid on a Palestinian educational bookshop in occupied East Jerusalem, say eyewitnesses. More details have emerged on the Israeli police raid on a popular bookstore in occupied East ...
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist China and the Cook Islands’ relationship “should not be disrupted or restrained by any third party”, says Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, as opposition leaders in Rarotonga express a loss of confidence in Prime Minister Mark Brown. In response to questions from the ...
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According to Key Wellington is a dying city http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8639116/Capital-a-dying-city-says-prime-minister
Speaking to Takapuna businessmen about growth opportunities for Auckland he demonstrated very clearly his total detachment from reality. For Key there is only growth per se, no other reality, no other concept. Which may help him heat the mansion as the planetary temperature rises. Conversely he may be astounded to find himself and the Takapuna businessmen starving amongst the extra million Aucklanders in twenty years time.
There you go though, this level of vision and leadership might also be found not too far distant from the Treasury benches. I also heard Shearer mention the magic words “growth” recently.
But – Oh nos, he said it but didn’t really mean it – it’s just that head office stuff – but I did really mean it really, it’s contracting due to Auckland’s growth.
Seems a bit like ‘we’d love to see wages drop’ but really I didn’t mean it, but really did.
From the article…”the Government has no idea…”
Those 4 words pretty much up this government.
And yet, Vic Uni is the uni of choice for Sth Island students; meanwhile Wellington rents are on the up.
In a world first for a PM he actually forgot two entire universities (Massey University + the Wānanga):
“All you have there is government, Victoria University and Weta Workshop.”
Wellington is a very popular spot for general Tourism, especially amongst wealthy travellers. It is widely regarded as the coolest little Capital in the world, and often hosts some of the more important conferences that head to this side of the planet. All of this seems to highlight a bit of ignorance on the part of the Minister of Tourism
Yeah, weird choice of words, talk about giving the the left wing contingent of the media something to beat you with.
Dying is rather final, you don’t tend to come back from dying, stagnating, weak,vulnerable would have been a lot better.
Reality check. Population growth ≠ weakness, let alone death.
I know very little about the economy of Wellington so I can’t really comment on it.
I’m stunned the Key would make such a dumb comment, the only thing I can think of that he was ad libbing part of his speech and dying popped into his head, stuck so he went with that.
If it was part of a written speech I’d be pretty disappointed as it really shows a lack of nous.
and his all too common back peddling denial? any comment on that BM ?
Perhaps it was a rare moment of honesty, from Key!
Unfortunately he is right…and it his government’s fault too (although to be fair, some of the blame should be shouldered by Wellington’s hopeless council).
Wellington’s population continues to increase. So “unfortunately” he is wrong.
Likely setting the scene for a new round of attacks on the public service. The changes to industrial legislation, the welfare reforms and the start of privatising those services, charter schools, health changes like the new mental health unit in Hawkes Bay having half the beds they have now and mention of services being provided in the community instead of by the hospital, traditional service providers like Presbyterian Support and polytechs losing contracts all over the place in the last few years. Crisis in the various departments publicised and publicised and publicised, all of government contracting removing any sense of autonomy, government aim of online transactions, the offloadimg of support to do your tax return from a free service by IRD staff to a paid service by the private sector (disadvantaging the intellectually disabled for instance who are unlikely to access paid services but used to go to IRD previously), government property being looked at to reduce the cost of this including the amount of space per person.
That’s just a random few things that have been through the news in the last year or so.
There seems to be a pattern emerging.
I’m picking a real go at teachers, more contracting to private sector and a considerable downsizing of the Wellington Public Service.
Just waiting for someone in the media to suggest moving government to Auckland next. Where’s Hooten?
http://www.ird.govt.nz/calculators/tool-name/tools-t/calculator-tax-rate.html?id=righttabs
I really suggest you don’t go to a private service. They get to act as your tax agent and charge you every year unless you go to IRD and have them taken off.
Economically speaking its pretty glum.
Loss of manufacturing was a big nail in the coffin.
No Ambulance at the bottom of the cliff?
People will no doubt cite Auckland’s higher population growth as evidence of Wellington malaise, but I think at present the opposite is true: Auckland grows like Topsy and has serious systemic problems, exacerbated by Rodney Hide’s faith-based incompetence, and other examples of Tory sloth and idiocy.
Oh, now it becomes clear: Nine-to-Noon is doing a piece on Wellington becoming an amalgamated “super city”.
Ah ha. Get everyone panicking that Welly is dying and the only cute is…
K, if you take the precept that when somebody wants something to happen badly they must have a vested interest: ergo you understand the call for a super city from the Right. Hence the call for amalgamations must be about some bugger getting something at the expense of the rest of us.
Of course the correct precept is that calls for amalgamation of councils are a sure sign that the opposite should occur. They should be fragmented, small is beautiful after all.
Wellington “Super City”, has been on the cards the moment that Auckland was chained with the oversized liability.
The continued *roll up*, occurs, and will continue to do so until there is *only one*!
Applies to private and public sector, it can’t be any other way, under current manufactured monetary scarcity.
The *whats in it*, has come from off-shore, and is simply consolidating the resource grad, to make it easier than it already appears to be.
Who is driving these consolidations, and who gains most from them: Neither these answers is, *on-shore*
Small is beautiful, agree with that!
+1
For New Zealanders living overseas….
Kea, the networking organisation for rich expats (sorry… ‘for business growth through networks’) that somehow received funding from MoBIE, NZTE, MFAT and TPK, is running a survey called ‘Every Kiwi Counts’, to get views from Expats that will be disseminated to very important people in NZ.
I’ve filled it in with a very left wing slant in the comments sections – Environment, social inequality, health, education, democracy (CERA, ECAN soon to be Auckland), shoulder tapping etc. I’m thinking there won’t be too many lefties on the mailing list, so here’s the link if you want your voice heard by very important people.
http://everykiwicounts.com/
Note – it says it works on tablets, phones etc, but I think there is an error there. PC works fine.
That’d be the Kea that John Key gave a speech to during a 2009 lunch, followed by:
And that’d be the same Mark D’Arcy who was part of the Warners’ team at the Wellington Hobbit, screw Kiwi workers, negotiations.
Yep, that’s them. All very sales and marketing. Another go-getter ‘World Class’ business organisation that is quite happy to take taxpayer’s money to run survey to mirror its own values.
Ralston Saul in his dictionary of such matters defined the words “World Class” as uttered by the likes of business leaders as a guarantee of “provincialism”.
Which exemplifies the oh so ethical “networking” being crudely promoted by this right wing business and government funded Uriah Heep organisation. Even more reason to fill in their online survey with some frank opinions about the state of NZ and where the current political and environmental policies are seriously damaging our reputation overseas
It doesn’t want MY views. Are they already hacking my computer?
I answered the first question about where I live? NZ – then it said thanks, goodbye, I don’t fit the requirements of their survey.
PS; Oh, wait. Tried again, saying I live in “Oceania” and I’m in.
I hate LinkedIn…..Facebook for business types with too few friends.
I filled it in on behalf of my wife who is working in South Asia. The slant seemed to be a search for highly paid leadership/investment people. Just an impression. Last comment box was opportunity to express concern about NZ direction under current Govt.
Idiot Savant is in typical form first out of the block with an analysis of the Spy Bill (http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2013/05/the-spy-bill.html).
And I agree it is a shocker. It completely undermines a number of careful balances that had been reached between individual’s rights and the needs of the state.
One area of concern for me is what information will this now allow our overseas allies to obtain? My understanding is that one of the reasons for the GCSB being set up is that it allowed cooperation with foreign spy agencies without the danger of information about Kiwis being sent overseas. From the looks of the new bill this protection will no longer be there.
The bill may be by design as bad as it looks. Peters was on Radio New Zealand this morning sounding remarkably sanguine about the Government. It may be that the price of NZ First’s support are some dampening of the worst excesses of the bill, intentionally inserted into the legislation so that they could then be taken out to show flexibility on the part of the Government and relevance on the part of NZ First.
All in all this is developing as a major threat to Kiwis’ civil liberties. Be afraid, be very afraid …
And in relation to I/S’s mention of the national security function to include “economic well being”, this in the Stuff article this morning:
My bold.
karol,
While I emphatically agree the underlying concern here, the question of the GCSB assisting other public and private sector organisations is probably intended as a reference to the need to set standards and SOP’s around cybersecurity. For example in the USA there are a number of govt. organisations who are active in this area, without any apparent overlap into spying as such.
Spooks are as much involved in maintaining systems integrity and security from outside threats and attacks as they are in actively seeking out other people’s information. In that sense assisting other public and private sector organisations to build and maintain their own defenses can be seen as relatively a benign activity.
This country is so small that what we are doing here is rolling multiple functions into one agency, the GCSB. As we have already seen our spooks have problems with boundaries, so while it may appeal to Key to ‘efficiently’ put them all under one roof; it merely sets us up for more problems in the future.
Spooks are as much involved in maintaining systems integrity and security from outside threats and attacks as they are in actively seeking out other people’s information.
Key says that the legislation stops the GCSB from doing this right now but I am not so sure.
Section 14 of the GCSB Act says:
“Neither the Director, nor an employee of the Bureau, nor a person acting on behalf of the Bureau may authorise or take any action for the purpose of intercepting the communications of a person (not being a foreign organisation or a foreign person) who is a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident.”
The way I read this section it does not prevent assistance from being given to other Government Departments. All it does is stop the GCSB from intercepting communications of Kiwis. As long as, for instance, the SIS had obtained information legally there is nothing stopping the GCSB from analysing it or collating it.
The basic problem is that apart from the Kim Dotcom fiasco the public has no idea what the operational problems are. Key is basically asking us to trust him on this. And I for one am not inclined to do so.
What can one do though?
We are stripped of our votes.
We are already spied on by the KGSB.
We are forced off our land.
We are forced to sell our property to the government.
The government’s tax gatherers have an obscene amount of power.
The government is able to enact any law it wishes without limitation.
The police break the law to achieve their ends.
Our private matters are tossed all around the whole place.
We are made to pay for the excess of the elite.
We are increasingly taxed more and more byt secretive and deceptive means.
We are the fodder.
We are merely the muppets stepping eternally inside the rolling wheel going nowhere..
There is nothing we can do except wait until the extremity date of pitchfork and noose.
Crickey, for one second there I thought I had woken up in some kind of totalitarian state but then I remembered that you are just a nutter prone to exageration.
KK, where is the exaggeration? Every item on the list has happened or is happening. As an ape you should already be aware that nature is a good teacher and ostriches really do not have the longest life spans.
Reality is not your strong point is it kk.
Which of those is incorrect, or even an exaggeration? Which one? Tell me do. You sound like the typical kiwi, she’ll be right, can’t happen here, yadda yadda yadda ……..
I would suggest that it is you who is the nutter prone to blinkerism and refusal-to-see syndrome.
So, come on, which is an exagerration?
I really can’t be bothered with this as it is like arguing with the mentally deranged about the existence of fairys at the bottom of the garden.
However, just to humour you, we will start at the first point. Who has been stripped of their vote? and to be clear, so you don’t come back with details on the change in constitution of your local Dungeon and Dragons club, we are talking about national and local elections.
“I really can’t be bothered with this as it is like arguing with the mentally deranged about the existence of fairys at the bottom of the garden.”
Why did you bother posting then?
” Who has been stripped of their vote? and to be clear, so you don’t come back with details on the change in constitution of your local Dungeon and Dragons club, we are talking about national and local elections.”
People in Canterbury, with direct threats made by david Carter to other Councils.
next
My apologies, I must of missed the story about the local elections in chch being cancelled and a despotic council taking over.
Having being so wrong about that I guess I will just wait for the doorbell to be rung by someone who is there to force me off my land.
Let us storm the Bastile.
http://parliamenttoday.co.nz/2013/02/ecan-election-suspension-bill-debated/
this latest instalment is only from February, do we really need to pull out every article on ECAN since 2008, or can you admit you are being a stirring prat? You are so disingenuous sometimes it is pitiful and whatever you think you are achieving is not what most people would call socially useful. But then again society is of no interest to you and your ilk, you just like the baubles it can courier to your door.
Great King Kong, thanks for the admission that you got the first on the list wrong.
Next one you raise, forcing off the land.
People in Christchurch are being forced off their land. If you like I can dig out some links to people bitterly unhappy at what this government is doing. Both in the CBD and in Chch East, but as someone who seems to claim to have an awareness of goings-on in the country there should be no need.
As for your facile commentary and smart alec comments ……………………………….
Next
Oh I see, when you were saying “we” you were actually talking about a couple of hillbillies in chch, criminals and dole bludgers.
Another three hillbillies in Christchurch:
Landowners David Sloan, Paul Chaney and Peter Schneideman, who own three separate plots of land, said they wanted to retain and develop their sites.
“I don’t think anyone wants to sell. It is confiscation and thievery.
“I am not happy at all with what Cera have offered for my land,” said Sloan.
who wouldn’t be attracted to Misanthropy? ; freakin’ apes put people to shame! 😉
King Kong you have failed miserably on this and in so doing highlighted the totalitarian actions of John Key and his government.
Keep going if you wish but all you have provided so far is ignorance in a smart alec wrapper. Like John Key himself.
“I really can’t be bothered with this as it is” reality and reality scares me and reality means my selfish ignorant know it all attitude might be shown to be nothing more than slogans and lies
“Who has been stripped of their vote?”
how about CHCH you fucking dickhead
i would like to apologise for the profanity it was uncalled for and is unproductive.
I am sure there are plenty of people who contributed to KK’s ignorance
Oh no need to apologise for your profanity, it makes me look bad for never having done so myself.
Please follow KK’s advice and start acting like the sheeple/ostriches you are all supposed to be.
Also this government removed voting rights in general elections for certain groups of prisoners in about 2010.
’twas well publicised at the time.
Where is the exaggeration in what he wrote?
You appear to be a complacent fool if ever there was one.
If GCSB spying paranoia is overwhelming you then just use Apple’s message service. Cannot be intercepted.
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/news/nbint/1059773866-need-to-send-a-secret–get-an-iphone
Interesting idea, but 106 iOS security vulnerabilities were found in 2012 alone.
http://www.cvedetails.com/vulnerability-list/vendor_id-49/product_id-15556/year-2012/Apple-Iphone-Os.html
“What can one do though?”
About spying? If you want to send a message privately, only send information which has meaning for the intended recipient due to shared private context.
Eg “Meet me at our favourite restaurant”, not “Meet me at McDonalds”.
About being forced of your land? Know the law of the land. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
“The government is able to enact any law it wishes without limitation.”
That is the body politic would like you to think, but it is pure BS. If it were true then there would be no effective difference between lawful government and conspiracy by the body politic.
If a deal is struck it should also put a cold shiver through Labour’s leadership, because they are still giong to need Winston to form the next coalition government. If Winston can still do deals with Key, then National just got itself a potential coalition partner and can consign Labour and Greens to 9 years in Opposition, rather than 6.
The audio is now up at http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/mnr/mnr-20130507-0713-govt_wants_nz_firsts_support_for_gcsb_bill-048.mp3.
I agree Ad that Labour should be very afraid. Peters’s language was remarkably conciliatory. He obviously wants to be a player. And he seemed to be generally in favour of an increase in powers.
He was asked specifically if he thought National was trying to build a relationship. He ruled out a pre-election understanding being reached. He also made asset sales a bottom line. If one of the SOEs has not been privatized then this will be a bottom line. He also said that agreement to buy back the shares was a bottom line but time will tell.
Winston could easily get a higher weighting for local ownership through amending the investment criteria for ACC, EQC and NZSuper – maybe even amending the Kiwisaver legislation – that would have the effect of buying back a whole lot more of the share % of those 49% companies, and claim a “bottom line” policy win, and Key would take the country back using Winston as the foil that achieved it – and Key would then get to have his asset sale cake, and eat it as well.
Dare we dream that Winnie has a plan? That is to say, might he be planning a bait n switch. Sidling on up to the the slippery one, letting the arrogance of the fool present the details and then expose the mofo for what he is really planning? Just lately in the House Peters has been fighting a good fight and seems genuinely angry with the direction NZ is being steered. I am no fan, but I don’t see Peters rolling for a belly scratch this late in the game.
Legacy shopping. Winston’s got great energy, but he’s only got 1 maybe 2 terms left in Parliament. Completing 3 more terms would be legendary.
Winnie hates Key and (as the audio shows) hates the asset sell-offs. He will take pleasure in removing him as PM if he gets the chance.
I will wait to see where Peters goes with the GCSB issue. I’ve read 2 reports (an earlier one on ZB’s website), and this one, claiming that Peters was pissed off that Key had announced Peters was likely to be on board, without consulting him.
Not as much as he hates Russell Norman and the other Green losers. Plus, NZF voters would drive their zimmer frames up the steps of parliament if Peters ever cuddled up to those hippy pinkos.
As they probably would if he went into coalition with National.
“He ruled out a pre-election understanding being reached. He also made asset sales a bottom line. If one of the SOEs has not been privatized then this will be a bottom line. He also said that agreement to buy back the shares was a bottom line but time will tell.”
He seems genuine. He looks trustworthy. I think the government can do business with this Winston Peters.
The timing of the new détente with Winston is interesting. Insurance against Banks’ potential demise?
definitely. That and 5% is a lot more useful than 0.5%.
We all knew Key would come sucking up to Winston this time, the only question was how susceptible Winnie is to the soft words and trinkets (well, very – but we shall see if Key has the style 🙂 )
edit:
heh – didn’t see Karol’s link above.
Apparently JK has been boasting to his mates before actually popping the question to Winston 🙂
Dumber and dumberer.
“We all knew Key would come sucking up to Winston”
Labour would do that same and I bet they will if Winnie holds the balance of power (Which I hope he doesn’t)
I don’t recall Labour ever ruling out working with Peters, but then Key has surely demonstrated that his word ain’t worth shit by now anyway.
As I recall, John Key was specific about the fact that he would not go into any arrangement with Winston until he clarified the truth about the Owen Glenn donations …
Oh yes, I was right … he did.
“National Party leader John Key has ruled out Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters having a role in any future National coalition, unless he can provide an explanation on the Owen Glenn saga.”
I don’t think Winston has made any clarification about that so far.
He’s being typically shrewd with the wording there Puddleglum. The key word (heh) is “can”.
Statement to come: “No, Mr Peters has not provided me with an explanation but I never asked that he did, I only asked that he can. Mr Peters assures me that indeed he can and I take his word for that.”
Inter-mission : at 3:30
for Ads and The Big yanC Tucker Inn.
Silowet Ablended Sound Sulcate
Schools in for Winter Elgar
movies form like tears
all floats buoyed on a rising tide.
Abreast in dreams
Islands lie apart.
“non verbis” sed rebus
Knots and Crosses from The Black Book
-(A Good Hanging and other Melting Moments)
some Dharma there to peck at Gregory.
Pebylls wobble but they don’t sink down!
La’ Bealltainn smelt, bog-iron ore
-a 1000 points of light.dragoons
dialled up in a robust stable
And Moors forever reflect
This is Not a lap dance;
If it don’t fit,
Faucet a bit; short hair is so attractive.
-Jamie : Sweet you rock and sweet you roll.
Recipe for creation:
Ingredients- Standard as gone before.
Prep time- 30 minuets, give or take an entry or two.
Compost- Two commercial bricks interrupting Criminal Minds.
Presentation- As You Like It. savioured not strained.
Condiments- Watties Tomato Sauce (salty) on Everything.
Dessert- is beautiful in it’s own way, When The War is Over.
j.j.e.
“There is only a now that includes memories and expectations. I grant” (until now) “that our language is not able to express this.”
-Erwin Schroedinger
“Something unknown” (This Way Comes) “is doing we don’t know what”
-Yes Siree Arthur Eddington.
(if these crumbs are Scooped up, that would be tidey).
” it allowed cooperation with foreign spy agencies without the danger of information about Kiwis being sent overseas. From the looks of the new bill this protection will no longer be there.”
which all fits snugly into the TPPA plans to steal all the IP, everywhere and anywhere it can. The employment merry go round of US Government agencies and Corporate appoinments has been carefully planned and they will no doubt be lining up to share the keys to the back door.
I for one am very seriously worried about the precedent of the “rights” of the state removing the rights of the individual, and even more fearful that the decision to allow this rests with an individual who helped put his man at the helm. A truly slippery slope
With “economic well-being” being listed as one of the GCSB’s areas of concern, I look forward to their disrupting the activities of neo-liberals.
Chris Trotter points out in todays’ Press strongly and clearly that the Labor Greens must not back down to the bullying excess of the business world, as expressed over NZ Power.
As he states in the article – if business continues to make threats to the major political grouping in New Zealand then all bets are off. It is to war with business we go.
Strap your big balls on Shearer and Norman, you are taking us over a fulcrum in New Zealand’s politics not seen since 1984. Go hard. Get the fuckers. They claim they are all important but as everyone knows, most espcially those in business, nobody is irreplaceable.
Fight and fight hard. No flinch. Steel. Straight back. Step forward, never backwards.
VTO
100% right on
who needs a giggle ? point & click your way to the secret machinations of the rich and powerful
http://watergategame.com/
id like to make a comment on [deleted]
[lprent: You are currently banned until the 10th. Doubling the ban for leaving a comment – another two weeks to the 24th. Adding you to auto-spam. ]
The best argument I’ve seen for national standards ?
Its twoo, its twoo. I saw some rather hungry cows on teev last night. Their cockie must be distraught. Some lawyer bloke with no idea was hassling him. Just cos he could see the cows backbone, ribs, hips, neck etc etc.
In fact farmboy you are not the backbone.
The backbone is the cultural heart of the country. The heartland. The place where most work is done, most decisions stem from, most people are. That is the cities and towns and suburbs. Can you handle that reality?
Fool
Lol
Thank Labour for fonterra, eh?
ha ha, yep, silly people like farmboy are so indoctrinated with their belief system that they are unable to think independently.
Farmboy, do you realise that Fonterra is a full-blown socialist organisation utilising the full array of the collectivist approach to organisation for the benefit of the people? Do you?
Fonterra is not a ‘right wing’ creation. It takes its cue from the left.
Try opening your eyes and thinking for yourself. Then you may realise that the success of the Fonterra structure, if applied elsewhere in our economy, would help the rest of the country. But you will need to confront them blinkers wrapped tightly against your eyes.
Attacking you?
If suggesting that you be required by law to take your drinking water from the downstream boundary of your property constitutes an “attack” then I’m guilty as charged, I guess. Keep up the riparian planting initiative 🙂
farmboy
I wonder who are you when you’re not moonlighting as a dick from the sticks?
Look out, everyone, there’s a halfwit loose on the site.
Beware the Enemy within, aye Prof.
So,Aaron Gilmore is now a fully paid up member of key’s lying little inner sanctum. Listening to Radio at the moment with the EXPLANATION of what happened and everyone else has got it wrong.Has he spent the last week being schooled up in what to say to the media.Apologise .cry,”not my fault ,they got it wrong, the waiter started it etc. etc. Another one of nats toads who I can’t bear to look at.
Got to go now, I need to laught my head off!
Aaron Boo hoo, yoo hoo, toodle-oo.
He needs a lesson from Shane Jones on how to apologise.
I think he has actually made things worse by disputing the DPMC referral threat. This will only invite a response from the waiter or the lawyer if they feel sufficiently aggrieved by this.
And who would you believe? A pissed self confessed dickhead or a sober waiter AND a lawyer who has nothing to gain by making the allegation?
But Christchurch East needs a new MP! That seat is rightfully his!
“…AND a lawyer who has nothing to gain by making the allegation?”
AND is a lawyer who apparently specialises in employment law and civil litigation. Rather relevant to the circumstances. I can fully understand why Riches would not want to be associated with Gilmore’s supposed remarks and behaviour.
http://www.saunders.co.nz/andrew-riches/
Is it easier to sort pre-parliamentary employment by asking who wasn’t a lawyer?
http://rt.com/shows/the-truthseeker/boston-bombing-truth-propoganda-755/
at least RT has the balls to ask the questions, and they are simple enough questions
Oh, dear. A bit embarrassing for RT, who are usually a bit more on to it. Mind you, I’m sure you liked this contribution in the comment thread, freedom. It says what we’re all thinking!
‘RT thank you for sharing! Great to get some real solid news! Stay un-biased for the love of Freedom!’
what exactly is embarrassing? really, what part?
I find it strange you have no questions whatsoever about a Craft International Team being at the event, the denial of bomb drill announcements over the public address system, the chief of Police’s reference to actors or who exactly was the individual stripped naked and escorted away by police?
but good to know you like your cotton wool served warm and cosy
It’s the mad (potential) conspiracy theory bits I found embarrassing, freedom. Not everything is as it seems, but some things actually are. Boston is very straightforward and the only thing unknown at this point is whether they had external assistance (ie, did the dead terrorist go on a bomb making clinic while he was in the east?).
btw, I understand the conspiracy ‘o’ the day actually concerns one James Gilkerson. Why don’t see what fun you can have with that freedom lover’s death?
http://whatreallyhappened.com/content/man-who-open-fired-cops-ak-47-had-resistance-tyranny-book-car-0
contrary to whatever fantasy you believe I do not blindingly swallow the ‘conspiracy of the day’
Boston is far from straight forward. It is however a classic patsy job and with today’s tech etc they are easier and easier to pull off, mainly due to the plethora of disinfo that is now organically produced by the web itself. Many of those who distrust the official story of Boston want one simple question answered ( well a half dozen but)
Who is the naked guy the police led away? The feds will not answer, the cops will not answer. This only promotes further doubt, which creates further debate which creates further disinfo which makes the patsy easier to sell.
They have been doing this a long time. They are very good at it. People no longer believe what they see or hear until they are told what it is they are looking at. That takes skill.
=========
As far as the guy shooting up a cop car, first I had seen of it but it looks like he is just a nut job with an automatic weapon who felt he had no other option. With absolutely no back info it is hard not to come to the suggestion he had some things on his mind So yeah, looks like a nutjob with an automatic weapon. America has millions so them, most wear uniforms and do their mindless slaughter in foreign lands though.
What interests you about it? the books? If he had had a copy of Catcher in the Rye would we be warning POTUS?
Cases of photoshopping by the media already noted
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/media/2013/04/8529102/daily-news-doctored-front-page-photo-boston-bombing
You missed small things like motive, why they made major preparations for the operation but seemed to have no plan to get out, didn’t seem to realise (or care) that there were cameras all through the target site which would allow them to be immediately identified
Not sure about the bomb drills thing but a former NZ reporter who was there said on RNZ that bomb dogs and teams had done sweeps through the whole course and the finish area before the event started (and might still have been present).
They’d aleady considered a suicide bombing, CV, so I guess getting away with wasn’t high on the priorities list.
And, yes, there were bomb sweeps. But before the killers got there, obviously. Remember, they killed the victims well after the serious athletes had finished, so at a guess, the security was a bit more relaxed then.
As for the photoshopping? Meh, just a paper trying to hide the truth from it’s readers, so nothing to see there … oh, wait 😉
there is that small detail about neither of the patsy backpacks matching the type recovered, just dumb luck i guess, what with the quantum world in constant physical flux and all, colours change, styles alter, turning from silver grey to Craft black is a hell of a trick though 🙂
Who is this Patsy Backpack? She’s not on fb, twitter or linkdin that I can see. The mystery deepens!
edit: found her! http://www.toyanxiety.com/montypythonpatsy-backpackwpouchandbedroll.aspx
funny 😎
( but t’was not what was written was it?)
Personally I love how the BBC and CNN are shills and liars, whereas Russian state-funded telly is unbiased regarding western affairs and are unafraid to speak truth to power.
Because Putin is so trustworthy, of course.
no-one is saying that, and I have seen many many words against Putin on RT. Far more than I have ever witnessed against Obama on CNN MSN NBC or anyone of the other thirty thousand stations newspapers or radio networks owned by AOL/Warner.
As for the BBC, well they still have a good documentary group,( a good friend is a producer with strong values about journalism and says the difference between BBC news and their dept is chalk and cheese)
It is bizarre how the BBC (broadcast division) censor or cancel the presentation of docos the BBC itself created. BBC is far from innocent. The background links between BBC/CNN and Aljazeera are also worth noting.
I really recommend that you watch a few hours of RT and then say it does not leave every other media network in the dust on International News. Let alone the huge resources they make available via various net and mobile services. There are hundreds of hours of past shows, documentaries from all over the world that you normally have to wait for festivals to see, and a vast collection of viewer contributions. ( which CNN started doing very soon afterwards)
As far as RT not doing hard stories on Russia that is simply not true, but sure they protect their interest, they are a media company after all. Now if American media want to start doing the RT treatment to Russian stories all the better. Don’t hold your breathe though. If US media was even half credible do you really think The Daily Show and The Colbert Report would turn up in polls about current affairs shows?
All media has an agenda but there are quantifiable chasms of difference. RT is about as good as we could hope for in this modern world but if you insist on believing the reds under the beds tripe then nothing I say can change your mind.
Cross Talk and The Big Picture are more panel based and may suit some more than Breaking the Set and Truthseeker
I’d say it’s pretty good on those areas of news that do not affect Russian foreign policy. As is the BBC with areas that don’t involve British foreign policy.
Whether strong internal US stability is consistent with Russian foreign policy – that is the question. Whether Chechen-related violence spreading beyond Russian borders is in the Russian interest – that is another question.
Just because you’re not interested in those specific questions of motive and planning doesn’t mean that they’re not important.
like how ‘following the money’ was declared by the administration to be of no importance following that little thing that went down that day in that place with those people
Then perhaps Te Reo you’d be so kind as to take a look at this link and scroll down to the parts that show the stills from video taken after the blast that show no blood despite one guy having had his legs blown off. See as an ex army medic this has been baffling me for the past week.
Since your saying everything is as it seems with the Boston marathon it would be good if you can clear this up for me, because for me this is definitely in the category of an unknown.
http://enfordummies.com/wordpress/more-proof-evidence-boston-bombing-man-leg-blown-off-fake/
Yeah, I can explain it. It’s madness. As an ex army medic you’re probably familiar with that too, if the later MASH TV shows are any guide. What a truly awful site, trading on the pain of the victims as it does. Pathetic, truly pathetic.
ps your first clue that site was authored by lunatics was the link to Glenn Beck (Beck gives Obama till Monday to declare this was an inside job – Yeah, right)
“trading on the pain of the victims as it does.” you just described the entire policy of the modern MSM
‘If it bleeds, it leads’ has long been a motto associated with the media. Even better if the blood has a local link. I vaguely remember a bogus headline: ‘Earthquake in India; thousands dead. No Britons hurt’, that sort of sums it up.
The weird thing is that people are killed by bombs every day, but it’s only of interest to the media, and conspiracy theorists like yourself, when it happens in the States. Cleverer folk than I might be able to draw some conclusions as to what that means about the blinkered world view of both groups.
“but it’s only of interest to the media, and conspiracy theorists like yourself, when it happens in the States”
I can only speak for me but that is categorically untrue. I could write several lengthy qualifications supporting that statement but you either choose to believe it or you won’t.
The problem is many are too afraid to ask questions around things like this because doing so and getting an answer they aren’t prepared for is something they are just not prepared to deal with mentally. Much better to stay wrapped up nice and safe in their cocoon rather than have to rethink the entire world they live in.
Just what we need. Another conspiracy theory.
disappointing – bit of a non answer really, google boston bombings no blood and find ones that comment on this without Glenn beck if that better spins your wheels, but other than that it appears you have providing an explanation more than anything. Are you perhaps saying the pictures are fake? I mean that would at leas be an explanation; not a very good one but an explanation none the less.
“google boston bombings no blood”
Why? I’m not a right wing saddo, so what possible interest could it hold for me?
If you can’t explain it, it’s cool, just say so. I can’t either.
Well on second thoughts I can but you wouldn’t like the answer…
P.S. wanting to know the truth is not limited to the domain of right wing saddos. It’s right wing saddos and those people that have the ability to think for themselves. But then in my view those that really have the ability to think for themselves do not have their views entrenched with one political party or another, or even within the System for that matter.
There’s nothing to explain, PP. It’s a fantasy. Anytime something bad happens in the states, a segment of the right will blame the gummint. It’s boring and its sad. And it obviously pretty offensive to characterise someone who has just has his legs blown off as an ‘actor’. But if you’re cool with being deluded, fine by me. Just don’t waste my time linking to offensive websites and asking me to comment.
That’s ok I’ll just put you in the category of comfortable living in a cocoon when it comes to this sort of thing. But you are right – A guy gets his legs blown off and there’s no blood…. that is indeed a fantasy. Yet that’s what the pictures show… so unfortunately the reality, well that’s the opposite.
The world is the way it is because too many don’t want to actually see what is going on.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2311118/Boston-bombing-brings-tourniquet-Once-doubted-medical-device-stop-bleeding-saved-countless-lives-amidst-bloodshed.html
.
Be warned, not safe for sensitive souls but if you have the stomach for it Cryptome has full sets from the bombing.
google search link
Their should have been blood from before the tourniquet was applied. If you have a look at the pics you can see his stumps with no blood on them at all and no tourniquet.
fuck, joe90 – that’s some rank grievous shit.
And lots and lots of blood.
PP, I’m not sure which pic you’re referring to, but there aren’t many I can see where “not enough blood” could be much of a criticism.
Scroll down to the series of photos on here – this was sent to me in another link a few days ago somewhere but I couldn’t find the original but these are the same pics.
http://enfordummies.com/wordpress/more-proof-evidence-boston-bombing-man-leg-blown-off-fake/
I’m open to explanations…
“I’m open to explanations…”
Apparently not.
Ok let me rephrase for your benefit – I am open to suggestions that use logic and common sense. i.e. if a guy has his legs freshly blown off their should be blood and a lot of it.
Having this conversation has been effectively me saying this ‘5’ looks like the number 5 and could their be any other explanation I haven’t considered……? Then you come along and say unicorns smell nice.
But hey I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt in that perhaps you misunderstood the question? The guy in the photo has just had his legs blown off. There is no blood on him, his stumps or the people he is lying on. Why?
…. I’m all ears.
Happy to help, PP. The answer is that you’ve been visiting sites that are full of venomous shit. It’s affected your usual empathy for your fellow humans, making it hard for you to spot the bleeding obvious.
(Pun very much intended.)
I hope your considering a career in politics – you would be stellar.
So just to get this right – Your saying the reason the pictures of the guy with his legs blown off show no blood on him or anyone around him is because………I have been visiting venomous sites.. and further to this, doing so has damaged my ability to empathize. Have I got that right?
Se now the bit that gets me is that can empathize just fine. I just wanted to know why he has no blood on his legs and as I live in a world of logic and common sense…….. I simply cannot accept your answer.
“I live in a world of logic and common sense”
And yet you show no grasp of either.
Really based on what. Based on the fact that you can’t give a straight answer. The only one lacking in logic and common sense is you. Seriously have you read your posts!?!
You want to live in a nice safe warm cocoon and this threatens that. I get it. To be honest I was really hoping you would give me a plausible explanation so that I, like you, could crawl back into my nice safe cocoon. But you failed dismally.
Here’s some advice – Stay there. Stay in your cocoon for as long as you can. The rest of your natural life if possible. Its a happier world in there and don’t let anyone take it away from you. When the Government and the MSM tell you something, believe it, never question it. If things don’t look right change the channel and keep changing it until you hear the story you want to hear. In your world that would be the logical and common sense thing to do and I envy you for being able to. seriously I do.
Best of luck to you.
Crawl back into the rotting flesh you call home, ghoul.
Yeah, what ever. To be fair, PP, you haven’t come up with some whackjob theory of your own, which is the next stage, so there may be hope for you yet. But, seriously, this stuff is astonishly sick. Remember, the site you sent me to claimed the victims were actors. Actors, FFS. Not people who’ve just had their legs blown off by arseholes, but actors. How sick to you have to be write that shit?
Compare and contrast:
“The socialism I believe in is everybody working for the same goal and everybody having a share in the rewards. That’s how I see football, that’s how I see life.”
Liverpool FC Manager, Bill Shankly.
“The area started to decline in the early 1990s with the city’s economic problems. But Liverpool football club accelerated the decline, by leaving good houses empty and boarded up. It wasn’t a natural decline; it was engineered.”
Howard Macpherson, resident, Anfield.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2013/may/06/anfield-liverpool-david-conn
Anyone notice that Mr Key said at his Press Conference yesterday that he had been speaking with NZF about supporting the GCSB reform and about matters to do with the economy. Mr Peters said there had been no discussions with him about either matter. The Media told him that a letter was coming about the GCSB.
Could Mr Key have mis-spoken or even lied? Watch this space.
Gilmore got told to front up to Parliament today, will Key?
At about 13.5 minutes, Key just said that he had written to NZ First. Not that he’d had discussions already.
The funniest thing about the Gilmore Grill is how he texted the PM an apology.
Seriously? texted the apology ! Is this how the PM now operates so as to limit how often he can be caught out in silly statements. If you were an MP and had caused this fracas, would you not speak directly to your party leader? Key admits numerous discussions between his chief of staff and Gilmore but that he himself only heard from Gilmore by text. So what did Key instruct his chief of staff to do and say and just how much autonomy does the staff have?
But a text apology? What was it?
‘sry bout bn a dkhd’
it’s an apology to the PM. You are not reminding him to grab some milk. These clowns are a frikkin embarassment to the country (wow, so getting tired of writing that line)
You can’t even txt in to take a day off sick at most firms in NZ, but bringing your employer into disrepute apparently can be sorted by txt if you are a National MP. Higher standards, anyone?
Just as an aside, this sends a msg to all Nat backbench MP’s. And that message is ‘we’ve only got a one seat majority, so it’d be nice if you don’t publicly embarrass us, but if you feel you must, well that’s cool too.’
I saw the interview on TV3. My recollection was that the discussions with Mr Peters was said by Mr Key (as well as the letter mention) and that matters of finance had been also discussed with NZF.
Mr English was asked this morning on Morning Report about the “financial discussions.” He said you would have to ask Mr Key about that. (Implying that he knew nothing about that.) Might be wrong karol. Will see.
the NZF references are about 25 mins in karol
On TV3 News last night there was the reference that I was looking for starting at about 6:50min in. Mr Key became embarrassed about the detail.
http://www.tv3.co.nz/tabid/3692/MCat/3102/Default.aspx
Might be totally unimportant but I had to look.
OK, thanks. Key says NZ First and the government have been working on a number of things “behind the scenes.”
We’ll see, then.
I thought maybe that Peters was being cute. He said no one had talked directly to him about it. Doesn’t stop lower level conversations taking place and given National’s love of power I would not be surprised if this was the case.
Inter-mission :
Attacking the Messenger
In Praise of Richard Falk
by LAWRENCE DAVIDSON, May 6, 2013
Shortly after the 15 April 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, Richard Falk, professor emeritus of international law at Princeton University and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Palestinian territories, published an analysis of the episode entitled “A Commentary on the Marathon Murders.”
In this analysis Falk pointed out that there are “serious deficiencies in how the U.S. sees itself in the world. We should be worried by the taboo . . . imposed on any type of self-scrutiny [of U.S. foreign policy] by either the political leadership or the mainstream media.” This taboo essentially blinds us to the reality of our situation. Falk continues, “The American global domination project is bound to generate all kinds of resistance in the post-colonial world. . . . Especially if there is no disposition to rethink U.S. relations with others . . . starting with the Middle East.”
……………./
Thus, looked at from outside of the self-justifying perspective of the United States government, everything Richard Falk says is accurate. However, from the inside of the official government worldview, Falk is a heretic and his message dangerous verbal poison. Therefore, the reaction of those dedicated to customary policies and alliances has been shrill.
For instance, Washington’s ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, said that she was “outraged by Richard Falk’s highly offensive Boston comments. Someone who spews such vitriol has no place at the UN. Past time for him to go.” Similar statements came from members of Congress who are collecting signatures on a letter demanding that President Obama “take action” against Falk. The British mission to the UN released a statement to the effect that “this is the third time we have had cause to express our concerns about Mr. Falk’s anti-Semitic remarks.” This is an embarrassingly ignorant statement that confuses criticism of Israel with hostility to Jews in general. By the way, Richard Falk is Jewish. For its part, Israel has long barred Falk from even entering the Palestinian territories for which he has responsibility. Finally, Zionists have accused Falk of being “an anti-American and pro-radical Islam activist.” This is another statement that is both factually incorrect and ignorant, because Falk is a deeply knowledgable American trying to talk some sense to politicians leading the nation toward a dangerous cliff, and because it confuses criticism of Israel with supporting “radical Islam.”
The ugly fact is that, most Americans have been kept dangerously ignorant of the wanton damage caused by their government’s foreign policies, and those who would prevent them from knowing the truth are, at the very least, indirectly responsible for terrorist attacks launched in reaction to those policies.
Richard Falk’s crime is to be a person of note, an esteemed academic and a respected servant of the United Nations, who is trying to break through with the truth. It is all the more frightening to the U.S. and its allies that, in this effort, Falk has access to an independent platform. He regularly reports to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, where he has the ear of many of the 47 nations that make up this body. Unfortunately, the one group most in need of Falk’s wisdom, the American public, remains beyond the range of his voice.
If it could get away with it, the U.S. government would probably cart Richard Falk off to some hellhole prison, or keep him confined to some foreign embassy (as it has done to Julian Assange). However, despite disturbing signs to the contrary, Washington isn’t yet ready to take such actions against a man of Falk’s stature. However, do not mistake such forbearance for the mark of a mature and stable society. No. Such societies (just like mature and stable adults) are capable of self-criticism. At least at the level of leadership and media, the United States is not capable of such self-reflection and so its citizens are likely to be the last to know that much of the terrorism they fear is a product of their own government’s continuing barbarism.
———————————————————————————————–
Lawrence Davidson is professor of history at West Chester University in West Chester PA.
http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/05/06/in-praise-of-richard-falk/
Susan Rice – Quite certain she has rendered herself in default, and outed herself as a traitor, on more than one , recent occasion!
Conflation of Israel/Jewish/anti semetic talking points – The preferred propganda weapon of any base level zionist entity!
The Obama administration lied about Benghazi as well.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/05/06/the-truth-about-benghazi-terrorist-attack-continues-to-trickle-out-slowly-heres-what-we-know-now/
Linking to Glenn Beck’s site isn’t going to gain you a lot of credibility.
Who is running Auckland Council?
Do YOU think that Auckland Council CEO Doug McKay, as a supposedly ‘apolitical public servant’ should be a member of the unelected ‘invitation-only’ extremely powerful private sector lobby group, the Committee for Auckland?
I don’t.
I think the Governing Body of Auckland Council should ensure that CEO Doug McKay, terminates his membership of the Committee for Auckland, in order to comply with his ‘apolitical’ role as a ‘public servant, and have requested speaking rights at the upcoming Auckland Council Governing Body meeting to raise this with them directly.
______________________________________________________________________________
Request for speaking rights at Public Forum of the upcoming Governing Body meeting of Auckland Council, Thursday 9 May 2013 at 11am.
Reception Lounge
Auckland Town Hall
301-305 Queen Street
Auckland
Dear Mayor Len Brown,
My subject matter is:
Auckland Council Local Government Election Year Policy
“Neutrality of Public Servants”.
At this Governing Body meeting of Auckland Council, you are discussing the proposed ‘Auckland Council Local Government Election Year Policy’.
“Who does this policy apply to?
4) This policy applies to all Auckland Council elected members and Auckland Council employees.”
“Neutrality of Public Servants
12. A major characteristic of New Zealand’s constitutional arrangements is that public servants are apolitical. This applies to public servants in local and central government.”
If Auckland Council employees are supposed to be apolitical ‘public servants’ – then why is Auckland Council CEO, Doug McKay, still a member of the ‘invitation-only’, powerful private sector lobby group – the Committee for Auckland?
http://www.committeeforauckland.co.nz/membership/member-organisations
“Doug McKay Chief Executive Officer Auckland Council”
Please be reminded of the LGOIMA reply I received from Wendy Brandon, General Counsel for Auckland Council dated 10 February 2012
(“Official Information Request No: 9000114213:)
“1. I have advised you previously that Mr McKay is a member of the Committee for Auckland in his capacity as Chief Executive of Auckland Council.
2. Mr McKay is an honorary member of the Committee for Auckland. As such, there was no joining fee charged or paid.
3. No resolution of any committee of the Auckland Council was sought or given in relation to Mr McKay’s membership of the Committee for Auckland.
The Committee for Auckland is an independent organisation and its aims and objectives are a matter of public record.”
(Item 4)
http://www.occupyaucklandvsaucklandcouncilappeal.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/OCCUPY-AUCKLAND-APPEAL-APPLICATION-BY-APPELLANT-BRIGHT-TO-ADDUCE-NEW-EVIDENCE-pdf.pdf
Please be reminded that membership of the Committee for Auckland is ‘invitation’ only
_____________________________________________________________________________
http://www.committeeforauckland.co.nz/membership
Membership Information
Membership to the Committee for Auckland is by invitation. Members meet quarterly and are invited to be involved in those aspects of the work programme that interest them.
Members are Chairs of Boards, Directors and Chief Executives
Corporate Membership annual fee $10,000.
Associate and Individual Membership comprises organisations or individuals who support the aims and purpose of the Committee but who, for various reasons, are unable to take a full part in contributing to the Committee’s portfolio of initiatives.
Associate Membership annual fee $5,000
Individual Membership annual fee $2,500
For further information about Membership, please contact theExecutive Director”
______________________________________________________________________________
How many Auckland Council or Auckland CCO contracts are going to member companies of the Committee for Auckland?
How can this not be a ‘perceived conflict of interest’ for the Principal Adminstrative Officer of Auckland Council – the CEO Doug McKay – to be a member of this private sector lobby group, particularly when his membership has not been ‘authorised /endorsed’ by elected members of Auckland Council?
Is the Governing Body of Auckland Council going to ensure that CEO Doug McKay, terminates his membership of the Committee for Auckland, in order to comply with his ‘apolitical’ role as a ‘public servant?
Yes or no?
If not – why not?
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption/anti-privatisation’ campaigner
2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate
Is there going to be a Questions for Oral Answers today, or is the time going to be given to farewelling Horomia?
stream won’t load. anyone else having issues?
Watching on TV. Speeches on Parekura.
no tv here,
had a stream playing the pretty muzak then at 1:59 it just dropped out and will not reload
I have tried all three streams from the NZPTV site
Yes – same problem. Neither the video or audio streams would load for me online. Listening on an old fashioned radio!
finally got it back about 2:30
seems to be a regular problem lately
Yes I did freedom. Gave up in the end. Got told it was a server problem.
Actually I’m getting sick of all the gremlins trying to watch online Parliament TV. It started at the beginning of this year. Last year and previous to that the reception was excellent.
Are we asking too much?
It is 2013
it is a live stream from a controlled environment,
this should not be a problem
(posted this and got put in moderation ???)
Just checked online. All OK. Mac/Firefox.
The further descents of K2; There is an article in The Herald about the boffin who developed the synthetic cannabinoids claiming they were definitely Not for human consumption. I was interviewed for the paper (photo taken) today on my (informed) opinion on this rubbish. 😀
(photo may not develop, being ecto-plasmic and all that…)
According to Hekia Parata on Parliament TV, NZ has been celebrating the death of Parekura Horomia for the last 10 days, WTF
*faceplam*
Some very good speeches for Parekura, nice mixture of speaking styles, many funny and warm.
It’s just a shame that two of the poorest speakers in Parliament are the PM and PM-in-waiting. Every time there’s a tribute in the House, they fail to rise to the occasion. Pretty much every MP who followed them showed how to do it, but there’s this leaden log-jam at the top, Messrs Dull and Duller.
Labour wanted another “Joe Ordinary a la Key” as Leader and they succeeded brilliantly.
True dat. Even Dunne showed them up and he barely exists.
Yes, on the whole I felt it was a fitting tribute to a great man
Interesting blog from someone with a serious illness
http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.co.nz/
If Looney Len gets re-elected as mayor, Aucklanders will leave in droves.
Where will they go? Wellington?
No, Celia Wade-Brown and her mates are asleep at the wheel.
Christchurch? Too shakey.
Dunedin? No. Dave Cull is too busy sucking up to China.
I know; Ekatahuna.
zzz
What’s wrong with Hamilton
AT LAST! JOHN BANKS IS IN THE AUCKLAND DISTRICT COURT (Albert St) Wednesday 8 May 2013 for a first appearance at 10am to face a private prosecution brought by Graham McCready for electoral fraud.
Plan to have banners up outside Court from 9am.
WHEN IS PRIME MINISTER JOHN KEY GOING TO STAND DOWN JOHN BANKS AS A MINISTER?
Details about this case and background information is available here:
http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com/
http://www.pennybright4epsom.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/MG_8721.jpg