BNZ Bank economist Tony Alexander, shoring himself up with a bank-selected sample of 500 people, decides that most people really like the housing crisis because high prices make people rich. In case you forget about where he stands on the spectrum, here’s what he has to say about the current housing stories:
“No bemoaning the winners and losers. No whinging about how the world should be fairies and fluffy pink unicorns.”
I’ve always wondered why you found fairies coming out from under bridges and fluffy pink unicorns coming out of forests: it’s where they have to sleep.
Mr Alexander outlined 18 things that were happening in the country’s housing market including:
– Strong population growth was exceeding housing supply;
– interest rates were at a record low; people were living longer;
– older people were splitting up and needing two houses;
– the population was ageing, requiring more houses as bedrooms sat empty;
– council rules made building a new house expensive;
– Kiwis like expensive bespoke houses rather than little boxes on a hillsides;
– Kiwis seemed to suck at building houses which passed inspections and did not leak;
– there was a shortage of skilled trades people needed to build extra houses;
– few people seriously believed the Government and the Reserve Bank had the tools to flatten house prices, let alone cause them to correct to more “affordable” levels;
– and Auckland was changing from looking like many Invercargills in one place to being a globally connected world city.
And we wonder why four Australian banks are running New Zealand’s housing policy.
So he blames ‘kiwis’ for leaky homes rather than the national party and its headless deregulation.
I counted 4 blocks of apartments in 3 streets close to where I stayed in just one akl inner suburb a few months back. All being repaired, probably ineffectively, keeping tradies from new builds.
We dont have the tradies to build, the land, geez, Auckland is an isthmus its boaties and pier builders we need. Along with public transit from hunty to s.auckland, hill suburbs to feed employers workers. It aint about Auckland they’ve taken themselves off the table.
Was talking to a national voter recently and they were convinced that it was the green influence on the building trade that had I assume stopped the proper treatment of timber. There wasn’t much point arguing, but I was definitely thinking what the hell.
That’s what it’s all about for the leaders and elites. So the dickheads can strut around with their chests out being all urbane and soofisticated, showing off how modern and upmarket NZ is. Trying to have the lifestyle of an advanced developed society that joined the industrial age, and then moved into the electronic age, while we down here are moving back to the emerald jewel of grass and agriculture that my business tutor said has never in the world given a first world standard of living.
But flashy ostentatious expenditure is all the NZ nobs care about. They move towards an Irish solution where the greedy, callous English speaking overlords, denied the right of the native Irish citizens to own their land and to grow their own food. The British only thought hard when having to find a believable excuse for the country people starving, like paupers.
And we’ve got some NZs cut from the same cloth here. We are globally connected by electronics that serve some people well, but also that are used to degrade other people’s lives and humanity.
…“This ban does not apply to us and so we’ve been operating straight through it,” they told RT.
Sister Darcey and Sister Kate have been growing marijuana and creating cannabidiol (CBD)-infused products for three years…
They claim their marijuana has low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which gives the ‘high’ effect associated with marijuana.
“Our medicine is medicine, and it is non-psychoactive,” they explained. “We’re dealing with what is actually hemp but really we advocate for whole plant legalization.”
However, the ‘nuns’ are not the traditionally religious kind but rather ‘spiritual’.
They follow their own ‘holy trinity’ which includes honoring mother earth, honoring the people through making medicine and healing, and their progressive activism.
The nuns dedicate a portion of their week to “the good fight” for the poor people around them…
In states where medical marijuana is legal, there has been a 25 percent drop in painkiller related deaths, according to a 2015 study by University of Pennsylvania and John Hopkins researchers in JAMA Internal Medicine journal.”
Not sure they can be called part of the Catholic establishment, but this guy is and he wrote a very balanced letter in support of the law change in Iowa.
“Ministry of Justice refusing to release _any_ docs relating to long-delay, or lobbying over, anti money-laundering policy. To the Ombudsman!” – Matt Nippert via Twitter
“quick, Collins went to that anti-corruption conference, get her to pop down and explain why this is a bad look.” – Dovil ibid
Very good interview this a.m. on whistleblowers in USA referring to Snowden, but mainly all the others who have been damaged in trying to follow the principles of integrity to the law and fairness of the legal and constitutional system there. On Radionz with Kathryn Ryan.
Photo- The front cover of Mark Hertsgaard’s book Bravehearts: Whistle Blowing In The Age Of Snowden. It features a large photo of Edward Snowden
10:05 The NSA whistleblower protector who blew the whistle himself
John Crane was a senior Defence Department official responsible for protecting whistleblowers at the NSA but he ended up blowing the whistle himself after seeing his colleagues betray the whistleblowers they were supposed to protect. His claims are outlined in a new book – Bravehearts: Whistle Blowing In The Age Of Snowden by Mark Hertsgaard. http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201803529
Also your privacy – http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201803526 13.15m. Radio NZ today, 7 June 9:25 Sorting your digital footprint before you die
One of the growing existential questions of our time is “what happens to my digital footprint when I die?” With many people doing their banking, insurance and other financial business online as well as engagement on social media platforms, what are the legal protocols for ensuring they are shut down or – if you want – accessible to your loved ones?
A forum set up by Internet New Zealand in Wellington this Thursday will feature experts to answer such questions. The event is being hosted by the Deputy CEO of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, Narelle Clark.
Next week –
Listen out on 10:05 am Tuesday 14 June: Luke Williams interview.
Background on the meth drug habit, book Ice Age by Australian author. Luke Williams was a freelance journalist researching addiction to crystallised methamphetamine (commonly known as crystal meth or ice) when the worst possible thing happened – he became addicted himself. Over the next three months, he was seduced by the drug and descended into psychosis.
He talks to Kathryn Ryan about his recovery from the drug, and his investigation into its history, manufacture and his first hand experience of the effects on users, families and the healthcare system. He’s written a book called Ice Age. http://scribepublications.com.au/books-authors/books/the-ice-age/.
edited
With the sun streaming through the windows this morning, I’m making cider from the apple juice we pressed from our apples last weekend; Bramley’s Seedling, Kentish Fillbasket, Merton Russett and Belle de Boskoop. Having bottled the previous batch, including a fine perry, I’ve refilled those demijohns and set them a’bubbling on the kitchen table. Now, I’m off to collect fallen hazelnuts from which I’m planning to grow several hundred hazels for planting out in the commons around my village. Have a productive day, all!
“Little England” – cute.
My forest garden is a combination of indigenous and exotic trees, shrubs, vines, annuals, biennials and perennials, all growing as a constructed-but-naturalistic whole. I’ve kotukutuku, kowhai, tataramoa, kohuhu, tarata, hoheria, horoeka etc. etc. most of which feed the birds at various times of the year, as do the plum, apples, pear and apricot trees, invaders all. Around the town, I’ve guerilla-planted ti kouka, harakeke, toetoe, korokia etc. in significant numbers, especially on the wetland reserve, Te Wai Korari, that I negotiated the purchase of 15 years ago; the ‘flax wetland’ being the most significant on the estuary, with it’s waterways for galaxids, etc. Against the backdrop of all these natives, I’m planting trees that produce fruit and nuts for humans to eat, believing as I do, that it’s important to prepare communities for climate change and food shortages, even though they might not be aware of that probable eventuality. Hazelnuts are good food, the trees make great nesting sites for grey warbler, fantail, tui and bellbird alike. Their branches make good fences also, and are provided free to whomever might want to fashion them into something stock-proof. As is done in Little England.
That deals with Kevin. I feel that you can fend off all comers Robert G.. Arent they puerile.
It shows what an advantage full employment would be as everyone would be too busy doing something that somebody needed or wanted to buy.
And the oldies would be choosing some useful volunteer work from what the community thought needed doing and having less time to make trouble and acidic remarks as I am just doing! I have met some very patronising and acidic remarks from the retired over the years and feel it isn’t paying back or forward to society for the stable safety net we are provided still.
Thanks all. We operate a seed saving network, presently being refreshed but if you want to know more, try: office@sces.org.nz Now though, is cuttings time, as well as getting nuts into the soil (sorry, Kev).
A good performance from James Shaw this morning, talking about cleaning the rivers. Usually someone from the left will be all doom and gloom and worst case scenario in an attempt to “shock” the people into action
Instead Mr Shaw said that the rivers could be saved and then instead of umming and ahhing and trying to minimise the cost he instead agreed it would cost billions
NZers will appreciate that, a good interview for Mr Shaw
Wouldn’t have cost anything, if the NZers had listened to people like Mr Shaw long ago. Mike Joy, whose messages you might describe as “doom and gloom” has been telling the truth for many years now. Do you think NZers have appreciated his efforts?
I think PR is using his ‘positive’ comment to focus on the ‘billions needed’ aspect of the issue. I think he’s being duplicitous. I think PR is white anting.
🙂
The Greens and the left in general (mostly Labour to be fair) are all about how bad this country is in an attempt to change the government, you may well be right but its the first time hes said something, in a way I agree with
Mike Joy, Puckish – heard of him? What are your thoughts about his message and what do you think about the treatment he receives from the likes of Mr Key?
Funny in a sad way. PR hasn’t heard of Mike Joy. No joy there.
And Metiria Turei – he switches off when she’s talking.
And this man I feel sure, has the gall to come on here and offer us his views as if they have any relevance or value. Fatheads we have by the thousand in NZ. Or hundreds of thousands. It must have been all that milk and meat. It has built calcium, and…of course that’s the result, boneheads not fatheads. I was wrong before. But I think I’ve nailed it now.
You’ve not heard what she has to say then?
Not planning to comment on her views then, I hope.
So, you’ve not heard Mike Joy’s views, nor Metiria’s.. who do you get your information from? Have you a view on environmental issues? From whom did you gather that, I wonder? (Tempted to say, “Rodney Hide?” but that would be nothing more than provocation and you have become much more interesting to talk to these days).
“.. The Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan, currently going through the last stages of the Independent Hearing Panel process is a testament to this new approach.
However, as history shows the vocal minority NIMBYs who often employ a build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything approach to their land use planning thinking can compromise the planning process.
Auckland saw this as Auckland councillors in 2013 folded to pressure from these groups in relation to the Notified Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan.
The density targets of the Auckland Plan were compromised by watered down density zoning and a number of overlays in the Notified Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan ..”
What is ‘local’ about local government in this (forced( Auckland ‘Superciry’ – with it’s ‘democracy for developers’ and DICTATORSHIP for citizens?
Want to stand up and be counted and let PM John Key know that you will not be run by developers and corporates – from Wellington?
SAVE AUCKLAND – MARCH FOR DEMOCRACY !
WHEN: Saturday 11 June 2016.
WHERE: Britomart to the Auckland Town Hall.
TIME: Assemble 12 noon at Britomart.
March supported by It’s Our Future (Auckland), The Westmere Heritage Protection Association, The Housing Lobby.
Yes, PR, positiveness is attractive to voters. I like it when it’s genuine, rather than manipulative and relies on misleading, seen with such claims as, “We’re on the cusp of something special”, or “brighter future” – that sort of saccharine puff is unhealthy. We hear it a lot these days. Mr Shaw will balance his positive statements with as much truth as can be comfortably absorbed by his audiences, I hope, while at the same time retaining his integrity. Other leaders have failed spectacularly to do this.
It maybe the blueprint for the Greens they desperately need, pick a subject or two that resonate with the general public (dirty rivers), be positive (they can be saved), don’t shy away from the realities(it will cost plenty) and propose a solution
It might seem that way to you, PR, but you’ve not been paying attention. As just one example, the Greens have had their “Good Farm Stories” up and running for a long time now. In any case, if your epiphany is genuine, I congratulate you on it.
aaaaand the plot thickens: now, a simple interview about cleaning up our waterways, perfectly in accordance with Green policy, has become an offensive move in ructions within the green party as well as lab/grn conflict.
PR’s “positivity” is simply the crocodile’s smile, and his concern is a reptilian tear.
Has the Herald woken up (at last) to our precarious economy??
‘Nation of Debt: New Zealand sitting on half-trillion-dollar debt bomb
New Zealand is sitting on a half-a-trillion-dollar debt bomb and Kiwis are increasingly treating their houses like cash machines, piling on the debt as they watch the value of their properties soar.
Reserve Bank figures show household debt, excluding investment property, has risen 23 per cent in the past five years to $163.4 billion. Incomes have risen only 11.5 per cent.
Households are now carrying a debt level that is equivalent to 162 per cent of their annual disposable income – higher than the level reached before the global financial crisis.’
Yes, but I noticed Granny did not bother to mention the government racking up billions of Debt for tax cuts and infrastructure for their migration experiments.
The economists and MSM rant on about private debt but when the government does it – not a murmur. Some economists!!!
For my sins, I was watching some Fox News snippets on YouTube and heard a sort of throw away line that Bernie’s wife had hinted that the Democratic Convention would be contested because something would happen to upset the balance before then!
Anti TPPA meeting We need to stop the TPPA, but now there’s a new threat, and the negotiations are coming to Auckland next week!
While the TPPA is in deep trouble in the US, negotiations are continuing on its parallel agreement – the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), being pushed by China. Come to hear all about the RCEP, the latest on TPPA and how we can say no!
Friday, June 17 at 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
St Matthew-in-the-City (187 Federal St) (Corner of Wellesley and Hobson Sts)
What is baffling is that this could happen in a country which even goes to war (Iraq), in order to bring a sterling USA form democracy to ignorant people. How did Bush get a second term as President when the Election was rigged? Who has the power to correct the wrongs?
It should wake up New Zealanders to the preciousness of our honest credible voting system – before it gets stolen from us.
After the Bush re-election there was an enquiry of sorts and 100s of thousands of uncounted votes were discovered chucked in a store room.
There were hundreds of cases of votes cast by phantom voters, for Bush, and oddities where in a poling booth there were hundreds of votes all voting for Bush where usually there are a mixture of votes.
The enquiry was abandoned because by then Bush had been sworn in.
Democratic USA? Huh!
Lets hope Bernie still squeaks in…otherwise there is going to be blood on the mat between Clinton and Trump…and the winner will be scarey . Bernie could also save us from the TPP
“Tonight’s Progressive Roundtable discusses Bernie’s final push in California, whether Hillary would consider having Elizabeth Warren as her running mate, and how the media has prevented any real discussion on the TPP.
Thom talks Trump’s latest racist rant and Bernie’s next move with the Nation’s Katrina vanden Heuvel and in tonight’s Daily Take Thom discusses how Bernie Sanders’ role in writing the official party platform at this year’s Democratic Convention could save us from the TPP.”
Closing in on EU Financial Tax Victory
Posted on June 1, 2016 by David Hillman
The international campaign for taxes on financial speculation is on the brink of a major European milestone that could further boost momentum in the United States.
ON TV1 Lab +Greens = just 41% . To get to form a government they need 50%. Thus they need a ( 9/41 x 100) a whopping 21.95% vote rise on current polling. Formidable challenge when already they cannot agree on deep sea drilling and immigration.
Following the announcement of the Labour and Green Party Memorandum of Understanding, support for the Labour Party increased significantly, from 26% to 31%, and support for New Zealand First decreased, from 11% to 7%.
Kinda explains Winston’s instinctive realisation that he was in some kind of trouble.
Leaving aside the obvious possibility that your wife is cro-magnon right wing trash, just like you, stupidity afflicts the Swiss no more or less than anyone else.
[derailment and subsequent bickering moved to Open Mike] – weka
Sure. Not here to mess up your post, which is good work weka. But I wasn’t going to let OAB just throw out a random attack on a commentator’s wife let alone his lacing it with racist overtones.
In fact, sweet object of my derision and contempt, a wingnut used a “loved” one as political currency, so I entertained the possibility that she (like you) shares his afflictions.
Sorry about the reply button, when i watched the link i didnt notice that i lost the reply.
National and their support partners= 61 seats.
Labour/ Greens/ NZF= 61 seats
There is nothing wrong with my counting.
Fair enough, Naki Man, except you assume the support parties will be returned. ACT almost certainly will, but that doesn’t really assist National much. The Maori Party and Peter Dunne are not looking quite so rosy at the moment. If neither make it, it’s 61-59. I wouldn’t entirely rule out National simply not standing in Ohariu, but that would look a bit desperate and may cost them much needed party votes. The MP just look stuffed at the moment, completely subsumed into the National government, without a voice of their own.
There is no possibility of a Labour/Greens/NZF government. Winston will never play 3rd fiddle. A 22% rise in support for Greens/Labour is possible but unlikely, Far more likely is another slight rise in support for National. 49% is achievable. An MMP record score again but given the growing economy, wage, benefit and pension rises and the amazing Budget 2017 why would anyone take a risk on change. The growth in membership of National of people with Chinese sounding names is phenomenal.
This morning there was a comment posted which included a series of reasons for the housing crisis according to Tony Alexander including this pearl of wisdom (not)
“the population was ageing, requiring more houses as bedrooms sat empty” he said.
What planet is he on? older or aging people with any smarts are selling their houses and moving into retirement villages as my wife and I did nearly 3 years ago. Happy as “sand boys” no worries about rates, maintenance, lawns or when the bubble will burst and money in the bank even if the miserable bankers are paying peanut interest rates at present, plus the right to occupy for the rest of your life at a fixed rate per day.
Nobody comments on this industry yet there are thousands of single and double units across New Zealand and more being built and planned it is a growth industry.
We should be getting a bonus from Bill for helping him with the housing crisis by releasing houses without increasing the boundaries but his advisors are blind to the truth.
BTW there is a house next door to our village that has been empty for about 7 months, go figure.
ps Actually we are not sand boys ‘cos there are no cannons and no gunpowder here.
p.s.s. What a boorish twit Puckish Rogue is , please just ignore his comments, he is a complete waste of space. IMLTHO
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Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Wilmot, Senior Lecturer, Film, Deakin University Among the many Australian who served during the second world war, there is a small group of people whose stories remain largely untold. These are the Muslim men and women who, while small in number, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
A leaked document shows the Canterbury/Waitaha arm of health agency Te Whatu Ora is scurrying to save $13.3 million by July. The “financial sustainability target”, which was “allocated” to Waitaha, is consistent with what’s happening in other districts, says Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. ...
A look at the state of the previous government’s affordable housing scheme, and what could come next.Remind me: What’s KiwiBuild again?First announced in 2012, KiwiBuild was a flagship policy of the Labour Party heading into both its 2014 and 2017 election campaigns. With Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, ...
Labour in opposition will be shocked to learn which party had six years in power but squandered any chance to make real change. Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech was a predictably entertaining trip down memory lane. The acid-tongued incoming Otago University chancellor administered a sick burn to the coalition government. He ...
Opinion: It has been announced that nine percent of roles at Oranga Tamariki will be disestablished, presumably to help fund the tax cuts promised by the coalition Government. I am reminded of the graphics used to illustrate pandemic events, where five thousand people are standing in a field and then ...
After more than two sleepless days, running through savage terrain, Greig Hamilton didn’t know if he was going to finish one of the most gruelling psychological assaults in sport. He was metres away from the finish line, a yellow gate made famous in a Netflix documentary; a race he’d dreamed ...
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The following interview with former Green Party MP Sue Kedgley came about because she features in the new memoir Hine Toa by activist Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku; the two knew each other at the University of Auckland in the early 70s, when they were both took on leadership roles in the ...
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is seen some as its ‘silicon shield’ against invasion – but how will overseas expansion affect that protection? The post The state of Taiwan’s silicon shield appeared first on Newsroom. ...
There’s relief for building owners bending under the weight of earthquake strengthening rules – and costs – that came into force seven years ago. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a scheduled 2027 review of the earthquake-prone building regulations will now start this year. Owners will also get ...
COMMENTARY:By Murray Horton New Zealand needs to get tough with Israel. It’s not as if we haven’t done so before. When NZ authorities busted a Mossad operation in Auckland 20 years ago, the government didn’t say: “Oh well, Israel has the right to defend itself.” No, it arrested, prosecuted, ...
NEWSMAKERS:By Vijay Narayan, news director of FijiVillage Blessed to be part of the University of Fiji (UniFiji) faculty to continue to teach and mentor those who want to join our noble profession, and to stand for truth and justice for the people of the country. I was privileged to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Lowry, Ice Sheet & Climate Modeller, GNS Science Hugh Chittock/Antarctica New Zealand, CC BY-SA As the climate warms and Antarctica’s glaciers and ice sheets melt, the resulting rise in sea level has the potential to displace hundreds of millions of ...
The government's plan to reintroduce a three strikes regime is being strongly opposed by lawyers, who argue there is no evidence it reduces crime or helps people rehabilitate. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Jerker B. Svantesson, Professor specialising in Internet law, Bond University Do Australian courts have the right to decide what foreign citizens, located overseas, view online on a foreign-owned platform? Anyone inclined to answer “yes” to this question should perhaps also ask ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey caught the headlines yesterday, courtesy of a blistering speech condemning the latest GST carve-up. New South Wales, he claimed, would be A$11.9 billion worse off over the ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra Shutterstock An important principle was invoked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week in defence of the government’s Future Made in Australia industry ...
BNZ Bank economist Tony Alexander, shoring himself up with a bank-selected sample of 500 people, decides that most people really like the housing crisis because high prices make people rich. In case you forget about where he stands on the spectrum, here’s what he has to say about the current housing stories:
“No bemoaning the winners and losers. No whinging about how the world should be fairies and fluffy pink unicorns.”
I’ve always wondered why you found fairies coming out from under bridges and fluffy pink unicorns coming out of forests: it’s where they have to sleep.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/business/385876/house-price-rise-pleases-many
Mr Alexander outlined 18 things that were happening in the country’s housing market including:
– Strong population growth was exceeding housing supply;
– interest rates were at a record low; people were living longer;
– older people were splitting up and needing two houses;
– the population was ageing, requiring more houses as bedrooms sat empty;
– council rules made building a new house expensive;
– Kiwis like expensive bespoke houses rather than little boxes on a hillsides;
– Kiwis seemed to suck at building houses which passed inspections and did not leak;
– there was a shortage of skilled trades people needed to build extra houses;
– few people seriously believed the Government and the Reserve Bank had the tools to flatten house prices, let alone cause them to correct to more “affordable” levels;
– and Auckland was changing from looking like many Invercargills in one place to being a globally connected world city.
And we wonder why four Australian banks are running New Zealand’s housing policy.
So he blames ‘kiwis’ for leaky homes rather than the national party and its headless deregulation.
I counted 4 blocks of apartments in 3 streets close to where I stayed in just one akl inner suburb a few months back. All being repaired, probably ineffectively, keeping tradies from new builds.
The blighted future.
We dont have the tradies to build, the land, geez, Auckland is an isthmus its boaties and pier builders we need. Along with public transit from hunty to s.auckland, hill suburbs to feed employers workers. It aint about Auckland they’ve taken themselves off the table.
Was talking to a national voter recently and they were convinced that it was the green influence on the building trade that had I assume stopped the proper treatment of timber. There wasn’t much point arguing, but I was definitely thinking what the hell.
ive seen the same comment online – the claim that leaky homes was due to the greens forcing builders to use untreated pine for framing
who knew what power the greens wielded, to force such compliance when not even in govt
no need to argue – just ask how that happened – get them to explain it
Not very sustainable, and not in keeping with what Green Party stands for, I would be surprised if this were true?
Alexander speaks for all the simple-minded or callous bastards out there.
+1 they can all go to hell
And from Alexander’s Flagtime Band above –
That’s what it’s all about for the leaders and elites. So the dickheads can strut around with their chests out being all urbane and soofisticated, showing off how modern and upmarket NZ is. Trying to have the lifestyle of an advanced developed society that joined the industrial age, and then moved into the electronic age, while we down here are moving back to the emerald jewel of grass and agriculture that my business tutor said has never in the world given a first world standard of living.
But flashy ostentatious expenditure is all the NZ nobs care about. They move towards an Irish solution where the greedy, callous English speaking overlords, denied the right of the native Irish citizens to own their land and to grow their own food. The British only thought hard when having to find a believable excuse for the country people starving, like paupers.
And we’ve got some NZs cut from the same cloth here. We are globally connected by electronics that serve some people well, but also that are used to degrade other people’s lives and humanity.
A report on the ongoing battle between progressive reform and theocratic reaction in the Kingdom of Tonga: http://eyecontactsite.com/2016/06/art-in-a-weimar-kingdom
Revolution in the Catholic Church?…Time for a Woman Pope!
‘Holy toke: Weed-growing ‘nuns’ defy California town’s cannabis cultivation ban’
https://www.rt.com/viral/345618-california-nuns-cannabis-cultivation/
…“This ban does not apply to us and so we’ve been operating straight through it,” they told RT.
Sister Darcey and Sister Kate have been growing marijuana and creating cannabidiol (CBD)-infused products for three years…
They claim their marijuana has low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which gives the ‘high’ effect associated with marijuana.
“Our medicine is medicine, and it is non-psychoactive,” they explained. “We’re dealing with what is actually hemp but really we advocate for whole plant legalization.”
However, the ‘nuns’ are not the traditionally religious kind but rather ‘spiritual’.
They follow their own ‘holy trinity’ which includes honoring mother earth, honoring the people through making medicine and healing, and their progressive activism.
The nuns dedicate a portion of their week to “the good fight” for the poor people around them…
In states where medical marijuana is legal, there has been a 25 percent drop in painkiller related deaths, according to a 2015 study by University of Pennsylvania and John Hopkins researchers in JAMA Internal Medicine journal.”
Not sure they can be called part of the Catholic establishment, but this guy is and he wrote a very balanced letter in support of the law change in Iowa.
http://www.catholicsun.org/2016/04/28/iowa-bishop-supports-medical-marijuana-bill-in-letter-to-lawmakers/
As for a women Pope the lst time we had one of those, it did not end well. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Joan
wow I didnt know about Pope Joan
“Ministry of Justice refusing to release _any_ docs relating to long-delay, or lobbying over, anti money-laundering policy. To the Ombudsman!” – Matt Nippert via Twitter
“quick, Collins went to that anti-corruption conference, get her to pop down and explain why this is a bad look.” – Dovil ibid
Shocking, but unsurprising. Collins would have been lobbying for increased money laundering and decreased anti corruption measures!
Very good interview this a.m. on whistleblowers in USA referring to Snowden, but mainly all the others who have been damaged in trying to follow the principles of integrity to the law and fairness of the legal and constitutional system there. On Radionz with Kathryn Ryan.
Photo- The front cover of Mark Hertsgaard’s book Bravehearts: Whistle Blowing In The Age Of Snowden. It features a large photo of Edward Snowden
10:05 The NSA whistleblower protector who blew the whistle himself
John Crane was a senior Defence Department official responsible for protecting whistleblowers at the NSA but he ended up blowing the whistle himself after seeing his colleagues betray the whistleblowers they were supposed to protect. His claims are outlined in a new book – Bravehearts: Whistle Blowing In The Age Of Snowden by Mark Hertsgaard.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201803529
Also your privacy – http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201803526 13.15m.
Radio NZ today, 7 June 9:25 Sorting your digital footprint before you die
One of the growing existential questions of our time is “what happens to my digital footprint when I die?” With many people doing their banking, insurance and other financial business online as well as engagement on social media platforms, what are the legal protocols for ensuring they are shut down or – if you want – accessible to your loved ones?
A forum set up by Internet New Zealand in Wellington this Thursday will feature experts to answer such questions. The event is being hosted by the Deputy CEO of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, Narelle Clark.
Next week –
Listen out on 10:05 am Tuesday 14 June: Luke Williams interview.
Background on the meth drug habit, book Ice Age by Australian author.
Luke Williams was a freelance journalist researching addiction to crystallised methamphetamine (commonly known as crystal meth or ice) when the worst possible thing happened – he became addicted himself. Over the next three months, he was seduced by the drug and descended into psychosis.
He talks to Kathryn Ryan about his recovery from the drug, and his investigation into its history, manufacture and his first hand experience of the effects on users, families and the healthcare system. He’s written a book called Ice Age.
http://scribepublications.com.au/books-authors/books/the-ice-age/.
edited
With the sun streaming through the windows this morning, I’m making cider from the apple juice we pressed from our apples last weekend; Bramley’s Seedling, Kentish Fillbasket, Merton Russett and Belle de Boskoop. Having bottled the previous batch, including a fine perry, I’ve refilled those demijohns and set them a’bubbling on the kitchen table. Now, I’m off to collect fallen hazelnuts from which I’m planning to grow several hundred hazels for planting out in the commons around my village. Have a productive day, all!
Or instead of turning your area into little England, you could plant natives to attract more native birds.
“Little England” – cute.
My forest garden is a combination of indigenous and exotic trees, shrubs, vines, annuals, biennials and perennials, all growing as a constructed-but-naturalistic whole. I’ve kotukutuku, kowhai, tataramoa, kohuhu, tarata, hoheria, horoeka etc. etc. most of which feed the birds at various times of the year, as do the plum, apples, pear and apricot trees, invaders all. Around the town, I’ve guerilla-planted ti kouka, harakeke, toetoe, korokia etc. in significant numbers, especially on the wetland reserve, Te Wai Korari, that I negotiated the purchase of 15 years ago; the ‘flax wetland’ being the most significant on the estuary, with it’s waterways for galaxids, etc. Against the backdrop of all these natives, I’m planting trees that produce fruit and nuts for humans to eat, believing as I do, that it’s important to prepare communities for climate change and food shortages, even though they might not be aware of that probable eventuality. Hazelnuts are good food, the trees make great nesting sites for grey warbler, fantail, tui and bellbird alike. Their branches make good fences also, and are provided free to whomever might want to fashion them into something stock-proof. As is done in Little England.
That deals with Kevin. I feel that you can fend off all comers Robert G.. Arent they puerile.
It shows what an advantage full employment would be as everyone would be too busy doing something that somebody needed or wanted to buy.
And the oldies would be choosing some useful volunteer work from what the community thought needed doing and having less time to make trouble and acidic remarks as I am just doing! I have met some very patronising and acidic remarks from the retired over the years and feel it isn’t paying back or forward to society for the stable safety net we are provided still.
good on you RG .Well done sounds like you are a bonus to your community
you share seeds?
Thanks all. We operate a seed saving network, presently being refreshed but if you want to know more, try: office@sces.org.nz Now though, is cuttings time, as well as getting nuts into the soil (sorry, Kev).
A good performance from James Shaw this morning, talking about cleaning the rivers. Usually someone from the left will be all doom and gloom and worst case scenario in an attempt to “shock” the people into action
Instead Mr Shaw said that the rivers could be saved and then instead of umming and ahhing and trying to minimise the cost he instead agreed it would cost billions
NZers will appreciate that, a good interview for Mr Shaw
Wouldn’t have cost anything, if the NZers had listened to people like Mr Shaw long ago. Mike Joy, whose messages you might describe as “doom and gloom” has been telling the truth for many years now. Do you think NZers have appreciated his efforts?
Its more that Kiwis respond better to positivity then negativity, especially when whats being said doesn’t marry up with their own experiences
As I say I think Mr Shaw did well especially in not prevaricating when it came to the potential costs involved.
I think this type of performance (positive, matter of fact) will be a vote gainer for the Greens
The Greens have been doing positive messages for a long time. Perhaps it’s that Shaw looks like someone you trust that you listen to him differently.
I think PR is using his ‘positive’ comment to focus on the ‘billions needed’ aspect of the issue. I think he’s being duplicitous. I think PR is white anting.
🙂
Nope not at all. If he’d said something like it won’t cost much then whatever he’d said would be ignored because the people of NZ know it’d cost a lot
James Shaw is basically telling NZ what we already know and, if the Greens keep this type of communication up, they’ll be rewarded in the polls
Its good politics from the Greens
The Greens and the left in general (mostly Labour to be fair) are all about how bad this country is in an attempt to change the government, you may well be right but its the first time hes said something, in a way I agree with
Mike Joy, Puckish – heard of him? What are your thoughts about his message and what do you think about the treatment he receives from the likes of Mr Key?
No sorry, I had to google the guy to see who he is
Had to Google the guy, Puckish?
Does your rock have a mail-slot? I’d like to send you some material from the real world.
So how did it come across from Turei?
I switch off when shes talking
Funny in a sad way. PR hasn’t heard of Mike Joy. No joy there.
And Metiria Turei – he switches off when she’s talking.
And this man I feel sure, has the gall to come on here and offer us his views as if they have any relevance or value. Fatheads we have by the thousand in NZ. Or hundreds of thousands. It must have been all that milk and meat. It has built calcium, and…of course that’s the result, boneheads not fatheads. I was wrong before. But I think I’ve nailed it now.
“I switch off when shes talking”
You’ve not heard what she has to say then?
Not planning to comment on her views then, I hope.
So, you’ve not heard Mike Joy’s views, nor Metiria’s.. who do you get your information from? Have you a view on environmental issues? From whom did you gather that, I wonder? (Tempted to say, “Rodney Hide?” but that would be nothing more than provocation and you have become much more interesting to talk to these days).
Right. So it’s not about what is being said, it’s who’s saying it. Shaw looks like someone you would listen to.
More likely he’s taken his morning’s instructions from Paul Henry.
Probably even drinks from the mug
2 billion over 20 years is 100 million a year. Entirely affordable, especially if the top rate of tax goes to 39%.
The work cleaning up the capitalist’s mess will generate employment and income and probably scientific knowledge all of this retained within NZ.
lol
How did I know PR was staying vague for a reason… “cost billions”. 🙄
Who is pushing this National Policy Statement for Urban Development?
(Which will mean, according to PM John Key, that Aucklanders will not have the ‘last say regarding Auckland development?)
Surprise surprise!
The NZ Property Council …
http://www.propertynz.co.nz/media/wysiwyg/pdf/NPS_on_Urban_Development_Submission.pdf
(Pg 7)
“.. The Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan, currently going through the last stages of the Independent Hearing Panel process is a testament to this new approach.
However, as history shows the vocal minority NIMBYs who often employ a build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything approach to their land use planning thinking can compromise the planning process.
Auckland saw this as Auckland councillors in 2013 folded to pressure from these groups in relation to the Notified Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan.
The density targets of the Auckland Plan were compromised by watered down density zoning and a number of overlays in the Notified Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan ..”
What is ‘local’ about local government in this (forced( Auckland ‘Superciry’ – with it’s ‘democracy for developers’ and DICTATORSHIP for citizens?
Want to stand up and be counted and let PM John Key know that you will not be run by developers and corporates – from Wellington?
SAVE AUCKLAND – MARCH FOR DEMOCRACY !
WHEN: Saturday 11 June 2016.
WHERE: Britomart to the Auckland Town Hall.
TIME: Assemble 12 noon at Britomart.
March supported by It’s Our Future (Auckland), The Westmere Heritage Protection Association, The Housing Lobby.
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate Penny Bright.
Yes, PR, positiveness is attractive to voters. I like it when it’s genuine, rather than manipulative and relies on misleading, seen with such claims as, “We’re on the cusp of something special”, or “brighter future” – that sort of saccharine puff is unhealthy. We hear it a lot these days. Mr Shaw will balance his positive statements with as much truth as can be comfortably absorbed by his audiences, I hope, while at the same time retaining his integrity. Other leaders have failed spectacularly to do this.
It maybe the blueprint for the Greens they desperately need, pick a subject or two that resonate with the general public (dirty rivers), be positive (they can be saved), don’t shy away from the realities(it will cost plenty) and propose a solution
Be positive and tell the truth…its revolutionary!
lolz, that’s pretty much been GP strategy for ages. Glad you are getting on board PR, there is hope yet.
Yes maybe but what I’m saying is you have an issue most NZers can get behind and understand, spoken truthfully and positively about
That hasn’t always been the case
The Greens have been campaigning on clean water for ages. How did you miss that?
It might seem that way to you, PR, but you’ve not been paying attention. As just one example, the Greens have had their “Good Farm Stories” up and running for a long time now. In any case, if your epiphany is genuine, I congratulate you on it.
Yeah but to see it you have to go to their web site so I and most people won’t know its there
I don’t know if this is an attempt by James Shaw to:
Increase his spotlight since hes being shunted to the side by his co-leader
Shoring up his support post 2017 election
Trying to take votes off National
Trying to take votes off Labour
but I do believe that the message and the way hes saying it is a good way of putting it (good meaning getting votes of course)
aaaaand the plot thickens: now, a simple interview about cleaning up our waterways, perfectly in accordance with Green policy, has become an offensive move in ructions within the green party as well as lab/grn conflict.
PR’s “positivity” is simply the crocodile’s smile, and his concern is a reptilian tear.
lol, I saw that too. Poor PR, far too predictable, they can’t be paying him enough.
So, you don’t think James’ statement on rivers is his genuine view? It’s just some form of “attempt” to gain political ground?
Jaded, PR, you are.
It very probably is and I very probably am
Has the Herald woken up (at last) to our precarious economy??
‘Nation of Debt: New Zealand sitting on half-trillion-dollar debt bomb
New Zealand is sitting on a half-a-trillion-dollar debt bomb and Kiwis are increasingly treating their houses like cash machines, piling on the debt as they watch the value of their properties soar.
Reserve Bank figures show household debt, excluding investment property, has risen 23 per cent in the past five years to $163.4 billion. Incomes have risen only 11.5 per cent.
Households are now carrying a debt level that is equivalent to 162 per cent of their annual disposable income – higher than the level reached before the global financial crisis.’
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/personal-finance/news/article.cfm?c_id=12&objectid=11651648
Am I right that that is about $90,000 for each person in NZ?
Yes, but I noticed Granny did not bother to mention the government racking up billions of Debt for tax cuts and infrastructure for their migration experiments.
The economists and MSM rant on about private debt but when the government does it – not a murmur. Some economists!!!
How we treat vulnerable people in NZ.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11650165
And finally, Hillary Clinton gets the numbers to clinch the Democratic Presidential nomination, even before New Jersey and California primaries:
http://bigstory.ap.org/779b7012af24446289623a968926ec04
Whew!
Hopefully Sanders leaves Stage Right as gracefully as Cruz did on the other side.
Nope.
Lisa Lerer Verified account
@llerer
Sanders responds to @AP call: Clinton doesn’t have the pledged delegates. Supers don’t count until the convention so it’s still on.
https://twitter.com/llerer/status/739979345708634112
None of the delegates, super or less than super, count until the convention.
27th of July, me thinks is the date for super delegates
Weird and wonderful.
Parker Molloy Verified account
@ParkerMolloy
“But superdelegates don’t vote until July.”
Well, the electoral college won’t vote until December 19, but we call it in November.
https://twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/status/739979362166935556
Are you calling what looks like a major mess in Puerto Rico the victory Hillary Rodam Clinton needed to win? And are you including super delegates?
I’d also say your link is Bullshit. Insiders, and hearsay.
It ain’t over yet!
For my sins, I was watching some Fox News snippets on YouTube and heard a sort of throw away line that Bernie’s wife had hinted that the Democratic Convention would be contested because something would happen to upset the balance before then!
A reference to a possible indictment of HRC???
Worth watching.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/entertainment/john-oliver-buys-22-million-in-debt-forgives-it-all-2016060708?ref=newshubFB
Anti TPPA meeting We need to stop the TPPA, but now there’s a new threat, and the negotiations are coming to Auckland next week!
While the TPPA is in deep trouble in the US, negotiations are continuing on its parallel agreement – the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), being pushed by China. Come to hear all about the RCEP, the latest on TPPA and how we can say no!
Friday, June 17 at 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
St Matthew-in-the-City (187 Federal St) (Corner of Wellesley and Hobson Sts)
Think corruption, only 3.5% of voters voted in democratic primary in Puerto Rico. Down from 700,000. The DNC, has a fix in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eN8nE8mFnw
What is baffling is that this could happen in a country which even goes to war (Iraq), in order to bring a sterling USA form democracy to ignorant people. How did Bush get a second term as President when the Election was rigged? Who has the power to correct the wrongs?
It should wake up New Zealanders to the preciousness of our honest credible voting system – before it gets stolen from us.
Remember Gore? Hanging chads?
Hanging Chads ain’t nothing on how LBJ got to power.
Full spectacularly ugly story in Anthony Caro’s magisterial Means of Ascent.
This an’t tiddlywinks.
After the Bush re-election there was an enquiry of sorts and 100s of thousands of uncounted votes were discovered chucked in a store room.
There were hundreds of cases of votes cast by phantom voters, for Bush, and oddities where in a poling booth there were hundreds of votes all voting for Bush where usually there are a mixture of votes.
The enquiry was abandoned because by then Bush had been sworn in.
Democratic USA? Huh!
When the two candidates go head to head, then we will really see the full ugliness begin – as we haven’t seen for many decades.
Shades of O Brother Where Art Thou.
Lets hope Bernie still squeaks in…otherwise there is going to be blood on the mat between Clinton and Trump…and the winner will be scarey . Bernie could also save us from the TPP
‘Bernie: It will be a contested convention’
https://www.rt.com/shows/big-picture/345646-tpp-racist-rant-bernie/
“Tonight’s Progressive Roundtable discusses Bernie’s final push in California, whether Hillary would consider having Elizabeth Warren as her running mate, and how the media has prevented any real discussion on the TPP.
Thom talks Trump’s latest racist rant and Bernie’s next move with the Nation’s Katrina vanden Heuvel and in tonight’s Daily Take Thom discusses how Bernie Sanders’ role in writing the official party platform at this year’s Democratic Convention could save us from the TPP.”
Hate to link to Granny but this is sad.
Autistic man locked in isolation for five years: ‘He’s had everything stripped from him’
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11648771
Closing in on EU Financial Tax Victory
Posted on June 1, 2016 by David Hillman
The international campaign for taxes on financial speculation is on the brink of a major European milestone that could further boost momentum in the United States.
http://inequality.org/closing-eu-financial-tax-victory/
ON TV1 Lab +Greens = just 41% . To get to form a government they need 50%. Thus they need a ( 9/41 x 100) a whopping 21.95% vote rise on current polling. Formidable challenge when already they cannot agree on deep sea drilling and immigration.
They can agree on a lot more than National and NZF can.
48% is not 50% when you have no mates.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/poll-boost-labour-and-greens-pairing-but-andrew-little-shouldnt-celebrating?autoPlay=4929742655001
Key 39%-still below 40. He has lost that sheen, that teflon, and that was what was carrying the Nats.
29+12+9=goodbye John. And this poll was mostly after the earlier negative reporting of the Lab/Gr MOU. Later reporting has been much more positive.
An interesting analysis in the Colmar Brunton report on the poll between their pre- and post-MOU signing sampling.
See here: https://twitter.com/Puddleglum11/status/740101936939044868
That’s gold, Puddleglum!
From the commentary:
Following the announcement of the Labour and Green Party Memorandum of Understanding, support for the Labour Party increased significantly, from 26% to 31%, and support for New Zealand First decreased, from 11% to 7%.
Kinda explains Winston’s instinctive realisation that he was in some kind of trouble.
Yes, I thought it was interesting given the obituaries for Labour being written by some well-known commentators as a result of the MOU signing.
Still, early days.
Leaving aside the obvious possibility that your wife is cro-magnon right wing trash, just like you, stupidity afflicts the Swiss no more or less than anyone else.
[derailment and subsequent bickering moved to Open Mike] – weka
Dude, wtf.
Dude, are you still a member of the party you affect to despise?
Can you two please take the personal stuff somewhere else?
Sure. Not here to mess up your post, which is good work weka. But I wasn’t going to let OAB just throw out a random attack on a commentator’s wife let alone his lacing it with racist overtones.
“…racist overtones…”? No, there aren’t.
You accused the guys wife of being a primitive sub human kind of primate.
In fact, sweet object of my derision and contempt, a wingnut used a “loved” one as political currency, so I entertained the possibility that she (like you) shares his afflictions.
Do you really have nothing to add to the conversation apart from mindless abuse ?
No wonder there are few new people commenting on this blog and fewer new females.
Yet your never banned for this shit.
take it to open mike. Last warning folks.
You don’t understand why. That’s not a question.
So you didnt look at your link then Paul.
Pretty dismal for Labour/Greens when Winston cant drag them over the line.
[Learn to use the reply button, NM. And learn to count. 50 beats 48. TRP]
Sorry about the reply button, when i watched the link i didnt notice that i lost the reply.
National and their support partners= 61 seats.
Labour/ Greens/ NZF= 61 seats
There is nothing wrong with my counting.
Fair enough, Naki Man, except you assume the support parties will be returned. ACT almost certainly will, but that doesn’t really assist National much. The Maori Party and Peter Dunne are not looking quite so rosy at the moment. If neither make it, it’s 61-59. I wouldn’t entirely rule out National simply not standing in Ohariu, but that would look a bit desperate and may cost them much needed party votes. The MP just look stuffed at the moment, completely subsumed into the National government, without a voice of their own.
There is no possibility of a Labour/Greens/NZF government. Winston will never play 3rd fiddle. A 22% rise in support for Greens/Labour is possible but unlikely, Far more likely is another slight rise in support for National. 49% is achievable. An MMP record score again but given the growing economy, wage, benefit and pension rises and the amazing Budget 2017 why would anyone take a risk on change. The growth in membership of National of people with Chinese sounding names is phenomenal.
This morning there was a comment posted which included a series of reasons for the housing crisis according to Tony Alexander including this pearl of wisdom (not)
“the population was ageing, requiring more houses as bedrooms sat empty” he said.
What planet is he on? older or aging people with any smarts are selling their houses and moving into retirement villages as my wife and I did nearly 3 years ago. Happy as “sand boys” no worries about rates, maintenance, lawns or when the bubble will burst and money in the bank even if the miserable bankers are paying peanut interest rates at present, plus the right to occupy for the rest of your life at a fixed rate per day.
Nobody comments on this industry yet there are thousands of single and double units across New Zealand and more being built and planned it is a growth industry.
We should be getting a bonus from Bill for helping him with the housing crisis by releasing houses without increasing the boundaries but his advisors are blind to the truth.
BTW there is a house next door to our village that has been empty for about 7 months, go figure.
ps Actually we are not sand boys ‘cos there are no cannons and no gunpowder here.
p.s.s. What a boorish twit Puckish Rogue is , please just ignore his comments, he is a complete waste of space. IMLTHO