But imagine paying to move into a brand new house and then having renters in it with all the wear and tear. I hope the building firm gets taken to the cleaners in court.
Limitations on short term stays.Requirement for resource consent,and code of compliance,and change on rating structure for short term stays (commercial rate)
He (Associate Judge Dale Lester) noted construction did not start until five months after Titterton signed her contract.
Her house was built by the developer “in parallel” with two neighbouring properties which both obtained code compliance in September 2021, he said.
That lots 20 and 21 were finished well before the sunset clause shows there was no reason, from a purely construction point of view, that lot 19 (Titterton’s property) could not have been finished on time,” Lester said.
He said an email sent by Dynasty’s solicitor to Titterton’s lawyer in April 2021, which claimed the delays were due to a nationwide shortage of timber, price increases, appliance supply shortages, a need to adjust fill level on site and “issues with funding” was so “inaccurate as it might be submitted that it was intended to mislead”.
It was sent when the walls and roof on the house were completed and work on the brick cladding had started.
The need to adjust the fill level was puzzling since the concrete pad was already down, he said. Dynasty actually continued work until July 30, 2021, with Gib lining, stopping and painting.
Call me Mr thickest person called Chris in NZ, but don't actually get how it would work. Obviously micro plastics are light, but don't get how light enough to get into the atmosphere.
Worrying though. Would prefer not killing penguins over plastic Coke bottles etc.
"Antarctica pristine no more as microplastics discovered in snow at bottom of the world
The driven snow of the world’s last untouched continent might not be so pure after all.
A world-first study by University of Canterbury researchers – published in science journal The Cryosphere on Wednesday – has confirmed the discovery of microplastics in freshly fallen Antarctic snow………"
Certainly in NZ, one of the biggest use of plastic bottles would be for milk. And there is zero effective interest in mandating a return to glass bottles (which were entirely re-usable and recyclable). There are a few niche producers doing this – but, if we want to make a difference, it has to either be mandated or plastic use heavily cost-weighted (making glass a cheaper option).
I'm really not very interested in plastic recycling options in this instance. Much better to use glass, instead.
I agree about glass. It's hard to beat. We went through a phase when milk was put into cardboard cartons which were found to be releasing small amounts of dioxin into the milk.
With plastic, everyone is rushing around buying plastic that is BPA free. Yet like one scientist said, BPA is one of only many POSSIBLE chemicals that can leach from plastic.
quick google tells me technically we can remove micro plastics from water, so are you meaning that we can't remove them from say the ocean because its too big?
Ultimately this is a population issue as well as a shitting in our own nest one. We can shift all clothing to natural fibres tomorrow and implement all the reuse clothing tech and culture at its best, and perpetual growth will still lead to more pollution (natural micro fibres are still pollutants). This is a philosophical problem as well as a technical one.
Plastics residues are everywhere. So pervasive that removing existing microplastics from the environment is an impossible task. They are in our bodies, in water and soil, basically, everywhere! No sample was free of microplastics when water sampling NZ rivers.
While glass bottles and other substitutes cut plastics in the environment, they can have their own resource use issues. Energy used to collect and clean milk bottles, for example.
Plastic water bottles is an obviously superfluous use of plastics. In NZ, where tap water can be high quality, dispensed in a glass, that can be used many times, we shouldn't have to sell water in bottles, at all!
""This is a kind of irreversible contamination," said Nizzetto. "There's no way to remediate this kind of contamination at the scale of agricultural soils."”
"Imagine a jar full of grain with a kind of lump of mushroom coming out of the top," says the lead biotech engineer for bio-manufacturing firm Biohm.
"It didn't look particularly exciting or fascinating. But as soon as it was cracked open, it was very, very cool."
The fungus had eaten its way through the plastic sponge intended to seal it in, breaking it down and assimilating it like any other food.
The aim of the project was to evaluate a number of strains of fungus for use in bio-based insulation panels, but the hungry fungus has taken them in another direction.
Biohm is now working to develop the strain to make it an even more efficient digester that could potentially help get rid of plastic waste.
If we look at the world in a reductionist way instead of a ecological systems way, we see only reductionist solutions.
We need to transition off disposable plastics asap. Some things require plastics, so reserve them for essential items and services, but put in place systems of protection, retention and recycling.
In addition to that, look at the water cycle, the soil ecosystems, the places we have been polluting and that we need resources from and put humans back in the loops. When we do this, we see both the problems we are causing systemically and the solutions.
Can we clean up all microplastics? Probably not? We can stop polluting more, and we can change how we relate with the rest of nature so that we have systems that clean up pollution as much as possible.
All sustainability comes from this kind of circular and systemic thinking. If a solution doesn't do that, it's not about sustainability, it's about mitigation. Centering mitigation is what BAU does – how much pollution can we get away with?
Circular resource use and sustainability.
And how it relates to a circular economy.
Example. Looking at EV’ s as a solution when they are only a part of a solution?
Or. Increases in more sustainable energy being lost within added energy use.
While glass bottles and other substitutes cut plastics in the environment, they can have their own resource use issues. Energy used to collect and clean milk bottles, for example.
This is true of *any* reusable packaging solution.
If the economic answer is single use packaging, then we're not measuring correctly.
If so, then I’m sure Robert will bow to the pressure of the majority, realise the errors of his way and repent, and adopt your views on Mallard. Because, if I’m not wrong, Robert would like nothing less than think like you, Jimmy.
What are the numbers for the supporters of other parties? How many approved and how many didn’t know? That is more relevant in this thread. Where are your numbers, why aren’t you digging further? For example, 17% of all people polled approve, 48% disapprove, and the rest (i.e. 35%, by my calculation) don’t know (or don’t care).
I can feel Robert shaking in his boots and wavering in his liking of Mallard!
Was the TS poll you mentioned earlier "The Standard"" poll?
Yes would be interesting to know the sample size etc. and where / how the poll was conducted. But concerning result none the less if only 17% actually approve.
I have never seen a previous poll done on a speaker….has there ever been one? If not, why have they even done a poll? Has Mallard pissed someone off at the polling company? Or has someone paid to have the poll done and if so whom? Now that could be interesting.
So, you have nothing else, nothing of any substance, and just jumping on the bandwagon with the rest of the lynch mob.
Of course, somebody paid for the poll!!
Of course, Mallard has pissed off somebody!! It’s in the hit piece you linked to, FFS!!
What’s concerning is that is yet another attack on the Office of the Speaker and you just lap it up, unquestionably and uncritically, as a lazy thinker would.
I like and admire Trevor. He has tried to get the Opposition to play by the rules but which they are defiantly obstructive. The rules are the Parliament's rules so play fair.
Carter was often nastily obstructive and protective of Key especially. Remember when he chucked 5 women MPs out in a row for defending those who were defending those who had be abused?
Wonder how many of those polled knew who or what Trevor was.
Well if you like your speakers to be strongly biased in favour of the government; intolerant; rigidly ideological; inflexible; capable of making stupid decisions (eg turning on sprinklers to piss off protesters); quick to take offence; incapable of building relationships with opposition parties; capable of having punch ups with other members of parliament; and just generally obnoxious, then Trev's your man – you can have him.
He's probably the worst speaker in parliaments history.
So, the Parliament grounds occupation is over but the siege on Parliament still continues. Is Mallard the Zelenskyy equivalent in NZ and if so, who’s the Putin equivalent?
A poll on whether the Speaker is doing a good job and publishing the results as if they were of some grave importance to the country and the world is a sign of how dreadful we've become. And how shgit our media people are.
Most people wouldn't have the faintest idea about what the Speaker does and should do. They wouldn't know their arse from their elbow for a start.
People who say vaccinations don't work, masks don't work and the Government was using radiation at the Wellington protest? Yeah, they don't like Mallard, he's slack at his job, get rid of him? For fucks sake. TVNZ promoted and carried this poll and reported it? The state broadcaster has reduced serious stuff to the level of the Warriors league team with their coaches coming and going.
Interesting Spinoff article unpacking the actions of the conspiracy theorists around the very straightforward visit to the US by Ardern. Everything is apparently fuel for them, and interpreted through the singular lens of their prejudice.
What is worrying, is the spread of the dis-information to a fairly politically unsophisticated audience (TikTok)
Recently the work of the Disinformation Project organisation reviewed social media data daily during the Wellington protest. In the massive of volume of content they found 73% of the disinformation identified on Facebook was created by only 12 people.
I wonder if the lunatic garbage in this latest instance about Ardern in New York is from the same people.
''My question to this government and other governments around the world twisting words to limit food production to achieve an unsustainable goal while making a food shortage for the world; why are they not taking into account Article 2 (b) of the Paris Accord?”
Blade – use your brain next time and reply to my message, not KJT's.My message is now a good way below your mis-placed reply.
Soundbite? What do you think you mean by that? I can assure you that I made no sound at all as I posted my eloquently expressed rebuttal to your obvious piece of trolling. You knew well that the reference you gave would annoy and provoke the average contributors to this site. You sowed knowingly, and I gave you something you could deservedly reap.
Take your medicine, and stop complaining about superficial manners. You are a blatantly obvious right wing troll, and as such are unconvincing when you try to weasel in as a 'nice' contributor.
KJT described you well at 6.1.1.
(Just above the reply above, which you sent to the wrong person.)
'Reasoned response'? You don't even say which response you are referring to.
I suggest you find another way to misspend your idle time, Blade.
As I understand it ( and to be fair I have lost interest in the topic) governments shouldn't curtail food production in response to climate change targets.
However, I'm flying a little blind here because it's the Owen Jennings article I wanted to comment on.
I posted those links because this topic, I believe, will be back in the media spotlight.
Of more importance is how National will approach this issue when they become the government next year. Lefties believing National will give farmers a free pass may be in for a surprise. National may be completely woke by that time if Luxon's performance is anything to go by.
Don't reach. The government ( Labour)- National isn't in power yet- will curtail food production indirectly with their demands on farmers re climate change regulation affecting agriculture.
It shows you how divorced this government is from our major export earner. Believe it or not, its not Robbo Hood’s printing press, or the Green Collective, that puts food on our tables…it's agriculture.
But again, this is standard fare for a left leaning government. Most righties expected no different. The questions is what National will, or will not be doing around this issue.
unfortunately industrial ag is also responsible for a large amount of GHG emissions.
I take it your argument here is that we shouldn't be doing climate mitigation. You'll get more shit if you are honest about that, but you will get more respect too. The whole back door climate denial is tedious af.
''I take it your argument here is that we shouldn't be doing climate mitigation.''
No, not directly. The only good thing about the climate change scam is it's forcing even more changes and efficiencies in the agriculture sector. Changes that have been happening since SMPs were scrapped. The days of a new Jag and a week in the Islands was over. Some farmers went to the wall.
We emit next to nothing in global terms. We even import coal. How nutty is that? All in the name of '' Let's be world leaders.'' More reality based countries burn coal and have no problem burning fossil fuels when needed.
So, at the end of the day, I want all climate change legislation scrapped. However, I'm still for environmental controls on farmers who pollute rivers, and abuse stock.
In fact farmers are now one of the biggest preservers of remaining natural bush. Always amazes me how little I see Maori and urban Greenies involved in such preservation work.
Funny how the ignorant always eventually, out themselves.
"Always amazes me how little I see Maori and urban Greenies involved in such preservation work."
Don't get out much do you? About 200 out in our local wetland last week. Maori And some Asians, Indians, Poms and other assorted, Greenies. Even a couple of retired cockies.
In fact farmers are now one of the biggest preservers of remaining natural bush. Always amazes me how little I see Maori and urban Greenies involved in such preservation work.
This would have to be one of the stupider things I've seen recently. But good to see your prejudices laid out bare.
Cheap easy shots .I'm just stating my experiences. Mostly ordinary folk on the replantings I have been involved in. No Maori, only two Greenies ( real Greenies. Hand's that obviously had held a slasher; not a latte.). Look at the student army in Christchurch. See any Maori organisation helping out? Apart from Derek Fox who stayed a few days then was gone. However, to be fair I may have missed some Maori helpers.
I'm sorry, Weka. I can only go by my own experiences. Now I did have one indigenous experience. I offered Totara saplings to a replanting scheme. The pakeha coordinator said they couldn't accept my offer because my trees wouldn't have been native to the area. I bet he was following kaupapa set down by Maori…who were nowhere in sight.
I think it’s your prejudices that are being laid out bare. And I will meet all prejudices like yours head on.
No, you're not. You're using your apparently quite limited personal experiences to make a political point about groups of people you don't like. It's very easy to find many planting projects that greenies and Māori are involved in.
Look at the student army in Christchurch. See any Maori organisation helping out?
So not personal experience, but out and out racist framing. It's not hard to find Māori orgs that are doing work in the community.
can only go by my own experiences. Now I did have one indigenous experience. I offered Totara saplings to a replanting scheme. The pakeha coordinator said they couldn't accept my offer because my trees wouldn't have been native to the area. I bet he was following kaupapa set down by Maori.
It's called eco-sourcing, it's based in ecological sciences, and it's common throughout NZ.
I think its your prejudices that are being laid out bare. And I will meet all prejudices like yours head on.
Really? How come you haven't named them then? All I'm seeing is you making a bunch of racist and anti-green assertions and one that is ignorant of a reforestation concept as well as being anti-Māori. None of that is anything to do with me.
''It's very easy to find many planting projects that greenies and Māori are involved in.''
Fare enough. List some. I admit I have only been involved in two schemes. But I've seen a whole heap more on TV – few Maori or Greenies I'm sorry to say.
''It's called eco-sourcing, it's based in ecological sciences, and it's common throughout NZ.''
Never heard of it. We have what's called ''Local variety seed saving.'' I'm guessing it's a similar thing? I will say I already had some of my saplings growing quite well in the general planting area, but I was still turned down.
''I think its your prejudices that are being laid out bare. And I will meet all prejudices like yours head on.''
''Really? How come you haven't named them then? All I'm seeing is you making a bunch of racist and anti-green assertions. and one that is ignorant of a reforestation concept as well as being anti-Māori.
1- You have prejudices against farmers and people who don't share your views on quack science based climate change. You have made those sentiments quite clear to me.
2- You cannot argue race in a rational manner. Your arguments always boils down to your opposition being racist. So you have race bias.
3- You are prejudiced against the Right of politics. Unlike me, you have trouble criticising your own.
4-You have bias when it comes to certain gender issues.
Blade – I read that crap in the local café. Utter baloney – the guy lies about methane, claims a closed system when much of his 'disappearing methane' converts to carbon dioxide, and peddles a load of wishful garbage.
He claims that 'methane is gone in ten years.' If I remember correctly, that approximate figure is its half-life. And what is the point if farmers are replenishing it with a new full amount every year? No mention of methane being up to 60 times worse that CO2 as a heat-retaining gas.
Increase in atmospheric methane set another record during 2021
[7 April 2022]
NOAA’s preliminary analysis showed the annual increase in atmospheric methane during 2021 was 17 parts per billion (ppb), the largest annual increase recorded since systematic measurements began in 1983. The increase during 2020 was 15.3 ppb. Atmospheric methane levels averaged 1,895.7 ppb during 2021, or around 162% greater than pre-industrial levels. From NOAA’s observations, scientists estimate global methane emissions in 2021 are 15% higher than the 1984-2006 period.
… Control of many methane sources technically possible today
“Reducing methane emissions is an important tool we can use right now to lessen the impacts of climate change in the near term, and rapidly reduce the rate of warming,” Spinrad said. “Let’s not forget that methane also contributes to ground-level ozone formation, which causes roughly 500,000 premature deaths each year around the world.”
I'll try to expand on this at some point but I believe Dairy Expansion in New Zealand is equivalent to Israeli Settlement Expansion in the occupied territories.
Invade, set up families and business, and use that as means with which to not be able to roll back the original injustice.
"It is the first lawsuit of its kind to draw from the Facebook Papers while exposing the real human harm behind its findings, Spence’s attorneys say. The suit also features previously unpublicized documents from the leaks, including one in which Meta identified “tweens” as “herd animals” who “want to find communities where they can fit in.” The attorneys argue that such documents demonstrate Meta’s efforts to recruit underage users to its platforms.
“If you look at the extensive research that it [Meta] performed, they knew exactly what they were doing to kids, and they kept doing it,” said the founder of the Social Media Victims Law Center, Matthew P. Bergman, who is representing Spence and her family. “I wish I could say that Alexis’ case is aberrational. It’s not. The only aberration is that she survived.”"
Well, you and your fellow travellers are determined to link police action directly to Labour Party policy so I ask again, does yesterday's event in Newlands show the government is soft on crime?
Perhaps the police and therefore, according to your theory, Jacinda Ardern could have done more than shot the man 8 times. Maybe some torture first. Would it have been better if police had taken out the entire family just to show the gangs who is boss?
Just asking questions…
[You are going too far and well beyond ‘just asking questions’ that are reasonable and within levels of what’s acceptable and tolerated here.
From the Policy:
Directly or indirectly advocating violence in any shape or form (including ‘jest’ and advocating self-harm) to individuals or groups is simply not allowed. Moderators will have a no-tolerance humourless response as the only possible response. If you want to talk about political conflicts around the world, then do so being mindful of this proscription.
You misunderstand. Having to shoot an offender during a dire situation has nothing to do with this government being soft, and useless on crime prevention.
Have a look at the second clip in this link and see how scared a gang banger is of the police. If I was in charge no prick who probably doesn't even know how to flush the toilet would ever disrespect police, ambulance or medical staff without facing dire consequences, and if need be liberal use of the baton.
You misunderstand. Having to shoot an offender during a dire situation has nothing to do with this government being soft, and useless on crime prevention.
Have a look at the second clip in this link and see how scared a gang banger is of the police. If I was in charge no prick who probably doesn't even know how to flush the toilet would ever disrespect police, ambulance or medical staff without facing dire consequences, and if need be liberal use of the baton.
"Paradoxically, harsh punishments such as incarceration often increase offending rather than deter it, which produces a cycle of violent crime and punishment".
Your revenge fantasies would result in more crime, and more victims!
Mind you, right wingers love that. Fear is often a motivation for voting Conservative.
"Paradoxically, harsh punishments such as incarceration often increase offending rather than deter it, which produces a cycle of violent crime and punishment".
Cool.
Lets not incarcerate anyone lest we be considered harsh
The Netherlands as far as I'm aware, don't have the huge third world underclass we have. I would assume most of their prisoners would be able to read and flush a toilet.
If we decriminalised all drug use ( with caveats attached) our prisons would be empty too.
No, KJT. I'm talking inherent third world mentalities that cannot be changed with wages or welfare.
For example, you may be wondering about my weird references to ''flushing toilets''
Two examples:
A rented flat was inspected by the owner. He wondered what a smell was. In the bedroom the tenants had crapped in the corner and put a blanket over the crap. The toilet was down the hallway.
When I helped a friend out on his orchard, an ablution block was built for the workers. It had three showers and four toilets. The toilets weren't flushed and the rubbish bins were full of used toilet paper.
You can't change that mindset. I would also like to add, that definitely not all third world folk are uncivilised ( by or standards), but some are.
Back to the caveats?
What would yours be if all drug use was decriminalised? There is no right or wrong answer, but maybe our ideologies would influence our opinions.
I'm sorry. I'll forget I saw unflushed toilets. Or the angry Muslim man I knocked out when he became agitated with a woman employee who didn't know whether the meat they sold was halal or not. When he pushed her I dealt to him.
These people don't give a flying fig about your welfare system or wokey ways. They just want your money if possible. Then they want you to piss off.
But to the Caveats? Here’s one:
1- All drug users must be registered. Once registered they may consume any drug they want. However, should they present for medical treatment associated with drug use. They will be denied treatment. They can either die in the hospital car park… or crawl home. It would therefore be prudent for them to take out private healthcare so the rest of us don’t have to pick up the tab.
WTF! Babies shit their nappies, toddlers can be potty-trained, but uncivilised savages will always be uncivilised, their mind-sets cannot be changed, and they will always crap on your floor!? Yet, they’re useful slaves and good enough, only good enough, to do our shit jobs for peanuts!?
Aren’t you the macho hero for defending a woman against an agitated Muslim man and knocking him out? Did you run off to the pub to brag about it to your mates or just here on TS?
You are showing your true colours in and by every comment you make here.
For what it is worth we encountered exactly the same problem in one of our rentals many years back. Literally the tenant did not know what the toilet was for, had ripped up some floor boards and was throwing all their rubbish under the house.
Mass incarceration in the United States is a civil rights issue. Organizations such as the Prison Policy Initiative argue that incarceration dehumanizes poor people and minorities, damages already marginalized communities, and often jails people for small-scale offenses such as marijuana possession in countries where weed is illegal. Additionally, evidence exists that a high incarceration rate does not actually increase public safety—a stance often validated by data on crime rate per country, murder rates, rape statistics, and gun violence per country. Nor, for that matter, does capital punishment, commonly known as the death penalty.
Mass incarceration can also lead to several logistical issues including prison overcrowding, which increases health risks and decreases the psychological well-being of those inside. Around the world, many countries have jail occupancy rates that exceed 100% of their prison system’s capacity.
''The effects of covid and the Ozzies exports of 501's are nothing to do with this Government.''
It has everything to do with the government because it's incumbent on the government to react to changing circumstances…and most importantly of all, its priority to keep citizens safe.
I'm through arguing the toss. See PR's link. If that was a one off, then it wouldn't be important. The FACT is many people in communities across the country are scared.
That may be a better indicator of how affective this government is on crime.
You are "through arguing the toss", because evidence based arguments are too much for you.
The level of manufactered fear, is no indication of the Governments effectiveness.
In reality they have reacted to changing circumstances. Including funding police to a much greater level than National, and supporting evidence based initiatives that actually will reduce crime over time. Kelvin Davis in particular is doing a good job there. But you are wilfully blind to it.
Meanwhile your only solution is bashing people with battons.
"Mind you, right wingers love that. Fear is often a motivation for voting Conservative."
While I agree the US right tended years ago to use fear, but you could mount the same argument with Ardern and Covid.
It is basically just a political tool.
""Paradoxically, harsh punishments such as incarceration often increase offending rather than deter it, which produces a cycle of violent crime and punishment"."
I would add "without intervention and rehabilitation and hopefully some training for focus on a trade" to that, but tend to agree again.
But lets face it. There are some people that need to be separated from normal society for a while, due to public safety. Let's face it. You sometimes just strike the odd piece of human scum.
But poor self control is a key predicter of criminal behaviour, and it is incremental in its impact.
The Dunedin Multi Disciplinary study has found that good self control at 3 years of age predicts good outcomes including low rates of criminality.
Why we are training kids in self control skills is beyond me.
Your article kjt is interesting, but it states that trials should be consdiered in this intervention, rather than there being good evidence that it works
Thanks for pointing out the second clip, I missed it first time. Yep it shows they have no respect for the police and have no fear of the police actually acting upon their abuse.
I have thought similar, PR. Seems to me their ideology must always come first. The body count is collateral damage. Then again maybe not enough people in the heartlands imbibe Chardonnay?
The "body count" is at the door of those who for decades have ignored the evidence about how we can reduce crime, to pander to "tough on crime fantacists.
Sending generations to "Crime University" to become students of incarcerated gang members, while ignoring the needs for literacy, mental health, meaning ful work, and participation in the community.
It is at the door of F wits like you, who ignore overwhelming evidence of how to really reduce crime, to indulge their own fear and wet dreams.
The extra victims that may have never been victims, if the underlying causes of crime had been addressed.
I have no problem with you thinking I'm a fuckwit. Probably 90% of the blog thinks similar.
But please remember about keeping things civil as Incognito recently warned. It's about keeping the ambience of this blog respectful and safe. And at the moment I'm not feeling safe with your korero.
Me to in a way. I was born with seaweed behind my ears. I'm always at my best when breathing in all those negative ions that a sea breeze brings.
My brother in law was first officer on the coastal Tanker Amokura, before going on to captain a super tanker in the Persian gulf. So I have been on these vessels.
My claim to fame is going from Mt Maunganui beach to Mayor Island on a standup jet ski circa 1988. The tech wasn't great in those days and it was a bit freaky with a fuel container resting on the running board.
However, talk is cheap. Seafarer's test.
1- Is a tanker in more danger of exploding when it's full of oil or empty?
2- If a tanker is coming to it's moorings listing port side, who should greet it – Luxon or Ardern?
I like to think of myself as one of the good guys. – Blade
Don't we all – although if you really could make anthropogenic global warming go away just by declaring it a scam then you would be a very good guy indeed.
Just one question – how do you cope with all the sand?
Naomi Oreskes, Why Science Failed to Stop Climate Change [10 November 2019]
ExxonMobil loves to accuse me of being “an activist.” I am, in fact, a teacher and a scholar. Most of the time, I’d rather be home working on my next book, but that increasingly seems like less of an option when Big Energy’s climate-change scam is ongoing and our civilization is, quite literally, at stake. When citizens are inactive, democracy fails — and this time, if democracy fails, as burning California shows, so much else could fail as well. Science isn’t enough. The rest of us are needed. And we are needed now.
But please remember, calling someone a fuckwit is not ''robust debate.''
Correct, and if that’s all there’s to a comment, pretty much, than there’s a high chance that it will be moderated with a warning, at least. Generally and mostly, Mods look for patterns of behaviour and commenting rather than isolated expletives, slurs, or even personal attacks, which can all be (a minor!) part of robust debate. However, we prefer it if you keep it civil.
Within the past week I've put up references from criminologists, people within the field, researchers and examples of countries that have been successful in reducing crime.
You know, actual evidence of what works.
Or. We can just carry on with "what has been proven not to work".
“I have known numbers of bourgeois Socialists, I have listened by the hour to their tirades against their own class, and yet never, not even once, have I met one who had picked up proletarian table-manners.”
From the article "A man fatally shot by police was holding a knife to the throat of a woman "
If that's true then well done to the police, he had to be 'taken out'. You can't F around if he's armed and obviously dangerous.
He also will not re-offend.
If you were considering watching The Rings Of Power (and you really shouldn't) and the arguments about it not being Tolkien enough aren't enough to sway then maybe this clip will help change your mind
Its basically about how Amazon bailed on NZ (due to Covid restrictions) and went to the UK to film
Sort of schadenfreude? The horrified attention that keeps your eyes to a slow-motion wreck on reality TV?
I'll be watching some of it – to see friends who were in the cast (extras, not stars).
Though, really, if you want to write a woke fantasy story, with super diverse casting, and characterization which departs from canon – do so. Just leave Tolkien out of it….
The criticism that I've read so far, is that they could have made *most* of the changes, effectively, if they'd bothered to actually integrate them into the extant lore – instead of just pasting them on top. A lazy process which does disservice both to Tolkien and the actors cast in the roles.
I don't love some of the changes that Jackson (et al) made to LOTR – but they were a hell of a lot more intellectually honest than what I'm seeing from RoP
'Sort of schadenfreude? The horrified attention that keeps your eyes to a slow-motion wreck on reality TV?'
I'd rather not watch it (and I'm not going to watch all of it) but if I'm going to criticize (and I will) I need to watch some of it so I can really go to town on it
Similar to the Star Wars tv series, I watch enough of it so I can criticize properly
'I'll be watching some of it – to see friends who were in the cast (extras, not stars)'
Thats fair enough, I'd do the same as well
For the rest of your comments I'll just say I 100% agree
Woosh! That was not the sound of Tom Cruise flying low over your head. All good though.
I thought Correction Officers had to be sound judges of people and characters!?
Anyway, I drink coffee all day round, probably way too much, and I never drink alcohol when active online, which is pretty much all the time except when I’m having a good time with friends & family and even a drink or two.
Well maybe you can explain to me what Top Gun Maverick has to do with The Rings Of Power, I couldn't see the connection so I assumed it was your day time drinking or maybe it was one of the those really subtle comments you like to make every now and then, comments so subtle that no one has any idea of what you're talking about
I actually watched your YT clip, on 2× speed, and there were plenty of references in it to Hollywood and none positive. Even without watching the clip there are many parallels and points of connection with Hollywood. Can’t help it if you don’t grasp your own material, so perhaps dial back on the ‘criticizing’ and “really go[ing] to town on it”.
Nowadays, woke and scientology are almost as bad as each other.
Although your comment @ 10 was the most-woke [wokiest?] one I’ve seen in a while, it did not actually say anything about anything you claim it said!? Perhaps you wish to re-read your comment about Amazon?
Or perhaps it is time for you to come out as woke warrior?
It’s a terrible tragedy, $30M for the film studio in Henderson and no Amazon. Thus, you argued, we should not watch that movie (plus for some other obscure reasons that affronted your delicate senses of wokeness). OTOH, you love Top Gun!? Can’t you see the delicious irony?
'It’s a terrible tragedy, $30M for the film studio in Henderson and no Amazon. Thus, you argued, we should not watch that movie '
I've argued that it shouldn't be watched because its going to be crap and that should be enough
If thats not enough then I'll make an appeal to peoples dislike of billionaires, corporations and subsidies to try to make people avoid the series on those basis, whatever strategy works
'OTOH, you love Top Gun!? Can’t you see the delicious irony?'
Spanish Archer you are a fucktard
Top Gun Maverick was made for the fans, made to be entertaining, to be non-political and absolutely non-woke
The movie showed respect to the fans by not shitting on the previous movie
It didn't make Maverick a joke or someone that had to be led by others
It promised entertainment and it delivered.
It shows what happens when you make entertainment for the people whereas The Rings Of Power is the exact opposite
The Rings Of Power proudly exclaims how diverse it is, in their words: 'because they wanted to ensure that it reflected "what the world actually looks like" and felt that would be closer to the spirit of the books.'
Top Gun Maverick gave the people what they wanted and so I praise them for it because I want more of this (non-woke entertainment)
The Rings Of Power are not giving the people what they want so I'm lambasting them for it
Do you get it now or do I need to spell it out for you some more now fuck off and go jerk off somewhere else
Actually you know what, you probably still don't get it so I'll bring it down a notch just for you.
I’ve argued that it shouldn’t be watched because its going to be crap and that should be enough
Hilarious! You haven’t watched and were not going to watch it, but only parts, so that you “can really go to town on it”, but you know (!) it’ll be crap!?
If thats not enough then I’ll make an appeal to peoples dislike of billionaires, corporations and subsidies to try to make people avoid the series on those basis, whatever strategy works
Yeah, and Top Gun was an Indie movie made on a shoestring budget and Tom Cruise did a gratis cameo.
Spanish Archer you are a fucktard
Absolutely! But at least I’m not a closet woke-warrior with a drinking problem.
Do you get it now or do I need to spell it out for you some more now fuck off and go jerk off somewhere else
Actually you know what, you probably still don’t get it so I’ll bring it down a notch just for you.
You should really see somebody about that issue of yours because you do seem to lose your temper so quickly nowadays – are you missing JC? Tell you what, lay off the bottle for a while.
It proclaims it as Lord Of The Rings yet it is far removed from what Tolkien wrote and because its a couple of inexperienced, young writers the episodes will not be Tolkien, it will be generic though
The show will be shit because we've seen this all before.
Game Of Thrones was a very good tv series, it was good because the show runners were adapting from George RR Martin
However
The show came to a grinding halt and got really, really bad in the later series because once the showrunners had no books to work off and had to create themselves they just couldn't do it because they were not as good a writers as Martin was (hes never finishing the series by the way)
The Rings Of Power have not learned that lesson
The Wheel Of Time had all the books it needed but instead decided to move away from the source material, as an example we all know that female and male magic are the two halves and you need both but the tv series doesn't (also released through Amazon Prime)
I could go on, the treatment of Halo, The Witcher, Disney Star Wars etc etc
The lessons here are simple, simple enough even you can grasp it.
Fans like the source material, fans get attached to the source material, you better be very careful when you change the source material and you shouldn't insult the fans when they complain
The Rings Of Power have not learnt these lessons so yeah its going to be bad, I don't know just how bad it will be but it will be bad.
Respect the fans and you'll make money or get woke and go broke.
Top Gun Maverick respected the fans, respected the source material and is now making bank and I don't care that Tom Cruise is in a cult either
Sure its written, sure its probably insincere but that he thanked the fans was a nice touch and his movie is reaping the rewards:
I prefer looking for diamonds in the rough and have unearthed many real gems. Of course, there’s European and Asian cinema, and African (incl. South African). Once you look away from Hollywood you realise that there’s so much more to enjoy. I have greatly enjoyed Hollywood movies in the past, even the action flicks, but taste develops with time & experience just as good wine ripens [intentional pun; hope it wasn’t too subtle for you]
The more people see this at the movies the bigger and louder the message is to Hollywood that we don't want woke movies, movies that contain "the message", that diversity and representation is not more important than storylines and decent acting, that we want entertaining movies
Agreed Tony. Both Luxon and Willis prepare their questions but totally fail to listen to the answers, and totally fail to adjust in the light of the answers given. A disconnect between question and answer! Pointless.
Mitchell strangely did listen to one of Poto's great answers, and redirected his question back to Poto and not the Police, but sadly for him he was corrected that the Minister was for policy and funding, and Police carried out the operations.
You would think that Mitchell knows better; hadn’t he recently met with the Police Commissioner Andrew Coster? Perhaps he confused policy & funding in that meeting too?
Dunno if this happened yesterday but the Spin-off reporting on Ipsos shows National with the political wind in their sails.
Frankly I think the Labour benches have been poor. Perhaps it’s government under these circumstances or the headwinds. I don’t know the power dynamics, but the idea of a wave of popular announcements coming from ministry after ministry doesn’t seem likely.
Labour hasn’t been able to pivot yet, and now they’re playing catch up. It might be they will hold, but it’ll need some reinvention. Perhaps it’s culturally we need a bit of reinvention as a country and a good chunk of us are not keen on it or simply can’t. Aussie is trying to, but with their majority government it may not happen.
National are going to get a lot of easy coverage as they carpet bomb BS. Labour are gunna get blamed for everything. It seems from up the thread they’re trying to attack the ref too. That’s normal.
Let’s elect the speaker and all our judges, etc etc! Christ the National speakers were terrible. Mallard has sided with opposition complaints and penalized the government in a way I certainly haven’t seen reported before.
I feel Labour needs some consistent muscular, relaxed and confident coverage. The international trip is a start, but you can’t depend on your leader entirely forever. Community was a buzzword in Aussie?
I think Speaker would be one of the biggest pain in the arse jobs in Parliament as an MP. You obviously get the extra cash, but she is a bit of a poisoned chalice.
You kind of have to juggle backing the boss of your Party, while simultaneously trying to look non-biased.
As I said last night. Think they should make it an independent job from outside, With someone with political nouce.
I actually think someone like Peter Dunne would be quite good.
Whoever it is it should not be subjected to polls of the public and trying to stir up angst against the speaker. The speaker’s office is what enables debate in the chamber and questioning of the government and should not be subject to such crude attacks.
Don’t do it for refs. Ditto here.
It's a good day in San Francisco, voters have voted to recall Chesa Boudins, a radical aristocratic socialist whose lawyer grandfather represented Castro and whose parents were leaders of cop killing, bank robbing, neighborhood and federal building bombing terrorist group the Weather underground.
Good.
America's private prisons are a disgrace and the kinds of minor crimes people go to prison for is disgusting. However, there needs to be a balance between throwing everyone in prison for quotas and not throwing anyone in prison or punishing anyone because of ideology.
San Franciscos incredibly liberal voters are sick of "san Francisco snow" which is broken glass from cars shops and houses everywhere , they are sick of police not showing up to arrest shoplifters and defacto decriminalization of shoplifting (cops won't show up unless over a grand has been stolen) they are sick of shop windows being smashed in on broad daylight in front of police and nothing happening.
The Mayor of the town actually tried to downplay and reassure the insane crime stats by saying it's only homocides and assaults that are massively up. Lmfao how reassuring.
And it was democrats who led the charge against Boudin specifically democrats of colour, the yes to recall campaign was funded by San Francisco residents whereas the no campaign was funded by people in other cities in the state.
He's gone. There must be a balance between neoliberal corporate justice reform and woke justice reform.
Letting criminals run wild hurts the poorest the most.
Now. Hopefully results like this wake the left everywhere up on crime.
The punishment must suit the crime. It shouldn't exceed it and it shouldn't be a slap on the wrist.
Also if 501s are being deported from Australia for breaking the law, the law should be changed so it's straight to prison for them. End of story.
Voters especially ones in poorer and working class neighbourhoods will not tolerate weakness on crime and will vote for people who will be tough on crime no matter how much woke academics scream otherwise.
Also the guardian called his terrorist parents "left wing activists" smh.
If woke courts and woke sentencing guidelines won't fly in San Francisco, they won't fly anywhere.
As always, the luxury beliefs of the affluent, bloated, narcissistic Woke – utterly divorced from reality – are guaranteed to create a nightmare living situation on a day-to-day basis for a whole swathe of the Left's traditional core constituency …
… the constituency that, of course, founded, built & intellectually energised the Left for many decades before it was slowly but surely captured by 300 buck-an-hour virtue-signalling New Middle Class Professionals.
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Wilmot, Senior Lecturer, Film, Deakin University Among the many Australian who served during the second world war, there is a small group of people whose stories remain largely untold. These are the Muslim men and women who, while small in number, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
A leaked document shows the Canterbury/Waitaha arm of health agency Te Whatu Ora is scurrying to save $13.3 million by July. The “financial sustainability target”, which was “allocated” to Waitaha, is consistent with what’s happening in other districts, says Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. ...
A look at the state of the previous government’s affordable housing scheme, and what could come next.Remind me: What’s KiwiBuild again?First announced in 2012, KiwiBuild was a flagship policy of the Labour Party heading into both its 2014 and 2017 election campaigns. With Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, ...
Labour in opposition will be shocked to learn which party had six years in power but squandered any chance to make real change. Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech was a predictably entertaining trip down memory lane. The acid-tongued incoming Otago University chancellor administered a sick burn to the coalition government. He ...
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is seen some as its ‘silicon shield’ against invasion – but how will overseas expansion affect that protection? The post The state of Taiwan’s silicon shield appeared first on Newsroom. ...
There’s relief for building owners bending under the weight of earthquake strengthening rules – and costs – that came into force seven years ago. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a scheduled 2027 review of the earthquake-prone building regulations will now start this year. Owners will also get ...
Opinion: It has been announced that nine percent of roles at Oranga Tamariki will be disestablished, presumably to help fund the tax cuts promised by the coalition Government. I am reminded of the graphics used to illustrate pandemic events, where five thousand people are standing in a field and then ...
After more than two sleepless days, running through savage terrain, Greig Hamilton didn’t know if he was going to finish one of the most gruelling psychological assaults in sport. He was metres away from the finish line, a yellow gate made famous in a Netflix documentary; a race he’d dreamed ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 24 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The following interview with former Green Party MP Sue Kedgley came about because she features in the new memoir Hine Toa by activist Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku; the two knew each other at the University of Auckland in the early 70s, when they were both took on leadership roles in the ...
COMMENTARY:By Murray Horton New Zealand needs to get tough with Israel. It’s not as if we haven’t done so before. When NZ authorities busted a Mossad operation in Auckland 20 years ago, the government didn’t say: “Oh well, Israel has the right to defend itself.” No, it arrested, prosecuted, ...
NEWSMAKERS:By Vijay Narayan, news director of FijiVillage Blessed to be part of the University of Fiji (UniFiji) faculty to continue to teach and mentor those who want to join our noble profession, and to stand for truth and justice for the people of the country. I was privileged to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Lowry, Ice Sheet & Climate Modeller, GNS Science Hugh Chittock/Antarctica New Zealand, CC BY-SA As the climate warms and Antarctica’s glaciers and ice sheets melt, the resulting rise in sea level has the potential to displace hundreds of millions of ...
The government's plan to reintroduce a three strikes regime is being strongly opposed by lawyers, who argue there is no evidence it reduces crime or helps people rehabilitate. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Jerker B. Svantesson, Professor specialising in Internet law, Bond University Do Australian courts have the right to decide what foreign citizens, located overseas, view online on a foreign-owned platform? Anyone inclined to answer “yes” to this question should perhaps also ask ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey caught the headlines yesterday, courtesy of a blistering speech condemning the latest GST carve-up. New South Wales, he claimed, would be A$11.9 billion worse off over the ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra Shutterstock An important principle was invoked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week in defence of the government’s Future Made in Australia industry ...
This could be one developer to avoid.
Tenants in woman's new build after Christchurch developer seeks extra $45k on contract price | Stuff.co.nz
At least the house isn't empty.
But imagine paying to move into a brand new house and then having renters in it with all the wear and tear. I hope the building firm gets taken to the cleaners in court.
There is no shortage of either rental accommodation in canterbury,or housing stock,or sections in developed areas.
Since Christchurch CC introduced rules for Airbb surprisingly the rental stock on offer rose 20% and has not decreased since.
What rules did the Christchurch CC introduce?
Limitations on short term stays.Requirement for resource consent,and code of compliance,and change on rating structure for short term stays (commercial rate)
Well done to the Christchurch CC. This regulation should be rolled out nationwide.
Not saying rich pricks can’t continue to destroy local communities by Airbnb’ing their many spare homes, but at least they can pay the going rate!
Airbnb was being marketed to investors as an option on new builds in the 4 avenues ( the brightline for new builds is 5 years)
A more intensive education program on short term rentals in chch to come,b4 compliance with $$$$ penalties.
Sounds like the developer just wanted to increase the price and screw the purchaser as they knew they would have no trouble selling to some one else.
In Australia Developers are allowed to alter the plans up to 20% to avoid this. They are still falling over for the same reasons as here.
Some points from the article
He (Associate Judge Dale Lester) noted construction did not start until five months after Titterton signed her contract.
Her house was built by the developer “in parallel” with two neighbouring properties which both obtained code compliance in September 2021, he said.
That lots 20 and 21 were finished well before the sunset clause shows there was no reason, from a purely construction point of view, that lot 19 (Titterton’s property) could not have been finished on time,” Lester said.
He said an email sent by Dynasty’s solicitor to Titterton’s lawyer in April 2021, which claimed the delays were due to a nationwide shortage of timber, price increases, appliance supply shortages, a need to adjust fill level on site and “issues with funding” was so “inaccurate as it might be submitted that it was intended to mislead”.
It was sent when the walls and roof on the house were completed and work on the brick cladding had started.
The need to adjust the fill level was puzzling since the concrete pad was already down, he said. Dynasty actually continued work until July 30, 2021, with Gib lining, stopping and painting.
Pretty ugly
Call me Mr thickest person called Chris in NZ, but don't actually get how it would work. Obviously micro plastics are light, but don't get how light enough to get into the atmosphere.
Worrying though. Would prefer not killing penguins over plastic Coke bottles etc.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/128885100/antarctica-pristine-no-more-as-microplastics-discovered-in-snow-at-bottom-of-the-world
"Antarctica pristine no more as microplastics discovered in snow at bottom of the world
The driven snow of the world’s last untouched continent might not be so pure after all.
A world-first study by University of Canterbury researchers – published in science journal The Cryosphere on Wednesday – has confirmed the discovery of microplastics in freshly fallen Antarctic snow………"
Microplastics Are Blowing in the Wind – Scientific American
Thanks
Natural skincare range.
I am no scientist, but the one thing I do know is micro plastics basically screw the wild life.
It is sad, but also now probably sadly too hard to stop.
Best we can probably do is try to slow down the damage.
Edit: And that includes fish, birds, even people in some cases
How is it too hard to stop?
There is no way to remove microplastics already in the environment.
And, it seems no will to remove future pollution.
See how ineffective our campaigns against plastic bottles have been,for one.
The world’s population consumes 1 million plastic bottles every minute – Plastic Soup Foundation
Certainly in NZ, one of the biggest use of plastic bottles would be for milk. And there is zero effective interest in mandating a return to glass bottles (which were entirely re-usable and recyclable). There are a few niche producers doing this – but, if we want to make a difference, it has to either be mandated or plastic use heavily cost-weighted (making glass a cheaper option).
I'm really not very interested in plastic recycling options in this instance. Much better to use glass, instead.
I agree about glass. It's hard to beat. We went through a phase when milk was put into cardboard cartons which were found to be releasing small amounts of dioxin into the milk.
With plastic, everyone is rushing around buying plastic that is BPA free. Yet like one scientist said, BPA is one of only many POSSIBLE chemicals that can leach from plastic.
So micro particles may not be the only problem.
Of interest was the idea of using double walled stainless steel for products such as milk. Doesn't have the problems of breakages etc of glass.
Can't find the references at present but will try and dig them out.
Myself, I use them for water bottles and also use stainless steel drinking straws.
quick google tells me technically we can remove micro plastics from water, so are you meaning that we can't remove them from say the ocean because its too big?
Ultimately this is a population issue as well as a shitting in our own nest one. We can shift all clothing to natural fibres tomorrow and implement all the reuse clothing tech and culture at its best, and perpetual growth will still lead to more pollution (natural micro fibres are still pollutants). This is a philosophical problem as well as a technical one.
Too big. Pretty much.
Plastics residues are everywhere. So pervasive that removing existing microplastics from the environment is an impossible task. They are in our bodies, in water and soil, basically, everywhere! No sample was free of microplastics when water sampling NZ rivers.
As many take hundred of years to degrade How long does it take for plastic to biodegrade? (savemoneycutcarbon.com) the problem is going to be around for a while, even if we stopped all slow biodegrading plastic use now.
While glass bottles and other substitutes cut plastics in the environment, they can have their own resource use issues. Energy used to collect and clean milk bottles, for example.
Plastic water bottles is an obviously superfluous use of plastics. In NZ, where tap water can be high quality, dispensed in a glass, that can be used many times, we shouldn't have to sell water in bottles, at all!
every time we harvest water, pee, drink, cook, wash clothes, make stuff, we can capture micro plastics. The water cycle is a cycle.
Maybe in a few hundred years, we could make a dent?
Meanwhile.
Microplastics in farm soils: A growing concern – EHN
""This is a kind of irreversible contamination," said Nizzetto. "There's no way to remediate this kind of contamination at the scale of agricultural soils."”
Meanwhile,
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57733178
If we look at the world in a reductionist way instead of a ecological systems way, we see only reductionist solutions.
We need to transition off disposable plastics asap. Some things require plastics, so reserve them for essential items and services, but put in place systems of protection, retention and recycling.
In addition to that, look at the water cycle, the soil ecosystems, the places we have been polluting and that we need resources from and put humans back in the loops. When we do this, we see both the problems we are causing systemically and the solutions.
Can we clean up all microplastics? Probably not? We can stop polluting more, and we can change how we relate with the rest of nature so that we have systems that clean up pollution as much as possible.
All sustainability comes from this kind of circular and systemic thinking. If a solution doesn't do that, it's not about sustainability, it's about mitigation. Centering mitigation is what BAU does – how much pollution can we get away with?
without systems thinking (and deep ecology) humans will take that research to mean we can keep polluting because the fungi will clean it up.
Same with climate, we can keep emitting GHGs because we will invent CCS or we can plant more trees.
It's the thinking processes that in error.
Deserves an article. I think?
Circular resource use and sustainability.
And how it relates to a circular economy.
Example. Looking at EV’ s as a solution when they are only a part of a solution?
Or. Increases in more sustainable energy being lost within added energy use.
No promises though.
Too much covid at work.
Decades ago I experimented with magnetics. Believe it or not, magnetism in all it's aspects is still a mystery to science.
Here is a type of magnetism that could be used on micro plastics.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210825-how-to-fight-microplastic-pollution-with-magnets
yes posts would be good. I'm not sure if I can get to it am either. It's quite a bit of work.
This is true of *any* reusable packaging solution.
If the economic answer is single use packaging, then we're not measuring correctly.
Or. Assess if the packaging is really required?
Pretty hard to dispense milk with no packaging…..
I suppose. If you count the cow as packaging.
We had churns and ladles as a kid.
Assume this is a tongue in cheek response.
Of course you know that the majority of people don't live on a farm or small-holding – with a milch cow – or within reasonable distance of one.
And most people would like to avoid serious health side effects from poorly stored/unsterilized milk 'packaging'
Ah, that would explain a lot.
Fascinating thread on ocean plastics.
https://twitter.com/RebeccaRHelm/status/1520107539785871362
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1520107539785871362.html
Has there ever been a poll done on any of the previous speakers?
https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/06/07/poll-is-trevor-mallard-doing-a-good-job-as-speaker/
I like Trevor Mallard. I reckon he's been a very good Speaker.
Does anyone recall Trevor's bike-me challenge from Whale oil? Trevor trounced Cameron what’s-his-name, as I recall.
"I like Trevor Mallard. I reckon he's been a very good Speaker." – seems like you are in the minority there.
If so, then I’m sure Robert will bow to the pressure of the majority, realise the errors of his way and repent, and adopt your views on Mallard. Because, if I’m not wrong, Robert would like nothing less than think like you, Jimmy.
"Digging further into the poll numbers and barely over a quarter of Labour's own supporters back Mallard." from the 1News Kantar Public Poll.
What is the TS poll?
What are the numbers for the supporters of other parties? How many approved and how many didn’t know? That is more relevant in this thread. Where are your numbers, why aren’t you digging further? For example, 17% of all people polled approve, 48% disapprove, and the rest (i.e. 35%, by my calculation) don’t know (or don’t care).
I can feel Robert shaking in his boots and wavering in his liking of Mallard!
Was the TS poll you mentioned earlier "The Standard"" poll?
Yes would be interesting to know the sample size etc. and where / how the poll was conducted. But concerning result none the less if only 17% actually approve.
I have never seen a previous poll done on a speaker….has there ever been one? If not, why have they even done a poll? Has Mallard pissed someone off at the polling company? Or has someone paid to have the poll done and if so whom? Now that could be interesting.
So, you have nothing else, nothing of any substance, and just jumping on the bandwagon with the rest of the lynch mob.
Of course, somebody paid for the poll!!
Of course, Mallard has pissed off somebody!! It’s in the hit piece you linked to, FFS!!
What’s concerning is that is yet another attack on the Office of the Speaker and you just lap it up, unquestionably and uncritically, as a lazy thinker would.
Watched Mallard rather a bit.
The right wings objection, mainly seems to be that he has no patience for their game playing bullshit.
Unlike the speaker when National was in. Who seemed mostly way out of his depth.
Not so, from my conversations with many people – they're largely indifferent.
But, by way of comparison, Mallard is light years better than Carter!
I like and admire Trevor. He has tried to get the Opposition to play by the rules but which they are defiantly obstructive. The rules are the Parliament's rules so play fair.
Carter was often nastily obstructive and protective of Key especially. Remember when he chucked 5 women MPs out in a row for defending those who were defending those who had be abused?
Wonder how many of those polled knew who or what Trevor was.
Bring back Lockwood Smith!
Yes he was the best speaker
Well if you like your speakers to be strongly biased in favour of the government; intolerant; rigidly ideological; inflexible; capable of making stupid decisions (eg turning on sprinklers to piss off protesters); quick to take offence; incapable of building relationships with opposition parties; capable of having punch ups with other members of parliament; and just generally obnoxious, then Trev's your man – you can have him.
He's probably the worst speaker in parliaments history.
I disagree, and you have a short and/or selective memory, so let me help you: https://thestandard.org.nz/about-trevor-mallard/.
After reading the various comments here on the topic of The Speaker, I've reviewed my original expression of support for Trevor Mallard.
Now, I like him far more than I did before.
We tend to root for the underdog, even when it is Mallard.
More, underduck, but yes.
So, the Parliament grounds occupation is over but the siege on Parliament still continues. Is Mallard the Zelenskyy equivalent in NZ and if so, who’s the Putin equivalent?
Slow news day?
A poll on whether the Speaker is doing a good job and publishing the results as if they were of some grave importance to the country and the world is a sign of how dreadful we've become. And how shgit our media people are.
Most people wouldn't have the faintest idea about what the Speaker does and should do. They wouldn't know their arse from their elbow for a start.
People who say vaccinations don't work, masks don't work and the Government was using radiation at the Wellington protest? Yeah, they don't like Mallard, he's slack at his job, get rid of him? For fucks sake. TVNZ promoted and carried this poll and reported it? The state broadcaster has reduced serious stuff to the level of the Warriors league team with their coaches coming and going.
Interesting Spinoff article unpacking the actions of the conspiracy theorists around the very straightforward visit to the US by Ardern. Everything is apparently fuel for them, and interpreted through the singular lens of their prejudice.
What is worrying, is the spread of the dis-information to a fairly politically unsophisticated audience (TikTok)
https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/08-06-2022/conspiracy-theorists-are-losing-their-shit-over-a-clip-of-jacinda-ardern-in-new-york?fbclid=IwAR225OlQG2gRMuwDVtpaFLwbiRNRJf5Gx0sefxbcrwEUAJGeXrWWKgFKDn0
Recently the work of the Disinformation Project organisation reviewed social media data daily during the Wellington protest. In the massive of volume of content they found 73% of the disinformation identified on Facebook was created by only 12 people.
I wonder if the lunatic garbage in this latest instance about Ardern in New York is from the same people.
According to Stuff the news is that they'll soon have some news, namely, an interview with Luxon.
A more sycophantic bunch would be hard to find.
They must be upset the last interviews showed him to be an elitist fuckwit.
Yes. They should ask Luxon if he's still carrying his vaccine pass. That will get the conversation off to an interesting start.
WTF:
Quote:
''My question to this government and other governments around the world twisting words to limit food production to achieve an unsustainable goal while making a food shortage for the world; why are they not taking into account Article 2 (b) of the Paris Accord?”
https://www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/dairy-news/dairy-opinion/stop-restricting-food-production
And from Scoop:
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1910/S00153/paris-agreement-on-climate-change-threats-to-food-security.htm
Apparently Owen Jennings had a great article in the Herald for those who can crack the paywall.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/owen-jennings-why-farmers-are-still-angry-about-emissions-proposals/S6C36R5U64VXWBK4AD6A6V3TBU/
would you mind explaining what you are trying to say with these links?
Blade is repeating the farmers that say.
"Don't try to stop us polluting, or we will stop feeding you".
See below ( In vino) on how a reasoned response whether right or wrong, is posted instead of a soundbite.
What are you trying to say with those links?
If it isn't
"Don't try to stop us polluting, or we will stop feeding you"?
Or. Don't you know?
Blade – use your brain next time and reply to my message, not KJT's.My message is now a good way below your mis-placed reply.
Soundbite? What do you think you mean by that? I can assure you that I made no sound at all as I posted my eloquently expressed rebuttal to your obvious piece of trolling. You knew well that the reference you gave would annoy and provoke the average contributors to this site. You sowed knowingly, and I gave you something you could deservedly reap.
Take your medicine, and stop complaining about superficial manners. You are a blatantly obvious right wing troll, and as such are unconvincing when you try to weasel in as a 'nice' contributor.
KJT described you well at 6.1.1.
(Just above the reply above, which you sent to the wrong person.)
'Reasoned response'? You don't even say which response you are referring to.
I suggest you find another way to misspend your idle time, Blade.
You have misunderstood. I wasn't replying to you. I was replying to KJT who posts trite replies. I used your post as an example of a reasoned reply.
''See below ( In vino) on how a reasoned response whether right or wrong, is posted instead of a soundbite.''
ps- loved the honest Leftwing flogging you gave me. It clears the sinuses and focuses the mind.
Well, knowing how poorly 'reply' buttons work on websites, I assumed that (In Vino) meant you were specifying that you were replying to me.
Mea Culpa.
Amusing, in a way. No wonder I could not find an appropriate 'reasoned response.'
Sorry, but I still agree with KJT. And at least you don't deny your guilt..
Please don’t think that this disingenuous friendly behaviour will help you in future engagements.
"Please don’t think that this disingenuous friendly behaviour will help you in future engagements.''
I wouldn't expect anything less.
Article 2 (b) of the Paris Accord?”
As I understand it ( and to be fair I have lost interest in the topic) governments shouldn't curtail food production in response to climate change targets.
However, I'm flying a little blind here because it's the Owen Jennings article I wanted to comment on.
I posted those links because this topic, I believe, will be back in the media spotlight.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/128883139/farming-bodies-seek-power-equal-to-government-in-ag-emissions-system
Of more importance is how National will approach this issue when they become the government next year. Lefties believing National will give farmers a free pass may be in for a surprise. National may be completely woke by that time if Luxon's performance is anything to go by.
so the first premise is that governments are or will curtail food production in response to climate change. Why would they do that? Which governments?
Don't reach. The government ( Labour)- National isn't in power yet- will curtail food production indirectly with their demands on farmers re climate change regulation affecting agriculture.
It shows you how divorced this government is from our major export earner. Believe it or not, its not Robbo Hood’s printing press, or the Green Collective, that puts food on our tables…it's agriculture.
But again, this is standard fare for a left leaning government. Most righties expected no different. The questions is what National will, or will not be doing around this issue.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/128890620/cost-of-greenhouse-gas-scheme-may-slash-farm-profits
unfortunately industrial ag is also responsible for a large amount of GHG emissions.
I take it your argument here is that we shouldn't be doing climate mitigation. You'll get more shit if you are honest about that, but you will get more respect too. The whole back door climate denial is tedious af.
you can correct me if I am wrong, I'm just extrapolating from what you have said but also that you haven't actually explained much.
''I take it your argument here is that we shouldn't be doing climate mitigation.''
No, not directly. The only good thing about the climate change scam is it's forcing even more changes and efficiencies in the agriculture sector. Changes that have been happening since SMPs were scrapped. The days of a new Jag and a week in the Islands was over. Some farmers went to the wall.
We emit next to nothing in global terms. We even import coal. How nutty is that? All in the name of '' Let's be world leaders.'' More reality based countries burn coal and have no problem burning fossil fuels when needed.
So, at the end of the day, I want all climate change legislation scrapped. However, I'm still for environmental controls on farmers who pollute rivers, and abuse stock.
In fact farmers are now one of the biggest preservers of remaining natural bush. Always amazes me how little I see Maori and urban Greenies involved in such preservation work.
"Climate change scam".
Funny how the ignorant always eventually, out themselves.
"Always amazes me how little I see Maori and urban Greenies involved in such preservation work."
Don't get out much do you? About 200 out in our local wetland last week. Maori And some Asians, Indians, Poms and other assorted, Greenies. Even a couple of retired cockies.
This would have to be one of the stupider things I've seen recently. But good to see your prejudices laid out bare.
Cheap easy shots .I'm just stating my experiences. Mostly ordinary folk on the replantings I have been involved in. No Maori, only two Greenies ( real Greenies. Hand's that obviously had held a slasher; not a latte.). Look at the student army in Christchurch. See any Maori organisation helping out? Apart from Derek Fox who stayed a few days then was gone. However, to be fair I may have missed some Maori helpers.
I'm sorry, Weka. I can only go by my own experiences. Now I did have one indigenous experience. I offered Totara saplings to a replanting scheme. The pakeha coordinator said they couldn't accept my offer because my trees wouldn't have been native to the area. I bet he was following kaupapa set down by Maori…who were nowhere in sight.
I think it’s your prejudices that are being laid out bare. And I will meet all prejudices like yours head on.
No, you're not. You're using your apparently quite limited personal experiences to make a political point about groups of people you don't like. It's very easy to find many planting projects that greenies and Māori are involved in.
So not personal experience, but out and out racist framing. It's not hard to find Māori orgs that are doing work in the community.
It's called eco-sourcing, it's based in ecological sciences, and it's common throughout NZ.
https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/conservation/restoration/eco-sourcing/
Really? How come you haven't named them then? All I'm seeing is you making a bunch of racist and anti-green assertions and one that is ignorant of a reforestation concept as well as being anti-Māori. None of that is anything to do with me.
Didn't see any Māori?
Rehua Marae: Leading light during Christchurch earthquakes (tpk.govt.nz)
''It's very easy to find many planting projects that greenies and Māori are involved in.''
Fare enough. List some. I admit I have only been involved in two schemes. But I've seen a whole heap more on TV – few Maori or Greenies I'm sorry to say.
''It's called eco-sourcing, it's based in ecological sciences, and it's common throughout NZ.''
Never heard of it. We have what's called ''Local variety seed saving.'' I'm guessing it's a similar thing? I will say I already had some of my saplings growing quite well in the general planting area, but I was still turned down.
''I think its your prejudices that are being laid out bare. And I will meet all prejudices like yours head on.''
''Really? How come you haven't named them then? All I'm seeing is you making a bunch of racist and anti-green assertions. and one that is ignorant of a reforestation concept as well as being anti-Māori.
1- You have prejudices against farmers and people who don't share your views on quack science based climate change. You have made those sentiments quite clear to me.
2- You cannot argue race in a rational manner. Your arguments always boils down to your opposition being racist. So you have race bias.
3- You are prejudiced against the Right of politics. Unlike me, you have trouble criticising your own.
4-You have bias when it comes to certain gender issues.
@ KJT
''Didn't see any Māori.''
Not quite what I meant. But good on the Marae for helping out.
Your anti-Māori vibe was loud & clear and fits in well with your other comments and MO.
Anti-Maori?
That'd be "anti-Blade" wouldn't it?
Blade – I read that crap in the local café. Utter baloney – the guy lies about methane, claims a closed system when much of his 'disappearing methane' converts to carbon dioxide, and peddles a load of wishful garbage.
He claims that 'methane is gone in ten years.' If I remember correctly, that approximate figure is its half-life. And what is the point if farmers are replenishing it with a new full amount every year? No mention of methane being up to 60 times worse that CO2 as a heat-retaining gas.
One-eyed, wishful drivel.
But believed as gospel by right whingers!
Methane, "disappears into …what? CO2, that's what, the worstest of the gasses!
The Feds et al are trying to twist our thinking. But they are the twist.
Groundswill: Twist and Shout.
Increase??
But…but…splutters.
Don't look up!!
Keep your eyes firmly fixed on the plough-share!
I'll try to expand on this at some point but I believe Dairy Expansion in New Zealand is equivalent to Israeli Settlement Expansion in the occupied territories.
Invade, set up families and business, and use that as means with which to not be able to roll back the original injustice.
First case against Mega, claiming harm from social media algorithms , as evidenced by the Facebook revelations last year.
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/meta-lawsuit-instagram-caused-eating-disorder-self-harm-rcna32221
Soft on crime, eh?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/newlands-wellington-police-shooting-residents-describe-shock-as-man-killed/3JNBTJXVW6OKZCFGS6TCUNNDLI/
If it suited their argument, they'd be screaming "Police brutality!"
Yes.
Remember when National was in and it seemed like every other day there was a story about homeless people and families sleeping rough
Now its Labours turn
Well, you and your fellow travellers are determined to link police action directly to Labour Party policy so I ask again, does yesterday's event in Newlands show the government is soft on crime?
Perhaps the police and therefore, according to your theory, Jacinda Ardern could have done more than shot the man 8 times. Maybe some torture first. Would it have been better if police had taken out the entire family just to show the gangs who is boss?
Just asking questions…
[You are going too far and well beyond ‘just asking questions’ that are reasonable and within levels of what’s acceptable and tolerated here.
From the Policy:
This is your warning – Incognito]
You misunderstand. Having to shoot an offender during a dire situation has nothing to do with this government being soft, and useless on crime prevention.
Have a look at the second clip in this link and see how scared a gang banger is of the police. If I was in charge no prick who probably doesn't even know how to flush the toilet would ever disrespect police, ambulance or medical staff without facing dire consequences, and if need be liberal use of the baton.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/128889716/police-shooting-death-man-held-knife-to-womans-throat-before-cops-fired
I'm confused about what you and your hopped up stablemate Blade are trying to say. Baton anyone and everyone who looks like a gang member?
Just say it.
I shall not
Mod note
You misunderstand. Having to shoot an offender during a dire situation has nothing to do with this government being soft, and useless on crime prevention.
Have a look at the second clip in this link and see how scared a gang banger is of the police. If I was in charge no prick who probably doesn't even know how to flush the toilet would ever disrespect police, ambulance or medical staff without facing dire consequences, and if need be liberal use of the baton.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/128889716/police-shooting-death-man-held-knife-to-womans-throat-before-cops-fired
Except this Government is not "soft" or "useless" on crime prevention except in the fevered imagination of right Wing scare mongerers.
The effects of covid and the Ozzies exports of 501's are nothing to do with this Government.
Consequences have little effect on violent crime which is mostly spur of the moment stuff. "Harsher punishments have little effect on deterrance".
Breaking the Cycle of Violent Crime and Punishment: The Promise of Neuronormalization – Denson – 2021 – Social Issues and Policy Review – Wiley Online Library
"Paradoxically, harsh punishments such as incarceration often increase offending rather than deter it, which produces a cycle of violent crime and punishment".
Your revenge fantasies would result in more crime, and more victims!
Mind you, right wingers love that. Fear is often a motivation for voting Conservative.
"Paradoxically, harsh punishments such as incarceration often increase offending rather than deter it, which produces a cycle of violent crime and punishment".
Cool.
Lets not incarcerate anyone lest we be considered harsh
Job protection. Eh?
https://www.positive.news/society/the-empty-prisons-being-put-to-good-use-in-the-netherlands/
“there are far fewer repeat offenders; and reported crime continues to decline.”
I'd love to be made redundant due to not being needed
Certainly the evidence shows, that being "tough on crime" and incarcerating ever more people, doesn't reduce crime.
"tough on crime" means different things to different people.
There are people who probably think Acts three crimes bill was "tough on crime"
The Netherlands as far as I'm aware, don't have the huge third world underclass we have. I would assume most of their prisoners would be able to read and flush a toilet.
If we decriminalised all drug use ( with caveats attached) our prisons would be empty too.
Can you guess what those caveats would be?
Thanks for inadvertently supporting one of my other points.
If we increased welfare and wages, and didn't have a "third World underclass" we would also decrease crime.
No, KJT. I'm talking inherent third world mentalities that cannot be changed with wages or welfare.
For example, you may be wondering about my weird references to ''flushing toilets''
Two examples:
A rented flat was inspected by the owner. He wondered what a smell was. In the bedroom the tenants had crapped in the corner and put a blanket over the crap. The toilet was down the hallway.
When I helped a friend out on his orchard, an ablution block was built for the workers. It had three showers and four toilets. The toilets weren't flushed and the rubbish bins were full of used toilet paper.
You can't change that mindset. I would also like to add, that definitely not all third world folk are uncivilised ( by or standards), but some are.
Back to the caveats?
What would yours be if all drug use was decriminalised? There is no right or wrong answer, but maybe our ideologies would influence our opinions.
Didn't take much to expose your bene bashing rascist bigotry. Eh?
I'm sorry. I'll forget I saw unflushed toilets. Or the angry Muslim man I knocked out when he became agitated with a woman employee who didn't know whether the meat they sold was halal or not. When he pushed her I dealt to him.
These people don't give a flying fig about your welfare system or wokey ways. They just want your money if possible. Then they want you to piss off.
But to the Caveats? Here’s one:
1- All drug users must be registered. Once registered they may consume any drug they want. However, should they present for medical treatment associated with drug use. They will be denied treatment. They can either die in the hospital car park… or crawl home. It would therefore be prudent for them to take out private healthcare so the rest of us don’t have to pick up the tab.
WTF! Babies shit their nappies, toddlers can be potty-trained, but uncivilised savages will always be uncivilised, their mind-sets cannot be changed, and they will always crap on your floor!? Yet, they’re useful slaves and good enough, only good enough, to do our shit jobs for peanuts!?
Aren’t you the macho hero for defending a woman against an agitated Muslim man and knocking him out? Did you run off to the pub to brag about it to your mates or just here on TS?
You are showing your true colours in and by every comment you make here.
For what it is worth we encountered exactly the same problem in one of our rentals many years back. Literally the tenant did not know what the toilet was for, had ripped up some floor boards and was throwing all their rubbish under the house.
But bigotry.
The Netherlands have done a bang up job creating their own huge third world underclass.
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/oureconomy/we-shouldnt-be-surprised-by-the-chaos-in-the-netherlands/
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/10/xenophobic-machines-dutch-child-benefit-scandal/
https://apnews.com/article/death-of-george-floyd-entertainment-politics-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-8d37956fce12df831a151eede7b9f70c
Some do favour harsh (cruel or severe) punishment – seems counter-productive, even when it's not just for 'kicks'.
https://www.nzhowardleague.org.nz/
''The effects of covid and the Ozzies exports of 501's are nothing to do with this Government.''
It has everything to do with the government because it's incumbent on the government to react to changing circumstances…and most importantly of all, its priority to keep citizens safe.
I'm through arguing the toss. See PR's link. If that was a one off, then it wouldn't be important. The FACT is many people in communities across the country are scared.
That may be a better indicator of how affective this government is on crime.
You are "through arguing the toss", because evidence based arguments are too much for you.
The level of manufactered fear, is no indication of the Governments effectiveness.
In reality they have reacted to changing circumstances. Including funding police to a much greater level than National, and supporting evidence based initiatives that actually will reduce crime over time. Kelvin Davis in particular is doing a good job there. But you are wilfully blind to it.
Meanwhile your only solution is bashing people with battons.
"Kelvin Davis in particular is doing a good job there."
Link please because I need a good laugh
Do you think he is wrong in this aim.
Kelvin Davis and his plan to spend $100m turning the hardest criminals into better people – NZ Herald
Yes.
We've had three years of the plan.
Are recidivist rates down, is violent crime down?
Instant results, only happen on TV, in Hosking land.
How much bureaucratic inertia is he fighting?
Explain to me how his plan will work then (he did actually mention one of the major issues)
"Mind you, right wingers love that. Fear is often a motivation for voting Conservative."
While I agree the US right tended years ago to use fear, but you could mount the same argument with Ardern and Covid.
It is basically just a political tool.
""Paradoxically, harsh punishments such as incarceration often increase offending rather than deter it, which produces a cycle of violent crime and punishment"."
I would add "without intervention and rehabilitation and hopefully some training for focus on a trade" to that, but tend to agree again.
But lets face it. There are some people that need to be separated from normal society for a while, due to public safety. Let's face it. You sometimes just strike the odd piece of human scum.
Fear, justified, of COVID was a motivation for some of the conservative swing to Labour.
And the windup about crime, now.
A thoughtful prison officer I knew reckoned the intractable was less than 3%. “The real evil buggers”.
I suspect often with other unresolved issues such as ODD.
Its a helluva thing when you meet someone worse than a kiddie fiddler for the first time
Really messes with your equilibrium
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1043986206298949
But poor self control is a key predicter of criminal behaviour, and it is incremental in its impact.
The Dunedin Multi Disciplinary study has found that good self control at 3 years of age predicts good outcomes including low rates of criminality.
Why we are training kids in self control skills is beyond me.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1043986206298949
But poor self control is a key predicter of criminal behaviour, and it is incremental in its impact.
The Dunedin Multi Disciplinary study has found that good self control at 3 years of age predicts good outcomes including low rates of criminality.
Why we are training kids in self control skills is beyond me.
Your article kjt is interesting, but it states that trials should be consdiered in this intervention, rather than there being good evidence that it works
Which begs the question.
If it is something inherent from birth.
What degree is actual personal responsibility/choice?
Thanks for pointing out the second clip, I missed it first time. Yep it shows they have no respect for the police and have no fear of the police actually acting upon their abuse.
Try asking these people:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/128881828/third-world-country–four-square-owner-ready-to-call-it-quits-after-third-ramraid-in-three-months
''Third world country''
Enough said. The next stop for all those scared people across our once great nation is the voting booth.
What gets me is that these are Labours heartland, you'd think Labour would care about them a little
I have thought similar, PR. Seems to me their ideology must always come first. The body count is collateral damage. Then again maybe not enough people in the heartlands imbibe Chardonnay?
The "body count" is at the door of those who for decades have ignored the evidence about how we can reduce crime, to pander to "tough on crime fantacists.
Sending generations to "Crime University" to become students of incarcerated gang members, while ignoring the needs for literacy, mental health, meaning ful work, and participation in the community.
It is at the door of F wits like you, who ignore overwhelming evidence of how to really reduce crime, to indulge their own fear and wet dreams.
The extra victims that may have never been victims, if the underlying causes of crime had been addressed.
Calm down, KJT.
''It is at the door of F wits like you.''
I have no problem with you thinking I'm a fuckwit. Probably 90% of the blog thinks similar.
But please remember about keeping things civil as Incognito recently warned. It's about keeping the ambience of this blog respectful and safe. And at the moment I'm not feeling safe with your korero.
From someone who has been abusive, patronising and dismissive to just about every commentator here.
LOL.
If you feel intellectually unsafe, it is not my problem.
The sites Kaupapa is "robust debate".
I have a soft spot for Weka. Even though she drags me around by my nose ring . But I wouldn't want to be abusive towards her.
I like to think of myself as one of the good guys.
But please remember, calling someone a fuckwit is not ''robust debate.''
Patronising still.
Even when they have been one?
I’m a seafarer by the way. Not one of the “Woke” that think F wits delicate feelings should be respected.
''I’m a seafarer by the way.''
Me to in a way. I was born with seaweed behind my ears. I'm always at my best when breathing in all those negative ions that a sea breeze brings.
My brother in law was first officer on the coastal Tanker Amokura, before going on to captain a super tanker in the Persian gulf. So I have been on these vessels.
My claim to fame is going from Mt Maunganui beach to Mayor Island on a standup jet ski circa 1988. The tech wasn't great in those days and it was a bit freaky with a fuel container resting on the running board.
However, talk is cheap. Seafarer's test.
1- Is a tanker in more danger of exploding when it's full of oil or empty?
2- If a tanker is coming to it's moorings listing port side, who should greet it – Luxon or Ardern?
Let's hear some of your stories.
Don't we all – although if you really could make anthropogenic global warming go away just by declaring it a scam then you would be a very good guy indeed.
Just one question – how do you cope with all the sand?
Correct, and if that’s all there’s to a comment, pretty much, than there’s a high chance that it will be moderated with a warning, at least. Generally and mostly, Mods look for patterns of behaviour and commenting rather than isolated expletives, slurs, or even personal attacks, which can all be (a minor!) part of robust debate. However, we prefer it if you keep it civil.
Where is your evidence of how to really reduce crime kjt??
I suspect for the hardened criminals who PR works with it is too late.
Within the past week I've put up references from criminologists, people within the field, researchers and examples of countries that have been successful in reducing crime.
You know, actual evidence of what works.
Or. We can just carry on with "what has been proven not to work".
What works.
Open mike 25/05/2022 « The Standard
Thanks KJT. I have had a brief look. Will try to find time to read more.
I'll leave it to the inimitable Orwell:
“I have known numbers of bourgeois Socialists, I have listened by the hour to their tirades against their own class, and yet never, not even once, have I met one who had picked up proletarian table-manners.”
From the article "A man fatally shot by police was holding a knife to the throat of a woman "
If that's true then well done to the police, he had to be 'taken out'. You can't F around if he's armed and obviously dangerous.
He also will not re-offend.
If the issues that lead him into crime had been dealt with when he was younger. Then the woman, and the police, may have never been threatened.
Possibly, however, many choose a life of crime even after an ok upbringing. He made choices, and this was not a good one.
"was a good person who struggled with alcohol, his cousin said."
"He gets carried away when he's drunk."
Man fatally shot by police in Newlands, Wellington was Sam Fakalago – NZ Herald
I don’t believe in coincidences: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/06/livestream-speaker-trevor-mallard-grilled-by-mps-at-parliament-select-committee.html.
Short post this time.
If you were considering watching The Rings Of Power (and you really shouldn't) and the arguments about it not being Tolkien enough aren't enough to sway then maybe this clip will help change your mind
Its basically about how Amazon bailed on NZ (due to Covid restrictions) and went to the UK to film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz9EDKdwsao
is that a prequel?
I haven't watched any of the films, too much a fan of the books.
Ok if you only trust me on one thing ever then trust me on this.
If you haven't watched the films because you're too much of a fan of the books then you absolutely will not want to watch this
lol, no way will be I watching it.
Nor I (I mean I'll have to watch some parts just to see how bad it is)
Sort of schadenfreude? The horrified attention that keeps your eyes to a slow-motion wreck on reality TV?
I'll be watching some of it – to see friends who were in the cast (extras, not stars).
Though, really, if you want to write a woke fantasy story, with super diverse casting, and characterization which departs from canon – do so. Just leave Tolkien out of it….
The criticism that I've read so far, is that they could have made *most* of the changes, effectively, if they'd bothered to actually integrate them into the extant lore – instead of just pasting them on top. A lazy process which does disservice both to Tolkien and the actors cast in the roles.
I don't love some of the changes that Jackson (et al) made to LOTR – but they were a hell of a lot more intellectually honest than what I'm seeing from RoP
'Sort of schadenfreude? The horrified attention that keeps your eyes to a slow-motion wreck on reality TV?'
I'd rather not watch it (and I'm not going to watch all of it) but if I'm going to criticize (and I will) I need to watch some of it so I can really go to town on it
Similar to the Star Wars tv series, I watch enough of it so I can criticize properly
'I'll be watching some of it – to see friends who were in the cast (extras, not stars)'
Thats fair enough, I'd do the same as well
For the rest of your comments I'll just say I 100% agree
Its based primarily on the appendices (sort of) of The Lord Of The Rings.
If' you'd like a little taster of what its about Amazon put out a clip with 'superfans' (their words not mine) talking about the trailer
Amazon also really quickly pulled the superfans clip because of how bad it was reuploaded so thats good
For a potentially lethal drinking game take a drink everytime someone mentions representation, diversity or other woke terms:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aVX6vw906c
Now look who’s bringing up drinking again!
I sense a pattern and I can almost smell it too …
I thought you liked Top Gun!?
I'm not one to judge but isn't it a bit early to be drinking?
Here it is: https://thestandard.org.nz/top-gun/#comment-1890709; you do like Top Gun!
Woosh! That was not the sound of Tom Cruise flying low over your head. All good though.
I thought Correction Officers had to be sound judges of people and characters!?
Anyway, I drink coffee all day round, probably way too much, and I never drink alcohol when active online, which is pretty much all the time except when I’m having a good time with friends & family and even a drink or two.
Well maybe you can explain to me what Top Gun Maverick has to do with The Rings Of Power, I couldn't see the connection so I assumed it was your day time drinking or maybe it was one of the those really subtle comments you like to make every now and then, comments so subtle that no one has any idea of what you're talking about
The Spanish Archer is waiting
I actually watched your YT clip, on 2× speed, and there were plenty of references in it to Hollywood and none positive. Even without watching the clip there are many parallels and points of connection with Hollywood. Can’t help it if you don’t grasp your own material, so perhaps dial back on the ‘criticizing’ and “really go[ing] to town on it”.
So you missed the points where I've mentioned the tide is turning on woke entertainment?
That I used Top Gun Maverick as an example of this non-woke entertainment that is also financially successful?
That this provides proof for Hollywood of the type of movies people actually want to see?
Missed all that?
Stick to day drinking Spanish Archer
Nowadays, woke and scientology are almost as bad as each other.
Although your comment @ 10 was the most-woke [wokiest?] one I’ve seen in a while, it did not actually say anything about anything you claim it said!? Perhaps you wish to re-read your comment about Amazon?
Or perhaps it is time for you to come out as woke warrior?
Amazon bailed on filming in NZ, the govt subsidised a studio, what part of that did you fail to spot or did you not actually watch it
C'mon Spanish Archer you can do better than that
It’s a terrible tragedy, $30M for the film studio in Henderson and no Amazon. Thus, you argued, we should not watch that movie (plus for some other obscure reasons that affronted your delicate senses of wokeness). OTOH, you love Top Gun!? Can’t you see the delicious irony?
'It’s a terrible tragedy, $30M for the film studio in Henderson and no Amazon. Thus, you argued, we should not watch that movie '
I've argued that it shouldn't be watched because its going to be crap and that should be enough
If thats not enough then I'll make an appeal to peoples dislike of billionaires, corporations and subsidies to try to make people avoid the series on those basis, whatever strategy works
'OTOH, you love Top Gun!? Can’t you see the delicious irony?'
Spanish Archer you are a fucktard
Top Gun Maverick was made for the fans, made to be entertaining, to be non-political and absolutely non-woke
The movie showed respect to the fans by not shitting on the previous movie
It didn't make Maverick a joke or someone that had to be led by others
It promised entertainment and it delivered.
It shows what happens when you make entertainment for the people whereas The Rings Of Power is the exact opposite
The Rings Of Power proudly exclaims how diverse it is, in their words: 'because they wanted to ensure that it reflected "what the world actually looks like" and felt that would be closer to the spirit of the books.'
Top Gun Maverick gave the people what they wanted and so I praise them for it because I want more of this (non-woke entertainment)
The Rings Of Power are not giving the people what they want so I'm lambasting them for it
Do you get it now or do I need to spell it out for you some more now fuck off and go jerk off somewhere else
Actually you know what, you probably still don't get it so I'll bring it down a notch just for you.
Studio puts out good entertainment = praise
Studio puts out bad entertainment = criticism
This is Spanish Archer right about now:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYmn3Gwn3oI
Hilarious! You haven’t watched and were not going to watch it, but only parts, so that you “can really go to town on it”, but you know (!) it’ll be crap!?
Yeah, and Top Gun was an Indie movie made on a shoestring budget and Tom Cruise did a gratis cameo.
Absolutely! But at least I’m not a closet woke-warrior with a drinking problem.
You should really see somebody about that issue of yours because you do seem to lose your temper so quickly nowadays – are you missing JC? Tell you what, lay off the bottle for a while.
Bye now, have sweet dreams 😉
The show is going to be shit because:
It proclaims it as Lord Of The Rings yet it is far removed from what Tolkien wrote and because its a couple of inexperienced, young writers the episodes will not be Tolkien, it will be generic though
The show will be shit because we've seen this all before.
Game Of Thrones was a very good tv series, it was good because the show runners were adapting from George RR Martin
However
The show came to a grinding halt and got really, really bad in the later series because once the showrunners had no books to work off and had to create themselves they just couldn't do it because they were not as good a writers as Martin was (hes never finishing the series by the way)
The Rings Of Power have not learned that lesson
The Wheel Of Time had all the books it needed but instead decided to move away from the source material, as an example we all know that female and male magic are the two halves and you need both but the tv series doesn't (also released through Amazon Prime)
I could go on, the treatment of Halo, The Witcher, Disney Star Wars etc etc
The lessons here are simple, simple enough even you can grasp it.
Fans like the source material, fans get attached to the source material, you better be very careful when you change the source material and you shouldn't insult the fans when they complain
The Rings Of Power have not learnt these lessons so yeah its going to be bad, I don't know just how bad it will be but it will be bad.
Respect the fans and you'll make money or get woke and go broke.
Top Gun Maverick respected the fans, respected the source material and is now making bank and I don't care that Tom Cruise is in a cult either
Sure its written, sure its probably insincere but that he thanked the fans was a nice touch and his movie is reaping the rewards:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHOQS3BSYho
What do we get from Disney and Amazon, just that we're all racist if we don't like what they produce
The new Top Gun was quite entertaining, I wouldn't say its the best storyline and its very similar to the original.
It surpassed the original in all ways except one, the romance.
It felt shoehorned in, it wasn't bad, it just wasn't up to the rest of the movie.
Its not a fault but it felt like we were missing another movie, a movie based around Icemans promotions and Mavericks shennanigans
But charmingly non political, non woke, pure entertainment for the fans
Funny how the most non-cultish movie of recent times was made by a very well known Scientologist
Given up on so-called Hollywood movies years ago and it’s Indies for me all the way.
Shame because Hollywood has been desperately trying to court the left for years now
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Picture#2020s
I prefer looking for diamonds in the rough and have unearthed many real gems. Of course, there’s European and Asian cinema, and African (incl. South African). Once you look away from Hollywood you realise that there’s so much more to enjoy. I have greatly enjoyed Hollywood movies in the past, even the action flicks, but taste develops with time & experience just as good wine ripens [intentional pun; hope it wasn’t too subtle for you]
I will probably torrent it.. like everything else 😛🏴☠️
Wait until its released on streaming first.
The more people see this at the movies the bigger and louder the message is to Hollywood that we don't want woke movies, movies that contain "the message", that diversity and representation is not more important than storylines and decent acting, that we want entertaining movies
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gun:_Maverick
'The film will be available on Paramount+, but only more than 45 days after its theatrical release.'
Ha! Luxon got beaten up again by Jacinda in question time.
He simply doesn't know his material, and she does!
Still directing his attack and Poto Williams, a damned fine Minister of Police.
Wow!
Just watched our wonderful Minister of Police put bully boy Mercenary Mitchell properly in his place!
Well done, Poto.
Agreed Tony. Both Luxon and Willis prepare their questions but totally fail to listen to the answers, and totally fail to adjust in the light of the answers given. A disconnect between question and answer! Pointless.
Mitchell strangely did listen to one of Poto's great answers, and redirected his question back to Poto and not the Police, but sadly for him he was corrected that the Minister was for policy and funding, and Police carried out the operations.
You would think that Mitchell knows better; hadn’t he recently met with the Police Commissioner Andrew Coster? Perhaps he confused policy & funding in that meeting too?
Mark Mitchell was a policeman once. He resigned and became a mercenary soldier and the IQ level of the Police immediately increased.
Awesome ! : )
Keep up the good news Tony. I doubt it will be on 1 news tonight though, they don't like it up em.
Dunno if this happened yesterday but the Spin-off reporting on Ipsos shows National with the political wind in their sails.
Frankly I think the Labour benches have been poor. Perhaps it’s government under these circumstances or the headwinds. I don’t know the power dynamics, but the idea of a wave of popular announcements coming from ministry after ministry doesn’t seem likely.
Labour hasn’t been able to pivot yet, and now they’re playing catch up. It might be they will hold, but it’ll need some reinvention. Perhaps it’s culturally we need a bit of reinvention as a country and a good chunk of us are not keen on it or simply can’t. Aussie is trying to, but with their majority government it may not happen.
National are going to get a lot of easy coverage as they carpet bomb BS. Labour are gunna get blamed for everything. It seems from up the thread they’re trying to attack the ref too. That’s normal.
Let’s elect the speaker and all our judges, etc etc! Christ the National speakers were terrible. Mallard has sided with opposition complaints and penalized the government in a way I certainly haven’t seen reported before.
I feel Labour needs some consistent muscular, relaxed and confident coverage. The international trip is a start, but you can’t depend on your leader entirely forever. Community was a buzzword in Aussie?
'Christ the National speakers were terrible.'
National and Labour certainly have had some…questionable speakers but I think you're forgetting about Lockwood Smith
Sang a good song. Why do you assume I’m old enough to remember him?
Well you said speakers so I took that to mean more than one and Smith was the speaker before Carter, less than ten years ago
Puckie is feeling nostalgic.
A fair call on my part I feel, I haven't even used the whattabout argument about some of Labours speakers
What about it?
I think Speaker would be one of the biggest pain in the arse jobs in Parliament as an MP. You obviously get the extra cash, but she is a bit of a poisoned chalice.
You kind of have to juggle backing the boss of your Party, while simultaneously trying to look non-biased.
As I said last night. Think they should make it an independent job from outside, With someone with political nouce.
I actually think someone like Peter Dunne would be quite good.
Whoever it is it should not be subjected to polls of the public and trying to stir up angst against the speaker. The speaker’s office is what enables debate in the chamber and questioning of the government and should not be subject to such crude attacks.
Don’t do it for refs. Ditto here.
It's a good day in San Francisco, voters have voted to recall Chesa Boudins, a radical aristocratic socialist whose lawyer grandfather represented Castro and whose parents were leaders of cop killing, bank robbing, neighborhood and federal building bombing terrorist group the Weather underground.
Good.
America's private prisons are a disgrace and the kinds of minor crimes people go to prison for is disgusting. However, there needs to be a balance between throwing everyone in prison for quotas and not throwing anyone in prison or punishing anyone because of ideology.
San Franciscos incredibly liberal voters are sick of "san Francisco snow" which is broken glass from cars shops and houses everywhere , they are sick of police not showing up to arrest shoplifters and defacto decriminalization of shoplifting (cops won't show up unless over a grand has been stolen) they are sick of shop windows being smashed in on broad daylight in front of police and nothing happening.
The Mayor of the town actually tried to downplay and reassure the insane crime stats by saying it's only homocides and assaults that are massively up. Lmfao how reassuring.
And it was democrats who led the charge against Boudin specifically democrats of colour, the yes to recall campaign was funded by San Francisco residents whereas the no campaign was funded by people in other cities in the state.
He's gone. There must be a balance between neoliberal corporate justice reform and woke justice reform.
Letting criminals run wild hurts the poorest the most.
Now. Hopefully results like this wake the left everywhere up on crime.
The punishment must suit the crime. It shouldn't exceed it and it shouldn't be a slap on the wrist.
Also if 501s are being deported from Australia for breaking the law, the law should be changed so it's straight to prison for them. End of story.
Voters especially ones in poorer and working class neighbourhoods will not tolerate weakness on crime and will vote for people who will be tough on crime no matter how much woke academics scream otherwise.
Also the guardian called his terrorist parents "left wing activists" smh.
If woke courts and woke sentencing guidelines won't fly in San Francisco, they won't fly anywhere.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.thuieguardian.com/us-news/2022/jun/07/san-francisco-vote-chesa-boudin-recall
.
As always, the luxury beliefs of the affluent, bloated, narcissistic Woke – utterly divorced from reality – are guaranteed to create a nightmare living situation on a day-to-day basis for a whole swathe of the Left's traditional core constituency …
… the constituency that, of course, founded, built & intellectually energised the Left for many decades before it was slowly but surely captured by 300 buck-an-hour virtue-signalling New Middle Class Professionals.