Partner wanted to watch news at 6am, so reluctantly went to TV1
Rawdon being a superior kind of person with two women giggling at his utterings. Is it always like that? Even my partner said let’s go to SKY weather so I don’t have to keep watching this. It is actually really sad seeing women demean themselves to a position of second fiddle and giggles.
John Key heading off criticism that we are not so rosy with a high dollar by saying, we have diversified so not as reliant on Aussie and China. I am afraid if you look at the stats over the last 6 years we are still heavily reliant on Aussie and China.
Note he stated not so reliant. There is still a large risk but the nation has been moving towards a more diversified export destination. However short of government dictating who exporters sell to there isn’t much more that could be done.
Note the impression he was giving was false, namely that we are not substantially reliant on tohse two markets and so their decline is not likely to impact us
And you can pretend that isn’t the impression he was giving but he was, and it is why he remains so popular. He is past master at making kiwis feel comfortable and inert.
If there is nothing to be done does that mean a govt cannot take claim or blame from it because the dollar is largely externally driven.
Wow! You have discovered politicians present information in a way that is favourable to them. Congrats /sar.
If ypu have a problem with John Key’s spin there was an interesting interview with Bill English on Morning Report today where he acknowledged both the negative and positive aspects of a higher exchange rate. Perhaps you should select your media options more wisely.
When I moved south to Queenstown five and a half years ago Tracey I got rid of the telly. You couldn’t get the free to air channels because of topographical interference and I didn’t want to pay for Sky. I found I didn’t miss it at all really, happily managing with National Radio and the Concert Programme and watching whatever I wanted on the computer. When we went digital a couple of years ago I got a Freeview box and duly trundled off to Noel Leeming and bought a snazzy flat screen tv. It sits in the corner of my sitting room beaming out National Radio and the Concert Programme and whatever I want from the computer via apple tv. The only thing I’ve watched on it in months is the Cricket semi final and final. I doubt I’ll ever watch TVNZ and TV3 again.
I hear you Scott. On the occassions I am lucky enough to travel I don’t watch tv at all, and my life is the better fo rit. I am a bit of a sports nut so keep it for that…
A couple of years ago I spent a few days staying at a mate’s cabin in the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. It was a chilly autumn and I spent the days wrapped up watching TV. It was the first time I had systematically watched Al-Jazeera and I also watched Press TV (Russian?). I couldn’t believe how superior they were to the crap served up here. Press TV was great on anything apart from Russian domestic politics but, even there, they weren’t simply slavish about Putin.
I think TV1 is worse than TV3. One benefit about TV3 being in private and largely overseas hands is that it has less of a vested interested in serving the requirements of the government in power in Wellington, whereas TV1 is much more slavish.
However, the general level of both is pretty shocking compared to anything other than Fox News. I’d be embarrassed to be associated with TV1 in particular. So much dross and so little substance.
The fact that they’ve brought back a buffoon like Paul Henry says it all. (Although he seems to be a little less right-wing these days than he used to be.) As does the presence of Mike Hoskings on that 7pm thing on TV1.
John Campbell can be an awful ass-kisser – I still recall with embarrassment his fawning over the Pike River head who turned out to be partly responsible for the deaths of 29 mine workers! – but imagine you’re the TV1 bosses – do you seriously imagine the way to compete with ‘Campbell Live’ is to put Mike Hoskings up against Campbell in the 7pm slot. It’s almost like the TV1 bosses are a fifth column, employed secretly by TV3!
And the way TV1 bosses show complete disregard for the public (especially the older and woring class public) by continually mucking around with the ‘Coronation Street’ time slot in order to destroy its ratings (presumably, so they can then take it off) is a total frigging disgrace.
Our TV is just used to view Al Jazeera, TV3 news for a laugh, Campbell Live and any BBC Simon Reeves shows on Choice tv on freeview. (Last night he was in Cuba looking at their changing regime but has focused quite a bit on climate change in his other shows) There’s 7 days on Friday night which can swing between absolutely cringey and actually funny. The “Yes Minister” section is always worth a laugh.
The other thing we do is download shows like Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe and Dara O Briain’s Mock the Week, Borgen and comedy and plug the usb into the telly. Much more comfy watching from the couch than on a computer screen.
When there’s poor quality brain numbing stuff filling the screen, like competitive cooking, competitive house building, competitive dating and competitive singing you have to rely on the interwebs for information and entertainment.
The only “TV” I watch (by which I mean broadcast NZ TV) is One News at 6 and only because it provides the background ambiance to the “back from work, cooking dinner and playing with my daughter.”
The actual TV I watch is GoT, House of Cards, Breaking Bad etc etc which is online. My TV is used primarily for movies and PlayStation
Nice story Scott. I don’t have a tv either. If I did have one I’d probably watch Coro, and events like the election coverage, and some of the Campbell/6 o’clock news coverage when something specific was happening (often to see how the MSM are covering it as much as anything). I rely on twitter and ts now to let me know what is going on and then go further online if I want more detail.
There’s been some very good replies to you comments Tracey, and I agree with the majority of them, I also have been made aware of some other sites that need a visit by me.
One station I do watch is RT. Have to take it with a pinch of salt at times but I find the discussions on Cross Talk are excellent. At least you do get different points of view, Also as I said the other day I get a lot of news from The Standard. There are some brave souls on here that go and look on sites like the Herald, and inform us of the bullshit written by the likes of Armstrong.
It looks as if, on May 22, the south of Ireland will be the first country on the world in which has voted for gay marriage.
On that a referendum is to be held on same-sex marriages and all the polls indicate a big victory for gay marriage. In what was once Holy, Catholic Ireland polls indicate 70-80 percent support for gay marriage.
While I doubt the vote will be as high as 80%, because the Catholic Church will turn out its lay organisations and have its priests sermonising in the pulpits up until May 22, I think a big win is on the agenda.
All the parliamentary parties, including the most viciously anti-working class ones, favour gay marriage. And southern Irish society has changed dramatically in the past 20-25 years.
A good Russell Brand rant to start the morning with, on the limits to growth and capitalism at the This Changes Everything gathering in the UK last month…
“Capitalism and Conservation are diametrically opposed.”
So true Russell. And in NZ Nick Smith is working hard to make sure Capitalism triumphs over Conservation by changing the RMA. Whoa there Nick!
He hasn’t written under the Colonial Viper tag since February, and even then it seems to have been a lapse from the; Rawshark variant name, that many adopted at the time of the Hagar raid (including myself now that I think of it; but got distracted by meatworld life, and since I came back I’ve been using the older pseudonym). Colonial Rawshark did indeed make a comment last night:
When I checked my facebook account there was a message dated a couple of days ago saying he was ok with us ending the vigil (I dislike FB, so hadn’t checked since the weekend). So that just leaves it up to; phillip ure.
We made a point of only watching JC last night. Gone off Hilary Barry as well. What on earth was she thinking!?. TV1 news was ok until MHosking appeared at the end. I cannot believe that NZ is inflicted for three hours daily by that idiot that’s been kicked out of every village he’s been in. Insult to all New Zealanders.
and hosking is on radio too… Has anyone ever seen Henry and Hosking in the same roo together? And if they did, was it a circus sized tent, with just them and their egoes in it?
not watched it but from a shot in the newspaper the mic’s looks like neumann’s so prepare to part with a few $k each but you’ll not be dissapointed.
Or could be mocked up neumanns with shure’s or something else inside doing the actual work….overkill at it’s just Talking heads TV not a concerto performance etc.
Heres a bombshell, if Little announced this (or something basically the same) I’d probably end up voting Labour
This is probably the cheapest, easiest to understand, simplest to implement idea that would lift more kiwis out of renting into home ownership and is something that would have broad support over the entire political spectrum
The only problem is how to make it affordable to the average hnz tenant and how to stop some of them selling up at a future date and ending up back on a waiting list.
Expect Little/ Labour to announce something along these lines tomorrow at their Housing forum in Auckland. Of course National will be cursing having to consider such an idea, their property speculator mates want the thick end of the wedge not the skinny end.
Given Jones is good mates with Mallard why the fuck hasn’t Trev pushed this through to the policy team.
That’s because property tycoons like Jones do far better under a Labour Government than a Tory outfit. A lot of blue ribbon Aucklanders are very annoyed the foreign invasion of rich are picking the cream out of Auckland and beach property.
I actually heard a Key cheerleader, a bigger cheerleader than Fissy ( actually not quite) speaking fondly of Peters in this regards, when I asked but would you vote for him? Answer absolutely if Key doesn’t cut foreign ownership. So there ya go the love affair is over.
I will never vote Winston (I just can’t) and thats the only major party I can confidently say that about however if some other party was to take on board some of his policies then who knows…
Interestingly, when Herald (I think it was them) did that voting thing pre election where you looked at policy questions and it decided which party fit your needs), I know many who fit NZF but still voted for National. Also Nats and Labs were closer in percentages for many of them but NZF was best fit.
Its not the policies, its the man. I just can’t vote for him, when he leaves and someone else takes over (Shane Jones, Ron Mark maybe) maybe I can have a look at NZFirst.
At the moment Winston is the darling of the left because hes sticking it John Key yet hes now the defacto leader of the opposition and no one on the left seem to realise it but once he starts dictating to Key and Little…
Or does anyone here think Winston will be dictated to by someone that can’t win an electorate seat?
Exactly its about the integrity and on that Winston fails, I simply cannot trust the man as everything he does is to ultimately benefit himself and any benefits to NZ are simply a happy coincidence
It just really bugs me that Winston can say anything he likes and no one in the media will try to call him on it, he hints about certain things and could use parliamentary priviledge to do so but won’t…but just enough insinuation to get the point across
Seriously people on here think John Key is teflon, Keys teflon is nothing compared to Winston
He got the winebox right and hes dined out on it ever since but racing interests, fishing interests…oh no we won’t mention that
A couple of elections ago there was an online “quiz” the result of which would indicate which party suited.
I answered every question with the very opposite of what I believed in. The result was that apparently NZF would be best for me. Aha!
NZF are in a good head space after the forgotten regional/rural win in Northland. Expect Peters NZF to mop up plenty more votes there.
For National it is a now a problematic issue trying to win back rural support. The increasing slide in milk powder prices won’t be helping. Add the wary eyes of the public and other political party’s to pork barrel politics and winning back the vote look a tough ask.
The big city’s will probably keep them in the game especially Auckland, however as explained the traditional Auckland blue ribbon voters are feeling aggrieved by foreigners buying our cream land pickings is the worry. I will add the big block land owners who don’t like the Nat’s considering forced freeing up of their golden egg.
Based on what? His word and that he voted for Labour when? Which period of time (cos that is important if you are claiming some kind of ideological curiosity)?
“When I wrote recently that this election was done and dusted, a storm of protest erupted on the New Zealand Herald’s website from Labour’s deeply unattractive, rabid tribalists.
Abuse aside, the common theme was that I’m a die-hard National supporter. That gave great amusement given that I last voted National in 1981. Excepting the New Zealand Party in 1984 and later Act twice, I’ve voted Labour ever since.”
Getting rid of the military would have to be one of the dumbest ideas ever, it proves that someone smart in one area doesn’t mean they’re smart in others
NZParty 84 (himself),
Labour 87, 90, and 93 (in the depths of their neolib bullshit),
ACT 96 and 99 (more neolib bullshit),
National and Trevor Mallard (his mate) ever since.
And ‘cos he’s old school he counts his electorate vote for Trev as “Voting Labour”
Jones, for all his wealth and temperament etc, has never forgotten his roots and upbringing in a poor working class family in Naenae, Lower Hutt (state house IIRC) – unlike a certain Mr Key.
Some bits about his family in this 2007 Stuff article about his relationship with his much younger brother, Lloyd Jones.
With the concerted comments regarding allowing the freeing up of Easter Trading laws I ask Has not the protection of the work force been eroded enough ? http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11429095
we also have Larry Williams (Wine) & Mike Hoskin (Eating Out) being caught out and having THEIR lifestyles inconvenienced. So it is ok for everyone to have their work places closed to observe the holiday but Not Retail.
How long have these and other commentators lived in NZ ? And leading the discussion from an informed position ?? and yet are caught out by having the shops close down for 3&1/2 days per year.
Should there be a change in the law to allow retail to operate, why halt at easter why not remove the protection from all of the 3 &1/2 days that the shops are compelled to be closed?
Perhaps we should expect the proponents of change to also work their normal hours on these days and for the MP’s to open their electorate offices?
I for one appreciated have the family all together, and the shops were open the following day and no one in my family suffered from this.
Are AT (Auckland transport) designed to kill off public transport?
When they took over in 2012 fairs were $1.80 for one zone for an adult. As of now they are $2.50 per adult. That is just under a 40% price hike in just 3 years. Let me repeat that – a almost 40% hike in fare prices in just 3 years. How can they justify that. When we are the people funding the system in the first place?
AT = Auckland Traitors?
AT = Auckland Twits?
AT = Auckland truning people of public transport since 2012.
No wonder the figure are not climbing and the kids are jumping on the trains and not paying fares. This is a joke.
When the average pay packet barely went up 3%, how the hell can a AT justify a 40% price increase.
AT needs to be disbanded, and everyone who works for them needs to be fired. This is unacceptable. Private companies bleeding the public for profit.
Went to a Generation Zero workshop a couple of years ago. Matt from Transport Blog was there along with a councillor talking about public transport during one of the sessions.
In the discussion, someone brought up the cost of public transport putting people off from using it. To my surprise both Matt and the councillor, along with an AT rep all said that studies have proven that reducing the cost does not make a difference to usage.
An intrepid member of the audience disagreed, but they dismissed any notion that this could be the case. In our case, the cost for my family to travel into town by train/bus is prohibitive – around $60 one way. Compared to the cost of taking our hybrid in, and parking in Aotea Centre for $11 we have to be running flush on our budget to use public transport option. We do use it when one of us is travelling alone, but I don’t think it is a consideration that is being made by AT.
Also, given that automatic ticketing is something that has happened for decades overseas they seem to have made a hash of the AT Hop service. Student fares are not included on the display (you are supposed to know to choose child) and Hop cards are only available from a couple of stations. A debacle.
I wonder how they would feel about what has happened in Adelaide – with most fares being a gold coin. My guess is they were selective in their studies, and the studies are asking the wrong questions, or looking for specific monetarist based results.
My favourite is – it costs more, to catch public transport into Auckland City – than it costs to catch a bus to Whangarei – Or Taupo – Or Rotorua. That is a sick joke being played on Auckland rate payers. The whole charging kids fares – when the over 65’s pay nothing – I find a very cruel joke as well.
The automatic ticket is a massive disaster – I was on a train when a women’s card was not reading properly – and the ticket inspectors called her all names under the sun. They accused her of manipulating with the card. Then they called her a thief. I intervened, and ask them for there names whilst pulling out a pen and paper – they ran for the next coach.
I’ve also seen them throw teenagers off the train for not tagging on – when they should just provide the service on the train. Like a ticket machine – or better yet a ticket seller. I’ve also witness a women being threatened with physical violence, because she was one stop over her ticket. (still within zone mind) I reported that one.
AT is a disaster – Pathetic, incompetent and danger to public transport.
Is there a watchdog in place to monitor currency trading?
With the fluctuations over the past few weeks, presumably the trading
floors have been busy.
Do we know which institutions / private individuals who might be making “killings” as a result?
Are there money traders who make lots of money these days?
Is there a registry?
Are MPs required to declare interests in this area?
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The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...
Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob HensonIn this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...
In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...
On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...
The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...
This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...
And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...
Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...
Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...
This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate.I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...
A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...
The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...
Kiwis planning a swim or heading out on a boat this summer should remember to stop and think about water safety, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop and ACC and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “New Zealand’s beaches, lakes and rivers are some of the most beautiful in the ...
The Government is urging Kiwis to drive safely this summer and reminding motorists that Police will be out in force to enforce the road rules, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“This time of year can be stressful and result in poor decision-making on our roads. Whether you are travelling to see ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...
The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...
By Emma Andrews, Henare te Ua Māori Journalism Intern at RNZ News The New Zealand fuel company Z Energy is swapping out street names for “correct” kupu on service stops around the country, with the help of local hapū. When Z took over 226 fuel sites from Shell in 2010, ...
Summer reissue: Was it a false measurement, a full-blown conspiracy or just some mild incompetence? Mad Chapman uncovers the truth of Maddi Wesche’s final throw. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Old, Associate Professor, Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Western Sydney University Dmitry Chulov, Shutterstock At this time of year, images of reindeer are everywhere. I’ve had a soft spot for reindeer ever since I was a little girl. Doesn’t everyone? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grozdana Manalo, Career Services Manager (Education), University of Sydney hedgehog94/Shutterstock Getting casual work over summer, or a part-time job that you might continue once your tertiary course starts, can be a great way to get workplace experience and earn some extra ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ty Ferguson, Research associate in exercise, nutrition and activity, University of South Australia Peera_Stockfoto/Shutterstock It’s never been easier to stay connected to work. Even when we’re on leave, our phones and laptops keep us tethered. Many of us promise ourselves we ...
The NZ Media Council upheld the complaint under principle four: comment and fact On 5 September 2024, The Spinoff published a brief article titled Made in Palestine, found in 1970s Hastings, which highlighted an upcoming art exhibition featuring photographs of vintage cosmetic products labelled “Made in Palestine.” The piece, described ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kasey Symons, Lecturer of Communication, Sports Media, Deakin University We are well and truly in cricket season. The Australian men’s cricket team is taking centre stage against India in the Border Gavaskar Trophy series while the Big Bash League is underway, as ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Woods, Lecturer, Nursing, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University FTiare/Shutterstock Summer is here and for many that means going to the beach. You grab your swimmers, beach towel and sunscreen then maybe check the weather forecast. Did you think to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Saman Khalesi, Senior Lecturer and Discipline Lead in Nutrition, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity Australia Dean Clarke/Shutterstock The holiday season can be a time of joy, celebration, and indulgence in delicious foods and meals. However, for many, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ari Mattes, Lecturer in Communications and Media, University of Notre Dame Australia Late Night With The Devil. Maslow Entertainment Marketing is critical to the success of commercial films, and companies will often spend half as much again on top of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Francisco Jose Testa, Lecturer in Earth Sciences (Mineralogy, Petrology & Geochemistry), University of Tasmania The Conversation As a kid, it was tough for me to grasp the massive time scale of Earth’s history. Now, with nearly two decades of experience as ...
Te Pāti Māori has had to adopt a new way of debating, operating and even thinking in Parliament in response to the Government’s “onslaught” against te ao Māori, co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says.In an end-of-year interview with Newsroom, the Te Tai Hauauru MP reflected on how 2024 has differed from her ...
Opinion: The latest Trends in International Mathematics and Science report was announced earlier this month, yet it didn’t get the flurry of media attention and political hand-wringing that typically accompanies these announcements. This might be because it presented good news, or you could argue, no news; the results paint a ...
NewsroomBy Dr Lisa Darragh, Dr Raewyn Eden and Dr David Pomeroy
At long last, The Spinoff shells out for a nut ranking. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today.It recently came to The Spinoff’s attention ...
I was one of hundreds of people who lost my government job this week. Here’s exactly how it played out. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a ...
Summer reissue: One anxiously attentive passenger pays attention to an in-flight safety video, and wonders ‘Why can’t I pick up my own phone?’ The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up ...
Summer reissue: Why do those Lange-Douglas years cast such a long shadow 40 years on? The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today. First published June ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('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, Monday 23 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The Government’s social housing agency has backed out of a billion-dollar infrastructure alliance that would have built about 6000 new homes in Auckland – less than 18 months after signing a five-year extension.Labour says the decision to rip up the contract and sell off existing state houses could lead to ...
An unrelenting faith in “swift transition” has driven Tauranga Whai to their first Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa championship. At a boisterous Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre, the visiting Tokomanawa Queens were blown away 90-71 in the final.Whai led by 20 points at halftime as their urgent movement and unflinching faith in three-point shooting from anywhere ...
ByKoroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor New Zealand’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) says impending bad weather for Port Vila is now the most significant post-quake hazard. A tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to move into Vanuatu waters, bringing heavy rainfall. Authorities have issued warnings to people ...
Cosmic CatastropheThe year draws to a close.King Luxon has grown tired of the long eveningsListening to the dreary squabbling of his Triumvirate.He strolls up to the top floor of the PalaceTo consult with his Astronomer Royal.The Royal Telescope scans the skies,And King Luxon stares up into the heavensFrom the terrestrial ...
Spinoff editor Mad Chapman and books editor Claire Mabey debate Carl Shuker’s new novel about… an editor. Claire: Hello Mad, you just finished The Royal Free – overall impressions? Mad: Hi Claire, I literally just put the book down and I would have to say my immediate impression is ...
Christmas and its buildup are often lonely, hard and full of unreasonable expectations. Here’s how to make it to Jesus’s birthday and find the little bit of joy we all deserve. Have you found this year relentless? Has the latest Apple update “fucked up your life”? Have you lost two ...
Despite overwhelming public and corporate support, the government has stalled progress on a modern day slavery law. That puts us behind other countries – and makes Christmas a time of tragedy rather than joy, argues Shanti Mathias. Picture the scene on Christmas Day. Everyone replete with nice things to eat, ...
Asia Pacific Report “It looks like Hiroshima. It looks like Germany at the end of World War Two,” says an Israeli-American historian and professor of holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University about the horrifying reality of Gaza. Professor Omer Bartov, has described Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza as an ...
The New Zealand government coalition is tweaking university regulations to curb what it says is an increasingly “risk-averse approach” to free speech. The proposed changes will set clear expectations on how universities should approach freedom of speech issues. Each university will then have to adopt a “freedom of speech statement” ...
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone New York prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione with “murder as an act of terrorism” in his alleged shooting of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month. This news comes out at the same time as ...
Pacific Media Watch The union for Australian journalists has welcomed the delivery by the federal government of more than $150 million to support the sustainability of public interest journalism over the next four years. Combined with the announcement of the revamped News Bargaining Initiative, this could result in up to ...
MONDAY“Merry Xmas, and praise the Lord,” said Sheriff Luxon, and smiled for the camera. There was a flash of smoke when the shutter pressed down on the magnesium powder. The sheriff had arranged for a photographer from the Dodge Gazette to attend a ceremony where he handed out food parcels to ...
It’s a little under two months since the White Ferns shocked the cricketing world, deservedly taking home the T20 World Cup. Since then the trophy has had a tour around the country, five of the squad have played in the WBBL in Australia while most others have returned to domestic ...
Comment: If we say the word ‘dementia’, many will picture an older person struggling to remember the names of their loved ones, maybe a grandparent living out their final years in an aged care facility. Dementia can also occur in people younger than 65, but it can take time before ...
Won’t watch TV3 Brekkie show cos of Henry.
Partner wanted to watch news at 6am, so reluctantly went to TV1
Rawdon being a superior kind of person with two women giggling at his utterings. Is it always like that? Even my partner said let’s go to SKY weather so I don’t have to keep watching this. It is actually really sad seeing women demean themselves to a position of second fiddle and giggles.
John Key heading off criticism that we are not so rosy with a high dollar by saying, we have diversified so not as reliant on Aussie and China. I am afraid if you look at the stats over the last 6 years we are still heavily reliant on Aussie and China.
Note he stated not so reliant. There is still a large risk but the nation has been moving towards a more diversified export destination. However short of government dictating who exporters sell to there isn’t much more that could be done.
Note that I stated he said not so reliant.
Note the impression he was giving was false, namely that we are not substantially reliant on tohse two markets and so their decline is not likely to impact us
And you can pretend that isn’t the impression he was giving but he was, and it is why he remains so popular. He is past master at making kiwis feel comfortable and inert.
If there is nothing to be done does that mean a govt cannot take claim or blame from it because the dollar is largely externally driven.
Wow! You have discovered politicians present information in a way that is favourable to them. Congrats /sar.
If ypu have a problem with John Key’s spin there was an interesting interview with Bill English on Morning Report today where he acknowledged both the negative and positive aspects of a higher exchange rate. Perhaps you should select your media options more wisely.
No, I have known since 2007 that John Key lies and manipulates.
FOG
When I moved south to Queenstown five and a half years ago Tracey I got rid of the telly. You couldn’t get the free to air channels because of topographical interference and I didn’t want to pay for Sky. I found I didn’t miss it at all really, happily managing with National Radio and the Concert Programme and watching whatever I wanted on the computer. When we went digital a couple of years ago I got a Freeview box and duly trundled off to Noel Leeming and bought a snazzy flat screen tv. It sits in the corner of my sitting room beaming out National Radio and the Concert Programme and whatever I want from the computer via apple tv. The only thing I’ve watched on it in months is the Cricket semi final and final. I doubt I’ll ever watch TVNZ and TV3 again.
I hear you Scott. On the occassions I am lucky enough to travel I don’t watch tv at all, and my life is the better fo rit. I am a bit of a sports nut so keep it for that…
Now I am pleased to have access to al jazeera.
Apart from the occasional viewing of Campbell Live, my tv remains as my link to cycle races around the world. And long may that continue 🙂
Al Jazeera certainly points up just how poorly served we are by “news” programmes from TV1 and TV3.
Phil
Agree re Al Jazeera Philip
A couple of years ago I spent a few days staying at a mate’s cabin in the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. It was a chilly autumn and I spent the days wrapped up watching TV. It was the first time I had systematically watched Al-Jazeera and I also watched Press TV (Russian?). I couldn’t believe how superior they were to the crap served up here. Press TV was great on anything apart from Russian domestic politics but, even there, they weren’t simply slavish about Putin.
I think TV1 is worse than TV3. One benefit about TV3 being in private and largely overseas hands is that it has less of a vested interested in serving the requirements of the government in power in Wellington, whereas TV1 is much more slavish.
However, the general level of both is pretty shocking compared to anything other than Fox News. I’d be embarrassed to be associated with TV1 in particular. So much dross and so little substance.
The fact that they’ve brought back a buffoon like Paul Henry says it all. (Although he seems to be a little less right-wing these days than he used to be.) As does the presence of Mike Hoskings on that 7pm thing on TV1.
John Campbell can be an awful ass-kisser – I still recall with embarrassment his fawning over the Pike River head who turned out to be partly responsible for the deaths of 29 mine workers! – but imagine you’re the TV1 bosses – do you seriously imagine the way to compete with ‘Campbell Live’ is to put Mike Hoskings up against Campbell in the 7pm slot. It’s almost like the TV1 bosses are a fifth column, employed secretly by TV3!
And the way TV1 bosses show complete disregard for the public (especially the older and woring class public) by continually mucking around with the ‘Coronation Street’ time slot in order to destroy its ratings (presumably, so they can then take it off) is a total frigging disgrace.
Phil
Yep.
Our TV is just used to view Al Jazeera, TV3 news for a laugh, Campbell Live and any BBC Simon Reeves shows on Choice tv on freeview. (Last night he was in Cuba looking at their changing regime but has focused quite a bit on climate change in his other shows) There’s 7 days on Friday night which can swing between absolutely cringey and actually funny. The “Yes Minister” section is always worth a laugh.
The other thing we do is download shows like Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe and Dara O Briain’s Mock the Week, Borgen and comedy and plug the usb into the telly. Much more comfy watching from the couch than on a computer screen.
When there’s poor quality brain numbing stuff filling the screen, like competitive cooking, competitive house building, competitive dating and competitive singing you have to rely on the interwebs for information and entertainment.
The only “TV” I watch (by which I mean broadcast NZ TV) is One News at 6 and only because it provides the background ambiance to the “back from work, cooking dinner and playing with my daughter.”
The actual TV I watch is GoT, House of Cards, Breaking Bad etc etc which is online. My TV is used primarily for movies and PlayStation
The Trews is good too
Nice story Scott. I don’t have a tv either. If I did have one I’d probably watch Coro, and events like the election coverage, and some of the Campbell/6 o’clock news coverage when something specific was happening (often to see how the MSM are covering it as much as anything). I rely on twitter and ts now to let me know what is going on and then go further online if I want more detail.
There’s been some very good replies to you comments Tracey, and I agree with the majority of them, I also have been made aware of some other sites that need a visit by me.
One station I do watch is RT. Have to take it with a pinch of salt at times but I find the discussions on Cross Talk are excellent. At least you do get different points of view, Also as I said the other day I get a lot of news from The Standard. There are some brave souls on here that go and look on sites like the Herald, and inform us of the bullshit written by the likes of Armstrong.
@ ipent the edit function was showing on gosmans comment above .
I did try to edit it just to see if it would and it wouldn’t allow it .
It looks as if, on May 22, the south of Ireland will be the first country on the world in which has voted for gay marriage.
On that a referendum is to be held on same-sex marriages and all the polls indicate a big victory for gay marriage. In what was once Holy, Catholic Ireland polls indicate 70-80 percent support for gay marriage.
While I doubt the vote will be as high as 80%, because the Catholic Church will turn out its lay organisations and have its priests sermonising in the pulpits up until May 22, I think a big win is on the agenda.
All the parliamentary parties, including the most viciously anti-working class ones, favour gay marriage. And southern Irish society has changed dramatically in the past 20-25 years.
For a look at the referendum and societal changes see, Irish society and politics and the referendum on gay marriage: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/04/07/irish-society-and-politics-and-the-referendum-on-gay-marriage/
A good Russell Brand rant to start the morning with, on the limits to growth and capitalism at the This Changes Everything gathering in the UK last month…
“Capitalism and Conservation are diametrically opposed.”
So true Russell. And in NZ Nick Smith is working hard to make sure Capitalism triumphs over Conservation by changing the RMA. Whoa there Nick!
Great cartoon by Emmerson today about watching Paul Henry.
A brain removal necessary.
4 days remaining until the scheduled return of the Rawshark 2.
+100 Parsupial
Isn’t CV back posting?
He hasn’t written under the Colonial Viper tag since February, and even then it seems to have been a lapse from the; Rawshark variant name, that many adopted at the time of the Hagar raid (including myself now that I think of it; but got distracted by meatworld life, and since I came back I’ve been using the older pseudonym). Colonial Rawshark did indeed make a comment last night:
http://thestandard.org.nz/dollar-parity/#comment-996788
When I checked my facebook account there was a message dated a couple of days ago saying he was ok with us ending the vigil (I dislike FB, so hadn’t checked since the weekend). So that just leaves it up to; phillip ure.
So you knew who I meant then?
How would you feel about a 21 hour working week.
Pretty sure France answers your question.
Capitalism and the tyranny of time: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2014/10/03/capitalism-and-the-tyranny-of-time/
Whatever happened to the leisure society: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2012/04/03/whatever-happened-to-the-leisure-society/
Whoopee, we’re all gonna die. . . working: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2012/03/27/whooppee-were-all-gonna-die-working/
Phil
Everyone complains about Paul Henry. Yet I bet everyone’s watching it.
Saw part of this morning. Not too bad. More suited to radio I think. Good microphones. Need to get one of them.
“Everyone complains about Paul Henry. Yet I bet everyone’s watching it.”
So people keep saying, and yet here we are, many of us, that are not watching him. Capiche?
We made a point of only watching JC last night. Gone off Hilary Barry as well. What on earth was she thinking!?. TV1 news was ok until MHosking appeared at the end. I cannot believe that NZ is inflicted for three hours daily by that idiot that’s been kicked out of every village he’s been in. Insult to all New Zealanders.
and hosking is on radio too… Has anyone ever seen Henry and Hosking in the same roo together? And if they did, was it a circus sized tent, with just them and their egoes in it?
Weka-No he doesn’t capiche and probably never will. Don’t lose any sleepover it.
I know about a dozen who would rather eat wetas than watch PH.
No infused, I’m not watching Paul Henry. Why would I want to watch that racist, sexist gobshite?
+ 1 Exactly!!!
“I bet everyone’s watching it”
You lost, lucky you didnt have the courage to actually bet.
Nah, not me either.
Never found that blowhard entertaining, regardless of his political barrow.
What are the mics though infused? Ribbons?
No I don’t watch or listen to him.
This Emmerson cartoon is perfect.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/news-cartoons/news/article.cfm?c_id=500814&objectid=11429096
Paul- Priceless Emerson- Thanls
not watched it but from a shot in the newspaper the mic’s looks like neumann’s so prepare to part with a few $k each but you’ll not be dissapointed.
Or could be mocked up neumanns with shure’s or something else inside doing the actual work….overkill at it’s just Talking heads TV not a concerto performance etc.
“Yet I bet everyone’s watching it.”
Go see Fizzy then, s/he might still be spruiking his/her favourite Internet gambling site.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/property/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503451&objectid=11428814
Once again Bob Jones (votes Labour more then he votes National) has come up with the solution
National seem a bit stupid about this so heres an opportunity for Little but will he take it…
It’s a good idea especially if every time the government sold a house they built a new one.
Heres a bombshell, if Little announced this (or something basically the same) I’d probably end up voting Labour
This is probably the cheapest, easiest to understand, simplest to implement idea that would lift more kiwis out of renting into home ownership and is something that would have broad support over the entire political spectrum
The only problem is how to make it affordable to the average hnz tenant and how to stop some of them selling up at a future date and ending up back on a waiting list.
Thats the big question isn’t it, Littles full of hot air over small businesses but heres a good chance to show what Labour can do
Expect Little/ Labour to announce something along these lines tomorrow at their Housing forum in Auckland. Of course National will be cursing having to consider such an idea, their property speculator mates want the thick end of the wedge not the skinny end.
Given Jones is good mates with Mallard why the fuck hasn’t Trev pushed this through to the policy team.
The only party more dysfunctional than National would be Labour or is it more likely that Labour (like National) is out of touch with what NZ wants?
what does that mean “votes Labour more than National”?
He votes Labour more often then he votes National which is interesting dont you think
That’s because property tycoons like Jones do far better under a Labour Government than a Tory outfit. A lot of blue ribbon Aucklanders are very annoyed the foreign invasion of rich are picking the cream out of Auckland and beach property.
I actually heard a Key cheerleader, a bigger cheerleader than Fissy ( actually not quite) speaking fondly of Peters in this regards, when I asked but would you vote for him? Answer absolutely if Key doesn’t cut foreign ownership. So there ya go the love affair is over.
I will never vote Winston (I just can’t) and thats the only major party I can confidently say that about however if some other party was to take on board some of his policies then who knows…
Interestingly, when Herald (I think it was them) did that voting thing pre election where you looked at policy questions and it decided which party fit your needs), I know many who fit NZF but still voted for National. Also Nats and Labs were closer in percentages for many of them but NZF was best fit.
Its not the policies, its the man. I just can’t vote for him, when he leaves and someone else takes over (Shane Jones, Ron Mark maybe) maybe I can have a look at NZFirst.
I understand that.
It shows how important personality has become for voters, over policy. My post above suggests some vote against their own interests cos its Winston.
I agree with you.
At the moment Winston is the darling of the left because hes sticking it John Key yet hes now the defacto leader of the opposition and no one on the left seem to realise it but once he starts dictating to Key and Little…
Or does anyone here think Winston will be dictated to by someone that can’t win an electorate seat?
I vote based on policy and what I know about integrity of candidates likely to get in.
Exactly its about the integrity and on that Winston fails, I simply cannot trust the man as everything he does is to ultimately benefit himself and any benefits to NZ are simply a happy coincidence
Wow… when did you begin to dislike him?
It just really bugs me that Winston can say anything he likes and no one in the media will try to call him on it, he hints about certain things and could use parliamentary priviledge to do so but won’t…but just enough insinuation to get the point across
Seriously people on here think John Key is teflon, Keys teflon is nothing compared to Winston
He got the winebox right and hes dined out on it ever since but racing interests, fishing interests…oh no we won’t mention that
No means No except when its yes of course
Grrr rant over
(I do admire his political skill though)
“Seriously people on here think John Key is teflon, Keys teflon is nothing compared to Winston”
Interesting. I wonder how long a Blip list would be on Winston.
So you won’t vote for Winston because integrity and fishing interests, but Shane Jones might be your guy.
It’s because of shite like this, PR Hack, that no-one should ever take anything you write here seriously at all.
A couple of elections ago there was an online “quiz” the result of which would indicate which party suited.
I answered every question with the very opposite of what I believed in. The result was that apparently NZF would be best for me. Aha!
hehehehehe
I did one of those…got United Future
Seems accurate. You’re vacuous, petty, transparently selfish and generally lacking character.
The wife who is a died in the wool green voter gets act on vote compass it gives me hours of entertainment
NZF are in a good head space after the forgotten regional/rural win in Northland. Expect Peters NZF to mop up plenty more votes there.
For National it is a now a problematic issue trying to win back rural support. The increasing slide in milk powder prices won’t be helping. Add the wary eyes of the public and other political party’s to pork barrel politics and winning back the vote look a tough ask.
The big city’s will probably keep them in the game especially Auckland, however as explained the traditional Auckland blue ribbon voters are feeling aggrieved by foreigners buying our cream land pickings is the worry. I will add the big block land owners who don’t like the Nat’s considering forced freeing up of their golden egg.
Based on what? His word and that he voted for Labour when? Which period of time (cos that is important if you are claiming some kind of ideological curiosity)?
Why would he lie?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11317510
“When I wrote recently that this election was done and dusted, a storm of protest erupted on the New Zealand Herald’s website from Labour’s deeply unattractive, rabid tribalists.
Abuse aside, the common theme was that I’m a die-hard National supporter. That gave great amusement given that I last voted National in 1981. Excepting the New Zealand Party in 1984 and later Act twice, I’ve voted Labour ever since.”
I didn’t say he would lie. I was asking. I don’t hang on his every word so just wanted more information.
Cool, so the Last 10 elections he has voted ACT twice and LP 8 times.
I liked his party’s demob the military… get rid entirely policy.
Getting rid of the military would have to be one of the dumbest ideas ever, it proves that someone smart in one area doesn’t mean they’re smart in others
Maybe, but re-read the thinking behind it…
BTW way John Key proves that (the smart in one thing (currency trading) but stupid in others)
I am sure he said prior to the 2014 election he was giving Trevor his candidate vote and National his party vote.
Edit yes it says in the NZH link.
ok. so out of the elections from 1987 on, he has voted ACT twice, National once and LP
I reckon it’s like this:
NZParty 84 (himself),
Labour 87, 90, and 93 (in the depths of their neolib bullshit),
ACT 96 and 99 (more neolib bullshit),
National and Trevor Mallard (his mate) ever since.
And ‘cos he’s old school he counts his electorate vote for Trev as “Voting Labour”
my sense too felix… he has glossed over the intricacies of MMP. being wellington central he would have voted prebble?
If he voted for Mallard he can’t be in Wellington Central.
Jones also donated $6000 of the $11,000 Mallard received as donations to his 2014 election campaign.
http://www.elections.org.nz/sites/default/files/candidate_returns/2014cr-mallpdfardt.
Jones, for all his wealth and temperament etc, has never forgotten his roots and upbringing in a poor working class family in Naenae, Lower Hutt (state house IIRC) – unlike a certain Mr Key.
Some bits about his family in this 2007 Stuff article about his relationship with his much younger brother, Lloyd Jones.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/…/Bob-and-Lloyd-Jones
A bit more family background in this 2013 article about Lloyd Jones’ family memoir book “A History of Silence”.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/…/Lloyd-Jones-talks-about-family-memoir
Thanks veutoviper. Much appreciated.
I assume one of his votes for Labour would have been 1987, he would have loved Roger Douglas implementing the New Zealand Party’s policies from 1984.
Even a broken watch is right twice a day.
Home ownership is the best way out of poverty when you look at.
Think Sydney’s expensive? Try Auckland.
Don’t think there’s too much to say about that.
Time to gird our loins (again) to save yet more of our trees from petty officialdom.
http://jury.co.nz/2015/04/07/taonga-the-yellow-pohutukawa-on-the-waitara-river-bank/
With the concerted comments regarding allowing the freeing up of Easter Trading laws I ask Has not the protection of the work force been eroded enough ?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11429095
we also have Larry Williams (Wine) & Mike Hoskin (Eating Out) being caught out and having THEIR lifestyles inconvenienced. So it is ok for everyone to have their work places closed to observe the holiday but Not Retail.
How long have these and other commentators lived in NZ ? And leading the discussion from an informed position ?? and yet are caught out by having the shops close down for 3&1/2 days per year.
Should there be a change in the law to allow retail to operate, why halt at easter why not remove the protection from all of the 3 &1/2 days that the shops are compelled to be closed?
Perhaps we should expect the proponents of change to also work their normal hours on these days and for the MP’s to open their electorate offices?
I for one appreciated have the family all together, and the shops were open the following day and no one in my family suffered from this.
Question
Are AT (Auckland transport) designed to kill off public transport?
When they took over in 2012 fairs were $1.80 for one zone for an adult. As of now they are $2.50 per adult. That is just under a 40% price hike in just 3 years. Let me repeat that – a almost 40% hike in fare prices in just 3 years. How can they justify that. When we are the people funding the system in the first place?
AT = Auckland Traitors?
AT = Auckland Twits?
AT = Auckland truning people of public transport since 2012.
No wonder the figure are not climbing and the kids are jumping on the trains and not paying fares. This is a joke.
When the average pay packet barely went up 3%, how the hell can a AT justify a 40% price increase.
AT needs to be disbanded, and everyone who works for them needs to be fired. This is unacceptable. Private companies bleeding the public for profit.
Hi Adam,
Went to a Generation Zero workshop a couple of years ago. Matt from Transport Blog was there along with a councillor talking about public transport during one of the sessions.
In the discussion, someone brought up the cost of public transport putting people off from using it. To my surprise both Matt and the councillor, along with an AT rep all said that studies have proven that reducing the cost does not make a difference to usage.
An intrepid member of the audience disagreed, but they dismissed any notion that this could be the case. In our case, the cost for my family to travel into town by train/bus is prohibitive – around $60 one way. Compared to the cost of taking our hybrid in, and parking in Aotea Centre for $11 we have to be running flush on our budget to use public transport option. We do use it when one of us is travelling alone, but I don’t think it is a consideration that is being made by AT.
Also, given that automatic ticketing is something that has happened for decades overseas they seem to have made a hash of the AT Hop service. Student fares are not included on the display (you are supposed to know to choose child) and Hop cards are only available from a couple of stations. A debacle.
Hi Molly,
I wonder how they would feel about what has happened in Adelaide – with most fares being a gold coin. My guess is they were selective in their studies, and the studies are asking the wrong questions, or looking for specific monetarist based results.
My favourite is – it costs more, to catch public transport into Auckland City – than it costs to catch a bus to Whangarei – Or Taupo – Or Rotorua. That is a sick joke being played on Auckland rate payers. The whole charging kids fares – when the over 65’s pay nothing – I find a very cruel joke as well.
The automatic ticket is a massive disaster – I was on a train when a women’s card was not reading properly – and the ticket inspectors called her all names under the sun. They accused her of manipulating with the card. Then they called her a thief. I intervened, and ask them for there names whilst pulling out a pen and paper – they ran for the next coach.
I’ve also seen them throw teenagers off the train for not tagging on – when they should just provide the service on the train. Like a ticket machine – or better yet a ticket seller. I’ve also witness a women being threatened with physical violence, because she was one stop over her ticket. (still within zone mind) I reported that one.
AT is a disaster – Pathetic, incompetent and danger to public transport.
Private (and public) companies bleeding the public for profit. Pack of crooks the lot of them.
https://at.govt.nz/media/1043070/nzta-internet-contract-award.pdf
Is there a watchdog in place to monitor currency trading?
With the fluctuations over the past few weeks, presumably the trading
floors have been busy.
Do we know which institutions / private individuals who might be making “killings” as a result?
Are there money traders who make lots of money these days?
Is there a registry?
Are MPs required to declare interests in this area?