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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A few weeks ago I took a look at public transport ridership in 2024. In today’s post I’m going to be looking a bit deeper at bus ridership. Buses make up the vast majority of ridership in Auckland with 70 million boardings last year out of a total of 89.4 ...
Oh, you know I did itIt's over and I feel fineNothing you could say is gonna change my mindWaited and I waited the longest nightNothing like the taste of sweet declineSongwriters: Chris Shiflett / David Eric Grohl / Nate Mendel / Taylor Hawkins.Hindsight is good, eh?The clarity when the pieces ...
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 16 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 10The Kākā’s weekly wrap-up of news about politics and the economy is due at midday, followed by webinar for paying subscribers in Substack’s ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, February 2, 2025 thru Sat, February 8, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
Today, I stumbled across a Twitter Meme: the ending of The Lord of the Rings as a Chess scenario: https://x.com/mellon_heads/status/1887983845917564991 It gets across the basic gist. Aragorn and Gandalf offering up ‘material’ at the Morannon allows Frodo and Samwise to catch Sauron unawares – fair enough. But there are a ...
Last week, Kieran McAnulty called out Chris Bishop and Nicola Willis for their claims that Kāinga Ora’s costs were too high.They had claimed Kāinga Ora’s cost were 12% higher than market i.e. private devlopersBut Kāinga Ora’s Chair had already explained why last year:"We're not building to sell, so we'll be ...
Stuff’s Political Editor Luke Malpass - A Fellow at New Zealand IniativeLast week I half-joked that Stuff / The Post’s Luke Malpass1 always sounded like he was auditioning for a job at the New Zealand Initiative.Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. For a limited time, subscriptions are 20% off. Thanks ...
At a funeral on Friday, there were A4-sized photos covering every wall of the Dil’s reception lounge. There must have been 200 of them, telling the story in the usual way of the video reel but also, by enlargement, making it more possible to linger and step in.Our friend Nicky ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is methane the ...
The Government’s idea is that the private sector and Community Housing Providers will fund, build and operate new affordable housing to address our housing crisis. Meanwhile, the Government does not know where almost half of the 1,700 children who left emergency housing actually went. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong ...
Oh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youOh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youSongwriters: Alexander Ebert / Jade Allyson CastrinosMorena,I’m on a tight time frame this morning. In about an hour and a half, I’ll need to pack up and hit the road ...
This is a post about the Mountain Tui substack, and small tweaks - further to the poll and request post the other day. Please don’t read if you aren’t interested in my personal matters. Thank you all.After oohing-and-aahing about how to structure the Substack model since November, including obtaining ...
This transcript of a recent conversation between the Prime Minister and his chief economic adviser has not been verified.We’ve announced we are the ‘Yes Government’. Do you like it?Yes, Prime Minister.Dreamed up by the PR team. It’s about being committed to growth. Not that the PR team know anything about ...
The other day, Australian Senator Nick McKim issued a warning in the Australian Parliement about the US’s descent into fascim.And of course it’s true, but I lament - that was true as soon as Trump won.What we see is now simply the reification of the intention, planning, and forces behind ...
Among the many other problems associated with Musk/DOGE sending a fleet of teenage and twenty-something cultists to remove, copy and appropriate federal records like social security, medicaid and other supposedly protected data is the fact that the youngsters doing the data-removal, copying and security protocol and filter code over-writing have ...
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tuneBird fly high by the light of the moonOh, oh, oh, JokermanSong by Bob Dylan.Morena folks, I hope this fine morning of the 7th of February finds you well. We're still close to Paihia, just a short drive out of town. Below is the view ...
It’s been an eventful week as always, so here’s a few things that we have found interesting. We also hope everyone had a happy and relaxing Waitangi Day! This week in Greater Auckland We’re still running on summer time, but provided two chewy posts: On Tuesday, a guest ...
Queuing on Queen St: the Government is set to announce another apparently splashy growth policy on Sunday of offering residence visas to wealthy migrants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, February 7:PM Christopher ...
The fact that Waitangi ended up being such a low-key affair may mark it out as one of the most significant Waitangi Days in recent years. A group of women draped in “Toitu Te Tiriti” banners who turned their backs on the politicians’ powhiri was about as rough as it ...
National’s cuts to disability support funding and freezing of new residential placements has resulted in significant mental health decline for intellectually disabled people. ...
The hundreds of jobs lost needlessly as a result of the Kinleith Mill paper production closure will have a devastating impact on the Tokoroa community - something that could have easily been avoided. ...
Today Te Pāti Māori MP for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, released her members bill that will see the return of tamariki and mokopuna Māori from state care back to te iwi Māori. This bill will establish an independent authority that asserts and protects the rights promised in He Whakaputanga ...
The Whangarei District Council being forced to fluoridate their local water supply is facing a despotic Soviet-era disgrace. This is not a matter of being pro-fluoride or anti-fluoride. It is a matter of what New Zealanders see and value as democracy in our country. Individual democratically elected Councillors are not ...
Nicola Willis’ latest supermarket announcement is painfully weak with no new ideas, no real plan, and no relief for Kiwis struggling with rising grocery costs. ...
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific presenter/Bulletin editor Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark maintains that Cook Islands, a realm of New Zealand, should have consulted Wellington before signing a “partnership” deal with China. “[Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown] seems to have signed behind the backs of his own ...
COMMENTARY:By Saige England Mediawatch on RNZ today strongly criticised Stuff and YouTube among other media for using Israeli propaganda’s “Outbrain” service. Outbrain is a company founded by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) military and its technology can be tracked back to a wealthy entrepreneur, which in this case could ...
Luxon said protesters linked to Destiny Church "went too far" by disrupting Pride events in Auckland, while church leader Brian Tamaki said he told protesters, "I want you to storm the library they're in." ...
Hundreds of engineers are losing their jobs and leaving our shores due to infrastructure project delays, creating "significant" risk to our nation's development, says the head of New Zealand's engineering body. ...
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says the deal with China “complements, not replaces” the relationship with New Zealand after signing it yesterday. Brown said “The Action Plan for Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) 2025-2030” provides a structured framework for engagement between the Cook Islands ...
The government should not set military style academies into youth justice law, the children's commissioner says, despite its first bootcamp getting a glowing report. ...
The infamous over-the-suit T-shirt worn by the PM at a Parliament barbecue has gone on sale to raise funds for children living in poverty, in a TradeMe auction. ...
MONDAYSheriff Seymour rode slowly down the main street of Dodge on his faithful white horse Atlas Network.He liked what he saw.Children were being fed free lunches prepared by kind people who collected the scraps from an offal rendering plant.“Very strongly flavoured liver, such as ox liver, can be soaked overnight ...
Once upon a time it was all about being an astronaut, a firefighter or doctor; but these days kids have their sights set on becoming vloggers or YouTubers.That’s according to a 2019 study by Lego that surveyed 3000 children between the ages of eight to 12 from the US, the ...
Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was. From the moment I started high school and realised almost every other girl in my year was at least partially interested in what the boys were up to, I realised that I would be single for life. The feeling wasn’t one of ...
The Pacific profiles series shines a light on Pacific people in Aotearoa doing interesting and important work in their communities, as nominated by members of the public. Today, Selina Alesana Alefosio.All photos by Geoffery Matautia.On a bright Sunday morning from her grandparent’s home in Pito-one, I spoke with ...
The White Lotus star reflects on her life in TV, including the local ad reference that doesn’t work in Australia, and her bananas co-star on Neighbours.Morgana O’Reilly was scrolling her phone next to her sleeping son on an idle Saturday morning when she got the call confirming that she ...
Claire Mabey explores the pros and cons of puff quotes on book covers.In January, Publishers Weekly put out an article by Sean Manning – publisher of Simon & Schuster’s flagship US imprint – in which he said he’d “no longer require authors to obtain blurbs for their books”.The ...
New Zealand’s Entomological Society is hosting its annual bug of the year contest. Here are some of the insects in the running. For some reason – perhaps humans’ inherent competitiveness, the idealisation of democracy, the need to demarcate winners and losers – one of the best ways to get people ...
A journey along the border, with words and illustrations by Bob Kerr.The Spinoff Essay showcases the best essayists in Aotearoa, on topics big and small. Made possible by the generous support of our members.The Sunset Limited leaves Union Station New Orleans on time at nine in the morning. We ...
Neville Peat is the 2024 recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in nonfiction. He’s written 56 books, mostly on natural history; this excerpt is from The Falcon and the Lark: A New Zealand High Country Journal, first published in 1992. The falcon wintering on the Rock and ...
It was a light-hearted gesture Greta Pilkington will be forever grateful for – thanks to an Aussie rival who jumped in when the Olympic sailor couldn’t be at her own graduation.Pilkington, then 20, had been leading a double life – while qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the ILCA ...
I was born in the back of my grandfather’s ute, by an overgrown windbreak in a remote place called Wahi-Rakauyou can’t find on a map. I was born a girl but given the man’s name Harvey, as my dad always wanted a violent-minded boy to one day help him ...
“We’re not here to interfere in people’s property rights,” Ngāi Tahu’s Te Maire Tau has told the High Court.Tau, a historian, Upoko (traditional leader) of Ngāi Tūāhuriri, and a university professor of history, is the lead witness in a case designed to force the Crown to recognise the tribe’s rangatiratanga ...
Pacific Media Watch Trump administration officials barred two Associated Press (AP) reporters from covering White House events this week because the US-based independent news agency did not change its style guide to align with the president’s political agenda. The AP is being punished for using the term “Gulf of Mexico,” ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific Presenter/Bulletin editor France’s top diplomat in the Pacific region says talks around the “unfreezing” of New Caledonia’s highly controversial electoral roll are back on the table. The French government intended to make a constitutional amendment that would lift restrictions prescribed under the Nouméa Accord, which ...
By bringing these global voices to the fight for free expression in New Zealand, we’ll continue to protect and expand our culture of free speech, says Nathan Seiuli, the Free Speech Union's Events Manager. ...
The issue is no longer a hypothetical one. US President Donald Trump will not explicitly suggest death camps, but he has already consented to Israel’s continuing a war that is not a war but rather a barbaric assault on a desolate stretch of land. From there, the road to annihilation is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cecelia Cmielewski, Research Fellow, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University To be selected as the artist and curator team to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale is considered the ultimate exhibition for an artistic team. To have your selection rescinded, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steve Turton, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Geography, CQUniversity Australia Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia is bearing down on the northwest coast of Australia and is likely to make landfall early Friday evening. It’s a monster storm of great concern to Western Australia. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danielle Ireland-Piper, Associate Professor, ANU National Security College, Australian National University A Victorian government decision to allow dingo culling in the state’s east until 2028 has reignited debate over what has been dubbed Australia’s most controversial animal. Animals Australia, an animal welfare ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University Overnight, Robert F. Kennedy Jr was confirmed as the secretary of the US Health and Human Services Department. Put simply, this makes him the most influential figure in overseeing the health and wellbeing of more ...
Everything you missed from day five of the Treaty principles bill hearings, when the Justice Committee heard eight hours of submissions.Read our recaps of the previous hearings here.It was another work from home day for the Justice Committee, the only people in Room 3 being security guards, committee ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne Juris Teivans/Shutterstock In Australia, fatal road crashes are climbing again, especially since the pandemic, and despite years of attempts to reduce road trauma, the numbers ...
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?