“Ms Curran said the decision to source couplers overseas showed Government procurement rules released by Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce in April, and which take effect on October 1, was a ”complete sham, delivering no real benefits”.
“Dunedin North MP David Clark said the Government’s procurement policy was just ”window dressing” and should take into account the ”whole-of-economy costs”, which included the extra tax paid by having people employed in New Zealand. ”
Don’t often find myself in complete agreement with both Dunedin Labour MPs on an issue, so thought I’d acknowledge that here. This is how NACT deal with our unemployment and manufacturing crises:
“Bradken [the multinational that leases Hillside] had missed on a contract to supply couplers for KiwiRail’s older wagon fleet, resulting in 64 staff moving to a four-day week”
Even the mislead youth from his own party opposes the GCSB bill, and what does Banksie do?
He says, “They are misinformed, they don’t know what I know because if they knew, they would know.”:-D
Time to give the old man a kick up the backside, Act. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/act-campus-opposes-spy-bills-ck-143916
They (ACT on Campus) kicked Botox Banks’ arse over marriage equality…….why when it comes to the spy bills do they take this confused crap (“because if they knew they would know….”), from this screechy caricature of a man ?
It wasn’t just any terrorist message that triggered U.S. terror alerts and embassy closures—but a conference call of more than 20 far-flung al Qaeda operatives
The intercept provided the U.S. intelligence community with a rare glimpse into how al Qaeda’s leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, manages a global organization that includes affiliates in Africa, the Middle East, and southwest and southeast Asia.
The conference call reference is ridiculous – 083033 – Telecom meet me conference facility, dial in, please enter your pin code – You have been joined to the conference!
Just like regular office folk, this lot!
It’s as if the story tellers are not even trying to sound serious!
Well spotted McFlock, which is why I have not used that particular link, as it refers to taking out the supposed next in line…
This is what you want to read, and the Sibel Edmonds links.
In interviews with this author in early March, Edmonds claimed that Ayman al-Zawahiri, current head of al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden’s deputy at the time, had innumerable, regular meetings at the U.S. embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan, with U.S. military and intelligence officials between 1997 and 2001, as part of an operation known as ‘Gladio B’. Al-Zawahiri, she charged, as well as various members of the bin Laden family and other mujahideen, were transported on NATO planes to various parts of Central Asia and the Balkans to participate in Pentagon-backed destabilisation operations http://www.legitgov.org/CLG-Al-Zawahri-back-dead-issuing-new-al-Qaeda-terror-threats
Um – where did the US say that Zawahiri was dead? Injured and “possibly” dead after a strike, sure, but they never said he was definitely dead (unlike Bin Laden). Just they it seemed they’d seriously injured him and he might have been killed (obviously, he recovered from his injuries).
Which makes me look sceptically on any “news” story that says he’s “back from the dead”. It seems to be distorting original statements from the US in order to further an agenda. So what else might they have distorted, I wonder?
A whistleblower has revealed extraordinary information on the U.S. government’s support for international terrorist networks and organised crime. The government has denied the allegations yet gone to extraordinary lengths to silence her. Her critics have derided her as a fabulist and fabricator. But now comes word that some of her most serious allegations were confirmed by a major European newspaper only to be squashed at the request of the U.S. government.
thx Muzza .. what mind-exploding details ! I am amazed Sibel Edmonds has managed to stay alive as US have been trying to silence her for years. Brave and smart woman .. what a story. Long may she remain safe.
My default setting is to be cautious about so called whistle blowers, especially those who manage to stay alive, when there are so many that have been disappeared!
Gotta keep some faith though, because not everyone wants to die sitting back with the information they have, without taking it public.
The question is though, can enough people such as this, light a big enough fire under the sheep, before the technological grid becomes unbreakable, permanently!
“We went looking for the effects of cocaine,” Hurt said. But after a time “we began to ask, ‘Was there something else going on?’ ”
While the cocaine-exposed children and a group of nonexposed controls performed about the same on tests, both groups lagged on developmental and intellectual measures compared to the norm. Hurt and her team began to think the “something else” was poverty
Everything is suspicious if you look at it properly, everyone has secrets, no one is without guilt. It’s just we have to work out what it is that they are guilty off.
For one of the worlds biggest companies .
Using funds for the sale assets to prop up failing policy how much more is the govt going to bribe kiwis to part with what they already own.
Chris Trotter on the upcoming Labour Party conference, and issues likely to arise. He talks about the conflict between caucus and the rank and file, and possible outcomes. Also the party policy platform proposed by the rank and file that will be voted on as binding at the conference, and the problems this presents given the caucus doesn’t support this direction.
Labour believes that social justice means that all people should have equal access to social, economic, cultural, political, and legal spheres regardless of wealth, gender, ethnicity, or social position. Labour says that no matter the circumstances of our birth, we are each accorded equal opportunity to achieve our full potential in life. We believe in more than just equal opportunities—we believe in equality of outcomes.
Labour promises more funding for Plunket. Smart move. As organisations go in NZ, it’s doubtful you could point to one more trusted. Opposing this wouldn’t be tenable. But we might see National gazumping the pledge in next year’s budget.
Hey, if sight testing is all that’s required I think John Key is on drugs and should stand down. His skin is grey, he looks tired and there’s even memory lapses to back up my visual assessment.
I’m assuming she means illegal drugs and self-prescribed off-label use of pharmaceuticals, not alcohol or anti-depressants etc.
Mrs Walker challenged Mr Clendon to do what she did and said it was her right to determine recipients of food parcels.
“We struggled to get our money and we have a right to say who gets it and who doesn’t. Who the hell does he think he is? Will he come up here and help us get enough money to feed everyone?”
That is really fucking evil. So poor drug users are now fourth class citizens, even worse than beneficiaries. Why not just brand them and be done with it?
One look at her photo illustrates the old maxim “There’s nowt as cold as charity.” I sort of almost feel sorry for her, because she’s probably had very little joy in her life. She’s the embodiment of the Presbyterians that Billy Connolly jokes about, who can turn their mouths into assholes at will.
On the radio news – NZ is the only country in the OECD that does not produce an annual report on the condition of its environment? Did I hear that right – surely I misheard.
Yes, that’s true. The official reporting on the state of our environment has never been great and Labour have been as bad as National Ltd™ in this regard. The Ministry of the Environment was created under David Lange in 1986. Eventually, the Ministry was charged with providing a regular “state of the environment” report, the first published in December 2007. In the lead up to the 2012 report, the Ministry issued a discussion paper backgrounding the need for legislation to be introduced specifically to require the production of such reports to bring New Zealand into line with other OECD countries. In the forward to that report, the then Minister for the Environment, Nick Smith, said . . .
New Zealanders are quite rightly proud of our environment. In most areas our environment and the systems to protect it compare very well internationally. Our high quality agricultural exports and our lucrative tourist industry rely on these environmental credentials. The problem is that we are in a poor position to provide hard evidence that our clean, green brand is justified. New Zealand is one of only a few OECD countries without a legislative basis for national state of the environment reporting. In Australia,Canada and many other countries, regular national state of the environment reporting is required by law . . . . . .
This proposal is a refinement of National’s 2008 election policy for a new Environmental Reporting Act requiring publicly-accessible and meaningful, national-scale information on our water, air and land. On officials’ advice, we believe we need parallel changes to the Resource Management Act 1991 to enable the collection of nationally consistent environmental statistics from local authorities . . .
There was exactly zero progress in this proposal to enshrine environmental reporting into New Zealand law. Then, sometime in late 2012, silently and without even telling its own Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, National Ltd™ cancelled the 2012 report. This fact was dragged out of Amy Adams following a question from the Greens.
Basically, National Ltd™ was watching the compilation of the 2012 report and, without shame, saw exactly how dangerous it would be if New Zealanders were to realise the egregious impact its policies were already having on the environment. What’s worse, the incoming reports noted that the exponential increase, now underway and accelerating, is already beyond any possibility of mitigation for generations to come.
Then Fonterra fucked up, then the China Mail told the world New Zealand’s 100% Pure slogan is a “festering sore” and, guess what, hey presto – suddenly, just today, National Ltd™ realises that the environment is essential to business and it had better do something about it. Well, either that or this latest announcement is just more PR bullshit.
Yep, one report was presented in 2007 and the December 2012 report was cancelled months before it was due to be released. If Nick Smith had kept to his word in that 2011 discussion document, National Ltd™ would not have been able to secretly cancel the report and, indeed, the five yearly regime.
Hmmmm . . . Having had a wee re-read of some of this material, I’m wondering now when National Ltd™ cancelled the 2012 report. Given its rip-shit-and-bust agenda, its not surprising the Ministry for the Environment was National Ltd™’s first target. It was effectively sidelined with John Key’s imitation of his US betters with the formation of the EPA – stacked full of National Ltd™ cronies, of course. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if the report was cancelled early on but we only became aware of it when the Greens chased it up????
The majority of its rivers are too polluted to swim in. Its record on preservation of natural environments is among the worst in the world on a per capita basis. And it is the only OECD country that does not produce a regular national report on its environment.
The global average sea level was at record highs last year as the Earth continues to warm, scientists say.
The 2012 State of the Climate report, published today, said last year was the eighth or ninth warmest on record, as ranked by four independent datasets.
Globally, sea level rose to 3.6cm above the average for 1993-2010, rebounding after sharp decreases in the first half of 2011 linked to the La Nina weather pattern. The level was at its highest level since satellite records started in 1993.
Across the planet as a whole, the sea level has been increasing at an average rate between 2.8mm and 3.6mm a year over the past two decades, the report said.
Looks like Obama has thrown his toys out of his cot over Putin’s decisions to grant Edward Snowden asylum, at least for the time being. A meeting between Putin and Obama has been cancelled. All this on account of someone the Pres wrote off as a 30 year old hacker of no consequence. I’d say actions speak louder than words. If only Snowden had elected to come to New Zealand, he’d be tucked up safe and sound in a US dungeon right now:
rebounding after sharp decreases in the first half of 2011 linked to the La Nina weather pattern.
Thats an incorrect statement ( or poorly posed ) MSL rises during the La Nina phase and decreases during El nino similarly during the negative phase (positive) of the inter decadal pacific oscillation
(FYI – the GCSB Bill is being debated (Committee Stage) again today).
8 August 2013
‘Open Letter’ from Auckland Mayoral candidate Penny Bright to National MP for Auckland Central Nikki Kaye – a further 385 signatures opposing the GCSB Bill:
Nikki Kaye
National MP for Auckland Central
Dear Nikki,
I attempted to fax copies of these petition forms this morning. but with limited success.
Here are scanned copies of 385 further signatures of those who signed the following petition:
To National Party Member of Parliament for Auckland Central, Nikki Kaye :
“The will of the people is the basis of the authority of Government.”
We, the undersigned, call upon YOU, as an MP, to defend the lawful human
rights of New Zealanders to privacy, freedom of association and freedom of
expression – that is – to oppose arbitrary search and surveillance by the
State over citizens.
If YOU, as an MP, vote for this GCSB Bill, which will allow widespread spying
on New Zealanders, we, the undersigned hereby PLEDGE to campaign against
your re-election in 2014, and to encourage our families, neighbours and workmates
to do the same.
Please be advised that there were only two of us, ( myself and Jacquelyne Taylor) collecting signatures yesterday, outside Auckland University, between 1 – 3.30pm, so 385 signatures is arguably a significant number in a comparatively short time, which is indicative of the public concern over this matter.
As you are no doubt aware, (and this is meant in a respectful way), the total number of signatures of people who have pledged to campaign against you (now 885) if you continue to support this GCSB Bill, is more than your winning margin of votes cast in the 2011 election?
Electorate Result Winning Candidate 2nd Place Margin
Auckland Central 100.0% KAYE, Nikki (NAT) ARDERN, Jacinda (LAB) 717
Nikki, please do not underestimate the growing concern, and numbers of citizens who do NOT agree with the State giving the power to the GCSB to spy on New Zealanders?
There were times yesterday, when people were literally queuing up to sign this petition.
Nikki, please do the decent thing, and do NOT support this GCSB Bill.
I realise that you have been very busy with the Fonterra matter, but my full response to your reply to the first 500+ signatures on this above-mentioned petition is available here:
Hopefully, you will have found time to read it, before the GCSB Bill is further debated today, because I have put some time into addressing the points you have raised, in support of this legislation.
Northish-Southish – How would that header relate to the South American flight, which fyi, is nowhere near NZ at 930am anyway, even if it was, the trail would be east-west.
That’s what I was after anyway, a local opinion, which is why posted it, as I figured you would respond.
Very little, when talking about the flight paths from from South America in context of passing over Dunedin, as they head towards their destination in Australia.
Otherwise what you say is relevant, but still your contention it needs to be overlaid against the geography of a relatively static reference point, in this case Dunedin, with the variable being the flights path. Makes it very difficult to leave a northish-southish trail, McFlock.
. Military support missions flown from Christchurch International Airport are conducted during the Antarctic summer (late September to early March) each year by USAF C-17 Globemaster III aircraft of the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command (AMC).
When was your chemtrail photographed? December?
Occam’s Razor can be a bitch.
For mine, its a c17 heading to the ice. And the height may be an optical illusion, ;a big vapour trail from a big plane. Google globemaster, image. Lots of similar shots.
@ Voice – Perhaps I didn’t make it obvious enough to McFlock – on his comment referenced below.
If I had to hazard a guess, I’d call from northish to southish.
There’s a heavy South America flight that follows that rough direction over Dunedin, and I assume the Deep Freeze aircraft do, as well.
There is no commercial flights from South America which would leave a trail on that header/direction, which was the message I was attempting to convey, McFlock went off into examples and links about military flights to Antarctica – I thought it was obvious my comments were referring to commercial flights, as they head towards their destination in Australia!
Anyway, I gave him a falcon for missing what I believed to be fairly clear in the comments that it was commercial, not military I was talking to, but I see below, he has again jumped on the military angle, McFlock, re-read the comments above fella!
@ J90 – Wrong, thus Voice, you have backed the wrong horse there, although you might well be correct about the flight, who knows. The only certainty is that it was not left by a commercial flight from South America, to anywhere!
Well you’ve just been shown that there is an airline flight route that can roughly approximate that heading, especially if winds are taken into account, even if you think that the earth is flat.
But even if there weren’t, what’s your fucking point in recycling a two and a half year old photo of the sky?
Direct effect (contrail-cirrus). Linear and spreading contrails, initially formed from exhaust water vapor and particles, constitute and additional cloud type and enhance cirrus cloud coverage. Initial contrail occurrence relies on well understood thermodynamic principles, initial contrail properties depend on soot and sulfur emissions and near-field exhaust (jet/vortex) dynamics. The spreading process of persistent contrails is controlled by wind shear and relative humidity. Contrail-cirrus are advected with the wind field over large distances, even into regions without significant air traffic. The direct effect is largest in regions without background cirrus.
I could never work out why the flights home from South America went down to the bottom of the map and then did a right turn to head back up into the Pacific and approach Dunedin from the East. Are you saying Mercator’s projection shouldn’t be taken literally?
I think there was one a few months ago that drew similar comment – that one was definitely a flight from south america. Must have been under Muzzas radar, though.
Draco, I would have given you more credit than that – Whats the name they giving those rainbow clouds, you know, the ones which never existed until recently, and which have the appearance of an oil slick?
One interesting thing about science, is that the more we learn about the world, the more stuff we discover that apparently “never happened before”, when actually it did, just no one wrote about it or noticed it.
In the case of rainbow coloured clouds, I suspect the widespread availability of coloured cameras, coupled with greater populations of people living in areas (polar regions for the first 2 above) where these things are more likely to happen than any previous time in history, leads to muzza’s mistaken claim that these clouds “never existed until recently”.
“Whats the name they giving those rainbow clouds, you know, the ones which never existed until recently, and which have the appearance of an oil slick?”
Or the appearance of light being refracted by water droplets.
It’s a contrail dissipating in the upper atmosphere.
Reminds me of the crap about flying saucers off the Kaikoura Coast in the 1970s. The Met Service made it clear what it was – lights from a group of Japanese fishing vessels at the surface being reflected by an anticyclonic inversion layer at around 1500/2000ft – but the media of the day including an overseas contingent ignored them. The truth was too boring and non sensational.
Strewth… I’m not arguing against that lot muzza but I still think it’s a contrail. Watched them forming at around 25,000 ft plus. You can’t actually see the plane but you can tell its whereabouts by the slow and regular lengthening of the contrail. That’s exactly what they look like 10 to 20 minutes after their formation.
Btw. I have to concede one point. From the photo it doesn’t look that high I must admit – 15000 ft maybe?
Hi Anne, wasn’t looking for an argument, or for you to provide one.
One of the links salient points is that very precise sets of met conditions are required, to create a trail of any sort, let alone the long, and horizon to horizon type trails, followed by a widening effect.
These types of trails required impossibly precise conditions in the troposphere, referred to as super-saturation over ice. Despite these rarified requirements, persistent trails are being recored, around the globe at ever accelerating velocity!
Have a good evening.
Edit – Just saw your BTW comment – The trail in the pics is very low, which is where the discussion about the precise met conditions requirements, comes into play. Such conditions to create so called persistent trails (super-saturation over ice), could not exist at that height, to support the trail as shown in those pics.
Hi Anne, wasn’t looking for an argument, or for you to provide one.
No, I wasn’t either. Went back to check the photo and noted it appeared unusually low. Hence the later edit. Interesting phenomenon. I wonder if a NIWA or Met Service scientist has commented.
Btw: Twaddle referred to Pop1. He’s talking through a hole in his head.
I slept one night on the beach at Kaikoura during that. My girlfriend from the time remembers seeing the lights. I don’t. She went on to become an alchemist. I am a physicist. Funny old world.
Murray O and Morrissey
Thanks for giving me the info on the book I had been looking for. You correctly named Stick out, Keep Left by Margaret Thorn as being the one I wanted. I actually went on to Abe NZ
and got it. It’s very good. Very humbling how passionate and committed she and her husband were – we owe these older people who shaped Labour so much. It would be a shame to drift back to the old system, to lose most of it, but it’s not impossible that could happen. I thought I’d put a few paragraphs in from time to time, just to keep the vision before us.
If the Government doesn’t back down on this bloody stupid only 3 snapper for non-commercial fishers they’ll be well fucked even granted labour being useless.
I’d support a cut to 8 snapper, with a closed season during spawning, and a lot more enforcement of the commercial rules. I saw a lot of rubbish when I used to go out fishing a lot, including upgrading and trawling straight through spawning grounds. One time we watched a large trawler drag its nets from just off Whangaparoa down to and through the Rakino Channel, at the height of the spawning season. We got its number and reported it to an inspector at the Orakei ramp when we got back. He was less than interested and said that, even though what they were doing was illegal, he couldn’t do anything unless we had video evidence.
I feel a bit sick after this when I see young Maori or Pasifika shown on tv for grabbing a few paua. Just like with any crime, it seems that making it big enough gets you immunity. Doing it while brown and on a small scale gets you prison.
Quite a few of my family have already been limiting the catch they take. It’s not the limiting the catch that pisses them off, it’s the fact that the commercial operations haven’t been limited as well. They’re recognising it as a move to maintain/protect commercial fishing rather than to protect the fish.
There is simply no way the personal take (‘recreational’ is a bullshit phrase) should be cut before the commercial. It’s as disgusting as mining in schedule 4.
Too many governments see the resource as only being worth something if it is being sold. That’s fucking stupid. All fishers use the resource and there is no rational reason to say that those who use it for consumption should have to pay those who use it to sell, or have their rights to it diminished in favour of those who are only seeking to turn a profit.
(It should be noted that his target of reducing unemployment to 7% is still above the 6% rate that the incomparibly evil Bill Phillips said was the ideal level to prevent inflation)
Radionz piece. Scientists up in arms. Sir Paul Callaghan left a business when he died that has a leading place in the world in lenses for telescopes? They have cancelled a contract saying that it was risky and had too tight schedules.
Can’t NZ manage to do anything right twice? Anyhow signing contracts with unreasonably short completion times is fairly frequent from what I hear. World pressure is on to be competitive. But even if you’re near the top of the industry you can’t sign up and then reneg or you get a bad name.
I remember a book about one of the first Japanese business men to start a business in industry after World War 2. Went to USA and overcome language barrier, started a whole new trend making motor scooters and went on to be a world industry. If we want to develop something else besides traditional animal husbandry and agriculture we can’t afford to be so laissez faire, which in NZ parlance is she’ll be right.
18:40 The Association of Scientists says it beggars belief that a Crown agency has
pulled the plug on a multimillion dollar international contract for telescope lenses.
That makes me sick to my stomach, Rt. We have some of the world’s best optical scientists, most of whom are working overseas because of the tall poppy syndrome, among other reasons. These guys have identified a market and are playing to their strengths, only to have some politically appointed seat warmers sabotage it for them. There is only so much people will accept in their careers before they take the opportunities available overseas. And then the country is left with the million dollar executives of Fonterra ballsing up one of the few things the government will back, or Shane Jones and his slave fisheries getting us locked out of other markets. Why are those who rule over us so bloody hopeless?
Murray O
(See my recent comment to you.
Why do these jerks… I think the Peter Principle. And being good talkers. We seem to be mesmerised by good talkers. I think many of us are a little inarticulate and I have noticed that we can be galvanised by someone with vitality, confidence and a loud voice.. Into the valley ..ride the 4 million!
And seat warmers. There is some sort of reserved place in employment heaven that chaps and busy business ladies get to and it takes a lot of bad karma for them to get taken down a peg or two.
I remember getting this feeling when Jim Salinger got his hand slapped and I didn’t think for anything important except for giving an opinion free on ‘the possible weather’ which was no longer okay because it was all to be charged for. Run by a seat warmer.
But of course there is this generic management idea. As if each type of business hasn’t its own set of strengths and problems and it helps to have some depth of experience in the field you are managing. My favourite is putting a manager into the social welfare who used to manage a seaport. He probably wished he could put them all on a Slow Boat to China.
Callaghan Innovation – a Crown entity that manages a $140-million-a-year portfolio of government funding and grants – has stopped its subsidiary, Kiwistar, from signing a $2.4 million contract with the Australian Astronomical Observatory to develop the lenses.
Stopped from signing, not cancelling/breaking the contract.
Oxymoron anyone think?
Minister and mayor say approvals for mine taking too long ( 3′ 17″ )
18:12 The Conservation Minister and the Buller District mayor say it’s taking too long
for a West Coast open cast coal mine to get the all clear from authorities.
Conditional go-ahead for Denniston Plateau mine ( 4′ 47″ )
17:46 Bathurst Resources expects to be coal mining on the Denniston Plateau by the
end of the year after winning conditional go-ahead from the Environment Court.
These senior managers and owners, after all, are earning record profits while choosing to pay their employees so little in many cases that the employees have to live in poverty.
And the senior managers and owners add insult to injury by blaming the employees for this: “If they want to get paid more, they should start their own company. Or get a better job.”
It is no mystery why America’s senior managers and owners describe the decision to pay employees as little as possible as a “law of capitalism” — because doing this masks the fact that they are making a choice.
But paying employees so little that they must live in poverty is not a law of capitalism.
It’s a choice.
The greed of the few is destroying even the consumerist economy that the politicians and the economists have lauded for the last few decades.
Took me right to the bottom of that article to find something that he did that might actually be considered beneficent. Most of it just went on about his sporting achievements which is, IMO, rather mundane.
Sheesh Karol, that’s off the planet ……………… and shows everything that’s wrong with leftwing mainstream values – land rights for gay whales. No wonder commentary from the right lampoons your way of viewing the world and your way of lumping everybody’s choice of life together. Get a life.
Actually, you show everything that’s wrong with mainstream values – always looking to sporting heroes, which is what got him the MSM attention, and most of the coverage in the article as DTB says.
Anyone who is doing these things, as mentioned ny joe90:
clean water projects, anti-malaria work, vaccination projects, tsunami aid, earthquake aid in the west of the Indonesian archipelago
Yep. Doing things of value.
But there’s a lot of people doing such things who never get MSM attention – so not so much a great Kiwi hero, as a Kiwi showing some good citizenship.
Sports man, P3 navigator, family man, artisan, innovator, employer, clean water projects, anti-malaria work, vaccination projects, tsunami aid, earthquake aid in the west of the Indonesian archipelago so yeah, nothing actually of social value, or to benefit the common good.
/
Thanks joe90, I was only aware of some of those things. But yep, add those things you have listed together with his surfing and the way he went about life and you get a true New Zealand hero, in the sense I meant (tho didn’t explain perhaps).
He was someone I looked up to – surf-wise and life-wise
The only things he was mentioned for in the article was his surfing and the fact that he made better surfboards. Most people reading that article would have have NFI who he was and so, by reading that article, would have the understanding that he became a “hero” for surfing. Nothing, IMO, good enough to get a mention in a newspaper article.
“Nothing, IMO, good enough to get a mention in a newspaper article”
Draco, you are not thinking. Most people would imagine that reaching the top position not just nationally but internationally (and which no other New Zealanders ever had before in this realm) in their chosen ‘sport’ is entirely good enough to get a mention in a newspaper article. Don’t you think that would be why newspapers do it? Because that is what the most people want to read? Your opinion may well be that that is not good enough for a newspaper mention – few would agree with you.
The hero piece was clearly my opinion. Heroism is, again if you think about it, subjective. You will note that the original post did not hype it up – I kept it simple and short, in keeping. There are a lot of people I consider my heroes, for many different reasons and in many realms. Some are business heroes, some are good people heroes, some are save the world heroes, ….
It seems that you and Karol save hero status for only the very most exceptional of people.
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Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
The Prime Minister has committed to resuming direct flights to Thailand. But it’s not a promise he will be able to deliver on anytime soon. The post Prime Minister jumps the gun in Thailand appeared first on Newsroom. ...
It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
FICTION 1 Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) There’s commercial fiction, like this book, and then there’s quality fiction, quality writers, quality literature; the forthcoming Auckland Writers Festival is full of quality, and ReadingRoom has two tickets to give away to the following events: Paul Lynch (Dublin ...
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You can’t have missed the Gallipoli story as the movies, documentaries, essays and books capture what it was like for New Zealand troops in their eight-month campaign on the Peninsula. But this Anzac Day the Auckland War Memorial Museum has published a book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the free-for-all between the Australian government and Big Tech boss Elon Musk this week, the government had to be on a winner. Most people would have little sympathy with Musk’s vociferous opposition to ...
Asia Pacific Report Chief Mandla Mandela, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has joined the Freedom Flotilla in istanbul as the ships prepare to sail for Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. Mandela is also the ambassador for the Global Campaign to Return to ...
Pacific Media Watch Journalists who report on environmental issues are encountering growing difficulties in many parts of the world, reports Reporters Without Borders. According to the tally kept by RSF, 200 journalists have been subjected to threats and physical violence, including murder, in the past 10 years because they were ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in ...
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ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Pōneke based peace activists staged a silent protest at the ANZAC day service to highlight New Zealand’s complicity in war and genocide, and urge the government to take concrete steps to stop the genocide in Palestine. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Until this month, Auckland swimmer Hazel Ouwehand had never met a qualifying time in an Olympic event for a New Zealand team, even as a junior. Now she’s very likely off to the Paris Olympics after swimming well under the qualifying standard in the 100m butterfly twice – both in ...
While Anzac Day has experienced a resurgence in recent years, our other day of remembrance has slowly faded from view.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Hope McConnell.First published in 2022.The high school’s head girl and ...
Australian and New Zealand volunteers fought together in the Waikato War, yet still its place in the Anzac tradition is unacknowledged by our defence forces or Returned Services Association.First published in 2018.When I was a boy cub I attended Anzac Day services in the South Auckland suburb of ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
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Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
“Ms Curran said the decision to source couplers overseas showed Government procurement rules released by Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce in April, and which take effect on October 1, was a ”complete sham, delivering no real benefits”.
“Dunedin North MP David Clark said the Government’s procurement policy was just ”window dressing” and should take into account the ”whole-of-economy costs”, which included the extra tax paid by having people employed in New Zealand. ”
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/267903/rail-contract-shows-policy-be-sham
Don’t often find myself in complete agreement with both Dunedin Labour MPs on an issue, so thought I’d acknowledge that here. This is how NACT deal with our unemployment and manufacturing crises:
“Bradken [the multinational that leases Hillside] had missed on a contract to supply couplers for KiwiRail’s older wagon fleet, resulting in 64 staff moving to a four-day week”
Even the mislead youth from his own party opposes the GCSB bill, and what does Banksie do?
He says, “They are misinformed, they don’t know what I know because if they knew, they would know.”:-D
Time to give the old man a kick up the backside, Act.
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/act-campus-opposes-spy-bills-ck-143916
They (ACT on Campus) kicked Botox Banks’ arse over marriage equality…….why when it comes to the spy bills do they take this confused crap (“because if they knew they would know….”), from this screechy caricature of a man ?
Never good to kick people who will be your sole source of on the ground volunteers at the next election.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/08/07/al-qaeda-conference-call-intercepted-by-u-s-officials-sparked-alerts.html
A dead guy manages the organization ?
And he has conference calls. American Intelligence agencies Now there’s an Oxymoron.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/08/07/al-qaeda-conference-call-intercepted-by-u-s-officials-sparked-alerts.html
And yes they do say he’s a dead un
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-13-19361-Al-Qaeda-leader-killed-in-NWA-drone-strike
The conference call reference is ridiculous – 083033 – Telecom meet me conference facility, dial in, please enter your pin code – You have been joined to the conference!
Just like regular office folk, this lot!
It’s as if the story tellers are not even trying to sound serious!
That’s about the death of Abu Zaid, not Zawahiri.
Well spotted McFlock, which is why I have not used that particular link, as it refers to taking out the supposed next in line…
This is what you want to read, and the Sibel Edmonds links.
Um – where did the US say that Zawahiri was dead? Injured and “possibly” dead after a strike, sure, but they never said he was definitely dead (unlike Bin Laden). Just they it seemed they’d seriously injured him and he might have been killed (obviously, he recovered from his injuries).
Which makes me look sceptically on any “news” story that says he’s “back from the dead”. It seems to be distorting original statements from the US in order to further an agenda. So what else might they have distorted, I wonder?
Have to agree with you, McFlock, and it only serves to show the charade that the whole lot really is!
Like this garbage from CNN and telegraph, its like an episode of days of our lives the way they write about it!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/al-qaeda/8578914/Ayman-al-Zawahiri-the-worlds-most-dangerous-terrorist.html
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/06/16/al.qaeda.new.leader/index.html
It’s all a charade, with innocent people being maimed and killed around the world, mostly by imperialist fighting the so called, war on terror!
so why bother linking to sites that distort the truth to suit their own agenda? They tell you nothing – garbage in, garbage out..
“A dead guy manages the organization?”
Where has it been reported that al-Zawahiri is dead?
“tribal sources” are perhaps not the most reliable. I can find no other independant confirmation that Ayman al-Zawahiri is a dead-un
http://ceasefiremagazine.co.uk/whistleblower-al-qaeda-chief-u-s-asset/
Alrighty then!
thx Muzza .. what mind-exploding details ! I am amazed Sibel Edmonds has managed to stay alive as US have been trying to silence her for years. Brave and smart woman .. what a story. Long may she remain safe.
No worries,
My default setting is to be cautious about so called whistle blowers, especially those who manage to stay alive, when there are so many that have been disappeared!
Gotta keep some faith though, because not everyone wants to die sitting back with the information they have, without taking it public.
The question is though, can enough people such as this, light a big enough fire under the sheep, before the technological grid becomes unbreakable, permanently!
http://whoar.co.nz/2013/4-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-crack-americas-most-vilified-drug-comment-ed-my-experiences-in-the-world-of-crack-cocaine/
(excerpt..)
“….i found using crack-cocaine to be the most obsessive/compelling of all the drugs i have used/explored..”
phillip ure..
Related.
“We went looking for the effects of cocaine,” Hurt said. But after a time “we began to ask, ‘Was there something else going on?’ ”
While the cocaine-exposed children and a group of nonexposed controls performed about the same on tests, both groups lagged on developmental and intellectual measures compared to the norm. Hurt and her team began to think the “something else” was poverty
http://articles.philly.com/2013-07-22/news/40709969_1_hallam-hurt-so-called-crack-babies-funded-study
when i said crack was the ‘worst’..i didn’t mean in physical health outcomes..
..for example..heroin/barbiturates and alcohol all take a higher physical toll on the user than does cocaine..
..(had i drunk as much booze as i used narcotics..i would be rheumy-eyed/drooling in a corner..
.seriously..!..booze is the brain-killer..)
..but it is that compulsion to use that was the strongest of any i experienced..
..that led to the labelling as ‘worst’..
..’cos with smack/barbs/booze you have eventually had enough..and you pass out..
..but with crack..you can go at it for days/nights on end..there is no stop button..
..(you go up (and down) like a high-speed lift in a skyscraper..
..and you just all the time want to get back ‘up’ again..
..and that was what frightened me off so effectively..
..you could be sitting there ‘waiting for the pipe’..with yr best friend..and looking at them in pure hatred..
..because they ‘are taking too long’ to pass the pipe back to you…
..(it is one head-fucking drug..)
..when i said it is a monkey on the back..it is actually more of a gorilla..
..with the crackhead becoming a total pawn of the drug..
..but as i say..as for fucking the mind/body from long-term use..
..excess booze is hard to beat..
..phillip ure..
Govt pays NZ$30 mln to smelter owners in a deal that will clear the way for the float of Meridian Energy
http://www.interest.co.nz/news/65787/govt-pays-nz30-mln-smelter-owners-deal-will-clear-way-float-meridian-energy
More welfare!!!
That’s another $30 million additional cost to the people of NZ to sell off their own assets..
Something else for Shearer to rrrreview.
No, something else for Shearer and Labour to repudiate and repeal.
The PRISONER:
Everything is suspicious if you look at it properly, everyone has secrets, no one is without guilt. It’s just we have to work out what it is that they are guilty off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycdZpjq4ykw
And there ‘lies’ the power of surveillance…..The Panopticon, social engineering at it’s finest.
Dare you speak out….. no. 2 has got ya……………………
[lprent: Not related to the post – moved to OpenMike. ]
Cunliffe is willing to be in government with Shearer. Don’t see you criticising that.
[lprent: Perhaps you could point out the “criticism” in the post? I can’t see any. It just asks a question.
A poor attempt at diversion. Moved to OpenMike. Address the post rather than your own strawman construction. ]
D’oh! Has Cunliffe said Peters is “completely and utterly wrong per usual.” Errr….no.
“Key’s comments raise an important question: ‘would Key have in his government a man who is normally “completely and utterly wrong”?’”
It doesn’t stop the majority of people here supporting the Greens.
[lprent: Diversion. Doesn’t address the post – moved to OpenMike. ]
You seem to be suggesting that the majority of people here think the GP is completely and utterly wrong but would still work with them.
When you can’t count past one, you become a majority. And a neoliberal.
For one of the worlds biggest companies .
Using funds for the sale assets to prop up failing policy how much more is the govt going to bribe kiwis to part with what they already own.
Chris Trotter on the upcoming Labour Party conference, and issues likely to arise. He talks about the conflict between caucus and the rank and file, and possible outcomes. Also the party policy platform proposed by the rank and file that will be voted on as binding at the conference, and the problems this presents given the caucus doesn’t support this direction.
Labour believes that social justice means that all people should have equal access to social, economic, cultural, political, and legal spheres regardless of wealth, gender, ethnicity, or social position. Labour says that no matter the circumstances of our birth, we are each accorded equal opportunity to achieve our full potential in life. We believe in more than just equal opportunities—we believe in equality of outcomes.
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/08/07/bitterness-anger-and-deep-deep-division-labour-prepares-for-its-97th-annual-conference/
Labour promises more funding for Plunket. Smart move. As organisations go in NZ, it’s doubtful you could point to one more trusted. Opposing this wouldn’t be tenable. But we might see National gazumping the pledge in next year’s budget.
Yep….
National gives $30 million to one of the world’s largest mining companies Rio Tinto
Labour gives $6 million to Plunket
Get the headline Labour and lay it right next to Rio Tinto
I wonder whether the Speaker would rule out Mr Key being referred to as ‘the Prime Muppet of Nz’?
Food bank manager won’t give parcels to people she thinks are on drugs. Not knows, thinks. Paula Bennett apparently agrees. http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/news/feisty-rose-weeds-out-drug-users/1976269/
Hey, if sight testing is all that’s required I think John Key is on drugs and should stand down. His skin is grey, he looks tired and there’s even memory lapses to back up my visual assessment.
I’m assuming she means illegal drugs and self-prescribed off-label use of pharmaceuticals, not alcohol or anti-depressants etc.
Mrs Walker challenged Mr Clendon to do what she did and said it was her right to determine recipients of food parcels.
“We struggled to get our money and we have a right to say who gets it and who doesn’t. Who the hell does he think he is? Will he come up here and help us get enough money to feed everyone?”
That is really fucking evil. So poor drug users are now fourth class citizens, even worse than beneficiaries. Why not just brand them and be done with it?
The manager’s attitude seems to be completely at odds with the rest of the operation – which is all about supporting people in need –
http://www.healthpages.co.nz/community-support-services/sexual-abuse-a-rape-support/kaitaia-women-children-fresh-start-support
One look at her photo illustrates the old maxim “There’s nowt as cold as charity.” I sort of almost feel sorry for her, because she’s probably had very little joy in her life. She’s the embodiment of the Presbyterians that Billy Connolly jokes about, who can turn their mouths into assholes at will.
She looks like a fucking nasty old bag. And we leave the provision of social services to people like her.
On the radio news – NZ is the only country in the OECD that does not produce an annual report on the condition of its environment? Did I hear that right – surely I misheard.
We used to do this very sensible thing but it was canned only a few months ago by this government. Why would they do that I wonder?
‘
Yes, that’s true. The official reporting on the state of our environment has never been great and Labour have been as bad as National Ltd™ in this regard. The Ministry of the Environment was created under David Lange in 1986. Eventually, the Ministry was charged with providing a regular “state of the environment” report, the first published in December 2007. In the lead up to the 2012 report, the Ministry issued a discussion paper backgrounding the need for legislation to be introduced specifically to require the production of such reports to bring New Zealand into line with other OECD countries. In the forward to that report, the then Minister for the Environment, Nick Smith, said . . .
There was exactly zero progress in this proposal to enshrine environmental reporting into New Zealand law. Then, sometime in late 2012, silently and without even telling its own Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, National Ltd™ cancelled the 2012 report. This fact was dragged out of Amy Adams following a question from the Greens.
Basically, National Ltd™ was watching the compilation of the 2012 report and, without shame, saw exactly how dangerous it would be if New Zealanders were to realise the egregious impact its policies were already having on the environment. What’s worse, the incoming reports noted that the exponential increase, now underway and accelerating, is already beyond any possibility of mitigation for generations to come.
Then Fonterra fucked up, then the China Mail told the world New Zealand’s 100% Pure slogan is a “festering sore” and, guess what, hey presto – suddenly, just today, National Ltd™ realises that the environment is essential to business and it had better do something about it. Well, either that or this latest announcement is just more PR bullshit.
It’s National and thus it’s PR BS. They won’t do anything to protect the environment because that reduces profits.
The most dangerous thing to life in this country is the National Party.
+1 googolplex, should be a front page article
We did have a program that would have reported every five years but National scrapped it.
‘
Yep, one report was presented in 2007 and the December 2012 report was cancelled months before it was due to be released. If Nick Smith had kept to his word in that 2011 discussion document, National Ltd™ would not have been able to secretly cancel the report and, indeed, the five yearly regime.
Hmmmm . . . Having had a wee re-read of some of this material, I’m wondering now when National Ltd™ cancelled the 2012 report. Given its rip-shit-and-bust agenda, its not surprising the Ministry for the Environment was National Ltd™’s first target. It was effectively sidelined with John Key’s imitation of his US betters with the formation of the EPA – stacked full of National Ltd™ cronies, of course. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if the report was cancelled early on but we only became aware of it when the Greens chased it up????
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/06/new-zealand-environment_n_3710859.html
This is seriously bad!
Have I just not noticed it before, or has Stuff added 2 new sections to the bottom of its home page?
They are: NZ Farmer and
Science.
Today, the Science section has an interesting article on global warming.
A DIPLOMATIC SULK
Looks like Obama has thrown his toys out of his cot over Putin’s decisions to grant Edward Snowden asylum, at least for the time being. A meeting between Putin and Obama has been cancelled. All this on account of someone the Pres wrote off as a 30 year old hacker of no consequence. I’d say actions speak louder than words. If only Snowden had elected to come to New Zealand, he’d be tucked up safe and sound in a US dungeon right now:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/07/obama-putin-talks-canceled-snowden
Considering who Snowden worked for and the access he had to information I’m pretty sure he knew that which is why he went the other way.
rebounding after sharp decreases in the first half of 2011 linked to the La Nina weather pattern.
Thats an incorrect statement ( or poorly posed ) MSL rises during the La Nina phase and decreases during El nino similarly during the negative phase (positive) of the inter decadal pacific oscillation
(FYI – the GCSB Bill is being debated (Committee Stage) again today).
8 August 2013
‘Open Letter’ from Auckland Mayoral candidate Penny Bright to National MP for Auckland Central Nikki Kaye – a further 385 signatures opposing the GCSB Bill:
Nikki Kaye
National MP for Auckland Central
Dear Nikki,
I attempted to fax copies of these petition forms this morning. but with limited success.
Here are scanned copies of 385 further signatures of those who signed the following petition:
To National Party Member of Parliament for Auckland Central, Nikki Kaye :
“The will of the people is the basis of the authority of Government.”
We, the undersigned, call upon YOU, as an MP, to defend the lawful human
rights of New Zealanders to privacy, freedom of association and freedom of
expression – that is – to oppose arbitrary search and surveillance by the
State over citizens.
If YOU, as an MP, vote for this GCSB Bill, which will allow widespread spying
on New Zealanders, we, the undersigned hereby PLEDGE to campaign against
your re-election in 2014, and to encourage our families, neighbours and workmates
to do the same.
______________________________________________________________________________
Please be advised that there were only two of us, ( myself and Jacquelyne Taylor) collecting signatures yesterday, outside Auckland University, between 1 – 3.30pm, so 385 signatures is arguably a significant number in a comparatively short time, which is indicative of the public concern over this matter.
As you are no doubt aware, (and this is meant in a respectful way), the total number of signatures of people who have pledged to campaign against you (now 885) if you continue to support this GCSB Bill, is more than your winning margin of votes cast in the 2011 election?
http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2011/electoratestatus.html
Electorate Result Winning Candidate 2nd Place Margin
Auckland Central 100.0% KAYE, Nikki (NAT) ARDERN, Jacinda (LAB) 717
Nikki, please do not underestimate the growing concern, and numbers of citizens who do NOT agree with the State giving the power to the GCSB to spy on New Zealanders?
There were times yesterday, when people were literally queuing up to sign this petition.
Nikki, please do the decent thing, and do NOT support this GCSB Bill.
I realise that you have been very busy with the Fonterra matter, but my full response to your reply to the first 500+ signatures on this above-mentioned petition is available here:
http://www.occupyaucklandvsaucklandcouncilappeal.org.nz
Hopefully, you will have found time to read it, before the GCSB Bill is further debated today, because I have put some time into addressing the points you have raised, in support of this legislation.
Kind regards,
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption / anti-privatisation’ campaigner
2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate
+1 Penny…you are a gem!
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/galleries/gallery/your-town/140238/reader-photos-cloud-formation-over-dunedin
Have to assume use of the word cloud, was purely out of ignorance!
nothing since 2010 to feed your chemtrail delusion, then? That means they’re just getting better at hiding their activities… /sarc
Actually, I assumed you would be the one to respond, so thanks, because I have a question.
In your opinion, which direction is the trail heading?
If I had to hazard a guess, I’d call from northish to southish.
There’s a heavy South America flight that follows that rough direction over Dunedin, and I assume the Deep Freeze aircraft do, as well.
Northish-Southish – How would that header relate to the South American flight, which fyi, is nowhere near NZ at 930am anyway, even if it was, the trail would be east-west.
That’s what I was after anyway, a local opinion, which is why posted it, as I figured you would respond.
Cheers
You are aware that the world is roughly spherical, right? What affect might that have on flight paths, do you think?
Very little, when talking about the flight paths from from South America in context of passing over Dunedin, as they head towards their destination in Australia.
Otherwise what you say is relevant, but still your contention it needs to be overlaid against the geography of a relatively static reference point, in this case Dunedin, with the variable being the flights path. Makes it very difficult to leave a northish-southish trail, McFlock.
Wrong.
And that’s not including a direct flight to Antarctica, of course.
When was your chemtrail photographed? December?
Occam’s Razor can be a bitch.
Do you know what a falcon is, McFlock, cos that ones hit you, right in the face!
Why is it a falcon, muz?
Ah, so because it might have been a military flight, it must have been spraying chemtrails? Moron.
I doubt muzza’s a league man TRP.
Good call Joe!
For mine, its a c17 heading to the ice. And the height may be an optical illusion, ;a big vapour trail from a big plane. Google globemaster, image. Lots of similar shots.
@ Voice – Perhaps I didn’t make it obvious enough to McFlock – on his comment referenced below.
There is no commercial flights from South America which would leave a trail on that header/direction, which was the message I was attempting to convey, McFlock went off into examples and links about military flights to Antarctica – I thought it was obvious my comments were referring to commercial flights, as they head towards their destination in Australia!
Anyway, I gave him a falcon for missing what I believed to be fairly clear in the comments that it was commercial, not military I was talking to, but I see below, he has again jumped on the military angle, McFlock, re-read the comments above fella!
@ J90 – Wrong, thus Voice, you have backed the wrong horse there, although you might well be correct about the flight, who knows. The only certainty is that it was not left by a commercial flight from South America, to anywhere!
Well you’ve just been shown that there is an airline flight route that can roughly approximate that heading, especially if winds are taken into account, even if you think that the earth is flat.
But even if there weren’t, what’s your fucking point in recycling a two and a half year old photo of the sky?
Soot.
Direct effect (contrail-cirrus). Linear and spreading contrails, initially formed from exhaust water vapor and particles, constitute and additional cloud type and enhance cirrus cloud coverage. Initial contrail occurrence relies on well understood thermodynamic principles, initial contrail properties depend on soot and sulfur emissions and near-field exhaust (jet/vortex) dynamics. The spreading process of persistent contrails is controlled by wind shear and relative humidity. Contrail-cirrus are advected with the wind field over large distances, even into regions without significant air traffic. The direct effect is largest in regions without background cirrus.
http://www.pa.op.dlr.de/pazi/
I could never work out why the flights home from South America went down to the bottom of the map and then did a right turn to head back up into the Pacific and approach Dunedin from the East. Are you saying Mercator’s projection shouldn’t be taken literally?
Apparently not.
Indeed
http://gc.kls2.com/faq.html
Lots of jet stream use too.
http://www.aviator.edu/129/section.aspx/59/principles-of-HYPERLINK
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Greatcircle_Jetstream_routes.svg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_circle
I always flew into Auckland, so they probably went a bit closer, but any large planes over Dunedin are probably Deep Freeze anyway.
I think there was one a few months ago that drew similar comment – that one was definitely a flight from south america. Must have been under Muzzas radar, though.
http://cloudappreciationsociety.org/jan07-cloud-of-the-month/
Draco, I would have given you more credit than that – Whats the name they giving those rainbow clouds, you know, the ones which never existed until recently, and which have the appearance of an oil slick?
I dunno, muzzocumulus?
muzzonimbuslenticularus. Howz that. 😛
A circumhorizontal or infralateral arc, and we have descriptions of them going back at least to medieval times. Dick.
Twaddle.
Whatever. I was refering to poor paranoid Muzza’s rainbow clouds, not contrails.
https://sylverblaque.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/medieval-nuremberg-ufo-battle1.jpg?w=584
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:V%C3%A4dersoltavlan_cropped.JPG
And a further check reveals the phenomenon described in Apuleius (c. 125 – c. 180 C.E.) Apologia XV
Muzza could also be meaning these:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noctilucent_cloud
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nacreous_cloud
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_iridescence
One interesting thing about science, is that the more we learn about the world, the more stuff we discover that apparently “never happened before”, when actually it did, just no one wrote about it or noticed it.
In the case of rainbow coloured clouds, I suspect the widespread availability of coloured cameras, coupled with greater populations of people living in areas (polar regions for the first 2 above) where these things are more likely to happen than any previous time in history, leads to muzza’s mistaken claim that these clouds “never existed until recently”.
“Whats the name they giving those rainbow clouds, you know, the ones which never existed until recently, and which have the appearance of an oil slick?”
Or the appearance of light being refracted by water droplets.
Sorry – I mean ice crystals. Not droplets.
Anyway, it has a name. It’s called a Circumhorizontal Arc.
It’s a contrail dissipating in the upper atmosphere.
Reminds me of the crap about flying saucers off the Kaikoura Coast in the 1970s. The Met Service made it clear what it was – lights from a group of Japanese fishing vessels at the surface being reflected by an anticyclonic inversion layer at around 1500/2000ft – but the media of the day including an overseas contingent ignored them. The truth was too boring and non sensational.
Hi Anne, yes the met office, quite!
In any case, no it’s not a contrail, and its not in the upper atmosphere!
Here you go, some reading.
http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/8/1689/2008/acp-8-1689-2008.pdf
Strewth… I’m not arguing against that lot muzza but I still think it’s a contrail. Watched them forming at around 25,000 ft plus. You can’t actually see the plane but you can tell its whereabouts by the slow and regular lengthening of the contrail. That’s exactly what they look like 10 to 20 minutes after their formation.
Btw. I have to concede one point. From the photo it doesn’t look that high I must admit – 15000 ft maybe?
Hi Anne, wasn’t looking for an argument, or for you to provide one.
One of the links salient points is that very precise sets of met conditions are required, to create a trail of any sort, let alone the long, and horizon to horizon type trails, followed by a widening effect.
These types of trails required impossibly precise conditions in the troposphere, referred to as super-saturation over ice. Despite these rarified requirements, persistent trails are being recored, around the globe at ever accelerating velocity!
Have a good evening.
Edit – Just saw your BTW comment – The trail in the pics is very low, which is where the discussion about the precise met conditions requirements, comes into play. Such conditions to create so called persistent trails (super-saturation over ice), could not exist at that height, to support the trail as shown in those pics.
Hi Anne, wasn’t looking for an argument, or for you to provide one.
No, I wasn’t either. Went back to check the photo and noted it appeared unusually low. Hence the later edit. Interesting phenomenon. I wonder if a NIWA or Met Service scientist has commented.
Btw: Twaddle referred to Pop1. He’s talking through a hole in his head.
And here is some reading for you
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrail
I slept one night on the beach at Kaikoura during that. My girlfriend from the time remembers seeing the lights. I don’t. She went on to become an alchemist. I am a physicist. Funny old world.
Murray O and Morrissey
Thanks for giving me the info on the book I had been looking for. You correctly named Stick out, Keep Left by Margaret Thorn as being the one I wanted. I actually went on to Abe NZ
and got it. It’s very good. Very humbling how passionate and committed she and her husband were – we owe these older people who shaped Labour so much. It would be a shame to drift back to the old system, to lose most of it, but it’s not impossible that could happen. I thought I’d put a few paragraphs in from time to time, just to keep the vision before us.
If the Government doesn’t back down on this bloody stupid only 3 snapper for non-commercial fishers they’ll be well fucked even granted labour being useless.
I’d support a cut to 8 snapper, with a closed season during spawning, and a lot more enforcement of the commercial rules. I saw a lot of rubbish when I used to go out fishing a lot, including upgrading and trawling straight through spawning grounds. One time we watched a large trawler drag its nets from just off Whangaparoa down to and through the Rakino Channel, at the height of the spawning season. We got its number and reported it to an inspector at the Orakei ramp when we got back. He was less than interested and said that, even though what they were doing was illegal, he couldn’t do anything unless we had video evidence.
I feel a bit sick after this when I see young Maori or Pasifika shown on tv for grabbing a few paua. Just like with any crime, it seems that making it big enough gets you immunity. Doing it while brown and on a small scale gets you prison.
Quite a few of my family have already been limiting the catch they take. It’s not the limiting the catch that pisses them off, it’s the fact that the commercial operations haven’t been limited as well. They’re recognising it as a move to maintain/protect commercial fishing rather than to protect the fish.
I’m agreeing with you 🙂
Sometimes I agree with other people, just to see what it feels like.
There is simply no way the personal take (‘recreational’ is a bullshit phrase) should be cut before the commercial. It’s as disgusting as mining in schedule 4.
Too many governments see the resource as only being worth something if it is being sold. That’s fucking stupid. All fishers use the resource and there is no rational reason to say that those who use it for consumption should have to pay those who use it to sell, or have their rights to it diminished in favour of those who are only seeking to turn a profit.
Reserve Bank and Treasury staff seen giving birth to kittens on The Terrace:
Bank of England Governor Mark Carney bets the bank: Revolutionary plan to target joblessness
(It should be noted that his target of reducing unemployment to 7% is still above the 6% rate that the incomparibly evil Bill Phillips said was the ideal level to prevent inflation)
Radionz piece. Scientists up in arms. Sir Paul Callaghan left a business when he died that has a leading place in the world in lenses for telescopes? They have cancelled a contract saying that it was risky and had too tight schedules.
Can’t NZ manage to do anything right twice? Anyhow signing contracts with unreasonably short completion times is fairly frequent from what I hear. World pressure is on to be competitive. But even if you’re near the top of the industry you can’t sign up and then reneg or you get a bad name.
I remember a book about one of the first Japanese business men to start a business in industry after World War 2. Went to USA and overcome language barrier, started a whole new trend making motor scooters and went on to be a world industry. If we want to develop something else besides traditional animal husbandry and agriculture we can’t afford to be so laissez faire, which in NZ parlance is she’ll be right.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint
Scientists upset lenses contract pulled ( 2′ 24″ )
18:40 The Association of Scientists says it beggars belief that a Crown agency has
pulled the plug on a multimillion dollar international contract for telescope lenses.
That makes me sick to my stomach, Rt. We have some of the world’s best optical scientists, most of whom are working overseas because of the tall poppy syndrome, among other reasons. These guys have identified a market and are playing to their strengths, only to have some politically appointed seat warmers sabotage it for them. There is only so much people will accept in their careers before they take the opportunities available overseas. And then the country is left with the million dollar executives of Fonterra ballsing up one of the few things the government will back, or Shane Jones and his slave fisheries getting us locked out of other markets. Why are those who rule over us so bloody hopeless?
Murray O
(See my recent comment to you.
Why do these jerks… I think the Peter Principle. And being good talkers. We seem to be mesmerised by good talkers. I think many of us are a little inarticulate and I have noticed that we can be galvanised by someone with vitality, confidence and a loud voice.. Into the valley ..ride the 4 million!
And seat warmers. There is some sort of reserved place in employment heaven that chaps and busy business ladies get to and it takes a lot of bad karma for them to get taken down a peg or two.
I remember getting this feeling when Jim Salinger got his hand slapped and I didn’t think for anything important except for giving an opinion free on ‘the possible weather’ which was no longer okay because it was all to be charged for. Run by a seat warmer.
But of course there is this generic management idea. As if each type of business hasn’t its own set of strengths and problems and it helps to have some depth of experience in the field you are managing. My favourite is putting a manager into the social welfare who used to manage a seaport. He probably wished he could put them all on a Slow Boat to China.
Scientists gobsmacked by funding withdrawal
Stopped from signing, not cancelling/breaking the contract.
Still, it really was a stupid decision.
Regardless of the legalese, no money. That’s death to a new venture.
ruhroh
Meridian sale looks more and more reckless:
http://t.co/ReNkynGkOg
Oxymoron anyone think?
Minister and mayor say approvals for mine taking too long ( 3′ 17″ )
18:12 The Conservation Minister and the Buller District mayor say it’s taking too long
for a West Coast open cast coal mine to get the all clear from authorities.
Conditional go-ahead for Denniston Plateau mine ( 4′ 47″ )
17:46 Bathurst Resources expects to be coal mining on the Denniston Plateau by the
end of the year after winning conditional go-ahead from the Environment Court.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint
Sorry, It’s Not A ‘Law Of Capitalism’ That You Pay Your Employees As Little As Possible
The greed of the few is destroying even the consumerist economy that the politicians and the economists have lauded for the last few decades.
it is eating itself
A New Zealand hero
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/9018548/Surfer-Byrne-dies-after-motorcycle-accident
salute
Took me right to the bottom of that article to find something that he did that might actually be considered beneficent. Most of it just went on about his sporting achievements which is, IMO, rather mundane.
Yes not a hero of the valiant battlefield invent penicillin kind, a hero of the live the dream push your own boundaries someone to look up to kind.
Shows everything that’s wrong with Kiwi mainstream values – sports – man vs wild.
not doing anything actually of social value, or to benefit the common good.
he live the dream push your own boundaries someone to look up to kind.
Sounds very libertarianz
Sheesh Karol, that’s off the planet ……………… and shows everything that’s wrong with leftwing mainstream values – land rights for gay whales. No wonder commentary from the right lampoons your way of viewing the world and your way of lumping everybody’s choice of life together. Get a life.
Actually, you show everything that’s wrong with mainstream values – always looking to sporting heroes, which is what got him the MSM attention, and most of the coverage in the article as DTB says.
Anyone who is doing these things, as mentioned ny joe90:
clean water projects, anti-malaria work, vaccination projects, tsunami aid, earthquake aid in the west of the Indonesian archipelago
Yep. Doing things of value.
But there’s a lot of people doing such things who never get MSM attention – so not so much a great Kiwi hero, as a Kiwi showing some good citizenship.
and you show everything that is wrong with leftwing bigots.
Sports man, P3 navigator, family man, artisan, innovator, employer, clean water projects, anti-malaria work, vaccination projects, tsunami aid, earthquake aid in the west of the Indonesian archipelago so yeah, nothing actually of social value, or to benefit the common good.
/
Thanks joe90, I was only aware of some of those things. But yep, add those things you have listed together with his surfing and the way he went about life and you get a true New Zealand hero, in the sense I meant (tho didn’t explain perhaps).
He was someone I looked up to – surf-wise and life-wise
Indeed vto, a thoroughly decent man who walked the talk in his own quiet way.
btw, one of my nephews is spending the season in Indonesia and following a cut throat sponsorship drive he left with ten of these.
mmm, the warm waters of indo. I try not to think of such when paddling out into the cooler waters of the south island.
Those filters look like life-savers in those environs.
Last time he was away it was mosquito nets vto but the self serving surfing yoof of today have damn sight better social consciences than I ever had.
The only things he was mentioned for in the article was his surfing and the fact that he made better surfboards. Most people reading that article would have have NFI who he was and so, by reading that article, would have the understanding that he became a “hero” for surfing. Nothing, IMO, good enough to get a mention in a newspaper article.
“Nothing, IMO, good enough to get a mention in a newspaper article”
Draco, you are not thinking. Most people would imagine that reaching the top position not just nationally but internationally (and which no other New Zealanders ever had before in this realm) in their chosen ‘sport’ is entirely good enough to get a mention in a newspaper article. Don’t you think that would be why newspapers do it? Because that is what the most people want to read? Your opinion may well be that that is not good enough for a newspaper mention – few would agree with you.
The hero piece was clearly my opinion. Heroism is, again if you think about it, subjective. You will note that the original post did not hype it up – I kept it simple and short, in keeping. There are a lot of people I consider my heroes, for many different reasons and in many realms. Some are business heroes, some are good people heroes, some are save the world heroes, ….
It seems that you and Karol save hero status for only the very most exceptional of people.
This could be interesting at 1pm today
Dunne Tweet
“I am doing NBR ASK ME ANYTHING session 1pm today. Leave a question now: nbr.co.nz/ask-peter-dunne”