Open mike 09/03/2024
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- A letter to America from an appreciative ally
Donald Trump’s philosophy about the United States’ place in the world is historically selfish and will impoverish his country’s spirit. While he claimed last week to be ‘liberating’ Americans from the exploiters and freeloaders who’ve ...3 hours ago - Myanmar’s scam centres demand ASEAN-Australia collaboration
China’s crackdown on cyber-scam centres on the Thailand-Myanmar border may cause a shift away from Mandarin, towards English-speaking victims. Scammers also used the 28 March earthquake to scam international victims. Australia, with its proven capabilities ...4 hours ago
- The return of dirty politics
At the 2005 election campaign, the National Party colluded with a weirdo cult, the Exclusive Brethren, to run a secret hate campaign against the Greens. It was the first really big example of the rich using dark money to interfere in our democracy. And unfortunately, it seems that they're trying ...5 hours ago - Our MOOC Denial101x has run its course
Many of you will know that in collaboration with the University of Queensland we created and ran the massive open online course (MOOC) "Denial101x - Making sense of climate science denial" on the edX platform. Within nine years - between April 2015 and February 2024 - we offered 15 runs ...7 hours ago - In trade, nothing can replace the US consumer. Still, Asian countries look to each other
How will the US assault on trade affect geopolitical relations within Asia? Will nations turn to China and seek protection by trading with each other? The happy snaps a week ago of the trade ministers ...7 hours ago
- Why Did Police Clear Brian Tamaki Of All Charges?
I mentioned this on Friday - but thought it deserved some emphasis.Auckland Waitematā District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan has responded to Countering Hate Speech Aotearoa, saying police have cleared Brian Tamaki of all incitement charges relating to the Te Atatu library rainbow event assault.Hassan writes:..There is currently insufficient evidence to ...8 hours ago - Reviewing the intelligence reviews (so far)
With the report of the recent intelligence review by Heather Smith and Richard Maude finally released, critics could look on and wonder: why all the fuss? After all, while the list of recommendations is substantial, ...9 hours ago
- Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures
Well, I don't know if I'm readyTo be the man I have to beI'll take a breath, I'll take her by my sideWe stand in awe, we've created lifeWith arms wide open under the sunlightWelcome to this place, I'll show you everythingSongwriters: Scott A. Stapp / Mark T. Tremonti.Today is ...10 hours ago - Monday 7 April
Staff at Kāinga Ora are expecting details of another round of job cuts, with the Green Party claiming more than 500 jobs are set to go. The New Zealand Defence Force has made it easier for people to apply for a job in a bid to get more boots on ...11 hours ago - Australia’s food security needs national-security frameworks
Australia’s agriculture sector and food system have prospered under a global rules-based system influenced by Western liberal values. But the assumptions, policy approaches and economic frameworks that have traditionally supported Australia’s food security are no ...12 hours ago
- Trump just detonated a neutron bomb under the global economy, but NZ could win
Following Trump’s tariff announcement, US stock values fell by the most ever in value terms (US$6.6 trillion). Photo: Getty ImagesLong story shortest in Aotearoa’s political economy this morning: Donald Trump just detonated a neutron bomb under the globalised economy, but this time the Fed isn’t cutting interest rates to rescue ...13 hours ago - 2025 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #14
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- Trump’s Secret Sauce Spills Over
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- Maxing out – next steps for progressives
Max Harris and Max Rashbrooke discuss how we turn around the right wing slogans like nanny state, woke identity politics, and the inefficiency of the public sector – and how we build a progressive agenda. From Donald Trump to David Seymour, from Peter Dutton to Christopher Luxon, we are subject to a ...2 days ago - Maxing out – next steps for progressives
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- FACT CHECKING DAVID SEYMOUR
I was interested in David Seymour's public presentation of the Justice Select Committee's report after the submissions to the Treaty Principles Bill.I noted the arguments he presented and fact checked him. I welcome corrections and additions to what I have written but want to keep the responses concise.The Treaty of ...2 days ago - It’s All Over Now
Well, he runs around with every racist in townHe spent all our money playing his pointless gameHe put us out; it was awful how he triedTables turn, and now his turn to cryWith apologies to writers Bobby Womack and Shirley Womack.Eight per cent, asshole, that’s all you got.Smiling?Let me re-phrase…Eight ...2 days ago - Bernard’s Pick ‘n’ Mix on Saturday, April 5
In short this morning in our political economy:The S&P 500 fell another 5.6% this morning after China retaliated with tariffs of 34% on all US imports, and the Fed warned of stagflation without rate cut relief.Delays for heart surgeries and scans are costing lives, specialists have told Stuff’s Nicholas Jones.Meanwhile, ...2 days ago - Unlike China’s flotilla, the Great White Fleet came in friendship
When the US Navy’s Great White Fleet sailed into Sydney Harbour in 1908, it was an unmistakeable signal of imperial might, a flexing of America’s newfound naval muscle. More than a century later, the Chinese ...2 days ago
- Resource Management and Property Rights
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- Parliament’s secret “transparency” regime
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- Centring people of colour to close the climate justice gap
Australia must do more to empower communities of colour in its response to climate change. In late February, the Multicultural Leadership Initiative hosted its Our Common Future summits in Sydney and Melbourne. These summits focused ...3 days ago
- Presidency of doom
Questions 1. In his godawful decree, what tariff rate was imposed by Trump upon the EU?a. 10% same as New Zealandb. 20%, along with a sneer about themc. 40%, along with an outright lie about France d. 69% except for the town Melania comes from2. The justice select committee has ...3 days ago - The ideology of grovelling to Trump
Yesterday the Trump regime in America began a global trade war, imposing punitive tariffs in an effort to extort political and economic concessions from other countries and US companies and constituencies. Trump's tariffs will make kiwis nearly a billion dollars poorer every year, but Luxon has decided to do nothing ...3 days ago
- $6m later, 90% against, 8% for, Treaty Principles Bill Committee recommends Bill be shelved
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3 days ago - The people have spoken
The Justice Committee has reported back on National's racist Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill, and recommended by majority that it not proceed. So hopefully it will now rapidly go to second reading and be voted down. As for submissions, it turns out that around 380,000 people submitted on ...3 days ago
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- The surprise of the Independent Intelligence Review: economic security
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- Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Friday, April 4
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- The fix is in
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- Technology can make Team Australia fit for strategic competition
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- Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Thursday, April 3
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- Too complacent, too greedy
The Pike River Coal mine was a ticking time bomb.Ventilation systems designed to prevent methane buildup were incomplete or neglected.Gas detectors that might warn of danger were absent or broken.Rock bolting was skipped, old tunnels left unsealed, communication systems failed during emergencies.Employees and engineers kept warning management about the … ...5 days ago - It’s time to imagine how China would act as regional hegemon
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- We don’t need the fast track to kill fossil fuels
RNZ has a story this morning about the expansion of solar farms in Aotearoa, driven by today's ground-breaking ceremony at the Tauhei solar farm in Te Aroha: From starting out as a tiny player in the electricity system, solar power generated more electricity than coal and gas combined for ...5 days ago
- How world order changes
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Long story short: PM Christopher Luxon said in January his Government was ‘going for growth’ and he wanted New Zealanders to develop a ‘culture of yes.’ Yet his own Government is constantly saying no, or not yet, to anchor investments that would unleash real private business investment and GDP growth. ...6 days ago
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- Life after D-notices: Australia can learn from Britain’s updated system
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- Should Auckland demolish Spaghetti Junction?
This post by Nicolas Reid was originally published on Linked in. It is republished here with permission. In this article, I make a not-entirely-serious case for ripping out Spaghetti Junction in Auckland, replacing it with a motorway tunnel, and redeveloping new city streets and neighbourhoods above it instead. What’s ...6 days ago
- Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Wednesday, April 2
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In short this morning in our political economy:The Nelson Hospital crisis revealed by 1News’ Jessica Roden dominates the political agenda today. Yet again, population growth wasn’t planned for, or funded.Kāinga Ora is planning up to 900 house sales, including new ones, Jonathan Milne reports for Newsroom.One of New Zealand’s biggest ...6 days ago
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The Government’s plan to achieve our climate goals falls short, and will cost New Zealanders money and jobs. ...3 hours ago - Green Party differing view on the Treaty Principles Bill
Read the Green Party's differing view on the Treaty Principles Bill, prepared by Tamatha Paul. ...9 hours ago - Te Pāti Māori Urges Governor-General to Block Repeal of 7AA
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- Release: Abortion care quietly shelved amid staff shortage
Abortion care at Whakatāne Hospital has been quietly shelved, with patients told they will likely have to travel more than an hour to Tauranga to get the treatment they need. ...4 days ago
- Release: Govt guts Kāinga Ora, third of workforce under axe
The gutting of Kāinga Ora shows public housing is not a priority for this Government as it removes a third of the roles at the housing agency. ...4 days ago
- Release: Thousands of submissions excluded from Treaty Principles Bill report
Thousands of New Zealanders’ submissions are missing from the official parliamentary record because the National-dominated Justice Select Committee has rushed work on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...4 days ago
- Release: Uncertainty remains over the impact of tariffs
Today’s announcement of 10 percent tariffs for New Zealand goods entering the United States is disappointing for exporters and consumers alike, with the long-lasting impact on prices and inflation still unknown. ...4 days ago
- Release: Worst February for building consents in over a decade
The National Government’s choices have contributed to a slow-down in the building sector, as thousands of people have lost their jobs in construction. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour supports Willie Apiata’s selfless act
Willie Apiata’s decision to hand over his Victoria Cross to the Minister for Veterans is a powerful and selfless act, made on behalf of all those who have served our country. ...5 days ago
- Te Pāti Māori MPs Denied Fundamental Rights in Privileges Committee Hearing
The Privileges Committee has denied fundamental rights to Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Rawiri Waititi and Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, breaching their own standing orders, breaching principles of natural justice, and highlighting systemic prejudice and discrimination within our parliamentary processes. The three MPs were summoned to the privileges committee following their performance of a haka ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt health and safety changes put workers at risk
Changes to New Zealand’s health and safety laws will strip back key protections for small businesses and put working Kiwis at greater risk. ...1 week ago
- Release: Kiwis worse off this April thanks to Govt choices
April 1 used to be a day when workers could count on a pay rise with stronger support for those doing it tough, but that’s not the case under this Government. ...1 week ago
- Release: Three more years for Interislander ferries
Winston Peters is shopping for smaller ferries after Nicola Willis torpedoed the original deal, which would have delivered new rail enabled ferries next year. ...1 week ago
- Release: Myanmar junta must stop the airstrikes
The Government should work with other countries to press the Myanmar military regime to stop its bombing campaign especially while the country recovers from the devastating earthquake. ...1 week ago
- Release: National failing to deliver on supermarkets
National is paying lip service to its promises to bring down the cost of living, failing to make any meaningful change in the grocery sector. ...1 week ago
- Release: Labour backs farmers’ call for better process on GE
Labour shares farmers’ concerns that the Gene Technology Bill is moving too fast. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Bar still too high for small mental health providers
Small mental health providers will still be locked out of co-funding from the Mental Health Innovation Fund despite a lower threshold. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens call for Govt to scrap proposed ECE changes
The Green Party is calling for the Government to scrap proposed changes to Early Childhood Care, after attending a petition calling for the Government to ‘Put tamariki at the heart of decisions about ECE’. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ First Introduces Bill That Gives Democracy Back To The People
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill today that will remove the power of MPs conscience votes and ensure mandatory national referendums are held before any conscience issues are passed into law. “We are giving democracy and power back to the people”, says New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters. ...2 weeks ago - Speech: Navigating the New World (Dis)order in Turbulent Times
Welcome to members of the diplomatic corp, fellow members of parliament, the fourth estate, foreign affairs experts, trade tragics, ladies and gentlemen. ...2 weeks ago
- Te Pāti Māori Call for Mandatory Police Body Cameras
In recent weeks, disturbing instances of state-sanctioned violence against Māori have shed light on the systemic racism permeating our institutions. An 11-year-old autistic Māori child was forcibly medicated at the Henry Bennett Centre, a 15-year-old had his jaw broken by police in Napier, kaumātua Dean Wickliffe went on a hunger ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Kiwis lose faith in job market
Confidence in the job market has continued to drop to its lowest level in five years as more New Zealanders feel uncertain about finding work, keeping their jobs, and getting decent pay, according to the latest Westpac-McDermott Miller Employment Confidence Index. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens question Govt commitment to environmental protection with RMA reform
The Greens are calling on the Government to follow through on their vague promises of environmental protection in their Resource Management Act (RMA) reform. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt must tackle meth use crisis
New data shows methamphetamine use is spiralling out of control while the Government sits on its hands. ...2 weeks ago
- “Make New Zealand First Again”
“Make New Zealand First Again” Ladies and gentlemen, First of all, thank you for being here today. We know your lives are busy and you are working harder and longer than you ever have, and there are many calls on your time, so thank you for the chance to speak ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt’s continued lack of action on Gaza condemned
Hundreds more Palestinians have died in recent days as Israel’s assault on Gaza continues and humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, is blocked. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National at sea over Defence jobs
National is looking to cut hundreds of jobs at New Zealand’s Defence Force, while at the same time it talks up plans to increase focus and spending in Defence. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: National standards returning by stealth
It’s been revealed that the Government is secretly trying to bring back a ‘one-size fits all’ standardised test – a decision that has shocked school principals. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Kiwis still struggling as economy stumbles along
Kiwis aren’t feeling any better off despite figures showing a very slight growth in GDP in the December quarter. ...3 weeks ago
- Greens call for compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe
The Green Party is calling for the compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe, a 77-year-old kaumātua on hunger strike at the Spring Hill Corrections Facility, after visiting him at the prison. ...3 weeks ago
- Another failed ETS auction, another indictment on the Govt’s climate credibility
The ETS auction’s failure today is yet another clear sign that the Government is failing us all on climate action. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Luxon quick to give away principled position on nukes
Christopher Luxon seems to have thrown New Zealand’s principled anti-nuclear advocacy under a bus. ...3 weeks ago
- NZ must act on Israel’s slaughter of children
The Green Party is calling on Government MPs to support Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence and illegal actions in Palestine, following another day of appalling violence against civilians in Gaza. ...3 weeks ago
- New planning laws to end the culture of ‘no’
The Government’s new planning legislation to replace the Resource Management Act will make it easier to get things done while protecting the environment, say Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop and Under-Secretary Simon Court. “The RMA is broken and everyone knows it. It makes it too hard to build ...2 weeks ago - New Zealand & India Comprehensive FTA consultation begins
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay has today launched a public consultation on New Zealand and India’s negotiations of a formal comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. “Negotiations are getting underway, and the Public’s views will better inform us in the early parts of this important negotiation,” Mr McClay says. We are ...2 weeks ago
- Cost of living support coming for 1.5 million New Zealanders
More than 900 thousand superannuitants and almost five thousand veterans are among the New Zealanders set to receive a significant financial boost from next week, an uplift Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says will help support them through cost-of-living challenges. “I am pleased to confirm that from 1 ...2 weeks ago
- Iwi join discussion on geothermal potential
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Surely the time is right for a workers co-op/not for profit media beast to be created..?
We have the available talent…
The old paradigm is broken..
Time/opportunity to create a new one…
Geez the health targets look really good don't they.
BUT are there any indications about time scale AND HOW?
"Look good" are the operative words.
Everything the NACTZ government does is designed to look good, because their conspiracy theory prop supporters and the shallow MSM lack the intelligence and foresight to delve further from the surface.
I've said it many time before – National are full of s…..t. They were formed not to do things but oppose things. I can't see how opposing things in itself makes a credible government.
The cancer plan implies that previously nobody cared about the failures, yet everyone in the Health sector cared muchly but lacked the resources to act quickly. Wonder where the new Government will get the expert people from to enact their bold plan?
I can't see how opposing things in itself makes a credible government.
It doesn't. Which is one reason Labour came such a cropper last October, defining themselves in effect as opponents of the party that opposes things.
The cancer target is bullshit as far as I can tell.
I haven't read the detail, but it seems focused on after diagnosis care instead of pre diagnosis screening.
These are two seperate issues, and it's been my personal experience that if there is a chance of cancer being present after a possible detection the entire intervention process kicks in pretty quickly once your referral has been accepted.
However, the time from visiting a GP to actually being screened is very slow.
So, from my perspective, it seems like an easy target to reach and then be able to turn around and claim a political point scored. Bit like taking the credit for roads opening that were started under the last government, or claiming to have facilitated cell phone coverage that was also started under the previous government which is what my local MP here in Whanganui seems to be doing..
Young students are having their say, re: Aukus
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2403/S00076/students-and-activists-protest-us-diplomats-victoria-university-lecture.htm
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2403/S00083/us-diplomat-leaves-15-minutes-into-her-victoria-university-lecture-after-peaceful-protests-by-students-and-activists.htm
I do wonder if the Centre for Strategic Studies , who invited this US diplomat will also be inviting the equivalent from say , China, or the Solomon Islands, or India?.So the students can have a balanced view
How many of those involved were students?
Having their say by silencing someone else – a bit like at Albert Park?
A balanced view would require the silencing of everyone invited to speak, if that is the precedent.
If you had read my comment under Mike's post , you would see that I regretted that Jenkins could not speak
If you had read the links you would have read exactly what their points were and why they were opposed-minus the yelling, which unfortunately seems to be se rigeur these days, on the left as well as the right
I read what the people who spoke said (not on your links) – but have no evidence that any of them were students, or wanted to hear the invited guest to speak (Mike Smith excepted).
Mike Smith did not claim that those who spoke were students.
Student Justice for Palestine members appear to have been outside the venue protesting.
The links would have shown you among those protesters were student justice for palestine (SJP)
So?
What is your point exactly ? Did you read what the SJP member and PhD candidate at VUW had to say about Aukus and Gaza?
China, a balanced view? You do know that China is an authoritarian dictatorship with a ruler in Xi Jinping who has essentially made himself absolute ruler for life?
Not sure how you could provide balance against that. Maybe the anti AUKUS, anti Israel, anti US, anti anything 'West' protestors could arrange their own event with speakers presenting whatever it is they want presented?
No different from Trump, then!
You seem to have missed the fact that Trump has not been president of the US for the last 3+ years.
Do try to keep up.
Snarky B (imho), but at least you're not "blinded by political ideology"
On TS, a respectful centrist's work is never done – debating those pesky lefties.
Toot toot
So glad that you find yourself so free of other cares, that you can trawl through the TS archives to find these gems.
And glad that you acknowledge that I'm not blinded by political ideology.
Really, with you around as a booster, I have no need to blow my own trumpet.
Glad you appeciate the boost B, and it's really no trouble at all – a simple search of the last two weeks found those revealing (snarky) gems, and more.
Do you understand my reasons for doubting your self-declared "respectful centrist" persona? I would be happy to provide bi-monthly 'boosts', although their quality is up to you – hope my perspective isn't too "difficult to take".
Carry on
No. And I'm finding your obsession with me a bit creepy.
You might want to dial back on the personal interest, and try engaging on the actual topics under discussion.
Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised by this answer, but it's disappointing.
I'm interested only in your comments, and how consistent/inconsistent they are with a self-declared "respectful centrist" persona.
Do you understand the purpose and principle of an immune system?
The Standard is a 'left-leaning' blog; imho it’s moderators could be likened to components of a virtual immune system (not their only role, to be sure), as are authors and (in their own small ways) many commenters. Challenges to ‘lefty’ values, views and principles are welcome, but expect an immune response.
I’d rather not flog a dead horse, but you and others here are helping me mature into a B-cell. So, please accept my apologies for poorly constructed/targeted and/or otherwise flawed comments/antibodies – I'm still learning
Not really interested in your self-justification.
'Apologizing' for behaviour that you declare that you intend to continue – is frankly unbelievable.
If your eagle-eyed lens was equally focused on some of the other contributors (some of whom are rather further away from advocating for your Marxist utopia than I am) – you might at least be consistent. But, AFAICS, you reserve your analysis of 'persona' (whatever you mean by that) for me.
You are really starting to come across as borderline obsessive, and creepy.
If you actually have anything to contribute to the debate – that's one thing… But this exchange illustrates that you mostly don't.
Was by way of explanation, not "self-justification", but fair enough.
I intend to continue commenting here, believe it or not. Feels like home.
Just how close are you to advocating for a Marxist uptopia?
One meaning of 'persona'. I'm not the only one who has wondered about the authenticity of personae on TS, notably "The Chairman", who claimed to be "more left than most", while slagging off pesky lefty politicians and policies far more often than not.
Message received ("creepy" x2; "personal interest"; "borderline obsessive") – is it the content of my replies, the tone (I try to avoid 'snarky'), or something else that has led to these evaluations? Please be precise, and I will endeavour to make adjustments.
I've replied to maybe 1 in 8 of your comments in the last month – when someone comments on TS as often as you do (that not a criticism), their comments are bound to receive some critical responses.
Do you mean contributions like this?
"Mostly" – so there's hope?
Sad to see the departure from this life of Rt, Hon. Jonathan Hunt. He was a true gentleman in the old fashioned sense of the word. I had some involvement with his electorate last Century, and with the fine people who supported him in his Electorate Committee.
If he had been born a couple of decades later he may have been able to be more of what he actually was, but he was a good friend to a lot of people. He has been in sad decline over the last few years but he is now released from that struggle.
We will have a gin and tonic (or two) in his memory.
The first Speaker to do away with that silly business of feigned reluctance to take on the role. Good for you, Jon.
A young friend used to wait on him upstairs at the Boulcott Bistro .Very kind, interested in her studies , supportive.Chatted with her in a very personable way , unlike some of the entitled pollies.
Rest in Peace.
I was introduced to Jonathan Hunt at a press/poli party somewhere in the bowels of Bowen House, back in the day. He was gentle, gentlemanly and jovial; I liked him.
Rt Hon Jonathan Hunt probably deserves his own post, but I'll stick down a few moments.
He emerged from being a History, English and Latin teacher at Kelston Boys High School, then went pretty much into being selected as the New Lynn Labour candidate and romped home. Back in that era Kelston was surrounded by vast fields of orchards, and New Lynn was a hive of heavy manufacturing.
He served the people of New Lynn for 10 electoral terms. He turned that LEC into one of the strongest around. Stalwarts like Don and Noreen Clark. That's because he was both kind and effective with people and their issues.
He and his electorate team really knew how to run a fully professional and effective electorate office, going into bat for citizens against so many government departments. A really great electorate MP.
He was probably the best Speaker of the House we've ever had, and was invaluable to enabling Helen Clark and Michael Cullen to get so much reforming legislation through.
In the Cunliffe years he was always on hand to help out with the big fundraisers. I sure always appreciated good discussions about the Holyoake and Kirk years within him at the New Lynn Friendship Club over so many years.
In the early 2000s it was the combination of Jonathan Hunt as MP and Bob Harvey as Mayor that gave west Auckland the highest political recognition and success it's ever had. It's never had a political moment that good since.
I was glad to know him and am very happy that Jonathan Hunt gave pretty much his life to public service to Labour, to New Lynn, and to New Zealand.
Yes, he had a great LEC team. The Clarks, Susanne Sinclair (who went on to be an MP in her own right), Lorraine Wilson and Mike Daly among others. They were all well connected in their communities and very supportive of Jonathan.
I was involved in the meeting that put the new electorates out there together after MMP. Jonathan's team and Phil Goff's team worked really well together to reshuffle the people and assets for the new boundaries.
lol
(yes, this is from the GOP rebuttal to Biden’s SOTU address)
@EmissaryOfNight
·
here you go
https://twitter.com/EmissaryOfNight/status/1765961277443039418
A Gates/Soros big pharma bat mutant who roosts in 5G towers?
/
After 217 Covid Vaccines, Man Had No Side Effects and Robust Immunity
Media accounts of a German man’s extreme vaccination history spurred researchers to analyze his immune responses.
[…]
The man had seemingly never been infected with the coronavirus. He reported no vaccine side effects. And, most interestingly to the researchers, his repertoire of antibodies and immune cells was considerably larger than that of a typical vaccinated person, even if the precision of those immune responses remained effectively unchanged.
The researchers found that even the 217th shot boosted the man’s immune response. And while they were carefully looking for signs of a progressive weakening in his immune reactions over time — an unwelcome type of immune tolerance that sometimes develops during long-term viral infections — they reported seeing no such drop-off in responses.
“This indicates really how robust the immune system’s response is to such repetitive immunization,” Dr. Schober said. “Even 200 vaccinations are not nearly as much of a challenge to the immune system as a chronic infection.”
https://archive.li/hEzhY (nyt)
The half fare for those under 25 becomes half fare only for those on Student Allowance – they get a CSC.
And otherwise where councils subsidise half fares – Christchurch.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/03/09/govt-axes-kids-youth-public-transport-discounts-funding/
In this interview, Seymour is presented with strong evidence on the positive benefits of free school lunches but as he often does when he's losing a particular point, he pivots to say "New Zealand needs a "higher standard of debate".
This is classic Seymour, and what makes him so slippery and convincing to his supporters.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/03/05/no-doubt-free-lunches-programme-has-helped-results-principal/
YES thats true, BUT its Seymour that fails at the debate.
Yes that's the point I clumsily made.