Hourly rainfalls in mm from Milford since 10am. Looks a lot, but pretty common there. At least the Kepler isn't prone to flooding like parts of the MF track, but pretty exposed to wind up on the ridges.
I was surprised/pleased by his denunciations of the illegal israeli settlements..in land occupied in israeli military actions…and his call for a two state solution…
The US seems to be getting the message that the brutality shown by their support of the Israeli genocide in Gaza is going to cost them dearly at the elections. First Schumer and now Pelosi. The deliberate killing of workers from a US NGO and the bombing of Iranian embassy in Damascus are bridges too far even for them. It appears that negotiations between the Iranians and US have come to the point that Iran will not retaliate if the war in Gaza comes to an end. This leaves Israel as the only nation now comitted to escalation as a path out of their abhorrent mess. It also shows that the US could have ended this at any time simply by withdrawing Israeli support. The build up of international repulsion has left the US with no other choice and has demonstrated the potential of the UN even when constrained by UNSC vetos
Sadly, Israel would only agree to a temporary cease fire which goes to highlight their bad faith bargaining and intention to continue with their genocide after the hostages were released
I'm gobsmacked to think of what your "more deaths" means. Also, genocide does not mean complete eradication of a population. You do understand that the ICJ has determined that Israel has a case of genocide to answer? And that the killing in Gaza was at a pace far exceeding any modern conflict??
The problem Biden has is that if takes too strong an anti-Israel stance, he will lose a large enough percentage of the population (not just Jewish Americans, but Christians as well) that he will be handing Trump a victory. A Trump presidency would let Netanyahu off the leash, which will be much worse for Palestinians.
[Please stick to your approved user name, thanks – Incognito]
In fact, the opposite is the case. As with the whole world outside of Israel, repulsion of Israels actions in Gaza is the majority amongst US Jews and the younger they are, the more this horror is felt and expressed. What may dry up is money from the super wealthy who are generally older and more likely to be strongly Zionist.
"If everyone in the world contributed the same level of warming per capita as New Zealand, total warming would peak with a temperature rise of five degrees and decline to around 4.3 degrees by 2100, the Commission said. Even more embarrassing, if global emissions were allocated to countries entirely on a per capita basis, New Zealand would emit way above the global per capita allocation in 2050. Because 51 per cent of New Zealand’s warming emissions come from livestock farming, the Commission has focused much of its advice on this.
"Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years after it reaches the atmosphere. Even though CO2 has a longer-lasting effect, methane sets the pace for warming in the near term."
"About 30% of today’s global warming is driven by methane from human actions."
Am I reading the data correctly that is associated with this report.
So for example in the worst case scenario of the modelling data (low technology and low systems change so basically if we do nothing from now on?) New Zealand's estimated contribution to all global warming from 1850 up until 2020 was approximately 3 / 1000th's of 1 degree C or 0.0003 degrees C ?
Further in the same scenario that assumes we do nothing to address emissions, New Zealand's contribution to all global warming from 2020 up until 2050 is projected to be approximately 1 / 10,000th of 1 degree C or 0.0001 degrees C ?
This worst case scenario is a pretty miniscule contribution, but regardless this is the only scenario out of the 4 in which we are actually projected to contribute to any warming at all which happens between now and 2050. Even the the high technology / Low systems change scenario expects us to be negative or non contributors in the future.
Is that what the modelling data says? If so then doesn't that mean we are on the right path for net zero by 2050?
approximately 3 / 1000th's of 1 degree C or 0.0003 degrees C ?
"3 / 1000th's of 1 degree C" is 0.003°C, not "0.0003 degrees C".
Probably just a typo – it'll be fune
Not sure I'm interpreting that spreadsheet data correctly either, but here goes.
Using the data in, say, the "NZ_ssp126_EB41990" sheet (that's the first sheet to the right of the "Readme" sheet) to calculate the contribution of NZ's methane emissions to global warming over the last 30 years, I'd add up the annual contributions in the "NZCH4" column ("Contribution to global warming from biogenic CH4 emissions since 1850 to 2300 in Aotearoa New Zealand") from 1994 to 2023 inclusive, which sum to +0.06°C. That's a large fraction of the contribution of NZ's total emissions (+0.087°C) over the same period – seems a bit much tbh.
Still, the point is that on a per capita basis, NZ punches well above its weight in anthropogenic emissions, particularly methane. How could it be otherwise, given the amount of ruminant meat and dairy Kiwi farmers produce – and I do love dairy.
Michael, my initial interpretation must be wrong – NZ's contribution to global warming would be way to high, maybe 6% of the total ~1.5°C.
So maybe the numbers are cumulative, in which case according to the spreadsheet data NZ's contribution to global warming (to 2023) is +0.0031°C (so your intepretation is correct), with methane making up +0.002°C of that? Help!
Hard to take the commission completely seriously when they start throwing in so many "if's" for scenarios that don't exist.
I think it says that emissions targets are allocated based upon economic capacity not per capita.
Regardless it's not that embarrassing when you take into account that NZ has a small population but is a global food producer via our dairy and to a lesser extent meat exports. Regardless the commission says we can reach net zero in terms of our food production emissions and farmers have already begun to make the necessary changes.
I find these reports and the modelling data quite difficult to read and understand clearly so please don't abuse me if I'm wrong.
Fuck I hate the per capita argument, most of our methane is from food production, we produce somewhere between 30 to 40 million peoples worth of food, so if ypu being honest divede our methane buy 30 million people
The Taxpayer's Onion send out emails such as this to those they believe support their fomenting 🙂
"Hi Friend,
Look, I know we've been giving Finance Minister Nicola Willis a hard time in recent months for the various tax u-turns and backdowns, but, actually, right now I think we need to swing in behind her.
Here at the Taxpayers' Union, we'll stick up for taxpayers no matter who is in charge, but reading the media over the last few weeks, it's like Wellington lives in a parallel universe.
The media and so-called 'pundits' are falling over themselves to call on Ms Willis to cancel her long-signalled tax relief.
In politics, the squeaky wheel gets the oil – and unless we make a song and dance too, there is a real risk Nicola Willis takes the 'easy road' and kicks tax relief into the long grass.
That would mean the Government wouldn't need to go as hard or fast in tackling wasteful spending – that's exactly why Wellington's self-interested bureaucracy are trying to sink Ms Willis' plan.
Every day we seem to be waking up to Luxon, Seymour and others behaving increasingly like dictators, constantly lecturing and haranguing New Zealanders on how awful we are. Am sick of it.
More thoughts on free speech and Rainbow story time
"First my personal view on Rainbow story time is that in NZ it is pretty harmless. My kids have been to a couple of them, and they enjoyed them. They were totally non-sexual and they are more akin to children’s pantomimes where leading female characters are often played by men for humorous effect."
Farrar is a fucktard who piously offers up his liberal credentials on the targets of right wing culture war hate while vigorously pumping out the bullets to be fired via his various grifting cronies and comments sections.
He can take his so-called liberalism and shove it up his blue arse.
Always found Farrar's cultivated tone of sweet reasonableness on mainstream platforms like RNZ irritating. A right wing janitor who superficially tidies up the bathroom, but leaves pathogens on every surface.
One of those sit back in your chair and go "Dang! I wish I'd thought of that!" metaphor moments followed by a secret resolution to steal it and use it on every occassion as if it was yours.
His mincing pronunciation makes him difficult to listen to on any subject. He is a classic right opportunist and crawler, feigning reasonableness depending on his audience.
I have not forgotten “Dirty Politics” and his Slateroil days.
He's trying to have a foot in both camps. It starts off reasonably and ends reasonably but in the middle he gets into the political element of the matter.
I think local councils have every right to have a say in who is allowed to speak at council owned venues – within reason of course and bound by rules which ensure the right cannot be abused.
If some outfit invites an off-shore nut-bar [or two] to come here and incite racial hatred or crackpot theories designed to generate civil unrest, then they would be failing in their duty if they allowed them a platform to spread disinformation and create widespread disorderly conduct.
The Court applied the recent CA judgment in Moncrief-Spittle v Regional Facilities Auckland [2021] NZCA 142 which dealt with similar facts. Nation J concluded that the Library’s decision to cancel the event was reviewable and engaged the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly under New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.
Nation J found "There is sufficient evidence before me at this stage to be clear that SUFW cannot rationally be described as a "hate group"". He found that this cannot affect whether SUFW should be allowed to exercise its rights to free speech and freedom of assembly.
Nation J found the Council's decision was a "significant failure to recognise SUFW's right to freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly." SUFW did not in any way mislead the Library as to the nature of the event or the particular views they wished to discuss. Library staff had no safety concerns for themselves or anyone else and there was no evidence of a threatened protest.
However, the Council's decision put conditions on the event which insisted that SUFW could only present their views on the Bill if they were countered by speakers with an opposing view.
Result
The High Court found the cancellation decision was not a rational and reasonable limitation on rights and ordered that the event proceed, which is reportedly did, without protest.
Was thinking about the Wellington event, but from memory the Mayor decided it was allowed (though he personally would have preferred it not be allowed) after the SUFW court case.
This should be a serious discussion, ignoring other people's or groups views only results in further resentment, alienation, division within society.
Imho, some views are soooo wack that if I didn't ignore them, then teasing would be a rational response. Maybe there's a chance a patient person could persuade a Destiny Church member that earthquakes are not caused by homosexuals – a remote chance.
Why Do So Many People Believe Nonsense? [19 Sept 2022]
If you believe in truth, you are not free to choose the truth you want. You are obliged to choose the truth that is true, the one that is based on the preponderance of evidence-supported conclusions.
…
Why do people believe nonsense? Again, because they want to. Studies have revealed a statistical personality profile for folks that embrace false conspiracy theorists. They are often people who feel that they have little control over their own lives. Perhaps believing they have an esoteric peek behind the curtain to see the guy manipulating the switches gives them a sense of empowerment. And joining with others, who in their minds, have also dared to look behind the curtain, gives them a sense of belonging. Hence the QAnon slogan, “Where we go one, we go all.”
How's he trying to have a foot in both camps. It says in the post that he believes in NZ it is non sexual and harmless. That to me would fairly clearly show him to be in one camp, the yep it's fine nothing to see here camp?
How do you figure councils have a right to not allow anyone to speak at a publicly owned venue???? People who have viewpoints you don’t like pay rates as well you know….
That’s exactly how you create division by not allowing viewpoints to be heard which are different from your own.
As long as they aren’t inciting violence, anybody has a right to promote their viewpoint. If people disagree with that viewpoint then they should give an argument that people will listen to and agree with. Banning speech only ever leads to polarization and worst still extremism.
There’s absolutely nothing to be afraid of when it comes to people having many different ideas and viewpoints.
It's got nothing to do with what I might think, and everything to do with the intention of the person/persons who come here to create unrest. The case I was thinking of was a couple of dubious characters from Canada who came here to spread extremist ideology. I don't remember their names but, iirc, the owners (don’t think it was council in this case) of the venue cancelled the hall hire and they flounced off in a raging sulk.
While they were here, they ridiculed a Maori cultural mural at the airport. They thought they were being funny.
Of interest is that when Palmerston North council tried the same thing with Speak Up For Women, the council lost. The judge said there was no evidence that SUFW were a hate group. I linked elsewhere on this page.
It would be nice to think the courts are drawing a useful line in the sand, but I think the Southern/Molyneux case was more to do with threats of violence from people protesting the event.
"It would be nice to think the courts are drawing a useful line in the sand, but I think the Southern/Molyneux case was more to do with threats of violence from people protesting the event."
It was. "Before Southern and Molyneux could share their deeply unpleasant worldviews in Auckland (an indication of its likely content here, with strong trigger warnings for racism), the protest group Auckland Peace Action promised to confront the pair in the streets and blockade entry to their speaking venue. Those promises raised concerns about whether the event could be safely held at the Bruce Mason Centre, which in turn caused Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA) – the Auckland Council-owned company running the venue – to cancel the contract to use it."A commonsense conclusion to the sordid little Southern/Molyneux saga | The Spinoff
FWIW I happened upon this piece on TS that was written at the time of On ‘free speech victims’. « The Standard. It covers some discussion (including comments from you) about SUFW.
I’m not a fan of cancelling opinions we disagree with, even if we find them abhorrent, primarily because these assessments are often subjective and the risk of the thugs veto is always in play. And then there’s this – it seemed to me at the time that Southern and Molyneux received more attention by being cancelled than they ever would have by being allowed to speak.
…. it seemed to me at the time that Southern and Molyneux received more attention by being cancelled than they ever would have by being allowed to speak.
There is truth in what you say. Thank-you for the reminder. However some of that attention was the result of their ridiculing antics over the Maori mural at the airport and that was what pushed them over the line for me. I was glad they were sent packing because of that behaviour alone.
Okay Anne, who should get to decide whether or not someones views or opinions should not be heard?
How do you know that someone has extremist ideology? And who gets to decide what an extremist ideology is? Or is it just what some random group of people believe?
Personally I’d like to know who these busybodies are, so I can if possible avoid them. I generally don’t like to be told what to think, say or do, however I’m usually open to a discussion.
"Personally I’d like to know who these busybodies are, so I can if possible avoid them. "
The problem is that it if you want to have the discussion, simply avoiding the people you label 'busy bodies' isn't enough. They are taking a position that you are to be prevented from listening in person, devoid of censorship or context editing, to people they disapprove of. That rather renders redundant your desire to discuss or even, God forbid, challenge the ideas (e.g. by way of Q&A).
Pantomime "Dames" you mean? And how did they portray women? "Widow Twankey" etc were shown as unattractive older women, usually sexually frustrated, and the butt of sexist jokes. OTOH – the "Best Boy" (played by a woman) was cast as the "Hero".
At the same time – Asian characters like "Wishy Washy" were also the subject of racist stereotyping.
"Yellowface, Blackface" and "Womanface" – all equally offensive.
"and Mrs Doubfire" Robert, once again you participate in matters concerning women and girls but seem to have little empathy and understanding for nuances.
"Drag queens take the trappings of femininity and exaggerate these to create a grotesque caricature which, at its core, humiliates women. "
"But it is also highly sexualised adult entertainment, which many people feel is pretty misogynistic"
"Mrs Doubtfire and panto dames are nothing like RuPaul’s Drag Race. Paul O’Grady was a brilliant performer, wholly respectful of the women he drew on for his inspiration for Lily Savage."
It is ominous that this Government cuts data collection so I guess that they can claim that there is no problem, in say Child Poverty.
Sharon Brettkelly writes;
The uncertain future of two comprehensive studies on children and poverty has sparked fears that data gap will lead to leaky sieve policies. How can we fix problems we don't know about?
After thinking it through, I've decided I'm in favour of less crime. And I think healthcare should be good. Education is also good. And when it comes to the environment, I will be bold and honest. I think it should be nice and green.
Luxon is doing a terrible job representing business people to New Zealand with his incredible tone deafness and unpopularity.
He’s like a cartoon villain from a 1980s cartoon.
Mr. Lux is helping tobacco companies get more smokers addicted.
Mr. Lux is giving all the money to landlords.
‘No, citizens you are feeble in economics and don’t understand the blessings this will bring you’
Mr Lux is mining on special conservation land and destroying marine reserves.
‘We need more space for my friends yacht races. The lack of pollution is red tape holding back our empire.’
Mr Lux doesn’t like his house, it needs more servants! CEOs aren’t like us, they’re a kind of royalty. CEOs are entitled, citizens.
‘We consulted on rentals and environmental reforms, citizens. Arrhahaha!’
Agriculture is your friend. Dumped tree waste is your friend. The floods will not return. Pay no attention to those insurance companies. We don’t need scientists. We have a plan!
He's sending nz into depression, he's convinced everyone the country is fucked ,he's putting people on the unemployment benefits, he's forcing more people to aussie, housing projects getting canceled left right and center, fuckers are up to something, or just incompetent?
In fact a short article on the Generation Zero site ties together decolonisation here and climate concerns in a manner that resonates with many. Hence why one sees tino rangitiratanga signs at Palestine activities and Palestine signs at climate activities or demonstrations of mana motuhake.
Rob Campbell tackles head-on the misguided criticism (by older generations, I assume) of youth activism by Generation Zero, and SS4C, I assume. I stress that he avoids making this an inter-generational issue.
When younger activists talk about the related nature of many injustices that surround climate, they should not be rejected or scoffed at but welcomed and supported. After all, they are right.
The Taxpayers’ Onion are such a bunch of disingenuous shit-stirrers aided by useful RWNJs and idiot trolls for spreading their spawn. As usual, they’re trying to connect dots in the time-space continuum by digging wormholes that only exist in their pubescent little brains that boil over with premature excitement at the idea or mental image of scoring a point with their willy-wads. Of course, they cannot figure out the difference between past tense (date of RFP well over a year ago and date of tender award more than 9 months ago) and future tense (what may, or may not, happen with Government-ordered cuts by the new shambolic Coalition of Charlatans).
I agree Robert. Incognito is on a roll. Please supply lots of material so he can continue.
As usual, they’re trying to connect dots in the time-space continuum by digging wormholes that only exist in their pubescent little brains that boil over with premature excitement at the idea or mental image of scoring a point with their willy-wads.
This for brilliance and I like the 'Coalition of Charlatans' as well!
For sure, have watched CC since a kid and still do. The funny thing is these days they include more new age farmers running on solar, horticulturists with interesting crops, more women involved in farmwork, organic growers–and they get complaints sometimes from the Groundswell lot for doing so. Farms in picturesque or high country locations get shown too.
The giant industrial waterway ruining Dairy lot are rarely covered from what I have seen the last couple of years. But they are still there…
Fair Go challenges con artists and poor business practice and holds people to account–or did…
Yep, effective comms people and deep pockets, it is almost seen as unpatriotic to criticise dairy.
“They” grabbed the narrative on Three Waters also, which sees people the country over facing substantial rate rises, with still no clear solution to the crumbling infrastructure. I collect rain water with two tanks and filter it, didn’t use to bother filtering, but it tastes good and I don’t get “boil water” notices.
The staff can go independent and produce a programme online.
They can set up a Friends of Fair Go site for donations.
They can work with Consumer Magazine, Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
They can do stories on landlords and tenants – no doubt plenty about.
News staff and others from Newshub have the option of bringing "video" skilled staff to various online media and or making that a point of difference, with their own on-line media site.
Well there's one spot of good news in all this darkness: Reality Check Radio is off the air and having to rattle the old begging-bowls (you'll need to scroll down a fair bit):
should the word 'woman' be legally defined by gender identity or biological sex.
My take,
Historically, when laws were written around this, woman mean adult, human female. It wasn't defined in law, because everyone understood what woman and female meant. In recent decades, gender identity has been written into law to give trans people some protections. But this was done without addressing the sex/gender/gender identity definitions and what the conflict might mean for other rights and legislation.
So I'll stick my neck out. Where the rights of trans people can be protected they should be, but never, ever at the expense of 'biological women', or of the meaning that very phrase.
Seems to me like there are two distinct aspects to the trans rights side. One is establishing that it's illegal to discriminate on the basis of gender identity for things like housing, jobs etc. This makes sense to me, given the antipathy towards gender non-conforming people generally.
The other is the push to colonise women's spaces and culture. Some of that is justified as affirming trans women, but it's also clear to me that some of it is just straight out misogyny. Neither are justifications for removing women's rights.
Agreed. My view is the 'colonising woman's spaces and culture' bit is (or at least appears to be) a dominant force in the 'trans rights side' atm, which seems to me to be problematic for the rights of both gender non-conforming people and biological women generally.
This is probably pie in the sky and wouldn't necessarily be effective in a legal sense, but in theory….
That's why a solution could be for the vast majority to grit their teeth and give up on the words 'man' and 'woman'.
If everyone starts using only 'male' and 'female' where 'man' and 'woman' have traditionally been used then it could solve a lot of arguments. If a tiny minority are using words that the majority don't understand the meaning of so don't use things would quieten down pretty quickly maybe?
It would mean giving up part of the English language which could be difficult for some to stomach but it wouldn't be to appease a certain group of people it would be to simply remove the arguments.
If you don't know what a woman is (and who can these days) just start always using 'female'.
Of course in that scenario we may end up with people starting to yell and scream about trans females… hehe
the word woman has a lot of usage where female is inappropriate. We don't say 'see that female over there' because that's kind of rude/weird.
not all females are women. Female applies to other animals, and plants. This is why the word woman means adult human female, and why giving up the word woman is a terrible idea. There is not really any other word we can use to name women.
at least half of TRA politics is about colonising. Everyone else changing their language won't make that go away.
TWATW. There was a period of time when most women would have been fine with old school transsexual/trans identified males. The arising of AGP culture changes everything. No way are women going to let men with the need to exhibit their sexual fetish into our spaces.
I believe body-shape has to come into it somewhere. No-one who went through puberty as a male and/or still has functional male genitals should be allowed to colonise spaces reserved for cis-women, against the occupants' will. No male-bodied people in women's toilets, changing-rooms or prisons.
That said, I'm easy about how people want to define or identify themselves.
It will be "interesting" LOL; and today he will not have Winston Peters sitting next to him propping him up and/or raising/causing diversions. I wonder who they will have in Winny's seat …
It may be my imagination but is Gerry getting tougher? But previous speakers would never allow a minister to keep talking over him when he's trying to cut political comments short. What's happened to the ability to cut a mike?
I notice that Gerry Brownlee frequently interrupts Opposition MPs when they are starting to ask a question. He comments about supposedly "too much" background noise from other MPs, then asks the questioning Opposition MP to start again. I feel this is a tactic, to try to unsettle the questioner and to interrupt the flow of the question. However, it doesn't seem to be effective.
The rule is that questions are heard in silence. Brownlee is insisting on that. He's starting to crack down on Ministers 'attacking' the previous government and today asked a government patsy questioner to ask her supplementary question without being a leading question opening up a further attack. Hopefully, he's starting to grow into the role.
Yes, I realise questions are to be heard in silence. However Brownlee does not consistently apply this requirement when Government MPs ask questions. Their colleagues are at times speaking to each other during these questions.
Cuts to two child poverty reports today. That was holding the country back.
Listened to a chap from CAB on the radio. No wonder they are always wanting to cut them and libraries. They give advice to under -25s and immigrants on casual work issues such as holiday pay and in tenancy issues. Particularly when flatting with the landlord it seems they’re exempt from a lot of the legal protections.
The public are looking for leadership, and if Labour can offer it, the Red-Green alliance will win the next election. The Greens are doing their bit already.
Call me old school, but the rule of thumb from a class left view is to unite all who can be united around certain things to build organisation and success.
Mr Hipkins sunk NZ Labour with his Cap’n’s Call from afar on wealth tax and CGT and will be replaced in due time. Te Pāti Māori and Greens get out and about and are leading the way at the moment–politics is way more than just Parliament and comms.
Green Co Leader Ms Swarbrick seems to eat Govt. MPs for breakfast going by any interview I have seen. So…Labour, Green, TPM need to get a combined move going and State Sector Unions might consider finally electing a CTU leader as good as Hellen Kelly and taking some direct action against the COC Govt.
Paul The Other One discusses NZers' decrease in media trust, media literacy, and social media algorithms that encourage bias confirmation.
I wonder how much of this is the decrease in tone-neutral fact reportage, and the rise, begun by Paul Holmes in feely news and op-ed infotainment, vs. thinky news?
Although the trend is worldwide, New Zealand is a trend leader, along with UK and USA.
Could it have anything to do with the Public Interest Journalism Fund? The PIJF required news media to show “commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to Māori as a Te Tiriti partner” i.e. to support the previous government's promotion of the treaty as a "partnership". The report also cites public concern about censorship of the news, bias, and dumbing down.
"Could it have anything to do with the Public Interest Journalism Fund? "
Nope. It's entirely down to the agents who seek to undermine public confidence in the media they trusted for so long; that media hasn't betrayed the public, they've just been vilified by those who will benefit from insecurity in the populace.
Claims were also made by some that the news media was captured by government funding through the pandemic-related Public Interest Journalism Fund. At present, this theme is weaker than last year.
"In 2022, the JMAD trust in news report noted that one of the main reasons for distrust in news media was the government’s support for news media, in particular the $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund that was launched during the pandemic and that included direct monetary support for newsroom roles and projects.9 The scheme was disestablished in June 2023."
The report is about public trust in the news. in response to the question "Could it have anything to do with the Public Interest Journalism Fund?" you replied "Nope" and "It's entirely down to…"
Based on this research, in 2022 the PIJF was clearly a factor, and it remains so in the latest report, albeit (as pointed out above) "this theme is weaker than last year".
I don't know who you are referring to as "Idiot conspiracy-theorists". If you explain, I can answer your question to me.
There are 'idiot conspiracy theorists' pontificating about all manner of things, Robert. Some clam the MSM is systemically left or right wing. Some claim the MSM is in the grip of evil global corporates or shadowy secret societies.
I understand your point to be that the public loss of confidence in the media was unrelated to the PIJF, and that criticism of the fund was the work of 'idiot conspiracy theorists'.
Specifically in relation to the PIJF, the report found (both on P42):
"Some stakeholders also expressed reservations that public funding of media firms may make those firms beholden to the government of the day and public officials might be reluctant to fund proposals that will be critical of government policies – which would undermine a key plurality objective of the media being able to hold public institutions and elected officials accountable." (Emphasis added). Unexpectedly, 'most news firms' denied that would be the case.
"However, several stakeholders expressed concern that funding decisions had crossed into editorial decision-making, with New Zealand On Air effectively holding a ‘beauty contest’ to choose which proposed stories/investigations merited support. It was suggested that funding these one-off incremental outputs will produce marginal public benefit and does little to encourage the industry to confront the true challenges of producing sustainable news." (Emphasis added).
The report raised other concerns with the PIJF, but I would argue that the issue of editorial independence is key to public confidence.
It was made clear many times as I heard in this discussion that, once funding was approved, the media content produced had full editorial independence.
If the general media fill their on-air hours with outrage content, like much of NewsTALK ZB, or private investors fund conspiracy channels like The Platform and Counterspin, then a balance of some sort is essential for healthy democracy.
Of course. And 'opinions' are what public perception (in this case "NZers' decrease in media trust" (from your comment above) is all about.
"Have a look here where all projects funded are."
Although the Sapere report raised other concerns, this conversation is about how public perception of the media was influenced by the PIJF. In that regard, the issue is not so much which projects were funded, but the conditions placed on editorial content to access that funding. Graham Adams (Graham Adams: Has government money corrupted journalism? – The Common Room (commonroomnz.com)) has a piece at The Common Room that outlines the 'instructions' and 'guidance' in the expanded criteria in 2022. The document providing this 'guidance' was titled “Te Tiriti Framework for News Media”, and amongst other things includes this "For news media, it is not simply a matter of reporting ‘fairly’, but of constructively contributing to Te Tiriti relations and social justice” and "Repeated references by the government to the English version [of the Treaty], in which Māori supposedly ceded sovereignty, have created systematic disinformation that protects the government’s assumption of sole parliamentary sovereignty.” Whatever you think of Adams' conclusions, the criteria, instructions and guidance provided are IMHO easily construed as editorial interference, whether they acted as such or not.
"It was made clear many times as I heard in this discussion that, once funding was approved, the media content produced had full editorial independence."
Well, that's what the media claimed. It may well be correct. However the Sapere report shows that there were concerns about how providing funding to media with (non-financial) strings attached that go specifically to editorial coverage was be perceived.
A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 15, 2024 thru Sat, December 21, 2024. Based on feedback we received, this week's roundup is the first one published soleley by category. We are still interested in ...
Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...
ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Are we heading ...
So the Solstice has arrived – Summer in this part of the world, Winter for the Northern Hemisphere. And with it, the publication my new Norse dark-fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens at Eternal Haunted Summer: https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/issues/winter-solstice-2024/as-our-power-lessens/ As previously noted, this one is very ‘wyrd’, and Northern Theory of Courage. ...
The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashEvery morning I get up at 3am to go around the traps of news sites in Aotearoa and globally. I pick out the top ones from my point of view and have been putting them into my Dawn Chorus email, which goes out with a podcast. ...
Over on Kikorangi Newsroom's Marc Daalder has published his annual OIA stats. So I thought I'd do mine: 82 OIA requests sent in 2024 7 posts based on those requests 20 average working days to receive a response Ministry of Justice was my most-requested entity, ...
Welcome to the December 2024 Economic Bulletin. We have two monthly features in this edition. In the first, we discuss what the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update from Treasury and the Budget Policy Statement from the Minister of Finance tell us about the fiscal position and what to ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have submitted against the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, slamming the Bill as a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an attack on tino rangatiratanga and the collective rights of Tangata Whenua. “This Bill seeks to legislate for Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles that are ...
I don't knowHow to say what's got to be saidI don't know if it's black or whiteThere's others see it redI don't get the answers rightI'll leave that to youIs this love out of fashionOr is it the time of yearAre these words distraction?To the words you want to hearSongwriters: ...
Our economy has experienced its worst recession since 1991. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 20 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below ...
Twas the Friday before Christmas and all through the week we’ve been collecting stories for our final roundup of the year. As we start to wind down for the year we hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas and new year. If you’re travelling please be safe on ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the year’s news with: on climate. Her book of the year was Tim Winton’s cli-fi novel Juice and she also mentioned Mike Joy’s memoir The Fight for Fresh Water. ...
The Government can head off to the holidays, entitled to assure itself that it has done more or less what it said it would do. The campaign last year promised to “get New Zealand back on track.” When you look at the basic promises—to trim back Government expenditure, toughen up ...
Open access notables An intensification of surface Earth’s energy imbalance since the late 20th century, Li et al., Communications Earth & Environment:Tracking the energy balance of the Earth system is a key method for studying the contribution of human activities to climate change. However, accurately estimating the surface energy balance ...
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and , ...
“Like you said, I’m an unreconstructed socialist. Everybody deserves to get something for Christmas.”“ONE OF THOSE had better be for me!” Hannah grinned, fascinated, as Laurie made his way, gingerly, to the bar, his arms full of gift-wrapped packages.“Of course!”, beamed Laurie. Depositing his armful on the bar-top and selecting ...
Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed a significant slowdown in the economy over the past six months, with GDP falling by 1% in September, and 1.1% in June said CTU Economist Craig Renney. “The data shows that the size of the economy in GDP terms is now smaller ...
One last thing before I quitI never wanted any moreThan I could fit into my headI still remember every single word you saidAnd all the shit that somehow came along with itStill, there's one thing that comforts meSince I was always caged and now I'm freeSongwriters: David Grohl / Georg ...
Sparse offerings outside a Te Kauwhata church. Meanwhile, the Government is cutting spending in ways that make thousands of hungry children even hungrier, while also cutting funding for the charities that help them. It’s also doing that while winding back new building of affordable housing that would allow parents to ...
It is difficult to make sense of the Luxon Coalition Government’s economic management.This end-of-year review about the state of economic management – the state of the economy was last week – is not going to cover the National Party contribution. Frankly, like every other careful observer, I cannot make up ...
This morning I awoke to the lovely news that we are firmly back on track, that is if the scale was reversed.NZ ranks low in global economic comparisonsNew Zealand's economy has been ranked 33rd out of 37 in an international comparison of which have done best in 2024.Economies were ranked ...
Remember those silent movies where the heroine is tied to the railway tracks or going over the waterfall in a barrel? Finance Minister Nicola Willis seems intent on portraying herself as that damsel in distress. According to Willis, this country’s current economic problems have all been caused by the spending ...
Similar to the cuts and the austerity drive imposed by Ruth Richardson in the 1990’s, an era which to all intents and purposes we’ve largely fiddled around the edges with fixing in the time since – over, to be fair, several administrations – whilst trying our best it seems to ...
String-Pulling in the Dark: For the democratic process to be meaningful it must also be public. WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE in New Zealand’s politicians and journalists steadily declining, restoring those virtues poses a daunting challenge. Just how daunting is made clear by comparing the way politicians and journalists treated New Zealanders ...
Dear Nicola Willis, thank you for letting us know in so many words that the swingeing austerity hasn't worked.By in so many words I mean the bit where you said, Here is a sea of red ink in which we are drowning after twelve months of savage cost cutting and ...
The Open Government Partnership is a multilateral organisation committed to advancing open government. Countries which join are supposed to co-create regular action plans with civil society, committing to making verifiable improvements in transparency, accountability, participation, or technology and innovation for the above. And they're held to account through an Independent ...
Today I tuned into something strange: a press conference that didn’t make my stomach churn or the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Which was strange, because it was about the torture of children. It was the announcement by Erica Stanford — on her own, unusually ...
This is a must watch, and puts on brilliant and practical display the implications and mechanics of fast-track law corruption and weakness.CLICK HERE: LINK TO WATCH VIDEOOur news media as it is set up is simply not equipped to deal with the brazen disinformation and corruption under this right wing ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting Secretary Erin Polaczuk is welcoming the announcement from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden that she is opening consultation on engineered stone and is calling on her to listen to the evidence and implement a total ban of the product. “We need ...
The Government has announced a 1.5% increase in the minimum wage from 1 April 2025, well below forecast inflation of 2.5%. Unions have reacted strongly and denounced it as a real terms cut. PSA and the CTU are opposing a new round of staff cuts at WorkSafe, which they say ...
The decision to unilaterally repudiate the contract for new Cook Strait ferries is beginning to look like one of the stupidest decisions a New Zealand government ever made. While cancelling the ferries and their associated port infrastructure may have made this year's books look good, it means higher costs later, ...
Hi there! I’ve been overseas recently, looking after a situation with a family member. So apologies if there any less than focused posts! Vanuatu has just had a significant 7.3 earthquake. Two MFAT staff are unaccounted for with local fatalities.It’s always sad to hear of such things happening.I think of ...
Today is a special member's morning, scheduled to make up for the government's theft of member's days throughout the year. First up was the first reading of Greg Fleming's Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, which was passed unanimously. Currently the House is debating the third reading of ...
We're going backwardsIgnoring the realitiesGoing backwardsAre you counting all the casualties?We are not there yetWhere we need to beWe are still in debtTo our insanitiesSongwriter: Martin Gore Read more ...
Willis blamed Treasury for changing its productivity assumptions and Labour’s spending increases since Covid for the worsening Budget outlook. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 18 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above ...
Today the Auckland Transport board meet for the last time this year. For those interested (and with time to spare), you can follow along via this MS Teams link from 10am. I’ve taken a quick look through the agenda items to see what I think the most interesting aspects are. ...
Hi,If you’re a New Zealander — you know who Mike King is. He is the face of New Zealand’s battle against mental health problems. He can be loud and brash. He raises, and is entrusted with, a lot of cash. Last year his “I Am Hope” charity reported a revenue ...
Probably about the only consolation available from yesterday’s unveiling of the Half-Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) is that it could have been worse. Though Finance Minister Nicola Willis has tightened the screws on future government spending, she has resisted the calls from hard-line academics, fiscal purists and fiscal hawks ...
The right have a stupid saying that is only occasionally true:When is democracy not democracy? When it hasn’t been voted on.While not true in regards to branches of government such as the judiciary, it’s a philosophy that probably should apply to recently-elected local government councillors. Nevertheless, this concept seemed to ...
Long story short: the Government’s austerity policy has driven the economy into a deeper and longer recession that means it will have to borrow $20 billion more over the next four years than it expected just six months ago. Treasury’s latest forecasts show the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s fiscal strategy of ...
Come and join myself and CTU Chief Economist for a pop-up ‘Hoon’ webinar on the Government’s Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) with paying subscribers to The Kākā for 30 minutes at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream to watch our chat. Don’t worry if ...
In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...
New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...
At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...
Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob HensonIn this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...
In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...
On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...
The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...
This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...
And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...
Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...
Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...
This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate.I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...
A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...
The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...
Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...
What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...
All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...
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Hoping everyone in Otago and Westland has provisions and a full fuel tank. That's a mighty system coming down.
What is the Kepler going to be like today and tomorrow? Asking for a friend….
at this stage it looks like the heavy rain will be Thurs. forecasting isn’t very accurate under this El Niño.
https://www.metvuw.com/forecast/forecast.php?type=rain®ion=nz&noofdays=7
I talked to your friend this morning and suggest they start going over that Kepler ridge early tomorrow morning.
Also be assured DoC team are in hourly contact with each other, and everyone will get a briefing morning and evening.
Thursday they will be in strong beech forest with good cover and no stream crossings of note.
Very experienced team rest assured.
More worried our English academic friend will be carried off unnoticed in the wind and rain and mugged by a pair of rambunctious Keas….
Hourly rainfalls in mm from Milford since 10am. Looks a lot, but pretty common there. At least the Kepler isn't prone to flooding like parts of the MF track, but pretty exposed to wind up on the ridges.
9.1
11.8
15.1
18.1
14.7
14.9
No Right Turn has it right on methane emissions. More Luxon lies.
https://norightturn.blogspot.com/2024/04/climate-change-bad-faith-from-national.html
Rod Carr was interesting on this issue on Morning Report just now. Listen here.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018933455/nz-should-strengthen-2050-climate-target-says-climate-change-commission
He is coming up soon on RadioNZ's Nine to Noon to do a much longer interview today.
Peters did ok…@ the u.n….
(Better late than never..)
Yep…just 5 months too late.
I was surprised/pleased by his denunciations of the illegal israeli settlements..in land occupied in israeli military actions…and his call for a two state solution…
Yep all good…Biden has been utterly useless….while the American's back Israel and keep sending arms and money nothing will happen.
The US seems to be getting the message that the brutality shown by their support of the Israeli genocide in Gaza is going to cost them dearly at the elections. First Schumer and now Pelosi. The deliberate killing of workers from a US NGO and the bombing of Iranian embassy in Damascus are bridges too far even for them. It appears that negotiations between the Iranians and US have come to the point that Iran will not retaliate if the war in Gaza comes to an end. This leaves Israel as the only nation now comitted to escalation as a path out of their abhorrent mess. It also shows that the US could have ended this at any time simply by withdrawing Israeli support. The build up of international repulsion has left the US with no other choice and has demonstrated the potential of the UN even when constrained by UNSC vetos
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2024/04/two-israeli-actions-misfired-pushed-netanyahoo-into-retreat-.html#more
Whoopee….it's only taken 6 months and 33k deaths…but then they are only Palestinian women and kids.
So if Hamas agrees to simply hands the hostages back, then they do that, the war will end.
When are they doing that?
Sadly, Israel would only agree to a temporary cease fire which goes to highlight their bad faith bargaining and intention to continue with their genocide after the hostages were released
If genocide was the goal there would have been far more deaths.
I'm gobsmacked to think of what your "more deaths" means. Also, genocide does not mean complete eradication of a population. You do understand that the ICJ has determined that Israel has a case of genocide to answer? And that the killing in Gaza was at a pace far exceeding any modern conflict??
The problem Biden has is that if takes too strong an anti-Israel stance, he will lose a large enough percentage of the population (not just Jewish Americans, but Christians as well) that he will be handing Trump a victory. A Trump presidency would let Netanyahu off the leash, which will be much worse for Palestinians.
[Please stick to your approved user name, thanks – Incognito]
Mod note
In fact, the opposite is the case. As with the whole world outside of Israel, repulsion of Israels actions in Gaza is the majority amongst US Jews and the younger they are, the more this horror is felt and expressed. What may dry up is money from the super wealthy who are generally older and more likely to be strongly Zionist.
That sound more logical Sub….who needs the money if you get the votes?
And Biden's campaign is already much better funded than Trumps and the polls are now neck and neck where previously Trump was ahead.
Rod Carr on farming and climate:
"If everyone in the world contributed the same level of warming per capita as New Zealand, total warming would peak with a temperature rise of five degrees and decline to around 4.3 degrees by 2100, the Commission said. Even more embarrassing, if global emissions were allocated to countries entirely on a per capita basis, New Zealand would emit way above the global per capita allocation in 2050. Because 51 per cent of New Zealand’s warming emissions come from livestock farming, the Commission has focused much of its advice on this.
Continue reading at https://www.politik.co.nz/why-rod-carr-is-optimistic-farmers-can-beat-climate-change/ | Politik"
"Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years after it reaches the atmosphere. Even though CO2 has a longer-lasting effect, methane sets the pace for warming in the near term."
"About 30% of today’s global warming is driven by methane from human actions."
https://www.edf.org/climate/methane-crucial-opportunity-climate-fight
Am I reading the data correctly that is associated with this report.
So for example in the worst case scenario of the modelling data (low technology and low systems change so basically if we do nothing from now on?) New Zealand's estimated contribution to all global warming from 1850 up until 2020 was approximately 3 / 1000th's of 1 degree C or 0.0003 degrees C ?
Further in the same scenario that assumes we do nothing to address emissions, New Zealand's contribution to all global warming from 2020 up until 2050 is projected to be approximately 1 / 10,000th of 1 degree C or 0.0001 degrees C ?
This worst case scenario is a pretty miniscule contribution, but regardless this is the only scenario out of the 4 in which we are actually projected to contribute to any warming at all which happens between now and 2050. Even the the high technology / Low systems change scenario expects us to be negative or non contributors in the future.
Is that what the modelling data says? If so then doesn't that mean we are on the right path for net zero by 2050?
Data found here:
https://www.climatecommission.govt.nz/public/Uploads/EB4/supporting-docs/EB4-15-Temperature-modelling-full-results.xlsx
"3 / 1000th's of 1 degree C" is 0.003°C, not "0.0003 degrees C".
Probably just a typo – it'll be fune
Not sure I'm interpreting that spreadsheet data correctly either, but here goes.
Using the data in, say, the "NZ_ssp126_EB41990" sheet (that's the first sheet to the right of the "Readme" sheet) to calculate the contribution of NZ's methane emissions to global warming over the last 30 years, I'd add up the annual contributions in the "NZCH4" column ("Contribution to global warming from biogenic CH4 emissions since 1850 to 2300 in Aotearoa New Zealand") from 1994 to 2023 inclusive, which sum to +0.06°C. That's a large fraction of the contribution of NZ's total emissions (+0.087°C) over the same period – seems a bit much tbh.
Still, the point is that on a per capita basis, NZ punches well above its weight in anthropogenic emissions, particularly methane. How could it be otherwise, given the amount of ruminant meat and dairy Kiwi farmers produce – and I do love dairy.
https://genless.govt.nz/climate-change/new-zealands-emissions/
https://gml.noaa.gov/aggi/
Michael, my initial interpretation must be wrong – NZ's contribution to global warming would be way to high, maybe 6% of the total ~1.5°C.
So maybe the numbers are cumulative, in which case according to the spreadsheet data NZ's contribution to global warming (to 2023) is +0.0031°C (so your intepretation is correct), with methane making up +0.002°C of that? Help!
"If everyone in the world…."
"…, if global emissions were allocated"
Hard to take the commission completely seriously when they start throwing in so many "if's" for scenarios that don't exist.
I think it says that emissions targets are allocated based upon economic capacity not per capita.
Regardless it's not that embarrassing when you take into account that NZ has a small population but is a global food producer via our dairy and to a lesser extent meat exports. Regardless the commission says we can reach net zero in terms of our food production emissions and farmers have already begun to make the necessary changes.
I find these reports and the modelling data quite difficult to read and understand clearly so please don't abuse me if I'm wrong.
Fuck I hate the per capita argument, most of our methane is from food production, we produce somewhere between 30 to 40 million peoples worth of food, so if ypu being honest divede our methane buy 30 million people
Fyi
The Taxpayer's Onion send out emails such as this to those they believe support their fomenting 🙂
"Hi Friend,
Look, I know we've been giving Finance Minister Nicola Willis a hard time in recent months for the various tax u-turns and backdowns, but, actually, right now I think we need to swing in behind her.
Here at the Taxpayers' Union, we'll stick up for taxpayers no matter who is in charge, but reading the media over the last few weeks, it's like Wellington lives in a parallel universe.
The media and so-called 'pundits' are falling over themselves to call on Ms Willis to cancel her long-signalled tax relief.
In fact, the only exception I've seen to the chorus of howls to cancel tax relief was none other than my colleague Callum! He had a cracker op-ed in Stuff's The Post last week.
In politics, the squeaky wheel gets the oil – and unless we make a song and dance too, there is a real risk Nicola Willis takes the 'easy road' and kicks tax relief into the long grass.
That would mean the Government wouldn't need to go as hard or fast in tackling wasteful spending – that's exactly why Wellington's self-interested bureaucracy are trying to sink Ms Willis' plan.
That's why I'm emailing to ask you to join us in telling Nicola Willis to hold firm and deliver tax relief as part of May's budget. "
If the TU is so supportive of tax cuts now it must consider that Robertson did an excellent job in controlling government spending.
Every day we seem to be waking up to Luxon, Seymour and others behaving increasingly like dictators, constantly lecturing and haranguing New Zealanders on how awful we are. Am sick of it.
David Farrar reckons:
More thoughts on free speech and Rainbow story time
"First my personal view on Rainbow story time is that in NZ it is pretty harmless. My kids have been to a couple of them, and they enjoyed them. They were totally non-sexual and they are more akin to children’s pantomimes where leading female characters are often played by men for humorous effect."
Read more, if you care to, here:
https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2024/04/more_thoughts_on_free_speech_and_rainbow_story_time.html
Farrar is a fucktard who piously offers up his liberal credentials on the targets of right wing culture war hate while vigorously pumping out the bullets to be fired via his various grifting cronies and comments sections.
He can take his so-called liberalism and shove it up his blue arse.
Always found Farrar's cultivated tone of sweet reasonableness on mainstream platforms like RNZ irritating. A right wing janitor who superficially tidies up the bathroom, but leaves pathogens on every surface.
Yr janitor metaphor deserves to be shortlisted for metaphor-of-the-week..
One of those sit back in your chair and go "Dang! I wish I'd thought of that!" metaphor moments followed by a secret resolution to steal it and use it on every occassion as if it was yours.
His mincing pronunciation makes him difficult to listen to on any subject. He is a classic right opportunist and crawler, feigning reasonableness depending on his audience.
I have not forgotten “Dirty Politics” and his Slateroil days.
That's the spirit!
He's trying to have a foot in both camps. It starts off reasonably and ends reasonably but in the middle he gets into the political element of the matter.
I think local councils have every right to have a say in who is allowed to speak at council owned venues – within reason of course and bound by rules which ensure the right cannot be abused.
If some outfit invites an off-shore nut-bar [or two] to come here and incite racial hatred or crackpot theories designed to generate civil unrest, then they would be failing in their duty if they allowed them a platform to spread disinformation and create widespread disorderly conduct.
The court case brought by the 'Let Women Speak' group in Wellington appears to indicate that councils don't have that right at all.
Palmerston North, or was there another case?
depends on the situation I think, but yes.
https://www.franksogilvie.co.nz/news/case-brief-whitmore-v-palmerston-north-city-council
Was thinking about the Wellington event, but from memory the Mayor decided it was allowed (though he personally would have preferred it not be allowed) after the SUFW court case.
Anne, who gets to decide if someone is a “nut-bar” and should not be allowed to speak in a publicly owned venue?
Maybe we should all be vetted to ensure that we have the correct opinions and views?
So who gets to decide?
I don’t know if you will agree with me or my views, so maybe you should be sent to a facility where your thinking can be re-calibrated.
We could call these facilities Gulags.
I believe Uncle Joe used them with great success…
Or maybe we could just ignore people whose opinions and views differ from ours.
Let's start with the obvious "nut-bars":
earthquakes are caused by homosexuals
Who said that?
The Bish’, one Mr Brian Scamaki.
In a nutshell.
obvious cases are easy. Try ones that are less clear.
What does that mean, weka?
Okay Robert, so who gets to decide if someone is allowed to speak at a public venue?
This should be a serious discussion, ignoring other people's or groups views only results in further resentment, alienation, division within society.
Who, David?
Not my call.
You reckon, free-for-all?
Wahoo!
Can children attend?
Imho, some views are soooo wack that if I didn't ignore them, then teasing would be a rational response. Maybe there's a chance a patient person could persuade a Destiny Church member that earthquakes are not caused by homosexuals – a remote chance.
"Or maybe we could just ignore people whose opinions and views differ from ours."
Or better still, listen to them and try to understand why they have those differing opinions and viewpoints
How's he trying to have a foot in both camps. It says in the post that he believes in NZ it is non sexual and harmless. That to me would fairly clearly show him to be in one camp, the yep it's fine nothing to see here camp?
How do you figure councils have a right to not allow anyone to speak at a publicly owned venue???? People who have viewpoints you don’t like pay rates as well you know….
That’s exactly how you create division by not allowing viewpoints to be heard which are different from your own.
As long as they aren’t inciting violence, anybody has a right to promote their viewpoint. If people disagree with that viewpoint then they should give an argument that people will listen to and agree with. Banning speech only ever leads to polarization and worst still extremism.
There’s absolutely nothing to be afraid of when it comes to people having many different ideas and viewpoints.
It's got nothing to do with what I might think, and everything to do with the intention of the person/persons who come here to create unrest. The case I was thinking of was a couple of dubious characters from Canada who came here to spread extremist ideology. I don't remember their names but, iirc, the owners (don’t think it was council in this case) of the venue cancelled the hall hire and they flounced off in a raging sulk.
While they were here, they ridiculed a Maori cultural mural at the airport. They thought they were being funny.
Good riddance to bad rubbish I say.
Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux. Auckland Council cancelled a venue hire booking. Two men took that all the way to the Supreme Court and lost.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/130655335/supreme-court-dismisses-appeal-after-lauren-southern-stefan-molyneux-barred-from-venue
Of interest is that when Palmerston North council tried the same thing with Speak Up For Women, the council lost. The judge said there was no evidence that SUFW were a hate group. I linked elsewhere on this page.
It would be nice to think the courts are drawing a useful line in the sand, but I think the Southern/Molyneux case was more to do with threats of violence from people protesting the event.
Southern and Molyneux had another venue cancel on them – The Powerstation in Auckland. Cancelled: Alt-right activists Stefan Molyneux and Lauren Southern in limbo after venue backs out of hosting event – NZ Herald
"It would be nice to think the courts are drawing a useful line in the sand, but I think the Southern/Molyneux case was more to do with threats of violence from people protesting the event."
It was. "Before Southern and Molyneux could share their deeply unpleasant worldviews in Auckland (an indication of its likely content here, with strong trigger warnings for racism), the protest group Auckland Peace Action promised to confront the pair in the streets and blockade entry to their speaking venue. Those promises raised concerns about whether the event could be safely held at the Bruce Mason Centre, which in turn caused Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA) – the Auckland Council-owned company running the venue – to cancel the contract to use it." A commonsense conclusion to the sordid little Southern/Molyneux saga | The Spinoff
FWIW I happened upon this piece on TS that was written at the time of On ‘free speech victims’. « The Standard. It covers some discussion (including comments from you) about SUFW.
I’m not a fan of cancelling opinions we disagree with, even if we find them abhorrent, primarily because these assessments are often subjective and the risk of the thugs veto is always in play. And then there’s this – it seemed to me at the time that Southern and Molyneux received more attention by being cancelled than they ever would have by being allowed to speak.
There is truth in what you say. Thank-you for the reminder. However some of that attention was the result of their ridiculing antics over the Maori mural at the airport and that was what pushed them over the line for me. I was glad they were sent packing because of that behaviour alone.
Okay Anne, who should get to decide whether or not someones views or opinions should not be heard?
How do you know that someone has extremist ideology? And who gets to decide what an extremist ideology is? Or is it just what some random group of people believe?
Personally I’d like to know who these busybodies are, so I can if possible avoid them. I generally don’t like to be told what to think, say or do, however I’m usually open to a discussion.
"Personally I’d like to know who these busybodies are, so I can if possible avoid them. "
The problem is that it if you want to have the discussion, simply avoiding the people you label 'busy bodies' isn't enough. They are taking a position that you are to be prevented from listening in person, devoid of censorship or context editing, to people they disapprove of. That rather renders redundant your desire to discuss or even, God forbid, challenge the ideas (e.g. by way of Q&A).
Pantomime "Dames" you mean? And how did they portray women? "Widow Twankey" etc were shown as unattractive older women, usually sexually frustrated, and the butt of sexist jokes. OTOH – the "Best Boy" (played by a woman) was cast as the "Hero".
At the same time – Asian characters like "Wishy Washy" were also the subject of racist stereotyping.
"Yellowface, Blackface" and "Womanface" – all equally offensive.
""Womanface" – all equally offensive."
And Mrs Doubtfire?
Dame Edna?
Then there’s the Top Twins’ Ken & Ken.
"and Mrs Doubfire" Robert, once again you participate in matters concerning women and girls but seem to have little empathy and understanding for nuances.
"Drag queens take the trappings of femininity and exaggerate these to create a grotesque caricature which, at its core, humiliates women. "
"But it is also highly sexualised adult entertainment, which many people feel is pretty misogynistic"
"Mrs Doubtfire and panto dames are nothing like RuPaul’s Drag Race. Paul O’Grady was a brilliant performer, wholly respectful of the women he drew on for his inspiration for Lily Savage."
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/apr/07/drag-a-sexist-caricature-or-a-fabulous-art-form?
" once again you participate in matters concerning women and girls"
Oh, I see. It's a "women and girls-only" space.
Got it
"Oh, I see. It's a "women and girls-only" space."
No Robert Drag Queens are not a women's place.
and no Robert, you do not 'got it'- still some way off
I suspect being only able to read half a sentence is why you don't get it.
Is Mrs Doubtfire not "women face"?
It is ominous that this Government cuts data collection so I guess that they can claim that there is no problem, in say Child Poverty.
Sharon Brettkelly writes;
https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/04/09/when-its-too-expensive-to-measure-poverty/?utm_source=Newsroom&utm_campaign=9e2d04f920-Daily_Briefing+09.04.2024&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_71de5c4b35-9e2d04f920-95522477&mc_cid=9e2d04f920&mc_eid=88a3081e75
Was the chocolate ration increased to 20 grammes, or reduced from 30 grammes to 20? Who would be able to tell?
Oh joy…
/
@davidho@mastodon.world
In the nearly 70 years between 1950 and 2019, the world produced a total of ~9.5 billion tonnes of #plastic.
That's equivalent in weight to the amount of CO₂ we emitted to the atmosphere during the first three months of 2024.
https://mastodon.world/@davidho/112198484934191221
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/global-plastics-production
After thinking it through, I've decided I'm in favour of less crime. And I think healthcare should be good. Education is also good. And when it comes to the environment, I will be bold and honest. I think it should be nice and green.
I am courageous. Vote for me.
Did you, in the past, run an airline?
Me Me. I'll vote for you because you are a visionary and a doer.
Luxon is doing a terrible job representing business people to New Zealand with his incredible tone deafness and unpopularity.
He’s like a cartoon villain from a 1980s cartoon.
Mr. Lux is helping tobacco companies get more smokers addicted.
Mr. Lux is giving all the money to landlords.
‘No, citizens you are feeble in economics and don’t understand the blessings this will bring you’
Mr Lux is mining on special conservation land and destroying marine reserves.
‘We need more space for my friends yacht races. The lack of pollution is red tape holding back our empire.’
Mr Lux doesn’t like his house, it needs more servants! CEOs aren’t like us, they’re a kind of royalty. CEOs are entitled, citizens.
‘We consulted on rentals and environmental reforms, citizens. Arrhahaha!’
Agriculture is your friend. Dumped tree waste is your friend. The floods will not return. Pay no attention to those insurance companies. We don’t need scientists. We have a plan!
He's sending nz into depression, he's convinced everyone the country is fucked ,he's putting people on the unemployment benefits, he's forcing more people to aussie, housing projects getting canceled left right and center, fuckers are up to something, or just incompetent?
Rob Campbell tackles head-on the misguided criticism (by older generations, I assume) of youth activism by Generation Zero, and SS4C, I assume. I stress that he avoids making this an inter-generational issue.
https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/04/08/single-issue-activism-gets-joined-up/
Non-violent direct action is close to failing on climate change.
So Callaghan Innovation is spending $170K on a rebrand while shedding about 30 staff. What the ….?
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2404/S00034/revealed-callaghan-innovation-wastes-over-170000-on-rebrand-as-staff-call-out-job-cuts.htm
The Taxpayers’ Onion are such a bunch of disingenuous shit-stirrers aided by useful RWNJs and idiot trolls for spreading their spawn. As usual, they’re trying to connect dots in the time-space continuum by digging wormholes that only exist in their pubescent little brains that boil over with premature excitement at the idea or mental image of scoring a point with their willy-wads. Of course, they cannot figure out the difference between past tense (date of RFP well over a year ago and date of tender award more than 9 months ago) and future tense (what may, or may not, happen with Government-ordered cuts by the new shambolic Coalition of Charlatans).
Brings tears to my eyes, Incognito.
I agree Robert. Incognito is on a roll. Please supply lots of material so he can continue.
This for brilliance and I like the 'Coalition of Charlatans' as well!
"Brings tears to my eyes"
Are they wet and real or are they your crocodile tears.
tears for fears
Tears of laughter, tears of joy – Incognito can wring water from a stone, TT. Did they elicit a giggle from you, you ol' chunk'a granite?
Incog. @12.1 beats lprent on that one.
A science research fulltime equivalent costs around $250k pa. The rebrand is only half a person's worth.
GEEZ Fair Go canceled!!!
It's only right – after all, New Zealanders aren't getting a fair go (under this Government).
Yeah, Fair Go gone but Country Calendar gets to live.
Coz, agriculture.
For sure, have watched CC since a kid and still do. The funny thing is these days they include more new age farmers running on solar, horticulturists with interesting crops, more women involved in farmwork, organic growers–and they get complaints sometimes from the Groundswell lot for doing so. Farms in picturesque or high country locations get shown too.
The giant industrial waterway ruining Dairy lot are rarely covered from what I have seen the last couple of years. But they are still there…
Fair Go challenges con artists and poor business practice and holds people to account–or did…
"The giant industrial waterway ruining Dairy lot are rarely covered from what I have seen the last couple of years. But they are still there…"
Keeping their heads down. Have you noticed they succeeded in killing the "dirty dairying"meme?
Yep, effective comms people and deep pockets, it is almost seen as unpatriotic to criticise dairy.
“They” grabbed the narrative on Three Waters also, which sees people the country over facing substantial rate rises, with still no clear solution to the crumbling infrastructure. I collect rain water with two tanks and filter it, didn’t use to bother filtering, but it tastes good and I don’t get “boil water” notices.
The staff can go independent and produce a programme online.
They can set up a Friends of Fair Go site for donations.
They can work with Consumer Magazine, Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
They can do stories on landlords and tenants – no doubt plenty about.
News staff and others from Newshub have the option of bringing "video" skilled staff to various online media and or making that a point of difference, with their own on-line media site.
Maybe not, TVNZ has prevented the Fair Go brand leaving the stable.
https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/04/09/tvnz-cuts-fair-go-gets-partial-reprieve-midday-and-tonight-axed/
Well there's one spot of good news in all this darkness: Reality Check Radio is off the air and having to rattle the old begging-bowls (you'll need to scroll down a fair bit):
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350239818/live-tvnz-officially-cancels-fair-go-midday-and-tonight
Bye; don't let the door hit you on the way out.
the conflict between women's rights and trans' rights, in an Australian court today. Do women have a right to female-only spaces?
Tickle v Giggle
Live tweeting for those that want to follow,
https://twitter.com/tribunaltweets2/status/1777327982321041588
this seems key: should woman be defined by gender identity or biological sex?
Tickle's counsel (Tickle is a trans identified male/trans woman) argues,
https://twitter.com/tribunaltweets2/status/1777497626503794982
should the word 'woman' be legally defined by gender identity or biological sex.
My take,
Historically, when laws were written around this, woman mean adult, human female. It wasn't defined in law, because everyone understood what woman and female meant. In recent decades, gender identity has been written into law to give trans people some protections. But this was done without addressing the sex/gender/gender identity definitions and what the conflict might mean for other rights and legislation.
The battleground has shifted from merely a fight for gender identity rights to the erasure of the sex binary. IMHO this is an attack on both the scientific/biological basis for the sex binary (In Humans, Sex is Binary and Immutable by Georgi K. Marinov | NAS) and of same sex attraction (Trans activism is homophobia in drag – spiked (spiked-online.com)).
So I'll stick my neck out. Where the rights of trans people can be protected they should be, but never, ever at the expense of 'biological women', or of the meaning that very phrase.
Seems to me like there are two distinct aspects to the trans rights side. One is establishing that it's illegal to discriminate on the basis of gender identity for things like housing, jobs etc. This makes sense to me, given the antipathy towards gender non-conforming people generally.
The other is the push to colonise women's spaces and culture. Some of that is justified as affirming trans women, but it's also clear to me that some of it is just straight out misogyny. Neither are justifications for removing women's rights.
Agreed. My view is the 'colonising woman's spaces and culture' bit is (or at least appears to be) a dominant force in the 'trans rights side' atm, which seems to me to be problematic for the rights of both gender non-conforming people and biological women generally.
This is probably pie in the sky and wouldn't necessarily be effective in a legal sense, but in theory….
That's why a solution could be for the vast majority to grit their teeth and give up on the words 'man' and 'woman'.
If everyone starts using only 'male' and 'female' where 'man' and 'woman' have traditionally been used then it could solve a lot of arguments. If a tiny minority are using words that the majority don't understand the meaning of so don't use things would quieten down pretty quickly maybe?
It would mean giving up part of the English language which could be difficult for some to stomach but it wouldn't be to appease a certain group of people it would be to simply remove the arguments.
If you don't know what a woman is (and who can these days) just start always using 'female'.
Of course in that scenario we may end up with people starting to yell and scream about trans females… hehe
a few problems with that.
the word woman has a lot of usage where female is inappropriate. We don't say 'see that female over there' because that's kind of rude/weird.
not all females are women. Female applies to other animals, and plants. This is why the word woman means adult human female, and why giving up the word woman is a terrible idea. There is not really any other word we can use to name women.
at least half of TRA politics is about colonising. Everyone else changing their language won't make that go away.
TWATW. There was a period of time when most women would have been fine with old school transsexual/trans identified males. The arising of AGP culture changes everything. No way are women going to let men with the need to exhibit their sexual fetish into our spaces.
I believe body-shape has to come into it somewhere. No-one who went through puberty as a male and/or still has functional male genitals should be allowed to colonise spaces reserved for cis-women, against the occupants' will. No male-bodied people in women's toilets, changing-rooms or prisons.
That said, I'm easy about how people want to define or identify themselves.
Exactly, got dingle , go dangle it some other place!!
Tweet thread unrolled of the first bit of the hearing,
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1777327982321041588.html
Part 2 starts here
https://twitter.com/tribunaltweets2/status/1777513716101341645
Four of the first 5 Questions today are aimed at the PM.
10 points for each time the PM answers a question.
Nil points are expected.
Gerry reckons; It's all good!
It will be "interesting" LOL; and today he will not have Winston Peters sitting next to him propping him up and/or raising/causing diversions. I wonder who they will have in Winny's seat …
Rest easy.
He's got Gerry.
It may be my imagination but is Gerry getting tougher? But previous speakers would never allow a minister to keep talking over him when he's trying to cut political comments short. What's happened to the ability to cut a mike?
I don't think the Speaker "cuts the mike". Some technician, I'm guessing.
Gerry relies upon bonhomie to get through. Soon, that will be challenged.
I notice that Gerry Brownlee frequently interrupts Opposition MPs when they are starting to ask a question. He comments about supposedly "too much" background noise from other MPs, then asks the questioning Opposition MP to start again. I feel this is a tactic, to try to unsettle the questioner and to interrupt the flow of the question. However, it doesn't seem to be effective.
The rule is that questions are heard in silence. Brownlee is insisting on that. He's starting to crack down on Ministers 'attacking' the previous government and today asked a government patsy questioner to ask her supplementary question without being a leading question opening up a further attack. Hopefully, he's starting to grow into the role.
Yes, I realise questions are to be heard in silence. However Brownlee does not consistently apply this requirement when Government MPs ask questions. Their colleagues are at times speaking to each other during these questions.
I think if you paid closer attention you would see his insistence applies to both gummint and opposition…
The issue was highlighted in The House on RNZ Nights at about 8.15 pm.
This is the link. However, being just minutes ago it's not yet on screen to be listened to…..
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/the-house
Statler or Waldorf
Cuts to two child poverty reports today. That was holding the country back.
Listened to a chap from CAB on the radio. No wonder they are always wanting to cut them and libraries. They give advice to under -25s and immigrants on casual work issues such as holiday pay and in tenancy issues. Particularly when flatting with the landlord it seems they’re exempt from a lot of the legal protections.
New poll shows 4 leaders all with negative ratings (coalition trifecta, plus Hipkins).
NEW POLL: More Bad News For Centre-Right As Government Parties Drop In Support | Scoop News
The public are looking for leadership, and if Labour can offer it, the Red-Green alliance will win the next election. The Greens are doing their bit already.
Call me old school, but the rule of thumb from a class left view is to unite all who can be united around certain things to build organisation and success.
Mr Hipkins sunk NZ Labour with his Cap’n’s Call from afar on wealth tax and CGT and will be replaced in due time. Te Pāti Māori and Greens get out and about and are leading the way at the moment–politics is way more than just Parliament and comms.
Green Co Leader Ms Swarbrick seems to eat Govt. MPs for breakfast going by any interview I have seen. So…Labour, Green, TPM need to get a combined move going and State Sector Unions might consider finally electing a CTU leader as good as Hellen Kelly and taking some direct action against the COC Govt.
L-G-TPM now lead NACT (45 to 44).
NZF at 6% over the threshold – taking the coalition to 50%.
One wonders how they will fare once NACT tries to bring in changes to foreign investment rules …
Interesting that Act + NZF combined is less than the Greens.
Paul The Other One discusses NZers' decrease in media trust, media literacy, and social media algorithms that encourage bias confirmation.
I wonder how much of this is the decrease in tone-neutral fact reportage, and the rise, begun by Paul Holmes in feely news and op-ed infotainment, vs. thinky news?
Here's the report itself, showing plummeting public trust in the news media.
https://www.jmadresearch.com/_files/ugd/a95e86_cc317afe8a414d69a47c034735e58854.pdf?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Although the trend is worldwide, New Zealand is a trend leader, along with UK and USA.
Could it have anything to do with the Public Interest Journalism Fund? The PIJF required news media to show “commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to Māori as a Te Tiriti partner” i.e. to support the previous government's promotion of the treaty as a "partnership". The report also cites public concern about censorship of the news, bias, and dumbing down.
"Could it have anything to do with the Public Interest Journalism Fund? "
Nope. It's entirely down to the agents who seek to undermine public confidence in the media they trusted for so long; that media hasn't betrayed the public, they've just been vilified by those who will benefit from insecurity in the populace.
Bottom of pg. 27 of the Report.
Sorry – posted my reply to Robert before I saw yours.
"It's entirely down to the agents who seek to undermine public confidence…"
The authors provide a number of reasons for the drop in public confidence, including this: ( a95e86_cc317afe8a414d69a47c034735e58854.pdf (jmadresearch.com))
"In 2022, the JMAD trust in news report noted that one of the main reasons for distrust in news media was the government’s support for news media, in particular the $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund that was launched during the pandemic and that included direct monetary support for newsroom roles and projects.9 The scheme was disestablished in June 2023."
"one of the main reasons for distrust in news media was the government’s support for news media"
Idiot conspiracy-theorists.
You running with them, Traveller?
Shooting the messenger again Rob? Or then again, the left could take notice and learn something useful.
The report is about public trust in the news. in response to the question "Could it have anything to do with the Public Interest Journalism Fund?" you replied "Nope" and "It's entirely down to…"
Based on this research, in 2022 the PIJF was clearly a factor, and it remains so in the latest report, albeit (as pointed out above) "this theme is weaker than last year".
I don't know who you are referring to as "Idiot conspiracy-theorists". If you explain, I can answer your question to me.
You're unaware, Traveller, of the idiot conspiracy theorists making crack-pot claims about the MSM?
There are 'idiot conspiracy theorists' pontificating about all manner of things, Robert. Some clam the MSM is systemically left or right wing. Some claim the MSM is in the grip of evil global corporates or shadowy secret societies.
I understand your point to be that the public loss of confidence in the media was unrelated to the PIJF, and that criticism of the fund was the work of 'idiot conspiracy theorists'.
Assuming I have represented your position correctly, the problem you have is that with reviews such as the Sapere report (The-implications-of-competition-and-market-trends-for-media-plurality-in-New-Zealand-November-2021.pdf (srgexpert.com))
Specifically in relation to the PIJF, the report found (both on P42):
"Some stakeholders also expressed reservations that public funding of media firms may make those firms beholden to the government of the day and public officials might be reluctant to fund proposals that will be critical of government policies – which would undermine a key plurality objective of the media being able to hold public institutions and elected officials accountable." (Emphasis added). Unexpectedly, 'most news firms' denied that would be the case.
"However, several stakeholders expressed concern that funding decisions had crossed into editorial decision-making, with New Zealand On Air effectively holding a ‘beauty contest’ to choose which proposed stories/investigations merited support. It was suggested that funding these one-off incremental outputs will produce marginal public benefit and does little to encourage the industry to confront the true challenges of producing sustainable news." (Emphasis added).
The report raised other concerns with the PIJF, but I would argue that the issue of editorial independence is key to public confidence.
That's several stakeholders' opinions. Where's the actual information on specific projects which these stakeholders objected to?
Have a look here where all projects funded are listed. (See section on Detail of funding- projects only). Which were problematic in their outputs? There's quite a few NZME and other non-state media that got funded.
It was made clear many times as I heard in this discussion that, once funding was approved, the media content produced had full editorial independence.
If the general media fill their on-air hours with outrage content, like much of NewsTALK ZB, or private investors fund conspiracy channels like The Platform and Counterspin, then a balance of some sort is essential for healthy democracy.
"That's several stakeholders' opinions."
Of course. And 'opinions' are what public perception (in this case "NZers' decrease in media trust" (from your comment above) is all about.
"Have a look here where all projects funded are."
Although the Sapere report raised other concerns, this conversation is about how public perception of the media was influenced by the PIJF. In that regard, the issue is not so much which projects were funded, but the conditions placed on editorial content to access that funding. Graham Adams (Graham Adams: Has government money corrupted journalism? – The Common Room (commonroomnz.com)) has a piece at The Common Room that outlines the 'instructions' and 'guidance' in the expanded criteria in 2022. The document providing this 'guidance' was titled “Te Tiriti Framework for News Media”, and amongst other things includes this "For news media, it is not simply a matter of reporting ‘fairly’, but of constructively contributing to Te Tiriti relations and social justice” and "Repeated references by the government to the English version [of the Treaty], in which Māori supposedly ceded sovereignty, have created systematic disinformation that protects the government’s assumption of sole parliamentary sovereignty.” Whatever you think of Adams' conclusions, the criteria, instructions and guidance provided are IMHO easily construed as editorial interference, whether they acted as such or not.
"It was made clear many times as I heard in this discussion that, once funding was approved, the media content produced had full editorial independence."
Well, that's what the media claimed. It may well be correct. However the Sapere report shows that there were concerns about how providing funding to media with (non-financial) strings attached that go specifically to editorial coverage was be perceived.
NZ videogame spoof from Tavola for a little giggle…
Tavola NZ facebook Sunday 7th April 2024