Open Mike 09/12/2018

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, December 9th, 2018 - 183 comments
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183 comments on “Open Mike 09/12/2018 ”

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  1. Robert Guyton 1
    9 December 2018 at 6:48 am

    Plans for a post titled, “How to get there” and intended as a platform for TS readers and commenters to display their ideas and aspirations for improving the chances for each and every one of us (humanity that is) to “get there” have been floated over the past couple of weeks and today might be, by the grace of the TS authors and tech people, the moment for it to surface, glistening and quivering, into the light of day. Fingers crossed.

    • Stunned mullet 1.1
      9 December 2018 at 7:27 am

      Blueberry recommendations Robert?

      I’m wanting to put in around 15 up Auckland way and wanted any advice on best variety.

      • Robert Guyton 1.1.1
        9 December 2018 at 8:02 am

        Hey Stunned. Which ever you choose (I grow a high bush variety), grow them as a group, in a “block” rather than line, as they fruit far more prolifically that way. If you place them all about the garden, they’ll do less well (it’s a pollination thing). The birds, blackbirds in particular) will take them all, unless you net.

      • Molly 1.1.2
        9 December 2018 at 8:40 am

        Apparently, the rabbiteye varieties are good for Auckland. Can’t remember where I read it, but was looking into the same issue a few weeks back before going nursery shopping.

    • WeTheBleeple 1.2
      9 December 2018 at 7:49 am

      The ‘water article’ I’m working on looks like it might need to be split up a little. A lot to cover even skimming over it. That pun was wet. What a drip. I’d stop it if I had a bung.

      The book is shaping up nicely and several chapters will make relevant materials for ‘how to get there’. I’m very happy to announce I finished the n-fixer data base last night, so nice playing with good data. Categorised ground covers, shrubs and trees, then by North and South Islands, then by water requirements, habitat type, light requirements… I’ll keep juggling it about to see if anything interesting emerges, while I figure how to present the bulk data in digestible chunks. Icons and a key will be key to it I think… Although we don’t have a lot of endemic n-fixers, we have some really interesting and beautiful specimens.

      I’ll also be paraphrasing some of the PDC course for how to get there. Many great topics as they arise. And my project for the PDC will be the book – so as to not get overstretched – see how it all organically fits together…

      Have also been practicing not feeding the trolls. 2 days no bites! Hehe.

      It’s time to bring out the jazz hands

    • Jenny 1.3
      9 December 2018 at 8:07 am

      Goodbye Gridlock

      Imagine driving over the Auckland Harbour Bridge or down the Southern Motorway at rush hour, and other than service and delivery vans and trucks, finding yourself virtually the only private car on it.

      Meanwhile thousands of commuters are whizzing by you on the dedicated bus lanes not needed for cars anymore.

      Why?

      Because everyone loves something if it is free!

      Luxembourg Just Made Public Transportation Free for Everyone
      Kristin Houser – Futurism, December 6, 2018

      Mass Appeal
      The tiny European nation of Luxembourg has landed itself in the international spotlight.

      On Wednesday the country’s prime minister, Xavier Bettel, was sworn in for his second term. At that time, his governing coalition announced a plan that would set Luxembourg apart from every other country in the world: by summer 2019, all public transport in the nation will be completely free.

      Traffic Woes
      Luxembourg is smaller than Rhode Island, and more people live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, than within the nation’s borders. In other words, it’s a tiny country — but that doesn’t prevent it from having a big traffic problem.

      • cleangreen 1.3.1
        9 December 2018 at 9:37 am

        Hi Jenny,

        Yes it seems that the head trucking lobby group (RTA) are always operated by retired National and Act party MP like today (RTA) Chief is Ken Shirley who was an Act Pary MP. https://www.rtanz.co.nz/

        In 2000 Tony Friedlander was the (RTA) ‘Road Transport Association’ boss, – so they are powerful with the oil companies behind them as oil companies make far more money from truck freight than rail does for them so they fight to save the road freight and always fight to kill rail as they use five to eight times less oil fuel product to haul ‘each tonne every one km’ than trucks do.

      • Ad 1.3.2
        9 December 2018 at 12:28 pm

        If Auckland had the collective wealth of Luxembourg we could consider it.
        We don’t and we never will.

        We are concentrating on CAPEX not OPEX in transport mode shift.

        For example, only two years ago the whole length of Dominion Road was just a slow carpark. Then Waterview Tunnel opened, and Dominion Road is livable again.

        And it was only because of that Waterview job being completed and alleviating Dominion Road that light rail can even be contemplated.

  2. James 2
    9 December 2018 at 7:13 am

    HDPA on Trev the protector:

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12172869

    He needs to raise his game.

    • Grey Area 2.1
      9 December 2018 at 7:17 am

      No he doesn’t. National does.

      Do you believe everything Duplicity-Allan writes?

    • Robert Guyton 2.2
      9 December 2018 at 7:20 am

      People admire a man who protects a woman and in this case, the woman is the very, very popular and much loved Jacinda. The man protecting her, Trevor, will be quietly thanked and supported by New Zealanders throughout the country. Good man, that Trevor.

      • James 2.2.1
        9 December 2018 at 7:25 am

        Nice you agree that he’s protecting her?

        Why is it so you think she needs protection?

        Not up to the job?

        Or perhaps Trev is sweet on her?

        • marty mars 2.2.1.1
          9 December 2018 at 7:46 am

          You’re a sick wee puppy there james but we already know that.

          The Prime Minister is doing a fantastic job and it is no wonder rwnj’s like you poo your pants daily with the prospect of many many many years of this leadership.

        • solkta 2.2.1.2
          9 December 2018 at 8:09 am

          I don’t know, given the quality of the Soyman’s questions it would seem more reasonable to argue that the Speaker was protecting him.

        • patricia bremner 2.2.1.3
          9 December 2018 at 7:35 pm

          James Jacinda Ardern is so able hard working and informed, she is not vulnerable to the petty jabs from trolls like you. Your suggestions are uncouth and graceless

      • Wayne 2.2.2
        9 December 2018 at 8:17 am

        Presumably not the 46% who support National. They would not expect the Speaker to protect her.

        In any event from what I see, she doesn’t need it. She is the best of the Labour MP’s. Even when she doesn’t have much of an answer to a question in the house, she manages an adequate answer. Most of her colleagues can’t do that.

        • Robert Guyton 2.2.2.1
          9 December 2018 at 8:23 am

          You’re right about one thing, Wayne; she’s good. Your poll figure’s pretty suspect though (we’ve all heard 41% but in any case, it’s to low to be of any use). And I think you’ve mucked up your second sentence, but it’s Sunday and kinda early still, for some. I was up at 6:30 and have coffeed.
          Edit: you spotted it yourself! Well done, Wayne. Have a coffee.

          • Kat 2.2.2.1.1
            9 December 2018 at 11:30 am

            Wayne knows the real number is 38%. He has to dispute it publicly of course. But hey let him and the Nat supporters believe its 46% and that Santa is on his way. Its largely irrelevant for the govt going into the new year which with some high performing MP’s emerging will only get stronger.

        • Ankerrawshark 2.2.2.2
          9 December 2018 at 9:36 am

          Cheers Wayne.. I think that is big of you to say that.

          I find Ms Ardern extremely clear and articulate.

          I think Simon was trying to score some points over the sroubec issue, which is what an opposition tries to do.

          He was trying to hold her to account for what Winston said about the ex working on behalf of the National party. As ardern plays fair, this put her in a tricky situation………while the intent was to catch her out, Simon didn’t…….She focused on when she first heard of the ex’s connection to National, which was on the news. She of course couldn’t answer the questions about the police, immigration and the ex address “was that ok …left ex feeling vulnerable “, because that was an operational matter. I remember she did the same with the roast busters, but asked for a police review.

          I particularly remember John key being shocking at answering questions. Turning the oppositions questions into jokes, the one that sticks in my mind most was that when Cunliffe was asking key about the housing CRISIS and key flipped it into a retort about Cunliffe living in Herne Bay…….this is my mind is a disgrace. So was the complete inability to do anything about the escalating crisis under the key government until they were shamed into it by a news hub item on homelessness. As National achieved very little in9 years, other than creating a surplus by hiding a chronic underfunding in health, housing education and policing numbers, in my view any criticism from them on this govt falls on deaf ears……..and no Ms ardern neither needs nor gets Trevor’s protection. She is miles ahead of all is national……

        • Tricledrown 2.2.2.3
          9 December 2018 at 11:37 am

          Wayne yellow press 46% with mates Nationals internal polling 42% with leaking about the drip simple soimon who continues his popularity drop down the gurglar!

        • Incognito 2.2.2.4
          9 December 2018 at 6:03 pm

          Are you trying to protect the National brand, Wayne? You have your job cut out for you 😉

    • Ad 2.3
      9 December 2018 at 7:39 am

      “…Here comes the protection” is the one thing Bridges can’t say of anyone behind him.

    • Fireblade 2.4
      9 December 2018 at 9:07 am

      David Carter protecting John Key.

      • cleangreen 2.4.1
        9 December 2018 at 9:48 am

        Fireblade So cool was that clip was so impressive as David carter was one of the most arrogant speakers of this 21st century I have had to suffer through.

        Thanks for that brilliant compendium of the often nastiness side of David Carter as John Key’s Government..

      • Ffloyd 2.4.2
        9 December 2018 at 12:24 pm

        Carter did that just about every time parliament sat. Sometimes blatantly. His way around things was to say that ‘the minister had *addressed* the question. Usually this meant that the minister hadn’t *answered* the question but didn’t need to as it had been addressed. Worst speaker ever. Did he get a gong?

  3. Robert Guyton 3
    9 December 2018 at 7:22 am

    Trevor doesn’t like Simon Bridges’ whiney nonsense. And neither does most of the country. Just look at the popularity polls. Jacinda – 1trillion, Simon – 0.

    • James 3.1
      9 December 2018 at 7:28 am

      Even you know Robert that the popularity numbers mean nothing.

      National are polling at 46% – higher than labour.

      That’s the number that matters.

      Nzf are under 5% and the loopy greens are only 1% away from falling under as well.

      • Sabine 3.1.1
        9 December 2018 at 7:54 am

        National may poll at 46% but without Mates that will leave them short of a majority every single time.

        And it would do you well to remember that really your party, its “leader” and his backstabbers should not insult any other parties, no matter how small or unimportant you might think they are, cause with 46% National is and will always be 5% short of a majority. And considering that the No mates Party still has no friends, its 46% are not enough.

        And that is the only thing that matters. Your party does not have enough support to win even a charity baking event.

        • James 3.1.1.1
          9 December 2018 at 10:08 am

          You forget that (under current polling) should the greens drop 1% then labour has no mates either.

          And labour poll behind national.

          • Sabine 3.1.1.1.1
            9 December 2018 at 7:05 pm

            well that may be so, but not for the next two years, and somehow i doubt the Greens will fall away. They have been called dead many many times, and yet they always show up.

            In the meantime, the No Mates Party has not even got mates it could kill off. It did the killing the support parties so well the last time around that on election night the penny finally dropped. No mates, no coalition, no glory, no nothing but Mr. No Bridges, Paula Benefit, and Judith “oravida’ Collins. Sad!

      • Robert Guyton 3.1.2
        9 December 2018 at 7:58 am

        Popularity is everything when you want popular support and Trevor will have popular support for caring for Jacinda (and Neve). Unpopular Simon will not win any popularity by whining about the man who’s protecting the lovely Jacinda from the likes of unpopular Simon. And *shudders, Paula.

      • cleangreen 3.1.3
        9 December 2018 at 10:00 am

        James,

        Watch the next poll; – and you will see a swing away from your beloved National ‘sell all’ party.

        Folks are now awake to see “a kinder gentler Labour coalition Government who will stop the ‘selloff’ your mob have been doing to NZ for nine years.

        NZ has stopped the ‘John key”NZ Inc’ selloff.’

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/7637382/The-business-of-NZ-Inc

        • James 3.1.3.1
          9 December 2018 at 10:07 am

          “Watch the next poll”. – lefties have been saying that for 10 years.

          Still not happened.

      • Anne 3.1.4
        9 December 2018 at 10:07 am

        Except they’re not polling at 46%. 🙂

        Two polls, UMR and National’s internal poll came out at the same time and one was 41% and I believe UMR was either 41% or 42%. That makes a liar out of the CB poll which has been biased towards National for years.

        I believe they conduct their polls at the Remuera Shopping Centre – not far from where most of them live.

        • veutoviper 3.1.4.1
          9 December 2018 at 1:42 pm

          In National’s latest internal Curia poll National was at 41%; and at 37% in Labour’s internal UMR poll. Hence the Colmar Brunton is really the outlier at 46%.

          I have also heard, but cannot verify, that Colmar Brunton has also been experimenting with different mixes of landline/mobile polling, and now also a proportion of online polling. This may well affect the results they are getting.

          • Anne 3.1.4.1.1
            9 December 2018 at 4:54 pm

            My comment re- Remuera Shopping Centre was tongue-in-cheek.

            If CB is experimenting then it could explain the difference. Working people don’t have the same amount of time as the idle rich to go surfing online. I’m idle because I’m retired. 😉

            • veutoviper 3.1.4.1.1.1
              10 December 2018 at 11:26 am

              Realised that re the Remuera Shopping Centre, LOZ: but wanted to point out that the UMR was down at 37%.

              I am also retired but don’t feel idle!

          • rod 3.1.4.1.2
            9 December 2018 at 5:17 pm

            I think Colmar Brunton is protecting the National Party, as always.

            • Anne 3.1.4.1.2.1
              9 December 2018 at 6:59 pm

              Despite all their protestations to the contrary, I also suspect there’s an element of pro-National bias in their processes.

      • Ffloyd 3.1.5
        9 December 2018 at 12:28 pm

        As you probably well know Jimmy the 46% is highly debatable. Nationals own internal polling was 41% according to the leaker. Simons polling is heading to the negative. History in the making, what?

    • Wayne 3.2
      9 December 2018 at 8:19 am

      The speaker is not there to diss Simon. All good speakers cut a bit of slack to the main Leaders of each party. From what I can see Trevor doesn’t, but he needs to.

      • Robert Guyton 3.2.1
        9 December 2018 at 8:28 am

        Simon’s pedantic, plodding speaking style would challenge the tolerance of any Speaker, I reckon. Trevor should ask him to make his questions a bit more interesting , perhaps pep them up a little with a bit of twinkle – anything but that prosecutor’s drone, or whatever it is Simon does!

      • solkta 3.2.2
        9 December 2018 at 8:29 am

        But shouldn’t leaders be setting a good example and showing the greatest respect for Parliament?

      • Ankerrawshark 3.2.3
        9 December 2018 at 9:40 am

        Give examples Wayne, if you are going to say speaker not there to diss Simon…..that implies he does withou backing your statement up.

      • Anne 3.2.4
        9 December 2018 at 10:09 am

        @ Wayne
        You do bullshit yourself. He’s let the Simon get away with murder since he became leader.

      • Anne 3.2.5
        9 December 2018 at 7:09 pm

        The speaker is not there to diss Simon. All good speakers cut a bit of slack to the main Leaders of each party. From what I can see Trevor doesn’t, but he needs to.

        That is rubbish Wayne. If it appears that way, it is because Simon often traverses the line of what is acceptable conduct and what isn’t. Jacinda doesn’t. She always answers questions in a respectful way even when the question or questioner doesn’t deserve it. If she crossed that line she, too, would be pulled up by Speaker Mallard.

        He’s trying to improve the standards even if he was once one of the transgressors. Everyone can change you know.

      • Chris 3.2.6
        9 December 2018 at 7:20 pm

        How do you rate John Carter? In your book was he straight down the middle fair to both sides?

        • David Mac 3.2.6.1
          9 December 2018 at 7:33 pm

          Speakers are the referees that run onto the field wearing the jumper of the home team.

          A subtle bias comes with the role.

          It’s a formula that favours getting things done, moving forward. Most of us are cool with that.

          To the victor the spoils.

          • Chris 3.2.6.1.1
            9 December 2018 at 11:43 pm

            Carter wasn’t subtle. Wayne must know that. The nats complaining about Mallard is sickening after Carter’s performance during his four years or how ever long it was. His behaviour around Key’s “backing rapist” remarks and kicking the female MPs out of the House was disgraceful, but that wasn’t his worst. Carter was a disgrace to democracy over his whole time as Speaker. And now Bridges and his band of idiots feel hard done by. After what Carter did and got away with they can just fuck right off.

  4. marty mars 4
    9 December 2018 at 7:55 am

    Some history – good article allowing some light through to illuminate.

    When dates were being considered for the first Rā Maumahara commemorating the New Zealand Wars, one suggestion was December 3. That day doesn’t mark the anniversary of any particular battle or conflict. Instead, it’s the day in 1863 that Governor George Grey signed into law the New Zealand Settlements Act.

    It’s an innocuous-sounding piece of legislation but it had devastating consequences for many Māori communities. The Settlements Act provided the primary legislative mechanism for raupatu — sweeping land confiscations that were supposedly intended to punish acts of “rebellion” while also recouping the costs of fighting the wars.

    It declared that where “any Native Tribe or Section of a Tribe or any considerable number thereof” had committed acts of “rebellion against Her Majesty’s authority” since January 1, 1863, their lands could be declared subject to the Act and seized for the purposes of settlement.

    It was part of a package of measures passed by the all-Pākehā parliament to crush Māori independence.

    https://e-tangata.co.nz/history/a-dark-tale-of-dispossession-and-greed/

    • veutoviper 4.1
      10 December 2018 at 11:21 am

      Thank you so much for posting this, marty mars.

      It was something I would have missed if you had not done so, and reading that and seeing the photo has left an indelible mark on me. Follow-up reading is now on my Summer Recess Watch and Read list.

      It is a real pity that it does not seem to have been noticed much, but it was a busy day here yesterday. I am maintaining an open mind on the new regular post, and will be watching from the sidelines initially at least.

      I did think about reposting your comment and link again today in the hopes others might at least read it and the link, but will leave you to decide whether to do so.

      It did get an unintentional plug here, but without any response! Think he meant 5 not 4 …

      https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-09-12-2018/#comment-1560313

  5. Ed 5
    9 December 2018 at 7:56 am

    We can choose to allow rwnjs to derail this thread or we can ignore them.

    • Sabine 5.1
      9 December 2018 at 7:57 am

      Seriously?

    • marty mars 5.2
      9 December 2018 at 7:59 am

      Maybe go with the flow and stop trying to control stuff. It doesn’t matter really ed – life still happens, and out of control is actually the norm not an aberration.

      • Robert Guyton 5.2.1
        9 December 2018 at 8:12 am

        Nicely put, Marty. Re trolls, it’s best, I reckon, to use the platform the’ve thoughtfully provided, to fold back their issue onto themselves and take a good-hearted swipe their gods and heroes at the same time – all for fun, mind, never unkindly 🙂

      • Ed 5.2.2
        9 December 2018 at 8:12 am

        I just find the distraction that James creates prevents discussion of the important issues.

        • marty mars 5.2.2.1
          9 December 2018 at 8:16 am

          and if the distraction works then he has succeeded – fuck him ed he isn’t worth it – just a nobody gnat supporter who hides bad behaviour behind a facade of respectability – we know the type – they have to be real low riders to come and spend their days here – no mates just like simon. Laugh at them for they are weak examples of the species.

        • Robert Guyton 5.2.2.2
          9 December 2018 at 8:17 am

          Hey Ed, don’t be distracted by that stuff, it’s just padding. If we only discuss pressing and critical matters, we’ll all be exhausted by day’s end. Fluff from trolls (troll fluff) gives us a chance to make them dance a little, lightening our moods and giving us a well deserved laugh. Taking them seriously, upbraiding them, only gives them substance; let’s hold them in their frothy state and bat them around the show for our own pleasure 🙂

        • Sabine 5.2.2.3
          9 December 2018 at 8:20 am

          good grief, let it be.

          Please, post a video or something. But let it be.

          Let people be.

        • solkta 5.2.2.4
          9 December 2018 at 8:21 am

          Yes, but you find anyone discussing anything other than your three issues an intolerable distraction.

        • Ankerrawshark 5.2.2.5
          9 December 2018 at 10:06 am

          I agree about James.

          It’s interesting, I count if someone genuine on here by whether they respond to challenging questions or just disappear. BM and James seem to disappear and James comments are often provocative eg after “good news” for National eg after the 46% polls result.

          Wayne answers questions and also I think puts up with quite a lot. I think he might be generally interested in the debate and from the little I’ve seen of kiwiblog he ain’t going to get it there.

          Punish, well he keeps it light hearted and is sometimes funny in his adoration of Judith, but it may become a little tedious like a friend who has a six month crush on someone.

          Best response to James is “you comment is consistent with your purpose for commenting on this website”. I think if he always got this comment unless he made a decent contribution he might just get a little tired of us

          • Puckish Rogue 5.2.2.5.1
            9 December 2018 at 11:06 am

            “adoration of Judith”

            Is it that obvious, I thought I was being subtle 😉

            • Ankerrawshark 5.2.2.5.1.1
              9 December 2018 at 1:30 pm

              Ha ha PR. No I have to say your not too subtle when it comes to your adoration of Judith.

              I enjoy your presence on this website even if we likely disagree on ……..well everything

              • Puckish Rogue …
                9 December 2018 at 3:13 pm

                “I enjoy your presence on this website even if we likely disagree on ……..well everything”

                Challenge excepted 🙂

        • gsays 5.2.2.6
          9 December 2018 at 10:33 am

          From where I sit Ed, there seems to be more aggro and ‘playing the man not the ball’s from folk who would identity as ‘lefties’.

          I agree with the idea of letting them be or ignoring them.

        • greywarshark 5.2.2.7
          9 December 2018 at 3:03 pm

          Yes Ed but that is the way that the site operates, whether James provokes useful discussion that matches his negativity I don’t know – is it a net gain? You are worth having Ed so let’s keep hearing from you but with some slight adjustments as suggested.

    • te reo putake 5.3
      9 December 2018 at 9:05 am

      I’m not sure it’s possible to ‘derail’ Open Mike. It’s intended to be fluid and nobody has to reply to anyone.

      I’m also not sure that we get regular visited by RWNJ’s. Most of the commenters here who are from the other end of the political spectrum are rational and articulate and not outright trolls.

      TS would be a dull place if we only had left wing opinions expressed here, so try thinking of our righty friends as the grit in the oyster of thought that helps produce the pearls of wisdom that make TS special.

    • mauī 5.4
      9 December 2018 at 9:42 am

      Ed, thank you. I have missed you.

  6. Ad 6
    9 December 2018 at 8:02 am

    With John Kelly departing the White House by the end of this year, it looks like the Mueller inquiry is leaving only core of family loyalists and trolls.

    The 2020 White House after the trials is the Democrats’ to lose.

    • Sabine 6.1
      9 December 2018 at 8:08 am

      There are no trials before 2020. Look at Nixon and the work it took to get him out of the Presidency, and Trump is no Nixon. Heck Nixon is a choir boy compared to Trump.

      As for Kelly leaving, good riddance. Don’t you get the warm and fuzzies knowing that Bolton is now the serious adult in the office, and that Kelly will be replaced with a spare part from Fox News? Maybe Tucker Carlson.

      so yeah, the republican party is not done yet.

      • Ad 6.1.1
        9 December 2018 at 8:16 am

        The trials will be for Manafort, Cohen, Kushner, and Trump jr.
        Looking forward to it.

        No impeachment since no Senate majority.

        D TRump will stay in there and ensure Biden has a pretty easy path in.

        Once President Trump goes however, the IRS will take him down on tax fraud.

        • Sabine 6.1.1.1
          9 December 2018 at 8:19 am

          yep, i agree with you, but gosh i hope the Dems come up with someone younger then Biden. to fucking old, too white, too much baggage of assholery see Anita Hill.

          Trials for Trump jr is a bit premature.

          • Wayne 6.1.1.1.1
            9 December 2018 at 8:33 am

            “Too white”, what does that mean?

            Are the Democrats no longer allowed to have white male candidates for president, with the expectation that the Republicans only have white male candidates.

            Surely in a democracy as diverse as the United States, or ours for that matter, ethnicity is not really an issue on whether a person can attain high office. For instance both National’s Leader and Deputy leader are Maori (though with other ethnicities as well). It goes almost completely unremarked.

            Although the social and economic statistics still disadvantage Maori, there are probably hundreds of thousands of Maori who have suffered no particular disadvantage, and who are succeeding in a large number of fields. For instance forty years ago there were almost no Maori lawyers, with only two women Maori lawyers. Today there would be hundreds.

            • Sabine 6.1.1.1.1.1
              9 December 2018 at 10:42 am

              two white means too white.

              the democratic grass roots are people of colour. The democratic voters are people of colour.
              If you care to have a look at the last exit polls posted on CNN that i have linked to at a previous thread you will see that the much vaunted white working class/middle class/upper class, all of them with economic anxiety – and men, voted for the Republicans.
              so it would behoove the democratic party to choose leaders and even presidents that reflects their voting block, rather then chase the white evangelic male working class/middle class/upper class with economic anxiety voter who is not gonna vote democrats anywhich way and if it is only cause ‘abortions’ and such.

              so yeah, Biden, too white – again if you could be bothered look at his past – Anita Hill and the Seating of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. He can whinge and whine all to his hearts content, fact is he behaved like an entitled ass then, and to some extend still has not understood just what an entitled ass he is today. Just in case you don’t know what i speak of https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=biden+anita+hill&oq=Biden+Antia+H&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l3.4897j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
              And at 75 he is too fucking old. Full stop here. IF you don’t have to live the consequences of your actions you should not be allowed to run for President, imo.

              The world needs someone at the helm of that country that actually has to loose something when and if he/she fucks up By voting geriatrics in its only the world that is gonna loose.

              As Bush the younger once famously said when asked how history will judge him : I will be dead then. And that is precisely the mindset that gave us Iraq Invasion two.

              So yeah, too old, too white, too much bagage.

              IF you can’t find people under seventy to represent your country your country is fucked.

              • Pat …
                9 December 2018 at 10:51 am

                “The world needs someone at the helm of that country that actually has to loose something when and if he/she fucks up By voting geriatrics in its only the world that is gonna loose.”

                The reality has always been that the elites dont lose irrespective of the result and that is not age/gender/race dependent…..take any issue you care to consider and the poor are invariably the hardest hit.

                • Sabine …
                  9 December 2018 at 8:17 pm

                  well i hope that the new crop of ‘the elite’ that was just voted in will consider your points.

                  the poor are always invariably the hardest hit as they generally have nothing to shelter them. That does not mean that we have to continue to nominate and vote for old, white, rich people. As i said, the last midterm got the house back to the dems, and those that got elected for the largest part were as far removed from your elite as they could possibly be. Be it that young women from NY, or the native Indian from Kansas, or that native indian New Mexico and so on and so on.

                  As for losing, we are all going to lose if we don’t finally get our heads out of our asses and realize that the change must come from us, not from any elected overlord. It is up to us to opt out of the system to the point where it collapses. No strong man is gonna do that, no cheap slogan about making shit great again – it never was for some and it never will be for many – can do that. People need to opt out of capitalism, over consumption, cheap shits from dollar shops to make up for empty hearts and minds, crap food cause its “convenient” , etc. No one forces us to participate, like smoking, we will have to quit.

                  Unless people understand that nothing is gonna change and the same people continue to whinge about how nothing is changing.

          • alwyn 6.1.1.1.2
            9 December 2018 at 10:04 am

            ” i hope the Dems come up with someone younger then Biden. to fucking old, too white”.
            Ouch. Well it is pretty clear that Sabine is not going to support Bernie Sanders for President.
            He is even older than Biden, after all.

            • Sabine 6.1.1.1.2.1
              9 December 2018 at 10:43 am

              I don’t.
              I also don’t support Clinton for that same matter.

              Too white, too old. Too much baggage. What was your point? OH, you don’t have one.

              • Morrissey …
                9 December 2018 at 10:50 am

                Too white, too old.

                That’s an utterly invalid and inane reason to reject Clinton. She is a terrible person, but it has nothing to do with her ethnicity or her age.

              • alwyn …
                9 December 2018 at 11:01 am

                My point?
                You are rejecting someone for completely irrelevant reasons.
                What are your sensible reasons? Oh, you don’t have any.

                • Sabine …
                  9 December 2018 at 11:13 am

                  My point?
                  Too old. The country needs someone who is younger, preferably much younger in their fifties no older. That way they actually have a stake in the future as the future will affect them.

                  Too old. Dementia, Alzheimers, Standard old age issues. Reagan comes to mind.

                  Too old, could keel over at any moment due to any reasons old people keel over and thus leave the job ot someone like Mike Pence and his wife Mother – who in my mind would be even worse then Trump – and I stated that before the election of the orange shitstain.

                  Too old. Why would anyone vote for someone who does not understand the issues of young people, people of colour, people who are not heterosexual vanilla, has a studentloan, wants to marry and have children, does not own their own home, has not got a job nor a chance of getting a job etc etc etc etcetc.

                  I have reasons for wanting a younger person, someone who more looks like the electorate, someone who looks more like the people getting the vote out, raising the funds, doing the door knocking, the phone banking and any other of hte myriads of ways to get people to vote.

                  And then comes the baggage. Clinton, Sanders, Biden all have lived their life in white privilege. And literally know very little other then white privilege. Biden has his with Anita Hill, Sanders went to one demonstration for civil rights and then lived his whole life in the whitest state of the US – Vermont, where the last black female lawmaker resigned due to incessant bullying https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/26/us/politics/kiah-morris-vermont.html – , and Hillary Clinton……emails, bengazi, cooties, female, clinton, blowjob, emails, lock her up blahblahblahblah.

                  So i really hope that the Democratic Party will have a come to god moment as did the Labour Party in NZ and choose a leader that actually can inspire more then just a small segment fo their voters, and above all get these voters in such large numbers to the polls that they will outvote any gerrymandering, voter suppression tactics and what nots. And considering the mid term elections i think i am on to something here.

                • Morrissey …
                  9 December 2018 at 3:21 pm

                  She comes from Germany, alwyn. That’s Ground Zero for Stupid.

                  Even the Greens in Germany are moral reprobates.

                  • McFlock …
                    9 December 2018 at 5:58 pm

                    Shit, moz, I know you like to lay it on with a trowel, but that’s pretty darned close to calling all Germans stupid (at best). And not in an “Aussies are koala-shaggers” sort of way, either.

                    • Morrissey …
                      10 December 2018 at 9:26 am

                      No, of course there are thoughtful and intelligent Germans. Our friend Sabine is normally one of them.

                      Germany produced Beethoven, Goethe, Einstein, and [insert your favourite German genius here] but it also produced Hitler, Goering, Goebbels, Hess and their terrible legacy. The baleful spectacle of the German legal system, academia, churches, and every other institution in the country being corrupted by that regime had a truly devastating effect on Germany’s intellectual and moral life—resulting in the distasteful phenomenon of moral imbeciles such as Uwe Becker.

                      https://jewishjournal.com/analysis/243133/mayor-frankfurt-leads-german-pro-israel-activism/

                      Sabine’s contention that Hillary Clinton is not a suitable candidate for President because she is old and white is horribly wrong, and stupid—Beckerian, almost.

                    • McFlock …
                      10 December 2018 at 11:03 am

                      Oh, so some of them are good people. How very dolt-45 of you.

                  • Sabine …
                    9 December 2018 at 7:10 pm

                    Bless you dear.

                  • greywarshark …
                    9 December 2018 at 7:40 pm

                    Morrissey
                    Hippo hit-the-fan stuff. All being included in your wide-ranging criticism, that is not on. Don’t be like this hippo –
                    (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfnZMRRHrwI

          • DJ Ward 6.1.1.1.3
            9 December 2018 at 10:54 am

            After having the most qualified Presidential candidate in history it can only be a downgrade for the dems. They need to find a human skin coloured person who is not cis male, never run a Buisiness, never served in the military, vegan, uses the word comrade, solo parent in an open relationship, born in the US to illegal immigrants, a degree in social sciences, never had a real job, and White Ribbon ambassador.

            JA only just misses out. Damn.

        • alwyn 6.1.1.2
          9 December 2018 at 9:57 am

          “No impeachment since no Senate majority.”.
          You don’t need anyone at all in the Senate for an impeachment to take place.
          The Senate doesn’t actually impeach anyone. The Impeachment is the responsibility of the House of Representatives where the Democrats have a majority.
          The Senate then try anyone who has been impeached. They certainly aren’t going to find him guilty of course. That requires a 2/3 majority of the Senators.
          Thus both Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached but at their trial by the Senate they were not convicted.

        • DJ Ward 6.1.1.3
          9 December 2018 at 10:26 am

          That’s a complete load of rubbish.

          Donald Trumps taxes as a corporate are continually assessed by the IRS. How the hell you come to the conclusion he is committing tax fraud is beyond me. If you think the most scrutinised person on the planet is knowingly committing tax fraud you have a clear case of TDS.

          Trials for what?
          Having Buisiness in foreign nations.

          The meeting with the Russian women lying she had info on Clinton was not an offence.
          The Moskow business deals have extensively been examined and there is no collusion.

          I myself are looking forward to the prosecution of the desperate Mueller for extorting people into making false statements. He’s got form.

          Why haven’t the people who did conspire with foreign nationals to interfere in the elections being prosecuted. Like Clinton and her golden shower political assassination. If rigging the debate is a test of Clintons willingness to cheat, it’s no supprised she deleted her emails and smashed her hard drives. She’s got form.

          The sooner this TDS nonsense from the cry baby snowflake revenge filled Clinton supporters ends the better. Then the democrates can get on with writing a book with another 200 reasons why, that nobody can be bothered reading.

          Why rush things anyway. It’s not like the democrates have any candidates that people actually like, or are genuinely Presidential.

          Last time the Democrates had power Obama promised change. I was a supporter. I liked what he was saying and McCain would have made Bush Jr look like someone that deserved the peace prize. But when you become President the real world and rhetoric meet. Obama was a disappointment.

          Trump is actually making change. He is confronting long standing issues that traditional politics has failed to address. Obama will be forgotten, Trump will leave a legacy of fighting and achieving for the people he represents. The citizens of the US.

          For example Obama a socialist helped the car industry with a bailout. Obama fixed nothing and large job loses have just occurred. Trump attacked China on trade and China has conceded, agreeing to drop the 40% Tarif on US vehicles. The socialist (other people’s money) approach vs that’s bullshit, let’s do a deal, or else.

          If a person with the drive and style of Trump was in charge of fixing Climate Change we would see a revolution on that subject. Sadly his position on that issue is his biggest fault. Don’t be supprised however if he pulls the rug out from under the Democrates election chances with a capitalist style solution out of “left” field. IE pro US worker.

          • Ad 6.1.1.3.1
            9 December 2018 at 12:09 pm

            It’s his personal tax returns that will get Trump into jail not his corporate ones.
            The rule you need to familiarize yourself with is:
            “The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.”

            The offenses of whether he or his team were infected by the Russian state are now well documented by the evidence in US courts that multiple persons have already pleaded guilty to. You can now look them up yourself.

            Trump is certainly making change, in the same way that gangrene makes change to a limb with an open wound.

            If a person with the “drive and style of Trump was in charge of fixing climate change” we would probably have a plan for climate change. Instead we have Trump.

  7. OnceWasTim 7
    9 December 2018 at 8:21 am

    It was only a matter of time…………..
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-09/labor-government-would-dump-plan-to-outsource-visa-processing/10597606

    Watch for the gNats here try and do something similar if we’re ever unlucky enough to see them back in government.

    And they’ll do so on the basis that the private sector can’t do any worse than INZ has done, and because of the likes of this:

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/09/company-director-who-underpaid-staff-is-approved-as-an-immigration-adviser.html

    But what they won’t tell you is that the reason INZ, the Labour Inspectorate and the IAA has been such a fuckup is because for 9 years they were under-funded, under-resourced, politicised by way of ‘whispers’, and brought under a Ministry for everything that has a commercial and business focus. Same thing true of NZQA of course.

  8. marty mars 8
    9 December 2018 at 8:21 am

    Some history and great symbolism. I really struggle with christianity – I like individuals but I have major difficulties with most other bits including the part christianity played in stealing the land.

    On Saturday, though, in Tauranga, the serious work of putting things right entered a new, profound and personal dimension.

    Because the church — our church, the Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia — said sorry, publicly, for its part in dispossessing Tauranga Moana people of their birthright.

    With heads hung low, two of the most senior bishops of the Anglican Church apologised for an 1866 decision by the Church Missionary Society to give the Crown most of 1333 acres of land which had been entrusted to them by two Tauranga Moana hapū — Ngāti Tapu and Ngāi Tamarāwaho.

    True, the CMS had come under intolerable pressure from the Crown to sell out. But that land was not CMS’s to sell, nor to give away. But, once given, it was gone forever, and the hapū were thrown into poverty.

    Yesterday’s apology was read, slowly, in te reo by Pīhopa Ngarahu Katene, and in English by Archbishop Philip Richardson.

    Then the day reached its pivotal, unscripted, and most solemn moment — when Archbishop Philip sank to his knees in the grass.

    He raised the General Synod-mandated apology above his head and, with eyes down, he offered the document, which is sealed with the Primate’s seal, to Ngāti Tapu kaumātua Puhirake Ihaka and Ngāi Tamarāwaho kaumātua Peri Kohu.

    https://e-tangata.co.nz/history/with-heads-hung-low/

  9. KJT 9
    9 December 2018 at 9:23 am

    https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/12/against-teaching-kids-to-code-creativity-problem-solving.html?utm_source=pocket&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pockethits

    Agree totally with this article. Creativity, problem solving, communication, persistance and resilience will beat learning a narrow range of, soon to be, outdated, skills.

    Old style metalwork, woodwork and cooking taught me those things. Not coding.

  10. cleangreen 10
    9 December 2018 at 10:20 am

    In German last week the biggest ‘right wing “Grand coalition” party have just elected who will be the next chancellor for Germany, – who is reported to be a hard right woman who resembles the character of Adolf Hitler we hear.

    https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/12/angela-merkels-power-is-weakening-who-could-be-germanys-next-leader.html

    Experts believe there are a handful of possible replacements, ranging from Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the new general secretary of the CDU who shares a lot of Merkel’s practical approach to politics (earning her the nickname of “Merkel’s mini-me”)
    “I think she’ll carry on for another 18 months to two years but her authority and popularity is lower now, so what will decide her future is not the state of the coalition but the state of her party — that’s where the revolt will come from.”

    • Sabine 10.1
      9 December 2018 at 11:03 am

      The CDU is nothing without the CSU, they are two pods of the same plant and the CDU needs it Coalition Partner. The CSU is literally only found in Bavaria, nowhere else in Germany – it is a single state Party and literally the only one in the country like that. Keep also in mind that Bavaria is a ‘free state’ within the federation of germany and thus has a status quite different from the other states within the federation.
      Also Seehoefer is a too old white man and an ass who should go and retire already.

      Also the poll referred to in this publication was by the “Handelsblatt” which is a very conservative commercial interest newspaper. So i can see why their respondents would be unhappy if Merkel is not gonna spend all that tax money surplus on some big business projects, cause they would be very unhappy were she to spend it on social welfare and the likes.

      As for that comment that she hangs on for another 18 month or so? Hopefull wishing by someone who wants that tax surplus spend on big business projects.

      The CSU is never gonna be anything but a Bavarian Party, has never been anything else. Augsburg, a city my family hails from, one of the three cities in Germany created by the Romans is notoriously conservative even if it were to kill them. And in the times fo my coming of age the 80.s, this city was a dead fish in the water until the Bavarian government finally started to spend some money on it, lest they completely go over to Die Gruenen and SPD. Due to its ‘free state’ status Bavaria is one of the highest income, highest business density and highest cost of living places in Germany. And guess what, that is what is ailing Bavaria. The workers so badly
      needed can’t afford to live there. Sounds like something we know something of?
      So i put my money on Merkel for now. She wants to make people happy? She will loosen the string of the purse a bit, and go ‘social’ and ‘green’.

      As for the migrant problem? Worldwide, and this includes us here, we will have to make a decision. Cause with global warming, raising sea levels, increasing droughts, fires etc we will have migrants. Millions of migrants everywhere, anywhere, at all times. Add in a bit of war for water, land and food, and voila, time to realise that we will never resolve the migrant problem unless we are happy to watch them die in their boats, in locked up shipping containers, or shoot them on sight. Cause they will keep on coming, as that is all they can do to stay alive. And why? Because we will never change, not give up our nice life without a fight and someone somewhere will whinge that is Dad pulled his boat three hundred kilometers to some lake somewhere and then back, and gosh darn it, it is my right and i too shall do that cause its my right! And the same is true for Germany, the US, Italy, France, England, OZ and NZ and anywhere else.

  11. Morrissey 11
    9 December 2018 at 10:57 am

    17,000 empty seats in a 20,000 seat arena.
    “Could the Clintons be bigger assholes?”

    “They can’t fill a stadium but they sure can fill a graveyard.”

    • te reo putake 11.1
      9 December 2018 at 11:03 am

      Thanks for the link, Moz. Like you, I totally trust everything the Daily Mail promotes, particularly their sensible support for that Austrian chap, Herr Hitler. Hurrah for the Blackshirts!

      • Morrissey 11.1.1
        9 December 2018 at 11:17 am

        The Daily Mail? This was Jimmy Dore—a far more intelligent commentator than anyone at the Wail or the Grauniad.

        Do you think there were 20,000 people there? Dressed as empty seats, maybe?

        • te reo putake 11.1.1.1
          9 December 2018 at 11:42 am

          I take it you didn’t even watch the video. Sad!

          • Morrissey 11.1.1.1.1
            9 December 2018 at 3:10 pm

            I certainly did watch it. How does the fact that the coverage of this Clinton failure was from the Wail invalidate it?

            Hell, even Noam Chomsky, who with Ed Herman definitively analysed the propaganda function of the New York Times, says that most of the stuff it prints is good, solid, reliable journalism.

            Same goes for the Wail and the Grauniad, surely. In spite of employing such second- and third-rate talents as Cathy Newman, James Ball and Luke Harding, most of what is printed in those propaganda sheets is unexceptionable.

            Or, to bring it back to a Kiwi example: it’s like Mike Hosking, or Leighton Smith: probably 90 per cent of what they say is fine; it’s that last ten per cent where the trouble starts….

  12. mauī 12
    9 December 2018 at 11:25 am

    Only on RT. Haven’t seen Ad do a post on how successful Macron has been lately..

    • joe90 12.1
      9 December 2018 at 11:49 am

      Only on RT.

      Well, only if the Chekist thug’s personal propaganda outlet is your only source.

      /

      • joe90 12.2.1
        9 December 2018 at 7:47 pm

        Bannon’s and big data’s stickies are all over this.

        In an interview with the Observer, Cohn-Bendit, now a friend and adviser to President Emmanuel Macron, said: “This movement is very different to May 68. Back then, we wanted to get rid of a general (Charles de Gaulle); today these people want to put a general in power,” he said, referring to calls by certain gilets jaunes for the former chief of defence staff General Pierre de Villiers, who resigned after falling out with Macron in July 2017, to be made prime minister.

        “And nobody in 68 made death threats against those who want to talk. This is the power of force. All those on the left thinking this is a leftwing revolution are wrong: it’s veering to the right. To hear that gilets jaunes who want to negotiate are receiving death threats is evidence of this authoritarian right.

        “I hear people from la France Insoumise (hard left), talking about this being a great people’s revolt and how the people are speaking, but these are the same ordinary people who pushed Trump into power.

        “We saw in Germany in 1933 what ‘ordinary’ people did. Not all ordinary people are good … it’s not an accident that this movement has proposed General de Villiers as an alternative leader.”

        https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/08/daniel-cohn-bendit-gilets-jaunes-macron-may-68-paris-student-protest

        • Sabine 12.2.1.1
          9 December 2018 at 8:05 pm

          i believe for both to be active atm. The movement that is popular, i.e. people put on their gilet jaune and protest – a day, a week, a few hours, and agent provocateurs.

          I still have family and friends in france – i lived there for quite a few years before moving to NZ with my kiwi husband – and the movement is based on the issue mentioned, i.e. Gasoline to expensive, cuts to all services, increase in living costs, essentially the same malaise that we have here in NZ. To some extend the movement is supported by Police, Fire fighters, Ambulance drivers etc, so not really those that would cause a ruckus.

          i have heard nothing about installing a General, but one of the most often named points is to go to a system as in Switzerland where laws are voted for in popular referendums.

          I have heard of he abolition of any retirement payments to ex politicos that are still of working age, or have income.

          I have heard of the demand to fire Macron and send him packing.

          But this is the first time i hear about the general. I will ask my friends to see what this is about.

          • joe90 12.2.1.1.1
            9 December 2018 at 8:23 pm

            Google translation of a statement from what appears to be a broad cross section of French people.

            The yellow vests movement puts the entire social policy of the government in public debate. More broadly, the neoliberal policies implemented by successive governments for decades are at stake. More and more difficult months of the month, increased precariousness of work, tax injustice, expensive housing, deteriorating living conditions, such is the situation faced by the majority of the population. This particularly affects women, very many to mobilize in this movement. At the same time, tax evasion has never been so important and the richest have been offered multiple tax breaks: the elimination of the ISF, flat tax of 30% for capital income that is not more subject to progressive tax, lower corporate tax … In these circumstances, the increase in fuel taxes appeared as “the last straw that broke the camel’s back.”

            Despite an attempt by the far right to take control of the movement, it is characterized by its horizontal self-organization and the demand for real democracy against an authoritarian and contemptuous presidency. At a time when COP 24 is taking place in Poland and where the fight against global warming is urgent, this movement also highlights the link between the social issue and ecological imperatives: the biggest polluters are exempt from any effort, the main causes of global warming are not dealt with, the breakdown of public services and local shops and urban sprawl continue, alternatives to public transport are not developed. The model of social housing in France is endangered by its commodification for the benefit of large private groups. In these circumstances, it is certainly not up to the middle and lower classes to pay for the ecological transition.

            Government policy does not respond to social anger or ecological imperatives. The government is letting the multinationals and the productivist lobbies do their best by always favoring their own interests and those of their shareholders to the detriment of the greatest number and the future of the planet. For days, the government stuck on an uncompromising stance, refusing any action and claiming that it was staying the course, despite the fact that a huge majority of the population supported this movement. This attitude has led to increasing exasperation that has led to acts of violence that the government could hope to take advantage of. This was not the case and the support of the population remained massive.

            The government has announced, among other things, the freeze and subsequent cancellation of the fuel tax increase. This is a first step backwards but it is too little, too late, because it is the whole social policy and its economic and ecological consequences that must be discussed. Even though youth has decided to set out to challenge the educational choices of power, it is a change of course that must be imposed. To begin, we must respond to union demands by increasing the minimum wage and returning to the cap of the increase in pensions to 0.3%, restore the ISF and tax multinationals, including Total, Gafa and banks that finance fossil fuels to invest heavily in thermal insulation of buildings and renewable energies.

            This is why the undersigned, trade unionists, associative and political leaders, researchers, academics, artists, etc., support the demands of fiscal and social justice brought by the movement of yellow vests. They call on the population to mobilize to impose a policy that allows better living, and to demonstrate peacefully in the street massively December 8, international mobilization day for climate justice, in convergence with the fourth day of mobilization of yellow vests.

            The petitioners

            https://www.liberation.fr/debats/2018/12/06/justice-sociale-justice-climatique-c-est-un-changement-de-cap-qu-il-faut-imposer_1696384

            • Sabine 12.2.1.1.1.1
              9 December 2018 at 8:42 pm

              Yes, this is more what my friends talk about.

              As i said, that thing with Le General….thats new.

              as for now, this is going to be a European wide movement. As the gilet jaune signifies, this is an accident and we are securing the site to keep people safe. That is why you have to have one of these jackets in the car, by law, and that is why they wear them.

              I hope that the Bannon Brigade will very quickly overstay their welcome.

          • joe90 12.2.1.1.2
            9 December 2018 at 8:26 pm

            Joint trade union statement translation.

            It is a text that should never have existed. When they arrived at the headquarters of the CFDT to discuss the social news on Thursday morning, two days before the fourth act of the yellow vests, the secretaries general of major trade unions had not planned to take the pen. However, coming out of this informal meeting which, explains one of them, “should not have been public”, the CFDT, the CGT, FO, the CFE-CGC, the CFTC, the Unsa, and the FSU have adopted a joint statement. “Writing this text has become obvious,” says François Hommeril of the GSC, the union of executives, who welcomes “this strong signal to the government.”
            “Out
            ground”

            In this statement of about fifteen lines, the signatories are worried about the “very degraded climate” and point the responsibility of the executive, remained deaf for “months” to their call for more “social justice”. Taking note, however, of a change of tone with, on Tuesday, the promise of the Prime Minister to launch a dialogue, the power plants undertake to participate in this dialogue, “each with [their] own demands and proposals, in common whenever it will be possible. But no matter how.

            Cooled by nineteen months of complex relations with a president who pretended to listen to them without paying much attention to their opinions, the unions demand something else: “real” negotiations, both “broad, open and transparent” on the purchasing power, wages, housing, transportation and utilities. But they do not give more indications on the calendar and the method wanted for this eventual Grenelle version 2018. Nor do they make strong proposals or calls to act in concert. “Everyone has their culture. We focused on the essential, what we could say together today, “says Luc Bérille, Unsa. Not very much, retorts Eric Beynel, spokesperson for Solidaires, present at the meeting but did not want to initial the text, considered “off the ground”. Signatory, however, the appeal initiated by Attac and the Copernicus Foundation for a convergence of mobilizations of yellow vests and the march for the climate (read above), it annoys: “Our responsibility of trade unionists n ‘ is not to write an incantatory text, but to call to be present in the street. ”

            The common statement is, on the contrary, very cautious towards yellow vests. While their mobilization is described as “legitimate anger,” the signatories also denounce “all forms of violence in the expression of claims.” A sentence that follows the request to “launch a call for calm” that had sent them, the day before, the executive. Not a word on the other hand on police management, sometimes violent, mobilizations. What ended to convince Solidaires not to sign. And led the CGT, which calls for a day of action on December 14, to draft a statement denouncing an “inadmissible repression”, including youth: “The CGT can not accept that the power strikes and tape our children. ”
            “Grand
            gap ”

            The power station of Philippe Martinez, also a signatory of the appeal launched by Attac, also calls for “the immediate opening of negotiations on the social emergency”. In passing, the CGT also announces that it will not participate in the meeting proposed by the Minister of Labor, this Friday, to launch the project of the consultation. What to disconcert his co-signatories of the joint statement. “This shows the big internal gap that the CGT is doing,” notes a secretary general.

            Transis, the others wait for clarifications of the executive. “We will see if what is proposed is acceptable. It would be simpler if we could move together in this framework, “says one at the CFDT. But caution remains in place. “When we hear some people in the government say that we have to stay the course, there is enough to doubt,” says François Hommeril of the GSC. The following ? “Every day is enough for him,” he breathes. After the excesses of Saturday, the eyes are on the day 8. “We do day to day, notes the head of Unsa. On the razor wire.”
            Amandine Cailhol

            https://www.liberation.fr/france/2018/12/06/gilets-jaunes-les-syndicats-a-mots-prudents_1696465

            • Sabine 12.2.1.1.2.1
              9 December 2018 at 8:43 pm

              They – le gilet jaune – did raise a guillotine in Paris. Just in case they – the nobles and rich – forgot 🙂

  13. greywarshark 13
    9 December 2018 at 12:01 pm

    National and Simon counting all the money that Labour is spending on gathering information, consulting, etc. Labour is not considered to be doing anything, just being told by others what to do. Hahahahahah – just what National knows most about! Labour’s bad is first reference on the news.
    https://www.radionz.co.nz/programmes/news-bulletin/story/2018674795/radio-new-zealand-news

    • OnceWasTim 13.1
      9 December 2018 at 4:08 pm

      The figures are contested @ geywarshark, but in light of my comments above that relate to immigration, and others the other day, it does show that they’re increasingly desperate to find something to hang their credentials (such as they) on.

      Sroubek is not going to work
      MPI is not going to work
      NZTA is not going to work
      DHB’s circumstance is not going to work
      HCNZ is not going to work,

      And we’ve not even started on Krekshuns or Soshul ‘Development’ (going forward) despite the claims of best practice in each/all of the above.

      and all that is GIVEN the under-resourcing and under-funding in all the above, AND allowing for complete and utter muppetry and senior levels in each of those enetities.
      (and they supposedly advocated for performance pay ffs).

      It’s actually amusing to watch in a black humour sort of way

    • greywarshark 14.1
      9 December 2018 at 12:24 pm

      The Waiwera Pools are a local asset that should be owned by a local Trust as with so many of our resources! Are Waiwera Properties Ltd local? It seems that at present it is a pocket-plaything for overseas bastards.

      arbitration between the former managers and the property owners will take place in February.
      That will mean no waterslides or swims at Waiwera until at least then.

      Local businesses that rely on tourists who visit the pools have also told RNZ that Waiwera is a key part of their summer trade.
      Waiwera Thermal Resort Limited has owned the lease to use the resort since 2010.

      It is owned by California-based diamond tycoon Leon Fingerhut, who earlier this month bought the shares of his business partner, the Russian billionaire Mikhail Khimich.

      The property owners, Waiwera Properties Limited, previously said they had expressions of interest by potential new managers for the pools.

  15. greywarshark 15
    9 December 2018 at 12:05 pm

    Tauranga DHB unable and unwilling to provide modern services to the big city people flocking to the area. They have refused to provide surgical abortion services.

    https://www.theweekendsun.co.nz/news/5403-abortion-topic-sparks-prolife-response.html

    To deny humanity of an unborn child is appalling. That’s the opinion of pro-life advocates who are applauding the Bay of Plenty District Health Board for not providing a surgical abortion service in Tauranga.
    The conversation comes after The Weekend Sun published a story on November 23 discussing whether there is a need for surgical abortion services in Tauranga.

    Right to Life spokesman Ken Orr says pregnancy is not a disease, and abortions should not be used as a form of health care for women.
    “We take no pleasure in seeing women inconvenienced,” says Ken. “However, because we see abortion as a violation of the human rights of the child, we support the DHB refusing to provide a killing service.”
    He says nobody has the right to kill another human being because their continued living is an inconvenience.
    “The unborn child is a patient that should be respected and protected,” he says. “Women who are faced with an unplanned pregnancy, that is imposing a burden on the mother, deserve all the help and support from the community they need to choose life for their child.”

    • Janice 15.1
      9 December 2018 at 1:11 pm

      Why am I surprised that is yet another man (who will never need abortion services) spouting this crap?

      • greywarshark 15.1.1
        9 December 2018 at 1:32 pm

        Too true Janice. One who is bound by rectitude and safe from the dangers of falling into the slippery puddle of unwanted motherhood, can feel so superior and noble and didactic. That also applies to some women who get their jollies in life finding fault with other, lesser, women.

  16. greywarshark 16
    9 December 2018 at 12:09 pm

    Why would a farming group be doing responsible, positive things to prepare for a sustainable farming future and clean, efficient farming practices? National thinks they must have been weakened by Labour’s bad influence into doing the right thing. And brings up that dirty, polluting word ‘tax’, as a scare taxtic!

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/377590/landcorp-apologises-for-not-telling-minister-of-tax-submission
    The Tax Working Group accepted Landcorp’s submission anyway, which talks of the agriculture sector needing to take a strong lead on reducing New Zealand’s environmental footprint.

    National’s agriculture spokesperson Nathan Guy said Landcorp must have been told to submit as it was advocating for a water tax, nitrogen fertiliser tax and was not opposed to a capital gains tax in its submission.
    “They’ve obviously been leaned on. This government wants to bring in environmental taxes. They want to tax the hell out of hardworking farmers in New Zealand.”

    But a spokesperson for Mr Jones rejected that, saying he was not even aware a submission had been made until it was reported by media on 28 November.

  19. halfcrown 19
    9 December 2018 at 4:58 pm

    And now something completely different.

    Has anyone read Pratchett’s book “Good Omens”? If so is it worth reading?

    I see Amazon is bringing out a video of it next year but I sooner read than see.

    Thanks

    • Sabine 19.1
      9 December 2018 at 7:21 pm

      All of Pratchetts books are good reading.

      Good Omen is good. And i am very much looking forward to the series. It will be epic.

      • greywarshark 19.1.1
        9 December 2018 at 7:32 pm

        Pratchett wrote one of his Discworld books centred on Australia called The Last Continent or the Lost can’t remember. I’ve yet to read it,; getting round to it.

        He is/was a wonderful whimsical author with reality always at his fantastical elbow.
        Here is a great summary of his style.
        https://theconversation.com/a-beginners-guide-to-terry-pratchetts-discworld-55220

        • Sabine 19.1.1.1
          9 December 2018 at 8:07 pm

          Going postal is great entertainment on any rainy, sunny or foggy day 🙂

          • halfcrown 19.1.1.1.1
            10 December 2018 at 8:56 am

            Thanks, Sabine and Grey for your response. I will get that book to read. Also thanks for the other sites you have listed to visit I have read several Discworld novels, One of the best bits was the BIG BANG Theory. in “Mort” I think
            The problem I have is, There are so many good books I want to read and now beginning to run out of years to read them in, so I have to be selective and cannot waste time on ones that may not be good. I know it is a matter of choice but have selected some duds lately though I did enjoy Iggulden’s novels on the War of the Roses and the Genghis Khan Dynasty.
            Thank you all and compliments of the season

            • greywarshark 19.1.1.1.1.1
              11 December 2018 at 11:14 am

              Compliments too halfcrown and fellow reader
              Love that bit of getting more books for tight timing to read. Let’s say while you can read you will stay on top of the brain fade and so you will never leave us. Perhaps it could be said ‘Old readers never die they just can’t turn the page’.

  20. ianmac 20
    9 December 2018 at 5:31 pm

    James is paid $10 for every bite that he can muster on The Standard. The National Party do pay for this from their own funds.
    Today he has earned over $300 and is sniggering all the way to his favourite shop.
    Remember this as each time you respond to his bait he gets richer.

  21. Ad 21
    9 December 2018 at 5:50 pm

    Top work to Greg Presland for being awarded his Labour Party life membership this afternoon.

    Well deserved after so many campaigns, so many decades of hard political work.

  22. joe90 22
    9 December 2018 at 6:35 pm

    The authoritarian thug quashes any dissent.

    A Moscow court on Wednesday sentenced a 77-year-old rights activist to 25 days in jail for calling for protests against a growing crackdown on young people.

    Lev Ponomaryov, one of Russia’s most respected activists, told AFP that the powerful FSB security service was behind his detention.

    “They are taking revenge against me because I am waging a war against the FSB,” the head of the For Human Rights movement told AFP by phone as he was being driven to a detention centre.

    “The country is gradually inching towards mass political repressions,” he said, referring to the peak of Stalin-era purges.

    https://sg.news.yahoo.com/russia-jails-elderly-activist-protest-call-173726882.html

  23. David Mac 23
    9 December 2018 at 7:36 pm

    Stuart Munro, are you still about? I miss you.

  24. eco maori 24
    10 December 2018 at 7:43 am

    Kia ora the Am Show Chris its is cool that we have a lot more people giving help to the poor people who need it.
    simon what about all the money shonky took from the poor and gave to the rich that will equate into millions a day into the rich hip pocket I will not raise gst.
    land line polls are not a accurate take on the views of all kiwis run a poll on your religious views based on landline users and you will get a totally different result.
    Rodger the buff kangaroo condolences to all the people whom cared for him.
    Andrew we all no the trickle down effect is non existent as some wealthy people use any move they can to keep all the lollies to them selves .
    duncan you would not see any of the improvement of poor peoples lives with your head high up in that ——– you never see the poor people Trust me I can see the common poor people with smile’s on there faces that tells a big story there Te tangata whenua culture and tangata and minority cultures are receiving the respect we deserve .
    Aotearoa is one of the safes places on Papatuanuku to live and the greatest risk is strangers. This is the capitalist society have the people feel unsafe to worried to see the big picture that is our democracy is being undermined from the wealthy.
    Ka kite ano P.S I see

  25. eco maori 25
    10 December 2018 at 8:53 am

    Some Eco Maori music for the minute

  26. eco maori 26
    10 December 2018 at 10:40 am

    Eco Maori is about leavening behind our grandchildren a healthy prosperous future
    hence my post educating the tangata about our worlds reality’s and trumps reality .
    The Republican Congress absolutely tried to shield the president,” he said. “The new Congress will not try to shield the president. It will try to get to the bottom of this in order to serve the American people and stop this massive fraud on the American people.”New court filings show Donald Trump was “at the center of a massive fraud” against the American people, the incoming chair of the House judiciary committee said on Sunday.
    Mob mentality: how Mueller is working to turn Trump’s troops
    Read more

    Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat set to take over the panel in January, said Trump would have committed impeachable offenses if it is proven that he ordered his lawyer to make illegal payments to women to keep quiet about alleged sexual encounters.

    “What these indictments and filings show is that the president was at the center of a massive fraud – several massive frauds against the American people,” Nadler said on CNN’s “State of the Union There’s a very real prospect that on the day Donald Trump leaves office, the justice department may indict him – that he may be the first president in quite some time to face the very real prospect of jail time,” Schiff said on CBS’s Face the Nation.

    The California Democrat said the “powerful case” prosecutors made for Cohen to serve a prison sentence would apply “equally” to the man identified in filings as “Individual 1”: the president.

    “To have the justice department basically say that the president of the United States not only coordinated but directed an illegal campaign scheme that may have had an election-altering impact is pretty breathtaking,” he said. Ana to kai links below.

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/09/donald-trump-michael-cohen-payments-impeachment-jerrold-nadler P.S the go oil party are all idiots who are so short sighted

  27. eco maori 27
    10 December 2018 at 11:24 am

    Lets not let the worlds media turn one tragedy into a double whammy that will damage Aotearoa reputation as a safe place to come for a holiday there are citys the size of Aotearoa in America that have 500 murders a year .
    Positive we have a Lady prime minister we have turned the corner to Equality our lady sports stars are getting more good publicity and some are getting payed for there great effords Maori and Pacific cultures people are getting more respect than we did in the past we have a government that is committed to fight Climate Change and inequality there are many more positive phenomenons happening in Aotearoa now than in the past .Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland: New Zealand’s bizarre landscape that’s ‘hell on earth ka kite ano link below .

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/109219315/waiotapu-thermal-wonderland-new-zealands-bizarre-landscape-thats-hell-on-earth

  28. greywarshark 28
    10 December 2018 at 11:55 am

    Deciding on a possible strike on 21 December?: Shades of the unconscionable Cooks and Stewards strikes on the Cook Strait ferries.
    NO! Not now, later get tough if you are sure you are justified.
    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/377896/air-nz-unions-begin-urgent-talks-as-strike-looms

    Get back, stay back, at work and you unions don’t start that neo lib nonsense that has brought so much despair to a mass of ordinary people when used by business and consultative government (with useful business cronies). There has been crookedness in government, so don’t let us have it occurring in unions too that show no community with the other workers in the nation. If that happens, then we are completely encircled by grasping people with dollars for eyeballs, unworthy of respect and support.

    There should be no strikes held at times that upset people’s lives and time for getting together with family or children; the important times that we all live and breathe for. There is no excuse for this holiday threat, by the airline and other sector engineers who are not on the bones of their bums. But now seem to care nothing about others, some of whom are on the edge, and union behaviour like this shows they are prepared to put the nation’s economic functions under stress at their whim.

    Unions that want fairer wages and conditions, must respect the meaning of fairness themselves, and when they put stress on the word and meaning of ‘fair’ they must follow and respect that understanding.

  29. eco maori 29
    10 December 2018 at 1:36 pm

    GWS get off Eco Maori’s coat tail use your own mana to float your views puppet muppet. because we have nothing incommon.

  30. eco maori 30
    10 December 2018 at 1:56 pm

    Its good that a lot of business can see past the veil of deceit money and lies to see that if we don’t dump carbon our Descendants Papatuanuku will turn into a nightmare on epic proportions.
    The group of 414 institutional investors with $31 trillion under management say governments must take serious steps to cut emissions The largest ever group of institutional investors has called on governments around the world to urgently increase their efforts to meet the Paris climate change agreement goals.

    The 414 global investors – which represent US$31 trillion of assets-under-management – say they are deeply concerned about the “ambition gap” that exists between governments’ commitments and what is needed to limit the global temperature increase to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels.

    They say that gap is increasing the physical risks from climate change and hampering investors’ ability to properly allocate trillions of dollars needed to support the much-needed transition to a low carbon economy.

    They have signed a “Global Investor Statement” to be handed to world leaders this week at the COP24 – the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Poland.
    Sign up to the Green Light email to get the planet’s most important stories
    Read more

    The signatories include some of the world’s largest pension funds, asset managers and insurance companies, including Australian investors BT Financial Group, Australian Super, Cbus, HESTA, IFM Investors, Local Government Super, and VicSuper.

    It is the single largest intervention from investors on climate change, surpassing even the one issued in Paris. Links Below ka kite ano. P.S green energy creates more jobs than carbon based energy.
    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/10/largest-ever-group-of-global-investors-call-for-more-action-to-meet-paris-targets

  31. eco maori 31
    10 December 2018 at 5:58 pm

    I could see that putin was playing the popular card on climate change this oil baron don’t give a ——– about our descendants future all he wants to do is turn back time to were Russia was a super power as for Saudi Arabia they are in the same waka they were playing the popular card to till the last minute and showing there true colors a power hungry regime who will let there descendants burn for that power

    US and Russia ally with Saudi Arabia to water down climate pledge
    The US and Russia have thrown climate talks into disarray by allying with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to water down approval of a landmark report on the need to keep global warming below 1.5C.

    After a heated two-and-a-half-hour debate on Saturday night, the backwards step by the four major oil producers shocked delegates at the UN climate conference in Katowice as ministers flew in for the final week of high-level discussions.

    It has also raised fears among scientists that the US president, Donald Trump, is going from passively withdrawing from climate talks to actively undermining them alongside a coalition of climate deniers.
    ‘We live in a lobstocracy’: Maine town is feeling the effects of climate change
    Read more

    Two months ago, representatives from the world’s governments hugged after agreeing on the 1.5C report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), commissioned to spell out the dire consequences should that level of warming be exceeded and how it can be avoided. Links below ka kite ano .P.S the rest of the world need to be strong and the will of the people will prevail he tangata he tangat he tangata that count in 2018.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/09/us-russia-ally-saudi-arabia-water-down-climate-pledges-un

  32. eco maori 32
    10 December 2018 at 6:39 pm

    Kia ora Newshub Ka pai to our Prime minister for apologizing for the murder of that young lady holidaying in Aotearoa.
    I totally agree with Lizzy men needs respect Wahine I will give a story on this later.
    simon this show me that national is use to having the police dance to there tune with shonky tack ticks.
    Yes most of the movie we watch promote alcohol way to much for my liking .
    The NZ Transport agency CEO has stepped down I still say six monthly WOF should not have been scrapped for modem vehicles.
    There you go if it smells like one look’s like one & behaves like one than he’s a cheating bulling lair .
    Mike that’s working outside the square box in advertising to OUR Guest what they are doing wrong in NZ is being a respectful responsible host country Ka pai.
    Here we go another man disrespecting Wahine jarod hanes .
    shonky & bills poverty tsunami effect is still rolling in the trickle down effect is a big con job being played out on a world scale buy capitalist.
    Ken is a good kiwi bloke and Kati Kati is a beautiful little place.
    Ka kite ano

  33. eco maori 33
    10 December 2018 at 7:22 pm

    Kia ora James & Mulls from the Crows Goes Wild our cricketers all have a sore face ka pai
    Our winter sports stars are having a great time at world events .
    Our Allblacks 7 team don’t have to worry about that minor hickup in South Africa .
    She is amazing that young Asian girl singing there national anthem James
    Steven is a good coach all the best to the Warriors.
    Looks like some one is damaging the brand of America.
    Ka kite ano

  34. eco maori 34
    10 December 2018 at 7:27 pm

    Some Eco Maori Music for the minute

  35. eco maori 35
    11 December 2018 at 8:28 am

    Kia ora the Am Show may brexit is doom to fail now everyone knows who created it to distract Europe on climate change and Equality for all foreigners interfering in Europe.
    I say that all boards should have maori & Wahine representation on them I see some people were making fun of our ancient story’s and culture the big picture is our culture respects the ancestors and the decedents and Papatuanuku unlike some who live for the now and only respect themselves with that grain of thought they are stuffing up OUR future.
    That’s the Chrismas spirit Jacinda you have achieved a enormous feat against the tide of neo capitalist money that distorts reality to conform with there elitist greedy short sighted view’s .
    I say our government is thinking long term at least we have started changing the law so people who need medical weed will be able to use it legally.
    The whole world needs to show the Wahine more respect .
    There you go duncan automatically giving a tohu to a man over wahine if he had the best brain why is he leaving A. because his party made a big mess of Aotearoa with his votes chris finlayson .
    All the best to Marina on her new Journey in life.
    Ka kite ano

  36. eco maori 36
    11 December 2018 at 8:38 am

    Some Eco Maori Music for the minute.

  37. eco maori 37
    11 December 2018 at 1:23 pm

    To scotty morrison you will need a big box of tissues after the Australian elections next year carbon pro fool running around after another fool trump scotty cannot even see some thing if it was right under his nose
    Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to coal – and its unwavering support for the United States – by appearing at a US government-run event promoting the use of fossil fuels at the United Nations climate talks in Poland.

    Australia was the only country apart from the host represented at the event, entitled “US innovative technologies spur economic dynamism”, designed to “showcase ways to use fossil fuels as cleanly and efficiently as possible, as well as the use of emission-free nuclear energy”.

    Its panel discussion was disrupted for several minutes by dozens of protesters who stood up suddenly during speeches, unfurling a banner reading “Keep it in the ground” while singing and chanting “Shame on you”.
    How America’s clean coal dream unravelled
    Read more

    Patrick Suckling, Australia’s ambassador for the environment, and the head of the country’s negotiating delegation at the climate talks, spoke on the panel. His nameplate bore a US flag. Ka kite ano link below P.S the sandfly have been stuffing with my computer again muppets

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/11/australia-only-nation-to-
    join-us-at-pro-coal-event-at-cop24-climate-talks

  39. eco maori 39
    11 December 2018 at 2:30 pm

    The big picture is the kocoal brothers have trump on a string like a puppet and he is dancing to there tune.
    US undermining ‘last chance’ climate talks, experts charge
    The American delegation came to promote coal.
    And the kids laughed in their faces.
    That was the bizarre and symbolic scene that unfolded Monday at the UN COP24 climate talks at a spaceship-shaped conference center in Polish coal country.

    The nations of the world are meeting here to hash out a “rulebook” to help ensure the viability of humanity — preventing runaway global warming from causing even greater calamity in the form of superstorms, searing droughts and deadly heat waves.
    Ka kite ano links below.
    https://edition.cnn.com/2018/12/10/world/climate-change-us-coal-cop24/index.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClU3fctbGls

  41. eco maori 41
    11 December 2018 at 3:53 pm

    Here you go our truth seeking scientist have been intimidated & suppressed by some state agency’s and big business groups they have been warning us about our wai and awa becoming to toxic to swim in we need to look after our wai .There are very strong disincentives for speaking out,” Death said.

    “For those of us who do speak out, our funding is clearly impacted, and we don’t get as much funding as we would get [if we didn’t] speak out about various industry bodies in New Zealand.

    “We do have to speak out, and we are allowed to speak out, but we speak out at our peril and our cost.”

    In his address, Death said New Zealand’s water quality was not “something to be overly proud about,” citing its rate of endangered native freshwater species – which was the highest in the world – and its rate of waterborne disease, which was among the highest in the western world.

    He also cited deaths related to contaminated drinking water, as seen in the Havelock North disaster in 2016, in which an outbreak New Zealand’s freshwater scientists had done valuable, at times world-leading research, Death said, but scientists – as well as the Society itself, for which he had been a member for 30 years – needed to stand up and push aggressively for their science to be practically applied.

    “I think we really do need to do better,” Death said. “We are the expert body of freshwater science in New Zealand, and we are the people that can have an effect.

    “I like to think we could be a little more supportive of those of us who speak out. I think Mike Joy in particular has been vilified for speaking out – a lot of us congratulate him for doing it because we’re scared to do it ourselves. ka kite ano links below

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/109213762/we-speak-out-at-our-peril-science-on-water-quality-has-been-ignored-scientist-says

  42. eco maori 42
    11 December 2018 at 6:42 pm

    Kia ora Newshub yes we need everyone to give our wahine more respect I have a story about the police’s response to one complainant.
    There you go this is just a start to the cannabis reforms its a pity we did not get it passed to limit Helen Kellys pain ????? .
    seenothing the regions have been farmed and starved of money from the goverment you supported for the last nine years they poured the money into bill south island M8 to the tune of hundreds on millions .
    Yes a warming tangaroa is bad for our fishes we have seen big changes in fisheries over seas red algae blooms killing of fishes to and still we have climate change deniers .
    Samantha yes trumps smocking gun well its is affecting America quite negatively the last time a go oil party president got the wheel he caused a world financial crises this one is doing more damage in a quarter of the time.
    That is great news to stop company’s bottling our water and exporting it with little financial gain for Aotearoa.
    Its good to see that the IPCA is doing its job finding that the first police investigation of that 13 year old girl and a teacher from Gisborne was differently not on you see what it tell me that the law is dish out unfairly its who you know Ka kite ano

  43. Eco Maori 43
    11 December 2018 at 7:24 pm

    Kia ora James & Mulls good waiata with Marina James it sounds like our tennis stars need more Tau toko.

    That was a awesome try that won the Wahine 7 gold medal at the games guy Ka pai.
    I see Hartley has Porse backing him for there E racing team he said there was a lot of politics in Formal 1 racing ECO Maori could see that he has a quick lap times. Electric cars are the future I see some big car companies did not jump on the bandwagon of Ecar why because they make more profits off enternal combustion car parts than they make off there cars.
    Storm the snoop sports reporter the net ball Wahine stars will shine bright.
    Steven Adams is cool showing the aroha to the children on a good day I can hear a Haka from some of his biggest fans.
    Ka kite ano P.S I have to switch device you know why

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    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
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  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

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    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
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    7 days ago
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    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
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  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

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  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
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