8 June 2011
PRESS RELEASE: Penny Bright ‘Anti-corruption campaigner’:
“Is the Solicitor-General maliciously abusing his position, as the second-highest ‘lawyer in the land’ by persecuting/ prosecuting Vince Siemer (AGAIN) for ‘contempt of Court’? ”
Vince Siemer – is facing jail for contempt of court (AGAIN!), through proceedings initiated (AGAIN) by the Solicitor -General for telling the public J Winkelman’s decision that the people arrested in the state terror raids of 15th October 2007 were not only denied a jury trial, but that the public were being denied the right to know that information.
(There will be a protest outside the Wellington High Court
2 Molesworth St (opposite Parliament)
Thursday 9 June 2011 from 9 – 10am, then for those who are able – quiet support inside the court room.
Well-known human rights lawyer Tony Ellis will be defending Vince Siemer).
In my considered opinion, Vince Siemer is NZ’s leading ‘Public Watchdog’ / ‘Whistleblower’ on the lack of transparency and accountability and ‘conflicts of interest’ in the NZ Judiciary. http://www.kiwisfirst.co.nz )
Why is the Solicitor-General David Collins QC himself not facing an investigation for ‘contempt of the House’ – given his role – in my considered opinion, of helping to ‘mislead’ the former Justice and Electoral Select Committee, which resulted in the matters raised in Petition 2005/142 being declared ‘subjudice’, at a time they clearly were NOT?
(Petition 2005/142 presented to the House by Mr Hide MP on 24 July 2007 “requesting that Parliament conduct an inquiry into the comittal for imprisonment of Mr Vincent Ross Siemer for contempt of court”)
Was the former Justice and Electoral Select Committee ‘misled’ – not only by the Solicitor-General David Collins QC (‘the highest acting law officer in the land’); but also by the former Clerk of the House David McGee QC (now an Ombudsman) ; and the former Acting Deputy Solicitor-General (Public Law) Grant Liddell (who later became the CEO of the NZ Serious Fraud Office (SFO)?
Read the following information for yourself – and you be the judge…….”
So now many of the ordinary mums and dads are being subtly cast again as “pariahs” of the state – you know, the ones who belong to unions or are public service employees. Now, let’s list a few other average mums and dads who, with the stroke of their pens, have shunted inordinate amounts of the New Zealand cake offshore – family names like Myers, Douglas, Fay, Aldgate-Whitechapel, Hart, Richwhite, … makes you wonder who the real Kiwis are doesn’t it?
Oh, its far worse, the typically civilisation killer is here. Where the language of debate, if its allowed to happen (in the public eye), is restricted to the needs of the exploiters continued exploitation. Where the only justified work lifestyle has to be in some industry that exploits its workers and its environment, and where if you do have standards to meet the taxpayer not the polluter has to pay. Imagine the markets as a massive bragging competition, we’re made this much money using up this much soil, putting this much high density ore into refuse dumps globally, so we can produce some high end product for the few who braggers who brag the best.
Its not surprising Key is loved by one and all, he is a hero of the brag to make money brigade, what your kids should grow up to be like.
What’s the story with Fiji at the RWC? Articles I’ve read seem confusing as to who can and can’t come and I got the impression the IRB seemed to be thinking it could let in who it liked……ignoring any bans we may have.
So it’s another case of us surrendering sovereignty to some external transnational body? – again!
Thanks Murray! You bring the KY and we will assume the position – again!
What is it with Key and planking? He is now busily trying to reform labour laws to make protection for workers a joke and describes this as a “campaign plank” …
Closing down debate quickly on National Radio—again
Nine to Noon with Kathryn Ryan, Thursday June 9, 2011
In a discussion about deep sea oil and gas exploration off New Zealand’s coasts, Simon Boxer of Greenpeace mentioned that both the Brazilian government and Petrobras were angry with the New Zealand government for making public announcements about oil-prospecting deals, without having consulted local people.
Incredibly, Kathryn Ryan sternly warned him away: “Well, we had the Associate Minister disputing that the other day. I don’t want that dragged up again. Let’s move on.”
A couple of weeks ago, an equally nervous Jim Mora stopped Richard Langstone and Bomber Bradbury from going after Professor Stephen Hoadley, who had made a couple of preposterous statements asserting the “legality” of the American carpet-bombing of Indo-China, and claiming that it conformed with the Geneva Conventions. Like Ryan, Mora insisted that there was no time to go “off topic” like that. (“The Panel”, May 27, 2011)
These are by no means isolated instances.
It’s clear that, in addition to the highly partisan, unapologetically pro-National-government New Zealand Herald and NewstalkZB, we have a public radio station that is afraid of incurring government wrath by letting critics have a say.
That’s a worry for democracy, as well as a blow for the prospects of interesting or stimulating discussions on the radio.
Morrissey – Be fair, the interviewers must offer their audience a broad view of their subject, and only Mary Wilson, of those I listen to, hammers one aspect into the ground. She doesn’t give up. Sometimes it even seems pointless and I turn the radio off. Interviewers can’t get into the argy-bargy that goes on here sometimes with endless assertions being countered continuously with a lot of rancour and little illumination or new facets being revealed, and other relevant info getting sidelined.
…only Mary Wilson…hammers one aspect into the ground. She doesn’t give up.
Eva Radich is another determined interviewer. When Tony Blair had the hide to make a state visit here some years ago, she went after him about the illegality of the Iraq invasion and his bogus “45 minute” claim. She would not let him evade her questions or divert the focus of the interview. In the end, of course, he just resorted to his usual insulting menu of vague platitudes. But she had discomfited that creep, in a way he rarely faced back in the U.K. And what a great contrast between her interview with Blair and the hesitant treatment he got a day later by an overwhelmed John Campbell, who obviously detested Blair but lacked the fortitude to insist he respond seriously to his questions.
Last year Kim Hill subjected ex-Australian prime minister John Howard to a thirty-five minute interrogation. The Great Man was clearly unsettled by her persistence, something he rarely if ever encountered back in Australia. But one person was even more upset by the interview than Howard was—the Wairarapa oenophile Karl Du Fresne was incensed by Kim’s lack of forelock-tugging, and slammed her “lack of balance” in a dyspeptic column in the Australian Spectator… http://karldufresne.blogspot.com/2010/11/howard-deserved-more-balanced-treatment.html
Sometimes it even seems pointless and I turn the radio off.
I think it’s a pity more interviewers haven’t got the courage, or are insufficiently prepared, to seriously hold politicians to account. When TV and radio stations assign people like John Campbell, Kathryn Ryan, Mike Hosking, and (God save us) Paul Holmes to interview powerful and intimidating politicians, it’s a missed opportunity.
I generally reckon that when the press isn’t being combative they are missing the point of their freedom.
I like seeing all pollies getting their feet held to the fire, particularly when they are ones that I have voted for or are thinking of voting for. Fucking nail them.
I don’t care if a journo ‘gets it wrong’, or asks ‘stupid questions’ or is ‘rude’. That’s ‘doing their job’ as far as I see it.
One of the US founders said (paraphrase) that given the choice between a free press and free elections, he’d take the former every time. And this was in a time when the press was vicious. His point was that a combative and free press lets the public know things by forcing pollies to confront things. Without that knowledge, elections are useless. With that knowledge, even absent elections, remedies are available.
The public is capable of deciding if a journo has been an arsehole, and an arsehole journo at the end of the day, is just a twatcock asking questions and printing the answers. Those answers will always be of some value.
Some detail about the Ecoli outbreak. This has been ruinous for Spain and the wash has spread over all the EU. A British bacteriologist (I think) said that in fact it was a North German problem. All the people sickening outside Germany had contact from there. The researchers have concentrated on salad vegetables because most of those affected are women and probably health conscious, but what about bottled water, or natural beauty preparations? (Light bulb – they need to call House.)
With all the sophisticated, easily accessed labs they have in Germany and Europe, they have not been able to source this thing. Imagine our country affected by a blow to its agriculture like this. It does not even have to be true, just suspected. We have closed down so much of our manufacturing and employment-rich businesses separate from the farming economy. We would be back to slave camps, that’s what they called the work camps during the Depression. And glad to get something no doubt.
From google listings – 1 The EHEC strain may cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is characterised by acute kidney failure and can lead to seizures, strokes and coma.
Reinhard Burger, head of Germany’s Robert Koch Institute which monitors epidemics, said the country usually saw between 50 and 60 cases of HUS annually, whereas it had recorded about 80 during the current outbreak.
Earlier –
2 Ten people have been hospitalized in Frankfurt with another 50 experiencing mild symptoms. In Hamburg, another forty patients are being treated for EHEC as well. Other cases have been confirmed in the Northern part of Germany including Rostock, Lower Saxony, Bremen and Schleswig Holstein. There are up to 600 suspected cases across Germany.
3 The latest cases in the U.K. involve three people with bloody diarrhea and one person who has developed the potentially fatal form of the condition known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
Three of the four new cases are in U.K. residents who have recently returned from Germany, and the other involves a person from Germany who is on vacation in England.
Recent news 8/6 http://news.uk.msn.com/world/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=158154499
4 Another person has died in Germany from the infection, raising the toll to 24 in Germany, plus one in Sweden.
The number of reported cases is up by more than 300 over the previous day to 2,648, including nearly 700 suffering from a serious complication that can cause kidney failure.
Interesting, the photo accompanying the above article showed a laboratory worker? not wearing gloves with an opened bean sprout packet which the caption said was to be tested. Surely a file photo. I wouldn’t want to put my flesh anywhere near something as possibly infective as that.
“Imagine our country affected by a blow to its agriculture like this. It does not even have to be true, just suspected.”
This is why the American beef industry does their own management of testing for mad cow disease, and deliberately do a very poor job of it while covering up any actual infections detected (any cows ‘suspected’ of having it are killed and incinerated before samples can be taken for proper testing). That way they can be sure that if there is actually a problem with mad cow disease, it would have to be quite widespread before the public became aware of it.
In milk we trust.
Solely, absolutely and forever and ever.
Kiss goodbye to rail and engineering technology (Kevin Welsh @ 1:44pm).
May the sacredness of our milk always prevail over all disasters – national or National.
And may our milk be always completely free from health scares.
If you’re not keen about being a milk slave, erm, farmer or dairy maid, please take the next one-way flight out of Milkland.
I don’t know if I would trust all milk, there was something on TV news last night about modified cows producing “human ” milk. Curdled thoughts on that.
lanthanide – Gosh! The usa beef lobby is powerful – remember them suing Oprah for saying she wouldn’t eat hamburger or similar. I think that was at the mad cow disease outbreak. Also I remember a couple of journalists being harrassed by the usa dairy lobby who managed to get control of the wording of legislation about quality of milk so they could ensure that people remained unaware of possible problems. The ‘What you don’t know, won’t hurt you’ approach. This was another scare, back a decade or two.
You can imagine how tough the usa lobby is when you hear Federated Farmers leaders like Don Nicholson talking about farmers’ interests.
according to some very smart people, including the Koch Institute mentioned above, Mother Nature simply does not work in the manner the Bankers would like us to believe. No naturally occuring process can achieve this level of resistance complexity and then magically appear simulaneously in multiple links on the food chain. It does not happen, not without a concerted level of assistance.
The very complex questions, often have very simple answers.
What a load of BS. Bacteria such as E. coli typically acquire multidrug resistance via horizontal gene transfer from other bacteria, and not via multiple rounds of selection. And bacterial contamination is easy spread given the right conditions (and of course that all the cases are linked to a single country anyway). Mother nature is not benevolent.
And the theory of how the strain was ‘engineered’ is just as dumb. If I was going to engineer a deadly strain of bacteria, it wouldn’t be via that method.
This is shocking. But this Government prefers to purchase Chinese workers and have our own as unemployed on the street and on the dole because it is more “efficient”.
I dont think we should be suprised about this one. And we shouldnt blame the current administration.
This has been happening for about the past 25 years or so, with NZR, TranzRail and then Toll running down the railway workshops, that provided NZ with a lot of skill, expertise and engineering infrastructure for the past century or so. Eastown, Otahuhu, Addington (now replaced by a shopping mall), all gone, and Hutt, along with Hillside, running at a fraction of its orginal capacity.
If you want to blame anyone for this, blame Richard Prebble. He was the one who stripped NZR to the bone for it to be flogged off.
Yep and, unfortunately, neither of the two main parties are willing to change the direction just yet. One because of the ideology – they actually want NZ to go the wrong way because it directly benefits them and they don’t care what it does to everyone else. The other doesn’t seem to want to admit that it got it wrong three decades ago and some of them even want to continue going the wrong way as well.
Choice: A) Wrong way or b) Wrong way with conditions.
Not really all that appertising and none of the minor parties are talking about the necessary changes needed to make us sustainable/more egalatarian either. They’re sayijg that’s what they want but not how to go about doing it.
Some thoughts on religion, the good, the bad and the ugly.
The good ideas and ideals from religion can get dereailed after the ambitious and the fanatical and the dogmatic pedants and the supernaturally moral (in theory) get their hold on it and find a hopefully, comfortable position within it and a hopefully decent income and elevated position in society. It’s true that men have dominated in the past, but in the Catholic church some of the nuns have been remarkably bold in setting up an Order in a new place. And Anglican nuns as well I think. The belief of a woman in the goodness of Christ and his life as a shining example to follow led her into an adventurous and strenuous life. Read about Gladys Aylward in The Small Woman by Alan Burgess. Often comes up on Trademe. Religion has been a comfort, a scourge, a challenge. Here is a link I’ve got – can’t remember exactly what’s on it. http://www.bdcconline.net/en/stories/a/aylward-gladys.php
And if you are a leftie then you will have heard of The Tolpuddle Martyrs – basically one family of godly men who started the farm union movement in southern England, got punished by being sent as convicts to Australia, and by popular acclaim of British crowds who supported them, were pardoned and allowed back to England. It was their Methodism that kept them sane in their souls, and gave them strength to endure the very nasty privations they bore.
For the rest of us, it is sometimes just comfortable to front up and gabble the responses, kneel and rise if that’s how they do it in Rome, sing a few good songs, and hopefully be better people for a while. There are worse things than meeting with others who have shared beliefs in trying to be kind and think of others before ourselves sometimes. But as M says in the blog for Key’s Destiny it doesn’t last beyond Sunday morning for some people.
Nice one prism and I don’t down people for having faith having being raised a Catholic but I don’t like it where religion is misused to keep people down, for example Joseph Ratzinger aka God’s policeman describing homosexuals as backyard mongrels.
As a teenager it began to chafe the way I saw women very much in the background with their worth seeming to be in motherhood or the religious life instead of the human flawed beings like their male counterparts.
I’m lapsed for many years now but take with me the social justice aspect of my upbringing and try to effect change where I can or speak out in defence of those under nasty yokes and I think many other lapsers do too.
Don’t have a problem with people being churchgoers or talking about their faith as I have friends from all over the spectrum from hardened atheists to the most ardent believers and when faith or religion is put to use for the good like say the sisters of the Home of Compassion I’m their most vehement supporter.
My old Grandmother – a life-long Athiest and left-wing Labour Party activist – always said Lapsed Catholics made the best, most passionate, most committed Lefties.
Agreed swordfish. My grandmother had a picture of Jesus Christ the sacred heart on one side of her mantlepiece and Micky Savage on the other. Both pictures were about the same size and of an identical height!
May i suggest that lapsed Catholics make good lefties because the good hearts of these people were still beating after realising the Church was one big lie and they really really wanted to believe that there is a way for Humans to help each other live a better life without the endless deference to greed and brutality
Nice one prism and I don’t down people for having faith having being raised a Catholic but I don’t like it where religion is misused to keep people down, for example Joseph Ratzinger aka God’s policeman describing homosexuals as backyard mongrels.
I have come to believe that I had a huge advantage by being raised by parents who were atheist and agnostic/apathetic.. (although afaik they didn’t stay that way.) I didn’t learn anything about God/religion/church until I was 19. I started as a fundamentalist, and have become an Anglo-Catholic.
I’ve heard that Benedict said that, but I’d like ‘chapter and verse’, simply because from what I know of him (which was nothing, until recently my dear beloved Italian teacher, sent me his latest book as a Christmas present) it does not sound like the sort of thing he would say! When I am not here, I spend far too long on ATS, talking about politics which is fine, and ‘debating’ with atheists, which is not – because said atheists are much more into personal abuse than all but a few here (you know who you are! 😀 ) It just makes me completely exhausted to see all the same old techniques – the old assertiveness training ‘broken record’ is a favourite…. Sadly, so is citing the most rage-inducing quotes, without sources, and then when the sources are tracked down, turns out to have been something interpreted very creatively! Having the same problem convincing Americans that Admadinejad never said he wanted to nuke Israel, not even ‘wipe it off the map’ – I can’t understand why lefties are quite happy to use right wing techniques such as mis-quoting, etc against we religious… 🙁
Yesterday, the Green Party co-leader Dr Russel Norman asked the Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key a number of pertinent questions concerning Ministers receiving “corporate hospitality.” As usual John Key was evasive and did not answer appropriately continuing to obfuscate and deliberately withhold relevant information. The current Speaker of the House Lockwood Smith then protected John Key by implementing procedural trivialities in an appalling display of arrogance that perverted Parliamentary justice from being served.
Easy street, insulated by their wealth, are up in arms over loss of free weather reports for pilots.
Unlike boaties, rock anglers, etc, anyone, who can jump off anywhere to get on the ocean, not just anyone can jump in a plane, or hellicopter.
What exactly were they thinking when they thought cuts would be on the poor singularly?
What did they understand to mean back office cuts and privatization?
Of course it would mean less generosity towards their luxuries hobbies.
What comes around goes around, we can be generous, grow the economy by providing incentives in real growth rather than exporting people, profits and future opportunities.
Capital farming is an attack on capitalism, since it rewards those with massive wealth to keep it and shut out new hard working citizens entering their industry, or the home ownership club.
Oh, and when did free market come to mean free for all? Markets aren’t fair, uniform, unless well regulated by government and society. When the cultural norms break down in punishing criminals, and short cut takers, then government needs to step up its game rather than rush to join up with the government hands off driving.
Economic outlook is uncertain, but what is certain is energy will cost more, transport cost will rise.
That reminds me… I’ve been meaning to tell everyone that DF has reinstalled his LSO cookie.
The best way to combat it is to install Better Privacy and restart your browser each time you visit Kiwibog. Whaleoil has also recently implemented the technology on his site.
You can learn a little bit more about the DF LSO in this Jackal blog post.
I read this extract from Hansard (dated 7-6-11) on Red Alert a few minutes ago.It was posted by Trevor M.under “Late Play Annie to the Leader of the National Party.” It was about the contract given to Parents Inc not being put out for tender.
“Hon Annette King: What evidence and scientific advice did he seek before agreeing to allocate $2.4 million to Parents Inc. for a parenting programme that even the Minister for Social Development and Employment said she had neither sought nor received advice on, or was she carrying out his promise that he made before the election that he would make sure that Parents Inc. got money?
Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Members will accept that, as Prime Minister, I am not responsible for the allocation of that contract; that actually goes through the Ministry of Social Development. But I would say I have seen that Toolbox; I have seen the programme. In my opinion it is a very, very successful programme that is helping New Zealand parents, and we do need to help parents in New Zealand.”
Is there not something very wrong about this? John Key did not deny that he had made a promise before the election! More arbitrary government from Mr.’if i ruled the world,forget democratic procedures’ K.ey? Is this not similar to PEDA and Bill English the budget before last, or perhaps worse as it was promised bfore the election?
In Britain, arbitrary government under Charles 1,caused a civil war and Charles, thinking he had “divine right” as king to make decisions off the top off his head, lost said head to the executioner(1649). At least in the case of Charles he was leader and king, but Mr. Key apparently made a promise before he became leader! How many other promises did he make and why? And he often makes decicisions of his head.
According to Speake’s rules, if there is more than one question asked in Question Time, the minister or PM addressed only needs to answer one. So the fact that Key didn’t answer the question on promises, doesn’t mean he DID make a promise. He just chose to answer the first question.
But if the answer was in the negative then Mr Key would have said so, and thus closed off the issue. To avoid answering does increase the possibility that Key made a promise that was outside the tendering rules. Unlawful? But Key can do that because who can stop him. And the MSM are not going to question the ethics of it are they?
I’ve noticed a lot of epic spelling mistakes on Stuff lately. They’re probably employing some minimum wage slave who’s in constant fear of being fired before 90 days is up. It would be their style.
A Fairfax exec told me a couple of years ago that the occasional payoff to an accidentally libelled member of the public was still going to be cheaper than employing subbies. He wasn’t sure that they had an obligation to always be accurate anyway, but he did reckon they were obliged to correct their mistakes, but only if they were pointed out to them.
So, are these people objective judges of individual’s right to regain some freedom or just rightwing ringins this government has put in place to control people?
What’s significant here is that the overall confidence rating hasn’t changed, but party vote preferences have. So that “disconnect” (i.e. people not happy but supporting status quo) has been reduced. Good.
I wouldn’t read much into the minor party results – Morgan has always been funny on those. But overall, it’s encouraging for those (like me!) who had started to give up on under-performing Labour.
Yep, that’s a good result for the left. A nominal 7 point gap between Team Key and the opposition, the smallest it’s been since the start of the year. Factor in the likely electoral neutering of ACT and the maori party and it’s getting down to a seat or three. Continuous job losses, a moribund economy and no fucken idea what to do about either are starting to kill Key’s chances in November. And did I mention Kiwisaver and asset sales?
Interesting that Tariana Turia was all over the news today bigging up Darren Hughes. A olive branch of sorts to Labour?
It gets even better – “the Budget” is an organism separate and independent from the Government as Acting (good actor?) Economic Decimation, erm, Development Minister David Carter told the commerce select committee today he was not aware that any analysis had been done …
“Bear in mind the Government hasn’t said it will create the 170,000 new jobs – the Budget said there will be 170,000 jobs,” he said.
The Budget said. The Government hasn’t said. The Budget said. The Government hasn’t said.
Oh yes yes yes, we understand.
At the risk of saying something unpopular for me, this was a bit of a WTF moment
The heritage advisor for Auckland’s main iwi hadn’t heard of an inner-city taniwha before yesterday, but he says the point about consultation over the CBD Rail Link project is valid.
I am sorry but the last time I remember hearing about a Taniwha was a few years ago, and it caused all sorts of problems. But this one, is one, that few people seem to have heard of.
But it’s very handy for Steven Joyce, who we all know is so in favour of the Britomart rail link, NOT
I imagine the right’s silence over this issue would be quite deafening, simply because that the ‘taniwha’ lies in the path of a railway line, not a road.
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There's an interesting select committee report out today, from the Petitions Committee on the Petition of Conrad Petersen: The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA). The petitioner raises some concerns about the slowness of the IPCA process and its lack of oversight, and suggests some solutions. The committee doesn't seem keen ...
Today is a Member's Day, but likely to be a boring one. There's no general debate today, and instead the House will move right into the third reading of the Canterbury Regional Council (Ngāi Tahu Representation) Bill, which will add unelected, inherently conflicted Ngai Tahu representatives to ECan. Then there's ...
That gormlessly glum picture of Christopher Luxon in Samoa graphically tells us what kind of image New Zealand would be projecting abroad if there’s a change of government next year. The glumness is understandable. For months, National and ACT had been dog whistling to the bigots who oppose the creation ...
There is no corruption in New Zealand. At least that’s what authorities want the public to believe. For decades now our system of political finance regulation has been portrayed as highly rigorous, ensuring our politicians cannot be bought. Unfortunately, that’s just not true. Although politicians and officials have claimed tight ...
Pundits have come out of the woodwork to defend the Greens co-leader, after he was stripped of his leadership last week by unhappy party members. The defences have all stuck to basically the same script: Shaw is a successful leader and minister who’s handed the party big victories in politics ...
Meghan Murphy talks with Batya Ungar-Sargon the author of Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy. The book charts the trajectory of journalism in the US as it shifted from being a blue collar occupation producing the penny press for the masses, to a profession for Ivy League university ...
Co-Leaders? The uncomfortable truth is: not the Army, not the Police, not the Spooks, and not even a combination of all three, could defeat the scale and violence of White Supremacist and Māori Nationalist resistance which the imposition of radical decolonisation – or its racism-inspired defeat – would unleash upon ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob Henson and Jeff Masters Torrents of rain that began before dawn on Tuesday, July 26, gave St. Louis, Missouri, its highest calendar-day total since records began in 1873. And the deadly event is just the latest example of a well-established trend ...
Completed reads for July: The Prince, by Niccolo MachiavelliFaust, Part I, by Johann Wolfgang von GoetheFaust, Part II, by Johann Wolfgang von GoetheParadise Lost, by John MiltonParadise Regained, by John MiltonThe NibelungenliedAgricola, by TacitusGermania, by TacitusDialogue on Orators, by TacitusThe Gods of Pegana, by Lord DunsanyTime and the Gods, ...
A couple of weeks ago the High Court exposed a loophole in our electoral donations law, enabling corrupt parties to take in unlimited amounts of secret money and explicitly sell policy to the rich. Pretty obviously, this is unacceptable in a country which wants to call itself a democracy, and ...
This morning, National’s deputy leader Nicola Willis managed to get top of the bulletin news coverage by pointing out that some Kiwis living abroad might receive the government’s cost of living payment. Quelle horreur. What is the problem here? Inflation is a global problem, and Kiwis living abroad may be ...
Beyond Fixing? The critical question confronting New Zealanders is whether we any longer have the resources to repair our physical and human infrastructure?WHO WILL MAKE the New Zealand of the next 50 years? We had better hope that, whoever they are, they make a better job of it than those ...
Today’s speech by Jacinda Ardern to the China Business Summit in Auckland was full of soothing words for Beijing. The headline-grabber was Ardern’s comment that ‘a few plans are afoot’ for New Zealand ministers to return to China – and that the Prime Minister herself hopes to return to the ...
Rule-Breaker? It is easy to see why poor James Shaw found himself brutally deposed as the Greens’ co-leader. By seeking the responsibilities of leadership – and exercising them – he violated the first rule of Green Party governance. Then, by accepting the limitations of the Green Party’s electoral mandate (7.8 ...
After the incredibly sad story about the deaths of over 50 Ukrainian POWs in a Ukrainian missile attack on the prison they were housed in (see Over 50 POWs killed. A military accident or a cynical war crime?)I came across the heartwarming story about another Ukrainian POW. It’s about a ...
British mercenary Aiden Aslin, now a prisoner in the Donetsk People’s Republic, expressed real concern that he may die from the Ukrainian shelling of Donetsk. He has experienced many missile attacks that came close to the prison.Is he still alive? Understandably, we are always shocked about the losses ...
Politics is largely reported as theatre: tragedy and comedy, thriller and farce. Andrea Vance captures it all very successfully in Blue Blood. But it is the politics of personality, not of policy – of the impact of government on the people’s wellbeing. Even so, we can see from the book ...
This year the government finally got its clean car feebate scheme into place. But there's a problem: it's been too successful: Transport Minister Michael Wood will shortly review the cost of the fees and rebates in the Government's "feebate" scheme after the runaway success of the policy has meant ...
Given how the pandemic has disrupted the sporting calendar, no-one would begrudge our elite athletes their chance to compete at international level. What with the war in Ukraine and the cost of living, there are also not many ‘good news” stories out there. So… I suppose the strenuous efforts the ...
Everybody Having A Say: Democracy commands us to look outward; it demands our trust; it tells us what is expected of our humanity; it elevates the collective above the self; it celebrates the things we have in common; it defines our morals and values; it calculates what we owe one ...
Even right-wing commentators have, over recent days, and jusrifiably enough, been taking the National leader, Christopher Luxon, to task. They have lambasted him over his soft-shoe shuffle over abortion, for bad-mouthing New Zealand business while he was overseas, and for pretending to be in Te Puke while he was actually ...
So, now we know for sure. The “protesters” who defiled the grounds of parliament and who (according to their own account) intended to create in three of our major cities “maximum disruption and inconvenience” to other citizens, are not interested in democracy – indeed, quite the contrary. Their objective, quite ...
The issue with Christopher Luxon’s social media post talking about his day in Te Puke when he was in Hawaii is it’s fake news. He has since apologised for the mistake. But this doesn’t negate its impact. This mistake, misstep, gaffe or whatever you like to call it, is about ...
Over the last couple of years there has been a disturbing trend of new legislation containing secrecy clauses, which effectively make it illegal for affected government bodies to disclose information under the Official Information Act. Some of these are re-enacting old legislation from the pre- or early-OIA era (in which ...
Allegations of political corruption are once again at the heart of a new High Court trial this week. The trial follows straight on from the “not guilty” verdict for those running the New Zealand First Foundation. And this latest trial is once again about whether wealthy businesspeople and political parties ...
Ukrainian operation to steal Russian military aircraft exposed [English edit] Representatives of the Ukrainian special services offered up to $2 million for hijacking Russian military aircraft, as well as European passports for the pilots and their families. In order to gain trust, Ukrainians shared information they were not allowed ...
Struck Down: As James Shaw saved the pure Greens from themselves in 2017, they resented him. As he secured the Climate Change portfolio for his party, they suspected him. As he achieved cross-party support for crucial climate change legislation, they condemned him. And, as he was white, and male, and ...
If nothing else, some of the media treatment of the Luxon lu’au has reeked of a double standard. If Jacinda Ardern – or any of her Cabinet Ministers – had been holidaying in Hawaii while their social media imagery was depicting them working hard on the public’s behalf in Te ...
The Emissions Trading Scheme is broken. Stuffed with free allocations and rigged with a "cost containment reserve" which floods the market any time prices get "too high" (for a definition of "too high" set in a different world), its basicly served as a machanism to subsidise the production of the ...
Think Big: A democratic-socialist government could remove GST from basic food items. It could re-nationalise and centralise the generation and distribution of electric power, and then retail it to citizens at an affordable price. A democratic-socialist government could nationalise the public transportation system and make it free for everyone. A democratic-socialist government ...
Pure Poison: It is when the fetid atmosphere created by the Right’s toxic accusations and denunciations is at its thickest, that comparisons with the Woke Left spring most easily to mind. If the level of emotion on display, and the strength of the invective used, is inversely related to the ...
New Zealand companies are using their oligopolistic market power to gouge mega profits, driving up inflation. Overseas, such actions have resulted in windfall taxes, which have been used both to drive down inflation, and ameliorate its impacts (while driving down emissions). With New Zealand petrol companies pocketing record margins and ...
Poll Axed: What happened to James Shaw on Saturday, 23 July 2022 exposed the Greens’ minoritarian political culture for all to see. Once voters grasp the enormity of 30 percent of Green delegates to the Green AGM being constitutionally empowered to overrule the wishes of the 70 percent of delegates ...
Now, that was strange. That was very strange. Having dropped an initial July teaser for The Rings of Power, Amazon put out a full two-minute trailer in the middle of the month. That one, I liked. Now, however, we have an additional three-minute trailer, released a couple of days ...
I have prepared the following (draft) submission on the Electoral (Māori Electoral Option) Legislation Bill, which you all have until Saturday to submit on. Happy to consider comments, or to fix typos: have I used the word whakapapa incorrectly, etc? Please let me know :-)======The Justice CommitteeElectoral (Māori Electoral Option) ...
The big news over the weekend was that Green party delegates at their AGM voted to re-open nominations for James Shaw's co-leadership position, effectively toppling him as co-leader. I'm not a member of the Greens, so its not really my place to have an opinion on who should lead them ...
James Shaw has lost his co-leadership position in the Green Party, and there’s a good chance he won’t be able to get it back. And he shouldn’t – it won’t be good for either him or his party. When delegates at the Green Party AGM voted on his position as ...
Climate change has gone from being one of those allegedly wacky Green ideas to wide mainstream acceptance. In their own ways, leaders like Jeanette Fitzsimons, Russel Norman and James Shaw each added to the increased credibility the Greens’ now have among the voting public. The decision not to re-endorse Shaw ...
So, now we know for sure. The “protesters” who defiled the grounds of parliament and who (according to their own account) intended to create in three of our major cities “maximum disruption and inconvenience” to other citizens, are not interested in democracy – indeed, quite the contrary. Their objective, quite ...
Don Franks was interviewed by Dr Toby Boraman in December 2013 about his time working in the militant Ford car plant in the 1970s. This is the fifth and final installment of that interview. The first installment is here, the second installment here, the third here and fourth installment here. (The interview has ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to overhaul the Recognised Seasonal Employers scheme in the wake of revelations of shocking human rights violations. ...
The Green Party is calling for a cross-party commitment to guaranteeing at least a living wage and safe working conditions to people seeking employment, instead of continuing benefit sanctions. ...
The Green Party is once again calling on the Government to announce its support for a moratorium on deep sea mining, and to support a member’s bill going to select committee. ...
The Government must take steps to ensure that the way we build our homes is helping to meet New Zealand’s climate change targets, the Green Party said. ...
The Government’s employment initiatives led by the Ministry of Social Development must guarantee liveable incomes and fair working conditions, the Green Party says. ...
New Zealanders deserve a health system that works for everyone, no matter who you are or where you live. Our Government has a plan to make this a reality, and we’re taking the next steps. We now have thousands more health professionals, such as doctors and nurses, working in New ...
During her time as Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern has navigated New Zealand through unprecedented times. Through it all, she’s become known as someone who leads with kindness, compassion and strength, while keeping the wellbeing of Kiwis at the heart of her approach. To celebrate five years of Jacinda leading the ...
Since taking office in 2017, our Government has worked hard to lift wages and make life more affordable for New Zealanders, as we move forward with our plan to grow a secure economy for all. ...
The Government must use the opportunity of the Electoral Amendment Bill in Parliament to close the loophole in the political donations regime, the Green Party says. ...
Thanks to political pressure from the Green Party and the more than 900 personal stories of birth injury and trauma delivered to Minister Sepuloni, more injuries have been added to the ACC birth injuries bill. ...
Supporting New Zealanders is at the heart of our approach as a Government, and we’re working hard to tackle the big issues Kiwis are facing. While long term challenges like child poverty won’t be solved overnight, we’re putting in place policies that make a real difference for New Zealanders. Here ...
Delegates at the AGM of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand have voted to retain Marama Davidson as Green Party co-leader and to re-open nominations for the other co-leader position. ...
Every New Zealander deserves a healthy, affordable place to call home. We have a comprehensive plan to make it happen, and we’re making good progress. Here's the latest on how we're supporting Kiwis into homes: ...
The Government is allowing wealthy individuals to ‘purchase’ residency while entrenching a system that keeps low-waged workers on a precarious and temporary status, the Green Party says. ...
The Election Access Fund established by a Green Party members’ bill opened for submissions this week, showing positive progress towards more accessible elections. ...
The relationship between Aotearoa New Zealand and Malaysia is to be elevated to the status of a Strategic Partnership, to open up opportunities for greater co-operation and connections in areas like regional security and economic development. Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta met her Malaysian counterpart Dato’ Saifuddin Abdullah today during a ...
With additional trains operating across the network, powered by the Government’s investment in rail, there is need for a renewed focus on rail safety, Transport Minister Michael Wood emphasised at the launch of Rail Safety Week 2022. “Over the last five years the Government has invested significantly to improve level ...
The Foreign Minister has wrapped up a series of meetings with Indo-Pacific partners in Cambodia which reinforced the need for the region to work collectively to deal with security and economic challenges. Nanaia Mahuta travelled to Phnom Penh for a bilateral meeting between ASEAN foreign ministers and Aotearoa New Zealand, ...
Extension of Aotearoa Touring Programme supporting domestic musicians The Programme has supported more than 1,700 shows and over 250 artists New Zealand Music Commission estimates that around 200,000 Kiwis have been able to attend shows as a result of the programme The Government is hitting a high note, with ...
Minister of Defence Peeni Henare will depart tomorrow for Solomon Islands to attend events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal. While in Solomon Islands, Minister Henare will also meet with Solomon Islands Minister of National Security, Correctional Services and Police Anthony Veke to continue cooperation on security ...
The Government is partnering with Ngāi Tahu Farming Limited and Ngāi Tūāhuriri on a whole-farm scale study in North Canterbury to validate the science of regenerative farming, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. The programme aims to scientifically evaluate the financial, social and environmental differences between regenerative and conventional practices. ...
52.5% of people on public boards are women Greatest ever percentage of women Improved collection of ethnicity data “Women’s representation on public sector boards and committees is now 52.5 percent, the highest ever level. The facts prove that diverse boards bring a wider range of knowledge, expertise and skill. ...
I am honoured to support the 2022 Women in Governance Awards, celebrating governance leaders, directors, change-makers, and rising stars in the community, said Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. For the second consecutive year, MPP is proudly sponsoring the Pacific Governance Leader category, recognising Pacific women in governance and presented to ...
Today Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash turned the sod for the new Whakatāne Commercial Boat Harbour, cut the ribbon for the revitalised Whakatāne Wharf, and inspected work underway to develop the old Whakatāne Army Hall into a visitor centre, all of which are part of the $36.8 million ...
New Zealanders are not getting a fair deal on some key residential building supplies and while the Government has already driven improvements in the sector, a Commerce Commission review finds that changes are needed to make it more competitive. “New Zealand is facing the same global cost of living and ...
Mana in Mahi reaches a milestone surpassing 5,000 participants 75 per cent of participants who had been on a benefit for two or more years haven’t gone back onto a benefit 89 per cent who have a training pathway are working towards a qualification at NZQA level 3 or ...
The Government has invested $7.7 million in a research innovation hub which was officially opened today by Minister of Research, Science and Innovation Dr Ayesha Verrall. The new facility named Te Pā Harakeke Flexible Labs comprises 560 square metres of new laboratory space for research staff and is based at ...
Unemployment has remained near record lows thanks to the Government’s economic plan to support households and businesses through the challenging global environment, resulting in more people in work and wages rising. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate was 3.3 percent in the June quarter, with 96,000 people classed out ...
Action to address the risks identified in the 2020 climate change risk assessment, protecting lives, livelihoods, homes, businesses and infrastructure A joined up approach that will support community-based adaptation with national policies and legislation Providing all New Zealanders with information about local climate risks via a new online data ...
Māori with mental health and addiction challenges have easier access to care thanks to twenty-nine Kaupapa Māori primary mental health and addiction services across Aotearoa, Associate Minister of Health Peeni Henare says. “Labour is the first government to take mental health seriously for all New Zealanders. We know that Māori ...
A Bill which updates New Zealand’s statistics legislation for the 21st century has passed its third and final reading today, Minister of Statistics David Clark said. The Data and Statistics Act replaces the Statistics Act, which has been in effect since 1975. “In the last few decades, national data and ...
The Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament today, marking a significant milestone to improve the lives of disabled people. “The Bill aims to address accessibility barriers that prevent disabled people, tāngata whaikaha and their whānau, and others with accessibility needs from living independently,” said ...
Kia ora koutou, da jia hao It’s great to be back at this year’s China Business Summit. I would first like to acknowledge Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister Helen Clark, His Excellency Ambassador Wang Xiaolong, and parliamentary colleagues both current and former the Right Honourable Winston Peters, the ...
Narrowing the expenses considered by lenders Relaxing the assumptions that lenders were required to make about credit cards and buy-now pay-later schemes. Helping make debt refinancing or debt consolidation more accessible if appropriate for borrowers The Government is clarifying the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance (CCCFA) Regulations, to ensure ...
The Firearms Prohibition Order Legislation Bill will be passed through all remaining stages by the end of next week, Police Minister Chris Hipkins said. The Justice Select Committee has received public feedback and finalised its report more quickly than planned. It reported back to the House on Friday. “The Bill will ...
The Government has stepped up activity to protect kauri, with a National Pest Management Plan (NPMP) coming into effect today, Biosecurity Minister Damien O'Connor and Associate Environment Minister James Shaw said. “We have a duty to ensure this magnificent species endures for future generations and also for the health of ...
Prime Minister Ardern met with members of Samoa’s Cabinet in Apia, today, announcing the launch of a new climate change partnership and confirming support for the rebuild of the capital’s main market, on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between Aotearoa New ...
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta departs for the Indo-Pacific region today for talks on security and economic issues at meetings of ASEAN and the East Asia Summit in Cambodia, and during bilateral engagements in Malaysia. “Engaging in person with our regional partners is a key part of our reconnecting strategy as ...
United Nations Headquarters, New York City Thank you, Mr President. Ngā mihi ki a koutou. I extend my warm congratulations to you and assure you of the full cooperation of the New Zealand delegation. I will get right to it. In spite of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the nuclear ...
A major milestone of 10,037 additional public homes has been achieved since Labour came into office, the Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods confirmed today. “It’s extremely satisfying and a testament to our commitment to providing a safety net for people who need public housing, that we have delivered these warm, ...
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta has announced further sanctions on the armed forces and military-industrial complex of the Russian Federation. “President Putin and the Russian military are responsible for violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, which is a grave breach of fundamental international law,” Nanaia Mahuta ...
Easing the process for overseas nurses and provision of up to $10,000 in financial support for international nurses for NZ registration costs. Provide for the costs of reregistration for New Zealand nurses who want to return to work. Covering international doctors’ salaries during their six-week clinical induction courses and ...
A new future between Pacific Aotearoa and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is the essence of a Dawn Raids Apology anniversary event in Auckland this month, said Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. One year ago, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern formally apologised to Pacific communities impacted by the Dawn Raids in ...
Tēnā koutou katoa Tuia ngā waka, Tuia ngā wawata, Tuia ngā hou-kura Let us bind our connection, let us bind our vision, let us bind our shared aspiration for peace and prosperity. This year marks a significant milestone in the New Zealand – China relationship. Fifty years ago – 1972 – ...
It’s Cook Islands Language week and the Minister of Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio wants the community to focus on what it means to keep the language alive across the generations. “Our Cook Islands community in Aotearoa have decided to focus on the same theme as last years; ‘ Ātuitui’ia ...
From 1 August an estimated 2.1 million New Zealanders will be eligible to receive the first targeted Cost of Living Payment as part of the Government’s plan to help soften the impact of rising global inflationary pressures affecting New Zealanders, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says. The payments will see eligible ...
· New Zealand’s international border opens to all visitors, including from non-visa waiver countries, and international students from 11:59PM, 31 July 2022. · Cruise ships and recreational yachts able to arrive at New Zealand ports. This evening marks the final step in the Government’s reconnecting plan, with visitors from non-visa ...
New Action Plan to eliminate HIV transmission released for consultation today $18 million Budget 2022 boost Key measures to achieve elimination include increasing prevention and testing, improving access to care and treatment and addressing stigma The Government has today released its plan to eliminate the transmission of HIV in ...
A report released today shows Government support has lifted incomes for Beneficiaries by 40 percent over and above inflation since 2018. “This is the first time this data set has been collected, and it clearly shows Government action is having an impact,” Carmel Sepuloni said. “This Government made a commitment ...
Thirty new warm, safe and affordable apartments to be delivered by Tauhara North No 2 Trust in Tāmaki Makaurau Delivered through Whai Kāinga Whai Oranga programme, jointly delivered by Te Puni Kōkiri and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Allocation of the apartments will be prioritised to support ...
Disarmament and Arms Control Minister Phil Twyford will lead Aotearoa New Zealand’s delegation to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference at the United Nations in New York next week. “Aotearoa New Zealand has a long history of advocating for a world free of nuclear weapons,” Phil Twyford said. “The NPT has ...
I am delighted to join you today for the launch of the Construction Sector Accord Transformation Plan 2022-2025. I would like to acknowledge my colleagues – the other Accord Ministers, the Accord governance and sector leadership, the CEOs of Government agencies, and leaders from the construction sector. The construction ...
Associate Minister of Transport Kieran McAnulty was joined this morning by the Mayors of Carterton and Masterton, local Iwi and members of the Wairarapa community to turn the first sod on a package of crucial safety improvements for State Highway 2 in Wairarapa. “The work to improve safety on this ...
The board to take the Milford Opportunities Project (MOP) forward has been announced by Minister of Conservation Poto Williams today. “The Milford Opportunities Project is a once in a generation chance to reshape the gateway to Milford Sound Piopiotahi and redesign our transport infrastructure to benefit locals, visitors, and our ...
A new three year plan to transform the construction industry into a high-performing sector with increased productivity, diversity and innovation has been unveiled by the Minister for Building and Construction Dr Megan Woods and Accord Steering group this morning. As lead minister for the Construction Sector Accord, Dr Woods told ...
In a submission to the select committee, Auditor-General John Ryan has urged the government to require auditing of the incoming Water Services Entities. ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards. Political Roundup: Luxon’s “New National”Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Back in the 1990s, Tony Blair rebranded The British Labour Party as “New Labour”, to try and draw a line under past failures. It’s as if Christopher Luxon is attempting to follow suit, and launch “New ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Heather Handley, Associate Professor of Volcanology and Geoscience Communication, University of Twente and Adjunct Associate Professor, Monash University Marco Di Marco/AP The Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland began erupting again on Wednesday after eight months of slumber – so far without ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Maguire, Associate Professor in Human Rights and International Law, University of Newcastle Israel launched multiple air strikes on Gaza on August 5, in another eruption of open warfare between Israel and Palestinian militants. The latest attacks come just over a year ...
National's newest MP has admitted he was kicked out of his boarding school as a teen for beating a younger student. The party knew of the incident during the candidate selection process for the Tauranga by-election. ...
“The Auditor-General’s comments on Labour’s divisive Three Waters should be the final nail in the coffin for the widely-rejected reforms,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court. “The Auditor-General raised serious concerns ...
The Government must listen to the concerns of the Auditor General in his submission on the Water Services Entities Bill, Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says. "The concerns of the Auditor General echo those made by the more than ...
Buzz from the Beehive Safety and security were the common theme in the latest statements – just two – from The Beehive. The first – headed Call for New Zealanders to get on-board with rail safety – tells us this is Rail Safety Week. Transport Minister Michael Wood grabbed the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Shaw, Honorary Senior Fellow in Urban Geography and Planning, The University of Melbourne Author provided Australian cities are good at growing – for decades their states have relied on it. The need to house more people is used to justify ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kirsten Stevens, Lecturer in Arts and Cultural Management, The University of Melbourne AP Photo/Laurent Rebours Australia, and the world, has lost a unique voice with the passing last week of acclaimed director and writer Shirley Barrett. Barrett gained international ...
We have published our submission to the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the Water Services Entities Bill. Because water services are critical to everyone, our focus is on how the public and Parliament are able to influence the performance of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Santosh Tadakamadla, Associate professor and Discipline Lead for Dentistry, La Trobe University Unsplash/Mieke Campbell, CC BY What is inside teeth? – Nicholas, age 5, Australian Capital Territory Great question, Nicholas. It is important for us to know ...
A gaping hole. That’s how the Federation of Primary Health Aotearoa New Zealand Executive Director is describing the lack of primary and community care funding in the current health reform programme. Angela Francis says the Federation board and ...
E Tipu E Rea Whānau Services are deeply concerned with recent policy announcements in regard to youth unemployment and benefits over the weekend. As an organisation that works with marginalised rangatahi every day, we are always concerned when we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stu Hayes, Lecturer, Tourism, University of Otago Spraying disinfectant on an Indonesian cattle farm infected with foot and mouth disease in July 22.Getty Images Recent warnings of a “doomsday” scenario if foot and mouth disease (FMD) arrived in New Zealand inevitably ...
Be. announce an exciting new Leadership Development Programme to foster a community of disabled and access leaders equipped with the skills for 21st century governance, and to embed accessibility at a strategic level in the board agenda. Over the past ...
Recommendations from the recent Charities Act Review could mean registered charities with operating expenses over $140,000 per year will be required to disclose information about the reserves they hold, and why they hold them, says Barry Baker, Partner and ...
The prime minister has criticised National's proposed welfare changes saying they prove the opposition party doesn't understand the incentives currently in place to help people into work. ...
Manaaki Rangatahi are concerned that punitive approaches to welfare, such as National's latest policy announcement, and current sanction policies for young people in need of financial support from MSD, run the risk of increasing harm for young people and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Holly Thorpe, Professor in Sociology of Sport and Physical Culture, University of Waikato Shutterstock Given recent and often sensationalist media coverage of the issue, it’s easy to overlook the fact that transgender athletes have participated in elite sport for decades ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Lupton, SHARP Professor, leader of the Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, UNSW Sydney, and leader of the UNSW Node of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, UNSW Sydney ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Sonnemann, Principal Advisor Education, Grattan Institute www.shutterestock.com This Friday, state and federal education ministers will meet for the first time since the federal election. The stakes are high. Ministers meet as teacher shortages and workload pressures are dominating ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Simpson, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Macquarie University Crown Resorts’ striking new A$2 billion casino on Sydney’s Barangaroo Point opens its doors to gamblers for the first time this week. But only if they are “VIPs”. Its licence to operate remains conditional, ...
One of New Conservative’s core principles is a commitment to the sanctity of life. We believe human life is sacred, from conception to natural death. These principles are not held by the ruling Labour/Greens coalition; neither are they held by National ...
The magenta wash shot through the true blue National branding is one way Christopher Luxon is making his mark as party leader, and he'll be hoping this past weekend's party conference will be another, writes Jane Patterson. ...
New Zealand Defence Force personnel have remembered all those who served in Solomon Islands during World War II, as they attended commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal today. A group of personnel from the Royal New Zealand ...
Minister of Social Development Carmel Sepuloni says there's no evidence National's welfare plan will work, while the Greens say it shows a "depressingly familiar side of the National Party". ...
Minister of Social Development Carmel Sepuloni says there's no evidence National's welfare plan will work, while the Greens say it shows a "depressingly familiar side of the National Party". ...
The Greens are the only party with a comprehensive plan to support people on low incomes so everyone in and out of work has enough to make ends meet and provide for their families. “It is clearer today than ever before that thousands of families ...
Sylvia Wood has been elected President of the National Party by the Party’s board of directors at its annual conference in Christchurch. Ms Wood has been on the board since 2021 and will serve as National’s 18th President after the retirement of ...
PROFESSOR ELIZABETH RATAgave this address – ‘In Defence of Democracy’ – to the New Zealand ACT Party Annual Conference, in Wellington and Auckland, last month. Although the address was given at a political party event, she says she was a guest speaker and the ideas she presents are her ...
National has taken aim at those on welfare for longer than a year, in particular young people, saying it's unacceptable in a time of extreme labour shortages. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liz Giuffre, Senior Lecturer in Communication, University of Technology Sydney Judith Durham, one of Australia’s most recognisable voices, has passed away at 79. An icon of the Australian music industry as lead singer for The Seekers and a solo artist, hers ...
RNZ News Protesters blocked roads in central Auckland this afternoon for the second time in two weeks, marching past the main entrance to the city’s hospital. The Auckland motorway onramp used by protesters two weeks ago was closed ahead of another rally at the Auckland Domain today. Aucklanders were warned ...
National Party outgoing president Peter Goodfellow has acknowledged mistakes in his final speech, but says he does not regret trying to move the party into the 21st century. ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers were dishing out money to musicians and Māori farmers over the past day or so while also announcing awards for women and – in the case of our Minister of Defence – travel plans for a a trip to the Solomon Islands. The announcement of ...
RNZ Pacific The Solomon Islands government has prompted anger by ordering the censorship of the national broadcaster. The government of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has forbidden it from publishing material critical of the government, which will vet all stories before broadcast. The Guardian reports that on Monday the government announced ...
PNG Pacific A former Papua New Guinea military commander who drew up a plan 17 years ago to try to end gun violence says the first thing he would do is ban the public from owning guns. Major-General Jerry Singirok compiled a gun control report in 2005. It included 244 ...
By Peter Korugl of the PNG Post-Courier “Shame on yous!” … these are the three powerful words Julie Soso, former governor and candidate for the Eastern Highlands regional seat, had to say for the newly elected members to Papua New Guinea’s Parliament — all men so far. Soso, Carol Mayo ...
National's deputy Nicola Willis has sought to extinguish any doubt over her tax plan, telling members the party will deliver as much relief as it "responsibly can". ...
PSNA is holding nationwide rallies on Saturday August 6th in solidarity with Palestinians resisting ethnic cleansing in Masafer Yatta, an area of the South Hebron hills which is home to over 1200 Palestinians living in 20 villages. “Many of these people ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. A couple of weeks ago I received a number of articles mainly about Covid19 deaths in the United States. (See below.) As I have noted in the past, it is important to address the reported facts, rather than to ignore them. As they stand, these articles ...
Former Labour Party leader Andrew Little and the Prime Minister's chief press secretary have appeared as witnesses in a trial about anonymous donations to the country's two biggest political parties. ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta has met with her Chinese counterpart face-to-face for the first time at the East Asia and ASEAN summits in Cambodia. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Micah DJ Peters, Senior Research Fellow / Director – Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) National Policy Research Unit (Federal Office), University of South Australia Shutterstock Former Health Department Chief Martin Bowles has reportedly proposed “virtual nurses” could help address ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and University of Canberra Associate Professor Caroline Fisher discuss the week in politics. Michelle and Caroline discuss the first fortnight sitting of the new parliament, with the government’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt King, Director of the ARC Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science, University of Tasmania Shutterstock Atomic clocks, combined with precise astronomical measurements, have revealed that the length of a day is suddenly getting longer, and scientists don’t know ...
It sounded curiously like something out of a Marxist textbook – the notion that power sits with ownership. The relationship between ownership and power – it seems – should be more important to us than the issue of representation in the country’s democratic institutions or the concept of one person, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University Shutterstock The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID, originated from bats and then, probably after passing through an intermediary host, gained the ability to infect humans. Many new viruses that emerge in this way, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Zoe Richards, Senior Research Fellow, Curtin University Shutterstock In what seems like excellent news, coral cover in parts of the Great Barrier Reef is at a record high, according to new data from the Australian Institute of Marine Science. But ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and University of Canberra Associate Professor Caroline Fisher discuss the week in politics. Michelle and Caroline discuss the first fortnight sitting of the new parliament, with the government’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lorinda Cramer, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Australian Catholic University The question of what counts as professional dress for Australia’s politicians loomed large again this week. New Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather rose to speak in question time. He wore a neat navy suit ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bruce Glavovic, Professor in Natural Hazard Planning, Massey University Fiona Goodall/Getty Images New Zealand’s first climate adaptation plan, launched his week, provides a robust foundation for urgent nation-wide action. Its goals are utterly compelling: reduce vulnerability, build adaptive capacity ...
First-of-its-kind ranking report highlights food delivery companies taking important steps to improve chicken welfare in New Zealand and those lagging behind. Animals Aotearoa has today released a ranking report of food delivery service businesses ...
There’s a small hole in current law which a responsible camping group wants plugged. Often publicly blamed for fouling our natural environment, freedom campers and van travellers have been the target of a lot of poo-slinging lately. Tourism Minister ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew King, Senior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne The Bureau of Meteorology recently announced a negative Indian Ocean Dipole event is underway. But what does that mean and how does it affect Australia’s weather? Will we get a ...
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui are this morning welcoming yesterday’s news that a members bill to ban seabed mining will finally enter the parliamentary process. “Ngāti Ruanui is thrilled to hear that Debbie Ngarewa-Packers bill to ban seabed mining ...
The Government’s meddling is driving up the cost of land and contributing to the ongoing housing crisis, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says. “The ‘huge upfront’ purchase of land at Ferncliffe Farms is setting off major ...
By Susana Suisuiki and Finau Fonua of RNZ Pacific The Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau, Auckland came alive with music, glitz and glam for the first live Pacific Music Awards in two years last night. The annual ceremony has been held online for the past two years due to covid-19 ...
By Murray Horton As I was having breakfast in my Christchurch suburban dining room on Monday morning, I heard a loud but indeterminate noise. I actually thought it was a quake, but as there was no shaking, I assumed it came from the noisy construction site two doors away. So, ...
Pacific Media Watch newsdesk The Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the censoring of the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) as an “assault on press freedom” and an “unacceptable development” amid mounting concern over China’s influence on the media and security. “The censoring of the Solomon Island’s national ...
8 June 2011
PRESS RELEASE: Penny Bright ‘Anti-corruption campaigner’:
“Is the Solicitor-General maliciously abusing his position, as the second-highest ‘lawyer in the land’ by persecuting/ prosecuting Vince Siemer (AGAIN) for ‘contempt of Court’? ”
Vince Siemer – is facing jail for contempt of court (AGAIN!), through proceedings initiated (AGAIN) by the Solicitor -General for telling the public J Winkelman’s decision that the people arrested in the state terror raids of 15th October 2007 were not only denied a jury trial, but that the public were being denied the right to know that information.
(There will be a protest outside the Wellington High Court
2 Molesworth St (opposite Parliament)
Thursday 9 June 2011 from 9 – 10am, then for those who are able – quiet support inside the court room.
Well-known human rights lawyer Tony Ellis will be defending Vince Siemer).
In my considered opinion, Vince Siemer is NZ’s leading ‘Public Watchdog’ / ‘Whistleblower’ on the lack of transparency and accountability and ‘conflicts of interest’ in the NZ Judiciary.
http://www.kiwisfirst.co.nz )
Why is the Solicitor-General David Collins QC himself not facing an investigation for ‘contempt of the House’ – given his role – in my considered opinion, of helping to ‘mislead’ the former Justice and Electoral Select Committee, which resulted in the matters raised in Petition 2005/142 being declared ‘subjudice’, at a time they clearly were NOT?
(Petition 2005/142 presented to the House by Mr Hide MP on 24 July 2007 “requesting that Parliament conduct an inquiry into the comittal for imprisonment of Mr Vincent Ross Siemer for contempt of court”)
Was the former Justice and Electoral Select Committee ‘misled’ – not only by the Solicitor-General David Collins QC (‘the highest acting law officer in the land’); but also by the former Clerk of the House David McGee QC (now an Ombudsman) ; and the former Acting Deputy Solicitor-General (Public Law) Grant Liddell (who later became the CEO of the NZ Serious Fraud Office (SFO)?
Read the following information for yourself – and you be the judge…….”
(Full post on http://waterpressure.wordpress.com )
Penny Bright
So now many of the ordinary mums and dads are being subtly cast again as “pariahs” of the state – you know, the ones who belong to unions or are public service employees. Now, let’s list a few other average mums and dads who, with the stroke of their pens, have shunted inordinate amounts of the New Zealand cake offshore – family names like Myers, Douglas, Fay, Aldgate-Whitechapel, Hart, Richwhite, … makes you wonder who the real Kiwis are doesn’t it?
Oh, its far worse, the typically civilisation killer is here. Where the language of debate, if its allowed to happen (in the public eye), is restricted to the needs of the exploiters continued exploitation. Where the only justified work lifestyle has to be in some industry that exploits its workers and its environment, and where if you do have standards to meet the taxpayer not the polluter has to pay. Imagine the markets as a massive bragging competition, we’re made this much money using up this much soil, putting this much high density ore into refuse dumps globally, so we can produce some high end product for the few who braggers who brag the best.
Its not surprising Key is loved by one and all, he is a hero of the brag to make money brigade, what your kids should grow up to be like.
What’s the story with Fiji at the RWC? Articles I’ve read seem confusing as to who can and can’t come and I got the impression the IRB seemed to be thinking it could let in who it liked……ignoring any bans we may have.
That’s probably because McCully has promised the IRB that any such existing bans will not be enforced for the purposes of the RWC.
So it’s another case of us surrendering sovereignty to some external transnational body? – again!
Thanks Murray! You bring the KY and we will assume the position – again!
Glenn Greenwald finds a(nother) classic example of one his favorite bugbears; ridiculously inappropriate use of anonymous sourcing.
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/06/02/hersh/index.html
Shorter: Dear journo’s, when officials are feeding you the official line, they don’t need anonymity, and shouldn’t get it.
What is it with Key and planking? He is now busily trying to reform labour laws to make protection for workers a joke and describes this as a “campaign plank” …
Plonker.
Probably think he’s “cool”
Interesting flick – it’s long though at nearly three hours
Haha they said “a NZ study done in a town called Doo-Ned-In”
Hmmmm…
So, some indications show that the US went into recession in 2006 and still hasn’t come out. That’s gotta hurt.
Closing down debate quickly on National Radio—again
Nine to Noon with Kathryn Ryan, Thursday June 9, 2011
In a discussion about deep sea oil and gas exploration off New Zealand’s coasts, Simon Boxer of Greenpeace mentioned that both the Brazilian government and Petrobras were angry with the New Zealand government for making public announcements about oil-prospecting deals, without having consulted local people.
Incredibly, Kathryn Ryan sternly warned him away: “Well, we had the Associate Minister disputing that the other day. I don’t want that dragged up again. Let’s move on.”
A couple of weeks ago, an equally nervous Jim Mora stopped Richard Langstone and Bomber Bradbury from going after Professor Stephen Hoadley, who had made a couple of preposterous statements asserting the “legality” of the American carpet-bombing of Indo-China, and claiming that it conformed with the Geneva Conventions. Like Ryan, Mora insisted that there was no time to go “off topic” like that. (“The Panel”, May 27, 2011)
These are by no means isolated instances.
It’s clear that, in addition to the highly partisan, unapologetically pro-National-government New Zealand Herald and NewstalkZB, we have a public radio station that is afraid of incurring government wrath by letting critics have a say.
That’s a worry for democracy, as well as a blow for the prospects of interesting or stimulating discussions on the radio.
Morrissey – Be fair, the interviewers must offer their audience a broad view of their subject, and only Mary Wilson, of those I listen to, hammers one aspect into the ground. She doesn’t give up. Sometimes it even seems pointless and I turn the radio off. Interviewers can’t get into the argy-bargy that goes on here sometimes with endless assertions being countered continuously with a lot of rancour and little illumination or new facets being revealed, and other relevant info getting sidelined.
…only Mary Wilson…hammers one aspect into the ground. She doesn’t give up.
Eva Radich is another determined interviewer. When Tony Blair had the hide to make a state visit here some years ago, she went after him about the illegality of the Iraq invasion and his bogus “45 minute” claim. She would not let him evade her questions or divert the focus of the interview. In the end, of course, he just resorted to his usual insulting menu of vague platitudes. But she had discomfited that creep, in a way he rarely faced back in the U.K. And what a great contrast between her interview with Blair and the hesitant treatment he got a day later by an overwhelmed John Campbell, who obviously detested Blair but lacked the fortitude to insist he respond seriously to his questions.
Last year Kim Hill subjected ex-Australian prime minister John Howard to a thirty-five minute interrogation. The Great Man was clearly unsettled by her persistence, something he rarely if ever encountered back in Australia. But one person was even more upset by the interview than Howard was—the Wairarapa oenophile Karl Du Fresne was incensed by Kim’s lack of forelock-tugging, and slammed her “lack of balance” in a dyspeptic column in the Australian Spectator…
http://karldufresne.blogspot.com/2010/11/howard-deserved-more-balanced-treatment.html
Sometimes it even seems pointless and I turn the radio off.
I think it’s a pity more interviewers haven’t got the courage, or are insufficiently prepared, to seriously hold politicians to account. When TV and radio stations assign people like John Campbell, Kathryn Ryan, Mike Hosking, and (God save us) Paul Holmes to interview powerful and intimidating politicians, it’s a missed opportunity.
I generally reckon that when the press isn’t being combative they are missing the point of their freedom.
I like seeing all pollies getting their feet held to the fire, particularly when they are ones that I have voted for or are thinking of voting for. Fucking nail them.
I don’t care if a journo ‘gets it wrong’, or asks ‘stupid questions’ or is ‘rude’. That’s ‘doing their job’ as far as I see it.
One of the US founders said (paraphrase) that given the choice between a free press and free elections, he’d take the former every time. And this was in a time when the press was vicious. His point was that a combative and free press lets the public know things by forcing pollies to confront things. Without that knowledge, elections are useless. With that knowledge, even absent elections, remedies are available.
The public is capable of deciding if a journo has been an arsehole, and an arsehole journo at the end of the day, is just a twatcock asking questions and printing the answers. Those answers will always be of some value.
I note that Ryan is often like that, ruthlessly cutting people off… either for time reasons, or for reasons of what seems to be clearly censorship…
Some detail about the Ecoli outbreak. This has been ruinous for Spain and the wash has spread over all the EU. A British bacteriologist (I think) said that in fact it was a North German problem. All the people sickening outside Germany had contact from there. The researchers have concentrated on salad vegetables because most of those affected are women and probably health conscious, but what about bottled water, or natural beauty preparations? (Light bulb – they need to call House.)
With all the sophisticated, easily accessed labs they have in Germany and Europe, they have not been able to source this thing. Imagine our country affected by a blow to its agriculture like this. It does not even have to be true, just suspected. We have closed down so much of our manufacturing and employment-rich businesses separate from the farming economy. We would be back to slave camps, that’s what they called the work camps during the Depression. And glad to get something no doubt.
From google listings –
1 The EHEC strain may cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is characterised by acute kidney failure and can lead to seizures, strokes and coma.
Reinhard Burger, head of Germany’s Robert Koch Institute which monitors epidemics, said the country usually saw between 50 and 60 cases of HUS annually, whereas it had recorded about 80 during the current outbreak.
Earlier –
2 Ten people have been hospitalized in Frankfurt with another 50 experiencing mild symptoms. In Hamburg, another forty patients are being treated for EHEC as well. Other cases have been confirmed in the Northern part of Germany including Rostock, Lower Saxony, Bremen and Schleswig Holstein. There are up to 600 suspected cases across Germany.
3 The latest cases in the U.K. involve three people with bloody diarrhea and one person who has developed the potentially fatal form of the condition known as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
Three of the four new cases are in U.K. residents who have recently returned from Germany, and the other involves a person from Germany who is on vacation in England.
Recent news 8/6 http://news.uk.msn.com/world/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=158154499
4 Another person has died in Germany from the infection, raising the toll to 24 in Germany, plus one in Sweden.
The number of reported cases is up by more than 300 over the previous day to 2,648, including nearly 700 suffering from a serious complication that can cause kidney failure.
Interesting, the photo accompanying the above article showed a laboratory worker? not wearing gloves with an opened bean sprout packet which the caption said was to be tested. Surely a file photo. I wouldn’t want to put my flesh anywhere near something as possibly infective as that.
“Imagine our country affected by a blow to its agriculture like this. It does not even have to be true, just suspected.”
This is why the American beef industry does their own management of testing for mad cow disease, and deliberately do a very poor job of it while covering up any actual infections detected (any cows ‘suspected’ of having it are killed and incinerated before samples can be taken for proper testing). That way they can be sure that if there is actually a problem with mad cow disease, it would have to be quite widespread before the public became aware of it.
In milk we trust.
Solely, absolutely and forever and ever.
Kiss goodbye to rail and engineering technology (Kevin Welsh @ 1:44pm).
May the sacredness of our milk always prevail over all disasters – national or National.
And may our milk be always completely free from health scares.
If you’re not keen about being a milk slave, erm, farmer or dairy maid, please take the next one-way flight out of Milkland.
In milk we trust.
I don’t know if I would trust all milk, there was something on TV news last night about modified cows producing “human ” milk. Curdled thoughts on that.
Hey PeteG, maybe National can now find a productive use for all those DPB mums eh?
Careful, Colonial Viper; I don’t think the NActs understand satire. At least I hope it was satire…
😛
lanthanide – Gosh! The usa beef lobby is powerful – remember them suing Oprah for saying she wouldn’t eat hamburger or similar. I think that was at the mad cow disease outbreak. Also I remember a couple of journalists being harrassed by the usa dairy lobby who managed to get control of the wording of legislation about quality of milk so they could ensure that people remained unaware of possible problems. The ‘What you don’t know, won’t hurt you’ approach. This was another scare, back a decade or two.
You can imagine how tough the usa lobby is when you hear Federated Farmers leaders like Don Nicholson talking about farmers’ interests.
http://beforeitsnews.com/story/693/134/Forensic_Evidence_Emerges_that_European_E.Coli_Superbug_was_Bioengineered_to_Produce_Human_Fatalities.html
according to some very smart people, including the Koch Institute mentioned above, Mother Nature simply does not work in the manner the Bankers would like us to believe. No naturally occuring process can achieve this level of resistance complexity and then magically appear simulaneously in multiple links on the food chain. It does not happen, not without a concerted level of assistance.
The very complex questions, often have very simple answers.
What a load of BS. Bacteria such as E. coli typically acquire multidrug resistance via horizontal gene transfer from other bacteria, and not via multiple rounds of selection. And bacterial contamination is easy spread given the right conditions (and of course that all the cases are linked to a single country anyway). Mother nature is not benevolent.
And the theory of how the strain was ‘engineered’ is just as dumb. If I was going to engineer a deadly strain of bacteria, it wouldn’t be via that method.
Just another kick in the guts for what is left of New Zealand’s heavy engineering industry.
This is shocking. But this Government prefers to purchase Chinese workers and have our own as unemployed on the street and on the dole because it is more “efficient”.
Loyalty to a company never amounts to anything. The directors/owners ask for it all the time but never extend it themselves.
And yes, this act is just another way that NAct are undermining our economy.
I dont think we should be suprised about this one. And we shouldnt blame the current administration.
This has been happening for about the past 25 years or so, with NZR, TranzRail and then Toll running down the railway workshops, that provided NZ with a lot of skill, expertise and engineering infrastructure for the past century or so. Eastown, Otahuhu, Addington (now replaced by a shopping mall), all gone, and Hutt, along with Hillside, running at a fraction of its orginal capacity.
If you want to blame anyone for this, blame Richard Prebble. He was the one who stripped NZR to the bone for it to be flogged off.
NZ has been going down the wrong road for a very long time.
Yep and, unfortunately, neither of the two main parties are willing to change the direction just yet. One because of the ideology – they actually want NZ to go the wrong way because it directly benefits them and they don’t care what it does to everyone else. The other doesn’t seem to want to admit that it got it wrong three decades ago and some of them even want to continue going the wrong way as well.
Choice: A) Wrong way or b) Wrong way with conditions.
Not really all that appertising and none of the minor parties are talking about the necessary changes needed to make us sustainable/more egalatarian either. They’re sayijg that’s what they want but not how to go about doing it.
Some thoughts on religion, the good, the bad and the ugly.
The good ideas and ideals from religion can get dereailed after the ambitious and the fanatical and the dogmatic pedants and the supernaturally moral (in theory) get their hold on it and find a hopefully, comfortable position within it and a hopefully decent income and elevated position in society. It’s true that men have dominated in the past, but in the Catholic church some of the nuns have been remarkably bold in setting up an Order in a new place. And Anglican nuns as well I think. The belief of a woman in the goodness of Christ and his life as a shining example to follow led her into an adventurous and strenuous life. Read about Gladys Aylward in The Small Woman by Alan Burgess. Often comes up on Trademe. Religion has been a comfort, a scourge, a challenge. Here is a link I’ve got – can’t remember exactly what’s on it. http://www.bdcconline.net/en/stories/a/aylward-gladys.php
And if you are a leftie then you will have heard of The Tolpuddle Martyrs – basically one family of godly men who started the farm union movement in southern England, got punished by being sent as convicts to Australia, and by popular acclaim of British crowds who supported them, were pardoned and allowed back to England. It was their Methodism that kept them sane in their souls, and gave them strength to endure the very nasty privations they bore.
For the rest of us, it is sometimes just comfortable to front up and gabble the responses, kneel and rise if that’s how they do it in Rome, sing a few good songs, and hopefully be better people for a while. There are worse things than meeting with others who have shared beliefs in trying to be kind and think of others before ourselves sometimes. But as M says in the blog for Key’s Destiny it doesn’t last beyond Sunday morning for some people.
Nice one prism and I don’t down people for having faith having being raised a Catholic but I don’t like it where religion is misused to keep people down, for example Joseph Ratzinger aka God’s policeman describing homosexuals as backyard mongrels.
As a teenager it began to chafe the way I saw women very much in the background with their worth seeming to be in motherhood or the religious life instead of the human flawed beings like their male counterparts.
I’m lapsed for many years now but take with me the social justice aspect of my upbringing and try to effect change where I can or speak out in defence of those under nasty yokes and I think many other lapsers do too.
Don’t have a problem with people being churchgoers or talking about their faith as I have friends from all over the spectrum from hardened atheists to the most ardent believers and when faith or religion is put to use for the good like say the sisters of the Home of Compassion I’m their most vehement supporter.
My old Grandmother – a life-long Athiest and left-wing Labour Party activist – always said Lapsed Catholics made the best, most passionate, most committed Lefties.
Agreed swordfish. My grandmother had a picture of Jesus Christ the sacred heart on one side of her mantlepiece and Micky Savage on the other. Both pictures were about the same size and of an identical height!
May i suggest that lapsed Catholics make good lefties because the good hearts of these people were still beating after realising the Church was one big lie and they really really wanted to believe that there is a way for Humans to help each other live a better life without the endless deference to greed and brutality
I have come to believe that I had a huge advantage by being raised by parents who were atheist and agnostic/apathetic.. (although afaik they didn’t stay that way.) I didn’t learn anything about God/religion/church until I was 19. I started as a fundamentalist, and have become an Anglo-Catholic.
I’ve heard that Benedict said that, but I’d like ‘chapter and verse’, simply because from what I know of him (which was nothing, until recently my dear beloved Italian teacher, sent me his latest book as a Christmas present) it does not sound like the sort of thing he would say! When I am not here, I spend far too long on ATS, talking about politics which is fine, and ‘debating’ with atheists, which is not – because said atheists are much more into personal abuse than all but a few here (you know who you are! 😀 ) It just makes me completely exhausted to see all the same old techniques – the old assertiveness training ‘broken record’ is a favourite…. Sadly, so is citing the most rage-inducing quotes, without sources, and then when the sources are tracked down, turns out to have been something interpreted very creatively! Having the same problem convincing Americans that Admadinejad never said he wanted to nuke Israel, not even ‘wipe it off the map’ – I can’t understand why lefties are quite happy to use right wing techniques such as mis-quoting, etc against we religious… 🙁
More Questions Than Answers
Yesterday, the Green Party co-leader Dr Russel Norman asked the Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key a number of pertinent questions concerning Ministers receiving “corporate hospitality.” As usual John Key was evasive and did not answer appropriately continuing to obfuscate and deliberately withhold relevant information. The current Speaker of the House Lockwood Smith then protected John Key by implementing procedural trivialities in an appalling display of arrogance that perverted Parliamentary justice from being served.
Easy street, insulated by their wealth, are up in arms over loss of free weather reports for pilots.
Unlike boaties, rock anglers, etc, anyone, who can jump off anywhere to get on the ocean, not just anyone can jump in a plane, or hellicopter.
What exactly were they thinking when they thought cuts would be on the poor singularly?
What did they understand to mean back office cuts and privatization?
Of course it would mean less generosity towards their luxuries hobbies.
What comes around goes around, we can be generous, grow the economy by providing incentives in real growth rather than exporting people, profits and future opportunities.
Capital farming is an attack on capitalism, since it rewards those with massive wealth to keep it and shut out new hard working citizens entering their industry, or the home ownership club.
Oh, and when did free market come to mean free for all? Markets aren’t fair, uniform, unless well regulated by government and society. When the cultural norms break down in punishing criminals, and short cut takers, then government needs to step up its game rather than rush to join up with the government hands off driving.
Economic outlook is uncertain, but what is certain is energy will cost more, transport cost will rise.
Ugh I just found WhaleOil. I need to go and scrub myself now. I feel dirty.
I recommend paumice and hospital strength disinfectant.
And beer and whisky. Then go and deliver 500 pamphlets and erect 10 billboards and you will feel better …
That reminds me… I’ve been meaning to tell everyone that DF has reinstalled his LSO cookie.
The best way to combat it is to install Better Privacy and restart your browser each time you visit Kiwibog. Whaleoil has also recently implemented the technology on his site.
You can learn a little bit more about the DF LSO in this Jackal blog post.
ugh, feel your pain, I did the same a couple of days ago. Still de-Oiling.
I read this extract from Hansard (dated 7-6-11) on Red Alert a few minutes ago.It was posted by Trevor M.under “Late Play Annie to the Leader of the National Party.” It was about the contract given to Parents Inc not being put out for tender.
“Hon Annette King: What evidence and scientific advice did he seek before agreeing to allocate $2.4 million to Parents Inc. for a parenting programme that even the Minister for Social Development and Employment said she had neither sought nor received advice on, or was she carrying out his promise that he made before the election that he would make sure that Parents Inc. got money?
Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Members will accept that, as Prime Minister, I am not responsible for the allocation of that contract; that actually goes through the Ministry of Social Development. But I would say I have seen that Toolbox; I have seen the programme. In my opinion it is a very, very successful programme that is helping New Zealand parents, and we do need to help parents in New Zealand.”
Is there not something very wrong about this? John Key did not deny that he had made a promise before the election! More arbitrary government from Mr.’if i ruled the world,forget democratic procedures’ K.ey? Is this not similar to PEDA and Bill English the budget before last, or perhaps worse as it was promised bfore the election?
In Britain, arbitrary government under Charles 1,caused a civil war and Charles, thinking he had “divine right” as king to make decisions off the top off his head, lost said head to the executioner(1649). At least in the case of Charles he was leader and king, but Mr. Key apparently made a promise before he became leader! How many other promises did he make and why? And he often makes decicisions of his head.
According to Speake’s rules, if there is more than one question asked in Question Time, the minister or PM addressed only needs to answer one. So the fact that Key didn’t answer the question on promises, doesn’t mean he DID make a promise. He just chose to answer the first question.
But if the answer was in the negative then Mr Key would have said so, and thus closed off the issue. To avoid answering does increase the possibility that Key made a promise that was outside the tendering rules. Unlawful? But Key can do that because who can stop him. And the MSM are not going to question the ethics of it are they?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/5120337/Reserve-Bank-keeps-official-cash-rate-steady
We don’t need no stinkin sub-editors.
Isn’t it all done out of Aussie now? Or not done as the case may be…
Still there as I write this btw…
I’ve noticed a lot of epic spelling mistakes on Stuff lately. They’re probably employing some minimum wage slave who’s in constant fear of being fired before 90 days is up. It would be their style.
That’s the efficiency gain of privatisation the NACTs want to bring to the public sector, I guess…
A Fairfax exec told me a couple of years ago that the occasional payoff to an accidentally libelled member of the public was still going to be cheaper than employing subbies. He wasn’t sure that they had an obligation to always be accurate anyway, but he did reckon they were obliged to correct their mistakes, but only if they were pointed out to them.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1106/S00142/new-parole-board-appointments-announced.htm
So, are these people objective judges of individual’s right to regain some freedom or just rightwing ringins this government has put in place to control people?
An excellent question Jum.
For the first time in a while, the latest Morgan poll shows a major shift – to the opposition:
http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2011/4675/
What’s significant here is that the overall confidence rating hasn’t changed, but party vote preferences have. So that “disconnect” (i.e. people not happy but supporting status quo) has been reduced. Good.
I wouldn’t read much into the minor party results – Morgan has always been funny on those. But overall, it’s encouraging for those (like me!) who had started to give up on under-performing Labour.
I’m still gonna vote Green though.
heh. That would be an interesting parliament. Act potentially out, Mana in.
Yep, that’s a good result for the left. A nominal 7 point gap between Team Key and the opposition, the smallest it’s been since the start of the year. Factor in the likely electoral neutering of ACT and the maori party and it’s getting down to a seat or three. Continuous job losses, a moribund economy and no fucken idea what to do about either are starting to kill Key’s chances in November. And did I mention Kiwisaver and asset sales?
Interesting that Tariana Turia was all over the news today bigging up Darren Hughes. A olive branch of sorts to Labour?
9.5% undecided. Up 2%. That may be a good sign for the Opposition too as maybe a few are not so sure about the Nacts.
Newsflash
~ ~ In Search of 170,000 jobs ~ ~
Fantastic! John Key’s Government has overexceeded his aspirational bullshit and is now taking up residence in political fantasy islands:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5123165/Ministry-unsure-about-Budgets-job-promise
It gets even better – “the Budget” is an organism separate and independent from the Government as Acting (good actor?) Economic Decimation, erm, Development Minister David Carter told the commerce select committee today he was not aware that any analysis had been done …
“Bear in mind the Government hasn’t said it will create the 170,000 new jobs – the Budget said there will be 170,000 jobs,” he said.
The Budget said. The Government hasn’t said. The Budget said. The Government hasn’t said.
Oh yes yes yes, we understand.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5123165/Ministry-unsure-about-Budgets-job-promise
Time to blame the peasants and boy sells kidney to buy iPad – gotta love Max Keiser:
At the risk of saying something unpopular for me, this was a bit of a WTF moment
The heritage advisor for Auckland’s main iwi hadn’t heard of an inner-city taniwha before yesterday, but he says the point about consultation over the CBD Rail Link project is valid.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10731219
I am sorry but the last time I remember hearing about a Taniwha was a few years ago, and it caused all sorts of problems. But this one, is one, that few people seem to have heard of.
But it’s very handy for Steven Joyce, who we all know is so in favour of the Britomart rail link, NOT
http://www.imperatorfish.com/2011/06/guest-post-from-horotiu-taniwha.html
I imagine the right’s silence over this issue would be quite deafening, simply because that the ‘taniwha’ lies in the path of a railway line, not a road.