Further thoughts on dissent in the US, carrying on from yesterday’s conversation.
One of the main things I’ve have heard from US apologists for their country’s imperialism, is that the US is the home of free speech, dissent and democracy. They claim that this is why so many people try to migrate to the US.
However, while the US does have many dissenters within their country – enough to support the notion that they are a free, open and democratic society – this dissent does nothing to challenge or really unsettle the power of the elites. They have ways of neutralising the dissent:
The American media deploys a deep and varied arsenal of rhetorical devices in order to marginalise opinions, people and organisations as “outside the mainstream” and therefore not worth listening to. For the most part the people and groups being declaimed belong to the political Left. To take one example, the Green Party – well-organised in all 50 states – is never quoted in newspapers or invited to send a representative to television programmes that purport to present “both sides” of a political issue. (In the United States, “both sides” means the back-and-forth between centre-right Democrats and rightist Republicans)
The US government has long used popular culture to spread their propaganda about being a free and open democracy. The US government, in the early-to-mid 20th century used the international circulation of Hollywood movies to precede trade agreements, in order to soften up the population, and encourage their acceptance of US products:
<blockquote.The State Department and the OWI intervened in other overseas markets as well, particularly in neutral Europe and in the Axis nations toward the end of the war. And as the government became more sensitive to America’s image abroad, it became more concerned about Hollywood’s role in projecting that image.
And, of course, with the rise of so-called “neoliberalism” and the Murdochisation of the news media, such strategies have been transported across the western world.
The US government has also used TV and popular music in the Middle East, Iraq etc, to promote it’s culture to the locals – part of their programme of cultural imperialism. And the US government is quite happy at times to highlight dissenting music etc to promote their image of being an open democracy. And dissenting popular culture is also used as a marketing strategy, especially in targeting young people. By getting sucked into the capitalist machinery, they get contained, and a target for underlying US imperialising values.
I DO know many US people who express criticism and dissatisfaction with their country’s lack of social justice, and of it’s imperialistic ways. But they also get very frustrated with the inability to stage effective dissent.
In my opinion, people who want to go to live in the US, do so, not because they see it as a shining beacon of freedom of speech and democracy, but because of the potential to get in on some of the wealth and shiny technological advances.
But a lot of the US’s technological advances are gained through enticing many of the best researchers and product developers from other countries to their unis and corporate R&D departments. Also, while the US talks free-market, it practices protectionism, often in slightly devious ways e.g. the ways it protects the Hollywood movie industry internationally.
And, a lot of these strategies are no longer so confined to the US…. coming soon to a place near you, dressed in local colours.
“The US government has long used popular culture to spread their propaganda about being a free and open democracy.”
Very true…I had just posted this on yesterday’s open mike…
I would add a third thing that maintains US hegemony…and that is culture. Americanisation in the form of consumerism is still sweeping the world and shows no sign of slowing. Its the desire to consume, a belief in liberal capitalism, social liberalism and the notion of ‘freedom’ that draws the world’s money towards the USA. Capitalism put the money into the hands of a few – and since American culture defines our desires, that money moves towards America.
China might be up there in economic terms, but the USA controls the world’s knowledge. USA defines the ‘truth’.
“The US government has also used TV and popular music in the Middle East, Iraq etc, to promote it’s culture to the locals – part of their programme of cultural imperialism.”
They sure do, and they also did it the other way where the East is Othered through Hollywood…as Western culture is idolised, Eastern cultures are subjugated.
Edward Said’s concept of Orientalism examines where USA’s true power is created and maintained. Its all about seduction and cultural hegemony
For once we are pretty much in agreement, fatty. Yes, I read your other piece on it,
As I recall Said, in his book on orientalism, begins his historiography of imperialism well before the rise of US Imperialism. he goes back to the Greeks – indeed, while western culture claims a tradition going back to ancient “Greece”, a lot of the ancient Athenian knowledge was acquired first from Babylon and the Persian Empire.
Said was a lit crit and (perhaps inadvertently) shows the difference between English cultural imperialism the US version (albeit that US culture and imperialism was mapped onto the English/European version in many ways).
The English version was tied to the “civilising mission”, whereby they believed England/Europe was the peak of civilised society. So they promoted a more classical version of “high” culture (Shakespeare etc) to be spread throughout the world – also their ideas about education, science and technology.
As the US form of imperialism is justified by the promotion of themselves as being the home of democracy and individual freedom, they promote it through popular culture (culture of the people). Of course, popular culture in the age of mechanical reproduction, is transmitted via new forms of “state of the art” technologies. It amalgamates the US’s view of itself as the leaders in science and technology – but that is also tied up with their militarism – a technologically-advanced form of military power. And as you say, the popular culture is incorporated within consumerism.
However, they are increasingly getting some competition from non-Western parts of the world in many of these areas…. though not so much with the military
@OneTrack
I did answer the conjecture, but it probably got lost in my incorrect attempt to format the quote above it (Was in a rush before going to work). The quote from the link is:
The State Department and the OWI intervened in other overseas markets as well, particularly in neutral Europe and in the Axis nations toward the end of the war. And as the government became more sensitive to America’s image abroad, it became more concerned about Hollywood’s role in projecting that image.
The rest are my views, including this: In my opinion, people who want to go to live in the US, do so, not because they see it as a shining beacon of freedom of speech and democracy, but because of the potential to get in on some of the wealth and shiny technological advances.
I do not know whether Trevor Mallard and Andrew Little (both of whom I respect) made false statements about Judith Collins. If they were false I do not know whether they were calculated, reckless or just careless. That will be for a court to determine. But I do know they are scoffing at defamation law.
More importantly he looks at free speech versus “casual liars”.
Defamation law is the safeguard against false coin in the competitive marketplace of ideas. A Gresham’s law may apply in public debate, where unpunishable recklessness, and scandalous accusation would crowd out sober truth.
An assumption that usually you can trust what someone is telling you, and particularly your leaders or would-be leaders, is a vital element of social capital. New Zealand is currently a high trust country according the the World Values Survey.
High profile defamation cases remind casual liars they could pay a price help to preserve our trust in the honesty of others until proved otherwise. So proceedings that keep open the threat of a cost for reckless allegations are in the public interest.
There does need to be a way of addressing deliberate and repeat lying for political gain. Defamation law is far from ideal but it’s one of a limited number of options currently available.
More effective would be more public and media insistence on political honesty. And more party and blog insistence on honesty would help too.
consistently assume their opponents really just want to bring down the government by any means
Who “consistently assumes” that?
I don’t see anyone as “opponents”. There are things I disagree with and will speak against, and there are things that I agree with and will speak for. And I’ll work with anyone who I think deserves support.
If children are being schooled to “hate” any politician it reflects very poorly on the teacher or teachers involved. If that’s what’s happened I think it’s disgraceful.
Teachers have admitted organising children on letter writing and emailing campaigns directed at politicians. Duncan Garner said his daughter came home saying “”Well, he’s going to close our cooking and technology classes at our school. So we all hate him”. She that came from school, with a fairly strong presumption that teachers were involved.
If that’s the case (and I say “if” again) I don’t think it’s a good thing for teachers to be getting kids involved in like that.
Don’t you think it would be worse if that’s what they’re doing? Or does that not bother you. I think it is worse if it’s happening. And funnily enough, I haven’t seen anyone deny that it has happened, all they try and do is try and divert with attacks.
Maybe you should have a think about what could be seen as nasty tactics. You’re coming across as a bit hypocritical. Is this targetting an obsession or a mission?
I quoted you making the assertions Pete. You have no basis whatsoever for the assertions. These are intermediate kids, they are quite capable of forming opinions.
It’s a baseless smear, you kmow it, dogs know it, little fishes in the sea know it.
Just because you want to talk about goat fucking, that doesn’t mean that the people you want to talk about with regard to goat fucking are any obligation to deny goat fucking. Even if you’ve seen a grumpy goat. Goats are grumpy critters, and kids form opinions.
You are right, he shouldn’t call the Green’s watermelons as that is incorrect. They are really deep-red, hard-left socialists. Oh, by the way, they talk about the environment occasionally, but borrow, tax and spend comes first, every time.
Fact is onetrack wouldn’t know hard left or deep red if one popped up in his cornflakes and nationalised his nutsack, but at least he’s not a mealy mouthed, butter wouldn’t melt his arse, bell end.
Maybe there’s a meaning of watermelon I don’t know about, but as far as I know it’s a mild label, and more descriptive than many of the names that are thrown around here.
A student from Auckland recently said the fashionable insult there is neoliberal. Thta’s spat around her a bit too, along with many others.
So far here today I’ve been referred to as nasty, rightwinger, idiot, pants on fire, helpless Key apologist, gutless passively aggressive, utterly banal, boring old git, annoying, disingenuous as hell, mealy mouthed, butter wouldn’t melt his arse, bell end. And that’s just on this OM.
And you fake indignation at me using “watermelon” (once some time ago?).
Isn’t that a tad hypocritical considering the insults you dish out?
It’s not hypocritical at all Pete. We’ve had that discussion before.
And yes, you’ve been called lots of things. Usually as the conclusion to an argument. (eg: pete is telling lies, people who tell lies are shitbergs, therefore “Pete is a shitberg”)
If you tell a lie, or smear someone, or blather on like a fool, then pointing that out is just stating what you are doing. If you can dispute it, then that’s all to the good. But usually you can’t.
You claim that ‘watermelon’ is tame. I disagree, I think it is far worse than calling Peter Dunne a syphilitic old cocknozzle for example. But that’s because I have a love for language, and a respect for its power.
I suspect you are the sort of person who would say that somethung is ‘just semantics’, where I think that semantics are very important. It is in the semantics, that precision, and thus truth, resides.
Do you care for truth Pete?
Do you think bloggers and commenters should have a care for truth?
You say you do, at length; and yet, and yet.
“watermelons”
What a nsaty vicious little smear that is. So full of lies, and accusations of lies. So hidden and cowardly too. I’d be ashamed. If I have something to say, I’ll say it, clearly, and if asked I’ll explain myself.
that’s what I consider honesty Pete.
Your version seems to be something more polite, but less, well, shall we say, unvile.
It’s hard to believe that’s a genuine overreaction.
There’s nothing “hidden and cowardly” about it. It’s a fairly commonly used term for green parties, here and overseas (in Australia anyway). It’s been out in the open for years.
A website in New Zealand, The Watermelon, uses the term as a compliment, stating that it is “green on the outside and liberal on the inside”, using the term ‘liberal’ while also citing “socialist political leanings”, reflecting the use of the term ‘liberal’ to describe the left-wing in many English-speaking countries
How vile and nasty are they?
To claim that it’s “So full of lies, and accusations of lies” I assume you are trying to say Green policies and aims are not socialist at all. Is that what you mean?
Greens do have genuine green (environmental) policies – in fact UF have some of the same or similar polices, as do other parties. Even National.
I presume we can agree on the greenness of the Greens.
There you go again Pete, accusing me of being dishonest about this. Why not just ask why I find it offensive and I’ll tell you. And then you won’t have to go trwaling the internet trying to justify why you think it might not be offensive.
Saying they are green on the outside and red in the middle is saying that the Greens ‘greenness’ is a fake, a distraction that’s hiding the true essence of ‘redness’ within. It’s saying they are not really green at all, that they are really red, and lying about it. that the claim of greenness is a trick that you shouldn’t be fooled by.
It’s the same as when people call some Maori “bounty bars” – Brown on the outside but white in the middle. They are saying that the person is not really Maori. That’s not saying there is anything wrong with being white, by the way, but it’s still offensive.
‘Watermelons’ is a line with a long history. The idea is that the greens are a commun1st front, if not outright traitors. You’ve been hanging around at KB long enough that you should know well enough what the word is saying, and what those those say it, mean by it.
If you knew anything at all about green politics you’d know that it is holistic. The economic policies are not seperate from the rest of it. They are there because the economics needs to be cognizant of the environment. That resources need to be shared more equitably, stems from the fact that if they are not, it means more extraction from the environemt. It’s environmentally wastefull to have vast dichotomies of wealth and to ahve people competeing to consume as much as they can, while others barely scrape by.
You might not agree with that, but that’s no excuse to misrepresent it.
I tracked down that quote Pete cited, no surprises why he didn’t link.
It’s from a description of eco-socialism, (ie, people who are not Greens, and arose partiallly in reaction to the Green movement), here’s the text preceding what Pete quoted:
Eco-socialists are critical of many past and existing forms of both Green politics and socialism. They are often described as Red Greens – adherents to Green politics with clear anti-capitalist views, often inspired by Marxism (Red Greens should be contrasted with Blue Greens).
The term Watermelon is commonly applied, often as an insult, to describe professed Greens who seem to put “social justice” goals above ecological ones, implying they are “green on the outside but red on the inside”; the term is usually attributed to either Petr Beckmann or, more frequently, Warren T. Brookes,[2][3][4] both critics of environmentalism, and is apparently common in Australia,[5][6] New Zealand[7] and the United States[8]
So you don’t think teachers should inform students about what the current government is doing? In this case their budget cuts were going to close some cooking and technology classes, which would have a direct impact on young people’s lives.
What would you suggest, just closing the classes and not telling the students why they had been closed? Perhaps you don’t think young people have a right to know about politics at all. Typical rightwinger… trying to manipulate information to keep people in the dark.
“We don’t want people to make informed decisions,” is such a defunct and weak pedestal.
You’re making false assumptions/accusations again.
I think kids should learn about current issues and politics at school. But they should be helped to consider all sides of arguments and balance the pros and cons, and not be used to promote a teacher’s opinion or position on an issue.
And they should be taught that it’s ok to disagree, it’s normal to have different opinions, but that it’s not ok to hate people they simply disagree with.
Would you be happy for teachers to school kids on promoting neoliberalism?
On what basis do you assume the teachers didn’t explain the policy?
And what was the policy anyway?
Even farrar says that the trade off side (the increased techer quality side) was completely undeveloped. And furtheer to that, how is it that in cancelling a trade off we are left with a budget hole. It’s clear as ady that the trade off was spin. A myth. Snake oil.
So what exactly were the teachers supposed to do? Make it up? Present obvious government spin? Or talk about the actually stated policy, the one that damn near everyone formed the same opinion on.
You’ve implied that they’re “casual liars,” and have now resorted to outright trolling. Looks like you’re doing a pretty good job of defaming yourself there PG.
You quoted Franks talking about Mallard and Little and apparently agree with the comment about them “scoffing at defamation law”. You then mention “casual liars”. You then make the quote “There does need to be a way of addressing deliberate and repeat lying for political gain.”
So you do everything but call them liars.
And then in that annoying way of yours you then twist and turn and say “no I didn’t, I was only posing an issue” or “I was only asking a question”.
And there is this whole theme to your comment about remedies against dishonest politicians and you mention it in relation to the Collins case.
You are so transparent Petey you should think about getting some curtains.
You left out the last bit of Franks’ comment, “[b]ut I do know they are scoffing at defamation law.”
So you did not want to draw any link whatsoever from mentioning Mallard and Little, and talking about “casual liars” and saying there is a problem about political defamation that has to be dealt with.
It’s a bit hypocrititical to (falsely) accuse me of calling Mallard and Little liars and say accusations of that sort are “dangerous”, and then imply that I’m a liar. Doncha think?
Micky, don’t be an idiot. I haven’t called them liars.
You have been inferring, implying, suggesting for weeks now that Mallard and Little are lying.
Both of them originally commented independently of one another, and had no idea what the other was saying. Both of them had come to the same conclusion because it was the correct conclusion. Many thousands of ‘intelligent’ people came to the same conclusion too.
You are the idiot who is out of step with reality. Go back to Kiwiblog where fairy tales are still common fare.
So I’ve finally had a chance to watch the backbenchers show that caused Bomber to allegedly “dream in colour” again.. Yes, Shearer is fantastic – forget media training, just give him a couple of pints before speaking – witty, confident, but warm and approachable. Impressive! If anything, it’s worth watching Nikki Kaye getting walloped (by both the panel and the crowd) and the consolidation of the left block in a stunning united front..
Insufficient substance? I thought Shearer spoke well and his historical knowledge of a tram system in Australia was exceptional. If that’s not substance, I don’t know what is.
By overbearing you mean when he rebuffed some disinformation about what political party could take credit for infrastructure developments?
Clearly Nikki Kaye was completely unable to promote National’s propaganda in a proper debate setting. She claimed to catch the bus more than any other debater, but didn’t know how much it costs and Russel Norman catches the bus nearly every day. Kaye was an utter failure!
You’re comment is based in politicking instead of reality Pete George… But what else is new?
It is hardly evidence of substance to know about the history of the Melbourne trams, it is the kind of thing you are proud of knowing on a quiz night. I did think Shearer came across well, but I will not be convinced by him unless or until I see some unambiguous centre-left positioning. He did not get me dreaming in colour. He was on pretty safe ground at Backbenchers, with a supportive crowd and non-controversial, widely popular claims to defend. I thought Winston was the star of the show – he knows the city and he knows where he stands. And that Norman was the one who had done his homework. That man must hardly sleep these days; he is always armed with evidence of having done his homework.
Yes, she remained standing. And Peters continued to breathe.
Since you’re all about the substance, you should try watching again with the sound on. When Darling Nikki talks, make a note of the substance of what she says.
She was at her most amusing when she copied the Key line in the Ch.Ch. Press campaign debate. She turned to Shearer and in a shrill voice repeatedly demanded “where’s the money?” . The problem was, she hadn’t listened to what Shearer had just been talking about which was… where the money was coming from.
Yay! And finally someone did not let Kaye get away with saying, yet again, that Labour had done nothing for Auckland transport, while National had done far more.
She’s been saying that on Bomber’s shows and getting away with it. Shearer put her in her place saying that the double tracking of the western line etc was begun under Labour’s watch. And Kaye had the gall to say that was not true!
Fortunately Penny Hulse, ex-deputy mayor of Waitakere City also was there, and commented about history being re-written. I witnessed with my own eyes all the development of the New Lynn rail trench, the double tracking etc, done under Labour, supported strongly by David Cunliffe and Waitakere City.
And when Kaye is losing she starts trying her simpering little girl flirty kind of behaviour…. geez, woman….. you’re an MP!
There you go again Pete George……….disingenuous as hell – “And Shearer disappointed me……..”.
Bullshit – you found negatives and you’e delighted to tell us about it. Disappointment nothing.
Who do you think you are anyway ? As a helpless Key apologist with notions of impeccability, perpetually delivered in your gutless passively aggressive way, you need not talk down at others about their conduct.
I’ve shown more support for Shearer than most on this blog (a lot more than certain Labour party officials). That’s why I was disappointed with how he performed on Back Benches, I hope for better of him. But don’t let facts get in the way of your making up bull.
I’m actively involved in two campaigns against Key policy positions, and am openly supporting Labour’s (and in one case specifically Shearer’s) positions on them.
Fancy that, Labour leader David Shearer disappointing the likes of you, that from my point of view would tend to suggest that He is doing stuff which is likely to impress both the Labour faithful and those who have departed the Labour fold,
The look Shearer gave National’s Nikki Kaye throughout this weeks BackBenchers was brilliant, to me a look that said to Kaye that She was nothing but mere amoeba, some form of primitive bottom feeding low life more in tune with feeding from a septic pond of sludge than the real world occupied by the human race,
Kaye felt every bit of such a withering display from Shearer and if anyone cares to re-view the BackBenchers episode you can see it in the body language of Kaye as she leans on Winston Peters in an effort to get as far away from the Leader of the Opposition as possible,
Having not really been a Shearer fan I would say that IF He continues in the vein He showed on that Backbenchers this week any television debate with the Leader of National in the future will likely have the end result of showing Slippery up as the empty suitcase of intellect that He actually is,
Its a pity that through either disdain at entering the ‘real’ day to day nations political discourse, or fear, National chose not to have someone from higher up the Government food chain enter that particular BackBenchers debate,
The hope here is that if the demise of TV7 is to occur then television NZ make room for BackBenchers in a prime spot on TV1 during a weekday night instead of consigning it to the dustbin or some sunday morning spot so as to further the attempt to disengage as much of the mass of the population from the political process as possible…
And Shearer was very skillful in not letting Kaye get away with the standard Nat MP strategy of stating their spin loudly and talking over anyone who tries to rebut it. Shearer smoothly and calmly talked back over her and silenced her, showing her spin for what it was.
I’ve seen Kaye use that bullying tactic too often on Bomber’s shows. It was really satisfying to see her finally put in her place.
Norman and Peters did their bits too. Norman did it without talking over Kaye, but, when he got a moment he calmly rebutted her shonkey arguments and non-existing supporting evidence.
I will pay $$$ to someone who designs a Pete George blocking programme like the one Firefox has for advertisements so I don’t have to scroll past his utterly banal wafflings every time I visit this site. It’s alright to ban someone for being a boring old git, you know, Dim Post guy did it 🙂
Maybe Pete George should be restricted to comment in proportion to his parties current support… which is 0.60% in the general election. That would equate to PG being allowed to comment once in every 169 comments. Yippee!
Please, please, please!!! I worry that as I scroll by PG’s comments of banality that I may miss something really important.
It was a pleasure to read the Standard when he was banned, but at the back of my mind I kept thinking – when will he return? Like a reoccurring scratch…hoping like hell it won’t come back. And then one day it/he did…and I’m back itching to scream.
I’ll add a me too. I have no interest in reading any of his threads or posts, they’re too Pavlov & his dogs for me. It would be great if we could collapse threads we want to skip, I’m a reader more than a writer and I just find the guy spoiling much of the (potential) enjoyment of this site.
[lprent: it is on the list of work to do already. Hard bit is hooking up something to a cookie to remember what is collapsed for each user. ]
We all know that poverty and especially childhood poverty is a terrible thing. Nobody can really argue with the moral case for reducing poverty, but there’s also a good economical argument for reducing childhood poverty as well…
watermelons” What a nsaty vicious little smear that is.
No, it’s not – for goodness sake, it’s inaccurate, but nasty and vicious? Greens get over yourselves!
I wouldn’t mind if they were watermelons, but they’re much worse. GReen on the outside, pretending to a slight shade of pink under the rind, hiding the deep blue and the ACT yellow that’s really just below the surface…
Like the Environment Group at Auckland Uni in the 80s – comprising 100% middle and upper class kiddies, with the born to rule mentality that goes with it, and the disdain for the lower classes – unless those lower people are a nice shade of brown, in which case, patronise away!
A new season of White Lotus is nearly upon us: more murder mystery, more sumptuous surroundings, more rich people behaving badly.Once more we get to identify with the experience of the pampered tourist or perhaps the poorly paid help; there's something in White Lotus for all New Zealanders.And unlike the ...
In 2016, Aotearoa shockingly plunged to fourth place in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. Nine years later, and we're back there again: New Zealand has seen a further slip in its global ranking in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). [...] In the latest CPI New Zealand's score ...
1. You’ve started ranking your politicians on how much they respect the rule of law2. You’ve stopped paying attention to those news publications3. You’ve developed a sudden interest in a particular period of history4. More and more people are sounding like your racist, conspiracist uncle.5. Someone just pulled a Nazi ...
Transforming New Zealand: Brian EastonBrian Easton will discuss the above topic at 2/57 Willis Street, Wellington at 5:30pm on Tuesday 26 February at 2/57 Willis Street, WellingtonThe sub-title to the above is "Why is the Left failing?" Brian Easton's analysis is based on his view that while the ...
Salvation Army’s State of the Nation 2025 report highlights falling living standards, the highest unemployment rates since the 1990s and half of all Pacific children going without food. There are reports of hundreds if not thousands of people are applying for the same jobs in the wake of last year’s ...
Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Correction: On the article The Condundrum of David Seymour, Luke Malpass conducted joint reviews with Bryce Wilkinson, the architect of the Regulatory Standards Bill - not Bryce Edwards. The article ...
Tomorrow the council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee meet and agenda has a few interesting papers. Council’s Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport Every year the council provide a Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport which is part of the process for informing AT of the council’s priorities and ...
All around in my home townThey're trying to track me down, yeahThey say they want to bring me in guiltyFor the killing of a deputyFor the life of a deputySongwriter: Robert Nesta Marley.Support Nick’s Kōrero today with a 20% discount on a paid subscription to receive all my newsletters directly ...
Hi,I think all of us have probably experienced the power of music — that strange, transformative thing that gets under our skin and helps us experience this whole life thing with some kind of sanity.Listening and experiencing music has always been such a huge part of my life, and has ...
Business frustration over the stalled economy is growing, and only 34% of voters are confidentNicola Willis can deliver. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 12 are:Business frustration is growing about a ...
I have now lived long enough to see a cabinet minister go both barrels on their Prime Minister and not get sacked.It used to be that the PM would have a drawer full of resignations signed by ministers on the day of their appointment, ready for such an occasion. But ...
This session will feature Simon McCallum, Senior Lecturer in Engineering and Computer Science (VUW) and recent Labour Party candidate in the Southland Electorate talking about some of the issues around AI and how this should inform Labour Party policy. Simon is an excellent speaker with a comprehensive command of AI ...
The proposed Waimate garbage incinerator is dead: The company behind a highly-controversial proposal to build a waste-to-energy plant in the Waimate District no longer has the land. [...] However, SIRRL director Paul Taylor said the sales and purchase agreement to purchase land from Murphy Farms, near Glenavy, lapsed at ...
The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has been a vital tool in combatting international corruption. It forbids US companies and citizens from bribing foreign public officials anywhere in the world. And its actually enforced: some of the world's biggest companies - Siemens, Hewlett Packard, and Bristol Myers Squibb - have ...
December 2024 photo - with UK Tory Boris Johnson (Source: Facebook)Those PollsFor hours, political poll results have resounded across political hallways and commentary.According to the 1News Verizon poll, 50% of the country believe we are heading in the “wrong direction”, while 39% believe we are “on the right track”.The left ...
A Tai Rāwhiti mill that ran for 30 years before it was shut down in late 2023 is set to re-open in the coming months, which will eventually see nearly 300 new jobs in the region. A new report from Massey University shows that pensioners are struggling with rising costs. ...
As support continues to fall, Luxon also now faces his biggest internal ructions within the coalition since the election, with David Seymour reacting badly to being criticised by the PM. File photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Not since 1988 when Richard Prebble openly criticised David Lange have we seen such a challenge to a Prime Minister as that of David Seymour to Christopher Luxon last night. Prebble suggested Lange had mental health issues during a TV interview and was almost immediately fired. Seymour hasn’t gone quite ...
Three weeks in, and the 24/7 news cycle is not helping anyone feel calm and informed about the second Trump presidency. One day, the US is threatening 25% trade tariffs on its friends and neighbours. The reasons offered by the White House are absurd, such as stopping fentanyl coming in ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Wherever you look, you'll hear headlines claiming we've passed 1.5 degrees of global warming. And while 2024 saw ...
Photo by Heather M. Edwards on UnsplashHere’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s politics and economy in the week to Feb 10 below. That’s ahead of live chats on the Substack App and The Kākā’s front page on Substack at 5pm with: on his column in The ...
Is there anyone in the world the National Party loves more than a campaign donor? Why yes, there is! They will always have the warmest hello and would you like to slip into something more comfortable for that great god of our age, the High Net Worth Individual.The words the ...
Waste and fraud certainly exist in foreign aid programs, but rightwing celebration of USAID’s dismantling shows profound ignorance of the value of soft power (as opposed to hard power) in projecting US influence and interests abroad by non-military/coercive means (think of “hearts and minds,” “hugs, not bullets,” “honey versus vinegar,” ...
Health New Zealand is proposing to cut almost half of its data and digital positions – more than 1000 of them. The PSA has called on the Privacy Commissioner to urgently investigate the cuts due to the potential for serious consequences for patients. NZNO is calling for an urgent increase ...
We may see a few more luxury cars on Queen Street, but a loosening of rules to entice rich foreigners to invest more here is unlikely to “turbocharge our economic growth”. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Let us not dance daintily around the elephant in the room. Our politicians who serve us in the present are not honest, certainly not as honest as they should be, and while the right are taking out most of the trophies for warping narratives and literally redefining “facts”, the kiwi ...
A few weeks ago I took a look at public transport ridership in 2024. In today’s post I’m going to be looking a bit deeper at bus ridership. Buses make up the vast majority of ridership in Auckland with 70 million boardings last year out of a total of 89.4 ...
Oh, you know I did itIt's over and I feel fineNothing you could say is gonna change my mindWaited and I waited the longest nightNothing like the taste of sweet declineSongwriters: Chris Shiflett / David Eric Grohl / Nate Mendel / Taylor Hawkins.Hindsight is good, eh?The clarity when the pieces ...
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 16 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 10The Kākā’s weekly wrap-up of news about politics and the economy is due at midday, followed by webinar for paying subscribers in Substack’s ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, February 2, 2025 thru Sat, February 8, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
Today, I stumbled across a Twitter Meme: the ending of The Lord of the Rings as a Chess scenario: https://x.com/mellon_heads/status/1887983845917564991 It gets across the basic gist. Aragorn and Gandalf offering up ‘material’ at the Morannon allows Frodo and Samwise to catch Sauron unawares – fair enough. But there are a ...
Last week, Kieran McAnulty called out Chris Bishop and Nicola Willis for their claims that Kāinga Ora’s costs were too high.They had claimed Kāinga Ora’s cost were 12% higher than market i.e. private devlopersBut Kāinga Ora’s Chair had already explained why last year:"We're not building to sell, so we'll be ...
Stuff’s Political Editor Luke Malpass - A Fellow at New Zealand IniativeLast week I half-joked that Stuff / The Post’s Luke Malpass1 always sounded like he was auditioning for a job at the New Zealand Initiative.Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. For a limited time, subscriptions are 20% off. Thanks ...
At a funeral on Friday, there were A4-sized photos covering every wall of the Dil’s reception lounge. There must have been 200 of them, telling the story in the usual way of the video reel but also, by enlargement, making it more possible to linger and step in.Our friend Nicky ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is methane the ...
The Government’s idea is that the private sector and Community Housing Providers will fund, build and operate new affordable housing to address our housing crisis. Meanwhile, the Government does not know where almost half of the 1,700 children who left emergency housing actually went. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong ...
Oh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youOh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youSongwriters: Alexander Ebert / Jade Allyson CastrinosMorena,I’m on a tight time frame this morning. In about an hour and a half, I’ll need to pack up and hit the road ...
This is a post about the Mountain Tui substack, and small tweaks - further to the poll and request post the other day. Please don’t read if you aren’t interested in my personal matters. Thank you all.After oohing-and-aahing about how to structure the Substack model since November, including obtaining ...
This transcript of a recent conversation between the Prime Minister and his chief economic adviser has not been verified.We’ve announced we are the ‘Yes Government’. Do you like it?Yes, Prime Minister.Dreamed up by the PR team. It’s about being committed to growth. Not that the PR team know anything about ...
The other day, Australian Senator Nick McKim issued a warning in the Australian Parliement about the US’s descent into fascim.And of course it’s true, but I lament - that was true as soon as Trump won.What we see is now simply the reification of the intention, planning, and forces behind ...
Among the many other problems associated with Musk/DOGE sending a fleet of teenage and twenty-something cultists to remove, copy and appropriate federal records like social security, medicaid and other supposedly protected data is the fact that the youngsters doing the data-removal, copying and security protocol and filter code over-writing have ...
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tuneBird fly high by the light of the moonOh, oh, oh, JokermanSong by Bob Dylan.Morena folks, I hope this fine morning of the 7th of February finds you well. We're still close to Paihia, just a short drive out of town. Below is the view ...
It’s been an eventful week as always, so here’s a few things that we have found interesting. We also hope everyone had a happy and relaxing Waitangi Day! This week in Greater Auckland We’re still running on summer time, but provided two chewy posts: On Tuesday, a guest ...
Queuing on Queen St: the Government is set to announce another apparently splashy growth policy on Sunday of offering residence visas to wealthy migrants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, February 7:PM Christopher ...
The fact that Waitangi ended up being such a low-key affair may mark it out as one of the most significant Waitangi Days in recent years. A group of women draped in “Toitu Te Tiriti” banners who turned their backs on the politicians’ powhiri was about as rough as it ...
Hi,This week’s Flightless Bird episode was about “fake seizure guy” — a Melbourne man who fakes seizures in order to get members of the public to sit on him.The audio documentary (which I have included in this newsletter in case you don’t listen to Flightless Bird) built on reporting first ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The 119th Congress comes with a price tag. The oil and gas industry gave about $24 million in campaign contributions to the members of the U.S. House and Senate expected to be sworn in January 3, 2025, according to a ...
Early morning, the shadows still long, but you can already feel the warmth building. Our motel was across the road from the historic homestead where Henry Williams' family lived. The evening before, we wandered around the gardens, reading the plaques and enjoying the close proximity to the history of the ...
Thanks folks for your feedback, votes and comments this week. I’ll be making the changes soon. Appreciate all your emails, comments and subscriptions too. I know your time is valuable - muchas gracias.A lot is happening both here and around the world - so I want to provide a snippets ...
Data released today by Statistics NZ shows that unemployment rose to 5.1%, with 33,000 more people out of work than last year said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “The latest data shows that employment fell in Aotearoa at its fastest rate since the GFC. Unemployment rose in 8 ...
The December labour market statistics have been released, showing yet another increase in unemployment. There are now 156,000 unemployed - 34,000 more than when National took office. And having thrown all these people out of work, National is doubling down on cruelty. Because being vicious will somehow magically create the ...
Boarded up homes in Kilbirnie, where work on a planned development was halted. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 5 are;Housing Minister Chris Bishop yesterday announcedKāinga Ora would be stripped of ...
This week Kiwirail and Auckland Transport were celebrating the completion of the summer rail works that had the network shut or for over a month and the start of electric trains to Pukekohe. First up, here’s parts of the press release about the shutdown works. Passengers boarding trains in Auckland ...
Through its austerity measures, the coalition government has engineered a rise in unemployment in order to reduce inflation while – simultaneously – cracking down harder and harder on the people thrown out of work by its own policies. To that end, Social Development Minister Louise Upston this week added two ...
This year, we've seen a radical, white supremacist government ignoring its Tiriti obligations, refusing to consult with Māori, and even trying to legislatively abrogate te Tiriti o Waitangi. When it was criticised by the Waitangi Tribunal, the government sabotaged that body, replacing its legal and historical experts with corporate shills, ...
Poor old democracy, it really is in a sorry state. It would be easy to put all the blame on the vandals and tyrants presently trashing the White House, but this has been years in the making. It begins with Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan and the spirit of Gordon ...
The new school lunches came in this week, and they were absolutely scrumptious.I had some, and even though Connor said his tasted like “stodge” and gave him a sore tummy, I myself loved it!Look at the photos - I knew Mr Seymour wouldn’t lie when he told us last year:"It ...
The tighter sanctions are modelled on ones used in Britain, which did push people off ‘the dole’, but didn’t increase the number of workers, and which evidence has repeatedly shown don’t work. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, ...
Catching you up on the morning’s global news and a quick look at the parallels -GLOBALTariffs are backSharemarkets in the US, UK and Europe have “plunged” in response to Trump’s tariffs. And while Mexico has won a one month reprieve, Canada and China will see their respective 25% and 10% ...
This post by Nicolas Reid was originally published on Linked in. It is republished here with permission. Gondolas are often in the news, with manufacturers of ropeway systems proposing them as a modern option for mass transit systems in New Zealand. However, like every next big thing in transport, it’s hard ...
This is a re-post from The Climate BrinkBoth 2023 and 2024 were exceptionally warm years, at just below and above 1.5C relative to preindustrial in the WMO composite of surface temperature records, respectively. While we are still working to assess the full set of drivers of this warmth, it is clear that ...
Hi,I woke up feeling nervous this morning, realising that this weekend Flightless Bird is going to do it’s first ever live show. We’re heading to a sold out (!) show in Seattle to test the format out in front of an audience. If it works, we’ll do more. I want ...
From the United-For-Now States of America comes the thrilling news that a New Zealander may be at the very heart of the current coup. Punching above our weight on the world stage once more! Wait, you may be asking, what New Zealander? I speak of Peter Thiel, made street legal ...
Even Stevens: Over the 33 years between 1990 and 2023 (and allowing for the aberrant 2020 result) the average level of support enjoyed by the Left and Right blocs, at roughly 44.5 percent each, turns out to be, as near as dammit, identical.WORLDWIDE, THE PARTIES of the Left are presented ...
Back in 2023, a "prominent political figure" went on trial for historic sex offences. But we weren't allowed to know who they were or what political party they were "prominent" in, because it might affect the way we voted. At the time, I said that this was untenable; it was ...
I'm going, I'm goingWhere the water tastes like wineI'm going where the water tastes like wineWe can jump in the waterStay drunk all the timeI'm gonna leave this city, got to get awayI'm gonna leave this city, got to get awayAll this fussing and fighting, man, you know I sure ...
Waitangi Day is a time to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and stand together for a just and fair Aotearoa. Across the motu, communities are gathering to reflect, kōrero, and take action for a future built on equity and tino rangatiratanga. From dawn ceremonies to whānau-friendly events, there are ...
Subscribe to Mountain Tūī ! Where you too can learn about exciting things from a flying bird! Tweet.Yes - I absolutely suck at marketing. It’s a fact.But first -My question to all readers is:How should I set up the Substack model?It’s been something I’ve been meaning to ask since November ...
Here’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s political economy on politics and in the week to Feb 3:PM Christopher Luxon began 2025’s first day of Parliament last Tuesday by carrying on where left off in 2024, letting National’s junior coalition partner set the political agenda and dragging ...
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s move to increase speed limits substantially on dozens of stretches of rural and often undivided highways will result in more serious harm. ...
In her first announcement as Economic Growth Minister, Nicola Willis chose to loosen restrictions for digital nomads from other countries, rather than focus on everyday Kiwis. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF). Mr McClay recently hosted Minister Farrell in Rotorua for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting, where ANZLF presented on ...
A new monthly podiatry clinic has been launched today in Wairoa and will bring a much-needed service closer to home for the Wairoa community, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.“Health New Zealand has been successful in securing a podiatrist until the end of June this year to meet the needs of ...
The Judicial Conduct Commissioner has recommended a Judicial Conduct Panel be established to inquire into and report on the alleged conduct of acting District Court Judge Ema Aitken in an incident last November, Attorney-General Judith Collins said today. “I referred the matter of Judge Aitken’s alleged conduct during an incident ...
Students who need extra help with maths are set to benefit from a targeted acceleration programme that will give them more confidence in the classroom, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Last year, significant numbers of students did not meet the foundational literacy and numeracy level required to gain NCEA. To ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced three new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ...
Ki te kahore he whakakitenga, ka ngaro te Iwi – without a vision, the people will perish. The Government has achieved its target to reduce the number of households in emergency housing motels by 75 per cent five years early, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The number of households ...
The opening of Palmerston North’s biggest social housing development will have a significant impact for whānau in need of safe, warm, dry housing, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The minister visited the development today at North Street where a total of 50 two, three, and four-bedroom homes plus a ...
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – The United States shares the pathologies of all dying empires with their mixture of buffoonery, rampant corruption, military fiascos, economic collapse and savage state repression.ANALYSIS: By Chris Hedges The billionaires, Christian fascists, grifters, psychopaths, imbeciles, narcissists and deviants who ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government has secured bipartisan support for a major new regime covering political donations and spending, after making significant concessions. The government agreed to increase the proposed threshold above which donations must be disclosed ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With the election only months away, the Labor government finds itself suddenly battling with the Trump administration for an exemption from new US tariffs on steel and aluminium. The opposition has supported the effort, but ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julee McDonagh, Senior Research Fellow of Frailty Research, University of Wollongong PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock Ageing is a normal part of the life course. It doesn’t matter how many green smoothies you drink, or how many “anti-ageing” skin care products you ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bronwyn Carlson, Professor, Critical Indigenous Studies and Director of The Centre for Global Indigenous Futures, Macquarie University The Conversation, CC BY-SAAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people. Colonial commemorations ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Hazel, Associate Professor, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide Masarik/Shutterstock In some overseas countries, pets can travel with their owners in a plane’s cabin, in a carrier under a seat. In Australia, pets must travel in the ...
A raft of proposed legislation changes to the media and screen industry have been announced this morning – we read through it all all so you don’t have to. What’s all this then? This morning the Ministry for Culture and Heritage released its draft proposed changes to media and screen ...
David Seymour's recent off-road parliamentary excursion led to a reprimand from the Speaker, who also said the rules didn't apply to this instance. What are the rules? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lee Morgenbesser, Associate Professor, School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University, Griffith University Many Americans have watched in horror as Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, has been permitted to tear through various offices of the United States government in recent ...
By Patrick Decloitre,RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls has announced he will travel to New Caledonia later this month to pursue talks on the French territory’s political future. These discussions on February 22 follow preliminary talks held last week in Paris in “bilateral” mode ...
As Benjamin Netanyahu threatens to resume war, Hamas outlines widespread Israeli ceasefire violations in document sent to the mediators.By Jeremy Scahill and Sharif Abdel Kouddous of Dropsite News Hamas officials submitted a two-page report to mediators yesterday listing a wide range of Israeli violations of the Gaza ceasefire since ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Murray Print, Professor of Education, University of Sydney A federal parliamentary inquiry has just recommended civics and citizenship become a compulsory part of the Australian Curriculum, which covers the first year of school to Year 10. The committee also recommended a ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Claire Baylis, author of Dice and guest at the forthcoming HamLit programme at the Hamilton Arts Festival. The book I wish I’d writtenMy mind seems surprisingly unwilling ...
The courts should deal with illegal fishing, not the "court of public opinion", Shane Jones says, as he announces proposed changes to the Quota Management System. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Megan McElhone, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Monash University A London court has found Sam Kerr not guilty of the racially aggravated harassment of Metropolitan Police officer Stephen Lovell. As captain of the Australian women’s national soccer team, Kerr was widely condemned when ...
Could iwi and hapū be the unexpected solution to the government’s asset dilemma? David Seymour pressured the prime minister into an unwelcome conversation, and in the couple of weeks since the Act leader raised the issue in his state of the nation speech, privatisation has shifted from absent in the ...
Human rights advocates must uphold human dignity, rights and justice, while rejecting the discriminatory tactics we oppose, writes Taimor Hazou.Two weeks ago the Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) launched a campaign inviting New Zealanders to call a hotline if they suspected an Israel Defence Force (IDF) soldier that had ...
Immigration New Zealand figures shows more people have been looking at the ETA and visitor visa pages on the website, however fewer people have applied to come or to extend their stay. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kirsten Banks, Lecturer, School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology Debris on the surface of Mars from the Perseverance mission, captured on April 19 2022. NASA/JPL-Caltech In his inauguration speech in January, United States President Donald Trump ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alix Woolard, Senior Research Fellow, The Kids Research Institute Australia Stock Unit/Shutterstock Have you ever asked someone how their day was, or been chatting casually with a friend, only to have them tell you a horrific story that has left you ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Quentin Grafton, Australian Laureate Professor of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The Roper RiverChris Ison/Shutterstock Water is now a contested resource around the world. Nowhere is this more evident than in the fight playing out over the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Graeme Turner, Emeritus Professor of Cultural Studies, The University of Queensland Matej Kastellic/ Shutterstock As we head towards the federal election, both sides of politics are making a point of criticising universities and questioning their role in the community. ...
Alex Casey examines the perils of having your period at a music festival. It was right after Clairo’s swooning set that Sarah* knew it was time. She was on the second day of her period at Auckland’s Laneway festival, and braved the portaloos to empty her menstrual cup and change ...
A battle between health officials and local councils is heating up, as one government party seeks to change the rules. The Bulletin’s Stewart Sowman-Lund explains. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Further thoughts on dissent in the US, carrying on from yesterday’s conversation.
One of the main things I’ve have heard from US apologists for their country’s imperialism, is that the US is the home of free speech, dissent and democracy. They claim that this is why so many people try to migrate to the US.
However, while the US does have many dissenters within their country – enough to support the notion that they are a free, open and democratic society – this dissent does nothing to challenge or really unsettle the power of the elites. They have ways of neutralising the dissent:
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2011/08/20118164314283633.html
The US government has long used popular culture to spread their propaganda about being a free and open democracy. The US government, in the early-to-mid 20th century used the international circulation of Hollywood movies to precede trade agreements, in order to soften up the population, and encourage their acceptance of US products:
http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articl
<blockquote.The State Department and the OWI intervened in other overseas markets as well, particularly in neutral Europe and in the Axis nations toward the end of the war. And as the government became more sensitive to America’s image abroad, it became more concerned about Hollywood’s role in projecting that image.
And, of course, with the rise of so-called “neoliberalism” and the Murdochisation of the news media, such strategies have been transported across the western world.
The US government has also used TV and popular music in the Middle East, Iraq etc, to promote it’s culture to the locals – part of their programme of cultural imperialism. And the US government is quite happy at times to highlight dissenting music etc to promote their image of being an open democracy. And dissenting popular culture is also used as a marketing strategy, especially in targeting young people. By getting sucked into the capitalist machinery, they get contained, and a target for underlying US imperialising values.
I DO know many US people who express criticism and dissatisfaction with their country’s lack of social justice, and of it’s imperialistic ways. But they also get very frustrated with the inability to stage effective dissent.
In my opinion, people who want to go to live in the US, do so, not because they see it as a shining beacon of freedom of speech and democracy, but because of the potential to get in on some of the wealth and shiny technological advances.
But a lot of the US’s technological advances are gained through enticing many of the best researchers and product developers from other countries to their unis and corporate R&D departments. Also, while the US talks free-market, it practices protectionism, often in slightly devious ways e.g. the ways it protects the Hollywood movie industry internationally.
And, a lot of these strategies are no longer so confined to the US…. coming soon to a place near you, dressed in local colours.
“The US government has long used popular culture to spread their propaganda about being a free and open democracy.”
Very true…I had just posted this on yesterday’s open mike…
I would add a third thing that maintains US hegemony…and that is culture. Americanisation in the form of consumerism is still sweeping the world and shows no sign of slowing. Its the desire to consume, a belief in liberal capitalism, social liberalism and the notion of ‘freedom’ that draws the world’s money towards the USA. Capitalism put the money into the hands of a few – and since American culture defines our desires, that money moves towards America.
China might be up there in economic terms, but the USA controls the world’s knowledge. USA defines the ‘truth’.
“The US government has also used TV and popular music in the Middle East, Iraq etc, to promote it’s culture to the locals – part of their programme of cultural imperialism.”
They sure do, and they also did it the other way where the East is Othered through Hollywood…as Western culture is idolised, Eastern cultures are subjugated.
Edward Said’s concept of Orientalism examines where USA’s true power is created and maintained. Its all about seduction and cultural hegemony
For once we are pretty much in agreement, fatty. Yes, I read your other piece on it,
As I recall Said, in his book on orientalism, begins his historiography of imperialism well before the rise of US Imperialism. he goes back to the Greeks – indeed, while western culture claims a tradition going back to ancient “Greece”, a lot of the ancient Athenian knowledge was acquired first from Babylon and the Persian Empire.
Said was a lit crit and (perhaps inadvertently) shows the difference between English cultural imperialism the US version (albeit that US culture and imperialism was mapped onto the English/European version in many ways).
The English version was tied to the “civilising mission”, whereby they believed England/Europe was the peak of civilised society. So they promoted a more classical version of “high” culture (Shakespeare etc) to be spread throughout the world – also their ideas about education, science and technology.
As the US form of imperialism is justified by the promotion of themselves as being the home of democracy and individual freedom, they promote it through popular culture (culture of the people). Of course, popular culture in the age of mechanical reproduction, is transmitted via new forms of “state of the art” technologies. It amalgamates the US’s view of itself as the leaders in science and technology – but that is also tied up with their militarism – a technologically-advanced form of military power. And as you say, the popular culture is incorporated within consumerism.
However, they are increasingly getting some competition from non-Western parts of the world in many of these areas…. though not so much with the military
“For once we are pretty much in agreement, fatty.”
I think we agree on almost everything Carol…just different perspectives on identity politics and generational issues
You didn’t answer the original conjecture – why do so many want to emigrate to the US?
@OneTrack
I did answer the conjecture, but it probably got lost in my incorrect attempt to format the quote above it (Was in a rush before going to work). The quote from the link is:
The rest are my views, including this:
In my opinion, people who want to go to live in the US, do so, not because they see it as a shining beacon of freedom of speech and democracy, but because of the potential to get in on some of the wealth and shiny technological advances.
Stephen Franks comments on a defamation case:
More importantly he looks at free speech versus “casual liars”.
There does need to be a way of addressing deliberate and repeat lying for political gain. Defamation law is far from ideal but it’s one of a limited number of options currently available.
More effective would be more public and media insistence on political honesty. And more party and blog insistence on honesty would help too.
Like when bloggers accuse teachers of teaching kids to hate the PM. that sort of thing?
Or when they call the Greens watermelons?
Or accuse others of acting from base motives and consistently assume their opponents really just want to bring down the government by any means?
Shocking behaviour, and tiresome, I agree.
consistently assume their opponents really just want to bring down the government by any means
Who “consistently assumes” that?
I don’t see anyone as “opponents”. There are things I disagree with and will speak against, and there are things that I agree with and will speak for. And I’ll work with anyone who I think deserves support.
And you’re quite free with the smears too Pete. Calling the greens watermelons. That’s pretty nasty. You do know what it means right?
And saying that teachers are teaching children to hate the PM. Nasty mate. Nasty.
How nasty is it to misrepresent what someone said?
Quoting myself:
Teachers have admitted organising children on letter writing and emailing campaigns directed at politicians. Duncan Garner said his daughter came home saying “”Well, he’s going to close our cooking and technology classes at our school. So we all hate him”. She that came from school, with a fairly strong presumption that teachers were involved.
If that’s the case (and I say “if” again) I don’t think it’s a good thing for teachers to be getting kids involved in like that.
Stop lying Pete.
It’s not just Parata that’s coming out of this looking bad (and she looks bad).
Children have been used as pawns by teachers in their politicking, that’s unprofessional – but schooling kids to hate the Prime Minister is worse.
http://thestandard.org.nz/coward/comment-page-1/#comment-479655
And stop misrepresenting.
Don’t you think it would be worse if that’s what they’re doing? Or does that not bother you. I think it is worse if it’s happening. And funnily enough, I haven’t seen anyone deny that it has happened, all they try and do is try and divert with attacks.
Maybe you should have a think about what could be seen as nasty tactics. You’re coming across as a bit hypocritical. Is this targetting an obsession or a mission?
And stop misrepresenting.
I quoted you making the assertions Pete. You have no basis whatsoever for the assertions. These are intermediate kids, they are quite capable of forming opinions.
It’s a baseless smear, you kmow it, dogs know it, little fishes in the sea know it.
Just because you want to talk about goat fucking, that doesn’t mean that the people you want to talk about with regard to goat fucking are any obligation to deny goat fucking. Even if you’ve seen a grumpy goat. Goats are grumpy critters, and kids form opinions.
You are right, he shouldn’t call the Green’s watermelons as that is incorrect. They are really deep-red, hard-left socialists. Oh, by the way, they talk about the environment occasionally, but borrow, tax and spend comes first, every time.
See Pete?
OneTrack laid it out.
Fact is onetrack wouldn’t know hard left or deep red if one popped up in his cornflakes and nationalised his nutsack, but at least he’s not a mealy mouthed, butter wouldn’t melt his arse, bell end.
Maybe there’s a meaning of watermelon I don’t know about, but as far as I know it’s a mild label, and more descriptive than many of the names that are thrown around here.
A student from Auckland recently said the fashionable insult there is neoliberal. Thta’s spat around her a bit too, along with many others.
So far here today I’ve been referred to as nasty, rightwinger, idiot, pants on fire, helpless Key apologist, gutless passively aggressive, utterly banal, boring old git, annoying, disingenuous as hell, mealy mouthed, butter wouldn’t melt his arse, bell end. And that’s just on this OM.
And you fake indignation at me using “watermelon” (once some time ago?).
Isn’t that a tad hypocritical considering the insults you dish out?
It’s not hypocritical at all Pete. We’ve had that discussion before.
And yes, you’ve been called lots of things. Usually as the conclusion to an argument. (eg: pete is telling lies, people who tell lies are shitbergs, therefore “Pete is a shitberg”)
If you tell a lie, or smear someone, or blather on like a fool, then pointing that out is just stating what you are doing. If you can dispute it, then that’s all to the good. But usually you can’t.
You claim that ‘watermelon’ is tame. I disagree, I think it is far worse than calling Peter Dunne a syphilitic old cocknozzle for example. But that’s because I have a love for language, and a respect for its power.
I suspect you are the sort of person who would say that somethung is ‘just semantics’, where I think that semantics are very important. It is in the semantics, that precision, and thus truth, resides.
Do you care for truth Pete?
Do you think bloggers and commenters should have a care for truth?
You say you do, at length; and yet, and yet.
“watermelons”
What a nsaty vicious little smear that is. So full of lies, and accusations of lies. So hidden and cowardly too. I’d be ashamed. If I have something to say, I’ll say it, clearly, and if asked I’ll explain myself.
that’s what I consider honesty Pete.
Your version seems to be something more polite, but less, well, shall we say, unvile.
It’s hard to believe that’s a genuine overreaction.
There’s nothing “hidden and cowardly” about it. It’s a fairly commonly used term for green parties, here and overseas (in Australia anyway). It’s been out in the open for years.
How vile and nasty are they?
To claim that it’s “So full of lies, and accusations of lies” I assume you are trying to say Green policies and aims are not socialist at all. Is that what you mean?
Greens do have genuine green (environmental) policies – in fact UF have some of the same or similar polices, as do other parties. Even National.
I presume we can agree on the greenness of the Greens.
So are you disgreeing totally with the pinkness?
Do you think Labour red is vile and nasty?
There you go again Pete, accusing me of being dishonest about this. Why not just ask why I find it offensive and I’ll tell you. And then you won’t have to go trwaling the internet trying to justify why you think it might not be offensive.
Saying they are green on the outside and red in the middle is saying that the Greens ‘greenness’ is a fake, a distraction that’s hiding the true essence of ‘redness’ within. It’s saying they are not really green at all, that they are really red, and lying about it. that the claim of greenness is a trick that you shouldn’t be fooled by.
It’s the same as when people call some Maori “bounty bars” – Brown on the outside but white in the middle. They are saying that the person is not really Maori. That’s not saying there is anything wrong with being white, by the way, but it’s still offensive.
‘Watermelons’ is a line with a long history. The idea is that the greens are a commun1st front, if not outright traitors. You’ve been hanging around at KB long enough that you should know well enough what the word is saying, and what those those say it, mean by it.
If you knew anything at all about green politics you’d know that it is holistic. The economic policies are not seperate from the rest of it. They are there because the economics needs to be cognizant of the environment. That resources need to be shared more equitably, stems from the fact that if they are not, it means more extraction from the environemt. It’s environmentally wastefull to have vast dichotomies of wealth and to ahve people competeing to consume as much as they can, while others barely scrape by.
You might not agree with that, but that’s no excuse to misrepresent it.
I tracked down that quote Pete cited, no surprises why he didn’t link.
It’s from a description of eco-socialism, (ie, people who are not Greens, and arose partiallly in reaction to the Green movement), here’s the text preceding what Pete quoted:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eco-socialism
So you don’t think teachers should inform students about what the current government is doing? In this case their budget cuts were going to close some cooking and technology classes, which would have a direct impact on young people’s lives.
What would you suggest, just closing the classes and not telling the students why they had been closed? Perhaps you don’t think young people have a right to know about politics at all. Typical rightwinger… trying to manipulate information to keep people in the dark.
“We don’t want people to make informed decisions,” is such a defunct and weak pedestal.
You’re making false assumptions/accusations again.
I think kids should learn about current issues and politics at school. But they should be helped to consider all sides of arguments and balance the pros and cons, and not be used to promote a teacher’s opinion or position on an issue.
And they should be taught that it’s ok to disagree, it’s normal to have different opinions, but that it’s not ok to hate people they simply disagree with.
Would you be happy for teachers to school kids on promoting neoliberalism?
On what basis do you assume the teachers didn’t explain the policy?
And what was the policy anyway?
Even farrar says that the trade off side (the increased techer quality side) was completely undeveloped. And furtheer to that, how is it that in cancelling a trade off we are left with a budget hole. It’s clear as ady that the trade off was spin. A myth. Snake oil.
So what exactly were the teachers supposed to do? Make it up? Present obvious government spin? Or talk about the actually stated policy, the one that damn near everyone formed the same opinion on.
The sooner children learn that politicians are beneath contempt and totally untrustworthy, the better.
Pete don’t be an idiot. You do not know what the truth is yet you call Mallard and Little liars. Rather dangerous Doncha think?
Micky, don’t be an idiot. I haven’t called them liars.
Do you think they would take your advice and try defamation on me? You should learn some law.
You’ve implied that they’re “casual liars,” and have now resorted to outright trolling. Looks like you’re doing a pretty good job of defaming yourself there PG.
Pete you did everything but.
You quoted Franks talking about Mallard and Little and apparently agree with the comment about them “scoffing at defamation law”. You then mention “casual liars”. You then make the quote “There does need to be a way of addressing deliberate and repeat lying for political gain.”
So you do everything but call them liars.
And then in that annoying way of yours you then twist and turn and say “no I didn’t, I was only posing an issue” or “I was only asking a question”.
And there is this whole theme to your comment about remedies against dishonest politicians and you mention it in relation to the Collins case.
You are so transparent Petey you should think about getting some curtains.
And you are so bad at comprehending. Franks said:
That’s quite clearly non judgemental on the case.
He then separately talked in general about the principles of defamation and casual lying.
If that’s not clear enough I suggest you read Franks’ full post. He’s a lawyer so he should have a good understanding of things like that.
You left out the last bit of Franks’ comment, “[b]ut I do know they are scoffing at defamation law.”
So you did not want to draw any link whatsoever from mentioning Mallard and Little, and talking about “casual liars” and saying there is a problem about political defamation that has to be dealt with.
Your pants are on fire Petey.
Read Frank’s whole post and try to comprehend it.
It’s a bit hypocrititical to (falsely) accuse me of calling Mallard and Little liars and say accusations of that sort are “dangerous”, and then imply that I’m a liar. Doncha think?
Read it and comprehended it.
You are doing your usual blow really hard on the dog whistle and then say innocently “what me” trick? You are so predictable Petey.
Micky, don’t be an idiot. I haven’t called them liars.
You have been inferring, implying, suggesting for weeks now that Mallard and Little are lying.
Both of them originally commented independently of one another, and had no idea what the other was saying. Both of them had come to the same conclusion because it was the correct conclusion. Many thousands of ‘intelligent’ people came to the same conclusion too.
You are the idiot who is out of step with reality. Go back to Kiwiblog where fairy tales are still common fare.
and had no idea what the other was saying.
How do you know that?
Both of them had come to the same conclusion because it was the correct conclusion.
That is yet to be determined, one way or the other.
You have been inferring, implying, suggesting for weeks now that Mallard and Little are lying.
No, I have been inferring, implying, suggesting that they should substantiate their claims, which they have not done yet as far as I’m aware.
Many thousands of ‘intelligent’ people came to the same conclusion too.
Based on what evidence?
So I’ve finally had a chance to watch the backbenchers show that caused Bomber to allegedly “dream in colour” again.. Yes, Shearer is fantastic – forget media training, just give him a couple of pints before speaking – witty, confident, but warm and approachable. Impressive! If anything, it’s worth watching Nikki Kaye getting walloped (by both the panel and the crowd) and the consolidation of the left block in a stunning united front..
http://tvnz.co.nz/back-benches/s8-ep17-video-4915547
Funny seeing different opinions on the same thing.
While she struggled a bit I thought Nikki Kaye stood up well amongst a stack of opposition.
And Shearer disappointed me, he came across as impolite and overbearing, too full of himself with insufficient substance.
PG – the standard bearer for judging polly character off the small screen.
I mean. Peter Dunne right. There’s a humble man of substance.
Yesterday, Peter Dunne claimed that the two weeks it took Hekia Parata to change her mind re teacher student ratios was “quick.” WTF!
But Pete you think the coiffured one is principled and competent …
Insufficient substance? I thought Shearer spoke well and his historical knowledge of a tram system in Australia was exceptional. If that’s not substance, I don’t know what is.
By overbearing you mean when he rebuffed some disinformation about what political party could take credit for infrastructure developments?
Clearly Nikki Kaye was completely unable to promote National’s propaganda in a proper debate setting. She claimed to catch the bus more than any other debater, but didn’t know how much it costs and Russel Norman catches the bus nearly every day. Kaye was an utter failure!
You’re comment is based in politicking instead of reality Pete George… But what else is new?
It is hardly evidence of substance to know about the history of the Melbourne trams, it is the kind of thing you are proud of knowing on a quiz night. I did think Shearer came across well, but I will not be convinced by him unless or until I see some unambiguous centre-left positioning. He did not get me dreaming in colour. He was on pretty safe ground at Backbenchers, with a supportive crowd and non-controversial, widely popular claims to defend. I thought Winston was the star of the show – he knows the city and he knows where he stands. And that Norman was the one who had done his homework. That man must hardly sleep these days; he is always armed with evidence of having done his homework.
Yes, she remained standing. And Peters continued to breathe.
Since you’re all about the substance, you should try watching again with the sound on. When Darling Nikki talks, make a note of the substance of what she says.
Report back if you find anything at all.
Clearly Nikki Kaye is being coached, she says NOTHING at all when she answers, its just party lines, pre reheared and spewed back out as needed…
Have a look at her eyes, they seem dead, just like the party leaders, and others who have been through the rinse!
She was at her most amusing when she copied the Key line in the Ch.Ch. Press campaign debate. She turned to Shearer and in a shrill voice repeatedly demanded “where’s the money?” . The problem was, she hadn’t listened to what Shearer had just been talking about which was… where the money was coming from.
Yay! And finally someone did not let Kaye get away with saying, yet again, that Labour had done nothing for Auckland transport, while National had done far more.
She’s been saying that on Bomber’s shows and getting away with it. Shearer put her in her place saying that the double tracking of the western line etc was begun under Labour’s watch. And Kaye had the gall to say that was not true!
Fortunately Penny Hulse, ex-deputy mayor of Waitakere City also was there, and commented about history being re-written. I witnessed with my own eyes all the development of the New Lynn rail trench, the double tracking etc, done under Labour, supported strongly by David Cunliffe and Waitakere City.
And when Kaye is losing she starts trying her simpering little girl flirty kind of behaviour…. geez, woman….. you’re an MP!
Felix the only substance you’ll find is saliva
Pete you do realise that Nikki Kaye is simply the next generation of National female stooge, punchbag eh?
NK is also recently back from a recent brainwashing “scholarship” to the USA – I posted links on it a few weeks back.
A question to her would be, and I have asked it but as yet no response, ” Are you a member of Parliamtarians for Global Order?”
I also asked Jacinda A, and no response as yet…
Darien Fenton confirmed she is, Shearer unclear, Cunliffe is a member, and the list goes on!
PG – Do you know if Dunne is a member?
Order? Action?
I don’t know what he’s a member of apart from UF and parliament.
It used to be order Pete, but they changed it to action..
Maybe find out if he is then if you can….should be easy enough for you!
I’ll ask.
Dunne said “No, I’m not”.
“I don’t know what he’s a member of apart from UF and parliament.”
He’s also a member of the Cabinet, i.e. The Government.
Christ on a bike Pete, it’s hard to believe you ran for parliament. Sometimes I really doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion.
He’s a minister outside Cabinet, as are all the support party ministers, and some National ministers.
http://www.national.org.nz/PDF_Government/Ministerial_List_12_December-2011.pdf
Then I withdraw and apologise unreservedly.
There you go again Pete George……….disingenuous as hell – “And Shearer disappointed me……..”.
Bullshit – you found negatives and you’e delighted to tell us about it. Disappointment nothing.
Who do you think you are anyway ? As a helpless Key apologist with notions of impeccability, perpetually delivered in your gutless passively aggressive way, you need not talk down at others about their conduct.
I’ve shown more support for Shearer than most on this blog (a lot more than certain Labour party officials). That’s why I was disappointed with how he performed on Back Benches, I hope for better of him. But don’t let facts get in the way of your making up bull.
I’m actively involved in two campaigns against Key policy positions, and am openly supporting Labour’s (and in one case specifically Shearer’s) positions on them.
lolololololololol
Fancy that, Labour leader David Shearer disappointing the likes of you, that from my point of view would tend to suggest that He is doing stuff which is likely to impress both the Labour faithful and those who have departed the Labour fold,
The look Shearer gave National’s Nikki Kaye throughout this weeks BackBenchers was brilliant, to me a look that said to Kaye that She was nothing but mere amoeba, some form of primitive bottom feeding low life more in tune with feeding from a septic pond of sludge than the real world occupied by the human race,
Kaye felt every bit of such a withering display from Shearer and if anyone cares to re-view the BackBenchers episode you can see it in the body language of Kaye as she leans on Winston Peters in an effort to get as far away from the Leader of the Opposition as possible,
Having not really been a Shearer fan I would say that IF He continues in the vein He showed on that Backbenchers this week any television debate with the Leader of National in the future will likely have the end result of showing Slippery up as the empty suitcase of intellect that He actually is,
Its a pity that through either disdain at entering the ‘real’ day to day nations political discourse, or fear, National chose not to have someone from higher up the Government food chain enter that particular BackBenchers debate,
The hope here is that if the demise of TV7 is to occur then television NZ make room for BackBenchers in a prime spot on TV1 during a weekday night instead of consigning it to the dustbin or some sunday morning spot so as to further the attempt to disengage as much of the mass of the population from the political process as possible…
+1
And Shearer was very skillful in not letting Kaye get away with the standard Nat MP strategy of stating their spin loudly and talking over anyone who tries to rebut it. Shearer smoothly and calmly talked back over her and silenced her, showing her spin for what it was.
I’ve seen Kaye use that bullying tactic too often on Bomber’s shows. It was really satisfying to see her finally put in her place.
Norman and Peters did their bits too. Norman did it without talking over Kaye, but, when he got a moment he calmly rebutted her shonkey arguments and non-existing supporting evidence.
PIPI – Politicians Introducing Policy Inimical to NZ No.1
9/6/2012
Phil Heatley
Mining exploration licences that demand deep sea drilling
I will pay $$$ to someone who designs a Pete George blocking programme like the one Firefox has for advertisements so I don’t have to scroll past his utterly banal wafflings every time I visit this site. It’s alright to ban someone for being a boring old git, you know, Dim Post guy did it 🙂
Will you pay me $$$ if I tell you how you can do it? It’s already available.
Maybe Pete George should be restricted to comment in proportion to his parties current support… which is 0.60% in the general election. That would equate to PG being allowed to comment once in every 169 comments. Yippee!
Pete George finally admits that he will stay silent on his political views if someone pays him enough money to do so.
Please, please, please!!! I worry that as I scroll by PG’s comments of banality that I may miss something really important.
It was a pleasure to read the Standard when he was banned, but at the back of my mind I kept thinking – when will he return? Like a reoccurring scratch…hoping like hell it won’t come back. And then one day it/he did…and I’m back itching to scream.
I’ll add a me too. I have no interest in reading any of his threads or posts, they’re too Pavlov & his dogs for me. It would be great if we could collapse threads we want to skip, I’m a reader more than a writer and I just find the guy spoiling much of the (potential) enjoyment of this site.
[lprent: it is on the list of work to do already. Hard bit is hooking up something to a cookie to remember what is collapsed for each user. ]
Global Government formed on “environmental crises”, and financial instability, Rockefeller style…
Serco incompetence should put a halt to Wiri
By: James Henderson – Date published: 9:00 am, June 7th, 2012
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/7057853/Two-prisoners-escape-jail
Does Serco run Waikeria Prison?
~snort~.
Government doesn’t care about child poverty
We all know that poverty and especially childhood poverty is a terrible thing. Nobody can really argue with the moral case for reducing poverty, but there’s also a good economical argument for reducing childhood poverty as well…
No, it’s not – for goodness sake, it’s inaccurate, but nasty and vicious? Greens get over yourselves!
I wouldn’t mind if they were watermelons, but they’re much worse. GReen on the outside, pretending to a slight shade of pink under the rind, hiding the deep blue and the ACT yellow that’s really just below the surface…
Like the Environment Group at Auckland Uni in the 80s – comprising 100% middle and upper class kiddies, with the born to rule mentality that goes with it, and the disdain for the lower classes – unless those lower people are a nice shade of brown, in which case, patronise away!