Open mike 09/06/2014
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6:30 am, June 9th, 2014 - 253 comments
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- Industry leadership for our training system becomes realitySix new Workforce Development Councils formally established today will ensure people graduate with the right skills at the right time to address skill shortages, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said. Every industry in New Zealand will be covered by one of the following Workforce Development Councils: • Hanga-Aro-Rau – Manufacturing, Engineering ...2 days ago
- Rotorua Emergency Housing updateThe Government has announced a suite of changes to emergency housing provision in Rotorua: Government to directly contract motels for emergency accommodation Wrap around social support services for those in emergency accommodation to be provided Grouping of cohorts like families and tamariki in particular motels separate from other groups One-stop ...2 days ago
- Further COVID-19 vaccine and economic support for the PacificNew Zealand will be providing protection against COVID-19 to at least 1.2 million people in the Pacific over the coming year $120 million in Official Development Assistance has been reprioritised to support Pacific economies in 2021 Foreign Affairs Minister Hon Nanaia Mahuta and Associate Health and Foreign Affairs Minister Aupito William ...2 days ago
- Statement on the escalation of violence in Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and GazaForeign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta today expressed Aotearoa New Zealand’s grave concern at the escalation of violence in Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Gaza. “The growing death toll and the large numbers of casualties, including children, from Israeli airstrikes and Gazan rockets is unacceptable,” Nanaia Mahuta said “Senior officials met ...2 days ago
- Trade Minister to travel to UK and EU to progress free trade agreementsTrade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor announced today he will travel to the United Kingdom and European Union next month to progress New Zealand’s respective free trade agreement negotiations. The decision to travel to Europe follows the agreement reached last week between Minister O’Connor and UK Secretary of State for ...2 days ago
- Pre-Budget speech to Business New ZealandKia ora koutou katoa It’s great to be here today, at our now-regular event in anything-but-regular times. I last spoke to some of you in mid-March. That was an opportunity to reflect on an extraordinary 12 months, but also to reflect on how the future was shaping up. In what ...2 days ago
- Te Hurihanganui growing with Nelson community celebrationNelson is the latest community to join the Te Hurihanganui kaupapa to drive change and address racism and bias in education, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis announced today. Speaking at today’s community celebration, Kelvin Davis acknowledged the eight iwi in Te Tau Ihu for supporting and leading Te Hurihanganui in ...2 days ago
- Te Hurihanganui Nelson Community Celebration Te Hurihanganui Nelson Community Celebration Victory Community Centre, Nelson “Racism exists – we feel little and bad”. Those were the unprompted words of one student during an interview for a report produced by the Children’s Commissioner in 2018. They were also the words I used when I announced the ...2 days ago
- Child wellbeing reports highlight need for ongoing actionThe Government has released the first Annual Report for the Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy and the second Child Poverty Related Indicators (CPRI) Report, both of which highlight improvements in the lives of children as a result of actions of the Government, while setting out the need for ongoing action. ...2 days ago
- Formal consultation starts on proposals for Hawera schoolsEducation Minister Chris Hipkins today announced a formal consultation for the future of schooling in Hawera. "Recent engagement shows there is a lot of support for change. The preferred options are for primary schools to be extended to year 7 and 8, or for a year 7-13 high school to ...2 days ago
- He Whenua Taurikura: New Zealand’s Hui on Countering Terrorism and Violent ExtremismThe Government is progressing another recommendation of the Royal Commission of Inquiry report into the terrorist attack on Christchurch masjidain by convening New Zealand’s first national hui on countering terrorism and violent extremism. He Whenua Taurikura, meaning ‘a land or country at peace’, will meet in Christchurch on 15 and ...3 days ago
- Hundreds of new electric cars for state sectorTotal of 422 new electric vehicles and charging infrastructure across the state sector $5.1 million for the Department of Conservation to buy 148 electric vehicles and install charging infrastructure $1.1 million to help Kāinga Ora buy 40 electric vehicles and install charging infrastructure 11,600 tonnes of carbon emissions saved over ...3 days ago
- Apartments give new life to former Trade Training hostelA building that once shaped the Māori trade training industry will now revitalise the local community of Ōtautahi and provide much needed housing for whānau Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson announced today. The old Māori Trade Training hostel, Te Koti Te Rato, at Rehua Marae in Christchurch has been ...3 days ago
- Opening of Te Kōti o Te Rato at Rehua Marae, Ōtautahi*Check with delivery* It is a great pleasure to be here with you all today. I acknowledge Ngāi Tūāhuriri and the trustees of Te Whatu Manawa Māoritanga o Rehua Trust Board. The opening of six new apartments on these grounds signifies more than an increase in much-needed housing for Ōtautahi. ...3 days ago
- Major step to pay parity for early learning teachersCertificated teachers on the lowest pay in early education and care services will take another leap towards pay parity with their equivalents in kindergartens, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said in a pre-Budget announcement today. “Pay parity for education and care teachers is a manifesto commitment for Labour and is reflected ...3 days ago
- New Zealand Wind Energy ConferenceTēnā koutou katoa Tēnā koutou i runga i te kaupapa o te Rā No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tatou katoa Thank you Grenville for the introduction and thanks to the organisers, the New Zealand Wind Energy Association, for inviting me to speak this morning. I’m delighted that you ...3 days ago
- Speech to New Zealand Drug Foundation 2021 Parliamentary Drug Policy SymposiumSpeech to Through the Maze: On the road to health New Zealand Drug Foundation 2021 Parliamentary Drug Policy Symposium Mōrena koutou katoa, Tēnei te mihi ki a koutou, Kua tae mai nei me ngā kete matauranga hauora, E whai hononga ai tatau katoa, Ka nui te mihi! Thank you for the opportunity ...3 days ago
- Govt to deliver lower card fees to businessCommerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark has today announced the Government’s next steps to reduce merchant service fees, that banks charge businesses when customers use a credit or debit card to pay, which is estimated to save New Zealand businesses approximately $74 million each year. “Pre COVID, EFTPOS has ...3 days ago
- Government support boosts Arts and Culture sectorGovernment support for the cultural sector to help it recover from the impact of COVID-19 has resulted in more cultural sector jobs predicted through to 2026, and the sector performing better than forecast. The latest forecast by economic consultancy ‘Infometrics’ reflects the impact of Government investment in keeping people in ...4 days ago
- Govt takes further action against gang crimeThe Government will make it illegal for high risk people to own firearms by introducing Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPOs) that will strengthen action already taken to combat the influence of gangs and organised crime to help keep New Zealanders and their families safe, Police Minister Poto Williams and Justice Minister ...4 days ago
- Thousands of MIQ spaces allocated to secure economic recoveryFive hundred spaces per fortnight will be allocated in managed isolation facilities over the next 10 months, many for skilled and critical workers to support our economic recovery, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor say. “The Trans-Tasman bubble has freed up more rooms, allowing us to ...5 days ago
- New Zealand Sign Language Week a chance to recognise national taongaThis week (10 – 16 May 2021) is New Zealand Sign Language Week (NZSL), a nationwide celebration of NZSL as an official language of New Zealand. “We’re recognised as a world leader for our commitment to maintaining and furthering the use of our sign language,” says Minister for Disability Issues ...5 days ago
- Economic resilience provides more options in Budget 2021Securing the recovery and investing in the wellbeing of New Zealanders is the focus of Budget 2021, Grant Robertson told his audience at a pre-budget speech in Auckland this morning. "The economy has proven resilient in response to COVID-19, due to people having confidence in the Government’s health response to ...5 days ago
- Pre-Budget speech to BNZ-Deloitte Auckland Breakfast EventThank you for the invitation to speak to you today, and to share with you some of the Government’s thinking leading into this year’s budget. This will be my fourth time delivering the annual Budget for the Government, though the events of the past year have thrown out that calculation. ...5 days ago
- Rotuman Language week affirms language as the key to Pacific wellbeingThe first Pacific Language Week this year makes it clear that language is the key to the wellbeing for all Pacific people said Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio. “This round of language weeks begin with Rotuman. As I have always said language is one of the pillars of ...6 days ago
- Budget delivers improved cervical and breast cancer screeningBudget 2021 funds a more effective cervical screening test to help reduce cervical cancer rates A new breast screening system that can proactively identify and enrol eligible women to reach 271,000 more people who aren’t currently in the programme. Budget 2021 delivers a better cervical screening test and a major ...6 days ago
- NZ-France to co-chair Christchurch Call Leaders’ SummitNew Zealand and France will jointly convene the Christchurch Call Community for a leaders’ summit, to take stock of progress and develop a new shared priority work plan. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and President Emmanuel Macron will co-chair the leaders’ meeting on the 2nd anniversary of the Call, on 14 ...6 days ago
- New South Wales travel pause to be lifted tomorrowCOVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says the current travel pause with New South Wales will lift tomorrow – subject to no further significant developments in NSW. “New Zealand health officials met today to conduct a further assessment of the public health risk from the recently identified COVID-19 community cases in Sydney. It has been determined that the risk to public ...1 week ago
- March 15 Collective Impact Board appointedThe voices of those affected by the March 15 mosque attacks will be heard more effectively with the establishment of a new collective impact board, Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Priyanca Radhakrishnan announced today. Seven members of the Christchurch Muslim community have been appointed to the newly established Board, ...1 week ago
- More young Kiwis supported with mental health and addiction servicesNearly quarter of a million more young New Zealanders will have access to mental health and addiction support in their communities as the Government’s youth mental health programme gathers pace. New contracts to expand youth-specific services across the Northland, Waitematā and Auckland District Health Board areas have been confirmed, providing ...1 week ago
- New hospital facilities mean fewer trips to Auckland for NorthlandersNorthlanders will no longer automatically have to go to Auckland for lifesaving heart procedures like angiograms, angioplasty and the insertion of pacemakers, thanks to new operating theatres and a cardiac catheter laboratory opened at Whangārei Hospital by Health Minister Andrew Little today. The two projects – along with a new ...1 week ago
- Fair Pay Agreements to improve pay and conditions for essential workersThe Government is delivering on its pre-election commitment to implement Fair Pay Agreements which will improve wages and conditions, as well as help support our economic recovery, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Wood announced today. Fair Pay Agreements will set minimum standards for all employees and employers in an ...1 week ago
- Establishment of the new Māori Health Authority takes first big stepSir Mason Durie will lead a Steering Group to provide advice to the Transition Unit on governance arrangements and initial appointments to an interim board to oversee the establishment of the Māori Health Authority. This Group will ensure that Māori shape a vital element of our future health system, Minister ...1 week ago
- Cycle trails move up a gear in CentralWork on new and upgraded cycle trails in Queenstown, Arrowtown and Central Otago is moving up a gear as two significant projects pass further milestones today. Tourism Minister Stuart Nash has announced new funding for the Queenstown Trails Project, and will also formally open the Lake Dunstan Trail at Bannockburn ...1 week ago
- Govt reports it is doing nicely, thank, you at getting us into houses – but it warns it must also ...
Whoa, there – she’s bolted! We refer to Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson, who this morning dropped another media statement into our email in-tray as Associate Housing Minister. It was her third while she has been wearing the Housing ministerial hat. She did issue another statement as recently as May ...4 hours ago - Christchurch Call Summit Charts Next Steps
Big steps were made today in progressing the Christchurch Call. Leaders of countries, tech companies and civil society came together to reflect on progress since 2019 and create a work plan for the coming years. The Christchurch Call was launched two ...4 hours ago - Auckland Action Against Poverty March For Our People: Saturday, The 15th Of May 2021 – 12pmIn the lead up to the budget being released next week Auckland Action Against Poverty (AAAP) has planned a March down Ponsonby Road to ensure that people and families remain a priority for this Labour government. “This March has been organised because ...4 hours ago
- Is NZ missing our post-Covid window of opportunity?
An economic opportunity for New Zealand could be closing rapidly as the world grapples with the pandemic, and business and social impact leaders want the Government to act fast to stay ahead Auckland's big economic conference didn't want to hear from whingers or those looking backwards - but plenty of speakers and attendees ...6 hours ago - Christchurch Call second anniversary summit gets underway
The online leaders summit, opened by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, has heard from the leaders of France and the United Kingdom today. ...6 hours ago - Christchurch Call second anniversary summit underway this morningThe online leaders summit, opened by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, has heard from the leaders of France and the United Kingdom today. ...9 hours ago
- COHA Webinar | Pedro Castillo Advances A New Progressive Agenda to Win the Presidency in Peru
Source: Council on Hemispheric Affairs – Analysis-Reportage With congressman Guillermo Bermejo, member of Pedro Castillo’s Presidential Campaign Join the Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) to analyze the decisive presidential election taking place this June 6 in Perú. COHA Director Patricio Zamorano, COHA Senior Research Fellow Alina Duarte and ...11 hours ago - Kids Discouraged From Eating Their Own Lunches“ Advice from the Ministry of Education shows that kids who bring their own lunches from home are being discouraged from eating them,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “After it was revealed this week that thousands of lunches are going to waste, ...11 hours ago
- Short story: Psycho Ex, by Ockham national book award supreme winner Airini Beautrais
A story from the collection Bug Week by Airini Beautrais, named this week as the winner of the $57,000 prize for fiction at the Ockham New Zealand national book awards. I am going for a run. I pull on my leopard-print tights, my black sports bra, my hot pink ...12 hours ago - How New Zealand’s employment laws changed forever, 30 years ago today
May 15 1991 marked the dawn of a new system of employment that utterly transformed the world of work. The Employment Contracts Act dramatically deregulated the labour market, struck a huge blow against the union movement, and reshaped the economy. Alex Braae looks back. When Faith Harrison began working at ...12 hours ago - Immigration Minister reviews rules to attract high-skilled migrants
The Immigration Minister will update policy changes prioritising high-skilled migrants, while thousands of 'non-priority' skilled migrants wait in limbo for a future in New Zealand On Monday, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi will be outlining a change in policy to attract high-skilled migrants in a bid to improve productivity and address skills shortages. Faafoi's speech will also ...12 hours ago - Newsroom's daily sudoku, Saturday 15 May
...12 hours ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Saturday 15 May
...12 hours ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Saturday 15 May
Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...12 hours ago - ‘What most women really want is someone to be kind’: Anna Saunders, midwifeThe veteran midwife talks to Michelle Langstone about the increasing challenges of her profession – and the priceless moments that remind her why it matters.Portraits by Edith Amituanai.When Anna Saunders gave birth to her baby boy in a cottage on family land at Wainamu, Bethells Beach, her husband’s family drove ...13 hours ago
- Siouxsie Wiles: There’s a lot of vaccine BS around. Here’s why I won’t be debunking itSiouxsie Wiles wants to talk about all the ‘fake news’ about vaccines that’s floating around and popping into people’s letterboxes. But don’t expect her to debunk it. She explains her thinking. Right now, a number of groups and individuals are waging what looks like a coordinated campaign here in New Zealand. ...13 hours ago
- The Women’s Budget Statement was more like a first step than a revolutionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Helen Hodgson, Professor, Curtin Law School and Curtin Business School, Curtin University We’re told that this budget, more than most, delivered for women. Commonwealth Treasury Certainly for the first time in years it was accompanied by a Women’s Budget Statement printed as ...17 hours ago
- Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – Covid-19: Covid19 League Charts for the 2nd Week of MayAnalysis by Keith Rankin. Maldives: Covid19 as well as space debris and terrorist bombing. Maldives: Covid19 as well as space debris and terrorist bombing. It’s been a big month, so far, for the Maldive Islands. Further, some of New Zealand’s leading cricketers (including captain Kane Williamson) are manuhiri in the ...21 hours ago
- Week in Politics: Government ‘pushes the reset button’ on public sector payAnalysis - The government deals with a fierce backlash over its public sector pay curb and in Parliament the lid blows off the race relations debate. ...21 hours ago
- Could the AstraZeneca vaccine cause Guillain-Barré syndrome? We don’t know yet — but there’s ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nathan Bartlett, Associate Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) yesterday revealed there have been six reports of Guillain-Barré syndrome in Australia following the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine. This is an autoimmune disorder, which causes ...22 hours ago
- Charging Electric Cars With DieselOne thing this week that told us more about New Zealand than anything else was the Department of Conservation charging an electric vehicle on Stewart Island with a diesel generator. How did we get here? It’s just one example of how a tiny but ...24 hours ago
- First Nations families need support to stay together, before we create another Stolen GenerationSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Chamberlain, Associate Professor Indigenous Health Equity, La Trobe University Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) children are increasingly being removed from their families and placed into out-of-home care, raising concerns of another Stolen Generation. One of the main reasons is ...1 day ago
- Finally, an ongoing commitment to funding preschool. But the conditions are hazy and ill-definedSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lennie Barblett, Associate Professor, Edith Cowan University The 2021-22 budget includes funding for 15 hours per week of free preschool education for all children in the year before school. Although in his budget speech, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said there would be $2 ...1 day ago
- Albanese’s $10bn pledge pushes housing needs back into the limelightSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hal Pawson, Professor of Housing Research and Policy, and Associate Director, City Futures Research Centre, UNSW Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese’s budget reply speech last night highlighted Australia’s huge unnmet need for social and affordable housing. It’s once again shaping up as a ...1 day ago
- Default KiwiSaver Schemes Will No Longer Include Investments In Fossil Fuel Production, The Governme...The news is part of a suite of changes made to KiwiSaver default provider schemes . The new arrangements will take effect on 1 December 2021 . The SMC asked experts to comment on the news. Ivan Diaz-Rainey, Director, Climate and Energy Finance Group ...1 day ago
- Art by Indigenous prisoners can forge links with culture and a future away from crimeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jeremy Ryder, Research Assistant, Law and Criminal Justice Tutor, Flinders University Featuring over 350 artworks created by more than 320 artists, The Torch’s annual exhibition, Confined 12, is its largest to date. All of the artists in the Victorian not-for-profit organisation’s show ...1 day ago
- With diplomacy all but abandoned, Israel and the Palestinians are teetering on another warSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Billingsley, Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences, UNSW The latest violence between Israeli and Palestinian forces should come as no surprise. The issue of Palestinian statehood has been off the international agenda since US President Barack Obama effectively washed his hands ...1 day ago
- VIDEO: Michelle Grattan on the 2021-22 budgetSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Paddy Nixon discuss the week in politics. This week Michelle and Paddy discuss budget week – from Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s ...1 day ago
- Have You Say On The Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill...1 day ago
- SFO charges an indictment on political parties – not the systemPower Play: Calls for another look at the rules for party political donations are a copout, writes Jane Patterson. ...1 day ago
- Bulletin World Weekly: The historic tragedy of JerusalemThe Bulletin World Weekly is a Spinoff newsletter covering and analyising the most important stories from around the globe. This week’s edition looks at the historic roots of the current violence sweeping through Israel, Jerusalem and Gaza. To get the Bulletin World Weekly in your inbox every week, sign up to ...1 day ago
- Luxon might consider asking about the need for iwi appointees to sit on council committees after Mao...
National’s local government spokesman, Christopher Luxon, said his party welcomed the review of local government recently announced by Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta. National supported the Future of Local Government review, he said. But he cautioned that the Ardern government had shown time and again it has an appetite for ...1 day ago - The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending May 14The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (Faber & Faber, $37)On Saturday night you can watch Ishiguro ...1 day ago
- Scrap The Road Tax On Marine Fuel...1 day ago
- Government reveals climate change options for transport sector
The Government wants to hear from you about its plans to reduce emissions in the transport sector. Minister of Transport Michael Wood has released Hīkina te Kohupara - Kia mauri ora ai te iwi - Transport Emissions: Pathways to Net Zero by 2050, a Ministry of Transport report outlining potential policies and ...1 day ago - Immigration Minister Likely To Devastate Skilled Migrant Hopes With New AnnouncementThe New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment (NZAMI) believes that the Immigration Minister will announce on Monday that 30,000 current skilled migrant category (SMC) applications awaiting allocation and assessment by Immigration New ...1 day ago
- Yesterdaze: To freeze or not to freeze
Literary skills have been lacking on both sides of the House this week amid a storm over pay freeze. James Elliott looks at why the Government could well be facing a winter of too many pigs with not enough lipstick. It’s been another big news week, particularly in the literary world. Simon ...1 day ago - Government reveals options for climate change policies in transport sectorThe government wants a "national conversation" about the changes needed to reduce transport sector greenhouse gas emissions. ...1 day ago
- The Friday Poem: what the fuck is an Ockham, by Dominic HoeyA new poem from poet and novelist Dominic Hoey.what the fuck is an Ockhamlanding in Christchurch no ones wearing masks my friend messages me “wanna get dinner?” I’m at a writers festival “bullshit, you can’t even spell”sharing a hotel room with Mohamed he prays in the corner while I sext ...1 day ago
- NZNO DHB Members Vote To Strike!The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) will be issuing strike notices to the country’s district health boards (DHBs) after its 30,000 members who work in DHBs voted overwhelmingly in favour of an eight-hour strike on 9 June. Lead Advocate and ...1 day ago
- Newsletter: New Zealand Politics Daily – May 14 2021Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage. Click here to subscribe to Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup and New Zealand Politics Daily. Today’s content Inequality and poverty Tess McClure (The Guardian): Ardern faces calls to boost child poverty spending ...1 day ago
- Snakes! Snakes on a beach!1 day ago
- Open Letter To Minister Hipkins13 May 2021 Dear Mr Hipkins I watched with interest on Wednesday as you announced a move towards pay parity for teachers in early childhood education (ECE) centres. You said a funding increase of $170 million was intended to help these teachers move ...1 day ago
- Analysis – The Singapore Conundrum: Why Emulating Its Success Could be a MistakeAnalysis by Simon Angelo (WealthMorning.com) Our business is finding profitable and innovative businesses to invest in. We’ve had a stellar recovery run since Covid. If there’s one thing that separates these companies out from the rest, it is this: They have found a profitable niche ...1 day ago
- Consistent National Approach Needed For Freedom Camping – TIAThe Government’s review of freedom camping is an opportunity to create a nationally consistent approach to managing camping around the country, Tourism Industry Aotearoa says. While the Freedom Camping Act provides national direction, the requirement ...1 day ago
- Getting ready for climate change is about people, not spreadsheets. Let’s use our imaginationsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tayanah O’Donnell, Director, Future Earth Australia at the Australian Academy of Science and Honorary Associate Professor, Australian National University Measures in this week’s federal budget to help Australians withstand and adapt to climate change are sorely needed, after years of cuts in ...1 day ago
- KiwiSaver cash is to be kept away from oil and gas industries and tourists are to be kept apart from...A gush of statements and speeches from the Beehive ranges in significance from Damien O’Connor’s trip to London and Brussels to press on with free trade negotiations to Chris Hipkins dealing with the way schools are organised in Harewa. Changes to the Kiwisaver scheme include measures to discourage or disallow ...1 day ago
- VF48Hours 2021: Body-swapping techno vikings from spaceWellington animation team Truba talk us through their VF48Hours superhero movie, Infinite Origin.Truba might be the most international team in this year’s Vista Foundation 48 Hours. An actual animation studio outside of the competition (they’ve produced animations for [adult swim] and made music videos for Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Childish ...1 day ago
- New Zealand Starts Living On Borrowed TimeOn Saturday, New Zealand becomes the 48th country to begin living on borrowed time in 2021. This is the day when we have used all of our environmental resources for the year and move into overdraft. The costs of ecological overspending is seen in ...1 day ago
- The Low and Middle Income Tax Offset has been extended yet again. It delivers help neither when nor ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society and NATSEM, University of Canberra The Low and Middle Income Tax Offset (known as the LMITO or “lamington”) has been given yet another new lease of life. What started in 2018 ...1 day ago
- Changes To Default Kiwisaver Standards Reflect The Power Of People Demanding Climate ActionClimate justice organisation 350 Aotearoa welcomes the improvements to default Kiwisaver funds announced today by the government, which mean New Zealanders’ savings in default funds will no longer be invested in fossil fuels. This change will mean that ...1 day ago
- McDonald's investigates franchisee owner accused of bonded labour
The owner of four McDonald's franchises in Auckland has been accused of bonded labour through dodgy contracts Workers at McDonald's stores in Auckland were surprised to hear their boss has been asking some staff to sign contracts that made them liable to pay thousands of dollars if they left within a ...1 day ago - Did RuPaul actually come to New Zealand? A Spinoff investigationSocial media is alight with a bizarre rumour that RuPaul Charles never came to New Zealand to film the local version of his reality show, Drag Race Down Under. Nothing has excited New Zealand social media this year as much as the news that RuPaul had landed in the country to ...1 day ago
- Government's KiwiSaver Interference Will Hammer SavingsThe Government’s announcement that default KiwiSaver funds will be forced to boycott fossil fuel investments will reduce savings, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union. Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, "The last thing KiwiSaver members need ...1 day ago
- Budget 2021 Should Fund Vaping ‘starter Packs’ As In UKBudget 2021 should supercharge ‘vape to quit’ smoking cessation programmes already well established across New Zealand’s health sector. In fact, adopting one initiative now underway at several NHS hospitals in the UK would be a brilliant step for Smokefree ...1 day ago
- Extreme highs, extreme lows: Mousey on stress, success and social mediaFor Christchurch musician Mousey, 2020 should have been a breakout year. But through all the disruption, she’s still finding new ways to keep moving forward. Sarena Close joins me on Zoom in her PJs. Her husband, Chris, is pottering around their suburban home in the background. If you didn’t ...1 day ago
- Default KiwiSaver scheme changes will leave members better off, government saysChanges to KiwiSaver mean those who join the scheme at age 18 could be almost $150,000 better off at retirement, the government claims. ...1 day ago
- Government has no plans to facilitate charter flights to return NZers from India – ArdernPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the government is not planning to help travel agents trying to organise private charter flights for New Zealanders stranded in India. ...1 day ago
- Recovery Fund Reaches Funding MilestoneThe WBOP COVID-19 Recovery Fund has funded 16 community groups in the past eight months with over $360,000 in funding. It brings the total funded since its inception to over $770,000. The successful recipients include Brave Hearts, Life Education ...1 day ago
- Where do meteorites come from? We tracked hundreds of fireballs streaking through the sky to find ou...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick M Shober, Planetary Science PhD Candidate, Curtin University If asked where meteorites come from, you might reply “from comets”. But according to our new research, which tracked hundreds of fireballs on their journey through the Australian skies, you would be wrong. ...1 day ago
- Yes, religion plays a more prominent role in politics. But ‘secular Australia’ has always been a...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cristina Rocha, Director of Religion and Society Research Cluster, Western Sydney University Religion and politics have long been uneasy bedfellows, especially in largely secular societies like Australia. But since September 11 and the sudden focus on Islam in Western politics, it has ...1 day ago
- Do naturally high testosterone levels equal stronger female athletic performance? Not necessarilySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Severine Lamon, Associate professor, Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Deakin University Over the past few years, controversy has surrounded the World Athletics ruling that female hyperandrogenic athletes — female athletes with naturally high levels of testosterone — are banned from competing in certain ...1 day ago
- How climate change is erasing the world’s oldest rock artSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jillian Huntley, Research Fellow, Griffith University In caves on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, ancient peoples marked the walls with red and mulberry hand stencils, and painted images of large native mammals or imaginary human-animal creatures. These are the oldest cave art ...1 day ago
- Friday essay: searching for sanity in a world hell-bent on destructionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samuel Alexander, Research fellow, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, The University of Melbourne According to The Parable of the Poisoned Well, there once lived a king who ruled over a great city. He was loved for his wisdom and feared for his power. ...1 day ago
- Live updates, May 14: Bloomfield floats return to alert level 2.5 when borders openWelcome to The Spinoff’s live updates for May 14, bringing you the latest news updated throughout the day. Get in touch at stewart@thespinoff.co.nz7.50am: Bloomfield floats return to level 2.5 when borders openThe director general of health is facing political criticism after suggesting the country might have to return to alert ...1 day ago
- Record quantities of gold moved to NZ as investors seek safe haven
A discreet, high-security vault near Auckland's international airport is seen as a safe haven in times of global turmoil. ...1 day ago - Union worker: Pay freeze an attempt at intimidation by a government scared of strikesA public sector union worker argues that the government's goal was to drive down the pay expectations of the nurses who are currently set to strike. ...1 day ago
- The Bulletin: Fears of mid-year vaccine shortageGood morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Fears of mid-year vaccine shortage, new report shows child poverty indicators not improving, and SFO charges laid over donation to Labour.Understandably, there’s pretty high demand for the Covid vaccine right now. But will the demand be too high for supply to ...1 day ago
- Xero draws massive profits in pandemic
Cloud accounting boss says lockdowns initially squeezed the business but soon, they had a record number of small firms signing up for their online products. A solid rebound from the pandemic has delivered a strong lift in profits for accounting software firm Xero. The profit for the year ended March increased to $19.8 ...1 day ago - Newsroom's daily sudoku, Friday 14 May
...2 days ago - Newsroom daily crossword, Friday 14 May
...2 days ago - Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 14 May
Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. ...2 days ago - Changing South: NZ's biggest pumpkins?
The biggest, the heaviest and the ugliest – Frank Film tracks down the winners at the Little River Giant Pumpkin Festival They don't taste too good but they certainly pull the crowds. Last month, despite drying hills and a dearth of tourists, around 3000 people descended on Little River to ...2 days ago - Where is she now? Debbie Henderson
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‘prohibitionist-panics’…the funny side of..
http://www.alternet.org/drugs/6-most-hilarious-pot-freak-outs
i was talking to a middle-aged lady over the weekend..
..whose husband is in stage four cancer..
..and she told me that she has been told (unofficially) that after his latest round of chemo..
..that rather than him going on to morphine…
..that cannabis would be better for him…(especially high-potency cannabis-oil..which has demonstrated the power to shrink tumors..)
..so she now has to go and find some hash-oil..somewhere..)
..i took two takeaways from that..
1)..how fucken ‘sick’ that is…that someone in the final stages of cancer ..has to turn to the blackmarket for relief for his suffering..when a proven low-risk palliative (at the very least..maybe more..)..is to hand..
..and for fucken why..?
..’cos some national party fucken piss-ignorant rednecks..have cowed gutless-politicans into silence/bowing to their will..
..and why am i talking about/bringing this up..?
..why the fuck isn’t the spokesperson for (say) the greens..?
..going on breakfast tv to argue the logic/humanity of a law-change..
..who is that green party spokesperson on that issue..?
..you wouldn’t know..(where’s fucken waldo..?..)..but it’s hague..(who knew..?..)..the green party cowardice on this issue..is beyond fucken contempt..
..and they roundly deserve their long-suffering/ignored constituency on that issue..
..to walk from them..to the internet/mana parties…
2)..why the fuck are these cancer-doctors not going public on this..?
..they are offering this off-the-record advice..?..w.t.f..?..
..someone in a white-coat talking about cancer-patients vomiting their guts out..(when they don’t need to have that added layer to their suffering..
.(.it’s just the will of those pig-ignorant/provincial-rednecks the national party serves/cowers in front of..)
..these cancer doctors speaking out might even cause politicians like (but not only) hague..
..to grow a set of fucken balls…
Are you attending the NORML conference this weekend perchance?
did not even know it was on..
..(and don’t get me started on ‘cannabis-warriors’..who fell-silent..and morphed into legal-high peddlers..eh..?
..grr..!!..
..and as it’s campaign-financing goody-bag time..
..we’ll probable hear again soon from the aotearoa legalise party people..(person?)
..and for the first time in 3 yrs..
..where have they been..?
..and what have they been doing on this issue..in the interim..?
..just sitting around smoking bongs..?
..and waiting for the next election-campaign-funding goody-baggie to turn up..?..)
Isn’t that your chance to actually make a substative difference to the debate on Cannabis in NZ as opposed to posting here and on your blog which largely gets ignored?
i have as much chance of an invite from them..(see above..)
..as i am likely to get an invite to jamie ‘just do nothing about climate-change!’ whytes next ayn rand appreciation society meeting..
..and given the stunning-silences from them..for so long..
..i wd question yr criticism of me for posting @ whoar..and here…
..if not me..here and there..
..fucken who..?..and where..?
..to me..the silences from all who should be speaking up/out..
..is fucken deafening..
NORML and Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party are largely ghettoised and subject to negative stereotyping similar to say Voluntary Euthanasia advocates and other one issue groups. Little progress has been made in decades by NORML their conference is highlighting Colorado experience so far.
Cannabis debate has been bouncing for a week on facebook via the IMP pages so maybe cannabis reformers should make links there.
I am for general legalisation and urgent attention to medical cannabis. But not putting time into an ineffective one issue group.
that coming out by laila harre..and that debate on this issue on the internet party site..
..has been a rare gust of fresh air..
..and welcomed..
“.. and on your blog which largely gets ignored?..”
..i wont rise to yr slur on my work..
..save to say that one day people will notice that there is a local news-resource – that brings them a best-of from local/the world..every day..(40-50 new stories/links..every day..)
..and with/having built up over time… a hand-picked best-of searchengine of over 90,000 best-of’s..
..the value of that will come into its’ own..
..’till then..i’ll just plug on/away..
..eh..?..
..and console myself with the 20,000 rss subscribers i have..
..and the over 20,000 other websites around the world that have whoar on their best-of websites lists..
..eh..?
(and of course..i am looking forward to the herald and stuff going behind a paywall..
..news hates a vacuum..eh..?.)
..and whoar will never paywall..
..i can promise you that..
..my political-imperative of free-access to (quality) news/info for all over-rides those/any commerical-considerations..
’till then..of course..you have the supermarket-giveaway quality herald/stuff to read/rely on..eh..?
..(snigger/snort..!..)
and maybe rawdy on breakfast telly for yr political-analysis..eh..?
..heh..!
..this morn there was that (3 day-old) story about the spikes being put in the ground outside buildings in london..
..to deter/stop the homeless from sleeping there..
..’rawdy’..obnoxious oink that he is..was all for this idea..
..and that if it were the case..he wd be urging his body-corporate/whatever..to do just that..
..eh ‘rawdy’..?
..even his co-compere seemed a tad shocked at ‘rawdy’ taking his callous/uncaring/fuck-the-poor!-side out for such a public-trot..
..but he clearly could not suppress/hide it..
..he just thought it was..all in all..a good-idea..
..and if you weren’t watching..
..you missed ‘rawdy’ giving ‘no worries!’ key..
..his usual mon-morn reaming-out/rimming..
god forbid you grow your own medicine,
I mean where is the profit in that i ask you !
I had a good laugh when I was reading this porkie:
“Prime Minister John Key says National would have refused to accept some votes of Act MP John Banks had he not said he would quit Parliament.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11270168
Espiner asked Key this morning about his not accepting Bank’s vote. Key dodged the question (of course) but I wondered how they could refuse a vote from an elected MP. If they could then they could pass any legislation that they liked by say, not accepting votes from Labour. Clever?
Sounds like a good Tui ad in there somewhere.
The sad thing is that 50% of the electorate appear to accept whatever shit he tells them.
Look at the different stances Key has taken since the court findings last week.
We’re supposed to believe that they wouldn’t have introduced legislation that relied on his vote, I think. Not that Key says that: what he says has no practical meaning: it’s an invitation to interpretation.
Anyone else do the Labour Zone 1 list conference on the weekend?
I liked a couple of things.
All electorates had clearly pre-debated with ranked lists. They had their shit together. This saved a lot of time and energy. The most successful candidates had worked very hard with blocs beforehand. It was well chaired.
Alignments between electorates and sectors were usually temporary; supporting one candidate and not necessarily the next. This is a pretty mature attitude.
Despite everyone’s egos being traded live on the floor, there was only the necessary bruising of democratic full-contact rather than any real blood. There was also a noticeable smarts to the timing of some candidates, who despite being enthusiastically nominated early, made clever tactical withdrawals to come in uncontested later. I suspect being low in the polls and few gaps from retirements helped the reality of that.
None of the candidates told us they were donor rainmakers, washed up semi-celebrities, dick-swinging egos, or retreading from successful careers. The most successful ones figured out that what the party wanted were superior organizers and told us so. Even the “rebalancing” for gender etc criteria was handled gracefully.
Every participant could see the joint was fizzing, with difference, with organisational drive, and with initiative.
For the price of membership and a delegates tag, well worth the entertainment. And good democracy to boot.
The seats were hard. My bum is sore. That is a high price for democracy.
Skinny-arsed young people. 🙂
I wasn’t in my seat for more than 5 minutes at a time.
Apart from whipping, there was too much gossipping and scheming to do, and simply enjoying the micro-politics with the contestants.
Jamie Whyte is shyte. He was interviewed by Michael Wilson on TV3 and was a blithering stuttering mess!
The Labour Strategy for Epsom must ask our supporters to “hold their noses” and vote for National.
Labour should only have Party vote signs up and no no no electorate mp signs.
How bizarre. To help stick it to the right you need to vote for them!
Glad I don’t live in the enclave of Epsom. Don’t feel bad though left voters that have the misfortune to reside there, you can still party vote to your conscience and ‘alter’ a few ACT hoardings.
i wd love to be living in the epsom electorate..
..left voters in epsom are more empowered than in most other seats..
..they have the power in their hands to both kick the clowns from act out the door..
..and to bring down this ruinous rightwing govt..
..i don’t have that power living/voting in mt albert…
..i am suffering from power-envy..
..and you’ll get no crocodile-tears from me..
..about/over ‘poor-lefties’ in epsom..
..being ‘forced’ to tactical-vote for the national party trout..
..they should fall upon those ballot-papers..and give that electorate-tick to national..with gibbering-delight..
..i know i would..
..(and they can still give their (usually) more-important party-vote for their tribe of choice..
.what..is..their…problem..?..
..watching genter from the greens..and the labour guy..dancing around this issue on wknd telly..
..had me both face-palming and banging head on desk..)
f.y.i..banned from editing comment..4 mins + still to run..
and of course..the other empowered voters on the left..
..are in dungs’ seat..
..and in the two maori seats contested by harawira and annette sykes..
(..i also suffer power-envy when thinking what they have at hand to do..)
that would be me tiger.
My first election i lived in doug grahams electorate. For a few after that in helen clark’s and since 2002 in the epsom enclave. Thank god for mmp or one feels totally disenfranchised
Are you advocating someone breaks the law to help influence an election?
what drivel r u talking gossie..?
..what ‘laws’ are ‘broken’..?
you mean like john banks?
i fell asleep. Literally
Jamie Whyte doesn’t have to appeal to you. He just needs to appeal to right leaning individuals.
do they appreciate mumble-fucking idiots..?
..do they..?
..those ‘right leaning individuals’..?
..so a gibbering-monkey/bag of flour cd actually stand for act in epsom..?
..is this what you are saying..?
The seeming answer to that is if they’re told to by National.
…and he was the best you could get.
go read the party and electorate voting in 2011 in epsom… If john banks couldnt attract party votes…and he couldnt, jamie whyte isnt going to attract anything. National is giving act the most right leaning seat in the country and the greens get more party votes than ACT?
@WG I watched the interview and was surprised, because Mr. Unclecousin’s default setting until this point has been a blithering stuttering mess.
This time he was relatively articulate. His argument’s still shyte though.
An unfortunate choice of words.
The corporate world is concerned about water quality, but this is not a good thing, the corporates are worried that an incoming Labour Green government may enact legislation to improve water quality. This comes hard on the heels of the news that the corporate’s choice of government, National, want to gut the Resource Management Act, RMA, to give economic concerns equal weight to environmental concerns.
I can hardly believe what I am reading. What on earth are we to make of this? An incoming centre Left government is unlikely to want to make water quality worse, So the corporates must be concerned that they may want to make it better!
The corporate sector are publicly raising worried concerns over better water quality!
This statement is extraordinary blunt. What has gone wrong? Usually entities like KPMG are usually much better at spinning us some silky storyline than this.
The sheer arrogance of these statements by National’s corporate cheer leaders shows that this country can barely afford another 3 months of this National government, let alone another three years of these corporate lackies.
To match this Right Wing threat to our country, the Left will have to be equally blunt and determined. Labour throw the seat of Te Tai Tokerau, if that is what it takes. And to rid our parliament of National’s rabid Right support partner urge your supporters in Epsom to vote Goldsmith,
I think that KPMG and the rabid Right are spinning out of control, they need to take a chill pill and take a little time to listen to Dr Vandana Shiva on water quality vs Growth
TVNZ reported Labour’s alternative thus:
“While honouring any contracts already in place, Labour would replace the Crown Irrigation Fund, established from the proceeds of state asset sales, with a freshwater pricing regime to encourage economically marginal irrigation schemes.
“With a new irrigation proposal where the economics are just breakeven, as they often are, then maybe the price of water for the first 30 years is next to nothing,” said Parker.
Parker also outlined numerous other planks in the party’s environmental platform, including a National Policy Statement to protect estuaries and resurrection of a plan for national freshwater management devised under the last Labour-led administration.”
Labour shows that replacing the current regime with a properly priced allocation would give KPMG plenty of consulting work to get on with, should a Labour coalition win.
Perhaps Mr Parker should call the Chair of KPMG and remind him that this major policy change will rack him major billable units, and the Crown’s got major direct interest in irrigation through its many farms and shareholdings. Figure it out KPMG.
Pricing of eco-services being the way of the future? More market mechanisms to bring us environmental solutions, is that the idea.
Where is the mention of tough nutrient limits and ensuring minimum flows.
“Ecosystem services”
Apart from a virtuous few, farmers tend to only respect market mechanisms.
bullshit they do. There is nothing free-market about the Central Plains Water scheme. They have received welfare from taxpayers and ratepayers the entire way through and continue today to ask for it. Bludgers.
I think that was Labour’s point above.
for those pricks it’s farmer-welfare ‘good’.
.(whenever asked for.’look..!..it’s rained..!..give us some more money..!’
..poor-welfare ‘bad’…
..’bludgers!’..those farmers sneer..
..’give it to us instead..!’
Yep, so they can this lake even greener and yuckier ….. see it ?
https://fbexternal-a.akamaihd.net/safe_image.php?d=AQAB4bZG9gzN3nF6&w=377&h=197&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.nzherald.co.nz%2Fwebcontent%2Fimage%2Fjpg%2F201423%2Falex1.jpg&cfs=1&sx=13&sy=0&sw=593&sh=310
At least they will make more and more money ……….. and that is worth everything according to the principles of John Key
Not correct I’m afraid Ad – farmers will respect Regional Council plan rules and decisions when they have been fully discussed, community consultation carried out and the measures are seen as necessary, fair and reasonable.
In Otago water quality Plan Change 6A, now in force, is the perfect example.
I’m not so sure about that Colonial Viper. In a recent survey it was found that most farmers don’t give a rats arse about water quality. Also, the Plan Change 6A (PDF) still allows pH, temperature changes and suspended solids at reasonably high levels.
Furthermore, these rules allow for discharges above where communities water supply comes from as long as the discharge is publicly notified. So a business can effectively contaminate a water source so it can no longer be used as long as there is a small notice in the paper.
Gaining resource consent to pollute is still in place (with a few provisions that such pollution shouldn’t be seen or smelt by the public) and as always these rules rely on adequate monitoring by the council. Like most other regions in New Zealand, the Otago council will be made up of people with a vested interest in keeping the status quo and there will be no proper system in place for testing and enforcing these rules.
Therefore it’s just business as usual whereby our waterways are treated as a drainage system by big business and the farming industry.
You’re not going to get a 100% solution but to describe this as business as usual is pretty mean-spirited Jackal. Just look at how crappy the situation in Southland is compared to Otago, for starters.
Otago now has amongst the tightest regs throughout the entire country – ones with the support of local communities, the Feds and environmental groups.
Yep. Enforcement is always going to be a challenge. But very few in Wellington understand the issues down here. They certainly could not have delivered anything as good as Plan Change 6A, not by a long shot. Try running something like this out of Wellington without local support and see how far you get, mate.
Local support helps but, at the same time, I think we need national level rules else we end up with some of the country being good and most of the rest being bad.
How are you going to get national level rules when soils vary up and down the country as do water management approaches for different geographies and climates. Like I said, most Thorndon bubble types struggle and struggle with the nuances.
At the most basic level, the problem areas are particulates, nitrates, ph and temp.
So water quality monitors at top of property, monitors at bottom of property, any addition/subtraction happened in that stretch of waterway. Where the waterway is the property border, or there are outfalls, place monitors on each side of waterway and adjacent to outfalls.
The national rules would be a basic level of per cumec change in water quality, or per km waterway.
There are some pretty good remote monitors around now – realtime telemetry, and if too much fertiliser runs off that’s money out of the farmer’s pocket.
Or if an overflow valve jams on the wine vat, as one story comes to mind…
You’re micromanaging too much. The national rules would specify maximum levels of pollutants, the local rules would take into account soils etc and then specify ways to stay below those maximum levels.
maybe
So if you say Plan Change 6A is really good without providing any other reasons, I should just take your word for it Colonial Viper? Where is the support from local communities exactly and what environmental groups are in favour?
I’m not saying it has to be a 100% solution (straw man) because that’s currently impossible and pointing out the reality of the legislations failures isn’t mean spirited at all. I’m in fact being a realist about the situation.
From actually taking the time to look at Plan Change 6A it appears to not be too dissimilar from regulations in other parts of the country, which basically amounts to business as usual. In fact many of these regulations appear to be exactly the same as the ones in force in places like Taranaki which has terrible water quality problems, mainly due to agriculture and the fossil fuel industry.
Public consultation really amounts to very little at all if there is no proper enforcement when the rules are broken. The rules throughout Plan Change 6A appear to be designed to allow Otago’s waterways to continue to be polluted. For instance, the suspended solids and pH levels allowed will likely mean the water quality in that region will show no improvement at all.
In my opinion this would only amount to a mediocre plan if there was no pollution to begin with. It’s certainly not a “good” plan because it will fail to achieve anything of real value for the environment. It will of course provide a bit of PR for the council, which I suppose is the main reason for its development.
I’ve got a great market mechanism – if the farm pollutes the waterways the farm is nationalised with the farmer keeping the debt used to buy it. Oh, and we’ll lock up the farmer for 5 years and have it so that they can’t be in any management position ever again.
Irrigation schemes should really be at least 51% controlled by local or central government. Like they used to be when the majority of irrigation schemes were controlled by the old MOW before 1988, and MAF there after until their sale to farmers in 1990. I do see the economic and social value in water storage for irrigation purposes, but allowing private sector interests to drain rivers and lakes while domestic and recreational users get pretty much nothing is quite sickening. Having some public ownership of irrigation schemes, ensures that the public interest is kept, with revenue (farmers dont seem to have any objection to paying for power) going towards water conservation efforts.
+100 millsy
And the problem of water in New Zealand is minuscule compared with other overpopulated countries
…a very good reason to halt immigration from large grossly overpopulated countries which stress water supplies
…lets face it overpopulation stresses water supplies particularly in overpopulated cities..Auckland already has a water problem!
http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21587789-desperate-measures
China has 20% of the world’s population but only 7% of its fresh water. A former prime minister, Wen Jiabao, once said water shortages threaten “the very survival of the Chinese nation”.
The shortage is worsening because China’s water is disappearing. In the 1950s the country had 50,000 rivers with catchment areas of 100 square kilometres or more. Now the number is down to 23,000. China has lost 27,000 rivers, mostly as a result of over-exploitation by farms or factories.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/23/us-climate-ipcc-china-idUSBRE98M0BP20130923
….” rising temperatures are only part of China’s problems, many of which have resulted from overpopulation, aggressive industrialization and a huge reliance on elaborate engineering schemes to irrigate crops and harness scarce supplies.
…”China’s water shortages stem more from problematic urbanization and water resource management, rather than the scapegoat of climate change,” said Zhou Lei, a fellow at Nanjing University who studies how industry affects the environment.
…”In my home town in Jiangxi, the water system consisted of underground springs, ponds, wetlands, brooks, streams, and seasonal rivulets, but all these have been totally ruined in the last 20 years due to a catastrophic urbanization plan, a construction mania and transport megaprojects,” he said.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2014/02/24/commentary/world-commentary/crisis-of-water-scarcity-continues-to-stalk-china/#.U5T8uXKSxHo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_issues_in_developing_countries#India
‘
Except systems where individual liberty and freedom are more highly valued generally have better environments that those where the supposed neeeds of the collective are paramount. To see this you just need to look at the horrendous environmental catastrophes that occured in the former Soviet bloc.
complete simplistic bullshit
deserves its’ own ‘simplistic-bullshit’-award’..really..
yeah im calling bullshit on that one aswell
i bet you cant even prove correlation let alone causation
that shelf must need reinforcing by now 🙂
what a lot of tripe.
what about the world bank calling the NZ ETS scheme a rort.
The thing about being free is if you dont like it then you can always f*ck off.
hint hint.
We have one of those systems and our environment is turning into a blocked toilet for cows.
Damned RWNJ, always denying the reality of what’s actually happening for their ideology of what they think should be happening.
Coming back to this, I must point out that during those times, it didnt matter what political and economic system held sway. The Kremlin’s Central Committee was no less committed to development and economic growth at all costs than the White House Cabinet. Factories in the Urals were as free to dump as much toxic waste was factories in Michigan. No one cared in the world of the ’40’s, 50’s and 60’s, about environmental impacts.
They’ve gotten lazy after having National, who kowtows to all their desires, in government.
The giant behemoth Brownlee ‘doesn’t take advice from tourists’ regarding the lol – ‘rebuild of Christchurch’. Meanwhile the Christchurch mayoral legacy comedy show rolls out the next skit involving temporary pumps in case the Flockton basin is flooded. What a fucking joke. More than three years down the potholed road and we’re at the temporary experimental pump stage. I really do think Lianne Dalziel is morphing into the great Gadsby Jon.
Pumping stations are a well recognised method of preventing or mitigating flooding in low lying areas… a permanent fix when the ground has dropped so much will be extremely difficult considering the geography.
Yep, had a look a few days ago at an Amsterdam building development where every shovelful of dirt comes out wet. Pumps and drainage channels were operating from day one. It needs to be remembered that Chch is built on a swamp. Good on Lianne Dalziel for getting stuck in and making sensible decisions around the rebuild. If only the previous administration were as on to it as she is.
Yep, you’re onto it te reo – the clown in this aspect of the rebuild has been that useless twat, the previous mayor Bob Parker. Total clown.
please use the correct-moniker of/for this ‘twat’….
..he is..sideshow-bob..
..writ large..
+10
“I really do think Lianne Dalziel is morphing into the great Gadsby Jon.”
She’s been in the job for less than a year, most of which has been playing catchup for the appalling job the last mayor and council did.
(one for that clown from act..jamie ‘just do nothing about climate-change!’ whyte..)
“..9 Political Cartoons That Put Climate Change In Perspective..”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/07/niels-bugge-cartoon-award_n_5455509.html?utm_hp_ref=arts
On The Savage Cost Of A Cuppa.
Still being paid it would seem – Firstly, it breathed life into Winnie at the time. Secondly, would ‘anonymous’ mayoral race funding have got anywhere near the High Court if Banks hadn’t taken Epsom on a high tide of tea and arrogance ?
Kia Ora New Zealand
Now listen you well
There’s sage old advice
In the story I tell
A Feisty called Banks
A Bankster called Key
Fulsome with thanks
Sat down for some tea
The air was thick
On Broadway that day
Two rorting pricks
With cups all asway
Each other they doted
They bullshitted on
And smarmingly voted
For John and for John
See how we love
Smirked they to the people
It’s we are above
And you are the sheep-le
The people cried “No !”
They smell-ed a rort
Neither stupid nor slow
“This crap it ain’t sport !”
In handsome numbers
With vigorous burst
They got off their bum-bers
And ticked NZ First !
The moral you see
Important you trust
Choose beer over tea……
When it’s power you lust !
Anon
bravo!that would be me tiger.
t
Great North. Does someone have a tune for that, good political ballad to take forward to the elction.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10133288/Labour-calls-for-inquiry-over-Banks
perhaps the first step chris is for you to oia the minister of police and ask how many mps have been referred to the police over electoral issues and how many moved on to charges.then call for a widening of the enquiry.
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/06/wont-police-act-complaints-electoral-commission/
I dont click links to whaleoil.
Was his oia refused on the grounds of too long to research? So why not just agree to a finite period from computerisation of recordsd?
If you can’t be bothered reading it then I can’t be bothered explaining it
Let’s assume that it is authored by a piece of right wing trash who mocks dead children’s families and discount it with contempt on that basis alone.
Sorry No clicks to Wo .Don’t want to soil fingers. Nice try tho’.
I find it fascinating that c73 apparently thinks that there’s no point in his trying simply because slimeboy didn’t succeed.
He obviously doesn’t want to succeed enough. We should not make him dependant by helping him, he needs to be responsible for his own inaction on the matter.
well if thats the way you feel about it then you should just piss off.
I’d take it further and have an inquiry into all political donations. Especially Cabinet Clubs and high priced dinners.
A good Morning Report for the left today at last:
Key sounded like a blithering idiot on Banks as Espiner gave him a hard time.
Andrew Little spoke well on the need for an enquiry into why the police didn’t prosecute Banks
Good coverage of Labour’s just announced policy of an Earthquake Court
Labour’s spokeman on Pacific Affairs made it clear that Key had been telling lies on his Pacific trip and made the point that National has made it harder for Pacific people to come into the country.
Now we just need a few more weeks like this and to stop infighting (of which there is far too much on The Standard) and the election will be won.
thanks for your summary bg, didnt hear mr this morning.
National has made it harder for Pacific Islanders to come here have they? I thought that would please the Labour party as they wish to reduce immigration numbers at the moment.
Yes National has made it harder for Pacific people to enter the country Gosman.
Listen to MR (at 8.38-Sua Willem Si’o Labour Pacific Island Affairs spokesman) and better still listen to Wallace Chapman’s show yesterday where this was brilliantly discussed by Pacific Issues correspondent Karen Mangnall (at 7.17) where she described how National had slyly made it harder for Pacific people to enter Godzone.
Try and work with real facts Gosman.
Would you agree that this would satisfy the Labour party’s recent prounoucements on reducing immigration numbers at the moment?
The contradiction is with National saying they won’t limit immigration numbers while targeting Pacific people to do exactly that Gosman. The overall amount of immigration at the moment is not sustainable but specific ethnicities should not be targeted. In effect National is being both racist and contradicting their own political stance on the issue.
Stop trying to distract from National’s ongoing lies Gosman.
Agreed BG.
Espiner to Key, with a little laugh: “Aren’t you in another reality here?”
OAB Yes but Espiner still manages to sound obsequious.
Why doesn’t he just say, “You’re bullsh***ing aren’t you?”
I would prefer he said something like “after all, this is just another example of the low ethical standards you set, isn’t it?”
When does the pmb for paternity leave reappear? Was thinking, with banks vote gone, and english saying he would veto, the maori party would be caught in a pincer?
With the veto the bill is dead even if the Maori party supported it. With the recently announced changes proposed to paternity leave in the budget there will not much fall out from doing so either.
Dead against the will of Parliament, with Bill English’s knife in it’s back, and John Key’s handprints on the hilt.
Nothing to see here, look over there, it’s Jamie and Judith and Colin and Hekia. And Gerry.
It is the Government’s prerogative to control matters of policy impacting majorly on the fiscus. Therefore it is entirely appropriate the bill is killed via the veto if it is passed.
which means you would support the govt doing this to any bill that has a majority vote?
after all – pretty much everything carries a cost
Yes, Gosman, it’s a judgement call. Well, in this case a poor judgement call.
No, it’s not. This is a democracy not a dictatorship.
it has been used 34 times by the last four governments
That doesn’t make it right.
a good, brief paper on the veto here (one page)
http://www.minterellison.co.nz/files/Publication/2af09ba1-596a-4013-943d-d334fefe6715/Presentation/PublicationAttachment/404f4f94-31a5-49dc-9d7c-d7c9ab264bd8/Public_Law_Factsheet_Crown%27s_Financial_Veto.pdf
Just thinking, ACT has no MP’s in parliament now at all. It also polls close to zero.
This probably doesn’t matter but can anyone out there think of any implications this has for election funding, election coverage, party status, anything else?
ACT is currently polling as well as the Mana Party on it’s own so I doubt that it would make much of a difference.
Only in cloud cuckoo land does a cut from $163,000 to $77,000 in broadcast funding not “make much of a difference” Gosman. Please get a grip because your arguments are decidedly pathetic!
Why would Act lose their broadcast funding?
possibly this:
Selective quoting of articles is tending towards the dishonest. There are a number of factors impacting broadcast funding and that is but one influence. I doubt the commission will not provide any funding or reduce it to less than they were entitled to when Banks was in Parliament.
Hah! But it’s ok for Farrar to do it eh! You’re a complete hypocrite, gosman
If David Farrar does it then it is equally wrong.
he did do it but you called it semantics!
So you don’t think that the level of funding will be influenced by one of the six (and only six) factors the commission “must consider” when allocating funding?
Not that you actually give a shit, anyway.
I’ll tell you what. If ACT receives significantly different funding and broadcast time to say what United Future gets (in the negative) I will make a formal acknowledgement that you were right and I had no clue. Will you do the same if they don’t get less than United?
Nah.
I’ll wait for the outcomes of resulting complaints to the electoral commission, first.
Why you tories always want to reduce these issues to a wager is beyond me. Oh, I forgot – it’s just a game to you. You don’t give a shit about mass unemployment and child poverty at 27%.
So, you’re saying that Act should still get the same funding as if they had an MP despite not having an MP?
I’m stating that is likely what will happen. Whether they should or not is a different matter.
Nice one McF.
I think it would be worth Labour/Greens asking questions on this. The number of MP’s at dissolution appears to be important for funding. I guess ACT still has rich backers like Alan Gibbs, though even he might be throwing in the towel with wallies like Whyte and Seymour in charge.
If nothing else asking the question would accentuate how completely and utterly useless ACT has become (or always has been?).
ACT. Frauds, thieves and criminals who never take “individual responsibility” for them-selves, while advocating “sink or swim” for the victims of their policies.
I hope there will come a day, when all those who inflicted the neo-liberal religion on the unsuspecting public, for the last 30 years, are bought to justice.
The Electoral Commission released the advertising (public) funding for each party on Friday night, as reported in this Herald article on Saturday.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=11269245
The article sets out the criteria for the allocations. Both National and Labour’s funding has been cut, while NZ First and the Greens will receive higher funding this election.
Taxpayer funding for National and Labour’s election campaign broadcast advertising has been cut for this year’s election but the Greens and NZ First will enjoy a substantial boost. …
The Maori Party’s funding is slashed by $60,000 to $100,000 while Act suffers an even deeper cut, going from $163,000 to $77,000 — the same amount as new entrants the combined internet Mana party, Peter Dunne’s United Future and former NZ First MP Brendan Horan’s likely political vehicle, the NZ Independent Coalition.
Colin Craig’s Conservative Party receives $60,000, up from $20,000 in 2011.
Among the minnows, satirist Ben Uffindel’s Civilian Party gets $33,600.
…
Taxpayer funding for party political broadcasts during this year’s election campaign:
• National: $1.05m
• Labour: $919,829
• Greens: $401,380
• NZ First: $200,690
• Maori Party: $100,345
• Act: $76,930
• Internet Mana: $76,930
• United Future: $76,930
• Conservative: $60,207
I presume that Banks’ resignation will not affect these allocations, but could be wrong. If so, I am sure we will hear this soon. I will check the Electoral Commission’s actual announcement to see whether it says anything as the Banks’ guilty decision would have been known at the time of the announcement with its likelihood that he could be gone.
Further to the above, here is the Electoral Commission’s actual release on Friday, with the second link to their full PDF decision
http://www.elections.org.nz/news-media/2014-broadcasting-allocation-decision-released
http://www.elections.org.nz/sites/default/files/bulk-upload/documents/final_2014_broadcasting_allocation_decision.pdf
A very rough quick through the decision indicates that ACT’s allocation is based on number of votes last election and one MP in Parliament as of the date of the decision (6 June 2014) although the Commission used a variety of criteria to set the overall allocations.
Some interesting discussion in the decision of social media etc, the Internet-Mana alliance etc which I don’t have time now to read in full. But no addendum or similar on the current ACT situation and the possiblity of the Epsom seat becoming vacant, as far as I could see in my very quick read.
Internet Party Independence Policy – on TPPA, GCSB, FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act).
Mainly it’s looking for more transparency an more democratic procedures for deciding on such matters – and not to be just a client US-state, doing whatever the US asks.
The downside of nationalisation of foreign owned banks.
http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/zimsit_g_gono-has-the-last-laugh-dailynews-live/
I believe at least one of the regular comentators here were advocating something similar for NZ.
total simplistic bullshit
Not really. The people who advocate for foreign banks to be partially nationalised (exactly the same sort of policies that Zanu-PF were pushing until recently) never see a downside. That is the simplistic BS. All policy settings have pros and cons. The negative impact of threatening to partially ‘indigenise’ or nationalise foreign owned banks is capital flight. Zimbabwe illustrates this in spades.
simplistic nonsense begets simplistic nonsense
Care to expand on this or has this become your new mantra for anything that challenges your world view?
the onus is on you mr simpleton, that is the entire point
The onus is on me to do what? If it is that there is a downside to threatening to nationalise or forceably divest foreigners of their stake in banks I believe I have done so.
sorry gossie..just shouting ‘zanu-pf!’ in a crowded-theatre..
..comes nowhere near cutting it..
..eh..?
I’m not just shouting Zane -. I provided a link to an article which highlights what happens when you promise to ‘indigenise’ 51 percent of the banking sector. Credit dries up and business else’s have a hard time finding their operations.
Well then, they probably shouldn’t have given them to the foreign corporates in the first place.
why dont you throw communist in there and be done with it?
Commie socialist scum!!!
thanks i feel collectively better now 🙂
Singapore did something similar very successfully a few years ago. Rationalised its retail banking industry and told a couple of the biggest players that they were gone, thank you very much for playing.
Of course, it takes a gutsy capable government willing to go toe to toe with the powers of international capital to pull off a move like that.
“..Of course, it takes a gutsy capable government willing to go toe to toe with the powers of international capital to pull off a move like that…”
i recommend that (partial-nationalisation?) minister harre be tasked with that chore..
..she’ll send them packing/have them begging for mercy…
..toot suite..
..i mean..she got epic-raises for the nurses –
..when she was their union rep..
..(the most abused/downtrodden component of the health system..(aside from the cleaners..)
Link please.
do yr own fucken research..
..u cd start with a definition of ‘simplistic’..
“The tendency to oversimplify an issue or a problem by ignoring complexities or complications..”
that’s you..ain’t it..?
Well since we’re being all simplistic and shit Gosman, weren’t the Nazis into privatization of the public sector as well?
Nope, pretty sure the SS ran the death camps
@ pops..
..oh..so funny..!
..what a quick wit you are….eh..?
..with those ‘ss’-jokes..
..what a wonderful fellow dinner-guest u wd b..eh..?
..a player with words..are ya..?
..is that how you earn yr daily-crust..?
..spinning/bullshitting/lying..?
..in gummint..?..are ya..?
Oh noes, some foreign money, which is worthless in the nation, will leave.
how about..gossie..if you try a little bit harder..
..tell us the downside of the people taking a 51% share in the banks that rule over us..?
..are you quite ‘relaxed’ about the $15 bn in foreign-profits sucked out of nz each and every year..?..are ya..?
….an amount..funnily enough..almost exactly the same as our annual ‘deficit’..
..we aren’t in fucken ‘deficit..
..our problem is that profiteered $15 bn a year sucked straight out of our economy..
..and the people taking a 51% stake in the foreign-owned banks/supermarket-chains etc..
.(with those shareholders bought out..and paid by a mix of initial-payment..followed by payment from annual profits..what’s not to love about that plan..?)
..this will keep a decent chunk of that ‘deficit’ here in nz…to be used to benefit new zealanders..
..fix that..and you fix a lot…
..and of course..having a 51% control of the supermarket duopoly..(as just one example..)..
..will make our upcoming war on obesity/battles for good-food..much much easier to facilitate..
..rather than having to fight these bastards arguing their ‘commercial-rights’ to flog unhealthy/salt/sugar/fat-laden crap..disguised/marketed as some ghastly impersonation of ‘food’..
..every inch of the way..
..so..gossie..what’s wrong with all that..?
If you want to support women and girls in India start to turn around a predatory culture of disrespect for women there, they are planning a campaign of posters to embarrass their new hard-right president. They want to draw attention to their cries for change when he is visiting the holy city of Varanasi with posters everywhere. They are asking for names of millions to show the world is watching.
+100 greywarbler
Good grief! Could Hooton possibly get more irritating (National radio this morning). You can see why he likes key. Neither of them is EVER wrong about anything, but anybody who DISAGREES! with them is automatically wrong. No question, no doubt. And always pronounced so with that nauseating smugness they both possess. A few years ago key was asked if he thought he had ever got anything wrong and all he could come up with was that MAYBE! he could have handled the BMW situation a little bit better. To date I can’t recall him ever admitting to being wrong about anything. It is highly unusual for someone to NEVER being wrong.
MR Key and Mr Hooton both have the same saying:
“I am always right and even when I am wrong I am still right.”
Pretty sure he has mentioned numerous areas where he disagrees with John Key and where John Key has stuffed up. I believe he stated that his handling of the Judith Collins situation has not been great and that he should have sack Heki Parata. On both of these he states the only reason he can see why he hasn’t is as a result of them being representative of a key demographic and power grouping in National.
Wee Matty Hooton is totally wasted as a serious political commentator, this mornings efforts produced too many belly laughs to detail,
Matty, to continue on in the vein of the comment i made here after lasts weeks little effort said of the Banks/Whyte/Prebble relationship that ”it would all come out in the wash”,
It took Hooton a while to get the spin cycle to work this morning and i was thinking that He should recall the repair person who when attending to Matty’s spin cycle had obviously over tightened the belts leaving Matty way to uptight,(i could near on smell the neurons burning as He spoke),
The effort sounded akin to a machine where the load had shifted while on ‘agitate’ thus slowing the ‘spin cycle’ to a slow grind interspersed with a number of clunks as the bricks in Matty’s head cannoned from side to side,
By the time Matty had delved deep into the pool of ‘wisdom’,(some might describe this pool in terms of a smelly brown liquid), for the grand statement,”National can Govern alone” my aural facilities had been fatally interrupted by bursts of mad laughter so any more ‘pearls’ that escaped from Matty’s nether regions were lost to me,
Seriously wee Matty, you sound like you have admitted to yourself the almost inevitable defeat that the ides of September will bring you, try and put some life into it wont you,
”And now they’re spinning spinning spinning through the magic land, heading back to the beginning of the end at the masters hand”….
Can you name a right leaning commentator you think would do better that him?
Chris Trotter…
what about getting one or two academics from a political science department and provide analysis.
That sounds far too close to the Alice Cooper, ”Some folks love to feel Pain” song Tracey…
it would make it less like a sporting contest full of cheats and match fixers
They have them as well. However the basic political panel format is usually a commentator from the left and one from the right and the panel host. What you seem to be stating is you don’t like this format and would prefer the panel to just reflect a single or narrow view of a topic.
nope, i dont want a panel to reflect a single or narrow view of a concept, that is what we have now.
You are right i dont like the concept because it is generally a shallow and manipulative spot to spin a view.
What i suggest is the same topics get discussed as now, and political experts as opposed to political players discuss. In a similar manner to media watch. Analysis, criticism, evaluation of veracity, tactics etc.
I still believe that given reliable information people can think, the current format is designed to think for people.
BM is a good example of how that “works”
Gosman, Crusty the Clown of Simpson’s fame has a certain appeal…
mike williams..?..oh..hang on..!..he’s already there..isn’t he.?
..flying under a false-flag..
Why the Greens will hit 15% and won’t form an alliance with National
By Martyn Bradbury / June 9, 2014
“How to raid into National’s soft green-blue underbelly without creating a backlash amongst their core supporters has always been the challenge for the Greens in an electoral market now too crowded on the Left by Internet MANA.
It was a challenge I never thought they could pull off. I even compared such hunts on par with tracking Yeti and Lock Ness Besties, but the Greens over the last 2 weeks have unveiled policy that make deep runs within National territory while earning standing ovations from their core base.
It is astoundingly shrewd tactics that haven’t been appreciated above the roar of the Internet MANA Drum n Bass block party.
The Carbon Tax cut is genius because it targets the soft National vote so perfectly. Everyone who has the economic literacy to own a heat pump all sat up and listened to the mechanics of what was being proposed and saw its intelligent design and clicked the ‘Add to my Cart’ button with all the mercenary efficiency of upgrading an app.
The Greens followed this up with a bold announcement on making Abortion legal. It’s a staunch stance that has real pull to progressive women and goes beyond political affiliation. I think it’s bold enough to truly appeal to young female voters inside National..”…
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/06/09/why-the-greens-will-hit-15-and-wont-form-an-alliance-with-national/-
Once again Martyn Bradbury hits the NAIL on the Head!…GO GREEN!
…Lets hope that the women in Mana Party and the Internet Party also support the LEGALISE ABORTION policy !
…….( also National and Act would do well to follow this policy if they want to keep women’s votes and in many many cases the votes of males )
…and leave the religious nutters and male power and control freaks over women’s lives and bodies out in the cold !..(.with no place to go except to the embrace of Colin Craigs Party)
Why do you shill for Martyn on what seems to be a daily basis?
I think Chooky might be Martyn’s mum.
Martyn is a very good boy and I like him a lot …lol ( but he isn’t my boy)
I don’t think Mr Bradbury would know a right leaning voter if one was sitting right in front of him.
A ”bold announcement” as you attribute to the Green Party announcing ”open slather abortion for all” might in some quarters be seen as something entirely different in the vein of ”stupid”,
In terms of electoral politics to enter a General election fighting with such a divisive policy is to invite the same situation that Phill Goff experienced during the 2011 campaign where He roared into the campaign touting the lead balloon that i suspect cost Labour % points by the truckload,
Such policy is in my opinion better proposed by a sitting Government in its third term,
The announced Laissez Fairre abortion policy has already cost the Green Party one member,(and thankfully the announcement was made befor i had parted with what was my intended election donation to the Party which i can now happily keep in my pocket for more deserving causes)…
and now you know why the big parties lie or shy away from this stuff and why colin craigs party exists, colin will welcome your vote.
Ha Ha is probably all your comment is worth, if that, Colon has as much chance of securing any of my votes as, well as the Green Party who until a week ago were a shoe in to get my electorate vote,
That after being subjected to god knows how many comments of mine you would for a moment consider that i would cast a vote for Colon says more about the vast empty spaces that occupy your mind than it does to say anything about me…
well, if you think mana will vote against decriminalising abortion you are dreaming, that goes for laila harres internet party, you seem to dislike labour, national, maori party, act and hairdo, so that left colin, or you will not vote at all.
Oh you are now the all seeing oracle are you Tracey, there will be one hell of a debate among Mana Party members should the Green Party Legislation ever hit the floor of the Parliament…
If you were going to electorate vote green, then they have lost nothing, ‘coz they ain’t winning any electorates. Did you mean party vote?
…The Voice of Reason…
…Bad is breaking up…
Walter White or Steve Austin? (We can rebuild him … we have the technology…)
Nope, my Party Vote is going to InternetMana, yep a pretty symbolic withdrawal of a electorate vote that Russell might have liked to count but pretty meaningless as you say,
Not entirely lost nothing, my intention as a member was to give my election budget to the Party while i voted for InternetMana, am not sure what the ratio is concerning money spent and MP’s gained,(am sure someone has worked that one out),
You could say that my donation was probably worth an extra MP’s toenail clipping, of course, depending how deep the disquiet is about the abortion policy, after the extra MP’s toenail come the quick and after that….
ooops that link to Bomber Bradbury on why the Greens are so successful and will romp in!…. doesnt seem to have come up…try again
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/06/09/why-the-greens-will-hit-15-and-wont-form-an-alliance-with-national/
Policies on a roll from Labour, Green and IMP today.
Green’s Digital Manufacturing Policy (3D printing) Policy.
thanks karol…interesting
if it makes you feel okay to sit back and apportion blame to kermit the frog parker that’s lovely. The fact remains that after more than 3 years the Christchurch drainage system is still the biggest fuckup since Dunkirk. The Netherlands have been below sea level way longer than that and i seriously doubt it is criscrossed by a system of temporary pumps. My point was and still is that it is comical an international city has to sit back with fingers and legs crossed in the hope that the temporary fix might work during heavy rain. Get some bastard in here from the Netherlands or some other tourist to offer real advice on how to stop this thing going on longer than the second world war.
P.s Ayn Rand was an arab hating headcase.
We could build a she’d load of Windmills if you like.
read Rod Oram on Sunday and he says the world bank says the NZ ETS scheme is a sham an a rort. Furthermore richard preebble says Banks is an honest man. What is happening here is that we have arrived at an orwellian point where the truth has become lies and lies are truth.
This government would have to be the most bent and corrupt administration New Zealand has ever seen.
They have had their TURN and now its time to turn the rascals out.
@ gosman: anti semite! anti semite!
[lprent: unlikely. And I can’t be bothered looking for the comment you are referring to. ]
Did pre-European Maori practice Invasive Abortion, befor you even think about answering such a moot you need remember that Pre-European Maori were not and cannot simply be described as a ”They”,
Pre-European Maori were a number of what is best described as a series of sovereign nations formed around a tribal heart, thus ”they” depending upon where they lived and the Tikanga practices of that particular Tribal Nation might or might not have practiced invasive abortion,
My view is that IF you can produce a definitive opinion that ”They” did practice invasive abortion you can along with at least a reference to an author you wish to quote,proved a specific ”They” in the form of one of those Tribal Nations i mention where you believe that Maori in pre-European times practiced invasive abortions,
So far 2 Authors have been referred to: Gluckman LK born in 1920 i doubt had much contact with Maori that had lived their lives in an Aotearoa that was pre-European,
Hunton RB, which Hunton RB would you be quoting from, the Hunton RB 1877-1963 sure as hell didn’t write the 1970’s view of Maori invasive abortions, perhaps it is the other Hunton RB that is quoted, the same Hunton RB that has written widely of modern abortion practices, he sure as hell did not undertake an extensive study of pre-European abortion practices,
Elsdon Best, Tuhoe ethnographer, studied the practices of Maori in the lower North Island for most of His life and wrote prolifically and was respected by Maori for these writings much of which were simple copies of verbal history as told to Him by elders within the Tribes he worked and lived among,
This is Best on Maori abortions practices from the Journal of the Polynesian Society:
”it does not appear that anything in the way of medicine was taken internally in former times in order to cause abortion, or to cause anything for that matter”,
But,
”Since the natives have observed the use made of such by white people they have discovered ? many cures, generally simple remedies, decoctions of herbs etc for most complaints, and, also to procure abortions” unquote,
Love the way Best discusses ”the natives”,(He was tho well respected by many), pre-European Maori had an abortion rite, along with fertility rites, this ”rite” carried out by a relevant Tohunga and consisted of waving the leaves of a significant tree over the womb of the woman while reciting prayer,
Now that is the pre-European abortion practice from my Rohe which centers around the Porirua and Wellington areas of the lower North Island, and Lolz, i do not know how successful such rites were, but, invasive abortion was not practiced here by my ancestors as both the woman and the baby were simply Tapu and could not be touched…
so because the methods intended to induce abortions probably didn’t work, pre-E Māori would not approve of methods that do work?
That’s some impressive thinkafying.
You just about have it right Mac, i can only speak for who/what i know which is controlled from a view which i know existed in this particular Rohe,
Tikanga says that a pregnant woman is Tapu, the baby in the pregnant womans womb is also Tapu according to Tikanga,
Maori behaving according to Tapu and Tikanga could not have performed an invasive abortion…
but they still tried to induce abortions. Even if it was by waving leaves.
You just do not get it do you Mac, i should imagine that the Tohunga of the time were not trying to induce anything,
For anyone involving themselves in such practice was an invitation to bring upon themselves a Makutu,
Like modern times there are probably many reasons for a woman to fear childbirth, especially if She had survived a specially painful miscarriage,
The Tohunga according to Tikanga could neither touch the pregnant woman or the baby in Her womb, Such Tohunga according to Tikanga could not try and directly induce an abortion,
The only means of intervention then was up to either specific Atua or Tipuna and the Tohunga would have been engaged in Karakia specifically asking those Atua and Tipuna to intervene on the pregnant woman’s behalf,
Who says that the method did not work Mac???…
So, to clarify:
without intending any particular outcome the Tohunga were requesting a particular outcome (miscarriage) and that it might have “worked” (the requested parties induced a miscarriage), even though saying it “worked” means that the outcome was desired and intended.
That’s john banks-level bullshit right there.
Nope, the Atua and/or Tipuna produced any abortion, well Mac it either ‘worked’ or it didn’t pick one, Yes or No???
So the Atua and/or Tipuna produced the abortion regardless of any rite, prayers or leave-waving made by the Tohunga?
So why bother with all the prayers and leave-waving?
fwiw, I don’t believe it did “work”. But I do believe that an abortion was the intended outcome, even if it didn’t “work”. But if leave-waving isn’t an “invasive” abortion, does that mean you’re cool with ru-486?
They didn’t believe that their actions were without deep metaphysical and spiritual consequences, McFlock, consequences which rested not just on the mother but the entire tribe, and which rebounded through time to worlds beyond this one. I am sure that their complex rituals and behaviours before during and after the entire process reflected that.
See my remarks above. Not that I expect you really give a fuck, as I am guessing that to you it’s all just bullshit leaf waving.
Pretty much.
But what I give a fuck about is the delusion that abortion was yet another colonial import, whereas it seems to have been the objective of at least one ritual, effective or not. Worst case scenario, medicine simply enables what was originally intended.
unless they are incredibly different to other indigenous folks on the planet, they did more than wave leaves
So you were there Tracey???, you know better then Elsdon Best Tracey???, you don’t appear to know jack Tracey,
Which Maori from which Rohe are you talking about Tracey???…
were you there bad?? Not like you to so easily take the word of the representative of the evils of colonisation. Do you think, given she was tapu, pregnany maori women procuring or inducing abortions invitedthe very white male mr best to watch? How are you doing reconciling infanticide amongst maori?
Dont pull the if you are not maori you cant comment shit unless i can say you cant comment on abortion cos you have never been pregnant, and i have never said that.
Unlike you Tracey i do not base my thinking around a simpletons knee jerk, have you proof of infanticide and the further proof of where and by which Tribe(if any) that such was practiced,
As i said i will examine any evidence i can find of such later, such examination usually consists of a number of hours and unlike you i do not take ”probable” to mean anything except a ”slur” cast…
http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-ThoFiji-t1-body-d13.html
Fiji Tracey??? that’s got as much to do with pre-European Aotearoa as the Earth has to do with Mars,(probably less when i think about it)…
clook bad, calm down. I posted it in response to someone else about indigenous practices.
You can believe that maori are the only people in the history of humans who didnt abort foetuses. It is just an unlikely scenario. The word of a male who is unlikely to have been privy to women procuring such abortions is only part of the story.
Abortion has been tabu, or tapu in all societies and it hasnt stopped it happening.
and abortion is a crime in nz, and was VERY criminal prior to current legislation, and yet abortions were performed.
Are you conveniently ruling out herbal induced miscarriages?
i am specifically ruling out nothing, Elsdon Best writing in the Journal of the Polynesian Society said that Maori that He had lived among and studied had no such herbs that induced abortion,
Such herbs did not come into use until the Pakeha arrivals introduced them to Maori, as far as i know Best is in fact the best authority when it comes to written histories of pre-European Maori having as the saying goes gained the knowledge straight from the horses mouth,
If you know of a better source of information on pre-European Maori feel free to provide us all a hint…
Looks like abortion amongst maori was rare, for the reasons you state, so instead they practised infanticide
Anthropologists have found that abortion has been used as a method of birth control in nearly all societies that have been studied (Derereux, 1955) irrespective of social attitudes or legal prohibition.
With regard to the pre-European Maori, Gluckman (1971) has shown that while abortion did occur rarely, it was probable that infanticide was practised more often, as there existed strong mythological opposition to abortion.
Nineteenth century European colonization of New Zealand resulted in the introduction of British law concerning abortion. Traditionally, English common law permitted abortion if it was performed before quickening (about 16-20 weeks).
The first British statute to govern abortion was passed in 1803 and this forbade abortion at any time during pregnancy. This prohibition was automatically imported into New Zealand in 1840. In that year New Zealand became a colony and all relevant British law was enforceable in the colony.
The Offences Against the Person Act 1866, which was passed by both houses of the New Zealand Parliament without debate, was based on the earlier British legislation.
Apart from some subsequent re-enactments and minor alterations, statute law has retained most of the features of the original Act.
Gluckman 1971 Tracey???, Gluckman was born in 1920 so he would have gained His knowledge of pre-European Maori from???,
Probable Tracey, right its ”probable” that you are clutching at an increasingly absurd series of ever thinning straws, yes/no???
i will look into infanticide later, are you tho saying that ALL Maori practiced infanticide Tracey, if not, which Maori Tribe practiced infanticide…
could you post a list of acceptable sources and researchers to save anybody wanting to debate with you some time?
Can i assume anyone not writing in support of your saintly notion of pre european maori is not acceptable.
You carry on with your belief that you are from a saibtly pure lineage where no one procured abortion, no one committed infanticide and no one tried to lose their foetus. You are entitled to do so but i dont have to be an enabler.
Have read it. Interesting to note that once medicines to abort were available they were used. Also interesting that given tapu, it is likely women, and men would have hidden any procurement and passed off tge result as miscarriage. Truly bad, i think it naive to think maori werent procuring abortin and that the means were not whispered from geberation to generation.
” Abortion (Whakatahe or Kuka).
According to Maori belief, premature birth was usually caused by some infringement of the laws of tapu on the part of the mother, and for which she would be thus punished by the gods. When a woman, in former times, desired to procure abortion on herself, she would proceed to taiki the fœtus, that is, she would pollute a tapu person, as a priest, or one of her elders, by passing some cooked food over – 13 his garment, or his resting place. Or she might take a portion of cooked food to some sacred place, and there eat it. Such acts would, to the native mind, be deemed quite sufficient to cause a miscarriage. Generally speaking, when a woman noticed that she was papuni, i.e., that menstruation had stopped, and she knew that she had conceived, and, moreover, wished to procure abortion, she would probably proceed to some sacred place, as the tuahu, where priests performed various religious rites, and she would pluck some herb there growing and, applying the same to her mouth, would then cast it away. That would be quite sufficient, she has “eaten,” or polluted, a sacred place. The gods will attend to her case.
There is a considerable amount of danger to man attached to abortion, so say the Maori people, inasmuch as the fœtus is liable to develop into a most malignant demon (atua), which afflicts man grievously in divers ways, and is much dreaded. Such a caco-dœmon is termed an atua kahu or kahukahu. It is the spirit (wairua) of the fœtus which thus developes into a mischievous and dangerous demon. The term kahu is applied to the membrane which covers the fœtus, as also is whakakahu.
It is in this way. When a case of abortion occurs, the fœtus is taken away and buried. Now, should it so happen that a dog, or pig, finds, and resurrects, and eats the fœtus, then the spirit of the same will enter into the animal, which thus becomes an atua ngau tangata, or man-afflicting demon. Or this evil spirit may be conciliated by some person, and utilised as a war god. For an exhaustive description of such a development, see the Journal of the Polynesian Society, Vol. VI., p. 41.
It is singular to note that the spirit of a stillborn child is, to the Maori mind, always an evil one, and a power for evil only, never for good.
When a person is afflicted by one of these evil spirits, he hies him to the tohunga, or priest, who proceeds to exorcise the same by means of a certain rite and invocation. The afflicted person probably knows not what ails him, but, being ill, he consults the priest, who, being a seer, will soon locate the cause. He will then say:—“Your affliction is a kahu.” He will probably also know which woman produced that cause, and, on his asking her, she will admit it, and say that she buried it at a certain place, or threw it into a stream. The famous Tuhoean war god Te Rehu-o-Tainui was an atua kahu, which came from a still born child which had been cast into a stream, and was eaten by the small fish named titarakura. Hence that fish was possessed by the evil spirit, and no member of the Tuhoe tribe has – 14 since eaten of those fish, for they are tapu. The natives of this district are yet firm believers in these matters.
However, to cure the sufferer introduced above, the priest will go in search of a plant termed keketuwai, which is used as an ara atua, or way by which an afflicting demon is made to leave the human body. Placing this object upon the body of his patient, the priest will repeat a charm, or incantation, in order to force the evil spirit to quit the body of the sufferer:—
“Tenei to ara Haere ki o tipuna Haere ki o matua Haere ki o koroua Haere ki nga mana o o tipuna.” Etc., etc.
This kind of charm is called a takutaku. It calls upon the demon to come forth from the sufferer’s body, and betake itself to the outer spaces, to the realm of darkness, or its original place, or to those from whom it sprang. Here is another takutaku:—
“Haere koutou e patu nei Haere i tua Haere i waho Haere i te Pu Haere i te More Haere i te Weu E oho e nga atua whiu E oho e nga atua ta Haere i tua Haere i te pouriuri Haere i te potangotango Ko rou ora Ki te whai ao Ki te ao marama.”
The tohunga will also proceed to the place where the fœtus was buried and there kindle a fire, over which he will repeat an incantatation in order to lay the evil spirit, and to render it harmless. He will also cook an article of food, usually a kumara, or sweet potato, at that fire. This he then proceeds to eat, and thus the evil spirit is tamaoatia, or polluted, rendered harmless, its powers to harm man are so destroyed. This rite is nowadays here termed a whakawhetia, a modern, introduced expression, and used in a very misleading sense.
The above rite was often performed over the fœtus as soon as it was buried, in order that the evil spirit be rendered harmless before it could do any evil, otherwise it might turn on the relatives of the woman and afflict them sorely. Prevention is better than cure.
In one case which came under my notice, a fœtus was buried under the perch of a captive bird, a tame kaka parrot. The evil spirit of the kahu entered the bird with the result that several people were seriously afflicted by it. Diseases of the eyes, and other troubles, were caused by that dangerous demon, a truly disreputable bird. When any person was affected by that atua, should he, or a relative, dream of seeing the bird with ruffled plumage (E whakakenakena ana), that was deemed a good omen for the sufferer, he would recover. But should the dreamer see the bird moving about, or with its feathers in a flacid, or ordinary, condition (mohimohi), that that was a bad omen for the patient.
To destroy the evil spirit of a human fœtus, some of the leaves in which food has been placed for cooking may be used as a covering for such fœtus when buried. This will have the desired effect. There is nothing so inimical to tapu, or supernatural powers, as cooked food, or anything which has come in contact with it
But in some cases these atua kahu were not destroyed, but were cultivated, conciliated with offerings, and developed into war gods, in order that their power might be directed against tribal enemies. Such was the origin of the atua (gods, demons) known as Te Awa-nui, Pare-houhou, Peketahi, and Te Rehu-o-Tainui, of the Tuhoe tribe.
The terms tahe, whakatahe, mate-roto, and kuka are all applied to abortion.
It does not appear that anything in the way of medicine was taken internally, in former times, in order to cause abortion, or to cure anything for that matter. But since the natives have observed the use made of such by white people, they have discovered (?) many cures, generally simple remedies, decoctions of herbs, etc., for most complaints, and also to procure abortion. A local native is famous for his skill in procuring abortion in this manner. Native treatment of disease formerly was essentially empirical, being based on observation and experience alone, or such afflictions were viewed as the result of witchcraft.
Lots of invasive abortions occurring there then isn’t there,
You thunk it therefor it was or is Tracey is pretty much lightweight don’t you think,
The obvious that appears befor you written by Best who lived among the people He wrote about was that they didn’t,
Until that is pakeha introduced them to specific concoctions, by then i would suggest the Tikanga that ruled Maori pre-European lives was well on the way to breaking down completely…
Something else for you to consider Tracey, if you can drag yourself away from the notion of pre-European Maori killing their kids as a matter of course that is,
From what i have been told, and i will look later for the supporting literature, the act of sex among my lot was not instigated by the males,
He would have to wait until She wanted to engage, She would only engage when She felt She was ready to produce,(there’s an or goes here,which i will leave out for now),
That didn’t mean He missed out as my lot also practiced poly-whats-it,
Given that i am sure that such woman living by the rules they lived by way back then were far more in control of their bodies and their ”selves” i fail to see how there would be any great demand for abortion,
They all were certainly not going out on the piss on a Friday night to find a bit of ”fun”, i know more than a few among ‘my lot’ that still practice such methods of child birth…
gosh. the worlds first perfect society.
Gosh a closet hater of Maori…
step away from the keyboard bad.
I posted your source because
A. I read it
B. It was interesting
C. Others might enjoy it
D. Unlike you i look at all sides of an argument.
But you just keep chucking your angry, frothing words into my mouth bad12, if you think it will make you feel better.
a little modification to the original sentence, which I believe is likely to hold true.
And why is the spirit always evil ( I read this as resentful/angry/vindictive)? Simple; because having come so close to that rarest opportunity of experiencing life as a human being in connection with heaven and earth, that chance was suddenly yanked away.
Kerlap, Kerlap,Kerlap, a totally dishonest addition to something you have little knowledge of CV, imposing your beliefs upon the natives like a good colonizer would do,
Well done…
Nah not saying it’s authoritative but I reckon it’s right on the dot.
It’s very difficult to get a direct link, but the LandCare Research database of Maori plant use lists several late-1800s attestations for using kareao in a dedoction to procure abortion. A 1940 source states puka could also be used.
http://maoriplantuse.landcareresearch.co.nz/WebForms/default.aspx
Murdoch Riley is a reasonable starting point. Most libraries have his ethnobotanical work. He talks about Māori women knowing the common Polynesian practice of external steaming to induce abortion. He uses the term ‘matter of course’. There were also wairua ways. I have talked to one Māori woman who confirmed that the knowledge of how to terminate pregnancies was amongst her people pre-contact with Europeans.
I wouldn’t consider Elsdon Best to be authoritative on abortion by Māori (although Riley says Best did know that abortion was practiced). The white male Europeans of the time wouldn’t have been asking the right questions, nor probably had access to the information that would have been held by Māori women. Māori women would have had their own reasons for sharing or not sharing (by the time Best was on the scence, anti-abortion Christian missionaries had been in NZ for quite some time). It’s a pretty common dynamic throughout the world where Europeans were colonising. If you want to know what women were doing at those times, talk to women and put the work of white male ethnographers in the proper context.
I’m surprised any of you anti-choicers so much as dare to show your heads this month, considering the massive scandal brewing over in Tuam where, it appears, your mob were busy enslaving women and dumping dead babies in septic tanks, like a little miniature Bergen-Belsen.
Now that is what i expect from the Pro-Lobby, a spirited debate connecting extreme events that have nothing what-so-ever to do with the debate here in New Zealand, the uglier the better right,
So as a proponent of No change to the current Law what part are you suggesting that i played in the ugly fate of those children,
That you can actually bring this into a discussion about abortion provokes in me cynical laughter(at you),how many baby lives have the Pro-Lobby promotions had flushed down the sinks of the abortion clinics so far,
Damn but you lot are slipping, i should have thought you would have found at least a little space to be able to paste an accusation of misogyny in there some place…
hahaha ‘unlikely’
Have you ever wondered what the ‘reply’ button was for, Marius?
Marius could be said to have found a means of conducting a running commentary…
He’s possibly on the mobile version that doesn’t have a reply button.
Yes but you can choose the desktop version of a page when commenting and get a reply button. Or quote.
That was the code the I couldn’t get myself to work on today. sigh
I went over and irritated the sewer instead.
i never wondered and I never gave a shit either!
Ffff-ing Anarchist…
The Employment Relations Amendment Bill is stuffed cos the Nats don’t have the numbers! Horay!!
RadioNZ National News– the Maori Party will not support the current National Party employment Legislation,
National now DO NOT have the numbers and will not proceed with the Legislation,
Pfft, Lame-duck Government, Bring on September…
A comment on New Zealand forsetry/environmental practices?
Seen on a grafitti wall alongside the Donau Kanal, Vienna.
although im not willing to apologize for any possible inconvenience, putake – im slightly puffy chested that you at least appear to enjoy reading my posts. that being the case i can only say that for now im not able to multitask (because im male) to the ‘reply button’ you mention as im consumed by trying to figure out what the numerals to the far right of my posts indicate.
do you have an adult nearby who cd explain it for you..?
..(it is quite complex..i know..)
Pricks.
Metal spikes installed outside a complex of plush London flats, apparently to stop homeless people from sleeping there, have sparked outrage.
The 17-inch long metal studs are embedded in the floor outside a block of luxury flats on Southwark Bridge Road in central London.
http://metro.co.uk/2014/06/07/anti-homeless-spikes-outside-london-flats-spark-outrage-4753547/
The British right are equally outraged. When it’s in China.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2168175/Are-lethal-concrete-spikes-stop-beggars-sleeping-city-bridges-REALLY-Chinas-best-option-stop-homeless-problem.html
(as noted earlier)..rawdon christie likes the spike-those-homeless idea…
..expect him interviewing len brown on this..
christie:..’..just ..just tell me len..!..?..why..why not..?..’
Looks like just the ticket for the proposed Basin Reserve overpass in Wellington too! I’m sure Rawdon can work with that.
Commercial property owners in UK now putting spikes up to stop homeless people sleeping
Yes, homeless people are now considered vermin .
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-06-08/where-metal-spikes-meet-homeless-london-destitute-are-now-considered-vermin
edit gosh you guys are quick
quicker..?..
http://whoar.co.nz/2014/council-urged-to-act-over-inhumane-use-of-spikes-to-deter-homeless-ed-sghould-this-be-a-heads-up-for-the-lefty-mayor-of-auckland-and-the-green-mayor-of-wellington/
You are the fastest gun
i didnt say i wasnt cognizant of what the feature was there for, phillip – you double spacing pranny
hint..turn yr eyes slowly to the right..
..there you will see a button called ‘reply’..
..now..are you still with me here..?
..should you wish to reply to/rebuke ‘a double spacing pranny’ like myself..
..move the cursor..(that’s that little arrow that magically moves over the page..eh..)
..move that over that ‘reply’ button in that ‘pranny’-comment..
..and click on it..
..are you ready to try now..?
..(and have you always had this ‘thing’ about ‘double-spacing’..?..
..or is it recent..?
..’pranny’-induced..?..perchance..?..)
..you’re funny..!..i hope you stick around..
..in these troubles times..we need all the laffs we can get..eh..?
..you are doing good-works there..
and an american are you..marius..?
..wot with yr over/mis-use of ‘zees’..
..eh..?
see above
Hmm…digital gerrymandering.
http://radioboston.wbur.org/2014/06/06/zittrain-google-election (podcast – scroll down for more)
look, phillip, i understand youre probably a little bit put out the lovely trace was waving her vagina at me in an introductory fashion a few days ago, but i want to assure you i have no interest in the borderline personality types. why dont you trundle off and watch ‘shortie’ or something.
[lprent: I am failing to see any point in there. Read the policy on pointed abuse and why you must put points of possible interest to others in with any abuse you want to sling. ]
just fire-breathing righties for you..eh..?
..do you fantasise about collins ‘crushing’ you..?
..(i’ll leave ‘lovely trace’ to answer her/yr ‘vagina-waving’ bit/allegations..eh..?..)
..and you are in serious danger of lurching from ‘funny’..into ‘weird’..eh..?
Computer passes Turing Test.
Limits to Growth proven to be correct yet again.
Infinite growth upon a finite planet is impossible and yet both National and Labour still call for more of it. When are we going to get a political party that accepts reality? When are we going to stop voting for political parties that promote insanity?
Being a student in NZ gets you less than being unemployed – and you can’t live on the unemployment benefit.
http://www.students.org.nz/students_suffer
Supportive comments from Brian Fallow this in the Herald regarding IMF warning on overvalued NZD and Labours policies to combat it.He also pointed out how they have taken a swipe at National head in the sand approach.
Goes to show National have no idea in how to manage the economy, apart from making a few of their mates rich.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11272135
Oh yeah and Reserve bank Governor… current account deficit widening, interest rates up….