Says it all really of the MSM – when the Herald puts up as web-page headline, links to commentary written by Year 11 Students. (That’s the old Fifth Form or Level 1 NCEA, people)
Bit sad but unsurprising that the media think his reasoning is sound. In fact, he sounds a lot like most of what you’ll read in the papers – stuff wrtten by people 20 or 30 years older than him. Which is sadder still. If I were an English teacher, I’d have kids write opinions like that and then show them how to examine the evidence of their thinking processes.
It’s the logic used by the Centre for Independent Thought, the neoliberal political lobby group, and the piece is formulated in much the same way as their usual opinion pieces in the MSM. It’s clever sounding, patronising bullshit.
Just another pic for his photo album. Him smiling at the camera, telling everyone it’ll be alright cos we have started the hunt for people, to do what our doc people used to do, we will pay them heaps as consultants. Have faith we will muddle through.
With all the usual reservations about standardised personality and aptitiude testing, and the limitations of surveys, (and I have a lot, especially where used with individuals rather than groups), here is an extended summary of Marc Wilson’s NZ personality, attitudes, and political preferences survey.
It does make interesting reading, for quirky things, e.g. the association between authoritarianism and moustache wearing in men (confirms a long held predjudice of mine), and more important stuff.
Problem with those types of surveys is that the questions themselves are deeply orthodox and conservative.
eg (just as a throw-a-way) Co-operation doesn’t figure as a main heading value in that particular survey.
If questions were such that people had to rely on their ‘innate’ sensibilities to respond, rather than their interpretation or reactions to ‘orthodoxy as propaganda’, then the responses would be remarkably different in some instances.
I remember posting a British Attitudes survey results from the Guardian a while back that showed this. On questions couched in orthodoxy, the results were quite conservative or right wing. But when the same attitudes were sought employing questions outside the bounds of ‘received wisdom’, the results were often diametrically opposed.
I did the survey and had difficulty with the liberal/conservative spectrum. To me liberal attitudes are pretty much centre of the left-right spectrum and based in notions of individualism and individual social rights – rather than, for instance, in the relative power/marginalisation of various social/demographic groups. I don’t see the left-right spectrum as just one focused solely on economic issues, as assumed in the above linked summary of the survey results.
PS: The listed scales of published indexes the survey was based on seemed to include are pretty skewed list of topics: e.g. hunting attitudes, food diaries, conspiracy beliefs, religious orthodoxy and fundamentalism (the latter 2 quite US-centric IMO), competitiveness, paranoia and death anxiety… and nothing on co-operation as mentioned above by Bill.
On page 15 “Where does John Key fall on these continua?” This was a self answering set rather than what others might assess. What this shows is a self delusional approach to life. But what sort of person would score thus:
Maybe a middle aged bloke who is doing a simple job and who goes fishing in his weekend and drinks the odd beer with his mates and gets on well with his easy-going wife and 3 kids, would also score highly on the Agreeableness, Emotional Stability, and Openess self scoring.
I laughed at that too. It doesn’t reflect well on Wilson as an academic, that he took the answers given by a named politician (in an election year to boot), as being a genuine reflection of his personality. Naive to say the least.
Because an individual’s score may have important consequences for his or her future, and because the potential for harm if the test is used or administered incorrectly is considerable, Hare argues that the test should only be considered valid if administered by a suitably qualified and experienced clinician under controlled and licensed conditions.
I’d say that would be true of any psychological test especially when you consider that psychopaths are very good at pretending to be normal, ie, they know the answers that are being looked for. I’d say that John Keys actions (throat slash to Labour, his snide remarks and sneer in parliament, and his obvious snap decisions (Pike River getting the bodies out etc etc)) show that he was less than truthful on the test.
In fact, Act supporters endorsed ‘protecting freedom of speech’ more than any other party (remember they value self-direction as much as the Greens), but (paradoxically) were also second-least concerned about giving people a say in government decisions.
It’s not paradoxical at all. Act supporters want to do whatever they like, whenever they like without anybody else having a say no matter if they’re affected by the Act supporters actions or not. It is this unconcern about their actions affects others that make them (libertarians in general) dictators hiding behind liberal values. They, quite simply, don’t want others to have a say in what they do.
From the department of criminalising a whole country.
Under the French HADOPI law 60 ISP account holders have received their third strike, 650,000 have received “first strike” notices with 44,000 of those receiving a second strike as well.
I think the lignite mining proposal is really this government’s response to peak oil: a coal to liquids plant. IIRC I read that once production gets up to full levels it’ll be able to provide about 2/3rds of the countries annual consumption of diesel.
But does the cost of producing that diesel from such a filthy source make it truly viable, Lanthanide? I can see the lignite mines of Southland becoming like the tar sand mining in Canada. Peter Jackson didn’t require a real Modor for his movies and there is no reason to create one out of our farmland. If we reduced the demand for diesel (increased rail use etc) we wouldn’t be so dependent on it. Producing more diesel in such a desperate way is just delaying the transition to other forms of energy.
As I understand it, it takes more energy to extract the diesel from lignite than what the aforementioned diesel produces, so it will probably be very uneconomic to run those lignite fields.
I belive that the Alberta tar sands have the same problems, though Harper and his gang of merry men are too stupid to realise it. We are better off leaving the lignite where it is (or at least finding a more economical use for it)
As I understand it, it takes more energy to extract the diesel from lignite than what the aforementioned diesel produces
Nope, you’re looking at it the wrong way, although you are quite right to bring up the EROEI discussion.
The lignite is a source of energy itself, and you can use it to provide most of the energy investment (particularly thermal energy) required to get a L of diesel out, without having to source that much external energy from offsite.
BTW it’s an approximate 40% conversion loss to convert lignite into diesel. IE you start with 1MJ of lignite, but you only get 0.6MJ of diesel out.
The lignite being dug up and turned into diesel will produce more food nationally, as well as allow it to be distributed, than the land that would be ruined by any open cast mining.
Perhaps, but someone will have to do the math on that assertion. And there may be other ways of achieving the same thing while leaving the lignite in the ground.
What’s more productive: modern industrial farming with fossil-fuel derived pesticides, fertilisers and farm equipment such as tractors and ploughs, or 19th century farming techniques that don’t have those things?
Lanthanide-Dairy farms produce huge amounts of waste that could easily be converted into methanol based fuel.
I recently heard a dairy farmer talking about his conversion to organic methods (contemporary not 19th century) and he has found greater profits. He spends a minimum on supplementary feed and artificial fertilizer and both his pastures and his cows are healthier. His cows live twice as long and require fewer medications as well. It works: http://www.organicnz.org/108/the-profitability-of-organic-dairy-farming/
Despite organic dairy products being popular and profitable, Fonterra has recently removed their support.
Do you think John Key and his bank$ter mates will approve of this USA bill to ‘nationalise the Federal Reserve’?
Dennis Kucinich introduces key bill to nationalise the Federal Reserve
Dennis Kucinich
You Tube
October 6, 2011
Washington D.C. (October 4, 2011) — Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today released the following video and statement in support of the protestors on Wall Street and around the country who have identified themselves with the hashtag #OccupyWallStreet.
…
“We need a government of the people and for the people. We need a financial system that is of the people and for the people. It is time we take our nation back and take our monetary system back from the big banks.
“I recently introduced H.R. 2990, the National Emergency Employment Defense Act, to put the Federal Reserve under the Treasury, to end the practice of fractional reserve banking and to take control of our monetary policy and make sure it works for the people.
“We can use our Constitutional authority to coin money and spend it into circulation to put millions of Americans back to work in a way that is noninflationary. The time for bold change is now.
“We are the American people. Our dream of freedom and prosperity is too big to fail.”
Penny Bright
Independent ‘Public Watchdog’
Candidate for Epsom
Campaigning against ‘White Collar’ CRIME, CORPORATE WELFARE, CORRUPTION – and its root cause – PRIVATISATION (how is it decided who gets the contract$?)
There was a report on the current goevernment’s use of urgency, with justifications from Simon Power, criticisms from opposition MPs ( Chauvel, Greens, Goff), plus a more nuanced critique by a Vic Uni academic who has been researching use of urgency since the 90s, and comments by law lecturers like Andrew Geddis.
But I was gobsmacked to hear that Bomber (about 26 mins on the mediawatch audio file) has been excluded from Jim Mora’s afternoon Panel in the future. This is because, last Thursday, he read his “partisan” blog and Stratos rants about the PM’s response to the guy who attempted to jump from the public gallery of Parliament.
Part of the reason for exclusion related to Bomber talking over Mora. However, the main reason given by RNZ is that Bomber unacceptably breached RNZ’s editorial policies. The RNZ editor claims Bomber breached their requirement for fairness and balance, that they hadn’t been advised in advance that Bomber was going to strongly criticise the PM, and wouldn’t jeopardise RNZ’s hard earned reputation for “fairness and balance” – really? on The Panel?
Sorry… didn’t see that Anthony had already posted on this, in the last hour.
.
I missed that panel discussion and tried to get it on replay radio but Part 2 was not hung up. Now I know why.
Ever heard Matthew Hooton talk over both Katherine or whoever is the Left commentator? And promote some pretty nasty stuff. To be consistent Hooton would be banned but surprise surprise? Not
This morning has been spent on the Cambridge Labour Party stall.
We take a lot of flake in Tory Cambridge, but today has been different .A number of people have told us they are voting Labour .Many saying they were fed up with Key ,this from Cambridge the heart of Toryism. This branch has had a stall here for about 15 years and never has there been a positive response like this . Has there been a change in attitude over the last few days? Has the outburst of madness from Key over the balcony incident made people realise just what Key is like. Has anyone else noticed this change?
I’ve spent some time this weekend campaigning in some very Tory suburbs.
A few evil looks from passer-bys in flash new vehicles but a lot of people I talked to were interested in the Labour message or at least neutral and wanting more information. AND we got some new volunteers for Labour as well.
There was some reminiscing about the Helen Clark days too.
Has there been a change in attitude over the last few days? Has the outburst of madness from Key over the balcony incident made people realise just what Key is like. Has anyone else noticed this change?
Good stuff PP. In Auckland I cannot reconcile the polls with the on the ground feeling. I am hoping that on November 28 the tories will say “bugger the polls” …
After further consideration I’m siding with the speaker on his recent banhammering.
The chap from the Herald thinks his reporters should follow the standing orders up to the point where they reckon they shouldn’t. He reckons this was such an extraordinary situation that breaking the rules was justified.
But look at what they were reporting. Was this a matter of crucial importance to our democracy? Nah, they don’t do that sort of reporting because they reckon no-one’s interested. Political journalism is strictly limited to “who’s winning the horse race this week”. It’s sports coverage.
They published Audrey’s photo for one reason only: the sensationalist value of the story.
So fuck ’em. It’s high time they started earning their press gallery credentials by acting as our fourth estate instead of the gossip hacks they’ve reduced themselves to.
I do not know why they did not go to Smith and show him Audrey’s iPhone and say “mind if we print this”? A quiet word to Joyce and I am sure it could have been arranged.
too right felix. these little popinjays from the herald are starting to believe their own bylines. What was a personal tragedy is just an excuse for them to break down the dignity of parliament in a manner that the neo -cons would be proud of. They should get real jobs before they get shoulder tapped in J school for being obedient servants of the bosses that employ them and kid them along that they are doing something mneaningful.
We don’t so much have media but mediums for delivering their masters message…media works was a bargain using taxpayers dosh, TVNZ and granny were already onside with the nats so neutering RNZ via Griffin etc just rounded it out nicely.
It’s the arrogance and aloofness of sideshows mob in general and in treating Epsom like a doormat mat that should make this a lot more interesting than the MSM would have you believe.
Everything you wanted to know about national intelligence, but were afraid to ask! A refreshingly open look into intelligence gathering in Britain has been provided in the Reith Lectures this year on Radionz. During 4 ‘til 8 with Katrina Batten, as the former Director-General of the British security service MI5, Baroness Manningham-Buller has discussed the MI5 role and added her own comment and answered questions or not as possible (she has made the point that she finished her role in 2007).
4:07 The Sunday Feature: The BBC Reith Lectures: Securing Freedom. This year’s annual BBC Radio’s Reith Lectures resume in our Sunday Feature slot this week. To mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the former Director-General of the British security service MI5, Baroness Manningham-Buller offers a unique perspective on the event, its impact on the world and the repercussions from it. She considers the role of security intelligence, and reflects more broadly on the threats to freedom and the means of countering them. http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes//4til8
There have been 3 or 4 lectures delivered in a cool and intelligent way. Matters discussed have been wide ranging and included Saudi Arabia and its actions to control extremism, and her feeling that fairer conditions and inclusion and advances for the lower class would reduce it. On the other hand she dropped in a comment on the need for infrastructure in Russia, after a Russian diplomat was (probably) stung into a comment after somebody made reference to the murder of one of their defectors. The Baroness remarked that they needed women’s toilets for visitors to the Lubianka prison. She had noted the lack of provision on a recent visit.
Eliza Manningham-Buller was Director General of MI5, the British Security Service, from October 2002 until her retirement in April 2007. She led the organisation through substantial change in the wake of 9/11 and the growing threat from Al-Qaeda.
Under her leadership MI5 doubled in size and altered its approach to the professional development of staff with the establishment of a training academy.
See the BBC website to find out more about this programme.
Simon Bridges arguing against MMP – icky – just yuck.
And while we are on icky – Simon Power goes on the list too, I find it hard to believe that he is really respected by both sides of the house, the relentless praise of the MSM for the ‘blitzkrieg legislator’ makes me suspect that he might be a comeback kid – I hope not, he doesn’t seem to care much for democracy (those pesky OIA requests and dealing with the media etc etc)
Anyone interested in joining an elite team to go and clear mines from fields so small farmers could use them again? People thrill-oriented yet brave, disciplined and committed only. For a period of one month (first week on training). Must provide own transport and return ticket also medical insurance and death certificate fund to be held on behalf by group leader. Wouldn’t that be a holiday with a difference as a birthday present for the young man or woman who has it all?
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Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The 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 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
The Prime Minister has committed to resuming direct flights to Thailand. But it’s not a promise he will be able to deliver on anytime soon. The post Prime Minister jumps the gun in Thailand appeared first on Newsroom. ...
It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
FICTION 1 Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) There’s commercial fiction, like this book, and then there’s quality fiction, quality writers, quality literature; the forthcoming Auckland Writers Festival is full of quality, and ReadingRoom has two tickets to give away to the following events: Paul Lynch (Dublin ...
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You can’t have missed the Gallipoli story as the movies, documentaries, essays and books capture what it was like for New Zealand troops in their eight-month campaign on the Peninsula. But this Anzac Day the Auckland War Memorial Museum has published a book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the free-for-all between the Australian government and Big Tech boss Elon Musk this week, the government had to be on a winner. Most people would have little sympathy with Musk’s vociferous opposition to ...
Asia Pacific Report Chief Mandla Mandela, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has joined the Freedom Flotilla in istanbul as the ships prepare to sail for Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. Mandela is also the ambassador for the Global Campaign to Return to ...
Pacific Media Watch Journalists who report on environmental issues are encountering growing difficulties in many parts of the world, reports Reporters Without Borders. According to the tally kept by RSF, 200 journalists have been subjected to threats and physical violence, including murder, in the past 10 years because they were ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Says it all really of the MSM – when the Herald puts up as web-page headline, links to commentary written by Year 11 Students. (That’s the old Fifth Form or Level 1 NCEA, people)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/college-herald/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502920&objectid=10757205
Bit sad but unsurprising that the media think his reasoning is sound. In fact, he sounds a lot like most of what you’ll read in the papers – stuff wrtten by people 20 or 30 years older than him. Which is sadder still. If I were an English teacher, I’d have kids write opinions like that and then show them how to examine the evidence of their thinking processes.
It’s the logic used by the Centre for Independent Thought, the neoliberal political lobby group, and the piece is formulated in much the same way as their usual opinion pieces in the MSM. It’s clever sounding, patronising bullshit.
The kid obviously needs lessons in logic.
/shrug
It’s probably just the drivel that he’s been told by his father and nothing he’s actually thought about or researched.
John Key to visit the Rena. Is he walking there?
The guy’s been walking on water for the past 5 years…
No i have just heard, he flew over. He also told the country that it is inevitible that the oil will come ashore, guy knows everything.
Just another pic for his photo album. Him smiling at the camera, telling everyone it’ll be alright cos we have started the hunt for people, to do what our doc people used to do, we will pay them heaps as consultants. Have faith we will muddle through.
http://www.victoria.ac.nz/psyc/attachments/wilson-2011-sst-descriptive-summary.pdf
Especially for Draco T:
With all the usual reservations about standardised personality and aptitiude testing, and the limitations of surveys, (and I have a lot, especially where used with individuals rather than groups), here is an extended summary of Marc Wilson’s NZ personality, attitudes, and political preferences survey.
It does make interesting reading, for quirky things, e.g. the association between authoritarianism and moustache wearing in men (confirms a long held predjudice of mine), and more important stuff.
Problem with those types of surveys is that the questions themselves are deeply orthodox and conservative.
eg (just as a throw-a-way) Co-operation doesn’t figure as a main heading value in that particular survey.
If questions were such that people had to rely on their ‘innate’ sensibilities to respond, rather than their interpretation or reactions to ‘orthodoxy as propaganda’, then the responses would be remarkably different in some instances.
I remember posting a British Attitudes survey results from the Guardian a while back that showed this. On questions couched in orthodoxy, the results were quite conservative or right wing. But when the same attitudes were sought employing questions outside the bounds of ‘received wisdom’, the results were often diametrically opposed.
I did the survey and had difficulty with the liberal/conservative spectrum. To me liberal attitudes are pretty much centre of the left-right spectrum and based in notions of individualism and individual social rights – rather than, for instance, in the relative power/marginalisation of various social/demographic groups. I don’t see the left-right spectrum as just one focused solely on economic issues, as assumed in the above linked summary of the survey results.
PS: The listed scales of published indexes the survey was based on seemed to include are pretty skewed list of topics: e.g. hunting attitudes, food diaries, conspiracy beliefs, religious orthodoxy and fundamentalism (the latter 2 quite US-centric IMO), competitiveness, paranoia and death anxiety… and nothing on co-operation as mentioned above by Bill.
Taken as read Bill.
There’s no way it can not be skewed and show incomplete and inaccurate pictures, for a myriad of reasons.
On page 15 “Where does John Key fall on these continua?” This was a self answering set rather than what others might assess. What this shows is a self delusional approach to life. But what sort of person would score thus:
Maybe a middle aged bloke who is doing a simple job and who goes fishing in his weekend and drinks the odd beer with his mates and gets on well with his easy-going wife and 3 kids, would also score highly on the Agreeableness, Emotional Stability, and Openess self scoring.
I laughed at that too. It doesn’t reflect well on Wilson as an academic, that he took the answers given by a named politician (in an election year to boot), as being a genuine reflection of his personality. Naive to say the least.
Hare Psychopathy Checklist
I’d say that would be true of any psychological test especially when you consider that psychopaths are very good at pretending to be normal, ie, they know the answers that are being looked for. I’d say that John Keys actions (throat slash to Labour, his snide remarks and sneer in parliament, and his obvious snap decisions (Pike River getting the bodies out etc etc)) show that he was less than truthful on the test.
Quoting referenced article.
It’s not paradoxical at all. Act supporters want to do whatever they like, whenever they like without anybody else having a say no matter if they’re affected by the Act supporters actions or not. It is this unconcern about their actions affects others that make them (libertarians in general) dictators hiding behind liberal values. They, quite simply, don’t want others to have a say in what they do.
Indeed – tory “freedoms” are when THEY get to do what they want, without being inconvenienced by anyone else.
For some reason, despite many tries, I can’t get it to load.. 🙁
From the department of criminalising a whole country.
Under the French HADOPI law 60 ISP account holders have received their third strike, 650,000 have received “first strike” notices with 44,000 of those receiving a second strike as well.
There is an alternative to mining lignite in Southland that will provide long term benefits for the region, silica.
http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.com/2011/10/silica-not-lignite-should-be-southlands.html
I think the lignite mining proposal is really this government’s response to peak oil: a coal to liquids plant. IIRC I read that once production gets up to full levels it’ll be able to provide about 2/3rds of the countries annual consumption of diesel.
But does the cost of producing that diesel from such a filthy source make it truly viable, Lanthanide? I can see the lignite mines of Southland becoming like the tar sand mining in Canada. Peter Jackson didn’t require a real Modor for his movies and there is no reason to create one out of our farmland. If we reduced the demand for diesel (increased rail use etc) we wouldn’t be so dependent on it. Producing more diesel in such a desperate way is just delaying the transition to other forms of energy.
As I understand it, it takes more energy to extract the diesel from lignite than what the aforementioned diesel produces, so it will probably be very uneconomic to run those lignite fields.
I belive that the Alberta tar sands have the same problems, though Harper and his gang of merry men are too stupid to realise it. We are better off leaving the lignite where it is (or at least finding a more economical use for it)
Nope, you’re looking at it the wrong way, although you are quite right to bring up the EROEI discussion.
The lignite is a source of energy itself, and you can use it to provide most of the energy investment (particularly thermal energy) required to get a L of diesel out, without having to source that much external energy from offsite.
BTW it’s an approximate 40% conversion loss to convert lignite into diesel. IE you start with 1MJ of lignite, but you only get 0.6MJ of diesel out.
The long term future of Southland’s lignite region is food production. This highly fertile farmland will be lost to open cast mines that will not be restored to farmland by Solid Energy but turned into “recreational lakes”.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Leave-the-Lignite-Save-the-Soil/129179047159254
The lignite being dug up and turned into diesel will produce more food nationally, as well as allow it to be distributed, than the land that would be ruined by any open cast mining.
Perhaps, but someone will have to do the math on that assertion. And there may be other ways of achieving the same thing while leaving the lignite in the ground.
What’s more productive: modern industrial farming with fossil-fuel derived pesticides, fertilisers and farm equipment such as tractors and ploughs, or 19th century farming techniques that don’t have those things?
Lanthanide-Dairy farms produce huge amounts of waste that could easily be converted into methanol based fuel.
I recently heard a dairy farmer talking about his conversion to organic methods (contemporary not 19th century) and he has found greater profits. He spends a minimum on supplementary feed and artificial fertilizer and both his pastures and his cows are healthier. His cows live twice as long and require fewer medications as well. It works:
http://www.organicnz.org/108/the-profitability-of-organic-dairy-farming/
Despite organic dairy products being popular and profitable, Fonterra has recently removed their support.
You also have to consider the costs of the huge increase in carbon emissions from using lignite, over 17 million tonnes annually.
http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.com/2011/04/lignite-mining-what-price-for-future.html
Seen this?
Do you think John Key and his bank$ter mates will approve of this USA bill to ‘nationalise the Federal Reserve’?
Dennis Kucinich introduces key bill to nationalise the Federal Reserve
Dennis Kucinich
You Tube
October 6, 2011
Washington D.C. (October 4, 2011) — Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today released the following video and statement in support of the protestors on Wall Street and around the country who have identified themselves with the hashtag #OccupyWallStreet.
…
“We need a government of the people and for the people. We need a financial system that is of the people and for the people. It is time we take our nation back and take our monetary system back from the big banks.
“I recently introduced H.R. 2990, the National Emergency Employment Defense Act, to put the Federal Reserve under the Treasury, to end the practice of fractional reserve banking and to take control of our monetary policy and make sure it works for the people.
“We can use our Constitutional authority to coin money and spend it into circulation to put millions of Americans back to work in a way that is noninflationary. The time for bold change is now.
“We are the American people. Our dream of freedom and prosperity is too big to fail.”
http://www.infowars.com/dennis-kucinich-tells-occupy-wall-street-to-nationalize-the-federal-reserve/
Penny Bright
Independent ‘Public Watchdog’
Candidate for Epsom
Campaigning against ‘White Collar’ CRIME, CORPORATE WELFARE, CORRUPTION – and its root cause – PRIVATISATION (how is it decided who gets the contract$?)
There was some interesting and informative stuff on Media Watch on RNZ this morning:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday
There was a report on the current goevernment’s use of urgency, with justifications from Simon Power, criticisms from opposition MPs ( Chauvel, Greens, Goff), plus a more nuanced critique by a Vic Uni academic who has been researching use of urgency since the 90s, and comments by law lecturers like Andrew Geddis.
But I was gobsmacked to hear that Bomber (about 26 mins on the mediawatch audio file) has been excluded from Jim Mora’s afternoon Panel in the future. This is because, last Thursday, he read his “partisan” blog and Stratos rants about the PM’s response to the guy who attempted to jump from the public gallery of Parliament.
This kind of thing:
http://tumeke.blogspot.com/2011/10/keys-attempt-to-blame-labour-for-man.html
Part of the reason for exclusion related to Bomber talking over Mora. However, the main reason given by RNZ is that Bomber unacceptably breached RNZ’s editorial policies. The RNZ editor claims Bomber breached their requirement for fairness and balance, that they hadn’t been advised in advance that Bomber was going to strongly criticise the PM, and wouldn’t jeopardise RNZ’s hard earned reputation for “fairness and balance” – really? on The Panel?
Sorry… didn’t see that Anthony had already posted on this, in the last hour.
.
I missed that panel discussion and tried to get it on replay radio but Part 2 was not hung up. Now I know why.
Ever heard Matthew Hooton talk over both Katherine or whoever is the Left commentator? And promote some pretty nasty stuff. To be consistent Hooton would be banned but surprise surprise? Not
This morning has been spent on the Cambridge Labour Party stall.
We take a lot of flake in Tory Cambridge, but today has been different .A number of people have told us they are voting Labour .Many saying they were fed up with Key ,this from Cambridge the heart of Toryism. This branch has had a stall here for about 15 years and never has there been a positive response like this . Has there been a change in attitude over the last few days? Has the outburst of madness from Key over the balcony incident made people realise just what Key is like. Has anyone else noticed this change?
I’ve spent some time this weekend campaigning in some very Tory suburbs.
A few evil looks from passer-bys in flash new vehicles but a lot of people I talked to were interested in the Labour message or at least neutral and wanting more information. AND we got some new volunteers for Labour as well.
There was some reminiscing about the Helen Clark days too.
This fight is only just starting.
Let’s (cautiously) hope!
Good stuff PP. In Auckland I cannot reconcile the polls with the on the ground feeling. I am hoping that on November 28 the tories will say “bugger the polls” …
After further consideration I’m siding with the speaker on his recent banhammering.
The chap from the Herald thinks his reporters should follow the standing orders up to the point where they reckon they shouldn’t. He reckons this was such an extraordinary situation that breaking the rules was justified.
But look at what they were reporting. Was this a matter of crucial importance to our democracy? Nah, they don’t do that sort of reporting because they reckon no-one’s interested. Political journalism is strictly limited to “who’s winning the horse race this week”. It’s sports coverage.
They published Audrey’s photo for one reason only: the sensationalist value of the story.
So fuck ’em. It’s high time they started earning their press gallery credentials by acting as our fourth estate instead of the gossip hacks they’ve reduced themselves to.
I do not know why they did not go to Smith and show him Audrey’s iPhone and say “mind if we print this”? A quiet word to Joyce and I am sure it could have been arranged.
The Speaker does have a valid point. Giving media oxygen to Public Gallery protests would open a very undesirable floodgate.
However his response was OTT which played into the hands of the Herald.
too right felix. these little popinjays from the herald are starting to believe their own bylines. What was a personal tragedy is just an excuse for them to break down the dignity of parliament in a manner that the neo -cons would be proud of. They should get real jobs before they get shoulder tapped in J school for being obedient servants of the bosses that employ them and kid them along that they are doing something mneaningful.
Every one wants their next job to be as Key’s Press Secretary, and maybe after that, Chair of Radio New Zealand (or TVNZ).
We don’t so much have media but mediums for delivering their masters message…media works was a bargain using taxpayers dosh, TVNZ and granny were already onside with the nats so neutering RNZ via Griffin etc just rounded it out nicely.
It’s the arrogance and aloofness of sideshows mob in general and in treating Epsom like a doormat mat that should make this a lot more interesting than the MSM would have you believe.
Pretty big quake just now, some distance away. I’m guessing 5-5.5M on banks peninsula, so Akaroa might be a little screwed.
looks like lyttleton/port hills
7 on the intensity (not ritcher) scale. could be damaging.
http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/shakenz-interactive.html
5.5M
That intensity scale is always way off so I wouldn’t bother with it.
http://geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/3591999g.html
Argies have 73% possession against the AB’s??? What is up with that???
JonKey is probably chewing his finger nails, blaming Phil Goff, and wondering if he should schedule some photo ops with Robbie Deans.
Good point. An Australian win will in fact be a New Zealand win because of Robbie Deans. Textor Crosby scribbling away furiously taking notes.
Everything you wanted to know about national intelligence, but were afraid to ask! A refreshingly open look into intelligence gathering in Britain has been provided in the Reith Lectures this year on Radionz. During 4 ‘til 8 with Katrina Batten, as the former Director-General of the British security service MI5, Baroness Manningham-Buller has discussed the MI5 role and added her own comment and answered questions or not as possible (she has made the point that she finished her role in 2007).
4:07 The Sunday Feature: The BBC Reith Lectures: Securing Freedom. This year’s annual BBC Radio’s Reith Lectures resume in our Sunday Feature slot this week. To mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the former Director-General of the British security service MI5, Baroness Manningham-Buller offers a unique perspective on the event, its impact on the world and the repercussions from it. She considers the role of security intelligence, and reflects more broadly on the threats to freedom and the means of countering them.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes//4til8
There have been 3 or 4 lectures delivered in a cool and intelligent way. Matters discussed have been wide ranging and included Saudi Arabia and its actions to control extremism, and her feeling that fairer conditions and inclusion and advances for the lower class would reduce it. On the other hand she dropped in a comment on the need for infrastructure in Russia, after a Russian diplomat was (probably) stung into a comment after somebody made reference to the murder of one of their defectors. The Baroness remarked that they needed women’s toilets for visitors to the Lubianka prison. She had noted the lack of provision on a recent visit.
Eliza Manningham-Buller was Director General of MI5, the British Security Service, from October 2002 until her retirement in April 2007. She led the organisation through substantial change in the wake of 9/11 and the growing threat from Al-Qaeda.
Under her leadership MI5 doubled in size and altered its approach to the professional development of staff with the establishment of a training academy.
See the BBC website to find out more about this programme.
Big aftershock 5.5, biggest one i felt since june.
Simon Bridges arguing against MMP – icky – just yuck.
And while we are on icky – Simon Power goes on the list too, I find it hard to believe that he is really respected by both sides of the house, the relentless praise of the MSM for the ‘blitzkrieg legislator’ makes me suspect that he might be a comeback kid – I hope not, he doesn’t seem to care much for democracy (those pesky OIA requests and dealing with the media etc etc)
Ah so I’m old and I only just discovered humans could do this. Moogaloop and MoogaloopMore
Wow. Exactly like the dreams.
Anyone interested in joining an elite team to go and clear mines from fields so small farmers could use them again? People thrill-oriented yet brave, disciplined and committed only. For a period of one month (first week on training). Must provide own transport and return ticket also medical insurance and death certificate fund to be held on behalf by group leader. Wouldn’t that be a holiday with a difference as a birthday present for the young man or woman who has it all?
In complete bad taste, I would comment that they have a significiant probability of coming back with less.
Personally I would only go near a minefield only if I absolutely had to.
Tax the Rich!
It seems Bill Gates may come out publicly in support of an FTT.
Maybe.
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/09/2011924125427182350.html