Mark Hansen’s Where Are My Taxes? was a good simple tool for a basic idea of NZ govt income and expenditure.
Unfortunately, it has not been updated for a couple of years, would be an interesting comparison. Although, details are often the place where the true costs and benefits lie, and this keeps them hidden.
That is a good tool Molly. It’s a pity he adds per-capita calculations which are pointless and meaningless, it just invites political manipulation and misinterpretation of the numbers.
I think it would be a good idea. Help people to remember our history. Key doesn’t like the idea because it goes against the false narrative that he’s been building up.
I moved to Franklin about a decade ago, and was introduced to a surprisingly old-fashioned racism.
When the 150th anniversary of the NZ Wars took place, the focus locally was overwhelmingly on the remembrance of settlers and soldiers, although we attended the memorial at Rangiriri which was organised by Tainui, (unfortunately missed the reenactment) and got there in time for the speeches.
Local history in this area is predominantly skewed in favour of colonial and settler remembrances and places importance on their experiences.
A local attempt to create a remembrance event acknowledging both sides of the conflict, resulted in tangata whenua reluctant participation but instigated outright hostility from people who wanted to exclude any reference to the dispersed tribes who had their land confiscated.
Key’s modus operandi is to poll on items he has no clue on, or no vested interest in. In this case he might be right – there would not be massive support.
But that indicates a problem in itself with NZers relationship with their own history, and should be addressed.
As for an extra public holiday. Well, a fair number of waged workers often don’t even manage to get the existing ones off consistently. All for it.
I think NZ history including the New Zealand/Land Wars should be compulsory in schools. The land wars were complicated & there were several, picking a suitable day would be tricky and I think a Land Wars commemoration day would always be politically charged & divisive. Teach the history, continue the treaty settlements and associated apologies, and keep Waitangi Day.
Yes, a public holiday to honour the NZ wars is appropriate. It’s a chapter of warfare in our history and should be acknowledged. Many of us may have either settler or Maori ancestors who were involved. (I have, on both sides).
We commemorate war in the form of ANZAC day so we should at least acknowledge local loss of life in the name of war.
I also think we should drop this whole guy fawkes thing. Sure it’s not a public holiday but its a commemoration that isn’t relevant to us. If people still want to get kicks from seeing and hearing stuff being blown up we could move the fireworks aspect of guy fawkes to Matariki, in autumn, a time of meaningful celebration. Public demo’s only, no sales of fireworks.
Key has an opinion for sure but it’s not necessarily a reliable one. I mean, flag referendum anyone? Hardly going great guns is it? And he was adamant that we would all be right behind a change of flag………..so what he says doesn’t really matter.
Not even a 40% turnout – not bad? Not great though is it? And lets wait to see how many of those votes are informal ones, those votes that have have been deliberately spoiled as a way of sending a message to Key.
I was fairly conservative with the spoiling of my ballot and went with the advice of putting a X in each box and marking the paper with K.O.F. Mr R wanted to be more creative so he printed out little troll faces,
I’ve been informally polling folks I know about how they voted and have been pleasantly surprised at the number who went with the X option, even among the Nat voters I know. I agree it’s likely there will be more informal votes than normal.
None by Key obviously but an expanded history curriculum would be an advantage to the fact that we have a larger number of people now in this country who havent been here long who say they want to stay or would that be misconstrued by this govt as a move to the left and a strength for the Republican movement
Here’s more interesting background about iPredict, currently being wound down. It appears there were two Professors of Economics backing the site, both from a fairly right-wing perspective.
“iPredict is a joint venture between Viclink and the Victoria University-based New Zealand Institute for the Study of Competition and Regulation (ISCR). Established primarily as a research tool, iPredict is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Viclink”.
Posted: Tue 19 Nov 2013
“iPredict was established in 2008, shortly before the General Election that year, as a market-based political and economic forecasting system. iPredict was more accurate than 15 of the 19 polls published in the run up to the election that year – not bad for our first eight weeks in operation.
Today iPredict has over 5,000 traders, and has launched over 1500 contracts. We have been fortunate enough to be featured in every mainstream media outlet in New Zealand. We’re a place you can turn your opinion and what you know into cash.
iPredict Ltd is owned by Victoria Link Ltd, or “Viclink”, the commercial arm of Victoria University of Wellington. Its Board of Directors consists of Prof. Neil Quigley (Chairman) (replaced by Kate McGrath 2015), Prof. Lewis Evans and Ian MacIntosh.
Full Companies Office information can be found here. (Companies Office)
iPredict’s bankers are National Bank, lawyers are Chapman Tripp, and its PR and marketing consultants are Exceltium Ltd.
iPredict is authorised as a futures dealer by the Financial Markets Authority.
Trader funds are held in a trust account in the name of Predictions Clearing Limited, a subsidiary of iPredict Limited”.
Four staff members? But they don’t compile regular media reports or even prepare the reports usually. Exceltium does it, or did it formerly. This is a part-time job for four people who are usually working on Viclink projects by the sound of it.
“Institute for the Study of Competition and Regulation
Founded in 1998 and closed in 2015, the Institute for the Study of Competition and Regulation (ISCR) was an independent, nonprofit research institute located at Victoria University of Wellington’s Pipitea Campus. Funding of its activities was provided by members, project work, and research grants.
The primary objectives of ISCR research were to assist in understanding:
• how markets and organisations operate
• how markets provide appropriate incentives and disciplines for organisations
• the limitations of markets, and the role of regulation in addressing these limitations
• the importance of property rights and institutional structures in facilitating effectiveness of markets, organisations, competition, and regulation in New Zealand
The Victoria University Library has collated a searchable repository of articles written by ISCR researchers, and its Competition and Regulation Times newsletter. http://www.victoria.ac.nz/vbs/centresandinstitutes/institutes
Included in the work of Lew Evans is a central role in advising the government of the day (around 2010), over the selling down of some of the Electricity SOES, presumably in the name of increased competition being good for the economy. Also in 2010, the Electricity Authority was formed, with Carl Hansen as CEO. Hansen is a right-wing economist also. He advised the Business Roundtable on policy, and more recently can be heard on radio and TV defending the status quo, which has delivered expensive power to the masses, considering most of it is hydro generated for 2c a kWhr using old dams and turbines. We would have been better served strategically with the old ECNZ – no structural changes were necessary in a small place like NZ.
These are just some of the forces shaping more neoliberal policy in NZ, attempting to keep National in control at all costs.
In the case of iPredict, Victoria University (through Victoria Link) seem to be belatedly forcing it to close down over time. Prof Lewis and Prof Quigley have jointly no doubt been the driving force behind the site, but now their sway with the board is greatly diminished.
This great result has to be mainly sheeted home to Nicky Hager’s book, “Dirty Politics”, which highlighted the iPredict site for the travesty it had become.
Very interesting. I was at an econ thing at Vic around start up time and at the end of the session some professor appeared and talked about getting into ipredict. Thought encouraging broke students to take part was a little odd at the time. Had a look but it was appeared fixed so left it
Of course those students will be out earning by now, and are possibly trading on the site, bringing up the numbers. More recently, a younger Robert Quigley has been funded to work on the successor to iPredict, called PredictIT. He’s most likely the son of Neil Quigley, and the only good thing about PredictIT is that this time it’s more heavily regulated, the owners of the site have to be sure of everyone’s identity and restrict their spending power properly.
So perhaps they have been thinking about closing down iPredict for a while, but in any case it’s obvious to me that those running the site for most of its life, wanted certain outcomes in the reports. They found ways of ensuring that was the case.
They were shut down because of NZ being forced to strengthen our money laundering regulations to meet international standards. Nothing to do with Hager.
Sacha, they could simply comply with the new rules, and keep the site going. Viclink have chosen not to do that, because it would undermine the multiple accounts the Right are using to control the stocks. Plus it’s not a money-making venture by the sound of it. But they were perfectly happy to run it and make a loss before, as long as National always looked like winning the next election. If those participant rules were changed, and if the press reporting was done regularly by an unbiased party, we’d then see a fairer view of political opinion in NZ at the moment.
I challenge them to do just that while they wind it down – how about a level playing field for once, VicLink?
So The Venezuelan People have given the Right Wing MUD (Love it!) Party a ‘super majority’ of 112 seats of 167. That gives the National Assembly a widespread mandate for significant change.
But. The new assembly does not come in until January, and the current assembly sits for a couple more weeks. A real test of the Socialists commitment to democracy eh?
What odds on some creative law making before the old assembly is disbanded…
And here’s a classic example of the new narrative to explain failure that is becoming entrenched in the Left worldwide.. http://www.telesurtv.net/english/analysis/The-Causes-and-Consequences-of-Venezuelan-Election-Results-20151207-0002.html
Yup. It was because of..
‘Intense disinformation by the media’ / The voters aren’t ‘concerned or aware’, they just want to vote against the government because of the media / The voters don’t ‘remember’ what things used to be like / The opposition attracted the ‘less politically aware social sectors’ (i.e. the voters are stupid / selfish) / There is a conspiracy of course ‘the economic war’ / ‘International powers resources’ have supported the opposition….(All sounds like a normal day at TS eh?)
It’s the voters, the media, and conspiring forces that are to blame. What a pity something can’t be done about them. Hey, there’s an idea….(sarc)
It was the chavez government who brought in free education and health for the poor ……. the rich u.s.a backed factions in Venezuela will just return it to how it was pre-chavez
The u.s.a is a rich developed country that does not provide decent humane state health care for its own citizens ………………… it can hardly let poor south american governments show them up.
The u.s.a has previously backed a military overthrow of the Chavez government ….. a true failure for democracy that ‘the lost sheep’ seems either ignorant or approving of ……..
p.s everyone else notice that Gosman always calls the elected Venezuela government a ‘regime’????? ……………. If Gosman or sheep head want to learn about real regimes I suggest they watch ‘the war on democracy’ http://johnpilger.com/videos/the-war-on-democracy
The u.s.a has supported and backed many murderous regimes in south America ….
17 years in power is not bad for the Chavistas when you are up against the CIA etc……and Maduro is still the president and has executive power…go and watch “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ (doco) and tell me the people don’t love Chavez and what he still stands for.
More good background: Matt Burgess, an economics student, had the original idea that was supported by the two Professors and Viclink (funding). By about 2012 Burgess left there for a job with National’s Bill English, and Exceltium had control of iPredict for a period until it was in theory brought back under control of Viclink. I know for a fact that it was still being meddled with before the report times, by whoever was doing the reports in 2014, and that was someone at Exceltium.
So this blog post by Viclink only tells part of the truth.
You would think that Kitteridge might draw attention to the risks of a free trade deal with Saudi Arabia:)
Nope in some sort of Absurdism, Key and his cronies are throwing as much taxpayers cash at Hamood Al-Ali Al-Khalaf a Saudi Businessman and not very effective sheep farmer to try to bring as much Saudi free movement here as possible. Security risk anyone? Lets work out what these trade deals really mean, free movement of nationals, free working visas of nationals, reduction of border controls on imports, selling off our country to foreign nationals….. Being able to be sued under ISDS by businessman who have more money than the government….
Maybe the NSA checklists the GCSB and SIS follow only have unmarried muslim brides who in spite of surveillance have been found to still be suspicious due to their marital status! Good work there 99, another 8 million in the mail! She could get a job for Trump at this rate!
“The Islamic Women’s Council says it has “no knowledge or indication” of Kiwi women becoming jihadi brides, despite suggestions a growing number are heading to Syria to back Islamic State.
SIS director Rebecca Kitteridge revealed a rise in the number of young New Zealand women heading to Iraq and Syria when addressing Parliament’s intelligence and security committee on Tuesday.
Prime Minister John Key, who chairs the committee, said after Kitteridge’s remarks that women were known to have taken part in “weddings” before heading to Islamic State (IS) stronghold Syria, which pointed to the fact they were going as jihadi brides.”
“All she (Kitteridge) said was that the number had been growing and because it was a war-torn area, that was a concern.
“We don’t know the ethnicity of these women, we don’t actually know the religious background of these women, whether they just converted before they went, whether they converted at all, and we certainly don’t know what they’re doing while they’re over there.”
Not lying? Nah. Just twisting the facts a tiny little bit then sniggering at the way that media quote and embellish whatever he says. His private pleasure instead of stroking girls’ hair.
Jihadi Brides Threat Level Update: John Key has clarified the numbers regarding the crisis.
Rebecca Kitteridge had said that the number of these potential ticking time bombs was ‘fewer than a dozen’. While she has no idea what they are doing there, what is known for sure is that they went went to that part of the world, and they are definitely female.
But Key has subsequently said that a belief exists, an actual belief thingee, that the number of this fewer than a dozen that have in fact married Islamic militants is somewhere in the magnitude of “one or two”.
Now that might seem a little low at first, but bear in mind that a) that’s one or two more brides than our SIS team had to monitor before, b) Key didn’t say which end of the one or two range the true figure is closer to, and c) my calculator informs me that this represents an infinity percent increase in kiwi jihadi brides. If this rate continues, every female in New Zealand will be a jihadi bride before I finish typing this sentence. Everyone is probably already dead. National is probably still polling 50%.
Actually that whole briefing (if the brief video clip was anything to go by) was rather amateurish and highly speculative. Everybody seemed to be vaguely “sort of” agreeing with anything anyone else suggested.
Drama therapy to help drone assassins cope with their feelings of guilt;
No drama therapy, though, for their thousands of victims. Nine to Noon, RNZ National, Wednesday 9 December 2015
After 10 o’clock, Kathryn Ryan interviewed (if that’s the word for sitting back and letting someone say the most contentious things without contesting a word of it) the Brooklyn-based theatre director Bryan Doerries. It was billed on the RNZ site like this….
How ancient Greek tragedies can teach very modern lessons: Brooklyn-based theatre director, Bryan Doerries, is the founder of the ‘Theatre of War’ project, and the ‘Outside of the Wire’ company which presents ancient Greek plays to returned soldiers, addicts, prison communities, and victims of natural disasters. He argues that the great tragedies of the Greeks can help a contemporary audience grapple with everything from the trauma of being in a conflict zone to end-of life care.
To date, over 60,000 service members, veterans, and their families have attended and participated in Theatre of War performances worldwide.
Bryan Doerries latest book, is called The Theatre of War: What Ancient Greek Tragedies Can Teach Us Today.
The interesting part of Doerries’ talk came when he told of the immense psychological suffering of drone operators who had “hit the wrong target”. This implies, of course, that there are “right” targets, and that the United States regime’s massive program of terror in Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, and now stepped up dramatically in Syria, is something other than illegal and condemned by all reputable human rights organizations. As I suspected, there was zero consideration of the victims of these conscience-wracked drone killers.
And, of course, Kathryn Ryan failed to raise a single objection to interview Doerries’ smooth flow of talk. I sent her the following email….
After Bryan Doerries, will you interview someone who works with the victims?
Dear Kathryn,
To hear Bryan Doerries expressing such compassion for the operators of assassination drones, apparently stricken with guilt because they hit the “wrong” targets, was a deeply troubling experience.
Have your producers tried to get in touch with any of the thousands of people in Yemen, Afghanistan and Iraq whose family members have been killed by these conscience-racked American drone operators?
No one has been able to point to a single instance where a gun has been gained illegitimately through the mail order system. It was also later revealed the rifle was bought using the manufactured identity of a police officer, required by law to authorise and approve the mail order form.
Its not looking good Ms Allan, nest time she may want to consider following the same laws as everyone else
No one has been able to point to a single instance where a gun has been gained illegitimately through the mail order system.
Actually, we can point to one – it was a journalist and she told us about it. And what she did was still in the public interest.
Going on probabilities after that it’s highly likely that there’s quite a few out there that have been gained illegitimately but the records don’t show that because the records aren’t accurate.
Greg O’Connor’s done a good job of keeping a low profile on this. He seems to have been the one who brought the situation to HDPA’s attention, apparently via a radio broadcast. Its all gone a bit mucky now. I was expecting him at some point to show up with some evidence it had actually happened before. Maybe he still will?
I’d call this a ‘scrapping the bottom of the barrel’ argument.
“How about sugar production? Not only are animals poisoned during the growing stage but also millions of small animals are killed during harvest of the sugar cane.
Some studies have shown that more animals die to produce a vegan meal than a regular meal that includes meat and dairy. Why is the life of a mouse not worth the same as a calf?
Of course I eat these foods as well as meat, so you could argue I contribute to even more animals dying.
But it’s not me trying to convince you to convert to veganism to save ANY animals dying.”
That article was a real yawn. Agree, that dairy farmer is definitely scrapping the bottom of the barrel with that one. Pretty desperate really. He might be a buddy of Andrew Hoggard of Fed Farmers who said on tv3 on Sunday night that “it’s all a vegan conspiracy”.
Note how the media have really focused on damage control and the “threat to the economy” and have barely reported on the actual issue of animal cruelty itself – this was their opportunity to investigate but instead they take the easy path of going with the government and industry’s predictable hollow defences.
The msm have been appallingly biased and lazy in their reporting.
Fran O’Sullivan in her latest comment in the Herald is chatting about Paula Benefit and Crusher Collins. Usually I can read Fran’s stuff and although I don’t always think she is right in her musings I have always thought she was capable of rational thought. In her comment she quotes Paula as being “like Key, she does not often lose her cool”. Blimey dick what planet is she on – every time I see Key in the house he is a ranting abusive man out of control. Comparing her with Key who often loses “his” cool – where does she get this from? When he isn’t abusive and spinning his usual rubbish he has a pair of dead eyes which I suppose is a passive type of cool. Who knows, for once she has me stumped.
I think I know where Fran O’Sullivan is coming from. I posted the following comment in relation to another post yesterday which is relevant here:
I am reminded of the oft quoted meme that Winston Peters learnt his M.O. at the knees of Rob Muldoon. There’s no doubt Basher Bennett is learning hers at the Key knees. So, should it succeed, we can expect a continuation of shallow, manipulative lying with a few drops of pure spite thrown in for good measure? We already know Madam is capable of the latter – and I reference her behaviour towards Carmel Sepuloni during the 2011 election campaign in the old seat of Waitakere, as well as the bashing of the beneficiaries who dared to criticise her.
There are similarities, and reports that she was being groomed by Key for high political office go back to Key’s first term as PM. Even her responses in the debating chamber have a ‘Key’nesian ring to them.
The ruling is a nightmare for the Obama administration’s uphill battle to build support for the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). It makes clear that trade agreements can — and do — threaten even the most favored U.S. public interest safeguards.
Claims to the contrary have been a mainstay of the White House effort to overcome TPP opposition from an unprecedentedly diverse coalition of organizations and members of Congress. That opposition was only solidified when the recent release of the final TPP text revealed the pact was even worse than expected.
The massive text largely reflects the interests of the 500 official U.S. trade advisors representing corporate interests that had privileged access while the public, Congress and the press were shut out the secretive process: investor privileges that make it easier to offshore American jobs to low wage countries and retrograde terms that expose U.S. food safety, environmental, Internet freedom, health and other safeguards to attack and rollback.”
Why has Obama invested so much in TPPA? Mainly the democrats aren’t onside and he is relying quite heavily on the Republicans (house senate?) to attempt to get this past. He can’t be re-elected so why?
“The TPP would make the situation much worse. It includes constraints on food safety that extend beyond the WTO, roll back the environmental standards included even in George W. Bush’s trader pacts and would empower individual foreign corporations to directly launch attacks on public interest policies.”
Nearly half of the people on the U.S. government’s widely shared database of terrorist suspects are not connected to any known terrorist group, according to classified government documents obtained by The Intercept.
Of the 680,000 people caught up in the government’s Terrorist Screening Database—a watchlist of “known or suspected terrorists” that is shared with local law enforcement agencies, private contractors, and foreign governments—more than 40 percent are described by the government as having “no recognized terrorist group affiliation.” That category—280,000 people—dwarfs the number of watchlisted people suspected of ties to al Qaeda, Hamas, and Hezbollah combined.
Pretty much guaranteed that people who terrorists and never will be are being watched covertly
And:
The CIA uses a previously unknown program, code-named Hydra, to secretly access databases maintained by foreign countries and extract data to add to the watchlists.
We can pretty much guarantee that the US is spying on everyone including friends and allies.
In 1949 the first Labour government introduced peacetime conscription, as part of its Cold War alliance with the United States. Here is a fascinating account by veteran left activist Murray Horton of the campaign against peacetime conscription led by people like watersiders’ union leader Jock Barnes: https://rdln.wordpress.com/2011/10/26/labour s-introduction-of-peacetime-conscription-and-the-fight-against-it/
That was very funny. Ain’t nobody gonna love me though, I’m pescetarian, distrusted, misunderstood and disliked by all persuasions, left, right, and centre.
There have been restaurants that attracted intrigued customers who went more to see how rude the waiters could be than the food. Ad could be good, has a nice line in chivvying. I liked the spooning and the forking.
So Little and Key have both made apologies to Parliament. Little over comments about the Speaker and Key over his comments that Labour backed rapists. I think whatever their reasons for apologising, it’s the right thing to do.
There’s no way that Labour can force Carter out of the chair. They have to play with the hand they’re dealt and stoic resignation is probably the best way to handle Carter’s bias.
Key’s comments were clearly over the top and a clear attempt to distract from Labour’s stirling work on NZers detained in Australia. Having his inelegant attempt at misdirection lingering wouldn’t help. I think Key has been hurt by it already, this probably helps to stem the bleeding.
I agree – wtf were they thinking – key gets an ‘out’ and what, suddenly youknowwho is no longer playing favorites?
“Key has repeatedly refused to apologise for the comment, going as far as to say he was “absolutely correct” to say it and didn’t regret his remarks.
But it seems a deal was struck between Key and Labour “in the spirit of Christmas” after Opposition leader Andrew Little also decided to apologise for “unparliamentary” comments.”
+100…when the leaders of the supposed Opposition parties James Shaw and Andrew Little let Key off the hook….you know you have got trouble…the Opposition is either corrupted or loopy stupid
you would never get Winston Peters doing this!..or Annette Sykes or Laila Harre or John Minto or I hope Hone Harawira
While any apology is better than none, Key couldn’t help mentioning that it was close to Christmas. What a guy. Hence Little’s ‘bloody red baron’ comment which I thought quite clever, even if ‘I will if you will’ apologies seems childish for both. Tacit admission that his ‘backing the rapists’ comment was a calculated political tactic? And what a sincere, moving 20 second apology speech it was.
The problem with the NZ left AND right is, there are too many cheap skates and quick comment making jerks, who do not even bother reading and studying stuff, it is first, quick impression, and decision and judgment, and then destroy the rest.
So we have the society that NZers deserve, a dumb, ignorant, indifferent, selfish and unprincipled society (that is unless it involves the principle of serving yourself first).
The truth no longer matters, quick and cheap scores by political players get more resonance than anything of substance that matters to others, e.g. most people, and some here, too many, on TS are no different to the ones on Kiwiblog, by judging and rubbishing and ignoring information that they should perhaps take note of.
I am through with this country I once came to, I am through with NZ, I regret ever having come to this damned place.
With the nonsense exposed above, is anybody seriously surprised at the success of radical Islam IsIS and what else we have? Maybe it is a curse that was asked for?
Do not agree with and do not like this, the following, but the west and other vested interests keep funding it, there will be NO peace in Syria with this, and that adds to my disbelief of this shit system we have: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sPY0X8SrLo
“In this episode of the Keiser Report, Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert discuss how it is that JP Morgan just happened to hire 222 friends and relatives of Chinese companies and politicians as the bank took these companies public in Hong Kong.
In the second half, Max continues his interview with Liam Halligan of BNE.eu and the Telegraph about central bank policy, George Osborne’s long-term economic plans and Thomas Piketty’s so-called new book, Inequality.”
Still up Lynn? Just wanted to thank you for your work on Pete’s behalf, I’m going to have to take back almost half of the bad things I’ve said about you….Almost….
[r0b: Don’t be getting all soft now. Remember, we are leftards, raving socialists, substandard, echo chamber etc etc. Sigh.]
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
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 ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
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 ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
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. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
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 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Wilmot, Senior Lecturer, Film, Deakin University Among the many Australian who served during the second world war, there is a small group of people whose stories remain largely untold. These are the Muslim men and women who, while small in number, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
A leaked document shows the Canterbury/Waitaha arm of health agency Te Whatu Ora is scurrying to save $13.3 million by July. The “financial sustainability target”, which was “allocated” to Waitaha, is consistent with what’s happening in other districts, says Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. ...
A look at the state of the previous government’s affordable housing scheme, and what could come next.Remind me: What’s KiwiBuild again?First announced in 2012, KiwiBuild was a flagship policy of the Labour Party heading into both its 2014 and 2017 election campaigns. With Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, ...
Labour in opposition will be shocked to learn which party had six years in power but squandered any chance to make real change. Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech was a predictably entertaining trip down memory lane. The acid-tongued incoming Otago University chancellor administered a sick burn to the coalition government. He ...
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is seen some as its ‘silicon shield’ against invasion – but how will overseas expansion affect that protection? The post The state of Taiwan’s silicon shield appeared first on Newsroom. ...
There’s relief for building owners bending under the weight of earthquake strengthening rules – and costs – that came into force seven years ago. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a scheduled 2027 review of the earthquake-prone building regulations will now start this year. Owners will also get ...
Opinion: It has been announced that nine percent of roles at Oranga Tamariki will be disestablished, presumably to help fund the tax cuts promised by the coalition Government. I am reminded of the graphics used to illustrate pandemic events, where five thousand people are standing in a field and then ...
After more than two sleepless days, running through savage terrain, Greig Hamilton didn’t know if he was going to finish one of the most gruelling psychological assaults in sport. He was metres away from the finish line, a yellow gate made famous in a Netflix documentary; a race he’d dreamed ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 24 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The following interview with former Green Party MP Sue Kedgley came about because she features in the new memoir Hine Toa by activist Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku; the two knew each other at the University of Auckland in the early 70s, when they were both took on leadership roles in the ...
COMMENTARY:By Murray Horton New Zealand needs to get tough with Israel. It’s not as if we haven’t done so before. When NZ authorities busted a Mossad operation in Auckland 20 years ago, the government didn’t say: “Oh well, Israel has the right to defend itself.” No, it arrested, prosecuted, ...
NEWSMAKERS:By Vijay Narayan, news director of FijiVillage Blessed to be part of the University of Fiji (UniFiji) faculty to continue to teach and mentor those who want to join our noble profession, and to stand for truth and justice for the people of the country. I was privileged to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Lowry, Ice Sheet & Climate Modeller, GNS Science Hugh Chittock/Antarctica New Zealand, CC BY-SA As the climate warms and Antarctica’s glaciers and ice sheets melt, the resulting rise in sea level has the potential to displace hundreds of millions of ...
The government's plan to reintroduce a three strikes regime is being strongly opposed by lawyers, who argue there is no evidence it reduces crime or helps people rehabilitate. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Jerker B. Svantesson, Professor specialising in Internet law, Bond University Do Australian courts have the right to decide what foreign citizens, located overseas, view online on a foreign-owned platform? Anyone inclined to answer “yes” to this question should perhaps also ask ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey caught the headlines yesterday, courtesy of a blistering speech condemning the latest GST carve-up. New South Wales, he claimed, would be A$11.9 billion worse off over the ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra Shutterstock An important principle was invoked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week in defence of the government’s Future Made in Australia industry ...
How the english do it
http://imgur.com/OhRfPNE
Notice it says indirect taxes such as VAT aren’t included, meaning it’s completely false and just propaganda.
National push similar lies, English is keen on his fictional ‘nett taxpayers’ spin.
People in general are not good with percentages & averages and some politicians are rather ruthless in exploiting that weakness.
Mark Hansen’s Where Are My Taxes? was a good simple tool for a basic idea of NZ govt income and expenditure.
Unfortunately, it has not been updated for a couple of years, would be an interesting comparison. Although, details are often the place where the true costs and benefits lie, and this keeps them hidden.
That is a good tool Molly. It’s a pity he adds per-capita calculations which are pointless and meaningless, it just invites political manipulation and misinterpretation of the numbers.
Calls for a public holiday to commemorate those who died in the New Zealand Land Wars.
Key doesn’t believe the idea would be “massively supported”
Thoughts?
I think it would be a good idea. Help people to remember our history. Key doesn’t like the idea because it goes against the false narrative that he’s been building up.
It’s long overdue in my opinion.
I moved to Franklin about a decade ago, and was introduced to a surprisingly old-fashioned racism.
When the 150th anniversary of the NZ Wars took place, the focus locally was overwhelmingly on the remembrance of settlers and soldiers, although we attended the memorial at Rangiriri which was organised by Tainui, (unfortunately missed the reenactment) and got there in time for the speeches.
Local history in this area is predominantly skewed in favour of colonial and settler remembrances and places importance on their experiences.
A local attempt to create a remembrance event acknowledging both sides of the conflict, resulted in tangata whenua reluctant participation but instigated outright hostility from people who wanted to exclude any reference to the dispersed tribes who had their land confiscated.
Key’s modus operandi is to poll on items he has no clue on, or no vested interest in. In this case he might be right – there would not be massive support.
But that indicates a problem in itself with NZers relationship with their own history, and should be addressed.
As for an extra public holiday. Well, a fair number of waged workers often don’t even manage to get the existing ones off consistently. All for it.
The flag debate has been a classic case-in-point. Anything that vaguely refers to the tangata whenua or maori culture does not stand a chance.
New Zealand is no better than Australia when it comes to recognition of its cultural history.
I think NZ history including the New Zealand/Land Wars should be compulsory in schools. The land wars were complicated & there were several, picking a suitable day would be tricky and I think a Land Wars commemoration day would always be politically charged & divisive. Teach the history, continue the treaty settlements and associated apologies, and keep Waitangi Day.
Yes, a public holiday to honour the NZ wars is appropriate. It’s a chapter of warfare in our history and should be acknowledged. Many of us may have either settler or Maori ancestors who were involved. (I have, on both sides).
We commemorate war in the form of ANZAC day so we should at least acknowledge local loss of life in the name of war.
I also think we should drop this whole guy fawkes thing. Sure it’s not a public holiday but its a commemoration that isn’t relevant to us. If people still want to get kicks from seeing and hearing stuff being blown up we could move the fireworks aspect of guy fawkes to Matariki, in autumn, a time of meaningful celebration. Public demo’s only, no sales of fireworks.
Key has an opinion for sure but it’s not necessarily a reliable one. I mean, flag referendum anyone? Hardly going great guns is it? And he was adamant that we would all be right behind a change of flag………..so what he says doesn’t really matter.
He was probably hoping for a few more, but it’s still not too bad.
http://www.elections.org.nz/events/referendums-new-zealand-flag-0/voting-first-referendum/voting-statistics
The first referendum is about choosing the favorite alternative flag, I’m sure 1.2-1.3 million people is more than enough to pick the correct one.
No it wasn’t. It was about building momentum for a change of flag which is why choosing the flag went before the decision to change the flag.
Government: New Zealanders, do you want to change the flag?
The People: Not sure, sort of depends on what sort of flags are being offered as a alternative?. If it’s something we like, yeah why not !.
Ah, no. It was more like:
National: We want to change the flag because we’ve destroyed NZ’s credibility hows you think NZers?
NZers: Fuck off arseholes and leave our flag alone.
Not sure why this is so fucking difficult for some people.
If you want to keep the flag, vote for it in the second referendum.
If it loses, so be it, the people have spoken, democracy has been served.
And a thank you to John Key for giving people the opportunity.
Why is it that RWNJs don’t get that the second question should have been asked first?
Instead we got manipulation from National and the RWNJs getting upset that the psychopaths are being called on it.
Oh, wait…
Not even a 40% turnout – not bad? Not great though is it? And lets wait to see how many of those votes are informal ones, those votes that have have been deliberately spoiled as a way of sending a message to Key.
I was fairly conservative with the spoiling of my ballot and went with the advice of putting a X in each box and marking the paper with K.O.F. Mr R wanted to be more creative so he printed out little troll faces,
http://www.reactionface.info/sites/default/files/images/1287666826226.png
and glued them in the boxes. So sweet. Key, after all is trolling us by having two referendums (see Draco’s point below) so why not troll him back!
I went with an x in every box while my partner went for a 6 for the 5 choices.
My guess is that there will be quite a few informals.
I’ve been informally polling folks I know about how they voted and have been pleasantly surprised at the number who went with the X option, even among the Nat voters I know. I agree it’s likely there will be more informal votes than normal.
Agree about Matariki. And let’s ditch Queens Birthday which is entirely meaningless to most New Zealanders by now, surely.
None by Key obviously but an expanded history curriculum would be an advantage to the fact that we have a larger number of people now in this country who havent been here long who say they want to stay or would that be misconstrued by this govt as a move to the left and a strength for the Republican movement
Here’s more interesting background about iPredict, currently being wound down. It appears there were two Professors of Economics backing the site, both from a fairly right-wing perspective.
http://www.viclink.co.nz/blog/493224
“iPredict is a joint venture between Viclink and the Victoria University-based New Zealand Institute for the Study of Competition and Regulation (ISCR). Established primarily as a research tool, iPredict is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Viclink”.
Posted: Tue 19 Nov 2013
Who we are: (out of date): https://www.ipredict.co.nz/app.php?do=about_us
“iPredict was established in 2008, shortly before the General Election that year, as a market-based political and economic forecasting system. iPredict was more accurate than 15 of the 19 polls published in the run up to the election that year – not bad for our first eight weeks in operation.
Today iPredict has over 5,000 traders, and has launched over 1500 contracts. We have been fortunate enough to be featured in every mainstream media outlet in New Zealand. We’re a place you can turn your opinion and what you know into cash.
iPredict Ltd is owned by Victoria Link Ltd, or “Viclink”, the commercial arm of Victoria University of Wellington. Its Board of Directors consists of Prof. Neil Quigley (Chairman) (replaced by Kate McGrath 2015), Prof. Lewis Evans and Ian MacIntosh.
Full Companies Office information can be found here. (Companies Office)
iPredict’s bankers are National Bank, lawyers are Chapman Tripp, and its PR and marketing consultants are Exceltium Ltd.
iPredict is authorised as a futures dealer by the Financial Markets Authority.
Trader funds are held in a trust account in the name of Predictions Clearing Limited, a subsidiary of iPredict Limited”.
An interview with part-time staff members:
http://idealog.co.nz/venture/2015/11/cashing-out-prediction-market-ipredict-closing-its-virtual-doors-maybe-opens-window
Four staff members? But they don’t compile regular media reports or even prepare the reports usually. Exceltium does it, or did it formerly. This is a part-time job for four people who are usually working on Viclink projects by the sound of it.
“Institute for the Study of Competition and Regulation
Founded in 1998 and closed in 2015, the Institute for the Study of Competition and Regulation (ISCR) was an independent, nonprofit research institute located at Victoria University of Wellington’s Pipitea Campus. Funding of its activities was provided by members, project work, and research grants.
The primary objectives of ISCR research were to assist in understanding:
• how markets and organisations operate
• how markets provide appropriate incentives and disciplines for organisations
• the limitations of markets, and the role of regulation in addressing these limitations
• the importance of property rights and institutional structures in facilitating effectiveness of markets, organisations, competition, and regulation in New Zealand
The Victoria University Library has collated a searchable repository of articles written by ISCR researchers, and its Competition and Regulation Times newsletter.
http://www.victoria.ac.nz/vbs/centresandinstitutes/institutes
http://researcharchive.vuw.ac.nz/handle/10063/1827
Emeritus Professor Lewis Evans (retired or semi-retired).
http://www.victoria.ac.nz/sef/about/staff/lew-evans
Included in the work of Lew Evans is a central role in advising the government of the day (around 2010), over the selling down of some of the Electricity SOES, presumably in the name of increased competition being good for the economy. Also in 2010, the Electricity Authority was formed, with Carl Hansen as CEO. Hansen is a right-wing economist also. He advised the Business Roundtable on policy, and more recently can be heard on radio and TV defending the status quo, which has delivered expensive power to the masses, considering most of it is hydro generated for 2c a kWhr using old dams and turbines. We would have been better served strategically with the old ECNZ – no structural changes were necessary in a small place like NZ.
These are just some of the forces shaping more neoliberal policy in NZ, attempting to keep National in control at all costs.
In the case of iPredict, Victoria University (through Victoria Link) seem to be belatedly forcing it to close down over time. Prof Lewis and Prof Quigley have jointly no doubt been the driving force behind the site, but now their sway with the board is greatly diminished.
Salient had an interesting article about it.
http://salient.org.nz/2014/09/ipredict-or-ipromote/
This great result has to be mainly sheeted home to Nicky Hager’s book, “Dirty Politics”, which highlighted the iPredict site for the travesty it had become.
Very interesting. I was at an econ thing at Vic around start up time and at the end of the session some professor appeared and talked about getting into ipredict. Thought encouraging broke students to take part was a little odd at the time. Had a look but it was appeared fixed so left it
Of course those students will be out earning by now, and are possibly trading on the site, bringing up the numbers. More recently, a younger Robert Quigley has been funded to work on the successor to iPredict, called PredictIT. He’s most likely the son of Neil Quigley, and the only good thing about PredictIT is that this time it’s more heavily regulated, the owners of the site have to be sure of everyone’s identity and restrict their spending power properly.
So perhaps they have been thinking about closing down iPredict for a while, but in any case it’s obvious to me that those running the site for most of its life, wanted certain outcomes in the reports. They found ways of ensuring that was the case.
They were shut down because of NZ being forced to strengthen our money laundering regulations to meet international standards. Nothing to do with Hager.
Sacha, they could simply comply with the new rules, and keep the site going. Viclink have chosen not to do that, because it would undermine the multiple accounts the Right are using to control the stocks. Plus it’s not a money-making venture by the sound of it. But they were perfectly happy to run it and make a loss before, as long as National always looked like winning the next election. If those participant rules were changed, and if the press reporting was done regularly by an unbiased party, we’d then see a fairer view of political opinion in NZ at the moment.
I challenge them to do just that while they wind it down – how about a level playing field for once, VicLink?
I have no basis to disagee with you. I was merely noting that it had nothing to do with Hager’s revelations.
So The Venezuelan People have given the Right Wing MUD (Love it!) Party a ‘super majority’ of 112 seats of 167. That gives the National Assembly a widespread mandate for significant change.
But. The new assembly does not come in until January, and the current assembly sits for a couple more weeks. A real test of the Socialists commitment to democracy eh?
What odds on some creative law making before the old assembly is disbanded…
And here’s a classic example of the new narrative to explain failure that is becoming entrenched in the Left worldwide..
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/analysis/The-Causes-and-Consequences-of-Venezuelan-Election-Results-20151207-0002.html
Yup. It was because of..
‘Intense disinformation by the media’ / The voters aren’t ‘concerned or aware’, they just want to vote against the government because of the media / The voters don’t ‘remember’ what things used to be like / The opposition attracted the ‘less politically aware social sectors’ (i.e. the voters are stupid / selfish) / There is a conspiracy of course ‘the economic war’ / ‘International powers resources’ have supported the opposition….(All sounds like a normal day at TS eh?)
It’s the voters, the media, and conspiring forces that are to blame. What a pity something can’t be done about them. Hey, there’s an idea….(sarc)
Rejoice! Sheep’s world is whole and true and not at all indicative of Quisling treachery and authoritarian submission. Rah rah rah, we’re going to smash the oiks!
You didn’t mention the oil price in any of that gloating. Funny that.
Well looks like the Venezuelan elite will be kicking the poor from Jan onwards. Privatisation of health and education, here we come.
It was the chavez government who brought in free education and health for the poor ……. the rich u.s.a backed factions in Venezuela will just return it to how it was pre-chavez
The u.s.a is a rich developed country that does not provide decent humane state health care for its own citizens ………………… it can hardly let poor south american governments show them up.
The u.s.a has previously backed a military overthrow of the Chavez government ….. a true failure for democracy that ‘the lost sheep’ seems either ignorant or approving of ……..
p.s everyone else notice that Gosman always calls the elected Venezuela government a ‘regime’????? ……………. If Gosman or sheep head want to learn about real regimes I suggest they watch ‘the war on democracy’ http://johnpilger.com/videos/the-war-on-democracy
The u.s.a has supported and backed many murderous regimes in south America ….
@Reason +1
17 years in power is not bad for the Chavistas when you are up against the CIA etc……and Maduro is still the president and has executive power…go and watch “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ (doco) and tell me the people don’t love Chavez and what he still stands for.
More good background: Matt Burgess, an economics student, had the original idea that was supported by the two Professors and Viclink (funding). By about 2012 Burgess left there for a job with National’s Bill English, and Exceltium had control of iPredict for a period until it was in theory brought back under control of Viclink. I know for a fact that it was still being meddled with before the report times, by whoever was doing the reports in 2014, and that was someone at Exceltium.
So this blog post by Viclink only tells part of the truth.
http://www.viclink.co.nz/blog/598456
Why does the “feeds” column often have two, and sometimes three, identical feeds?
One for Rebecca Kitteridge, the other for Una Jagose, and the third for all those they’re ‘trying to protect from themselves’
You would think that Kitteridge might draw attention to the risks of a free trade deal with Saudi Arabia:)
Nope in some sort of Absurdism, Key and his cronies are throwing as much taxpayers cash at Hamood Al-Ali Al-Khalaf a Saudi Businessman and not very effective sheep farmer to try to bring as much Saudi free movement here as possible. Security risk anyone? Lets work out what these trade deals really mean, free movement of nationals, free working visas of nationals, reduction of border controls on imports, selling off our country to foreign nationals….. Being able to be sued under ISDS by businessman who have more money than the government….
Maybe the NSA checklists the GCSB and SIS follow only have unmarried muslim brides who in spite of surveillance have been found to still be suspicious due to their marital status! Good work there 99, another 8 million in the mail! She could get a job for Trump at this rate!
You could not make this stuff up.
“The Islamic Women’s Council says it has “no knowledge or indication” of Kiwi women becoming jihadi brides, despite suggestions a growing number are heading to Syria to back Islamic State.
SIS director Rebecca Kitteridge revealed a rise in the number of young New Zealand women heading to Iraq and Syria when addressing Parliament’s intelligence and security committee on Tuesday.
Prime Minister John Key, who chairs the committee, said after Kitteridge’s remarks that women were known to have taken part in “weddings” before heading to Islamic State (IS) stronghold Syria, which pointed to the fact they were going as jihadi brides.”
“All she (Kitteridge) said was that the number had been growing and because it was a war-torn area, that was a concern.
“We don’t know the ethnicity of these women, we don’t actually know the religious background of these women, whether they just converted before they went, whether they converted at all, and we certainly don’t know what they’re doing while they’re over there.”
Well. John can invent anything he likes. Who cares? I do.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/74893140/islamic-womens-council-not-aware-of-any-kiwi-jihadi-brides
You mean that John Key lied again?
Not lying? Nah. Just twisting the facts a tiny little bit then sniggering at the way that media quote and embellish whatever he says. His private pleasure instead of stroking girls’ hair.
…or something else
John Key will you pleaz save us from the jihadi brides?!?!
They are taking our women! What’s next?! O lawd… the children!!
Jihadi Brides Threat Level Update: John Key has clarified the numbers regarding the crisis.
Rebecca Kitteridge had said that the number of these potential ticking time bombs was ‘fewer than a dozen’. While she has no idea what they are doing there, what is known for sure is that they went went to that part of the world, and they are definitely female.
But Key has subsequently said that a belief exists, an actual belief thingee, that the number of this fewer than a dozen that have in fact married Islamic militants is somewhere in the magnitude of “one or two”.
Now that might seem a little low at first, but bear in mind that a) that’s one or two more brides than our SIS team had to monitor before, b) Key didn’t say which end of the one or two range the true figure is closer to, and c) my calculator informs me that this represents an infinity percent increase in kiwi jihadi brides. If this rate continues, every female in New Zealand will be a jihadi bride before I finish typing this sentence. Everyone is probably already dead. National is probably still polling 50%.
+1 and lol – key is a lying manipulative vain dim dickhead
Actually that whole briefing (if the brief video clip was anything to go by) was rather amateurish and highly speculative. Everybody seemed to be vaguely “sort of” agreeing with anything anyone else suggested.
Bernard’s Top 10: The rise and rise of the robots; Will jobs be created faster than they’re destroyed?; Is this time different?
Well worth a look and the video on it is worth watching.
Drama therapy to help drone assassins cope with their feelings of guilt;
No drama therapy, though, for their thousands of victims.
Nine to Noon, RNZ National, Wednesday 9 December 2015
After 10 o’clock, Kathryn Ryan interviewed (if that’s the word for sitting back and letting someone say the most contentious things without contesting a word of it) the Brooklyn-based theatre director Bryan Doerries. It was billed on the RNZ site like this….
The interesting part of Doerries’ talk came when he told of the immense psychological suffering of drone operators who had “hit the wrong target”. This implies, of course, that there are “right” targets, and that the United States regime’s massive program of terror in Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, and now stepped up dramatically in Syria, is something other than illegal and condemned by all reputable human rights organizations. As I suspected, there was zero consideration of the victims of these conscience-wracked drone killers.
And, of course, Kathryn Ryan failed to raise a single objection to interview Doerries’ smooth flow of talk. I sent her the following email….
After Bryan Doerries, will you interview someone who works with the victims?
Dear Kathryn,
To hear Bryan Doerries expressing such compassion for the operators of assassination drones, apparently stricken with guilt because they hit the “wrong” targets, was a deeply troubling experience.
Have your producers tried to get in touch with any of the thousands of people in Yemen, Afghanistan and Iraq whose family members have been killed by these conscience-racked American drone operators?
That would make for an interesting interview.
Yours sincerely,
Morrissey Breen
Northcote Point
Pity both she & Bryan Doerries no doubt aren’t aware of this:
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/nov/24/-sp-us-drone-strikes-kill-1147
The survivors of drone attacks must really love and admire the USA. Hearts and minds must be won over – or not.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11558110
This is what happens when large parts of the voting public feel disenfranchised I guess
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11557932
No one has been able to point to a single instance where a gun has been gained illegitimately through the mail order system. It was also later revealed the rifle was bought using the manufactured identity of a police officer, required by law to authorise and approve the mail order form.
Its not looking good Ms Allan, nest time she may want to consider following the same laws as everyone else
Actually, we can point to one – it was a journalist and she told us about it. And what she did was still in the public interest.
Going on probabilities after that it’s highly likely that there’s quite a few out there that have been gained illegitimately but the records don’t show that because the records aren’t accurate.
Greg O’Connor’s done a good job of keeping a low profile on this. He seems to have been the one who brought the situation to HDPA’s attention, apparently via a radio broadcast. Its all gone a bit mucky now. I was expecting him at some point to show up with some evidence it had actually happened before. Maybe he still will?
UK veterans throw away medals to protest Syria strikes
9:39 AM Wednesday Dec 9, 2015
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/video.cfm?c_id=2&gal_cid=2&gallery_id=156409
More ex-soldiers with a conscience….
http://mondoweiss.net/2014/09/refuseniks-occupations-underbelly
I’d call this a ‘scrapping the bottom of the barrel’ argument.
“How about sugar production? Not only are animals poisoned during the growing stage but also millions of small animals are killed during harvest of the sugar cane.
Some studies have shown that more animals die to produce a vegan meal than a regular meal that includes meat and dairy. Why is the life of a mouse not worth the same as a calf?
Of course I eat these foods as well as meat, so you could argue I contribute to even more animals dying.
But it’s not me trying to convince you to convert to veganism to save ANY animals dying.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/opinion/74894316/how-many-animals-died-for-your-meal
Anything rather than address the real cruelty that our dairy industry thrives off – oh no that’s too hard, too close to home.
That article was a real yawn. Agree, that dairy farmer is definitely scrapping the bottom of the barrel with that one. Pretty desperate really. He might be a buddy of Andrew Hoggard of Fed Farmers who said on tv3 on Sunday night that “it’s all a vegan conspiracy”.
Note how the media have really focused on damage control and the “threat to the economy” and have barely reported on the actual issue of animal cruelty itself – this was their opportunity to investigate but instead they take the easy path of going with the government and industry’s predictable hollow defences.
The msm have been appallingly biased and lazy in their reporting.
+1
+ 1 Rosie – good comment
If anyone from Auckland wants to do something about the housing crisis, in a more active manner. No hand wringers please.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/968941989813586/
Fran O’Sullivan in her latest comment in the Herald is chatting about Paula Benefit and Crusher Collins. Usually I can read Fran’s stuff and although I don’t always think she is right in her musings I have always thought she was capable of rational thought. In her comment she quotes Paula as being “like Key, she does not often lose her cool”. Blimey dick what planet is she on – every time I see Key in the house he is a ranting abusive man out of control. Comparing her with Key who often loses “his” cool – where does she get this from? When he isn’t abusive and spinning his usual rubbish he has a pair of dead eyes which I suppose is a passive type of cool. Who knows, for once she has me stumped.
I think I know where Fran O’Sullivan is coming from. I posted the following comment in relation to another post yesterday which is relevant here:
There are similarities, and reports that she was being groomed by Key for high political office go back to Key’s first term as PM. Even her responses in the debating chamber have a ‘Key’nesian ring to them.
Obama lying???
“WTO Orders Sanctions Unless U.S. Cuts Consumer Labels, Disproving Obama TPP Claims
The ruling is a nightmare for the Obama administration’s uphill battle to build support for the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). It makes clear that trade agreements can — and do — threaten even the most favored U.S. public interest safeguards.
Claims to the contrary have been a mainstay of the White House effort to overcome TPP opposition from an unprecedentedly diverse coalition of organizations and members of Congress. That opposition was only solidified when the recent release of the final TPP text revealed the pact was even worse than expected.
The massive text largely reflects the interests of the 500 official U.S. trade advisors representing corporate interests that had privileged access while the public, Congress and the press were shut out the secretive process: investor privileges that make it easier to offshore American jobs to low wage countries and retrograde terms that expose U.S. food safety, environmental, Internet freedom, health and other safeguards to attack and rollback.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lori-wallach/wto-orders-sanctions-unle_b_8748594.html
Why has Obama invested so much in TPPA? Mainly the democrats aren’t onside and he is relying quite heavily on the Republicans (house senate?) to attempt to get this past. He can’t be re-elected so why?
Post election board of directors positions.
basically it is fascism by stealth and an attempt to legally sanction it
the NZ Labour Party is not joining with NZF and the Greens to oppose it!
…why not?
‘Flouting The Rules: Why has Andrew Little rejected a winning TPPA strategy for a guaranteed loser? ‘
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/10/14/flouting-the-rules-why-has-andrew-little-rejected-a-winning-tppa-strategy-for-a-guaranteed-loser/
In addition
“The TPP would make the situation much worse. It includes constraints on food safety that extend beyond the WTO, roll back the environmental standards included even in George W. Bush’s trader pacts and would empower individual foreign corporations to directly launch attacks on public interest policies.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lori-wallach/wto-orders-sanctions-unle_b_8748594.html
Watch Commander
Pretty much guaranteed that people who terrorists and never will be are being watched covertly
And:
We can pretty much guarantee that the US is spying on everyone including friends and allies.
They really called it Hydra? Have they never read comic books?
In 1949 the first Labour government introduced peacetime conscription, as part of its Cold War alliance with the United States. Here is a fascinating account by veteran left activist Murray Horton of the campaign against peacetime conscription led by people like watersiders’ union leader Jock Barnes:
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2011/10/26/labour s-introduction-of-peacetime-conscription-and-the-fight-against-it/
Key Derangement Syndrome in full effect
[lprent: Comment seems to have little to do with the post. Certainly provides no context to the post. Moved to OpenMike. ]
Almost needs its own DSM IV area code.
What did you do your doctorate in ?
Doctoring.
Having a quiet day ?
Day off watching cricket.
.. must be a boring game.
Not at all, part of the beauty of cricket is you can enjoy it at the same time as having a chat or a read or commenting on the interwebs.
behind the times…DSM V is out
Lols. The Standard Kitchen, Dunedin.
Geez, there would be daily fights in the kitchen. Just as well P.Ure is no longer around. It would Vegans Vs. Carnivores fights galore over the menu.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Standard-Kitchen/903983092982085
Carnivores would eat the vegans.
Break out the love; spooning leads to forking 🙂
That was very funny. Ain’t nobody gonna love me though, I’m pescetarian, distrusted, misunderstood and disliked by all persuasions, left, right, and centre.
Naah not enough meat on a vegans bones and all the supplements they need to take…I’ll stick to eating good ol’ roast beef raised kiwis thanks
There have been restaurants that attracted intrigued customers who went more to see how rude the waiters could be than the food. Ad could be good, has a nice line in chivvying. I liked the spooning and the forking.
I’ll have to stop in when I pass through there next.
Maybe give us a report back 🙂
Some positive news…
A surprising meeting with Fonterra and Greenpeace.
http://www.greenpeace.org/new-zealand/en/blog/a-surprising-meeting-with-Fonterra/blog/55042/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_term=Fonterra&utm_campaign=Forests&__surl__=IgSIA&__ots__=1449627227725&__step__=1
on a different note, urban regeneration and social housing meets top British art prize
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2015/may/12/assemble-turner-prize-2015-wildcard-how-the-young-architecture-crew-assemble-rocked-the-art-world?CMP=share_btn_fb
Why I like twitter.
CJ Werleman
@cjwerleman
You see how one terrorist shooting can radicalize Americans like Trump, but you can’t see how 10,000+ US bombs might radicalize Muslims?
https://twitter.com/cjwerleman/status/673985855560663040
+1
Massey University Quotes of the Year all by men – http://thespinoff.co.nz/09-12-2015/media-are-new-zealands-quotes-of-the-year-really-all-by-men/
So Little and Key have both made apologies to Parliament. Little over comments about the Speaker and Key over his comments that Labour backed rapists. I think whatever their reasons for apologising, it’s the right thing to do.
There’s no way that Labour can force Carter out of the chair. They have to play with the hand they’re dealt and stoic resignation is probably the best way to handle Carter’s bias.
Key’s comments were clearly over the top and a clear attempt to distract from Labour’s stirling work on NZers detained in Australia. Having his inelegant attempt at misdirection lingering wouldn’t help. I think Key has been hurt by it already, this probably helps to stem the bleeding.
Little shouldn’t have apologised. It is quite clear that all of his statements were entirely correct.
I agree – wtf were they thinking – key gets an ‘out’ and what, suddenly youknowwho is no longer playing favorites?
“Key has repeatedly refused to apologise for the comment, going as far as to say he was “absolutely correct” to say it and didn’t regret his remarks.
But it seems a deal was struck between Key and Labour “in the spirit of Christmas” after Opposition leader Andrew Little also decided to apologise for “unparliamentary” comments.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/74923038/john-key-and-andrew-little-strike-a-deal-in-the-spirit-of-christmas
This bullshit is why I can’t vote for either of these 2 parties.
+100…when the leaders of the supposed Opposition parties James Shaw and Andrew Little let Key off the hook….you know you have got trouble…the Opposition is either corrupted or loopy stupid
you would never get Winston Peters doing this!..or Annette Sykes or Laila Harre or John Minto or I hope Hone Harawira
While any apology is better than none, Key couldn’t help mentioning that it was close to Christmas. What a guy. Hence Little’s ‘bloody red baron’ comment which I thought quite clever, even if ‘I will if you will’ apologies seems childish for both. Tacit admission that his ‘backing the rapists’ comment was a calculated political tactic? And what a sincere, moving 20 second apology speech it was.
I expect he’s already packed and ready for Hawaii
The problem with the NZ left AND right is, there are too many cheap skates and quick comment making jerks, who do not even bother reading and studying stuff, it is first, quick impression, and decision and judgment, and then destroy the rest.
So we have the society that NZers deserve, a dumb, ignorant, indifferent, selfish and unprincipled society (that is unless it involves the principle of serving yourself first).
The truth no longer matters, quick and cheap scores by political players get more resonance than anything of substance that matters to others, e.g. most people, and some here, too many, on TS are no different to the ones on Kiwiblog, by judging and rubbishing and ignoring information that they should perhaps take note of.
I am through with this country I once came to, I am through with NZ, I regret ever having come to this damned place.
[lprent: Moved to OpenMike. FFS Stay on topic. ]
could be worse Mike……Donald Trump
Read this and then just go all hilarious.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/08/donald-trump-famous-muslims-us-history?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GU+Today+main+NEW+H&utm_term=142452&subid=15166303&CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2
You couldn’t make Trump up could ya ?
Donald Trump is a ginger…and so is David Cameron..say no more
I am not surprised by people taking action such as this, not that I support it:
[r0b: 2 videos removed]
I have NO MORE FAITH AND HOPE IN THIS SHIT SOCIETY, FULL STOP!
I DO NOT LIKE BUT DO NOT OBJECT TO THIS ACTION NOW:
[r0b: 1 video removed]
Hate me for it, I will not live much longer anyway, I chooose to pass a.s.a.p..
[r0b: I understand your anger. But really don’t want those videos on the blog, sorry.]
[lprent: Moved to OpenMike ]
With the nonsense exposed above, is anybody seriously surprised at the success of radical Islam IsIS and what else we have? Maybe it is a curse that was asked for?
Do not agree with and do not like this, the following, but the west and other vested interests keep funding it, there will be NO peace in Syria with this, and that adds to my disbelief of this shit system we have:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sPY0X8SrLo
[lprent: Moved to OpenMike ]
I expect to be killed any time soon, as for the above, thanks for your attention.
[lprent: Moved to OpenMike ]
On J.P.Morgan bribes …All in the family ( cf mafia)….Bankster Fraud…and the Now crisis of social mobility
Episode 846
https://www.rt.com/shows/keiser-report/325067-episode-max-keiser-846/
“In this episode of the Keiser Report, Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert discuss how it is that JP Morgan just happened to hire 222 friends and relatives of Chinese companies and politicians as the bank took these companies public in Hong Kong.
In the second half, Max continues his interview with Liam Halligan of BNE.eu and the Telegraph about central bank policy, George Osborne’s long-term economic plans and Thomas Piketty’s so-called new book, Inequality.”
They talk about suicide attacks, but YPG and others do the same:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqI0a4VgEs8
[lprent: Moved to OpenMike. Banned for a week for wasting my time. ]
Still up Lynn? Just wanted to thank you for your work on Pete’s behalf, I’m going to have to take back almost half of the bad things I’ve said about you….Almost….
[r0b: Don’t be getting all soft now. Remember, we are leftards, raving socialists, substandard, echo chamber etc etc. Sigh.]
Union membership numbers in NZ are continuing to decline according to Victoria University’s annual report.
Here’s an interesting discussion by veteran shopfloor union activist Don Franks on the way forward for workers and unions.
https://rdln.wordpress.com/2013/12/08/which-way-forward-for-workers-and-unions/