So, the government has been shown, while in the international spotlight, how much Auckland’s public transport fails to meet acceptable standards. Will they take note? I doubt it. Joyce will keep on in his blinkered way with his RONZ, and Key will be too busy sledging heads of other governments cause he reckons he has some responsibility for the ABs.
Its a National shame. They came from all quarters of the globe to see the opening
and National have dropped the ball. They could not get the crowds the few kms from
the centre of our largest city, to our National Stadium in time to see the opening
kick off. WTF.
Over the last 60 years it was mostly National and their local council flunkies but Labour have to take some of the blame as well. They were told when they got the RWC that Auckland PT wasn’t up to it and yet they still spent more money on roads than on PT.
… and we have a Prime Minister who is all class. What an astoundingly immature conclusion to his “Opening” speech at Eden Park last night. Must make you so proud
Hooten et al. The dignity shown of a lout in a pub. Expressed the same partisanship as he probably showed (but denies) in 1981.
Saturday Mornings with Kim Hill, Radio New Zealand National, 3 September 2011:
Kim Hill interviews cartoonist/satirist/author/playwright, Tom Scott, about the 1981 Springbok Tour and his latest television docu-drama, Rage, on the same subject:
Over the first 11 minutes, Scott waxes lyrical about his impeccable anti-apartheid credentials –
– “For me personally, I had a long battle with apartheid – it’s something I really cared about…”;
– He outlines how, in 1976, 1978 and 1981, he either lost or nearly lost various cartooning/journalism jobs by submitting cartoons critical of either apartheid or, more specifically, sporting contacts with South Africa;
– Following his 1981 job loss he tells us “I thought, I’ve got three children and no job again over apartheid”;
But then at a cocktail party in Melbourne a few weeks later, Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere praises Scott and thanks him for the Springbok Tour protests;
And, lastly, Scott tells Hill that “straight away after the Tour, when I was invited to speak to police groups and rugby groups, I accepted every invitation from the people I disagreed with…..so I took every rugby and police invitation I could.”
So far so good (well, except for Scott’s tendency to play ‘the burning martyr’ just a little bit – ‘look how particularly sensitive and caring I am and how much I’ve sacrificed for the cause, I truly am a moral exemplar’. Arguably a tendency characteristic of more than a few middle class liberal members of the Hippy Generation).
All of which makes the following admission absolutely friggin astounding:
At 11:40, Kim Hill puts it to Scott that “…in the drama Rage, the pro-tour people are generally depicted as beer-swilling, abusive thugs.”
Tom Scott replies: “Yeah, well they were…and, I mean, I was Pro-Tour, so…”
Kim Hill: “Pro-Tour and Anti-Apartheid ?”
Tom Scott: “Yeah, I was anti-apartheid. But there were some really ugly things happen (sic)…really dreadful, ugly things happened, but there were young policemen – Phil Gifford told me a story – he was standing in the crowd…”
This Pro-Tour admission is extraordinary on two levels:
First, it doesn’t sit too well with the way Scott depicts himself in the first 11 minutes, in fact it verges on rank hypocrisy. So much for the burning martyr who somehow felt black African suffering so much more acutely than everyone else !!!!!
Second, Kim Interuptus Hill – the woman known for butting-in on her guests’ replies – lets him get away with it Scott-free (as it were) !!!!! As you can see, she allows him to completely change the subject, rather than highlighting this astonishing admission.
… acshly, there is a great deal of reservedness and dignity left in New Zealand. Remember, this is not New Zealand’s RWC, but NZ is simply the stage for hosting it. The seemingly alcohol-tainted speech from Key (and his astounding aping of Len Brown not 60 minutes earlier) does not and should not resonate with “normal” New Zealand.
Hello there ! Have I not been saying for some time that Key has a drink problem. My observations of this PM convinces me he drinks more alcohol than is good for him. Just observe how he behaves 90% of time.
I was being lulled into a feel-good place by the wonderful light show and then someone announces John Key. I went from a dream state feeling good about NZ to stomach churning awareness as if I had been hit by a foul smelling, rotting and wet haddock. You just want to burn your clothes and delouse and shower!
Not all that was on display to the world was the best of NZ.
I wonder if someone overseas said, “Hey look! It’s that boob from Letterman!”
@ Brett Dale – Yes, you do have a point to be considered. It must be remembered that John Key and his political organ grinders have deliberately reduced NZ politics, the politics of National and this coming election into a personality contest in an effort to hide the truth of what they stand for.
That sets John up as a idol to be worshiped by the ignorant but it also sets him up as the object of scorn by those detect that whiff of sulphur that surrounds him.
We have our moments of focusing on his cardboard cut-out “personality” and the carefully Textor-Crosby created narrative of the poor boy made good. We get sick of the whole smile and wave routine.
But we will discuss policies any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
The more you lot try to put down JK the funnier it is.
To me he sounded like someone that was genuinely enjoying himself and having a great time (suspect he may have had one or two of the sponsers product) which means that once again hes connecting with the majority of voters in way Goff can’t
But who cares as long as the tournaments a success and the ABs lift the cup!
So the tournament was an abject failure last night. Trains not working, central city patalysed, buses running people down. But yay for our drunk leader!
Who gives a shit what you think – we debate policy on other threads, you never make a comment there, quite simply because you cannot string an argument supporting the dire policies that your bessie mate Johnny Key has screwed the country with.
Where are you on the threads about CGT, about NS, about creating jobs, about sorting out ChCh – absent. You never squeak once on those threads, but anyone dares to challenge Mr. Squeaky clean your responsie is “is that all you have got”
Piss off back to Kiwiblog or Blubber boy; come back when you actually have grown some balls to DEBATE POLICY, not simply defend the prick that is messing up this country (and embarrassing it quite frequently too)
But who cares as long as the tournaments a success and the ABs lift the cup!
My second try, I had a sodding browser crash!
Wow, bread and circuses, hey Chris? Two thirds of New Zealanders don’t give a tinker’s about the RWC. We will not be distracted. 😛
Does anyone qualified want to give John Key a few Te Reo Maori lessons? Or even suggest that he learn a greeting or two for occasions like that? Why did it take a Frenchman to introduce our other official language to the world?
The Standard blogsite is one of New Zealands highest rating political blogsites.(1) Not just an invite only collaborative blog, The Standard is a collective of various politically left-aligned commentators.
I would prefer to keep it generic instead of saying #2 so I don’t have to edit for changes.
Half of the traffic through kiwiblog comes from Crosby Textor / National MPs looking for a home I’m guessing?
The Standard allows collaboration as you say and this is what sets it apart. It’s not about ego, nor propagandist PR; it’s about sharing ideas, stimulating thought and generating discussion on many subjects. That’s why I’ve started coming here and that’s why I’m guessing many others have … congrats to the Iprent and the guys!
AND they end up going to trademe
the hatred towards the left is alive and well in there
they dont moderate much so tend to get real nasty
but im a gay man and i got a comeback to most of them lol
its fun to watch THEM squeal
Breaking: High explosive residue has been found in the lung tissue of 911 first responders.
Because it had to be been determined whether 911 first responders who died in the aftermath of 911 died of diseases caused by the dust they inhaled and swallowed on 911 and the days after their bodies had to be autopsied.
It has just been announced at the Toronto hearings that their lungs contained high explosive residue. This connects the dust of the buildings to the explosive particles found in the dust collected by New Yorkers on that day as analysed by the team lead by prof. Nils Harrit of the Danish University of Copenhagen. Prof. Harrit is a scientist specialised in Nano technology.
Day Two of the Toronto Hearings are now available with videos to view and download at the UStream site
various youtube broadcasters are also starting to repost the Facts as they get presented throughout this detailed and legitimate presentation of evidence
There is already a very clear interest in the report from these hearings when it gets released
WASHINGTON (CNN) — A member of the 9/11 commission said Wednesday that panel members so distrusted testimony from Pentagon officials that they referred their concerns to the Pentagon’s inspector general.
The panel even considered taking the matter to the Justice Department for a possible criminal probe, commission member Tim Roemer said.
“We were extremely frustrated with the false statements we were getting,” Roemer told CNN. “We were not sure of the intent, whether it was to deceive the commission or merely part of the fumbling bureaucracy.”
The issues concerned Pentagon officials’ testimony about the timeline of events on September 11, 2001, when terrorists hijacked four U.S. airliners and crashed them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.
The scope of the new evidence being presented at Toronto is chilling in its clarity.
The deniers have been presented a clear choice, believe the proof delivered with fact based evidence, or continue to poison their life with the Official Story of deceptions and lies.
Reminds me of the debate about CGT. That if you don’t
tax Capital gains then you only prolong and deepen recessions
and hold the economy back from change.
If you don’t stay engaged, have ongoing contact with your
economy, or the revoltion, you cannot act as quickly or
as precisely.
They get my vote.
By all accounts his autobio is a white wash of himself and blames everyone else. It’s been speculated that he’s afraid of being tried as a war criminal.
Canada being one of the only countries where there is an actual law permitting the legal and binding action of a citizens’ arrest, Cheney should be very very nervous, and i doubt this talk date will happen as the amount of interest during the Toronto Hearings are proving he is not a popular guy
This was briefly on the stuff website this morning – been taken down now. At a time when hundreds of Ministry of Heallth workers are losing their jobs someone with no background in health, and no appointment process, but with great connections to government, is paid a lot of money to develop some sort of health network.
Hilary, from experience on here you really need to elaborate of this! Bill English’s brother has been handed a contract to ‘trim the fat’ from the Ministry of Health – 400+ jobs to go in the next three years.
Jobs for the boys, eh!
” Frank 6 You said:
9 September 2011 at 12:41 pm
oh and by the way…regarding your main blog – you people just believe everything you read in the media right?!
It’s the whole truth right there yeah?!
Grow up, seriously, you know full well how the media love to misrepresent important facts to make things look worse than they actually are.
Take it from me personally – if you ever think someone has missed out on their full and correct entilments from WINZ, send the person’s details (full name/date of birth) to info@msd.govt.nz
They WILL look at it urgently and they WILL sort it out.
” Frank 7.1.1.2.1 You said:
9 September 2011 at 3:17 pm
Which brings me back to my original point:
You say you want competence, not perfection…. and yet whenyou are spoon-fed a media-spun story of incompetence, you are quite happy to ignorantly accept it as gospel and run your mean-spirited mouth off decrying criminal prosecutions for state employees !!! ”
AND Frank, every time someone gets crapped out by WINZ, yet another important people-service department which has had its front line services severely knocked back by this government, I hope they will come to you Frank to tell you their story when that email address does not deliver any help. Thank you so much Frank for your help.
It also reminds me of the Bay … local paper that reported John Key saying he “would love to see wages drop”. It’s in the smaller papers you often get some actual ethical journalism. e.g. By Sophie Rishworth of the Gisborne Herald
2:13 PM Thursday Sep 8, 2011 ‘The new mum approached Bronwyn Kay Agency to find accommodation after falling out with a cousin she was staying with.’
You are absolutely correct, however, about the bigger foreign owned and conservatively run Herald, etc.
Anyone that wants a little taste of the incompetence people in Canterbury are dealing with on a day to day basis, take a look quick look at the EQC Frequently asked Questions page ( http://canterbury.eqc.govt.nz/faq ), please click on one of the Questions and try reading!!!!, some of the pointy heads here at the standard will love the color layout and in my browser I have to resize the page a few times before it will fit my screen.
The site rendered ok for me (Firefox) but talk about redundant links.
They probably sold it as being able to “retoggle your offset parameters on an enterprise wide muti-layered block-advance system on an intra-office gigafloppy network of etherwire interfaced page solutions to neuro-enhance the user satisfaction experience”.
i.e. lotsa extra links that tell you nothing new but that will cost ya extra.
Australian millionaire Dick Smith is so fed up with the ”selfish” rich that he has vowed to name and shame those who aren’t giving back to their community, saying they should ”rack off” if they won’t open their wallets to donate.
”I am absolutely disgusted that most of the wealthy are so utterly selfish and I can’t work out how everyone let’s them get away with it,” the millionaire entrepreneur said.
Smith had started naming individuals not doing their philanthropic duty because they should be ashamed, he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
”I’m going to ‘out’ these people. If they don’t donate, they’re going to be embarrassed.”
More than 2000 people declared more than $1 million a year in income but claimed no tax deductions for charitable giving, showing they had donated nothing, he said. ”We’ve got to get it so it is an obligation if you’re wealthy to become a philanthropist. Otherwise we don’t want you in this country – rack off.”
I’d be happy if people got a fair wage, unlike our current one, then either there wouldn’t be so many millionaires, because they were paying all their tax and/or they were not stripping wages in order to increase their net profits.
Hidden away inthe Herald was the news item that Key wants the taxpayer to pay for Hubbard funeral . What is going on. There is something fishy about this business. Billions paid out in compensation to rich greedy speculators. Remember whennthe latre H
Hidden away in the Herald was the news item that Key wants the taxpayer to pay for the Hubbard funeral. What is going on with this sordid business.
Billions was paid out in compensation to greedy rich speculators by the taxpayer, There is something very fishy about the whole epsode.
Remember that the late Hubbard stated that nothing would have happened if Mr.Key had not been abroad. So whats it all about ? Someone with the know how should investigate the whole business, It stinks and I think the Nats are involved.
Whether the taxpayer stumps up the money depends on what funds you’re talking about.
As Fran O’Sullivan pointed this week, on that financial show that comes on before Breakfast, many people are confused about what funds are what. The Prime Minister seems to be one of them.
There is South Canterbury Finance – which is separate to the funds that were frozen – but supposedly qualified for the Retail Deposit Guarantee scheme. I say supposedly because there is some doubt that it does in fact qualify. I haven’t followed this up yet to see what she meant.
Of the funds that were frozen, from what I understand, there is Aorangi (Finance?) and a few other entities AND the Hubbard’s personal finances.
My understanding is that it is the personal finances that could be released for the funeral. As they are personal, and not subject to government guarantee, there is no obvious obligation on the taxpayer.
However, the situation is murky and people are owed a shed load of money, so money released for the funeral is less money for claimants to chase.
Key has admitted that on his FIRST DAY IN OFFICE they were told it was going bust. Yet Key and English allowed it to remain in the deposit guarantee scheme.
It is just a fucking rort. And the bad lending which took place after SCF was let into the scheme (being guaranteed of course all depositors overloaded SCF with money and it had to go somewhere – so why not into a bailout of the unsavoury positions SCF’s cronies and employees and associates were in.) has got to be criminal. Lachie McLeod is in the firing line (but note he received a $20million golden handshake for being fired for all the bad lending).
Agree with you VTO. We should all be saying very loudly “Why didn’t the the Nats start rolling back the scheme, by gradually dropping coverage of the interest, the top end of each deposit, say over $200,000 and confining it to those who had money invested at the date it went into the scheme?”
The other thing I have always been curious about, is was any back to back lending uncovered?
The sort where somebody has a loan with another party or even SCF and they know it is going to be
hard going to service it so they pitch up a story about how they are going to [renovate, expand ] the business and need a bigger loan. Part of the deal is that it will take time to spend the loan so they agree to deposit back or hold an offsetting deposit of some of the funds lent. Original loan to other bank is paid back, loan drawn down on SCF and deposit put into SCF and when it all goes south it turns out that the loan is to a company in liquidation and the deposit is held by a family trust or some other entity with no security offset. Home free.
The four big corporations are Monsanto, DuPont, Syngenta, and Bayer. Together, they represent that truly rare thing, a visible corner being turned in human history: the rise of the first global, seed-based food oligopoly since the dawn of agriculture.
New Zealand Time:
Sunday, September 11, 2011
01:00 – 01;15 Moderators: Overview of the Day’s Testimony
01:15 – 02:30 Graeme MacQueen: Eyewitness Evidence of Explosions at WTC
02:45 – 04:00 David Chandler: WTC 7: A Refutation of the Official Account
05:00 – 06:15 Jon Cole: The Official Account and the Experimental Method
06:15 – 07:30 Kevin Ryan: Extreme Temperatures
07:45 – 09:00 Niels Harrit: Incendiary/Explosive Residue in the WTC Dust
09:00 – 09:30 Audience Question and Answer
Please be aware the schedule has remained accurate each day
Serious stiuff.
Is there any support for an ongoing blog about policies we mught like to see adopted by non Nact parties.
Me personally, I would like to see promises about restoring democracy esp to Ecan and removing the King Gerry acts, and sending all or the bulk of legislation passed under urgency back to select comittees to see what tweaking(?) it needs.
I know that no political party can promise to undo all the actions of a previous government as none of us would know where we stood and that size of repeal threat has to be reserved for the big stuff like ACC privatisation but there should be some way to make all this legislative urgency uncomfortable for those politcal parties that indulge in it, even if it is some way down the track.
“Me personally, I would like to see promises about restoring democracy esp to Ecan and removing the King Gerry acts, and sending all or the bulk of legislation passed under urgency back to select comittees to see what tweaking(?) it needs.”
Absolutely. These are the democratic outrages that made me think about voting Green instead of Labour – these and the beginnings of disenfranchising particular groups. The Greens seem more intent on protecting democratic processes. However, since then Mr Blue-Green has emerged. At least I know Labour won’t coalesce with NAct. I’ll probably have to make up my mind who to vote for on the day.
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At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...
Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob HensonIn this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...
In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...
On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...
The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...
This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...
And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...
Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...
Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...
This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate.I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...
A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...
The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...
Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...
What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...
All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...
The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...
Legislation to enable new water service delivery models that will drive critical investment in infrastructure has passed its first reading in Parliament, marking a significant step towards the delivery of Local Water Done Well, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly say.“Councils and voters ...
New Zealand is one step closer to reaping the benefits of gene technology with the passing of the first reading of the Gene Technology Bill, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says. "This legislation will end New Zealand's near 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab and is ...
ByKoroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor New Zealand’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) says impending bad weather for Port Vila is now the most significant post-quake hazard. A tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to move into Vanuatu waters, bringing heavy rainfall. Authorities have issued warnings to people ...
Cosmic CatastropheThe year draws to a close.King Luxon has grown tired of the long eveningsListening to the dreary squabbling of his Triumvirate.He strolls up to the top floor of the PalaceTo consult with his Astronomer Royal.The Royal Telescope scans the skies,And King Luxon stares up into the heavensFrom the terrestrial ...
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Despite overwhelming public and corporate support, the government has stalled progress on a modern day slavery law. That puts us behind other countries – and makes Christmas a time of tragedy rather than joy, argues Shanti Mathias. Picture the scene on Christmas Day. Everyone replete with nice things to eat, ...
Asia Pacific Report “It looks like Hiroshima. It looks like Germany at the end of World War Two,” says an Israeli-American historian and professor of holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University about the horrifying reality of Gaza. Professor Omer Bartov, has described Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza as an ...
The New Zealand government coalition is tweaking university regulations to curb what it says is an increasingly “risk-averse approach” to free speech. The proposed changes will set clear expectations on how universities should approach freedom of speech issues. Each university will then have to adopt a “freedom of speech statement” ...
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Pacific Media Watch The union for Australian journalists has welcomed the delivery by the federal government of more than $150 million to support the sustainability of public interest journalism over the next four years. Combined with the announcement of the revamped News Bargaining Initiative, this could result in up to ...
MONDAY“Merry Xmas, and praise the Lord,” said Sheriff Luxon, and smiled for the camera. There was a flash of smoke when the shutter pressed down on the magnesium powder. The sheriff had arranged for a photographer from the Dodge Gazette to attend a ceremony where he handed out food parcels to ...
It’s a little under two months since the White Ferns shocked the cricketing world, deservedly taking home the T20 World Cup. Since then the trophy has had a tour around the country, five of the squad have played in the WBBL in Australia while most others have returned to domestic ...
Comment: If we say the word ‘dementia’, many will picture an older person struggling to remember the names of their loved ones, maybe a grandparent living out their final years in an aged care facility. Dementia can also occur in people younger than 65, but it can take time before ...
Piracy is a reality of modern life – but copyright law has struggled to play catch-up for as long as the entertainment industry has existed. As far back as 1988, the House of Lords criticised copyright law’s conflict with the reality of human behaviour in the context of burning cassette ...
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The Ōtautahi musician shares the 10 tracks he loves to spin, including the folk classic that cured him of a ‘case of the give-ups’. When singer-songwriter Adam McGrath returns to Kumeu’s Auckland Folk Festival from January 24-27, he’s not planning on simply idling his way through – he wants the late ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flora Hui, Research Fellow, Centre for Eye Research Australia and Honorary Fellow, Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne Versta/Shutterstock Australians are exposed to some of the highest levels of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the world. While we ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William A. Stoltz, Lecturer and expert Associate, National Security College, Australian National University US President-elect Donald Trump has named most of the members of his proposed cabinet. However, he’s yet to reveal key appointees to America’s powerful cyber warfare and intelligence institutions. ...
Announcing the top 10 books of the the year at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (Faber & Faber, $37) The phenomenal Irish writer is the unsurprising chart topper for 2024 with her fourth novel that, much like her first ...
So, the government has been shown, while in the international spotlight, how much Auckland’s public transport fails to meet acceptable standards. Will they take note? I doubt it. Joyce will keep on in his blinkered way with his RONZ, and Key will be too busy sledging heads of other governments cause he reckons he has some responsibility for the ABs.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10750606
Its a National shame. They came from all quarters of the globe to see the opening
and National have dropped the ball. They could not get the crowds the few kms from
the centre of our largest city, to our National Stadium in time to see the opening
kick off. WTF.
Over the last 60 years it was mostly National and their local council flunkies but Labour have to take some of the blame as well. They were told when they got the RWC that Auckland PT wasn’t up to it and yet they still spent more money on roads than on PT.
… and we have a Prime Minister who is all class. What an astoundingly immature conclusion to his “Opening” speech at Eden Park last night. Must make you so proud
Hooten et al. The dignity shown of a lout in a pub. Expressed the same partisanship as he probably showed (but denies) in 1981.
Can’t anybody find some of Key’s friends from 1981 who can tell his position on the tour?
Or didn’t he have friends?
Did I hear Tom Scott right ??????
Saturday Mornings with Kim Hill, Radio New Zealand National, 3 September 2011:
Kim Hill interviews cartoonist/satirist/author/playwright, Tom Scott, about the 1981 Springbok Tour and his latest television docu-drama, Rage, on the same subject:
Over the first 11 minutes, Scott waxes lyrical about his impeccable anti-apartheid credentials –
– “For me personally, I had a long battle with apartheid – it’s something I really cared about…”;
– He outlines how, in 1976, 1978 and 1981, he either lost or nearly lost various cartooning/journalism jobs by submitting cartoons critical of either apartheid or, more specifically, sporting contacts with South Africa;
– Following his 1981 job loss he tells us “I thought, I’ve got three children and no job again over apartheid”;
But then at a cocktail party in Melbourne a few weeks later, Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere praises Scott and thanks him for the Springbok Tour protests;
And, lastly, Scott tells Hill that “straight away after the Tour, when I was invited to speak to police groups and rugby groups, I accepted every invitation from the people I disagreed with…..so I took every rugby and police invitation I could.”
So far so good (well, except for Scott’s tendency to play ‘the burning martyr’ just a little bit – ‘look how particularly sensitive and caring I am and how much I’ve sacrificed for the cause, I truly am a moral exemplar’. Arguably a tendency characteristic of more than a few middle class liberal members of the Hippy Generation).
All of which makes the following admission absolutely friggin astounding:
At 11:40, Kim Hill puts it to Scott that “…in the drama Rage, the pro-tour people are generally depicted as beer-swilling, abusive thugs.”
Tom Scott replies: “Yeah, well they were…and, I mean, I was Pro-Tour, so…”
Kim Hill: “Pro-Tour and Anti-Apartheid ?”
Tom Scott: “Yeah, I was anti-apartheid. But there were some really ugly things happen (sic)…really dreadful, ugly things happened, but there were young policemen – Phil Gifford told me a story – he was standing in the crowd…”
This Pro-Tour admission is extraordinary on two levels:
First, it doesn’t sit too well with the way Scott depicts himself in the first 11 minutes, in fact it verges on rank hypocrisy. So much for the burning martyr who somehow felt black African suffering so much more acutely than everyone else !!!!!
Second, Kim Interuptus Hill – the woman known for butting-in on her guests’ replies – lets him get away with it Scott-free (as it were) !!!!! As you can see, she allows him to completely change the subject, rather than highlighting this astonishing admission.
Bizarre stuff.
@logie97, that’s why he is so popular…he resonates with normal NZ. All power to him! It was a great speech to welcome our visitors!
… acshly, there is a great deal of reservedness and dignity left in New Zealand. Remember, this is not New Zealand’s RWC, but NZ is simply the stage for hosting it. The seemingly alcohol-tainted speech from Key (and his astounding aping of Len Brown not 60 minutes earlier) does not and should not resonate with “normal” New Zealand.
but alcohol is good
drink more
and thats the way it is
That way the National party gets even more funding and we get weaker health policy!
Hello there ! Have I not been saying for some time that Key has a drink problem. My observations of this PM convinces me he drinks more alcohol than is good for him. Just observe how he behaves 90% of time.
I was being lulled into a feel-good place by the wonderful light show and then someone announces John Key. I went from a dream state feeling good about NZ to stomach churning awareness as if I had been hit by a foul smelling, rotting and wet haddock. You just want to burn your clothes and delouse and shower!
Not all that was on display to the world was the best of NZ.
I wonder if someone overseas said, “Hey look! It’s that boob from Letterman!”
Same at my place, a feel good scenario suddenly spoilt by dick face turning up. “Go the mighty All Blacks” good one Shonkey.
Quick reminder, that was done by Aussie’s – they gave the contract for that to, yes, Australians! makes you proud to be Kiwi Australasian!
Geeze Louise, you guys sound like the teabaggers when they talk about President Obama.
except the yanks dont have a ass like Jokey making a mockery of being a prime minister every chance it gets
he has nothing going for him
its all an act to fool the gen public in nz,some of us aint fooled and never will be
how is that teabagging?
jus remember Norway-that was a right wing nutter
and that senator who got shot in her head and lived– she wasnt a teabagger either the shooter however was a teabagger
see a pattern here?
erm…a small correction…Congresswoman Giffords is a member of the house of representatives, not a senator.
As for the rest of your comment, yup, spot on.
@ Brett Dale – Yes, you do have a point to be considered. It must be remembered that John Key and his political organ grinders have deliberately reduced NZ politics, the politics of National and this coming election into a personality contest in an effort to hide the truth of what they stand for.
That sets John up as a idol to be worshiped by the ignorant but it also sets him up as the object of scorn by those detect that whiff of sulphur that surrounds him.
We have our moments of focusing on his cardboard cut-out “personality” and the carefully Textor-Crosby created narrative of the poor boy made good. We get sick of the whole smile and wave routine.
But we will discuss policies any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
The more you lot try to put down JK the funnier it is.
To me he sounded like someone that was genuinely enjoying himself and having a great time (suspect he may have had one or two of the sponsers product) which means that once again hes connecting with the majority of voters in way Goff can’t
But who cares as long as the tournaments a success and the ABs lift the cup!
So the tournament was an abject failure last night. Trains not working, central city patalysed, buses running people down. But yay for our drunk leader!
Drunk leader? Can you please elaborate or is that just another lie?
he was swaying so badly he had to hold onto the lecturn in case it flew away, and he forgot to introduce the rugby guy to open the cup :]
Yeah hes gone up in my estimation. Its like he was a european leader.
so it’s more a “he’s not drunk! He can lay on the floor without holding on” type situation ?
chris73 Like a European leader – Berlusconi?
Yeltsin
Bit like catching Oz or repealing S59 interpretation …..what did he mean by drunk.
Who gives a shit what you think – we debate policy on other threads, you never make a comment there, quite simply because you cannot string an argument supporting the dire policies that your bessie mate Johnny Key has screwed the country with.
Where are you on the threads about CGT, about NS, about creating jobs, about sorting out ChCh – absent. You never squeak once on those threads, but anyone dares to challenge Mr. Squeaky clean your responsie is “is that all you have got”
Piss off back to Kiwiblog or Blubber boy; come back when you actually have grown some balls to DEBATE POLICY, not simply defend the prick that is messing up this country (and embarrassing it quite frequently too)
jk was great! thank god it wasn’t that sour faced helen clark.
Oh bread and circuses, absolutely! It doesn’t work sorry… Two thirds of NZers could not give a tinker’s about the RWC, and won’t be distracted… 😛
My second try, I had a sodding browser crash!
Wow, bread and circuses, hey Chris? Two thirds of New Zealanders don’t give a tinker’s about the RWC. We will not be distracted. 😛
Where your union fees go.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/systemic-organised-fraud-20110909-1k21d.html
Excellent point – I’ll stop my union fees on Monday, and put the money into finance companies instead.
+1
Where National spends our taxes
http://dimpost.wordpress.com/2011/04/16/south-cantubury-finance-let-me-get-this-straight/
That’s bullshit, I live in New Zealand.
“Auatralian Tory Rag tell us where union fees are being spent.”
There – fixed it for ya!
Does anyone qualified want to give John Key a few Te Reo Maori lessons? Or even suggest that he learn a greeting or two for occasions like that? Why did it take a Frenchman to introduce our other official language to the world?
Shonkey mangles English already, please don’t let him loose on Te Reo Māori. But the point is taken and was widely noticed across the networks.
I wondered why Bill was looking sick as a dog recently. That explains it.
Joyce for DPM!!!
He’s yet to master english let alone another
Does this sound right?
The Standard blogsite is one of New Zealands highest rating political blogsites.(1) Not just an invite only collaborative blog, The Standard is a collective of various politically left-aligned commentators.
I would prefer to keep it generic instead of saying #2 so I don’t have to edit for changes.
Half of the traffic through kiwiblog comes from Crosby Textor / National MPs looking for a home I’m guessing?
The Standard allows collaboration as you say and this is what sets it apart. It’s not about ego, nor propagandist PR; it’s about sharing ideas, stimulating thought and generating discussion on many subjects. That’s why I’ve started coming here and that’s why I’m guessing many others have … congrats to the Iprent and the guys!
AND they end up going to trademe
the hatred towards the left is alive and well in there
they dont moderate much so tend to get real nasty
but im a gay man and i got a comeback to most of them lol
its fun to watch THEM squeal
Breaking: High explosive residue has been found in the lung tissue of 911 first responders.
Because it had to be been determined whether 911 first responders who died in the aftermath of 911 died of diseases caused by the dust they inhaled and swallowed on 911 and the days after their bodies had to be autopsied.
It has just been announced at the Toronto hearings that their lungs contained high explosive residue. This connects the dust of the buildings to the explosive particles found in the dust collected by New Yorkers on that day as analysed by the team lead by prof. Nils Harrit of the Danish University of Copenhagen. Prof. Harrit is a scientist specialised in Nano technology.
Day Two of the Toronto Hearings are now available with videos to view and download at the UStream site
various youtube broadcasters are also starting to repost the Facts as they get presented throughout this detailed and legitimate presentation of evidence
There is already a very clear interest in the report from these hearings when it gets released
the clean link above seems busted
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/thetorontohearings
torontohearings.org
Going back to 2006, this is what 9/11 Commissioners thought of the evidence and depositions provided by the Pentagon i.e. it was crap.
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/08/02/9-11panel.pentagon/index.html
earlier today Barbara Honegger had some choice words for Pentagon officials :]
Thanks for the link! I put it up on my blog.
The scope of the new evidence being presented at Toronto is chilling in its clarity.
The deniers have been presented a clear choice, believe the proof delivered with fact based evidence, or continue to poison their life with the Official Story of deceptions and lies.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14841018
Seems cutting the internet only prolongs and deepens a revolution.
Reminds me of the debate about CGT. That if you don’t
tax Capital gains then you only prolong and deepen recessions
and hold the economy back from change.
If you don’t stay engaged, have ongoing contact with your
economy, or the revoltion, you cannot act as quickly or
as precisely.
Yay!.
http://www.straight.com/article-450786/vancouver/lawyer-seeks-cheney-arrest
They get my vote.
By all accounts his autobio is a white wash of himself and blames everyone else. It’s been speculated that he’s afraid of being tried as a war criminal.
Canada being one of the only countries where there is an actual law permitting the legal and binding action of a citizens’ arrest, Cheney should be very very nervous, and i doubt this talk date will happen as the amount of interest during the Toronto Hearings are proving he is not a popular guy
This was briefly on the stuff website this morning – been taken down now. At a time when hundreds of Ministry of Heallth workers are losing their jobs someone with no background in health, and no appointment process, but with great connections to government, is paid a lot of money to develop some sort of health network.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/5598200/Englishs-brother-lands-lucrative-health-contract
Hilary, from experience on here you really need to elaborate of this!
Bill English’s brother has been handed a contract to ‘trim the fat’ from the Ministry of Health – 400+ jobs to go in the next three years.
Jobs for the boys, eh!
Frank,
Just forwarding your comments to open mike 10/Sept/2011 because you had made such an important point about the media on:http://thestandard.org.nz/nrt-john-keys-new-zealand/#comment-373210
” Frank 6 You said:
9 September 2011 at 12:41 pm
oh and by the way…regarding your main blog – you people just believe everything you read in the media right?!
It’s the whole truth right there yeah?!
Grow up, seriously, you know full well how the media love to misrepresent important facts to make things look worse than they actually are.
Take it from me personally – if you ever think someone has missed out on their full and correct entilments from WINZ, send the person’s details (full name/date of birth) to info@msd.govt.nz
They WILL look at it urgently and they WILL sort it out.
” Frank 7.1.1.2.1 You said:
9 September 2011 at 3:17 pm
Which brings me back to my original point:
You say you want competence, not perfection…. and yet whenyou are spoon-fed a media-spun story of incompetence, you are quite happy to ignorantly accept it as gospel and run your mean-spirited mouth off decrying criminal prosecutions for state employees !!! ”
AND Frank, every time someone gets crapped out by WINZ, yet another important people-service department which has had its front line services severely knocked back by this government, I hope they will come to you Frank to tell you their story when that email address does not deliver any help. Thank you so much Frank for your help.
It also reminds me of the Bay … local paper that reported John Key saying he “would love to see wages drop”. It’s in the smaller papers you often get some actual ethical journalism. e.g. By Sophie Rishworth of the Gisborne Herald
2:13 PM Thursday Sep 8, 2011 ‘The new mum approached Bronwyn Kay Agency to find accommodation after falling out with a cousin she was staying with.’
You are absolutely correct, however, about the bigger foreign owned and conservatively run Herald, etc.
This government treats our youth like a cheap resource rather than as an investment in our future.
http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.com/2011/09/rwc-powered-by-goodwill-volunteers-and.html
Anyone that wants a little taste of the incompetence people in Canterbury are dealing with on a day to day basis, take a look quick look at the EQC Frequently asked Questions page ( http://canterbury.eqc.govt.nz/faq ), please click on one of the Questions and try reading!!!!, some of the pointy heads here at the standard will love the color layout and in my browser I have to resize the page a few times before it will fit my screen.
Great job Gerry, great job.
The site rendered ok for me (Firefox) but talk about redundant links.
They probably sold it as being able to “retoggle your offset parameters on an enterprise wide muti-layered block-advance system on an intra-office gigafloppy network of etherwire interfaced page solutions to neuro-enhance the user satisfaction experience”.
i.e. lotsa extra links that tell you nothing new but that will cost ya extra.
Once you open the links it’s the light blue on light grey that I can’t read.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/5600315/Smith-threatens-to-out-rich-who-don-t-help-others
I know where I’ll be shopping in future.
Ianupnorth,
I’d be happy if people got a fair wage, unlike our current one, then either there wouldn’t be so many millionaires, because they were paying all their tax and/or they were not stripping wages in order to increase their net profits.
Hidden away inthe Herald was the news item that Key wants the taxpayer to pay for Hubbard funeral . What is going on. There is something fishy about this business. Billions paid out in compensation to rich greedy speculators. Remember whennthe latre H
i thought they were only wanting to release funds from the Hubbards’ accounts for the funeral costs
Hidden away in the Herald was the news item that Key wants the taxpayer to pay for the Hubbard funeral. What is going on with this sordid business.
Billions was paid out in compensation to greedy rich speculators by the taxpayer, There is something very fishy about the whole epsode.
Remember that the late Hubbard stated that nothing would have happened if Mr.Key had not been abroad. So whats it all about ? Someone with the know how should investigate the whole business, It stinks and I think the Nats are involved.
Whether the taxpayer stumps up the money depends on what funds you’re talking about.
As Fran O’Sullivan pointed this week, on that financial show that comes on before Breakfast, many people are confused about what funds are what. The Prime Minister seems to be one of them.
There is South Canterbury Finance – which is separate to the funds that were frozen – but supposedly qualified for the Retail Deposit Guarantee scheme. I say supposedly because there is some doubt that it does in fact qualify. I haven’t followed this up yet to see what she meant.
Of the funds that were frozen, from what I understand, there is Aorangi (Finance?) and a few other entities AND the Hubbard’s personal finances.
My understanding is that it is the personal finances that could be released for the funeral. As they are personal, and not subject to government guarantee, there is no obvious obligation on the taxpayer.
However, the situation is murky and people are owed a shed load of money, so money released for the funeral is less money for claimants to chase.
Yeah on one of the groups I belong too on facebook- it has been implied they were behind the accident-
dunno wot to believe actually but theres a hell of alot of people agreeing..
I wanna know why 60 million was given bk to SCF and the govts frantic attempts @ gettin hold of said 60 million $ by trying to clkaw it back
this whole thing stinks allright but hey the RWC is on– theyll forget about it all eh
Yeah on one of the groups I belong too on facebook- it has been implied they were behind the accident-
dunno wot to believe actually but theres a hell of alot of people agreeing..
I wanna know why 60 million was given bk to SCF and the govts frantic attempts @ gettin hold of said 60 million $ by trying to claw it back
I thought when you died everything was frozen for @ least 6 months?????
When my mom died thats what happened to her estate- it was frozen for 6 months from when probate was granted.
this whole thing stinks alright but hey the RWC is on– theyll forget about it all eh
mr draco earlier today posted a good link which explains much of the rort . . .
http://dimpost.wordpress.com/2011/04/16/south-cantubury-finance-let-me-get-this-straight/
And it was indeed a rort.
Key has admitted that on his FIRST DAY IN OFFICE they were told it was going bust. Yet Key and English allowed it to remain in the deposit guarantee scheme.
It is just a fucking rort. And the bad lending which took place after SCF was let into the scheme (being guaranteed of course all depositors overloaded SCF with money and it had to go somewhere – so why not into a bailout of the unsavoury positions SCF’s cronies and employees and associates were in.) has got to be criminal. Lachie McLeod is in the firing line (but note he received a $20million golden handshake for being fired for all the bad lending).
Im surprised Botherway has gotten away with what he has so far… Why ?
Official complaint and OIA request from Hubbard supporters
All part of that cosy Christ college boys club along with sideshow.
Agree with you VTO. We should all be saying very loudly “Why didn’t the the Nats start rolling back the scheme, by gradually dropping coverage of the interest, the top end of each deposit, say over $200,000 and confining it to those who had money invested at the date it went into the scheme?”
The other thing I have always been curious about, is was any back to back lending uncovered?
The sort where somebody has a loan with another party or even SCF and they know it is going to be
hard going to service it so they pitch up a story about how they are going to [renovate, expand ] the business and need a bigger loan. Part of the deal is that it will take time to spend the loan so they agree to deposit back or hold an offsetting deposit of some of the funds lent. Original loan to other bank is paid back, loan drawn down on SCF and deposit put into SCF and when it all goes south it turns out that the loan is to a company in liquidation and the deposit is held by a family trust or some other entity with no security offset. Home free.
Closed-Source Crops
The four big corporations are Monsanto, DuPont, Syngenta, and Bayer. Together, they represent that truly rare thing, a visible corner being turned in human history: the rise of the first global, seed-based food oligopoly since the dawn of agriculture.
for a sharp lesson in the dangers of Corporates owning seeds, watch David vs Monsanto
Toronto Hearings
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/thetorontohearings
live stream Day Three
(videos of Day One & Two avalable on site )
New Zealand Time:
Sunday, September 11, 2011
01:00 – 01;15 Moderators: Overview of the Day’s Testimony
01:15 – 02:30 Graeme MacQueen: Eyewitness Evidence of Explosions at WTC
02:45 – 04:00 David Chandler: WTC 7: A Refutation of the Official Account
05:00 – 06:15 Jon Cole: The Official Account and the Experimental Method
06:15 – 07:30 Kevin Ryan: Extreme Temperatures
07:45 – 09:00 Niels Harrit: Incendiary/Explosive Residue in the WTC Dust
09:00 – 09:30 Audience Question and Answer
Please be aware the schedule has remained accurate each day
Serious stiuff.
Is there any support for an ongoing blog about policies we mught like to see adopted by non Nact parties.
Me personally, I would like to see promises about restoring democracy esp to Ecan and removing the King Gerry acts, and sending all or the bulk of legislation passed under urgency back to select comittees to see what tweaking(?) it needs.
I know that no political party can promise to undo all the actions of a previous government as none of us would know where we stood and that size of repeal threat has to be reserved for the big stuff like ACC privatisation but there should be some way to make all this legislative urgency uncomfortable for those politcal parties that indulge in it, even if it is some way down the track.
“Me personally, I would like to see promises about restoring democracy esp to Ecan and removing the King Gerry acts, and sending all or the bulk of legislation passed under urgency back to select comittees to see what tweaking(?) it needs.”
Absolutely. These are the democratic outrages that made me think about voting Green instead of Labour – these and the beginnings of disenfranchising particular groups. The Greens seem more intent on protecting democratic processes. However, since then Mr Blue-Green has emerged. At least I know Labour won’t coalesce with NAct. I’ll probably have to make up my mind who to vote for on the day.
Quote of the Day
What’s a soup kitchen?
~ Paris Hilton
DAy three in Toronto just kicking off now
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/thetorontohearings