Well i’ll have a little prayer today that those Kurds who are fighting ISIS while the rest of the world plays political football, says why didn’t they go in to every other hotspot so why should they now and a multitude of other excuses, continue debating the ethics of it.
Having had family face this sort of thing, while the British and Russians played political footballs over the carving up of Europe post WW2.
When you’ve been effected by similar acts, you have a different point of view.
I can’t comment on Iraq, Georgia, Zimbabwe, Africa and every other bed of nasitness that we meddle in, god knows the US has caused most of this with their war mongering oil greed, all I know is lives are at stake and life is precious.
The legality of past US actions is another matter nd should be kept separate for the Haig to decide. Beleive it when I see it.
Perhaps their is a hint of racism. Is it because they are Arabs? Foreign?
Meh save a life you’ll feel better about yourself.
I thought evacuate that city, not as lot more than that Murray, just get the civilians out of there before it’s over ridden. One thing at a time, they are on the Turkish border, hopefully they will make the folly of entering Turkey and I’m sure the valiant Turks will teach them a hard lesson and we won’t be needed.
I particularly seem to have a bug up my ass about people who commit murder, or take lives in the name of religion sorry. I really do not like these simple deeply nasty people.
I suppose I’m more wishing for a humanitarian UN rescue and we participate rather than join an all out war on the middle easts again. You can never defeat them unless you go to the lengths of genocide, and if you don’t do that, then your just poking a stick at a hornets nest and they will just get madder and madder and madder.
Could David Cunliffe and Andrew Little please sit down this weekend and sort out a united ticket please. At least have a conversation. Neither the media nor the Labour caucus have the maturity to deal with a primary. All this is generating is further splits within the party. Start talking and stop making this mess worse.
Do you really think DC would be satisfied with being 2nd fiddle? And would Andrew Little trust DC not to quietly white ant him over the next couple of years?
You’d say anything to further the cause of the greedheads. I’d say that you should not expect anyone to believe that you have any concern in boosting the morale of the Labour party. Your (and Boag’s) support of Little are arguments for supporting the other candidates.
TRP
You really believe that Cunliffe is more likely to white-ant a rival than Robertson? That does not seem to correspond to the events of the last few years; where DC demonstrated his loyalty to Goff and even Shearer, while GR has always been out for himself.
Casting aspersions with no solid evidence or even any supporting argument is…a continuation of the shit and nonsense that’s plagued the Labour Party of late. Why do it?
“Do you really think DC would be satisfied with being 2nd fiddle? And would Andrew Little trust DC not to quietly white ant him over the next couple of years?”
If what you imply is true, then labour is completely fucked. From what I can tell there is no ABC/neoliberal vs leftist split between Little and Cunliffe, so if they can’t agree it means it’s all about the power. In which case all of Labour prefers opposition rather than change.
But like Bill, I’m not sure about your implication. Care to say why you believe this?
Sure, weka. Cunliffe is a politician. He has ego and ambition (as most of them do, of course). It is naive in the extreme to believe he didn’t know of and approve of people quietly promoting him as a leadership option during the Goff and Shearer years. He was also personally underwhelming in his support for Shearer, damning him with faint praise, particularly at conference (and I was there a few feet away for at least two of his standups in Ak).
On a personal level, I was lobbied twice while Shearer was leader about potential support for Cunliffe, once to determine my LEC’s position, once to get a feel for the affiliates likely support.
Like it or not, pollies plot. That’s par for the course. I supported DC in the last leadership round and of course supported his leadership in the election campaign. But I didn’t do it on the basis of thinking he was above reproach.
The reason I cited the Virgin Mary in response to Bill is that some folk seem to have completely unrealistic understandings of how politics works. DC did not rise to the leadership of the LP on the backs of angels, innocently whistling hymns and wondering how all this happened.
@Te Reo Putake 10.14am.
She did manage to give us a pretty good sort of son. She did a good thing in her own way.. The way now for us is to take note of what Bill is saying. I am sure you will agree that less is more when it comes to political sniping in Labour for the next few weeks.
I think dismantled is a bit strong, Moz, but it wasn’t all that good an interview. However, I expect over the next few weeks he’ll get into the swing of things. Some quick media training is definitely needed (mainly devil’s advocate stuff – throwing likely negative questions at him so he’s better prepared for the likes of Spinner in the future).
Yes, I think I overstated it, Te Reo. I was very disappointed with Little, however; he let Espiner dictate the conversation and bully him over the use of terminology. At the end of the interview, Espiner signed off with a contemptuous “Obviously you’ve made your mind up.”
Hopefully some time in the near future, Little will take the opportunity to deal with Espiner decisively, and refute his nasty little comments, as Laila Harré did during the election campaign.
We’re all experts now. I don’t know why Labour doesn’t put out an SOS to The Standard bloggers to come over and save it – there would be quite a big choice of stumblebums and clutterfucks who would have a quick noggin to give them the right spirit and then happily start ten sentences that would be talked down by interviewers. Or they would get into an argument with them which would not enhance their image or the Party’s.
Probably the broken record is best, with a bit of Peters’ affront – Now just let me finish…. May I make myself clear. Steven Price has already done a piece on talking to the media. I should dig it out, with his permission, it is pure gold.
If this is true and I have no reason to disbelieve the words of a worried father in a small Marae meeting, this would be deceit and treason of the highest kind. It would mean that our prime Minister is sending troops into war before any discussion has taken place and is acting like a dictator who can decide on war alone!
No, that doesn’t mean that Key is sending troops into war. It means the troops are being sent into a staging area, waiting for the order to go into war. That’s perfectly normal operational preparation, not deceit or treason.
It doesn’t even necessarily mean that much. SAS go to heaps of places. They usually keep this secret and relatives are not really supposed to talk about it.
I hope readers will spare a thought for regular commenter Penny Bright.
The Auckland Council has followed through in its demands for rent arrears and her Warship’s home is about to be sold to defray what is owed.
While I don’t agree with the nature of her protest, (refusing to pay rates for 5 years) I empathise with someone who has put so much on the line to publicise a point of principle, which is that the council is far from transparent in its own financial dealings.
+100 TRP… Penny is an admirable anti -corruption campaigner
….hope she doesnt lose her house( hope she has a back up fund!)
…and hope that bloody Auckland Council is forced to become more transparent in its financial dealings and therefore accountable to Auclanders and New Zealanders!
While I agree that Penny Bright is a very admirable anti-corruption campaigner – she should have been paying her bloody rates like the rest of us Jafas do – even when my partner and I have been struggling financially at times. I bet the Bailiff wouldn’t have been as charitable to us if we simply stopped paying our rates, we would have had our property sold pretty pronto. I presume that Auckland City have the same criteria in their financial transactions as does the rest of our local body councils. Yeah, let’s all stop paying our rates and let’s see where that gets us eh.
if you need proof our “leaders” base their behaviour on the legal standard and no higher, have a look at this law change and the response of one of the former transgressors, chester burrows
And worse, it appears they have only partially done what is required .. property in private super does not need to be declared; also no mention of whether it remains legal to use their accommodation supplement as mortgage repays ?
And how many years has this change taken ?
Oink, oink, oink, oink …. while they do nothing to help families living in cars. Oink, oink,all the way home.
And I would be willing to bet some of these same people will be in line to buy the best available state houses as they go to market … makes me wish a hacker or three would break into their private trusts to disclose some of the despicable truth around National ministers investments. Blind trusts ? yeah, right. They all went to specsavers if Key is any example.
Listened to Andrew Little on National Radio this morning. I’m warming to the man. Refused to be pigeon holed into being “left” or “right” of the Labour Party. .
I think that was a very wise move. To insist on the policies defining what is important. People can make up their own mind whether that is “Left” or “Right”, depending on their own definition of those two words.
My advice is to stay away from those labels too. The problem is that what one person means by the label, is likely to be very different to what others may think. The vision for the Party, and the policies that will achieve that vision are less able to be misrepresented.
Does anyone CHOOSE to watch One’s lousy Breakfast show?
And is Tim Wilson the unfunniest person on television?
Friday 10 October 2014
I thought this show was supposed to have been cancelled. Stories of its impending death are constantly doing the rounds. So why the hell is it still here? It’s an insult, a slap in the face to the idea of quality, stimulating, or entertaining television. Apart from the fawning “interviews” with politicians, the bulk of the programme seems to be free puff pieces for Hollywood movies—never anything interesting, just the most insipid mainstream rubbish. This morning, at 8:25, Hollywood correspondent Aleisha joined the team to talk about what’s going on in Tinseltown….
ALEISHA: Kristen Stewart’s got a pretty serious image. She was on Jimmy Fallon’s show recently to talk about her new film Camp X-Ray, about a female guard at Guantanamo. It’s pretty heavy.
RAWDON CHRISTIE: Yeah.
ALEISHA: But to lighten things up a bit, they played a game called “Ring Around the Nosy”.
Cue unfunny clip of Jimmy Fallon and Kristen Stewart playing idiotic party game, both of them wearing plastic elephant masks, trying to put rings on their trunks, the audience roaring with laughter throughout.
ALEISHA: She’s a good sport isn’t she!
RAWDON CHRISTIE: I want that game!
…..ad nauseam……
At 8:50, the utterly dire Tim Wilson delivered his dismal Tim’s Takes segment, meant to be a humorous summing up the week. It’s supposed to be funny, but it’s not. This guy has the sense of humour of a Canterbury engineering student. He’s the ebola of comedy. He is, in other words, the perfect choice as funny man for Television One’s Breakfast.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Jimmy Fallon Talks With Kristen Stewart About ‘Camp X-Ray’ [Video]
When The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon came back from another commercial break, Jimmy introduced his first guest of the evening, actress Kristen Stewart.
Jimmy Fallon showed the audience a copy of Elle magazine that had Kristen on the cover. He said she would be in the new movie, Camp X-Ray, a serious movie.” He said that she “found a new friend” while working on the movie — a dog.
Kristen mentioned a friend of hers that liked to play Frisbee Golf. He found the two dogs while playing Frisbee Golf and drove to her house to show her. She had two dogs already, but she decided to keep one of the two her friend brought, anyway. “She is the coolest dog in the world,” Kristen said.
Fallon said that Stewart plays a soldier at Guantanamo Bay and strikes up a friendship with one of the people incarcerated there. Fallon showed a clip from the movie, also starring John Lynch. Lynch confronts Stewart’s character and asks her about her friendship, which she, at first, denies.
Then, Jimmy asked Stewart to play the funky game he showed earlier, Ring Around the Nosy. She wore a green elephant mask and Fallon had on a blue one. He was the first to get a ring on his nose, so he won the game.
“..And is Tim Wilson the unfunniest person on television?..”
..i think it is neck and neck between him and reece darby..
..(and the two fat people who play two fat people thing on tv2..dunno what it is called..in lieu of comedic content..they talk loudly/shout at each other..it should be called ‘two fat people shout at each other’..whoar..!..it’s so so bad..)
..has anyone seen that latest dire offering from darby..?
..it’s buried late at nite on tvone (thurs..)..
..i watched it again last nite to see if it reached the excreble-levels of previous ones..
..and yes..yes it did..
..it is painfully..resolutely..unfunny..
..and how long can a man wring out/flog a character (murray) to death..?
Fair comment, Phillip. But, in stark contrast to Wilson, Reece Darby is a genuinely funny and clever entertainer.
Tim Wilson is unfunny in the way Mark Richardson and Greg Boyed are unfunny: all they have to offer is sardonic and facetious commentary masquerading as deadpan delivery.
You have to be witty, and have perfect timing to carry off being sour all the time. Ricky Gervais can do it; Tim Wilson, Mark Richardson and Greg Boyed cannot.
Ebola nurse returns to New Zealand: Very interesting and admirable first hand information.
” Some people were so scared that they tried anything to protect themselves from Ebola, including such mythical cures as drinking chlorine and bathing in salt water at midnight.
When a patient did survive – about half of them did so – the medical staff hugged them and they returned to their village with a certificate proving there were cured, to prevent ongoing stigma, Mackie said.”
Key Democrats, Led by Hillary Clinton, Leave No doubt that Endless War is Official U.S. Doctrine
by GLENN GREENWALD
October 09, 2014 “ICH” – The Intercept
Long before Americans were introduced to the new 9/11 era super-villains called ISIS and Khorasan, senior Obama officials were openly and explicitly stating that America’s “war on terror,” already 12 years old, would last at least another decade. At first, they injected these decrees only anonymously; in late 2012, the Washington Post – disclosing the administration’s secret creation of a “disposition matrix” to decide who should be killed, imprisoned without charges, or otherwise “disposed” of – reported these remarkable facts:
“Among senior Obama administration officials, there is a broad consensus that such operations are likely to be extended at least another decade. Given the way al-Qaida continues to metastasize, some officials said no clear end is in sight. . . . That timeline suggests that the United States has reached only the midpoint of what was once known as the global war on terrorism.”
In May, 2013, the Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing on whether it should revise the 2001 Authorization to Use Military Force (AUMF). A committee member asked a senior Pentagon official, Assistant Secretary Michael Sheehan, how long the war on terror would last; his reply: “At least 10 to 20 years.” At least. A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed afterward “that Sheehan meant the conflict is likely to last 10 to 20 more years from today — atop the 12 years that the conflict has already lasted.” As Spencer Ackerman put it: “Welcome to America’s Thirty Years War,” one which – by the Obama administration’s own reasoning – has “no geographic limit.”
Listening to all this, Maine’s independent Sen. Angus King said: “This is the most astounding and most astoundingly disturbing hearing that I’ve been to since I’ve been here. You guys have essentially rewritten the Constitution today.”
This may well have been covered elsewhere, in which case a link would be nice. After the debacle of the Bill English leadership in 1999 when they only got 22% of the vote, how did the NP go about their rebuild. It can’t all be down to Key.There must have been some fundamental/structural changes made. And if so are there lessons we could learn?
I always thought the credit went to Ms Boag, who took the knife to the deadwood (and they bleated at the time too but she didnt stop till she was satisfied) and then parachuted in John Key for the “new and acceptable face of the NP” – aka the PM in waiting.
I would think that was a strategy that could work for Labour. New Prez with a big knife, and parachute in the Mayor of Porirua as the “PM in waiting”
Repugnant abuse of taxpayer money halted. No surprises 35 of the 40 MP’s caught with their snouts in the trough are National MP’s. These leeches all took the oath to represent New Zealanders to the best of their ability. Disgraceful act of self interest greed. Any Labour MP exposed in this rort should be announcing their imminent retirement. http://m.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11340130
Bitta history.
Having been a member of the New Left Club at Canterbury University, Gibbs had converted to strongly-held free-market views by the late 1970s. He became a strong supporter of Roger Douglas, the Minister of Finance in the reforming Fourth Labour Government, 1984–90.
Gibbs was appointed chairman of the NZ Forestry Corporation, which in 1987 corporatised the old New Zealand Forest Service. The loss-making department was restructured and transformed into a profitable State Owned Enterprise.
He was also appointed chairman of the Hospital and Related Services Taskforce, with a brief to recommend reforms for the underperforming public hospital service. Their suggestions, which focused on introducing an internal market into the system, were not taken up by the Labour government but were partially implemented by the next National Government.
This is how you make money in NZ, buying businesses then dissecting them and selling their spare parts. Gibbs’ career took off in 1979 when, with three other investors, he purchased Tappenden Motors Ltd. They liquidated it profitably over the next few years.
Gibbs then gained stakes in Atlas Majestic Industries, Bendon and Ceramco, three prominent New Zealand public companies which he merged in 1986 and 1987 and that was liquidated in 1989.
In early 1990 the Fourth Labour Government confirmed it would sell the Telecom Corporation of New Zealand. Together with merchant banker David Richwhite, Gibbs brokered the $4.25 billion winning bid for the company, which when subsequently floated became the largest company on the New Zealand Stock Exchange.
It was obvious that the phone system needed privatising – a new business couldn’t get listed for months at that time.
wikipedia
—President William J. Clinton, AKA “Slick Willy”, White House press conference, 26 January 1998 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiIP_KDQmXs
(Hat tip to our friend and colleague Clemgeopin for this one.)
More liars….
No. 43: Assistant Commissioner Alan Boreham: “Look, integrity is absolutely critical to the New Zealand Police. It’s a core value.”
No. 42 John Key: “We’ve been given a tremendous gift tonight, the trust and goodwill of New Zealanders, and I do not take that trust for granted.”
No. 41 Richard Prebble: “What I do know is that John will consider everything. He’s an honorable man….”
New Zealand Navy Rear Admiral (a rather unflattering title) has banned alcohol from on board navy vessels and the Davenport naval base.
I know the Lash was stopped generations ago, and now the ban on Rum means no more hot toddies at sea. However for some sailers Sodomy will remain in vogue.
“I don’t doubt her sincereness.”
Has The Panel reached its nadir today?
Radio NZ National, Friday 10 October 2014
Jim Mora, Tau Henare, Bernard Hickey, Julie Moffett
Move over Garth George—you’re not the most useless guest ever. Since he first appeared in parliament as Winston Peters’ No. 2 man, Tau Henare has never looked like anything other than a vacuous chancer, a thug who adds no value to any discussion. In an utterly undistinguished parliamentary career, Henare came to public attention only twice—first, when Trevor Mallard thumped him, and second when he brutally mocked a parliamentary cleaner who was appearing before a parliamentary committee.
Tau Henare is the epitome of uselessness, in other words. Yet he is now regularly being used as a commentator on Television One, TV3 and Māori Television. And today he made his debut on Jim Mora’s light chat show. He is, I suppose, just right for it. He has little of interest to say, not only because he clearly reads nothing, but also because he spends his time polishing up his cheeky Westie act. His Twitter handle is “West Side Tory”. He obviously thinks that’s quite clever.
Sadly, the other guest today is Bernard Hickey, who so far has gone out of his way to agree with everything Henare has said.
JIM MORA: So what else is going on in the world? JULIE MOFFETT: A beach in Hawaii was going to be renamed in honor of President Obama, but there is apparently a great deal of public opposition to this happening. JIM MORA: He’s had—you’ve got to feel sorry for what’s happened to Obama in the Middle East, don’t you. TAU HENARE: Yeah, he came on the scene at the wrong time. He’s a great speaker. JIM MORA: Great speaker!
4:27 p.m.: Hilariously, he has just pronounced on Penny Bright’s refusal to pay her rates. “I don’t doubt her sincereness,” he intoned, speaking very slowly to underline how deeply he was thinking.
4:34 p.m.: Mora turned down Penny Bright’s voice as she was speaking, because (so he claimed) she did not have evidence to back up some claims she was making about the Auckland Council. “I’ve just turned you down,” he said. Bernard Hickey snorted approvingly.
A little later, the following exchange occurred….
JIM MORA: Celia Wade Brown is sleeping rough on the streets of Wellington tonight. TAU HENARE: Why? JIM MORA: Doesn’t it give her a degree of empathy with the poor? TAU HENARE: Ahhhh, BOLLOCKS!
And a little later, this one….
TAU HENARE: Hey wouldn’t you want to go to sleep in Finland? JIM MORA: Finland? TAU HENARE: It’s not a very exciting place, is it?
I sent Jim a quick email in regard to his sympathy for poor old Obomba….
We should “feel sorry for what’s happened to Obama in the Middle East”?
Dear Jim,
You said that we “have to feel sorry for what’s happened to Obama in the Middle East.” I think most fair-minded people would feel sorry for what Obama has done in the Middle East. He has rhetorically encouraged, diplomatically supported and armed the bloody Al Qaeda/ISIS insurrection in Syria, and he was quick to support the brutal overthrow of the elected government of Egypt and support the bloodthirsty Sisi regime. The people of Gaza and the Occupied West Bank are sorry about what he has allowed Israel to do to them.
Yet, in spite of all this, you claim “we” should feel sorry for what’s happened “to Obama”.
You’re lucky you have Tau Henare sitting next to you in the studio. Anyone a bit quicker on the uptake would have taken you to task.
[Deleted by DPF. I know you were not meaning it literally, and trying to make the point that the song should not have been trivialised, but that was not the way to do it]
So DPF’s line on twitter today was that the comment stayed up for so long because no one had reported it in the correct manner (you have to email him). And then he went on about how he doesn’t have time to read every comment and so can’t control what people say there.
Doesn’t explain why 16 people upvoted the comment and one person down voted.
It’s all about the culture there and that people in general think it’s ok to be pro-rape. One comment on twitter was that DPF doesn’t need to say these things because he has commenters do it for him. Handy having no moderators then.
DPF is also a complete and utter fuckwit to use rape as part of his political manipulations, er I mean PR for National.
I’ve got a lovely photo of Farrar, all posh in fancy dress and a blond wig. I think he must have been going to some sort of party. It doesn’t look like one I’d go to. I’d post it if it were OK with lprent and I knew how.
The Labour Party caucus led by Labour Deputy leader David Parker is in open revolt against David Cunliffe’as their elected leader, When the caucus made the undemocratic demand that he hand over his leadership to someone of their choosing. David Cunliffe had no choice but to step down and seek a mandate from the membership. To do less would have been to let down those who had voted for him in the first place.
I have sympathy for Andrew Little, his Left Wing credentials are good.
But more than being a vote of confidence, a membership vote that returns David Cunliffe as Party Leader, will be a membership vote of no confidence in the right dominated caucus.
So while I am sympathetic to Andrew Little
Any other leader chosen, be it Robertson, or Little, will not bring this struggle between the Left and Right to a head, neither man will be able shift the caucus from their comfortable positions and they will wind up just being played.
On the other hand a Cunliffe victory could change everything.
Coming from Right Wing perspective Vernon Small in a post last year sets out the size of the problem.
But if you were really weeding out the – shall we call it “less Left wing” – faction within the Labour caucus you would have to swing the axe much more widely, especially if the touchstones of Leftwingery were an empathy with Green issues and a hostility to raising the pension age and the TPP free trade talks. The red reaper would then have to take out the likes of David Parker and Shane Jones (unthinkable), David Shearer and a bunch of others.
Note the dated reference to darling of the Right Shane Jones. “Unthinkable” that he should leave the Labour caucus, opines Small. But the unthinkable happened and Shane Jones removed himself. I expect that if David Cunliffe is returned as leader a few other Right Wing Labour caucus members will be moved to remove themselves. Good! What is unthinkable to the Right, is sweet reason to the Left. First amongst those to remove themselves must be Shane Jones close personal friend and admirer David Parker. Parker like Jones is a staunch advocate of the fossil fuel lobby and a bane of the Greens. Therefore Parker’s exit will be a double blessing not just for Labour Party Left but for the environment as well, And will put a Labour Green coalition government a much more sounder base making it a much more viable proposition.
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This is a guest post by accessibility and sustainable transport advocate Tim Adriaansen It originally appeared here. A friend calls you and asks for your help. They tell you that while out and about nearby, they slipped over and landed arms-first. Now their wrist is swollen, hurting like ...
Floating offshore wind turbines offer incredible opportunities to capture powerful winds far out at sea. By unlocking this wind energy potential, they could be a key weapon in our arsenal in the fight against climate change. But how developed are these climate fighting clean energy giants? And why do I ...
Over the past two or three weeks, a procession of Maori iwi and hapu in a series of little-noticed appearances before two Select Committees have been asking for more say for Maori over resource management decisions along the co-governance lines of Three Waters. Their submissions and appearances run counter ...
The decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue war crimes arrest warrants for the Russian President and the Russia Children Ombudsman may have been welcomed by the ideologically committed but otherwise seems to have been greeted with widespread cynicism (see Situation in Ukraine: ICC judges issue arrest warrants ...
Let’s say you’re clasping your drink at a wedding, or a 40th, or a King’s Birthday Weekend family reunion and Drunk Uncle Kevin has just got going.He’s in an expansive frame of mind because we’re finally rid of that silly girl. But he wants to ask an honest question about ...
National Party leader Christopher Luxon may be feeling glum about his poll ratings, but he could be tapping into a rich political vein in describing the current state of education as “alarming”. Luxon said educational achievement has been declining, with a recent NCEA pilot exposing just how far it has ...
Way Beyond Reform: Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer have no more interest in remaining permanent members of “New Zealand’s” House of Representatives than did Lenin and Trotsky in remaining permanent members of Tsar Nicolas II’s “democratically-elected” Duma. Like the Bolsheviks, Te Pāti Māori is a party of revolutionaries – not reformists.THE CROWN ...
Buzz from the Beehive Auckland was wiped off the map, when Education Minister Jan Tinetti delivered her speech of welcome as host of the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers “here in Tāmaki Makaurau”. But – fair to say – a reference was made later in the speech to a ...
Morning mate, how you going?Well, I was watching the news last night and they announced this scientific report on Climate Change. But before they got to it they had a story about the new All Blacks coach.Sounds like important news. It’s a bit of a worry really.Yeah, they were talking ...
Always a bailout: US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the Government would fully guarantee all savers in all smaller US banks if needed. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: No wonder an entire generation of investors are used to ‘buying the dip’ and ‘holding on for dear life’. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen ...
Wealthy vested interests have an oversized influence on political decisions in New Zealand. Partly that’s due to their use of corporate lobbyists. Fortunately, the influence lobbyists can have on decisions made by politicians is currently under scrutiny in Guyon Espiner’s in-depth series published by RNZ. Two of Espiner’s research exposés ...
Yesterday afternoon it rained and traffic around the region ground to a halt, once again highlighting why it is so important that our city gets on with improving the alternatives to driving. For additional irony, this happened on the same day the IPCC synthesis report landed, putting the focus on ...
The Beginning: Anti-Co-Governance agitator, Julian Batchelor, addresses the Dargaville stop of his travelling roadshow across New Zealand . Fascism almost always starts small. Sadly, it doesn’t always stay that way. Especially when the Left helps it to grow.THERE IS A DREADFUL LOGIC to the growth of fascism. To begin with, it ...
Hi,From an incredibly rainy day in Los Angeles, I just wanted to check in. I guess this is the day Trump may or may not end up in cuffs? I’m attempting a somewhat slower, less frenzied week. I’ve had Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s new record on non-stop, and it’s been a ...
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 ...
RNZ has been shining their torch into corners where lobbyists lurk and asking such questions as: Do we like the look of this?and Is this as democratic as it could be?These are most certainly questions worth asking, and every bit as valid as, say:Are weshortchanged democratically by the way ...
RNZ has continued its look at the role of lobbyists by taking a closer look at the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Andrew Kirton. He used to work for liquor companies, opposing (among other things) a container refund scheme which would have required them to take responsibility for their own ...
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has left for Beijing for the first ministerial visit to China since 2019. Mahuta is to meet China’s new foreign minister Qin Gang where she might have to call on all the diplomatic skills at her command. Almost certainly she will face questions on what role ...
TL;DR:The Opportunities Party’s Leader Raf Manji is hopeful the party’s new Teal Card, a type of Gold card for under 30s, will be popular with students, and not just in his Ilam electorate where students make up more than a quarter of the voters and where Manji is confident ...
When I was a kid New Zealand was actually pretty green. We didn’t really have plastic. The fruit and veges came in a cardboard box, the meat was wrapped in paper, milk came in a glass bottle, and even rubbish sacks were made of paper. Today if you sit down ...
Looking back through the names of our Police Ministers down the years, the job has either been done by once or future party Bigfoots – Syd Holland, Richard Prebble, Juduth Collins, Chris Hipkins – or by far lesser lights like Keith Allen, Frank Gill, Ben Couch, Allen McCready, Clem Simich, ...
Chris Trotter writes – The Crown is a fickle friend. Any political movement deemed to be colourful but inconsequential is generally permitted to go about its business unmolested. The Crown’s media, RNZ and TVNZ, may even “celebrate” its existence (presumably as proof of Democracy’s broad-minded acceptance of diversity). ...
Four out of the five people who have held the top role of Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff since 2017 have been lobbyists. That’s a fact that should worry anyone who believes vested interests shouldn’t have a place at the centre of decision making. Chris Hipkins’ newly appointed Chief of ...
Feedback on Auckland Council’s draft 2023/24 budget closes on March 28th. You can read the consultation document here, and provide feedback here. Auckland Council is currently consulting on what is one of its most important ever Annual Plans – the ‘budget’ of what it will spend money on between July ...
by Molten Moira from Motueka If you want to be a woman let me tell you what to do Get a piece of paper and a biro tooWrite down your new identification And boom! You’re now a woman of this nationSpelled W O M A Na real trans woman that isAs opposed ...
Buzz from the Beehive New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti is hosting the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers for three days from today, welcoming Education Ministers and senior officials from 18 Pacific Island countries and territories, and from Australia. Here’s hoping they have brought translators with them – or ...
Let’s say you’ve come all the way from His Majesty’s United Kingdom to share with the folk of Australia and New Zealand your antipathy towards certain other human beings. And let’s say you call yourself a women’s rights activist.And let’s say 99 out of 100 people who listen to you ...
James Shaw gave the Green party's annual "state of the planet" address over the weekend, in which he expressed frustration with Labour for not doing enough on climate change. His solution is to elect more Green MPs, so they have more power within any government arrangement, and can hold Labour ...
RNZ this morning has the first story another investigative series by Guyon Espiner, this time into political lobbying. The first story focuses on lobbying by government agencies, specifically transpower, Pharmac, and assorted universities, and how they use lobbyists to manipulate public opinion and gather intelligence on the Ministers who oversee ...
Nick Matzke writes – Dear NZ Herald, I am a Senior Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland. I teach evolutionary biology, but I also have long experience in science education and (especially) political attempts to insert pseudoscience into science curricula in ...
James Shaw has again said the Greens would be better ‘in the tent’ with Labour than out, despite Labour’s policy bonfire last week torching much of what the Government was doing to reduce emissions. File Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Green Party has never been more popular than in some ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah Wesseler Poor air quality is a long-standing problem in Los Angeles, where the first major outbreak of smog during World War II was so intense that some residents thought the city had been attacked by chemical weapons. Cars were eventually discovered ...
Yesterday I was reading an excellent newsletter from David Slack, and I started writing a comment “Sounds like some excellent genetic heritage…” and then I stopped.There was something about the phrase genetic heritage that stopped me in tracks. Is that a phrase I want to be saying? It’s kind of ...
Brian Easton writes – Two senior economists challenge some of the foundations of current economics. It is easy to criticise economic science by misrepresenting it, by selective quotations, and by ignoring that it progresses, like all sciences, by improving and abandoning old theories. The critics may go ...
This week marks the twentieth anniversary of the Iraq War. While it strongly opposed the US-led invasion, New Zealand’s then Labour-led government led by Prime Minister Helen Clark did deploy military engineers to try to help rebuild Iraq in mid-2003. With violence soaring, their 12-month deployment ended without being renewed ...
After seventy years, Auckland’s motorway network is finally finished. In July 1953 the first section of motorway in Auckland was opened between Ellerslie-Panmure Highway and Mt Wellington Highway. The final stage opens to traffic this week with the completion of the motorway part of the Northern Corridor Improvements project. Aucklanders ...
National’s appointment of Todd McClay as Agriculture spokesperson clearly signals that the party is in trouble with the farming vote. McClay was not an obvious choice, but he does have a record as a political scrapper. The party needs that because sources say it has been shedding farming votes ...
Rays of white light come flooding into my lounge, into my face from over the top of my neighbour’s hedge. I have to look away as the window of the conservatory is awash in light, as if you were driving towards the sun after a rain shower and suddenly blinded. ...
The columnists in Private Eye take pen names, so I have not the least idea who any of them are. But I greatly appreciate their expert insight, especially MD, who writes the medical column, offering informed and often damning critique of the UK health system and the politicians who keep ...
A chronological listing of news articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Mar 12, 2023 thru Sat, Mar 18, 2023. Story of the Week Guest post: What 13,500 citations reveal about the IPCC’s climate science report IPCC WG1 AR6 SPM Report Cover - Changing ...
Buzz from the Beehive The building of financial capability was brought into our considerations when Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced she had dipped into the government’s coffers for $3 million for “providers” to help people and families access community-based Building Financial Capability services. That wording suggests some ...
Do you ever come across something that makes you go Hmmmm?You mean like the song?No, I wasn’t thinking of the song, but I am now - thanks for that. I was thinking of things you read or hear that make you stop and go Hmmmm.Yeah, I know what you mean, ...
By the end of the week, the dramas over Stuart Nash overshadowed Hipkins’ policy bonfire. File photo: Lynn GrieveasonTLDR: This week’s news in geopolitics and the political economy covered on The Kākā included:PM Chris Hipkins’ announcement of the rest of a policy bonfire to save a combined $1.7 billion, but ...
When word went out that Prime Minister Chris Hipkins would be making an announcement about Stuart Nash on the tiles at parliament at 2:45pm yesterday, the assumption was that it was over. That we had reached tipping point for Nash’s time as minister. But by 3pm - when, coincidentally, the ...
Two senior economists challenge some of the foundations of current economics. It is easy to criticise economic science by misrepresenting it, by selective quotations, and by ignoring that it progresses, like all sciences, by improving and abandoning old theories. The critics may go on to attack physics by citing Newton.So ...
Photo by Walker Fenton on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week again when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kaka for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on Riverside (we’ve moved from Zoom) for our chat about the week’s news with ...
In a nice bit of news, my 2550-word deindustrial science-fiction piece, The Dream of Florian Neame, has been accepted for publication at New Maps Magazine (https://www.new-maps.com/). I have published there before, of course, with Of Tin and Tintagel coming out last year. While I still await the ...
And so this is Friday, and what have we learned?It was a week with all the usual luggage: minister brags and then he quits, Hollywood red carpet is full of twits. And all the while, hanging over the trivial stuff: existential dread, and portents of doom.Depending on who you read ...
When I changed the name of this newsletter from The Daily Read to Nick’s Kōrero I was a bit worried whether people would know what Kōrero meant or not. I added a definition when I announced the change and kind of assumed people who weren’t familiar with it would get ...
There was a time when a political party’s publicity people would counsel against promoting a candidate as queer. No matter which of two dictionary meanings the voting public might choose to apply – the old meaning of odd, strange, weird, or aberrant, or the more recent meaning of gay, homosexual ...
Photo by Joakim Honkasalo on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for the next hour, including:PM Chris Hipkins announcement of the rest of a policy bonfire to save a combined $1.7 billion, but which blew up ...
Even though concern over the climate change threat is becoming more mainstream, our governments continue to opt out of the difficult decisions at the expense of time, and cost for future generations. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTLDR: Now we have a climate liability number to measure the potential failure of the ...
Thomas Cranmer writesLike it or not, the culture wars have entered New Zealand politics and look set to broaden and intensify. The culture wars are often viewed as an exclusively American phenomenon, but the reality is that they are becoming increasingly prominent in countries around the world, ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for the invitation to speak with you today and in your busy lives turning up to this meeting. Forty five years ago, in Howick, often described as racist, and where few Maori lived because it had been a ‘Fencible’ settlement at the time of the Anglo-Maori ...
The Green Party has marked the National Party’s new education policy and given it a fail, especially for its failure to address the underlying drivers of school performance. ...
Political parties that want to negotiate with the Green Party must come to the table with much faster, bolder climate action, co-leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson emphasised in their State of the Planet speech today. ...
Political parties that want to negotiate with the Green Party after the election must come to the table with much faster, bolder climate action, co-leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson emphasised today. ...
You will never truly understand, from the pictures you’ve seen in the newspapers or on the six o-clock news, the sheer scale of the devastation wrought by Cyclone Gabrielle. ...
We’re boosting incomes and helping ease cost of living pressures on Kiwis through a range of bread and butter support measures that will see pensioners, students, families, and those on main benefits better off from the start of next month. ...
The error Labour Ministers made by stopping work on a beverage container return scheme will be reversed by the Greens at the earliest opportunity as part of the next Government. ...
“Cabinet needs to do better - and today has shown exactly why we need Green Ministers in cabinet, so we can prioritise action to cut climate pollution and support people to make ends meet,” says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson. ...
Biggest increase in food prices for over three decades shows the need for an excess profit tax on corporations to help people put food on the table. ...
The Green Party has today launched a submission guide to help Aucklanders give crucial input and prevent potentially disastrous Auckland Council budget proposals. ...
With calls growing for inquiries and action on bank profits, the Greens say the Government has all the information it needs to act now and put a levy on banks. ...
As large parts of Aotearoa recover from two of the worst climate disasters we have ever experienced, it would be a huge mistake for the Government to deprioritise climate action from future transport investments, the Green Party says. ...
The Green Party is celebrating the signing of a historic United Nations Ocean Treaty, and calls on the new Oceans and Fisheries Minister to urgently step up protection for Aotearoa’s oceans. ...
Attorney-General David Parker has announced the appointment of Christopher John Dellabarca of Wellington, Dr Katie Jane Elkin of Wellington, Caroline Mary Hickman of Napier, Ngaroma Tahana of Rotorua, Tania Rose Williams Blyth of Hamilton and Nicola Jan Wills of Wellington as District Court Judges. Chris Dellabarca Mr Dellabarca commenced his ...
A new Government-backed project will help ocean-related businesses in the Nelson Tasman region to accelerate their growth and boost jobs. “The Nelson Tasman region is home to more than 400 blue economy businesses, accounting for more than 30 percent of New Zealand’s economic activity in fishing, aquaculture, and seafood processing,” ...
After three years of COVID-19 disruptions schools are finally settling down and National want to throw that all in the air with major disruption to learning and underinvestment. “National’s education policy lacks the very thing teachers, parents and students need after a tough couple of years, certainty and stability,” Education ...
People aged over 50 with innovative business ideas will now be able to receive support to advance their ideas to the next stage of development, Minister for Seniors Ginny Andersen said today. “Seniors have some great entrepreneurial ideas, and this programme will give them the support to take that next ...
A cross government target for relevant government procurement contracts for goods and services to be awarded to Māori businesses annually will increase to 8%, after the initial 5% target was exceeded. The progressive procurement policy was introduced in 2020 to increase supplier diversity, starting with Māori businesses, for the estimated ...
77,000 fewer children living in low income households on the after-housing-costs primary measure since Labour took office Eight of the nine child poverty measures have seen a statistically significant reduction since 2018. All nine have reduced 28,700 fewer children experiencing material hardship since 2018 Measures taken by the Government during ...
Deputy Prime Minister Kamikamica; distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Tēnā koutou katoa, ni sa bula vinaka saka, namaste. Deputy Prime Minister, a very warm welcome to Aotearoa. I trust you have been enjoying your time here and thank you for joining us here today. To all delegates who have travelled to be ...
$2.9 million convertible loan for Scapegrace Distillery to meet growing national and international demand $4.5m underwrite to support Silverlight Studios’ project to establish a film studio in Wanaka Gore’s James Cumming Community Centre and Library to be official opened tomorrow with support of $3m from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery ...
Transport Minister Michael Wood has today launched the first national EV (electric vehicle) charging strategy, Charging Our Future, which includes plans to provide EV charging stations in almost every town in New Zealand. “Our vision is for Aotearoa New Zealand to have world-class EV charging infrastructure that is accessible, affordable, ...
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Priyanca Radhakrishnan has today launched the Love Better campaign in a world-leading approach to family harm prevention. Love Better will initially support young people through their experience of break-ups, developing positive and life-long attitudes to dealing with hurt. “Over 1,200 young kiwis told ...
Hon Rino Tirikatene, Minister for Courts, welcomes the Ministry of Justice’s appointment of Dr Garry Clearwater as New Zealand’s first Chief Clinical Advisor working with the Coroners Court. “This appointment is significant for the Coroners Court and New Zealand’s wider coronial system.” Minister Tirikatene said. Through Budget 2022, the Government ...
The Government via the Cyclone Taskforce is working with local government and insurance companies to build a picture of high-risk areas following Cyclone Gabrielle and January floods. “The Taskforce, led by Sir Brian Roche, has been working with insurance companies to undertake an assessment of high-risk areas so we can ...
E te huia kaimanawa, ko Ngāpuhi e whakahari ana i tau aupikinga ki te tihi o te maunga. Ko te Ao Māori hoki e whakanui ana i a koe te whakaihu waka o te reo Māori i roto i te Ao Ture. (To the prized treasure, it is Ngāpuhi who ...
113,400 exits into work in the year to June 2022 Young people are moving off Benefit faster than after the Global Financial Crisis Two reports released today by the Ministry of Social Development show the Government’s investment in the COVID-19 response helped drive record numbers of people off Benefits and ...
The Government’s priority to keep New Zealand at the cutting edge of food production and lift our sustainability credentials continues by backing the next steps of a hi-tech vertical farming venture that uses up to 95 per cent less water, is climate resilient, and pesticide-free. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor visited ...
E nga mana, e nga iwi, e nga reo, e nga hau e wha, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou kātoa. Warm Pacific greetings to all. It is an honour to host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Aotearoa is delighted to be hosting you ...
The new renal unit at Taranaki Base Hospital has been officially opened by the Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall this afternoon. Te Huhi Raupō received around $13 million in government funding as part of Project Maunga Stage 2, the redevelopment of the Taranaki Base Hospital campus. “It’s an honour ...
Defence Minister Andrew Little has marked the arrival of the country’s second P-8A Poseidon aircraft alongside personnel at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base at Ohakea today. “With two of the four P-8A Poseidons now on home soil this marks another significant milestone in the Government’s historic investment in ...
Aotearoa New Zealand will provide further humanitarian support to those seriously affected by last month’s deadly earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, says Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta. “The 6 February earthquakes have had devastating consequences, with almost 18 million people affected. More than 53,000 people have died and tens of thousands more ...
Migrant communities across New Zealand are represented in the new Migrant Community Reference Group that will help shape immigration policy going forward, Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced today. “Since becoming Minister, a reoccurring message I have heard from migrants is the feeling their voice has often been missing around policy ...
Construction has begun on major works that will deliver significant safety improvements on State Highway 3 from Waitara to Bell Block, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan announced today. “This is an important route for communities, freight and visitors to Taranaki but too many people have lost their lives or ...
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has today appointed Ginny Andersen as Minister of Police. “Ginny Andersen has a strong and relevant background in this important portfolio,” Chris Hipkins said. “Ginny Andersen worked for the Police as a non-sworn staff member for around 10 years and has more recently been chair of ...
Six further bailey bridge sites confirmed Four additional bridge sites under consideration 91 per cent of damaged state highways reopened Recovery Dashboards for impacted regions released The Government has responded quickly to restore lifeline routes after Cyclone Gabrielle and can today confirm that an additional six bailey bridges will ...
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta departs for China tomorrow, where she will meet with her counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in Beijing. This will be the first visit by a New Zealand Minister to China since 2019, and follows the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions between New Zealand and China. ...
Education Ministers from across the Pacific will gather in Tāmaki Makaurau this week to share their collective knowledge and strategic vision, for the benefit of ākonga across the region. New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti will host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers (CPEM) for three days from today, ...
A vital transport link for communities and local businesses has been restored following Cyclone Gabrielle with the reopening of State Highway 5 (SH5) between Napier and Taupō, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan says. SH5 reopened to all traffic between 7am and 7pm from today, with closure points at SH2 (Kaimata ...
Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds has thanked generous New Zealanders who took part in the special Lotto draw for communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Held on Saturday night, the draw raised $11.7 million with half of all ticket sales going towards recovery efforts. “In a time of need, New Zealanders ...
The Government has announced funding of $3 million for providers to help people, and whānau access community-based Building Financial Capability services. “Demand for Financial Capability Services is growing as people face cost of living pressures. Those pressures are increasing further in areas affected by flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle,” Minister for ...
Minister of Education, Hon Jan Tinetti, has announced appointments to the Board of Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao. Tracey Bridges is joining the Board as the new Chair and Dr Therese Arseneau will be a new member. Current members Dr Linda Sissons CNZM and Daniel Wilson have ...
Fifteen ākonga Māori from across Aotearoa have been awarded the prestigious Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships and Awards for 2023, Associate Education Minister and Ngarimu Board Chair, Kelvin Davis announced today. The recipients include doctoral, masters’ and undergraduate students. Three vocational training students and five wharekura students, ...
High Court Judge Jillian Maree Mallon has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, and District Court Judge Andrew John Becroft QSO has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Mallon graduated from Otago University in 1988 with an LLB (Hons), and with ...
The economy has continued to show its resilience despite today’s GDP figures showing a modest decline in the December quarter, leaving the Government well positioned to help New Zealanders face cost of living pressures in a challenging global environment. “The economy had grown strongly in the two quarters before this ...
Aucklanders now have more ways to get around as Transport Minister Michael Wood opened the direct State Highway 1 (SH1) to State Highway 18 (SH18) underpass today, marking the completion of the 48-kilometre Western Ring Route (WRR). “The Government is upgrading New Zealand’s transport system to make it safer, more ...
This section contains briefings received by incoming ministers following changes to Cabinet in January. Some information may have been withheld in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982. Where information has been withheld that is indicated within the document. ...
Aotearoa New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta reaffirmed her commitment to working together with the new Government of Fiji on issues of shared importance, including on the prioritisation of climate change and sustainability, at a meeting today, in Nadi. Fiji and Aotearoa New Zealand’s close relationship is underpinned by the Duavata ...
The Government is delivering a coastal shipping lifeline for businesses, residents and the primary sector in the cyclone-stricken regions of Hawkes Bay and Tairāwhiti, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan announced today. The Rangitata vessel has been chartered for an emergency coastal shipping route between Gisborne and Napier, with potential for ...
The Government will progress to the next stage of the NZ Battery Project, looking at the viability of pumped hydro as well as an alternative, multi-technology approach as part of the Government’s long term-plan to build a resilient, affordable, secure and decarbonised energy system in New Zealand, Energy and Resources ...
This morning I was made aware of a media interview in which Minister Stuart Nash criticised a decision of the Court and said he had contacted the Police Commissioner to suggest the Police appeal the decision. The phone call took place in 2021 when he was not the Police Minister. ...
The Government’s sharp focus on trade continues with Aotearoa New Zealand set to host Trade Ministers and delegations from 10 Asia Pacific economies at a meeting of Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Commission members in July, Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor announced today. “New Zealand ...
$25 million boost to support more businesses with clean-up in cyclone affected regions, taking total business support to more than $50 million Demand for grants has been strong, with estimates showing applications will exceed the initial $25 million business support package Grants of up to a maximum of $40,000 per ...
"He imagines the rattling windows of his bach": a sad seaside saga by Majella Cullinane Màiri watches him as he walks down the hill next to her house. The man appears gradually – first his head covered in a tweed cap and earphones, then the unkempt hair and beard, ...
Every weekday, The Detail makes sense of the big news stories. This week, we looked at how our top authors make a living writing books, the sky-high fares coming from independent taxi drivers, how the people of Muriwai are putting their lives back together post-Cyclone Gabrielle, why a Levin chocolate maker is ...
Every weekday, The Detail makes sense of the big news stories. This week, we looked at how our top authors make a living writing books, the sky-high fares coming from independent taxi drivers, how the people of Muriwai are putting their lives back together post-Cyclone Gabrielle, why a Levin chocolate maker is ...
The popularity of stories about unhappy rich people says more about our need to view them that way than it does about how they experience their livesOpinion:Succession is returning to Aotearoa’s television screens. It joins other portrayals of the emotional traumas that come from having far, far too ...
The popularity of stories about unhappy rich people says more about our need to view them that way than it does about how they experience their livesOpinion:Succession is returning to Aotearoa’s television screens. It joins other portrayals of the emotional traumas that come from having far, far too ...
This is The Detail's Long Read - one in-depth story read by us every weekend This week, it's What's Up With ADHD?, written by Mirjam Guesgen and published in North & South's April 2023 issue. You can find the full article, with illustrations by Rachel Salazar, in this month’s issue of North & South. Once a condition ...
This is The Detail's Long Read - one in-depth story read by us every weekend This week, it's What's Up With ADHD?, written by Mirjam Guesgen and published in North & South's April 2023 issue. You can find the full article, with illustrations by Rachel Salazar, in this month’s issue of North & South. Once a condition ...
"He imagines the rattling windows of his bach": a sad seaside saga by Majella Cullinane Màiri watches him as he walks down the hill next to her house. The man appears gradually – first his head covered in a tweed cap and earphones, then the unkempt hair and beard, ...
Not content with transforming KiwiSaver, Simplicity is now planning to out-build Kāinga Ora. Duncan Greive meets a pair of of unlikely revolutionaries trying to fix housing – a task which seems impossible, even for the state itself.In September of 2020, a builder named Shane Brealey sat down and typed ...
The Auckland Writers Festival has just launched its 23rd programme, the first since Covid to include its signature line-up of visiting international writers. With 160 events to choose from, here’s books editor Claire Mabey’s top 10 to help you navigate your way through the lit fest universe.Straight Up: Ruby ...
Taking her her young family around the world as she rows is a key factor in Emma Twigg's decision to defend her Olympic single sculls title at next year's Paris Olympics. And, Andy Hay writes, the next Emma Twigg could be waiting in the wings at the Maadi Cup next week. ...
The Fijian Drua will need to start and finish well, while Moana Pasifika’s coach wants to see a full 80-minute performance this weekend as the two regional teams continue their Super Rugby Pacific campaigns. The Drua tackle the Highlanders in Dunedin today and Pasifika face the Hurricanes at Mt Smart ...
By Todagia Kelola in Port Moresby A number of small contractors in Papua New Guinea are still waiting for positive feedback for money owed to them by government agencies after 12 years. A 2015 Post-Courier front page picture showed a man, David Goli, who chained himself at the then headquarters ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Beryl Exley, Professor, Griffith Institute for Educational Research, Griffith University, Griffith University Shutterstock Last August, the federal government set up an expert panel to look at the continuous improvement agenda in teacher education in Australia. The panel, led by ...
The New Zealand First leader took to the altar of an East Auckland church today to set out his 2023 election agenda. It was, as Stewart Sowman-Lund found out, pretty much what you’d expect. Winston Peters rolled into Howick today with a state of the nation speech that, he claimed ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jon Wardle, Professor of Public Health, Southern Cross University Shutterstock Earlier this week, Australian retail giant Woolworths announced a move into health-care delivery via development of its subsidiary HealthyLife’s online portal. Through this portal, Australians can book a same-day ...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters - eyeing a political comeback - has used a scene-setting speech in Auckland warning against a "conceited, conniving, cultural cabal". ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William Peterson, Adjunct Associate Professor, Auckland University of Technology The Sheep Song.Tim Standing/Daylight Breaks/Adelaide Festival Few Adelaideans remember a time before the Adelaide Festival. Formed in 1960 as a civic enterprise and financed against loss by prominent Adelaide businessmen, the ...
Analysis - The Greens lay down a challenge as the minor parties approach an election in which both National and Labour are going to need coalition partners to form a government, writes Peter Wilson. ...
By Arieta Vakasukawaqa in Suva Communications Fiji Ltd (CFL) chair William Parkinson has called for a repeal of Fiji’s Media Industry Development Act 2010 and more discussion on the proposed Media Ownership and Registration Bill 2023. He said this during a public consultation on the review of MIDA Act 2010 ...
High Court Justice David Gendall regretfully allows anti-trans activist to enter New Zealand, but warns the expression of her views may be harmful to our vulnerable rainbow community. Jonathan Milne does his best to be civil.Opinion: Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull calls herself Posie Parker. And that's what I'm going to call her. Because she is ...
It’s about time somebody made a wacky TV show about how bonkers spelling is. Enter comedian Guy Montgomery and his Guy Mont Spelling Bee. The three years since Covid-19 began have been pretty rocky, but one of the best things to come out of the chaos was Guy Montgomery’s Guy ...
Te Rōpū Mātai Hinengaro o Aotearoa, The New Zealand Psychological Society (NZPsS) stands beside LGBTQIA+ and Takatāpui communities rallying against anti-trans rhetoric in light of the impending visit of Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (Posie Parker). We are ...
Earlier this month, everybody’s favourite Monster of the Week series Married at First Sight Australia toppled 1News to become the highest rating television show for New Zealand viewers aged 25-54. The controversial reality series garnered an average audience of 137,000, or 6.7% audience share from March 5 until March 11. ...
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for feijoa lovers – here’s how to make the most of it.Fragrant and sweet, with a delicate jelly centre surrounded by gritty, tangy flesh, all encased in a green sour skin. My parents’ feijoa tree has just dropped its first fruit, ...
A new poem by poet and novelist Maggie Rainey-Smith. Bang a Drum We’ve hit Gentle Annie passed the pub at Okaramio and on the left, at Wakapuaka there’s Sunnybank where parents left their children An oddly named orphanage manned (ha) by Nuns childless women in black habits, scapula, cowls and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cathy Buntting, Director, Wilf Malcolm Institute of Educational Research, University of Waikato Getty Images Less than a fortnight after teachers staged a national strike, education was back in the headlines with the National Party’s release of its curriculum policy – ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton (Te Herenga Waka University Press, $38)Number one in both ...
The Free Speech Union welcomes the decision of the High Court to reject the application to overrule the decision of the Minister of Immigration to allow Kellie-Jay entry into New Zealand. This was the only right result for a nation that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fan Yang, Research Associate at RMIT and Alfred Deakin Institute, Deakin University Baidu’s ERNIE Bot was launched to considerable disappointment.Ng Han Guan / AP On March 16, Baidu unveiled China’s latest rival to OpenAI’s ChatGPT – ERNIE Bot (short for “Enhanced ...
By Meri Radinibaravi in Suva Former attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has told The Fiji Times to ask the Republic of Fiji Military Forces about claims that his bodyguards were allowed to take guns on to Fiji Link flights without proper authorisation. “I understand that there’s some enquiries going on regarding that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sasha Grishin, Adjunct Professor of Art History, Australian National University Installation view of Troy Emery’s work Mountain climber 2022 on display as part of the Melbourne Now exhibition at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Melbourne from 24 March – 20 August ...
National’s education policy reinforces an old-fashioned and hierarchical curriculum that does lasting harm to many students, writes educational specialist Dr Sarah Aiono. Announcing the National Party’s new education policy this week, leader Christopher Luxon cited a recent NCEA pilot in which two-thirds of students were unable to meet the minimum ...
Attempts by rainbow groups to stop an anti-trans campaigner entering the country have failed. The High Court has dismissed a judicial review application from Gender Minorities Aotearoa, InsideOUT Kōara and Auckland Pride, aimed at the immigration minister for allowing Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull into New Zealand. As part of the application, the ...
The High Court is this morning considering an interim order that would prevent an anti-trans campaigner from making it into New Zealand. Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull is expected to arrive on our shores today ahead of two planned rallies in Auckland and Wellington over the weekend. After immigration officials deemed her safe ...
I was disappointed to see yesterday afternoon’s announcement that Auckland has chosen to leave Local Government NZ (LGNZ). Hamilton’s membership of LGNZ is one of collaboration and sharing. Being a member gives us important views from other ...
It’s the most talked about local opera production in years – but does it live up to the chatter?The lowdownYou’ve probably heard of the “unruly tourists”, the British family who created a media firestorm as they toured around the country leaving trash and turmoil in their wake. You’ve ...
As reported by Newsroom’s Marc Daalder this morning, correspondence released under the Official Information Act shows advice about puberty blockers was removed from the Ministry of Health website “in the hopes it creates fewer queries” from anti-trans campaigners. The line that was removed from the site said puberty blockers “are ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards. Political Roundup: NZ needs to distance itself from Australia’s anti-China nuclear submarines The New Zealand Government has been silent about Australia’s decision to commit up to $400bn acquiring nuclear submarines, even though this is a significant threat to peace and stability in the Asia Pacific. The ...
Secondary teachers will strike again next week after an agreement on improved pay and working conditions was not reached. The strike will take place on Wednesday, less than two weeks after thousands of educators took to the streets across the country. “PPTA Te Wehengarua members have shown they are serious ...
Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission is encouraging organisations and individuals to share their views on human rights in Aotearoa New Zealand for the government’s upcoming report to the United Nations. The report informs a process ...
Secondary and area school teachers around the country have voted overwhelmingly in favour of more industrial action, including a one day national strike next Wednesday, in support of their collective agreement negotiations. “PPTA Te Wehengarua members ...
At a time when our need for collective action is stronger than ever, Auckland Council has opted out to save each of its residents just 25c a year, writes former Dunedin mayor Aaron Hawkins.I grew up in rural Southland, in the shadows of the Cut The Cable movement. In ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Jakoboski, Oceanographic Data Scientist, Moana Project’s Te Tiro Moana Team Lead, MetService — Te Ratonga Tirorangi Moana project, CC BY-ND The world’s oceans are buffering us from the worst climate impacts by taking up more than 90% of the ...
Morning Report - RNZ and Newsroom's political editors consider National's education pitch, and the political responses to lobbying revelations and Posie Parker. ...
The Free Speech Union will be an intervener this morning as the High Court considers whether Immigration New Zealand's decision to allow Posie Parker (Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull) entry into New Zealand was legal, says Jonathan Ayling, Chief Executive of the Free ...
For over a decade, Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club has come under fire for denying entry to people wearing religious headwear. Despite the Human Rights Commission getting involved, it seems the rule remains unchanged.One of the definitions given by the Oxford dictionary for the word cosmopolitan is: “including people from many ...
Chris Hipkins’ dump of Ardern-era policy has potentially jeopardised a major part of the government’s climate change response. In this week’s episode of When the Facts Change, Bernard Hickey talks to climate policy expert Christina Hood from Climate Compass to find out why this month’s Emissions Trading Scheme auction failed and ...
The head of Local Government NZ, the group representing councils across the country, has hit back at claims made by Auckland mayor Wayne Brown. It was his casting vote that saw Auckland Council leave the representative group yesterday evening, with councillors divided on whether or not it was the right ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Al-Tamini Tapu, Geoscientist, The University of Queensland Warrumbungle national park.colinslack/Shutterstock Our new study published in Nature Geoscience on an ancient chain of Australian volcanoes is helping to change our understanding of “hotspot” volcanism. You may be surprised to learn eastern ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Sussex, Fellow, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University There’s been a lot of recent shouting about Australia’s national security policy. It began with the Nine newspapers’ “Red Alert” extravaganza, spread over multiple articles. Featuring a graphic of warplanes ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Goldlust, Adjunct Research Fellow, School of Archaeology and History, La Trobe University Shutterstock Earlier this month, regulators flagged electricity price rises in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Like many people, you’re probably wondering how you can ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Veal, Adjunct Professor, Business School, University of Technology Sydney Shutterstock A little more than a century ago, most people in industrialised countries worked 60 hours a week – six ten-hour days. A 40-hour work week of five eight-hour days ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Xavier Ho, Lecturer in Interaction Design, Monash University Sony Entertainment Mainstream games are embracing openly queer characters – and so are many of their players and fans. The Last of Us, the prestige HBO adaptation of the critically lauded ...
The capital’s transport overhaul will have spent $130 million on consultant fees by the end of next year, Stuff reports. Let’s Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) expects to spend $60 million on outside experts in the coming year, after already spending $38.5m in the past three years and $35m this year. Greater ...
Chris Hipkins’ dump of Ardern-era policy has potentially jeopardised a major part of the government’s climate change response. Bernard Hickey talks to climate policy expert Christina Hood from Climate Compass to find out why this month’s Emissions Trading Scheme auction failed and how she feels cabinet have destroyed confidence in ...
Christopher Luxon says the policy is what’s needed to address serious issues with reading, writing and maths in primary schools. Others aren’t so sure, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here.Back ...
Although Auckland Council’s big cleanup following this year’s extreme weather events continues, “things are getting more difficult at this point”. Five weeks after Cyclone Gabrielle, some 7,000 Aucklanders remain impacted by the aftermath of the floods, slips and heavy winds that battered the region in January and February. Auckland Council’s ...
A traffic bypass stole 20,000 potential daily visitors from its main streets and local businesses. Three years on, how are the Waikato town’s 9,000 residents coping?The tourism centre is closed – “permanently”, says the sign. The cafe next door, once called River Haven, now with two missing letters making ...
After a 19-year-old was killed while riding his bike on a dangerous stretch of Auckland road, the tragedy became a rallying call to make the city safer for cyclists. Tommy de Silva looks at what’s been achieved in the 12 months since. On March 5, 2022, 19-year-old Levi James was ...
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Well i’ll have a little prayer today that those Kurds who are fighting ISIS while the rest of the world plays political football, says why didn’t they go in to every other hotspot so why should they now and a multitude of other excuses, continue debating the ethics of it.
Having had family face this sort of thing, while the British and Russians played political footballs over the carving up of Europe post WW2.
When you’ve been effected by similar acts, you have a different point of view.
I can’t comment on Iraq, Georgia, Zimbabwe, Africa and every other bed of nasitness that we meddle in, god knows the US has caused most of this with their war mongering oil greed, all I know is lives are at stake and life is precious.
The legality of past US actions is another matter nd should be kept separate for the Haig to decide. Beleive it when I see it.
Perhaps their is a hint of racism. Is it because they are Arabs? Foreign?
Meh save a life you’ll feel better about yourself.
I already have saved a few lives. It didn’t involve taking others.
I thought evacuate that city, not as lot more than that Murray, just get the civilians out of there before it’s over ridden. One thing at a time, they are on the Turkish border, hopefully they will make the folly of entering Turkey and I’m sure the valiant Turks will teach them a hard lesson and we won’t be needed.
I particularly seem to have a bug up my ass about people who commit murder, or take lives in the name of religion sorry. I really do not like these simple deeply nasty people.
I suppose I’m more wishing for a humanitarian UN rescue and we participate rather than join an all out war on the middle easts again. You can never defeat them unless you go to the lengths of genocide, and if you don’t do that, then your just poking a stick at a hornets nest and they will just get madder and madder and madder.
Could David Cunliffe and Andrew Little please sit down this weekend and sort out a united ticket please. At least have a conversation. Neither the media nor the Labour caucus have the maturity to deal with a primary. All this is generating is further splits within the party. Start talking and stop making this mess worse.
+100
Do you really think DC would be satisfied with being 2nd fiddle? And would Andrew Little trust DC not to quietly white ant him over the next couple of years?
I’d say morale within Labour would go up a thousand fold if both Cunliffe and Robertson left to pursue other ventures.
BM
You’d say anything to further the cause of the greedheads. I’d say that you should not expect anyone to believe that you have any concern in boosting the morale of the Labour party. Your (and Boag’s) support of Little are arguments for supporting the other candidates.
TRP
You really believe that Cunliffe is more likely to white-ant a rival than Robertson? That does not seem to correspond to the events of the last few years; where DC demonstrated his loyalty to Goff and even Shearer, while GR has always been out for himself.
” … where DC demonstrated his loyalty to Goff and even Shearer”
Don’t kid yourself, Parsupial, DC’s rise to the top job didn’t happen in a vacuum.
Casting aspersions with no solid evidence or even any supporting argument is…a continuation of the shit and nonsense that’s plagued the Labour Party of late. Why do it?
And Mary really was a virgin …
“Do you really think DC would be satisfied with being 2nd fiddle? And would Andrew Little trust DC not to quietly white ant him over the next couple of years?”
If what you imply is true, then labour is completely fucked. From what I can tell there is no ABC/neoliberal vs leftist split between Little and Cunliffe, so if they can’t agree it means it’s all about the power. In which case all of Labour prefers opposition rather than change.
But like Bill, I’m not sure about your implication. Care to say why you believe this?
Sure, weka. Cunliffe is a politician. He has ego and ambition (as most of them do, of course). It is naive in the extreme to believe he didn’t know of and approve of people quietly promoting him as a leadership option during the Goff and Shearer years. He was also personally underwhelming in his support for Shearer, damning him with faint praise, particularly at conference (and I was there a few feet away for at least two of his standups in Ak).
On a personal level, I was lobbied twice while Shearer was leader about potential support for Cunliffe, once to determine my LEC’s position, once to get a feel for the affiliates likely support.
Like it or not, pollies plot. That’s par for the course. I supported DC in the last leadership round and of course supported his leadership in the election campaign. But I didn’t do it on the basis of thinking he was above reproach.
The reason I cited the Virgin Mary in response to Bill is that some folk seem to have completely unrealistic understandings of how politics works. DC did not rise to the leadership of the LP on the backs of angels, innocently whistling hymns and wondering how all this happened.
@Te Reo Putake 10.14am.
She did manage to give us a pretty good sort of son. She did a good thing in her own way.. The way now for us is to take note of what Bill is saying. I am sure you will agree that less is more when it comes to political sniping in Labour for the next few weeks.
🙄 @BM
1. No, but DC won’t have any choice.
2. AL doesn’t have to trust. He just has to deal. Politics.
I listened to Andrew Little being dismantled by Guyon Espiner this morning. Little was absolutely terrible. He is not the answer.
I think dismantled is a bit strong, Moz, but it wasn’t all that good an interview. However, I expect over the next few weeks he’ll get into the swing of things. Some quick media training is definitely needed (mainly devil’s advocate stuff – throwing likely negative questions at him so he’s better prepared for the likes of Spinner in the future).
Yes, I think I overstated it, Te Reo. I was very disappointed with Little, however; he let Espiner dictate the conversation and bully him over the use of terminology. At the end of the interview, Espiner signed off with a contemptuous “Obviously you’ve made your mind up.”
Hopefully some time in the near future, Little will take the opportunity to deal with Espiner decisively, and refute his nasty little comments, as Laila Harré did during the election campaign.
Isn’t this shades of David Shearer? Lets bring in a fresh face to save the Labour Party who doesn’t have much experience as a politician.
Agree , he is not the answer. He stumbling diction reminds me of Shearer . And we will no doubt hear that he needs media training now.
You may not have read TRP at 2.3.1 before commenting.
We’re all experts now. I don’t know why Labour doesn’t put out an SOS to The Standard bloggers to come over and save it – there would be quite a big choice of stumblebums and clutterfucks who would have a quick noggin to give them the right spirit and then happily start ten sentences that would be talked down by interviewers. Or they would get into an argument with them which would not enhance their image or the Party’s.
Probably the broken record is best, with a bit of Peters’ affront – Now just let me finish…. May I make myself clear. Steven Price has already done a piece on talking to the media. I should dig it out, with his permission, it is pure gold.
If this is true and I have no reason to disbelieve the words of a worried father in a small Marae meeting, this would be deceit and treason of the highest kind. It would mean that our prime Minister is sending troops into war before any discussion has taken place and is acting like a dictator who can decide on war alone!
Is The SAS Already Deployed? http://wp.me/p638n-4xf
No, that doesn’t mean that Key is sending troops into war. It means the troops are being sent into a staging area, waiting for the order to go into war. That’s perfectly normal operational preparation, not deceit or treason.
“not deceit or treason”
Although Key would not hesitate if it was expedient.
It doesn’t even necessarily mean that much. SAS go to heaps of places. They usually keep this secret and relatives are not really supposed to talk about it.
.
Cartoon; From today’s Leunig Appreciation Page
every day should be a leunig appreciation day…
🙂 it already is in my house …
http://www.musingsbylizzytish.com/cn/leunig,%20holiday.gif
brilliance ..
http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/ep16leunig1.jpg
One of my favs 😉
http://www.theage.com.au/ftimages/2005/10/25/1130006119294.html
I hope readers will spare a thought for regular commenter Penny Bright.
The Auckland Council has followed through in its demands for rent arrears and her Warship’s home is about to be sold to defray what is owed.
While I don’t agree with the nature of her protest, (refusing to pay rates for 5 years) I empathise with someone who has put so much on the line to publicise a point of principle, which is that the council is far from transparent in its own financial dealings.
Agreed, if more of us in Auckland had taken a similar stand perhaps we wouldn’t have such an odious council set up.
We agree HS?
Maybe a donation fund should be opened to assist Penny?
Good thought, but I suspect it’s not lack of cash that’s stopping her paying the rates, it’s a deliberate strategy to challenge the council.
The Herald has a piece on it: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11340075
It’d be awesome if no-one wants to buy the house.
Of course, ‘cos Penny, like Nicky Hager, is a charity case…
+100 TRP… Penny is an admirable anti -corruption campaigner
….hope she doesnt lose her house( hope she has a back up fund!)
…and hope that bloody Auckland Council is forced to become more transparent in its financial dealings and therefore accountable to Auclanders and New Zealanders!
( there is too much corruption going on!)
GO PENNY!…you wee gem!
While I agree that Penny Bright is a very admirable anti-corruption campaigner – she should have been paying her bloody rates like the rest of us Jafas do – even when my partner and I have been struggling financially at times. I bet the Bailiff wouldn’t have been as charitable to us if we simply stopped paying our rates, we would have had our property sold pretty pronto. I presume that Auckland City have the same criteria in their financial transactions as does the rest of our local body councils. Yeah, let’s all stop paying our rates and let’s see where that gets us eh.
She didn’t just stop paying her rates though.
if you need proof our “leaders” base their behaviour on the legal standard and no higher, have a look at this law change and the response of one of the former transgressors, chester burrows
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11340130
And worse, it appears they have only partially done what is required .. property in private super does not need to be declared; also no mention of whether it remains legal to use their accommodation supplement as mortgage repays ?
And how many years has this change taken ?
Oink, oink, oink, oink …. while they do nothing to help families living in cars. Oink, oink,all the way home.
And I would be willing to bet some of these same people will be in line to buy the best available state houses as they go to market … makes me wish a hacker or three would break into their private trusts to disclose some of the despicable truth around National ministers investments. Blind trusts ? yeah, right. They all went to specsavers if Key is any example.
breaking news..!..
..south park has outed lorde as being a man..
..(when asked about the official govt view on this revelation..
..john key said that ‘ackshully’..he was ‘relaxed’..and that ‘at the end of the day ..it was a new day for lorde..and new zealand.!’..
..and when asked what he actually meant by that..he rushed off to a prior appointment..)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/09/south-park-lorde_n_5960132.html
“..Wednesday night ‘South Park’ shocked the world by revealing one of the biggest cover ups in music history:
Teenage pop sensation Lorde’s true identity is Randy Marsh from ‘South Park’.
Marsh originally started posing as a 17-year-old from New Zealand as an elaborate cover to use the women’s restroom-
– and things logically took off from there..”
(cont..)
Listened to Andrew Little on National Radio this morning. I’m warming to the man. Refused to be pigeon holed into being “left” or “right” of the Labour Party. .
I think that was a very wise move. To insist on the policies defining what is important. People can make up their own mind whether that is “Left” or “Right”, depending on their own definition of those two words.
My advice is to stay away from those labels too. The problem is that what one person means by the label, is likely to be very different to what others may think. The vision for the Party, and the policies that will achieve that vision are less able to be misrepresented.
Mr. Botany (B.)
i thought his refusal to clearly state what he stood for..aside from the aspirational bullshit he mouthed..
..just further confirmed his ‘nowhere man’ persona/image..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PASYqq4-iD0
(it’s been re-mastered..very tasty..)
Even the Herald think the police raid was a mistake.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11340033
thought this line was a bt odd “It was well-known that Hager – like Slater – sees himself as an investigative journalist, …”
*(back to original name, thanks moderators)
just looked at the Stuff poll…’someone else’ bolting with a huge margin over DC.GR,AL and DS.
Does anyone CHOOSE to watch One’s lousy Breakfast show?
And is Tim Wilson the unfunniest person on television?
Friday 10 October 2014
I thought this show was supposed to have been cancelled. Stories of its impending death are constantly doing the rounds. So why the hell is it still here? It’s an insult, a slap in the face to the idea of quality, stimulating, or entertaining television. Apart from the fawning “interviews” with politicians, the bulk of the programme seems to be free puff pieces for Hollywood movies—never anything interesting, just the most insipid mainstream rubbish. This morning, at 8:25, Hollywood correspondent Aleisha joined the team to talk about what’s going on in Tinseltown….
ALEISHA: Kristen Stewart’s got a pretty serious image. She was on Jimmy Fallon’s show recently to talk about her new film Camp X-Ray, about a female guard at Guantanamo. It’s pretty heavy.
RAWDON CHRISTIE: Yeah.
ALEISHA: But to lighten things up a bit, they played a game called “Ring Around the Nosy”.
Cue unfunny clip of Jimmy Fallon and Kristen Stewart playing idiotic party game, both of them wearing plastic elephant masks, trying to put rings on their trunks, the audience roaring with laughter throughout.
ALEISHA: She’s a good sport isn’t she!
RAWDON CHRISTIE: I want that game!
…..ad nauseam……
At 8:50, the utterly dire Tim Wilson delivered his dismal Tim’s Takes segment, meant to be a humorous summing up the week. It’s supposed to be funny, but it’s not. This guy has the sense of humour of a Canterbury engineering student. He’s the ebola of comedy. He is, in other words, the perfect choice as funny man for Television One’s Breakfast.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Jimmy Fallon Talks With Kristen Stewart About ‘Camp X-Ray’ [Video]
When The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon came back from another commercial break, Jimmy introduced his first guest of the evening, actress Kristen Stewart.
Jimmy Fallon showed the audience a copy of Elle magazine that had Kristen on the cover. He said she would be in the new movie, Camp X-Ray, a serious movie.” He said that she “found a new friend” while working on the movie — a dog.
Kristen mentioned a friend of hers that liked to play Frisbee Golf. He found the two dogs while playing Frisbee Golf and drove to her house to show her. She had two dogs already, but she decided to keep one of the two her friend brought, anyway. “She is the coolest dog in the world,” Kristen said.
Fallon said that Stewart plays a soldier at Guantanamo Bay and strikes up a friendship with one of the people incarcerated there. Fallon showed a clip from the movie, also starring John Lynch. Lynch confronts Stewart’s character and asks her about her friendship, which she, at first, denies.
Then, Jimmy asked Stewart to play the funky game he showed earlier, Ring Around the Nosy. She wore a green elephant mask and Fallon had on a blue one. He was the first to get a ring on his nose, so he won the game.
Read more……
http://guardianlv.com/2014/10/jimmy-fallon-talks-with-kristen-stewart-about-camp-x-ray-video-2/
“..And is Tim Wilson the unfunniest person on television?..”
..i think it is neck and neck between him and reece darby..
..(and the two fat people who play two fat people thing on tv2..dunno what it is called..in lieu of comedic content..they talk loudly/shout at each other..it should be called ‘two fat people shout at each other’..whoar..!..it’s so so bad..)
..has anyone seen that latest dire offering from darby..?
..it’s buried late at nite on tvone (thurs..)..
..i watched it again last nite to see if it reached the excreble-levels of previous ones..
..and yes..yes it did..
..it is painfully..resolutely..unfunny..
..and how long can a man wring out/flog a character (murray) to death..?
..has darby set a new record for that..?
I concur, Darby wringing too much out of too little
and isn’t wilson part of that ‘seven blunt’ thing..?
..called ‘seven blunt’..because you need to have smoked seven blunts in a row..
..to be able to watch/sit thru it..?
“Seven blunt”. Nice bit of Cockney rhyming slang there, Phillip.
i was going more for the weed-reference..
..but..it is always in the eye of the beholder..
..that such things are seen..
I know you were, Phillip. I was just doing a Tim Wilson, i.e., being facetious.
“Does anyone CHOOSE to watch One’s lousy Breakfast show?”
No
Fair comment, Phillip. But, in stark contrast to Wilson, Reece Darby is a genuinely funny and clever entertainer.
Tim Wilson is unfunny in the way Mark Richardson and Greg Boyed are unfunny: all they have to offer is sardonic and facetious commentary masquerading as deadpan delivery.
You have to be witty, and have perfect timing to carry off being sour all the time. Ricky Gervais can do it; Tim Wilson, Mark Richardson and Greg Boyed cannot.
And Rhys Darby is excellent too.
I KNEW it! I should never have used Phillip Ure as my de facto spellchecker.
@ trp..have you seen his latest offering..?
..if not..you may find you are rushing to judgement..
Ebola nurse returns to New Zealand: Very interesting and admirable first hand information.
” Some people were so scared that they tried anything to protect themselves from Ebola, including such mythical cures as drinking chlorine and bathing in salt water at midnight.
When a patient did survive – about half of them did so – the medical staff hugged them and they returned to their village with a certificate proving there were cured, to prevent ongoing stigma, Mackie said.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/10599907/Ebola-nurse-returns-to-New-Zealand
Key Democrats, Led by Hillary Clinton, Leave No doubt that Endless War is Official U.S. Doctrine
by GLENN GREENWALD
October 09, 2014 “ICH” – The Intercept
Long before Americans were introduced to the new 9/11 era super-villains called ISIS and Khorasan, senior Obama officials were openly and explicitly stating that America’s “war on terror,” already 12 years old, would last at least another decade. At first, they injected these decrees only anonymously; in late 2012, the Washington Post – disclosing the administration’s secret creation of a “disposition matrix” to decide who should be killed, imprisoned without charges, or otherwise “disposed” of – reported these remarkable facts:
“Among senior Obama administration officials, there is a broad consensus that such operations are likely to be extended at least another decade. Given the way al-Qaida continues to metastasize, some officials said no clear end is in sight. . . . That timeline suggests that the United States has reached only the midpoint of what was once known as the global war on terrorism.”
In May, 2013, the Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing on whether it should revise the 2001 Authorization to Use Military Force (AUMF). A committee member asked a senior Pentagon official, Assistant Secretary Michael Sheehan, how long the war on terror would last; his reply: “At least 10 to 20 years.” At least. A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed afterward “that Sheehan meant the conflict is likely to last 10 to 20 more years from today — atop the 12 years that the conflict has already lasted.” As Spencer Ackerman put it: “Welcome to America’s Thirty Years War,” one which – by the Obama administration’s own reasoning – has “no geographic limit.”
Listening to all this, Maine’s independent Sen. Angus King said: “This is the most astounding and most astoundingly disturbing hearing that I’ve been to since I’ve been here. You guys have essentially rewritten the Constitution today.”
Read more…..
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article39907.htm
This may well have been covered elsewhere, in which case a link would be nice. After the debacle of the Bill English leadership in 1999 when they only got 22% of the vote, how did the NP go about their rebuild. It can’t all be down to Key.There must have been some fundamental/structural changes made. And if so are there lessons we could learn?
2002 election and Steven Joyce was the chap who was behind the rebuild.
And he did what exactly?
I thought it was Lord Ashcroft……
@ barfly..
..and he rebuilt it in his image..
..remember when key used to dutifully troop out to the airport..
..to get his regular briefings from ashcroft..in his ‘secure’ private jet..?
..that was a tad blatant/obvious..i always thought..
I always thought the credit went to Ms Boag, who took the knife to the deadwood (and they bleated at the time too but she didnt stop till she was satisfied) and then parachuted in John Key for the “new and acceptable face of the NP” – aka the PM in waiting.
I would think that was a strategy that could work for Labour. New Prez with a big knife, and parachute in the Mayor of Porirua as the “PM in waiting”
Brian Easton was writing about the National rebuild including being less the farmers’ party and more Urban party.
http://www.pundit.co.nz/content/party-renewal-nationals-success-labours-failing
Yes, I read that Ian, but it didn’t really get into the nitty gritty, which is what interests me.
“How did the NP go about their rebuild” ?
Orewa 2004
Ebola patients wearing protective gear. Wow.
That was easy, the infected realise that society
exists, and take precautions to protect others.
Wait until a neo-liberal gets Ebola. Will they suit up to
protect society?
When white people start dying.
/
http://www.theonion.com/articles/experts-ebola-vaccine-at-least-50-white-people-awa,36580/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/08/ebola-illustration-andre-carrilho_n_5955192.html
Repugnant abuse of taxpayer money halted. No surprises 35 of the 40 MP’s caught with their snouts in the trough are National MP’s. These leeches all took the oath to represent New Zealanders to the best of their ability. Disgraceful act of self interest greed. Any Labour MP exposed in this rort should be announcing their imminent retirement.
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11340130
Bitta history.
Having been a member of the New Left Club at Canterbury University, Gibbs had converted to strongly-held free-market views by the late 1970s. He became a strong supporter of Roger Douglas, the Minister of Finance in the reforming Fourth Labour Government, 1984–90.
Gibbs was appointed chairman of the NZ Forestry Corporation, which in 1987 corporatised the old New Zealand Forest Service. The loss-making department was restructured and transformed into a profitable State Owned Enterprise.
He was also appointed chairman of the Hospital and Related Services Taskforce, with a brief to recommend reforms for the underperforming public hospital service. Their suggestions, which focused on introducing an internal market into the system, were not taken up by the Labour government but were partially implemented by the next National Government.
This is how you make money in NZ, buying businesses then dissecting them and selling their spare parts.
Gibbs’ career took off in 1979 when, with three other investors, he purchased Tappenden Motors Ltd. They liquidated it profitably over the next few years.
Gibbs then gained stakes in Atlas Majestic Industries, Bendon and Ceramco, three prominent New Zealand public companies which he merged in 1986 and 1987 and that was liquidated in 1989.
In early 1990 the Fourth Labour Government confirmed it would sell the Telecom Corporation of New Zealand. Together with merchant banker David Richwhite, Gibbs brokered the $4.25 billion winning bid for the company, which when subsequently floated became the largest company on the New Zealand Stock Exchange.
It was obvious that the phone system needed privatising – a new business couldn’t get listed for months at that time.
wikipedia
How can Wikipedia say it was obvious that the phone system needed privatising? That’s opinion, and highly contestable.
LIARS OF OUR TIME
No. 44: President William J. Clinton
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky. I never told anybody to lie, not a single time; never.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
—President William J. Clinton, AKA “Slick Willy”, White House press conference, 26 January 1998
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiIP_KDQmXs
(Hat tip to our friend and colleague Clemgeopin for this one.)
More liars….
No. 43: Assistant Commissioner Alan Boreham: “Look, integrity is absolutely critical to the New Zealand Police. It’s a core value.”
No. 42 John Key: “We’ve been given a tremendous gift tonight, the trust and goodwill of New Zealanders, and I do not take that trust for granted.”
No. 41 Richard Prebble: “What I do know is that John will consider everything. He’s an honorable man….”
See the rest of the liars HERE….
A sad announcement for the Navy.
New Zealand Navy Rear Admiral (a rather unflattering title) has banned alcohol from on board navy vessels and the Davenport naval base.
I know the Lash was stopped generations ago, and now the ban on Rum means no more hot toddies at sea. However for some sailers Sodomy will remain in vogue.
Homophobic Craig,
Misogynistic nut-job,
Revealed as gutless too.
“I don’t doubt her sincereness.”
Has The Panel reached its nadir today?
Radio NZ National, Friday 10 October 2014
Jim Mora, Tau Henare, Bernard Hickey, Julie Moffett
Move over Garth George—you’re not the most useless guest ever. Since he first appeared in parliament as Winston Peters’ No. 2 man, Tau Henare has never looked like anything other than a vacuous chancer, a thug who adds no value to any discussion. In an utterly undistinguished parliamentary career, Henare came to public attention only twice—first, when Trevor Mallard thumped him, and second when he brutally mocked a parliamentary cleaner who was appearing before a parliamentary committee.
Tau Henare is the epitome of uselessness, in other words. Yet he is now regularly being used as a commentator on Television One, TV3 and Māori Television. And today he made his debut on Jim Mora’s light chat show. He is, I suppose, just right for it. He has little of interest to say, not only because he clearly reads nothing, but also because he spends his time polishing up his cheeky Westie act. His Twitter handle is “West Side Tory”. He obviously thinks that’s quite clever.
Sadly, the other guest today is Bernard Hickey, who so far has gone out of his way to agree with everything Henare has said.
JIM MORA: So what else is going on in the world?
JULIE MOFFETT: A beach in Hawaii was going to be renamed in honor of President Obama, but there is apparently a great deal of public opposition to this happening.
JIM MORA: He’s had—you’ve got to feel sorry for what’s happened to Obama in the Middle East, don’t you.
TAU HENARE: Yeah, he came on the scene at the wrong time. He’s a great speaker.
JIM MORA: Great speaker!
4:27 p.m.: Hilariously, he has just pronounced on Penny Bright’s refusal to pay her rates. “I don’t doubt her sincereness,” he intoned, speaking very slowly to underline how deeply he was thinking.
4:34 p.m.: Mora turned down Penny Bright’s voice as she was speaking, because (so he claimed) she did not have evidence to back up some claims she was making about the Auckland Council. “I’ve just turned you down,” he said. Bernard Hickey snorted approvingly.
A little later, the following exchange occurred….
JIM MORA: Celia Wade Brown is sleeping rough on the streets of Wellington tonight.
TAU HENARE: Why?
JIM MORA: Doesn’t it give her a degree of empathy with the poor?
TAU HENARE: Ahhhh, BOLLOCKS!
And a little later, this one….
TAU HENARE: Hey wouldn’t you want to go to sleep in Finland?
JIM MORA: Finland?
TAU HENARE: It’s not a very exciting place, is it?
I sent Jim a quick email in regard to his sympathy for poor old Obomba….
We should “feel sorry for what’s happened to Obama in the Middle East”?
Dear Jim,
You said that we “have to feel sorry for what’s happened to Obama in the Middle East.” I think most fair-minded people would feel sorry for what Obama has done in the Middle East. He has rhetorically encouraged, diplomatically supported and armed the bloody Al Qaeda/ISIS insurrection in Syria, and he was quick to support the brutal overthrow of the elected government of Egypt and support the bloodthirsty Sisi regime. The people of Gaza and the Occupied West Bank are sorry about what he has allowed Israel to do to them.
Yet, in spite of all this, you claim “we” should feel sorry for what’s happened “to Obama”.
You’re lucky you have Tau Henare sitting next to you in the studio. Anyone a bit quicker on the uptake would have taken you to task.
Yours sincerely,
Morrissey Breen
Northcote Point
The blatant censoring of Penny Bright was the nadir.
Even worse than that was Hickey’s sniggering at it.
Under General Pinochet in Chile public education was increasingly privatised.
Is it possible that we are seeing this happening in godzone? Under general key and his aide-de-camp Seymour?
I sincerely hope not but nothing would surprise me. Maybe people won’t notice if Key and his accomplices are surreptitious enough.
Interesting how power corrupts but even more interesting is how those in power aren’t aware of it or can so easily deny it..
See, the internets are forever.
[Deleted by DPF. I know you were not meaning it literally, and trying to make the point that the song should not have been trivialised, but that was not the way to do it]
What he really said.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BzjZJ9PCYAAw3QZ.png:large
The donotlink link to the comment on KB http://www.donotlink.com/framed?559231
Edit, ug sorry it doesn’t go to comment. You can keyword search for 3:10 pm or scroll down comment 4
Yeah, tried but couldn’t get a working link to the comment.
cheers.
So DPF’s line on twitter today was that the comment stayed up for so long because no one had reported it in the correct manner (you have to email him). And then he went on about how he doesn’t have time to read every comment and so can’t control what people say there.
Doesn’t explain why 16 people upvoted the comment and one person down voted.
It’s all about the culture there and that people in general think it’s ok to be pro-rape. One comment on twitter was that DPF doesn’t need to say these things because he has commenters do it for him. Handy having no moderators then.
DPF is also a complete and utter fuckwit to use rape as part of his political manipulations, er I mean PR for National.
Has that guy been posting here as well? I think I’ve seen those initials.
I’ve got a lovely photo of Farrar, all posh in fancy dress and a blond wig. I think he must have been going to some sort of party. It doesn’t look like one I’d go to. I’d post it if it were OK with lprent and I knew how.
The Labour Party caucus led by Labour Deputy leader David Parker is in open revolt against David Cunliffe’as their elected leader, When the caucus made the undemocratic demand that he hand over his leadership to someone of their choosing. David Cunliffe had no choice but to step down and seek a mandate from the membership. To do less would have been to let down those who had voted for him in the first place.
I have sympathy for Andrew Little, his Left Wing credentials are good.
But more than being a vote of confidence, a membership vote that returns David Cunliffe as Party Leader, will be a membership vote of no confidence in the right dominated caucus.
So while I am sympathetic to Andrew Little
Any other leader chosen, be it Robertson, or Little, will not bring this struggle between the Left and Right to a head, neither man will be able shift the caucus from their comfortable positions and they will wind up just being played.
On the other hand a Cunliffe victory could change everything.
Coming from Right Wing perspective Vernon Small in a post last year sets out the size of the problem.
Note the dated reference to darling of the Right Shane Jones. “Unthinkable” that he should leave the Labour caucus, opines Small. But the unthinkable happened and Shane Jones removed himself. I expect that if David Cunliffe is returned as leader a few other Right Wing Labour caucus members will be moved to remove themselves. Good! What is unthinkable to the Right, is sweet reason to the Left. First amongst those to remove themselves must be Shane Jones close personal friend and admirer David Parker. Parker like Jones is a staunch advocate of the fossil fuel lobby and a bane of the Greens. Therefore Parker’s exit will be a double blessing not just for Labour Party Left but for the environment as well, And will put a Labour Green coalition government a much more sounder base making it a much more viable proposition.