The latest iteration of home biogas generators. Turn that energy in your waste into gas for cooking and heating. It also produces liquid fertilizer, so swapping your compost heap for this gas generator won’t deprive your garden of nutrients.
Good line of development. Look forward to them producing one small enough to fit in the small kitchen or outside walkway of a small flat that is not on the ground floor.
Well spotted Andre. Could be great for “off-the -grid” unit.
Wonder if it could have much larger implications? Think that gaseous smell at rubbish dumps or transfer stations. Wasn’t there a plan to harness rubbish dumps somewhere in NZ?
There’s already industrial scale capture and use of biogas, and has been for quite a while. Separating organic waste out of other rubbish, like Auckland has planned for very soon, opens another opportunity for that.
Some farms are getting into it. It’s one argument for getting cows off paddocks and into shelters where more of their effluent can be captured and better managed. Germans have led the way, but it’s catching on here.
But it’s always bothered me that going off-grid usually means some kind of bottled gas was still needed. So if someone’s cost-effectively mass producing something for homeowners to replace that with biogas, all the better for going completely off-grid.
Don’t hold your breath with biogas from cow effluent. Cows are really good at extracting energy from grass so their effluent isn’t that good in creating methane when compared to pigs or chickens or us.
Richest material for biogas is the carcasses left from meat works. There are thousands of tonnes per month of this type of waste that will be trucked off to land fills from each factory. That is where I would locate a biogas and electricity generation unit.
(The argument for biogas is that burning methane and releasing carbon dioxide is better than releasing methane. Methane is 80 times more effective as a greenhouse gas than CO2.)
One can make his own biodigester I’v seen them on the internet one of my favorite subjects they are not that hard to make people around the world who have to be industrious are using home made biodigester .
And the problem with cows housed in barns is that it raises production cost why the cost of servicing a extra 1 to 5 million and low production cost is the main advantage we have over the rest of the world good Dairy NZ or some outfit has tried it and the
system was not cost effective Like you said the barn cows that provide all of there crap for the system were cost effective may be some positive or negative incentive could get this technology going good post Andre many thanks Ka pai .
Anyone wanting to know the meaning of the terms ‘vindictive, mean, vicious, gratuitously insulting’, need look no further than the tirade of abuse from the MP for Nelson, Nick Smith in his parliamentary speech yesterday. What a vile person and what a sad example of what NZ can expect from National over the next three years.
@Wyndham +100 Agreed; I made the mistake of missing him off my list of nasty and duplicitous Nats in a post a couple of days ago.
But what a stupid thing to do-to attack the Speaker.
And once again we have an opposition MP listing all National’s achievements (and lying about them of course) as though they are still in power or still in an election campaign. Time to move on Nats.
Another example of how owned the MSM are. Smith f’d up again and again during the 9 years of nact plunder.
He’s a sad example of an MP with anger management issues and an inability to recall his many lies so he’d provide a virtually endless supply of material but gets left alone.
smith is delirious, bitter that we live under MPP, how many minutes does he waste complaining about the election outcome lmfao. Running everyone down flat out, livid over losing his ministerial roles.
This will be the his last term as an MP, if he lasts that long.
Why does he saying ‘Mr Speaker’ when tolley is in the chair?
Ah, the joyous outrage of someone who has never figured out the difference between “friend” and “lickspittle”.
Oh, and in 1981 the nats had less votes than Labour and still formed the government, so his bitching about “votes and seats” is bullshit. We’re now up to 2/52 exceptions.
Well I’v been moaning my ass off to my children and moko’s and my wife that I could not renumber the last time my wife cooked for me LOL my wife did not even engage the topic . And the other nite I said to her your are saying get stuffed I’v cooked for you and our children for the last 30 od years and we had a laugh she replied you got it LOL.
So my cooking skills have improved vastly over the last six months from thee one pot wonder/ boil up to being good at making a jus gravy and the easy one I found was mushrooms the easiest to make and always taste good. I got the good part of the deal because I only have to cook for two and not ten like she had to cook for most times .
I have to change one of my calls and that is about New Zealand having a loud voice that
Trump had heard and this was why he was nice to OUR prime minister .
The voice that he heard is one that is much closer to him and that’s his wife she has got him to calm down and see reality. And I still say to you lady’s that are behind these powerful men Kick there ass and make them see reality and see that climate change is real and we need America to take the lead to fight climate and save mother earth.
You what my wish was if I could go 40 years into OUR future well I could also see that OUR People all over the World were Honouring Donald Trump because he changed his mind on climate change and the WHOLE World fought climate change and equality together and this was why OUR environment was pristine.
Because the other option is Apocalypse disaster. P.S I can see when people are composed all of the time an then the Eco Maori effect. Kia Kaha
James. Almost all of the comments you have made since National lost the election to the Coalition of Winners, has you portraying yourself as laughing and giggling at the hilarious comical behaviours you see unfolding before you.
Are you alright?
Is there a leaking NO2 cylinder nearby to where you perch?
Can we help?
Is Valium and option you’d consider?
I fear you will wear yourself out with all this mirth you are experiencing.
There’ll be nothing left of you, ‘cept a tinny echo of a giggle, hanging in cyber-space!
James. Friend. Get a grip.
Do I accept your framing of the issue, BM?
Hardly.
We shall see what eventuates. You’re awfully cocky, despite being on the wrong side of Government. I suppose all you have now is James-like crowing to warm your disappointed cockles.
Nah, just haven’t got a lot of time for this us vs them wankery you old guys seem to indulge in.
Actually, I’m one day hoping, once you oldies have fucked off and died we may actually get a bit of consensus and move past this tribal, team bullshit.
So if we sign up to it will you be a happy james for many years to come?-or still vindictive,–sort of like a troll, on day to day political matters ?–again, a sort of misery guts.
Consider;
What will you say when we loose our NZ Government control through ISDS?
When national get back into power during then next decade, the ISDS will still have another 20yrs to run, and your government will also be powerless to control government affairs then.
But you won’t care, as you will have bought your own beach house in Hawaaii alongside John key wont you?
James has NOT learned the error of his ways. James is naughty. Naughty James. Your birthday celebrations will now no longer have a bouncy castle – yes that’s right you heard me – NO you have blown it and now you and your friends will just have to make your own fun.
These then, are the best days of your life, James: in Opposition, scrambling for giggles wherever you can scrape them up. According to James Shaw, there’s a good chance you’ll be giggling ( giggle, giggle ) for the next 18 years!
Haw!
My granddaughter is a soccer Queen she scores 4 to 5 goals a game and shows up all the boys LOL she 7 years old so proud.
I would like some of my grandsons to play soccer but I don’t think they are going to have body’s built for soccer some how.
Well I say legislate to even up the playing field for Ladys in management as OUR society is bias against them. In my view we need more ladys in management NOW we stereotype Ladys as weak emotional E.C,T so for a lady breaking the barriers into management is a hard task and we should give them all the help they need so they fix up the wrongs in OUR society you all ready no that I say lady’s are more intelligent and humane than man and this is a fact. Kia Kaha
Nick Smith would make an excellent trolling RWNJ; I believe KB is his natural habitat. It explains why he never got booted out of the National government; he’s one of them.
Nick Smith appears to have forgotten about the countless elections where Labour secured by far the larger vote but was never the Government. Isn’t this fact the reason we adopted MMP.
Just thinking about that Psych. In recent times Labour had more popular votes than National but the FPP gave National more electorate seats so won. And doesn’t the current Government have a 3 seat majority?
We won Nick. You lost! Eat that!
Well that and this exchange suggests Trevors acting impartial which is all you could ever want in a Speaker, I mean sure its early days yet but its a good start
Still pining for John, Pucky?
He dropped them in it, for sure. Fancy leaving them in the lurch, to face defeat alone! Not really a team player, was he.
I was SO disappointed in Wilsons stint as speaker. L Smith was a revelation and Carter was so bad that Jamie Lee Ross looked astounded at being held to account by Tolley.
I think you have skipped to the wrong country there dude. Go easy on the drugs.
Trevor will want to be remembered as an excellent Speaker and retire with a knighthood. This is probably his final gig. He will want to be bracketed in history with Lockwood rather than with Margaret Wilson.
Repugs finally get honest and basically admit it’s a straight quid pro quo. Legislate tax cuts for the wealthiest in return for campaign donations, or else. Everyone else can get screwed if that’s what’s needed to make the tax cuts happen.
When polishing a turd hold Gareth with 2 fingers as the polish is applied – I use a coconut oil mixed with lemon to really get Gareth clean. Brushes can get a real shine on Gareth and you’ll receive lots of compliments when noticed such as,’ gee that turd Gareth is really shiney’ or ‘look you can see your reflection in this Gareth wow that is a mirror finish how did Gareth get so shiney’.
Extra – why do we have to see the radio interviewers – I want to hear Kim hill – so distracting trying to watch and listen I find myself going ‘what is she doing with her hands’ and so on
Yes the joy of a composting toilet is the turds are there, every day, waiting to be sorted – we dream of flush and forget – and hygiene, washing, and gloves etc are essential especially where a polishing is a needed .
It would appear that Kim may have a neurological condition, I look forward to the day when any form of disability does not disqualify any individual from the visual media.
She always has been fidgety with hands flying, but think she prefers non-visual radio anyway.
She also used to sneak her dog into the studio on Saturdays; don’t know if she still does, but presumably cannot do so on Morning Report these days.
But yay – next week it is Kim Hill and John Campbell on Morning Report.
JC and Guyon E are swapping places for the week, with GE doing Checkpoint.
I reckon he’s just had the longest ever mid-life crisis known to man – and it’s still in progress.
Last night, my son and I were wondering what we should give him for Christmas. I suggested a Harley Davidson. My son said no – definitely a pussy
Sadly paddles didn’t do it – it was imo 100% Gareth and his attitudes to women, his candidates, and those who ask for explanations or query his lordship in any way. The shocker is he now makes fucken Bob Jones seem reasonable. Hell even Colin Craig appears to read the mood better than Gareth. All the top ideas in the world mean nothing without bringing people along.
Funny you mention Bob Jones cos that is who Morgan is reminding me of. Lots of opinion, doesnt listen and wants equality for women once they prove they deserve it.
He certainly operates according to patriarchal “rules”. Business people have run their own businesses. They are de facto leaders by dint of their entrepreneurial skills or success not cos of any particular leadership skills. They, most being private, do not have to consult with others and usually have the final say in decision-making. these are NOT skills suited to being a good (in the sense good for NZers) politician or political leader. I am NOT saying Morgan is like Trump, but the “skills” Trump had as a showman on tv and businessman are SO different to being President, and it shows.
I give credit when I see it is due . I was thinking that john key got the government to invest 1 billion in OUR ultra fast broadband and that was onto it investment .
But I Analyzed the whole picture and came to the conclusion that key had a vested interest in OUR broadband roll out and that is the actual far right like to use the internet to influence / subliminal influence OUR people to think that there big business
and there far right bullshit views are good for OUR Worlds society 1 peter thiel 2 there false claims that they are collecting social data to target the needy 3 Xerox moving out of our stockmarket who is part of that company . There are many other examples of them trying to control us and OUR views.
We dodged the bullet this time but we have to be aware of what is actually going on in OUR society.
And the timing of that release of that Washington Post article to damage OUR new coalition image and try and make them look like a far right political government to make it harder for Jacinda and Winston to get good trade with the rest of OUR trading partners . (Thats right out of john keys hand book) The question I would be asking ben mack is who payed you. I just say that the barriers against ladys entering management should be removed but we still need the right person for the job or it will be a big F up. I miss my days of fishing seeing a line of dolphins as far as the can see and all the other amazing wild life and the roll of the boat. Kia Kaha
Yes Puckish Rogue,
I agree Trevor mallard is bringing a sane non-combatant style that the last speaker David Carter could not or would not bring this new civility to the house.
Possibly we will see a more caring balanced fair even handed approach to parliament as the last parliament was simply ugly with many fights that were to ugly to watcvh and i would turn the channel off.
We want to see all politicians work together to help restore all NZders lifestyle, health and wellbeing back to the way it was before 2008, with major improvements in rail services and other infrustructure improvements planned with ‘local public community input’ as this ‘active community input’ was sadly missing in the last nine years.
The last Government placed walls around public consultation and did not provide public to serve any influence in what central Government was secretly planning in their regions.
Perhaps trevor could steer this change also as Speaker of the house now, since jacinda has made it a solid change that “all NZders will have a voice and be heard”.
Perhaps, if Trevors run ends as it begun, he and Lockwood Smith could come up with some guidelines for Speakers as I think we can agree that a neutral speaker is best for parliament
the guidelines exist. I suspect it is about character more than the guidelines per se. A Speaker prepared to follow the guidelines as opposed to one who is advancing his/her parties cause and finds ways to justify it through contortion of the Speaker rules
The grief of some National supporters is strong – they have been betrayed by Winston Peters who rode roughshod over his NZ First party to go with huge bribes from from Labour , and by the Green Party whose policies are close to National’s. As the winning party they believe that it is wrong that they are not in government. Leaving emotion aside, I thought there had been a report that National had offered the NZ First party more than National in terms of cabinet positions – is that the case?
Yes it was the case. They offered an extra full cabinet position.
You fail to mention Ed1 that National betrayed Winston Peters by releasing information about his super over-payments – a Winz mistake of which he had no prior knowledge. It was an act designed to destroy Peters and NZ First and it nearly succeeded.
Betrayals tend to beget betrayals, although in this case I am certain NZ First chose Labour because Labour’s policies are more compatible with their own policies.
The Peters super debacle was all widely reported at the time Ed1. You could google something like ‘Winston Peters/super payment’ and you should get all the MSM articles.
If you’re referring to the extra cabinet post offered by National then that was also widely reported in the media. That of course was only a matter of 3 to 4 weeks ago.
Thanks. Just what I needed. By coincidence, since writing my post the claim that Labour offered more “baubles” was read on radio today – as part of reading a diatribe by a disappointed National supporter – but without the clarification that this part was just as wrong as the rest of the message. I suspect it is a deliberate lie being repeated by National to try and cause trouble for the government, as well as to convince their supporters that there may have been reasons other than policies and their own performance that led to them not being in government.
Ed1 There was a report that the National Party leadership instructed Negotiators to not offer NZF much. Perhaps in the belief that should NZF go with Labour-Green, it would all collapse and they would ride in triumphant. Fat chance.
ianmac I think the Nats swallowed their own years of spin about Peters and truly believed he just wanted baubles. I think they thought they could get what they wanted cos they have been getting it for 9 years
If I was labour I’d be very tempted to go to national and say, “that after due consideration we have decided to rescind our 108 seat offer”. But of tit for tat seems to be in order.
Slamming National for lying would be like criticising fish for swimming.
Lying is National’s brand, and even in opposition they remain intent on building brand recognition.
It’s bizarre – Nat politicians seem unaware that lying is not a good look. And the more they seek to advance their causes by lying, the better it will be for the Labour-led Government and NZ.
A petition from Gordon Brown , ex UK PM to shut down tax havens…
“To President Mauricio Macri and all leaders of the G20:
The level of global inequality is appalling — 8 people own as much wealth as half the planet.
And the gap is growing, thanks in part to the shadowy world of tax havens which lets trillions be siphoned offshore from our economies. Right now, the rich get richer, and the rest of us pay.
Eight years ago the G20 agreed it would shut down these practices. It’s time to deliver. We call on you to act immediately to end tax havens and ensure that those that run and exploit them are held to account.
Nobody should be able to evade their duty to pay tax for the public good. It is your responsibility to make that so. As citizens from around the world, we demand action. ”
The chances of Democrats pulling off the most gobsmacking electoral upset ever just got a lot higher (though realistically still pretty low). Alabama’s election for Session’s replacement happens on 12th December. The Republican candidate, Roy Moore (who’s vile enough he was already a massive headache for the GOP), has been accused of sexual misconduct with underage teenagers. The accusations are credible enough that congressional Repugs are calling for him to drop out of the race, even though it’s too late to put a replacement on the ballot.
Dude left out the immaculate conception part of the fairy tale.
“There is nothing to see here,” Alabama State Auditor Jim Ziegler told the Washington Examiner. “The allegations are that a man in his early 30s dated teenage girls. Even the Washington Post report says that he never had sexual intercourse with any of the girls and never attempted sexual intercourse.”
[…]
“He’s clean as a hound’s tooth,” Ziegler claimed, before relying on Scripture to defend Moore.
“Take the Bible. Zachariah and Elizabeth for instance. Zachariah was extremely old to marry Elizabeth and they became the parents of John the Baptist,” Ziegler said choosing his words carefully before invoking Christ. “Also take Joseph and Mary. Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter. They became parents of Jesus.”
“Yes, $53/wk is the 20% increase for all benefits that was in the GP policy.”
Yes. But with the Greens failing to deliver on any core benefit increase coupled with them now working with Labour (hence, less inclined to rock the boat) where is the political pressure now going to come from?
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
I did a lot of work for the local Labour Party candidate this election, but I gave my party vote to the Green Party mainly because I knew they would push Labour on welfare reform. I will be lobbying Labour at every opportunity to reform WINZ and increase benefits.
Thanks Karen. I know a lot of Labour voters care about this stuff. I worry that some are too scared of losing power to do anything really meaningful when they have it.
I might be off asking this, but it does confuse me sometimes why we decry Trump for being a right wing extremist and wanting to ban immigration, yet here we wave the anti immigration flag as though it’s one of the core principles of the left. Where did we go wrong? We end up sounding more like the right every day
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
[we tend not to talk politics in Weekend Social. Open Mike is a good place to start general debates. – weka]
The full range of positions on immigration from the left on here. The extreme edges of no or full uncontrolled immigration don’t seem to have representatives. Tough debate usually.
I’m one of those that support a more selective immigration policy here in NZ, as well as being utterly disgusted with the orange dotard.
The first big difference of opinion is how to treat immigrants that have already arrived. Adolf Twitler wants to make life as miserable as possible for them before he catches and deports them (except the smokin’ hot white ones). In contrast, I want to ensure immigrants that do come get the best welcome feasible and get assisted to find their place in society. I’m appalled by the way immigrants are being brought in under circumstances that make them vulnerable, and are then exploited by unscrupulous employers (who are, sadly, often recent immigrants too). Other lefty critics here of the previous govt’s immigration policies appear to feel the same.
Another big difference is the motivation for reducing immigration. The Fanta Fascist is only interested in stirring the vilest xenophobic fears of his supporters; he’s all for importing immigrants for his businesses to exploit. I’m concerned that excessively high levels of immigration are excessively stressing our infrastructural capacity to absorb them in a way that makes them welcome. And those infrastructure stresses are spilling over into social stresses such as high housing costs, which disproportionately harm the most vulnerable members of our society.
There’s lots more where that came from, but it’ll do for a start.
Awww! You’re so caring , Chair!
(You don’t care. You’re prising apart whenever you can. In fact, you never miss an opportunity to caringly create doubt and discord. You think you are clever. I think you stick out like the proverbial).
Nothing caring in that post, Robert. It was merely a question.
Moreover, I don’t create the opportunities that can cause discord, Robert. But I do ask questions, express my opinion and sometimes offer alternative solutions from time to time.
“Will signing the TPP cost Labour the next election or will all be forgiven by then?”
You are speculating that:
* the TPP will be signed
* signing it will cost Labour the next election
* anger at Labour for signing it will eventuate
* that anger might not disappear before the next election
and you wrapped those speculations in a question format in order to disguise you intention, which was and is to insert barbs into the confidence of Labour/Green/NZ1 readers here.
That’s what I reckon.
I’m asking if they sign will it cost them the next election? Which, considering they reached an agreement, looks likely when and if negotiations restart.
There is anger with Labour now for even considering signing it, let alone them reaching an agreement. I know a number that didn’t vote Labour for this very concern.
However, the next election is a while away, hence I’m asking if all will be forgiven?
Therefore, your guesswork is incorrect. I suspect you suffer from paranoia. My intention for asking the question was to gauge the feeling here.
It’s Labour that failed to walk away (despite not getting all they wanted) and as I also pointed out to you, were prepared to sign. Thus, would have created the “discord” and “prising apart” you seem to be concerned about.
So why are you directing your crap at me and not them?
It’s a question Labour should be asking themselves. But going off the feedback thus far (nothing at this stage) nobody cares, so they have nothing to worry about.
If we fail to make a noise now, it signals to them all is fine.
It doesn’t surprise me that Labour will sign up for this deal, it was in the bag from the get go. I don’t know how they are going to reconcile this with their two support partners in coalition – it will be a betrayal for them. They probably will have to get National’s support to get it accross the line.
I didn’t vote for them, but I am of that age group that will never forget the pig farmer and his reforms and what it has done to this country of ours. Labour has never got rid of their economic reforms and only dabble around the edges of it. I am like a lot of people and think that they should be attacking the pathetic benefits that are paid for the disabled and ill people in this country, if it wasn’t for families helping them out they would be on the streets.
Good on Jacinda for getting to be Prime Minister but its just going to be more of the same under her Government, I wonder what Professor Jane Kelsey has to say about this latest TPPA progress, I don’t think she will be impressed one bit.
Let’s see what’s been (about to be) agreed to before we decry all and sundry, shall we?
It’s a very heated debate, the TPPA but that beast has shifted shape many times since its conception. I’m waiting to see what form it has taken now. Old views may well be redundant.
Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka KotahiThe fact that a ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st CenturyThe SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims StuffSteve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
David Farrar writes – We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how labour went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promiseThe result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
“I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
.“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
“It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet – is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
Bob Edlin writes – And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ HeraldThomas CoughlanSimeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
TL;DR:Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it: We want our country to be a ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading → ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
What was that judge thinking?Peter Williams writes – That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop:Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
The pressure is mounting on the Government as it finalises its Budget Policy Statement, but yet more predicted revenue ‘goes missing’. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Climate Commission has delivered another funding blow to the National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government’s tax-cutting plans, potentially carving $1.4 billion off the ‘climate ...
The Government now faces the prospect of having to watch another tax raise the price of petrol when, only six days ago, it abolished the Auckland Regional Fuel tax. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon argued that the regional fuel tax imposed costs on lower-income people with less fuel-efficient vehicles and that ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
Today marks a tragic milestone for New Zealanders as the Coalition Government side with big tobacco to repeal the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins and Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti. Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 19 March appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has hosted members of the Green Party Caucus at Tuurangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawahia. The audience follows the King’s Hui-aa-Motu on 20 January, where more than 10,000 people gathered to discuss national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dr Rachael Potter, Research Associate and Lecturer in Work and Organisational Psychology, University of South Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Pregnant women and workers with children are often unfairly treated by their bosses and colleagues, despite laws to protect against workplace discrimination ...
Reacting to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s refusal to rule out introducing new taxes at the budget, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “Today’s refusal to rule out new taxes suggests the Government is nothing more ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne Aila Images/Shutterstock Aged-care workers will receive a significant pay increase after the Fair Work Commission ruled they ...
He’s bringing ‘Sophie’ back, yeah. Goodshirt’s ‘Sophie’ music video is one of the most instantly recognisable New Zealand music videos of all time. Featuring a woman listening to the song on headphones while her entire house is burgled behind her, the video won the New Zealand music award for Best ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University A year ago, the AUKUS agreement was formally announced between Australian and UK Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden. The agreement mapped out the “optimal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andreas Helwig, Associate Professor, Electro-Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern Queensland SmartS/Shutterstock Steam locomotives clattering along railway tracks. Paddle steamers churning down the Murray. Dreadnought battleships powered by steam engines. Many of us think the age of steam has ended. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carrie Leonetti, Associate Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Victims who experience family violence in Aotearoa New Zealand are treated differently, depending on which part of the justice system they turn to for help. But a new member’s bill ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Tesch, Visiting Fellow at the ANU Centre for European Studies, Australian National University In perhaps the least surprising news of the year, Vladimir Putin has triumphed at the Russian ballot box and been enthroned for the fifth time as president. He ...
The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court has stopped a byelection for the Madang Open seat being held until an appeal filed by former MP Bryan Kramer is concluded. Kramer had appealed to the Supreme Court over a National Court decision not to review his application of the Leadership Tribunal decision ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Despite a “historic” ceasefire agreement in Papua New Guinea between Enga authorities and tribal leaders after months of bitter warfare, a young woman has been found brutally killed near Kaekin village, Wapenamanda. Despite the peace agreement and signing concluded in Port Moresby last Thursday ...
The second season of Ryan Murphy’s Feud is a sadder and slower entry into his canon of true story-telling, leaning heavily on a verdict about the cost of a single work of art. Hollywood heavyweight Ryan Murphy has had a bit of “ick” about him in the last few years. ...
Are you deeply passionate about sharing Māori stories? We’re on the hunt for an experienced writer/editor to lead coverage in our Ātea section.Ātea is a deeply valued section of The Spinoff site, offering Māori perspectives and insights across politics, current affairs and culture. We are thrilled to be looking ...
By Aisha Azeemah in Suva With the lights on one of his sneakers blinking as he ran through the gallery, a little boy looked up at several works of art. One of them was a sculpture of his grandfather: the man who changed how we see the Pacific — Epeli ...
WHAT: Uber drivers are holding a rally outside the Court of Appeal in Wellington tomorrow, as the company begins its appeal against 2022’s Employment Court verdict (in a case taken jointly by FIRST Union and E tū) that four drivers were permanent ...
RNZ Pacific The Fiji Meteorological Service has a heavy rain warning still in place for the whole of the country after a weekend of flooding, although some floodwaters have receded. Flood and flash flood warnings and alerts are also in place, including a warning for all flash flood-prone areas, small ...
Responding to Grant Robertson’s recent admission on a Q+A with Jack Tame that his only regret from his time in office was that he didn’t take on more debt, Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, Alex Murphy, said: “Grant Robertson has now admitted that he ...
The latest iteration of home biogas generators. Turn that energy in your waste into gas for cooking and heating. It also produces liquid fertilizer, so swapping your compost heap for this gas generator won’t deprive your garden of nutrients.
https://cleantechnica.com/2017/11/08/homebiogas-2-0-produces-3-hours-cooking-gas-per-day-kitchen-scraps/
Good line of development. Look forward to them producing one small enough to fit in the small kitchen or outside walkway of a small flat that is not on the ground floor.
thats cool !
Well spotted Andre. Could be great for “off-the -grid” unit.
Wonder if it could have much larger implications? Think that gaseous smell at rubbish dumps or transfer stations. Wasn’t there a plan to harness rubbish dumps somewhere in NZ?
There’s already industrial scale capture and use of biogas, and has been for quite a while. Separating organic waste out of other rubbish, like Auckland has planned for very soon, opens another opportunity for that.
https://www.biogas.org.nz/documents/resource/WB06-biogas-overview.pdf
Some farms are getting into it. It’s one argument for getting cows off paddocks and into shelters where more of their effluent can be captured and better managed. Germans have led the way, but it’s catching on here.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/dairy/97035790/poo-is-powering-a-southland-dairy-farm-shed
But it’s always bothered me that going off-grid usually means some kind of bottled gas was still needed. So if someone’s cost-effectively mass producing something for homeowners to replace that with biogas, all the better for going completely off-grid.
Don’t hold your breath with biogas from cow effluent. Cows are really good at extracting energy from grass so their effluent isn’t that good in creating methane when compared to pigs or chickens or us.
Richest material for biogas is the carcasses left from meat works. There are thousands of tonnes per month of this type of waste that will be trucked off to land fills from each factory. That is where I would locate a biogas and electricity generation unit.
(The argument for biogas is that burning methane and releasing carbon dioxide is better than releasing methane. Methane is 80 times more effective as a greenhouse gas than CO2.)
One can make his own biodigester I’v seen them on the internet one of my favorite subjects they are not that hard to make people around the world who have to be industrious are using home made biodigester .
And the problem with cows housed in barns is that it raises production cost why the cost of servicing a extra 1 to 5 million and low production cost is the main advantage we have over the rest of the world good Dairy NZ or some outfit has tried it and the
system was not cost effective Like you said the barn cows that provide all of there crap for the system were cost effective may be some positive or negative incentive could get this technology going good post Andre many thanks Ka pai .
Anyone wanting to know the meaning of the terms ‘vindictive, mean, vicious, gratuitously insulting’, need look no further than the tirade of abuse from the MP for Nelson, Nick Smith in his parliamentary speech yesterday. What a vile person and what a sad example of what NZ can expect from National over the next three years.
I’m sure someone else will help with a link.
You summed it up just by saying nick smith.
10000% I agree this.
That man ‘Nick Smith’ is nothing but a ‘turncoat’.
Just watched it and you nailed it. Vile.
@Wyndham +100 Agreed; I made the mistake of missing him off my list of nasty and duplicitous Nats in a post a couple of days ago.
But what a stupid thing to do-to attack the Speaker.
And once again we have an opposition MP listing all National’s achievements (and lying about them of course) as though they are still in power or still in an election campaign. Time to move on Nats.
Another example of how owned the MSM are. Smith f’d up again and again during the 9 years of nact plunder.
He’s a sad example of an MP with anger management issues and an inability to recall his many lies so he’d provide a virtually endless supply of material but gets left alone.
Wyndham, is it this speech here please?
smith is delirious, bitter that we live under MPP, how many minutes does he waste complaining about the election outcome lmfao. Running everyone down flat out, livid over losing his ministerial roles.
This will be the his last term as an MP, if he lasts that long.
Why does he saying ‘Mr Speaker’ when tolley is in the chair?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaB0Dzlru3o
Ah, the joyous outrage of someone who has never figured out the difference between “friend” and “lickspittle”.
Oh, and in 1981 the nats had less votes than Labour and still formed the government, so his bitching about “votes and seats” is bullshit. We’re now up to 2/52 exceptions.
That’s it Cinny.
What an extraordinary tirade from a bitter,unhappy man.
N.Z. is blessed in not having this clown still as a minister.
Well I’v been moaning my ass off to my children and moko’s and my wife that I could not renumber the last time my wife cooked for me LOL my wife did not even engage the topic . And the other nite I said to her your are saying get stuffed I’v cooked for you and our children for the last 30 od years and we had a laugh she replied you got it LOL.
So my cooking skills have improved vastly over the last six months from thee one pot wonder/ boil up to being good at making a jus gravy and the easy one I found was mushrooms the easiest to make and always taste good. I got the good part of the deal because I only have to cook for two and not ten like she had to cook for most times .
I have to change one of my calls and that is about New Zealand having a loud voice that
Trump had heard and this was why he was nice to OUR prime minister .
The voice that he heard is one that is much closer to him and that’s his wife she has got him to calm down and see reality. And I still say to you lady’s that are behind these powerful men Kick there ass and make them see reality and see that climate change is real and we need America to take the lead to fight climate and save mother earth.
You what my wish was if I could go 40 years into OUR future well I could also see that OUR People all over the World were Honouring Donald Trump because he changed his mind on climate change and the WHOLE World fought climate change and equality together and this was why OUR environment was pristine.
Because the other option is Apocalypse disaster. P.S I can see when people are composed all of the time an then the Eco Maori effect. Kia Kaha
Not going to count my chickens just yet but its looking good for NZ: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/98741737/tpp-negotiations-go-down-to-the-wire-as-jacinda-ardern-arrives-in-vietnam
Greater satisfaction…
The faux drama presented by reuters..ooh ooh, ‘it’s down to the wire’…’looking good for NZ’..like a footy match..
Or the ‘thrills’ of posting a link on a blog you come to only as an agitator?
The analysis of ‘benefits’ to Nz came out at 0 in real terms, and did not factor in possibility of loss of sovereignty through the agreement..
So in what basis is it ‘looking good for NZ’ other than through the lens of a shit stirrer…
Bad news they look like they are going to sign it, against public opinion.
You’ll still vote Labour though, convince yourself they had no choice and it was the evil Nats who gave Ardern a hospital pass.
I would be very surprised if save was a Labour voter.
Now why would they do that? Same corporate backers as national? Or perhaps it’s actually good for nz.
All the claims from labour about how bad it was going to be – then they sign it.
It’s comical.
James. Almost all of the comments you have made since National lost the election to the Coalition of Winners, has you portraying yourself as laughing and giggling at the hilarious comical behaviours you see unfolding before you.
Are you alright?
Is there a leaking NO2 cylinder nearby to where you perch?
Can we help?
Is Valium and option you’d consider?
I fear you will wear yourself out with all this mirth you are experiencing.
There’ll be nothing left of you, ‘cept a tinny echo of a giggle, hanging in cyber-space!
James. Friend. Get a grip.
Labours going to sign the TPPA and they were always going to! what do you think of that?
Do you feel betrayed Robert?
for some reason the line “It was bright cold day in April” suddenly springs to mind 🙂
Do I accept your framing of the issue, BM?
Hardly.
We shall see what eventuates. You’re awfully cocky, despite being on the wrong side of Government. I suppose all you have now is James-like crowing to warm your disappointed cockles.
I’m not part of government Robert.
Never was and probably never will be.
You’re a loner, BM? A renegade?
Are you Pee wee Herman?
Nah, just haven’t got a lot of time for this us vs them wankery you old guys seem to indulge in.
Actually, I’m one day hoping, once you oldies have fucked off and died we may actually get a bit of consensus and move past this tribal, team bullshit.
Says one of the chief participants. LOLWIT
Its not so bad being on the wrong side of government if the current government is still supporting what National wanted
BM = Bloody Mindless.
RG, james is my friend also. –james, james hold the ladder steady I’m a comin down to your are–are are–ms—
James is a plonker.
Is that the noise of a drip hitting the water?
ha ha.
I wouldn’t be laughing so much if the new government didnt give so much material to laugh at.
From the shambles of not being able to count.
Then Jacinda being called out as a liar by the media (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11941784 and on Pundit – cant find the link at the moment).
To sucking in people like yourself about the TPP – then (it looks like) signing it anyways.
Yes – Im laughing .
james,I don’t like it when you are in a negative mood.
Not negative – Im all for the TPP.
Im happy with how this looks like it is going.
So if we sign up to it will you be a happy james for many years to come?-or still vindictive,–sort of like a troll, on day to day political matters ?–again, a sort of misery guts.
Sellout James are you not?
Consider;
What will you say when we loose our NZ Government control through ISDS?
When national get back into power during then next decade, the ISDS will still have another 20yrs to run, and your government will also be powerless to control government affairs then.
But you won’t care, as you will have bought your own beach house in Hawaaii alongside John key wont you?
Why do you want to protect governments from being sued by companies?
Because srylands it uses up your valuable taxes in non-productive expenses.
Using your logic – would that not make Jacinda and the Labour government the sellouts?
Im not the one signing it – Im just happy if they do.
Very forced insincere laughing James – it does you no credit to act like your hero billshitter.
I think james has learned the error of his ways by now,
Nope.
James has NOT learned the error of his ways. James is naughty. Naughty James. Your birthday celebrations will now no longer have a bouncy castle – yes that’s right you heard me – NO you have blown it and now you and your friends will just have to make your own fun.
These then, are the best days of your life, James: in Opposition, scrambling for giggles wherever you can scrape them up. According to James Shaw, there’s a good chance you’ll be giggling ( giggle, giggle ) for the next 18 years!
Haw!
N2O
Same corporate backers and ideology as National. It’s actually bad for NZ as all such agreements are.
My granddaughter is a soccer Queen she scores 4 to 5 goals a game and shows up all the boys LOL she 7 years old so proud.
I would like some of my grandsons to play soccer but I don’t think they are going to have body’s built for soccer some how.
Well I say legislate to even up the playing field for Ladys in management as OUR society is bias against them. In my view we need more ladys in management NOW we stereotype Ladys as weak emotional E.C,T so for a lady breaking the barriers into management is a hard task and we should give them all the help they need so they fix up the wrongs in OUR society you all ready no that I say lady’s are more intelligent and humane than man and this is a fact. Kia Kaha
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/HansS_20171109_056700000/smith-nick-jones-shane-tolley-anne
Nick Smith would make an excellent trolling RWNJ; I believe KB is his natural habitat. It explains why he never got booted out of the National government; he’s one of them.
Nick Smith appears to have forgotten about the countless elections where Labour secured by far the larger vote but was never the Government. Isn’t this fact the reason we adopted MMP.
Just thinking about that Psych. In recent times Labour had more popular votes than National but the FPP gave National more electorate seats so won. And doesn’t the current Government have a 3 seat majority?
We won Nick. You lost! Eat that!
Forgetting sits just behind lying as Nat MPs default settings
Can’t believe i’m going to say this but…Trevor Mallard seems to have made a good start to being speaker and is bringing some good ideas
https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2017/11/good_innovations_from_speaker_mallard.html
Looks like he might be erring towards the Lockwood Smith school of how to be the speaker of the house
May I suggest more babies in the House and since Gareth did not become an MP, kittens as well; it’ll lift the whole House.
I dunno, some of the nappies can get pretty rank…still it might speed things up a bit so maybe worth a thought 🙂
Babies grow out of nappies, sooner or later; some MPs don’t …
Are you saying it or are you saying that whodacky is saying it.
“whodacky”
Love it!
Well that and this exchange suggests Trevors acting impartial which is all you could ever want in a Speaker, I mean sure its early days yet but its a good start
https://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2017/11/trevor-mallard-makes-great-start-speaker/
Funny guy – good you helping out your ‘mates’ websites.
Well to be fair you did ask but it does illustrate my point about good ‘ol Trev doin’ good
I asked but alas just got distracted deliberately by your distraction ho hum
As opposed to Carter….
Lockwood is a great benchmark PR.
If Trevor can match, or better, Lockwood then thats a helluva legacy for him and a good benchmark for others
Trevor has a better sense of humour. I expect some great lines. Plus, once he’s settled in, he’ll shut those crowing Tories up 🙂
I hope you are right Robert. It is good that Mallard knows the ropes and ,along with Winston, should prove to be 100% improvement on Carter
As long as he treats both sides equally then its all good by me
As Carter invariably did /sarc.
I suspect Carter spent a bit too much time learning from Margret Wilson and not enough from Lockwood Smith
I suspect Carter was Key’s ventriloquist’s dummy.
Still pining for John, Pucky?
He dropped them in it, for sure. Fancy leaving them in the lurch, to face defeat alone! Not really a team player, was he.
Lost the battle (the election) but won the war (TPP) so its all good 🙂
Just wait ’til you see what the left does with its second and third terms 😈
Be interesting to see how many more promises they break that’s for sure 😊
How many more promises can Jacinda “I cannot tell a lie” Ardern break by any chance?
If the TPP was the was the war we can expect you to be happy following its signing, no more comments from you?
Peckish?
You didn’t win the war today 🙂
I was SO disappointed in Wilsons stint as speaker. L Smith was a revelation and Carter was so bad that Jamie Lee Ross looked astounded at being held to account by Tolley.
FIFY
I think you have skipped to the wrong country there dude. Go easy on the drugs.
Trevor will want to be remembered as an excellent Speaker and retire with a knighthood. This is probably his final gig. He will want to be bracketed in history with Lockwood rather than with Margaret Wilson.
That is why Lockwood had to go…
Repugs finally get honest and basically admit it’s a straight quid pro quo. Legislate tax cuts for the wealthiest in return for campaign donations, or else. Everyone else can get screwed if that’s what’s needed to make the tax cuts happen.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/gary-cohn-tax-cut-ceos-donors_us_5a049571e4b0f76b05c4249e?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009
Lovely bloke that Gareth. So pleased someone with such a strong understanding and support of democracy wants to continue
ruling unopposedleading his own political party. /sarcYou beat me to it Carolyn_nth.
What an arrogant, arsehole of a man. No coincidence his target is a woman.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/343482/top-party-candidate-told-to-resign
Edit: Oops… same link. We’ll leave it there so people know what its about.
When polishing a turd hold Gareth with 2 fingers as the polish is applied – I use a coconut oil mixed with lemon to really get Gareth clean. Brushes can get a real shine on Gareth and you’ll receive lots of compliments when noticed such as,’ gee that turd Gareth is really shiney’ or ‘look you can see your reflection in this Gareth wow that is a mirror finish how did Gareth get so shiney’.
Extra – why do we have to see the radio interviewers – I want to hear Kim hill – so distracting trying to watch and listen I find myself going ‘what is she doing with her hands’ and so on
I do hope you washed your hands thoroughly afterwards mm.
Yes the joy of a composting toilet is the turds are there, every day, waiting to be sorted – we dream of flush and forget – and hygiene, washing, and gloves etc are essential especially where a polishing is a needed .
mm -1 Anne – 0
Reminiscent of Mr Hankey, the Christmas poo, a la south park.
It would appear that Kim may have a neurological condition, I look forward to the day when any form of disability does not disqualify any individual from the visual media.
Big call that one – personally when i talk/present my arms fly all over the place in a very european way ive been told.
My point was the multimedia aspect – for me just listening is enjoyable.
Apologies if my initial comment was offensive or derogatory.
Ironic that Brilliant Kim is fidgety and at the opposite end is Nasty Hoskings who fidgets and twitches as well.
She always has been fidgety with hands flying, but think she prefers non-visual radio anyway.
She also used to sneak her dog into the studio on Saturdays; don’t know if she still does, but presumably cannot do so on Morning Report these days.
But yay – next week it is Kim Hill and John Campbell on Morning Report.
JC and Guyon E are swapping places for the week, with GE doing Checkpoint.
I suppose we all have a neurological condition. What is Kim’s?
I reckon he’s just had the longest ever mid-life crisis known to man – and it’s still in progress.
Last night, my son and I were wondering what we should give him for Christmas. I suggested a Harley Davidson. My son said no – definitely a pussy
Gareth should have known he was up against a formidable political foe in Paddles. Those opposable paws were a giveaway.
Political hero of the year goes to Paddles, managed to take down TOP.
Sadly paddles didn’t do it – it was imo 100% Gareth and his attitudes to women, his candidates, and those who ask for explanations or query his lordship in any way. The shocker is he now makes fucken Bob Jones seem reasonable. Hell even Colin Craig appears to read the mood better than Gareth. All the top ideas in the world mean nothing without bringing people along.
Funny you mention Bob Jones cos that is who Morgan is reminding me of. Lots of opinion, doesnt listen and wants equality for women once they prove they deserve it.
A prime example of why the rich should not be able to buy political parties.
Now we just have to stop them from buying Labour again. National is already a lost cause.
For someone who says he’s neither left nor right wing, his values and MO are definitely ones I would associate with right wing politics.
He certainly operates according to patriarchal “rules”. Business people have run their own businesses. They are de facto leaders by dint of their entrepreneurial skills or success not cos of any particular leadership skills. They, most being private, do not have to consult with others and usually have the final say in decision-making. these are NOT skills suited to being a good (in the sense good for NZers) politician or political leader. I am NOT saying Morgan is like Trump, but the “skills” Trump had as a showman on tv and businessman are SO different to being President, and it shows.
I give credit when I see it is due . I was thinking that john key got the government to invest 1 billion in OUR ultra fast broadband and that was onto it investment .
But I Analyzed the whole picture and came to the conclusion that key had a vested interest in OUR broadband roll out and that is the actual far right like to use the internet to influence / subliminal influence OUR people to think that there big business
and there far right bullshit views are good for OUR Worlds society 1 peter thiel 2 there false claims that they are collecting social data to target the needy 3 Xerox moving out of our stockmarket who is part of that company . There are many other examples of them trying to control us and OUR views.
We dodged the bullet this time but we have to be aware of what is actually going on in OUR society.
And the timing of that release of that Washington Post article to damage OUR new coalition image and try and make them look like a far right political government to make it harder for Jacinda and Winston to get good trade with the rest of OUR trading partners . (Thats right out of john keys hand book) The question I would be asking ben mack is who payed you. I just say that the barriers against ladys entering management should be removed but we still need the right person for the job or it will be a big F up. I miss my days of fishing seeing a line of dolphins as far as the can see and all the other amazing wild life and the roll of the boat. Kia Kaha
“And the timing of that release of that Washington Post article to damage OUR new coalition image…”
What was that about eco?
Yes Puckish Rogue,
I agree Trevor mallard is bringing a sane non-combatant style that the last speaker David Carter could not or would not bring this new civility to the house.
Possibly we will see a more caring balanced fair even handed approach to parliament as the last parliament was simply ugly with many fights that were to ugly to watcvh and i would turn the channel off.
We want to see all politicians work together to help restore all NZders lifestyle, health and wellbeing back to the way it was before 2008, with major improvements in rail services and other infrustructure improvements planned with ‘local public community input’ as this ‘active community input’ was sadly missing in the last nine years.
The last Government placed walls around public consultation and did not provide public to serve any influence in what central Government was secretly planning in their regions.
Perhaps trevor could steer this change also as Speaker of the house now, since jacinda has made it a solid change that “all NZders will have a voice and be heard”.
Perhaps, if Trevors run ends as it begun, he and Lockwood Smith could come up with some guidelines for Speakers as I think we can agree that a neutral speaker is best for parliament
Did you miss tolley taming that lil boy Jamie Lee Ross?
the guidelines exist. I suspect it is about character more than the guidelines per se. A Speaker prepared to follow the guidelines as opposed to one who is advancing his/her parties cause and finds ways to justify it through contortion of the Speaker rules
The grief of some National supporters is strong – they have been betrayed by Winston Peters who rode roughshod over his NZ First party to go with huge bribes from from Labour , and by the Green Party whose policies are close to National’s. As the winning party they believe that it is wrong that they are not in government. Leaving emotion aside, I thought there had been a report that National had offered the NZ First party more than National in terms of cabinet positions – is that the case?
It doesn’t matter anymore. The deal has been done. National is in opposition.
Yes it was the case. They offered an extra full cabinet position.
You fail to mention Ed1 that National betrayed Winston Peters by releasing information about his super over-payments – a Winz mistake of which he had no prior knowledge. It was an act designed to destroy Peters and NZ First and it nearly succeeded.
Betrayals tend to beget betrayals, although in this case I am certain NZ First chose Labour because Labour’s policies are more compatible with their own policies.
Thanks, does anyone have a link to the article that confirms this? Its nice to counter lies with verifiable (or at lest supportable) facts.
The Peters super debacle was all widely reported at the time Ed1. You could google something like ‘Winston Peters/super payment’ and you should get all the MSM articles.
If you’re referring to the extra cabinet post offered by National then that was also widely reported in the media. That of course was only a matter of 3 to 4 weeks ago.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/98087944/the-longest-day-of-a-very-long-campaign–17-hours-that-decided-the-new-government
Thanks. Just what I needed. By coincidence, since writing my post the claim that Labour offered more “baubles” was read on radio today – as part of reading a diatribe by a disappointed National supporter – but without the clarification that this part was just as wrong as the rest of the message. I suspect it is a deliberate lie being repeated by National to try and cause trouble for the government, as well as to convince their supporters that there may have been reasons other than policies and their own performance that led to them not being in government.
Ed1 There was a report that the National Party leadership instructed Negotiators to not offer NZF much. Perhaps in the belief that should NZF go with Labour-Green, it would all collapse and they would ride in triumphant. Fat chance.
ianmac I think the Nats swallowed their own years of spin about Peters and truly believed he just wanted baubles. I think they thought they could get what they wanted cos they have been getting it for 9 years
Ten Reasons We Got Rid of the Nasty Party
No. 6: Paula “Snitch” Bennett
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/306440/bennett-refuses-to-resign-over-leak
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11926410
Chris Trotter is on a roll at the moment:
http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2017/11/chris-hipkins-mistake.html
Lets hope it is a mistake that will never be repeated.
If that 108 tilts majorities on Select Committees, it will matter. Esp with Zero Carbon bill.
Otherwise just a good reminder to Chippie to learn to count.
If I was labour I’d be very tempted to go to national and say, “that after due consideration we have decided to rescind our 108 seat offer”. But of tit for tat seems to be in order.
That’s precisely what they should do. “You said you’d vote for mallard and you didn’t, we said we’d increase the SC numbers but now we’re not.” Burn.
I don’t think it is a mistake to trust someone’s word. The media should have been slamming Bridges/National for lying and reneging.
The headline should have been “National turns first day into Farce”.
But oh no, Labour gets the blame-the MSM will do anything to destroy the stardust..
In normal instances I would agree with you but this is the National Party and history has constantly reminded they can’t be trusted.
As for the media. Too many of them are there only to produce sensational headlines and sound bites. Ethics and facts mean nothing to most of them.
Slamming National for lying would be like criticising fish for swimming.
Lying is National’s brand, and even in opposition they remain intent on building brand recognition.
It’s bizarre – Nat politicians seem unaware that lying is not a good look. And the more they seek to advance their causes by lying, the better it will be for the Labour-led Government and NZ.
A petition from Gordon Brown , ex UK PM to shut down tax havens…
“To President Mauricio Macri and all leaders of the G20:
The level of global inequality is appalling — 8 people own as much wealth as half the planet.
And the gap is growing, thanks in part to the shadowy world of tax havens which lets trillions be siphoned offshore from our economies. Right now, the rich get richer, and the rest of us pay.
Eight years ago the G20 agreed it would shut down these practices. It’s time to deliver. We call on you to act immediately to end tax havens and ensure that those that run and exploit them are held to account.
Nobody should be able to evade their duty to pay tax for the public good. It is your responsibility to make that so. As citizens from around the world, we demand action. ”
To sign
https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/paradise_papers_mm1/?bUFfKib&v=99734&cl=13473829005&_checksum=8aa498996c465f54d7d08b5e6254f9a0977b5dc8f6e1329e60a01a6383d68e02
The chances of Democrats pulling off the most gobsmacking electoral upset ever just got a lot higher (though realistically still pretty low). Alabama’s election for Session’s replacement happens on 12th December. The Republican candidate, Roy Moore (who’s vile enough he was already a massive headache for the GOP), has been accused of sexual misconduct with underage teenagers. The accusations are credible enough that congressional Repugs are calling for him to drop out of the race, even though it’s too late to put a replacement on the ballot.
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/11/09/politics/roy-moore-senate/index.html
Dude left out the immaculate conception part of the fairy tale.
“There is nothing to see here,” Alabama State Auditor Jim Ziegler told the Washington Examiner. “The allegations are that a man in his early 30s dated teenage girls. Even the Washington Post report says that he never had sexual intercourse with any of the girls and never attempted sexual intercourse.”
[…]
“He’s clean as a hound’s tooth,” Ziegler claimed, before relying on Scripture to defend Moore.
“Take the Bible. Zachariah and Elizabeth for instance. Zachariah was extremely old to marry Elizabeth and they became the parents of John the Baptist,” Ziegler said choosing his words carefully before invoking Christ. “Also take Joseph and Mary. Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter. They became parents of Jesus.”
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/alabama-state-auditor-defends-roy-moore-against-sexual-allegations-invokes-mary-and-joseph/article/2640217
@ weka
“Yes, $53/wk is the 20% increase for all benefits that was in the GP policy.”
Yes. But with the Greens failing to deliver on any core benefit increase coupled with them now working with Labour (hence, less inclined to rock the boat) where is the political pressure now going to come from?
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
It would be great if that pressure came from Labour Party members, and voters.
I did a lot of work for the local Labour Party candidate this election, but I gave my party vote to the Green Party mainly because I knew they would push Labour on welfare reform. I will be lobbying Labour at every opportunity to reform WINZ and increase benefits.
Thanks Karen. I know a lot of Labour voters care about this stuff. I worry that some are too scared of losing power to do anything really meaningful when they have it.
Good on you, Karen.
Yes it would, Tracey.
I’d also like to see the Greens apply more pressure and was having this discussion with weka the other day.
https://thestandard.org.nz/the-missing-noun/#comment-1411810
I watched Tamati Coffey’s maiden speech and thought that was pretty special but have just watched Kiritapu Allan’s and it has brought me to tears.
There’s a future leader.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OFp04lHcRk&sns=tw
Kia ora!!!!!!!!!
Haaaaa
now 6:45 PM
Five hours later and nobody gives a toss about the about the Greens portfolio list !
Maybe Winston has an effect.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
I might be off asking this, but it does confuse me sometimes why we decry Trump for being a right wing extremist and wanting to ban immigration, yet here we wave the anti immigration flag as though it’s one of the core principles of the left. Where did we go wrong? We end up sounding more like the right every day
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
[we tend not to talk politics in Weekend Social. Open Mike is a good place to start general debates. – weka]
The full range of positions on immigration from the left on here. The extreme edges of no or full uncontrolled immigration don’t seem to have representatives. Tough debate usually.
I’m one of those that support a more selective immigration policy here in NZ, as well as being utterly disgusted with the orange dotard.
The first big difference of opinion is how to treat immigrants that have already arrived. Adolf Twitler wants to make life as miserable as possible for them before he catches and deports them (except the smokin’ hot white ones). In contrast, I want to ensure immigrants that do come get the best welcome feasible and get assisted to find their place in society. I’m appalled by the way immigrants are being brought in under circumstances that make them vulnerable, and are then exploited by unscrupulous employers (who are, sadly, often recent immigrants too). Other lefty critics here of the previous govt’s immigration policies appear to feel the same.
Another big difference is the motivation for reducing immigration. The Fanta Fascist is only interested in stirring the vilest xenophobic fears of his supporters; he’s all for importing immigrants for his businesses to exploit. I’m concerned that excessively high levels of immigration are excessively stressing our infrastructural capacity to absorb them in a way that makes them welcome. And those infrastructure stresses are spilling over into social stresses such as high housing costs, which disproportionately harm the most vulnerable members of our society.
There’s lots more where that came from, but it’ll do for a start.
‘It’s not New Zealand holding up the consensus’ – Parker
Mr Parker would not name the country responsible, but denied it was either New Zealand or Canada.
“It’s not New Zealand holding up the consensus. We reached agreement.”
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/343526/it-s-not-new-zealand-holding-up-the-consensus-parker
And there you have it, New Zealand has reached agreement on the TPP.
Parker said Labour had got “some of what we wanted”
Will signing the TPP cost Labour the next election or will all be forgiven by then?
Awww! You’re so caring , Chair!
(You don’t care. You’re prising apart whenever you can. In fact, you never miss an opportunity to caringly create doubt and discord. You think you are clever. I think you stick out like the proverbial).
Nothing caring in that post, Robert. It was merely a question.
Moreover, I don’t create the opportunities that can cause discord, Robert. But I do ask questions, express my opinion and sometimes offer alternative solutions from time to time.
How’s you speculation looking now, Chair? Ought we to worry still about your “what ifs”?
There was no speculation, Robert. I just highlighted the facts reported and asked a question.
If you meant what do I expect will happen to the TPP? I suspect they will regroup and try again.
The main concern is, Labour were prepared to sign us up to it.
Which, would have created the “discord” and “prising apart” you seem to be concerned about.
Therefore, can we expect to see you have a go at them?
“Will signing the TPP cost Labour the next election or will all be forgiven by then?”
You are speculating that:
* the TPP will be signed
* signing it will cost Labour the next election
* anger at Labour for signing it will eventuate
* that anger might not disappear before the next election
and you wrapped those speculations in a question format in order to disguise you intention, which was and is to insert barbs into the confidence of Labour/Green/NZ1 readers here.
That’s what I reckon.
No.
I’m asking if they sign will it cost them the next election? Which, considering they reached an agreement, looks likely when and if negotiations restart.
There is anger with Labour now for even considering signing it, let alone them reaching an agreement. I know a number that didn’t vote Labour for this very concern.
However, the next election is a while away, hence I’m asking if all will be forgiven?
Therefore, your guesswork is incorrect. I suspect you suffer from paranoia. My intention for asking the question was to gauge the feeling here.
It’s Labour that failed to walk away (despite not getting all they wanted) and as I also pointed out to you, were prepared to sign. Thus, would have created the “discord” and “prising apart” you seem to be concerned about.
So why are you directing your crap at me and not them?
the lack of response to your question is because it is the wrong question
?/! = 1
It’s a question Labour should be asking themselves. But going off the feedback thus far (nothing at this stage) nobody cares, so they have nothing to worry about.
If we fail to make a noise now, it signals to them all is fine.
That’s right, you are the only person in NZ that cares about the TPPA and what Labour does.
Far from it.
The comment was made in context of the feedback thus far. Thus, was a tad sarcastic.
@ Robert Guyton
As for speculating on whether they will sign it. I believe they will. And if it all falls apart, it won’t be because of Labour’s unwillingness.
What do you reckon?
It doesn’t surprise me that Labour will sign up for this deal, it was in the bag from the get go. I don’t know how they are going to reconcile this with their two support partners in coalition – it will be a betrayal for them. They probably will have to get National’s support to get it accross the line.
I didn’t vote for them, but I am of that age group that will never forget the pig farmer and his reforms and what it has done to this country of ours. Labour has never got rid of their economic reforms and only dabble around the edges of it. I am like a lot of people and think that they should be attacking the pathetic benefits that are paid for the disabled and ill people in this country, if it wasn’t for families helping them out they would be on the streets.
Good on Jacinda for getting to be Prime Minister but its just going to be more of the same under her Government, I wonder what Professor Jane Kelsey has to say about this latest TPPA progress, I don’t think she will be impressed one bit.
Let’s see what’s been (about to be) agreed to before we decry all and sundry, shall we?
It’s a very heated debate, the TPPA but that beast has shifted shape many times since its conception. I’m waiting to see what form it has taken now. Old views may well be redundant.
So, Labour have gone from not signing up unless they get the changes they wanted, to lowering the bar and accepting some of what they wanted.
And you’re OK with that lowering of the bar, Robert, thus hold out hope it will be a good deal?
Largely agree, Kate.
Just announced on NZ media that Canada and Veitnam have both pulled out of the TPP11
I am so proud I became a Canadian Citizen in 1976 after living there as a kiwi, and now my second country saved my first country.
I now have found a true love of Canada again . Yippee shit I am going to open a bottle of bubbly.
I feel sorry for James, BM, srylands, and 3stepstotheright as they are all loosers.
Jacinda said she was not spending any more time on this TPP 11 now.
Going on to APEC meeting now.
Wise move so;
I now am proud to keep my Canadian citizenship as Canada saved my birthplace of NZ.
I love you Canada for saving NZ from corporate bondage.
Happy days again..
Come home Jacinda and we will rebuild our beautiful NZ again and shake off the shackles of corporate bondage,
Lets do this. ilovejacinda my princess.
Goodness!
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens!
LOL