A Christchurch man who is going through a terrifying extortion ordeal wonders how many others might have been caught up in it.
Newstalk ZB has seen text messages sent to the man from an 020 number, demanding money or threatening violence against him and his family.
He believes his phone number was taken from advertising he placed in a local paper.
The man has gone to police who said they have had multiple complaints about the phone number.
He received the first phone call earlier this week. The call lasted for five minutes, but the ordeal lasted for an hour with the man constantly calling back and texting.
“I originally got told this person was a member of a gang and that a debt had been passed on and I now owed him the money.
“I asked ‘what debt? I don’t owe any money to anyone’ and he said [he knew who I worked for].
“He said I couldn’t go to police. It was actually terrifying as he started to threaten my kids and family.”
…..snip….
One scam reported by Southern District Police uses an automated message in a Kiwi accent.
The message says, “This is the Police you owe money to Inland Revenue, if you don’t pay you will be arrested. Please call 04 889 0505”.
When rung a person asks for your name and IRD number.
Another scam is said to use an automated call in a Chinese accent claiming to be from DHL.
“The automated call tells the phone user that DHL has goods waiting for them and that they need to press 9 to talk to somebody to discuss, and if they press 9 the call then goes to a person who will ask for personal information,” Senior Sergeant Charles Ip said.
Since TS is embarking on a new beginning, could I ask a favour which will hopefully be backed up by others.
Psycho Milt and One Anonymous Bloke apparently copped lengthy bans some time ago. I know OAB can be a bit pithy at times but he is ultra smart and his one/two liners are insightful and valuable. Pyscho Milt is also a valuable contributor for similar reasons.
I don’t know if either are willing to return, but they have been ‘punished ‘ for long enough. Any chance the ban can now be reversed?
Regardless of which commenters a person may agree with – or not as the case may be – there seems to be an inconsistency in the time spans of some of the more lengthy bans. I hope the authors are still working on introducing a fairer system that is acceptable to everyone.
We need social blog sites that promote sensible thoughts, so we need all to stick together as the “fake news media are so rampant out there and we need urgent balance to their crap.
And we do need to put the spotlight on ‘where is the Minister of Broadcasting’?
She (Clare Curran) was promising us a commercial free ‘investigative Journalism’ type channel seven called RNZ-plus) to be in service by now!!!!! but still as of now we have nothing yet to “add some balance the right wing troll media” and worse we have seen or heard nothing from this Minister who appears to be just a total wasted space and an embarrassment to us all and the Labour lead Government.
if I was Jacinda I would replace her now and find a real active strong Minister who will give us a voice that we need so desperately now since the rest of the media is trying to destroy the government.
“And we do need to put the spotlight on ‘where is the Minister of Broadcasting’?”
….add to that the Ass. Minister for State Services (Open Government).
MIA she is, in a foggy cloud…
TS was missed and agree with the donation thing. We are blessed here not only with a well functioning website with excellent archive access and search facility but the lack of advertising is singularly delightful.
Yes i do have deep misgivings with the Minister here as in November we asked Clare Curran to help get a new RNZ reporter for HB/Gisborne and Minister Curran refused in her letter to us that she would not get involved then!!!!.
So she didn’t mind that we were left without a reporter (under two years of national)
Now we cant even get the reporter now (assigned) “finally” to cover our transport issues as the new reporter said to us she was to busy!!!!!!
So the Minister has made a mess of everything here now.
The project remains unfinished because local authorities are yet to sign-off regulatory permits for a state-of-the-art abattoir, despite repeat efforts by the New Zealand Ambassador to get things moving.
On December 6 last year the governance group held a teleconference, with the Mfat representative advising, “the Al Khalaf Group had located the legal documents required by the Mayor [redacted] and these documents had been delivered to the Mayor’s office”.
Apparently they lost the paper work for a couple of years
Duh
National are still spinning that it was “Labour’s fault …”. I read somewhere that the anger was not so much at the ban of live sheep exporting but a National promise to lift the ban that was reneged on. The FTA has stalled and would have no matter what National did. So throwing the scary “$4.5 Billion dollar problem” phrase around is more spinning (aka lying).
They must be worried that this huge waste of money makes their claims that “more doctor not diplomats” shows they are useless at running a country and their criticisms of the Coalition are hollow at best.
Oh i read the article, i meant that dan Bidiot (or what ever) didn’t really give an answer to the question at any stage, or said agreed to both sides of a debate, ignored actual facts, went on tangents.. I mean if I lived in Northcoate I would want a bit more coherence from my elected official than what that transcript suggested
I’d live to see the government’s Kiwibuild’s like Unitec site have cheap rental accomodation reserved for teachers, firefighters and police workers. Not only is it important to be able to have these important people’s skills kept in NZ cities that are increasingly becoming less affordable with less rental accomodation but it would also serve a valuable function for those who think that there are more ‘social’ issues in social housing.
I can’t see a policeman letting his neighbour cook P for example or beat their partner up. Likewise having teachers around in a community that should be serving the poorer members of society.
I just hope these government land from the tax payer does not just end up as speculative purchases onsold in a few years… which clearly will happen if the government does not get it’s act together in ensuring they have non repealable conditions as long term state housing.
That may not be so simple as it seems on the surface but… it’s also completely brilliant. What I and a lot of my peers lacked as young folk was decent role models. Absentee/abusive parents were very common.
A community where key community players were present, and actually part of the community (not visiting with big sticks), could go a long way towards restoring some sense of stability and safety for people who’ve known neither. It does put a lot of onus on the people of service however.
Stability is key to turning lives around. Most street people are PTSD via what they’ve endured at the hands of their caregivers, often the state. Just putting National in power is enough to see many slink back into addiction and despair. A mob that not only doesn’t care, but actively victimises you.
Last time Labor was in power many fringe types were empowered to try their hand at life. I personally saw several long term performing artists off the dole. Some are now in the international spotlight.
Try that with Nats in power. Fines, benefits cut off, fraud accusations – “we were just trying to start a business”… Great talents kicked till they stay down.
I remember getting hauled over the coals age 18 for not being on WINZ books – it’s true! “But how did you live, you must be lying to us” – I lived in the bush. I was 16 going on 17, and I’d already had a gutsful.
Got to wonder if there’s any relationship between managements. Sounds as if someone was pretty determined to shovel more money in the builders’ direction.
Construction, banking and cow corporate welfare is what this country has become. All the laws and red carpet to keep the often poorly run businesses, getting benefits at every turn and employing cheerleaders to keep the pressure on government for them to get more benefits with less regulation, chugging along.
“Did they get financial advice? This is a shambles.”
The minutes of the CMDHB meetings provided at the bottom of that page says it all.
“A shambles” is an understatement. One day someone…Hager, are you free?…will properly investigate shit like this. We’re talking billions of tax dollars being poured down the throats of vultures like these.
And no sanctions for gross fuckups….just more contracts.
“Hawkins built the Botany Downs Secondary College in Auckland.
A related company, H Construction North Island – formerly called Hawkins Construction North Island – was last week ordered by the High Court to pay $13.4 million for a raft of construction errors at the leaky, damp, and rotting college.
Orange H Group – H Construction’s shareholder – has now been put in receivership.
It will now be up to receiver McGrath Nicol to decide what happens to the millions of dollars the Ministry of Education is owed.
Hawkins also built the four worst leaking buildings at Middlemore Hospital less than 20 years ago.
H Construction has gone into receivership owing a total of $30m.
Orange H director David McConnell said they decided some time ago to exit the construction industry “principally because of the dramatic rise in the risk profile” borne by contractors.
This same rise in risks was cited by Fletcher when its building unit announced it was closing up gradually after suffering $1 billion of losses.
Mr McConnell said Orange H took the decision reluctantly to go into receivership.
“The process to secure final payments from the various customers has been complex and has taken a lot longer than anticipated and created a cash flow timing issue,” he said.
“We were also concerned that a number of parties were commencing legal action and we were mindful of our responsibility to exercise our fiduciary duties.”
There was “significant value” in Orange H with all but two of the legacy projects now completed and only minor work still outstanding on one of these, Mr McConnell said.
“The board’s focus is now to leave the company in the best possible position for the receivers to achieve substantial recoveries.”
The board of trustees at Botany Downs Secondary College said it had not yet heard about the company going into liquidiation.
The school was disappointed, but not entirely surprised to hear the news, chair Murray Goodman said.
The board would wait for more instructions from the Ministry of Education on the matter.
In March 2017, Downer purchased the Hawkins brand, some projects, assets and employees, and called it Hawkins 2017 Limited.
Previous projects and a number of ongoing projects done by Hawkins or related companies – such as the Botany Downs school and Middlemore Hospital buildings – were retained by Orange H Group, part of McConnell Limited. Orange H is distinct from Hawkins.”
Slimy, wriggly arsed, bottom-feeding scumsuckers are everywhere….
Test as two previous comments submitted without problems have not appeared.
OK – this one worked without problems. But two previous comments to the “Toby Manhire Owns Ms Bennett” post did not (the second a repeat of the first), Not important or presumably contentious comments and no loss. From Vodaphone ISP.
Just the tip of the ice berg. I’d like to see government audits every year to make sure all these “IT errors” on the banks and financial industry are found and not permanently ripping off people who have nobody anymore to check up on the big business in any real terms. Would also help the banks and the government, if they screw up over years that’s a large hole in their accounts for the future and they go bankrupt.
While they are about it, would help people feel better if their cash was actually insured like other normal countries so that people don’t lose all their savings if they stuff up aka all the financial crashes not so long ago. Had a family member lose all their savings in Hanover finance for a deposit on their first home. They had to start out again with nothing. The banks should pay for the insurance and bail outs not the government or tax payers.
ANZ credits customers $10m after loan payment mix-up
“…. selling about $11 million of medical equipment, mostly sterilisers, to a finance company, then leasing them back.
This was an “unusual” method to get around the fact that usual sources of capital spending would not have been available for such a non-priority building, she said.
“It’s a very bad deal….””
Accompanying photo has an unfortunately inanely grinning acting CEO…
Now you are suggesting that Willis’ older clone*, Judith Collins, should be the one to lead National back to the promised land. Make up your mind, man. LOL
I really laughed when I watched Jude’s performance the other day. The person in the House I would least call ‘petulant’ is Jacinda Ardern – and the one I would most call ‘petulant’ is none other than Judith Collins herself.
* As I said in one of my comments under your ‘Willis for PM’ post last week, Willis seems like a younger Collins; and she seems to already be forming a fan club around herself amongst the younger, newer Nat MPs.
Bridges in his reshuffle following his rise to the Nat leadership has already moved a number of the older Nats further to the retirement back benches (eg Maggie Barry) and younger ones (eg Sarah Dowie) well up the list and into spokesperson positions. Others, eg Collins, I suspect he is keeping on the front bench from the perspective of keep your friends close but your enemies even closer. Time will tell …
“But Puckish Rogue, only a week ago you were proclaiming that Nicola Willis would be the next PM of NZ!”
I hope she can forgive my momentary lapse of reason (she will of course because shes just so awesome like that)
“As I said in one of my comments under your ‘Willis for PM’ post last week, Willis seems like a younger Collins; and she seems to already be forming a fan club around herself amongst the younger, newer Nat MPs.”
The future is looking bright for NZ
“Bridges in his reshuffle following his rise to the Nat leadership has already moved a number of the older Nats further to the retirement back benches (eg Maggie Barry) and younger ones (eg Sarah Dowie) well up the list and into spokesperson positions. Others, eg Collins, I suspect he is keeping on the front bench from the perspective of keep your friends close but your enemies even closer. Time will tell …”
The sooner he moves Paula Bennett closer to retirement the better
Yes PR another strange thing occurred today see here;
The Greens have decided on a candidate to run in North cote against National and Labour, now we know why we decided to leave the Green Party 15 yrs ago, and now feel vindicated as the greens are handing National another pass card after giving the question time to national already so they are showing us some inside the greens want to go with National as a Blue/green combo i believe now.
The story appears over on TDB.today.
Northcote by-election: Greens select Rebekah Jaung as candidate – is it worth it?
By Martyn Bradbury / May 11, 2018 /
The Greens are sick of being seen as a puppet for Labour and are desperate to show some independence, but was this by-election the best way to do that?
Actually i agree with it, the Greens will have looked at the Maori Party and Act and would know the danger of being seen to be lap dogs plus they also get to campaign for more party votes
@ cleangreen (10.1.1.1) … Not a good move at all from the Greens.
Seems to me Greens are putting up a challenge to the very coalition government they are part of, through selecting a candidate to contest the Northcote byelection! Strange!
I too have a feeling they are edging closer to going over to the Natz dark side eventually.
If they continue with these anti coalition tactics, then Greens can kiss my vote goodbye for good at the next election.
BTW where is Marama Davidson? I supported her being co leader. But she seems not to be making any impact at all so far!
Just watched the first minute and yes Ms Collins socking it…………She would have been a better choice for Nats. Do you see blood on the floor before 2020?
Also what are your thoughts about Ms Collins detour to have dinner with officials of Oravida and a Chinese boarder official when her husbands company were having difficulty getting their product into China after the baby infant formula isssue. She was paid to go there on Govt business. Just interested to hear your take on that.
It was investigated I believe and no wrong doing found. If you think there was wrong doing then perhaps you should lobby the current government to re-open the investigation.
No I don’t think the current govt will or should re-open that enquiry. To much other stuff to fix that impacts on kiwis lives…..although a fuller enquiry into dirty politics would be worthy. Have you read the book?
Gosman it was a massive conflict of interest. And some would say corrupt. Would you disagree with that? I didn’t read the report but my understanding was the terms of reference were kept very narrow.
I am just so happy we have this coalition govt who are fixing up years of neglect….yah
“Just watched the first minute and yes Ms Collins socking it…………She would have been a better choice for Nats. Do you see blood on the floor before 2020?”
I can’t answer because I’m biased so any answer i give would be less my head and more my heart but i will say I would like to see Jude take the leadership before the 2020 election
“Also what are your thoughts about Ms Collins detour to have dinner with officials of Oravida and a Chinese boarder official when her husbands company were having difficulty getting their product into China after the baby infant formula isssue. She was paid to go there on Govt business. Just interested to hear your take on that.”
My thoughts is that situation was wonderfully muddied (and well done to Labour)
Ok that’s cool puckish. I hope Jude doesn’t get the leadership as she is a bigger threat to us I think. I thought Simon would do better, and I thought David cunliffe and Andrew little would swing things for the left. I completely under estimated jacinda, who I think is outstanding…….so I wouldn’t trust my own judgement about leadership. I am pleased with the coalition. Extremely pleased. I want Middlemore fixed, I want child poverty reduced. I want a significantly improved mental health service (it deteriorated badly under national, trust me it’s my field)…..I want someone to at least attempt to fix the housing crisis and Auckland’s transport woes”……….theses things inspire me. On and throw climate change into that.
Tell me what is it about National that inspires you? Aside from Jude that is
Please make her leader – her vicious sociopathy and questionable past (smirkingly condoning prison rape for example) will turn normal people off in droves.
“So, the Ombudsman, who is meant to be the defender of transparency and the public participation it enables, thinks the public shouldn’t be able to have a say on policy until the government has already decided what’s going to happen. To put things back into his metaphor, in his view we don’t get to decide where we’re going to go, how we’re going to get there, or even if we’re going to go on a trip at all. But we might get to choose the music we listen to or which cafe we stop at along the way, if the government hasn’t already made up its mind about these things.
No matter which way you look at it, this is a deeply impoverished view of public participation. Pretty obviously, it reflects central government’s view of this – where they make the decisions, and public “consultation” is simply a rubberstamp designed to build legitimacy rather than give us a real say. But public participation is supposed to serve the interests of the people, not the government, and the Ombudsman is supposed to protect it. How the fuck is this supposed to be guarding the mana of the people?”
That’s exactly the impression I got from a quick skim of the paper.
I will give the paper better scrutiny later…always wise to better learn the ways of the enemy.
On this very important issue I am not in any way optimistic that this government has any greater interest in transparency and accountability than the Last Lot.
Yes Rosemary;
The trouble with new governments is that they rely to much on their In-house ‘advisers’ and stray off course so this appears to be just another example of the same result being contrary to what they promised us all at the election.
I’m sure one day, one of the pre-election promises will be met. Perhaps someone can raise an OIA on their modelling from 2 years ago…but best expect a redacted blank page to be returned.
Indiana visit labour’s website or go back through Gordon Campbell’s articles. There is a list of everything the coalition has done to date and it’s an impressive list. They will honour their election promises on for exampl e free drs, it will just be a little delayed. In my o wn life I would find that acceptable and it happens frequently every people saying they will deliver things by a certain date and then usually for 7nderstandable reasons the date is pushed back. Most of us are flexible enough to accept this
The ‘Capital Charge’……..probably one of the early initiatives in neo-lib thinking that is now coming into question. It was a feature of the new corporatised public service (during that era when greed became good, and John Travolta and an Olivia neutron bomb were wobbling their arses as though they were more special than the next person)…… that fishint n fektiv n de-pliticoised civil service that was designed to do us all proud.
While they’re busy reviewing the fishinsy n fektivness and worth of that ‘Capital Charge, they might consider applying the same criteria to a good many of the complete fucking Muppetry heading our ‘officlaldom’.
Sometimes I’ve had cause to reference the early pages of the telephone directory.
I find it difficult to find many of the bits that are listed in the government section one could genuinely describe as fully functioning (fishint n fektiv n apolitical) entities.
And let’s be clear, it’s NOT generally down to the plebs at the front line of these entities …. it IS the leadership (the senior and muddle management) – and the culture they instill in their plebs (often ambitious little units anxious to climb the ladder and end up as the next generation of muppetry if only in pursuit of a higher salary and prestigious job title going forward)
First up in the directory is ….. ACC. Then we have Ray Smith’s Corrections.
Next,, nothing too Earth shattering, but a bit of a fuckup if you’re an artist …. Creative NuZull….then Keating’s Defence Force…..then EQC (just check out tonight’s news and all its implications)…then Education Ministry Of.
I’m too scared to travel further, because we’re getting close to Health, and Transport/ Infrastructure, and WINZ , and Primary Industries and perhaps the biggest bugger’s muddle of all which is Mr Smol’s Joyce/Coleman Ministry of Everything.
Whilst I’l hold the ladder steady for Shane Shane – because sure as shit I’m not coming down into his arms, he does have a point in that some serious review is necessary in the muddle and senior management, and that is probbly long overdue.
I heard on Radionz about a good action of The Warehouse helping a woman who needed to escape an obssessed and violent partner, she was given time off and was relocated. One small step for womankind, one great step for one woman and her family.
Now if women can choose to not involve a partner from the first if there is likely to be violence or very erratic behaviour, it would be better. It is only the contempt of the politicians who consider sex moral corruption and illegitimacy the road to hell, that has forced women to be glued to the father often to the detriment of the child and the mother. If she refuses to be involved, she has benefit withheld as a sanction.
Look at all the synonyms relating to the adjective ‘immoral’. It is obviously
something that highly angers people, more than other bad activities that are not connected to simply being loving but when humanness and fertility unfortunately combine.
What a mouthful of dislike:
not conforming to accepted standards of morality.
“unseemly and immoral behaviour”
synonyms: unethical, bad, morally wrong, wrongful, wicked, evil, unprincipled, unscrupulous, dishonourable, dishonest, unconscionable, iniquitous, disreputable, fraudulent, corrupt, depraved, vile, villainous, nefarious, base, unfair, underhand, devious; sinful, impure, unchaste, unvirtuous, shameless, degenerate, debauched, abandoned, dissolute, reprobate, perverted, indecent, lewd, licentious, wanton, bawdy, lustful, promiscuous, whorish;
informal shady, low-down;
informal dodgy, crooked, not cricket;
archaic miscreant
“they deplored immoral behaviour among the upper classes”
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Yesterday was the last day for (reliably) posting your vote away in local body elections. Turnouts are mostly much lower than the equivalent time last year (Palmerston North is down 2.3%), and so naturally people are pushing their online-voting snake oil again. Because the online census worked so well, lets ...
This essay, on the political legacy of the eugenics movement, by Kenan Malik was originally published in the Observer on 6 October 2019, under the headline ‘The spirit of eugenics is still with us, as immigrants know to their cost’. Birth control. Intelligence tests. Town planning. Immigration controls. It’s striking how ...
Another year, and the government has announced another enormous government "surplus". And just like last year, its nothing of the sort. When we have people homeless and sick and hungry, when we have schools and hospitals still falling down, when we have underpaid public servants and infrastucture unmaintained or unbuilt, ...
James Forsyth at The Spectator (I know, I know) has tapped one of his contacts inside Number Ten for an insight into the Johnson administration's thinking and strategy.It is fascinating, unsettling and quite, quite mad. Some key points:Negotiations have stalled and the Johnson administration are keen to blame the EU: ...
Fatal Contact: With the arrival of captain James Cook in October 1769, the islands of what would become New Zealand ceased to be the preserve of Polynesian navigators and settlers and became a part of both the world’s map and the world’s history.THE MAORI NATIONALIST assault upon the historical meaning ...
Another round of tactical talks about forming a Government of National Unity have come to nothing with the Liberal Democrats still refusing countenance putting Jeremy Corbyn into Downing Street:Opposition talks on Monday made little headway over when to try and vote down Boris Johnson's government and who might succeed him as ...
by Nick Rogers The debate around the meaning of sex and gender made an appearance at this year’s British Labour Party conference in Brighton. Women’s Place UK – an organisation that questions the demand that biological males who self-identify as woman should have access to women’s spaces, to all-women shortlists, ...
Yesterday I went down to Wellington to participate in the Extinction Rebellion protest. Its part of the latest global wave of XR actions, with actions happening all over the world. Some of those protests are massively disruptive: in Canada, XR is blocking major bridges, stopping people from getting to work. ...
The Workshop is a charitable trust for public good. The Workshop undertake research to find ways of communicating that will build support for the solutions that work to solve complex social and environmental problems. See their Report on Talking about Poverty and Welfare Reform below. ...
Being and Being Bought (Spinifex Press, 2013) by Kajsa Ekis Ekman A synopsis and commentary of Chapters 1-2 by Daphna Whitmore Ekman, a Swedish journalist and critic, brings together a Marxist and feminist analysis of prostitution and surrogacy in this groundbreaking book She opens the discussion with a definition of ...
I make no claims to having much legal knowledge, so I defer to those trained in this area.I am very much enjoying this twitter stream from m'learned friend in Edinburgh, deciphering the legal arguments around the Scottish court challenge to Boris Johnson, based on the charmingly obscure principle of Nobile ...
Ivory Folly? The University of Auckland’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart McCutcheon, upheld the right of the radical nationalist group, Action Zealandia to exercise their freedom of speech – not matter how distasteful that speech might be. A wiser community of students and scholars would have nodded their agreement and moved on. ...
If you are not convinced terrorist Organisation ‘Extinction Rebellion’ is very, very dangerous – watch this video at one of their recent meetings. Not only is this obviously mentally ill Woman begging the other terrorists to promote killing and “eating” babies and children, if you watch carefully other members nod ...
The Ombudsman has been surveying people about their knowledge of the OIA and the right to information. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that widespread:The Chief Ombudsman says too many New Zealanders were in the dark over their right to access official information. Peter Boshier said an independent survey released yesterday on ...
In the wake of last Friday's climate strike, Peter McKenzie had an article in The Spinoff about protest strategies. The school strike movement is "polite" and cooperates with those in power because that's its kaupapa - its led by schoolkids who understandably don't want to risk arrest. But there's more ...
So, the latest ruminations on the gnews from Westminster (Again, sorry; I'll stop making that pun right now). This follows on from, and likely repeats bits of, my last post, on the suggestion that a Government of National Unity (GNU) should be set up and then oversee a referendum before ...
New Zealand likes to think of itself as not a racist country (despite being founded on the racist dispossession and subjugation of Maori). But for years, we've had a racist refugee policy, which basicly excludes refugees from Africa and the Middle East unless they already have relatives here. Now, the ...
Several people have asked me whether a particular repeat litigant could be declared a vexatious litigant, in light of their recent decision to appeal an adverse High Court ruling. My nascent tweet thread was getting ridiculously long, so it became this blog post instead.The short answer is: no. The particular ...
Appealing To The Past: Action Zealandia, like so many of the organisations springing up on the far-Right, across what they call the “Anglosphere”, is born out of the profound confusion over what a man is supposed to be in the twenty-first century and, more importantly, what he is supposed to do.THE STATUE OF ...
The attempts of anti-democratic transactivists to (often violently) disrupt women’s rights organising is largely ignored by those sections of the left most prone to misogyny and authoritarianism in New Zealand. In Britain, however, scores of trade union and left activists added their names to a letter in July, defending ...
The Justice Committee has reported back on the Criminal Cases Review Commission Bill. The Bill would establish an independent, quasi-judicial body to investigate and review potential miscarriages of justice, and refer them back to the Court of appeal if required. It would be a vital backstop to our judiciary, help ...
by The Spark On September 14, a total of 22 drones and cruise missiles struck two oil installations in Saudi Arabia, the Abqaiq processing facility and the Khurais oil field. Abqaiq is the largest oil production facility in the world. For a few days afterwards, Saudi Aramco, the Saudi national ...
How much will NeoLiberal irregulation of the building sector and subsequent leaky homes crisis cost us? $47 billion, according to a new book:The total cost to fix all of New Zealand's leaky homes would be $47 billion, probably. The estimate comes from a new book, Rottenomics written by journalist Peter ...
Below is the start of another excellent article on the Freer Lives blog. Click onto the link at the end of this extract to read the full article. The punch-a-terf, kill-a-terf message pervades social media, always righteously delivered, chin held high. By contrast, the dehumanised “terfs” themselves, that is gender-critical ...
The Reserve Bank is currently planning tighter banking regulation, requiring banks to hold enough local capital to survive a 1-in-200 year financial crisis in order to protect consumers. The big Aussies banks, those foreign leeches who suck $5 billion in profit out of our economy every year, don't like that, ...
Its the usual story: a police officer beats a handcuffed suspect so hard they break one of their own fingers. The IPCA investigates and concludes that the use of force was unlawful. And the police refuse to do anything about it:A man punched repeatedly in the face by a police ...
From time to time we add links to our blogroll. The latest blog we have added is Freer Lives. This is a Marxist gender-critical blog, based in Melbourne, Australia. On it you will find a bunch of excellent articles which use the tools of Marxist analysis to critique the rise ...
Last Friday say the largest protest in a generation, as 170,000 people joined the school strike and marched to demand real action on climate change. The demands of the school strike were simple and clear: declare a climate emergency, set a climate target of net-zero by 2040, impose a total ...
Labour is a rather middle of the road capitalist party and earlier this year we discussed how far from being ‘transformative’, Ardern’s government is. An article published this week in the Guardian, by Bryce Edwards (political scientist and commentator at Victoria University), looks at Ardern’s business as usual performance. Where ...
In the hours since my last interminable wittering about the possibility of a Government of National Unity (GNU) in Britain, there has been a slight maybe development:A Corbyn-led caretaker government could then sit for several months while it enacted and delivered a referendum with the support of smaller parties and ...
Jeremy Clarkson says much like Greta Thunberg, Anne Frank “didn’t like what was going on”, but “she didn’t have a tantrum about it.” Former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has offered praise to historical figure Anne Frank, comparing her favourably to 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg, who he attacked in ...
Press release by Speak Up For Women Lesbians from women’s rights group Speak Up For Women are furious at reports that Rainbow Tick are threatening Massey University with the removal of their ‘tick’ if they let the group’s event go ahead. The group has been under attack from trans ...
By Duncan Garner Before you jump down my throat, nobody cares about the environment more than me. I have a garden, and since my wife and I broke up, I’ve let it grow wildly out of control, so please don’t tell me I’m not doing enough for plants. They’re ten ...
Local government elections are upon us again. It is a fair bet that, when they are over, we will have all the usual complaints that, despite their undoubted importance, the turnout was depressingly low. So, why do local elections attract so little attention and involvement from the general public? I ...
We want every New Zealander to be happy, safe, and healthy. To do this, we need to support strong, safe communities, and a robust and efficient health system. ...
Defence Minister Ron Mark has used his powers to overrule a noise complaint ruling against Whenuapai airbase on the grounds of "national security". The Environment Court last month released a ruling in favour of a private developer, declaring the Auckland airbase had to comply with noise restrictions when it performs ...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has opened fire against "unreconstructed morons" after NZ First MP Shane Jones was photographed on holiday holding an AR-15 rifle. Mr Peters is defending Mr Jones, telling Magic Talk host Peter Williams that his MP was just having fun "like most people do". "The ...
New Zealand First Deputy Leader and Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau was in attendance during the morning blessing of the Rotorua Lakefront development project. Around 60 people gathered on the shores of Lake Rotorua, including city mayor Steve Chadwick and deputy Dave Donaldson. The Lakefront development is a ...
Forestry Minister Shane Jones is considering reining in on conversions of farmland to forestry, and also issued a warning to foreign-owned forestry companies that make up nearly 75 per cent of the industry. He said too many foreign companies had not provided enough access for domestic processors to get timber. ...
Speaking to Radio NZ, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said the tightening of the parental category visa is a direct result of the Party’s coalition negotiations with the Labour Party. He said the new changes switch the financial onus from the parent moving to New Zealand to the child ...
The Coalition Government is set to cut red tape in the building and construction sector in an effort to allow more houses to be built, including prefabricated houses. The changes will enable the mass factory production of "high quality" buildings, slash the likely number of building inspections for factory produced ...
Since coming into Government, we’ve worked hard to tackle homelessness and make sure everyone has a warm, dry home. And today, on World Homeless Day, we want to report back and update you on our progress so far. ...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has hit back at National Party leader Simon Bridges who criticized the Coalition Government’s approach to crime, and said that the latter isn't credible in his attack on the Government over gang recruitment. "We've got as massive drug problem in this country. It is ...
New Zealand Mānuka honey exporters have welcomed an initiative by the Coalition Government to help secure the term “mānuka honey” to be used exclusively by Kiwi exporters, ensuring that our multimillion-dollar industry is protected. Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones had recently announced that a Provincial Growth Funding of $5.7 ...
Political commentator Mike Hosking has labelled New Zealand First leader Winston Peters as “the voice of reason in a government soft on drugs”, for the Party’s stance on drug testing at music festivals. “If common sense is worth a vote, Winston Peters is quids in,” Mr Hosking said. The Labour ...
Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau has announced Provincial Growth Funding to ensure work opportunities in Turangi and Whanganui, through its skills and employment programme, Te Ara Mahi. A fund of $500,000 will go to Rafting NZ in Turangi for a 16-week river guide training course to train ...
Treasury has shown that the Coalition Government has a $7.5 billion surplus, which is $4 billion higher than what was expected in the 2019 Budget unveiled last May. It is also $2 billion higher than the actual surplus unveiled this time last year, and at a size that has not ...
Official Information Act figures released to NZME show there were 350 assaults on officers in the year to the end of June, 79 more than the year before. The increase in attacks have sparked calls for more legal protection for first responders to be enacted. The assaults included officers being ...
“Nobody wants to see babies uplifted”, this was the pronouncement of Minister for Children Hon. Tracey Martin as her department, Oranga Tamariki, faces multiple inquiries into the number of babies being taken from their families. “But a baby can die with a single punch, “the Minister continued. “So sometimes, Oranga ...
We're making progress on tackling the long-term challenges: from homelessness, to strengthening border security, to bringing banking back New Zealand's small towns. ...
Associate Transport Minister Shane Jones has backed the ambitious plan to move Auckland’s port to Northport, at Whangarei harbour, which he says will be the “King Kong of infrastructure”. The plan is part of the recommendations of a six-person independent working group, which has recommended the Ports of Auckland be ...
A six-member independent working group selected the option of moving Auckland’s port to Northport, in Whangarei, ahead of other options. In what could be New Zealand’s most ambitious infrastructure project yet, a major expansion of the Marsden Point port could happen within 15 years. The project, officially called the “Upper ...
The final Electricity Price Review recommended prohibiting prompt payment discounts but allowing “reasonable” late fees. The findings of this review was welcomed by the Coalition Government, but they hope companies will follow through with its recommendations without regulations needed to be passed. Meridian Energy had already stopped prompt payment discounts, ...
Fletcher Tabuteau, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF)through its skills and employment programme, Te Ara Mahi,will invest nearly $600,000 to ensure work opportunities for locals in Turangia and Whanganui, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced today. “I’m pleased to announce the PGF ...
An export-led economy is one of New Zealand First’s key principles, and our commitment to achieving this is shown by the continuing skyrocketing demand for our beef and sheep meat exports. Beef + Lamb New Zealand's New Season Outlook 2019-20 report forecasts beef, lamb and mutton prices to lift from ...
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today in Gisborne an investment of $17.27m into bringing “world-leading” food-growing technology and the creation of more than 100 new jobs in the East Coast city. The funding comes from the Provincial Growth Fund, and included a $15 million loan to LeaderBrand, a ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development More than 100 people in Tairāwhiti’s Tolaga Bay will benefit from two employment initiatives supported by the Provincial Growth Fund, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and Employment Minister Willie Jackson announced today. “Tolaga Bay is an incredibly tight-knit community, but one in ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is supporting Gisborne business Leaderbrand to produce salad vegetables year round and create more jobs in the Tairāwhiti region, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. “Our support for Leaderbrand will help them build large greenhouses ...
“Nobody wants to see babies uplifted”, this was the pronouncement of Minister for Children Hon. Tracey Martin as her department, Oranga Tamariki, faces multiple inquiries into the number of babies being taken from their families. “But a baby can die with a single punch, “the Minister continued. “So sometimes, Oranga ...
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has praised the promise by New Zealand’s biggest banks not to close any provincial branches while the Coalition Government trials regional banking hubs across the country. The Minister said the announce was the “first sign of hope for regional communities”, many of which have ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, New Zealand First Leader New Zealand First is proud to have delivered an upgrade of the SuperGold Card website and a new smartphone app, which will help unlock the full benefits of the SuperGold Card for 750,000 New Zealand seniors.Party Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters, ...
Delivering a key election campaign promise, New Zealand First is proud to have accomplished a long overdue upgrade of the SuperGold Card today. At an event in Auckland, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters joined Minister for Seniors Hon. Tracey Martin in unveiling the new website and smartphone app which ...
Another busy week, from speaking with world leaders on the world stage about climate change, to equipping our school leavers with everything they need to get ahead in life. ...
New Zealand First MP Shane Jones says Air New Zealand has "an obligation to look after Kiwis", and urged the national carrier not to hike up their prices after Jetstar airline announced their withdrawal from regional flights this week. The Provincial Champion also expressed his disappointment at Jetstar’s decision on ...
Fletcher Tabuteau, Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) will help fund a new dredge for the Port of Greymouth to ensure the regional fishing fleet have a reliable and productive harbour, Parliamentary Undersecretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced today “Last year the movements of ...
Ladies and gentlemen, NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff, members of respective unions – thank you for the invitation to speak to you today. This might be preaching to the choir, but the importance of trade unions in New Zealand’s historical arch is difficult to understate. And it is my belief that ...
"Let’s start by acknowledging that it has been a huge year. " Police Association Annual Conference James Cook Grand Chancellor Hotel Wellington Nau mai, haere mai. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, ka nui te mihi, ki a koutou katoa. President of the Police Association, Chris Cahill; Members of the Association and ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters and Minister of Defence Ron Mark have announced the New Zealand Government’s decision to again deploy a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 (P-3) maritime patrol aircraft to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions imposing sanctions against North Korea. New ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand continues to have serious concerns for peace and stability in north-east Syria. “Recent reports that hundreds of ISIS-affiliated families have fled from a camp are deeply concerning from a humanitarian and security perspective”, Mr Peters says. “While we acknowledge Turkey’s domestic security ...
Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor is warning travelling Kiwis to be vigilant as the high-season for the crop-eating brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is under way. “We’re on high alert to stop BMSB arriving in NZ. The high season runs until April 30 and we’ve strengthened our measures to stop stink ...
The Government is moving swiftly to change the law to improve the welfare and pastoral care of students living in university halls of residence and other tertiary hostels. Cabinet has agreed to several changes, including creating a new mandatory Code of Practice that sets out the duty of pastoral care ...
The Minister for Conservation Eugenie Sage has launched a new comprehensive trapping guide for community trappers to help them protect our native birds, plants and other wildlife, at Zealandia in Wellington today. ‘A practical guide to trapping’, has been developed by the Department of Conservation (DOC), and was launched during ...
Associate Health Minister Julie Anne Genter welcomes PHARMAC’s move to improve access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs). PHARMAC has today announced it will fund the full cost of Mirena and Jaydess for anyone seeking long term contraception, lifting previous restrictions on access to Mirena. “I welcome women having greater choices ...
The Government has approved the next stage of a major redevelopment of Taranaki Base Hospital, which will deliver new and improved facilities for patients. Health Minister Dr David Clark has announced details of a $300 million dollar project to build a new East Wing at the New Plymouth hospital. It ...
Extra funding will allow Rural Support Trusts to help farming families, says Minister for Rural Communities and Agriculture Damien O’Connor. “I know that rural families are worried about some of the challenges facing them, including the ongoing uncertainty created by the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak. “Those concerns sit alongside ongoing worries ...
Thank you for the opportunity to be here to present certificates to the 16 graduates who have completed a beekeeping course delivered by the Howard League. Let us start by acknowledging Auckland Prison’s Deputy Prison Director Tom Sherlock, and Acting Assistant Regional Commissioner of Corrections Northern Region Scott Walker - ...
Finance Minister Grant Robertson leaves this weekend to attend the APEC Finance Ministers meeting in Santiago, Chile. Discussions between APEC Finance Ministers at the meeting will include the effects of the current global economic uncertainty, risks for APEC economies and sustainable development of the region. While at APEC Grant Robertson ...
The Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio says for Pacific people, language can be a source of strength. It can help ground us and give us confidence. When we speak them, our languages provide us with an immediate and intimate access to our identity and our story - and ...
The Coalition Government has announced an action plan to improve the wellbeing of disabled New Zealanders by addressing inequalities in play, active recreation and sport. The initiative includes training to develop a workforce that understands the needs of children and young people with a range of impairments, advocacy for fit ...
The construction sector is being freed up to allow more homes to be built more quickly as the Government cuts through some of the red tape of the Building Act. “Every New Zealander deserves a warm, dry, safe home and old inefficiencies in the Building Act make building slow and ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has welcomed further details on the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall’s visit to New Zealand next month. Their Royal Highnesses will visit New Zealand from 17-23 November – their third joint visit to New Zealand and first in four years. They arrive in Auckland ...
Minister of State for Trade and Export Growth and Minister of Agriculture, Damien O’Connor, heads to Thailand today to attend the final Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministerial meeting, as negotiations enter their final stages. “The RCEP Agreement would anchor New Zealand in a regional agreement that covers 16 countries, ...
Pacific young people living in the Hawke’s Bay, Southland and Otago regions will have access to support services that have proved successful in helping young people find new earning and learning opportunities. “Tupu Aotearoa is about changing Pacific young peoples’ lives. Our young people are talented, they are smart, they ...
Introduction As the Minister for ACC I thank you all for the work that you do supporting New Zealanders in their literally most vulnerable moments. From those who hold people’s lives in their hands, to the people who research technique, technology and trends, your work is highly valued. A special ...
Notes prepared for speeches in Christchurch – Wednesday 9 October 2019 Today’s topic, “trends and opportunities for the New Zealand economy,” is certainly one getting a great deal of commentary at the moment. Looking across the media landscape lately you’ll notice we aren’t the only ones having this discussion. There ...
Minister of Health Dr David Clark and Associate Minister of Health Peeni Henare say this year’s World Mental Health Day theme is a reminder of why the Government’s work on mental health is so important. “This year the World Federation for Mental Health has made suicide prevention the main theme ...
Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni will represent the government at Australia’s Meeting of Cultural Ministers in Adelaide this week. “This year’s meeting is special because New Zealand is expected to become an International Member of the Meeting of Cultural Ministers at this Australian forum,” Carmel Sepuloni said. “The meeting is an opportunity to ...
The Greater Christchurch Claims Resolution Service has resolved 608 insurance and EQC claims in its first year in operation, Minister Megan Woods has announced. The government service, which celebrates its first birthday today, provides a one stop shop to help Cantabrians still battling to get their homes repaired or rebuilt ...
Today’s topic, “trends and opportunities for the New Zealand economy,” is certainly one getting a great deal of commentary at the moment. Looking across the media landscape lately you’ll notice we aren’t the only ones having this discussion. There has been an increasing amount of attention paid to the outlook ...
The Government is acting swiftly to strengthen NZTA’s regulatory role following a review into the Transport Agency, and Ministry of Transport’s performance as its monitor, Transport Minister Phil Twyford said today. An independent review by Martin Jenkins has found NZTA failed to properly regulate the transport sector under the previous ...
The Netherlands and New Zealand have a long-standing and close relationship based on many shared interests and values. We value the rule of law, our democracies, and multilateralism. And we value our environment – at home and globally. Right now there are major global challenges in all of these areas – ...
The Government is putting right a decade’s worth of underpayment to nurses, doctors and other health workers, says Health Minister Dr David Clark. Initial sampling of District Health Boards payroll records has found that around $550-$650 million is owed to DHB staff to comply with the Holidays Act. It’s expected ...
A strong surplus and low debt show the economy is performing well, and means the Government is in a good position to meet the challenges of global economic uncertainty. “The surplus and low levels of debt show the economy is in good shape. This allows the Government to spend more ...
New applications from mining company OceanaGold to purchase land in Waihi for new tailings ponds associated with its gold mines have been approved. Minister of Finance Grant Robertson and Associate Minister of Finance David Parker considered the applications under the Overseas Investment Act. Earlier this year, applications from OceanaGold to ...
New Zealanders in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa / Poverty Bay will witness Māori, Pākehā and Pacific voyaging traditions come together today as the Tuia 250 Voyage flotilla assembles for the first time, Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti Minister Kelvin Davis says. “Tuia 250 is a national commemoration and an opportunity for honest conversations ...
Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker leaves tomorrow for Dubai, London and Berlin for a series of meetings to advance New Zealand’s trade interests. In Dubai he will visit New Zealand’s Pavilion at Expo 2020 where construction is underway. There he will meet Minister of State for International Cooperation, Her ...
Confirmation that PHARMAC will fund two new cancer drugs is further evidence of the good progress the Government is making to improve the treatment of New Zealand’s leading cause of death, Health Minister David Clark says. From 1 December PHARMAC will fund alectinib (Alecensa) for ALK positive advanced non-small cell ...
An additional $2.7 million has been announced for the Government Strategy for Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation on the first anniversary of the strategy’s launch. Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson gave the opening address to the first Sport NZ Women + Girls Summit in Wellington today, ...
As part of its work to ensure businesses can get the skilled workers they need, the Coalition Government is re-opening and re-setting the Parent Category visa programme, Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says. The move will: support skilled migrants who help fill New Zealand’s skills gaps by providing a pathway for ...
Minister of Defence Ron Mark has today announced Major General Evan Williams of the New Zealand Defence Force has been selected as the commander of a significant, longstanding peacekeeping mission in the Middle East. In December, Major General Williams takes over as Force Commander for the Multinational Force and Observers ...
A record number of nurses are now working to deliver health services to New Zealanders as the Government’s increased funding and new initiatives rebuild key workforces start to show results, Health Minister Dr David Clark says. • 1458 more DHB nurses since the Government took office • 106 more midwives ...
Farmer and former Nuffield scholar Mel Poulton has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy, Minister for Trade and Export Growth, David Parker, and Minister of Agriculture, Damien O’Connor, announced today. The position supports key Government objectives, including raising the value of New Zealand agricultural goods and services. Mel is ...
New Zealand’s Pacific and Māori voyaging heritage is acknowledged and celebrated today as waka of the Tuia 250 voyage flotilla arrive in Tūranga / Gisborne. “Today we celebrate Tangata Whenua, the first people of Aotearoa, and the triumphs of the voyaging tradition that brought our ancestors here from Polynesia 1000 ...
“Fijian Language Week starts on Sunday and the theme reminds us how important it is that we each have something to anchor ourselves to, something that can help us pause and feel in control in a rapidly changing world,” says Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. “Family, culture, faith, ...
The Government is establishing an Airspace Integration Trials Programme to support the safe testing and development of advanced unmanned aircraft and accelerate their integration into the aviation system, Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods announced today. The Government will work with leading, innovative aviation industry partners to test and ...
New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. Image AsiaPacificReport.nz/RNZ.Commentators across the political spectrum seem to agree – the Labour-led Government’s popularity is being damaged by its failure to deliver in Jacinda Ardern’s self-proclaimed “Year of Delivery”. Instead, the delivery of bad news to Labour and the Government has come in ...
Internet Service Providers have cautiously greeted the news that the Government is exploring an internet filter for violent extremist and terrorist content. ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.Polls Richard Harman (Politik): Ardern now dependent on Peters Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom): Ardern still standing, but ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Greg Austin, Professor UNSW Canberra Cyber, UNSW This is part of a new series looking at the national security challenges facing Australia, how our leaders are responding to them and how these measures are impacting society. Read other stories in the series ...
Researchers from Lincoln University are investigating how to use nanotechnology in agriculture to increase productivity and reduce environmental impact. ...
The increased presence of anti-trans and white supremacist stickers around the University of Auckland campus is proof that inaction is enabling hate groups, write Anisha Sankar and Max Whitehurst.Anisha Sankar is a Chennai-born, Te Awakairangi-raised, South Indian Tamil studying at the University of Auckland. Max Whitehurst is a transgender Pākehā ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Following the Christchurch mosque shootings, the New Zealand government’s first response was to ban the firearms the alleged gunman had used to murder 51 people. Seven months later, the second tranche of this process ...
The nine members for the next three year term of the Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB) for Auckland have been appointed by the statutory Selection Body. Their appointments begin on 1 November 2019 and continue to 31 October 2022. Mana Whenua ...
“If we are truly to solve the challenge of poverty within the Te Ao Maori world we must lift our people from the low wage and low skills growth side of the economy. At the same time we must continue to ensure our people, no matter where they are, ...
Alex Casey asks Rose Stewart from Family Planning every single question she can think of about New Zealand’s new free IUDs. Listen up, womb-owners who love free shit and long-term contraceptive options: Pharmac announced that they will be fully funding two new long-lasting, reversible contraceptives in New Zealand from November 1, ...
Patients are increasingly being turned away for treatment and there can be no more excuses from the Government over properly funding district health boards to boost specialist numbers in public hospitals, says Ian Powell, Executive Director of the ...
Today’s Council of Trade Unions’ report, Fair Pay Agreements: A Framework for Fairness , provides a much-needed pathway to fair wages and conditions across several major industries, and the Government must deliver on its promise to introduce FPAs ...
The Speaker has limited the number of questions Simon Bridges can ask in the House as a punishment for the National Party defying Trevor Mallard by not pulling down their attack ads. ...
Sunshine capital? Check. Rich artisan tradition? Check. Incredible sausages? That’s a big check. We’ve put together a list of all you need to know before you explore the truly gorgeous Nelson region this summer. If you’ve got friends or relatives visiting Aotearoa, top of their list should be sorting out their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frank Jotzo, Director, Centre for Climate and Energy Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University In the four years since the Paris climate agreement was adopted, countries have debated the fine print of how emissions reduction should be tracked and ...
The flight drink company 1Above, partly-owned by the high profile, venture capital fund Movac and businessman Gareth Morgan, is in liquidation owing almost $10 million. ...
In recent weeks Responsible Campers Association Incorporated (RCAi) has become involved in some high level discussions about our right to camp. This began out of discussion about the disabled who which to participate in Sport and Recreation activities. ...
In their quest for a cashless society the Japanese have beaten New Zealand to its own next-gen shopping experience.New Zealanders are missing out to the Japanese on a Kiwi technology that is set to eliminate supermarket queues.The first store to implement the SmartCart cashierless shopping system will be in Osaka, ...
If you don’t like Shortland Street, or you’re unconvinced that Michael Galvin actually is a doctor, does that mean all New Zealand television is rubbish? Some say yes. Tara Ward says an emphatic no. The world is our TV oyster, but lately it seems not everyone in Godzone is feeling the ...
The National Party is accusing the Immigration Minister of a "Sroubek 2.0" after revelations he granted residence to a man with multiple drink-driving convictions. ...
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu urges the Crown to ensure that the Establishment Board of the newly formed Institute of Skills and Technology meets its Treaty obligations and addresses the statutory role of iwi as Treaty partners in redesigning the education ...
The top-selling food magazine in New Zealand is closing its print operation. Niki Bezzant, Healthy Food Guide‘s former editor, reflects on the challenges the title faced.The news that after 14 years and 176 issues Healthy Food Guide magazine is closing its print operation came as a shock to some. It ...
A unique deal saw Sky buy the rugby rights and sell some of itself to NZ Rugby. Trevor McKewen breaks down what it all means.The news came thick and fast over a remarkable five-day corporate slugfest, starting last Thursday. First, Spark Sport struck, gobbling up New Zealand Cricket’s domestic broadcasting ...
In what’s thought to be the last piece of writing Peter Wells completed before he died, he wonders about his great-grandfather, and the locket he wore all his life. ‘The Story of a Locket’ is published in part here, and features in the extraordinary collection of essays Queer Objects, released this ...
Relationship expert Holly Dixon explains why the entire Married at First Sight franchise is based on bunk science.As the third MAFS NZ season has come to an end, I thought it relevant to answer the question upon which the entire MAFS enterprise is built: Is it possible to predict attraction and ...
SkyCity Casino workers will be on strike and picketing today as Rob Campbell, the Chair of SkyCity Casino talks to other employers about making pay fair at a “Wellbeing at Work” conference today. ...
He was the prototypical high school nerd, hanging on Don Brash’s every word. Then the financial world turned upside down. This is the story of how Kiwibank’s Jarrod Kerr became a most unconventional economist.In 2008, Jarrod Kerr was working at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia when the global financial crisis ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gabriela D’Souza, Affiliate, Monash department of business statistics and econometrics, Monash University For most people the second week in October probably doesn’t hold much promise. Longer days for some, perhaps. But for those is us in the economics profession, come the second ...
One of the important parameters of the agreement’s aims was to ensure there was no threat to food production from the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change. ...
A monument to Winston Peters and Think Big projects would both boost the economy, but Argentina learned the hard way they can also impoverish a nation, writes Tony Burton.Everyone who loves New Zealand should visit Argentina. There are more similarities than you might think – large areas of wild natural ...
The Salvation Army foodbank in Waitakere ran out of food last week; an indication of the strain many New Zealand whanau are under as they struggle to afford the cost of living. Wednesday, October 16 is World Food Day, and as demand for services offered ...
Phil Goff was re-elected by a huge margin on Saturday. How will he put that mandate to use this term? Hayden Donnell asks the questions.Phil Goff is once again Auckland’s mayor. Preliminary local election results show him with a lead of nearly 100,000 votes over his nearest challenger, John Tamihere. ...
Catherine Bindon from Ban the Boom has created these colourful and positive posters for you to use to show you don't support the use of fireworks in your neighbourhood over the next few weeks distressing our animals and birds. ...
On Tuesday morning the Operation Burnham inquiry hearing resumed after it was suspended three weeks ago. The hearing is being held at Royal Society of New Zealand, 11 Turnbull St, Thorndon, Wellington on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Ellerton, Lecturer in Critical Thinking; Curriculum Director, UQ Critical Thinking Project, The University of Queensland It’s not uncommon for science and religion to be framed as two opposing forces. The Catholic church has famously struggled to accommodate scientific research in its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cat Pausé, Senior Lecturer in Human Development, Massey University The British Psychological Society is calling for changes for how we talk about fatness, suggesting we should no longer use the phrase “obese people”, but instead, “people with obesity” or “people living with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bruce Mountain, Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University The federal government’s much-vaunted Snowy Hydro expansion is supposed to smooth out the bumps in electricity supply as Australia transitions to renewables. But not only is the project a bad deal for taxpayers, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By María Yanotti, Lecturer of Economics and Finance Tasmanian School of Business & Economics, University of Tasmania The housing market is moving again. In the past month, national prices have climbed 0.9%. What matters most to buyers (and especially to investors), along with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanna Mendelssohn, Principal Fellow (Hon), Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne. Editor in Chief, Design and Art of Australia Online, University of Melbourne It seems appropriate that a painting titled Feng Shui dominates the new exhibition of Guan Wei’s work ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justin Matthews, Lecturer in Digital Media and Popular Culture Researcher, Auckland University of Technology According to a recent study, the sixth leading cause of death for young men in the United States is the warranted and unwarranted use of police force. With ...
The Council of Trade Unions has today released its report - Fair Pay Agreements: A Framework for Fairness . The report details the six key principles needed for Fair Pay Agreements to deliver real change for working people, and democratic agreements ...
Too many New Zealanders endure poor working conditions in jobs that don’t pay enough and offer few opportunities for career progression, and the union movement is calling for change. ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the latest polls which show a drop in support for Labour are not a concern when it comes to forming a government. ...
Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: A pair of polls put pressure on the Labour Party, a wild night of weather in the North Island, and Shane Jones snapped brandishing a semi-automatic.Parliament resumes today after a fortnight recess, and MPs were given a welcome-back present in ...
Mandy Hager, the newly elected head of the New Zealand Society of Authors, is lobbying the government to improve the lot of writers - to no avail, despite the Prime Minister's championing of the arts. ...
Given the vast impacts that poor diet have had on global health, a deficit in nutrition education in medicine represents a big problem, writes Dr Jennifer Crowley. ...
Any time Olympian Luuka Jones needs advice or encouragement in her pursuit of more canoe slalom success, she doesn’t have to look far. Jones’ coach, Campbell Walsh, is also her partner. ...
Competition for the rights to broadcast sports matches involving NZ’s top teams has produced a bonanza for the sporting bodies, forcing media companies to be a lot more innovative. ...
The Wellington suburb’s successful opposition to a proposed Bottle-O shows how the system is biased towards communities with the organisation, capacity and resources to protest effectively, says Jenesa Jeram.For those unfamiliar with Wellington geography, Khandallah is a Very Nice place to live (Aucklanders: think Remuera). So when it was reported ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Humphery-Jenner, Associate Professor of Finance, UNSW The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission conducted an inquiry into mortgage pricing as recently as last year. Now Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has asked it to do another, broader one, in order to ensure the banks’ ...
Dr Bryce EdwardsThe results of the local government elections appear to show that New Zealanders are generally supportive of a more diverse range of representatives, having voted in greater numbers for candidates from traditionally under-represented groups. The elections have therefore modernised our councils in a small but very significant ...
The Inquiry has today published Minute No 21. This Minute sets out how the Inquiry intends to proceed given that the Attorney-General the Hon David Parker has agreed to extend the Inquiry’s reporting date by three months to 31 March 2020. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grace Skrzypiec, Senior Lecturer, Flinders University Many Australian students don’t know the difference between banter and bullying, with some saying they joke about wishing their friend would “drown” or “die in a car crash”. More than 800 Australian students aged 11-16 took ...
But he did play a crucial role in helping journeyman Andy Foster knock over Justin Lester. Team Gone By Lunchtime size up the local elections, gaze plaintively at the dramas in the NZ First Party, and ask how bad the new poll is for Jacinda Ardern.Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and ...
In the fifth episode of Actually Interesting, The Spinoff’s monthly podcast exploring the effect Artificial Intelligence has on our lives, Russell Brown speaks to Ben Reid, executive director of the AI Forum, about the role of government in embracing and regulating AI.Subscribe to Actually Interesting via iTunes or listen on the player below.To ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.Local government Henry Cooke (Stuff): How to lose an election: Over-promise or under-deliver Simon Collins ...
By RNZ Pacific A Solomon Islands province has agreed to lease a large island to a Chinese developer to develop into a special economic zone, weeks after the country opened diplomatic ties with China. But already cracks abound; there has been no official announcement and the provincial premier says the ...
The New Zealand First MP and Minister Shane Jones is still backing the firearms ban, despite being pictured with what appears to be an AR-15 semi-automatic while holidaying in Asia. ...
Everyone needs to be concerned about the draft National Policy Statement on Urban Development that the Ministry for the Environment has released. It is incompatible with the spirit of transparency and inclusiveness. ...
Open Mike 11/05/2018 
Thanks to a report from the Acting Inspector General of Intelligence and Security following a complaint by Nicky Hager, we have come to find out that the SIS illegally spied on Mr. Hager on behalf of the NZDF after publication of Hager’s 2011 book, Other People’s Wars. The NZDF justified ...3 hours ago
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING MYTH 1: Global temperatures are rising at a rapid, unprecedented rate. FACT: The HadCRUT3 surface temperature index, produced by the Hadley Centre of the UK Met Office and the Climate Research Unit of the University of East Anglia, shows warming to 1878, cooling to 1911, ...4 hours ago
For the past week, Extinction Rebellion has been peacefully protesting in London to demand action on climate change. The British government's response? Ban their protests:Police have banned Extinction Rebellion protests from continuing anywhere in London, as they moved in almost without warning to clear protesters who remained at the movement’s ...5 hours ago
The Royal Commission on abuse in care is very significant for the disability community. For many decades last century, thousands of disabled children, and adults who managed to survive, were locked away from families and communities. This was not for anything they had done, but for the perceived threat their ...10 hours ago
More than double the number of people who will vote in this year’s local body elections have tried marijuana or urinated somewhere they shouldn’t have. As local elections look set for the lowest turnout in decades, with many regions falling well short of 40%, the Government is exploring a number ...4 days ago
“There can be no such thing as kaupapa Māori political parties or politics in Aotearoa” (Willie Jackson, Labour Party (2017). Māori TV, General/List Election Special) I begin with that claim because at the time, I was confounded at first that it fell out of Willie Jackson’s mouth, and then ...5 days ago
https://mailchi.mp/7d9133add053/closing-the-gap-october-2019-newsletter ...5 days ago
For some reasons, my post about the mystery message from inside the Downing Street bunker seemed to catch people's attention. Quite a lot of hits from NZ (unsurprisingly) and the USA (a bit more puzzlingly, but hi there, USAians!!) and 76 views from the Ukraine.I've celebrated my Ukrainian readers in ...6 days ago
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Internet Service Providers have cautiously greeted the news that the Government is exploring an internet filter for violent extremist and terrorist content. ...1 hour ago
The proceeds from the sale of Trump-style "Make Ardern Go Away" hats are being used to promote far right Facebook pages. ...2 hours ago
Support has risen for the general arming of police officers in the wake of March 15, but the police minister is opposed. ...3 hours ago
Researchers from Lincoln University are investigating how to use nanotechnology in agriculture to increase productivity and reduce environmental impact. ...3 hours ago
The increased presence of anti-trans and white supremacist stickers around the University of Auckland campus is proof that inaction is enabling hate groups, write Anisha Sankar and Max Whitehurst.Anisha Sankar is a Chennai-born, Te Awakairangi-raised, South Indian Tamil studying at the University of Auckland. Max Whitehurst is a transgender Pākehā ...3 hours ago
Information spread by the Coalition of Licenced Firearms Owners (COLFO) and picked up by ACT’s David Seymour is incorrect. ...4 hours ago
The Speaker has limited the number of questions Simon Bridges can ask in the House as a punishment for the National Party defying Trevor Mallard by not pulling down their attack ads. ...5 hours ago
The real estate market has sprung back into life, but national sales volumes were flat. ...6 hours ago
The flight drink company 1Above, partly-owned by the high profile, venture capital fund Movac and businessman Gareth Morgan, is in liquidation owing almost $10 million. ...6 hours ago
Mandy Hager, the newly elected head of the New Zealand Society of Authors, is lobbying the government to improve the lot of writers - to no avail, despite the Prime Minister's championing of the arts. ...13 hours ago
An ancient Polynesian form of resource management is helping rejuvenate areas in the Cook Islands. ...15 hours ago
Competition for the rights to broadcast sports matches involving NZ’s top teams has produced a bonanza for the sporting bodies, forcing media companies to be a lot more innovative. ...15 hours ago
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Is Jacindamania dead and buried? Not quite yet, but the Prime Minister has good cause for concern. ...1 day ago
Poland could become an even bigger headache for Brussels than Brexit over the coming years. ...1 day ago
And we’re back up!
Phone extortion scam (incl businesses)
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12049362
A Christchurch man who is going through a terrifying extortion ordeal wonders how many others might have been caught up in it.
Newstalk ZB has seen text messages sent to the man from an 020 number, demanding money or threatening violence against him and his family.
He believes his phone number was taken from advertising he placed in a local paper.
The man has gone to police who said they have had multiple complaints about the phone number.
He received the first phone call earlier this week. The call lasted for five minutes, but the ordeal lasted for an hour with the man constantly calling back and texting.
“I originally got told this person was a member of a gang and that a debt had been passed on and I now owed him the money.
“I asked ‘what debt? I don’t owe any money to anyone’ and he said [he knew who I worked for].
“He said I couldn’t go to police. It was actually terrifying as he started to threaten my kids and family.”
…..snip….
One scam reported by Southern District Police uses an automated message in a Kiwi accent.
The message says, “This is the Police you owe money to Inland Revenue, if you don’t pay you will be arrested. Please call 04 889 0505”.
When rung a person asks for your name and IRD number.
Another scam is said to use an automated call in a Chinese accent claiming to be from DHL.
“The automated call tells the phone user that DHL has goods waiting for them and that they need to press 9 to talk to somebody to discuss, and if they press 9 the call then goes to a person who will ask for personal information,” Senior Sergeant Charles Ip said.
Good morning good morning good morning. Well that was a long sleep.
Welcome back to the Standard.
Such an exciting countdown…..
Thanks to lprent yet again. Time for a wee donation. 🙂
Since TS is embarking on a new beginning, could I ask a favour which will hopefully be backed up by others.
Psycho Milt and One Anonymous Bloke apparently copped lengthy bans some time ago. I know OAB can be a bit pithy at times but he is ultra smart and his one/two liners are insightful and valuable. Pyscho Milt is also a valuable contributor for similar reasons.
I don’t know if either are willing to return, but they have been ‘punished ‘ for long enough. Any chance the ban can now be reversed?
I missed most of that post. Thanks Bill.
Redlogix has put it in a nutshell:
Regardless of which commenters a person may agree with – or not as the case may be – there seems to be an inconsistency in the time spans of some of the more lengthy bans. I hope the authors are still working on introducing a fairer system that is acceptable to everyone.
Yes it is good to see TS back.
Great work Iprent thanks.
We will donate also as Anne suggests.
We need social blog sites that promote sensible thoughts, so we need all to stick together as the “fake news media are so rampant out there and we need urgent balance to their crap.
And we do need to put the spotlight on ‘where is the Minister of Broadcasting’?
She (Clare Curran) was promising us a commercial free ‘investigative Journalism’ type channel seven called RNZ-plus) to be in service by now!!!!! but still as of now we have nothing yet to “add some balance the right wing troll media” and worse we have seen or heard nothing from this Minister who appears to be just a total wasted space and an embarrassment to us all and the Labour lead Government.
if I was Jacinda I would replace her now and find a real active strong Minister who will give us a voice that we need so desperately now since the rest of the media is trying to destroy the government.
Long live freedom of speech.
“And we do need to put the spotlight on ‘where is the Minister of Broadcasting’?”
….add to that the Ass. Minister for State Services (Open Government).
MIA she is, in a foggy cloud…
TS was missed and agree with the donation thing. We are blessed here not only with a well functioning website with excellent archive access and search facility but the lack of advertising is singularly delightful.
+1 Rosemary McDonald
Rosemary; 100%
Yes i do have deep misgivings with the Minister here as in November we asked Clare Curran to help get a new RNZ reporter for HB/Gisborne and Minister Curran refused in her letter to us that she would not get involved then!!!!.
So she didn’t mind that we were left without a reporter (under two years of national)
Now we cant even get the reporter now (assigned) “finally” to cover our transport issues as the new reporter said to us she was to busy!!!!!!
So the Minister has made a mess of everything here now.
+1 Anne
yes, thank you lprent. Your hard work enables this great forum.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12048890
Bidiot sounds all over the place to me.
He seems genuine and knowledgeable at the start of the article but by the end of it he seems neither.
National are still spinning that it was “Labour’s fault …”. I read somewhere that the anger was not so much at the ban of live sheep exporting but a National promise to lift the ban that was reneged on. The FTA has stalled and would have no matter what National did. So throwing the scary “$4.5 Billion dollar problem” phrase around is more spinning (aka lying).
They must be worried that this huge waste of money makes their claims that “more doctor not diplomats” shows they are useless at running a country and their criticisms of the Coalition are hollow at best.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12049120
This worth a full read
Is it just me or does that conversation make no sense, like rambling and disconnected…
It does appear to be a transcript.
Read the stuff about the bus lanes and transport for more weirdness.
Oh i read the article, i meant that dan Bidiot (or what ever) didn’t really give an answer to the question at any stage, or said agreed to both sides of a debate, ignored actual facts, went on tangents.. I mean if I lived in Northcoate I would want a bit more coherence from my elected official than what that transcript suggested
YES. YF.
He’s an economist so well schooled in the art of talking without making sense, reaching any conclusions or displaying a grasp of the real issue.
I’d live to see the government’s Kiwibuild’s like Unitec site have cheap rental accomodation reserved for teachers, firefighters and police workers. Not only is it important to be able to have these important people’s skills kept in NZ cities that are increasingly becoming less affordable with less rental accomodation but it would also serve a valuable function for those who think that there are more ‘social’ issues in social housing.
I can’t see a policeman letting his neighbour cook P for example or beat their partner up. Likewise having teachers around in a community that should be serving the poorer members of society.
I just hope these government land from the tax payer does not just end up as speculative purchases onsold in a few years… which clearly will happen if the government does not get it’s act together in ensuring they have non repealable conditions as long term state housing.
That may not be so simple as it seems on the surface but… it’s also completely brilliant. What I and a lot of my peers lacked as young folk was decent role models. Absentee/abusive parents were very common.
A community where key community players were present, and actually part of the community (not visiting with big sticks), could go a long way towards restoring some sense of stability and safety for people who’ve known neither. It does put a lot of onus on the people of service however.
Stability is key to turning lives around. Most street people are PTSD via what they’ve endured at the hands of their caregivers, often the state. Just putting National in power is enough to see many slink back into addiction and despair. A mob that not only doesn’t care, but actively victimises you.
Last time Labor was in power many fringe types were empowered to try their hand at life. I personally saw several long term performing artists off the dole. Some are now in the international spotlight.
Try that with Nats in power. Fines, benefits cut off, fraud accusations – “we were just trying to start a business”… Great talents kicked till they stay down.
I remember getting hauled over the coals age 18 for not being on WINZ books – it’s true! “But how did you live, you must be lying to us” – I lived in the bush. I was 16 going on 17, and I’d already had a gutsful.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
He’s in National that, as John Banks hinted at, must lie so as to get elected at all.
Yes I thought that that was particularly ironic after the comments during the conversation.
Is that a script for Yes Minister?
Could be, but sadly not.
Good work from Natrad.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/357100/middlemore-board-was-pressured-to-settle-for-3m
Be buggered if I can fathom why there are still “Hawkins” signs all over the show at Waikato Hospital still.
The bullying bastards should have been run out of the country….
Got to wonder if there’s any relationship between managements. Sounds as if someone was pretty determined to shovel more money in the builders’ direction.
Construction, banking and cow corporate welfare is what this country has become. All the laws and red carpet to keep the often poorly run businesses, getting benefits at every turn and employing cheerleaders to keep the pressure on government for them to get more benefits with less regulation, chugging along.
Did they get financial advice? This is a shambles.
“Did they get financial advice? This is a shambles.”
The minutes of the CMDHB meetings provided at the bottom of that page says it all.
“A shambles” is an understatement. One day someone…Hager, are you free?…will properly investigate shit like this. We’re talking billions of tax dollars being poured down the throats of vultures like these.
And no sanctions for gross fuckups….just more contracts.
Shakes head in despair.
+23,000,000 (dollars of course)
The plot sickens….https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/357152/firm-behind-leaky-buildings-goes-into-receivership
“Hawkins built the Botany Downs Secondary College in Auckland.
A related company, H Construction North Island – formerly called Hawkins Construction North Island – was last week ordered by the High Court to pay $13.4 million for a raft of construction errors at the leaky, damp, and rotting college.
Orange H Group – H Construction’s shareholder – has now been put in receivership.
It will now be up to receiver McGrath Nicol to decide what happens to the millions of dollars the Ministry of Education is owed.
Hawkins also built the four worst leaking buildings at Middlemore Hospital less than 20 years ago.
H Construction has gone into receivership owing a total of $30m.
Orange H director David McConnell said they decided some time ago to exit the construction industry “principally because of the dramatic rise in the risk profile” borne by contractors.
This same rise in risks was cited by Fletcher when its building unit announced it was closing up gradually after suffering $1 billion of losses.
Mr McConnell said Orange H took the decision reluctantly to go into receivership.
“The process to secure final payments from the various customers has been complex and has taken a lot longer than anticipated and created a cash flow timing issue,” he said.
“We were also concerned that a number of parties were commencing legal action and we were mindful of our responsibility to exercise our fiduciary duties.”
There was “significant value” in Orange H with all but two of the legacy projects now completed and only minor work still outstanding on one of these, Mr McConnell said.
“The board’s focus is now to leave the company in the best possible position for the receivers to achieve substantial recoveries.”
The board of trustees at Botany Downs Secondary College said it had not yet heard about the company going into liquidiation.
The school was disappointed, but not entirely surprised to hear the news, chair Murray Goodman said.
The board would wait for more instructions from the Ministry of Education on the matter.
In March 2017, Downer purchased the Hawkins brand, some projects, assets and employees, and called it Hawkins 2017 Limited.
Previous projects and a number of ongoing projects done by Hawkins or related companies – such as the Botany Downs school and Middlemore Hospital buildings – were retained by Orange H Group, part of McConnell Limited. Orange H is distinct from Hawkins.”
Slimy, wriggly arsed, bottom-feeding scumsuckers are everywhere….
Test as two previous comments submitted without problems have not appeared.
OK – this one worked without problems. But two previous comments to the “Toby Manhire Owns Ms Bennett” post did not (the second a repeat of the first), Not important or presumably contentious comments and no loss. From Vodaphone ISP.
And a big thanks lprent for all your hard work.
Just the tip of the ice berg. I’d like to see government audits every year to make sure all these “IT errors” on the banks and financial industry are found and not permanently ripping off people who have nobody anymore to check up on the big business in any real terms. Would also help the banks and the government, if they screw up over years that’s a large hole in their accounts for the future and they go bankrupt.
While they are about it, would help people feel better if their cash was actually insured like other normal countries so that people don’t lose all their savings if they stuff up aka all the financial crashes not so long ago. Had a family member lose all their savings in Hanover finance for a deposit on their first home. They had to start out again with nothing. The banks should pay for the insurance and bail outs not the government or tax payers.
ANZ credits customers $10m after loan payment mix-up
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2018/05/anz-credits-customers-10m-after-loan-payment-mix-up.html
And more even more (if that is possible) dodgy shit emerged from Middlemore while we were sleeping.
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/357004/non-medical-facility-built-at-middlemore-without-approval
Flash new non medical buildings funded by…
“…. selling about $11 million of medical equipment, mostly sterilisers, to a finance company, then leasing them back.
This was an “unusual” method to get around the fact that usual sources of capital spending would not have been available for such a non-priority building, she said.
“It’s a very bad deal….””
Accompanying photo has an unfortunately inanely grinning acting CEO…
Was it the same ceo who urged getting hawkins to fix their mess at a blow out price?
Simon Bridges needs to do the right thing and resign and let this outstanding women lead National back to the promised land because she is on fire
Thats real Girl Power
Go Jude, cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!
But Puckish Rogue, only a week ago you were proclaiming that Nicola Willis would be the next PM of NZ!
Now you are suggesting that Willis’ older clone*, Judith Collins, should be the one to lead National back to the promised land. Make up your mind, man. LOL
I really laughed when I watched Jude’s performance the other day. The person in the House I would least call ‘petulant’ is Jacinda Ardern – and the one I would most call ‘petulant’ is none other than Judith Collins herself.
* As I said in one of my comments under your ‘Willis for PM’ post last week, Willis seems like a younger Collins; and she seems to already be forming a fan club around herself amongst the younger, newer Nat MPs.
Bridges in his reshuffle following his rise to the Nat leadership has already moved a number of the older Nats further to the retirement back benches (eg Maggie Barry) and younger ones (eg Sarah Dowie) well up the list and into spokesperson positions. Others, eg Collins, I suspect he is keeping on the front bench from the perspective of keep your friends close but your enemies even closer. Time will tell …
“But Puckish Rogue, only a week ago you were proclaiming that Nicola Willis would be the next PM of NZ!”
I hope she can forgive my momentary lapse of reason (she will of course because shes just so awesome like that)
“As I said in one of my comments under your ‘Willis for PM’ post last week, Willis seems like a younger Collins; and she seems to already be forming a fan club around herself amongst the younger, newer Nat MPs.”
The future is looking bright for NZ
“Bridges in his reshuffle following his rise to the Nat leadership has already moved a number of the older Nats further to the retirement back benches (eg Maggie Barry) and younger ones (eg Sarah Dowie) well up the list and into spokesperson positions. Others, eg Collins, I suspect he is keeping on the front bench from the perspective of keep your friends close but your enemies even closer. Time will tell …”
The sooner he moves Paula Bennett closer to retirement the better
Yes PR another strange thing occurred today see here;
The Greens have decided on a candidate to run in North cote against National and Labour, now we know why we decided to leave the Green Party 15 yrs ago, and now feel vindicated as the greens are handing National another pass card after giving the question time to national already so they are showing us some inside the greens want to go with National as a Blue/green combo i believe now.
The story appears over on TDB.today.
Northcote by-election: Greens select Rebekah Jaung as candidate – is it worth it?
By Martyn Bradbury / May 11, 2018 /
The Greens are sick of being seen as a puppet for Labour and are desperate to show some independence, but was this by-election the best way to do that?
Actually i agree with it, the Greens will have looked at the Maori Party and Act and would know the danger of being seen to be lap dogs plus they also get to campaign for more party votes
@ cleangreen (10.1.1.1) … Not a good move at all from the Greens.
Seems to me Greens are putting up a challenge to the very coalition government they are part of, through selecting a candidate to contest the Northcote byelection! Strange!
I too have a feeling they are edging closer to going over to the Natz dark side eventually.
If they continue with these anti coalition tactics, then Greens can kiss my vote goodbye for good at the next election.
BTW where is Marama Davidson? I supported her being co leader. But she seems not to be making any impact at all so far!
Hi PR,
Just watched the first minute and yes Ms Collins socking it…………She would have been a better choice for Nats. Do you see blood on the floor before 2020?
Also what are your thoughts about Ms Collins detour to have dinner with officials of Oravida and a Chinese boarder official when her husbands company were having difficulty getting their product into China after the baby infant formula isssue. She was paid to go there on Govt business. Just interested to hear your take on that.
It was investigated I believe and no wrong doing found. If you think there was wrong doing then perhaps you should lobby the current government to re-open the investigation.
Gosman, Gosman. “Wrong” is a very relative term to the right.
And the word ‘build’, as opposed to ‘facilitate’, is a very relative term to the left.
Then get the current Government (no friend of Judith Collins) to reopen the investigation. Do you think they will?
No I don’t think the current govt will or should re-open that enquiry. To much other stuff to fix that impacts on kiwis lives…..although a fuller enquiry into dirty politics would be worthy. Have you read the book?
Gosman it was a massive conflict of interest. And some would say corrupt. Would you disagree with that? I didn’t read the report but my understanding was the terms of reference were kept very narrow.
I am just so happy we have this coalition govt who are fixing up years of neglect….yah
ankerawshark; 100%
Good question that is; How can Collins justify her political position over her business interests here???
She may prove more “loose”than John key was with the “truth”
Is that the way to run the country?
“Just watched the first minute and yes Ms Collins socking it…………She would have been a better choice for Nats. Do you see blood on the floor before 2020?”
I can’t answer because I’m biased so any answer i give would be less my head and more my heart but i will say I would like to see Jude take the leadership before the 2020 election
“Also what are your thoughts about Ms Collins detour to have dinner with officials of Oravida and a Chinese boarder official when her husbands company were having difficulty getting their product into China after the baby infant formula isssue. She was paid to go there on Govt business. Just interested to hear your take on that.”
My thoughts is that situation was wonderfully muddied (and well done to Labour)
Ok that’s cool puckish. I hope Jude doesn’t get the leadership as she is a bigger threat to us I think. I thought Simon would do better, and I thought David cunliffe and Andrew little would swing things for the left. I completely under estimated jacinda, who I think is outstanding…….so I wouldn’t trust my own judgement about leadership. I am pleased with the coalition. Extremely pleased. I want Middlemore fixed, I want child poverty reduced. I want a significantly improved mental health service (it deteriorated badly under national, trust me it’s my field)…..I want someone to at least attempt to fix the housing crisis and Auckland’s transport woes”……….theses things inspire me. On and throw climate change into that.
Tell me what is it about National that inspires you? Aside from Jude that is
And she’s been nailing Twyford day after day. Let her loose!
Please make her leader – her vicious sociopathy and questionable past (smirkingly condoning prison rape for example) will turn normal people off in droves.
You must be smoking something really good to think Collins is a sociopath…
Actually I was thinking you must be smoking something to NOT be able to see Collins is a sociopath.
Put up your argument. The label comes with very specific diagnosis.
Let’s start by taking GST off essential items, starting with food.
From the sidebar, Idiot Savant demonstrates his excellent hammer hand skills…
http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2018/05/an-impoverished-idea-of-public.html
“So, the Ombudsman, who is meant to be the defender of transparency and the public participation it enables, thinks the public shouldn’t be able to have a say on policy until the government has already decided what’s going to happen. To put things back into his metaphor, in his view we don’t get to decide where we’re going to go, how we’re going to get there, or even if we’re going to go on a trip at all. But we might get to choose the music we listen to or which cafe we stop at along the way, if the government hasn’t already made up its mind about these things.
No matter which way you look at it, this is a deeply impoverished view of public participation. Pretty obviously, it reflects central government’s view of this – where they make the decisions, and public “consultation” is simply a rubberstamp designed to build legitimacy rather than give us a real say. But public participation is supposed to serve the interests of the people, not the government, and the Ombudsman is supposed to protect it. How the fuck is this supposed to be guarding the mana of the people?”
That’s exactly the impression I got from a quick skim of the paper.
I will give the paper better scrutiny later…always wise to better learn the ways of the enemy.
On this very important issue I am not in any way optimistic that this government has any greater interest in transparency and accountability than the Last Lot.
Yes Rosemary;
The trouble with new governments is that they rely to much on their In-house ‘advisers’ and stray off course so this appears to be just another example of the same result being contrary to what they promised us all at the election.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12049605
I’m sure one day, one of the pre-election promises will be met. Perhaps someone can raise an OIA on their modelling from 2 years ago…but best expect a redacted blank page to be returned.
You can say whatever prices you like when you know you won’t be building them
Indiana visit labour’s website or go back through Gordon Campbell’s articles. There is a list of everything the coalition has done to date and it’s an impressive list. They will honour their election promises on for exampl e free drs, it will just be a little delayed. In my o wn life I would find that acceptable and it happens frequently every people saying they will deliver things by a certain date and then usually for 7nderstandable reasons the date is pushed back. Most of us are flexible enough to accept this
The ‘Capital Charge’……..probably one of the early initiatives in neo-lib thinking that is now coming into question. It was a feature of the new corporatised public service (during that era when greed became good, and John Travolta and an Olivia neutron bomb were wobbling their arses as though they were more special than the next person)…… that fishint n fektiv n de-pliticoised civil service that was designed to do us all proud.
While they’re busy reviewing the fishinsy n fektivness and worth of that ‘Capital Charge, they might consider applying the same criteria to a good many of the complete fucking Muppetry heading our ‘officlaldom’.
Sometimes I’ve had cause to reference the early pages of the telephone directory.
I find it difficult to find many of the bits that are listed in the government section one could genuinely describe as fully functioning (fishint n fektiv n apolitical) entities.
And let’s be clear, it’s NOT generally down to the plebs at the front line of these entities …. it IS the leadership (the senior and muddle management) – and the culture they instill in their plebs (often ambitious little units anxious to climb the ladder and end up as the next generation of muppetry if only in pursuit of a higher salary and prestigious job title going forward)
First up in the directory is ….. ACC. Then we have Ray Smith’s Corrections.
Next,, nothing too Earth shattering, but a bit of a fuckup if you’re an artist …. Creative NuZull….then Keating’s Defence Force…..then EQC (just check out tonight’s news and all its implications)…then Education Ministry Of.
I’m too scared to travel further, because we’re getting close to Health, and Transport/ Infrastructure, and WINZ , and Primary Industries and perhaps the biggest bugger’s muddle of all which is Mr Smol’s Joyce/Coleman Ministry of Everything.
Whilst I’l hold the ladder steady for Shane Shane – because sure as shit I’m not coming down into his arms, he does have a point in that some serious review is necessary in the muddle and senior management, and that is probbly long overdue.
I heard on Radionz about a good action of The Warehouse helping a woman who needed to escape an obssessed and violent partner, she was given time off and was relocated. One small step for womankind, one great step for one woman and her family.
Now if women can choose to not involve a partner from the first if there is likely to be violence or very erratic behaviour, it would be better. It is only the contempt of the politicians who consider sex moral corruption and illegitimacy the road to hell, that has forced women to be glued to the father often to the detriment of the child and the mother. If she refuses to be involved, she has benefit withheld as a sanction.
Look at all the synonyms relating to the adjective ‘immoral’. It is obviously
something that highly angers people, more than other bad activities that are not connected to simply being loving but when humanness and fertility unfortunately combine.
What a mouthful of dislike:
not conforming to accepted standards of morality.
“unseemly and immoral behaviour”
synonyms: unethical, bad, morally wrong, wrongful, wicked, evil, unprincipled, unscrupulous, dishonourable, dishonest, unconscionable, iniquitous, disreputable, fraudulent, corrupt, depraved, vile, villainous, nefarious, base, unfair, underhand, devious; sinful, impure, unchaste, unvirtuous, shameless, degenerate, debauched, abandoned, dissolute, reprobate, perverted, indecent, lewd, licentious, wanton, bawdy, lustful, promiscuous, whorish;
informal shady, low-down;
informal dodgy, crooked, not cricket;
archaic miscreant
“they deplored immoral behaviour among the upper classes”