One can guess that the wielder of the knife was a scab for the port company.
If a unionist had been the one wielding a knife against a scab the Herald headlines would be front page and screaming.
Ports of Auckland management would be demanding prosecution to the full extent of the law.
Black clad armed offenders squad members would have descended on mass.
Government MPs would be wading in with thunderous denunciations of terroristic unionists, etc. holding the country to ransom etc. etc.
Opposition MPs would be tut tutting about extremism.
Instead we get this:
Port of Auckland said the police had decided not to press charges and the company would prefer to keep the matter out of the media spotlight as facilitation occurs.
Blog challenge – The Standard versus Kiwiblog
(and any others that want to join in)
There’s quite a bit of inter-blog and inter-leaning rivalry, and it’s easy to get sucked down into a whirlpool of negativity. It’s easy for the negatives to overshadow, even overwhelm the good that does happen.
Sometimes it’s worth stepping back and looking at what can be done positively. We all need some positives, and our country needs collective positives.
A positive for me – both Trevor Mallard and Tau Henare replied by email overnight. A number of MPs (Green, NZ First, UF) have responded positively over the last week.
Here’s a challenge to step back and consider Positive Politics, what can be done better in political blogs and in parliament.
I won’t respond or comment in Open Mic today – that may be a positive for some. If there’s anything positive here today I’ll collate and summarise.
Suggestions, pledges, whatever – people here claim The Standard is much better than Kiwiblog, show that it is at least as good. Get positive.
This has been an interesting experiment, with unsurprising results mainly. Even when it’s clear I’m not going to comment it attracts off topic (mild) attacks and comments.
I thought r0b’s comment yesterday to Petey was very gracious and Petey did adjust his commenting style.
He should realise however that the continuous occupying of the moral high ground that he does goes down here as well as a dinner invitation with Murray McCully. he should also realise that lefties prefer detailed sharp discussions and not the sugar coated blather that he clogs debates up with.
Is it possible to restrict Petey to say 5 posts a day? I really enjoy reading this blog and think that a lot of the posts are insightful and interesting but as of late it seems to be a whole bunch of George on every thread. It’s mind numbingly boring.
One can suggest to just not read his posts but as posting on the standard appears to be his full time job it’s impossible to avoid.
An odd response from you felix, after a day where I thought we had some quite reasonable discussions and jousts, I quipped on a late point from you – including a smiley, funny that – as I didn’t have the time to go into detail getting on in the evening.
I get criticised for saying too much, and criticised for not saying enough, by you too.
No, I’m not grizzling, I’m pointing out one of the absurdities of the many criticisms directed at me, for which I seem to get most of the blame.
I apologise if I was abrupt or rude, I know we all get busy. Presumably now that you’ve found the time to comment further you’ll add some words to follow the smiley face.
I would also like to thank R0b for his diplomatic handling of the situation; and one or two brownie points to PG for attempting to modify his approach although not entirely successful as Felix has commented.
Re his 2 above, I had a quick visit to KB to see whether he had filed the same comment/proposal and sure enough, there it was posted at 8.02am in General Debate. As of a few minutes ago, no comments or bites.
Someone raised here yesterday whether PG had been banned from The Dimpost. In the midst of their discussion on the contraception issue on the Talkback Bait post, there are a number of comments re this and their views on his (now past) contributions there. This comment replying to an earlier one amused me:
“Pete George owns 25% of a thread narrative without even being here.
Amazing.”
In his island fortress hideout off the coast of Dunedin, Pete cackles as his unwitting pawns fall into place one by one. ‘Exactly as planned’ he muses.
Comment by Hugh — May 10, 2012 @ 1:57 pm
Seems the same is happening here today! And I am as guilty of this myself!
Yes, I find that amazing too, I thought I woukld have faded into history, but instead I see that Rhinocrates is still glaoting over “hounding me off” Dim-Post. He didn’t hound me off. I kept standing up to his (admitted campaign to hound me off) until my comments stopped being accepted, without warning or explanation.
Just posted this on my blog this morning but thought it was very apt in this thread too.
How to recognise a shill without becoming paranoid.
Pete George I don’t necessarily think is a shill but check out the list I found with 25 Shill hallmarks against his comments and also check Gossman’s behaviour against this list if you have nothing better to do.
To be honest Peter, I dont have a real problem with you posting on TS. However you claim to be centerist/moderate/main stream, and a one time Labour/Green voter, however you take National/ACT like positions on economic and welfare issues. i.e. you support the privatisation of education delivery through charter schools, erosion of universal health care, and oppose increases in the minimum wage.
Why cant you just be honest, and just say you support National/ACT and identify yourself as right-wing, like the other right-wingers on here.
Aaarrgghhhhh! that causes me acute aesthetic pain… ‘centerist’, wtf? It may be correct American (it probably is), but to a native English speaker (and teacher) it looks as horrendous as such a solecism as ‘do’nt’ or the like. 🙁
I have to add (I can’t edit) that I know my comment is off topic, I simply couldn’t help it… I know I said I would never say anything about language errors here again, after being ferociously insulted by I think, Gosman, and taking it to the heart I supposedly don’t have) but I couldn’t help myself! You could blame the Aspergers, tho’ I wouldn’t!
millsy: you support the privatisation of education delivery through charter schools, erosion of universal health care, and oppose increases in the minimum wage.
Wrong, wrong, and wrong, I’ve never said anything that supports any of those.
Why cant you just be honest
Were you being dishonest, or ignorant?
and just say you support National/ACT and identify yourself as right-wing, like the other right-wingers on here.
Because that wouldn’t be honest, as anyone would know who takes any notice of what I say and doesn’t make assumptions or distortions.
Robust views with critique of opposing views is a very positive state of affairs.
Great to see people passionate about something and engaging, even if there are differences of opinion. TS has a healthy level of that sort of participation. Ergo the participation on TS is very positive.
Hooray, Key isn’t against gay marriage and Parliament might consider a Bill that’s…nothing new at all… FFS MSM, this is a non story that only exists because you know Key has a hard on for Obama and headlines with ‘gay’ in them are ‘edgy’ to you.
Harawira’s lack of support isn’t surprising. Undecided is a cop out here and he knows it.
Yes of course there is nothing more important going on, so the NZH give this topic the main story headliner thismorning.
Just like in the American media currently…..everyone see how these things work yet. Its simply a battle for you mind..
Why would our prime mincer not jump on the gay bandwagon, Obama is very comfortable there!
As for Harawera, or anyone else, why should they have to give an opinion, it make absolutely no difference what he thinks, nor is it anyones business to ask!
I agree with your comments on Obama, Muzza, and the Herald’s way of reporting it. But the news itself is of interest to gays, lesbians and those who support sexual & marriage equality.
Harawira’s “indecision” is diasppointing, and would be a reason for me not voting Mana. The principle of equality, fairness and social justice should be applied across the board for all, and this includes those damaged by socio-economic, ‘race”, gender and sexual inequalities.
And while John Key can’t help himself not to agree with Obama, he’s not planning any law to make same-sex marriage illegal.
In 2008, National promised it wouldn’t roll back any gay rights, and the Government hasn’t
What does he want, a fucking medal for not being openly hostile and bigoted? Still, it’s a rare moment of honesty regarding what National would rather be doing.
I figured, but the sentiment applies either way seeing as Key thinks he’s super super nice for not going out of his way to make laws against teh gays 😉
“Harawira’s “indecision” is diasppointing, and would be a reason for me not voting Mana. The principle of equality, fairness and social justice should be applied across the board for all, and this includes those damaged by socio-economic, ‘race”, gender and sexual inequalities”
—Carol, yes of course it is of interest those groups, and well it should be. The core issue however is the grandstanding of this topic, which is as I have said, smoke and mirrors. The other issue is the position that the “state” takes in the governance of peoples rights to control their marital status regardless of orientation. Needing to have permission from the state on this front is is issue which needs to be addressed, not just for the gay community, but by all!
Without playing it down too much, IMO there should be wider issues which people take their voting position on, the TPPA for example!
If it came to a referendum Hone would, I am fairly sure, vote for the right for takatāpui to marry.
However, there certainly is an ambivalence within the modern Māori world towards ‘gayness’ but I believe that is because many Māori are heavily colonised by religious views on the matter.
Takatāpui is a phrase that predates colonisation therefore suggesting knowledge of same-sex unions. There is also evidence within whakapapa to suggest that takatāpui was an accepted construct of traditional society and from where I live Tutanekai was known to have had a male companion.
Thanks Weka. Harawira’s definition of ‘human rights’ is interesting, and useful to him. For someone leading a party like Mana he displays a total lack of empathy, much like Key actually. If it doesn’t matter to him personally then effectively it doesn’t matter.
This will be the Crime of the Century if it comes about …and our grandchildren will hate us if we do nothing to prevent it from happening !
PLEASE read the whole article and digest the implications to our right to self rule .
This could have a massive effect for generations to come .We don’t have the right to give away our countries sovereignty for a handful of baubles !
Quote …”Under these arrangements, an American corporation, for example, would be given far more extensive rights against our government than any New Zealand company would ever have. It would mean that a future government, perhaps elected to change policy in an area like environmental protection or health and safety (smoking comes to mind), could be threatened with a crippling lawsuit unless it backed off.
The rights protected by these provisions go far beyond real property rights and include financial instruments, mining concessions, intellectual property, public-private partnership contracts and even market share.”
Nor is it just the Government that would be hog-tied. A particular worry for lawyers is that our courts, too, could be overruled. The foreign investment tribunals have decided that courts are part of a country’s government (riding roughshod over any doctrine of the separation of powers) and that they, too, must comply. Even if our courts had upheld the validity of a law properly passed by Parliament, that decision could be challenged by a foreign corporation alleging it breached their rights under the TPP. Even a jury decision in private litigation could be challenged and lead to the Government paying millions in compensation.”
.. And the Herald editorial reckons we have nothing to fear because it’s ‘fair’, like the world trade organisation procedures and it’s made in ‘good faith’ it’s just that the arbitration will between a government and a corporation…. trust us, we know what we’re doing.
Australia said “thanks but blimey are you kidding, NO THANKS”.
Do we really want to be controlled by America and any Multinational Corporation ? Both these parties have a history of immoral actions for their own benefit . And what do we get ?
Quote …”Nor is it just the Government that would be hog-tied. A particular worry for lawyers is that our courts, too, could be overruled. The foreign investment tribunals have decided that courts are part of a country’s government (riding roughshod over any doctrine of the separation of powers) and that they, too, must comply. Even if our courts had upheld the validity of a law properly passed by Parliament, that decision could be challenged by a foreign corporation alleging it breached their rights under the TPP. Even a jury decision in private litigation could be challenged and lead to the Government paying millions in compensation.
In a recent case brought by Chevron, for example, a tribunal ordered the Ecuador Government, in defiance of its constitution, not to enforce a ruling by Ecuador’s Appeal Court that Chevron must pay $18 billion to clean up toxic waste in the Amazon Basin.”
How to sue your government using the free trade agreement. Do a Phillip Morris and shift your business ownership overseas and then use free trade to protect yourself against unfair government rule changes.
Why is this wrong, or rather, why would this make free trade law unconscionable. well take the example of a iwi group who could not relocate, or class actions by citizens who don’t have the money to relocate.
Or worse, asset sales that rob taxpayers of prime investment income to pay debt run up by National to fund higher tax rate drops.
How can free trade have been entered into in good faith when a government fails the good faith protections of its own citizens?
Dunne went to the voters arguing that he would do nothing to harm NZ, one wonders if anymore harmful message could be sent than a government that bars citizens seeking redress for wrongs done to it by its own government where a comparable foriegn invester group could.
Rich people donate large amounts of money to National, they did not win a majority, for tax cuts overwhelmingly favoring them, and National are paying for them (with Dunne’s vote) by selling state energy assets.
Now Labour can easily turn this around, I suppose, just print money and ‘forceable’ buy the shares back. The reason our currency is so high is precisely because National are sell assets leading to china buying up NZ dollars.
As usual, a broker is making fees from churning, this time state assets. Key looking after his Banker mates.
Free trade rules are illegal if they restrict citizens from *also* bringing their own governments to seek redress under fair trade rules. Since only the internationalists will be reward by government incompetence, like we are seeing from John Key in asset sales, in repressive laws, etc.
This secret deal must be made the top News issue until we step down from signing !
Its no accident that its all being kept hush hush ! See your local member and raise hell till we get answers ! If you live in Key’s electorate camp out side his offices !
Hundreds of years of democracy have shown that secrecy only makes fools of those who engage in it. Democracy isn’t about the evil majority killing the elites party, its about the elite not falling on their faces and bloodying their noses when they don’t use the open wisdom of the crowd to object to their obvious abuses.
the third arm of democracy is the media , The people , the government and the media . Well the media is letting us down because the government selects who gets to ask the questions .As a result we see the media ” self censor” …what a different world it would be if the members of the media had the balls to do their jobs !
“Trade agreements are not threats to national sovereignty. There is ultimately no power to enforce them.”
— But of course there will be power to enforce, and it will come as the solution to the problem, which will be that sovereign governments, will be undermined and neuted, moreso than they already are..
Can people at least start to accpet that global government is a very real play, “these people” are gunning for, and that the TPPA is the noose around NZ’s neck!
This should be the biggest story in NZ over the past months, and in the spotlight continually, but its not, and instead we get this drivel from the NZH, yet again, just saying that we have nothing to worry about. Foreign farm purchases, food bill, ECAN, Super City, the list goes on and on, that NZH tells us we have nothing to worry about…
Remember this people, NZ media is simply part of the global business empire looking to make sure its got a seat at the table no matter what the outcome!
“In a recent case brought by Chevron, for example, a tribunal ordered the Ecuador Government, in defiance of its constitution, not to enforce a ruling by Ecuador’s Appeal Court that Chevron must pay $18 billion to clean up toxic waste in the Amazon Basin.”
This must be fought or we are going to be economically raped and potentially destroyed environmentally . Four million Kiwi’s will be handing their keys to the country to the Multi Nationals and we will be at their mercy !
How will you explain that to your grandchildren ,whilst huddled under a bridge ,stirring your pot of rat stew ?
The world economy is in freefall and we will need ALL OUR RESOURCES to survive and that “freefall” was created by the very people that they are talking about (in secret) giving control to !
Yup. It is obscene that corporations either have or would seek such power. But insofar as it’s merely a transfer of power from one institution or set of institutions to another, is it not equally obscene that a government has (or ‘had’ in the case where it has signed it over) that level of power in the first place?
Theory would have us believe that in the case of governments having and excercising such power that there exists a degree of accountability over and above that which applies to corporations. And that’s true. Although it’s absolutely minimal and we have no institutional recourse that would allow us to change any fundamental aspects of the governing system that excercises such immense powers (some would say) on our behalf or (as others would say) over us.
In either scenario we are spectators to an illegitimate excercise of power that is rightfully ours. Now that they are trading that power like so much land we once belonged to but that now belongs to a few people, what are we to do? Pin our colours to this mast or that mast and watch them get blown about by sea and wind changes we have no influence over? Or develop tactics and strategies that might, even in some small way, bring power back to where it rightfully resides?
The last option is a bloody hard row to hoe. It won’t yield success today and it might be many tomorrows (possibly beyond yours and mine) before meaningful progress across a broad spectrum of fronts becomes evident. But what other, meaningful option is there? I’m open to any alternative suggestions that might be forthcoming. But I’m expecting the roaring silence that usually accompanies things being dropped into the ‘too hard’ basket.
The New Zealand government does not have any authority to do this. It will be null and void as the government is incapable of entering into such an arrangement.
The trouble is they do have the right ! They just don’t have the approval of the people ,thats why its happening in relative secrecy .We all have seen that Key has no regard for public opinion.
Yes I know, perhaps the government does have the strict, legal, formal ability to enter into this.
However I would point out that this TPP affects our votes. It discounts the value of our vote.
So let me put it like this … if John Key’s government proposed something which affected the value and use of our vote in the domestic context, such as, say, making elections every 5 years instead, would Key’s government be able to make that change by simply signing a document or passing legislation by bare majority in the House?
If the answer is no then that is where my point about the legitimacy of such an agreement sits.
Someone explain to me how the whole system hangs together then ask yourself, who actually has that authority, how they got, and how it really has the right to dictate terms to those in a negative sense, that the system claims to be serving! – Legality = Those who control of the legislative and judical systems, thats all there is to it. Controlling the “democracy” that claims to be seperate from the judiciary, is clearly very simple!
Smoke and mirrors for people who want to believe in the man made sytems that are currently screwing the majority!
“Consent of the governed” is a phrase synonymous with a political theory wherein a government’s legitimacy and moral right to use state power is only justified and legal when derived from the people or society over which that political power is exercised. This theory of “consent” is historically contrasted to the divine right of kings and has often been invoked against the legitimacy of colonialism. Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government.”
Over 100 years ago, China “leased” Hong Kong to the UK for 99 years. The asset was returned to China with a vast increase in value. China was smart then, it still is.
New Zealand is just a couple of islands off the coast of Australia and a different part of history is repeating itself. We are selling our assets for a few beads. Nothing sophisticated about our politicians.
Court Report with Linda Clark on TVNZ 7 last night had Jane Kelsey and one of the counsel for our negotiators .. fascinating to see Jane Kelsey defeat the best of their arguments .. can anyone tell how to link to reply of Court Report ? (And the second half was about K Dotcom and extradition with an extradition specialist … fascinating !) Sorry, don’t have the names of the other parties.
Well quite clearly, if the investor-state provisions are included then they should work in both directions so that if the NZ government changes its laws etc and that improves the investors position then the NZ government can claim compensation from the investor for that improvement.
For example, the telecommunications sector infrastructure is upgraded by the NZ government thereby improving the value of an investment which uses the telecommunications sector infrastructure.
That would be simple fairness would it not? Or do the investors expect it to go just one way?
VTO – This is not about investors, this is about the takover of sovereign nations, in an attempt to form global government, on the back end of the corporate takeover. The environmental issue will be used in unison to take sovereignty also, they are closely linked!
“Investors” – Meaning the banking system who supplies the means (fiat) with which for this takover to happen, are the core ingredient. People are blinded by thinking that the global casino, equities markets and the like, actually has distributed ownership accross a broad “investor base”, this is simply not true, and has been proven, buy three Swiss PhD’s, I’m sure you have seen it..
Talk about investor fairness is simply missing the point – It can never be fair, except to those who own the monetary supplies of the world.
First you have to consolidate regions, see NAFTA, EU, TPPA, African Union etc, then once in place you roll it up again, once more, possibly twice, before you have a single point of governence.
People thinking this is not, or can’t happen, really need just need to look at the situation from a pragmatic point of view…The EU blowing up should potentially be something we all support, at least at face value.
The trading of our sovereignty, is leading to global governence!
Thanks Muzza, that entire scenario is understood. My point was a simple little negotiating dig that’s all. But you are correct that that is what it is about – global governance. But then, perhaps that is a natural end-point for the huiman race in its current position? What with globalisation, greater movement of people around the world, instant communications, etc, perhaps it is simply a simple and obvious track for the human race to take? Perhaps it was always going to end in this? This is the natural way for the human race to evolve to?
Hey VTO, yeah I figured from your posts that your comment was not an enquiry, when I posted I thought about not adding a a reply to yours but posting individually….anyway
Not sure it will work out very well for the vast majority under a global governance structure, as it implies that in order for it to be “good”, those in control must not be evil in any way. I think history tells us that dictatorships do not generally play out nicely, and IMO under what would effectively be a corporate, scientifically capable, weaponed up, military and intelligence based potentially facist, global governance system, which would seek to control every aspect of humanity, most likely for its own goals or agendas.
Personally this is not something I would want to see encouraged, and Ill assume your readings have passed you through the various scenarios, and some would say “theories” that global govt stems from, or might lead to. For me I would rather not want for sovereign nations to cede to foreign entities, but that is pretty much what we already have in many respects.
Sadly peoples need to believe that the world and those running it are working for them, means that the chance of preventing further loss of sovereignty, is almost zero!
Reminds me of Google’s original slogan “don’t be evil” – Why would you use that!
Very interesting muzza. Throughout history different countries have tried to rule the world. In the past they have probably been limited by transport and communications. The Romans had a very effective administration system, right down to local level admin., when Latin was the main language. Even “60 years ago” Latin was being taught in some NZ schools.
World wide, Spanish is still more widely spoken than English because 400 years ago the Spanish were out there trying to rule the world.
No one believed Japan could conquer the Pacific. Who was complacent then?
It is so easy to think “It can not happen to me”. If this upsets some people Good, The truth hurts.
Regan Cline, thank you for your observation. Sadly you spoilt the oportunity to add to our knowledge.
One. I only said that Spain was one of many countries that have tried to rule the world. The Treatys you refer to confirm this.
Two. By nit picking and descending to personal criticizim you are destroying your own image. This is sad because you started well.
I was a virgin to Linda Clark’s Court Report but not now. Brilliant. I wish I could get 7 here -before the Government gets rid of the threat and arrange for popular reality programs for the masses instead.
Thanks yeshe and Carol.
She’s good isn’t she? I’ve only recently seen a few of her Court Report interviews myself and I think she does an excellent job. She obviously researches the issue first but perhaps more importantly she listens to what the people are saying and then asks very pertinent questions that stay on topic. Pity most of the rest of the media aren’t of the same calibrer.
This cannot be allowed to go forward, as it utterly messes with the basic concept of state sovereignty far more invasively than the usual international costs of doing business and generally being a good global actor.
Great post at The Hand Mirror by Luddite Journo demonstrating how to report on sexual assaults in ways that don’t undermine women or promote rape culture. Contrasted with how Stuff reports.
Come on media do some proper research; re the Carterton hot air balloon skipper with reported THC in tox sample. Presence of cannabis as in work place drug testing shows use at some stage not necessarily impairment.
Nasty crash for sure but was the pilot toasted at the time? Lets try and find out the truth. ShonKey and the testing industry (who benefit with their over priced piss kits) are feasting on this one.
Even an infrequent user can have a positive THC drug test result two weeks after their high is long gone… so yeah! The reporting around this issue seems more like spin to make the public believe in refer madness again. Meanwhile here’s some good reasons to decriminalize.
cannabis gathers in our fatty tissues and can stay in the system for over 8 weeks after use . The “effects/impairment” (if any ,dose related) last for approximately 4 hours . The likelihood that cannabis was smoked prior to the flight is very unlikely .The flight took off at 6.38 AM from what I can find. Not many “smokers” would be sucking on a joint at that time of the day .
NZ govt bond sale fails BONDS
11 May 12, 8:49am bnzeconomists
NZ bond yields rise off their lows as government fails to sell NZ$100 mln of 2019 bonds at auction
This here song is dedicated to a particular person who posted an offensive and patronising piece yestrerday on “Key has a whinge” by Eddie.
I wonder if you experience Pollyanna sydrome – no one I know, myself included, have ever been grateful to work for minimum wage and unsociable hours. There is a stark reality of deprivation and isolation for thousands of NZer’s. Listen to the words in this song, its the truth. Sorry its not positive politics dude – it’s real
Slowly, the soldiers began adding more stories, and tales of the past week blended with memories of killing and destruction during other missions and battles, in Afghanistan and Iraq, during many tours of duty. The men’s voices fell over each other in a clatter of brutality and homoerotic jokes.
So I grabbed the chain and dragged it out and shot it again with the shotgun and, uhhhh, brains all over me …
Shut up, faggot. You never did that …
Man, even if you actually got to see some Afghan chick and she was hot, I still wouldn’t fuck her cause she’d still be from here, which means she’d still be covered with shit.
My last deployment, my platoon sergeant, he’d say, “Make sure nothing lives. Cows: Taliban food. Sheep: Taliban food. Donkeys: Taliban transportation. Kill everything.”
It is most uncomfortable to live with that fear, that some one who was not there will feel qualified to pass judgement. The best defence is to say nothing.
Don’t have to be there to know that some actions are just wrong.
Killing and raping – wrong
Torturing of prisoners – wrong
Covering up those actions – wrong
Are these actions happening? Yes. Are we going to judge the soldiers that carried them out? Damn right we are. Are we going to hold those who defend such actions, such as yourself, in total contempt? Yep.
I am not trying to defend anyone. However, war is a horrible thing. Not entertainment in a Boxing ring, carefully controlled by a referee. Has anyone ever said to you “Here is a gun. The Government back in NZ has now authorized you to go out and kill people. There will never be time for a trial before pulling the triger. Not even a committee meeting.” In NZ you can not kill, even in self defence?
I am not trying to defend anyone. Neither will I accuse them. I was not there and I do not trust the media.
Yes you were through the phrase that some one who was not there will feel qualified to pass judgement which is nothing other than a misdirection, a way to cast doubt.
A while ago I described someone who, while on patrol, saw a movement in the bush. It was the first time he had shot anyone. After sitting with the body for a while, even wondering if it had any family or friends, he thought he saw it move. What followed was with him for rest of his life. Thank God this was not me. The media is only telling you emotional tales that sell. I do not trust them.
self training. Is like driving over the white lines because you don’t want to follow the rules.
Its thinking others possessions are yours. Its believing that violence is a matter of will power.
The violent words used against teen mothers by this government, aren’t just restricted to that group, or won’t be. They come from a mentality that sees asset sales to pay down debt (cause by lowering top tax rates) as justified to grow the economy. Three wrongs don’t make a right.
When I think of Pike river Mine, how the locals voted National, how the workers who died probably brought into the whole deregulation of the neo-liberals, that there would be no mine and no jobs if they have not had given away their consent to this ‘new’ world class mining mission. They were saving the west coast from an economic abyss.
We train ourselves by buying into the Murdoch delusion that pervades the whole of the western world. We are not invincible, we do all make mistakes, and when they happen we should be humbled.
How humble is Key? He could not be more cock sure that new rules to fight drug taking extreme sports workers will work. He could not be more sure that safety in mines can be restored, just as sure as he was before with the deregulated empty mining inspector seats. So worry, Key cannot an will never, do nuanced leadership, he will never actively represent the people of NZ, and when you buy into his ilk you give your consent to your own downfall.
And what a downfall. NZers did not invent the automobile, Saudi’s did not make the crude trapped under them! NZ has a small population and huge wealth due to modern productivity gains from generations of innovation, that wealth is now to be owned by foreigners and not the children of those whose efforts (lives sometimes) made our country so rich. And you consent to that by voting national, or by supporting the labour party (who are required to take up a shallow limping opposition to the inherent lies of the right). Why isn’t Labour demanding a fair share, commodities prices are at all time highs, NZ is a hugely wealthy nation that is well place in the coming era of higher oil prices and resource strife.
If the report is correct, the Pike River families have strong support from me and my family members too.
What’s with the appalling record of our SOE? Solid Energy needs to be, not flogged off like John Key wants our assets to be done away, but their senior staff flogged.
What kind of sneakily qualified, mealy mouthed phrase is that: “safe, technically feasible and financially credible to do so”??
It isn’t enough just selling out our souls? Can we at least have bodies back?
It’s not incompetence. There’s no way anybody could do so much damage, see the damage that’s been caused and then do more without some idea as to what they want to achieve that requires that damage.
John Key had promised the families of the deceased miners that the government would do all it takes to recover the bodies and money was no object. Todays announcement breaks that assurance and makes John Key’s words mean nothing…
John Key never said any such thing, he was very clear to make a muddle of any such outcome.
The mine should be declared a cemetery and until the bodies are remove should be held in that state of grace.
Take a women, earning part time since their manager can’t find them enough work, no more than the benefit a week, and tell them the cost of contraception and how if they were laid off they’d get it for free. That the Human rights commission has nothing to say about the obvious discrimination. That nobody on TV sees the obvious message, don’t have kids on benefit, get a job and then have them.
Its appalling the significant irrational myopia that comes across the media when National make up legislation without due consultation – that has the benefit to the government of not making them look like a pigs arse.
Key said he will not govern for the people of NZ, over and again, by never articulate one issue and playing everything around an abstract ideology of growth and neo-liberalist invincibility. Its precisely because Key has not lead NZ for NZ, by NZ, that you can never assert that Key promised anything to those that lost their lives in the Mine. Its just not his thing.
Could you be a little mor explicit. Why does the woman you envisage need contrception? When I can not afford my “sport” I have to give it up until I can afford it. Whether it is drinking alchohol or skiing.
It’s the capitalist’s politicians trying to save capitalism from it’s propensity to cause over accumulation. Now that that over accumulation has occurred it needs to be spread out again but instead of doing that the politicians are working to protect that over accumulation.
and – After being bailed out by the Fed in 2008 to the tune of $12 billion, JP Morgan announces after trading closed yesterday that it has moved on to lose $2 Billion in derivatives trading.
The people go jobless while traders burn money that could have gone on building infrastructure and boosting the job market.
Bring back Roosevelt and Savage I say, they didn’t grovel to big business and bankers. I can’t imagine Micky Savage allowing the closing of the Hillside Workshops, the running down of state housing, the selling off of state assets or groveling to Warner bros and changing employment law to accommodate them.
Look like there won’t need to be a National candidate in the West Coast for a generation or two. Key’s lies to the families of the Pike River miners have killed off any chance of them ever winning the seat in the near future.
And shame on Solid Energy for perpetuating the lie till now. What a gutless wonder Don Elder is, moaning about how tough it was for him to tell the families he was going to stab them in the back. Like his pain is in any way comperable to theirs.
– A new study provides the best evidence to date that higher levels of income inequality in the United States actually lead to more deaths in the country over a period of years.
The findings suggest that income inequality at any one point doesn’t work instantaneously – it begins increasing mortality rates 5 years later, and its influence peaks after 7 years, before fading after 12 years.
“This finding is striking and it supports the argument that income inequality is a public health concern,” said Hui Zheng, author of the study and assistant professor of sociology at Ohio State University.
And the real kicker? Lack of food leads to poor success at school, which is linked to further poverty, along with all the usual negative health impacts.
Meanwhile the government does naught but issue press releases and say that it’s a “priority” and fund a holiday highway with a negative ROI in the same region, with money that could lift thousands out of poverty with targeted investments.
And even the simplest of acts, that of providing relief food aide via WINZ with little red tape, is seemingly beyond them.
tonight rnz national, chekpoint.
two hours of toy party ministers putting the case for all the governments programmes.
endless stream.
nobody got a right o reply.
very slick.
who organised that one.
These aren’t French “entrepreneurs”. The entrepreneurs in France are the SMEs being smashed by the established wealthy class and the financial repression of the communities they are doing business in!
All lol’s aside, Of course bullying sucks and is terrible! But the legal territory here is a slippery slope to some potentially dangerous censorship consequences. It needs to be considered very carefully, or we could actually find it leads to someone under the onslaught like Pete using this as a tool to repress free speech.
I like to joke with people like Pete whom I disagree with, and I believe in giving shit were I think shit is due, but I’d hate to be considered a bully. And I only give shit to people as I believe they are up for a robust adult debate on things close to the heart.
The government should realize that this is going to eventuate is somebody being seriously hurt or even dying if it continues. They should therefore halt the forced evictions and house removals…
The ongoing victimisation and persecution of Vince Siemer is a bloody disgrace.
It makes me ashamed to be a New Zealander.
Friday, 11 May 2012, 6:40 pm
Press Release: LawFuel
Vince Siemer to return to prison
LawFuel.co.nz –
NZ Law News – Vince Siemer has been ordered by the Court of Appeal to return to prison on 25 May following his loss of an appeal in the Court of Appeal, released today. The Court rejected argument made by his lawyer Tony Ellis as variously “misconceived” or inarguable and “without basis”.
Mr Siemer’s appeal was against a contempt finding made by the High Court for breach of a suppression order. Allegations made by Siemer’s lawyer, Tony Ellis, that the proceedings brought against his client were partly out of personal animosity felt by the then Solicitor General (Justice David Collins) and that the contempt proceedings brought the rule of law into disrepute, were rejected by the Court of Appeal on the basis that they were of such generality as to be inarguable.
They also rejected Mr Ellis’ argument that publication of the suppression order was not going to cause violence or any breach of fair trial rights.
How come in NZ ‘perceived’ to be ‘the least corrupt country in the world’ NZ Judges don’t have an enforceable ‘Code of Conduct’ – there is no Register of Pecuniary Interests for NZ Judges, and court proceedings are regularly not recorded?
How TRANSPARENT and ACCOUNTABLE is THAT?
Check out the website of NZ’s foremost ‘whistleblower’ against judicial corruption and lack of accountability http://www.kiwisfirst.co.nz
The worms will live in every hostIt's hard to pick which one they eat the mostThe horrible people, the horrible peopleIt's as anatomic as the size of your steepleCapitalism has made it this wayOld-fashioned fascism will take it awaySongwriter: Twiggy Ramirez Read more ...
Hi,It’s almost Christmas Day which means it is almost my birthday, where you will find me whimpering in the corner clutching a warm bottle of Baileys.If you’re out of ideas for presents (and truly desperate) then it is possible to gift a full Webworm subscription to a friend (or enemy) ...
This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30am include:Rachel Helyer Donaldson’s scoop via RNZ last night of cuts to maternity jobs in the health system;Maddy Croad’s scoop via The Press-$ this morning on funding cuts for Christchurch’s biggest food rescue charity;Benedict Collins’ scoop last night via 1News on a last-minute ...
A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 15, 2024 thru Sat, December 21, 2024. Based on feedback we received, this week's roundup is the first one published soleley by category. We are still interested in ...
Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...
ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Are we heading ...
So the Solstice has arrived – Summer in this part of the world, Winter for the Northern Hemisphere. And with it, the publication my new Norse dark-fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens at Eternal Haunted Summer: https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/issues/winter-solstice-2024/as-our-power-lessens/ As previously noted, this one is very ‘wyrd’, and Northern Theory of Courage. ...
The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...
The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...
Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashEvery morning I get up at 3am to go around the traps of news sites in Aotearoa and globally. I pick out the top ones from my point of view and have been putting them into my Dawn Chorus email, which goes out with a podcast. ...
Over on Kikorangi Newsroom's Marc Daalder has published his annual OIA stats. So I thought I'd do mine: 82 OIA requests sent in 2024 7 posts based on those requests 20 average working days to receive a response Ministry of Justice was my most-requested entity, ...
Welcome to the December 2024 Economic Bulletin. We have two monthly features in this edition. In the first, we discuss what the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update from Treasury and the Budget Policy Statement from the Minister of Finance tell us about the fiscal position and what to ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have submitted against the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, slamming the Bill as a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an attack on tino rangatiratanga and the collective rights of Tangata Whenua. “This Bill seeks to legislate for Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles that are ...
I don't knowHow to say what's got to be saidI don't know if it's black or whiteThere's others see it redI don't get the answers rightI'll leave that to youIs this love out of fashionOr is it the time of yearAre these words distraction?To the words you want to hearSongwriters: ...
Our economy has experienced its worst recession since 1991. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 20 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below ...
Twas the Friday before Christmas and all through the week we’ve been collecting stories for our final roundup of the year. As we start to wind down for the year we hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas and new year. If you’re travelling please be safe on ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the year’s news with: on climate. Her book of the year was Tim Winton’s cli-fi novel Juice and she also mentioned Mike Joy’s memoir The Fight for Fresh Water. ...
The Government can head off to the holidays, entitled to assure itself that it has done more or less what it said it would do. The campaign last year promised to “get New Zealand back on track.” When you look at the basic promises—to trim back Government expenditure, toughen up ...
Open access notables An intensification of surface Earth’s energy imbalance since the late 20th century, Li et al., Communications Earth & Environment:Tracking the energy balance of the Earth system is a key method for studying the contribution of human activities to climate change. However, accurately estimating the surface energy balance ...
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and , ...
“Like you said, I’m an unreconstructed socialist. Everybody deserves to get something for Christmas.”“ONE OF THOSE had better be for me!” Hannah grinned, fascinated, as Laurie made his way, gingerly, to the bar, his arms full of gift-wrapped packages.“Of course!”, beamed Laurie. Depositing his armful on the bar-top and selecting ...
Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed a significant slowdown in the economy over the past six months, with GDP falling by 1% in September, and 1.1% in June said CTU Economist Craig Renney. “The data shows that the size of the economy in GDP terms is now smaller ...
One last thing before I quitI never wanted any moreThan I could fit into my headI still remember every single word you saidAnd all the shit that somehow came along with itStill, there's one thing that comforts meSince I was always caged and now I'm freeSongwriters: David Grohl / Georg ...
Sparse offerings outside a Te Kauwhata church. Meanwhile, the Government is cutting spending in ways that make thousands of hungry children even hungrier, while also cutting funding for the charities that help them. It’s also doing that while winding back new building of affordable housing that would allow parents to ...
It is difficult to make sense of the Luxon Coalition Government’s economic management.This end-of-year review about the state of economic management – the state of the economy was last week – is not going to cover the National Party contribution. Frankly, like every other careful observer, I cannot make up ...
This morning I awoke to the lovely news that we are firmly back on track, that is if the scale was reversed.NZ ranks low in global economic comparisonsNew Zealand's economy has been ranked 33rd out of 37 in an international comparison of which have done best in 2024.Economies were ranked ...
Remember those silent movies where the heroine is tied to the railway tracks or going over the waterfall in a barrel? Finance Minister Nicola Willis seems intent on portraying herself as that damsel in distress. According to Willis, this country’s current economic problems have all been caused by the spending ...
Similar to the cuts and the austerity drive imposed by Ruth Richardson in the 1990’s, an era which to all intents and purposes we’ve largely fiddled around the edges with fixing in the time since – over, to be fair, several administrations – whilst trying our best it seems to ...
String-Pulling in the Dark: For the democratic process to be meaningful it must also be public. WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE in New Zealand’s politicians and journalists steadily declining, restoring those virtues poses a daunting challenge. Just how daunting is made clear by comparing the way politicians and journalists treated New Zealanders ...
Dear Nicola Willis, thank you for letting us know in so many words that the swingeing austerity hasn't worked.By in so many words I mean the bit where you said, Here is a sea of red ink in which we are drowning after twelve months of savage cost cutting and ...
The Open Government Partnership is a multilateral organisation committed to advancing open government. Countries which join are supposed to co-create regular action plans with civil society, committing to making verifiable improvements in transparency, accountability, participation, or technology and innovation for the above. And they're held to account through an Independent ...
Today I tuned into something strange: a press conference that didn’t make my stomach churn or the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Which was strange, because it was about the torture of children. It was the announcement by Erica Stanford — on her own, unusually ...
This is a must watch, and puts on brilliant and practical display the implications and mechanics of fast-track law corruption and weakness.CLICK HERE: LINK TO WATCH VIDEOOur news media as it is set up is simply not equipped to deal with the brazen disinformation and corruption under this right wing ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting Secretary Erin Polaczuk is welcoming the announcement from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden that she is opening consultation on engineered stone and is calling on her to listen to the evidence and implement a total ban of the product. “We need ...
The Government has announced a 1.5% increase in the minimum wage from 1 April 2025, well below forecast inflation of 2.5%. Unions have reacted strongly and denounced it as a real terms cut. PSA and the CTU are opposing a new round of staff cuts at WorkSafe, which they say ...
The decision to unilaterally repudiate the contract for new Cook Strait ferries is beginning to look like one of the stupidest decisions a New Zealand government ever made. While cancelling the ferries and their associated port infrastructure may have made this year's books look good, it means higher costs later, ...
Hi there! I’ve been overseas recently, looking after a situation with a family member. So apologies if there any less than focused posts! Vanuatu has just had a significant 7.3 earthquake. Two MFAT staff are unaccounted for with local fatalities.It’s always sad to hear of such things happening.I think of ...
Today is a special member's morning, scheduled to make up for the government's theft of member's days throughout the year. First up was the first reading of Greg Fleming's Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, which was passed unanimously. Currently the House is debating the third reading of ...
We're going backwardsIgnoring the realitiesGoing backwardsAre you counting all the casualties?We are not there yetWhere we need to beWe are still in debtTo our insanitiesSongwriter: Martin Gore Read more ...
Willis blamed Treasury for changing its productivity assumptions and Labour’s spending increases since Covid for the worsening Budget outlook. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 18 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above ...
Today the Auckland Transport board meet for the last time this year. For those interested (and with time to spare), you can follow along via this MS Teams link from 10am. I’ve taken a quick look through the agenda items to see what I think the most interesting aspects are. ...
Hi,If you’re a New Zealander — you know who Mike King is. He is the face of New Zealand’s battle against mental health problems. He can be loud and brash. He raises, and is entrusted with, a lot of cash. Last year his “I Am Hope” charity reported a revenue ...
Probably about the only consolation available from yesterday’s unveiling of the Half-Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) is that it could have been worse. Though Finance Minister Nicola Willis has tightened the screws on future government spending, she has resisted the calls from hard-line academics, fiscal purists and fiscal hawks ...
The right have a stupid saying that is only occasionally true:When is democracy not democracy? When it hasn’t been voted on.While not true in regards to branches of government such as the judiciary, it’s a philosophy that probably should apply to recently-elected local government councillors. Nevertheless, this concept seemed to ...
Long story short: the Government’s austerity policy has driven the economy into a deeper and longer recession that means it will have to borrow $20 billion more over the next four years than it expected just six months ago. Treasury’s latest forecasts show the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s fiscal strategy of ...
Come and join myself and CTU Chief Economist for a pop-up ‘Hoon’ webinar on the Government’s Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) with paying subscribers to The Kākā for 30 minutes at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream to watch our chat. Don’t worry if ...
In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...
New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...
At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...
Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob HensonIn this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...
In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...
On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...
The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...
This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...
And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...
Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...
Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...
This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate.I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...
A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...
The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...
Kiwis planning a swim or heading out on a boat this summer should remember to stop and think about water safety, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop and ACC and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “New Zealand’s beaches, lakes and rivers are some of the most beautiful in the ...
The Government is urging Kiwis to drive safely this summer and reminding motorists that Police will be out in force to enforce the road rules, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“This time of year can be stressful and result in poor decision-making on our roads. Whether you are travelling to see ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...
The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...
By Emma Andrews, Henare te Ua Māori Journalism Intern at RNZ News The New Zealand fuel company Z Energy is swapping out street names for “correct” kupu on service stops around the country, with the help of local hapū. When Z took over 226 fuel sites from Shell in 2010, ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julie Old, Associate Professor, Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Western Sydney University Dmitry Chulov, Shutterstock At this time of year, images of reindeer are everywhere. I’ve had a soft spot for reindeer ever since I was a little girl. Doesn’t everyone? ...
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NewsroomBy Dr Lisa Darragh, Dr Raewyn Eden and Dr David Pomeroy
At long last, The Spinoff shells out for a nut ranking. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today.It recently came to The Spinoff’s attention ...
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Summer reissue: One anxiously attentive passenger pays attention to an in-flight safety video, and wonders ‘Why can’t I pick up my own phone?’ The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up ...
Summer reissue: Why do those Lange-Douglas years cast such a long shadow 40 years on? The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today. First published June ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 23 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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One can guess that the wielder of the knife was a scab for the port company.
If a unionist had been the one wielding a knife against a scab the Herald headlines would be front page and screaming.
Ports of Auckland management would be demanding prosecution to the full extent of the law.
Black clad armed offenders squad members would have descended on mass.
Government MPs would be wading in with thunderous denunciations of terroristic unionists, etc. holding the country to ransom etc. etc.
Opposition MPs would be tut tutting about extremism.
Instead we get this:
Blog challenge – The Standard versus Kiwiblog
(and any others that want to join in)
There’s quite a bit of inter-blog and inter-leaning rivalry, and it’s easy to get sucked down into a whirlpool of negativity. It’s easy for the negatives to overshadow, even overwhelm the good that does happen.
Sometimes it’s worth stepping back and looking at what can be done positively. We all need some positives, and our country needs collective positives.
A positive for me – both Trevor Mallard and Tau Henare replied by email overnight. A number of MPs (Green, NZ First, UF) have responded positively over the last week.
Here’s a challenge to step back and consider Positive Politics, what can be done better in political blogs and in parliament.
I won’t respond or comment in Open Mic today – that may be a positive for some. If there’s anything positive here today I’ll collate and summarise.
Suggestions, pledges, whatever – people here claim The Standard is much better than Kiwiblog, show that it is at least as good. Get positive.
Can your ego get any bigger?
This has been an interesting experiment, with unsurprising results mainly. Even when it’s clear I’m not going to comment it attracts off topic (mild) attacks and comments.
More on this when I get time.
Get a life Petey, you may find it quite enlightening and not so full of the blogosphere you habitate.
What a relief, Pete isn’t going to comment today, there is a God!
But…….he is going to collate and summarise!
he knows when you’ve been naughty,
he knows when you’ve been nice…
And then he’ll post niceness scorecards like it means a thing.
I just skip him.
Public holiday declared.
I thought r0b’s comment yesterday to Petey was very gracious and Petey did adjust his commenting style.
He should realise however that the continuous occupying of the moral high ground that he does goes down here as well as a dinner invitation with Murray McCully. he should also realise that lefties prefer detailed sharp discussions and not the sugar coated blather that he clogs debates up with.
Is it possible to restrict Petey to say 5 posts a day? I really enjoy reading this blog and think that a lot of the posts are insightful and interesting but as of late it seems to be a whole bunch of George on every thread. It’s mind numbingly boring.
One can suggest to just not read his posts but as posting on the standard appears to be his full time job it’s impossible to avoid.
Woo Hoo a PFD! (Pete Free Day) maybe people think that about my posts too, so had better not get too carried away.
He “adjusted his style” alright. Like here for example where he used r0b’s comment as an excuse not to answer awkward questions.
r0b’s warning didn’t deter him from making the comment I responded to of course, but it magically prevented him from backing it up. Funny that.
An odd response from you felix, after a day where I thought we had some quite reasonable discussions and jousts, I quipped on a late point from you – including a smiley, funny that – as I didn’t have the time to go into detail getting on in the evening.
I get criticised for saying too much, and criticised for not saying enough, by you too.
No, I’m not grizzling, I’m pointing out one of the absurdities of the many criticisms directed at me, for which I seem to get most of the blame.
I apologise if I was abrupt or rude, I know we all get busy. Presumably now that you’ve found the time to comment further you’ll add some words to follow the smiley face.
I would also like to thank R0b for his diplomatic handling of the situation; and one or two brownie points to PG for attempting to modify his approach although not entirely successful as Felix has commented.
Re his 2 above, I had a quick visit to KB to see whether he had filed the same comment/proposal and sure enough, there it was posted at 8.02am in General Debate. As of a few minutes ago, no comments or bites.
Someone raised here yesterday whether PG had been banned from The Dimpost. In the midst of their discussion on the contraception issue on the Talkback Bait post, there are a number of comments re this and their views on his (now past) contributions there. This comment replying to an earlier one amused me:
“Pete George owns 25% of a thread narrative without even being here.
Amazing.”
In his island fortress hideout off the coast of Dunedin, Pete cackles as his unwitting pawns fall into place one by one. ‘Exactly as planned’ he muses.
Comment by Hugh — May 10, 2012 @ 1:57 pm
Seems the same is happening here today! And I am as guilty of this myself!
Yes, I find that amazing too, I thought I woukld have faded into history, but instead I see that Rhinocrates is still glaoting over “hounding me off” Dim-Post. He didn’t hound me off. I kept standing up to his (admitted campaign to hound me off) until my comments stopped being accepted, without warning or explanation.
It’s too big a story for here so I’ve blogged on it. <a href="http://yournz.org/2012/05/12/dim-post-mistrust/"Dim-Post mistrust.
I’ve also blogged on what I think is the untrustworthiness of Dim-Post comments – Rhinocrates and Dim-Post set straight.
I’m aware I may get the usual gripes about “link-whoring” but I’d probably get gripes about puting it all in here anyway.
It’s all very concerning.
he should also realise that lefties prefer detailed sharp discussions
That’s a funny one, especially from you micky, a joke, right?
Is he taking the piss?
Just posted this on my blog this morning but thought it was very apt in this thread too.
How to recognise a shill without becoming paranoid.
Pete George I don’t necessarily think is a shill but check out the list I found with 25 Shill hallmarks against his comments and also check Gossman’s behaviour against this list if you have nothing better to do.
Pete is more a self aggrandising pollyanna type, Gossie though rather presents as Wellington SIS.
To be honest Peter, I dont have a real problem with you posting on TS. However you claim to be centerist/moderate/main stream, and a one time Labour/Green voter, however you take National/ACT like positions on economic and welfare issues. i.e. you support the privatisation of education delivery through charter schools, erosion of universal health care, and oppose increases in the minimum wage.
Why cant you just be honest, and just say you support National/ACT and identify yourself as right-wing, like the other right-wingers on here.
Aaarrgghhhhh! that causes me acute aesthetic pain… ‘centerist’, wtf? It may be correct American (it probably is), but to a native English speaker (and teacher) it looks as horrendous as such a solecism as ‘do’nt’ or the like. 🙁
I have to add (I can’t edit) that I know my comment is off topic, I simply couldn’t help it… I know I said I would never say anything about language errors here again, after being ferociously insulted by I think, Gosman, and taking it to the heart I supposedly don’t have) but I couldn’t help myself! You could blame the Aspergers, tho’ I wouldn’t!
millsy: you support the privatisation of education delivery through charter schools, erosion of universal health care, and oppose increases in the minimum wage.
Wrong, wrong, and wrong, I’ve never said anything that supports any of those.
Why cant you just be honest
Were you being dishonest, or ignorant?
and just say you support National/ACT and identify yourself as right-wing, like the other right-wingers on here.
Because that wouldn’t be honest, as anyone would know who takes any notice of what I say and doesn’t make assumptions or distortions.
Robust views with critique of opposing views is a very positive state of affairs.
Great to see people passionate about something and engaging, even if there are differences of opinion. TS has a healthy level of that sort of participation. Ergo the participation on TS is very positive.
how do you contact Trevor Mallard ?
Email in this case. Engage on Red Alert. Twitter. He’s actually usually one of the more accessible MPs.
I think your question has been answered 🙂
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10805087
Hooray, Key isn’t against gay marriage and Parliament might consider a Bill that’s…nothing new at all… FFS MSM, this is a non story that only exists because you know Key has a hard on for Obama and headlines with ‘gay’ in them are ‘edgy’ to you.
Harawira’s lack of support isn’t surprising. Undecided is a cop out here and he knows it.
Yes of course there is nothing more important going on, so the NZH give this topic the main story headliner thismorning.
Just like in the American media currently…..everyone see how these things work yet. Its simply a battle for you mind..
Why would our prime mincer not jump on the gay bandwagon, Obama is very comfortable there!
As for Harawera, or anyone else, why should they have to give an opinion, it make absolutely no difference what he thinks, nor is it anyones business to ask!
Smoke and mirrors for dumb people!
I agree with your comments on Obama, Muzza, and the Herald’s way of reporting it. But the news itself is of interest to gays, lesbians and those who support sexual & marriage equality.
Harawira’s “indecision” is diasppointing, and would be a reason for me not voting Mana. The principle of equality, fairness and social justice should be applied across the board for all, and this includes those damaged by socio-economic, ‘race”, gender and sexual inequalities.
And while John Key can’t help himself not to agree with Obama, he’s not planning any law to make same-sex marriage illegal.
Key on gay rights:
What does he want, a fucking medal for not being openly hostile and bigoted? Still, it’s a rare moment of honesty regarding what National would rather be doing.
Oh. That’s a whoopsie on my part @8.21am
I meant:
And while John Key can’t help himself not to agree with Obama, he’s not planning any law to make same-sex marriage legal.
I figured, but the sentiment applies either way seeing as Key thinks he’s super super nice for not going out of his way to make laws against teh gays 😉
Agreed. For Key teh gayz are just another photo op.
and a faaaaabulous one, at that!
“Harawira’s “indecision” is diasppointing, and would be a reason for me not voting Mana. The principle of equality, fairness and social justice should be applied across the board for all, and this includes those damaged by socio-economic, ‘race”, gender and sexual inequalities”
—Carol, yes of course it is of interest those groups, and well it should be. The core issue however is the grandstanding of this topic, which is as I have said, smoke and mirrors. The other issue is the position that the “state” takes in the governance of peoples rights to control their marital status regardless of orientation. Needing to have permission from the state on this front is is issue which needs to be addressed, not just for the gay community, but by all!
Without playing it down too much, IMO there should be wider issues which people take their voting position on, the TPPA for example!
Agreed! There are other things that are far more important than sexuality…
Tēnā koe, Carol
If it came to a referendum Hone would, I am fairly sure, vote for the right for takatāpui to marry.
However, there certainly is an ambivalence within the modern Māori world towards ‘gayness’ but I believe that is because many Māori are heavily colonised by religious views on the matter.
Takatāpui is a phrase that predates colonisation therefore suggesting knowledge of same-sex unions. There is also evidence within whakapapa to suggest that takatāpui was an accepted construct of traditional society and from where I live Tutanekai was known to have had a male companion.
NRT on Harawira’s position last year
http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2011/09/hone-on-same-sex-marriage.html
Thanks Weka. Harawira’s definition of ‘human rights’ is interesting, and useful to him. For someone leading a party like Mana he displays a total lack of empathy, much like Key actually. If it doesn’t matter to him personally then effectively it doesn’t matter.
This will be the Crime of the Century if it comes about …and our grandchildren will hate us if we do nothing to prevent it from happening !
PLEASE read the whole article and digest the implications to our right to self rule .
This could have a massive effect for generations to come .We don’t have the right to give away our countries sovereignty for a handful of baubles !
Quote …”Under these arrangements, an American corporation, for example, would be given far more extensive rights against our government than any New Zealand company would ever have. It would mean that a future government, perhaps elected to change policy in an area like environmental protection or health and safety (smoking comes to mind), could be threatened with a crippling lawsuit unless it backed off.
The rights protected by these provisions go far beyond real property rights and include financial instruments, mining concessions, intellectual property, public-private partnership contracts and even market share.”
Nor is it just the Government that would be hog-tied. A particular worry for lawyers is that our courts, too, could be overruled. The foreign investment tribunals have decided that courts are part of a country’s government (riding roughshod over any doctrine of the separation of powers) and that they, too, must comply. Even if our courts had upheld the validity of a law properly passed by Parliament, that decision could be challenged by a foreign corporation alleging it breached their rights under the TPP. Even a jury decision in private litigation could be challenged and lead to the Government paying millions in compensation.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10804415
.. And the Herald editorial reckons we have nothing to fear because it’s ‘fair’, like the world trade organisation procedures and it’s made in ‘good faith’ it’s just that the arbitration will between a government and a corporation…. trust us, we know what we’re doing.
Hmmm.
Would that be an unsigned anonymous editorial or has someone put their name to it?
tc ? use the link and read …if thats to difficult …have someone read this to you …written by Bryan Gould
Good question – one of those unsigned ones by the looks.
Edit: Mick….talking about the editorial, not the very good Bryan Gould article.
Australia said “thanks but blimey are you kidding, NO THANKS”.
Do we really want to be controlled by America and any Multinational Corporation ? Both these parties have a history of immoral actions for their own benefit . And what do we get ?
Quote …”Nor is it just the Government that would be hog-tied. A particular worry for lawyers is that our courts, too, could be overruled. The foreign investment tribunals have decided that courts are part of a country’s government (riding roughshod over any doctrine of the separation of powers) and that they, too, must comply. Even if our courts had upheld the validity of a law properly passed by Parliament, that decision could be challenged by a foreign corporation alleging it breached their rights under the TPP. Even a jury decision in private litigation could be challenged and lead to the Government paying millions in compensation.
In a recent case brought by Chevron, for example, a tribunal ordered the Ecuador Government, in defiance of its constitution, not to enforce a ruling by Ecuador’s Appeal Court that Chevron must pay $18 billion to clean up toxic waste in the Amazon Basin.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10804415
How to sue your government using the free trade agreement. Do a Phillip Morris and shift your business ownership overseas and then use free trade to protect yourself against unfair government rule changes.
Why is this wrong, or rather, why would this make free trade law unconscionable. well take the example of a iwi group who could not relocate, or class actions by citizens who don’t have the money to relocate.
Or worse, asset sales that rob taxpayers of prime investment income to pay debt run up by National to fund higher tax rate drops.
How can free trade have been entered into in good faith when a government fails the good faith protections of its own citizens?
Dunne went to the voters arguing that he would do nothing to harm NZ, one wonders if anymore harmful message could be sent than a government that bars citizens seeking redress for wrongs done to it by its own government where a comparable foriegn invester group could.
Rich people donate large amounts of money to National, they did not win a majority, for tax cuts overwhelmingly favoring them, and National are paying for them (with Dunne’s vote) by selling state energy assets.
Now Labour can easily turn this around, I suppose, just print money and ‘forceable’ buy the shares back. The reason our currency is so high is precisely because National are sell assets leading to china buying up NZ dollars.
As usual, a broker is making fees from churning, this time state assets. Key looking after his Banker mates.
Free trade rules are illegal if they restrict citizens from *also* bringing their own governments to seek redress under fair trade rules. Since only the internationalists will be reward by government incompetence, like we are seeing from John Key in asset sales, in repressive laws, etc.
This secret deal must be made the top News issue until we step down from signing !
Its no accident that its all being kept hush hush ! See your local member and raise hell till we get answers ! If you live in Key’s electorate camp out side his offices !
Hundreds of years of democracy have shown that secrecy only makes fools of those who engage in it. Democracy isn’t about the evil majority killing the elites party, its about the elite not falling on their faces and bloodying their noses when they don’t use the open wisdom of the crowd to object to their obvious abuses.
the third arm of democracy is the media , The people , the government and the media . Well the media is letting us down because the government selects who gets to ask the questions .As a result we see the media ” self censor” …what a different world it would be if the members of the media had the balls to do their jobs !
“Trade agreements are not threats to national sovereignty. There is ultimately no power to enforce them.”
— But of course there will be power to enforce, and it will come as the solution to the problem, which will be that sovereign governments, will be undermined and neuted, moreso than they already are..
Can people at least start to accpet that global government is a very real play, “these people” are gunning for, and that the TPPA is the noose around NZ’s neck!
This should be the biggest story in NZ over the past months, and in the spotlight continually, but its not, and instead we get this drivel from the NZH, yet again, just saying that we have nothing to worry about. Foreign farm purchases, food bill, ECAN, Super City, the list goes on and on, that NZH tells us we have nothing to worry about…
Remember this people, NZ media is simply part of the global business empire looking to make sure its got a seat at the table no matter what the outcome!
And this example …needs consideration
“In a recent case brought by Chevron, for example, a tribunal ordered the Ecuador Government, in defiance of its constitution, not to enforce a ruling by Ecuador’s Appeal Court that Chevron must pay $18 billion to clean up toxic waste in the Amazon Basin.”
This must be fought or we are going to be economically raped and potentially destroyed environmentally . Four million Kiwi’s will be handing their keys to the country to the Multi Nationals and we will be at their mercy !
How will you explain that to your grandchildren ,whilst huddled under a bridge ,stirring your pot of rat stew ?
The world economy is in freefall and we will need ALL OUR RESOURCES to survive and that “freefall” was created by the very people that they are talking about (in secret) giving control to !
It is obscene that any Government would even contemplate signing such an agreement. It is obscene that corporations have that much power.
+1
Yup. It is obscene that corporations either have or would seek such power. But insofar as it’s merely a transfer of power from one institution or set of institutions to another, is it not equally obscene that a government has (or ‘had’ in the case where it has signed it over) that level of power in the first place?
Theory would have us believe that in the case of governments having and excercising such power that there exists a degree of accountability over and above that which applies to corporations. And that’s true. Although it’s absolutely minimal and we have no institutional recourse that would allow us to change any fundamental aspects of the governing system that excercises such immense powers (some would say) on our behalf or (as others would say) over us.
In either scenario we are spectators to an illegitimate excercise of power that is rightfully ours. Now that they are trading that power like so much land we once belonged to but that now belongs to a few people, what are we to do? Pin our colours to this mast or that mast and watch them get blown about by sea and wind changes we have no influence over? Or develop tactics and strategies that might, even in some small way, bring power back to where it rightfully resides?
The last option is a bloody hard row to hoe. It won’t yield success today and it might be many tomorrows (possibly beyond yours and mine) before meaningful progress across a broad spectrum of fronts becomes evident. But what other, meaningful option is there? I’m open to any alternative suggestions that might be forthcoming. But I’m expecting the roaring silence that usually accompanies things being dropped into the ‘too hard’ basket.
and remember its in the corporate charter to ensure profits to shareholders ,nothing about justice or civil rights.
+1
The New Zealand government does not have any authority to do this. It will be null and void as the government is incapable of entering into such an arrangement.
This is vile.
The trouble is they do have the right ! They just don’t have the approval of the people ,thats why its happening in relative secrecy .We all have seen that Key has no regard for public opinion.
Yes I know, perhaps the government does have the strict, legal, formal ability to enter into this.
However I would point out that this TPP affects our votes. It discounts the value of our vote.
So let me put it like this … if John Key’s government proposed something which affected the value and use of our vote in the domestic context, such as, say, making elections every 5 years instead, would Key’s government be able to make that change by simply signing a document or passing legislation by bare majority in the House?
If the answer is no then that is where my point about the legitimacy of such an agreement sits.
Someone explain to me how the whole system hangs together then ask yourself, who actually has that authority, how they got, and how it really has the right to dictate terms to those in a negative sense, that the system claims to be serving! – Legality = Those who control of the legislative and judical systems, thats all there is to it. Controlling the “democracy” that claims to be seperate from the judiciary, is clearly very simple!
Smoke and mirrors for people who want to believe in the man made sytems that are currently screwing the majority!
“Consent of the governed” is a phrase synonymous with a political theory wherein a government’s legitimacy and moral right to use state power is only justified and legal when derived from the people or society over which that political power is exercised. This theory of “consent” is historically contrasted to the divine right of kings and has often been invoked against the legitimacy of colonialism. Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government.”
Over 100 years ago, China “leased” Hong Kong to the UK for 99 years. The asset was returned to China with a vast increase in value. China was smart then, it still is.
New Zealand is just a couple of islands off the coast of Australia and a different part of history is repeating itself. We are selling our assets for a few beads. Nothing sophisticated about our politicians.
“This should be the biggest story in NZ over the past months”
No time for that, Prince Charles did a weather forecast.
Court Report with Linda Clark on TVNZ 7 last night had Jane Kelsey and one of the counsel for our negotiators .. fascinating to see Jane Kelsey defeat the best of their arguments .. can anyone tell how to link to reply of Court Report ? (And the second half was about K Dotcom and extradition with an extradition specialist … fascinating !) Sorry, don’t have the names of the other parties.
No wonder guvmint wants to shut down TVNZ7 …
just found it .. really worth the watch if you can ….
http://tvnz.co.nz/content/3602661.xhtml
Can be viewed here:
http://tvnz.co.nz/the-court-report/s4-ep8-video-4880003
Well quite clearly, if the investor-state provisions are included then they should work in both directions so that if the NZ government changes its laws etc and that improves the investors position then the NZ government can claim compensation from the investor for that improvement.
For example, the telecommunications sector infrastructure is upgraded by the NZ government thereby improving the value of an investment which uses the telecommunications sector infrastructure.
That would be simple fairness would it not? Or do the investors expect it to go just one way?
VTO – This is not about investors, this is about the takover of sovereign nations, in an attempt to form global government, on the back end of the corporate takeover. The environmental issue will be used in unison to take sovereignty also, they are closely linked!
“Investors” – Meaning the banking system who supplies the means (fiat) with which for this takover to happen, are the core ingredient. People are blinded by thinking that the global casino, equities markets and the like, actually has distributed ownership accross a broad “investor base”, this is simply not true, and has been proven, buy three Swiss PhD’s, I’m sure you have seen it..
Talk about investor fairness is simply missing the point – It can never be fair, except to those who own the monetary supplies of the world.
First you have to consolidate regions, see NAFTA, EU, TPPA, African Union etc, then once in place you roll it up again, once more, possibly twice, before you have a single point of governence.
People thinking this is not, or can’t happen, really need just need to look at the situation from a pragmatic point of view…The EU blowing up should potentially be something we all support, at least at face value.
The trading of our sovereignty, is leading to global governence!
Thanks Muzza, that entire scenario is understood. My point was a simple little negotiating dig that’s all. But you are correct that that is what it is about – global governance. But then, perhaps that is a natural end-point for the huiman race in its current position? What with globalisation, greater movement of people around the world, instant communications, etc, perhaps it is simply a simple and obvious track for the human race to take? Perhaps it was always going to end in this? This is the natural way for the human race to evolve to?
Perhaps it should be encourgaed?
Hey VTO, yeah I figured from your posts that your comment was not an enquiry, when I posted I thought about not adding a a reply to yours but posting individually….anyway
Not sure it will work out very well for the vast majority under a global governance structure, as it implies that in order for it to be “good”, those in control must not be evil in any way. I think history tells us that dictatorships do not generally play out nicely, and IMO under what would effectively be a corporate, scientifically capable, weaponed up, military and intelligence based potentially facist, global governance system, which would seek to control every aspect of humanity, most likely for its own goals or agendas.
Personally this is not something I would want to see encouraged, and Ill assume your readings have passed you through the various scenarios, and some would say “theories” that global govt stems from, or might lead to. For me I would rather not want for sovereign nations to cede to foreign entities, but that is pretty much what we already have in many respects.
Sadly peoples need to believe that the world and those running it are working for them, means that the chance of preventing further loss of sovereignty, is almost zero!
Reminds me of Google’s original slogan “don’t be evil” – Why would you use that!
Where it ends up, time will tell.
Very interesting muzza. Throughout history different countries have tried to rule the world. In the past they have probably been limited by transport and communications. The Romans had a very effective administration system, right down to local level admin., when Latin was the main language. Even “60 years ago” Latin was being taught in some NZ schools.
World wide, Spanish is still more widely spoken than English because 400 years ago the Spanish were out there trying to rule the world.
No one believed Japan could conquer the Pacific. Who was complacent then?
It is so easy to think “It can not happen to me”. If this upsets some people Good, The truth hurts.
Your comment about Spain is incorrect.
Treaty of Tordesillas.
Treaty of Zaragoza.
If you are wrong in your comment about Spain, your other comments are likely to be wrong also.
Your failure to properly inform yourself before spouting off leads to mistrust of public discourse – which is deeply immoral.
If you are a christian, you will obey the commandment “thou shalt not bear false witness”.
Regan Cline, thank you for your observation. Sadly you spoilt the oportunity to add to our knowledge.
One. I only said that Spain was one of many countries that have tried to rule the world. The Treatys you refer to confirm this.
Two. By nit picking and descending to personal criticizim you are destroying your own image. This is sad because you started well.
great video Carol
I was a virgin to Linda Clark’s Court Report but not now. Brilliant. I wish I could get 7 here -before the Government gets rid of the threat and arrange for popular reality programs for the masses instead.
Thanks yeshe and Carol.
She’s good isn’t she? I’ve only recently seen a few of her Court Report interviews myself and I think she does an excellent job. She obviously researches the issue first but perhaps more importantly she listens to what the people are saying and then asks very pertinent questions that stay on topic. Pity most of the rest of the media aren’t of the same calibrer.
Agreed DH.
Fuck.
This cannot be allowed to go forward, as it utterly messes with the basic concept of state sovereignty far more invasively than the usual international costs of doing business and generally being a good global actor.
They’ve realised that the United Fruit method is just so 20th century.
Modern Monetary Theory #MMT slides, you can’t consider the deficit in isolation.
Something to think about for Left / Right / Green when it comes to their neoclassical mantra’s…
Check out the effect Clinton’s surplus had on the private sector.
http://www.slideshare.net/MitchGreen/mmt-basics-you-cannot-consider-the-deficit-in-isolation
Great post at The Hand Mirror by Luddite Journo demonstrating how to report on sexual assaults in ways that don’t undermine women or promote rape culture. Contrasted with how Stuff reports.
http://thehandmirror.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/look-stuff-ive-fixed-it.html
Come on media do some proper research; re the Carterton hot air balloon skipper with reported THC in tox sample. Presence of cannabis as in work place drug testing shows use at some stage not necessarily impairment.
Nasty crash for sure but was the pilot toasted at the time? Lets try and find out the truth. ShonKey and the testing industry (who benefit with their over priced piss kits) are feasting on this one.
Even an infrequent user can have a positive THC drug test result two weeks after their high is long gone… so yeah! The reporting around this issue seems more like spin to make the public believe in refer madness again. Meanwhile here’s some good reasons to decriminalize.
What, decriminalise and lose the boot used on brown peoples necks.
I searched Pubmed and found articles on Marijuana and pilot performance.
Performance in a variety of tasks is impaired.
No-one should be in charge of an airline unless they are “fit for duty”
cannabis gathers in our fatty tissues and can stay in the system for over 8 weeks after use . The “effects/impairment” (if any ,dose related) last for approximately 4 hours . The likelihood that cannabis was smoked prior to the flight is very unlikely .The flight took off at 6.38 AM from what I can find. Not many “smokers” would be sucking on a joint at that time of the day .
Now is this a worry?
NZ govt bond sale fails BONDS
11 May 12, 8:49am bnzeconomists
NZ bond yields rise off their lows as government fails to sell NZ$100 mln of 2019 bonds at auction
Reported in interest.co
Link
Ask Gosman
Campaigning last night in the heart of the Epsom electorate – Broadway Newmarket – opposite Remuera Rd.
Give a grrl a banner! 😉
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150761450881790&set=a.55178806789.77959.727511789&type=1
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com
This here song is dedicated to a particular person who posted an offensive and patronising piece yestrerday on “Key has a whinge” by Eddie.
I wonder if you experience Pollyanna sydrome – no one I know, myself included, have ever been grateful to work for minimum wage and unsociable hours. There is a stark reality of deprivation and isolation for thousands of NZer’s. Listen to the words in this song, its the truth. Sorry its not positive politics dude – it’s real
Apologies to those who have heard it all before
http://theamericanscholar.org/a-gathering-menace/
Slowly, the soldiers began adding more stories, and tales of the past week blended with memories of killing and destruction during other missions and battles, in Afghanistan and Iraq, during many tours of duty. The men’s voices fell over each other in a clatter of brutality and homoerotic jokes.
A society is judged by the conduct of its soldiers..
It is most uncomfortable to live with that fear, that some one who was not there will feel qualified to pass judgement. The best defence is to say nothing.
Don’t have to be there to know that some actions are just wrong.
Killing and raping – wrong
Torturing of prisoners – wrong
Covering up those actions – wrong
Are these actions happening? Yes. Are we going to judge the soldiers that carried them out? Damn right we are. Are we going to hold those who defend such actions, such as yourself, in total contempt? Yep.
I am not trying to defend anyone. However, war is a horrible thing. Not entertainment in a Boxing ring, carefully controlled by a referee. Has anyone ever said to you “Here is a gun. The Government back in NZ has now authorized you to go out and kill people. There will never be time for a trial before pulling the triger. Not even a committee meeting.” In NZ you can not kill, even in self defence?
I am not trying to defend anyone. Neither will I accuse them. I was not there and I do not trust the media.
Yes you were through the phrase that some one who was not there will feel qualified to pass judgement which is nothing other than a misdirection, a way to cast doubt.
A while ago I described someone who, while on patrol, saw a movement in the bush. It was the first time he had shot anyone. After sitting with the body for a while, even wondering if it had any family or friends, he thought he saw it move. What followed was with him for rest of his life. Thank God this was not me. The media is only telling you emotional tales that sell. I do not trust them.
self training. Is like driving over the white lines because you don’t want to follow the rules.
Its thinking others possessions are yours. Its believing that violence is a matter of will power.
The violent words used against teen mothers by this government, aren’t just restricted to that group, or won’t be. They come from a mentality that sees asset sales to pay down debt (cause by lowering top tax rates) as justified to grow the economy. Three wrongs don’t make a right.
When I think of Pike river Mine, how the locals voted National, how the workers who died probably brought into the whole deregulation of the neo-liberals, that there would be no mine and no jobs if they have not had given away their consent to this ‘new’ world class mining mission. They were saving the west coast from an economic abyss.
We train ourselves by buying into the Murdoch delusion that pervades the whole of the western world. We are not invincible, we do all make mistakes, and when they happen we should be humbled.
How humble is Key? He could not be more cock sure that new rules to fight drug taking extreme sports workers will work. He could not be more sure that safety in mines can be restored, just as sure as he was before with the deregulated empty mining inspector seats. So worry, Key cannot an will never, do nuanced leadership, he will never actively represent the people of NZ, and when you buy into his ilk you give your consent to your own downfall.
And what a downfall. NZers did not invent the automobile, Saudi’s did not make the crude trapped under them! NZ has a small population and huge wealth due to modern productivity gains from generations of innovation, that wealth is now to be owned by foreigners and not the children of those whose efforts (lives sometimes) made our country so rich. And you consent to that by voting national, or by supporting the labour party (who are required to take up a shallow limping opposition to the inherent lies of the right). Why isn’t Labour demanding a fair share, commodities prices are at all time highs, NZ is a hugely wealthy nation that is well place in the coming era of higher oil prices and resource strife.
Vote out incompetence.
Re Pike River
Newsflash:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6900495/Gloves-are-off-Pike-River-families
If the report is correct, the Pike River families have strong support from me and my family members too.
What’s with the appalling record of our SOE? Solid Energy needs to be, not flogged off like John Key wants our assets to be done away, but their senior staff flogged.
What kind of sneakily qualified, mealy mouthed phrase is that: “safe, technically feasible and financially credible to do so”??
It isn’t enough just selling out our souls? Can we at least have bodies back?
John Key is about to get another well deserved headache.
As Bernie Monk says in plain words “He lies”.
It’s not incompetence. There’s no way anybody could do so much damage, see the damage that’s been caused and then do more without some idea as to what they want to achieve that requires that damage.
Another broken promise
John Key had promised the families of the deceased miners that the government would do all it takes to recover the bodies and money was no object. Todays announcement breaks that assurance and makes John Key’s words mean nothing…
John Key never said any such thing, he was very clear to make a muddle of any such outcome.
The mine should be declared a cemetery and until the bodies are remove should be held in that state of grace.
Take a women, earning part time since their manager can’t find them enough work, no more than the benefit a week, and tell them the cost of contraception and how if they were laid off they’d get it for free. That the Human rights commission has nothing to say about the obvious discrimination. That nobody on TV sees the obvious message, don’t have kids on benefit, get a job and then have them.
Its appalling the significant irrational myopia that comes across the media when National make up legislation without due consultation – that has the benefit to the government of not making them look like a pigs arse.
Key said he will not govern for the people of NZ, over and again, by never articulate one issue and playing everything around an abstract ideology of growth and neo-liberalist invincibility. Its precisely because Key has not lead NZ for NZ, by NZ, that you can never assert that Key promised anything to those that lost their lives in the Mine. Its just not his thing.
Could you be a little mor explicit. Why does the woman you envisage need contrception? When I can not afford my “sport” I have to give it up until I can afford it. Whether it is drinking alchohol or skiing.
Read the comment again.
Aerobubble never mentioned “needing” contraception (although rape tends to raise its ugly head as an example).
Have you ever had fun together without someone paying cash for it John ?
Ah, Jackal and aerobubble have already pointed out the news.
By starving our domestic economy and infrastructure we are reducing our economic resilience. There are lessons to be learned in history.
http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/austerity-measures-create-anorexic-weak.html
Nationhood dysmorphic disorder, encouraged by unhealthy mass media messages.
It’s the capitalist’s politicians trying to save capitalism from it’s propensity to cause over accumulation. Now that that over accumulation has occurred it needs to be spread out again but instead of doing that the politicians are working to protect that over accumulation.
and – After being bailed out by the Fed in 2008 to the tune of $12 billion, JP Morgan announces after trading closed yesterday that it has moved on to lose $2 Billion in derivatives trading.
The people go jobless while traders burn money that could have gone on building infrastructure and boosting the job market.
Bring back Roosevelt and Savage I say, they didn’t grovel to big business and bankers. I can’t imagine Micky Savage allowing the closing of the Hillside Workshops, the running down of state housing, the selling off of state assets or groveling to Warner bros and changing employment law to accommodate them.
Look like there won’t need to be a National candidate in the West Coast for a generation or two. Key’s lies to the families of the Pike River miners have killed off any chance of them ever winning the seat in the near future.
And shame on Solid Energy for perpetuating the lie till now. What a gutless wonder Don Elder is, moaning about how tough it was for him to tell the families he was going to stab them in the back. Like his pain is in any way comperable to theirs.
This just in:
Fukushima prefecture 122 times higher cesium than in the Belarus region near Chernobyl
The bleeding obvious confirmed.
http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/incmort.htm
– A new study provides the best evidence to date that higher levels of income inequality in the United States actually lead to more deaths in the country over a period of years.
The findings suggest that income inequality at any one point doesn’t work instantaneously – it begins increasing mortality rates 5 years later, and its influence peaks after 7 years, before fading after 12 years.
“This finding is striking and it supports the argument that income inequality is a public health concern,” said Hui Zheng, author of the study and assistant professor of sociology at Ohio State University.
This is poverty:
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/desperate-kids-scavenging-food-gp-4879978
And the real kicker? Lack of food leads to poor success at school, which is linked to further poverty, along with all the usual negative health impacts.
Meanwhile the government does naught but issue press releases and say that it’s a “priority” and fund a holiday highway with a negative ROI in the same region, with money that could lift thousands out of poverty with targeted investments.
And even the simplest of acts, that of providing relief food aide via WINZ with little red tape, is seemingly beyond them.
Maybe we can make it legal for 12 year olds to dig up dirt for the highway as a paid job?
Just heard that Dunedin Stadium had a budget blow out. Did Bill English manage that budget as well?
Bill Englishs economic forecasts, less use than a busted clock. A busted clock is at least right twice a day.
tonight rnz national, chekpoint.
two hours of toy party ministers putting the case for all the governments programmes.
endless stream.
nobody got a right o reply.
very slick.
who organised that one.
“French Enrepreneurs Flee From Hollande Wealth Rejection”
Bloomberg article by Anne-Sylvaine Chassany and Jacqueline Simmons.
LOL
These aren’t French “entrepreneurs”. The entrepreneurs in France are the SMEs being smashed by the established wealthy class and the financial repression of the communities they are doing business in!
Stephen Joyce – so boring.
At the hi-tech awards waiting to see if we pick up an award..
Hi tech – a revenue earner for nz that is bigger than sheep or wine. Virtually all of it has happened inthe last 15 years.
Pete George has had enough, he’s got the hair-meister to pull a few strings for him:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/6906540/Government-to-crackdown-on-cyber-bullies
All lol’s aside, Of course bullying sucks and is terrible! But the legal territory here is a slippery slope to some potentially dangerous censorship consequences. It needs to be considered very carefully, or we could actually find it leads to someone under the onslaught like Pete using this as a tool to repress free speech.
I like to joke with people like Pete whom I disagree with, and I believe in giving shit were I think shit is due, but I’d hate to be considered a bully. And I only give shit to people as I believe they are up for a robust adult debate on things close to the heart.
Play the ball not the man.
Chaos in the Streets
The government should realize that this is going to eventuate is somebody being seriously hurt or even dying if it continues. They should therefore halt the forced evictions and house removals…
Excellent synopsis on why neoclassical economics is factually and mathematically wrong
Thanks go to Prof Steve Keen.
A wee song to hum or sing along to over the weekend.
“Don’t sell Our Assets Mr Key”
The ongoing victimisation and persecution of Vince Siemer is a bloody disgrace.
It makes me ashamed to be a New Zealander.
Friday, 11 May 2012, 6:40 pm
Press Release: LawFuel
Vince Siemer to return to prison
LawFuel.co.nz –
NZ Law News – Vince Siemer has been ordered by the Court of Appeal to return to prison on 25 May following his loss of an appeal in the Court of Appeal, released today. The Court rejected argument made by his lawyer Tony Ellis as variously “misconceived” or inarguable and “without basis”.
Mr Siemer’s appeal was against a contempt finding made by the High Court for breach of a suppression order. Allegations made by Siemer’s lawyer, Tony Ellis, that the proceedings brought against his client were partly out of personal animosity felt by the then Solicitor General (Justice David Collins) and that the contempt proceedings brought the rule of law into disrepute, were rejected by the Court of Appeal on the basis that they were of such generality as to be inarguable.
They also rejected Mr Ellis’ argument that publication of the suppression order was not going to cause violence or any breach of fair trial rights.
See the Decision here: http://www.lawfuel.co.nz/news/286/vince-siemer-ordered-back-to-prison
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How come in NZ ‘perceived’ to be ‘the least corrupt country in the world’ NZ Judges don’t have an enforceable ‘Code of Conduct’ – there is no Register of Pecuniary Interests for NZ Judges, and court proceedings are regularly not recorded?
How TRANSPARENT and ACCOUNTABLE is THAT?
Check out the website of NZ’s foremost ‘whistleblower’ against judicial corruption and lack of accountability http://www.kiwisfirst.co.nz
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption’ campaigner