Many people say they are sick of current political options and actions and want something different. This is seriously different. To change things we need to try.
This isn’t about individuals. It is about a new way of looking at our politics.
Flexible. Diverse. Valuing vision and competence more than feet in concrete ideology.
Parties may not like it because they want to retain control. This moves power to people from parties.
Food for thought. Think beyond the traditional square.
But if I can relapse into critic mode for the moment. Have a look at your CSS on Your NZ’s Dunedin North page. In safari on a iPad at least, your name and the electorate name in the header are overlapping into borders around Your NZ.
The resulting overlapping colors make it hard (and even more atheistically painful) to read. Lime on top of blue and red and green is unreadable. On top of yellow it looks disgusting.
Whoever is doing the CSS should stop trying to coerce the page into an abnormal state, reduce the width of the text and let it resume the overflow wrapping it would do in the natural state.
Just heard Kim Hill ask Geraldine Brooks: “Was there an event that turned you off foreign reportage?” (National Radio, 8.58 a.m.)
Why couldn’t she just have said “reporting”? I’ve noticed Jim Mora also frequently uses this heinous piece of pretentioso, along with the even more pretentious, and irritating, “anecdotage”.
re·port·age
[ri-pawr-tij, -pohr-, rep-awr-tahzh, -er-] Show IPA
–noun
1.
the act or technique of reporting news.
2.
reported news collectively: reportage on the war.
3.
a written account of an act, event, history, etc., based on direct observation or on thorough research and documentation.
Origin:
1605–15; < French; see report, -age
Imagine if there’d been vacuous TV talkshows in the Third Reich…
It’s 1942. Brave little Germany is under the terrorist threat posed by the continued existence of the Warsaw ghetto, which all thoughtful analysts and comedians agree is a terrorist scourge that has to be eliminated. Mein host David Leitermann’s guest tonight is a Nazi comedian who’s fooled the desperate Jewish resistance in Poland into granting him an interview, then used this to further the Nazi state’s campaign of vilification against the Jewish resistance.
Imagine the chilling atmosphere of such an occasion. Imagine the obscene indifference to reality of the host and the braying idiocy of the audience. Imagine laughter being elicited in the service of totalitarianism.
Something, in other words, like the following interview, which actually took place on CBS television the other day….
DAVID LETTERMAN: You interviewed a terrorist?
SASHA BARON COHEN: Yeah, I interviewed a terrorist.
LETTERMAN: How’d you do that? It can’t be EASY to find a terrorist!
BARON COHEN: Well it’s not easy to get in touch with a terrorist. Your government has been trying to find one for the past nine years!
LETTERMAN: Ha ha ha ha ha!
AUDIENCE: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
LETTERMAN: You’re right!
BARON COHEN: To get in touch with a terrorist, I used a CIA contact.
LEITERMANN: [spluttering with laughter] Bruno has a CIA contact!?!?!?
AUDIENCE: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
BARON COHEN: Yes. These were really nasty terrorists, from the Al Aqsa Martyr’s Brigade, the world’s leading suicide bombers.
AUDIENCE: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
LEITERMANN: Ha ha ha ha ha! Okay, now, what’s this clip we’re going to see from the movie?
BARON COHEN: Here’s where I talk to the terrorist, and insult him, and he hasn’t got a CLUE what I was saying!
AUDIENCE: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
LEITERMANN: Ha ha ha ha ha! This should be good!…
[Cue clip from show]
BRUNO: Here’s a tip: you guys should lose the beards. Your King Osama looks like a dirty Santa Claus.
PALESTINIAN CHRISTIAN PEACE ACTIVIST: [to interpreter] What’s he saying?
[Back to the Ed Sullivan Theater]
LEITERMANN: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! So funny, and so brave! Bruno opens on this Thursday. Sacha Baron Cohen!
AUDIENCE: Heil! Heil! Heil!…..
ALAN KALTER: [sotto voce]: Am I the only one who’s noticed the guy’s not funny?
PAUL SHAFFER [sotto voce]: Can somebody get a can of deodorant?
Actually, Vicky, I think the really appalling one in this scene is David Letterman. After all, Sasha Baron Cohen is a hardline zealot, and this kind of thing is exactly what you’d expect him to do. He can get away with it, and he does—spectacularly. I am appalled by his cynicism and his blatant dishonesty, but not at all surprised by it.
The problem here is Letterman, who goes along willingly with this travesty. Or (more likely) he knows not to upset the status quo on this issue, i.e., absolute, totalitarian silence about the illegal 44-year-long occupation of the West Bank. We can be quite sure he will have been informed of Baron Cohen’s fanatical views before this interview, yet he does nothing to counter him or question him in any way. Laughingly playing along with Baron Cohen means he has passed up an opportunity to actually confront a slick and merciless propagandist.
What craven behaviour Letterman shows here, and what moral cowardice.
I’m strapped for time, but this John Armstrong article begs for some deconstruction.
The basic argument that Key is making for asset sales goes like this:
1. These State entities are returning very low dividends for the amount of public equity invested in them. Therefore we should sell them and extract this underperforming capital.
2. Which begs the question then, why would any private sector investor want a bar of them?
3. Either they expect to buy them cheap in another ideologically driven fire sale (which I cannot see them getting away with in this better informed internet era).
4. Or their new owners can see the potential to improve their returns because most of these assets operate as public service quasi-monopolies and prices can be readily jacked up to justify the price paid for their shareholding.
Either way the NZ taxpayer is being lined up for another screwing over.
The Drug Wars. http://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/Report
Basically the report says that anti-drug efforts are hopelessly ineffective … power is where there is money and there are riches in drugs.
But the mass of people have been conditioned to believe that drugs are bad … myself included … so we will never vote for a politician who de-criminalises those who simply use the product without harm to others and treat it as a medical problem.
If you enjoyed the story about the two elephants going about town last night or maybe night before on TV3 I invite you to visit http://jcuknzs.blogspot.com/2011/06/road-rage-african-style.html
Unfortunately the photos are in reverse order so view from bottom. The VW driver got inpatient 🙂
AYN RAND Beloved inspiration of RWNJs. Also admired by ACT Party types and acknowledged as an inspiration by Perigo in his blog http://www.solopassion.com. Rand continues to have a major influence on America’s RWNJ Party : The parasitic Republicans who believe in their own fascist excellence:they not only will not share with their “Fellow Americans” {Sick} They actively seek to do away with medicaid and any social welfare. This vile poisonous cult has had a lot of influence on our own RWNJ people. Mark Ames of exiledonline has done a great expose of this weird freakess, refer following:
“Ayn Rand, Hugely Popular Author and Inspiration to Right-Wing Leaders, Was a Big Admirer of Serial Killer
Her works are treated as gospel by right-wing powerhouses like Alan Greenspan and Clarence Thomas, but Ayn Rand found early inspiration in 1920’s murderer William Hickman. ”
“The loudest of all the Republicans, right-wing attack-dog pundits and the Teabagger mobs fighting to kill health care reform and eviscerate “entitlement programs” increasingly hold up Ayn Rand as their guru. Sales of her books have soared in the past couple of years; one poll ranked Atlas Shrugged as the second most influential book of the 20th century, after the Bible.”
She is admired here in NZ by RWNJs who feel vastly superior to the herd: That’s you and me!
If you look at Perigo’s blog you’ll see Deborah Coddington of the Act Party is commenting plus and article by a Republican on how to get all of the U$’s wealth for themselves by swindling ordinary non-excellent has been Americans out of any entitlements.
We need to be mindful who is defining what is useful in this world. If we are not careful we will be ruled by a callous technocracy and those who measure life in monetary terms.
Of course only the children of the new “successful” will be able to learn the Classics and the Arts.
The irony is that the burgeoning congregations of fundamentalist groups, who preach “the soul” tend to be supporters of this new right.
Key was ‘selling’ himself this morning on Nation. Not one word about peak oil.
No analysis of World debt woes. Not one mention of Climate Change. No shame
about mentioning kiwisaver and how Key has cut it. Same media pundit not talking
about the tax cut to the rich list paid for by cuts in GST. Nothing about excessive
borrowing of National at a time when manufacturers are hurting. Or why we need a
CGT. No, we got a drive round his old haunts, how his mum was beating by world
events into building a life for herself and her son, and was a Labour supporter.
Not one moment did he make the connection with our present reality or the reality
of his own mum. That the right destroyed Europe in war of dominance, and his
mum people paid for that in the holocaust, that he however grew up in good times
and can’t see, or won’t see the future, that we are at another of histories turning
points. Then he has the conceit to say he is the centre gorund! On what basis?
The poverty trap is an employment program for middle class bureaucrats, and
Key is lock step into keeping it that way, because he will not take GST off food,
books, baby items, he will not discuss a CGT and remove the incentive to borrow
rather than build national capacity. He is a caretaker, a rightwing caretaker, and
given our present economic future a undertaker still burying the stiff of neo-liberalism.
We do need radical policies (from the center – cross party), not radical tinkering
from the extreme right wing who havehad it too easy, think the world runs best
when we don’t spare the rod on businesses. The good times are over, the lazy
elites now have to be weeded and selected much more rigorously, and more of
the same, or more radical shift to the right, forced his mum’s migrant generation from
a self-destructive Europe, to grow up and get real, and so vote Labour.
Please ZeeBop put paragraphs where you detect a change in your stream of cogitation. I’ve mentioned this before to no effect. I’m not someone who is a RW troll that you might just dismiss. Your block of type is as hard to chew as last week’s quality, solid rye bread. This morning I have trimmed one into slices after hours wrapped in a damp teatowel. That enabled me to cut it and now I can comsume it. If you think you make quality comment FGS make it consumable.
I agree with prism. It seems you often have something to add but I never read more than the first sentence because your giant wall of text crits me to death.
I cannot help you diagnose your illiteracy problem, that seems rampant among a number of readers with out better clarification of the problem. I of course am concerned, and welcome the openness to discuss your problems with my text. Since communication is a two way street and I’m all ears, how would you propose I explain my ‘mini-thesis’ better. Simply its hard in the newsspeak language of today to express myself, we are missing a whole load of words that have been framed into a different context. For example, WINZ use the word respect in terms I do not understand.
Reinterpreting this statement. A rule or policy that appears to apply to everyone equally will inevitably disadvantage some groups.
The one size fits all approach of WINZ will indirectly discriminate against the very people WINZ seeks to support the most marginalized who unlike those who dig themselves out of their problems.
I been trawling the interent to find a NZ organisation that protects Human Rights and speachs to the socially phobic. Janet Frame, an exceptional kiwi, suffered and you’d have thought there was better protection. No wonder people drink to excess, a self-lobotomy if there ever was one when dealing with the lack of conscience in WINZ.
I think I’ve figured it out. You’re pressing “Enter” at the end of each line rather than letting the edit box wrap the text for you. This does two things:
1.) cuts the text so that its body is narrower than it needs to be which makes it harder to read and
2.) makes it difficult to see where you need to put in the paragraph breaks which you do by pressing “Enter”
Stop pressing “Enter” at the end of every line as the computer will do that for you and you will find it a lot easier to format what you write.
Key is “an undertaker still burying the stiff of neo-liberalism” Neo-Liberalism may be dead(Obviously a total failure except for the rich who have done famously from it) but it’s still afflicting the living like a ZOMBIE curse. And Key is leading the curse of the Zombies here with asset sales and tax breaks for the already well-off (Zombie like !) but that money is not going into making NZ a better place for all.
Look at Ireland: The people are being impoverished there by being forced to pay for the neo-liberal speculation feeding frenzy that fell on its face (No more Zombies to feed on). Irish Private Banks who mediated this madness and should have gone bankrupt with the fiat banksters in Germany and elsewhere taking a hair cut (If Zombies can get hair cuts!) Were bailed out by the treachorous Irish Government who had every legal right not to do so! The euro has been completely trashed by Zombie Neo-Liberal greed. It is not a union for the people of Europe but one for the Zombie Wealth investment Speculative class!
Which is one of the reasons why I keep saying that the best those countries worst hit by the GFC (Portugal, Ireland, Greece etc) could do would be a complete default of their debts. The bankers won’t like it but it would allow those countries to help their people rather than forcing austerity on them.
This morning Kim Hill spoke to Professor Novak who has written a book on his findings about the basis for altruism in humans. He has something to say about why stable co-operating communities might break down. He has good points. It is worth listening to if you have wondered why we can’t get our lives on a better road after centuries of writing and studying and practising different styles of human behaviour. And our personal philosophies and style of society are more important and central to our living standards than discussing who is going to win the next election with the hope that this lot won’t act to break our lives, incomes, housing, future.
Can anyone explain what tax changes made earlier this year have made problems for Christchurch’s events managing entity? It doesn’t sound sensible to make events more problematic when they are already risky financially and require much careful planning for months and years before.
An interesting comment from a much travelled NZ musician on Playing favourites this morning. Now he is back in NZ and sees us afresh, he thinks we have a great spirit, something special to offer the world.
Novak made the mistake of making his faith important to the debate, then trying to assert his work had no bias in it since it was based in some absolute rigid version of scientific method. If only he’d said that in the first place he would not look like a liar like he did.
There is none (a accepted absolute scientific method). An accomplished scientist knows this, or should, and would speak to the brand of scientific method. Obviously any purely mathematical theory will have the same problems, as any other, when applying itself to society. Indeed, first the mathematician is advised to consult with a physicist, then an engineer, then a social scientist before trying to make faith respectable since math does not do ethics.
Prof. Novak does neither, he asks us to accept ignorance of all other science implementation.
If you don’t understand what I mean then take the Nuclear meltdown in Japan, would you agree that because a nuclear scientist said the theory best described the processes, that we should accept that nuclear power was safe, correct, a good option. No. You would need first to consult a engineer, a social scientist….
Simply put if you create a theory like his, then people like Karl Rove will use it to circumvent the prisoner dilemma, immediately and with haste. So altruism may indeed have foundations in self-gene theory, as a means of selfish people to trip up absolute adherents to dogma. What is the Bible anyway, but a huge wedge to keep people conforming to a blind faith.
Genes are selfish, and select people to be generous, hopeful and what was the third thing he talked about… …in the very way that putting off a fight you are unlikely to win today can help you at some future time. For example, if you teach your kids virtues like self-sacrifice, and they become role models, then as more people join into consent for the meme then its more likely that someone out there will save you or your kid when they get into life threatening trouble, or you need to con them out of their lifesavings to funds some school in Africa (rather than solve Africas problems by asking Africans). But do remember that teaching your kids to be bastards gets them no where fast in life, House maybe an exception, i.e. be very very talented first before letting your dad teach you that nasty is a good life strategy.
ZeeBop – Could you say that Novak is being honest declaring his Christianity? And that does not make him a fundy which I think of as bad Christians because they use the Bible for the end of propaganda for their own self-serving, people-controlling dictatorship.
Everyone has a a background that influences the way that they think and the line they take when considering any problem. I have to listen to Prof Novak some more and look at your comments before I can attempt an intelligent one. The nature and nurture thing I gues has an important part in his discussion.
Your paragraphs are good – good for minds like mine which needs to surface, take a breather and then dive into the ideas again.
No. Because Novak suggest we hold two contradictory views, that science does more than describe reality – that its more than just our building of a set of ideas to navigate through living. Then he contradicts himself by suggesting, nudge nudge, that Christianity values emerge from the mathematical theory which obviously is still theory. Christianity was an irrelevant aside, and at the same time reinvigorated by this theoretical game play. Also the Christianity he contends is reinforced does not actually come from the Bible, rather the Bible may have been the results (a lab book) of social experiment gone horrible wrong.
“””The nature and nurture thing I guess has an important part in his discussion. “””
No. He was talking about a mathematical result, probably true, but got lost in trying to apply that result to culture without the usual checks and balances, common sense. Remember Hitler, you know the guy that made evolution God, and God evolution. That Ayrans were the perfect choosen people, well that mistake Novak seems to make a mistake, just because an experiment works in the perfectness of the laboratory, and what more perfect experimental areas than mathematics, and then thinks the result applies to something as complex as morals and ethics.
Notice how the same right-wingers who always say the state shouldn’t own businesses or productive assets are more than happy to have those same productive assets owned by the Chinese government?
Why is it bad for the NZ govt to own a farm or power station but ok for the Chinese govt to own it?
Kowtowing to power. It’s what Authoritarians do and they’ve always viewed the NZ government as having no power. Interestingly, the latter seems to make them work to ensure that the NZ government remains that way.
And also Kim Hill with Staff photographer for The New Yorker magazine, Platon, who has photographed all the power Leaders of the World. (Though he quickly moved on from a mention of photographing John Key.)
In meeting and photographing the powerless he met a very battered street lady in Moscow who was 34 but looked 68. He asked her what would be her wish. She said “That she wished that Paton have happiness, and that friendship is constant where love comes and goes.” (paraphrased.)
He asked her what would be her wish. She said “That she wished that Paton have happiness, and that friendship is constant where love comes and goes.” (paraphrased.)
Yesterday, Australian climate scientists revealed details of offensive emails they are routinely receiving. This has raised concerns that the vitriolic campaign could deter the next generation of scientists and researchers. The revelations were made amidst an increasing campaign of disinformation and a number of murders of activists at the behest of the oil and gas industry…
Everyone is a genius. National, right-wing talk that all people need to do is believe their reiteration of MSM seeded right wing orthodoxy is a sign they are geniuses and not sit down and take crap from some boffin who spends too much time in the ivory towers out of touch.
Investment tip, anyone who supports a company that has some Executive on it who does not believe in Climate Change, who does not talk about Peak Oil, or the Debt crisis, is a bad company to be investing in. If they want investment they have to answer how this crisis-es harm their current business.
Key’s headliner today. “Too many Kiwis receiving government support.”
Okay John, you have officially fed the flame war.
Now cut to the chase.
Give us the exact numbers and not the rhetoric.
. how many do you know as a fact are NOT entitled?
. which areas of New Zealand?
. what direct measures/actions are your government going to implement to assist in changing or remedying the situation?
. will you guarantee to intervene to ensure that a proper informed and managed debate will ensue or will you depend on the blogs and talk back radio to do your bidding for you?
Just took this from “New Zealand Fabian society” here thought some of you might be interested .
“The Centre for Public Services in theU.K. found that staff in private prisons were paid 25 percent less on average than their state counterparts and had inferior non-pay entitlements[xiii].Castalia says they “assume a PPP contractor [in New Zealand schools] will improve the efficiency of caretaking and cleaning by 20 percent including through contracting out and stronger labour bargaining”[xiv].This in effect becomes a way of forcing down pay for public service staff. It is not an efficiency from an economic viewpoint, as the PPP contractor’s gain is the New Zealand worker’s loss. It may or may not be passed on to the government in lower charges, and it is likely that a significant proportion of the contractor’s profits will go overseas, increasing the cost to the economy.”
Some detail from National’s latest newsletter.
Path to surplus and job growth
The National-led Government is doing everything it can to give businesses the confidence to invest, grow, and create new jobs. This includes mapping a faster path back to Budget surplus, investing heavily in infrastructure, and getting better results from the public sector.
The latest forecasts from the Reserve Bank suggest the pace of growth is picking up. The central bank is predicting 4.6 per cent growth in the year to March 2013 somewhat higher than Treasury’s 4 per cent forecast in the Budget.
The bank also has a strong outlook for job growth, forecasting an additional 180,000 people employed by March 2014. Seems like jam tomorrow, rather than looking at forecasts for the rest of 2011 and 2012. And what’s this 4.6% growth. We haven’t been getting that in good years have we? Is this calculated on forced investment in Christchurch?
Fewer people reliant on welfare
Our Future Focus changes, which were part of National’s 2008 election policy, are delivering positive results. Our requirement that someone on an Unemployment Benefit must reapply after one year has seen more than 5000 people cancel their benefit.
We’ve also seen more than 1000 people leave the Domestic Purposes Benefit to go into work within a month of getting intensive support from Work and Income. What does that mean – ‘intensive support’. And having to reapply for UB must be a real barrier in itself without the implicit likelihood of not being granted it.
I have puzzled for some time now as to why Bainimarama is the bad guy in Fiji. Granted he took over from an elected majority, but he was up against Speight and his cronies and in favour of including Chaudry and the substantial Indian minority. Can someone explain please.
from what I recall, there have been allegations of beatings and harrassment, his relationship with the press is controlling to say the least, and so on.
Maybe he’s better than Speight, maybe not, but he sure as shit isn’t close to a democratic politician. B is marginally better than A, but C is the only acceptable position.
Bilderberg 2011: George Osborne attending as chancellor
Charlie Skelton spots some interesting names on the delegate list
So this is some proper journalism what I just done.
Early this morning a Swiss website published a genuine-sounding list of delegates to this year’s conference. A couple of names leapt out, both of them Bilderberg alumni: Lord Mandelson (2009) and George Osborne (2006-2009).
On the 2011 delegate list, Osborne appears thus: Osborne, George, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
I’ve just spent the entire day trying and failing and failing and trying again to get an official confirmation that Osborne is attending the St Moritz conference, and if so, in exactly what capacity he’s here.
At long last the Treasury Press Office gave me a straight answer, but it wasn’t the answer I was expecting: “George Osborne is attending the Bilderberg conference in his official capacity as Chancellor of the Exchequer” – and he’s coming along “with a number of other international finance ministers.”
Any Treasury staff?
“Probably not more than one.”
So – ok – you mean we’re paying for Osborne to be here?
You mean he’s on Treasury business?
You mean this is an official summit?
You mean he’s talking economic policy with the Chairman of Royal Dutch Shell, the CEO of Airbus, and Russian oligarch Alexey Mordashov, the billionaire CEO of Severstal?
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Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
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Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
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Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
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What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
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The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
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Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Asia Pacific Report Chief Mandla Mandela, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has joined the Freedom Flotilla in istanbul as the ships prepare to sail for Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. Mandela is also the ambassador for the Global Campaign to Return to ...
Pacific Media Watch Journalists who report on environmental issues are encountering growing difficulties in many parts of the world, reports Reporters Without Borders. According to the tally kept by RSF, 200 journalists have been subjected to threats and physical violence, including murder, in the past 10 years because they were ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Pōneke based peace activists staged a silent protest at the ANZAC day service to highlight New Zealand’s complicity in war and genocide, and urge the government to take concrete steps to stop the genocide in Palestine. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Until this month, Auckland swimmer Hazel Ouwehand had never met a qualifying time in an Olympic event for a New Zealand team, even as a junior. Now she’s very likely off to the Paris Olympics after swimming well under the qualifying standard in the 100m butterfly twice – both in ...
While Anzac Day has experienced a resurgence in recent years, our other day of remembrance has slowly faded from view.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Hope McConnell.First published in 2022.The high school’s head girl and ...
Australian and New Zealand volunteers fought together in the Waikato War, yet still its place in the Anzac tradition is unacknowledged by our defence forces or Returned Services Association.First published in 2018.When I was a boy cub I attended Anzac Day services in the South Auckland suburb of ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
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Many people talk the talk. And talk. And talk.
Someone takes a step.
Many people say they are sick of current political options and actions and want something different. This is seriously different. To change things we need to try.
This isn’t about individuals. It is about a new way of looking at our politics.
Flexible. Diverse. Valuing vision and competence more than feet in concrete ideology.
Parties may not like it because they want to retain control. This moves power to people from parties.
Food for thought. Think beyond the traditional square.
Good to see that you are not just a critic.
But if I can relapse into critic mode for the moment. Have a look at your CSS on Your NZ’s Dunedin North page. In safari on a iPad at least, your name and the electorate name in the header are overlapping into borders around Your NZ.
The resulting overlapping colors make it hard (and even more atheistically painful) to read. Lime on top of blue and red and green is unreadable. On top of yellow it looks disgusting.
Whoever is doing the CSS should stop trying to coerce the page into an abnormal state, reduce the width of the text and let it resume the overflow wrapping it would do in the natural state.
Thanks. Constructive criticism is good. Multiple platforms are a battle. I’ll try tweaking it.
What the HELL is “reportage”?
Just heard Kim Hill ask Geraldine Brooks: “Was there an event that turned you off foreign reportage?” (National Radio, 8.58 a.m.)
Why couldn’t she just have said “reporting”? I’ve noticed Jim Mora also frequently uses this heinous piece of pretentioso, along with the even more pretentious, and irritating, “anecdotage”.
I sense some annoyage in you today…
It’s fair to say I took umbrage.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/reportage
re·port·age
[ri-pawr-tij, -pohr-, rep-awr-tahzh, -er-] Show IPA
–noun
1.
the act or technique of reporting news.
2.
reported news collectively: reportage on the war.
3.
a written account of an act, event, history, etc., based on direct observation or on thorough research and documentation.
Origin:
1605–15; < French; see report, -age
Seems like a valid word to me.
No, it’s valid wordage, thank you very much 😛
Valid wordage to CV but garbage verbiage to Jim
😛
July, 2009
Imagine if there’d been vacuous TV talkshows in the Third Reich…
It’s 1942. Brave little Germany is under the terrorist threat posed by the continued existence of the Warsaw ghetto, which all thoughtful analysts and comedians agree is a terrorist scourge that has to be eliminated. Mein host David Leitermann’s guest tonight is a Nazi comedian who’s fooled the desperate Jewish resistance in Poland into granting him an interview, then used this to further the Nazi state’s campaign of vilification against the Jewish resistance.
Imagine the chilling atmosphere of such an occasion. Imagine the obscene indifference to reality of the host and the braying idiocy of the audience. Imagine laughter being elicited in the service of totalitarianism.
Something, in other words, like the following interview, which actually took place on CBS television the other day….
DAVID LETTERMAN: You interviewed a terrorist?
SASHA BARON COHEN: Yeah, I interviewed a terrorist.
LETTERMAN: How’d you do that? It can’t be EASY to find a terrorist!
BARON COHEN: Well it’s not easy to get in touch with a terrorist. Your government has been trying to find one for the past nine years!
LETTERMAN: Ha ha ha ha ha!
AUDIENCE: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
LETTERMAN: You’re right!
BARON COHEN: To get in touch with a terrorist, I used a CIA contact.
LEITERMANN: [spluttering with laughter] Bruno has a CIA contact!?!?!?
AUDIENCE: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
BARON COHEN: Yes. These were really nasty terrorists, from the Al Aqsa Martyr’s Brigade, the world’s leading suicide bombers.
AUDIENCE: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
LEITERMANN: Ha ha ha ha ha! Okay, now, what’s this clip we’re going to see from the movie?
BARON COHEN: Here’s where I talk to the terrorist, and insult him, and he hasn’t got a CLUE what I was saying!
AUDIENCE: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
LEITERMANN: Ha ha ha ha ha! This should be good!…
[Cue clip from show]
BRUNO: Here’s a tip: you guys should lose the beards. Your King Osama looks like a dirty Santa Claus.
PALESTINIAN CHRISTIAN PEACE ACTIVIST: [to interpreter] What’s he saying?
[Back to the Ed Sullivan Theater]
LEITERMANN: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! So funny, and so brave! Bruno opens on this Thursday. Sacha Baron Cohen!
AUDIENCE: Heil! Heil! Heil!…..
ALAN KALTER: [sotto voce]: Am I the only one who’s noticed the guy’s not funny?
PAUL SHAFFER [sotto voce]: Can somebody get a can of deodorant?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxB80y8_rQk
Thank you for that, Morrissey. Baron Cohen is disgusting.
Actually, Vicky, I think the really appalling one in this scene is David Letterman. After all, Sasha Baron Cohen is a hardline zealot, and this kind of thing is exactly what you’d expect him to do. He can get away with it, and he does—spectacularly. I am appalled by his cynicism and his blatant dishonesty, but not at all surprised by it.
The problem here is Letterman, who goes along willingly with this travesty. Or (more likely) he knows not to upset the status quo on this issue, i.e., absolute, totalitarian silence about the illegal 44-year-long occupation of the West Bank. We can be quite sure he will have been informed of Baron Cohen’s fanatical views before this interview, yet he does nothing to counter him or question him in any way. Laughingly playing along with Baron Cohen means he has passed up an opportunity to actually confront a slick and merciless propagandist.
What craven behaviour Letterman shows here, and what moral cowardice.
But that’s network TV for you.
I’m strapped for time, but this John Armstrong article begs for some deconstruction.
The basic argument that Key is making for asset sales goes like this:
1. These State entities are returning very low dividends for the amount of public equity invested in them. Therefore we should sell them and extract this underperforming capital.
2. Which begs the question then, why would any private sector investor want a bar of them?
3. Either they expect to buy them cheap in another ideologically driven fire sale (which I cannot see them getting away with in this better informed internet era).
4. Or their new owners can see the potential to improve their returns because most of these assets operate as public service quasi-monopolies and prices can be readily jacked up to justify the price paid for their shareholding.
Either way the NZ taxpayer is being lined up for another screwing over.
Stopped reading at ‘Eskimos’.
Read the whole thing and it’s just a Selling assets is good because John Key said so piece.
The Drug Wars.
http://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/Report
Basically the report says that anti-drug efforts are hopelessly ineffective … power is where there is money and there are riches in drugs.
But the mass of people have been conditioned to believe that drugs are bad … myself included … so we will never vote for a politician who de-criminalises those who simply use the product without harm to others and treat it as a medical problem.
If you enjoyed the story about the two elephants going about town last night or maybe night before on TV3 I invite you to visit
http://jcuknzs.blogspot.com/2011/06/road-rage-african-style.html
Unfortunately the photos are in reverse order so view from bottom. The VW driver got inpatient 🙂
AYN RAND Beloved inspiration of RWNJs. Also admired by ACT Party types and acknowledged as an inspiration by Perigo in his blog http://www.solopassion.com. Rand continues to have a major influence on America’s RWNJ Party : The parasitic Republicans who believe in their own fascist excellence:they not only will not share with their “Fellow Americans” {Sick} They actively seek to do away with medicaid and any social welfare. This vile poisonous cult has had a lot of influence on our own RWNJ people. Mark Ames of exiledonline has done a great expose of this weird freakess, refer following:
“Ayn Rand, Hugely Popular Author and Inspiration to Right-Wing Leaders, Was a Big Admirer of Serial Killer
Her works are treated as gospel by right-wing powerhouses like Alan Greenspan and Clarence Thomas, but Ayn Rand found early inspiration in 1920’s murderer William Hickman. ”
“The loudest of all the Republicans, right-wing attack-dog pundits and the Teabagger mobs fighting to kill health care reform and eviscerate “entitlement programs” increasingly hold up Ayn Rand as their guru. Sales of her books have soared in the past couple of years; one poll ranked Atlas Shrugged as the second most influential book of the 20th century, after the Bible.”
She is admired here in NZ by RWNJs who feel vastly superior to the herd: That’s you and me!
If you look at Perigo’s blog you’ll see Deborah Coddington of the Act Party is commenting plus and article by a Republican on how to get all of the U$’s wealth for themselves by swindling ordinary non-excellent has been Americans out of any entitlements.
http://www.alternet.org/books/145819/ayn_rand,_hugely_popular_author_and_inspiration_to_right-wing_leaders,_was_a_big_admirer_of_serial_killers?page=entire
We should be monitoring very carefully where the MSM is being directed in its discussion and reporting of issues.
1) The issue of “encouraged” contraception in our communities.
2) Incentives for “useful” tertiary qualifications.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/5130562/Incentives-idea-for-useful-degrees
We need to be mindful who is defining what is useful in this world. If we are not careful we will be ruled by a callous technocracy and those who measure life in monetary terms.
Of course only the children of the new “successful” will be able to learn the Classics and the Arts.
The irony is that the burgeoning congregations of fundamentalist groups, who preach “the soul” tend to be supporters of this new right.
Key was ‘selling’ himself this morning on Nation. Not one word about peak oil.
No analysis of World debt woes. Not one mention of Climate Change. No shame
about mentioning kiwisaver and how Key has cut it. Same media pundit not talking
about the tax cut to the rich list paid for by cuts in GST. Nothing about excessive
borrowing of National at a time when manufacturers are hurting. Or why we need a
CGT. No, we got a drive round his old haunts, how his mum was beating by world
events into building a life for herself and her son, and was a Labour supporter.
Not one moment did he make the connection with our present reality or the reality
of his own mum. That the right destroyed Europe in war of dominance, and his
mum people paid for that in the holocaust, that he however grew up in good times
and can’t see, or won’t see the future, that we are at another of histories turning
points. Then he has the conceit to say he is the centre gorund! On what basis?
The poverty trap is an employment program for middle class bureaucrats, and
Key is lock step into keeping it that way, because he will not take GST off food,
books, baby items, he will not discuss a CGT and remove the incentive to borrow
rather than build national capacity. He is a caretaker, a rightwing caretaker, and
given our present economic future a undertaker still burying the stiff of neo-liberalism.
We do need radical policies (from the center – cross party), not radical tinkering
from the extreme right wing who havehad it too easy, think the world runs best
when we don’t spare the rod on businesses. The good times are over, the lazy
elites now have to be weeded and selected much more rigorously, and more of
the same, or more radical shift to the right, forced his mum’s migrant generation from
a self-destructive Europe, to grow up and get real, and so vote Labour.
Please ZeeBop put paragraphs where you detect a change in your stream of cogitation. I’ve mentioned this before to no effect. I’m not someone who is a RW troll that you might just dismiss. Your block of type is as hard to chew as last week’s quality, solid rye bread. This morning I have trimmed one into slices after hours wrapped in a damp teatowel. That enabled me to cut it and now I can comsume it. If you think you make quality comment FGS make it consumable.
^ +1
I agree with prism. It seems you often have something to add but I never read more than the first sentence because your giant wall of text crits me to death.
I’d have to concur as well.
It tends to feel like reading a wall of obstrufucated C++. I feel like leaning towards a tool that prettifies code and makes it readable.
ZeeBob’s usually like a mini treatise
mine like a zen koan
🙂
I cannot help you diagnose your illiteracy problem, that seems rampant among a number of readers with out better clarification of the problem. I of course am concerned, and welcome the openness to discuss your problems with my text. Since communication is a two way street and I’m all ears, how would you propose I explain my ‘mini-thesis’ better. Simply its hard in the newsspeak language of today to express myself, we are missing a whole load of words that have been framed into a different context. For example, WINZ use the word respect in terms I do not understand.
On WINZ….
Social Phobia is a recognized diagnosis.
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/human-rights/what-are-human-rights/the-human-rights-act/protection-from-discrimination/
Indirect discrimination occurs when a rule or policy that appears to apply to everyone equally actually works to the disadvantage of some groups.
Reinterpreting this statement. A rule or policy that appears to apply to everyone equally will inevitably disadvantage some groups.
The one size fits all approach of WINZ will indirectly discriminate against the very people WINZ seeks to support the most marginalized who unlike those who dig themselves out of their problems.
I been trawling the interent to find a NZ organisation that protects Human Rights and speachs to the socially phobic. Janet Frame, an exceptional kiwi, suffered and you’d have thought there was better protection. No wonder people drink to excess, a self-lobotomy if there ever was one when dealing with the lack of conscience in WINZ.
Hi ZeeBop
Your Block style comment was ok by me. What you said in it was good stuff!
I think I’ve figured it out. You’re pressing “Enter” at the end of each line rather than letting the edit box wrap the text for you. This does two things:
1.) cuts the text so that its body is narrower than it needs to be which makes it harder to read and
2.) makes it difficult to see where you need to put in the paragraph breaks which you do by pressing “Enter”
Stop pressing “Enter” at the end of every line as the computer will do that for you and you will find it a lot easier to format what you write.
Hi ZeeBop
Key is “an undertaker still burying the stiff of neo-liberalism” Neo-Liberalism may be dead(Obviously a total failure except for the rich who have done famously from it) but it’s still afflicting the living like a ZOMBIE curse. And Key is leading the curse of the Zombies here with asset sales and tax breaks for the already well-off (Zombie like !) but that money is not going into making NZ a better place for all.
Look at Ireland: The people are being impoverished there by being forced to pay for the neo-liberal speculation feeding frenzy that fell on its face (No more Zombies to feed on). Irish Private Banks who mediated this madness and should have gone bankrupt with the fiat banksters in Germany and elsewhere taking a hair cut (If Zombies can get hair cuts!) Were bailed out by the treachorous Irish Government who had every legal right not to do so! The euro has been completely trashed by Zombie Neo-Liberal greed. It is not a union for the people of Europe but one for the Zombie Wealth investment Speculative class!
/agreed
Which is one of the reasons why I keep saying that the best those countries worst hit by the GFC (Portugal, Ireland, Greece etc) could do would be a complete default of their debts. The bankers won’t like it but it would allow those countries to help their people rather than forcing austerity on them.
This morning Kim Hill spoke to Professor Novak who has written a book on his findings about the basis for altruism in humans. He has something to say about why stable co-operating communities might break down. He has good points. It is worth listening to if you have wondered why we can’t get our lives on a better road after centuries of writing and studying and practising different styles of human behaviour. And our personal philosophies and style of society are more important and central to our living standards than discussing who is going to win the next election with the hope that this lot won’t act to break our lives, incomes, housing, future.
Can anyone explain what tax changes made earlier this year have made problems for Christchurch’s events managing entity? It doesn’t sound sensible to make events more problematic when they are already risky financially and require much careful planning for months and years before.
An interesting comment from a much travelled NZ musician on Playing favourites this morning. Now he is back in NZ and sees us afresh, he thinks we have a great spirit, something special to offer the world.
Novak made the mistake of making his faith important to the debate, then trying to assert his work had no bias in it since it was based in some absolute rigid version of scientific method. If only he’d said that in the first place he would not look like a liar like he did.
There is none (a accepted absolute scientific method). An accomplished scientist knows this, or should, and would speak to the brand of scientific method. Obviously any purely mathematical theory will have the same problems, as any other, when applying itself to society. Indeed, first the mathematician is advised to consult with a physicist, then an engineer, then a social scientist before trying to make faith respectable since math does not do ethics.
Prof. Novak does neither, he asks us to accept ignorance of all other science implementation.
If you don’t understand what I mean then take the Nuclear meltdown in Japan, would you agree that because a nuclear scientist said the theory best described the processes, that we should accept that nuclear power was safe, correct, a good option. No. You would need first to consult a engineer, a social scientist….
Simply put if you create a theory like his, then people like Karl Rove will use it to circumvent the prisoner dilemma, immediately and with haste. So altruism may indeed have foundations in self-gene theory, as a means of selfish people to trip up absolute adherents to dogma. What is the Bible anyway, but a huge wedge to keep people conforming to a blind faith.
Genes are selfish, and select people to be generous, hopeful and what was the third thing he talked about… …in the very way that putting off a fight you are unlikely to win today can help you at some future time. For example, if you teach your kids virtues like self-sacrifice, and they become role models, then as more people join into consent for the meme then its more likely that someone out there will save you or your kid when they get into life threatening trouble, or you need to con them out of their lifesavings to funds some school in Africa (rather than solve Africas problems by asking Africans). But do remember that teaching your kids to be bastards gets them no where fast in life, House maybe an exception, i.e. be very very talented first before letting your dad teach you that nasty is a good life strategy.
ZeeBop – Could you say that Novak is being honest declaring his Christianity? And that does not make him a fundy which I think of as bad Christians because they use the Bible for the end of propaganda for their own self-serving, people-controlling dictatorship.
Everyone has a a background that influences the way that they think and the line they take when considering any problem. I have to listen to Prof Novak some more and look at your comments before I can attempt an intelligent one. The nature and nurture thing I gues has an important part in his discussion.
Your paragraphs are good – good for minds like mine which needs to surface, take a breather and then dive into the ideas again.
No. Because Novak suggest we hold two contradictory views, that science does more than describe reality – that its more than just our building of a set of ideas to navigate through living. Then he contradicts himself by suggesting, nudge nudge, that Christianity values emerge from the mathematical theory which obviously is still theory. Christianity was an irrelevant aside, and at the same time reinvigorated by this theoretical game play. Also the Christianity he contends is reinforced does not actually come from the Bible, rather the Bible may have been the results (a lab book) of social experiment gone horrible wrong.
“””The nature and nurture thing I guess has an important part in his discussion. “””
No. He was talking about a mathematical result, probably true, but got lost in trying to apply that result to culture without the usual checks and balances, common sense. Remember Hitler, you know the guy that made evolution God, and God evolution. That Ayrans were the perfect choosen people, well that mistake Novak seems to make a mistake, just because an experiment works in the perfectness of the laboratory, and what more perfect experimental areas than mathematics, and then thinks the result applies to something as complex as morals and ethics.
Legislated pi as 3.14 already.
Anyone for increased prescription charges? Given the connections and form of Pharmacy Guild Chief Executive Annabel Young, I’d say it’s on the cards.
Notice how the same right-wingers who always say the state shouldn’t own businesses or productive assets are more than happy to have those same productive assets owned by the Chinese government?
Why is it bad for the NZ govt to own a farm or power station but ok for the Chinese govt to own it?
Oops sorry that was meant to go in open mic
[lprent: Magik ]
Kowtowing to power. It’s what Authoritarians do and they’ve always viewed the NZ government as having no power. Interestingly, the latter seems to make them work to ensure that the NZ government remains that way.
I want to see this very question put to Mr Key, or Mr English.
And also Kim Hill with Staff photographer for The New Yorker magazine, Platon, who has photographed all the power Leaders of the World. (Though he quickly moved on from a mention of photographing John Key.)
In meeting and photographing the powerless he met a very battered street lady in Moscow who was 34 but looked 68. He asked her what would be her wish. She said “That she wished that Paton have happiness, and that friendship is constant where love comes and goes.” (paraphrased.)
I wish I could be as kind as she was…
The week that was 4 – 11 June
Yesterday, Australian climate scientists revealed details of offensive emails they are routinely receiving. This has raised concerns that the vitriolic campaign could deter the next generation of scientists and researchers. The revelations were made amidst an increasing campaign of disinformation and a number of murders of activists at the behest of the oil and gas industry…
Everyone is a genius. National, right-wing talk that all people need to do is believe their reiteration of MSM seeded right wing orthodoxy is a sign they are geniuses and not sit down and take crap from some boffin who spends too much time in the ivory towers out of touch.
Investment tip, anyone who supports a company that has some Executive on it who does not believe in Climate Change, who does not talk about Peak Oil, or the Debt crisis, is a bad company to be investing in. If they want investment they have to answer how this crisis-es harm their current business.
Key’s headliner today. “Too many Kiwis receiving government support.”
Okay John, you have officially fed the flame war.
Now cut to the chase.
Give us the exact numbers and not the rhetoric.
. how many do you know as a fact are NOT entitled?
. which areas of New Zealand?
. what direct measures/actions are your government going to implement to assist in changing or remedying the situation?
. will you guarantee to intervene to ensure that a proper informed and managed debate will ensue or will you depend on the blogs and talk back radio to do your bidding for you?
Just took this from “New Zealand Fabian society” here thought some of you might be interested .
“The Centre for Public Services in theU.K. found that staff in private prisons were paid 25 percent less on average than their state counterparts and had inferior non-pay entitlements[xiii].Castalia says they “assume a PPP contractor [in New Zealand schools] will improve the efficiency of caretaking and cleaning by 20 percent including through contracting out and stronger labour bargaining”[xiv].This in effect becomes a way of forcing down pay for public service staff. It is not an efficiency from an economic viewpoint, as the PPP contractor’s gain is the New Zealand worker’s loss. It may or may not be passed on to the government in lower charges, and it is likely that a significant proportion of the contractor’s profits will go overseas, increasing the cost to the economy.”
Foreign shareholders gain as our wages fall, and the more that our pay falls the bigger our “competitive advantage”.
I’m sure Bill English said that was a good thing, we should trust him.
FFS! You put the words “child porn” in a blog post and it gets more hits that ever. Sickos!
Some detail from National’s latest newsletter.
Path to surplus and job growth
The National-led Government is doing everything it can to give businesses the confidence to invest, grow, and create new jobs. This includes mapping a faster path back to Budget surplus, investing heavily in infrastructure, and getting better results from the public sector.
The latest forecasts from the Reserve Bank suggest the pace of growth is picking up. The central bank is predicting 4.6 per cent growth in the year to March 2013 somewhat higher than Treasury’s 4 per cent forecast in the Budget.
The bank also has a strong outlook for job growth, forecasting an additional 180,000 people employed by March 2014.
Seems like jam tomorrow, rather than looking at forecasts for the rest of 2011 and 2012. And what’s this 4.6% growth. We haven’t been getting that in good years have we? Is this calculated on forced investment in Christchurch?
Fewer people reliant on welfare
Our Future Focus changes, which were part of National’s 2008 election policy, are delivering positive results. Our requirement that someone on an Unemployment Benefit must reapply after one year has seen more than 5000 people cancel their benefit.
We’ve also seen more than 1000 people leave the Domestic Purposes Benefit to go into work within a month of getting intensive support from Work and Income.
What does that mean – ‘intensive support’. And having to reapply for UB must be a real barrier in itself without the implicit likelihood of not being granted it.
I have puzzled for some time now as to why Bainimarama is the bad guy in Fiji. Granted he took over from an elected majority, but he was up against Speight and his cronies and in favour of including Chaudry and the substantial Indian minority. Can someone explain please.
from what I recall, there have been allegations of beatings and harrassment, his relationship with the press is controlling to say the least, and so on.
Maybe he’s better than Speight, maybe not, but he sure as shit isn’t close to a democratic politician. B is marginally better than A, but C is the only acceptable position.
Who is really running the show internationally?
The Bilderberg – ‘conspiracy theory’ – or FACT?
Seen this?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/jun/10/bilderberg-2011-charlie-skelton
Bilderberg 2011: George Osborne attending as chancellor
Charlie Skelton spots some interesting names on the delegate list
So this is some proper journalism what I just done.
Early this morning a Swiss website published a genuine-sounding list of delegates to this year’s conference. A couple of names leapt out, both of them Bilderberg alumni: Lord Mandelson (2009) and George Osborne (2006-2009).
On the 2011 delegate list, Osborne appears thus: Osborne, George, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
I’ve just spent the entire day trying and failing and failing and trying again to get an official confirmation that Osborne is attending the St Moritz conference, and if so, in exactly what capacity he’s here.
At long last the Treasury Press Office gave me a straight answer, but it wasn’t the answer I was expecting: “George Osborne is attending the Bilderberg conference in his official capacity as Chancellor of the Exchequer” – and he’s coming along “with a number of other international finance ministers.”
Any Treasury staff?
“Probably not more than one.”
So – ok – you mean we’re paying for Osborne to be here?
You mean he’s on Treasury business?
You mean this is an official summit?
You mean he’s talking economic policy with the Chairman of Royal Dutch Shell, the CEO of Airbus, and Russian oligarch Alexey Mordashov, the billionaire CEO of Severstal?
And Henry Kissinger?
In secret?
Behind a police cordon?
…………………… ”
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Penny Bright
http://waterpressure.wordpress.com