In this busy pre-election period it seems the SIS bunglers still have their briefcases in a twist over Bill Sutch. Why now?
An ex staff member using a Soviet snitch’s material has had another go which is no doubt annoying enough for the Sutch family. The plod concerned makes free with files while a number of citizens that applied for material held on them by the NZSIS during the brief “openess” period of Director Warren Tucker, received refusals (under the 1969 Act that protects living sources) or heavily redacted replies. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/10369007/Fresh-twist-in-40-year-old-Cold-War-spy-mystery
You don’t know what I believe in. I certainly have never expressed a preference for trickledown economics (whatever that might be).
However back to Dr Sutch being a spy. Why do you not think he was a spy? He fits the description given by the KGB for a spy in NZ and he also expressed admiration for the Soviet (read Stalinist) system. Why do you find it inconceivable that he was working for them?
Why now? Partly because the papers have just been released:
The new evidence comes from papers copied by former top KGB archivist Vasili Mitrokhin, who defected in 1992.
The papers have just been made public by Churchill College at Cambridge University in Britain. Only a few pages of the Mitrokhin records are devoted to New Zealand.
It doesn’t look to me to be hard evidence against Sutch – the word of an ex-KGB spy. Some reference to meetings, but no evidence of anything Sutch is alleged to have done against NZ’s interests.
Did you ever see Russian accounting? Soviet vessels used to keep 5 different sets of books. None the same and none true. You need slightly more evidence than an uncorroborated record.
tory fails in abstract reasoning again.
World stunned.
Gos, has it occurred to you that there’s a world of difference between a resident in a quiet backwater inflating the promise and possibilities of any contact with an individual, and that individual actually being a spy (even if the unnamed “recruit” were indeed Sutch)?
Not that you give a shit either way – just more mud created to throw around.
I wasn’t suggesting they are forgeries. I was thinking more that it is something the KGB claim – means little in relation to provide evidence of what actually went down.
..academics/intellectuals deciding the soviet way was better/the future..
..and so deciding to ‘help’ them..
That is partly why I left the door open to what actually Sutch did or said to any alleged KGB operative. Note what I actually said:
” no evidence of anything Sutch is alleged to have done against NZ’s interests.”
As I stated it is irrelevant if Sutch believed what he was doing was not harming NZ’s interest. He was working as an operative for a foreign country and seemingly passed on information to them. As such he was a spy and traitor by extension.
A double agent could easily have planted information like that just to ferment cynicism like your pathetic attempts goose!
The man is not around to defend himself.
Both the CIA and the KGB were as bad as each other who’s to say National aren’t linked to the Chinese govt’s spying agency given Stephen Joyce has signed a deal with Huawei who have caught spying in the US and the UK Aussie has banned Huawei. From their UFB for that very reason but National MP’s are easily bought of Oravida etc.
How many sitting National MP’s their partners former National MP’s and partners involved in trade deals .
Kiwirail how that going for you Gossipman!
I didn’t say anything about what Sutch believed – I was only talking about his actions and communications with the KGB.
NZ has been increasingly Americanised since early on in the 20th century. That has been part of the shift from UK empire to US empire. Americanisation has delivered us John Key, who does not work in the interests of the majority of NZers.
Wish I hadn’t posted on this now, was mainly interested in timing not revisiting the whole case.
Karol is quite likely right, no plan by Nats or SIS, just fitted in with the archive material being released. But given that state security has been to the fore recently in public debate the elephantine memories at SIS HQ could hardly have resisted tabling this info now rather than wait.
I would say too that if some people think acting against NZs interests is not the thing to do whether proven or not then the PM facilitating the NSA and FBI and US Corporates activities in NZ fits that description too.
So what was the big secret he passed on that Muldoon was a big dick head hardly a state secret!
or that Muldoon tRaded lada”s for butter.
Subsidized farmers
Universal pension’s wiping out the self funding more free market approach wow what great secrets did Sutch give-away and links to what organizations!
It is irrelevant if Key believes what he is doing is not harming NZ’s interest. He is working as an operative for a foreign country and passes on information to them. As such he is a spy and traitor by extension.
“Another crash in global asset prices could be brewing according to Raghuram Rajan, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.”
“Mr Rajan’s views on financial stability hold particular weight because in 2005, when he was chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, he gave a speech in the US at the influential Jackson Hole conference of central bankers, warning that an explosion in financial innovation had made the world riskier, rather than safer.”
Did you really think that the previous crash was over? All the idiots in the MSM have been so focused on the voodoo stories of recovery globally that they have missed what is really going on (you might consider they were told to miss it by their masters):
* the money supply was eased by “quantitative easing”….aka create credit aka new debt to cover the interest on old debts and allow money to flow. Note the debt did not go away.
* the debt…now this is the real story: the private banks worldwide were bailed out by the taxpayer who had the debts effectively “transferred” to them by the banks, who were then allowed to create more money to loan to the taxpayers to pay the interest on the transferred debt, et voila (if you were a bankster) you get even richer with no risk.
You will note no banker ever got prosecuted for this crisis. It has been the greatest financial swindle ever and through support of governments worldwide that are akin to our own financial traders regime the banksters have ripped us again.
Yeah right Gooseman not oneyour conman ponzi scheming bankers faced jail or any sanction all that has happened with the bail out is the perpetrators have been rewarded while the peasants have been punished over 4 million formerly housed Americans now living under tarpaulins and those who have got jobs are working now for a pittance.
To Big to fail is how it was sold ,the international banking Cartels has never been more profitable as they have MONOPOLIZED the finacial system even more than before!
No free market just a monopolized cartel!
Even the libertarians said let them all fail goose you pathetic apologist hoe much do you get paid to put out your pathetic lies and propaganda goebals with no balls would be proud of your enthusiasm!
Aha, onto it Ennui, i havn’t read much of Marx etc but did read one obscure tract from Trotsky a while ago,(think it may have been produced as a pamphlet as ‘the thinker’s’ in those days were wont to do),
Trotsky way back in the 20’s of last century pointed out that capitalism would eventually defeat itself in a series of crisis each more severe than the other,
When the profits of capitalism are vastly overpowered by the losses incurred in the ongoing series of crisis the system will at some point completely fail seemed to be the gist of it…
..his recent twitching-marrionette/white-guy-dancing/duo-thing with garner on that (in the main) slightly-warmed-over/clip-show pap that is third degree..
..being a personal/career nadir for him..and us..
..my expectations of espiner were low..so i haven’t been disappointed..
..and like many others..i can’t be fucked listening to him/morning report any more..
I was amused at Winston’s back-footing Guyon by reminding him that he was paid by the taxpayer. So many of these guardians of “taxpayers money” are, and hate being reminded of the fact.
yes i think most people dislike Espiner ( a-licker) and Suzie ( wrong)…so they have been giving Winnie/NZF free publicity by concentrating on the trivia of a joke …and ignoring Real NZF policy which is to retain New Zealand land for New Zealanders !
Chinese land is kept for Chinese after all!
China could buy New Zealand several million times over ( their own land is filthy and environmentally trashed with overpopulation)….why do John Key and the NACTS have to be so stupid?!…one has to ask this question….there must be something in it for them?….as we have seen with Judith Collins and Chinese husband stockpiling NZ swamp kauri which Maori artists treasure for their carving and art
….these are the real questions…but you would never hear them asked on the Morons Morning Report where in reality ‘Two Wrongs Make a Right ‘
Gossipman you and National are doing the same here in New Zealand!
With your bought off right wing Media manipulating the public by only letting one side have fair say your an example of trying to suppress left wing commentary here with your continual lies like your leader
Quite right – the Chinese government genuinely strives to improve conditions for Chinese workers and to improve their trade position. Their corruption is tempered by their nationalism and serious corruption attracts capital punishment.
The Key National government is neither as clean nor as economically savvy as the Chinese government.
Ummmm…no. You have obviously not read the poster you linked to. It would be a logical fallacy if I argued that someone should disprove that the Chinese state only allows land to be leased and not sold outright as I had made the claim. However all I have done is stated that is what I believe and am quite willing for someone to show if I am wrong. Even if I was wrong it is not evidence I have lied just that I am mistaken.
“I’m still waiting for you to show where I have lied. Even if I am wrong on this subject (which I don’t believe I am) that does not mean I am lying.”–Gosman
Alright, just for you Gossie–a new category “shape shifting”
Gossipman read your business stories Blooberg business !
local govts seize shared land and sell it for 18 times what they pay for it corruption on a grand scale when it comes to Chinese business practice’s I wouldn’t be surprised if that hasn’t spilled over to those involved in New Zealand as knowing some very high powered businessmen who have set up very large businees ventures in China! it takes to long to get deals done otherwise ask Judith Collins why Orivida got its milk powder in while not one other company did!
Except there was evidence that was accepted by the court that Banks did know about the donation and had asked for it to be split. That is why he was convicted. There isn’t any evidence that I am aware that I have knowingly stated something that is not correct.
Gossipman I think if you read your weasel words it explains your definition of lying!
John Banks is history he lied through his teeth thinking because other politician had got away with more that he was above the law!
AS a former Police minister he should lot lie in court.
Banks lied on many occasions to cover his original lie.
He got what he deserved a huge fall from grace.
If he just had admitted his wrong doing none of this would have happened!
Now its John Brain Fade Keys turn to be taken down by his own lies if he had just admitted i may have or i did know about KDC then it would be a storm in a TEA CUP!
But now Brain Fade Key has painted himself into a corner being the head of the SIS and GSCB and the saying when questioned about the increased spying laws he was introducing Brain Fade Keys response was nothing to worry about their are only a few five people on the list and I know all their names !
Then their is the fact that KDC shouted NZ the Fireworks,KDC lives in BrainFade Keys electorate .
in the flashiest house yeah Key will need to have cups of tea GALORE!
Gossipman have a cup of tea and lie down and just admit your have been lying land ownership in China yeah right you are always right not even.
Remember Banks said nothing derogatory at his cup of tea another lie that Banks and Key tried to cover up!
There isn’t any evidence that I am aware that I have knowingly stated something that is not correct.
that’s what Banks thought, too.
BTW, I believe the Shania Twain “purchase” was of high country leasehold land. That pissed people off, too, when the new “owners” wanted to get rid of the public track through that land.
People had more access to the station previously, and after the sale the new owners allowed, or maybe built, a single track that people are allowed on. This is an ongoing problem, not just restricted to overseas owners, whereby traditional NZer access to land is being restricted. Much of this is to do with tourism, changes in landowners and loss of traditional values/customs, and also accidents like the beekeeper in the farm bridge that have made farmers excessively cautious.
Gossipman every post you have put up has been a lie gossipman especially in the last week I and others have proved you wrong and even defended your one and only truthful statement about the rate of Farm ownership read Rod Oram while your about it!
Gossipman chinese land ownership Wrong again!
I hope you are not getting paid unless its per lie you tell!
Gosman The banks have paid it all back + interest is more lies their customers have paid it all back as the banks got all the printed money at less than 1/2% interest in some cases the govt paid banks interest to take the loans free money!
That your Bill English and John Key borrowed and forced us tax payers to pay 6% on average when these multinational banks were paying nothing its costing you and me the taxpayer $4.5 billion a year just in interest Gosman we are paying it back!
All the bankruptcies and job losses loss home foreclosures that the Bank of America for example was given huge sums to allow loans to be renegotiated were not given to the foreclosed homes that could not be sold because no one had any money except the occupier ,was paid out in dividends to share holders such as your leader John Key!
Bank of America even foreclosed on homes it didn’t have mortgages on kicked rightful owners out of their houses because the repo agents got the addresses wrong not one or two but hundreds!
..and just sat there throwing fistsfull of shit at laila harre..and dotcom..
..sneered at the man who took down banks..as ‘that macready’…(!)
..insinuated that labours’ raising the pension age would mean that someone currently aged 64..will see their pension-age suddenly jump to 67…
(an arguably potent tactic i and others have warned labour will be facing..with this policy..a policy they have explained so poorly..
..key can chance his arm at getting away with porkies that large..
..and of course christie has his tongue so far up key..any questioning by him is too muffled to be heard..(not that he does that..questions the serial-bullshit/spin/lies key serves up to him every mon morn..
..christie just laps it up..like the eager to please puppy he is..)
..and all in all..key looked about as ‘relaxed’ as a crackhead coming down…
And anyone claiming Cunliffe’s face is not fronting the campaign (a la Goff) take a look at the size of the picture of Cunliffe’s face on the Labour campaign bus. Excellent.
At the same time on MR there was discussion of a damning report on the shortage of specialist doctors in the health service, which must be laid at the door of this government. Ryall tries to say the doctors are supporting Labour on this and makes a fool of himself. Listen here:
I am old enough to remember Muldoon’s dancing Cossacks. That was a real low in political advertising, but this new development inspired by IMP descends to depths never before seen in NZ politics. There is no place here for this sort of stunt. We do not want these sorts of orchestrated meetings here with there violent overtones, and burning of effigies is just plain distasteful. Just plain hate politics. more reminiscent of the KKK. Do you think it is a coincidence that anti- semitism has also crept into the campaign?
Harre can protest as much as she likes but IMP introduced this ‘style’ into the campaign, and as I understand the law, she won’t have any chance of getting traction on threats of legal action. Just who is running scared?
I want to vote left, but there is no chance of that with these loonies in the wings. There is no chance of Labour reclaiming the middle ground without kicking these fools to touch.
Once was Pete, who is this WE you speak of, expressions of anger such as flag burning have long been a ‘tool’ of the political discourse here and around the world,
This We you claim to represent, obviously you want an election campaign along the lines of what Granny Herald’s Granny Fran O’Sullivan called for in Her weekend column, effete, polite, boring, designed to only impress those stuffed into their shirts,
Whomever this WE is from your comment above obviously either doesn’t understand the inherent violence inflicted on people by this National Government’s policies, or, if they do, as many would, do not in fact give a shit if you will excuse the expression,
Even in your comment here, labeling a political movement as ‘Loonies’ is somewhat of a violent reaction, the best aspect of you doing so is that such ‘labeling’ makes the Green party look positively ‘straight’ and thus your abject fear of the InternetMana expressed in terms of your above comment is to be welcomed,
Quite frankly i am extremely happy with the InternetMana Party campaign so far, it would seem that those the campaign has set out to influence are responding to a certain extent, it is of course a wait and see as to if such a camapign translates into votes,
i am tho picking this election to be the final gasp for NZFirst, and, Labour 33%, Green 12% along with InternetMana 5%,
You can choose to be ‘on board’ or not, i doubt you will be missed if the answer happens to transpire to be not…
i dunno about that happy coalition Phillip, the free doctors for over 65’s policy from Labour while maybe not a deliberate attempt to push NZFirst out the back door will to a small but certain extent go a little way to doing so…
I listened to the radio interview on the weekend about option for tax reform. Sounded all quite sensible. Of course the National Party and Act know there is more than one way to redistribute wealth — you have to get a r_e_a_l_l_y big pile to get that trickle down working… https://www.facebook.com/pages/Im-relaxed/906405082708477
Some are profiting from disaster by renting Christchurch residents out of existence. Kicking tenants out so they can renovate and charge more. Maserati and other luxury cars sales on the rise. Fewer people live in houses in deprived areas – probably because they have moved to living their cars, or worse, under bridges or park benches.
Sad, sad situation.
And some are earning their money in Christchurch doing the rebuilding of the city.
Possibly a “once in a lifetime” opportunity for qualified tradies to set up in business knowing that theres enough work in front of them to justify the risk of going into business.
Or for some qualified tradies to get $35 per hour swinging a paintbrush working for wages.
It is wrong to suggest that everyone making the big money in Christchurch at the moment is a rip off artist. Theres way more than 10 years work ahead of the City, so theres still time to get a building trade and join the goldrush.
Yes it does. Its an opportunity for some folk in the trades to earn better wages than they would get elsewhere. Which I thought was a goal of the labour movement…..
The $35 hr paintbrush swinger I quoted was on $18 hr before he came down here. So he made some decent money, cleared his bills and eventually went home for the lifestyle choice.
And really when you have choices – choices of where to work and what to earn, then life is pretty good.
The implication that everyone making $$ from the quake repairs are somehow ripping off little old ladies and becoming slumlords is tiresome and incorrect.
Its an opportunity for some folk in the trades to earn better wages than they would get elsewhere.
A few of my family are in the building industry and they’ve looked at going to Christchurch to help out. The reason why they haven’t is because they’d be worse off.
I walk my dog in my neighbourhood each evening. It’s a central city low income area. There used to be a man who also walked his dog who had lived in a rental – up the street a bit – for the last 13 years.
But, then he had to leave because the landlord wanted to renovate and rent out the house to short term tenants (e.g., those having their own homes repaired) who would pay (or whose insurance would pay) very high rentals. He simply couldn’t compete with that. He had to go into a much smaller, more ‘modest’ bedsit.
Quite a bit of that has been happening in my area.
By contrast, I have good friends who lived in a three bedroom house they are now renting out for $6,000 per month on short leases (no more than six weeks) and which is booked until next March (having already been tenanted continuously for almost a year). In the meantime, they have renovated and are living in a house bought from the ‘uninsured’ stock for very little, have bought another uninsured house (4 bedrooms) nearby that they hope to rent out for a similar amount to their original home.
It’s not about ‘evil people’ it’s about structural inequalities produced directly as a result of how the government is allowing the housing situation in Christchurch to ‘sort itself out’.
To those who already had, more is being given; to those who had little, even what they had has been taken away.
I wasn’t bluffing. Graham McCready was all set to help me put an injunction together, to ‘do a Colin Craig’ if I wasn’t given the same opportunity to address the voting public as was being given to candidates ‘attached’ to political parties.
I’m REALLY pleased that is no longer necessary.
Looking forward to tonight! It’s going to be FUN!
‘Her Warship’
PS: What the Fairfax reporter failed to mention was that last year, in the 2013 Auckland Mayoralty ‘race’ – I polled 4th with 11,723 votes.
The Helensville electorate sits within the Auckland Supercity (Super RIPOFF) boundaries, so I’ve been arguably working in the interests of the 99% of Helensville voters, in opposing this forced amalgamation literally since Day One.
Good result for Penny, the sniffy tone of organiser Holly Ryan had to be read to be believed.
Various ads and comments have been altered and or removed over the past few days including from the Baptist Church fb. There was no legitimate basis for not allowing Penny to attend.
Time: 6pm tonight
Venue: 21 Access Rd, off H16 just before Huapai
Come along and support the left candidates.
an invitation to a talk by David Shearer on Gaza, 1pm at the Khandallah town hall for any interested persons in that area at that time: I think I’ll head along and see what he has to say.
Somebody needs to ask Gerry Brownlee why it is that NZTA no longer seems to have enough funding for winter road maintenance. For the first time since I moved south SH 6 was closed overnight (Kingston to Lumsden) during last weeks cold snap for nothing more than ice on the road (we expect closures due to snow most winters). Apparently there is not enough money for the regular grading and gritting that is required in winter. All at the same time we’re being bribed with the Kawerau Falls Bridge project that has abysmally failed cost-benefit analysis.
OMG. That is a face palm of such ginormous proportions that one’s face would fall through ones hands and land on the keyboard, to be branded with key marks for a whole week. (Mihingarangi Forbes probably felt this way when she interviewed head Klan guy, Whyte, last week, especially when he denied any knowledge of Whanau Ora)
The absurdity and ignorance is stunning. Occasionally you hear crazy shit like this from regular boofheads, you don’t expect it from politicians, even ACT ones. (Well actually you do, sadly they are predictable like that)
Can someone please do us all a favour and accompany Whyte, Seymour and Co on a library outing and direct them to the NZ history section so they can have a wee read on The Treaty and our colonial history?
Gosman or other RWNJ annoying you? Or if your own writing doesn’t quite seem to quite hit the spot sometimes–try this easy graphic guide to 24 common logical fallacies. e.g. ‘Strawman’, True Scotsman’, ‘burden of proof’, ‘the Texas sharpshooter’, ‘composition/division’ etc. https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com
See this one a lot from the RWNJs. Usually in the form of But John Key is so popular and Cunliffe isn’t with the implication that that popularity proves them right.
And this is the one that economists use as the basis for their economic hypothesis.
One question for people who live out west Auckland.
I was driving around over the weekend all over the west, and saw heaps of billboards. Indeed, it appeared at every point their were a collection of these billboards, at least two were for nation. Except were labour had put up two, then there seemed to be four for national.
So silly question? Is there a limit on election spending in a area? Because my guess, and it only a ruff guess – national has spent tens of thousands of dollars on billboards in west Auckland alone.
I haven’t stopped to actually count them, but there are visually more Nat signs than any other. In my corner of the West they’re often on private fences. Only seen one Labour sign on a private fence. Reason? My guess is working class aspiration meets a particular culture. On the other hand, someone went on a rampage last week and took out all the signs along Lincoln road on the corner near the netball courts. Good job that person – acted without prejudice or restraint.
From the Rongotai electorate, the signage i have seen is pretty much even, 3 National V 2 Labour, where there are clusters most parties seem to be represented,
2 of National’s have so far been ‘altered’ and i have seen 1 Green Party billboard up on a private property, that’s pretty much the main drag out here covered,
i do not need a billboard, a Mana tee-shirt hanging in the front window is enough to give everyone in the street the message…
Never thought I would say this, but congrats to David Cunliffe and Labour on releasing a coherent, sensible, well targeted, well thought out policy in their latest health policy. Huge upside with very little downside (cost would be mostly re-couped in lower hospitalisation rates).
It targets the vulnerable based on risk of disease rather than income, now if only they could take that thinking forward…..
Although critics tend to agree that Shylock is The Merchant of Venice’s most noteworthy figure, no consensus has been reached on whether to read him as a bloodthirsty bogeyman, a clownish Jewish stereotype, or a tragic figure whose sense of decency has been fractured by the persecution he endures. Certainly, Shylock is the play’s antagonist, and he is menacing enough to seriously imperil the happiness of Venice’s businessmen and young lovers alike. Shylock is also, however, a creation of circumstance; even in his single-minded pursuit of a pound of flesh, his frequent mentions of the cruelty he has endured at Christian hands make it hard for us to label him a natural born monster. In one of Shakespeare’s most famous monologues, for example, Shylock argues that Jews are humans and calls his quest for vengeance the product of lessons taught to him by the cruelty of Venetian citizens. On the other hand, Shylock’s coldly calculated attempt to revenge the wrongs done to him by murdering his persecutor, Antonio, prevents us from viewing him in a primarily positive light. Shakespeare gives us unmistakably human moments, but he often steers us against Shylock as well, painting him as a miserly, cruel, and prosaic figure.
Shylock is also a derogatory term used against Jewish people to insinuate they are part of some evil world financial conspiracy. If you don’t think that is what the Labour candidate for Timaru meant you are fooling yourself. I note that candidate has been silent on the subject, so he doesn’t appear to be resiling from his hateful comment.
Key has a background in finance, however, so a ‘Shylock’ reference doesn’t necessarily imply the utterer is referring to his Jewish background. Though it was unfortunate. And very typical of this blunder prone Labour party.
Thank God we’ve got Nicky Hager, who managed to accomplish more in the last 20 hours than Labour have in the last 20 months.
Many of the kinds of propaganda techniques that Goebbels explored during the 3rd Reich, have pervaded society international – various kinds of manipulation of the masses, including cords. They have been normalised.
Ever been to a rock/punk concert? Back in my day – plenty of crowd chants against the government of the day using expletives.
” The bouquets, of course, are welcome and enjoyable when they come, but the brickbats – and they can come thick and fast – can hurt. Politicians, like Shylock, bleed like anyone else. ”
slater is rabidly typing his admonishment….and farrar is close to hospitalisation, so affronted are they by whatever was said by someone unheard of.
IMO, an honest public apology and so on would be more appropriate – and rub home genuine accountability in Labour, rather than brownlee’s pretend resignation.
It’s nasty and clearly anti-Semitic mud-slinging, and Gibson should face exactly the same consequences as the kind of people who compare their opponents to Nazis and sugar daddies.
Yep, Key should be replaced immediately!….[and then prosecuted for a variety of his statements and deeds] Being an honest and fair person, I expect that Matthew Hooton will lead the charge in his umpteen media ‘expert’ commentaries.
What do I think? They should probably update their ethno-religious slurs. I’d prefer kike, to shylock, has a clear ring to it. With kike, you can shout it over the top of other people yelling about wops, dinks, chinks, muzzies, fuzzie-wuzzies, rugs, and sugar-daddy Krauts and still be heard clearly. Of course, nothing like that has happened since 1956, but we can dream.
That really doesn’t improve the situation, Anne. The whole reason “Shylock” has become a slang term for “cruel moneylender” and the like is because of the historic situation in which European moneylenders were predominantly Jewish. At its core it’s an anti-Semitic term, and it’s prejudice is only reinforced by the fact that Key is both of Jewish heritage and from a financial background.
What some of you fail to recognise is that the candidate who made the comment in the first place (and many other individuals who have made similar comments from time to time) are invariably unaware of the historical context of the word “Shylock”. Call it ignorance if you like, but more often than not they are doing so under the impression it simply refers to a dishonest money trader. Their lack of knowledge of literature and history is such, they have little to no idea of the Jewish link.
The candidate in question has apologised profusely for his error and has admitted he didn’t know the back-ground to the saying and how offensive it would be to many people.
You’re missing the point. The term has several levels of connotation and gibson is only being anti-Semitic if he intended to use it that way. If he didn’t, he’s just being stupid. Shylock isn’t quite like nigger, which comes front-loaded with its hateful meanings. Gibson could easily have been using without intending to bring in the whole history of the Jews. It might have been, as Anne said, a reference to Key’s background in finance, without Key’s Jewish parentage being on the rather shallow mind of Mr Gibson.
That might require a fair degree of ignorance about the play, but cultural imbecility isn’t that uncommon among those prone to muttering insults on face book.
I see the date on that is the 28th July. Been saving this one up for the Monday after the Labour Party election campaign launch Matthew?
On the face of it, Gibson is an arse and should be held to account. I asked the question elsewhere today about why Labour allow their MPs and candidates to do shit like this. Not for the first time I think Labour MPs/candidates need minders for their FB and twitter accounts.
Oh come now Matthew, surely you realise that by now that if anyone of the left says anything racist, sexist or homophobic (and IMP provides this in spades) it’s intellectualised around. Winston gets written off entirely for something offensive but relatively light weight.
Look around you – people lose their nana when Whyte calls Dame Susan of Squash a drunk, but when Minto makes jokes about Winston’s liver no one batters an eyelid.
Hypocrisy makes the world go round.
While I don’t intend to repeat it here, remember the ACT party member who described JohnKey in such a way that his membership was cancelled? This appears to be a problem with the far right.
Presumably you have some idea of what you, in particular, think so you could partially answer your own question.
“candidates“?
Plural?
As for me, I see the word ‘Shylock’ as similar to the term ‘sugar daddy’. Both leverage off an original meaning that is offensive.
The main difference I see in the two episodes is that one was uttered by someone who is a candidate for office. The other was uttered by someone who has been Prime Minister for six years.
And what do you think, Matthew, about a Prime Minister who uses the term ‘sugar daddy’?
I don’t know but this might help: After A.R.D. Fairburn, the poet, had re-boarded the train to Auckland after a comfort stop at Mercer, the NZR steward asked him if everything was to his satisfaction his response was,
Steve Gibson calling John Key Shylock means that he has to be delisted as the Labour candidate ASAP. Failure to do so means that Labour endorse Anti-Semitic Jew hating language.
I’m sure you also agree that the National candidate who called Laila Harre a whore and Kim Dotcom a pimp should also resign. But I appeared to have missed the comment where you said so.
I’m well aware of the sugar daddy comment, I’m looking for proof of the claim of a “National candidate who called Laila Harre a whore and Kim Dotcom a pimp”.
On a side note, it is my understanding that a “whore” does not have sex with their “pimp”
Complete rubbish! There was no reference to or insinuation that Harre was getting money for sex with Dotcom. Sugar daddy has a wider implication than sex for favours.
Lets stick with apples and apples shall we? Conflating two separate subjects has confused you. Either that, or you are being deliberately obtuse. Of course the word Shylock has something to do with Jewish people. It is one of the more racist and derogatory terms that could be used. Best not to even joke about it. best not to use it in a political campaign, and best to distance yourself from it when a colleague does use it.
Someone who has been with five different political parties isn’t necessarily a whore.
Someone who campaigns for women’s rights, but takes loads of money from someone who runs porn sites, and makes jokes about rape and killing prostitutes isn’t a whore – well perhaps she is, but not necessarily in a sexual way.
Harre’s fake outrage and offense is so transparent – she took a job being the mouthpiece for someone who makes money by trading porn and ripping people off.
Few things will push moderate voters to the right like Dotcom, except perhaps the addition of Hone (I don’t want my daughter dating a pakeha) Harawira, and John Minto
That’s some lovely partisan hyperbole you’ve got there John. I especially admire the way it reveals the depths of misogyny you’re prepared to explore for your #team.
The revelations about your #team are coming thick and fast just now. Is this the right time for you to be embracing them so overtly?
It is one of the more racist and derogatory terms that could be used. Best not to even joke about it.
oh, fucking bullshit. Enough with the faux moral outrage.
The BSA has NO decisions relating to the use of the word “shylock”, even though it’s not entirely unfamiliar to pop culture. Yes, in some contexts it can be offensive, but it’s not exactly in the territory of, say, the N-word.
heh – tories feigning liberal moral outrage suggests another extract might be appropriate:
The devil can cite scripture for his purpose.
An evil soul producing holy witness,
Is like a villain with a smiling cheek;
A goodly apple rotten at the heart:
O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!
What are the ‘wider implications’ Pete? Please supply any citations that suggest anything other than a sexual and financial arrangement. Take your time, I know it’s a big ask.
Took me 30 seconds to find this (Merriam-Webster):
SUGAR DADDY
a rich, older man who gives money, gifts, etc., to someone (such as a young woman) in exchange for sex, friendship, etc.
She’s on the lookout for a new sugar daddy.
— sometimes used figuratively in U.S. English
politicians getting money from their corporate sugar daddies
Sorry, but as hard as I tried, couldn’t find any evidence of ‘figurative’ usage for ‘Shylock’.
I’ve established the (obvious) point that ‘sugar daddy’ can be used figuratively. The term ‘Shylock’ is quite different – it just can’t be used (in any sense) by aspiring politicians (unless they wish to be accused of being anti semitic, or completely stupid). I think Gibson falls in to the second category for what it’s worth.
so now I’ve presented a full hollywood scene that has “shylock” used figuratively (not the only one, either), you shift the goalposts to politicians only.
“Sorry, but as hard as I tried, couldn’t find any evidence of ‘figurative’ usage for ‘Shylock’.”
I think you’ll find the first figurative use of Shylock would be a in a play called ‘The Merchant of Venice’, by William Shakespeare.
“I’ve established the (obvious) point that ‘sugar daddy’ can be used figuratively.”
You didn’t ‘establish’ that. We already knew it. There is no Chelsea style sugar involved, so the phrase is a metaphor for an exploitative sexual relationship. What you established was that if you dig deep enough in google, an unlikely alternative explanation can be found. Not that it helps the sleazy Key.
lol
that might be because the grown-up M-W dictionary has two definitions – one shakespearian and the other ” : to lend money at high rates of interest <exposé of systematic thievery…shylocking, and murder — Current Biography> ”
wiktionary has the character as etymology, and also an interesting quote from a politician:
Verb
shylock (third-person singular simple present shylocks, present participle shylocking, simple past and past participle shylocked)
(intransitive, US) To lend money at exorbitant rates of interest. [quotations ▲]
2004 December 8, Kenya National Assembly Official Record (Hansard), page 4928,
I wanted to know whether shylocking is a legal business or not, and if it is legal, under which Act does it operate?
Weirdly, that quote isn’t from the dinkum Merriam-Webster dictionary but from something they like to call the ‘learners dictionary’. Something you want to tell us, janmeyer? And it’s well hidden in the search results, so well done on finding it just 30 seconds.
Even that alternative usage doesn’t fit the circumstances. Nah, Key meant it in the way Wikipedia calls it:
“Sugar daddy is a slang term for a man who offers to support a typically younger woman or man after establishing a relationship that is usually sexual.”
Sorry – correction to previous comment (I’m new around here): precedent for figurative usage of term sugar daddy is from ‘Merriam-Webster Learners Dictionary’ and not ‘dinkum Merriam-Webster dictionary’.
I preferred you putting the boot in to IMP the other day TRP!
Be great if those screaming re the stupid, clumsy, and I agree objectionable resort to the word “Shylock” could be relied upon to express such outrage about the hundreds of dead children of Gaza. Now and in previous shooting fish in a barrel expeditions. Oh well……that’s Exceptionalism for ya.
I subscribe to the world view of Norman Finklestein – charges of anti-semitism frequently amount to moral initimidation to conceal a moral bankruptcy in the accuser. Send your outrage to Santa Claus.
The cheapness of it is immeasurably more disgraceful for the fact that it’s invoked essentially in furtherance of something as utterly trivial as John Key’s electoral fortunes.
There has been a lot of comment and some evidence that this election is shaping up to be more bitter than any other. I’m old enough to have voted in 10 elections but must admit haven’t paid too much attention to the fight before now. If any political leader stood out as truly caustic and divisive post Muldoon it’s really just Bob Jones and maybe at times, Hone Harawera. No-one can compete with Bob Jones though for his sheer disregard for fellow humankind.
The right wing hate speech merchants pick up on the bitterness and vandalism in the lead up to this election as evidence that the opposition are increasingly immoral, anti-Semitic, and lead around by the nose by a Nazi sympathiser. They do this to create easily digestible media sound bites for their community intolerant conservative friends.
However, while I think the opposition are indeed desperate I believe the fault of the break from civilised difference and debate can be laid squarely at the feet of the current Prime Minister John Key and the culture of deceit and divisiveness not seen since the 3rd and 4th National Governments.
Whether John Key has deliberately divided this country at the behest of his Australian PR company, or whether that division has arisen from the relentless series of divisional policies is still up for debate, but what is certain is the he is responsible for the mean tone and split in the country right now.
I mean this is a headline in a major web based news site in NZ. It quotes National party klingon, Clare Robinson with her delicate sensibilities and appalling research abilities, attributing the passion of this campaign to the number of parties involved.
That’s it.
That’s the view of a Massey University professor with links to the National party. Nothing to do with the culture of hate, disrespect, dismissiveness, and divisiveness that the National government has fostered under the reign of John Key?
How about for once a political marketing expert actually does some sort of academic research into the many reasons why this campaign is at flashpoint compared to the norm in this country, instead of weakly saying, “it’s because there are too many parties”.
Once was Pete. I would like to know your opinion of WhaleOils blog and if you think his demonization of the most vulnerable over the past decade is justified.
National MP’s are being quoted in the news ‘whining’ about damage to their billboards while all the other parties messages remain largely untouched,
i well remember last election as i drove through ‘the gap’ into the local electorate i came across a couple of young lads gleefully and effectively turning a National Party billboard into matchwood in broad daylight,
Being a concerned citizen i immediately leapt from the car with the intent of making a citizens arrest, ok ok i am of course bullshitting you all,
Coming across that scene last election i did the only thing possible, quietly bringing my ride to a safe stop and then indulging myself in an elongated burst of mad laughter,
The youths concerned totally oblivious to the small audience they had attracted simply finished their ‘electoral project’ and sauntered off nonchalantly up the road imitating those of us who had stopped to watch their efforts laughing fit to bust…
Your glee at criminal damage to private property shows the typical Left belief that the end always justifies the means. It does not. The orchestrated cowardly anti-democratic attacks show the impotence of the Left. You do not understand how often National get a call from people to offer their property for a hoarding when they see vandalism. It also indicates how much we are on the right track.
Offering the property around these parts Fisiani i would not think a very wise thing to do, the gusto with which the two youths i previously described took to their ‘work’ last election would tend to suggest that any part of the property such billboards were attached to would be in danger of suffering the same damage as the National Party message does around here…
Fuzzyanil hey sheepshagger So so-cold respectable upper middle class National supporters wrecking Left wing hoardings are not ready to take responsibility and are a superior type of vandal with their better education and circumstances!
Helensville ‘Lockdown’ candidate meeting packed out, sizable crowd outside basically turned away including me, Bomber Bradbury and various others. Reps there from New Lynn Labour LEC, Greens, Māori Party, IMP and various issue based signs. Some stayed on with the media cops and drivers.
Mouthy local Nats, got a few “fuck offs” in when Key entered, Laila Harre´got good reception.
Well I’ll be darned… if we aint got one of them forks in the road for ourselves in these lands.
Ever since them students lit the tinderbox last week with “Fuck John Key.. Fuck John Key … Fuck John Key…” (and my hasn’t that taken off all around the parts) all sorts of shit is flying. Imo it indicates that perhaps the silent sector of youth and disaffected have shunned their reticence, abandoned their lack of hope that change may ever come, finally found a voice to call shit, have grabbed gleefully at the chance to tell the old guard to “fuck off”
Methinks this election will be a watershed in generational change in aotearoa.
You know the thing that really worried them about that video? It wasn’t FJK, it was the call for revolution. It bypasses the intellect and goes straight to the fear centres where they know they’d be the first against the wall 😉
Nationalisation is a taboo among the political and media elite, its mere mention guaranteed to provoke near-instantaneous shrieks of “dinosaur!” and “go back to the 1970s”. Imagine the Establishment’s horror, then, when a succession of recent polls found that nearly seven out of 10 Britons wanted the renationalisation of energy, and two-thirds of the electorate wanted rail and Royal Mail back in public hands. Even Ukip voters – those notorious bastions of pinko leftiness – overwhelmingly backed the renationalisation of key utilities. While our political overlords are besotted with Milton Friedman, on many issues the public seem to be lodged somewhere between John Maynard Keynes and Karl Marx.
No, I wouldn’t be surprised to find that was the same in NZ. Privatisation of our assets has left us worse off and most people realise that.
The neo-liberal experiment has failed – just like it failed in the 19th century ending in the Great Depression.
“It’s actually the classic case of economies of scale, or a natural monopoly, and the decision you’d have to make is whether it’s one firm or the state running the whole thing,” says Mazzucato. “When you chop it up, you lose the benefits of cost and efficiency from having one operator.” Many network providers spend more money on share buybacks than research and development, retarding further technological progress in the name of profit. And then there’s Vodafone, which has become one of the key targets of the anti-tax avoidance movement. It’s cheeky, really: leave the state to fund the technology your business relies on, and then do everything you can to avoid paying anything back.
And there we have an economists saying exactly what I’ve been saying for years.
No prizes for guessing who was the one candidate who broke the rules and couldn’t resist debating/dissing another party….? And after the crowd started calling out “rules, rules…” the host woke up and threatened to expel fore mentioned candidate.
In response to a question about how to end child poverty, did Key actually say, with gusto, “give all the kids jobs”….!?!
It appear to have had some positive effects. Too bad it won’t help the Iraqi government which is collapsing and martial law appears imminent in Baghdad after a coup d’etat.
Hardly suprising when you put the Shia minority in charge of the Sunni majority. The massive clusterfuck which is Iraq from, say, the Second Iraq War onward can squarely be laid at the feet of Bush and Blair. However not everything the US does is entirely self interested or a fuck up – this being a case in point. Similarly the Balkans intervention.
‘Third parties cannot broadcast at any time a programme that appears to encourage or persuade voters to vote, or not to vote, for a party or candidate.’
Stops people buying up the airwaves, but maybe it’s what caught this tune out?
Petty, gratuitous behaviour from Holly Ryan the apparent organiser of the Helensville ‘gag’ (as opposed to ‘gig’) towards Penny Bright . “Uninvited”, “shoving”, “bullying” or some such as she introduced Her Warship.
‘Onya Penny for your mature retort about rights and the exercise thereof. Very nicely you took the last word from tory control freak Holly of the Limited Universe.
by Don Franks This talk was given to the Wellington Anti Capitalist Alliance, fifteen years ago. The ultimate weapons of mass destruction so far seen on this planet have been used just twice, 60 years ago this month. August 6 and August 9 1945 witnessed the US atomic bombing ...
After I noticed that my name had been taken yet again in vain by my friendly antagonist Tom Hunter over at No Minister, I went over to see what the fuss was about. Nothing much, but then I discovered a post about the Operation Burnham Inquiry by Psycho Milt. I ...
The COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 was extended today, until December 1st or the tenth sitting day following the resumption of Parliament after the election. It seems like a necessary extension. While we currently have eradicated the virus in New Zealand, it is still banging at the door, and ...
One of the government's key policies - extracted by NZ First as part of its coalition agreement - is the "Provincial Growth Fund": $1 billion a year spent on creating jobs in rural New Zealand. Yesterday the Auditor-General issued a report on the fund, finding that it lacks transparency, and ...
The Warehouse, one of New Zealand's biggest retailers, has decided to stop selling coal. Good. Coal is a dirty, polluting fossil fuel, and the less of it we have out there, the better. Retailers choosing not to sell it sends a clear message that this is not a fuel we ...
The labour market statistics have been released, and they show that unemployment actually dropped last quarter. All told, there are 111,000 unemployed - 15,000 fewer than when the government took office. But before anyone thinks that the pandemic hasn't put people out of work, remember that this is for ...
Judy KavanaghI’m OK with wearing a CovidCard. But are you? There’s no point me doing it alone.The author modelling a (fake) CovidCard. I didn’t know much about the CovidCard proposal until I read Dave’s latest blog post. You would wear the card visibly on your person. It ...
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nzWhy can’t I use the battery from my electric car ...
As many good things come in threes (as the saying goes), we are happy to announce a third partnership between Skeptical Science and other websites. Fakebook.eco in Brazil is joining Klimafakten.de in Germany and Nauka o Klimacie in Poland to leverage translated rebuttal material and to make the information readily available in other ...
This interview on RNZ with Ross Tucker, the scientist who headed a review of transgender athletes playing in women’s rugby, discusses the findings of the review and what it means for women in sports. The review that World Rugby undertook had a broad range of independent experts and included a ...
Siouxsie WilesThe restrictions in place for metropolitan Melbourne now are in some ways stricter than those that were in force during New Zealand’s COVID-19 lockdown. A curfew is in place and most people have to wear masks when they leave their home – neither of which happened in New ...
On Friday the Hit and Run inquiry delivered a devastating report which found that NZDF had systematically misled Ministers over civilian deaths. The report called into question civilian control of the military (and indeed, military control of the military), a fundamental principle of our democracy. So you'd expect our politicians ...
Let's Do This Again: What else can Jacinda do in a political environment so bereft of imagination and courage but seek a continuance? If she trades upon the extraordinary personal qualities that she has, miraculously, carried with her into the office of Prime Minister, then I, for one, will offer ...
How corrupt are the New Zealand Police? This corrupt: On 10 February 2019, Police attended a family harm incident. The suspect attempted to run the attending officers over in a driveway with his car, narrowly missing them, before fleeing the scene. A short pursuit followed, ending when the suspect stopped ...
Parliament's triennial Review of Standing Orders was released today, and it contains a number of welcome, if minor, improvements. The ones that caught my are: A move to encourage "pre-legislative engagement" - the government consulting widely on legislation before it is introduced - by promising easier passage (e.g. with ...
Lauren Vargo, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of WellingtonGlaciers around the world are melting — and for the first time, we can now directly attribute annual ice loss to climate change. We analysed two years in which glaciers in New Zealand melted the most in at least four ...
Caroline Shaw, Anja MizdrakE-bikes are everywhere. Sales are booming and predicted to overtake sales of new cars in a few years. There were three times as many e-bikes and e-scooters imported into NZ in 2019 alone as there are e-cars in the entire country. You can’t go out in ...
New Zealand First is facing a difficult struggle to get re-elected, but Josh Van Veen, who was once a researcher for Winston Peters, argues that there is still a very significant section of cultural conservatives who oppose mass immigration and political correctness and might yet be won back over to ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk Many Americans these days seem unable to avoid controversy on practically any topic, so why not embrace the discord and wade into the especially volatile arena of nuclear energy? Advocates claim it’s the only way to meet global climate goals, ...
Can we trust New Zealand’s military? There must now be serious doubt, given the landmark report released on Friday concluding the investigation into allegations made in the book Hit and Run by Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson about a 2010 SAS killing raid in Afghanistan. The most recent Colmar Brunton ...
In New Zealand, we've just had the report of the Hit and Run inquiry, which found that a New Zealand led raid had accidentally killed civilians, including a child. meanwhile, around the same time, the British SAS was conducting its own raids in Afghanistan, and theirs were a hell of ...
In addition to establishing a process for setting emissions reductions plans, the Zero Carbon Act established a process for managing the risks of climate change. The first part of this is the preparation of regular risk assessments, looking at the risks to our economy, society, environment, and ecology. The first ...
Over on The spinoff, Amnesty International's Meg de Ronde has a response to Friday's release of the Hit and Run report. And in response to Attorney-General David Parker's claim that the government was being "transparent" by releasing the report, its titled "we shouldn’t have to work this hard to get ...
Story of the Week... Opinion of the Week... Toon of the Week... Coming Soon on SkS... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... Story of the Week... Rising Seas Could Menace Millions Beyond Shorelines, Study FindsAs climate change raises sea levels, storm surges and high tides will ...
There's an election next month, so you'd be expecting political parties to be telling us what they stand for and what they'd do if they'd win. But while the Greens have given us a detailed policy platform, and National has talked about roads and austerity, Labour, currently leading the polls ...
"Who's youse accusin' of innference?" Without the timely intervention of a team of top American political consultants and campaign experts, Boris Yeltsin would never have won his second term as President of the Russian Federation. The Russians waited 20 years to return the favour.WHEN IT COMES to the disinformation game, ...
As polling day in the American presidential election draws closer, things are looking bad for Donald Trump. The polls show that he is tracking well behind his Democrat rival. Most people assume that the President will be striving might and main to avoid what looks increasingly likely to be a ...
Our health professionals do an amazing job. Image credit: Wikipedia – Cardiac surgery. Finally, I have got back to these rankings. A long period in hospital and computer problems meant the June 2020 rankings were abandoned. Now, with a new personal defibrillator implanted in my chest and a new hard ...
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, July 26 through Sat, Aug 1, 2020Editor's ChoiceThe four types of climate denier, and why you should ignore them allThe shill, the grifter, the egomaniac and the ideological ...
Over the last few days, reports have emerged of people travelling from New Zealand and testing positive for Covid-19 upon arrival at their destination. First in South Korea and now in Australia. What might these positive tests mean?They’re false-positives As Toby Morris and I have explained before, there are ...
Former National Minister - Wayne MappYou could tell that the Hit and Run book by investigative journalists Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson was right on the money by the way former National Party Minister of Defence, Wayne Mapp, reacted to its now largely vindicated claims.Even though the recent inquiry into ...
So, the Hit and Run inquiry has reported back, and found some appalling shit at NZDF and NZSIS. And while they quibble a few of the details - the name of a dead child - they basicly uphold Hager and Stephenson's version of events. The SAS went to those villages. ...
We are failing to think though the interdependencies in an economy. We miss economist Bryan Philpott (1921-2000). I miss him personally – we used to have such great discussions – but this column is about how the nation misses his economic experience and wisdom. We tend to ...
Michelle Boag - LeakerThe Heron report (PDF) was released yesterday, and it was a bit disappointing to say the least. It correctly found that former National Party president Michelle Boag and National Party MP Hamish Walker were politically motivated in leaking peoples private medical information, but didn’t look further into ...
On different trajectories and from different ends of the political spectrum, last night’s One News/Colmar Brunton poll has the Green Party and ACT converging around the five percent mark. And, as odd as it may sound, they head into the election campaign with a lot in common.Putting the Greens and ...
Janet Stephenson, University of OtagoA proposed multibillion-dollar project to build a pumped hydro storage plant could make New Zealand’s electricity grid 100% renewable, but expensive new infrastructure may not be the best way to achieve this. New Zealand’s electricity generation is already around 80% renewable, with just over half ...
Truth In Advertising: Labour, it would seem, is the party that knows nothing about running the economy right up until the moment that it does. HOW DID LABOUR acquire its reputation for being a poor economic manager? As with most things political and historical, it’s a long story.In the beginning, the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Government rulemakers looking to decide how much money to spend to avoid adding more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere need a good estimate of what a warming climate will cost in social damages, for example through more extreme weather events. That point makes ...
Fact Check: New Zealand’s own relationship with China might, however, be salvageable if our own Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade was willing to equip its minister, Winston Peters, with a few facts. Legislating for the protection of national security – the very action our Foreign Minister is decrying – ...
I hope we can all agree that charging only certain returning expats for isolation costs is the right call. Instead of a blanket fee, which may have resulted in a small number of Kiwis deciding not to return home because of financial reasons, the Government has chosen to implement a ...
Back at the beginning of this government, the Greens made a foolish decision to support the Electoral Integrity Act - demanded by Winston Peters to keep his own backbench in line as part of his coalition deal with Labour - as an act of good faith within the coalition. It ...
SATURDAY AUGUST 1Artefact (Prime, 7.30pm). The series presented by Dame Anne Salmond screened on Māori Television, but is totally worth revisiting if you saw it the first time. Dame Anne tells the stories of taonga that highlight the history of Aotearoa. Further reading: this 2013 interview with Dame Anne by the lovely ...
Have unions and the Government sold workers short with their attempt at fixing the so-called “Hobbit Law”? Unionist Ian Powell argues that the union movement has been outmanoeuvered, and the Government has agreed to a new piece of anti-worker legislation that retains the principles of the previous National Government’s hated ...
Most of the claims made by anti-fluoride propagandists are simply wrong. Image source:Fluoridation and the ‘sciency’ facts of critics Anti-fluoride propagandists continually cite studies from areas of endemic fluorosis in their arguments against ...
An article in the EETimes suggests that advances in autonomous vehicles are not moving as quickly as expected because those working on them have confused complicated problems with complex ones. Engineering can only take you so far in complex worlds. Complicated systems tend to have fairly predictable inputs, processes and outputs. Complex systems (like ...
Last week, after Judith Collins announced that National would be cruel and vicious to kiwis caught overseas by the pandemic, and rob them at the border if they returned home, Labour looked like it was falling all over itself to cry "me too". But now, it looks like kindness has ...
If entry into New Zealand from abroad is safe, it should be allowed. People arriving from places that are Covid-free, or no more risky than New Zealand, and who get here on flights that do not intersect with risky places, should return to normal travel arrangements. Currently, the Cook ...
Liz SlootenScientists from the University of Otago, working with colleagues from around the world, have found that New Zealand right whales are doing much better than right whales in other parts of the world. The research was published as the feature article in the journal Marine Ecology Progress ...
Back in 2019, the government asked for a comprehensive, independent review of the Resource Management Act and associated legislation. That review has now reported back and recommended a complete repeal and re-enactment. Despite the headlines, this is not a "scrapping" - we're still going to have a resource management law, ...
By Associate Professor Mik Black, Department of Biochemistry, University of OtagoThe increased availability of complex biological data sets means that analysis and computation are becoming critically important skills for New Zealand’s future scientists. Because of this, we need to be doing everything we can to help our students develop ...
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nzIs humanity doomed? If in 2030 we have not reduced ...
Britain's spy agencies are supposedly overseen by various watchdogs, including the investigatory powers tribunal. But it turns out that MI6 at least has contempt for those watchdogs, and attempted to interfere with the operations of the tribunal by concealing evidence from its judges: MI6 has been accused of “inappropriate interference” ...
Daphna Whitmore So far this year over 7.4 million people have died from preventable communicable diseases. There were 4.3 million children who died under the age of five. Nearly one million people have died of HIV/AIDS in the past six months. A similar number of people have died from malaria ...
Four weeks ago I wrote about the last time a sizable asteroid hit our planet – the ‘Tunguska Event’ of 1908, when an object about 50 metres across exploded above the Siberian taiga – but smaller cosmic rocks shoot close by Earth fairly frequently. In the past 42 hours ...
Last month, China imposed a new "national security law" on Hong Kong. The law imposes a penalty of life imprisonment for secession, subversion, and "colluding with foreign forces" - which basicly means peacefully advocating for democracy or independence. It has been used to crush peaceful protests and interpreted by the ...
Powerful Connection: Neoliberalism is the antithesis of everything that has traditionally been associated with the feminine aspects of human nature. Kindness and compassion, nurturance and inclusiveness: such qualities have no place in the neoliberal order. When Jacinda proclaimed her determination to practice the “politics of kindness”, she was, wittingly or ...
The bad news: Jacinda Ardern still wants to bill exiled kiwis for returning home. The good news: it would require a law change, which the Greens won't back, so she'll need to go grovelling to National. The other good news: she's running out of time to do it. This ...
. . For the mainstream media, today (22 July) was even a better day than yesterday. More Sex. More Politics. More Sex AND Politics. Yesterday, the msm dealt with Andrew Falloon. The obscure backbench MP had been found to have sent pornographic images to at least four women. The woman’s ...
If you want to understand what is happening in this year’s election campaign, it’s worth looking to the past for guidance. Colin James delves into recent contests and finds some interesting parallels. July 28 is 53 days before the 2020 election. Just 53 days before the 2017 election ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters Wildfires burned much less acreage in the U.S. than average during the first half of the year, but with hot and dry conditions expected over much of the nation in the coming months, fire activity is likely to ramp up. ...
Today a full bench of the High Court is hearing Andrew Borrowdale's challenge to the legality of the COVID-19 lockdown. That lockdown ended two months ago, so the point seems moot - but it was never about ending it. Instead, as Andrew Geddis points out, its about a key principle ...
So far, this has been a relatively policy-free election campaign. The government has been trying to keep a low profile, on the basis that anything they say will only piss someone off, so better to say as little as possible. When its not knifing its leader, National has promised roads, ...
I hardly ever comment on polls, because horse-race politics is superficial and boring and most changes are statistically meaningless and so unworthy of attention (let alone the excitement they provoke amongst mathematically illiterate political journalists desperate to fill airtime). But we've now had two polls in a row showing Labour ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on its inquiry into the operation of the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020. As you'd expect, they find that the law was "necessary and appropriate", but would like to see a permanent replacement providing for health emergency powers as the Health ...
Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... John Cook in the News... Coming Soon on SkS... Climate Feedback Claim Review... SkS Week in Review... Poster of the Week... Story of the Week... Major new climate study rules out less severe global warming scenariosAn analysis finds the most ...
It hasn’t taken long for the advent of Judith Collins as National party leader to change the tone of the political debate. After several days of headlines and airwaves dominated by reports of a National MP sending pornographic images to young women, the National leader had had enough of that ...
Don Franks An already fired up general election looks like getting even edgier. When final votes have been counted, a rather unlikely coalition government now seems possible As National and Labour implode with sexual proclivities while New Zealand First fling their last toys from the cot, others show more maturity. ...
A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, July 19 through Sat, July 25, 2020Editor's ChoiceThe Climate Expert Who Delivered News No One Wanted to Hear From 2009: How a scientist known as the “father of global ...
There’s ultimately two key narratives overall that are seeking to take front row in order to reshape the world as a whole going forward from the COVID pandemic. The first is a very desperate attempt to reimpose “a return” to what is perceived as “the old normal”, quite impossible. ...
Henry Anderson-Elliott, University of CambridgeOn the morning of August 31 2017, I didn’t meet a remarkable polar bear. It was my third week of fieldwork-based out of Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, studying the conservation of the bears on the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. Having spent a few days transcribing interviews in ...
SUNDAY JULY 26Country Calendar (TVNZ 1, 7.00pm). Tonight, kiwifruit growing in the King Country. Crazy!Normal People (TVNZ 1, 10.30pm). Holy cow, if you thought it was slow on a binge-watch, imagine what it's like in weekly doses. Nevertheless, it's like Richard Linklater's Boyhood – you don't really see the scope of ...
With the June 2020 quarter showing underemployment increasing, the Green Party is calling for a Guaranteed Minimum Income and an increase to the abatement threshold to ensure everyone has a dignified income. ...
We went hard and we went early in our health response to COVID-19, and we did everything we could to cushion the economic impact too. In fact, we can fill every letter of the alphabet with the steps we took to fight COVID-19 and ensure we were in a position ...
Investing in our people, backing businesses, and upgrading infrastructure and housing throughout the country - it's been another week of progress for New Zealanders as we deliver our plan to recover and rebuild. ...
July was another busy month, packed with key investments aimed at progressing our economic recovery as we rebuild New Zealand. We extended support for businesses, helped create jobs through local infrastructure projects, and kept working to clean up our waterways so Kiwis can access safe clean water. Check out the ...
The Green Party is calling for the Defence Force Chiefs in place between 2010-2017 to front up and explain how dishonesty, process and policy failures within the Defence Force led to ‘a series of incorrect statements in briefings to ministers and public releases’ regarding alleged breaches of international torture prevention ...
Thanks to our strong health response, New Zealand’s economy is more open than many other countries. But as COVID continues to surge around the world, the economic consequences of the virus will continue to be a challenge, which is why we have a detailed plan to help New Zealand bounce ...
Thanks to our strong health response, New Zealand’s economy is more open than many other countries. But as COVID continues to surge around the world, the economic consequences of the virus will continue to be a challenge, which is why we have a detailed plan to help New Zealand bounce ...
The Green Party are ensuring that New Zealanders who were overseas when COVID-19 hit will not be charged for the cost of isolation or quarantine if they return home to live. ...
It's been another week of creating jobs, supporting local businesses, and investing in infrastructure up and down the country - all of which are helping to keep our economy moving post-COVID-19. ...
Law changes to end tenure review and provide for better management of Crown pastoral lands in the South Island high country were considered by Parliament today with the first reading of the Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill says Minister for Land Information, Eugenie Sage. ...
The Green Party have secured legislative amendments in a bill expected to pass third reading this week, to ensure better rules for school teachers and staff, so they can de-escalate children with diverse needs and cognitive differences, such as autism, rather than using unnecessary and often traumatising force. ...
New Zealand needs to be more aggressive in pursuing economic opportunities and resist the short-term thinking affecting some of its major industry, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says.Mr Peters told Wellington Chamber of Commerce members this morning that the planned closure of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter will have ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has ridiculed the National Party "circus", with the politician saying it was in "chaos" after the resignation of another MP.Rangitata MP Andrew Falloon announced on Monday he would retire from politics after he allegedly sent inappropriate pornographic images to a young woman. Following a ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters today outlined what he saw as the requirements to re-open New Zealand's borders for tourists and travellers. If New Zealand was dealing solely with an Australian state such as Tasmania, we wouldn't need a vaccine, said Mr Peters, but these moves were complicated by the ...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters appears to have prompted last-minute alterations to proposed legislation for commercial landlords and their tenants. Mr Peters told reporters on Wednesday said that he was making sure the proposed bill was in step with what the parties had actually agreed to. He said he ...
Associate Minister for State Owned Enterprise and New Zealand First List MP Shane Jones attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new NZ Post "super depot" in Wellington. The state-owned postal service, which got $280 million from the Coalition Government last month, is expanding its operations to handle surging parcel volumes. ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First CHECK AGAINST DELIVERYIntroduction Good afternoon. Welcome to you all here today and party supporters watching from around the country. We appreciate your hard work keeping New Zealand First strong; thank you for keeping the faith. Sixty-three days out from Election Day, ...
The diversity of conservation boards around Aotearoa is increasing with 47 appointments to 14 of the 15 conservation boards across New Zealand announced today by the Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage. ...
The Green Party is honoured to be remembering former co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons today at a public memorial service in the heart of Wellington at the Cathedral of St. Paul’s. Following her passing in March, this celebration of her life brings together her friends, family and colleagues to honour her life ...
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage has announced a $2.5 million boost for South Westland to help a regional alliance of local businesses and government agencies provide nature based jobs. ...
Investing in infrastructure is one major way we can create jobs, stimulate the economy, and keep New Zealand moving post COVID-19. That's why this week we rolled out a massive number of infrastructure announcements - in Tairāwhiti, Wairarapa, Otago, Southland and more! ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters says the National Party’s Auckland Transport announcement today is a breath-taking plan on the never never. While it is promising to see that National all of a sudden has rediscovered railways in Auckland, including trains ...
The Minister for Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media has congratulated the Ultra-fast Broadband (UFB) programme on its major milestone of connecting more than 1 million New Zealand households and businesses to UFB. “This milestone has been 10 years in the making and demonstrates the popularity of the UFB network. “Uptake ...
Landmark legislation passed today puts New Zealand on track to saving thousands of lives and having a smokefree generation sooner rather than later, Associate Health Minister, Jenny Salesa says. The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Bill regulates vaping products and heated tobacco devices. “There has long been concern ...
A discriminatory law that has been a symbol of frustration for many people needing and providing care and support, has been scrapped by the Government. “Part 4A of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Amendment Bill (No 2) was introduced under urgency in 2013 by a National Government,” Associate ...
Kiwi motorists are set to reap the benefits of a more competitive fuel market following the passing of the Fuel Industry Bill tonight, Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods says. “This Act is where the rubber meets the road in terms of our response to the recommendations made in the ...
The Government has delivered on its promise to New Zealanders to modernise tenancy laws with the passing of the Residential Tenancies Amendment (RTA) Bill 2020 today, says Associate Minister of Housing (Public Housing), Kris Faafoi. “The Residential Tenancies Act 1986 was out-dated and the reforms in the RTA modernise our ...
New rules to protect and restore New Zealand’s freshwater passed into law today. Environment Minister David Parker and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor welcomed the gazetting of the new national direction on freshwater management. “These regulations deliver on the Government’s commitment to stop further degradation, show material improvements within five years and ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced the appointment of Jeremy Clarke-Watson as New Zealand’s new Consul-General in Los Angeles. “New Zealand and the United States share a close and dynamic partnership, based on a long history of shared values and democratic traditions,” Mr Peters said. “Mr Clarke-Watson is a ...
Victims of family violence can end a tenancy with two days’ notice Landlords can terminate tenancies with 14 days’ notice if tenants assault them Timeframe brought forward for limiting rent increases to once every 12 months Extension of time Tenancy Tribunal can hear cases via phone/video conference Reform of New ...
Two employment schemes – one new and one expanded – going live today will help tens of thousands of people continue training on the job and support thousands more into work, the Government has announced. Apprenticeship Boost, a subsidy of up to $12,000 per annum for first year apprentices and ...
The Government is funding a significant infrastructure package at Omokoroa which will create 150 new jobs and help transform the Western Bay of Plenty peninsula, Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford announced today. Phil Twyford says the Government is investing $14 million towards the $28 million roading and water package. This ...
The Bill allowing the Government to recover some costs for managed isolation and quarantine passed its third reading today, with charges coming into force as soon as regulations are finalised. Putting regulations into force is the next step. “The COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill and its supporting regulations will ...
Today’s unemployment data shows the Government’s plan to protect jobs and cushion the blow for businesses and households against the economic impact of COVID-19 was the right decision, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. Stats NZ said today that New Zealand’s unemployment rate in the June quarter – which includes the ...
A new role of New Zealand Reading Ambassador for children and young people is being established, Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Jacinda Ardern and Minister for Internal Affairs and for Children, Tracey Martin announced today. The Reading Ambassador, announced at a Celebration of Reading event at ...
Community Law Centres will receive a funding boost to meet the increased need for free legal services due to COVID-19, Justice Minister Andrew Little said. The $3.5m funding is for the next three financial years and is additional to the almost $8 million for Community Law Centres announced in Budget ...
New Zealand has joined Canada and Chile in a new trade initiative aimed at increasing women’s participation in global trade. Trade and Export Growth Minister David Parker, together with Canada’s Minister for Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade Mary Ng, Chile’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrés Allamand, and Chile’s Vice ...
Building owners around New Zealand have benefited from the latest round of Heritage EQUIP funding with grants totalling $2,230,166. “The Heritage EQUIP grants for seismic strengthening assist private building owners to get the professional advice they need to go ahead with their projects or support them to carry out the ...
• New paediatric facilities, including a Special Baby Care Unit • Up to 50 extra inpatient beds • New lab facilities Northland babies and their whānau will soon have access to improved hospital care when they need it with Health Minister Chris Hipkins today confirming new paediatric facilities and more ...
People walking and cycling between Featherston and Greytown, or along Wellington’s Eastern Bays will soon have a safe shared path, as part of a $220 million shovel-ready cycleways package announced by Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter. “During lockdown we saw many more families and kids out on their bikes, ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today extended New Zealand’s condolences following the death of Vanuatu’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, Johnson Naviti, who passed away yesterday afternoon in Wellington. “Our thoughts are with the High Commissioner’s family and colleagues during this difficult time. This is a terrible loss both to ...
The Government has today set out the regional allocations of the $761 million Three Waters stimulus and reform funding for councils announced by Prime Minister Hon Jacinda Ardern this month. "I want to thank Councils around the country for engaging with the Central Local Government Steering Group who have been ...
Students with high and complex learning needs, as well as their teachers and parents, will benefit from a substantial increase to Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORS) funding, Associate Education Minister Martin announced today. “Nearly $160 million will go towards helping these students by lifting their base support over the next four ...
Funding for innovative projects to connect Kiwis with affordable, safe and wholesome food, reduce food waste, and help our food producers recover from COVID-19 has been announced today by Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. “COVID-19 has seen an increasing number of families facing unprecedented financial pressure. Foodbanks and community food service ...
Eight shovel-ready projects within Kāinga Ora large-scale developments, and the Unitec residential development in Auckland have been given the go-ahead, Minister for Housing Dr Megan Woods announced today. Megan Woods says these significant infrastructure upgrades will ensure that the provision of homes in Auckland can continue apace. “The funding announced ...
The Government is funding a new separated walking and cycleway path along Napier’s Chambers and Ellison streets to provide safer access for local students and residents across Marine Parade and State Highway 51, Transport Minister Phil Twyford and Police Minister Stuart Nash announced today. Funding of $2.7 million has been ...
More than 13,000 people have been employed so far thanks to the Coalition Government’s Provincial Growth Fund, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has today announced. The number of jobs created by Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) investments has outstripped the 10,000 jobs target that the Government and Provincial Development Unit ...
Scientists and innovative fishing operators from Stewart Island and Fiordland to Nelson, Marlborough and Wellington have been honoured in the first ever Seafood Sustainability Awards. Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash has congratulated the winners of the inaugural Seafood Sustainability Awards held at Parliament. “The awards night honours six winners, from a wide ...
The Government is providing an investment totalling more than $100 million for regions to protect against and mitigate the effects of climate change, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones have announced. Six regions will receive funding from the $3 billion allocated to infrastructure projects from the ...
Three major local projects at Te Kuiti and Otorohanga have been given the money to get moving after the impact of Covid 19, says the Minister of Māori Development Hon Nanaia Mahuta. The projects range from a Sports Centre for Te Kuiti, a redevelopment of the Otorohanga Kiwi House and ...
The Coalition Government has extended three New Zealand Defence Force deployments to the Middle East and Africa by two years, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Ron Mark announced today. “These deployments promote peace in the Middle East and Africa by protecting civilians and countering the spread of ...
The release of the National Climate Change Risk Assessment shows that the progress this Government has made to solve the climate crisis is essential to creating cleaner and safer communities across New Zealand. “Because of this report, we can see clearer than ever that the action our Government is taking ...
The second round of the Community Resilience Fund is now open for applications for sport and recreation organisations experiencing financial hardship between 1 July and 30 September 2020. “The fund opens today for five weeks – closing on September 6. The amount awarded will be decided on a case-by-case basis ...
Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage today declared Rakitū Island, off the coast of Aotea/Great Barrier Island, predator free. “I’m delighted to announce that with rats now gone, Rakitū is officially predator free. This is a major milestone because Rakitū is the last DOC administered island in the Hauraki Gulf Marine ...
The Provincial Growth Fund is investing $8.75 million to restore significant historic sites at Ōhaeawai in the Far North, upgrade marae and fund fencing and riparian planting. Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones made the announcements following a service at the historic St Michael’s Anglican Church at Ōhaeawai today. Just ...
The Chatham Islands will receive close to $40 million for projects that will improve its infrastructure, add to its attraction as a visitor destination, and create jobs through a planned aquaculture venture, Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones has announced. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the islands, first ...
The Government is delivering more initiatives to reduce energy hardship and to give small electricity consumers a voice, Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods said today. “In addition to the initiatives we have already delivered to support New Zealand families, we are responding to the Electricity Price Review with further ...
Government, iwi, NGOs and rehabilitation groups are working together to turn around the fortunes of the nationally endangered hoiho/yellow-eyed penguin following a series of terrible breeding seasons. The Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage helped launch the Five Year Action Plan at the annual Yellow-Eyed Penguin symposium in Dunedin today. “I ...
The membership of the Tourism Futures Taskforce has now been confirmed, Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis announced at an event at Whakarewarewa in Rotorua today. “The main purpose of the independent Tourism Futures Taskforce is to lead the thinking on the future of tourism in New Zealand,” Kelvin Davis said. Joining ...
More than $300 million in funding has been approved to protect strategic tourism businesses, drive domestic tourism through regional events and lift digital capability in the tourism industry, Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis announced today. A $400 million Tourism Recovery Package was announced at Budget 2020, and with today’s announcements is ...
From 2021 permits will be required for New Zealanders wanting to export hard-to-recycle plastic waste. The Associate Minister for the Environment, Eugenie Sage, today announced the requirements as part of New Zealand’s commitments to the Basel Convention, an international agreement of more than 180 countries which was amended in May ...
The building and construction sector is still showing strong growth, with the number of new dwellings consented up more than 8 per cent compared to last year, reflecting a welcome confidence in the Government’s COVID-19 response package, Minister for Building and Construction Jenny Salesa says. “While it is still too ...
Welcome to Election Live for August 6, bringing you the latest on election 2020 and other breaking news. For key dates in the election season click here. For all you need to know about the cannabis referendum click here. For the assisted dying referendum click here. Policy launching soon. Get in touch ...
Brooke van Velden – newly-minted Deputy Leader of the Act Party – spoke at a community event last Monday night in Epsom, Auckland, which was attended by several Euthanasia-Free NZ supporters. Unfortunately Ms van Velden’s presentation was heavy ...
“Labour’s plan is to win the election at all costs by politicising the border and keeping New Zealanders in a state of fear,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “It’s putting politics above people by locking the border and wrecking the economy ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Many stories told by latest unemployment figures, Bloomfield says return of community transmission almost inevitable, and major tenancy reform package passes.First of all, it’s pretty clear that the top-line unemployment figure going down is a misleading picture of the state ...
Annaleese Jochems and Paul Little review new fiction by New Zealand authors David Coventry and Carl NixonAnnaleese Jochems on Dance Prone: David Coventry’s second novel Dance Prone is the story of a post-hardcore band touring through the American Southwest – a roadie novel. Initially its chief pleasures are similar ...
New Zealand needs to review its handling of Covid-19 'to do better next time' as global diseases are going to keep coming, warns Helen Clark. Former Prime Minister Helen Clark wants a full review into New Zealand's preparedness and handling of the Covid-19 pandemic - and is calling for the next government ...
It's time to lay extreme partisanship aside and for parties to prove their ingredients are worthy - not just that their packaging makes us feel good, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell Extreme partisanship has always perplexed me. I’m not judging but perhaps, as an opinion writer, I’ve come to hold my own opinions ...
On the campaign trail, Judith Collins is fully embracing every 'you're only about roads' barb people throw at her National Party leader Judith Collins couldn't have picked a more on-brand venue. The building was blue. The audience was blue. And the parking was free. Collins continued her roll-out of tunnelling announcements ...
Kiwi Winter Olympian and mountain explorer, Janina Kuzma, has become a film-maker, shining a light on gutsy female freeskiers. Sometime about now, Janina Kuzma would have been skiing down the shrinking faces of the world’s last tropical glaciers in Papua, Indonesia. The two-time Winter Olympian should have been filming the third movie in ...
The Health Minister expresses confidence in a troubled board that continues to be rocked by resignations. David Williams reports Chris Hipkins is putting a brave face on ructions at the Canterbury District Health Board, despite another senior resignation yesterday and divisions within the board itself becoming painfully obvious. The Health ...
How do we discourage politicians from gambling with our futures? Nicholas Agar looks at the 'Hail Mary' tactic, arguing politicians must own their misjudged forecasts Recent polls suggest this could be a very one-sided general election. It is useful to be forewarned about some of the tricks available to aspiring ...
On the 75th anniversary of the bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we must redouble efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons once and for all, write Vincent Ochilet of the ICRC and Niamh Lawless of the New Zealand Red Cross.Today marks the 75th anniversary of the use of atomic ...
There are no incumbents in the south Auckland seat of Takanini, for this is a completely new electorate. Justin Latif goes to meet some of the voters, and the fascinating bunch desperate for their support. The name of New Zealand’s newest electorate can be traced back to a prominent Te Ākitai ...
The prime minister is no free-market ideologue or social traditionalist, but there is a conservative streak to her leadership, and that delights committed conservative Liam Hehir. Jacinda Ardern has advised us not to expect a whole lot of big promises from Labour this year. The announcement was undoubtedly frustrating for ...
How does a 4 percent unemployment figure gel with estimates that soon there will be whole neighbourhoods of people in South Auckland without work? A shock drop in official unemployment numbers caps off the "weirdest quarter" in New Zealand's economic history. "Beware" and "unbelievable" were the first words Kiwibank's chief economist Jarrod ...
Internal Revenue officials are moving ahead with plans to consult on and, eventually, adopt recommendations from the Tax Working Group on environmental taxes. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Scott Morrison will unveil on Thursday a cyber security package to give greater protection to critical Australian infrastructure and bolster the powers of the Australian Federal Police to pursue criminal networks on the dark web. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A rumour that Victoria’s high profile chief health officer Brett Sutton was quitting caused a flurry in state government circles on Wednesday afternoon. Sutton has been one of the medical hardliners during the pandemic, at ...
Parliament has just passed a new law that will leave renters with a sense of relief. But many landlords aren’t too pleased. What’s all this then?The Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill passed under urgency this evening. It amends existing law around renting to increase rights for tenants. According to associate housing minister ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Noble, Education Policy Fellow, Mitchell Institute, Victoria University From tomorrow (Thursday, August 6) only children of permitted workers will be able to attend childcare in Melbourne, which is under stage 4 restrictions. Parents and providers have been waiting to understand what ...
Gone By Lunchtime’s Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas denounce new poll results that very slightly contradict their opinions.The height of the summit for the National Party? A poll came out last week with Labour at 53%, and that was considered good news for Judith Collins and the Strong ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Melatos, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Sydney Virgin Australia’s plan to sack about 3,000 of its 9,000 staff, axe its budget brand Tigerair, streamline its fleet to only Boeing 737s and suspend long-haul international flying indefinitely should come as no ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Reilly, Professor, University of Western Australia In international affairs, words are bullets, according to an old diplomatic saying. If so, Australia in recent years has begun firing new ammunition. In his address to the Aspen Security Forum today, Prime Minister Scott ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aisling Rayne, PhD candidate, University of Canterbury Whakapapa [genealogy] binds tākata whenua [people of the land] to the mountains, rivers, coasts and other landscapes, linking the health of the people with that of the environment. Like humans, species have whakapapa that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gabriel da Silva, Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, University of Melbourne The Lebanese capital Beirut was rocked on Tuesday evening local time by an explosion that has killed at least 78 people and injured thousands more. The country’s prime minister Hassan Diab ...
The MacDiarmid Institute DiscoveryCamp gives Māori and Pasefika high school students a taste of life as a scientist. Teuila Fuatai finds the experience often leads to much more. Eden Skipper loves eeling. “It is a family tradition,” he says proudly. The 22-year-old of Ngāi Tahu descent grew up on the east ...
Te Tari Taiwhenua, Department of Internal Affairs, has announced Allot Limited as the new service provider for the Digital Child Exploitation Filter (DCEF) from 1 August 2020. The filter operates as a service provided to most New Zealand Internet ...
In the wake of National’s leadership woes, The Spinoff sat down with the party’s most popular face in recent history to talk Covid-19, Judith Collins – and why he thinks our border should be more ‘flexible’.John Key is confident about our country’s future.In part, that’s because he tunes in each ...
The new National Policy Statement and National Environmental Standard for Freshwater, gazetted by the Government today, is a significant step forward in reducing pollution in our rural and urban waterways caused by intensive farming and through regional ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David McCooey, Professor of Writing and Literature, Deakin University In our series Art for Trying Times, authors nominate a work they turn to for solace or perspective during this pandemic. One day in 1984, a friend and I went to have lunch ...
Data released by Stats NZ today shows the impact of Covid-19 on New Zealand jobs during the June quarter was disproportionately felt by women. Mary Jo Vergara from KiwiEconomics breaks down what it all means.Women have historically fared well in times of war and crisis. During the Second World War, ...
The Sir Julius Vogel Awards last Thursday were meant to be a celebration of some of our best genre writers. It didn’t turn out that way, as Casey Lucas, one of the winners, explains. This is the story of how the nominees and recipients of the 2020 Sir Julius Vogel ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Craig Jeffrey, Director and CEO of the Australia India Institute; Professor of Development Geography, University of Melbourne In recent days, the Indian government approved a new education policy — the first for 34 years. The policy comes after an expert group produced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julian Elliott, Executive Director, National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce, and Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University With cases of COVID-19 on the rise, many Australians are asking: what happens if I test positive? With no known cure ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Professor Marcia Langton, Foundation Chair in Australian Indigenous Studies, University of Melbourne This is an edited transcript of the 2020 Thea Astley Address delivered by Marcia Langton at the Byron Writers Festival. It’s a longer read at 4,500 words. You can listen ...
As Auckland business leaders and the city’s economic development agency hold a day-long summit to thrash out a Covid-19 economic recovery plan, Finance Minister Grant Robertson is singing from a different song- book. He reckons NZ’s economy is doing well and “ … as we look ahead, there are ...
The National Party says it would create a new Auckland Transport-like authority and green-light a second Terrace tunnel National Party leader Judith Collins has announced National would give greater government funding for the Wellington region's existing transport plan and for a new agency to end the region's transport bickering. Collins made ...
Latest from the Beehive – The public debt is among the victims of the Covid-19 epidemic. According to the 2020 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update, in the current year and the next two fiscal years, operating deficits (operating balance before gains and losses) average around $28 billion while net core ...
The latest round of economic data won’t carry Judith Collins and the National Party into the promised land, and she’ll need to come up with something else to save her chances, writes political commentator Ben Thomas.The government has delivered an economic miracle! How else to describe today’s labour market statistics ...
Source: Council on Hemispheric Affairs – Analysis-Reportage John PerryFrom Masaya, Nicaragua An extraordinary leaked document gives a glimpse of the breadth and complexity of the US government’s plan to interfere in Nicaragua’s internal affairs up to and after its presidential election in 2021. The plan,[1] a 14-page extract from a ...
The Cook Islands language video.Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk The Cook Islands episode in AUT’s Pacific language video series – “Adapting to a changing world, shaping resilient futures” – is out now. The video is narrated in Cook Islands Māori (with English subtitles) to acknowledge the language being celebrated in ...
Community Law Centres welcome the additional Government funding announced to help address increased demand for free legal services due to COVID-19. Minister of Justice Andrew Little today announced an additional $3.47m over three years for Community ...
New Zealand’s unemployment rate has just fallen, defying experts and flying in the face of everything we expected. But according to Stats NZ, the devil is in the detail.What’s all this then?In a bizarre turn of events, New Zealand’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has actually fallen from 4.2% to 4% ...
The outgoing immigration minister, Iain Lees-Galloway, has told MPs income criteria imposed on residents who want their parents to join them are "far too high". ...
Auckland Action Against Poverty is calling on the Government to increase abatement thresholds and lift benefits to liveable levels to support people affected by the growth of unemployment due to COVID-19. “Unemployment numbers do not tell us whether ...
A national survey of public drinking fountains around Aotearoa, recently undertaken by RefillNZ , has shown that, on average, there is only one drinking fountain for every 3,303 people and as few as one fountain for every 17,000 people in the worst-affected ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andreas Ortmann, Professor, UNSW Sweden has become something of a cautionary tale for what happens when you attempt to tackle coronavirus without lockdowns. In The Conversation last week The Grattan Institute’s Stephen Duckett and Will Mackey said its freer approach caused almost ...
In the June 2020 quarter, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 4.0 percent, down from 4.2 percent last quarter, while underutilisation rose, Stats NZ said today. ...
A conference on Auckland and the Covid-19 crisis hears calls for flexibility from the Government, including a loan to fund big projects and allowing foreign students into university quarantine Former Prime Minister John Key is urging the Government to throw out the rulebook and give Auckland Council a big, interest-free ...
Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk The safe reopening of entry points into six Pacific Islands countries amid the covid-19 pandemic is being discussed at a meeting in Fiji this week. The virtual roundtable is being convened by the United Nations and the Asian Development Bank with representatives from Solomon Islands, Kiribati, ...
The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union is welcoming confirmation from the National Party that income tax bracket indexation remains party policy. However, suggestions that the National Party has no plans to cut income taxes will come as a major disappointment ...
The Executive Director of the New Zealand Maori Council, Matthew Tukaki, has said unemployment in New Zealand will rise significantly over the next quarter and the figures out today are just the tip of a very fast-moving iceberg. Tukaki has said ...
Aggrieved members of the Firearms Community - from all over Canterbury and beyond - will once again take to the streets of Ashburton in good numbers this Saturday, 8th August. They continue to protest against the government’s Firearms Law Firearms ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Hazel, Senior Lecturer, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide What does a pandemic smell like? If dogs could talk, they might be able to tell us. We’re part of an international research team, led by Dominique Grandjean at ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Smith, Senior Lecturer in American Politics and Foreign Policy, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney Americans were alarmed last week when their president suggested on Twitter that the November 3 presidential election should be delayed because mail-in ballots would be fraudulent. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Judy Mullan, Associate Professor, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong According to 2016 Census data, 3.5% of Australians have limited English proficiency. When they’re receiving health care, it’s essential these Australians have access to interpreters. Research has shown professional interpreters facilitate effective ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aliza Werner-Seidler, Senior Research Fellow in Mental Health & Clinical Psychologist, UNSW Access to mental health support has never been more important, as Melburnians are hit with a stage 4 lockdown and much of the rest of Australia braces for a potential ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Osman, Scientist, Energy Efficiency & Renewables, CSIRO Yesterday, Australia’s eastern states felt a vicious cold snap, and these wintry blasts make hunkering down in isolation at home a little easier. But as the temperature rises at home, so does our carbon ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Brent, Professor and Chair in Sustainable Energy Systems, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington CC BY-NDClimate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Prestridge, Senior Lecturer, Griffith University In early July, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced government school students in prep to Year 10 — in Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire —would learn from home for term three. Students in Years 11 and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Georgia Cervin, Honorary Research Fellow, University of Western Australia The new Netflix documentary Athlete A details how Larry Nassar, the US women’s gymnastics team doctor, was brought to justice after sexually abusing hundreds of gymnasts. Since its release, gymnasts around the world ...
Welcome to Election Live for August 5, bringing you the latest on election 2020 and other breaking news. For key dates in the election season click here. For all you need to know about the cannabis referendum click here. For the assisted dying referendum click here. Get in touch at ...
The Social Services and Community Committee is calling for public submissions on the Oranga Tamariki (Youth Justice Demerit Points) Amendment Bill, which was referred to the committee on 21 July 2020. This Member’s Bill would introduce a youth demerit ...
Open mike 11/08/2014 
Kia orana.
by Don Franks This talk was given to the Wellington Anti Capitalist Alliance, fifteen years ago. The ultimate weapons of mass destruction so far seen on this planet have been used just twice, 60 years ago this month. August 6 and August 9 1945 witnessed the US atomic bombing ...2 hours ago
After I noticed that my name had been taken yet again in vain by my friendly antagonist Tom Hunter over at No Minister, I went over to see what the fuss was about. Nothing much, but then I discovered a post about the Operation Burnham Inquiry by Psycho Milt. I ...16 hours ago
The COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 was extended today, until December 1st or the tenth sitting day following the resumption of Parliament after the election. It seems like a necessary extension. While we currently have eradicated the virus in New Zealand, it is still banging at the door, and ...16 hours ago
Judy Kavanagh I’m OK with wearing a CovidCard. But are you? There’s no point me doing it alone.
As many good things come in threes (as the saying goes), we are happy to announce a third partnership between Skeptical Science and other websites. Fakebook.eco in Brazil is joining Klimafakten.de in Germany and Nauka o Klimacie in Poland to leverage translated rebuttal material and to make the information readily available in other ...2 days ago
Let's Do This Again: What else can Jacinda do in a political environment so bereft of imagination and courage but seek a continuance? If she trades upon the extraordinary personal qualities that she has, miraculously, carried with her into the office of Prime Minister, then I, for one, will offer ...2 days ago
New Zealand First is facing a difficult struggle to get re-elected, but Josh Van Veen, who was once a researcher for Winston Peters, argues that there is still a very significant section of cultural conservatives who oppose mass immigration and political correctness and might yet be won back over to ...2 days ago
As polling day in the American presidential election draws closer, things are looking bad for Donald Trump. The polls show that he is tracking well behind his Democrat rival. Most people assume that the President will be striving might and main to avoid what looks increasingly likely to be a ...3 days ago
Our health professionals do an amazing job. Image credit: Wikipedia – Cardiac surgery. Finally, I have got back to these rankings. A long period in hospital and computer problems meant the June 2020 rankings were abandoned. Now, with a new personal defibrillator implanted in my chest and a new hard ...4 days ago
Former National Minister - Wayne MappYou could tell that the Hit and Run book by investigative journalists Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson was right on the money by the way former National Party Minister of Defence, Wayne Mapp, reacted to its now largely vindicated claims.Even though the recent inquiry into ...5 days ago
We are failing to think though the interdependencies in an economy. We miss economist Bryan Philpott (1921-2000). I miss him personally – we used to have such great discussions – but this column is about how the nation misses his economic experience and wisdom. We tend to ...6 days ago
TUESDAY AUGUST 4Grand Designs UK (Three, 7.30pm). ...7 days ago
Most of the claims made by anti-fluoride propagandists are simply wrong. Image source: Fluoridation and the ‘sciency’ facts of critics Anti-fluoride propagandists continually cite studies from areas of endemic fluorosis in their arguments against ... 1 week ago
. . For the mainstream media, today (22 July) was even a better day than yesterday. More Sex. More Politics. More Sex AND Politics. Yesterday, the msm dealt with Andrew Falloon. The obscure backbench MP had been found to have sent pornographic images to at least four women. The woman’s ...1 week ago
There’s ultimately two key narratives overall that are seeking to take front row in order to reshape the world as a whole going forward from the COVID pandemic. The first is a very desperate attempt to reimpose “a return” to what is perceived as “the old normal”, quite impossible. ...2 weeks ago
The Green Party is celebrating the passing of the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill, calling it a win for people who rent. ...12 hours ago
We went hard and we went early in our health response to COVID-19, and we did everything we could to cushion the economic impact too. In fact, we can fill every letter of the alphabet with the steps we took to fight COVID-19 and ensure we were in a position ...2 days ago
New Zealand needs to be more aggressive in pursuing economic opportunities and resist the short-term thinking affecting some of its major industry, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says. Mr Peters told Wellington Chamber of Commerce members this morning that the planned closure of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter will have ...2 weeks ago
The Minister for Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media has congratulated the Ultra-fast Broadband (UFB) programme on its major milestone of connecting more than 1 million New Zealand households and businesses to UFB. “This milestone has been 10 years in the making and demonstrates the popularity of the UFB network. “Uptake ...34 mins ago
Welcome to Election Live for August 6, bringing you the latest on election 2020 and other breaking news. For key dates in the election season click here. For all you need to know about the cannabis referendum click here. For the assisted dying referendum click here. Policy launching soon. Get in touch ...21 mins ago
Brooke van Velden – newly-minted Deputy Leader of the Act Party – spoke at a community event last Monday night in Epsom, Auckland, which was attended by several Euthanasia-Free NZ supporters. Unfortunately Ms van Velden’s presentation was heavy ...32 mins ago
Annaleese Jochems and Paul Little review new fiction by New Zealand authors David Coventry and Carl Nixon Annaleese Jochems on Dance Prone: David Coventry’s second novel Dance Prone is the story of a post-hardcore band touring through the American Southwest – a roadie novel. Initially its chief pleasures are similar ...1 hour ago
New Zealand needs to review its handling of Covid-19 'to do better next time' as global diseases are going to keep coming, warns Helen Clark. Former Prime Minister Helen Clark wants a full review into New Zealand's preparedness and handling of the Covid-19 pandemic - and is calling for the next government ...2 hours ago
A bill giving the police the power to conduct random roadside saliva drug testing has passed its first reading. ...2 hours ago
Stringent guidelines for goods with potential military uses in countries like China are on the way. ...2 hours ago
It's time to lay extreme partisanship aside and for parties to prove their ingredients are worthy - not just that their packaging makes us feel good, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell Extreme partisanship has always perplexed me. I’m not judging but perhaps, as an opinion writer, I’ve come to hold my own opinions ...3 hours ago
On the campaign trail, Judith Collins is fully embracing every 'you're only about roads' barb people throw at her National Party leader Judith Collins couldn't have picked a more on-brand venue. The building was blue. The audience was blue. And the parking was free. Collins continued her roll-out of tunnelling announcements ...3 hours ago
Kiwi Winter Olympian and mountain explorer, Janina Kuzma, has become a film-maker, shining a light on gutsy female freeskiers. Sometime about now, Janina Kuzma would have been skiing down the shrinking faces of the world’s last tropical glaciers in Papua, Indonesia. The two-time Winter Olympian should have been filming the third movie in ...3 hours ago
The Health Minister expresses confidence in a troubled board that continues to be rocked by resignations. David Williams reports Chris Hipkins is putting a brave face on ructions at the Canterbury District Health Board, despite another senior resignation yesterday and divisions within the board itself becoming painfully obvious. The Health ...3 hours ago
How do we discourage politicians from gambling with our futures? Nicholas Agar looks at the 'Hail Mary' tactic, arguing politicians must own their misjudged forecasts Recent polls suggest this could be a very one-sided general election. It is useful to be forewarned about some of the tricks available to aspiring ...3 hours ago
The truth about the unemployment statistics, plus a fishing firm closes a Tauranga plant costing 65 jobs ...3 hours ago
How does a 4 percent unemployment figure gel with estimates that soon there will be whole neighbourhoods of people in South Auckland without work? A shock drop in official unemployment numbers caps off the "weirdest quarter" in New Zealand's economic history. "Beware" and "unbelievable" were the first words Kiwibank's chief economist Jarrod ...3 hours ago
Internal Revenue officials are moving ahead with plans to consult on and, eventually, adopt recommendations from the Tax Working Group on environmental taxes. ...3 hours ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Scott Morrison will unveil on Thursday a cyber security package to give greater protection to critical Australian infrastructure and bolster the powers of the Australian Federal Police to pursue criminal networks on the dark web. ...7 hours ago
New Zealand First and the Greens are facing the reality of the 'support partner' curse ...17 hours ago
As Auckland business leaders and the city’s economic development agency hold a day-long summit to thrash out a Covid-19 economic recovery plan, Finance Minister Grant Robertson is singing from a different song- book. He reckons NZ’s economy is doing well and “ … as we look ahead, there are ...18 hours ago
The National Party says it would create a new Auckland Transport-like authority and green-light a second Terrace tunnel National Party leader Judith Collins has announced National would give greater government funding for the Wellington region's existing transport plan and for a new agency to end the region's transport bickering. Collins made ...18 hours ago
Latest from the Beehive – The public debt is among the victims of the Covid-19 epidemic. According to the 2020 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update, in the current year and the next two fiscal years, operating deficits (operating balance before gains and losses) average around $28 billion while net core ...18 hours ago
A conference on Auckland and the Covid-19 crisis hears calls for flexibility from the Government, including a loan to fund big projects and allowing foreign students into university quarantine Former Prime Minister John Key is urging the Government to throw out the rulebook and give Auckland Council a big, interest-free ...20 hours ago
In this busy pre-election period it seems the SIS bunglers still have their briefcases in a twist over Bill Sutch. Why now?
An ex staff member using a Soviet snitch’s material has had another go which is no doubt annoying enough for the Sutch family. The plod concerned makes free with files while a number of citizens that applied for material held on them by the NZSIS during the brief “openess” period of Director Warren Tucker, received refusals (under the 1969 Act that protects living sources) or heavily redacted replies.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/10369007/Fresh-twist-in-40-year-old-Cold-War-spy-mystery
It means Key is scraping the bottom of his bottom drawer.
This is the Gnats saying “I was right all along.”
Seems to me to be pretty self evident he was a Soviet spy. Why do you have an issue with this?
Yeah but you believe in trickle down economics and muffins like Bill English.
You don’t know what I believe in. I certainly have never expressed a preference for trickledown economics (whatever that might be).
However back to Dr Sutch being a spy. Why do you not think he was a spy? He fits the description given by the KGB for a spy in NZ and he also expressed admiration for the Soviet (read Stalinist) system. Why do you find it inconceivable that he was working for them?
Why now? Partly because the papers have just been released:
It doesn’t look to me to be hard evidence against Sutch – the word of an ex-KGB spy. Some reference to meetings, but no evidence of anything Sutch is alleged to have done against NZ’s interests.
The question was whether he was a spy for the Soviets. It is not if th information he may have passed on was damaging to NZ’s interest.
Did you ever see Russian accounting? Soviet vessels used to keep 5 different sets of books. None the same and none true. You need slightly more evidence than an uncorroborated record.
Why wouldn’t he be the person mentioned?
Read Our Man in Havana.
Why would I read a fiction novel by Graham Greene to understand why Sutch was not the person mentioned as being a spy in KGB archive material?
tory fails in abstract reasoning again.
World stunned.
Gos, has it occurred to you that there’s a world of difference between a resident in a quiet backwater inflating the promise and possibilities of any contact with an individual, and that individual actually being a spy (even if the unnamed “recruit” were indeed Sutch)?
Not that you give a shit either way – just more mud created to throw around.
I’m not sure why you seek to defend Sutch. The evidence seems to point towards the logical conclusion he was an active spy for the Soviet Union.
No, no it doesn’t. Among other things, for the reason stated in the comment you just replied to.
🙄
“..Why now?..”..it has long been an unanswered question..
..’– the word of an ex-KGB spy..’..he is actually a defecting archivist..and these are copies of kgb files..
..hard to think why/how they wd be forgeries..
.and it was a phenomenon of the times..
..academics/intellectuals deciding the soviet way was better/the future..
..and so deciding to ‘help’ them..
..so that ‘unanswered’-question about sutch wd now seem to have been answered..
So he was a spy/traitor as well as a supporter of a muderous regime if he is the person mentioned in the KGB archive material.
gossi..how is america not ‘a muderous regime ‘..?
I wasn’t suggesting they are forgeries. I was thinking more that it is something the KGB claim – means little in relation to provide evidence of what actually went down.
..academics/intellectuals deciding the soviet way was better/the future..
..and so deciding to ‘help’ them..
That is partly why I left the door open to what actually Sutch did or said to any alleged KGB operative. Note what I actually said:
” no evidence of anything Sutch is alleged to have done against NZ’s interests.”
oh..!..ok..
As I stated it is irrelevant if Sutch believed what he was doing was not harming NZ’s interest. He was working as an operative for a foreign country and seemingly passed on information to them. As such he was a spy and traitor by extension.
A double agent could easily have planted information like that just to ferment cynicism like your pathetic attempts goose!
The man is not around to defend himself.
Both the CIA and the KGB were as bad as each other who’s to say National aren’t linked to the Chinese govt’s spying agency given Stephen Joyce has signed a deal with Huawei who have caught spying in the US and the UK Aussie has banned Huawei. From their UFB for that very reason but National MP’s are easily bought of Oravida etc.
How many sitting National MP’s their partners former National MP’s and partners involved in trade deals .
Kiwirail how that going for you Gossipman!
Sorry, thought you were talking about John Key for a second there…
lol…could be true…but which country?
which one does key go to for
ordersbaseball games?McF-Don’t think a judge would be swayed by Goss’s repeated use of the word ‘seemingly’. Not a bad try at spin though.Probably works on some.
I didn’t say anything about what Sutch believed – I was only talking about his actions and communications with the KGB.
NZ has been increasingly Americanised since early on in the 20th century. That has been part of the shift from UK empire to US empire. Americanisation has delivered us John Key, who does not work in the interests of the majority of NZers.
Wish I hadn’t posted on this now, was mainly interested in timing not revisiting the whole case.
Karol is quite likely right, no plan by Nats or SIS, just fitted in with the archive material being released. But given that state security has been to the fore recently in public debate the elephantine memories at SIS HQ could hardly have resisted tabling this info now rather than wait.
I would say too that if some people think acting against NZs interests is not the thing to do whether proven or not then the PM facilitating the NSA and FBI and US Corporates activities in NZ fits that description too.
So what was the big secret he passed on that Muldoon was a big dick head hardly a state secret!
or that Muldoon tRaded lada”s for butter.
Subsidized farmers
Universal pension’s wiping out the self funding more free market approach wow what great secrets did Sutch give-away and links to what organizations!
If it is that important to you, grab your spade and dig him up and yell at him until you feel better about yourself.
FIFY Goosemann:
It is irrelevant if Key believes what he is doing is not harming NZ’s interest. He is working as an operative for a foreign country and passes on information to them. As such he is a spy and traitor by extension.
‘New global crash looming: bank boss’
“Another crash in global asset prices could be brewing according to Raghuram Rajan, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.”
“Mr Rajan’s views on financial stability hold particular weight because in 2005, when he was chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, he gave a speech in the US at the influential Jackson Hole conference of central bankers, warning that an explosion in financial innovation had made the world riskier, rather than safer.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11306873
Did you really think that the previous crash was over? All the idiots in the MSM have been so focused on the voodoo stories of recovery globally that they have missed what is really going on (you might consider they were told to miss it by their masters):
* the money supply was eased by “quantitative easing”….aka create credit aka new debt to cover the interest on old debts and allow money to flow. Note the debt did not go away.
* the debt…now this is the real story: the private banks worldwide were bailed out by the taxpayer who had the debts effectively “transferred” to them by the banks, who were then allowed to create more money to loan to the taxpayers to pay the interest on the transferred debt, et voila (if you were a bankster) you get even richer with no risk.
You will note no banker ever got prosecuted for this crisis. It has been the greatest financial swindle ever and through support of governments worldwide that are akin to our own financial traders regime the banksters have ripped us again.
The whole thing is a ponzi scheme that will eventually fall over (consider: everything ends, eventually). Probably when peak oil bites.
Except the bailout of the banks was paid bacvk by the banks with interest.
[citation needed]
Yeah right Gooseman not oneyour conman ponzi scheming bankers faced jail or any sanction all that has happened with the bail out is the perpetrators have been rewarded while the peasants have been punished over 4 million formerly housed Americans now living under tarpaulins and those who have got jobs are working now for a pittance.
To Big to fail is how it was sold ,the international banking Cartels has never been more profitable as they have MONOPOLIZED the finacial system even more than before!
No free market just a monopolized cartel!
Even the libertarians said let them all fail goose you pathetic apologist hoe much do you get paid to put out your pathetic lies and propaganda goebals with no balls would be proud of your enthusiasm!
Aha, onto it Ennui, i havn’t read much of Marx etc but did read one obscure tract from Trotsky a while ago,(think it may have been produced as a pamphlet as ‘the thinker’s’ in those days were wont to do),
Trotsky way back in the 20’s of last century pointed out that capitalism would eventually defeat itself in a series of crisis each more severe than the other,
When the profits of capitalism are vastly overpowered by the losses incurred in the ongoing series of crisis the system will at some point completely fail seemed to be the gist of it…
Winston vs Espiner this morning on RNZ-entertaining but I think Winnie is losing his sharpness.(Espiner too)
Was Espiner ever sharp?
not in any of his previous incarnations..
..his recent twitching-marrionette/white-guy-dancing/duo-thing with garner on that (in the main) slightly-warmed-over/clip-show pap that is third degree..
..being a personal/career nadir for him..and us..
..my expectations of espiner were low..so i haven’t been disappointed..
..and like many others..i can’t be fucked listening to him/morning report any more..
I was amused at Winston’s back-footing Guyon by reminding him that he was paid by the taxpayer. So many of these guardians of “taxpayers money” are, and hate being reminded of the fact.
@ Olwyn
yes i think most people dislike Espiner ( a-licker) and Suzie ( wrong)…so they have been giving Winnie/NZF free publicity by concentrating on the trivia of a joke …and ignoring Real NZF policy which is to retain New Zealand land for New Zealanders !
Chinese land is kept for Chinese after all!
China could buy New Zealand several million times over ( their own land is filthy and environmentally trashed with overpopulation)….why do John Key and the NACTS have to be so stupid?!…one has to ask this question….there must be something in it for them?….as we have seen with Judith Collins and Chinese husband stockpiling NZ swamp kauri which Maori artists treasure for their carving and art
….these are the real questions…but you would never hear them asked on the Morons Morning Report where in reality ‘Two Wrongs Make a Right ‘
Chinese land is not kept for Chinese. It is merely not able to be sold to anyone Chinese or otherwise.
Yes, China keeps it for the security of the Chinese people rather than allowing it to be sold for the enrichment of a few psychopaths.
The security of the Chinese people that the government constantly suppresses.
I didn’t say that they were perfect but they are doing the right thing as far as Chinese land is concerned.
Call of the day! 🙂
Gossipman you and National are doing the same here in New Zealand!
With your bought off right wing Media manipulating the public by only letting one side have fair say your an example of trying to suppress left wing commentary here with your continual lies like your leader
If you think the current government is as oppressive as the Chinese government I think your perception is seriously warped.
Quite right – the Chinese government genuinely strives to improve conditions for Chinese workers and to improve their trade position. Their corruption is tempered by their nationalism and serious corruption attracts capital punishment.
The Key National government is neither as clean nor as economically savvy as the Chinese government.
Goose Bullshit goose more lies!
they will sell land to anyone who can afford a bribe you idiot!
Not unlike Nationals behaviour in office here!
Who will sell land to anyone who can pay a bribe?
Also I’m pretty sure you don’t understand what a lie actually is. As stated please provide me evidence where I have lied.
How many Chinese property billionaires are their in China
None that own the land outright that I am aware. I believe they lease it. It is the lease and associated buildings on the land that is worth billions.
I’m still waiting for you to show where I have lied. Even if I am wrong on this subject (which I don’t believe I am) that does not mean I am lying.
Bing!
–logical fallacy there Gossie; “burden of proof”
Ummmm…no. You have obviously not read the poster you linked to. It would be a logical fallacy if I argued that someone should disprove that the Chinese state only allows land to be leased and not sold outright as I had made the claim. However all I have done is stated that is what I believe and am quite willing for someone to show if I am wrong. Even if I was wrong it is not evidence I have lied just that I am mistaken.
“I’m still waiting for you to show where I have lied. Even if I am wrong on this subject (which I don’t believe I am) that does not mean I am lying.”–Gosman
Alright, just for you Gossie–a new category “shape shifting”
Gossipman read your business stories Blooberg business !
local govts seize shared land and sell it for 18 times what they pay for it corruption on a grand scale when it comes to Chinese business practice’s I wouldn’t be surprised if that hasn’t spilled over to those involved in New Zealand as knowing some very high powered businessmen who have set up very large businees ventures in China! it takes to long to get deals done otherwise ask Judith Collins why Orivida got its milk powder in while not one other company did!
only in the sense that Banks claimed he’d not knowingly signed a false return.
Except there was evidence that was accepted by the court that Banks did know about the donation and had asked for it to be split. That is why he was convicted. There isn’t any evidence that I am aware that I have knowingly stated something that is not correct.
So now you are calling the judge a liar Gossipman
No, I am not calling the judge a liar. Now where is your evidence I have lied?
Gossipman I think if you read your weasel words it explains your definition of lying!
John Banks is history he lied through his teeth thinking because other politician had got away with more that he was above the law!
AS a former Police minister he should lot lie in court.
Banks lied on many occasions to cover his original lie.
He got what he deserved a huge fall from grace.
If he just had admitted his wrong doing none of this would have happened!
Now its John Brain Fade Keys turn to be taken down by his own lies if he had just admitted i may have or i did know about KDC then it would be a storm in a TEA CUP!
But now Brain Fade Key has painted himself into a corner being the head of the SIS and GSCB and the saying when questioned about the increased spying laws he was introducing Brain Fade Keys response was nothing to worry about their are only a few five people on the list and I know all their names !
Then their is the fact that KDC shouted NZ the Fireworks,KDC lives in BrainFade Keys electorate .
in the flashiest house yeah Key will need to have cups of tea GALORE!
Gossipman have a cup of tea and lie down and just admit your have been lying land ownership in China yeah right you are always right not even.
Remember Banks said nothing derogatory at his cup of tea another lie that Banks and Key tried to cover up!
that’s what Banks thought, too.
BTW, I believe the Shania Twain “purchase” was of high country leasehold land. That pissed people off, too, when the new “owners” wanted to get rid of the public track through that land.
People had more access to the station previously, and after the sale the new owners allowed, or maybe built, a single track that people are allowed on. This is an ongoing problem, not just restricted to overseas owners, whereby traditional NZer access to land is being restricted. Much of this is to do with tourism, changes in landowners and loss of traditional values/customs, and also accidents like the beekeeper in the farm bridge that have made farmers excessively cautious.
cheers weka
I just recall front page odt maps of the walking track and suchlike – ’twas a while ago now 🙂
Gossipman every post you have put up has been a lie gossipman especially in the last week I and others have proved you wrong and even defended your one and only truthful statement about the rate of Farm ownership read Rod Oram while your about it!
Gossipman chinese land ownership Wrong again!
I hope you are not getting paid unless its per lie you tell!
Not very aware for a right wing pro business party supporter.
Poor excuse for lying
Again what lie have I supposedly told and what evidence do you have to support your view that it is a lie?
Gosman The banks have paid it all back + interest is more lies their customers have paid it all back as the banks got all the printed money at less than 1/2% interest in some cases the govt paid banks interest to take the loans free money!
That your Bill English and John Key borrowed and forced us tax payers to pay 6% on average when these multinational banks were paying nothing its costing you and me the taxpayer $4.5 billion a year just in interest Gosman we are paying it back!
All the bankruptcies and job losses loss home foreclosures that the Bank of America for example was given huge sums to allow loans to be renegotiated were not given to the foreclosed homes that could not be sold because no one had any money except the occupier ,was paid out in dividends to share holders such as your leader John Key!
Bank of America even foreclosed on homes it didn’t have mortgages on kicked rightful owners out of their houses because the repo agents got the addresses wrong not one or two but hundreds!
john key on breakfast tv on one..
..wow..!..just ‘wow!’..
..he’s really running scared..
..and just sat there throwing fistsfull of shit at laila harre..and dotcom..
..sneered at the man who took down banks..as ‘that macready’…(!)
..insinuated that labours’ raising the pension age would mean that someone currently aged 64..will see their pension-age suddenly jump to 67…
(an arguably potent tactic i and others have warned labour will be facing..with this policy..a policy they have explained so poorly..
..key can chance his arm at getting away with porkies that large..
..and of course christie has his tongue so far up key..any questioning by him is too muffled to be heard..(not that he does that..questions the serial-bullshit/spin/lies key serves up to him every mon morn..
..christie just laps it up..like the eager to please puppy he is..)
..and all in all..key looked about as ‘relaxed’ as a crackhead coming down…
Christie must be the worst journalist in NZ.
i have him and susan wood..neck and neck…
..fot that particular gong..
..the stickman in the pak ‘n save ads wd probably do a better job of interviewing key..
..he couldn’t do worse..
and christie has one final arse-kissing sign-off..
..noting/arguing that the ‘sugar-daddy’ comment from key..and the ‘two wongs’ from peters..
..’does not mean they are evil men’..
..(oh..!..the humanity of the man!…so quick to forgive..eh..?..bless him..!..)
“.the stickman in the pak ‘n save ads wd probably do a better job of interviewing key.”
thats a GREAT idea !!
I dunno. Stickman and Key have close similarities:
John Key: “Tax cuts for the rich!”
Stickman: “Is that like $1.99 week at Pak n Save?”
John Key: “Yep.”
Stickman: “That’s great news!”
I think stickman has a little more “substance” than Key possibly
Brent Edwards very positive about Labour’s launch today on MR.
He said all expenditure announced had been costed for. Contrast this with Key peevishly saying Labour are promising spending of “16 billion dollars”.
Edwards also said Cunliffe’s delivery was good and that this was what the people who voted for a change of leader last year hoped for. Worth a listen:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/20145186/election-campaigns-kick-off
And anyone claiming Cunliffe’s face is not fronting the campaign (a la Goff) take a look at the size of the picture of Cunliffe’s face on the Labour campaign bus. Excellent.
At the same time on MR there was discussion of a damning report on the shortage of specialist doctors in the health service, which must be laid at the door of this government. Ryall tries to say the doctors are supporting Labour on this and makes a fool of himself. Listen here:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/20145193/shortage-of-senior-specialist-doctors
Over the last month Nats have been invisible, Labour good policy and sounding like a government in waiting.
i didn’t see the speech..but i saw/heard the media scrum around cunnliffe post-launch..
..and heard an inpromptu speech he gave outside the venue..
..and cunnliffe was brimming over with all that he needed on the day..
..looking every inch the successful-candidate..
I am old enough to remember Muldoon’s dancing Cossacks. That was a real low in political advertising, but this new development inspired by IMP descends to depths never before seen in NZ politics. There is no place here for this sort of stunt. We do not want these sorts of orchestrated meetings here with there violent overtones, and burning of effigies is just plain distasteful. Just plain hate politics. more reminiscent of the KKK. Do you think it is a coincidence that anti- semitism has also crept into the campaign?
Harre can protest as much as she likes but IMP introduced this ‘style’ into the campaign, and as I understand the law, she won’t have any chance of getting traction on threats of legal action. Just who is running scared?
I want to vote left, but there is no chance of that with these loonies in the wings. There is no chance of Labour reclaiming the middle ground without kicking these fools to touch.
oh well pete..u can relax now..
..the effigy-burning was nothing to do with dotcom/internet/mana..
..just more lies from key..
..aided and abetted by that weasel rawdon christie..
Once was Pete, who is this WE you speak of, expressions of anger such as flag burning have long been a ‘tool’ of the political discourse here and around the world,
This We you claim to represent, obviously you want an election campaign along the lines of what Granny Herald’s Granny Fran O’Sullivan called for in Her weekend column, effete, polite, boring, designed to only impress those stuffed into their shirts,
Whomever this WE is from your comment above obviously either doesn’t understand the inherent violence inflicted on people by this National Government’s policies, or, if they do, as many would, do not in fact give a shit if you will excuse the expression,
Even in your comment here, labeling a political movement as ‘Loonies’ is somewhat of a violent reaction, the best aspect of you doing so is that such ‘labeling’ makes the Green party look positively ‘straight’ and thus your abject fear of the InternetMana expressed in terms of your above comment is to be welcomed,
Quite frankly i am extremely happy with the InternetMana Party campaign so far, it would seem that those the campaign has set out to influence are responding to a certain extent, it is of course a wait and see as to if such a camapign translates into votes,
i am tho picking this election to be the final gasp for NZFirst, and, Labour 33%, Green 12% along with InternetMana 5%,
You can choose to be ‘on board’ or not, i doubt you will be missed if the answer happens to transpire to be not…
and ‘two wongs don’t make a white’ is who labour are so eager to coalesce with..
..eh..?
..nothing wrong with that picture..?
He’s a prat. Just got to hope that Labour/Green/IMP can swing 49%.
i dunno about that happy coalition Phillip, the free doctors for over 65’s policy from Labour while maybe not a deliberate attempt to push NZFirst out the back door will to a small but certain extent go a little way to doing so…
I listened to the radio interview on the weekend about option for tax reform. Sounded all quite sensible. Of course the National Party and Act know there is more than one way to redistribute wealth — you have to get a r_e_a_l_l_y big pile to get that trickle down working…
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Im-relaxed/906405082708477
xox
“Christie a journalist” ? Is that an oxymoron, or maybe just a moron!
Some are profiting from disaster by renting Christchurch residents out of existence. Kicking tenants out so they can renovate and charge more. Maserati and other luxury cars sales on the rise. Fewer people live in houses in deprived areas – probably because they have moved to living their cars, or worse, under bridges or park benches.
Sad, sad situation.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/10369161/Rise-of-wealthy-changes-Christchurch
It’s all going swimmingly Amirite; the Speaker’s brother has got a contract to build a $284 million convention centre….
And some are earning their money in Christchurch doing the rebuilding of the city.
Possibly a “once in a lifetime” opportunity for qualified tradies to set up in business knowing that theres enough work in front of them to justify the risk of going into business.
Or for some qualified tradies to get $35 per hour swinging a paintbrush working for wages.
It is wrong to suggest that everyone making the big money in Christchurch at the moment is a rip off artist. Theres way more than 10 years work ahead of the City, so theres still time to get a building trade and join the goldrush.
“join the goldrush”
pretty much sums up your attitude doesnt it …
Yes it does. Its an opportunity for some folk in the trades to earn better wages than they would get elsewhere. Which I thought was a goal of the labour movement…..
The $35 hr paintbrush swinger I quoted was on $18 hr before he came down here. So he made some decent money, cleared his bills and eventually went home for the lifestyle choice.
And really when you have choices – choices of where to work and what to earn, then life is pretty good.
The implication that everyone making $$ from the quake repairs are somehow ripping off little old ladies and becoming slumlords is tiresome and incorrect.
A few of my family are in the building industry and they’ve looked at going to Christchurch to help out. The reason why they haven’t is because they’d be worse off.
Yes, there’s money to be made alright.
I walk my dog in my neighbourhood each evening. It’s a central city low income area. There used to be a man who also walked his dog who had lived in a rental – up the street a bit – for the last 13 years.
But, then he had to leave because the landlord wanted to renovate and rent out the house to short term tenants (e.g., those having their own homes repaired) who would pay (or whose insurance would pay) very high rentals. He simply couldn’t compete with that. He had to go into a much smaller, more ‘modest’ bedsit.
Quite a bit of that has been happening in my area.
By contrast, I have good friends who lived in a three bedroom house they are now renting out for $6,000 per month on short leases (no more than six weeks) and which is booked until next March (having already been tenanted continuously for almost a year). In the meantime, they have renovated and are living in a house bought from the ‘uninsured’ stock for very little, have bought another uninsured house (4 bedrooms) nearby that they hope to rent out for a similar amount to their original home.
It’s not about ‘evil people’ it’s about structural inequalities produced directly as a result of how the government is allowing the housing situation in Christchurch to ‘sort itself out’.
To those who already had, more is being given; to those who had little, even what they had has been taken away.
“When your rights are under attack – STAND UP! FIGHT BACK! ”
Candidate allowed on stage after threat
Veteran political activist allowed to speak next to John Key and Laila Harre tonight after legal action threatened.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10369010/Legal-action-threat-gets-candidate-on-to-stage
I wasn’t bluffing. Graham McCready was all set to help me put an injunction together, to ‘do a Colin Craig’ if I wasn’t given the same opportunity to address the voting public as was being given to candidates ‘attached’ to political parties.
I’m REALLY pleased that is no longer necessary.
Looking forward to tonight! It’s going to be FUN!
‘Her Warship’
PS: What the Fairfax reporter failed to mention was that last year, in the 2013 Auckland Mayoralty ‘race’ – I polled 4th with 11,723 votes.
The Helensville electorate sits within the Auckland Supercity (Super RIPOFF) boundaries, so I’ve been arguably working in the interests of the 99% of Helensville voters, in opposing this forced amalgamation literally since Day One.
Congratulations Penny.
Good result for Penny, the sniffy tone of organiser Holly Ryan had to be read to be believed.
Various ads and comments have been altered and or removed over the past few days including from the Baptist Church fb. There was no legitimate basis for not allowing Penny to attend.
Time: 6pm tonight
Venue: 21 Access Rd, off H16 just before Huapai
Come along and support the left candidates.
is there a mana bus in ak..?..going..?
no phillip, looks like arrange own car pooling, a Mana vehicle could well be there though
Good on you Penny. Give ’em heaps, if uppity Holly Ryan lets you.
Hey, I wonder if there will be any mention of this local issue for Huapai:
Something about a chunk of Huapai land being sold for $55 mil to a Chinese Government development group whose interests include “toll roads”…………
Well done, Penny. Wish it was being live streamed so people outside Auckland like myself could watch!
From Ohariu Labour candidate, Ginny Andersen’s fb page,
https://www.facebook.com/virginia.andersen.ohariu
an invitation to a talk by David Shearer on Gaza, 1pm at the Khandallah town hall for any interested persons in that area at that time: I think I’ll head along and see what he has to say.
https://www.facebook.com/events/673980682680041/?ref=22
Somebody needs to ask Gerry Brownlee why it is that NZTA no longer seems to have enough funding for winter road maintenance. For the first time since I moved south SH 6 was closed overnight (Kingston to Lumsden) during last weeks cold snap for nothing more than ice on the road (we expect closures due to snow most winters). Apparently there is not enough money for the regular grading and gritting that is required in winter. All at the same time we’re being bribed with the Kawerau Falls Bridge project that has abysmally failed cost-benefit analysis.
Key sounds like an idiot on Epsom and whinging, arrogant, lying and bored when commenting on the election launches of NZF and Labour here:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/20145180/john-key-could-make-another-epsom-gesture
Jaysus.
Seymour channelling Mandela, and the bag of flour resigns amidst concern Epsom voters are too independent.
https://nz.news.yahoo.com/election/a/-/24675345/act-compares-pakeha-struggles-to-apartheid/
OMG. That is a face palm of such ginormous proportions that one’s face would fall through ones hands and land on the keyboard, to be branded with key marks for a whole week. (Mihingarangi Forbes probably felt this way when she interviewed head Klan guy, Whyte, last week, especially when he denied any knowledge of Whanau Ora)
The absurdity and ignorance is stunning. Occasionally you hear crazy shit like this from regular boofheads, you don’t expect it from politicians, even ACT ones. (Well actually you do, sadly they are predictable like that)
Can someone please do us all a favour and accompany Whyte, Seymour and Co on a library outing and direct them to the NZ history section so they can have a wee read on The Treaty and our colonial history?
Gosman or other RWNJ annoying you? Or if your own writing doesn’t quite seem to quite hit the spot sometimes–try this easy graphic guide to 24 common logical fallacies. e.g. ‘Strawman’, True Scotsman’, ‘burden of proof’, ‘the Texas sharpshooter’, ‘composition/division’ etc.
https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com
See this one a lot from the RWNJs. Usually in the form of But John Key is so popular and Cunliffe isn’t with the implication that that popularity proves them right.
And this is the one that economists use as the basis for their economic hypothesis.
Dunno if this has been mentioned yet, but saw on twitter last night that invites have gone out to a Nicky Hager book launch this Wednesday.
The invite makes no mention of the title or subject, all a bit secret squirrelly really.
After the hollow men experience I am not surprised. Something to do with the US nz intelligence relations?
Yes, I saw that too, and commented at the end of yesterday’s open mike, with links.
Bryce Edward’s guess that it could be about surveillance seems like a strong possibility to me.
Open invite to the launch here.
Another tweet about it.
i do enjoy some decent investigative journalism
Been meaning to put this link up for a couple of days.
A very important question. How did the first world war end?
And a very fine read.
https://libcom.org/history/how-did-first-world-war-actually-end-paul-mason
One question for people who live out west Auckland.
I was driving around over the weekend all over the west, and saw heaps of billboards. Indeed, it appeared at every point their were a collection of these billboards, at least two were for nation. Except were labour had put up two, then there seemed to be four for national.
So silly question? Is there a limit on election spending in a area? Because my guess, and it only a ruff guess – national has spent tens of thousands of dollars on billboards in west Auckland alone.
I haven’t stopped to actually count them, but there are visually more Nat signs than any other. In my corner of the West they’re often on private fences. Only seen one Labour sign on a private fence. Reason? My guess is working class aspiration meets a particular culture. On the other hand, someone went on a rampage last week and took out all the signs along Lincoln road on the corner near the netball courts. Good job that person – acted without prejudice or restraint.
From the Rongotai electorate, the signage i have seen is pretty much even, 3 National V 2 Labour, where there are clusters most parties seem to be represented,
2 of National’s have so far been ‘altered’ and i have seen 1 Green Party billboard up on a private property, that’s pretty much the main drag out here covered,
i do not need a billboard, a Mana tee-shirt hanging in the front window is enough to give everyone in the street the message…
it forms part of their election spending cap so if they spend big there they cut back somewhere else.
Can’t say that I’ve noticed that. Must be travelling on different roads than you.
And, yes, there are limits to the advertising spend per electorate.
Never thought I would say this, but congrats to David Cunliffe and Labour on releasing a coherent, sensible, well targeted, well thought out policy in their latest health policy. Huge upside with very little downside (cost would be mostly re-couped in lower hospitalisation rates).
It targets the vulnerable based on risk of disease rather than income, now if only they could take that thinking forward…..
What do we all think about Labour Party candidates using the word “Shylock” to describe the Prime Minister?
Drum roll please….here comes the faux outrage.
There is nothing ‘faux’ about blatant racism. And there is nothing acceptable about anti semitism. Full stop!
Yes, shocking. How dare people refer to Shakespeare?
I’d say ‘Shylock’ is so commonplace and Key’s Jewish ancestry so not well known that the remark was probably carried no evil intent.
But it shows how simply a few nasty yobs behaving rudely can make everything appear tainted with wickedness.
I am waiting for you to announce that mr whyte racism is reminding you of nazi rallys in 1920 and tweeting it madly and to journalists
It’s becoming an election of (faux?) racist outrage.
Still waiting for National’s policies.
Shylock is not a term I’d used to disparage someone.
I don’t support political stirring about (alleged) Maori privilege.
Peter’s non- joke is weak an racist.
The IMP video was no more like a Nuremberg rally than many rock concerts and their videos – such things have become pretty much accepted and the norm.
Now, about National’s policies.
dont hold your breath.
Shylock
Although critics tend to agree that Shylock is The Merchant of Venice’s most noteworthy figure, no consensus has been reached on whether to read him as a bloodthirsty bogeyman, a clownish Jewish stereotype, or a tragic figure whose sense of decency has been fractured by the persecution he endures. Certainly, Shylock is the play’s antagonist, and he is menacing enough to seriously imperil the happiness of Venice’s businessmen and young lovers alike. Shylock is also, however, a creation of circumstance; even in his single-minded pursuit of a pound of flesh, his frequent mentions of the cruelty he has endured at Christian hands make it hard for us to label him a natural born monster. In one of Shakespeare’s most famous monologues, for example, Shylock argues that Jews are humans and calls his quest for vengeance the product of lessons taught to him by the cruelty of Venetian citizens. On the other hand, Shylock’s coldly calculated attempt to revenge the wrongs done to him by murdering his persecutor, Antonio, prevents us from viewing him in a primarily positive light. Shakespeare gives us unmistakably human moments, but he often steers us against Shylock as well, painting him as a miserly, cruel, and prosaic figure.
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/merchant/canalysis.html
Shylock is also a derogatory term used against Jewish people to insinuate they are part of some evil world financial conspiracy. If you don’t think that is what the Labour candidate for Timaru meant you are fooling yourself. I note that candidate has been silent on the subject, so he doesn’t appear to be resiling from his hateful comment.
Key has a background in finance, however, so a ‘Shylock’ reference doesn’t necessarily imply the utterer is referring to his Jewish background. Though it was unfortunate. And very typical of this blunder prone Labour party.
Thank God we’ve got Nicky Hager, who managed to accomplish more in the last 20 hours than Labour have in the last 20 months.
Agree about Peters and the general tone creeping into the election, but can’t agree about IMP. The norm? I don’t think so, and not in this country.
Many of the kinds of propaganda techniques that Goebbels explored during the 3rd Reich, have pervaded society international – various kinds of manipulation of the masses, including cords. They have been normalised.
Ever been to a rock/punk concert? Back in my day – plenty of crowd chants against the government of the day using expletives.
are you happier with Liar in Chief?
It’s probably more accurate at least.
who said that Matthew?
Steve Gibson, Labour’s Rangitata candidate (although presumably about to be replaced).
as someone who recently compared a imp gathering to a nazi gathering in the 20s, what do you think k?
bryan vould once wrote
” The bouquets, of course, are welcome and enjoyable when they come, but the brickbats – and they can come thick and fast – can hurt. Politicians, like Shylock, bleed like anyone else. ”
slater is rabidly typing his admonishment….and farrar is close to hospitalisation, so affronted are they by whatever was said by someone unheard of.
tactical. Look at the date of the FB post. They’ve been saving this one up. Pathetic really, and this is the worst they can come up with.
I think shyster is more accurate.
probably, but still unadvisable for a Labour party candidate to say such a thing on FB the month before a general election.
Agreed. No matter how apt the description is, it clearly departs from the Vote Positive message and I’m sure he’s being told that right now.
stand him down. it will make cunliffe look like he is standing by being positive a highlights keys nastiness and inaction
IMO, an honest public apology and so on would be more appropriate – and rub home genuine accountability in Labour, rather than brownlee’s pretend resignation.
It’s obviously racist, what a twit.
You really are a dipstick to join in on this hate crap.
i would have gone with S@*thead….
I always liked the Merchant of Venice. But not really accurate of FJK is it, as he keeps borrowing money, rather than lending it.
It’s nasty and clearly anti-Semitic mud-slinging, and Gibson should face exactly the same consequences as the kind of people who compare their opponents to Nazis and sugar daddies.
touche
Yep, Key should be replaced immediately!….[and then prosecuted for a variety of his statements and deeds] Being an honest and fair person, I expect that Matthew Hooton will lead the charge in his umpteen media ‘expert’ commentaries.
What do I think? They should probably update their ethno-religious slurs. I’d prefer kike, to shylock, has a clear ring to it. With kike, you can shout it over the top of other people yelling about wops, dinks, chinks, muzzies, fuzzie-wuzzies, rugs, and sugar-daddy Krauts and still be heard clearly. Of course, nothing like that has happened since 1956, but we can dream.
I dunno:
Some might say its an apt description of his former wheeler/dealer background.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/shylock
That really doesn’t improve the situation, Anne. The whole reason “Shylock” has become a slang term for “cruel moneylender” and the like is because of the historic situation in which European moneylenders were predominantly Jewish. At its core it’s an anti-Semitic term, and it’s prejudice is only reinforced by the fact that Key is both of Jewish heritage and from a financial background.
What some of you fail to recognise is that the candidate who made the comment in the first place (and many other individuals who have made similar comments from time to time) are invariably unaware of the historical context of the word “Shylock”. Call it ignorance if you like, but more often than not they are doing so under the impression it simply refers to a dishonest money trader. Their lack of knowledge of literature and history is such, they have little to no idea of the Jewish link.
The candidate in question has apologised profusely for his error and has admitted he didn’t know the back-ground to the saying and how offensive it would be to many people.
Just give a little folks…
You’re missing the point. The term has several levels of connotation and gibson is only being anti-Semitic if he intended to use it that way. If he didn’t, he’s just being stupid. Shylock isn’t quite like nigger, which comes front-loaded with its hateful meanings. Gibson could easily have been using without intending to bring in the whole history of the Jews. It might have been, as Anne said, a reference to Key’s background in finance, without Key’s Jewish parentage being on the rather shallow mind of Mr Gibson.
That might require a fair degree of ignorance about the play, but cultural imbecility isn’t that uncommon among those prone to muttering insults on face book.
Personally, I find this comment incredibly distasteful, and quite cretinous!
Given you record of faulty logic on numerous occasions, what you ‘find’ is of no consequence to me.
how do you feel about outright lying there..pete..?
..like key on breakfast tv this morn claiming the effigy-burning vid had been posted by internet/mana..?
..and under their name..?
..every word a total lie..
..and words that are clearly ‘cretinous’…
..but how ‘distasteful’ do you find such blatant/casual lying by the prime minister..?
..there..pete..?
“Personally, I find this comment incredibly distasteful, and quite cretinous!”
Yeah, funny that, as I found Key’s throat slitting gesture in the house incredibly distasteful, and quite cretinous
Unfortunately the only link I can find is to KB
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2014/08/labour_party_candidate_calls_john_key_shylock.html
I see the date on that is the 28th July. Been saving this one up for the Monday after the Labour Party election campaign launch Matthew?
On the face of it, Gibson is an arse and should be held to account. I asked the question elsewhere today about why Labour allow their MPs and candidates to do shit like this. Not for the first time I think Labour MPs/candidates need minders for their FB and twitter accounts.
Following that link, what does your “Yep…” comment on twitter mean Mickey Savage?
It’s a response to the picture about Epsom and voting against the rort.
Ta
ditto
have you found matties public comparison of whytes repeated inciting of racial division to 1920s nazi germany. have googled but cant find it.
Nickey Hager and KDC got you in a spin their mad hater!
Wee Matty, i prefer the term Shyster when addressing Slippery the Prime Minister,
Shylock according to my Book of Words, refers to a heartless or demanding lender,
Whereas Shyster according to the same good book refers to a Lawyer or Politician who uses discreditable or unethical methods,
Hence the PM seems in my opinion to fit the epithets of Slippery little Shyster to a T…
Oh come now Matthew, surely you realise that by now that if anyone of the left says anything racist, sexist or homophobic (and IMP provides this in spades) it’s intellectualised around. Winston gets written off entirely for something offensive but relatively light weight.
Look around you – people lose their nana when Whyte calls Dame Susan of Squash a drunk, but when Minto makes jokes about Winston’s liver no one batters an eyelid.
Hypocrisy makes the world go round.
Too busy battering our fish Populuxe…
While I don’t intend to repeat it here, remember the ACT party member who described JohnKey in such a way that his membership was cancelled? This appears to be a problem with the far right.
“What do we all think …”
Presumably you have some idea of what you, in particular, think so you could partially answer your own question.
“candidates“?
Plural?
As for me, I see the word ‘Shylock’ as similar to the term ‘sugar daddy’. Both leverage off an original meaning that is offensive.
The main difference I see in the two episodes is that one was uttered by someone who is a candidate for office. The other was uttered by someone who has been Prime Minister for six years.
And what do you think, Matthew, about a Prime Minister who uses the term ‘sugar daddy’?
I don’t know but this might help: After A.R.D. Fairburn, the poet, had re-boarded the train to Auckland after a comfort stop at Mercer, the NZR steward asked him if everything was to his satisfaction his response was,
“This squalid tea of Mercer is not strained”
Steve Gibson calling John Key Shylock means that he has to be delisted as the Labour candidate ASAP. Failure to do so means that Labour endorse Anti-Semitic Jew hating language.
Nonsense. It’s a throw away word, like sugar daddy, apparently.
I’m sure you also agree that the National candidate who called Laila Harre a whore and Kim Dotcom a pimp should also resign. But I appeared to have missed the comment where you said so.
Please provide a link to where a National party candidate has called Laila Harre a “whore” and Dotcom a “pimp”
I believe he is referring to mr key saying lailla harre was getting dotcoms money in return for sex.
Prime Minister John Key doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with referring to Kim Dotcom as Internet Party leader Laila Harre’s “sugar daddy”.
Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/John-Key-stands-by-sugar-daddy-comment/tabid/1607/articleID/355757/Default.aspx#ixzz3A3LZHl4P
I’m well aware of the sugar daddy comment, I’m looking for proof of the claim of a “National candidate who called Laila Harre a whore and Kim Dotcom a pimp”.
On a side note, it is my understanding that a “whore” does not have sex with their “pimp”
Indeed, because that would be ethically dubious given the power relationships involved /sarc
Complete rubbish! There was no reference to or insinuation that Harre was getting money for sex with Dotcom. Sugar daddy has a wider implication than sex for favours.
And the word shylock has nothing to do with Jewish people. /sarc
Lets stick with apples and apples shall we? Conflating two separate subjects has confused you. Either that, or you are being deliberately obtuse. Of course the word Shylock has something to do with Jewish people. It is one of the more racist and derogatory terms that could be used. Best not to even joke about it. best not to use it in a political campaign, and best to distance yourself from it when a colleague does use it.
By your rules the National candidate who called Laila Harre a whore has to resign, and your silence on the subject speaks volumes.
Raise the double standard.
Someone who has been with five different political parties isn’t necessarily a whore.
Someone who campaigns for women’s rights, but takes loads of money from someone who runs porn sites, and makes jokes about rape and killing prostitutes isn’t a whore – well perhaps she is, but not necessarily in a sexual way.
you’re too slow for the party in so many ways, john…
Harre’s fake outrage and offense is so transparent – she took a job being the mouthpiece for someone who makes money by trading porn and ripping people off.
Few things will push moderate voters to the right like Dotcom, except perhaps the addition of Hone (I don’t want my daughter dating a pakeha) Harawira, and John Minto
thanks for your concern, john.
That’s some lovely partisan hyperbole you’ve got there John. I especially admire the way it reveals the depths of misogyny you’re prepared to explore for your #team.
The revelations about your #team are coming thick and fast just now. Is this the right time for you to be embracing them so overtly?
oh, fucking bullshit. Enough with the faux moral outrage.
The BSA has NO decisions relating to the use of the word “shylock”, even though it’s not entirely unfamiliar to pop culture. Yes, in some contexts it can be offensive, but it’s not exactly in the territory of, say, the N-word.
heh – tories feigning liberal moral outrage suggests another extract might be appropriate:
So why did Cunliffe feel the need to talk to Gibson, and Gibson feel the need to remove the post and apologise?
I imagine it’s because he thinks it’ll stop idiots like you bleating for too long.
because name-calling isn’t “positive”.
If you think Shylock is the “one of the more racist and derogatory” things a Jew can be called, you’ve lived a very sheltered life.
When your argument rests on the finer points of bigotry you know you’re onto a winner. No, wait…
Really? Then there’s more to “Shylock” than just the racist implication.
snap karol 🙂
What are the ‘wider implications’ Pete? Please supply any citations that suggest anything other than a sexual and financial arrangement. Take your time, I know it’s a big ask.
Took me 30 seconds to find this (Merriam-Webster):
SUGAR DADDY
a rich, older man who gives money, gifts, etc., to someone (such as a young woman) in exchange for sex, friendship, etc.
She’s on the lookout for a new sugar daddy.
— sometimes used figuratively in U.S. English
politicians getting money from their corporate sugar daddies
Sorry, but as hard as I tried, couldn’t find any evidence of ‘figurative’ usage for ‘Shylock’.
Renee Russo, John Travolta, Danny Devito.
Not exactly obscure.
I’ve established the (obvious) point that ‘sugar daddy’ can be used figuratively. The term ‘Shylock’ is quite different – it just can’t be used (in any sense) by aspiring politicians (unless they wish to be accused of being anti semitic, or completely stupid). I think Gibson falls in to the second category for what it’s worth.
so now I’ve presented a full hollywood scene that has “shylock” used figuratively (not the only one, either), you shift the goalposts to politicians only.
super.
“Sorry, but as hard as I tried, couldn’t find any evidence of ‘figurative’ usage for ‘Shylock’.”
I think you’ll find the first figurative use of Shylock would be a in a play called ‘The Merchant of Venice’, by William Shakespeare.
“I’ve established the (obvious) point that ‘sugar daddy’ can be used figuratively.”
You didn’t ‘establish’ that. We already knew it. There is no Chelsea style sugar involved, so the phrase is a metaphor for an exploitative sexual relationship. What you established was that if you dig deep enough in google, an unlikely alternative explanation can be found. Not that it helps the sleazy Key.
lol
that might be because the grown-up M-W dictionary has two definitions – one shakespearian and the other ” : to lend money at high rates of interest <exposé of systematic thievery…shylocking, and murder — Current Biography> ”
wiktionary has the character as etymology, and also an interesting quote from a politician:
I guess the goalposts will move again…
Weirdly, that quote isn’t from the dinkum Merriam-Webster dictionary but from something they like to call the ‘learners dictionary’. Something you want to tell us, janmeyer? And it’s well hidden in the search results, so well done on finding it just 30 seconds.
http://www.learnersdictionary.com/definition/sugar%20daddy
Even that alternative usage doesn’t fit the circumstances. Nah, Key meant it in the way Wikipedia calls it:
“Sugar daddy is a slang term for a man who offers to support a typically younger woman or man after establishing a relationship that is usually sexual.”
Wonder if he thinks of Bronagh in the same way?
Sorry – correction to previous comment (I’m new around here): precedent for figurative usage of term sugar daddy is from ‘Merriam-Webster Learners Dictionary’ and not ‘dinkum Merriam-Webster dictionary’.
I preferred you putting the boot in to IMP the other day TRP!
Be great if those screaming re the stupid, clumsy, and I agree objectionable resort to the word “Shylock” could be relied upon to express such outrage about the hundreds of dead children of Gaza. Now and in previous shooting fish in a barrel expeditions. Oh well……that’s Exceptionalism for ya.
I subscribe to the world view of Norman Finklestein – charges of anti-semitism frequently amount to moral initimidation to conceal a moral bankruptcy in the accuser. Send your outrage to Santa Claus.
The cheapness of it is immeasurably more disgraceful for the fact that it’s invoked essentially in furtherance of something as utterly trivial as John Key’s electoral fortunes.
Fukn soul-less hypocrites !
@ pete..and what exactly are those other meanings’ for sugar daddy..?
..that you claim..?
..the only one i cd find is ‘a caramel lollipop’..
..and i don’t think key meant that..do you..?
Fishy your spin is getting desperate !
GCSB march well before formation of IMP, they seem to be telling someone called “Key” to f**k off…
Nonsense.
IMP are the only people in NZ who can’t stand that fucking prick John Key and they’re the only people who swear about it.
Damn Naz1s, protesting about spies like the traitors they are.
[lprent: I was thinking godwin. But it fitted in the context. ]
Can all readers and lurkers in Northland check their family’s vaccinations are up to date so we can quash the latest Measles outbreak.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1408/S00044/further-cases-of-measles-in-northland.htm
There has been a lot of comment and some evidence that this election is shaping up to be more bitter than any other. I’m old enough to have voted in 10 elections but must admit haven’t paid too much attention to the fight before now. If any political leader stood out as truly caustic and divisive post Muldoon it’s really just Bob Jones and maybe at times, Hone Harawera. No-one can compete with Bob Jones though for his sheer disregard for fellow humankind.
The right wing hate speech merchants pick up on the bitterness and vandalism in the lead up to this election as evidence that the opposition are increasingly immoral, anti-Semitic, and lead around by the nose by a Nazi sympathiser. They do this to create easily digestible media sound bites for their community intolerant conservative friends.
However, while I think the opposition are indeed desperate I believe the fault of the break from civilised difference and debate can be laid squarely at the feet of the current Prime Minister John Key and the culture of deceit and divisiveness not seen since the 3rd and 4th National Governments.
Whether John Key has deliberately divided this country at the behest of his Australian PR company, or whether that division has arisen from the relentless series of divisional policies is still up for debate, but what is certain is the he is responsible for the mean tone and split in the country right now.
https://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/24686172/election-campaign-getting-ugly/
I mean this is a headline in a major web based news site in NZ. It quotes National party klingon, Clare Robinson with her delicate sensibilities and appalling research abilities, attributing the passion of this campaign to the number of parties involved.
That’s it.
That’s the view of a Massey University professor with links to the National party. Nothing to do with the culture of hate, disrespect, dismissiveness, and divisiveness that the National government has fostered under the reign of John Key?
How about for once a political marketing expert actually does some sort of academic research into the many reasons why this campaign is at flashpoint compared to the norm in this country, instead of weakly saying, “it’s because there are too many parties”.
WB @ 25.1 1000+
Once was Pete. I would like to know your opinion of WhaleOils blog and if you think his demonization of the most vulnerable over the past decade is justified.
National MP’s are being quoted in the news ‘whining’ about damage to their billboards while all the other parties messages remain largely untouched,
i well remember last election as i drove through ‘the gap’ into the local electorate i came across a couple of young lads gleefully and effectively turning a National Party billboard into matchwood in broad daylight,
Being a concerned citizen i immediately leapt from the car with the intent of making a citizens arrest, ok ok i am of course bullshitting you all,
Coming across that scene last election i did the only thing possible, quietly bringing my ride to a safe stop and then indulging myself in an elongated burst of mad laughter,
The youths concerned totally oblivious to the small audience they had attracted simply finished their ‘electoral project’ and sauntered off nonchalantly up the road imitating those of us who had stopped to watch their efforts laughing fit to bust…
Your glee at criminal damage to private property shows the typical Left belief that the end always justifies the means. It does not. The orchestrated cowardly anti-democratic attacks show the impotence of the Left. You do not understand how often National get a call from people to offer their property for a hoarding when they see vandalism. It also indicates how much we are on the right track.
Offering the property around these parts Fisiani i would not think a very wise thing to do, the gusto with which the two youths i previously described took to their ‘work’ last election would tend to suggest that any part of the property such billboards were attached to would be in danger of suffering the same damage as the National Party message does around here…
Fuzzyanil hey sheepshagger So so-cold respectable upper middle class National supporters wrecking Left wing hoardings are not ready to take responsibility and are a superior type of vandal with their better education and circumstances!
Running them over in the Range Rover isn’t vandalism.
lolz yeah it’s pretty sad when the govt mps are complaining about how strongly they are disliked.
Lemme get this straight: Key gets called a word that apparently refers to someone who is both jewish and a banker…
…and offense is taken at the jewish bit?
Jeez it must be weird out there on the right.
lol meanwhile the tories are certain that dunnokeyo used “sugardaddy” in a hitherto unknown sense that does not involve sex for cash.
And Wall St is well known for its love of $1000/hr hookers.
Helensville ‘Lockdown’ candidate meeting packed out, sizable crowd outside basically turned away including me, Bomber Bradbury and various others. Reps there from New Lynn Labour LEC, Greens, Māori Party, IMP and various issue based signs. Some stayed on with the media cops and drivers.
Mouthy local Nats, got a few “fuck offs” in when Key entered, Laila Harre´got good reception.
I was inside. I have a post in my head, but don’t have the energy to write it tonight.
The young Maori Party candidate shone in that context.
Why was Brent Edwards removed?
He wasn’t removed – just too late to get in, I think.
Well I’ll be darned… if we aint got one of them forks in the road for ourselves in these lands.
Ever since them students lit the tinderbox last week with “Fuck John Key.. Fuck John Key … Fuck John Key…” (and my hasn’t that taken off all around the parts) all sorts of shit is flying. Imo it indicates that perhaps the silent sector of youth and disaffected have shunned their reticence, abandoned their lack of hope that change may ever come, finally found a voice to call shit, have grabbed gleefully at the chance to tell the old guard to “fuck off”
Methinks this election will be a watershed in generational change in aotearoa.
You know the thing that really worried them about that video? It wasn’t FJK, it was the call for revolution. It bypasses the intellect and goes straight to the fear centres where they know they’d be the first against the wall 😉
Mobile phone companies have failed – it’s time to nationalise them
No, I wouldn’t be surprised to find that was the same in NZ. Privatisation of our assets has left us worse off and most people realise that.
The neo-liberal experiment has failed – just like it failed in the 19th century ending in the Great Depression.
And there we have an economists saying exactly what I’ve been saying for years.
Been to Kumeu.
There’s some control freakish rightees there.
No prizes for guessing who was the one candidate who broke the rules and couldn’t resist debating/dissing another party….? And after the crowd started calling out “rules, rules…” the host woke up and threatened to expel fore mentioned candidate.
In response to a question about how to end child poverty, did Key actually say, with gusto, “give all the kids jobs”….!?!
The US airstrikes in Iraq have been effective at the surviving Yezidi refugees have made it to safety in the Kurdish territories.
It appear to have had some positive effects. Too bad it won’t help the Iraqi government which is collapsing and martial law appears imminent in Baghdad after a coup d’etat.
Hardly suprising when you put the Shia minority in charge of the Sunni majority. The massive clusterfuck which is Iraq from, say, the Second Iraq War onward can squarely be laid at the feet of Bush and Blair. However not everything the US does is entirely self interested or a fuck up – this being a case in point. Similarly the Balkans intervention.
So, you know that song about John Key that Darren Watson released last week?
Well it seems that the NZ Police have been sent to a radio station that played it and told them not to play it again.
Weird. Who be responsible for that?
How the fuck are the cops able to do that? Maurice Williamson, hello?
interesting. A source/link would be nice.
Details tomorrow, apparently…
Interesting. Link?
That is weird. Why the police and not a letter from a lawyer?
great video, I hadn’t seen that before.
Last time they waited until the last week before sending the cops around to media outlets…
Like an actual source. Not someone heard something on the grapevine and posted on FB
You don’t have to take any notice of this, Pop.
Last word, Felix?
??
From the FB link
‘Third parties cannot broadcast at any time a programme that appears to encourage or persuade voters to vote, or not to vote, for a party or candidate.’
Stops people buying up the airwaves, but maybe it’s what caught this tune out?
http://www.elections.org.nz/media-handbook/part-2-election-broadcasting
it’s being regarded as election advertising so has to be registered???
just watched it and posted to all my under 30 friends facebooks…
So…everything I have posted in the last little while has gone into auto-moderation?
[lprent: extra ‘s’? Means that someone has to let you out of moderation once before you stop getting auto moderated. ]
Uh, way too much coffee, must be seeing multiple bogies. Thanks lprent.
I thought you might be replicating 🙂
😀 that’s exactly what a few people have been worrying about down here!!!
Petty, gratuitous behaviour from Holly Ryan the apparent organiser of the Helensville ‘gag’ (as opposed to ‘gig’) towards Penny Bright . “Uninvited”, “shoving”, “bullying” or some such as she introduced Her Warship.
‘Onya Penny for your mature retort about rights and the exercise thereof. Very nicely you took the last word from tory control freak Holly of the Limited Universe.