“National Party MP for Invercargill Sarah Dowie said she “didn’t pay too much attention” to Turei’s resignation.
“The Left are well known for this. They are in turmoil”, Dowie said.
“Labour and Greens are fused at the hip;it’s no surprise they are going through these leadership issues – we’re used to it”.
“Invercargill Labour Party candidate Liz Craig said Turei had done “tremendous work” during her tenure. “I knew Metiria when I was involved in child poverty advocacy work and I respect the heart she had for social change”. “I wanted to acknowledge the tremendous work she has done in that space over the years.”
Turei was “amateurish”, “didn’t manage/control the narrative”, etc:
These are all neoliberal managerialist technocrat values – and they ignore the power imbalance, that is ultimately a race & gender-charged class struggle.
If she had continued campaigning against poverty and for beneficiaries, the way she has done for years, the MSM would have continued to largely ignore her. Once she started getting attaention and support for her policies and campaign, those on the side of the establishment and status quo would try to attack her, and vilify her, in any way they could.
“If she had continued campaigning against poverty and for beneficiaries, the way she has done for years, the MSM would have continued to largely ignore her.”
All these carefully crafted leaks from Turei’s past indiscretions were meant to undermine her credibility and in the end she had no choice but to resign. Calling NZF a racist party was a big mistake, Peters has many informants and knows where the bodies are buried.
@ Carolyn_nth … I stand to be corrected here, but I thought after Metiria’s public statements re calling NZF a racist party, in response Winston said something along the lines of “… there will be consequences …”
Whether that comment of Winston’s is partly or fully the result of the lead up to Metiria’s resignation, is anyone’s guess!
NZ First leader Winston Peters has bailed up Green co-leader Metiria Turei for calling him “racist”, saying such attacks would have consequences.
Speaking on Q+A this morning, Turei said Peters was “on a roll” partly because of “a very racist approach to immigration”.
“The worst of his rhetoric is coming out.”
In response, Peters issued a statement saying it was the Green Party which had “racially separatist policies” and appeared to warn of consequences for the Green Party in any post-election talks.
…
Turei’s comment also drew fire from NZ First MP Tracey Martin on Twitter. Martin said that by describing her as racist “you make it very difficult to sit at the table and believe it is mutually respectful”.
Meteria was not only was hounded for telling the truth, but she also put paid to the lie that beneficiaries could get out of their situation if they were willing to follow all the rules, and pull themselves out of poverty if they only wanted to.
Telling the truth about her life was bad enough.
But exposing the lie that gives comfort to many – unforgivable.
Environment goods and social goods go hand in hand. Our media sucks eggs, it’s underfunded and so useless. N.Korea will launch a nuke and explode it, in orbit. Destroying satalites, Guam is just nonsense. Kim wants respect, take him down now.
Climate change act now before summer hits the Sun, Sun storm alter the heating reaching the Earth, to as we slowly cook ourselves like a lobster, the sun could up the heat at anytime, dicing with extinction is clueless. Nats have no answers just stay the course, whatever on tourism on housing on social on environment, it’s just a joke to them requiringbthem to fiddle the controls a little, oh and build congested roads on a volcanic field. Geez National is dumb.
The Palms Shopping Centre Christchurch does not like getting people onto the Electoral Roll! This week I grabbed a bunch of enrolment packs and after shopping at the supermarket offered them to people in the mall as I made my way to the car park. I was on the lookout for younger people and displayed the packs in my hand. After 12 people had taken a pack, a security guard arrived to escort me from the premises. Apparently it is not allowed!! I had been picked up on a security camera. I have done this in other shopping malls in Christchurch with no problems. I am 72 years old.
Wows !!! Venezia, I admire what you are doing to encourage the youth to enroll this election.
That’s shocking re the security guard, one would have thought they had better things to do than harrass an older women for promoting the democratic system.
Interesting James. It is regarded as a public space so long as the people entering it engage in consumer behaviour – buying stuff, browsing in shops, eating coffee and muffins. You don’t need permission to come in or go out
However if they enter this space and do other things – even things that are not illegal, intrusive, dangerous or annoying – it is suddenly private property.
Seems to me a little bit like wanting to have your cake (or overpriced blueberry muffin) and eat it at the same time.
Basic law 101: A shopping centre isn’t any different from this site or for that matter for your home.
It is private property that is often accessible to selected guests. While the community through laws and regulations impose restrictions on the owners. The owners of private property can also impose rules on guests using their property.
It isn’t like a public road – which is the analogy that I suspect that you are straining for. That is a false analogy. And even there the the legal system. central and local government all impose limits to use. Roads may be cleared for parades. You can’t set up tables in the middle of a roadway. etc etc
Consider that developments on private property aren’t paid for and maintained out of community funds. So the body that maintains the property is able to impose their own rules on top of whatever the community imposes upon them through the body of law.
There is also no difference between a shopping center (or this website) and your own home. In all cases while you can allow guests to share it, you can also restrict access or make rules stop behaviors that you find objectionable.
I think the analogy approach is wrong. By using analogy it is very easy to come up with a wrong answer. For example Government is often spoken of as if it was like a household, that it has to live within its means. As has been said, Government is only like a household with a money printing press in the basement.
Regarding malls, malls are not like ones home, the analogy is wrong and the conclusions reach via that analogy are wrong.
The analogy approach allows the writer to pick and choose . In this case you have chosen to say that a mall is like a home and not like a road.
The analogy explained the perspective of the law: a mall is private property. Anyone can be refuced access for any reason, as long as any reason given does not violated the human rights act.
In fact, people can be escorted off public property, e.g. the Speaker of the House can trespass people from the grounds of Parliament. Universities, as arms of the Crown, can also trespass people off their campusses.
James, the owner of the shopping center and car park is AMP.
The behavior of Venezia was in no way biased at any political party, anti competitive, intrusive, offensive or criminal. I suspect however, that who ever sat at the screen watching and/or giving the marching orders did so by “assuming” that any of the above is the case. Perhaps he/she should have checked facts and also sought response from the owner of the premise?
I would complain to management. Go right to the top and the electoral commission. Security guards often do things like this if not properly briefed. Management will probably apologise Look what happened at the local government conference where a Maori and a Samoan delegate were challenged.
Apparently it was management who gave the instructions. I yesterday learned from a young person who used to work at The Palms ( now at my local Mall ) that the management there is very difficult. She used some choice language to describe them. Nothing better to do than obstruct a perfectly legal activity. I asked people “are you enrolled to vote? ” showing the enrolment pack with orange man on front. Some younger people said “just what I need” and Interesting that older people are taking packs for their grandkids. I have emailed the Electoral Commission.
That’s awful. Perhaps just get on with enrolling people in other locations or else if you have the energy contact local media and the electoral commission.
a) – A lot of Malls have electoral people in them handing out forms anyway (you know proper ones).
b) I note that the mall had forms there anyway (thats where she got them from).
c) I note she was on the lookout for ‘younger people’ – Why not ask everybody if you are genuine – as opposed to selecting people who might be more in line with your political views.
I missed the bit in the thread where you got B from, and I’m sure venezia is a proper person.
I think it was dickish behaviour by the mall (didn’t their ownership get council or govt money a while back? Something like that…), but yeah, they were in their rights.
The big problem for malls is that even a portable stall or person with a clipboard is a prime moneymaker due to the foot traffic – they usually don’t mind charitable things, but just a couple of months ago I saw a salesman being escorted out because he was trying to blag what was a regular spot for charities in my local mall – I think it was Barnados or cancer foundation was waiting to set up after the delboy wannabe was finally gone.
They sometimes have to book those school sausage sizzle spots weeks in advance, if not longer.
No James. I arrived with a bunch of enrolment packs, and I also picked up some more from the Post shop. I was handing them out at the furthest end of the mall away from the Post shop.
I have noticed that you often make stuff up in order to take the mickey out of people.
Don’t worry James, its all OK and in the green zone… the synthetic cannabis usage gets a good viewing on private car parks around the country and not to worry too much about drunks hanging out on weekends either. The fighting and submissions to hospitals is taxpayer funded so that is absolutely fine you know. Its a lot easier to mussel an elderly person, it could have been a paper cut from a template – very dangerous indeed.
AMP, the owner of car parks near you, proudly looking after your retirement Kiwi saver fund. Just don’t get stupid ideas about handing out leaflets promoting democracy because they are concerned about the people in their twilight years. Yeah right.
Very cool what you are doing. Like Fairy Godmother I reckon a complaint is warranted but you might be better using your time to hand out enrolments elsewhere.
Winegrowers having a crack at labour re water, scare mongering via the national party.
FYI, National Party hoardings at a large vineyard in our region.
How many vineyards are also publically vocal national supporters? Anyone else out there seen national party hoardings displayed at vineyards? Are their water opinions biased much? Alcohol lobbyists mhmmmm
On the rare occasions I can afford to buy wine these days, I try not to buy NZ-made stuff and pretty much for this reason. Also that there is better South American, Spanish and Italian stuff at lower prices.
It was a bit rich listening to list Mp Maureen Pughs patsy set up sup question about water and vineyards/horiculture yesterday to Nick Smith when her hoarding is displayed at Seifrieds vineyard in Appleby.
The reason why South American wine is so cheap is that the wages paid in Chile in particular are well below survivable level. Might pay to do a bit of research before drinking. Spain and Argentina are not much better.
Not a good choice for a leftie.
NZ wages are at least above minimum wage level and quite often considerably above that, good pruners on contract would be above $25 hr. But it is not easy work.
It not surprising that Nat signs are on vineyards, a lot of vineyards are on old family farms and they’ve certainly not a hotbed of left sympathisers.
BTW, you’d be surprised how many family vineyards and wine companies are owned by Labour and Green members and supporters.
“family vineyards and wine companies are owned by Labour and Green members and supporters”.
But of course they are. Where do you think the Chardonnay Socialists, also known as the Wadestown Wadicals of Wellington get their booze from?
Local Labour campaigns have been financed by wine sales of such naughty little numbers as “Socialist Chardonnay”, “Political Savvy” and “Reds under the Bed”. The last had a descriptor “You will be left leaning after a bottle of this”.
Signs in rural areas for Labour are often targeted. It’s very canine out there. Dogs hate having the smell of another on their territory.
I remember putting up one sign on the very rural but aptly named (or so I thought) Red Post corner. Two locals in a ute drove by this sign which was 10 metres inside a private fence line. They yelled out to me that it wouldn’t last long. It, and like others like it, lasted a day.
It was replaced with two signs. A second on another property was not replaced. The property owner told me she feared for her property as the vandals had trespassed and climbed up a water tower to do their damage.
The ute in this story had a dog on the back. Of the three occupants, it was the least feral.
The names of the wine sound wonderful. Is it still available or was it in a past election?
“Reds under the beds”, AND the alternate “left leaning” description would be great to offer to some of my right leaning friends.
Was it any good?
I hope they had a licence to sell it though. I have vague memories of a political party that did something like this and one of their opponents tried to get them prosecuted because the candidate didn’t have a licence to sell the few dozen bottles concerned.
The memory is so vague I can’t even remember whether it was here or when I lived in Oz. Neither can I remember which were the parties involved.
Destruction, or defacement of signs is, unfortunately a very Kiwi habit. It doesn’t just happen to the left leaning parties. I have just come up Aro Street in Wellington and the billboards for nearly every party had some damage. Not all the billboards of course but at least one for each of them had some damage.
Alwyn, past elections I’m afraid, but top quality wine. Well known producer here. All my purchases consumed. Good marketing, good profit and totally legal.
I had a beer tonight (small town, eh!) with the opposition rural bill board erecting specialist and discussed our mutual annoyance with people who deface and steal billboards. It is anti-democratic and criminal, costly and ultimately futile.
We Kiwis have some bad habits and national traits around alcohol, driving, violence and suicide, blame, empathy and tax evasion. Otherwise it’s Godzone.
When I have been driving on isolated highways going through country areas the cars in the area have mostly had young men in them and I had a feeling of them being barely tamed by laws and self-discipline.
No James – the South American stuff is cheaper too. I’m merely being a rational, self-interested, self-maximising individual. Have you forgotten what your own ideology prescribes?
Also in that column reason was this about Materia.
“I have always said I did have really fantastic support from friends and family and that Piupiu’s family really supported me especially when I was in law school with things like you know, child care, stuff like that. Like the sort of stuff that you would expect.”
Fair enough but it mirrors what was being said about Bennett with the question added about financial support for her from her family. Wonder if that question will be explored with equal enthusiasm?
Bennett will not reveal any info about her past, nor will Bill English about any of his 450 texts. MSM will not press these matters for obvious reasons, ie I want to keep my job: John Campbell.
I was in a similar situation to Metiria in the 1990s ianmac. The difference being I was looking after an elderly mother who slowly succumbed to Alzheimers. There was help from family members in the early years, but as time passed resentment built and two of my siblings began to spread rumour and innuendo among the relatives. The case ended up in court but was swiftly discarded when it became evident the accusations had no truth to them. In my case, the aim of the exercise was to have my share of the estate taken from me and shared among my siblings. They failed.
I tell the story as an example of how relatives in the heat of the moment can re-invent history – and even convince themselves its correct – without any understanding of the truth of historical and semi-historical events.
I wonder if this is in part what happened to Metiria. I also heard her talk of the “fantastic support” she received from “PIupiu’s family”, so it looks to me like a member of that family jumped on the phone to John Campbell before checking out the substance of Metiria’s public interviews.
If my own experiences are anything to go by, they probably had no idea how financially desperate Metiria really was at the time. I was reduced at one point to wearing old sandels with holes in the soles and the heels falling off my shoes. I couldn’t even afford to go to the Warehouse and replace them.
A tough existence Anne but you have risen inspite of the ratbags.
I do know of a similar one where a woman in her late teens early20s, who lived and took care of her Grandma as she succumbed to Alzheimers. When her Gran died the sons and daughters ordered her out of the house in case she claimed it for herself. Miserable beggars!
Same sort of paranoid group-think. In my case they convinced themselves I had manipulated my mother into gifting me the land on which my home was built. I produced legal documents to prove I paid the going rate.They forgot to check out that possibility. 😉
Just received an email from Newsroom. I think they are serious about publishing serious column/research from serious journalists. (Won’t find anything from Paddy there.)
Melanie Reid, Mark Jennings, Bernard Hickey etc.
I’ve found Newsroom reasonably unbiased and with a social conscience…something that is severely lacking in the media. Their articles on forced uplifting of children are incredibly good journalism. https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@taken-by-the-state
Taylor said that she doesn’t blame her former bodyguard Greg Dent, who witnessed the assault, for not stopping Mueller, telling jurors, “I’m not critical of my bodyguard for not doing anything, I’m critical of your client [Mueller] for sticking his hand under my skirt and grabbing my ass.”
The NZHerald is calling it a collapse in the housing market.
I’m not sure how Labour could find an opening here, but it is a huge opening for National to simply state that they will strongly encourage the Reserve Bank to loosen monetary conditions.
The Reserve Bank stated yesterday:
“House price inflation continues to moderate due to loan-to-value ratio restrictions, affordability constraints, and a tightening in credit conditions.
This moderation is expected to persist, although there remains a risk of resurgence in prices given continued strong population growth and resource constraints in the construction sector.”
National have a big opening to reassure property owners before the election – because that is their natural base.
I see that The Herald is suggesting that Metiria Turei might be chosen as their New Zealander of the Year. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11902264
At first I thought they must be joking but when you consider the origin of the award it isn’t that unlikely.
It is of course copied from the Time magazine “Person or the Year” (originally “Man of the Year”) and they have often had some contentious awards.
Metiria certainly is no more unlikely than Time’s choices in 1938 or 2016.
The one she most resembles though was the person chosen in 1936. MT to a “T”. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/time-magazine-10-controversial-people-year-article-1.2040428
I think he’s picking up on Turei’s career as a socialite, her interest in marrying into wealth and her support for fascism. Wow, it’s like two peas in a pod!
Interesting article in the Herald today on incomes during this government by Brian Fallow (my comments in brackets):
“The lowest quintile, or fifth, of households when ranked by income spend an average of 51 per cent of their disposable income on housing, up from 29 per cent in the late 1980s. For the second lowest quintile it is 32 per cent of income, versus 19 per cent 30 years ago. [this is scandalous-under National the lowest waged people can no longer afford accommodation]
But the top decile has been pulling away from the rest particularly swiftly on National’s watch. [Labour/Green bloc should be highlighting this]
Between 2009 and 2016, household incomes at the 90th per centile rose 14.7 per cent. This is after inflation, tax, transfers and housing costs. At the 10th per centile, the increase was 9.4 per cent over the same seven years.” [Under National the rich have been getting much richer]
Simply put, the Right cares more about preserving private property and the power it commands over politics, the economy, and society than it does about democracy. If they can have both, then conservative politicians and parties will support democracy and often get exactly what they want, as formal democracy on its own has historically proven compatible with an anti-democratic capitalism that concentrates economic power. But if conservatives are forced to choose — as they ultimately were in both the British and German contexts — they will always choose property. The circumstances of this choice determine whether they also bring down the curtain on democracy.
Sounds about right – Just need to look to what happened with ECan to see that. The conservatives weren’t getting what they wanted and so they canned even the limited democracy that was there.
IMO, the Nats fully understand what they’re doing and they’ll keep doing it for as long as we let them. The end result of letting them do it is a poverty stricken and collapsed society.
The Metiria affair is starting to remind me of “the Dreyfus affair”
“The Dreyfus Affair was a political scandal that divided the Third French Republic from 1894 until its resolution in 1906. The affair is often seen as a modern and universal symbol of injustice, and it remains one of the most notable examples of a complex miscarriage of justice. The major role played by the press and public opinion proved influential in the lasting social conflict.
The scandal began in December 1894, with the treason conviction of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a young French artillery officer of Alsatian and Jewish descent. Sentenced to life imprisonment for allegedly communicating French military secrets to the German Embassy in Paris, Dreyfus was imprisoned on Devil’s Island in French Guiana, where he spent nearly five years.
The affair from 1894 to 1906 divided France deeply and lastingly into two opposing camps: the pro-Army, mostly Catholic “anti-Dreyfusards” and the anticlerical, pro-republican Dreyfusards. It embittered French politics and encouraged radicalization.
Now its not nice being Maori at this time I rang a guy down south he said come now the farm is run by eastern European and its a mess . So I flew down on my first day on the job I was informed that my job would be tractor driver handy man milker for now the farm had a 80 bail rotary there were 5 workers milking 2 cupping 2 recupping as the cups would fall off and 1 decupping . I noticed that the string to the auto cup removers were snapping . I new what the problem was the auto teat sprayers get a sharp edge as the string slide past it I put duck tape on the place where the string was rubbing on teat spray and replaced all the strings .In the mean time the manager had plant tec in 3 days a week to fix plant they changed all the rubber ware and stuffed around with the plant I checked the vac plant oil it was low and burnt I ordered some oil .The day I changed the oil the calf rear asked if the tec had turned up vac presser as the cups had stopped falling off i said no I changed the oil. On the Saturday there there was a training day Dairy NZ were running a training day the manager had for got and the staff were on days off. After 20 minutes the CEO of DNZ approached me and said that it was obvious than I was the most experienced worker there as the manager did not no he was not milking cows properly and the cows would get mastitis and production would drop. He asked me to help the manager and give him advice . I replied that 2 weeks ago I suggested to start a staff roster with 10 staff he needed a roster that the manager did not take my advice . The plant Tec were embarrassed that I had fixed the plant. I flew home to get my wife. The day I was to drive back down south I rang the owner he told me to stay there and he would ring me WTF The farm owner would rather lose money and stock than higher a proud Maori.
Now some people will think it was me at fault and that there is no discrimination in NZ I was down south 20 years ago fishing and the Maoris down south did not want to be Maori they called other Maori BUSH PIGS. Now people! We should be proud of ourselves and our ancestors & the values that come with it!
I hope you get a better position offered to you in which your skills are valued. Maybe if you sending your details to the CEO of DNZ, explaining the treatment you received might lead to a contact for a better job. Working in such a toxic environment would have been bad for your health. It is not your mana that has diminished. It is that of the ignorant owner and if he is that stupid, then he will be “rewarded” accordingly. Kia kaha.
You should mention who the owner is to the appropriate agencies (MAF?) , as not caring properly for animals can lead to animal epidemics and this is will also be of concern to other farmers. The other question is staff work conditions, are they in accordance with NZ law?
As for not taking advise, pride before the fall…..Stupid is what stupid does.
“English says he’s “not particularly concerned” about the content of the texts.
The trouble is, we hear such things a lot. The capacity of our governments to be serene in the face of troubling realities has become more a cause of discomfort than a reassurance.
English says not-all-that-inscrutably that he has given “all relevant material” to the police and they have not come to him asking for more. So it sounds like he didn’t pass his texts on. But at least investigators would have a pretty good idea who to hit up for copies.”
Southland Times – watch this space.
2 responses to The Southland Times’article on Metiria Turei:
“What a damn hypocritical thing to say Sarah Dowie!! You needn’t go far to look at turmoil than your own mate Todd Barclay…. Or have you “chosen” to forget that as well??
There’s a change coming Sarah and it’s all bad for you.
ReplyShare0
3 hours ago
nettieg3
Sarah Dowie what a waste of space the clone has spoken the party line lets get rid of her she has done nothing for the real people of Invercargill.”
NZherald has been running some online polls (cheaper than proper ones I guess for a totally skint media outfit).
This morning they published some findings around trust. English most trusted by 31%, Jacinda remarkably close on 26% and Winston back in third on 14%.
As you’d expect English has a advantage with those over 60 years old, 40% to 21%, but not perhaps as big an advantage as you might expect.
However in all age groups under 49 years old more respondents trusted Ardern than English. I think that’s a pretty remarkable achievement in little over a week. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11902231
It’s pretty scary to Pike river waited 4 days to look for survivors – and the authorities took 6.5 years to admit the they saw movement that could have been survivors.
Leaked Pike River Mine footage could prove there were survivors after first explosion
Please if you are not on board with this petition to get BENNETT investigated shut up as at least it will let them no that we can see right through Nationals bullshit
How come we could afford to build dams/roads/schools/hospitals etc and have a social welfare system that was the envy of the world and now we can’t afford to much at all?
For some reason it is hard to imagine the New Zealand Parliament holding an inquiry with hearings called: “The implications of climate change for Australia’a National Security”.
Former Australian Defence Force Chief Admiral Chris Barrie submits:
“Australia’s climate change credentials have suffered from a serious lack of political leadership.”
Most western militaries are taking climate change very seriously at strategic and tactical level weather that be a war fighting/ warlike conditions or in a non warlike/ humanitarian role. I did post something about climate change from a military pov on one of weka’s threads.
If we look at the last DWP which was released last year or the year before. You would see that Navy has requested an extra OPV of a highly modified version than the current two, a new dive/ hydrographic ship and the new ice capable tanker/ support ship. Also of note that any ship that operating down Sth from 2019 I think has to inline with ice strengthen class rules which rules the current two OPV’s and in the bigger picture stuff the Antarctic Treaty is up for renewal very soon around 2020 I believe ( hopefully someone here will a better idea when the Treaty renewal date is)
The DWP has also called new Investment in the Airforce ie new Transport Aircarft at Strategic and Tactical capability, new ISR Aircraft both long range and short range (maned and unmanned aircraft) more NH-90s should have been included as well as I think 8 is a little on the small side.
ATM RNZN and the RNZAF are active in the South Pacific on fisheries patrol as our Asian friends (The Chinese are the biggest culprits so far using their money/soft aid to pay off officials etc) are overfishing and unreported of catchiest.
I hope this answers some of your questions and if you or anyone else has more questions please fire away and I will try my best to answer them.
It’s not the proposed new equipment or lack of that bothers me, but the lack of close integration with Civil Defence. Maybe a few more roll on-roll off vessels to really get goods in to to a centre fast.
I would want to see NZDF responding with a strategy that says a whole bunch more Territorial Forces, Unimogs, and army engineers will be stationed in high flood risk areas.
To me, bailing out civilian cities and towns in a time of crisis is one of the best uses for our armed forces that I can think of.
The RNZN track record in using Rollo’s isn’t great, as the RNZN have been brunt twice trying adapt cheap civilian freighters in Navy ships HMNZS Upham (was a dog of ship and I have never been so sick at sea) and the HMNZS Canterbury http://www.defence.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/independent-review-safety-hmnzs-canterbury2.pdf. No thanks to the stupid pollies.
The Territorial Forces got hammed by National party in the 90’s along with the rest off NZDF and since then it hasn’t really recovered from the 90’s. Both Labour and National have tinkled around the edges IRT the TF. The TF does form the bases for Civil Defence in the regions that don’t have a permanent NZDF bases.
The only way we can strengthen the TF is to make the TF wages Tax free like here in OZ, as allows those on the dole or DPB or if you are student to earn a bit of cash without getting wack by the taxman, invokes a sense of community sprint, morale rising, a sense of pride in ones self etc, strengthen the Reserve Forces act and think Labour did try to strengthen the act during Timor 1, but the Nat sucked up to its business mates. The Australian Reserve Act is a very good one and I know that for a fact real time and without it the Force Protection of the RAAF would fall over at the moment. The figures out ATM has a RAAF Reserve FP averaging 77 days a yr, so it shows how good the Australian Reserve Act is. If that were to happen in NZ a lot more investment will have to happen to the TF across all 3 services as result of cuts by the National in 90’s to the TF.
There use be a large TF engineer presence in Dunedin and Christchurch along with 2 Artillery batteries, the NZ Scots recc’e Sqn, 2 medical units at about company strength, 2 Log units, 2 Infantry units and that was just the Major centres. But of most them have disbanded or merge or reduce in size as cost cutting and the minor centres aka rural centre/areas have either closed or just hanging in there because of the local community sprint/ pride etc because of the other central government agencies have closed in the 80/90’s and the TF is the last major government department apart from the police etc.
Because National cut taxes now when in business you can claim a lot more expenses against them than 10 years ago can a paye worker claim part of the running cost of and vehicle maintenance I would not mind paying more tax to help others have a better life
Sigh…. Mr Trump threatening North Korea, long standing Greens resigning , Bill English taking a DIP in the polls,… an asteroid set to destroy the planet hurtling towards us, the cornershop dairy running out of bread, and somewhere in far off Kurdistan a small child stubs their toe…
It’s been a month since the last Roy Morgan Poll. Which seems a long time given how close we are to the election. It makes you wonder if they cancelled what they were doing and returned to the field in the wake of last weeks upheavals?
They’ve only been polling once a month since the last election. You can see the polling dates here. http://www.roymorgan.com/morganpoll/new-zealand/voting-intention-summary
If they follow the same pattern this month I would expect the polling to finish this Sunday (13th) and the results to be published on Thursday or Friday next week.
God knows how they will make any sense of it.
By the way you can register your e-mail with them and you get a message when a new poll is released.
Saves having to look their site up when you think a poll might be due.
To maintain international peace and security, and to that end:
to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law,
adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;
To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples,
and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace;
To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character,
and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion; and
To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends.
Article 2
The Organization and its Members, in pursuit of the Purposes stated in Article 1, shall act in accordance with the following Principles.
The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members.
All Members, in order to ensure to all of them the rights and benefits resulting from membership, shall fulfill in good faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the present Charter.
All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.
All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.
All Members shall give the United Nations every assistance in any action it takes in accordance with the present Charter, and shall refrain from giving assistance to any state against which the United Nations is taking preventive or enforcement action.
The Organization shall ensure that states which are not Members of the United Nations act in accordance with these Principles so far as may be necessary for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state or shall require the Members to submit such matters to settlement under the present Charter; but this principle shall not prejudice the application of enforcement measures under Chapter Vll.
nuuu… it was alerting us to something outside of our usual parameters of thought. And important in understanding geopolitical thinking… and,.. sadly , the way in which hypocrisy and duplicity works…
Yes it was “random” – but in the context of the nuclear pissing war between Trump and Kim Jong-un I think this part is relevant:
All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.
All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.
All Members shall give the United Nations every assistance in any action it takes in accordance with the present Charter, and shall refrain from giving assistance to any state against which the United Nations is taking preventive or enforcement action.
my bold.
US is of course a permanent member of the UN security council so (as a leader in the UN) should be setting an example, not blatantly breaking the rules.
(Chump please take note!)
That is slightly less random. Didn’t pick that out of the cut&paste dump.
I’m mildly hopeful that one of them orders a nuke launch and someone on their staff immediately removes them from office.
As it is, international law is about as relevant as criminal law is when two equally insecure and spoiled rich manchildren get into a dick measuring argument in a bar.
Yes I’ve been pondering along the lines that if the Chump was to release “Fire and Fury – the like of which the world has never seen”. Then the military would take a more nuanced view and refuse to follow the order. I’m sure they know – because the Chump obviously doesn’t – that a nuclear attack on North Korea would simply lead to a wholesale retaliatory response from China or Russia.
I’ve been pondering whether the failure to say `fire & brimstone’ was a coded message to the fundamentalists who helped elect him (“you guys don’t control me”). Could be brimstone has gone out of fashion & the twitterati would get lost.
But to the point being made: it’s all very well for the UN to have such rules, when there’s a breach of them there’s no method of enforcement attached.
Macro – could they really make that choice and do it – does it work or is it successful is one thing and have they actually the fortitude to do such a thing – let alone what would happen next.
I think it’s more likely, given his limited vocabulary, that he doesn’t know the word “brimstone”.
I saw a clip last night where Trump used the words “the like of which the world has never seen” in at least half a dozen different contexts.
But yes – his “spiritual advisor” says God has given him the word to “take out” Kim Jong-un!
🙄
Really!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaFxTrNHsX0
The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) 809[890].ART.90 (20), makes it clear that military personnel need to obey the “lawful command of his superior officer,” 891.ART.91 (2), the “lawful order of a warrant officer”, 892.ART.92 (1) the “lawful general order”, 892.ART.92 (2) “lawful order”. In each case, military personnel have an obligation and a duty to only obey Lawful orders and indeed have an obligation to disobey Unlawful orders, including orders by the president that do not comply with the UCMJ. The moral and legal obligation is to the U.S. Constitution and not to those who would issue unlawful orders, especially if those orders are in direct violation of the Constitution and the UCMJ.
Marty – I hope one day that all those nut cases that were on “The Standard” chanting “Killary” and “Trump for President” etc (you know the ones… CV et al) will come back and sincerely apologise and acknowledge that they were talking through their arse with respect to the relative merits of Clinton or Trump for the Presidency. I think it is quite clear now who would have been the safer pair of hands.
On the bright side of this it will at least solve climate warming ATM, so always look on the bright side of life and remember last joke is on you. And on that note i’m off bred and I will see all you lot tomorrow.
God bless Monty Python and those that follow Monty Python
I think the routine you’re looking for is Nixon’s Madman theory.
Two points:
Firstly, if petulant irrationality is an act by Trump, he’s been building it for decades. Gotta admire his commitment to the bit, I guess.
Secondly, the madman thing only works if everyone else is rational. It doesn’t work if everyone plays it: they just end up escalating themselves into a much bigger fight than they were trying to avoid.
At the moment, your best scenario is that both kim and the orange one are the equivalent of sports jocks in a bar mouthing off at each other, pretending to be tough and neither able to back down. Soon someone’s going to have to swing a punch.
And remember folks Asian nations and especially their leaders don’t like losing face. As said some days ago I said this “if Trump knows this then it’s a hell of a way to chicken with old fat boy as both of them are irrational leaders. The fat boy might just push that big red button for shits and giggles.
I wouldn’t be surprised if old mate from Russia makes a play for the Baltic states or the Swedish lsland of Gotland if things get a little hot in northern Asia.
Noam Chomsky: First, it is important to remember that the US does not accept the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — though in fact the UDHR was largely the initiative of Eleanor Roosevelt, who chaired the commission that drafted its articles, with quite broad international participation.
That article is mostly about the atrocious US health system but it’s obvious that the US doesn’t adhere to the UDHR at all especially when it comes to maintaining peace and invading other countries.
And that takes us back to the 19th century theory of ‘ whoever controls Russia controls the center of the world’.
And the western powers still adhere to that… with the USA ( according to John Pilger ) ringing China with more than 200 military bases, working their way towards Russia…
But Trump screwed that theory by being mates with Putin.
So to throw them all off about Russian interference,… they have a phone call about pretending they are having a fall out…
Best of mates in Anttarctica, though before Trump when Obama was around …
From a book on Ghandis methods and teaching by Anand Kumarasamy who has Masters in Humanities and Social Sciences from Sydney (a discipline going into reverse in this country). This starts with a quote that goes back to Plato.
Wikipedia on Plato: 428/427 or 424/423[b] – 348/347 BC) was a philosopher in Classical Greece and the founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world.
We are now learning to do without thoughts of philosophy, so could we have the first institution without higher learning in the Western world?
You my friend, a citizen of this great and mighty city of Athens, [Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch] you devote yourself to acquiring the greatest amount of money, honour and reputation, and yet you care so little about wisdom, truth and the greatest improvement of the soul, which you never regard or heed at all? – Plato, Apologia
Ring a bell? Watch out for people ringing bells. They might be realising dangerous truths.
Oh surely not !… Monty python was never meant to be a satirical commentary on the futility of the transient acquisition of material possessions and temporal power , but rather a philosophical and metaphysical reference to the outrageous juxtapositions inherent between matter and anti matter and the reality of inter- dimensionalism . Such as the arrogant plonkers in charge of the CERN project are concerned with …
It is , however , interesting ,… that the interface between court jester, religious sage and western rationalistic thought find their final expression and nemesis in protons and neutrons colliding at the speed of light in a subterranean tunnel found between the borders of France and Switzerland.
Me ?… I would rather follow the original hippy that was nailed to two pieces of wood 2000 years ago for suggesting we should be kind to each other… ( Doug Adams )
“And then, one Thursday, nearly two thousand years after one man had been nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be to be nice to people for a change, a girl sitting on her own in a small café in Rickmansworth suddenly realized what it was that had been going wrong all this time, and she finally knew how the world could be made a good and happy place. This time it was right, it would work, and no one would have to get nailed to anything.”
I wasn’t on a Monty Python mindset but on a Ghandi one with a bit of Plato and ancient Greece. Life of Brian didn’t come into it, nor Tinkerbell or Trillion or whoever.
“Some wicked men are rich, some good are poor,
We will not change our virtue for their store:
Virtue’s a thing that none can take away;
But money changes owners all the day.”
Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka KotahiThe fact that a ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
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This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
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I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
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Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
“I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
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Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it: We want our country to be a ...
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See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading → ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
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Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
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The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
Today marks a tragic milestone for New Zealanders as the Coalition Government side with big tobacco to repeal the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins and Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti. Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has hosted members of the Green Party Caucus at Tuurangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawahia. The audience follows the King’s Hui-aa-Motu on 20 January, where more than 10,000 people gathered to discuss national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dr Rachael Potter, Research Associate and Lecturer in Work and Organisational Psychology, University of South Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Pregnant women and workers with children are often unfairly treated by their bosses and colleagues, despite laws to protect against workplace discrimination ...
Reacting to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s refusal to rule out introducing new taxes at the budget, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “Today’s refusal to rule out new taxes suggests the Government is nothing more ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne Aila Images/Shutterstock Aged-care workers will receive a significant pay increase after the Fair Work Commission ruled they ...
He’s bringing ‘Sophie’ back, yeah. Goodshirt’s ‘Sophie’ music video is one of the most instantly recognisable New Zealand music videos of all time. Featuring a woman listening to the song on headphones while her entire house is burgled behind her, the video won the New Zealand music award for Best ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University A year ago, the AUKUS agreement was formally announced between Australian and UK Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden. The agreement mapped out the “optimal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andreas Helwig, Associate Professor, Electro-Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern Queensland SmartS/Shutterstock Steam locomotives clattering along railway tracks. Paddle steamers churning down the Murray. Dreadnought battleships powered by steam engines. Many of us think the age of steam has ended. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carrie Leonetti, Associate Professor of Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Victims who experience family violence in Aotearoa New Zealand are treated differently, depending on which part of the justice system they turn to for help. But a new member’s bill ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Tesch, Visiting Fellow at the ANU Centre for European Studies, Australian National University In perhaps the least surprising news of the year, Vladimir Putin has triumphed at the Russian ballot box and been enthroned for the fifth time as president. He ...
The Papua New Guinea Supreme Court has stopped a byelection for the Madang Open seat being held until an appeal filed by former MP Bryan Kramer is concluded. Kramer had appealed to the Supreme Court over a National Court decision not to review his application of the Leadership Tribunal decision ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Despite a “historic” ceasefire agreement in Papua New Guinea between Enga authorities and tribal leaders after months of bitter warfare, a young woman has been found brutally killed near Kaekin village, Wapenamanda. Despite the peace agreement and signing concluded in Port Moresby last Thursday ...
The second season of Ryan Murphy’s Feud is a sadder and slower entry into his canon of true story-telling, leaning heavily on a verdict about the cost of a single work of art. Hollywood heavyweight Ryan Murphy has had a bit of “ick” about him in the last few years. ...
Are you deeply passionate about sharing Māori stories? We’re on the hunt for an experienced writer/editor to lead coverage in our Ātea section.Ātea is a deeply valued section of The Spinoff site, offering Māori perspectives and insights across politics, current affairs and culture. We are thrilled to be looking ...
By Aisha Azeemah in Suva With the lights on one of his sneakers blinking as he ran through the gallery, a little boy looked up at several works of art. One of them was a sculpture of his grandfather: the man who changed how we see the Pacific — Epeli ...
WHAT: Uber drivers are holding a rally outside the Court of Appeal in Wellington tomorrow, as the company begins its appeal against 2022’s Employment Court verdict (in a case taken jointly by FIRST Union and E tū) that four drivers were permanent ...
RNZ Pacific The Fiji Meteorological Service has a heavy rain warning still in place for the whole of the country after a weekend of flooding, although some floodwaters have receded. Flood and flash flood warnings and alerts are also in place, including a warning for all flash flood-prone areas, small ...
Responding to Grant Robertson’s recent admission on a Q+A with Jack Tame that his only regret from his time in office was that he didn’t take on more debt, Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, Alex Murphy, said: “Grant Robertson has now admitted that he ...
Comment: Re-elected Russian President Vladimir President has declared victory ahead of a fifth term in power, after an election that offered no credible alternative candidates. Following the death of his main opponent Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison last month, thousands of Russians followed Navalny’s plea to cast a symbolic ...
Every week that passes seems to tighten the fiscal noose for Christopher Luxon and co – a noose, moreover, of their own making.“Don’t tell me what you value: show me your budget, and I’ll tell you what you value.” This phrase, a favourite of US president Joe Biden’s, resonates ...
Analysis by Geoffrey Miller – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Geoffrey Miller. Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are ...
Auckland may be the largest city in Aotearoa, but it’s the small community-led organisations within it that make the city thrive. The Spinoff spoke to two council-funded organisations who are doing their bit.“Torrent.” That’s the word one 40-year resident of Dundale Avenue used to describe what became of the ...
Commenting on the introduction of the living wage for all employees and contractors at Kāpiti Coast District Council, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “The problem with blanket living-wage policies is that they ...
With the upcoming SailGP event in Ōtautahi/Christchurch looming, there is mounting apprehension regarding the safety of Hector's dolphins, an endangered species unique to New Zealand waters. The event, scheduled to take place in an area frequented by ...
“National Party MP for Invercargill Sarah Dowie said she “didn’t pay too much attention” to Turei’s resignation.
“The Left are well known for this. They are in turmoil”, Dowie said.
“Labour and Greens are fused at the hip;it’s no surprise they are going through these leadership issues – we’re used to it”.
The Southland Times August 11
I see she’s memorised her lines well. Probably the principal requirement in her job.
“Invercargill Labour Party candidate Liz Craig said Turei had done “tremendous work” during her tenure. “I knew Metiria when I was involved in child poverty advocacy work and I respect the heart she had for social change”. “I wanted to acknowledge the tremendous work she has done in that space over the years.”
The Southland Times 11 August
Ha! Amateurish! Sounds like no PR people were involved in developing the script at any stage – what kind of politician is that?
Turei was “amateurish”, “didn’t manage/control the narrative”, etc:
These are all neoliberal managerialist technocrat values – and they ignore the power imbalance, that is ultimately a race & gender-charged class struggle.
If she had continued campaigning against poverty and for beneficiaries, the way she has done for years, the MSM would have continued to largely ignore her. Once she started getting attaention and support for her policies and campaign, those on the side of the establishment and status quo would try to attack her, and vilify her, in any way they could.
“If she had continued campaigning against poverty and for beneficiaries, the way she has done for years, the MSM would have continued to largely ignore her.”
All these carefully crafted leaks from Turei’s past indiscretions were meant to undermine her credibility and in the end she had no choice but to resign. Calling NZF a racist party was a big mistake, Peters has many informants and knows where the bodies are buried.
Do you have clear information that Peters was behind the attacks on Turei, or is that just speculation on your part?
@ Carolyn_nth … I stand to be corrected here, but I thought after Metiria’s public statements re calling NZF a racist party, in response Winston said something along the lines of “… there will be consequences …”
Whether that comment of Winston’s is partly or fully the result of the lead up to Metiria’s resignation, is anyone’s guess!
He said the consequences would be when it comes to inter-party negotiations.
…and I am suppose to reveal my sources? Yeah Right!
So, as far as we an see, you’re just making it up.
Anyone could say anything and claim, “can’t reveal my sources”.
Clearly. Liz was even careless enough to use the words “child poverty” and “social change”! No National Party
flunkyMP would make an error like that!lol
Meteria was not only was hounded for telling the truth, but she also put paid to the lie that beneficiaries could get out of their situation if they were willing to follow all the rules, and pull themselves out of poverty if they only wanted to.
Telling the truth about her life was bad enough.
But exposing the lie that gives comfort to many – unforgivable.
National Party don’t want to hear the truth. It is not in their interests to foster compassion.
Environment goods and social goods go hand in hand. Our media sucks eggs, it’s underfunded and so useless. N.Korea will launch a nuke and explode it, in orbit. Destroying satalites, Guam is just nonsense. Kim wants respect, take him down now.
Climate change act now before summer hits the Sun, Sun storm alter the heating reaching the Earth, to as we slowly cook ourselves like a lobster, the sun could up the heat at anytime, dicing with extinction is clueless. Nats have no answers just stay the course, whatever on tourism on housing on social on environment, it’s just a joke to them requiringbthem to fiddle the controls a little, oh and build congested roads on a volcanic field. Geez National is dumb.
Bet she paid a bit more attention to Toddger’s departure.
Bosom buddies.
The Palms Shopping Centre Christchurch does not like getting people onto the Electoral Roll! This week I grabbed a bunch of enrolment packs and after shopping at the supermarket offered them to people in the mall as I made my way to the car park. I was on the lookout for younger people and displayed the packs in my hand. After 12 people had taken a pack, a security guard arrived to escort me from the premises. Apparently it is not allowed!! I had been picked up on a security camera. I have done this in other shopping malls in Christchurch with no problems. I am 72 years old.
Wows !!! Venezia, I admire what you are doing to encourage the youth to enroll this election.
That’s shocking re the security guard, one would have thought they had better things to do than harrass an older women for promoting the democratic system.
Letter to the editor of the press maybe?
Perhaps if she got permission to do this on private property first then there would not have been an issue.
Interesting James. It is regarded as a public space so long as the people entering it engage in consumer behaviour – buying stuff, browsing in shops, eating coffee and muffins. You don’t need permission to come in or go out
However if they enter this space and do other things – even things that are not illegal, intrusive, dangerous or annoying – it is suddenly private property.
Seems to me a little bit like wanting to have your cake (or overpriced blueberry muffin) and eat it at the same time.
Basic law 101: A shopping centre isn’t any different from this site or for that matter for your home.
It is private property that is often accessible to selected guests. While the community through laws and regulations impose restrictions on the owners. The owners of private property can also impose rules on guests using their property.
It isn’t like a public road – which is the analogy that I suspect that you are straining for. That is a false analogy. And even there the the legal system. central and local government all impose limits to use. Roads may be cleared for parades. You can’t set up tables in the middle of a roadway. etc etc
Consider that developments on private property aren’t paid for and maintained out of community funds. So the body that maintains the property is able to impose their own rules on top of whatever the community imposes upon them through the body of law.
There is also no difference between a shopping center (or this website) and your own home. In all cases while you can allow guests to share it, you can also restrict access or make rules stop behaviors that you find objectionable.
I think the analogy approach is wrong. By using analogy it is very easy to come up with a wrong answer. For example Government is often spoken of as if it was like a household, that it has to live within its means. As has been said, Government is only like a household with a money printing press in the basement.
Regarding malls, malls are not like ones home, the analogy is wrong and the conclusions reach via that analogy are wrong.
The analogy approach allows the writer to pick and choose . In this case you have chosen to say that a mall is like a home and not like a road.
The analogy explained the perspective of the law: a mall is private property. Anyone can be refuced access for any reason, as long as any reason given does not violated the human rights act.
In fact, people can be escorted off public property, e.g. the Speaker of the House can trespass people from the grounds of Parliament. Universities, as arms of the Crown, can also trespass people off their campusses.
Are you invoking the ‘But I don’ wanna’ clause? That usually ends badly. You end up in the puffy shirt.
James, the owner of the shopping center and car park is AMP.
The behavior of Venezia was in no way biased at any political party, anti competitive, intrusive, offensive or criminal. I suspect however, that who ever sat at the screen watching and/or giving the marching orders did so by “assuming” that any of the above is the case. Perhaps he/she should have checked facts and also sought response from the owner of the premise?
I would complain to management. Go right to the top and the electoral commission. Security guards often do things like this if not properly briefed. Management will probably apologise Look what happened at the local government conference where a Maori and a Samoan delegate were challenged.
Apparently it was management who gave the instructions. I yesterday learned from a young person who used to work at The Palms ( now at my local Mall ) that the management there is very difficult. She used some choice language to describe them. Nothing better to do than obstruct a perfectly legal activity. I asked people “are you enrolled to vote? ” showing the enrolment pack with orange man on front. Some younger people said “just what I need” and Interesting that older people are taking packs for their grandkids. I have emailed the Electoral Commission.
That’s awful. Perhaps just get on with enrolling people in other locations or else if you have the energy contact local media and the electoral commission.
“perfectly legal activity”
They are perfectly in their rights to ask you to leave if they want to – its their private property
Just as they do not allow people to run around the carpark putting flyers under windscreens (unless they have permission beforehand).
I’m sure whatever private company it is would love some publicity about how it banned an old woman from handing out enrolment forms for the election
😈
a) – A lot of Malls have electoral people in them handing out forms anyway (you know proper ones).
b) I note that the mall had forms there anyway (thats where she got them from).
c) I note she was on the lookout for ‘younger people’ – Why not ask everybody if you are genuine – as opposed to selecting people who might be more in line with your political views.
yeah – I think they can live with that.
I missed the bit in the thread where you got B from, and I’m sure venezia is a proper person.
I think it was dickish behaviour by the mall (didn’t their ownership get council or govt money a while back? Something like that…), but yeah, they were in their rights.
The big problem for malls is that even a portable stall or person with a clipboard is a prime moneymaker due to the foot traffic – they usually don’t mind charitable things, but just a couple of months ago I saw a salesman being escorted out because he was trying to blag what was a regular spot for charities in my local mall – I think it was Barnados or cancer foundation was waiting to set up after the delboy wannabe was finally gone.
They sometimes have to book those school sausage sizzle spots weeks in advance, if not longer.
No James. I arrived with a bunch of enrolment packs, and I also picked up some more from the Post shop. I was handing them out at the furthest end of the mall away from the Post shop.
I have noticed that you often make stuff up in order to take the mickey out of people.
I feel really sorry that you had to go through this undignified response. Even more reason to ask every person: are you going to vote?
Fo to the electoral commission and say what exactly?
“Hi I dont work for you – But I was handing out your flyers without permission on private land and they asked me to leave”.
The Electoral Commission provided me with the enrolment forms. Sent them by post actually, because I asked for them. So dont make stuff up.
Not making stuff up – you were not given permission by them to be wandering around private property handing them out.
Don’t worry James, its all OK and in the green zone… the synthetic cannabis usage gets a good viewing on private car parks around the country and not to worry too much about drunks hanging out on weekends either. The fighting and submissions to hospitals is taxpayer funded so that is absolutely fine you know. Its a lot easier to mussel an elderly person, it could have been a paper cut from a template – very dangerous indeed.
AMP, the owner of car parks near you, proudly looking after your retirement Kiwi saver fund. Just don’t get stupid ideas about handing out leaflets promoting democracy because they are concerned about the people in their twilight years. Yeah right.
What did they say?
Very cool what you are doing. Like Fairy Godmother I reckon a complaint is warranted but you might be better using your time to hand out enrolments elsewhere.
No reply as yet weka.
I meant the security guards.
Marama Davidson is handing out enrolment forms in the queues forming outside WINZ offices. She seems to be having a great response.
https://twitter.com/MaramaDavidson/status/895794030218321920
Winegrowers having a crack at labour re water, scare mongering via the national party.
FYI, National Party hoardings at a large vineyard in our region.
How many vineyards are also publically vocal national supporters? Anyone else out there seen national party hoardings displayed at vineyards? Are their water opinions biased much? Alcohol lobbyists mhmmmm
On the rare occasions I can afford to buy wine these days, I try not to buy NZ-made stuff and pretty much for this reason. Also that there is better South American, Spanish and Italian stuff at lower prices.
Maybe water is free in the off shore countries you mention– “The world -according to nick.”
It was a bit rich listening to list Mp Maureen Pughs patsy set up sup question about water and vineyards/horiculture yesterday to Nick Smith when her hoarding is displayed at Seifrieds vineyard in Appleby.
Nick is more into paint thinners than wine –bloody chemical companies .
The reason why South American wine is so cheap is that the wages paid in Chile in particular are well below survivable level. Might pay to do a bit of research before drinking. Spain and Argentina are not much better.
Not a good choice for a leftie.
NZ wages are at least above minimum wage level and quite often considerably above that, good pruners on contract would be above $25 hr. But it is not easy work.
It not surprising that Nat signs are on vineyards, a lot of vineyards are on old family farms and they’ve certainly not a hotbed of left sympathisers.
BTW, you’d be surprised how many family vineyards and wine companies are owned by Labour and Green members and supporters.
“family vineyards and wine companies are owned by Labour and Green members and supporters”.
But of course they are. Where do you think the Chardonnay Socialists, also known as the Wadestown Wadicals of Wellington get their booze from?
Local Labour campaigns have been financed by wine sales of such naughty little numbers as “Socialist Chardonnay”, “Political Savvy” and “Reds under the Bed”. The last had a descriptor “You will be left leaning after a bottle of this”.
Signs in rural areas for Labour are often targeted. It’s very canine out there. Dogs hate having the smell of another on their territory.
I remember putting up one sign on the very rural but aptly named (or so I thought) Red Post corner. Two locals in a ute drove by this sign which was 10 metres inside a private fence line. They yelled out to me that it wouldn’t last long. It, and like others like it, lasted a day.
It was replaced with two signs. A second on another property was not replaced. The property owner told me she feared for her property as the vandals had trespassed and climbed up a water tower to do their damage.
The ute in this story had a dog on the back. Of the three occupants, it was the least feral.
The names of the wine sound wonderful. Is it still available or was it in a past election?
“Reds under the beds”, AND the alternate “left leaning” description would be great to offer to some of my right leaning friends.
Was it any good?
I hope they had a licence to sell it though. I have vague memories of a political party that did something like this and one of their opponents tried to get them prosecuted because the candidate didn’t have a licence to sell the few dozen bottles concerned.
The memory is so vague I can’t even remember whether it was here or when I lived in Oz. Neither can I remember which were the parties involved.
Destruction, or defacement of signs is, unfortunately a very Kiwi habit. It doesn’t just happen to the left leaning parties. I have just come up Aro Street in Wellington and the billboards for nearly every party had some damage. Not all the billboards of course but at least one for each of them had some damage.
Alwyn, past elections I’m afraid, but top quality wine. Well known producer here. All my purchases consumed. Good marketing, good profit and totally legal.
I had a beer tonight (small town, eh!) with the opposition rural bill board erecting specialist and discussed our mutual annoyance with people who deface and steal billboards. It is anti-democratic and criminal, costly and ultimately futile.
We Kiwis have some bad habits and national traits around alcohol, driving, violence and suicide, blame, empathy and tax evasion. Otherwise it’s Godzone.
When I have been driving on isolated highways going through country areas the cars in the area have mostly had young men in them and I had a feeling of them being barely tamed by laws and self-discipline.
At my age they’re all young men. We do have a problem with exhibiting
positive social behaviour, though.
LOL – people believe in greenhouse emissions and global warming – but buy wine shipped from 1/2way across the world.
Just incase the local producer votes National.
No James – the South American stuff is cheaper too. I’m merely being a rational, self-interested, self-maximising individual. Have you forgotten what your own ideology prescribes?
Is Winston starting to get ‘official’ recognition ….. for his stealth dispatching of key.
” John Key shocked the nation on December 5, resigning to hand over to English, in part because he thought it would be easier for English to do a deal with Peters.” https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2017/08/09/42006/metiria-jacinda-quake
Being credited as the man who got rid of Key must be worth a rise in Winstons popularity ….
Single handed, he did what three elections and the combined opposition were unable to ….
When the warden of the north ………. became a genuine king slayer.
NZ likes tough and strong leaders ……. NZF should play on this.
Also in that column reason was this about Materia.
“I have always said I did have really fantastic support from friends and family and that Piupiu’s family really supported me especially when I was in law school with things like you know, child care, stuff like that. Like the sort of stuff that you would expect.”
Fair enough but it mirrors what was being said about Bennett with the question added about financial support for her from her family. Wonder if that question will be explored with equal enthusiasm?
Bennett will not reveal any info about her past, nor will Bill English about any of his 450 texts. MSM will not press these matters for obvious reasons, ie I want to keep my job: John Campbell.
I was in a similar situation to Metiria in the 1990s ianmac. The difference being I was looking after an elderly mother who slowly succumbed to Alzheimers. There was help from family members in the early years, but as time passed resentment built and two of my siblings began to spread rumour and innuendo among the relatives. The case ended up in court but was swiftly discarded when it became evident the accusations had no truth to them. In my case, the aim of the exercise was to have my share of the estate taken from me and shared among my siblings. They failed.
I tell the story as an example of how relatives in the heat of the moment can re-invent history – and even convince themselves its correct – without any understanding of the truth of historical and semi-historical events.
I wonder if this is in part what happened to Metiria. I also heard her talk of the “fantastic support” she received from “PIupiu’s family”, so it looks to me like a member of that family jumped on the phone to John Campbell before checking out the substance of Metiria’s public interviews.
If my own experiences are anything to go by, they probably had no idea how financially desperate Metiria really was at the time. I was reduced at one point to wearing old sandels with holes in the soles and the heels falling off my shoes. I couldn’t even afford to go to the Warehouse and replace them.
A tough existence Anne but you have risen inspite of the ratbags.
I do know of a similar one where a woman in her late teens early20s, who lived and took care of her Grandma as she succumbed to Alzheimers. When her Gran died the sons and daughters ordered her out of the house in case she claimed it for herself. Miserable beggars!
Same sort of paranoid group-think. In my case they convinced themselves I had manipulated my mother into gifting me the land on which my home was built. I produced legal documents to prove I paid the going rate.They forgot to check out that possibility. 😉
To true ianmac …. it was a pretty good column on the whole….. perhaps newsroom will be different than our present ‘dirty media’
For the last 9 years Bennett got to run misinformation through our dirty ‘news media’ …. real reporters would scare her if they had a decent platform.
I give them credit ( newsroom ), for being the first to report on winston being the cause for Johnny to run off .
With key being neck deep in tax haven type stuff …… Winston has a good solid theme to build around …. getting rid of the corrupt king …
But Helping to clean up the National from being the tax haven and corruption party is unfinished business for him…..
Just stumbled across this news site
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@about
Anyone know anything about it ?
Ah ha and its referenced in the comment above
Just received an email from Newsroom. I think they are serious about publishing serious column/research from serious journalists. (Won’t find anything from Paddy there.)
Melanie Reid, Mark Jennings, Bernard Hickey etc.
http://mailchi.mp/08f9d8472391/newsroom-daily-briefing?e=88a3081e75
I’ve found Newsroom reasonably unbiased and with a social conscience…something that is severely lacking in the media. Their articles on forced uplifting of children are incredibly good journalism.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@taken-by-the-state
Yes so far my impression is also hopeful, one to watch! Would be fantastic to have some serious journalism in NZ.
Cautious optimism (assuming they arnt just softening us up )
ex mediawonks pros hounded out by weldon and christie, aint karma wonderful.
Jennings is a product of the abc so he knows what actual journalists should do, long overdue.
Go Taylor
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11902201
Taylor said that she doesn’t blame her former bodyguard Greg Dent, who witnessed the assault, for not stopping Mueller, telling jurors, “I’m not critical of my bodyguard for not doing anything, I’m critical of your client [Mueller] for sticking his hand under my skirt and grabbing my ass.”
Real Estate Institute calls for Reserve Bank to loosen lending criteria on the back of *plummeting* house prices.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11902208
The NZHerald is calling it a collapse in the housing market.
I’m not sure how Labour could find an opening here, but it is a huge opening for National to simply state that they will strongly encourage the Reserve Bank to loosen monetary conditions.
The Reserve Bank stated yesterday:
“House price inflation continues to moderate due to loan-to-value ratio restrictions, affordability constraints, and a tightening in credit conditions.
This moderation is expected to persist, although there remains a risk of resurgence in prices given continued strong population growth and resource constraints in the construction sector.”
National have a big opening to reassure property owners before the election – because that is their natural base.
I see that The Herald is suggesting that Metiria Turei might be chosen as their New Zealander of the Year.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11902264
At first I thought they must be joking but when you consider the origin of the award it isn’t that unlikely.
It is of course copied from the Time magazine “Person or the Year” (originally “Man of the Year”) and they have often had some contentious awards.
Metiria certainly is no more unlikely than Time’s choices in 1938 or 2016.
The one she most resembles though was the person chosen in 1936. MT to a “T”.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/time-magazine-10-controversial-people-year-article-1.2040428
Metiria “most resembles” Wallis Simpson, Alwyn?
What do you mean?
I think he’s picking up on Turei’s career as a socialite, her interest in marrying into wealth and her support for fascism. Wow, it’s like two peas in a pod!
🙂
That Alwyn! What a card!
Interesting article in the Herald today on incomes during this government by Brian Fallow (my comments in brackets):
“The lowest quintile, or fifth, of households when ranked by income spend an average of 51 per cent of their disposable income on housing, up from 29 per cent in the late 1980s. For the second lowest quintile it is 32 per cent of income, versus 19 per cent 30 years ago. [this is scandalous-under National the lowest waged people can no longer afford accommodation]
But the top decile has been pulling away from the rest particularly swiftly on National’s watch. [Labour/Green bloc should be highlighting this]
Between 2009 and 2016, household incomes at the 90th per centile rose 14.7 per cent. This is after inflation, tax, transfers and housing costs. At the 10th per centile, the increase was 9.4 per cent over the same seven years.” [Under National the rich have been getting much richer]
It’s here:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11901921
Guardians of Property
Sounds about right – Just need to look to what happened with ECan to see that. The conservatives weren’t getting what they wanted and so they canned even the limited democracy that was there.
Homelessness spreading to the regions.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11900735
Real wages dropping.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11901921
The Nats just don’t get it do they?
IMO, the Nats fully understand what they’re doing and they’ll keep doing it for as long as we let them. The end result of letting them do it is a poverty stricken and collapsed society.
The Metiria affair is starting to remind me of “the Dreyfus affair”
“The Dreyfus Affair was a political scandal that divided the Third French Republic from 1894 until its resolution in 1906. The affair is often seen as a modern and universal symbol of injustice, and it remains one of the most notable examples of a complex miscarriage of justice. The major role played by the press and public opinion proved influential in the lasting social conflict.
The scandal began in December 1894, with the treason conviction of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a young French artillery officer of Alsatian and Jewish descent. Sentenced to life imprisonment for allegedly communicating French military secrets to the German Embassy in Paris, Dreyfus was imprisoned on Devil’s Island in French Guiana, where he spent nearly five years.
The affair from 1894 to 1906 divided France deeply and lastingly into two opposing camps: the pro-Army, mostly Catholic “anti-Dreyfusards” and the anticlerical, pro-republican Dreyfusards. It embittered French politics and encouraged radicalization.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreyfus_affair
Anti Hosking petition stands at 18,073
Hoskings thinks it is just Winston who opposes him.
This column disputes Hoskings neutrality:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/95650688/mike-hoskings-political-leanings–in-his-own-words
Now its not nice being Maori at this time I rang a guy down south he said come now the farm is run by eastern European and its a mess . So I flew down on my first day on the job I was informed that my job would be tractor driver handy man milker for now the farm had a 80 bail rotary there were 5 workers milking 2 cupping 2 recupping as the cups would fall off and 1 decupping . I noticed that the string to the auto cup removers were snapping . I new what the problem was the auto teat sprayers get a sharp edge as the string slide past it I put duck tape on the place where the string was rubbing on teat spray and replaced all the strings .In the mean time the manager had plant tec in 3 days a week to fix plant they changed all the rubber ware and stuffed around with the plant I checked the vac plant oil it was low and burnt I ordered some oil .The day I changed the oil the calf rear asked if the tec had turned up vac presser as the cups had stopped falling off i said no I changed the oil. On the Saturday there there was a training day Dairy NZ were running a training day the manager had for got and the staff were on days off. After 20 minutes the CEO of DNZ approached me and said that it was obvious than I was the most experienced worker there as the manager did not no he was not milking cows properly and the cows would get mastitis and production would drop. He asked me to help the manager and give him advice . I replied that 2 weeks ago I suggested to start a staff roster with 10 staff he needed a roster that the manager did not take my advice . The plant Tec were embarrassed that I had fixed the plant. I flew home to get my wife. The day I was to drive back down south I rang the owner he told me to stay there and he would ring me WTF The farm owner would rather lose money and stock than higher a proud Maori.
Now some people will think it was me at fault and that there is no discrimination in NZ I was down south 20 years ago fishing and the Maoris down south did not want to be Maori they called other Maori BUSH PIGS. Now people! We should be proud of ourselves and our ancestors & the values that come with it!
I hope you get a better position offered to you in which your skills are valued. Maybe if you sending your details to the CEO of DNZ, explaining the treatment you received might lead to a contact for a better job. Working in such a toxic environment would have been bad for your health. It is not your mana that has diminished. It is that of the ignorant owner and if he is that stupid, then he will be “rewarded” accordingly. Kia kaha.
You should mention who the owner is to the appropriate agencies (MAF?) , as not caring properly for animals can lead to animal epidemics and this is will also be of concern to other farmers. The other question is staff work conditions, are they in accordance with NZ law?
As for not taking advise, pride before the fall…..Stupid is what stupid does.
“English says he’s “not particularly concerned” about the content of the texts.
The trouble is, we hear such things a lot. The capacity of our governments to be serene in the face of troubling realities has become more a cause of discomfort than a reassurance.
English says not-all-that-inscrutably that he has given “all relevant material” to the police and they have not come to him asking for more. So it sounds like he didn’t pass his texts on. But at least investigators would have a pretty good idea who to hit up for copies.”
Southland Times – watch this space.
2 responses to The Southland Times’article on Metiria Turei:
“What a damn hypocritical thing to say Sarah Dowie!! You needn’t go far to look at turmoil than your own mate Todd Barclay…. Or have you “chosen” to forget that as well??
There’s a change coming Sarah and it’s all bad for you.
ReplyShare0
3 hours ago
nettieg3
Sarah Dowie what a waste of space the clone has spoken the party line lets get rid of her she has done nothing for the real people of Invercargill.”
Clone!
Oh dear!
NZherald has been running some online polls (cheaper than proper ones I guess for a totally skint media outfit).
This morning they published some findings around trust. English most trusted by 31%, Jacinda remarkably close on 26% and Winston back in third on 14%.
As you’d expect English has a advantage with those over 60 years old, 40% to 21%, but not perhaps as big an advantage as you might expect.
However in all age groups under 49 years old more respondents trusted Ardern than English. I think that’s a pretty remarkable achievement in little over a week.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11902231
It’s pretty scary to Pike river waited 4 days to look for survivors – and the authorities took 6.5 years to admit the they saw movement that could have been survivors.
Leaked Pike River Mine footage could prove there were survivors after first explosion
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/08/leaked-pike-river-mine-footage-could-prove-there-were-survivors-after-first-explosion.html
Change.org is running a petition:
“There should be an inquiry of ex winz beneficiary Paula Bennett and the allegations made surrounding her stint on the benefit.”
This stands at 20,627
Paula Bennett Winz Allegations Inquiry.
Nearest I can get to link.
https://www.change.org/p/justice-minister-paula-bennett-winz-fraud-inquiry
Please if you are not on board with this petition to get BENNETT investigated shut up as at least it will let them no that we can see right through Nationals bullshit
How come we could afford to build dams/roads/schools/hospitals etc and have a social welfare system that was the envy of the world and now we can’t afford to much at all?
Narrow commodity-based economy with stagnant productivity.
Hasn’t changed.
Plus otherwise untaxed property wealth.
I recall the selling of the power companies back to the rich of us , was to pay for schools,roads, etc.
For some reason it is hard to imagine the New Zealand Parliament holding an inquiry with hearings called: “The implications of climate change for Australia’a National Security”.
Former Australian Defence Force Chief Admiral Chris Barrie submits:
“Australia’s climate change credentials have suffered from a serious lack of political leadership.”
https://uploads.guim.co.uk/2017/08/10/Sub_38_Honorary_Professor_Chris_Barrie.pdf
Would be great to hear our military leadership show that they too had come to grips with this kind of threat to our own country.
Ad,
Most western militaries are taking climate change very seriously at strategic and tactical level weather that be a war fighting/ warlike conditions or in a non warlike/ humanitarian role. I did post something about climate change from a military pov on one of weka’s threads.
If we look at the last DWP which was released last year or the year before. You would see that Navy has requested an extra OPV of a highly modified version than the current two, a new dive/ hydrographic ship and the new ice capable tanker/ support ship. Also of note that any ship that operating down Sth from 2019 I think has to inline with ice strengthen class rules which rules the current two OPV’s and in the bigger picture stuff the Antarctic Treaty is up for renewal very soon around 2020 I believe ( hopefully someone here will a better idea when the Treaty renewal date is)
The DWP has also called new Investment in the Airforce ie new Transport Aircarft at Strategic and Tactical capability, new ISR Aircraft both long range and short range (maned and unmanned aircraft) more NH-90s should have been included as well as I think 8 is a little on the small side.
ATM RNZN and the RNZAF are active in the South Pacific on fisheries patrol as our Asian friends (The Chinese are the biggest culprits so far using their money/soft aid to pay off officials etc) are overfishing and unreported of catchiest.
I hope this answers some of your questions and if you or anyone else has more questions please fire away and I will try my best to answer them.
It’s not the proposed new equipment or lack of that bothers me, but the lack of close integration with Civil Defence. Maybe a few more roll on-roll off vessels to really get goods in to to a centre fast.
I would want to see NZDF responding with a strategy that says a whole bunch more Territorial Forces, Unimogs, and army engineers will be stationed in high flood risk areas.
To me, bailing out civilian cities and towns in a time of crisis is one of the best uses for our armed forces that I can think of.
The RNZN track record in using Rollo’s isn’t great, as the RNZN have been brunt twice trying adapt cheap civilian freighters in Navy ships HMNZS Upham (was a dog of ship and I have never been so sick at sea) and the HMNZS Canterbury http://www.defence.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/independent-review-safety-hmnzs-canterbury2.pdf. No thanks to the stupid pollies.
Here’s a couple of ideas for future ships in the RNZN
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Absalon-class_(Denmark) The StanFlex Modules could be built in NZ to suit NZ conditions, it takes NH-90 as well an I believe it can also do run down Sth as well. To tell you the truth the RNZN should be based in the Danish Navy anyway that’s my POV.
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rotterdam_class_amphibious_transport_dock&redirect=no This is what the Canterbury should have been. Having a docking well means you load and unload up to sea state 6 and not sea state 1 if you are using a ramp aka the Canterbury.
The Territorial Forces got hammed by National party in the 90’s along with the rest off NZDF and since then it hasn’t really recovered from the 90’s. Both Labour and National have tinkled around the edges IRT the TF. The TF does form the bases for Civil Defence in the regions that don’t have a permanent NZDF bases.
The only way we can strengthen the TF is to make the TF wages Tax free like here in OZ, as allows those on the dole or DPB or if you are student to earn a bit of cash without getting wack by the taxman, invokes a sense of community sprint, morale rising, a sense of pride in ones self etc, strengthen the Reserve Forces act and think Labour did try to strengthen the act during Timor 1, but the Nat sucked up to its business mates. The Australian Reserve Act is a very good one and I know that for a fact real time and without it the Force Protection of the RAAF would fall over at the moment. The figures out ATM has a RAAF Reserve FP averaging 77 days a yr, so it shows how good the Australian Reserve Act is. If that were to happen in NZ a lot more investment will have to happen to the TF across all 3 services as result of cuts by the National in 90’s to the TF.
There use be a large TF engineer presence in Dunedin and Christchurch along with 2 Artillery batteries, the NZ Scots recc’e Sqn, 2 medical units at about company strength, 2 Log units, 2 Infantry units and that was just the Major centres. But of most them have disbanded or merge or reduce in size as cost cutting and the minor centres aka rural centre/areas have either closed or just hanging in there because of the local community sprint/ pride etc because of the other central government agencies have closed in the 80/90’s and the TF is the last major government department apart from the police etc.
Because National cut taxes now when in business you can claim a lot more expenses against them than 10 years ago can a paye worker claim part of the running cost of and vehicle maintenance I would not mind paying more tax to help others have a better life
Sigh…. Mr Trump threatening North Korea, long standing Greens resigning , Bill English taking a DIP in the polls,… an asteroid set to destroy the planet hurtling towards us, the cornershop dairy running out of bread, and somewhere in far off Kurdistan a small child stubs their toe…
Monty python – The Universe song which also goes under … – YouTube
you tube▶ 2:46
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWVshkVF0SY
It’s been a month since the last Roy Morgan Poll. Which seems a long time given how close we are to the election. It makes you wonder if they cancelled what they were doing and returned to the field in the wake of last weeks upheavals?
They’ve only been polling once a month since the last election. You can see the polling dates here.
http://www.roymorgan.com/morganpoll/new-zealand/voting-intention-summary
If they follow the same pattern this month I would expect the polling to finish this Sunday (13th) and the results to be published on Thursday or Friday next week.
God knows how they will make any sense of it.
By the way you can register your e-mail with them and you get a message when a new poll is released.
Saves having to look their site up when you think a poll might be due.
Thanks Alwyn.
IF YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS – YOU DON’T HAVE ANY:
http://www.un.org/en/sections/un-charter/chapter-i/index.html
CHAPTER I: PURPOSES AND PRINCIPLES
Article 1
The Purposes of the United Nations are:
To maintain international peace and security, and to that end:
to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law,
adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;
To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples,
and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace;
To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character,
and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion; and
To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends.
Article 2
The Organization and its Members, in pursuit of the Purposes stated in Article 1, shall act in accordance with the following Principles.
The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members.
All Members, in order to ensure to all of them the rights and benefits resulting from membership, shall fulfill in good faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the present Charter.
All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.
All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.
All Members shall give the United Nations every assistance in any action it takes in accordance with the present Charter, and shall refrain from giving assistance to any state against which the United Nations is taking preventive or enforcement action.
The Organization shall ensure that states which are not Members of the United Nations act in accordance with these Principles so far as may be necessary for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state or shall require the Members to submit such matters to settlement under the present Charter; but this principle shall not prejudice the application of enforcement measures under Chapter Vll.
well, that was random.
No it wasn’t.
It was informative.
So is the wikipedia page on constipation, but I wouldn’t quite it at length without a contextually-obvious reason..
Its Open Mike. And you said quite instead of quote.
It is, and I did.
And the comment was still random.
nuuu… it was alerting us to something outside of our usual parameters of thought. And important in understanding geopolitical thinking… and,.. sadly , the way in which hypocrisy and duplicity works…
Randomly.
Very – it made very random appear random and so on.
Yes it was “random” – but in the context of the nuclear pissing war between Trump and Kim Jong-un I think this part is relevant:
my bold.
US is of course a permanent member of the UN security council so (as a leader in the UN) should be setting an example, not blatantly breaking the rules.
(Chump please take note!)
That is slightly less random. Didn’t pick that out of the cut&paste dump.
I’m mildly hopeful that one of them orders a nuke launch and someone on their staff immediately removes them from office.
As it is, international law is about as relevant as criminal law is when two equally insecure and spoiled rich manchildren get into a dick measuring argument in a bar.
Yes I’ve been pondering along the lines that if the Chump was to release “Fire and Fury – the like of which the world has never seen”. Then the military would take a more nuanced view and refuse to follow the order. I’m sure they know – because the Chump obviously doesn’t – that a nuclear attack on North Korea would simply lead to a wholesale retaliatory response from China or Russia.
I’ve been pondering whether the failure to say `fire & brimstone’ was a coded message to the fundamentalists who helped elect him (“you guys don’t control me”). Could be brimstone has gone out of fashion & the twitterati would get lost.
But to the point being made: it’s all very well for the UN to have such rules, when there’s a breach of them there’s no method of enforcement attached.
Macro – could they really make that choice and do it – does it work or is it successful is one thing and have they actually the fortitude to do such a thing – let alone what would happen next.
I think it’s more likely, given his limited vocabulary, that he doesn’t know the word “brimstone”.
I saw a clip last night where Trump used the words “the like of which the world has never seen” in at least half a dozen different contexts.
But yes – his “spiritual advisor” says God has given him the word to “take out” Kim Jong-un!
🙄
Really!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaFxTrNHsX0
thoughts on whether the slightly less irradiated portions on the planet finally nuke the security council veto when the nuclear winter is over?
Marty
http://www.omjp.org/ArtLarryDisobey.html
my bold
Similar obligations hold in our military as well
McFlock – – now wouldn’t that be nice!
Gezz I sincerely hope that we can nuke the veto before we nuke ourselves.
Thanks. Hope it doesn’t come to that because I think if that happened it might throw the US over the edge entirely.
ahem – so the mushroom cloud might have a silver lining? 👿
Marty – I hope one day that all those nut cases that were on “The Standard” chanting “Killary” and “Trump for President” etc (you know the ones… CV et al) will come back and sincerely apologise and acknowledge that they were talking through their arse with respect to the relative merits of Clinton or Trump for the Presidency. I think it is quite clear now who would have been the safer pair of hands.
Don’t be silly… Trump is the actor , the Military heads are the muscle.
Ever heard of the ‘ good cop ‘ / bad cop’ routine?
That’s what you are seeing.
Trump is no fool and has got us all bamboozled.
What do you think the missile attack on Syria was all about when he was host to one of China’s highest heads of state ???
Just a display of American made firecrackers?
On the bright side of this it will at least solve climate warming ATM, so always look on the bright side of life and remember last joke is on you. And on that note i’m off bred and I will see all you lot tomorrow.
God bless Monty Python and those that follow Monty Python
I think the routine you’re looking for is Nixon’s Madman theory.
Two points:
Firstly, if petulant irrationality is an act by Trump, he’s been building it for decades. Gotta admire his commitment to the bit, I guess.
Secondly, the madman thing only works if everyone else is rational. It doesn’t work if everyone plays it: they just end up escalating themselves into a much bigger fight than they were trying to avoid.
At the moment, your best scenario is that both kim and the orange one are the equivalent of sports jocks in a bar mouthing off at each other, pretending to be tough and neither able to back down. Soon someone’s going to have to swing a punch.
And remember folks Asian nations and especially their leaders don’t like losing face. As said some days ago I said this “if Trump knows this then it’s a hell of a way to chicken with old fat boy as both of them are irrational leaders. The fat boy might just push that big red button for shits and giggles.
I wouldn’t be surprised if old mate from Russia makes a play for the Baltic states or the Swedish lsland of Gotland if things get a little hot in northern Asia.
And on that note it’s worth posting this link again:
That article is mostly about the atrocious US health system but it’s obvious that the US doesn’t adhere to the UDHR at all especially when it comes to maintaining peace and invading other countries.
And that takes us back to the 19th century theory of ‘ whoever controls Russia controls the center of the world’.
And the western powers still adhere to that… with the USA ( according to John Pilger ) ringing China with more than 200 military bases, working their way towards Russia…
But Trump screwed that theory by being mates with Putin.
So to throw them all off about Russian interference,… they have a phone call about pretending they are having a fall out…
Best of mates in Anttarctica, though before Trump when Obama was around …
Head of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Antarctic Adventure – YouTube
youtube▶ 0:31
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxYDZxZHT4Y
Might have something to do with this :
NAZI UFO VRILS ATTACK US NAVAL FLEET; RARE … – YouTube
you tube▶ 4:23
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rS75Vyickk
And maybe this from Buzz Aldrin :
Buzz Aldrin We Are All In Danger From Evil At South Pole … youtube▶ 9:34
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHeSE2UWhhk
And onwards to :
Rosicrucianism
Helen Blavatskys : theosophisim
Nazism/ NASDAP : Ayrianism
Cojoining with interdimentialist entities.
Maybe Doug Adams and Monty Python were right all along …
Or perhaps Gary Wayne is a more serious choice…
FYI
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constipation
Haha. As usual.
Well I fail to see whats so funny , ScottGN , – would you mind sharing it with the rest of the class?
Penny,
You’ve got to reform the Security Council first, but pigs might fly (the 4 legged and F1-11 variety) before the Security Council reform happens.
From a book on Ghandis methods and teaching by Anand Kumarasamy who has Masters in Humanities and Social Sciences from Sydney (a discipline going into reverse in this country). This starts with a quote that goes back to Plato.
Wikipedia on Plato: 428/427 or 424/423[b] – 348/347 BC) was a philosopher in Classical Greece and the founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world.
We are now learning to do without thoughts of philosophy, so could we have the first institution without higher learning in the Western world?
You my friend, a citizen of this great and mighty city of Athens, [Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch] you devote yourself to acquiring the greatest amount of money, honour and reputation, and yet you care so little about wisdom, truth and the greatest improvement of the soul, which you never regard or heed at all? – Plato, Apologia
Ring a bell? Watch out for people ringing bells. They might be realising dangerous truths.
Oh surely not !… Monty python was never meant to be a satirical commentary on the futility of the transient acquisition of material possessions and temporal power , but rather a philosophical and metaphysical reference to the outrageous juxtapositions inherent between matter and anti matter and the reality of inter- dimensionalism . Such as the arrogant plonkers in charge of the CERN project are concerned with …
It is , however , interesting ,… that the interface between court jester, religious sage and western rationalistic thought find their final expression and nemesis in protons and neutrons colliding at the speed of light in a subterranean tunnel found between the borders of France and Switzerland.
Me ?… I would rather follow the original hippy that was nailed to two pieces of wood 2000 years ago for suggesting we should be kind to each other… ( Doug Adams )
“And then, one Thursday, nearly two thousand years after one man had been nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be to be nice to people for a change, a girl sitting on her own in a small café in Rickmansworth suddenly realized what it was that had been going wrong all this time, and she finally knew how the world could be made a good and happy place. This time it was right, it would work, and no one would have to get nailed to anything.”
I wasn’t on a Monty Python mindset but on a Ghandi one with a bit of Plato and ancient Greece. Life of Brian didn’t come into it, nor Tinkerbell or Trillion or whoever.
Trillions nice, intelligent, if a little …. peculiar.
Solon is worth a look too:
“Some wicked men are rich, some good are poor,
We will not change our virtue for their store:
Virtue’s a thing that none can take away;
But money changes owners all the day.”
I sure you most of the readers bloggers on this site no what country is the monster in this world!!!!!
We are deliberately divided by a managed geopolitical agenda ,…try this instead :
TALKING GENESIS 6 CONSPIRACY W/GARY WAYNE – YouTube
Video for gary wayne genesis 6 you tube▶ 1:37:10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gr1UcNRlAI