“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…
Monty python – The Universe song which also goes under … – YouTube
you tube▶ 2:46
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!!!
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 …
Head of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Antarctic Adventure – YouTube
youtube▶ 0:31
Might have something to do with this :
NAZI UFO VRILS ATTACK US NAVAL FLEET; RARE … – YouTube
you tube▶ 4:23
And maybe this from Buzz Aldrin :
Buzz Aldrin We Are All In Danger From Evil At South Pole … youtube▶ 9:34
And onwards to :
Rosicrucianism
Helen Blavatskys : theosophisim
Nazism/ NASDAP : Ayrianism
Cojoining with interdimentialist entities.
Maybe Doug Adams and Monty Python were right all along …
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.”
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
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Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
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The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
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TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
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Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
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Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
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The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
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Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
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Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Wansolwara The news media’s crucial role in climate change and environment journalism was the focus of The University of the South Pacific’s Journalism Programme 2024 World Press Freedom Day celebrations. The European Union Ambassador to the Pacific, Barbara Plinkert, and Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna were the chief ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Adams, Professor of Corporate Law & Academic Director of UNE Sydney campus, University of New England Last August, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) launched legal proceedings against Qantas. The consumer watchdog accused the airline of selling thousands of tickets ...
This episode of A View From Afar was recorded LIVE on May 6, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, May 5, 2024 at 8:30pm (USEST). In an analytical essay titled ‘A moment of friction’ political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan wrote how we are living within a decisive moment ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Taylor, Assistant Professor, Bond University Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures At the crux of the critical response to Luca Guadagnino’s new movie Challengers is one word: “sexy”. The film charts a love triangle between three up-and-coming tennis players: Tashi (Zendaya), ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenny Stewart, Professor of Public Policy, ADFA Canberra, UNSW Sydney For years, First Nations people have been telling governments they want to be listened to. In particular, they want more ownership of the programs and services that are supposed to help them. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Why do trees have bark? Julien, age 6, Melbourne. This is a great question, Julien. We are so familiar with bark on trees, that most of us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Nasser, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, University of Technology Sydney PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important ligament in the knee. It runs from the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia) and helps stabilise ...
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 I covered the May 2 United Kingdom local government elections for The Poll Bludger. The Blackpool South parliamentary byelection was also held, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deanna Grant-Smith, Professor of Management, University of the Sunshine Coast The federal government has announced a “Commonwealth Prac Payment” to support selected groups of students doing mandatory work placements. Those who are studying to be a teacher, nurse, midwife or social ...
We round up everything coming to streaming services this week, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, ThreeNow, Neon and TVNZ+. If you love a dark comedy: Bodkin (Netflix, May 9)An English podcaster, an Irish podcaster and American podcaster walk into a pub and…make a TV show? ...
By Eleisha Foon, RNZ Pacific senior journalist A Pacific regionalism academic has called out New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters for withholding information from the public on AUKUS and says the security deal “raises serious questions for the Pacific region”. Auckland University of Technology academic Dr Marco de Jong ...
How worried should we be about the cloud? This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. I currently have a few thousand unread emails languishing in my inbox, mostly old marketing newsletters and piles of unread science journal press releases. I have a similar number ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nuurrianti Jalli, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies College of Arts and Sciences Department of Languages, Literature, and Communication Studies, Northern State University Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Southeast Asian governments not only have to deal with the virus but also with the false ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Murakami Wood, Professor of Critical Surveillance and Securities Studies, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa The skyline of Riyadh, the capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia.(Shutterstock) There is a long history of planned city building by both governments ...
The LIVE Recording of A View from Afar podcast will begin today at 12:45pm May 6, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, 8:30pm (USEST). In an analytical essay titled ‘A moment of friction’ political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan wrote how we are living within a decisive moment of ...
The Boil Up’s Lucinda Bennett considers the oyster – from freshness to pearls to the joy of shucking your own. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. In Carmen Maria Machado’s short story ‘Eight Bites’, a woman begins her last supper before bariatric surgery with “a cavalcade ...
Asia Pacific Report A group of 65 Auckland University academics have written an open letter to vice-chancellor Dawn Freshwater criticising the institution’s stance over students protesting in solidarity with Palestine. They have called on her administration to “support” the students who were denied permission to establish an “overnight encampment” by ...
The Student Volunteer Army is on the march, generating approximately 1.6 million hours of volunteering from roughly 35,000 secondary school students in just five years. For Rebekah Brown, the pathway to volunteering started with her singing coach. With a passion for the arts, the suggestion to volunteer at Acting Antics, ...
Keeping up with online communication can be exhausting, so Fran Barclay enlisted the help of Meta’s new ‘intelligent assistant’ to respond to all her messages. Could her mates tell the difference? For centuries, technology has ruled the ways in which we communicate. From the dawn of written language, to the ...
Jamie Arbuckle, a councillor who has become an member of parliament, says he has settled into having two roles so comfortably he's going to keep both pay cheques. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luis Gómez Romero, Senior Lecturer in Human Rights, Constitutional Law and Legal Theory, University of Wollongong Fifty years ago, Australian feminist Anne Summers denounced “the ideology of sexism” governing over so many women’s lives. Unfortunately, sexism is as lethal today as it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jose Antonio Lara-Hernandez, Senior Researcher in Architecture, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images The COVID-19 pandemic and the hybrid work patterns it fostered have changed the way we think about office space, and central business districts in general. While fears ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dale Boccabella, Associate Professor of Taxation Law, UNSW Sydney There’s a good reason your local volunteer-run netball club doesn’t pay tax. In Australia, various nonprofit organisations are exempt from paying income tax, including those that do charitable work, such as churches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marina Deller, Casual Academic, Creative Writing and English Literature, Flinders University NetflixComedy is opening up spaces for silences to be broken and trauma stories to be told. In 2018, Hannah Gadsby started a revolution with Nanette, asking audiences to rethink ...
The workplace can be a minefield of bad comms and passive aggression. Kinksters can help you navigate it. A friend and colleague recently gave me a compliment I loved. They told me I’d always been good at emotional communication and making people feel comfortable. “But I feel like it’s really ...
Even if some students are now just texting on their laptops. Stewart Sowman-Lund writes in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Councils from Horowhenua, Kāpiti, Wairarapa, the Hutt Valley, Porirua and Wellington City will meet this Friday to work together on a plan for a Greater Wellington region water deal. ...
Renowned musician, advocate, and proud born and raised daughter of Tauranga, Ria Hall, is announcing her candidacy for Mayor of Tauranga and Pāpāmoa Ward for the upcoming election on July 20th. ...
The new Aotearoa histories curriculum is rich with potential. There’s still work to be done, but the education minister’s criticisms about ‘balance’ miss the mark, argues primary school teacher Jessie Moss. In 2015, Ōtorohanga College students presented to parliament a petition signed by more than 10,000 people calling for a ...
For too long our so-called national bird has maintained its stranglehold on the economy of regional New Zealand. Thanks to the fast track legislation, we will have our revenge. Theories abound on what ails New Zealand’s economy. National leader Chris Luxon has posited that we’re negative, wet, whiny, and inward-looking; ...
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For the past 12 years, Georgia-Rose Brown has balanced on the brink of making an Olympic Games – but always landed gracefully on the wrong side. Reaching the Olympics is a dream the gymnast has harboured since she was a six-year-old; a dream that would dwindle every four years, yet ...
Late one afternoon in March 1860 a man in a thin green velveteen jacket and a wide-awake hat arrived on foot at a sheep station named Glenmark, about 65 kilometres north of Christchurch. The man was in his mid-fifties but he looked older. Several people who met him that day ...
If building one of Auckland’s possible waterfront stadiums was funded privately, it would need to hold a sold-out Ed Sherran concert every weekday for 25 years. That’s Rob Hamlin’s finding – he’s a senior marketing lecturer at the University of Otago. “It’s not going to happen; forget about it,” he ...
Comment: The debate over the future relationship between news and social media is bringing us closer to a long-overdue reckoning. Social media isn’t trying to kill journalism, because social media has never really cared about journalism. Social media is resolutely in the attention business. News propels some attention — perhaps ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A new Commonwealth Prac Payment will provide students with $319.50 a week when they are on clinical and professional placements. The payment will be means tested and start from July 1 next year, which ...
Asia Pacific Report About 500 people honoured Palestinian journalists in the heart of the New Zealand city of Auckland today for their brave coverage of Israel’s War on Gaza, now in its seventh month with almost 35,000 people killed, mostly women and children. Marking the annual May 3 World Press ...
The Government Communications Security Bureau denies hosting a foreign spying capability flagged by the watchdog, differentiating it from the system recently criticised. ...
RNZ News A group of academic staff at New Zealand’s largest university have expressed concern at the administration’s move to block a protest encampment that was planned to take place on campus calling for support for the rights of Palestinians. This week, the University of Auckland warned that while it ...
Genterwocky After a hard days marching, Sir Doocey calls in at the Village Tavern For a pint of ale and a pork pie. The grim villagers stare at him. “Do not be travelling on the forest road,” warns a crusty old beak. “And why is that, antique peasant?” Grins Sir ...
Political conferences after a party returns to power are usually a chance for some healthy, even unhealthy backslapping. Yet National Party president Sylvia Wood’s address to its mainland representatives on Saturday hardly contained the unalloyed delight that one might have expected following National’s escape from the wilderness of opposition. Yes, ...
Comment: Almost half the world is voting in national elections this year and artificial intelligence is the elephant in the room. There are genuine fears AI-generated or AI-edited deepfakes will potentially manipulate election outcomes not just in the US and UK, but critically in countries such as India. For that ...
Ahead of the reality franchise’s return to New Zealand, allow us to introduce the eight brides and grooms. Chuck on a veil and tie back your man bun, because it’s time to say “I do” to a new season of Married at First Sight NZ. The reality TV “social experiment” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Norton, Professor in the Practice of Higher Education Policy, Australian National University Every year on June 1, student debt in Australia is indexed to inflation. In 2023, high inflation pushed the indexation rate to 7.1%, the highest since 1990. This ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Changes in the May 14 budget will cut the student debt of more than three million people, wiping more than $3 billion from what people owe. The government will cap the HELP indexation rate ...
Asia Pacific Report The prosecutor’s office at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has appealed for an end to what it calls intimidation of its staff, saying such threats could constitute an offence against the “administration of justice” by the world’s permanent war crimes court. The Hague-based office of ICC Prosecutor ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A women’s union in New Caledonia has staged a sit-in protest this week to support senior Kanak indigenous journalist Thérèse Waia, who works for public broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie la Première, after a smear attack by critics. The peaceful demonstration was held on ...
New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring overseas recalls of Indian packaged spice products manufactured by MDH and Everest due to concerns over a cancer-causing pesticide. ...
By Stephen Wright and Stefan Armbruster of BenarNews Fiji’s ranking in a global press freedom index has jumped into the top tier of countries with free or mostly free media after its government last year repealed a draconian law that threatened journalists with prison for doing their jobs. Fiji’s improvement ...
We might be in Invercargill but all anyone can talk about is Gore. Specifically, Salford Street. That’s where three-year-old Lachlan Jones lived, south of the centre of town, between the A&P Showgrounds and the Mataura River. Roughly 1.2 km away from the single level home he lived in with his ...
“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
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!!!
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
Might have something to do with this :
NAZI UFO VRILS ATTACK US NAVAL FLEET; RARE … – YouTube
you tube▶ 4:23
And maybe this from Buzz Aldrin :
Buzz Aldrin We Are All In Danger From Evil At South Pole … youtube▶ 9:34
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