“Hundreds of thousands of people rallied on Saturday afternoon in the German capital against the massive Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) accord being negotiated by the European Union and the United States. Critics say the trade deal will benefit large corporations at the expense of average Europeans.” http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/10/10/hundreds-thousands-march-berlin-against-ttip-trade-deal
There was a big wooden horse being rolled along too – also appropriate.
“Everything that we know about this secretive trade deal shows that it is very little about trade and very much about enshrining a massive corporate power-grab.” Nick Dearden, director of Global Justice Now, at the Common Dreams link.
If our Labour Party has wet its finger and is holding it in the air to determine which way the wind is blowing, it might want to look at that photo of about 250,000 people marching against the TTIP. When we go to make a law in NZ we don’t want our first consideration to be “are we likely to be sued in an ISDS if we make this law?” TPP has this chilling effect.
Our first consideration should be “Is this law good for New Zealand, both for the people and the environment (and not detrimental to the world in general.)
Labour, if you are listening, we don’t wan’t this TPP. We lose more than we gain.
(Note the Herald title to Bernard Hickey’s article is incomplete.
Yes. “While the EU has an impressively alliterative “farm to fork” strategy, for instance, regulating each link in the food chain, Americans pump their cattle and pigs with growth-promoting hormones banned in the EU. As a result, most US beef can’t be sold in the EU.
Matthew Hooton (in his piece: Labour lurches to the extreme left over TPP) has used the possibility of Labour withdrawing from the TPP to scare potential supporters off Labour, undermining the Party’s efforts to build business support.
Labour would discuss its position on the TPP at its up and coming caucus meeting.
Audrey Young asks: will Labour be better off supporting the deal than not supporting it?
Will it be any better off sounding as though it opposes it but supporting it in the end?
Whatever they do you can bet the likes of hootten and all the other players will spin this in nacts favour so the rehetoric must be simple, short and snappy so it sticks in peoples minds despite the DP treatment.
Good to see King calling matty over his allegations, the electorate is crying out for a front foot approach to take back the argument to ordinary kiwis and away from the hollowmen and their shills in the msm.
Exactly. Labour needs to have a clear position, state that position and then stick to it. We’re getting fucked over by their ambivalence and their compromising with the RWNJs that just sees our country going ever more to the right and thus getting higher levels of poverty.
Labour should not support TPP. Period. It is very different to the China trade deal.
Supporting TPP which Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Corbyn etc do not support. There is massive mainstream political and public support AGAINST TPP.
They don’t have to agree with everything the Nats do in a NatLite way, now is the time for Labour to cut away from the 1980’s and the Clark era, and start looking at what Kiwis want, not want Labour think the country may or may not need. We are in a brave new technological world and the TPP aims to keep us in the past and the current powers dominant with outdated practises. History shows that those in power cling on and try to destroy as they are being replaced because they can’t or will not adapt.
One of the biggest mistakes Labour is making is sitting on the fence and using ‘confusion’ about it’s position to somehow try to be everything to all people, but instead looking like a completely untrustworthy party than just goes where the tide turns and gets bogged down in details oh I support this in this way but not in this way and maybe in this way, but not in this way (details all missing). Too complicated Labour!
“One of the biggest mistakes Labour is making is sitting on the fence and using ‘confusion’ about it’s position to somehow try to be everything to all people, but instead looking like a completely untrustworthy party than just goes where the tide turns and gets bogged down in details oh I support this in this way but not in this way and maybe in this way, but not in this way (details all missing). Too complicated Labour!”
Won’t Labour and everyone else need to see the whole document before stating a position? If Little was to say now that he/they oppose the TPP he would be trounced for being against something unseen/unconsidered.
Wait folks.
Taking into account Labour put forward their bottom lines. Coupled with the breach of their bottom lines (which Little concedes) in the info released thus far, a number expect Labour would oppose it on that alone.
However, Little says they’re certainly opposed to what they see at the moment, but they still want to see the final text. Which, with that said, implies there’s a possibility they may not oppose it.
And it is that lack of total commitment that leaves a number questioning why?
Your average person sees Labour making bottom lines, hears they’ve been breached, thus expects Labour to come out and totally oppose the deal on that basis.
I don’t see any confusion TC. It’s the pro-TPP mob – including much of the media – and the NActs sowing the seed of so-called confusion. Matthew Hooton’s latest attempt to suggest there’s ructions in the L. caucus over the TPP is a good example. Little squashed that load of bullshit once and for all this morning.
The bottom lines are still there and Little made it clear they will pass legislation to counter adverse effects when they are the government. When posed the question… what if the US (or who ever else) take retaliatory action, he [effectively] said… they can shit themselves as much as they like, but if it’s not in the best interest of our citizens we will not play ball. Good answer. Call their bluff.
The confusion lays with Ardern saying Labour will face the consequences (implying Labour will refuse to be bound by the TPP) and Robertson saying Labour will weigh up the consequences. Implying if the consequences are to severe, Labour will breach their 5 bottom lines.
Leaving a number wondering why make bottom lines when you may accept them being breached?
Hooton did more than claim the Party is divided. He went on to paint a withdrawal from the deal as Labour lurching towards the extreme left. Saying, the lunatics now running Labour’s asylum must never be let near power.
IMO, Hooton is not only trying to scare potential supporters off Labour, he’s also trying to scare Labour from withdrawing.
IMO, Hooton is not only trying to scare potential supporters off Labour, he’s also trying to scare Labour from withdrawing.
Exactly what he’s doing imo.
What appalling arrogance! He’s a pip-squeak among many other pip-squeaks who have a vastly over-rated opinion of themselves. I may not be able to abide him as a person/ politician, but at least John Key has some legitimacy when it comes to playing these games.
The other big problem in farming is that they have been encouraged to expand and have too much stock and then have to buy in supplementary feed which is very expensive and often using Palm Kernel expeller which is imported from Indonesia where it is contributed to massive rain forest destruction and climate change.
Where is the support for farmers farming in a sustainable way and research to support that from government?
Do we want to be a low end commodity producer ALL our life as a country or when is someone going to say – lets move up the value chain?
For example Lactoferrin is approx $500,000 per ton and milk solids $3000 a ton?
Nutricuticials should be top on the list of where our milk industry is heading not ‘lets produce more milk for less money’.
Do we want to be a low end commodity producer ALL our life as a country
According to National that’s exactly what we are and should be. It’s why they keep making getting a good education harder and why they keep pushing dairying.
My company manufactures a highly value added product 100% here in NZ Draco, but at the moment that product is effectively locked out of lucrative markets such as Canada, Japan, and the US by 20-30% tariffs that are designed to make our end price uncompetitive.
If the TPP goes ahead those tariffs will disappear and we would immediately set out on a major expansion into those markets.
All going well, we would be looking at many new high value NZ jobs and significant flow on benefits down through all the companies that supply us raw materials and services.
I know several other NZ Made Manufacturers who are in exactly the same situation……
So everything else aside, I can see some outcomes from the TPPA that would create opportunities for people who are trying to add value to the NZ economy. Just saying, but it ain’t all bad.
If the TPP goes ahead those tariffs will disappear and we would immediately set out on a major expansion into those markets.
Even without tariffs it’ll still cost more to get your products to market in those nations because of the added costs of transporting them. The only way you’d be able to compete would be if you lowered wages.
As I say. If there’s a level playing field in world trade (Which was the point of the WTO/GATT) then there wouldn’t be any world trade. A manufacturer in NZ cannot compete with a manufacturer in Canada/US/Australia when under the same conditions. That’s physical reality.
@ The Lost Sheep, if you can’t make it in NZ or China then you probably are not going to make it in, the rest of the world. The tariffs do not stop trade so the TPP is not going to miraculously make a market for new NZ products. In fact more likely under TPP someone bigger will come along steal your idea and litigate you, so go under. The copywrite laws are intended to be protectionist to the current status quo.
All wrong savenz.
Tariffs do in fact stop trade. That is largely the point of them.
In the case of my business area, removal of tariffs will create huge new markets that we can effectively compete in.
I’m not generalising a theoretical case here, I’m talking about a specific opportunity that we have spent years investigating and are absolutely certain of.
That’s good isn’t it?
Maybe you have a great idea or product but when you look at Dragon’s Den like entrepreneurs – quite a few people are absolutely certain they have some amazing product the world is dying to obtain. But quite often the people are fruit cakes and with or without TPP are going to fail. Not sure if this is you, but NZ is an easy market to get a product out in, and TPP does not actually remove all tarrifs in fact there is only about 10% difference from now in some areas.
But we certainly DO KNOW under TPP medicine will be more expensive as even Key has said, patents for longer, protectionist measures, etc
We know NZ can be sued and our government and courts won’t be deciding the outcome but 3 international judges than have never found against the US historically.
The opposite of ‘free trade’.
In the US/OZ free trade deal they are both worse off 10 years later.
So should the rest of the country be worse off, because MAYBE someone is slightly better off, and again corporate welfare. i.e. taxpayers helping business at the expense of the rest of the population who have to pay more individually to subsidise the business?
quite a few people are absolutely certain they have some amazing product the world is dying to obtain. But quite often the people are fruit cakes and with or without TPP are going to fail. Not sure if this is you,
No. I have very well established growing business that already sells to people throughout the world. So no need to do Dragons Den.
So should the rest of the country be worse off, because MAYBE someone is slightly better off, and again corporate welfare. i.e. taxpayers helping business at the expense of the rest of the population who have to pay more individually to subsidise the business?
Well, if you believe, as many do here, that our Govt. would deliberately negotiate a deal that guaranteed a negative overall outcome for our country, or you believe that Govt. in NZ pays anything like significant subsidies to business, then you might say that.
But I think that is rubbish.
Like all the trade negotiations I have ever seen, this one is a result of the compromise process that occurs when every country is trying to stimulate growth, but at the same time trying to gain more access to other markets than they give away in their own.
There are opportunities for NZ’ers in this deal, if it goes ahead. My plan is to take maximum advantage of the ones in front of me.
I just hope enough NZ’ers do the same to make it an overall positive net outcome.
Orchard manager Evan Heywood said the lack of rain would hurt fruit growers in areas, such as Waimea, where the water supply was limited.
This is one of the big environmental problems we face – a lot of people actually think that the water supply we have is unlimited. The reality is that the water supply is limited and we need to live within those limits.
It’s true we have a problem with out attitude towards water (thinking it’s endless). Water’s not the main problem in how to grow food in dry climates though, it’s how we use land. Current agricultural practices, including irrigation, encourage drought.
Here’s establishing food producing trees in the first year on one of the driest place on earth (on salinated soil). They used 1/5th the amount of water used in that area normally.
Thanks! That’s a very good interview (yes, smart people), and has a good explanation of how to manage water differently (at start and then half way through).
We have had an ‘endless supply’ mentality to H2O here in NZ. Here in the Waikato, arguably the greenest of this green and pleasant land, we now have irrigation booms, a la Canterbury Plains.
When we were building in the country 18 years ago we designed the house for maximum rain collection and chucked in a couple of BIG tanks.
Neighbours suggested putting down a bore…plenty of groundwater they said.
This was because we refused to water the veg plants….(we still got bumper crops) to conserve our house supply.
Drought of 2007/2008 saw those neighbours’ bores all dry up.
Local 1000 cow dairy farm had their pump on the lowest point in the area…had sucked the aquifer dry.
They are the ones with the boom…I presume sucking the water from the river.
In the 50s isn’t that what the refugees flooding into Israel did to green the desert? (Recently I scooped buckets of beach sand and pebbles to put on a small patch. Weed-cloth then the salt laden beach sand. The weeds grew prolifically!)
I don’t know ian. Permacuture (which is the design technique used in that video) was invented in the 1970s, but it is based in many existing traditional systems, so it’s possible that swales were used in the situation you refer to.
Why were you putting beach sand and pebbles in your garden?
It was a small patch of ground in which I aimed to grow a lemon tree and a shrub. Since we were seldom there to weed I thought that the salty beach sand would block the weeds, but no.
This is what irrigation should be used for. A prop at times of drought, and perhaps an aid to encourage an early start to the growing season so as to get crops well on their way before known seasonal weather bringing heat and moisture deficits occur.
Personally I know several people who will not support Labour precisely because it has not come out definitely against the TPP. Labour is not opposed to free trade agreements per se, but the positive amount of free trade in this agreement for NZ is small compared to the negatives of ISDS, the inability to prevent foreign ownership of land and yet to be revealed final rules on SOEs and other hidden fishhooks.
Labour seem to be waiting for the final text so that their arguments will be based on fact’
Here’s Audrey Young:
“It will be passed by the Cabinet and National has the numbers with Act and Peter Dunne to pass any legislation required.
But the Government would prefer to pass it with as much cross-party support as possible.
The campaign against the TPP has shifted the default position of the public from a generally pro-FTA position to neutral.
In the Herald’s DigiPoll survey in August, only 22.9 per cent said they supported it generally on the basis that New Zealand’s economic well-being depended on increased trade with the world; 31.3 per cent opposed it on the basis of investor-state dispute procedures and 45 per cent had no view.
Labour has been pivotal in shifting public opinion, shifting its own position last year from a pro starting point to a neutral one.”
OK Labour. Let’s move it from neutral to NEGATIVE!
To me, this is the most important sentence. Audrey Young again:
“My prediction is that Labour will spend the next month sounding as though it opposes the TPP, pointing out where it could have been better, condemning the Government for not getting a perfect deal, but end up supporting it. In the process it will be sending mixed messages.”
This must not happen. Stop equivocating, Labour. There’s enough info out with the latest leak. You’ll gain more by opposing the TPP. It’s an up or down decision now- liking bits of the agreement is not enough.
This must not happen. STOP equivocating, Labour. There’s enough info out with the latest leak. You’ll gain more by opposing the TPP. It’s an up or down decision now- liking bits of the agreement is not enough.
I know you’ve been anxious to hear an unequivocal statement against the TPP… How ’bout the Greens?
James Shaw MP on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 – 10:03
The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) makes it more likely that everyday New Zealanders will become tenants in our own land, while private companies snap up the limited gains of about one percent of GDP, the Green Party said today.
“The TPPA is a bad deal because the costs will be worn by everyday New Zealanders while the benefits will go to private companies,” Green Party Co-leader James Shaw said.
“New Zealanders are more likely to become tenants in our own land, because the TPPA slackens the overseas investment rules and takes away our right to limit overseas speculators from buying up our land.
“It’s becoming clear that it will be harder, take longer, and be more expensive to access next generation medicines in New Zealand and in developing countries.
“Multinational companies will be able to sue New Zealand if it takes action to protect our environment, for example strengthening the protection for the critically endangered Maui’s dolphins.
“Trade Minister Tim Groser can’t avoid the fact that the TPPA doesn’t actually break down trade barriers with markets like Canada, and it will be another 25 years before milk powder tariffs in the United States market are gone.
“Whichever way you look at the TPPA, it’s a bad deal.
“After five years of talking, Tim Groser and the National Government have failed to achieve an agreement that is in New Zealand’s best interests,” Mr Shaw said.
so Greens will repeal signing of TPP?…has Shaw said this specifically or is he equivocating?
…the Greens are in agreement with NZF then!?
…so where is bloody Labour?!
…they should be forming a united front saying “NO” to the TPP when they ALL form the next coalition Government
If the TPP is bad enough for both Republican Trump and Democrat Saunders to have the courage to stick their necks out and say “NO”!….surely NZ Labour can do the same!….and stop sitting on the fence
‘Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump slam Trans-Pacific Partnership deal as ‘disastrous’ & ‘terrible’ ‘
“Trump, a 69-year-old billionaire real estate mogul, entered the US presidential race in June, seeking the Republic nomination. He is currently leading in the polls.”
I have not heard an unequivocal rejection of the TPP from either Labour or the Greens.
Statements like “The TPP was not voted in democratically by the New Zealand people. We shall repeal it once we are in power.”
agreed …the Greens, like Labour, have not come out unequivocally against the TPP
…if they must fence sit ….why not a NZ referendum on the TPP?….why allow the secrecy and lack of democracy?
…if it is good enough to have a referendum on the flag (when most NZers want to keep the existing flag)…it should be good enough to have a democratic referendum on deciding whether to adhere to jonkey Nacts secret deal on the TPP?
Why hide it from the people if it’s such a good deal, it can speak for itself, without the need for well placed media megaphones selectively pushing aspects of it?
seem to recall you expressing with complete certainty this morning that once in place no government (in NZ) will leave…are you saying youve changed your mind Matthew?
Incredibly……no, he wasn’t challenged. Neither by Dallow (who’s surprised ?……Dallow was relating as one would to the AB captain after a successful international campaign)….. nor by Little.
‘Dallow was educated at Liston College and St Peter’s College. He completed his tertiary education at Auckland University, where he studied law. After completing his legal studies, Dallow practised as a litigation and insurance lawyer in Auckland, New Zealand.
Whilst on his OE, the 1987 stock market crash occurred, causing him to change careers, as a future in bankruptcy law was unappealing. Dallow then spent the next six years as a tour director in Europe. He returned to New Zealand in 1993.’
A litigation lawyer before the ’87 crash.
These people are not independent.
Dallow’s mediocrity as a journalist and the fact he does not ask any difficult questions of the powerful has ensured his promotion at TVNZ.
Dallow is incompetent. He seems always to be under-prepared and is therefore nervous and unsure of himself in interviews. He knows enough, though, to side with power, as demonstrated by his outrageously biased performance in “chairing” the discussion with Charles Finny, Helen Kelly and Professor Steve Hoadley on Q+A this morning.
Well he was riding on the coat tails of his former wife after all. Not surprising she saw the light.
God how a pray to be around when the inevitable clean out occurs. It’ll be a therapist’s dream come true. Maybe I should write a few things down.
I hope when it comes to pass, the very same methods used to implement the culture of a neo-liberal agenda is used to rid us all of it.
I can think of several ways to cleanup TVNZ for a start and to return it to a form that serves its public (rather than its consumer).
We should keep it in perspective though – this sort of shit is even infecting that supposed bastion of the Educate Inform and Entertain triumvirate (the Aunty BBC)
His father Ross was a local body politico out West, of the Right persuasion. Got Marier Hasler a plumb position in a Sports Trust (which she was ill equipped to do) after she lost her seat in Parliament. She had to be let go after only a few months ith a severance package. Dallow hoped it would further his career.
To be fair Groser and Little were interviewed individually and in the case of Little he was confined to the questions asked of him by Dallow. I thought his responses were strong and left no doubt Labour will take action against aspects of the deal (eg. foreign property speculation) if they become the government. At the same time he intimated Labour has to look at the details – when they finally emerge – but my impression is they are not going to budge on their bottom lines.
He also made it clear the caucus was totally united on those “bottom lines”, so Hooten’s [excited] claims to the contrary were bullshit. I wonder who the insiders were? Pagani et al?
Little lost any credibility he might have had when he assented, reluctantly, to the Key regime’s snooping legislation. After assuring reporters how unhappy he was, he then assured reporters that would be the last time Labour would cave in like that.
He has virtually no respect from the government, and it’s all his own fault.
Hooton is a spin doctor whose rabid support for the TPP and personal attacks on opponents to the deal suggests it is in his interest that the deal gets passed whatever is in it.
Has he seen the full text? I doubt it, but that isn’t important for him. The only interest I have in Hooton is finding out who he is working for. Possibly nobody is paying him at this stage but he is hoping for work in the future. Who knows, but in my opinion the acquisition of money and/or power is the main motivator for the actions of those on the right, and I see no reason to believe any thing they say.
Hooton has chosen 2 particular parts of the agreement to argue. Someone has given him sufficient assurances that he is not on shakey ground pushing those 2 things. He might not have seen the full text but he has been given a very good (and directed) nod and a wink)
I took it Labour oppose the TPP. But opposing the deal means little as Labour’s support isn’t necessary for the deal to pass.
And to safeguard their bottom lines, Labour are considering legislating against the ordinances of the TPP.
However, as Labour are talking about facing the consequences of legislating against the ordinances of the TPP, it indicates they don’t plan to totally withdraw from the deal.
Therefore, Little’s responses were far from strong (taking the middle ground) or left enough.
Your argument has a whacking great logical hole in it. Are you saying that Labour should not oppose TPPa supporting legislation that gets introduced between now and 2017.
You sound like an unthinking dingbat. Labour isn’t on the treasury benches. So that is the Only way that can prospectus agreement.
Why would they? The problem isn’t with making trade deals. The problem is with making bad trade deals.
The last thing I saw from them (in the Herald today?) was that the TPP appears to have failed on 4 out of 5 of their base points, and that is what they want to fix.
Asked if that includes pulling out of the TPP, Mr Little said his party would always reserve the right to do so.
“In the end you know every government’s duty is to act in the best interests of its people, of its citizens and we will do that, and if it means that we would have to do things that would be in breach of the TPP, because we wouldn’t walk out of it, we would do those things. If we have opportunities to renegotiate things that are less favourable to us, we will.”
In other words, if this crap deal doesn’t improve a lot then Labour will withdraw from it.
For all of the stupidity of this government in getting involved with this idiotic “trade” deal, they have also sunk a hell of a lot of money into trying to do so – probably well in excess of $100 million since 2009 after the US got involved and converted a free trade agreement to a restraint of trade agreement. It’d be good to recover that.
But if that isn’t possible and it continues to look like constraining our trade development, then the damn thing should be dumped.
Labour won’t be able to fix all the breaches. And Little clearly didn’t commit to walking away, though he implied they may.
As I stated above, to save face on their bottom lines, they are considering legislating against the ordinances of the TPP. Which Little has confirmed.
However, as Labour are talking about facing the consequences of legislating against the ordinances of the TPP, it indicates they don’t plan to totally withdraw from the deal.
Little helps confirm this by not fully committing to withdrawing from the deal.
Additionally, the cat was let out of the bag when Robertson said the Party would weigh up the consequences, implying if the consequences are to severe, Labour will back down.
So brace yourself for that excuse coming into play later on down the track.
Labour seems to be using one of their common tactics. They make a big song and dance opposing something, but in the end, they support it. Which tends to put voters off voting Labour.
Though, in saying that, the stuff article tends to lay some foundation (appeasing exporter concern) for walking away.
how can anyone measure future legal action by organisations that may as yet be unformed?….one of the problems for ANY group seeking to quantify the costs/benefits, even after all the text is released is we have no possible way of quantifying the ISDS provisions….on these provisions alone I would walk away but then, im not seeking election.
It is worth posting the complete quote here as it appeared in the NZH:
’ “I think that is almost inconceivable, given the safe cards our international lawyers have negotiated, that anyone will take a case against New Zealand in the next X years,” he said.’
In his opinion Timmy reckons that NZ will be untouchable, legally speaking, and even the US Litigation Army will avoid us like the plague because it will be ‘mission impossible’. The fact that all law needs to be tested in court has escaped Timmy.
what international lawyers? Have their costs been included in the Fact Sheets? (rhetorical cos they have not) – Unless our lawyers have been able to change the intent and meaning of the investor relations clauses in the final text, they can’t guarantee anything.
More TPP propaganda from the Herald/Pravda.
This time they give air space to an ex-leader of the ACT Party, a party that gets under 1% of the electoral vote.
Still, it’s nearly appropriate.
The Herald does represent the views of the 0.01%.
And just like you, he has no actual argument to counter the TPPA.
Simply a personal attack on Jane Kelsey.
So typical for the extreme neo-liberal ideologues.
You have no moral or practical argument, so you resort to personal insults.
The same was done to Mike Joy, Jon Stephenson, Nicky Hager, Glenn Greenwald……
Matthew R X Dentith @HORansome 1h1 hour ago
Rodney Hide’s latest column is so bad that if he submitted it as an essay I’d refuse to mark it unless he & I had a meeting to discuss it
‘And on rolls the NZH’s relentless pro-TPPA propaganda machine. On today’s menu: a quick and dirty hit job on Jane Kelsey. Slap a “Marxist” label on her and be done with it, won’t you Rodney? Actually arguing the points is too much like hard work, isn’t it? Plus one might end up looking a bit foolish, like your friend Mike. She is a law professor after all, and has actually spent a significant part of her life analysing the subject matter. It’s so much easier just to shoot the messenger. Oh, and nice work on choosing that photo, NZH editors. It goes well with the whole Marxist theme.’
It’s ok. Wayne Mapp’s theory applies here. If you have NEVER opposed a FTA (and Hide has not) then we can discount his opinion as being so heavily jaundiced as to be lacking any credibility.
“Columnist Pat Buchanan predicted that the debate on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would be after the “early primaries” and the deal “is in real trouble” on Friday’s “McLaughlin Group.”
Buchanan said, “These are trade deals put together by transnational corporations and trade ministries to globalize the world economy, basically to enable these powerful corporations to move their factories and plants out of countries where the wages are high, to countries where the wages are low, so they can bring their products back…free of charge into the United States. In the last month, our trade deficit’s running at 600 billion overall this year, and with China at $400 billion, John. But I will you this, the forces that oppose these transnational trade deals are getting stronger and stronger. Not only [Sen.] Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)16% and Hillary Clinton in the Democratic Party, but Mr. Trump in the Republican Party, this deal is in real trouble, and I predict that they’re going to have to throw the deal — the discussion in the House — or the Congress over past — certainly past the early primaries.” http://www.breitbart.com/video/2015/10/10/buchanan-tpp-in-real-trouble-debate-in-congress-will-be-after-early-primaries/
The Trans-Pacific Partnership’s two solitudes: Burman – Toronto Star
Comparison of TPP and refugee issues.
Tony Burman writes:
“In one case, when corporate and political power works in tandem, borders are a detail to be dispensed with. In the other case, when it’s simply about the powerless, borders are to be strengthened and made impenetrable. It all seems to depend on whose interests you value most.”
Shouldn’t it be handled as foreign aid by MFAT?
Did he ever consider that given a clear choice many taxpayers may not choose to donate to this particular charity to help in this part of the world?
This is not a post about whether or not people in this region need help – many will.
Just the question of is this how the government has released funds for it “crony charity?”
So Key’s personal donation was afternoon tea at his electorate office? Even that is likely to be paid for out of his office running budget.
It seems our multi-millionaire PM is happy to play the big benefactor with tax payer’s money but is keeping his hands out of his own pockets. What a guy!
Getting in first to counter the much quoted claim he donates his salary to charity that claim soon changed to a proportion of his salary and he has always refused to say what proportion.
It would be nice to see Key apologise to Stephenson though, or at least have something to say about the Defence Force slandering a journalist.
Is Matthew Hooton well?
He is coming across, in my opinion, somewhat ‘unhinged’ as he desperately attempts to ‘spin’ opponents of the TPPA as being ‘extreme’?
FYI (hopefully Matthew, you will see this either on Kiwiblog – or here?)
_______________________________________________________
A belated reply to Matthew Hooton’s (Kiwiblog) post October 9th, 2015 at 5:49 pm
Gee Matthew!
For a purportedly experienced ‘spin doctor’ / Media Commentator – that is a rather, (in my view), apoplectic and intemperate response, to my arguably straightforward questions?
Sheesh!
You were more pleasant when you were drinking!
(If you’re stressed, for whatever reason, try Spirulina, those ‘B’ vitamins can really help).
_____________________________________________________________
2. I don’t give a fuck who Tim Groser or Len Brown meet with. But it would make sense for the trade minister to brief the mayor of Auckland on his work from time to time.
Respect for those who refuse to be intimidated.
Or? Amusement at the simplicity who gather together all the principled and thinking people in one spot so they can be conveniently annihilated.
Protest in the streets like this can be futile, and destructive to the cause weakening numbers by decimation, and strengthening the triumphant vicious over-riding group. Repeating protests after attacks, should be the last resort. Better if other measures can be planned and the vicious attacked from behind, and through other ways where they have weaknesses.
You see, Planned Parenthood has a political action committee called Planned Parenthood Action Fund (hereinafter, PP Action Fund). In the 2012 elections, of the $5,141,216 the PP Action Fund spent on either supporting candidates who supported reproductive rights or opposing candidates who were antagonistic to such rights, the Return on Investment in these races was a flabbergasting 98.1%.
[…]
The second reason the Republicans tremble when they see Cecile Richards marching toward them in stilettos prepared to walk all over them is that the PP Action Fund is highly effective at getting out the vote, especially the votes of young women who tend to vote Democratic. They did this in the races of Senator Franken and of Mark Dayton (D), Governor of Minnesota. Without their help, Minnesota could have gone to the darkside and Al Franken would be home writing a sequel about the liars he has personally known in Congress
Thanks for this. It definitely explains the willingness of the GOP to look stupid, while pulling out every trick in the book (including out right fabrication and bare-faced lying), to try to destroy PP.
Good time to watch ‘the fog of war’ and remember the lessons supposedly learned by Vietnam… Parallels to all the other US run occupations in particular around the middle East.
Iraq, a problem that only existed in the US and UK imagination, but by which they have made a reality of the problem (with many profiting from it, while millions suffer).
Robert McNamara’s 11 lessons from Vietnam[edit]
From Robert McNamara’s 1995 book “In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam”.[7]
We misjudged then — and we have since — the geopolitical intentions of our adversaries … and we exaggerated the dangers to the United States of their actions.
We viewed the people and leaders of South Vietnam in terms of our own experience … We totally misjudged the political forces within the country.
We underestimated the power of nationalism to motivate a people to fight and die for their beliefs and values.
Our misjudgments of friend and foe, alike, reflected our profound ignorance of the history, culture, and politics of the people in the area, and the personalities and habits of their leaders.
We failed then — and have since — to recognize the limitations of modern, high-technology military equipment, forces, and doctrine. We failed, as well, to adapt our military tactics to the task of winning the hearts and minds of people from a totally different culture.
We failed to draw Congress and the American people into a full and frank discussion and debate of the pros and cons of a large-scale military involvement … before we initiated the action.
After the action got under way, and unanticipated events forced us off our planned course … we did not fully explain what was happening, and why we were doing what we did.
We did not recognize that neither our people nor our leaders are omniscient. Our judgment of what is in another people’s or country’s best interest should be put to the test of open discussion in international forums. We do not have the God-given right to shape every nation in our image or as we choose.
We did not hold to the principle that U.S. military action … should be carried out only in conjunction with multinational forces supported fully (and not merely cosmetically) by the international community.
We failed to recognize that in international affairs, as in other aspects of life, there may be problems for which there are no immediate solutions … At times, we may have to live with an imperfect, untidy world.
Underlying many of these errors lay our failure to organize the top echelons of the executive branch to deal effectively with the extraordinarily complex range of political and military issues.
The activity of banking is issuing more promises than can ever be kept. Bankers’ ‘promises-to-pay’ circulate as money, and for as long as they circulate, the banking system (taken as a whole) never has to pay out on them. Bankers’ ‘promises-to-pay’ are claims on assets that, for the most part, don’t exist and never will exist.
The law of 1707 made lending a much more attractive proposition. Normally, when someone lends money, they say goodbye for a time to the money they have lent. But if lenders get a piece of paper acknowledging the debt, and if that piece of paper can be freely bought and sold, then lenders may sacrifice little or nothing by lending: they may even make an immediate gain, as Adam Smith notes below.
So – people were happier to lend. The government began to borrow spectacular amounts of money, to make war in Europe. This began the age of the national debt: nations borrowing off their rich, at no expense to the rich, who are paid interest (and eventually capital) out of taxes on the productive part of the nation.
This is why we had to sell out power generation, our telecommunications and pretty much everything else. Our banking system is pretty much designed to shift wealth to the few and thus make the rest of us slaves to those few.
It’s amazing, frustrating, and terrifying to note the difference in coverage right now between the Radio New Zealand and the New Zealand Herald regarding the horrible terrorist attack in Turkey. It’s been the lead story all morning on the RNZ website but at the NZH website it falls faster than an anchor. The Herald fills their page up with several rugby stories, something about Susan Wood and Chris Cairns before we get to the Turkish story.
The reporting is strikingly different too. Radio Zealand calls the victims labour activists whereas the Herald calls the victims hard-line Marxists. Basically, for the Herald the attack doesn’t warrant significant outrage because the victims were left-wing despite the attack being conducted by war-mongering flavour-of-the-month ISIL. Anyone who thinks the Herald is balanced and non-tabloid needs to get their head checked.
The day after the TPP was signed these were the main headlines in the corporate media in NZ.
From The Daily Blog.
‘Here is what the NZ Herald and Stuff decided was more important than a corporate coup removing NZs economic and political sovereignty the day after the TPPA was signed.
Sports gamblers panicking that the All Blacks won’t win the Rugby World Cup.
A porn renovation TV show might make some more money than they first thought.
A boat falls off a trailer.
A bad bus trip.
The world didn’t end after a religious prophecy
A radio host wears the same togs as Kylie Jenner.
An Apartment that got flooded by a fish tank was sold.
Government spends $600 000 on flowers
A dog gets put down.’
More propaganda from the Herald as they publicise the US media’s attempt to shut down Clinton. The corporate media are working overtime to ‘seal the deal’, aren’t they?
‘Clinton is wrong on the Trans-Pacific Partnership’
Jane Kelsey on Tim Groser who was trying to justify the secrecy of TPP in the interview this morning, Tim said he was “very pleased” tobacco control measures exempted from Investor State Dispute Settlement provisions and “I can almost guarantee you that if we had made that public, we would not have got it”
The tobacco carve out was one of the few bits of the TPP that WAS publicly discussed way back. In 2013.
“The United States and 11 countries bordering the Pacific Ocean had been engaged in the latest round of negotiations over a treaty intended to lower tariffs and other barriers to commerce. One of the issues was whether tobacco should be included in such a treaty or “carved out” so that health considerations could take precedence over expanded trade. The issue pits health advocates against the tobacco industry and other commercial interests. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/01/opinion/sunday/the-hazard-of-free-trade-tobacco.html?_r=0
and in 2014 Reuters
“U.S. floats cutting tobacco from part of Pacific trade pact -sources”
“Dropping tobacco from the investor-state dispute settlement, or ISDS, section of the Trans-Pacific Partnership would prevent tobacco companies taking action against any TPP government under those legal protections, for example over health care measures.” http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/21/usa-trade-tpp-idUSL2N0SG1WO20141021
Another issue: Tim believes ISDS wouldn’t stop NZ introducing a policy like plain packaging for fizzy drinks; “I believe you probably could as long as you had a good health-based case and you’re ready to defend it”
Does being ready to defend that mean in an “inconceivable” ISDS tribunal?
Toronto’s newspaper The Star has released a poll which has the Liberals under Justin Trudeau within reach of a ‘strong minority’. The Liberals are at 37% versus Harper’s Conservatives on 31%. Mulcair and the NDP are trailing at 23% which is an extraordinary turnaround from their frontrunner position going in to the campaign. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/10/10/liberals-within-reach-of-majority-poll.html
For a start, yesterday/today…..the sun shines…..blah blah blah. Who knows what’s in this deal ? Sovereignty’s hardly a thing “gone by lunchtime”.
Then pulling the ‘Commie Card’ re Jane Kelsey.
OK…..with as much ground for it I’ll pull the ‘Traitor Card’. Which is the canary suited has-been gargoyle aka Mr Love-Perks-Hypocrite Extraordinaire. And honours for Jane Kelsey.
I think he was stating the obvious. Her communism means that she opposes markets and globalisation. She has been doing so for 30 years. Her Wikipedia entry which she could edit if she wants reads like a horror story.
Too funny: Rodney Hide’s opinions are “obvious” to S Rylands.
S Rylands thinks that editing ones own Wikipedia entry is a good idea, whether or not it mentions “communism” (Kelsey’s doesn’t at the time of writing).
No wonder S Rylands reacts with “horror”: conflict of interest much?
There have been accusations and counter accusations about who is siding with which side in the war in Syria. There is sufficient proof that the FSA (Free Syrian Army), supported by the US and some Gulf states have been fighting alongside Al Nusra Front, an Al Qaeda associated group.
As it is going, I hardly see a problem with that, given that the murderous Assad has been siding with Hezbollah and Iran, who have their own human rights issues.
We see a situation in Syria, that deserves more scrutiny and effort to get all parties around a table to discuss a hopefully peaceful solution to the civil war, but bombings from the air by either the US or the Russians will hardly assist such a process, it will only fuel the situation and war there.
You ask a completely valid question. The sad truth is that the fronts are so hardened and there is such hostility, there will only be some prospect for peace if one of the sides puts the other under so much pressure that they will be prepared to negotiate. I doubt whether it is such a good idea by Putin and the Russians to keep Assad in place, that solves nothing and will only escalate and prolong the war there.
In the meantime refugees will flow into Europe and elsewhere and can only hope that the situation in Syria will somehow be resolved over future years. Not a great prospect, as also refugees face increased pressures and hostility in the places they have fled to. In Germany there have already been arson attacks on refugee homes, there are protests and the government is cutting benefits for refugees.
The EU is planning to fast track sending back hundreds of thousands that are presumed to rather be economic refugees.
The world is not a great place at present, for too many to live in.
” I doubt whether it is such a good idea by Putin and the Russians to keep Assad in place, that solves nothing and will only escalate and prolong the war there.”
I share your doubts.
Sadly, recent history also teaches us that over-throwing the selected undemocratic leader doesn’t solve the problem either. God forbid we look for a completely different solution rather than trying the same old failed ones over and over and over. I say selected because Saudi Arabia gets to be very undemocratic but untouched by Western superiority.
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 27 were:1. The Minister for Ford Rangers strikes againTransport Minister Simeon Brown was again the busiest of the Cabinet ministers this week, announcing an ...
You got a fast carAnd I want a ticket to anywhereMaybe we make a dealMaybe together we can get somewhereAny place is betterYesterday’s newsletter, Trust In Me, on the report of abuse in state care, and by religious organisations, between 1950 and 2019, coupled with the hypocrisy of Christopher Luxon ...
New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Carereport released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced$802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Carereport in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquirypublished its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone iconon the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive:Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloittereport for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’sOliver LewisScoop:Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announcedthe Board of Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Orderimage, ...
Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
Waiting In The Wings:For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSAannounced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
Te Rangi e tu nei (The sky above us) Te Papa e takoto nei (The land beneath us) Tatou katoa te hunga ora (To us all the living) Tena koutou katoa (Greetings) ...
A late change to charter school legislation will cheat educators out of fair pay and negotiating power proving charter schools are just a vehicle to make profit out of our education system. ...
In 2004 te iwi Māori rallied against the Crown’s attempt to confiscate our coastlines and moana with the Foreshore and Seabed Act. This led to the largest hīkoi of a generation and the birth of Te Pāti Māori. 20 years later, history is repeating itself. Today the government has announced ...
It has been five and a half years since the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care was established to investigate the abuse of children, young people, and vulnerable adults within state and faith-based institutions. Yesterday, the final report - Whanaketia through pain and trauma, from darkness to light ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to take action off the back of the International Court of Justice ruling on Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. ...
On Friday the International Court of Justice reaffirmed what Palestinian’s have been telling us for decades: that the occupation and colonisation of Palestinian lands by Israel is illegal and must end immediately. They also called for reparations for Palestinian’s who have lived under Israeli occupation since it began in 1967. ...
Labour calls on the Government to act after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian Territories is illegal. ...
The 53.7 percent rise in benefit sanctions over the last year is more proof of this Government’s disdain for our communities most in need of support. ...
Aotearoa could be a country where every child grows up feeling safe, loved and with a sense of belonging in their whānau and community. But for some of our children, this is far from reality. Instead, they are trapped in a maze of intergenerational harm that they can’t escape on ...
Te Pāti Māori are calling for David Seymour to resign as Associate Health Minister in response to his call for Pharmac to ignore the Treaty of Waitangi. “This announcement is just another example of the government’s anti-Tiriti, anti-Māori agenda.” Said Co-leader and spokesperson for health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. “Seymour thinks it ...
The soaring price of renting is driving the rise of inflation in this country - with latest figures from Stats NZ showing rents are up 4.8 per cent on average while annual inflation is at 3.3 per cent. ...
National’s Emissions Reduction Plan will take New Zealand further from the economy we need to ensure the next generation has a stable climate and secure livelihoods. ...
Following consultation with named parties and thorough consideration of privacy interests, the Green Party is in a position to release the Executive Summary of the final report from the independent investigation into Darleen Tana. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon should be asking serious questions of his Minister for Resources Shane Jones now it’s been revealed he misled the public about a dinner with mining companies that he didn’t declare and said wasn’t pre-arranged. ...
Te Pāti Māori have submitted to the Justice Select Committee against the Sentencing (Reinstating Three Strikes) Amendment Bill. The bill will further entrench racism in our justice system and fails to focus on rehabilitation. “Reinstating Three Strikes will empower a systematically racist system and exacerbate the overrepresentation of Māori in ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee is set to make a determination on the Residential Tenancies Amendment (RTA) Bill in the coming weeks. “This legislation will give landlords the power to kick our whānau out onto the street for no reason” said Housing spokesperson, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “Their solution to the housing ...
“National’s campaign was about tackling crime and the best they can do is a two-year long Ministerial Advisory Group,” Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
“There are more examples of charter schools failing their students than there are success stories. The coalition Government is driving to dismantle our public school system and instead promote a privatised, competitive structure that puts profits before kids,” Jan Tinetti said. ...
“This government is choosing to deliberately mislead and withhold information, keeping our people in the dark about this government’s agenda and the future of our mokopuna,” said co-leader and spokesperson for Health, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. The call comes after the demand from the Chief Ombudsman that Associate Minister of Health, Casey ...
“Today’s climate announcement by Simon Watts makes clear the National Government is simply paying lip service to meeting its climate change targets,” Megan Woods said. ...
National is choosing to make life harder for workers by taking away the rights our communities have fought hard for. Here's how they’re taking workers backwards. ...
Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue. We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views. “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
Tēnā tātou katoa, Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts. “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet. “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks. “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. At the heart of this report are the ...
For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced. “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024. “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane. “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says. “This will be our third visit to ...
Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today. “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum. While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation. “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan. “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests. Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone. Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
Last summer when Matairangi burned, Ginny and Tom stood at the window of their lounge, watching kākā shoot skyward from the burning trees. From the distance, they looked to Ginny like pages torn from books and thrown into a bonfire. It was Tom, voice tight, who told her it was ...
Opinion: The Canadian short story writer Alice Munro – winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013 – died in May at the age of 92. Her work was about “the damage people inflict on one another in the name of love”, Deborah Treisman wrote in the New Yorker. ...
This month marks two years since the most powerful telescope ever built sent its first pictures back to earth. From its lofty vantage point, beyond the moon in orbit around the sun, the James Webb Space Telescope was tuned to observe the first stars and galaxies being born soon after ...
Comment: After Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ preview several weeks ago, I had some optimism about the Government’s emissions reduction plan. Now I’ve read the discussion document, that hope has been dashed. How can the Government propose a plan that wants to take New Zealand taxpayers’ hard-earned money, and spend ...
Christopher Luxon: hurdles The little man from National jumps hurdles in his sleep. He’s quite good at it in his dreams and even though the reality doesn’t quite match up you have to give him credit for getting up every morning and crashing into the very first hurdle of the ...
Comment: It was a good two hours into the conversation when Tyrone Marks raised the most basic of questions when I first spoke to him in 2017. “They didn’t explain the things they did to me. They never told me why. And they still haven’t. There’s no explanation for it. ...
Madeleine Chapman rounds out Death Week on The Spinoff with a final recommendation. You can read all of our Death Week coverage here. Nothing forces you to reflect on your life and relationships quite like proximity to death. For those whose nearest and dearest have died, there are reasonably obvious ...
Whitney Greene takes us through her life in television, including the TV character she’d like to plan a funeral for and her cow lung catastrophe on The Traitors NZ. “If the phone rings, I have to answer it,” Whitney Greene from The Traitors NZ warns as we begin our My ...
Maddie Ballard reviews the debut essay collection of Pōneke writer Flora Feltham.In ‘The Raw Material’, the longest essay in Flora Feltham’s dazzling debut collection, the author heads out for a run after hours of weaving and sees the world turn to textile. “Pounding along the Parade, I saw the ...
Andy Christiansen, one half of the experimental rock-pop duo TRiPS, shares the tunes inspiring the band’s perfect weekend and new release. “Good speakers, good food, good music, no distractions”: that’s all you need to enjoy the psychedelic stylings of TRiPS, a new band formed by Fly My Pretties’ Barnaby Weir ...
Celebrating our quadrennial opportunity to become experts in a bunch of sports we never normally watch.The games of the XXXIII Olympiad are upon us. Paris will host this year’s showcase of sporting and athletic prowess, which means some late-night and early-morning viewing for us in Aotearoa.But what sports ...
The photograph is striking and beautiful, but also disturbing – a reminder that my love for John was often entangled in shame.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.In the spring of 1980, in Dunedin, shortly before his death, someone took a photograph ...
Get to know Babushka, our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Babu’s humans, Jo and Isabel, for their support. Dog name: Babushka (Babu for short) Age: 2Breed: Border Collie X poodleIf rescued, ...
Pacific Media Watch A Lebanese photojournalist who was severely wounded during an Israeli air strike in south Lebanon carried the Olympic torch in Paris this week in honour of her peers who have been wounded and killed in the field — especially in Gaza and Lebanon. Christina Assi of Agence ...
The first report in a five-part web series focused on the 15th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women taking place in the Marshall Islands this week.SPECIAL REPORT:By Netani Rika in Majuro Women continue to fight for justice 70 years after the first nuclear tests by the United States caused ...
Christopher Luxon has joined with Australia and Canada's leaders in voicing support for US President Joe Biden's ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The 2022 election brought the “teal wave” into parliament. The next election will test whether teals, who occupy what were Liberal seats, and other independents can maintain their momentum. Joining us on the Podcast ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Musgrave, Senior lecturer in Pharmacology, University of Adelaide Pixavri/Shutterstock A major Federal Court class action has been dismissed this week after Justice Michael Lee ruled there was not enough evidence to prove the weedkiller Roundup causes cancer. Plaintiff Kelvin ...
In The Week in Politics: politicians have to decide what to do about child abuse, Health NZ is booked in for major surgery and Darleen Tana returns. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Corbould, Associate Professor, Contemporary Histories Research Group, Deakin University Mainstream media are surprisingly muted at the prospect of the world’s most powerful nation being led for the first time by a woman – specifically a woman of colour, Vice President Kamala ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rebecca Bennett, PhD Student, Associate Research Fellow, Deakin University Last week, a drone delivery company called Wing (owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet) started operating in Melbourne. Some 250,000 residents in parts of the city’s eastern suburbs can now order food from ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Foo, Lecturer, Physiotherapy, Monash University pikselstock/Shutterstock In the next 40 years in Australia, it’s predicted the number of Australians aged 65 and over will more than double, while the number of people aged 85 and over will more than triple. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katrina Grant, Research Associate, Power Institute for Arts and Visual Culture, University of Sydney Jonas Åkerström’s 1790 work, Session of the Accademia dell’Arcadia on August 17 1788.Nationalmuseum/Cecilia Heisser Ever wondered whether you’d have a better chance at winning an Olympic gold ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexandra Jones, Program Lead, Food Governance, George Institute for Global Health wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock On Thursday, Australian and New Zealand food ministers at state, federal and national levels met to thrash out what’s next for health star ratings on packaged foods. Now, after ...
The Abuse in Care report found many Pacific survivors lost their connections to their culture and language, resulting in trauma that has been carried from generation to generation. ...
In the regulatory review, ECC intends to suggest that ERO focus on curriculum delivery reviews rather than the Ministry, because it’s not efficient or effective to have two agencies with radically different approaches climbing over each other. ...
Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori invites the current government to work in partnership with them to develop a pathway forward, including the development of a parallel pathway and meaningful policy and strategy for Kura Kaupapa Māori ...
If you haven’t started watching yet, Tara Ward begs you to reconsider. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. In the world of New Zealand reality television, we have many gems in our crown. There’s the delicious second season of the Celebrity Treasure ...
A new poem by Fiona Kidman. The clothes of the dead I did not keep my mother’s furry red beret for long nor the stringy scarves that adorned the necks of my aunts, although I have kept tag ends of gold, the rings and trinkets they wore, the brooches no ...
The government’s announcement that it will re-open the foreshore and seabed controversy by changing the rules on recognising centuries-old Māori customary title for a third time goes against the rule of law and New Zealand values,” Mr Tipa says. ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Lioness by Emily Perkins (Bloomsbury, $25) Roarrrr! Perkins’ brilliant, award-winning, Marian-Keyes anointed, darkly funny, long ...
The 2004 Act vested ownership of the foreshore and seabed in the Crown, extinguishing any Māori claims to ownership and causing widespread outrage and protests among Māori communities. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Antje Deckert, Associate Professor (Criminology), Auckland University of Technology Getty Images Despite the connection between institutional harm and gang membership made clear in this week’s mammoth royal commission abuse-in care report, the government seems unlikely to soften its “get tough on ...
From Lewis Clareburt in the swimming to the start of the rowing – the first seven days of Paris 2024 promise to be big for New Zealand. There are few events that bring the country together quite like an Olympic Games. Nothing quite matches the excitement of getting up in ...
Groundbreaking local science just showed up in the most surprising of places: the season finale of The Kardashians. In the season five finale of The Kardashians last night, several members of the family gathered together in one of their signature empty, cream-coloured rooms to hear test results that had been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Saikal, Emeritus professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies, Australian National University The Middle East is on the brink of a possibly devastating regional war, with hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah reaching an extremely dangerous level. Washington has engaged in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Elizabeth Eades, Rheumatologist, Monash University Lupus is an inflammatory autoimmune illness, where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks itself. Lupus can affect virtually any part of the body, although it most commonly affects the skin, joints and kidneys. The symptoms ...
A law firm that specialises in working with survivors of abuse in State care is disappointed that the Government fails to recognise that its boot camps can be directly compared to previous boot camps from the 1990s and 2000s. ...
Dying is a natural part of life, like updating your Wof or seeing your hairdresser, but without the word-of-mouth recs that help guarantee a good service. What if we changed that? Dying Reviews received by The Spinoff have had the names of organisations redacted while Hospice NZ collects further data. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland Mike Lewinski/Flickr, CC BY On any clear night, if you gaze skywards long enough, chances are you’ll see a meteor streaking through the sky. Some nights, however, are better than others. At ...
Despite having no bars or other designated spaces for lesbians, Auckland boasts a small but mighty lesbian museum. So how did it get here? The past 18 months has brought increasing hostility towards the queer community across Aotearoa. Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull’s anti-trans rally in Tamaki Makaurau last March led to a ...
Poneke Antifascist Coalition has invited Wellingtonians to stand in solidarity with the Kanak people at 12pm today outside the French Embassy in Wellington. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Layton, Visiting Fellow, Strategic Studies, Griffith University Drones are the signature technology of the Ukraine war. A few miniature aircraft designs were used in the war’s early days, but an incredible array of drones have now evolved. There are different types, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Slee, Associate Professor, Clinical Academic Neurologist, Flinders University Francisco Gonzelez/Unsplash Migraine is many things, but one thing it’s not is “just a headache”. “Migraine” comes from the Greek word “hemicrania”, referring to the common experience of migraine being predominantly ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lee White, Senior Lecturer and Horizon Fellow, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Sydney Australia was slow to introduce minimum building standards for energy efficiency. The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) only came into force in 2003. Older homes ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Sherwood, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Climate Change Research Centre, UNSW Sydney The past century of human-induced warming has increased rainfall variability over 75% of the Earth’s land area – particularly over Australia, Europe and eastern North America, new research shows. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Heynen, Program Coordinator, Sustainable Energy, The University of Queensland A temporary stadium in the Champ-de-Mars, ParisEkaterina Pokrovsky/Shutterstock As Paris prepares to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the sustainability of the event is coming under scrutiny. The organisers have promoted ...
A night of karaoke and community in a pub that feels like a memory. You’d barely even notice it, unless you knew to look. Tucked away behind a liquor store on busy Constable Street is the capital’s last great pub. Newtown Sports Bar is an emblem of the pub culture ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Wright, Professor in Marine Geology, University of Canterbury Louise Corcoran/Getty Images The decline in the number of doctoral candidates at New Zealand universities is a worrying sign for the country’s effort to build a knowledge-based economy. Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laurie Berg, Associate Professor, University of Technology Sydney defotoberg/Shutterstock Migrant worker exploitation is entrenched in workplaces across Australia. Tragically, a deep fear of immigration consequences means most unlawful employer conduct goes unreported. On Wednesday, however, the government officially launched a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vaughan Cruickshank, Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education, University of Tasmania Paris is about to host its third summer Olympics. While we don’t yet know what the legacy of this year’s games will be, let’s take the opportunity to reflect on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hugh Breakey, Deputy Director, Institute for Ethics, Governance & Law, Griffith University In the wake of the assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump, there were calls from bothsides of US politics, as well as internationally, to reduce the brutal, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Keith Rathbone, Senior Lecturer, Modern European History and Sports History, Macquarie University Two high-profile assaults on Australians in Paris have raised concerns about security ahead of the Olympic Games. On Saturday evening, a young woman was allegedly sexually assaulted by a ...
Dying is inevitable and, so it seems, is it costing a lot, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in today’s extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here.The cost of dying ...
The government took Joyce Harris's first baby and sent her off to a girls' home. Half a century on - and out of oceans of hurt - it asked her to be a mother figure. ...
It’s the deadliest fictional town in the country, but which death has been the most bonkers? Alex Casey looks back at 10 seasons of The Brokenwood Mysteries to find out. Warning: The following ranking story contains famous New Zealand actors appearing to be dead (not alive). The Spinoff has been ...
Water cremation is the biggest thing to happen to the death industry in the last 100 years. Alex Casey meets the people trying to bring it to Aotearoa. Through a set of mirrored doors down the industrial end of Christchurch’s St Asaph Street, death is getting a new lease on ...
NONFICTION 1 The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour & Jude Dobson (Allen & Unwin, $37.99) 2 The Life of Dai by Dai Henwood and Jaquie Brown (HarperCollins, $39.99) 3 A Life Less Punishing by Matt Heath (Allen & Unwin, $37.99) 4 Waitohu by Hinemoa Elder (Penguin Random House, $35) ...
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-10-10/biggest-protest-country-has-seen-years-quarter-million-germans-protest-obama-free-tr
I particularly like the photo of people in wolf masks and suits… how appropriate
“Hundreds of thousands of people rallied on Saturday afternoon in the German capital against the massive Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) accord being negotiated by the European Union and the United States. Critics say the trade deal will benefit large corporations at the expense of average Europeans.”
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/10/10/hundreds-thousands-march-berlin-against-ttip-trade-deal
There was a big wooden horse being rolled along too – also appropriate.
“Everything that we know about this secretive trade deal shows that it is very little about trade and very much about enshrining a massive corporate power-grab.” Nick Dearden, director of Global Justice Now, at the Common Dreams link.
If our Labour Party has wet its finger and is holding it in the air to determine which way the wind is blowing, it might want to look at that photo of about 250,000 people marching against the TTIP. When we go to make a law in NZ we don’t want our first consideration to be “are we likely to be sued in an ISDS if we make this law?” TPP has this chilling effect.
Our first consideration should be “Is this law good for New Zealand, both for the people and the environment (and not detrimental to the world in general.)
Labour, if you are listening, we don’t wan’t this TPP. We lose more than we gain.
(Note the Herald title to Bernard Hickey’s article is incomplete.
Tautoko Mango Mata, No Labour is not listening, they have never listened, they are having a bob each-way. No spine for a straight forward wager.
More on the quarter of million march in Berlin.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/10/10/ttip-ceta-protest-berlin-germany_n_8273948.html
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/10/berlin-anti-ttip-trade-deal-rally-hundreds-thousands-protesters
Well using Keys logic, that is a rather a large uninformed rent-a -crowd.
tpp is the last of the Germans worries.
It’s what the TPP is like that scares the Germans as the TTIP is shaping up to be a similar agreement.
Yes. “While the EU has an impressively alliterative “farm to fork” strategy, for instance, regulating each link in the food chain, Americans pump their cattle and pigs with growth-promoting hormones banned in the EU. As a result, most US beef can’t be sold in the EU.
“Worse, Americans use 82 pesticides banned in the EU. They wash their chicken in chlorinated water to kill bacteria. Ninety per cent of their soya, cotton and corn is genetically modified, while the EU allows member states to ban GM production. ”
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/aug/03/ttip-what-why-angry-transatlantic-trade-investment-partnership-guide
When Andrew Little set out the “bottom lines” he objected to the Herald story saying Labour had set out its conditions for support.
He tweeted the reporter to say “we set out what we’re opposed to”.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11526651
Matthew Hooton (in his piece: Labour lurches to the extreme left over TPP) has used the possibility of Labour withdrawing from the TPP to scare potential supporters off Labour, undermining the Party’s efforts to build business support.
Labour would discuss its position on the TPP at its up and coming caucus meeting.
Audrey Young asks: will Labour be better off supporting the deal than not supporting it?
Will it be any better off sounding as though it opposes it but supporting it in the end?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11526651
Thoughts?
Whatever they do you can bet the likes of hootten and all the other players will spin this in nacts favour so the rehetoric must be simple, short and snappy so it sticks in peoples minds despite the DP treatment.
Good to see King calling matty over his allegations, the electorate is crying out for a front foot approach to take back the argument to ordinary kiwis and away from the hollowmen and their shills in the msm.
Problem is, Little puts himself in these predicaments.
No point attacking Hooton. You should be asking for better from Little.
At this point he’s fucked which ever way he goes. Kinda like Red Peak.
I wasn’t attacking Hooton, merely highlighting his piece.
By attempting to appease both the left and right in the manner in which they do, I agree, Labour have largely brought this upon themselves.
Not having a clear position has allowed Hooton to control the narrative and fill in the blanks.
+1
Exactly. Labour needs to have a clear position, state that position and then stick to it. We’re getting fucked over by their ambivalence and their compromising with the RWNJs that just sees our country going ever more to the right and thus getting higher levels of poverty.
Labour are probably being ambivalent about it because the whole damned thing is an ambiguous, deceptive, misleading crock.
They keep getting suckered by the glossy ‘free trade’ wrapper while refusing to name the stinking mess inside.
Labour are probably being ambivalent about it because the whole damned thing is an ambiguous, deceptive, misleading crock.
They keep getting suckered by the glossy ‘free trade’ wrapper while refusing to name the stinking mess inside.
usual tactic though, distract by focus on Labour (despite the fact they have NOTHING to do with it), why fall for it?
“usual tactic though, distract by focus on Labour (despite the fact they have NOTHING to do with it), why fall for it?”
Exactly, and you must remember that it all Labour’s fault whatever it is.
Don’t be so shortsighted. It’s not distracting. It’s encompassing the opposition’s position on the deal.
Infused ? In your Opinion
From the comments I’ve seen here, it seems to be many peoples opinion.
Where the hell is little? Heard nothing for days.
Little is back and was on Q&A today.
http://tvnz.co.nz/q-and-a-news/tpp-done-deal-labour-responds-video-6400126
Labour should not support TPP. Period. It is very different to the China trade deal.
Supporting TPP which Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Corbyn etc do not support. There is massive mainstream political and public support AGAINST TPP.
They don’t have to agree with everything the Nats do in a NatLite way, now is the time for Labour to cut away from the 1980’s and the Clark era, and start looking at what Kiwis want, not want Labour think the country may or may not need. We are in a brave new technological world and the TPP aims to keep us in the past and the current powers dominant with outdated practises. History shows that those in power cling on and try to destroy as they are being replaced because they can’t or will not adapt.
One of the biggest mistakes Labour is making is sitting on the fence and using ‘confusion’ about it’s position to somehow try to be everything to all people, but instead looking like a completely untrustworthy party than just goes where the tide turns and gets bogged down in details oh I support this in this way but not in this way and maybe in this way, but not in this way (details all missing). Too complicated Labour!
“One of the biggest mistakes Labour is making is sitting on the fence and using ‘confusion’ about it’s position to somehow try to be everything to all people, but instead looking like a completely untrustworthy party than just goes where the tide turns and gets bogged down in details oh I support this in this way but not in this way and maybe in this way, but not in this way (details all missing). Too complicated Labour!”
+1
Little is on Q&A now.
Won’t Labour and everyone else need to see the whole document before stating a position? If Little was to say now that he/they oppose the TPP he would be trounced for being against something unseen/unconsidered.
Wait folks.
Good response. Thanks ianmac.
Taking into account Labour put forward their bottom lines. Coupled with the breach of their bottom lines (which Little concedes) in the info released thus far, a number expect Labour would oppose it on that alone.
However, Little says they’re certainly opposed to what they see at the moment, but they still want to see the final text. Which, with that said, implies there’s a possibility they may not oppose it.
And it is that lack of total commitment that leaves a number questioning why?
Your average person sees Labour making bottom lines, hears they’ve been breached, thus expects Labour to come out and totally oppose the deal on that basis.
I don’t see any confusion TC. It’s the pro-TPP mob – including much of the media – and the NActs sowing the seed of so-called confusion. Matthew Hooton’s latest attempt to suggest there’s ructions in the L. caucus over the TPP is a good example. Little squashed that load of bullshit once and for all this morning.
The bottom lines are still there and Little made it clear they will pass legislation to counter adverse effects when they are the government. When posed the question… what if the US (or who ever else) take retaliatory action, he [effectively] said… they can shit themselves as much as they like, but if it’s not in the best interest of our citizens we will not play ball. Good answer. Call their bluff.
The confusion lays with Ardern saying Labour will face the consequences (implying Labour will refuse to be bound by the TPP) and Robertson saying Labour will weigh up the consequences. Implying if the consequences are to severe, Labour will breach their 5 bottom lines.
Leaving a number wondering why make bottom lines when you may accept them being breached?
Hooton did more than claim the Party is divided. He went on to paint a withdrawal from the deal as Labour lurching towards the extreme left. Saying, the lunatics now running Labour’s asylum must never be let near power.
IMO, Hooton is not only trying to scare potential supporters off Labour, he’s also trying to scare Labour from withdrawing.
Exactly what he’s doing imo.
What appalling arrogance! He’s a pip-squeak among many other pip-squeaks who have a vastly over-rated opinion of themselves. I may not be able to abide him as a person/ politician, but at least John Key has some legitimacy when it comes to playing these games.
+100 savenz
El Nino is going to cause serious problems for agriculture this summer.
‘Federated Farmers Golden Bay president Sue Brown said many farmers were still struggling to cope with last year’s drought.
If conditions worsened in the coming months, farmers would be driven towards cost-cutting measures like slaughtering surplus stock, Brown said.
“Farmers definitely feel it in the pocket.
“They are already getting their heads around alternatives.”
Orchard manager Evan Heywood said the lack of rain would hurt fruit growers in areas, such as Waimea, where the water supply was limited.
“If the weather carries on like this, so hot and dry, people will need to look at irrigation.
“That is unheard of at this time of year.” ‘
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/72861781/El-Nino-set-to-scorch-Nelson
The other big problem in farming is that they have been encouraged to expand and have too much stock and then have to buy in supplementary feed which is very expensive and often using Palm Kernel expeller which is imported from Indonesia where it is contributed to massive rain forest destruction and climate change.
Where is the support for farmers farming in a sustainable way and research to support that from government?
Do we want to be a low end commodity producer ALL our life as a country or when is someone going to say – lets move up the value chain?
For example Lactoferrin is approx $500,000 per ton and milk solids $3000 a ton?
Nutricuticials should be top on the list of where our milk industry is heading not ‘lets produce more milk for less money’.
According to National that’s exactly what we are and should be. It’s why they keep making getting a good education harder and why they keep pushing dairying.
My company manufactures a highly value added product 100% here in NZ Draco, but at the moment that product is effectively locked out of lucrative markets such as Canada, Japan, and the US by 20-30% tariffs that are designed to make our end price uncompetitive.
If the TPP goes ahead those tariffs will disappear and we would immediately set out on a major expansion into those markets.
All going well, we would be looking at many new high value NZ jobs and significant flow on benefits down through all the companies that supply us raw materials and services.
I know several other NZ Made Manufacturers who are in exactly the same situation……
So everything else aside, I can see some outcomes from the TPPA that would create opportunities for people who are trying to add value to the NZ economy. Just saying, but it ain’t all bad.
Even without tariffs it’ll still cost more to get your products to market in those nations because of the added costs of transporting them. The only way you’d be able to compete would be if you lowered wages.
As I say. If there’s a level playing field in world trade (Which was the point of the WTO/GATT) then there wouldn’t be any world trade. A manufacturer in NZ cannot compete with a manufacturer in Canada/US/Australia when under the same conditions. That’s physical reality.
No, no, and no Draco.
You are completely wrong in all the reasons you give why we would not be able to compete.
No I’m not. As I say – it’s simple physical reality. The problem is that our financial system has been developed so as to deny that physical reality.
@ The Lost Sheep, if you can’t make it in NZ or China then you probably are not going to make it in, the rest of the world. The tariffs do not stop trade so the TPP is not going to miraculously make a market for new NZ products. In fact more likely under TPP someone bigger will come along steal your idea and litigate you, so go under. The copywrite laws are intended to be protectionist to the current status quo.
All wrong savenz.
Tariffs do in fact stop trade. That is largely the point of them.
In the case of my business area, removal of tariffs will create huge new markets that we can effectively compete in.
I’m not generalising a theoretical case here, I’m talking about a specific opportunity that we have spent years investigating and are absolutely certain of.
That’s good isn’t it?
Maybe you have a great idea or product but when you look at Dragon’s Den like entrepreneurs – quite a few people are absolutely certain they have some amazing product the world is dying to obtain. But quite often the people are fruit cakes and with or without TPP are going to fail. Not sure if this is you, but NZ is an easy market to get a product out in, and TPP does not actually remove all tarrifs in fact there is only about 10% difference from now in some areas.
But we certainly DO KNOW under TPP medicine will be more expensive as even Key has said, patents for longer, protectionist measures, etc
We know NZ can be sued and our government and courts won’t be deciding the outcome but 3 international judges than have never found against the US historically.
The opposite of ‘free trade’.
In the US/OZ free trade deal they are both worse off 10 years later.
So should the rest of the country be worse off, because MAYBE someone is slightly better off, and again corporate welfare. i.e. taxpayers helping business at the expense of the rest of the population who have to pay more individually to subsidise the business?
quite a few people are absolutely certain they have some amazing product the world is dying to obtain. But quite often the people are fruit cakes and with or without TPP are going to fail. Not sure if this is you,
No. I have very well established growing business that already sells to people throughout the world. So no need to do Dragons Den.
So should the rest of the country be worse off, because MAYBE someone is slightly better off, and again corporate welfare. i.e. taxpayers helping business at the expense of the rest of the population who have to pay more individually to subsidise the business?
Well, if you believe, as many do here, that our Govt. would deliberately negotiate a deal that guaranteed a negative overall outcome for our country, or you believe that Govt. in NZ pays anything like significant subsidies to business, then you might say that.
But I think that is rubbish.
Like all the trade negotiations I have ever seen, this one is a result of the compromise process that occurs when every country is trying to stimulate growth, but at the same time trying to gain more access to other markets than they give away in their own.
There are opportunities for NZ’ers in this deal, if it goes ahead. My plan is to take maximum advantage of the ones in front of me.
I just hope enough NZ’ers do the same to make it an overall positive net outcome.
There is no denying there will be some benefits, but going from what’s been reported, they’re modest (1% of GDP).
Moreover, it will only have a direct benefit to less than 25% of all firms (mostly private and some offshore owned).
Over 75 per cent of all NZ firms have never generated overseas income.
This is consistent with most small businesses reporting that they either cannot or are not interested in exporting.
97 per cent of enterprises in New Zealand are small businesses.
http://tinyurl.com/oa5kzdf
This is one of the big environmental problems we face – a lot of people actually think that the water supply we have is unlimited. The reality is that the water supply is limited and we need to live within those limits.
It’s true we have a problem with out attitude towards water (thinking it’s endless). Water’s not the main problem in how to grow food in dry climates though, it’s how we use land. Current agricultural practices, including irrigation, encourage drought.
Here’s establishing food producing trees in the first year on one of the driest place on earth (on salinated soil). They used 1/5th the amount of water used in that area normally.
Other examples here,
http://thestandard.org.nz/the-drought/#comment-967704
This is being done here….
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/countrylife/20151009#audio-201774020
Very clever.
Thanks! That’s a very good interview (yes, smart people), and has a good explanation of how to manage water differently (at start and then half way through).
We have had an ‘endless supply’ mentality to H2O here in NZ. Here in the Waikato, arguably the greenest of this green and pleasant land, we now have irrigation booms, a la Canterbury Plains.
When we were building in the country 18 years ago we designed the house for maximum rain collection and chucked in a couple of BIG tanks.
Neighbours suggested putting down a bore…plenty of groundwater they said.
This was because we refused to water the veg plants….(we still got bumper crops) to conserve our house supply.
Drought of 2007/2008 saw those neighbours’ bores all dry up.
Local 1000 cow dairy farm had their pump on the lowest point in the area…had sucked the aquifer dry.
They are the ones with the boom…I presume sucking the water from the river.
easy come, easy go.
Sweet, thanks for the interesting small farming links – makes a lot of sense.
In the 50s isn’t that what the refugees flooding into Israel did to green the desert? (Recently I scooped buckets of beach sand and pebbles to put on a small patch. Weed-cloth then the salt laden beach sand. The weeds grew prolifically!)
I don’t know ian. Permacuture (which is the design technique used in that video) was invented in the 1970s, but it is based in many existing traditional systems, so it’s possible that swales were used in the situation you refer to.
Why were you putting beach sand and pebbles in your garden?
It was a small patch of ground in which I aimed to grow a lemon tree and a shrub. Since we were seldom there to weed I thought that the salty beach sand would block the weeds, but no.
Presumably local weeds adapted to the salty sand?
This is what irrigation should be used for. A prop at times of drought, and perhaps an aid to encourage an early start to the growing season so as to get crops well on their way before known seasonal weather bringing heat and moisture deficits occur.
Ad el nino to lack of snow pack to fill up those irrigation dams and it could be very bumpy for some.http://i.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/72589956/worries-of-another-disastrous-summer
Climate change.
Pity Key and his mates are ignoring it.
Personally I know several people who will not support Labour precisely because it has not come out definitely against the TPP. Labour is not opposed to free trade agreements per se, but the positive amount of free trade in this agreement for NZ is small compared to the negatives of ISDS, the inability to prevent foreign ownership of land and yet to be revealed final rules on SOEs and other hidden fishhooks.
Labour seem to be waiting for the final text so that their arguments will be based on fact’
Here’s Audrey Young:
“It will be passed by the Cabinet and National has the numbers with Act and Peter Dunne to pass any legislation required.
But the Government would prefer to pass it with as much cross-party support as possible.
The campaign against the TPP has shifted the default position of the public from a generally pro-FTA position to neutral.
In the Herald’s DigiPoll survey in August, only 22.9 per cent said they supported it generally on the basis that New Zealand’s economic well-being depended on increased trade with the world; 31.3 per cent opposed it on the basis of investor-state dispute procedures and 45 per cent had no view.
Labour has been pivotal in shifting public opinion, shifting its own position last year from a pro starting point to a neutral one.”
OK Labour. Let’s move it from neutral to NEGATIVE!
To me, this is the most important sentence. Audrey Young again:
“My prediction is that Labour will spend the next month sounding as though it opposes the TPP, pointing out where it could have been better, condemning the Government for not getting a perfect deal, but end up supporting it. In the process it will be sending mixed messages.”
This must not happen. Stop equivocating, Labour. There’s enough info out with the latest leak. You’ll gain more by opposing the TPP. It’s an up or down decision now- liking bits of the agreement is not enough.
+1 – Tautoko Mangō Mata
This must not happen. STOP equivocating, Labour. There’s enough info out with the latest leak. You’ll gain more by opposing the TPP. It’s an up or down decision now- liking bits of the agreement is not enough.
My vote goes to a party that makes a proper stand against the TPP.
+100 Paul…at the moment it is going to NZF
I know you’ve been anxious to hear an unequivocal statement against the TPP… How ’bout the Greens?
https://www.greens.org.nz/news/article/bad-tppa-deal-will-cost-new-zealanders
Just because MSM doesn’t cover it doesn’t mean it’s not happening.
so Greens will repeal signing of TPP?…has Shaw said this specifically or is he equivocating?
…the Greens are in agreement with NZF then!?
…so where is bloody Labour?!
…they should be forming a united front saying “NO” to the TPP when they ALL form the next coalition Government
If the TPP is bad enough for both Republican Trump and Democrat Saunders to have the courage to stick their necks out and say “NO”!….surely NZ Labour can do the same!….and stop sitting on the fence
‘Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump slam Trans-Pacific Partnership deal as ‘disastrous’ & ‘terrible’ ‘
https://www.rt.com/usa/317718-sanders-trump-candidates-tpp/
‘ ‘Extraordinary person’ Donald Trump invited to visit Crimea – as US president’
https://www.rt.com/politics/318004-extraordinary-person-donald-trump-invited/
“Trump, a 69-year-old billionaire real estate mogul, entered the US presidential race in June, seeking the Republic nomination. He is currently leading in the polls.”
I have not heard an unequivocal rejection of the TPP from either Labour or the Greens.
Statements like “The TPP was not voted in democratically by the New Zealand people. We shall repeal it once we are in power.”
agreed …the Greens, like Labour, have not come out unequivocally against the TPP
…if they must fence sit ….why not a NZ referendum on the TPP?….why allow the secrecy and lack of democracy?
…if it is good enough to have a referendum on the flag (when most NZers want to keep the existing flag)…it should be good enough to have a democratic referendum on deciding whether to adhere to jonkey Nacts secret deal on the TPP?
The Greens under Shaw are not impressing me.
Groser on Q+A…….’almost inconceivable that anyone will take a case against NZ in “X years”.’
The man’s dishonesty screams. He purports to tell us something and advisedly tells us nothing.
Yes, and lets make it a prison sentence for those that bring it in, if someone does sue us.
Wonder if the Nats would be supporting it then? If they are personally bought to account for their treachery with a prison sentence?
Why imprison anyone when the revolution comes? Why not just withdraw from the deal?
Why hide it from the people if it’s such a good deal, it can speak for itself, without the need for well placed media megaphones selectively pushing aspects of it?
seem to recall you expressing with complete certainty this morning that once in place no government (in NZ) will leave…are you saying youve changed your mind Matthew?
I presume he was allowed to make that statement without it being challenged.
Incredibly……no, he wasn’t challenged. Neither by Dallow (who’s surprised ?……Dallow was relating as one would to the AB captain after a successful international campaign)….. nor by Little.
From wikipedia.
‘Dallow was educated at Liston College and St Peter’s College. He completed his tertiary education at Auckland University, where he studied law. After completing his legal studies, Dallow practised as a litigation and insurance lawyer in Auckland, New Zealand.
Whilst on his OE, the 1987 stock market crash occurred, causing him to change careers, as a future in bankruptcy law was unappealing. Dallow then spent the next six years as a tour director in Europe. He returned to New Zealand in 1993.’
A litigation lawyer before the ’87 crash.
These people are not independent.
Dallow’s mediocrity as a journalist and the fact he does not ask any difficult questions of the powerful has ensured his promotion at TVNZ.
Dallow is incompetent. He seems always to be under-prepared and is therefore nervous and unsure of himself in interviews. He knows enough, though, to side with power, as demonstrated by his outrageously biased performance in “chairing” the discussion with Charles Finny, Helen Kelly and Professor Steve Hoadley on Q+A this morning.
A puppet of the establishment.
Well he was riding on the coat tails of his former wife after all. Not surprising she saw the light.
God how a pray to be around when the inevitable clean out occurs. It’ll be a therapist’s dream come true. Maybe I should write a few things down.
I hope when it comes to pass, the very same methods used to implement the culture of a neo-liberal agenda is used to rid us all of it.
I can think of several ways to cleanup TVNZ for a start and to return it to a form that serves its public (rather than its consumer).
We should keep it in perspective though – this sort of shit is even infecting that supposed bastion of the Educate Inform and Entertain triumvirate (the Aunty BBC)
His father Ross was a local body politico out West, of the Right persuasion. Got Marier Hasler a plumb position in a Sports Trust (which she was ill equipped to do) after she lost her seat in Parliament. She had to be let go after only a few months ith a severance package. Dallow hoped it would further his career.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Hasler
To be fair Groser and Little were interviewed individually and in the case of Little he was confined to the questions asked of him by Dallow. I thought his responses were strong and left no doubt Labour will take action against aspects of the deal (eg. foreign property speculation) if they become the government. At the same time he intimated Labour has to look at the details – when they finally emerge – but my impression is they are not going to budge on their bottom lines.
He also made it clear the caucus was totally united on those “bottom lines”, so Hooten’s [excited] claims to the contrary were bullshit. I wonder who the insiders were? Pagani et al?
Little lost any credibility he might have had when he assented, reluctantly, to the Key regime’s snooping legislation. After assuring reporters how unhappy he was, he then assured reporters that would be the last time Labour would cave in like that.
He has virtually no respect from the government, and it’s all his own fault.
Hooton is a spin doctor whose rabid support for the TPP and personal attacks on opponents to the deal suggests it is in his interest that the deal gets passed whatever is in it.
Has he seen the full text? I doubt it, but that isn’t important for him. The only interest I have in Hooton is finding out who he is working for. Possibly nobody is paying him at this stage but he is hoping for work in the future. Who knows, but in my opinion the acquisition of money and/or power is the main motivator for the actions of those on the right, and I see no reason to believe any thing they say.
QFT
Hooton has chosen 2 particular parts of the agreement to argue. Someone has given him sufficient assurances that he is not on shakey ground pushing those 2 things. He might not have seen the full text but he has been given a very good (and directed) nod and a wink)
Anne
I took it Labour oppose the TPP. But opposing the deal means little as Labour’s support isn’t necessary for the deal to pass.
And to safeguard their bottom lines, Labour are considering legislating against the ordinances of the TPP.
However, as Labour are talking about facing the consequences of legislating against the ordinances of the TPP, it indicates they don’t plan to totally withdraw from the deal.
Therefore, Little’s responses were far from strong (taking the middle ground) or left enough.
Your argument has a whacking great logical hole in it. Are you saying that Labour should not oppose TPPa supporting legislation that gets introduced between now and 2017.
You sound like an unthinking dingbat. Labour isn’t on the treasury benches. So that is the Only way that can prospectus agreement.
No.
I’m highlighting, given the opportunity, ( i.e. if they attain power) Labour are indicating they won’t totally withdraw from the TPP.
Opposing supporting legislation is a hollow effect because we both know Labour doesn’t have the numbers to prevent supporting legislation passing.
To save face on their bottom lines, instead of totally withdrawing, Labour are considering legislating against the ordinances of the TPP.
That’s how Little’s comments on Q&A came across to me.
Why would they? The problem isn’t with making trade deals. The problem is with making bad trade deals.
The last thing I saw from them (in the Herald today?) was that the TPP appears to have failed on 4 out of 5 of their base points, and that is what they want to fix.
Ummm http://m.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11527509
But…
In other words, if this crap deal doesn’t improve a lot then Labour will withdraw from it.
For all of the stupidity of this government in getting involved with this idiotic “trade” deal, they have also sunk a hell of a lot of money into trying to do so – probably well in excess of $100 million since 2009 after the US got involved and converted a free trade agreement to a restraint of trade agreement. It’d be good to recover that.
But if that isn’t possible and it continues to look like constraining our trade development, then the damn thing should be dumped.
Because the deal is pitiful, that’s why.
Moreover, it has breached a number of their bottom lines.
Thanks for the link to the Herald’s piece. I can work with that (see below).
I was going to highlight Little’s comments in stuff, which, like the Herald’s piece, goes on to further substantiate my points and sentiments above.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/72904296/andrew-little-bigger-gains-for-dairy-in-india-and-indonesia-than-tppa
Labour won’t be able to fix all the breaches. And Little clearly didn’t commit to walking away, though he implied they may.
As I stated above, to save face on their bottom lines, they are considering legislating against the ordinances of the TPP. Which Little has confirmed.
However, as Labour are talking about facing the consequences of legislating against the ordinances of the TPP, it indicates they don’t plan to totally withdraw from the deal.
Little helps confirm this by not fully committing to withdrawing from the deal.
Additionally, the cat was let out of the bag when Robertson said the Party would weigh up the consequences, implying if the consequences are to severe, Labour will back down.
So brace yourself for that excuse coming into play later on down the track.
Labour seems to be using one of their common tactics. They make a big song and dance opposing something, but in the end, they support it. Which tends to put voters off voting Labour.
Though, in saying that, the stuff article tends to lay some foundation (appeasing exporter concern) for walking away.
I wonder what Labour will measure the deal on? The $$$ or the people, or both?
So far Groser’s Pr campaign has been all about the $$$ (and mostly only the claimed increases, less precise about the $$$ losses).
how can anyone measure future legal action by organisations that may as yet be unformed?….one of the problems for ANY group seeking to quantify the costs/benefits, even after all the text is released is we have no possible way of quantifying the ISDS provisions….on these provisions alone I would walk away but then, im not seeking election.
Indeed, what value does one put on our sovereignty?
Vizzini is obviously his role model. “Inconceivable!”
It is worth posting the complete quote here as it appeared in the NZH:
’ “I think that is almost inconceivable, given the safe cards our international lawyers have negotiated, that anyone will take a case against New Zealand in the next X years,” he said.’
In his opinion Timmy reckons that NZ will be untouchable, legally speaking, and even the US Litigation Army will avoid us like the plague because it will be ‘mission impossible’. The fact that all law needs to be tested in court has escaped Timmy.
Is that meant to be a Roman “X”?
what international lawyers? Have their costs been included in the Fact Sheets? (rhetorical cos they have not) – Unless our lawyers have been able to change the intent and meaning of the investor relations clauses in the final text, they can’t guarantee anything.
More TPP propaganda from the Herald/Pravda.
This time they give air space to an ex-leader of the ACT Party, a party that gets under 1% of the electoral vote.
Still, it’s nearly appropriate.
The Herald does represent the views of the 0.01%.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11527183
He’s been a writer there for sometime, so not sure where the act party comes in to it.
Maybe you should start writing Paul? I’m sure you’d have lots to say.
I would.
And just like you, he has no actual argument to counter the TPPA.
Simply a personal attack on Jane Kelsey.
So typical for the extreme neo-liberal ideologues.
You have no moral or practical argument, so you resort to personal insults.
The same was done to Mike Joy, Jon Stephenson, Nicky Hager, Glenn Greenwald……
I liked this review of Hide’s latest column:
Matthew R X Dentith @HORansome 1h1 hour ago
Rodney Hide’s latest column is so bad that if he submitted it as an essay I’d refuse to mark it unless he & I had a meeting to discuss it
Here’s another.
‘And on rolls the NZH’s relentless pro-TPPA propaganda machine. On today’s menu: a quick and dirty hit job on Jane Kelsey. Slap a “Marxist” label on her and be done with it, won’t you Rodney? Actually arguing the points is too much like hard work, isn’t it? Plus one might end up looking a bit foolish, like your friend Mike. She is a law professor after all, and has actually spent a significant part of her life analysing the subject matter. It’s so much easier just to shoot the messenger. Oh, and nice work on choosing that photo, NZH editors. It goes well with the whole Marxist theme.’
Almost universal disapproval of his view.
+1 Karen
It’s ok. Wayne Mapp’s theory applies here. If you have NEVER opposed a FTA (and Hide has not) then we can discount his opinion as being so heavily jaundiced as to be lacking any credibility.
“Columnist Pat Buchanan predicted that the debate on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would be after the “early primaries” and the deal “is in real trouble” on Friday’s “McLaughlin Group.”
Buchanan said, “These are trade deals put together by transnational corporations and trade ministries to globalize the world economy, basically to enable these powerful corporations to move their factories and plants out of countries where the wages are high, to countries where the wages are low, so they can bring their products back…free of charge into the United States. In the last month, our trade deficit’s running at 600 billion overall this year, and with China at $400 billion, John. But I will you this, the forces that oppose these transnational trade deals are getting stronger and stronger. Not only [Sen.] Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)16% and Hillary Clinton in the Democratic Party, but Mr. Trump in the Republican Party, this deal is in real trouble, and I predict that they’re going to have to throw the deal — the discussion in the House — or the Congress over past — certainly past the early primaries.”
http://www.breitbart.com/video/2015/10/10/buchanan-tpp-in-real-trouble-debate-in-congress-will-be-after-early-primaries/
Yeah but Buchanan is a hard left Marxist, right Rodney, Matthew and Wayne?
Q+A viewers saw Anat Shenker-Osorio this morning;
Unlike the NZ Labour Party, she spoke forthrightly about the importance of unions.
She has also had the courage to speak out against terrorism….
—-Anat Shenker-Osorio, 3 March 2015
https://twitter.com/anatosaurus/status/572805519393476608
The Trans-Pacific Partnership’s two solitudes: Burman – Toronto Star
Comparison of TPP and refugee issues.
Tony Burman writes:
“In one case, when corporate and political power works in tandem, borders are a detail to be dispensed with. In the other case, when it’s simply about the powerless, borders are to be strengthened and made impenetrable. It all seems to depend on whose interests you value most.”
http://ustad.science/the-trans-pacific-partnerships-two-solitudes-burman-toronto-star/
Ain’t that the truth!
+1
Thanks for sharing that TMM
I really hope I misread this one. Looks like Key goes to an expensive charity bash and then donates taxpayer funds as his contribution.
John Key donates taxpayer funds at charity bash?
Shouldn’t it be handled as foreign aid by MFAT?
Did he ever consider that given a clear choice many taxpayers may not choose to donate to this particular charity to help in this part of the world?
This is not a post about whether or not people in this region need help – many will.
Just the question of is this how the government has released funds for it “crony charity?”
Wrong link Red Baron?
Trying again – thanks
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11527197
What was that?
The Grinning Fools’ Big Night Out?
So Key’s personal donation was afternoon tea at his electorate office? Even that is likely to be paid for out of his office running budget.
It seems our multi-millionaire PM is happy to play the big benefactor with tax payer’s money but is keeping his hands out of his own pockets. What a guy!
Getting in first to counter the much quoted claim he donates his salary to charity that claim soon changed to a proportion of his salary and he has always refused to say what proportion.
Only rich folk invited. Special form of arrogance to promise the money earned by others.
Rich Pricks are great at spending Other Peoples money.
He should just make a better effort as PM to assist refugees.
Charity then would not be necessary.
Interesting cast at the gala dinner…
It would be nice to see Key apologise to Stephenson though, or at least have something to say about the Defence Force slandering a journalist.
Is Matthew Hooton well?
He is coming across, in my opinion, somewhat ‘unhinged’ as he desperately attempts to ‘spin’ opponents of the TPPA as being ‘extreme’?
FYI (hopefully Matthew, you will see this either on Kiwiblog – or here?)
_______________________________________________________
A belated reply to Matthew Hooton’s (Kiwiblog) post October 9th, 2015 at 5:49 pm
Gee Matthew!
For a purportedly experienced ‘spin doctor’ / Media Commentator – that is a rather, (in my view), apoplectic and intemperate response, to my arguably straightforward questions?
Sheesh!
You were more pleasant when you were drinking!
(If you’re stressed, for whatever reason, try Spirulina, those ‘B’ vitamins can really help).
_____________________________________________________________
Dear Penny
1. Would you like to provide any evidence that any of the statements in these unscholarly press statements is true: http://info.scoop.co.nz/Professor_Jane_Kelsey ?
2. I don’t give a fuck who Tim Groser or Len Brown meet with. But it would make sense for the trade minister to brief the mayor of Auckland on his work from time to time.
3. Pay your rates.
4. Check yourself into a mental hospital.
Best as always
Matthew
+100 GO PENNY !
In the meantime,
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/286663/death-toll-up-to-97-in-turkey
and
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/turkey/11923935/Turkey-Ankara-bomb-kills-30-at-pro-Kurdish-rally.html
Peace marchers attacked by terrorists,
so,
there’s ANOTHER march organised to protest the attack on the original march.
Respect for those who refuse to be intimidated.
Respect for those who refuse to be intimidated.
Or? Amusement at the simplicity who gather together all the principled and thinking people in one spot so they can be conveniently annihilated.
He that fights and runs away,
May turn and fight another day;
But he that is in battle slain,
Will never rise to fight again.
Tacitus
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/tacitus118925.html#hXAax5WE4GjmAOZ0.99
Guerilla tactics are perhaps the only ones that will work when society descends from reason.
guerilla – a member of an irregular armed force that fights a stronger force by sabotage and harassment
guerrilla, irregular, insurgent
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Protest in the streets like this can be futile, and destructive to the cause weakening numbers by decimation, and strengthening the triumphant vicious over-riding group. Repeating protests after attacks, should be the last resort. Better if other measures can be planned and the vicious attacked from behind, and through other ways where they have weaknesses.
“Better if other measures can be planned and the vicious attacked from behind, and through other ways where they have weaknesses.”
Isn’t that kinda like playing the terrorists/oppressive state at their own game?
Lowering to the level of the enemy?
Looking into the abyss and all that?
But I do get your point…you might end up with only the rights of a few to defend.
Power at any cost.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/10/1430345/-Planned-Parenthood-Why-the-Republicans-Really-Want-to-Axe-it#
Thanks for this. It definitely explains the willingness of the GOP to look stupid, while pulling out every trick in the book (including out right fabrication and bare-faced lying), to try to destroy PP.
Good time to watch ‘the fog of war’ and remember the lessons supposedly learned by Vietnam… Parallels to all the other US run occupations in particular around the middle East.
Iraq, a problem that only existed in the US and UK imagination, but by which they have made a reality of the problem (with many profiting from it, while millions suffer).
Robert McNamara’s 11 lessons from Vietnam[edit]
From Robert McNamara’s 1995 book “In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam”.[7]
We misjudged then — and we have since — the geopolitical intentions of our adversaries … and we exaggerated the dangers to the United States of their actions.
We viewed the people and leaders of South Vietnam in terms of our own experience … We totally misjudged the political forces within the country.
We underestimated the power of nationalism to motivate a people to fight and die for their beliefs and values.
Our misjudgments of friend and foe, alike, reflected our profound ignorance of the history, culture, and politics of the people in the area, and the personalities and habits of their leaders.
We failed then — and have since — to recognize the limitations of modern, high-technology military equipment, forces, and doctrine. We failed, as well, to adapt our military tactics to the task of winning the hearts and minds of people from a totally different culture.
We failed to draw Congress and the American people into a full and frank discussion and debate of the pros and cons of a large-scale military involvement … before we initiated the action.
After the action got under way, and unanticipated events forced us off our planned course … we did not fully explain what was happening, and why we were doing what we did.
We did not recognize that neither our people nor our leaders are omniscient. Our judgment of what is in another people’s or country’s best interest should be put to the test of open discussion in international forums. We do not have the God-given right to shape every nation in our image or as we choose.
We did not hold to the principle that U.S. military action … should be carried out only in conjunction with multinational forces supported fully (and not merely cosmetically) by the international community.
We failed to recognize that in international affairs, as in other aspects of life, there may be problems for which there are no immediate solutions … At times, we may have to live with an imperfect, untidy world.
Underlying many of these errors lay our failure to organize the top echelons of the executive branch to deal effectively with the extraordinarily complex range of political and military issues.
savenz; Should be compulsory reading and understanding forObama and Key.
Bank Robbery: Economists and the Banking System
This is why we had to sell out power generation, our telecommunications and pretty much everything else. Our banking system is pretty much designed to shift wealth to the few and thus make the rest of us slaves to those few.
It’s amazing, frustrating, and terrifying to note the difference in coverage right now between the Radio New Zealand and the New Zealand Herald regarding the horrible terrorist attack in Turkey. It’s been the lead story all morning on the RNZ website but at the NZH website it falls faster than an anchor. The Herald fills their page up with several rugby stories, something about Susan Wood and Chris Cairns before we get to the Turkish story.
The reporting is strikingly different too. Radio Zealand calls the victims labour activists whereas the Herald calls the victims hard-line Marxists. Basically, for the Herald the attack doesn’t warrant significant outrage because the victims were left-wing despite the attack being conducted by war-mongering flavour-of-the-month ISIL. Anyone who thinks the Herald is balanced and non-tabloid needs to get their head checked.
The day after the TPP was signed these were the main headlines in the corporate media in NZ.
From The Daily Blog.
‘Here is what the NZ Herald and Stuff decided was more important than a corporate coup removing NZs economic and political sovereignty the day after the TPPA was signed.
Sports gamblers panicking that the All Blacks won’t win the Rugby World Cup.
A porn renovation TV show might make some more money than they first thought.
A boat falls off a trailer.
A bad bus trip.
The world didn’t end after a religious prophecy
A radio host wears the same togs as Kylie Jenner.
An Apartment that got flooded by a fish tank was sold.
Government spends $600 000 on flowers
A dog gets put down.’
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/10/08/why-the-tppa-is-a-corporate-coup-and-stories-the-nz-mainstream-media-thought-were-more-important/
More propaganda from the Herald as they publicise the US media’s attempt to shut down Clinton. The corporate media are working overtime to ‘seal the deal’, aren’t they?
‘Clinton is wrong on the Trans-Pacific Partnership’
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11526439
the Herald should be boycotted…i am pleased I dont live in Auckland…why cant an alternative to the Herald be produced?
Money.
Nobody reads it anymore, which is as good as a boycott, I guess.
Or they just ridicule it.
Jane Kelsey on Tim Groser who was trying to justify the secrecy of TPP in the interview this morning, Tim said he was “very pleased” tobacco control measures exempted from Investor State Dispute Settlement provisions and “I can almost guarantee you that if we had made that public, we would not have got it”
“Farce of TPPA secrecy must end, Groser must stop misleading statements” – Kelsey – See more at: http://foreignaffairs.co.nz/2015/10/11/farce-of-tppa-secrecy-must-end-groser-must-stop-misleading-statements-kelsey/#sthash.q0CCAIhJ.dpuf
The tobacco carve out was one of the few bits of the TPP that WAS publicly discussed way back. In 2013.
“The United States and 11 countries bordering the Pacific Ocean had been engaged in the latest round of negotiations over a treaty intended to lower tariffs and other barriers to commerce. One of the issues was whether tobacco should be included in such a treaty or “carved out” so that health considerations could take precedence over expanded trade. The issue pits health advocates against the tobacco industry and other commercial interests.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/01/opinion/sunday/the-hazard-of-free-trade-tobacco.html?_r=0
and in 2014 Reuters
“U.S. floats cutting tobacco from part of Pacific trade pact -sources”
“Dropping tobacco from the investor-state dispute settlement, or ISDS, section of the Trans-Pacific Partnership would prevent tobacco companies taking action against any TPP government under those legal protections, for example over health care measures.”
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/21/usa-trade-tpp-idUSL2N0SG1WO20141021
Another issue: Tim believes ISDS wouldn’t stop NZ introducing a policy like plain packaging for fizzy drinks; “I believe you probably could as long as you had a good health-based case and you’re ready to defend it”
Does being ready to defend that mean in an “inconceivable” ISDS tribunal?
But lying is what the Right does… seemingly even when the argument for the TPP is so obvious and compelling they still lie…
Toronto’s newspaper The Star has released a poll which has the Liberals under Justin Trudeau within reach of a ‘strong minority’. The Liberals are at 37% versus Harper’s Conservatives on 31%. Mulcair and the NDP are trailing at 23% which is an extraordinary turnaround from their frontrunner position going in to the campaign.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/10/10/liberals-within-reach-of-majority-poll.html
What alot of shit that canary suited ‘has-been’ gargoyle Hide talks –
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11527183
For a start, yesterday/today…..the sun shines…..blah blah blah. Who knows what’s in this deal ? Sovereignty’s hardly a thing “gone by lunchtime”.
Then pulling the ‘Commie Card’ re Jane Kelsey.
OK…..with as much ground for it I’ll pull the ‘Traitor Card’. Which is the canary suited has-been gargoyle aka Mr Love-Perks-Hypocrite Extraordinaire. And honours for Jane Kelsey.
Don Brash was right about only one thing. Hyde being toxic.Still is.
If you look closely you will see Alan Gibbs hand up Hide’s arse when Hide speaks or writes.
Charming
So does your shade of lipstick come from Hide’s arse or Gibbs’ hand?
It’s his paycheck.
interesting about his sun shines comment. Same was made by one of our regular righties when it was signed…
The fact that the treaty is not yet in effect doesn’t seem to stop the ideologues chirping away…
I think he was stating the obvious. Her communism means that she opposes markets and globalisation. She has been doing so for 30 years. Her Wikipedia entry which she could edit if she wants reads like a horror story.
Too funny: Rodney Hide’s opinions are “obvious” to S Rylands.
S Rylands thinks that editing ones own Wikipedia entry is a good idea, whether or not it mentions “communism” (Kelsey’s doesn’t at the time of writing).
No wonder S Rylands reacts with “horror”: conflict of interest much?
There have been accusations and counter accusations about who is siding with which side in the war in Syria. There is sufficient proof that the FSA (Free Syrian Army), supported by the US and some Gulf states have been fighting alongside Al Nusra Front, an Al Qaeda associated group.
As it is going, I hardly see a problem with that, given that the murderous Assad has been siding with Hezbollah and Iran, who have their own human rights issues.
We see a situation in Syria, that deserves more scrutiny and effort to get all parties around a table to discuss a hopefully peaceful solution to the civil war, but bombings from the air by either the US or the Russians will hardly assist such a process, it will only fuel the situation and war there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xowl9-tnuEY
that is just the inevitable evidence of organised opposition fighting, maybe the US want to come clean on Al Qaeda!?
Who is siding with the innocent civillians? No one. No fucking One
You ask a completely valid question. The sad truth is that the fronts are so hardened and there is such hostility, there will only be some prospect for peace if one of the sides puts the other under so much pressure that they will be prepared to negotiate. I doubt whether it is such a good idea by Putin and the Russians to keep Assad in place, that solves nothing and will only escalate and prolong the war there.
In the meantime refugees will flow into Europe and elsewhere and can only hope that the situation in Syria will somehow be resolved over future years. Not a great prospect, as also refugees face increased pressures and hostility in the places they have fled to. In Germany there have already been arson attacks on refugee homes, there are protests and the government is cutting benefits for refugees.
The EU is planning to fast track sending back hundreds of thousands that are presumed to rather be economic refugees.
The world is not a great place at present, for too many to live in.
” I doubt whether it is such a good idea by Putin and the Russians to keep Assad in place, that solves nothing and will only escalate and prolong the war there.”
I share your doubts.
Sadly, recent history also teaches us that over-throwing the selected undemocratic leader doesn’t solve the problem either. God forbid we look for a completely different solution rather than trying the same old failed ones over and over and over. I say selected because Saudi Arabia gets to be very undemocratic but untouched by Western superiority.
How can peace be achieved with these forces stating so clearly their issues?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyRhn0qqQsY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfSKkdgrPc8
Most are dreaming in NZ about peace long lost.