Why is the BBC permitted, day after day after day, to pump out programming which actively promotes a political programme far to the right of where the British population actually stand? With the continual over-representation of nutty right wing groups like the Taxpayers’ Alliance and the Henry Jackson Society, while left wing groups of much larger membership such as Stop the War are completely ignored. Why low tax campaigners but no invitation ever to groups like Black Triangle who represent claimants interests? Not to mention the routine ignoring of the SNP, parliament’s third largest party.”
This is why State owned media is a bad idea. Even an organisation set up to attempt to be unbiased like the BBC gets accused of bias by people and then they start discussing his it can become more “unbiased”. This is usually code for ‘agree with my side more.
No. That’s why state-funded media is essential. Because it’s the only organisation that will ever be under any meaningful obligation to be impartial.
It’s that fact that makes the debate Ed started even possible. Nobody expects state-funded media to do a perfect job, but at least the obligation is there.
I agree.
We just have to deal with the bias of the senior executives at RNZ.
Why so many Taxpayers’ Union New Zealand Initiative stories?
Why the acceptance of neoliberal premises on economics?
Why the framing of stories from a right wing agenda?
Fortunately we now have alternative news sources to show the lies the mainstream runs.
@Ed +1 You can add to your list…
Why financial updates all through out the day, but no workers news?
Why is it RNZ have nearly all domestic and international financial/economic analysis done by bank economist?…economists who have a ideology that is based on selling and profiting from debt.
State-funded media doesn’t have to be one single entity that might dominate the media landscape. Nor does it have to mean an entity where the Board & Chairman are appointed by the Government of the day. Nor does it have to mean an entity with strict hierarchical structure with strict managerial and editorial over sight where decisions by others are controlled and overruled by superiors all the way to the top. And it also doesn’t have to mean a Charter that demands financial/operational return AKA profit and dividends (to the Government).
Rather than having a one-size-fits-all entity or set-up why not reflect our society’s diversity and pluralism and fund that adequately? Media should cater for all citizens and inform the people so that they can make their own judgements if they wish …
Riiight – and that wretched chip wrapper The Herald never interferes politically at the editorial level? The state model is sound – the only commercial enterprise that even approaches the BBC or Al Jazeera for quality is Reuters.
Gosman: talking the obvious unaccountability of private news organisations you have guaranteed politically based interference in what the populace receives and no one can say a word.
Talking the obvious accountability of state news organisations you have at least the formal capacity for the populace to holler like hell if/when there is the appearance or fact of political interference.
I see you’re still exercising risibly twisted, absolutist zealotry; oligarchs = good while the people = bad.
Sure but again independent journalists also have their own bias.
I try to read everything from a multitude of sources. I read The Standard as much as I read Kiwiblog (though I’d never lower myself to comment there). I read the New Yorker, The Atlantic, Fox News, BBC, NYT, Washington Post, The Listener, AJZ, CNN, NBR , the list goes on and on.
It gets fucking tiring but I’m a news junkie. Then there’s the science mags and the books….it’s a wonder I manage to have job and raise a child while maintaining an alcohol habit.
Sure but again independent journalists also have their own bias.
And there’s nothing that we can or should do about that – except demand that they provide proof and not just ‘reckons’ as we get from so many talking heads in the private sector.
State-ownership, in my view, ought to mean that it is owned and managed by the state on behalf of all citizens and it has a (social) mandate to deliver (a service or product) for the public good, not for (financial) profit to the owners. This doesn’t make it immune from political meddling but any (political) benefits may be harder to obtain (and hide from public view) as they tend to be more indirect (arm’s length influence and control). State-owned media have a fundamentally different mandate and governance compared to privately-owned media unless they’re run strictly as a business in the common sense in which case it is an easy step for National & ACT to sell/privatise.
State owned media is no less biased than private media. The difference is our taxes don’t fund private media. State run media is totally surplus to requirements in a modern society.
Sure a state can run a lame media – Pravda or RT – but not all states do.
What’s wrong with the MSM is not state interference, but commercial interference. Murdoch etc. The useless ZB network. Fox.
The citizen has no comeback against their shit short of shutting them down. When you see the crap NZ TV has become it’s looking like a pretty good option.
Who said anything about state propaganda? Can you provide an example of “state propaganda” on TVNZ or RNZ. Be specific: quote the actual article in question and explain how it qualifies.
“What’s wrong with the MSM is not state interference, but commercial interference. ”
Commercial interference is paid for by commercial interests. State interference (and it is endemic in state media) is paid for by tax payers. Stop it all.
That isn’t what you claimed. You claimed them as an example of “state propaganda”. So you’ve now abandoned that claim and are claiming bias.
But once again, you’ve failed to provide any examples of this bias, although perhaps you mean Matthew Hooton.
I expect you’ll cite John Campbell as an example, but then you’d have to show how Checkpoint exhibits a “state” bias, as opposed to John Campbell’s. And if your only objection is that individual hosts bring their own biases to the mix, RNZ is doing no more or less than whoever it is that employs Hoskings et al, and RNZ has the advantage of a wider spectrum of views.
Perhaps it’s that advantage that you don’t like. The very idea that the state might provide something more useful (and popular) than the “free” “market”.
Unless you can link to a specific example of “state propaganda”, that is. Tumbleweeds?
“You claimed them as an example of “state propaganda”.”
Where?
“So you’ve now abandoned that claim and are claiming bias.”
Well when the Minster of Broadcasting has a clandestine meeting with a senior RNZ executive, that both try to hide, I’d say that was a pretty good example of at least an attempt at state influence. Of course you support the Greens, so you are in bed with liars and cheats.
Whereas I’m happy to provide it on my “dime”, and since at the last count far more people support my position (even the Trashional Party funds RNZ when in government) than yours, I’m pretty sure we can do without your petty contribution. Tell you what, we’ll fund the things we like and you can contribute to David Seymour’s taxpayer funded trough, eh.
On this issue, I’m also in bed with the NZLP, NZF and National. We’re having a great time while you’re in line to practise necrophilia with Ayn Rand, and Don Brash took your place in the queue 😉
On what issue? The welfare cheat? The MP who worked for war criminals while claiming to be bringing them to justice? The MP who has gone on to head an organisation who are bullying people for donations?
The continued funding of RNZ. Perhaps if you and Don pooled your resources you could afford a couple of clones of Ayn, and they could humiliate and despise you just like the original.
In case you missed it, the ‘liars and cheats’ I was referring to were the Greens. Here, you’ll get the idea if you read my comment “Of course you support the Greens, so you are in bed with liars and cheats.”https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-12-05-2018/#comment-1483690
You provided your own example. Do you seriously want me to post examples of state media propaganda from China, Russia, etc etc? If you don’t think it can happen here, perhaps you missed the meeting between Clare Curran and Carol Hirschfeld?
I don’t click on the Herald’s links – following others in boycotting it since its ghastly rubbish a couple of weeks back,
The Herald is rapidly becoming an echo chamber for Farrar and his crazed right wing friends.
You mentioned “Red Radio”, aka RNZ. Provide a specific example of an RNZ article that constitutes “state propaganda”.
You freely admit “commercial interference” in commercial radio. You allege that similar interference, specifically “state propaganda” exists in local state owned media, and cite RNZ as an example.
Yet you can’t point to a single article to illustrate your argument. Don’t get me wrong, I know you’re full of shit, but you might at least make some flailing attempt to justify your conspiracist delusions.
“Provide a specific example of an RNZ article that constitutes “state propaganda”.”
All bias on red radio represents state propaganda. Note, not government propaganda. State propaganda. Now John Campbell is biased, and I have no problem with that on private media, but not on my dime.
“You allege that similar interference, specifically “state propaganda” exists in local state owned media…”
No, never said ‘local’.
“and cite RNZ as an example.”
I asked you a question about Red Radio and provided evidence of at the very least interference – Curran’s meeting with Hirschfeld.
But wait, there’s more:
“When Metiria Turei announced she was stepping down from Parliament, Radio NZ’s Checkpoint host John Campbell was a paragon of empathy and compassion, writes Liam Hehir.”
“Like many news agencies, Radio NZ has a mild centre-left bias. If you don’t believe it, my guess would be that you probably have a centre-left disposition yourself.” https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/99720488/radio-new-zealand-should-appoint-its-own-ombudsman
“Matthew Hooton broadcasts state propaganda. Good to know ”
No, he doesn’t broadcast it, but he participates in it. You see, Blokey, with private broadcasters we can discern the bias and we’re not paying for it. With public broadcasting we’re getting propaganda and paying for it. No thanks.
Explain it yourself, you rude prick. You don’t get to make demands: you get to provide some supporting evidence for your assertions of “propaganda”. Put up or shut up.
Advertisers? Oh, that’s o.k. then as that would make private broadcasters immune from political meddling because political parties and their lobbyists never take out ads in MSM, never ever. And private broadcasters only broadcast direct messages on behalf of their advertisers, like shampoo manufacturers. That’s why all talkback shows, for example, are about shampoo and other commodities and never about politics. I mean, I can tell when an ad is about shampoo although sometimes it is hard to discern at first because it could also be a lipstick ad …
Talking of lipstick, do you know whether Mike Hosking and Simon Bridges use the same brand of hair gel, by any chance?
One last question, who’s paying the advertisers?
And one very last question, I promise, are advertising and marketing expenses tax deductible in NZ?
“…because political parties and their lobbyists never take out ads in MSM, never ever.”
Of course they do. That’s the point…they are the ones paying, not the taxpayer.
“And private broadcasters only broadcast direct messages on behalf of their advertisers, like shampoo manufacturers.”
Of course not. They broadcast their opinion. How many awards did Newstalk ZB receive at the recent Radio Awards?
You seem to believe private commercial interests having opinions and broadcasting them is bad. It isn’t. What is bad is the government owning the medium for broadcasting ideas.
“One last question, who’s paying the advertisers?”
People who voluntarily buy their products.
“And one very last question, I promise, are advertising and marketing expenses tax deductible in NZ?”
Of course. They are a cost of deriving assessable income.
So, private broadcasts are full of political and other direct and indirect advertising but that’s o.k. because the consumers pay for it; the consumers who are also the Taxpayers.
The only accountability and transparency, if any, is to the private owners of the station; the consumers/Taxpayers will have no idea who’s influencing them.
As long as the funding does not come directly from the Taxpayers any opinion or influence that the private broadcaster wants to send out for whatever reason and on whomever’s behalf without either the listeners or consumers/Taxpayers fully in the know is perfectly fine.
All this is perfectly acceptable because consumers voluntarily buy (or not) the products of the advertisers in a free-market exchange. The commercial guys are so much more credit-worthy than politicians, aren’t they? [pun intended]
You do know the saying that if you don’t know what the product is … ?
All media carries bias. I’m fine with that as long as it is declared and I’m not paying for it. The government has no business in media, none. It is a risky and expensive business for little or no benefit. And I don’t trust government’s of any stripe to declare their bias and keep far away from propaganda.
As opposed to rigorously professional outfits like Fox News and MSNBC? You don’t have a clue.
Gosman, your comments are often ignorant and ill judged, but whatever you say this morning, no matter how ignorant and ill judged, will not be worse than what you inflicted on us a few days ago….
Similarly, Ed, I note that David Farrar and Jordan Williams’s ludicrous Taxpayers’ Union and the right wing New Zealand Initiative often set the agenda for “news” on both main TV channels, and on Radio New Zealand. The researchers and analysts of the universities and the unions, by contrast, are rarely given much consideration.
names are ( couldnt click and paste ,grrr)
Lisa Scott and Ian Telfer
Jo Mccarrol and Scott Campbell
max Ritchie and Niki Bezzant
Rosemary Macleod and Peter Fa’afui
garry Moore and Miriama Aoake
cas carter and Steve Mccabe
Jock Anderson and Mai Chen
Verity Johnson and Simon Pound
Peter Vial and Paula Penfold
Clare de Lore and Alan Blackman
Ella Henry and John Barnett
Micheal Moynahan and Penny Ashton
Minhingarangi Forbes Sam Johnson
Lynda Hallinan and Chris Clarke
Alexia Russel and Mike Rehu
Mike Williams and Michelle Boag
Bernard Hickey and jenny Moreton
neil Miller Alison Mau
Chris Waikira and Janet Wilson
Lisa Scott and Andrew Hoggard
Gary McCormick and Lizzie Marvelly
Michelle A’ court Peter Fa’aifu
Catherine Robertson and Peter Milne
Nadine Higgins and Matt Nippert
Thats over a months worth and quite a variety. Sometimes certain names are more memorable while a lot of the above arent too well known ( arent yet famous for being famous)
[1] vacuous; [2] supporter of Israeli government; [3] close links to National Party; [4] spouse of ex-National Party MP; [5] regularly expresses strident right wing views; [6];
Lisa Scott [1] and Ian Telfer
Jo Mccarrol and Scott Campbell [3]
max Ritchie [5] and Niki Bezzant
Rosemary Macleod [5] and Peter Fa’afui
garry Moore and Miriama Aoake
cas carter [1] and Steve Mccabe
Jock Anderson [5] and Mai Chen
Verity Johnson and Simon Pound
Peter Vial and Paula Penfold
Clare de Lore[4] and Alan Blackman [1]
Ella Henry [1] and John Barnett [2]
Micheal Moynahan and Penny Ashton
Minhingarangi Forbes and Sam Johnson [3]
Lynda Hallinan and Chris Clarke [1]
Alexia Russel and Mike Rehu
Mike Williams and Michelle Boag [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]
Bernard Hickey and jenny Moreton
Neil Miller [5] and Alison Mau
Chris Wikaira [2], [3] and Janet Wilson [5]
Lisa Scott [1] and Andrew Hoggard [1], [3], [5]
Gary McCormick and Lizzie Marvelly
Michelle A’ court Peter Fa’aifu
Catherine Robertson and Peter Milne
Nadine Higgins and Matt Nippert
Really? An ACT party member today?
Stephen was certainly an ACT MP from 1999 until 2005.
However he then joined the National Party and was on the National List in 2008. He has taken no active part in politics since then as far as I can see so, although he may still be a member of the National Party I have seen no evidence at all that he went back to ACT.
Do you have any?
When the comment made is in the present tense
“And look at the number of ACT members who get on Mora’s Panel”
one is certainly entitled to expect that you will find current members to nominate. If the best you can discover is someone who was a member a decade ago you are failing.
On your basis I am entitled to state that the Labour party is the arch-proponent of Rogernomics. You will have to agree if you think your own comment is accurate.
Oh dear, Alwyn… more punctilious crap. Franks remains ACT in thought and word whether he is a current member or not. Get your mummy to put you to bed instead of allowing you to post such rubbish. (I am returning a foolish insult you posted against me, just in case it escaped your university-qualified vigilance.)
Ed’s comment is about yet another Craig Murray opinion this time re the BBC. Hence UK related, not NZ; and not about the NZ Taxpayers Union.
The TaxPayers’ Alliance is a right-wing British pressure group and think tank formed in 2004 to campaign for a low tax society. The group, based in London, had about 18,000 registered supporters as of 2008, and claimed to have 55,000 by September 2010.
To go along to get along. The whole Thatcherite revolution was essentially a dumbing down and raising fears, all started with Murdoch lowering the bar and mulching any conflict against wealth. Press bias merely reflects the current elites unwillingness to pull its finger out, having been deluded into believing that the market will save their sorry arises if only they distrust the market of ideas that will save their sorry arises from being burnt to a cinder.
Shocking especially because they used to (and probably still do I expect) make everybody in Britain pay a yearly TV licence for the content which clearly should not be biased!!!
You want one image that shows how compromised the BBC has become.
Look at Jo Coburn’s face as the BBC cut an interview when one of their reporters says MI6 was involved in torture.
The media routinely take their lead from Slater and Farrar. Jim Mora references Farrar every second day, and has him on as a guest regularly. No doubt he’d do the same with Whalefat if he ever relaxed his ideological ban on appearing on “state media.”
Though remembering that it’s helpful to listen to which fear they are playing up. Of course if it’s all right-wing sledging then do what I do, avoid Hooten, Boag, Frank’s, and just pick one right-wing hack, it’s not like there is any depth to their messaging. Farrier is best of the boring fools.
Yeh, I have noticed that Mora has only just contained himself of the Asia peril at our doorstep re; China, lately…I am pretty sure he is going to slip on this one pretty soon.
Are you saying that giving a voice to the disenfranchised and holding power to account is inherently Left Wing?, because I can’t remember Campbell pushing any political ideology…maybe you can refresh me.
Given that David Farrar runs the most widely read blog in New Zealand, it is hardly surprising that media commentators refer to him.
And although Standardnistas won’t like this, David Farrar comes across as reasonably balanced, even if he is a well known supporter of National. It is some of his commenters that are extreme.
He regularly gives credit to the government when he thinks it is due. He is not so one-eyed that he condemns every single action of the government. Likewise he is critical of the opposition from time to time
” David Farrar comes across as reasonably balanced, even if he is a well known supporter of National. It is some of his commenters that are extreme. ”
If one were so inclined and had the ability and the facility, one could invent a persona, append a twitty pseudonym and spew vile hate speech unfettered on a totally un moderated website. It’d be like allowing one’s evil alter to have a ‘real life’ or in some cases ‘lives’.
Farrar allows those “extreme” commenters free reign…he is a despicable person.
Most people here know this….why would you even think it appropriate to try and defend the indefensible?
The scary thing is that I think you really believe this! Or do I hear a dog-whistle?
The fact that those “extreme” commenters are being ‘invited’ by the posts on KB written by DPF and other authors (…) seems to have escaped your thought. All propaganda has and starts with instigators too.
Further, DPF not only provides an inviting and welcoming forum with ample ‘food for thought’ for those “extreme” commenters but also cries that it is too hard to manage, which is just unbelievably pathetic and has a very disingenuous ring to it.
DPF may give token credit to the Government and express token criticism of the Opposition “from time to time” but that’s just pulling the wool over our eyes, isn’t it? Just like Simon Bridges strongly condemned the DP campaign against Clarke Gayford. Yeah, right!
No resignation calls for his disreslect to oyr falken? We would still be hearing about it if Shearer, Cullliffe, Little or Ardern had taken a taxpayer funded flight to Hawaii on hols instead
I”m [sic] not on Twitter very often and I think this shows why. Effectively, I was scrolling down and I saw a tweet that you’re referring to, I noticed it, I accidentally liked it, I got rid of that within literally a second and kept on moving.
Anyway, we now know Mr Bridges reads scrolls through tweets by WO. We also know that Mr Bridges easily lets his guard down when (or better: in spite of) reading tweets by WO – WO is a well-known and respected comedian in National circles and his tweets are often considered ‘funny’. Maybe Mr Bridges was not wearing his hat as Leader of the Opposition but tweeting in ’private capacity’.
He was just scrolling down tweets from WO, as you do, and literally liked it but that doesn’t mean he literally liked it as it is just one of those things you do when scrolling down through tweets from WO, literally.
In National nothing should be taken literally, only aspirationally. A brighter future for all literally means a slightly less dim future for the dimwits (AKA poor, workers, un- and underemployed, beneficiaries, most people) and a much brighter future for the few (AKA rich) but you cannot literally say that. Being on the cusp of something special literally means that you’ve got gas and have to do a fart but just like weeing in the shower you cannot literally say that in a public medium so you make it sound expirationally.
Anything that this Government says or does is literally bad, of course. It goes without saying that the Opposition and particularly the Leader of the Opposition without question and without reading literally poopoos everything from Government. Coincidentally, this comes naturally to National because they literally have no original ideas, which is why they scroll through WO tweets and KB and literally like posts and comments alike; in National they like what they like ad nauseam, literally.
My second share of the day are the words of a great New Zealander, Robin Westenra.
“Ecological and economic collapse in New Zealand
It will be only apparent to those paying attention but New Zealand is collapsing environmentally, socially, financially and politically, not to mention socially.
Every day we read headlines like this. The detail with which these questions are dealt with are usually in inverse proportion to the importance of the crisis in question.
People who react emotionally to things,mostly on social media, but are incapable (or unwilling) to analyse why this might be the case just blame the government.
It is really only the symptoms of social collapse that get any public attention.
While the previous government with its socially-destructive policies of austerity took this breakdown to new, unseen levels. But there is nothing unique in this and the result probably end up being the same.
We cannot look solely to economic policies.
What we are seeing is a neo-liberal response to a very real problem to ongoing and progressive collapse as a result of economic crisis arising out of energy decline along with ecological degradation and accelerating climate change.”
This is what happens when:
You let farmers take water to intensify dairy farming on the Canterbury Plains
You let farmers pump fertiliser into the land
You allow foreign corporations to take our water.
“Chlorine levels in some Christchurch water might be enough for swimming pool.”
Capitalism (and/or politics) may accelerate the process but physics dictate it….
“…A society in which depletion is advanced and M(p)
rapidly increasing relative to C(p), though, may not be able to escape catabolic
collapse even if such steps are taken. Cultural and political factors may also make
efforts to avoid catabolic collapse difficult to accomplish, or indeed to contemplate.”
That is shocking. Didn’t take long for the FBI to enter into the spirit of the new regime.
First – the Kaiser
Second – Hitler and Mussolini
Third – Trump.
Remember how Hitler was lauded for his so-called peace initiatives in the 1930s? Now we have some calling for Trump to be given the Nobel Peace prize. Beyond belief!
Trump isnt really offering peace either. as we well know his claims one month are abandoned 6 months later.
see his campaign claim to reduce US prescription drug prices is now an attempt to force foreign nations with ‘socialised medicine’ to pay more for their drugs ( ref our Pharmac)
Interesting case. Time to tighten up laws so that these transactions, offshore accounts and ‘loans’ which result in avoided tax, are not even possible in this country.
A well written Tobin tax would have collected the tax prior to the money leaving and avoided the lengthy court case.
Makes me wonder if this Current Lot are on a mission. Winston especially has history of going after those who are less than transparent in their business dealings.
Agree mostly with a financial transaction tax/levy….in these time of e-commerce it should be easy to implement.
@Rosemary – that is why they should look at putting a micro financial tax on everything and reduce other taxes that benefit those on smaller incomes more aka GST. If something like that was done correctly then if you live on peanuts you pay peanut taxes, if you have a million dollar lifestyle while earning zero profits you pay your share of tax at the point of transacting it… At the moment tax is so easy to avoid, too many variations and loopholes and so costly to fight cases…
yep, I think now with so much global capital whistling around the world it’s time to make it happen. Tax money and transactions so people like John Key, Eric Watson, Peter Thiel, Facebook, Google, etc whether resident in or out of NZ will be taxed a micro amount on their money made or going through NZ, where ever it goes afterwards will be someone else’s problem.
“Dinghy Pattinson is aiming to fulfil a promise he made as part of a mines rescue team that sealed up the Pike River mine in 2011.
The team left a note on the seal 170m up the mine access tunnel, or drift, promising the men they would return to get them out.
Pattinson was also part of the mines rescue team who were ready and waiting for two weeks to go into Pike River after the explosion that killed 29 men on November, 19, 2010.
‘We will not rest and we will never give up. We will return’ “
Was talking to an ex-coast, long time miner the other day about Pike, was very insightful, once he opened up a bit.
He explained that all along mine tunnels were little rooms with breathing apparatus etc, all one needed to do was get to one of these rooms and they would be able to stay alive for around 36hrs or more, giving rescue crews a chance to come and get them.
The rescue that never happened at Pike.
He believes that many of the men down there died from being abandoned, rather than the explosion. Also said Pike was well known for their shoddy safety, everyone on the coast knows it and that when they finally get in to Pike and get the men out it’s going to open a massive can of worms, and that’s why the prior government avoided rescue at all costs.
So proud of our new government for doing something. I can’t imagine the heartache and suffering of all involved.
The botched rescue including just getting the local police who knew nothing about mine safety is truely horrendous. Even countries with so called much worse human rights and employment safety bother to rescue their workers.
Pike River highlights that something is seriously wrong with how many companies with government assistance are operating in NZ – while pretending it’s all in the interests of health and safety but really to save dollars, avoid responsibility, not bother doing anything and delay tactics being the norm.
I’d like to see a memorial in Wellington for the men, by the beehive, to highlight the sad state of company greed and negligence and the government inaction supporting it and why a u-turn is needed.
You say
” Also said Pike was well known for their shoddy safety, everyone on the coast knows it”
What a shame that Andrew Little, yes, that Andrew Little, didn’t see anything wrong at all when he was supposed to be representing the men who worked there.
At the time Andrew said.
“EPMU national secretary Andrew Little said he was not aware of any safety concerns at the site.” https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/experts-raise-safety-concerns
He repeated that a number of times
“It was Andrew Little who, after the first explosion, claimed to the NZ Herald (November 22 2010) that there was “nothing unusual about Pike River or this mine that we’ve been particularly concerned about”.
It was a view he repeated to RNZ National’s Morning Report, also on November 22:
“Every mine on the West Coast takes great care when it goes into production and I don’t think Pike River is any different from that. They’ve had a good health and safety committee that’s been very active. So there’s nothing before now that’s alerted us to any greater risk of this sort of incident happening than at any other time.” http://nzagainstthecurrent.blogspot.co.nz/2017/10/andrew-little-and-pike-river-fatally.html
If there is anyone who wants to run a cover-up it looks like Andrew. Who wants to bet on the proposition that he will decide it is unsafe to try for a re-entry next year? He is in the perfect position to shut down any real investigation, isn’t he?
They will never get on with it.
There is no chance at all that there will be any re-entry to the mine that goes right in to the place where they were working. No politician would ever risk it.
Lolz alwyn, would you like to place a wager? I’m keen, 3 month self imposed ban?
alwyn you are familiar with the West Coat yes? It’s a different world there.
I also said… “Was talking to an ex-coast, long time miner the other day about Pike, was very insightful, once he opened up a bit.”….. once he opened up a bit….
I wasn’t aware that Andrew Little came from the West Coast. I was always under the impression that he came from Taranaki. Am I wrong?
What does what the West Coasters think really matter? It is Andrew who is going to make the call, and I believe it is pre-determined. Who can say what might, or might not, have been done at the time. Now it would just be sending people into danger. Let those who died, like people drowned in ships sunk in the war, rest in peace.
I remember visiting the Coast in the mid-1960s. Yes it was quite different, However I can remember talking to a railways driver. There were still steam trains going across to the Coast. He said that the people there threatened to riot if they put Diesel Loco’s instead of coal powered ones on the route. He also said it was just talk and no-one living there had kept a coal range when they could get an electric one. They might talk about keeping coal but they weren’t actually going to use it themselves.
What exactly did you have in mind for this wager. All you seem to be willing to say here is “I say they will go into the mine”.
I suppose you could argue that they have done this. Remember the brave face that Little put on when he, and a couple of the members of some of the deceased miners’ families put on as he went 30 metres into the portal to the point where it was sealed the other day?
What are you proposing? I’ll give you a good example to follow. John Kennedy said
“First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth”.
Quite explicit isn’t it? What to do. When to do it. How to judge success or failure.
How would you word the wager? Do you propose, for example, that people in the mission will travel right to the area where the men were working and, as far as I know, the explosion occurred, before 31 March. 2019? That is all the way into the mine.
If not, what would you suggest?
You are quite right about the first words of this comment. It was Rosemary who was talking about Little, Andrew. I do apologise for seeming to think that you were the one proposing him as an exemplar of integrity.
Nice dancing on the head of a pin alwyn. Cinny made a simple wager suggestion. And yes it was simple. The stakes arent even high but you had to go pseudo intellectual and self righteous rather than just acceptung or declining. Would that you were quite as analytical of Brownlee et al and the profit motive on these deaths as you are on Anrew Little.
Ironic that someone who has voted for those who have neutered unions now criticises a union for letting its members down
I rather hoped that Cinny would have responded by now as to what she did have in mind for the wager. It obviously has to have a date. After all it could otherwise turn into something like Winston’s threats to sue the National Party and its MPs.
“I’m still going to do it” Winston says while all is otherwise silent.
I suppose Little supporters could claim in 2050, when no attempt at a proper re-entry has taken place,that it will still happen, sometime.
Why does Little persist in messing with the victim’s families with the false hopes he keeps proclaiming?
For Tracey’s benefit I would note that I am not criticising the Union. I am criticising Andrew Little.
Utilising your long lack of empathy …. out of cameron slater and john key which one do you think was more likely to call bereaved mother of a pike river mine worker a bitch ?? … ,…..
the dead boys mother was a “bitch” who had heckled Key …according to Slater and published in Nicky Hagars “Dirty polictics”
I presume she did so over the hollowness and insincerity of his political stunt …his false promises to the dead pike river miners familys ….
The media nearly always gave key a pass for lieing ….. but not so from a young dead mans mother.
Totally missing from Alwyns mean eyed spit at this woman and other Pike river mine workers mothers: …is the Key and previous Nat Govts part in the criminal negligence that lead to these working mens deaths …….
cutting the number of mine inspectors … not enforcing regulations… Non-Compliant is virtually Nationals Trade Mark.
But what really shows up Key as a nasty arse-hole…. when his Governmnet received a multi-million insurance payout over Pike river…… the suggestion was put that some of that money be given to miners familys as compensation ……
Key “ they can sue “….Alwyn may well agree
We all know …At the end of the day 😉 😉 it was key who ran off from NZ politics
You may, or may not, realise that I am not John Key.
Neither am I Cameron Slater.
That obviously doesn’t matter to you. You really are a nasty piece of work aren’t you? What gives you the right to abuse me for things I have never done?
What gives you the right to accuse me of things like, in your own disgusting dribble ” Alwyns mean eyed spit at this woman “? I have never done such a thing and I despise anyone who would do so.
I also despise people like you who propagate such lies.
Get back in your hole you miserable little excuse for a human being. If you are unable to tell the truth about me why don’t you just shut up?
Its not about you Alwyn ….. your smeary diversionary blame Little dribble needed putting straight….. its part of the ‘blame the union’ shit your sort cynically use.
Your skewered, one-sided, political statement on pike river was offensive to the victims … a written slap in the face for the mothers on mothers day.
your coming across as ugly as Key … using the victims for political gain ….” let them sue”…..
I don’t place much stock on a cynical ugly repeat liar and hypocrite calling me a liar….
Instead lets be reminded of a New Zealander with morals and Justice challenging the rot and corruption of the last national Government ….
Frankly you are a complete nutter.
You have zero interest in the truth, or facts, or simple common-sense.
Crawl back into the cesspit of your fevered imagination.
You are completely beneath contempt.
You start a sentence with “I don’t place much stock ….”.
Well I don’t place much stock in the ravings of an idiot like you.
Pike River,,, and your bat-shit politically motivated appropriation of Blame …
Managers, directors, design and mining safety specs … have all dissapeared behind a little union rep … according to angry Alwyn
By Not engaging with facts , shouty abuse,, and a dose of the shut-ups.. Alwyns providing a good example of an ongoing context … where the ugly and dishonest .. attack lie and deny ,,, those who expose them.
Dirty Politics …its in their blood.
John Key : ” …Nicky Hager is a screaming left-wing conspiracy theorist,”
Key and waynes gutsy Afghanistan attacks: “,,,,, “Stephenson’s integrity and credibility has been questioned by Prime Minister John Key, he’s been accused of fabricating testimony, of being an anti-war activist, of being part of a plot to undermine the New Zealand Defence Force.”
Pike river NAct PR :… John Key: ..”The first thing is I’m here to give you absolute reassurance, we’re committed to getting the boys out, and nothing’s going to change that. So – when people try and tell you we’re not, they’re playing, I hate to say it, but they’re playing with your emotions.”
“Following from the first explosion at Pike Rive Mine, there seemed much positive comment heaped upon the likes of Peter Whittall and John Key.”
The Mine Rescue guys would have been gutted. My Dad was in Mine Rescue, and he said leaving anyone down a mine was their worst nightmare. So proud of Andrew Little and such respect for the families.
Not sure of your point here, are you saying less gdp growth would be good for nurses or more, or simply you have confused what ever the correlation is between GDP growth and nurses well being with causation
‘Charities’ are the new rout avenue. Clinton Foundation and so forth are really vehicles to channel money with tax advantages so it doesn’t look quite so much like a bribe or buying influence.
Personally not a fan of modern charities like KidsCan either that have millions in the bank, spend a lot of administration and make many think that government agencies and more austere type charities should be abandoned for the more glitzy marketing type of charity.
And I’ll only mention in passing, because with the rain today there’s gloom aplenty already, the many charities and trusts who have got their snouts firmly in the trough of government funded contracts to provide services in the ‘social’ sector.
They don’t make profits…they have surpluses…and pay no tax.
They can cause the deaths of people in their ‘care’ through under staffing and and are never properly held to account. By “held to account” i mean lose their fat contracts forever.
Hi. Am seeking the best books on recent (post-1984) NZ Political History – am aiming to guide a millenial. Here’s what I have so far:-
Simon Collins. 1987. Rogernomics: Is There A Better Way?;
Nicky Hagar. 2006. The Hollow Men;
Bruce Jesson. 1987. Behind The Mirror Glass;
Bruce Jesson. 1990. Fragments of Labour;
Harvey McQueen. 1991. The Ninth Floor: Inside the Prime Minister’s Office –
A Political Experience.
It’s a bit spartan so far. Anyone have any recommendations?
Also: Are these recommended?:-
Simon Sheppard. 1999. Broken Circle: The Decline And Fall Of The Fourth Labour Government;
Jon Johansson. 2009. The Politics of Possibility: Leadership in Changing
Times.
Dr Bill Sutch Economics – Balanced enterprises less weighted to farming
Read the presentations at the annual Bruce Jesson Journalism awards.
Geoffrey Palmer Unbridled Power
Marilyn Waring Counting for Nothing
Max Rashbrooke
Tim Hazeldine
Fabian addresses – must be on record
Thanks Rosemary for giving us all those links.
I have captured that link for Fabian – it takes so long to find stuff sometimes and have wanted to get them to hand for a while.
And Brian Easton – more good stuff. We need to water the good economists, give them some love, keep them going with their alternative thinking and turning of facts etc and flowering of ideas!
Thanks everybody! Much appreciated. Some good stuff here, natch. Whenever I think of Andrew Dean I think of Max Harris – encouraging that those of younger generations are looking backwards as well as looking forwards.
Brian Easton has, amongst others:-
The Making of Rogernomics (Auckland University Press, 1989)
Bruce Jesson Lectures have been delivered by: David Lange (2000), Brian Easton (2001), Chris Trotter (2002), Jane Kelsey (2003), Ani Mikaere (2004), Colin James (2005), Gordon Campbell (2006), Laila Harre (2007), Mike Lee (2008), Robert Wade (2009), Annette Sykes (2010), Paul Dalziel (2011), Nicky Hager (2012), Ted Thomas (2013), Mike Joy (2014), Rod Oram (2015) and Lisa Marriott (2016).
alwyn – we can tolerate what is said. We understand where Bassett was coming from. Whether we value what he says is another matter. No unpleasant surprises, so give up the “You may not like what he says.”
Bassett has not written another Bible.
I don’t care whether you agree with him. I couldn’t care less whether you value what he says. It is however essential reading if you want to understand what happened. Have you actually read the book?
I agree it is essential reading to understand how the Labour Party spawned the ACT Party and people like Bassett kept being used by the media to comment on Labour, following his leaving parliament, as though he represented Labour views.
Rebecca Macfie Tragedy at Pike River Mine: How and Why 29 Men Died
Jane Kelsey. The Fire Economy.
Jonathan Boston, Simon Chapple Child Poverty in New Zealand.
This is a problem for the Papatuanuku society Sea level rise we are to short sighted we have the technology to exanine Papatuanuku history but we don’t no how to live for the future we live for the NOW for what we can get out of life now and not what we can give to OUR mokopunas lives this mind set has to change the old way was to try and give back better than what we received. We need to change building codes to mitigate SEA level rise now or it will be a 1000x worst than the problem we have that our farmers have at the minute .We can not just ignore the problem because the longer we have OUR heads in the sand the bigger the mess we will have to clean up. A few bold moves now will save lives and billions of$$$$$ for OUR mokopunas THIS IS FACT here.s the link.
Eco Maori has to be careful whom I back because I can see a phenomenon.
The powers that be don’t like to be shown up by a Kiwi Maori Cultured Man from Te Waiapu Vally Tairawhiti like the idiots playing with there sounds and flashing neon lights at the minute . Ka kite ano
Good Evening NewsHub the better we care for the vulnerable mokopunas at the earliest we can the higher they will climb up there ladders of life.
That is reality for the working class poor the hardest hit from inequality in income and the brown poor people get hit the hardest the income disparities are shocking go to the high end of town and you see boats flash cars one million dollar house own by two people the other end and one see nothing but poverty people going with out basic needs.
I can rember 10 years ago life was a lot easier and the cost of living was a lot cheaper .
Ka kite ano
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The 2020 Budget includes significant support to stabilise New Zealand’s family violence services, whose work has been shown to be so essential throughout the COVID-19 lockdown. ...
The Green Party says huge new investment in public and transitional housing will get thousands more families into the warm, safe homes they deserve. ...
The Green Party says the $1.1 billion environmental investment in this year’s budget to create thousands of green jobs will help jump start a sustainable recovery from the COVID crisis. ...
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said today the Coalition Government told foreigners at the start of the Covid-19 crisis that if their circumstances had changed dramatically, they should go home. "And 50,000 did," Mr Peters said. Official advice to Cabinet revealed there is potentially 380,000 foreigners and migrant workers in ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Leader of New Zealand First New Zealand First welcomes the decision today to go to Alert Level 2 from midnight Wednesday, says Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters. Alert Level 2 will mean a return to work for the vast majority of New Zealand’s businesses. A return ...
Nurses now look set to get more protection from violence at work, under a proposed new law.This after NZ First MP Darroch Ball's "Protection for First Responders Bill", which introduces a six-month minimum sentence for assaults on first responders, will now also cover emergency department healthcare workers. The ...
Darroch Ball MP, New Zealand First Law and Order Spokesperson An amendment to the ‘Protection of First Responders Bill’ is being tabled which will see emergency department healthcare workers included in the legislation. “During this COVID-19 crisis we have seen reports of violence and specifically increased incidents of spitting towards ...
Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones is breathing new life into the proposal to move Auckland's port to Whangārei to help in the economic recovery post Covid-19 pandemic.If New ZealandFirst was returned in the September general election, Minister Jones said a priority would be development of an "economic haven" at Northport, ...
The plan to build a memorial to the SS Ventnor, and those who were lost when it sank off the Hokianga coast in 1902, has been granted $100,000 from the Provincial Growth Fund.Originally planned for a site near Rāwene cemetery, the memorial will now be built at the new Manea ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, New Zealand First LeaderLeader of New Zealand First, Rt Hon Winston Peters said: “Today is the 75th anniversary of VE Day – marking the end of World War II in Europe."Millions died in the six years of war, and families were torn apart. 75 years ...
From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our Government has committed to providing calm, clear, and consistent communication, including regular press conference updates from the Prime Minister. While New Zealand is at Alert Level 3, we're making sure that New Zealanders are kept informed and up-to-date with all the latest ...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters spoke to The Country's Jamie Mackay. A day earlier, National Party leader Simon Bridges was on the radio show and referred to the Deputy Prime Minister as, "my sweetheart Winston". Mr Peters swiftly dismissed the question of whether Bridges had changed his mind about ...
The Government is on the verge of reaching its target of state sector boards and committees made up of at least 50 percent women, says Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter and Minister for Ethnic Communities Jenny Salesa. For the first time, the Government stocktake measures the number of Māori, ...
The Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister and Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister, Kris Faafoi, has today announced the appointment of Tristan Gilbertson as the new Telecommunications Commissioner and member of the Commerce Commission. “Mr Gilbertson has considerable experience in the telecommunications industry and a strong reputation amongst his peers,” ...
The Ministry of Education and NZEI Te Riu Roa have agreed to settle the pay equity claim for teacher aides, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. This will see more than 22,000 teacher aides, mostly women, being valued and paid fairly for the work they do. “Teacher aides are frontline ...
Subcontractors will have greater certainty, more cashflow support and job security with new changes to retention payments under the Construction Contracts Act says Minister for Building and Construction, Jenny Salesa. A recent review of the retentions money regime showed that most of the building and construction sector is complying with ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have marked the first anniversary of the New Zealand-Singapore Enhanced Partnership with a virtual Leaders’ Meeting today. The Enhanced Partnership, signed on 17 May 2019, provides the framework for cooperation across the four main areas of trade, defence and ...
On 17 May 2019, New Zealand and Singapore established an Enhanced Partnership to elevate our relations. The Enhanced Partnership – based on the four pillars of trade and economics, security and defence, science, technology and innovation, and people-to-people links – has seen the long-standing relationship between our countries strengthen over the ...
State-Owned Enterprises Minister Winston Peters has welcomed KiwiRail’s announcement that it is seeking a preferred shipyard to build two new rail-enabled ferries for the Cook Strait crossing. “This Government is committed to restoring rail to its rightful place in New Zealand. Bigger, better ships, with new technology are yet another ...
Better protection for seabirds is being put in place with a new National Plan of Action to reduce fishing-related captures, Fisheries Minister Stuart Nash and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage announced today. The National Plan of Action for Seabirds 2020 outlines our commitment to reduce fishing-related captures and associated seabird ...
Almost $1 billion in interest-free loans for small businesses More than 55,000 businesses have applied; 95% approved Average loan approx. $17,300 90% of applications from firms with ten or fewer staff A wide cross-section of businesses have applied, the most common are the construction industry, accommodation providers, professional firms, and ...
Thousands of children will have healthier lungs after the Government’s ban on smoking in cars with kids becomes law, says Associate Minister of Health Jenny Salesa. This comes after the third reading of Smoke-free Environments (Prohibiting Smoking in Motor Vehicles Carrying Children) Amendment Bill earlier today. “This law makes it ...
The special Epidemic Response Committee (ERC) has successfully concluded its role, Leader of the House Chris Hipkins said today. The committee was set up on 25 March by the agreement of Parliament to scrutinise the Government and its actions while keeping people safe during levels 4 and 3 of lockdown. ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today announced four diplomatic appointments: New Zealand’s Ambassador to Belgium, High Commissioners to Nauru and Niue, and Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism. “As the world seeks to manage and then recover from COVID-19, our diplomatic and trade networks are more important than ever,” Mr Peters said. “The ...
New Zealanders will be better protected from online harm through a Bill introduced to Parliament today, says Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin. “The internet brings many benefits to society but can also be used as a weapon to spread harmful and illegal content and that is what this legislation targets,” ...
New Zealand’s world-first plan to eradicate the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis is on track the latest technical data shows, says Agriculture and Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor. “Two years ago the Government, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb New Zealand and industry partners made a bold decision to go hard and commit ...
Further support for New Zealanders affected by 1-in-100 year global economic shock 12-week payment will support people searching for new work or retraining Work programme on employment insurance to support workers and businesses The Government today announced a new temporary payment to support New Zealanders who lose their jobs due ...
The Provincial Growth Fund will play a vital role in New Zealand’s post-COVID-19 recovery by creating jobs in shorter timeframes through at least $600 million being refocused on projects with more immediate economic benefits, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. The funding is comprised of repurposed Provincial Growth ...
Government exempts some home improvements from costly consents Homeowners, builders and DIYers will soon have an easier time making basic home improvements as the Government scraps the need for consents for low-risk building work such as sleep-outs, sheds and carports – allowing the construction sector to fire back up quicker ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says the New Zealand Government has reacted with concern at the introduction of legislation in China’s National People’s Congress relating to national security in Hong Kong. “We have a strong interest in seeing confidence maintained in the ‘one country, two systems’ principle under which Hong ...
The Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio, says the theme for the 2020 Samoa Language Week is a perfect fit for helping our Pacific communities cope with the unfolding COVID-19 crisis, and to prepare now for the journey ahead as New Zealand focuses on recovery plans and rebuilding New ...
A nearly 40-year programme to protect one of New Zealand’s most critically endangered birds is paying off, with a record number of adult kakī/black stilt recently recorded living in the wild, the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage announced today. “Thanks to the team effort involved in the Department of Conservation’s ...
The story of the Waikato-Tainui Treaty process and its enduring impact on the community is being told with a five-part web story launched today on the 25th anniversary of settlement, announced Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni. “I am grateful to Waikato-Tainui for allowing us to help capture ...
Taita College in the Hutt Valley will be redeveloped to upgrade its ageing classrooms and leaky roofs, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. “The work is long overdue and will make a lasting difference to the school for generations to come,” Chris Hipkins said. “Too many of our schools are ...
The Government is allocating $36.72 million to projects in regions hard hit economically by COVID-19 to keep people working, Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. Projects in Hawke’s Bay, Northland, Rotorua and Queenstown will be funded from the Government’s $100 million worker ...
A $35m boost to financial capability service providers funded by MSD will help New Zealanders manage their money better both day to day and through periods of financial difficulty, announced Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni. “It’s always been our position to increase support to key groups experiencing or at risk ...
Dunedin barrister Melinda Broek has been appointed as a District Court Judge with Family Court jurisdiction to be based in Rotorua, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. Ms Broek has iwi affiliations to Ngai Tai. She commenced her employment in 1996 with Scholefield Cockroft Lloyd in Invercargill specialising in family and ...
The Coalition Government has approved a business case for $206 million in upgrades to critical infrastructure at Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Ohakea, with the first phase starting later this year, Defence Minister Ron Mark announced today. The investment will be made in three phases over five years, and ...
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today released the Ministry of Transport’s review of the organisational culture at the Civil Aviation Authority. Phil Twyford says all employees are entitled to a safe work environment. “I commissioned this independent review due to the concerns I had about the culture within the CAA, and ...
Ensuring that Stats NZ’s direction and strategy best supports government policy decisions will be a key focus for a new Governance Advisory Board announced today by the Minister for Statistics, James Shaw. The new Governance Advisory Board will provide strategic advice to Stats NZ to ensure it is meeting New ...
Environment Judge David Kirkpatrick of Auckland has been appointed as the Principal Environment Judge, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. Judge Kirkpatrick was appointed an Environment Judge in February 2014. From December 2013 to July 2016 he was Chair of the Auckland Unitary Plan Independent Hearings Panel. Prior to appointment he ...
A programme to connect marae around the country to the internet has received $1.4 million to expand to include urban marae in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Minister Kris Faafoi and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. The funding for the Marae Connectivity Programme ...
The Government will provide $500,000 to the Hawke’s Bay Mayoral Drought Relief Fund to help farmers facing one of the worst droughts in living memory, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor. “Yesterday afternoon I received a letter from Hawke's Bay's five local Government leaders asking me to contribute to the Fund. ...
Budget 2020 provides a major investment in New Zealand’s documentary heritage sector, with a commitment to leasing a new Archives Wellington facility and an increase in funding for Archives and National Library work. “Last year I released plans for a new Archives Wellington building – a purpose-built facility physically connected ...
Government Ministers are asking significant private enterprises to adopt prompt payment practices in line with the state sector, as a way to improve cashflow for small businesses. The Ministers of Finance, Small Business, Commerce and Consumer Affairs have written to more than 40 significant enterprises and banking industry representatives to ...
Maori Arts and Crafts will continue to underpin the heart of the tourism sector says Minister for Maori Development Nanaia Mahuta. “That’s why we are making a core investment of $7.6 million to Te Puia New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, over two years, as part of the Government’s ...
The Government is funding more pathways to jobs through training and education programmes in regional New Zealand to support the provinces’ recovery from the economic impacts of COVID-19, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and Employment Minister Willie Jackson have announced. “New Zealand’s economic recovery will be largely driven by ...
Minister for Veterans Ron Mark has announced the launch of a national conversation that aims to find out whether New Zealanders think there should be a formal agreement between service people, the Government, and the people of New Zealand. “This year marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World ...
The Government’s drive to improve the quality of early childhood education (ECE) is taking another step forward with the reintroduction of a higher funding rate for services that employ fully qualified and registered teachers, Education Minister Chris Hipkins has announced. “Research shows that high-quality ECE can improve young people’s learning ...
The Sport and Recreation sector will receive a multi-million dollar boost as part of the COVID-19 response funded at Budget 2020. Grant Robertson says the Sport and Recreation Sector contributes about $5 billion a year to New Zealand’s GDP and employs more than 53,000 people. “Sport plays a significant role ...
A major increase in funding and availability of support will improve the incomes and reduce the pressure on 14,000 caregivers looking after more than 22,000 children. Children’s Minister Tracey Martin says that caregivers – all those looking after someone else’s children both in and outside the state care system – ...
Vital conservation and visitor infrastructure destroyed by a severe flood event in Fiordland earlier this year is being rebuilt through a $13.7 million Budget 2020 investment, announced Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage. “This investment will mean iconic Great Walks such as the Routeburn track and the full length of ...
“We are pleased to see that the Government’s freshwater reforms announced today respond to some of the issues raised, and recommendations made, by the irrigation sector,” says Elizabeth Soal, Chief Executive of IrrigationNZ. “But there is ...
The government is imposing tough rules on water quality despite over 17,000 submissions, many of them complaining the move would impose a huge financial burden. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Helen Dickinson, Professor, Public Service Research, UNSW COVID-19 has had a significant impact on all Australians, but there are very good reasons why the impact might be more keenly felt by people with disability and their carers. Our new research on behalf ...
Freshwater campaigners are frustrated the Government has delayed a crucial decision on nitrogen pollution for a further 12 months until after the election. “We have urged the Government many times to put in place clear and unequivocal limits for ...
The government has just announced a whole lot of new rules and policies for freshwater with the aim of urgently stopping degradation and cleaning up rivers over the long term.What’s all this then? A massive package of work on freshwater quality has just been announced in an attempt to halt further ...
The Environmental Defence Society (EDS) has welcomed the announcement by Ministers David Parker, Damien O’Connor and James Shaw this morning of the much-awaited freshwater reforms. “This package of changes to the present regulatory settings largely delivers ...
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) has welcomed the Government’s announcement of a set of targeted tools to improve the quality of freshwater. LGNZ is the peak body representing New Zealand’s 78 local councils, providing a unified voice for ...
Many families facing newfound financial hardship due to COVID-19 may not be seeking help – believing they should be able to manage on their own or unaware they qualify for support, according to Good Shepherd NZ. The charitable organisation provides ...
Changes to central government Essential Freshwater regulations reflect farmer feedback, Federated Farmers says. "While we’re still working through the detail, the high level policy decisions indicate the government has heeded some of the rural ...
The Council of Trade Unions is congratulating teacher aides in achieving an historic pay equity offer from the government to settle their long standing concerns. "What this offer from the government does is acknowledge the historic under valuation of ...
Freshwater reforms a significant step forward The Government's policy announced today is a significant step forward in reducing pollution in our rural and our urban waterways caused by intensive farming and through council's neglect. However, there ...
Thursday, 28th May: Greenpeace is today welcoming the Government’s move to place a cap on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, but says more controls are needed to protect freshwater. The fertiliser cap was announced today as part of the Government’s ...
Following today’s announcements on the government’s response to the future of freshwater, it appears that despite the chorus of calls for a change in how the post-COVID future of Aotearoa is shaped - and following many months of engagement, consultation ...
Horticulture New Zealand says the Government’s decisions around freshwater recognise the importance of growing fresh fruit and vegetables in this country. ‘We applaud the Government for the pragmatic approach it is taking to meeting the long-term freshwater ...
NZ’s primary exports held up well in April, again proving the country’s farming industries are sustaining the economy despite many sectors being stricken by the Covid-19 pandemic. Almost coincidentally, a UMR probe of public opinion about farming revealed a sharp swing in perception. Instead of the negativity that had been ...
In a world where players have unfettered access to fans through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, it raises the question of whether traditional media still has a role to play. But as Scotty Stevenson explains, a player-driven model powered by social media can only go so far. Among the many weird and ...
Two statements from the Beehive yesterday were enlightening for taxpayers trying to keep tabs on the burgeoning billions being spent on facilitating the economic recovery. One statement told us how much is being handed out to small businesses. Correction. One statement told us how much is being loaned to small ...
Emily Writes celebrates wholesome shows and the rise of cosy television.The world is frightening right now. From Covid-19 to climate change, just watching the news can be overwhelming let alone going outside. This horror is the perfect environment for what I call Soft TV to flourish. Wholesome reality TV isn’t ...
While many areas of the workforce have been shaken by the effects of Covid-19, a Ngāi Tahu futures lab has been working to give rangatahi Māori the opportunity to decide their own futures.Futurists have thought up myriad strategies for how the world should look post-Covid. For all its hurt, the ...
Pacific Media Centre The dramatic daily increase of covid-19 coronavirus cases in West Papua poses a “great threat” to Papua New Guinea, says the country’s deputy emergency chief. State of Emergency Deputy Controller and Acting Secretary for Health Dr Paison Dakulala said the Indonesian-ruled Papua region had seen an increase ...
Recent public opinion polls are revealing some very interesting, if somewhat contradictory, insights into New Zealanders’ current thinking about the Covid19 crisis and the national response. The most recent 1News Colmar Brunton poll reported that 92% of ...
Trucking companies have missed out on the Government’s Covid-19 money lolly scramble and this will mean increased costs across the already damaged economy, Road Transport Forum (RTF) chief executive Nick Leggett says. "Despite working through the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania Since last summer’s bushfire crisis, there’s been a quantum shift in public awareness of Aboriginal fire management. It’s now more widely understood that Aboriginal people used landscape burning to sustain biodiversity ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Geoff Hanmer, Adjunct Professor of Architecture, University of Adelaide A return to face to face teaching at universities and technical colleges “where possible” is one of the goals of the Morrison government’s three step framework for a COVIDsafe Australia. A look at ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hazel Easthope, Scientia Associate Professor, City Futures Research Centre, UNSW We’re building a lot of apartments in Australia. High-density precincts are being developed across our major cities. But these buildings and neighbourhoods are often not designed and managed in ways that meet ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Kaine, Associate Professor UTS Centre for Business and Social Innovation, University of Technology Sydney Workers everywhere are feeling the impact of COVID-19 and the restrictions necessitated by COVID-19. In Australia, retail and hospitality workers have been particularly hard hit. In other ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Forsyth, Professor of Workplace Law, RMIT University Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week proposed a new deal in industrial relations, bringing together the government, employers and unions to agree on reforms to create jobs and lift the economy in the post-CIVD-19 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ray Markey, Emeritus Professor, Macquarie University In a bid to repair the economy, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced an industrial relations overhaul. Business groups and unions will be brought together to try to change a system that Morrison says is “not ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathon Hutchinson, Senior Lecturer Online Communication and Media, University of Sydney The constraints of coronavirus isolation have closed down most recreational activities, but some creative industries are responding in innovative ways. I have been researching “digital first personalities” – content producers who ...
For all The Spinoff’s latest coverage of Covid-19 see here. Read Siouxsie Wiles’s work here. New Zealand is currently in alert level two – read The Spinoff’s giant explainer about what that means here. For official government advice, see here.The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is funded by The Spinoff Members. To support this ...
Mainfreight's revenues have risen since April 1 despite Covid-19 as it reports higher annual profit and stable dividend, and repays $10.6m wage subsidy. NZX 50 back to March 9 level ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Lamb, Associate Professor in Geophysics, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Back in the 1970s, scientists came up with a revolutionary idea about how Earth’s deep interior works. They proposed it is slowly churning like a lava lamp, with ...
Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Kiwibuild buyers left facing years of delays, calls for relaxation of alert levels and travel, and new details emerge in NZ First Foundation saga.Despite a reset of the policy last year, Kiwibuild is still proving to be problematic. A disastrous new ...
Dr Emily Henderson Last night, the Labour Party named Whangarei Family Court lawyer, Dr Emily Henderson, as its candidate to contest the Whangarei seat in the September general election. Emily has lived in Whangarei since she was seven years old, attending ...
Lockdown shut down an overseas couple's bid to walk the length of the country. When freed again, they returned from Auckland to the deep south to complete the task. Dressed in handmade ninja turtle costumes, hikers Becca Rolon and Diarmuid McInerney finally reached Bluff - finishing a 3000km walk the length ...
Quarantine-free travel between NZ and Pacific Islands should be our priority, ahead of plans to extend our bubble to include Australia, writes the University of Auckland's Dr Collin Tukuitonga Much has been made of the desirability of a ‘trans-Tasman’ bubble with quarantine-free air travel as a priority. There are compelling reasons ...
We can't decouple growth from its adverse effects and it's becoming clear that the same economic thinking that got us here won't get us out. A cultural shift to ‘enoughness’ and non-consumptive means of happiness could be the way forward after Covid-19, argues Lucie Greenwood. Talk of economic transition in a post-Covid-19 world ...
The return of intra-coalition dissent, on the speed of New Zealand’s move out of lockdown and freshwater policy measures, is a useful reminder that National is not the only party with political headaches, Sam Sachdeva writes For a politician who often trumpets the importance of due process when he wants ...
With the Black Ferns Sevens back in camp after lockdown, long-time star Kelly Brazier returns as a new mum, with a new rugby plan. Kelly Brazier is used to having crowds cheer her on in stadiums around the world. But with countries shutting down, sport being cancelled and ...
An essay by Martin Edmond in response to the monumental second volume by Peter Simpson on artist Colin McCahon.I. Bro Aspect I first met Peter Simpson at Sally and Alan’s place in Coromandel Street, Newtown, Wellington, 1988. Alan Brunton and Sally Rodwell, the founders of Red Mole. They ...
As we emerge from the last of lockdown and begin to look beyond our borders again, let’s not forget the vital role language skills play in strengthening our economic, political and cultural connections to the rest of the world, writes Sally Hill. This week is Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa ...
Diversifying the export economy is a worthy goal – but let’s be realistic about what throwing away a critical relationship with China would mean for New Zealand, writes Stephen Jacobi of the NZ International Business Forum.In a 2018 study of 183 economies’ dependence on China, undertaken by the Australian Department ...
New Zealanders might like to think of our country as relatively equitable in many ways. But in the boardroom, we have a long way to go. As James Brown sings, it’s a man’s world, designed by, and often unconsciously for, men. One recent example – a month ago when ...
By Philip Cass of Kaniva News Recognised seasonal employee workers in New Zealand rarely have a voice in the New Zealand media, new research at Massey University has found. Researcher Dr Angelynne Enoka said coverage of the RSE scheme by regional media tended to focus on official sources and employers’ ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Hepburn, Director of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Deakin Law School, Deakin University In the expansion of its iron ore mine in Western Pilbara, Rio Tinto blasted the Juukan Gorge 1 and 2 – Aboriginal rock shelters dating ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Climie, Exercise Physiologist and Research Fellow, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute In Australia, more than 1.1 million people currently have type 2 diabetes. A host of potential complications associated with the disease mean a 45-year-old diagnosed with type 2 diabetes will ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Scott Adams, Postdoctoral Biomedical Engineering Researcher, Deakin University During the frenzy of the past few months to secure resources for the fight against COVID-19, the demand for technologies that promise to detect symptomatic individuals has been sky-high. However, not all proposed solutions ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brooke Collins-Gearing, Senior Lecturer, University of Newcastle Review: The Beach, created and directed by Warwick Thornton Watching Warwick Thornton’s The Beach is a journey into place and self. It made me want to breathe deeper and smell the salty air. It made ...
“The Government is undermining democracy by progressing 15 bills in the space of just 17 hours,” according to ACT Leader David Seymour. “The Government has put Parliament into urgency this evening and asked it to consider 15 pieces of legislation ...
By RNZ News New opposition National leader Todd Muller is backing his front bench, saying he chose the shadow cabinet line-up on merit and talent. While three out of National’s top four ranked MPs are women, there are no Māori MPs on the front bench, or of any other ethnicity. ...
Civil society and tech industry stakeholders are split over a provision in new legislation that would grant the Government the ability to filter the internet. ...
National Party leader, Todd Muller. Is Todd Muller the Ned Flanders of the National Party? This is how he’s been characterised by political commentator Gordon Campbell, who suggests the change in leadership is, in Simpsons terms, akin to swapping the scary and cruel Monty Burns for Homer Simpson’s compassionate ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Sweden reverting to type. Chart by Keith Rankin. Australia happy to spend foreigners’ savings (someone has to do it!). Chart by Keith Rankin. 1980s: Sweden like New Zealand and Australia Sweden in the 1980s, financially speaking, looked something like New Zealand and Australia. It ...
Tensions flared over race relations again today at Parliament, with National MP Judith Collins saying questions about treaty partnership and government procurement were "stupid". ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kylie Quinn, Vice-Chancellor’s Research Fellow, School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University A new trial has begun in Victoria this week to evaluate a potential vaccine against COVID-19. The vaccine is called NVX-CoV2373 and is from a US biotech company, Novavax. ...
Pacific Media Watch Six South Pacific journalists have been awarded grants by the Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) to strengthen environmental reporting in the region, reports Internews. The awardees include three Fiji journalists – Mai TV journalist and chief executive Stanley Simpson, who hosts the investigative current affairs programme Simpson@Eight, ...
Immigration regulations newly-introduced by Government that applications from migrants trapped offshore with valid work visas need clearance through a Lead Agency (Government Dept responsible for a specific industry) are nothing but a political whitewash,” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Maguire, Associate Professor in Human Rights and International Law, University of Newcastle The Jerusalem District Court has ruled that Malka Leifer is fit to stand trial on charges of child sexual abuse. This is a significant ruling in a very long ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elspeth Tilley, Associate Professor of English (Expressive Arts), Massey University You’re walking on a public footpath when a jogger overtakes you from behind, well inside the recommended two-metre physical distance. What to do? By the time you’ve reacted it’s too late. Just ...
Last night New Zealand witnessed one of the most exhilarating, confronting political stories to air on national television. Hayden Donnell has watched it several hundred times. Newshub at 6 opened last night with a back-and-forth between presenters Samantha Hayes and Mike McRoberts. After an intro from Hayes, McRoberts set the scene ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lorana Bartels, Professor and Program Leader of Criminology, Australian National University Yesterday was National Sorry Day in Australia. It marks the anniversary of the tabling of the Bringing Them Home report, which chronicles decades of removals of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ...
It makes sense to focus on our unique selling points as a country during the post-Covid rebuild. But we also have to live the values we market to the world, writes Jessica Desmond.Earlier this week ‘future of food’ expert Rosie Bosworth wrote that to turbo-boost our Covid recovery, New Zealand ...
A willingness to think differently, finding new ways to upskill Deaf people, and supporting businesses is a key priority for the employment team at Deaf Aotearoa. For many businesses, hiring a Deaf employee often presents their very first interaction ...
The National Plan of Action for Seabirds, released by the Government today, puts the fate of threatened species firmly in the hands of the fishing industry, says Greenpeace. Jessica Desmond, oceans campaigner at Greenpeace, says the action plan ...
Two Labour Members of Parliament have confirmed the claim by Democracy Action that the Government and Police condone illegal iwi roadblocks on public roads. Tamati Coffey (Labour – Waiariki) and Kiri Allan (Labour – List MP living in the East ...
Open Mike 12/05/2018 
Public health specialists perform a vital role protecting us from disease, and they've just literally saved tens of thousands of kiwi lives from the pandemic. But it turns out that they are grossly underfunded and understaffed, and the government isn't doing anything about it: The number of doctors in public ...2 hours ago
Don Franks Now Covid-19 restrictions allow gatherings of a hundred, an urgent hui needs calling. A special conference of the Council of Trade Unions. Today, workers face the greatest attack on employment, pay and conditions since the depression, we need a strong united union voice. As it stands now, organised ...5 hours ago
67 Articles Observations & observational methods of global warming & effects Dramatic decline of Arctic sea ice linked to global warming A rising trend of double tropopauses over South Asia in a warming environment: implications for moistening of the lower stratosphere Determining the anthropogenic greenhouse gas contribution to ...19 hours ago
Questioning the number of district health boards in New Zealand has got to the extent that “too many DHBs” has become a perceived truth requiring no further elaboration. It is rarely challenged by policy advisers, academics, and journalists. But when one drills down further it becomes clear that the number ...21 hours ago
The emergence of a new National party leader, seemingly out of nowhere, has – not surprisingly – raised a number of questions as to who Todd Mulller actually is and what makes him tick. He has been an MP for some time but seems to have hidden his light under ...22 hours ago
We all know that many so-called journalists and political commentators in New Zealand work directly or indirectly for political parties or for certain political factions. This was obviously the case when pundit for hire Matthew Hooton launched a campaign against then National Party leader, Simon Bridges, over their numerous polling ...2 days ago
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Anyone who keeps an eye on evidence around cannabis and public health will be familiar with the Christchurch Health and Development Study. It's one of two local longitudinal studies frequently cited with respect to cannabis and youth development. But in a new article in the New Zealand Medical Journal, it is ...2 days ago
In the age of covid we are Jacinda’s team of five million, except for some. There has rarely been a more blatant case of discrimination against beneficiaries than Grant Robertson’s announcement yesterday that people who have lost their jobs because of the coronavirus will receive weekly payments of $490 per week for 12 weeks and $250 per week for part time ...2 days ago
Well, we are out of lockdown, essentially. I did end up getting the wage subsidy while we were on levels 3 and 4 but I would have been fine if we didn’t. The first day of level 2, the Thursday, the office opened again for the people who weren’t able ...3 days ago
age credit: Science and Politics – Skeptically.org It seems impossible to keep politics out of science. It’s a pity because politics can end up forcing science to produce the results desired by ... 3 days ago
Prof Nick Wilson, Dr Matthew Parry, Dr Ayesha Verrall, Prof Michael Baker, Prof Martin Eichner (author details*) This blog details a recent modelling study we conducted. In it we estimated that it would take between 27 and 33 days of no new detected cases of COVID-19 for there to be ...3 days ago
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More interesting material from Craig Murray.
“The Incredible Bias of the BBC
Why is the BBC permitted, day after day after day, to pump out programming which actively promotes a political programme far to the right of where the British population actually stand? With the continual over-representation of nutty right wing groups like the Taxpayers’ Alliance and the Henry Jackson Society, while left wing groups of much larger membership such as Stop the War are completely ignored. Why low tax campaigners but no invitation ever to groups like Black Triangle who represent claimants interests? Not to mention the routine ignoring of the SNP, parliament’s third largest party.”
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2018/05/the-incredible-bias-of-the-bbc/
This is why State owned media is a bad idea. Even an organisation set up to attempt to be unbiased like the BBC gets accused of bias by people and then they start discussing his it can become more “unbiased”. This is usually code for ‘agree with my side more.
No. That’s why state-funded media is essential. Because it’s the only organisation that will ever be under any meaningful obligation to be impartial.
It’s that fact that makes the debate Ed started even possible. Nobody expects state-funded media to do a perfect job, but at least the obligation is there.
I agree.
We just have to deal with the bias of the senior executives at RNZ.
Why so many Taxpayers’ Union New Zealand Initiative stories?
Why the acceptance of neoliberal premises on economics?
Why the framing of stories from a right wing agenda?
Fortunately we now have alternative news sources to show the lies the mainstream runs.
@Ed +1 You can add to your list…
Why financial updates all through out the day, but no workers news?
Why is it RNZ have nearly all domestic and international financial/economic analysis done by bank economist?…economists who have a ideology that is based on selling and profiting from debt.
It opens itself up for political interference in editorial decisions. That is never a good thing.
State-funded media doesn’t have to be one single entity that might dominate the media landscape. Nor does it have to mean an entity where the Board & Chairman are appointed by the Government of the day. Nor does it have to mean an entity with strict hierarchical structure with strict managerial and editorial over sight where decisions by others are controlled and overruled by superiors all the way to the top. And it also doesn’t have to mean a Charter that demands financial/operational return AKA profit and dividends (to the Government).
Rather than having a one-size-fits-all entity or set-up why not reflect our society’s diversity and pluralism and fund that adequately? Media should cater for all citizens and inform the people so that they can make their own judgements if they wish …
What is wrong with the BBC structure then since people think it is biased
Riiight – and that wretched chip wrapper The Herald never interferes politically at the editorial level? The state model is sound – the only commercial enterprise that even approaches the BBC or Al Jazeera for quality is Reuters.
Gosman: talking the obvious unaccountability of private news organisations you have guaranteed politically based interference in what the populace receives and no one can say a word.
Talking the obvious accountability of state news organisations you have at least the formal capacity for the populace to holler like hell if/when there is the appearance or fact of political interference.
I see you’re still exercising risibly twisted, absolutist zealotry; oligarchs = good while the people = bad.
So does profit oriented privately owned media organisations…
Privately owned and operated media is, by default, a political tool and is open to the political interference of its owners.
The same can be said for state owned media.
Damned if you do etc
It can be but it can also be more open and honest. Depends upon how it’s set up.
Just as a private media will spin a story to its interest as can, and does, the state.
It won’t be The State.
It will be independent journalism.
Sure but again independent journalists also have their own bias.
I try to read everything from a multitude of sources. I read The Standard as much as I read Kiwiblog (though I’d never lower myself to comment there). I read the New Yorker, The Atlantic, Fox News, BBC, NYT, Washington Post, The Listener, AJZ, CNN, NBR , the list goes on and on.
It gets fucking tiring but I’m a news junkie. Then there’s the science mags and the books….it’s a wonder I manage to have job and raise a child while maintaining an alcohol habit.
And there’s nothing that we can or should do about that – except demand that they provide proof and not just ‘reckons’ as we get from so many talking heads in the private sector.
What is wrong with how the BBC is set up?
FWICMO, it’s structured with capitalist, top down, dictatorship control in mind.
State-ownership, in my view, ought to mean that it is owned and managed by the state on behalf of all citizens and it has a (social) mandate to deliver (a service or product) for the public good, not for (financial) profit to the owners. This doesn’t make it immune from political meddling but any (political) benefits may be harder to obtain (and hide from public view) as they tend to be more indirect (arm’s length influence and control). State-owned media have a fundamentally different mandate and governance compared to privately-owned media unless they’re run strictly as a business in the common sense in which case it is an easy step for National & ACT to sell/privatise.
State owned media is no less biased than private media. The difference is our taxes don’t fund private media. State run media is totally surplus to requirements in a modern society.
Good thing the state isn’t running it then, eh. Also, I question your interpretation of the word “modern”.
Re: quality and quantity of bias, I note the presence of a diverse range of opinions on RNZ.
The state IS running state media. With our taxes. Shut the lot down, then maybe Labour can meet some of its broken promises.
Don’t be so stupid.
Sure a state can run a lame media – Pravda or RT – but not all states do.
What’s wrong with the MSM is not state interference, but commercial interference. Murdoch etc. The useless ZB network. Fox.
The citizen has no comeback against their shit short of shutting them down. When you see the crap NZ TV has become it’s looking like a pretty good option.
I agree.
Take back the airwaves from the plutocrats.
At the expense of taxpayers? And in exchange for state propaganda? No thanks.
Who said anything about state propaganda? Can you provide an example of “state propaganda” on TVNZ or RNZ. Be specific: quote the actual article in question and explain how it qualifies.
“What’s wrong with the MSM is not state interference, but commercial interference. ”
Commercial interference is paid for by commercial interests. State interference (and it is endemic in state media) is paid for by tax payers. Stop it all.
Looks like you don’t know what endemic means either.
oops meant epidemic. Thanks.
All you need now is an example.
The airwaves are the commons.
Rich corporate interests should never be allowed anywhere near them.
And under your system babaya the world becomes a plutocracy, where the rich own and control the news.
We are getting closer to that.
Only the state setting up grassroots news and taking the airwaves back can stop the march of the uberrich.
Why do you take the side of the robber barons?
The airwaves are the commons.
State interests and their accompanying propaganda should never be allowed anywhere near them.
So who do you think should have access to the airwaves?
Large corporations?
“So who do you think should have access to the airwaves?
Large corporations?”
Large, small, and in between. Community groups. Special interest groups. Heck anyone but the government.
Do you think Fox News is better than RNZ as a source of news?
Do you think The NewZealand Herald is better than RNZ as a source of news?
“Do you think Fox News is better than RNZ as a source of news?”
Yes, absolutely. Particularly given that Fox news is balanced by CNN and MSNBC.
“Do you think The NewZealand Herald is better than RNZ as a source of news?”
Marginal call.
Ed: Do you think Fox News is better than RNZ as a source of news?
Babyaga: Yes, absolutely.
True believers untie, you have nothing to lose but your sanity and balance 😆
Fox News is unashamedly biased. So is Red Radio.
The differences are:
1. We fund Red Radio and,
2. Read Radio don’t admit they are biased.
Repeating Farrar’s catchphrases is not a good sign of a well thought out argument.
‘
Red RadioRNZ is biased’.That isn’t what you claimed. You claimed them as an example of “state propaganda”. So you’ve now abandoned that claim and are claiming bias.
But once again, you’ve failed to provide any examples of this bias, although perhaps you mean Matthew Hooton.
I expect you’ll cite John Campbell as an example, but then you’d have to show how Checkpoint exhibits a “state” bias, as opposed to John Campbell’s. And if your only objection is that individual hosts bring their own biases to the mix, RNZ is doing no more or less than whoever it is that employs Hoskings et al, and RNZ has the advantage of a wider spectrum of views.
Perhaps it’s that advantage that you don’t like. The very idea that the state might provide something more useful (and popular) than the “free” “market”.
Unless you can link to a specific example of “state propaganda”, that is. Tumbleweeds?
“You claimed them as an example of “state propaganda”.”
Where?
“So you’ve now abandoned that claim and are claiming bias.”
Well when the Minster of Broadcasting has a clandestine meeting with a senior RNZ executive, that both try to hide, I’d say that was a pretty good example of at least an attempt at state influence. Of course you support the Greens, so you are in bed with liars and cheats.
“not on my dime”
Whereas I’m happy to provide it on my “dime”, and since at the last count far more people support my position (even the Trashional Party funds RNZ when in government) than yours, I’m pretty sure we can do without your petty contribution. Tell you what, we’ll fund the things we like and you can contribute to David Seymour’s taxpayer funded trough, eh.
Bully for you. Not my dime.
in bed with liars and cheaters
On this issue, I’m also in bed with the NZLP, NZF and National. We’re having a great time while you’re in line to practise necrophilia with Ayn Rand, and Don Brash took your place in the queue 😉
On what issue? The welfare cheat? The MP who worked for war criminals while claiming to be bringing them to justice? The MP who has gone on to head an organisation who are bullying people for donations?
On what issue?
The continued funding of RNZ. Perhaps if you and Don pooled your resources you could afford a couple of clones of Ayn, and they could humiliate and despise you just like the original.
In case you missed it, the ‘liars and cheats’ I was referring to were the Greens. Here, you’ll get the idea if you read my comment “Of course you support the Greens, so you are in bed with liars and cheats.”https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-12-05-2018/#comment-1483690
Still waiting for a specific example of the
bogeymanstate propaganda.Here’s an example to help you recognise it.
Have you ever heard of Red Radio?
PS great article BTW.
I have already asked you to provide a specific example of an actual article and explain in your own words how it constitutes “state propaganda”.
If you can’t manage that very basic thing your argument isn’t worth very much.
You provided your own example. Do you seriously want me to post examples of state media propaganda from China, Russia, etc etc? If you don’t think it can happen here, perhaps you missed the meeting between Clare Curran and Carol Hirschfeld?
I have heard that term used by right wing nut jobs yes.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12021163
I don’t click on the Herald’s links – following others in boycotting it since its ghastly rubbish a couple of weeks back,
The Herald is rapidly becoming an echo chamber for Farrar and his crazed right wing friends.
You mentioned “Red Radio”, aka RNZ. Provide a specific example of an RNZ article that constitutes “state propaganda”.
You freely admit “commercial interference” in commercial radio. You allege that similar interference, specifically “state propaganda” exists in local state owned media, and cite RNZ as an example.
Yet you can’t point to a single article to illustrate your argument. Don’t get me wrong, I know you’re full of shit, but you might at least make some flailing attempt to justify your conspiracist delusions.
Well said.
“Provide a specific example of an RNZ article that constitutes “state propaganda”.”
All bias on red radio represents state propaganda. Note, not government propaganda. State propaganda. Now John Campbell is biased, and I have no problem with that on private media, but not on my dime.
“You allege that similar interference, specifically “state propaganda” exists in local state owned media…”
No, never said ‘local’.
“and cite RNZ as an example.”
I asked you a question about Red Radio and provided evidence of at the very least interference – Curran’s meeting with Hirschfeld.
But wait, there’s more:
“When Metiria Turei announced she was stepping down from Parliament, Radio NZ’s Checkpoint host John Campbell was a paragon of empathy and compassion, writes Liam Hehir.”
“Like many news agencies, Radio NZ has a mild centre-left bias. If you don’t believe it, my guess would be that you probably have a centre-left disposition yourself.”
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/99720488/radio-new-zealand-should-appoint-its-own-ombudsman
All bias on
red radioRNZ represents state propagandaMatthew Hooton broadcasts state propaganda. Good to know 😆
Don’t forget they’re out to get you.
“Matthew Hooton broadcasts state propaganda. Good to know ”
No, he doesn’t broadcast it, but he participates in it. You see, Blokey, with private broadcasters we can discern the bias and we’re not paying for it. With public broadcasting we’re getting propaganda and paying for it. No thanks.
“Propaganda”
For which you are yet to provide a single specific example. Is it during the leader of the opposition’s regular slots?
Curran. Hirschfeld. Explain it.
You’ve piqued my curiosity; who is paying (for) private broadcasters? Do they work gratis or pro bono?
Advertisers.
Curran. Hirschfeld. Explain it.
Explain it yourself, you rude prick. You don’t get to make demands: you get to provide some supporting evidence for your assertions of “propaganda”. Put up or shut up.
Look it up. Think about it.
Advertisers? Oh, that’s o.k. then as that would make private broadcasters immune from political meddling because political parties and their lobbyists never take out ads in MSM, never ever. And private broadcasters only broadcast direct messages on behalf of their advertisers, like shampoo manufacturers. That’s why all talkback shows, for example, are about shampoo and other commodities and never about politics. I mean, I can tell when an ad is about shampoo although sometimes it is hard to discern at first because it could also be a lipstick ad …
Talking of lipstick, do you know whether Mike Hosking and Simon Bridges use the same brand of hair gel, by any chance?
One last question, who’s paying the advertisers?
And one very last question, I promise, are advertising and marketing expenses tax deductible in NZ?
“…because political parties and their lobbyists never take out ads in MSM, never ever.”
Of course they do. That’s the point…they are the ones paying, not the taxpayer.
“And private broadcasters only broadcast direct messages on behalf of their advertisers, like shampoo manufacturers.”
Of course not. They broadcast their opinion. How many awards did Newstalk ZB receive at the recent Radio Awards?
You seem to believe private commercial interests having opinions and broadcasting them is bad. It isn’t. What is bad is the government owning the medium for broadcasting ideas.
“One last question, who’s paying the advertisers?”
People who voluntarily buy their products.
“And one very last question, I promise, are advertising and marketing expenses tax deductible in NZ?”
Of course. They are a cost of deriving assessable income.
What a tangled web we weave.
So, private broadcasts are full of political and other direct and indirect advertising but that’s o.k. because the consumers pay for it; the consumers who are also the Taxpayers.
The only accountability and transparency, if any, is to the private owners of the station; the consumers/Taxpayers will have no idea who’s influencing them.
As long as the funding does not come directly from the Taxpayers any opinion or influence that the private broadcaster wants to send out for whatever reason and on whomever’s behalf without either the listeners or consumers/Taxpayers fully in the know is perfectly fine.
All this is perfectly acceptable because consumers voluntarily buy (or not) the products of the advertisers in a free-market exchange. The commercial guys are so much more credit-worthy than politicians, aren’t they? [pun intended]
You do know the saying that if you don’t know what the product is … ?
You are confused.
All media carries bias. I’m fine with that as long as it is declared and I’m not paying for it. The government has no business in media, none. It is a risky and expensive business for little or no benefit. And I don’t trust government’s of any stripe to declare their bias and keep far away from propaganda.
This is why State owned media is a bad idea.
As opposed to rigorously professional outfits like Fox News and MSNBC? You don’t have a clue.
Gosman, your comments are often ignorant and ill judged, but whatever you say this morning, no matter how ignorant and ill judged, will not be worse than what you inflicted on us a few days ago….
Yes Gosman talks silly stuff.
NZME and Stuff are owned by multinational finance corporations.
They wouldn’t be biased would they?
In the corporate media you get biased fools like Garner showing their true colours.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/opinion/103843906/duncan-garner-if-twyford-cant-phil-us-in-on-kiwibuybuild-who-can
Eh???
What has a comment about Melanie Trump got to do with me?
Similarly, Ed, I note that David Farrar and Jordan Williams’s ludicrous Taxpayers’ Union and the right wing New Zealand Initiative often set the agenda for “news” on both main TV channels, and on Radio New Zealand. The researchers and analysts of the universities and the unions, by contrast, are rarely given much consideration.
Agreed. And look at the number of ACT members who get on Mora’s Panel.
Who for example?
Stephen Franks. But I’m sure there’s many more..
Interesting point
heres a summary of this show
https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/thepanel/library
names are ( couldnt click and paste ,grrr)
Lisa Scott and Ian Telfer
Jo Mccarrol and Scott Campbell
max Ritchie and Niki Bezzant
Rosemary Macleod and Peter Fa’afui
garry Moore and Miriama Aoake
cas carter and Steve Mccabe
Jock Anderson and Mai Chen
Verity Johnson and Simon Pound
Peter Vial and Paula Penfold
Clare de Lore and Alan Blackman
Ella Henry and John Barnett
Micheal Moynahan and Penny Ashton
Minhingarangi Forbes Sam Johnson
Lynda Hallinan and Chris Clarke
Alexia Russel and Mike Rehu
Mike Williams and Michelle Boag
Bernard Hickey and jenny Moreton
neil Miller Alison Mau
Chris Waikira and Janet Wilson
Lisa Scott and Andrew Hoggard
Gary McCormick and Lizzie Marvelly
Michelle A’ court Peter Fa’aifu
Catherine Robertson and Peter Milne
Nadine Higgins and Matt Nippert
Thats over a months worth and quite a variety. Sometimes certain names are more memorable while a lot of the above arent too well known ( arent yet famous for being famous)
I’ve annotated that list of “talent” accordingly…
[1] vacuous; [2] supporter of Israeli government; [3] close links to National Party; [4] spouse of ex-National Party MP; [5] regularly expresses strident right wing views; [6];
Lisa Scott [1] and Ian Telfer
Jo Mccarrol and Scott Campbell [3]
max Ritchie [5] and Niki Bezzant
Rosemary Macleod [5] and Peter Fa’afui
garry Moore and Miriama Aoake
cas carter [1] and Steve Mccabe
Jock Anderson [5] and Mai Chen
Verity Johnson and Simon Pound
Peter Vial and Paula Penfold
Clare de Lore[4] and Alan Blackman [1]
Ella Henry [1] and John Barnett [2]
Micheal Moynahan and Penny Ashton
Minhingarangi Forbes and Sam Johnson [3]
Lynda Hallinan and Chris Clarke [1]
Alexia Russel and Mike Rehu
Mike Williams and Michelle Boag [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]
Bernard Hickey and jenny Moreton
Neil Miller [5] and Alison Mau
Chris Wikaira [2], [3] and Janet Wilson [5]
Lisa Scott [1] and Andrew Hoggard [1], [3], [5]
Gary McCormick and Lizzie Marvelly
Michelle A’ court Peter Fa’aifu
Catherine Robertson and Peter Milne
Nadine Higgins and Matt Nippert
Really? An ACT party member today?
Stephen was certainly an ACT MP from 1999 until 2005.
However he then joined the National Party and was on the National List in 2008. He has taken no active part in politics since then as far as I can see so, although he may still be a member of the National Party I have seen no evidence at all that he went back to ACT.
Do you have any?
Who said we were talking about current ACT members??
When the comment made is in the present tense
“And look at the number of ACT members who get on Mora’s Panel”
one is certainly entitled to expect that you will find current members to nominate. If the best you can discover is someone who was a member a decade ago you are failing.
On your basis I am entitled to state that the Labour party is the arch-proponent of Rogernomics. You will have to agree if you think your own comment is accurate.
Oh dear, Alwyn… more punctilious crap. Franks remains ACT in thought and word whether he is a current member or not. Get your mummy to put you to bed instead of allowing you to post such rubbish. (I am returning a foolish insult you posted against me, just in case it escaped your university-qualified vigilance.)
That’s nice dear.
In Vino
So what. I presume you believe in free speech; in which case Franks is entitled to his point of view, even if you disagree with it.
Grantoc
You’re missing or ignoring the point raised @ 1.2 and 1.2.1.
Hint: it is not about free speech as such.
Exactly right, I have been emailing the producers of RNZ (nicely) about this exact point for the past 12 months…no reply of course.
Taxpayers Alliance? Taxpayers Union and they all try to behave as if they are not part of a strategy
Ed’s comment is about yet another Craig Murray opinion this time re the BBC. Hence UK related, not NZ; and not about the NZ Taxpayers Union.
The TaxPayers’ Alliance is a right-wing British pressure group and think tank formed in 2004 to campaign for a low tax society. The group, based in London, had about 18,000 registered supporters as of 2008, and claimed to have 55,000 by September 2010.
https://www.taxpayersalliance.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TaxPayers%27_Alliance
I understood that, and was noting that the UK has an equivalent of our Taxpayer Union an arms length group helping right parties get re elected
In the background, where the majority of people can’t see, it’s probably the same group.
Kind of like Trade Unions you mean.
No. Trades Unions are comprised of citizens, not sockpuppets.
In your opinion.
To go along to get along. The whole Thatcherite revolution was essentially a dumbing down and raising fears, all started with Murdoch lowering the bar and mulching any conflict against wealth. Press bias merely reflects the current elites unwillingness to pull its finger out, having been deluded into believing that the market will save their sorry arises if only they distrust the market of ideas that will save their sorry arises from being burnt to a cinder.
Shocking especially because they used to (and probably still do I expect) make everybody in Britain pay a yearly TV licence for the content which clearly should not be biased!!!
You want one image that shows how compromised the BBC has become.
Look at Jo Coburn’s face as the BBC cut an interview when one of their reporters says MI6 was involved in torture.
That reminds me of another time the BBC ‘unfortunately lost the line.’
Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting.
And not just because he looks like Simon Bridges.
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/marco-rubio-condemns-fellow-lawmakers-opposing-gina-haspels-confirmation/
The media have really let Bridges off the hook for his liking of Slater’s tweet.
The media routinely take their lead from Slater and Farrar. Jim Mora references Farrar every second day, and has him on as a guest regularly. No doubt he’d do the same with Whalefat if he ever relaxed his ideological ban on appearing on “state media.”
I actually find Mora in many ways more contemptible than Hosking.
At least Hosking doesn’t pretend.
You have to admit they’ve got the bases covered with gentle Jim playing a subtle nuanced role with a stacked panel.
Though remembering that it’s helpful to listen to which fear they are playing up. Of course if it’s all right-wing sledging then do what I do, avoid Hooten, Boag, Frank’s, and just pick one right-wing hack, it’s not like there is any depth to their messaging. Farrier is best of the boring fools.
Yeh, I have noticed that Mora has only just contained himself of the Asia peril at our doorstep re; China, lately…I am pretty sure he is going to slip on this one pretty soon.
Morrisey – If this is true, its totally offset by RNZ giving John Campbell 2 hrs every night to push a left wing agenda.
Are you saying that giving a voice to the disenfranchised and holding power to account is inherently Left Wing?, because I can’t remember Campbell pushing any political ideology…maybe you can refresh me.
He will have forgotten that Campbell caused a labour PM to flunce out of an interview
Given that David Farrar runs the most widely read blog in New Zealand, it is hardly surprising that media commentators refer to him.
And although Standardnistas won’t like this, David Farrar comes across as reasonably balanced, even if he is a well known supporter of National. It is some of his commenters that are extreme.
He regularly gives credit to the government when he thinks it is due. He is not so one-eyed that he condemns every single action of the government. Likewise he is critical of the opposition from time to time
” David Farrar comes across as reasonably balanced, even if he is a well known supporter of National. It is some of his commenters that are extreme. ”
If one were so inclined and had the ability and the facility, one could invent a persona, append a twitty pseudonym and spew vile hate speech unfettered on a totally un moderated website. It’d be like allowing one’s evil alter to have a ‘real life’ or in some cases ‘lives’.
Farrar allows those “extreme” commenters free reign…he is a despicable person.
Most people here know this….why would you even think it appropriate to try and defend the indefensible?
He’s a troll farmer. That earns less respect, not more.
And Wayne is partisan so his view of balanced is jaundiced.
The Standard also allows “extreme” commentators from the left ‘free reign’. Is that ‘despicable’ to?
Or are you trying to “defend the indefensible”?
Yeah nah – he was hip deep in the dirty politics scam. Nothing unusual for a Gnat of course, but contemptible by the standards of normal people.
Comes across as reasonably balanced…to the likes of yourself perhaps, Wayne…and those who appreciate and support ‘hate’ blog sites such as KB…
But that is no rational benchmark for , balance…
What drives you to keep commentating on this blog, Wayne…you’ve not tendered a response…
Kiwi blog seems a more natural habitat given your documented publicly available history…
The scary thing is that I think you really believe this! Or do I hear a dog-whistle?
The fact that those “extreme” commenters are being ‘invited’ by the posts on KB written by DPF and other authors (…) seems to have escaped your thought. All propaganda has and starts with instigators too.
Further, DPF not only provides an inviting and welcoming forum with ample ‘food for thought’ for those “extreme” commenters but also cries that it is too hard to manage, which is just unbelievably pathetic and has a very disingenuous ring to it.
DPF may give token credit to the Government and express token criticism of the Opposition “from time to time” but that’s just pulling the wool over our eyes, isn’t it? Just like Simon Bridges strongly condemned the DP campaign against Clarke Gayford. Yeah, right!
No resignation calls for his disreslect to oyr falken? We would still be hearing about it if Shearer, Cullliffe, Little or Ardern had taken a taxpayer funded flight to Hawaii on hols instead
Absolutely
Lucky for him he’s just a tool for global capitalism then.
Odd story:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/103764952/bridges-mea-culpa-for-titter-faux-pas-too-much-tweeting-maketh-a-twat
Anyway, we now know Mr Bridges
readsscrolls through tweets by WO. We also know that Mr Bridges easily lets his guard down when (or better: in spite of) reading tweets by WO – WO is a well-known and respected comedian in National circles and his tweets are often considered ‘funny’. Maybe Mr Bridges was not wearing his hat as Leader of the Opposition but tweeting in ’private capacity’.“Literally a second” would not have given time for a 3rd party to do a screenshot. Literally
He was just scrolling down tweets from WO, as you do, and literally liked it but that doesn’t mean he literally liked it as it is just one of those things you do when scrolling down through tweets from WO, literally.
In National nothing should be taken literally, only aspirationally. A brighter future for all literally means a slightly less dim future for the dimwits (AKA poor, workers, un- and underemployed,
beneficiaries, most people) and a much brighter future for the few (AKA rich) but you cannot literally say that. Being on the cusp of something special literally means that you’ve got gas and have to do a fart but just like weeing in the shower you cannot literally say that in a public medium so you make it sound expirationally.Anything that this Government says or does is literally bad, of course. It goes without saying that the Opposition and particularly the Leader of the Opposition without question and without reading literally poopoos everything from Government. Coincidentally, this comes naturally to National because they literally have no original ideas, which is why they scroll through WO tweets and KB and literally like posts and comments alike; in National they like what they like ad nauseam, literally.
Effectively, Slick Britches is full of bullshit.
My second share of the day are the words of a great New Zealander, Robin Westenra.
“Ecological and economic collapse in New Zealand
It will be only apparent to those paying attention but New Zealand is collapsing environmentally, socially, financially and politically, not to mention socially.
Every day we read headlines like this. The detail with which these questions are dealt with are usually in inverse proportion to the importance of the crisis in question.
People who react emotionally to things,mostly on social media, but are incapable (or unwilling) to analyse why this might be the case just blame the government.
It is really only the symptoms of social collapse that get any public attention.
While the previous government with its socially-destructive policies of austerity took this breakdown to new, unseen levels. But there is nothing unique in this and the result probably end up being the same.
We cannot look solely to economic policies.
What we are seeing is a neo-liberal response to a very real problem to ongoing and progressive collapse as a result of economic crisis arising out of energy decline along with ecological degradation and accelerating climate change.”
http://robinwestenra.blogspot.co.nz/2018/05/ecological-and-economic-collapse-in-new.html?m=1
Superb piece of writing there once again by Westenra. If only the world had more men like him.
This looks like a good one.
The book is called “The War On Peace: The decline of American diplomacy”
Trevor Noah interviews the author Ronan Farrow, who also broke major stories as a reporter such as the #MeToo movement, among others.
Thanks for the link Ad
This is what happens when:
You let farmers take water to intensify dairy farming on the Canterbury Plains
You let farmers pump fertiliser into the land
You allow foreign corporations to take our water.
“Chlorine levels in some Christchurch water might be enough for swimming pool.”
https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/103631494/chlorine-levels-in-some-christchurch-water-might-be-enough-for-swimming-pool
Neoliberal New Zealand.
A poster boy for plutocrats.
A basket case for its citizens.
Auckland.
35000 empty homes.
Houses too expensive to rent or buy.
People living on the streets.
Neoliberal New Zealand.
A poster boy for plutocrats.
A basket case for its citizens.
https://www.strongtowns.org/the-growth-ponzi-scheme/
Ponzi schemes everywhere you look…..think there may be a message in that.
Capitalism itself is a Ponzi Scheme. A few end up rich, everyone else ends up poor.
Capitalism (and/or politics) may accelerate the process but physics dictate it….
“…A society in which depletion is advanced and M(p)
rapidly increasing relative to C(p), though, may not be able to escape catabolic
collapse even if such steps are taken. Cultural and political factors may also make
efforts to avoid catabolic collapse difficult to accomplish, or indeed to contemplate.”
Scary stuff about new terrorism laws and how they seem to be operating…
Black activist jailed for his Facebook posts speaks out about secret FBI surveillance
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/11/rakem-balogun-interview-black-identity-extremists-fbi-surveillance
That is shocking. Didn’t take long for the FBI to enter into the spirit of the new regime.
First – the Kaiser
Second – Hitler and Mussolini
Third – Trump.
Remember how Hitler was lauded for his so-called peace initiatives in the 1930s? Now we have some calling for Trump to be given the Nobel Peace prize. Beyond belief!
“Beyond belief!”
We are living in Wonderland now Anne….under Rabbit Hole rules.
😀
That film was a brilliant rendition of A in Wonderland. And so appropriate to today’s disordered world courtesy of Donald Trump.
Hitlers peace initiatives ?
Only if you are a Hilter revisionist ( which Im sure you arent)!
http://ihr.org/other/what-the-world-rejected.html
Trump isnt really offering peace either. as we well know his claims one month are abandoned 6 months later.
see his campaign claim to reduce US prescription drug prices is now an attempt to force foreign nations with ‘socialised medicine’ to pay more for their drugs ( ref our Pharmac)
From the “It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy…” files,
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12048706
The company of which Eric Watson holds all of the ordinary shares is being chased down for 60 million Big Ones in avoided tax.
What a tragedy…givealittle page on its way?
Interesting case. Time to tighten up laws so that these transactions, offshore accounts and ‘loans’ which result in avoided tax, are not even possible in this country.
A well written Tobin tax would have collected the tax prior to the money leaving and avoided the lengthy court case.
Makes me wonder if this Current Lot are on a mission. Winston especially has history of going after those who are less than transparent in their business dealings.
Agree mostly with a financial transaction tax/levy….in these time of e-commerce it should be easy to implement.
But the Rich Pricks will find a way around it 🙁
@Rosemary – that is why they should look at putting a micro financial tax on everything and reduce other taxes that benefit those on smaller incomes more aka GST. If something like that was done correctly then if you live on peanuts you pay peanut taxes, if you have a million dollar lifestyle while earning zero profits you pay your share of tax at the point of transacting it… At the moment tax is so easy to avoid, too many variations and loopholes and so costly to fight cases…
Hah savenz! I have a close family member who has been banging on about such a tax for years. Pleased for him it is rising to the mainstream.
yep, I think now with so much global capital whistling around the world it’s time to make it happen. Tax money and transactions so people like John Key, Eric Watson, Peter Thiel, Facebook, Google, etc whether resident in or out of NZ will be taxed a micro amount on their money made or going through NZ, where ever it goes afterwards will be someone else’s problem.
Another case of the SFA tax… this video will brighten up a rainy day for many.. it’s very well done.
Honest Government Ad | Trickledown Economics
This up date on the Pike River Recovery.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/103725677/the-promise-to-pike-river-miners-we-will-not-rest-and-we-will-never-give-up-we-will-return
“Dinghy Pattinson is aiming to fulfil a promise he made as part of a mines rescue team that sealed up the Pike River mine in 2011.
The team left a note on the seal 170m up the mine access tunnel, or drift, promising the men they would return to get them out.
Pattinson was also part of the mines rescue team who were ready and waiting for two weeks to go into Pike River after the explosion that killed 29 men on November, 19, 2010.
‘We will not rest and we will never give up. We will return’ “
Good article, thanks for sharing Rosemary.
Was talking to an ex-coast, long time miner the other day about Pike, was very insightful, once he opened up a bit.
He explained that all along mine tunnels were little rooms with breathing apparatus etc, all one needed to do was get to one of these rooms and they would be able to stay alive for around 36hrs or more, giving rescue crews a chance to come and get them.
The rescue that never happened at Pike.
He believes that many of the men down there died from being abandoned, rather than the explosion. Also said Pike was well known for their shoddy safety, everyone on the coast knows it and that when they finally get in to Pike and get the men out it’s going to open a massive can of worms, and that’s why the prior government avoided rescue at all costs.
So proud of our new government for doing something. I can’t imagine the heartache and suffering of all involved.
The botched rescue including just getting the local police who knew nothing about mine safety is truely horrendous. Even countries with so called much worse human rights and employment safety bother to rescue their workers.
Pike River highlights that something is seriously wrong with how many companies with government assistance are operating in NZ – while pretending it’s all in the interests of health and safety but really to save dollars, avoid responsibility, not bother doing anything and delay tactics being the norm.
I’d like to see a memorial in Wellington for the men, by the beehive, to highlight the sad state of company greed and negligence and the government inaction supporting it and why a u-turn is needed.
Well said SaveNZ.
You say
” Also said Pike was well known for their shoddy safety, everyone on the coast knows it”
What a shame that Andrew Little, yes, that Andrew Little, didn’t see anything wrong at all when he was supposed to be representing the men who worked there.
At the time Andrew said.
“EPMU national secretary Andrew Little said he was not aware of any safety concerns at the site.”
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/experts-raise-safety-concerns
He repeated that a number of times
“It was Andrew Little who, after the first explosion, claimed to the NZ Herald (November 22 2010) that there was “nothing unusual about Pike River or this mine that we’ve been particularly concerned about”.
It was a view he repeated to RNZ National’s Morning Report, also on November 22:
“Every mine on the West Coast takes great care when it goes into production and I don’t think Pike River is any different from that. They’ve had a good health and safety committee that’s been very active. So there’s nothing before now that’s alerted us to any greater risk of this sort of incident happening than at any other time.”
http://nzagainstthecurrent.blogspot.co.nz/2017/10/andrew-little-and-pike-river-fatally.html
If there is anyone who wants to run a cover-up it looks like Andrew. Who wants to bet on the proposition that he will decide it is unsafe to try for a re-entry next year? He is in the perfect position to shut down any real investigation, isn’t he?
Don’t you think it is appropriate, given that he perhaps erred back in the day, that Andrew Little heads this project?
Even cynical old moi sees the slight aura of integrity around the man. Rare enough for any politician.
Do you honestly think someone like Dinghy Pattinson would let crap like that go unchallenged?
Why not put it on hold for a while alwyn and let them get on with it.
They will never get on with it.
There is no chance at all that there will be any re-entry to the mine that goes right in to the place where they were working. No politician would ever risk it.
Hopes alwyn.
And Gerry Brownlee
Lolz alwyn, would you like to place a wager? I’m keen, 3 month self imposed ban?
alwyn you are familiar with the West Coat yes? It’s a different world there.
I also said… “Was talking to an ex-coast, long time miner the other day about Pike, was very insightful, once he opened up a bit.”….. once he opened up a bit….
I wasn’t aware that Andrew Little came from the West Coast. I was always under the impression that he came from Taranaki. Am I wrong?
What does what the West Coasters think really matter? It is Andrew who is going to make the call, and I believe it is pre-determined. Who can say what might, or might not, have been done at the time. Now it would just be sending people into danger. Let those who died, like people drowned in ships sunk in the war, rest in peace.
I remember visiting the Coast in the mid-1960s. Yes it was quite different, However I can remember talking to a railways driver. There were still steam trains going across to the Coast. He said that the people there threatened to riot if they put Diesel Loco’s instead of coal powered ones on the route. He also said it was just talk and no-one living there had kept a coal range when they could get an electric one. They might talk about keeping coal but they weren’t actually going to use it themselves.
alwyn, I said nothing about Andrew Little, you are the one spinning yarns here.
I said that I was talking to an ex miner, nothing about Andrew.
alwyn, you did say… “Who wants to bet on the proposition that he (Andrew Little) will decide it is unsafe to try for a re-entry next year?”
I’ll take up your bet, I say they will go into the mine, I will wager you a 3 month self imposed ban.
What do you say?
What exactly did you have in mind for this wager. All you seem to be willing to say here is “I say they will go into the mine”.
I suppose you could argue that they have done this. Remember the brave face that Little put on when he, and a couple of the members of some of the deceased miners’ families put on as he went 30 metres into the portal to the point where it was sealed the other day?
What are you proposing? I’ll give you a good example to follow. John Kennedy said
“First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth”.
Quite explicit isn’t it? What to do. When to do it. How to judge success or failure.
How would you word the wager? Do you propose, for example, that people in the mission will travel right to the area where the men were working and, as far as I know, the explosion occurred, before 31 March. 2019? That is all the way into the mine.
If not, what would you suggest?
You are quite right about the first words of this comment. It was Rosemary who was talking about Little, Andrew. I do apologise for seeming to think that you were the one proposing him as an exemplar of integrity.
Nice dancing on the head of a pin alwyn. Cinny made a simple wager suggestion. And yes it was simple. The stakes arent even high but you had to go pseudo intellectual and self righteous rather than just acceptung or declining. Would that you were quite as analytical of Brownlee et al and the profit motive on these deaths as you are on Anrew Little.
Ironic that someone who has voted for those who have neutered unions now criticises a union for letting its members down
I’m sure that Cinny is capable of answering for herself.
Why do you feel the need to “interpret” what she has said?
I rather hoped that Cinny would have responded by now as to what she did have in mind for the wager. It obviously has to have a date. After all it could otherwise turn into something like Winston’s threats to sue the National Party and its MPs.
“I’m still going to do it” Winston says while all is otherwise silent.
I suppose Little supporters could claim in 2050, when no attempt at a proper re-entry has taken place,that it will still happen, sometime.
Why does Little persist in messing with the victim’s families with the false hopes he keeps proclaiming?
For Tracey’s benefit I would note that I am not criticising the Union. I am criticising Andrew Little.
What a ugly man you are Alwyn …
Utilising your long lack of empathy …. out of cameron slater and john key which one do you think was more likely to call bereaved mother of a pike river mine worker a bitch ?? … ,…..
the dead boys mother was a “bitch” who had heckled Key …according to Slater and published in Nicky Hagars “Dirty polictics”
I presume she did so over the hollowness and insincerity of his political stunt …his false promises to the dead pike river miners familys ….
The media nearly always gave key a pass for lieing ….. but not so from a young dead mans mother.
Totally missing from Alwyns mean eyed spit at this woman and other Pike river mine workers mothers: …is the Key and previous Nat Govts part in the criminal negligence that lead to these working mens deaths …….
cutting the number of mine inspectors … not enforcing regulations… Non-Compliant is virtually Nationals Trade Mark.
But what really shows up Key as a nasty arse-hole…. when his Governmnet received a multi-million insurance payout over Pike river…… the suggestion was put that some of that money be given to miners familys as compensation ……
Key “ they can sue “….Alwyn may well agree
We all know …At the end of the day 😉 😉 it was key who ran off from NZ politics
johnny made-off .. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRqFBmiVMQU
You may, or may not, realise that I am not John Key.
Neither am I Cameron Slater.
That obviously doesn’t matter to you. You really are a nasty piece of work aren’t you? What gives you the right to abuse me for things I have never done?
What gives you the right to accuse me of things like, in your own disgusting dribble ” Alwyns mean eyed spit at this woman “? I have never done such a thing and I despise anyone who would do so.
I also despise people like you who propagate such lies.
Get back in your hole you miserable little excuse for a human being. If you are unable to tell the truth about me why don’t you just shut up?
Its not about you Alwyn ….. your smeary diversionary blame Little dribble needed putting straight….. its part of the ‘blame the union’ shit your sort cynically use.
Your skewered, one-sided, political statement on pike river was offensive to the victims … a written slap in the face for the mothers on mothers day.
your coming across as ugly as Key … using the victims for political gain ….” let them sue”…..
I don’t place much stock on a cynical ugly repeat liar and hypocrite calling me a liar….
Instead lets be reminded of a New Zealander with morals and Justice challenging the rot and corruption of the last national Government ….
Someone who did care about workers and people …. https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/344562/pike-families-justice-should-not-be-bought
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11939650 … sorry for the Herald link … but it is a rare fair story from them.
“Mum always held that Pike was a crime scene; hopefully it will be treated as such by the new government.” …. a quote from Helen Kellys son
/
Frankly you are a complete nutter.
You have zero interest in the truth, or facts, or simple common-sense.
Crawl back into the cesspit of your fevered imagination.
You are completely beneath contempt.
You start a sentence with “I don’t place much stock ….”.
Well I don’t place much stock in the ravings of an idiot like you.
Stop running from the topic
Pike River,,, and your bat-shit politically motivated appropriation of Blame …
Managers, directors, design and mining safety specs … have all dissapeared behind a little union rep … according to angry Alwyn
By Not engaging with facts , shouty abuse,, and a dose of the shut-ups.. Alwyns providing a good example of an ongoing context … where the ugly and dishonest .. attack lie and deny ,,, those who expose them.
Dirty Politics …its in their blood.
John Key : ” …Nicky Hager is a screaming left-wing conspiracy theorist,”
Key and waynes gutsy Afghanistan attacks: “,,,,, “Stephenson’s integrity and credibility has been questioned by Prime Minister John Key, he’s been accused of fabricating testimony, of being an anti-war activist, of being part of a plot to undermine the New Zealand Defence Force.”
Pike river NAct PR :… John Key: ..”The first thing is I’m here to give you absolute reassurance, we’re committed to getting the boys out, and nothing’s going to change that. So – when people try and tell you we’re not, they’re playing, I hate to say it, but they’re playing with your emotions.”
“Following from the first explosion at Pike Rive Mine, there seemed much positive comment heaped upon the likes of Peter Whittall and John Key.”
versus the ugly actions and real attitudes,,,
John Key ” they can sue”
“Furthermore, – Pike River management barred union access to the site if a delegate attempted to come on site – which was their perfect legal right to do so due to legislation passed by this National government.” https://thestandard.org.nz/qc-describes-pike-river-mine-as-a-homicide-scene/
http://www.unite.org.nz/workers_union_slams_talley_s_work_culture_after_crewman_s_death
*PK … post key
The Mine Rescue guys would have been gutted. My Dad was in Mine Rescue, and he said leaving anyone down a mine was their worst nightmare. So proud of Andrew Little and such respect for the families.
A New Zealand nurse’s diary of one ordinary shift: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12048860
But but but GDP…. growth… when we have that we can treat our nurses and health services properly… oh wait
Not sure of your point here, are you saying less gdp growth would be good for nurses or more, or simply you have confused what ever the correlation is between GDP growth and nurses well being with causation
No wonder you are bewildered. We have been told for decades that growth in GDP is crucial and in some instances THE most important factor in
Wages being raised
Health and Education services being well funded
And so on.
But after 40 decades of constant GDP increases we have largely stagnant wages and nurses workng in untenable conditions.
I hope that clarifies it for you
These characters do that tax rort, and some go the “charity road”, as they can claim any donated money against the “public purse” @ 33% back again.
‘Charities’ are the new rout avenue. Clinton Foundation and so forth are really vehicles to channel money with tax advantages so it doesn’t look quite so much like a bribe or buying influence.
Personally not a fan of modern charities like KidsCan either that have millions in the bank, spend a lot of administration and make many think that government agencies and more austere type charities should be abandoned for the more glitzy marketing type of charity.
And I’ll only mention in passing, because with the rain today there’s gloom aplenty already, the many charities and trusts who have got their snouts firmly in the trough of government funded contracts to provide services in the ‘social’ sector.
They don’t make profits…they have surpluses…and pay no tax.
They can cause the deaths of people in their ‘care’ through under staffing and and are never properly held to account. By “held to account” i mean lose their fat contracts forever.
Hi. Am seeking the best books on recent (post-1984) NZ Political History – am aiming to guide a millenial. Here’s what I have so far:-
Simon Collins. 1987. Rogernomics: Is There A Better Way?;
Nicky Hagar. 2006. The Hollow Men;
Bruce Jesson. 1987. Behind The Mirror Glass;
Bruce Jesson. 1990. Fragments of Labour;
Harvey McQueen. 1991. The Ninth Floor: Inside the Prime Minister’s Office –
A Political Experience.
It’s a bit spartan so far. Anyone have any recommendations?
Also: Are these recommended?:-
Simon Sheppard. 1999. Broken Circle: The Decline And Fall Of The Fourth Labour Government;
Jon Johansson. 2009. The Politics of Possibility: Leadership in Changing
Times.
This is a beautifully written book by a NZ Rhodes scholar, Andrew Dean.
Also scores 4.11 rating out of 5 on Goodreads.
Ruth, Roger and Me
Debts and Legacies
Andrew Dean
https://www.bwb.co.nz/books/ruth-roger-and-me
Also the documentary
Somebody Elses Country
Alister Barry
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuniH7qAecTTf1NeSd1PyRA
scott
Some more thoughts about our interesting economic and political scene.
On Radionz The 9th floor – Book of 5 leaders
http://www.radionz.co.nz/programmes/the-9th-floor/story/201861258/the-book-launch-the-9th-floor
Series – http://www.radionz.co.nz/programmes/the-9th-floor
Dr Bill Sutch Economics – Balanced enterprises less weighted to farming
Read the presentations at the annual Bruce Jesson Journalism awards.
Geoffrey Palmer Unbridled Power
Marilyn Waring Counting for Nothing
Max Rashbrooke
Tim Hazeldine
Fabian addresses – must be on record
Book Till the Cows Came Home
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9282669/Russia-offered-MiGs-tanks-to-settle-NZ-debt
https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/book-extract-till-cows-came-home-part-1-hold-holiday-review-dc-150320
Would you add “Bread and Roses” by Sonja Davis?
The Fabian presentations can be found here…https://www.fabians.org.nz/index.php?option=com_weblinks&view=category&id=68&Itemid=72
…and I’d throw in some of this guy’s work… https://www.eastonbh.ac.nz/
Thanks Rosemary for giving us all those links.
I have captured that link for Fabian – it takes so long to find stuff sometimes and have wanted to get them to hand for a while.
And Brian Easton – more good stuff. We need to water the good economists, give them some love, keep them going with their alternative thinking and turning of facts etc and flowering of ideas!
Thanks everybody! Much appreciated. Some good stuff here, natch. Whenever I think of Andrew Dean I think of Max Harris – encouraging that those of younger generations are looking backwards as well as looking forwards.
Brian Easton has, amongst others:-
The Making of Rogernomics (Auckland University Press, 1989)
Here’s a link to the Bruce Jesson awards presentations:
https://www.brucejesson.com/lectures-2/lectures/ with the lecturers list being authors worth seeking out:-
You may not like what is said but an essential book to read is Michael Bassett’s book on the 1984-1990 era, “Working with David”.
http://www.michaelbassett.co.nz/books.php?b=workingwithdavid
alwyn – we can tolerate what is said. We understand where Bassett was coming from. Whether we value what he says is another matter. No unpleasant surprises, so give up the “You may not like what he says.”
Bassett has not written another Bible.
I don’t care whether you agree with him. I couldn’t care less whether you value what he says. It is however essential reading if you want to understand what happened. Have you actually read the book?
Have you read all the books listed?
Stop challenging alwyn in vino. He is the arbiter of what amounts to essential reading, amongst other things
I agree it is essential reading to understand how the Labour Party spawned the ACT Party and people like Bassett kept being used by the media to comment on Labour, following his leaving parliament, as though he represented Labour views.
Rebecca Macfie Tragedy at Pike River Mine: How and Why 29 Men Died
Jane Kelsey. The Fire Economy.
Jonathan Boston, Simon Chapple Child Poverty in New Zealand.
Stunning representation
This is a problem for the Papatuanuku society Sea level rise we are to short sighted we have the technology to exanine Papatuanuku history but we don’t no how to live for the future we live for the NOW for what we can get out of life now and not what we can give to OUR mokopunas lives this mind set has to change the old way was to try and give back better than what we received. We need to change building codes to mitigate SEA level rise now or it will be a 1000x worst than the problem we have that our farmers have at the minute .We can not just ignore the problem because the longer we have OUR heads in the sand the bigger the mess we will have to clean up. A few bold moves now will save lives and billions of$$$$$ for OUR mokopunas THIS IS FACT here.s the link.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/103404456/a-profound-crisis-sealevel-rise-and-the-remaking-of-the-world Ka kite ano P.S I know that we have a housing shortage but ignoring Sea level rise is just pushing a bigger problem to OUR mokos .
Heres a man that has similar views to Eco Maori it is lies and dishonesty that causes a society to collapse Michael Bloomberg heres the link.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/may/12/michael-bloomberg-epidemic-of-dishonesty-threat-democracy Ka kite ano
We must keep the Mana Wahine movement going Kia kaha ka kite ano here the link.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/may/12/cate-blanchett-and-kristen-stewart-join-silent-womens-protest-on-cannes-red-carpet P.S Equality for all Eco Maori says
One has to think out side the square to be as successful as this man Eco Maori admires here is the link. Ka kite ano
http://www.euronews.com/2018/04/19/space-x-launches-nasa-planet-hunter
P.S he will be——-them bro kia kaha
Eco Maori has to be careful whom I back because I can see a phenomenon.
The powers that be don’t like to be shown up by a Kiwi Maori Cultured Man from Te Waiapu Vally Tairawhiti like the idiots playing with there sounds and flashing neon lights at the minute . Ka kite ano
Good Evening NewsHub the better we care for the vulnerable mokopunas at the earliest we can the higher they will climb up there ladders of life.
That is reality for the working class poor the hardest hit from inequality in income and the brown poor people get hit the hardest the income disparities are shocking go to the high end of town and you see boats flash cars one million dollar house own by two people the other end and one see nothing but poverty people going with out basic needs.
I can rember 10 years ago life was a lot easier and the cost of living was a lot cheaper .
Ka kite ano