.
Wilson was jailed for 21 years in 1996 after being convicted of 22 sex charges against women and children between 1971 and 1994.
Police visited the woman the day after one of his phone calls in late February, and told her that Wilson had been grooming her.
”I don’t think he was going to harm me, but I think he wanted to have a contact with a female. I had no intentions of contacting any of his victims.” They had been swapping letters for years, she said.
”It was very peaceful letters. There was no bad language or anything involved. It’s not my job to the judge. It’s God’s job.”
He should not have been recalled to prison, she said.
”That’s a waste of taxpayers’ money and very vindictive and very nasty.”
So….
– she doesn’t “think” he was going to harm her (like all groom subjects) despite his history
– she considers upholding bail conditions that were presumably put in place to keep the public and the previous victims safe a “waste of taxpayer money”
– and she has apparently no empathy with Wilson’s victims who may feel deeply betrayed by her communicating with Wilson
– neither does she have any insight about how Wilson could gain sexual gratification or power by learning about his previous victims via her
– she has disengaged critical thinking ”It’s not my job to the judge. It’s God’s job.” which would likely to lead to bad decision making. Like sending a present under an alias for example.
Clearly she has been very well groomed with Wilson using her natural compassion and forgiveness to his advantage. TG the police revoked bail before this woman was harmed because she clearly is a risk to herself and others as she is emotionally involved and unable to excercise impartial judgement over the situation. Thank God they picked up on the contact.
She sounds like a wet, cold flannel. There are some women so timid in their opinions and defence of their own persona that they might not like to disagree with anything a particular man said in an authoritative manner. They have no strong principles and can be mind-captured by a man who disrespects them, but the women will rationalise all negative behaviour.
The usual
nonsense of imagining that the future lies in
the rich countries outsourcing
manufacturing, while the clever creative
stuff stays in Europe was utterly
undermined by the programme’s symbolic
visit to an animation company.
Britain likes to call itself the design capital
of the world, yet even animation for the
London Olympics is being made in China
by sharp young Chinese who don’t see
themselves as labourers. They have set
their sights on the clever creative stuff that
at the moment is mostly done in Europe
and North America. Paxman concluded
that this was not how complacent western
governments saw things developing and he
could see no easy way for the current
imbalance of trade to be equalised. Rather
the reverse.
That’s always been true. For it to work requires a far higher demand than is physically possible especially with the huge amount of productivity increase we’ve had and keep getting.
…In this, the dusk of the neoliberal era, the storyline is so common that it has become difficult to muster any real outrage. That manager who is forced to resign by the catastrophic effects of his hubris or incompetence might keep drawing his seven-figure salary and look forward to a seven-figure severance, while all around him the lowly employees of his unravelling company are laid off without entitlements, no longer surprises us. Deep down, or more frequently right on the surface, we all know that the much celebrated risk-takers seldom take any risks. They are a caste more than a social class, insulated from the consequence of their actions; rewarded for failing as much as for succeeding….
Note to Draco.
The above link appears to go to the front page of bat-bean-beam. Despite having the blog piece open when I copied the link. There is an alternative link in the ‘feeds’ column
Is this really one of the supposedly more informative radio programmes in NZ I’m suffering through this morning? Asking a farmer if he has any idea what the weather will be; an earthquake thingee jiggy machine; dusty roads and phlegm…seriously?!
I wasn’t listening this morning – but on the farms and drought issue there are plenty of more informative stories out there to be told, rather than just asking when it’s going to rain.
I’ve been off the grid for a few days, and visiting some rural areas in the North Island. It’s an eye-opener for a townie like me to see and hear first-hand how the drought is biting out there – it’s a key fact of daily living.
It’s not just the endless sight of brown grasslands, but the reality of living on septic tanks; people already buying in water for daily use, with the sights of water tanks doing their deliveries; farmings having to stop milking because they can’t provide the vast quantities of water that cows need to produce milk; farmers worried about the already pregnant cows and autumn calving; farmers collaborating to release waters into local streams via dams; inside walls of houses cracking as the house dries out…. etc, etc
Blinglish is right to talk of a change to farming practices – there’s a clear difference in how green the fields of drought resistant grass still looks. But surely there needs to be a more in-depth discussion about changing the kinds of food produced in drought-prone areas? Dairy farming is water intensive.
Yes it is – between 15x and 20x more water is needed for a dairy farm than for a sheep and beef operation.
I don’t believe that this drought is the worst n the North Island’s history. I think the water gap has been caused by far more farmers needing far more water now than they did even say 10 years ago.
A+
Plus the increase in commercial crops that need a lot of water. The water tables are already getting salinated which in turn will increase the problem even if there is no severe drought.
Blinglish is part of NACT’s disgraceful attitude to NZx and the main enterprise of the country. He says that the government isn’t going to do much for needy farmers, but NACT has been prepared to overturn democratic decision makers over water around Christchurch close to his own close-knit farm area connections, and have also supported the risk investors in the poorly-run SCF still in the same part of the country.
I think that looking at farms of different sizes and ownership will show that the hard-working family farmers on their own property are getting different treatment to these farm investors who are onto a good thing sitting at home and virtually having a contractor to run the place for them, and likely to run the workers into the ground too. That’s what Crafar was after too but just couldn’t bring it off.
There is an obvious need for feed in the North Island, and it needs to be available cheaply and allocated fairly. Yet there seems no interest from Blinglish in moving his well-clad bum to help out. There needs to be A Feed Allocation Officer from government working with Federated Farmers, and an offer from Kiwi Rail our very own public railway to provide relief transport with some assistance from the transport community too at cost.
The help to the farmers seem to be limited to the very worst off, ‘to keep food on the table’.
Federated Farmers need to be doing more stressed farms and farmers apart from suicide counselling. Yet what I’m hearing is that old stuff about resilience blah blah and how farmers are used to droughts, they are just part of the weather cycle. A 60 year one, and with knowledge that this will occur again. What the Fed Farmers are on about now is to manipulate legislation so they have free reign to all the water in NZ.
Farming is our major earner in this country and we always hear how skilled our farmers are, so when they are in dire straits we can’t afford to let these clever businesspeople go down the drain. There’s talk about how farmers have to change their methods – one useful thing would be to stop over-stocking their land and sucking water from the river system to serve the excess animals. Another would be to link into Lincoln University lucerne and other feed research more. We probably have most of the answers to our feed and water questions in published papers or the knowledgable brains of professional thinkers.
karol That was a very forthright and to the point piece by Trotter. I have copied some of it from The Daily Blog as we all need to get these points clear in our minds. And some bolded ones to be even clearer.
The conservation groups attempting to protect New Zealand’s water resources from over-exploitation and pollution are caught in a vice. On one side, the Government is strengthening the power of central government to over-ride the rights of those affected by the plans of private industry. On the other, it is giving the ultimate responsibility for conserving (or not) our lakes, rivers and streams to local government.
In the areas most likely to be affected adversely, these bodies are dominated by the local representatives of large-scale farming and commercial interests. The Government’s proposed changes deny conservationists the right to challenge these local councillors’ decisions or seek to have them overturned in the Environment Court.
And if, in the unlikely event of a local authority ending up with a majority of councillors determined to resist the demands of local farmer and business elites, well, this government has already demonstrated its willingness to dismiss such irritatingly literal executors of the people’s willand replace them with appointed bureaucrats absolutely bound to do their masters’ bidding.
Dirty thieving greedy farmers and their political lackeys.
Let the farmers live in their shit and run out of water. Who gives a shit when they run out of water after stealing it.
Fuck their attitude and approach to the rest of the country.
You reap what you sow – and looky at that, the farmers have run out of water……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
There is a desire from an unholy trinity of farming, business and iwi to monopolise our water assets and the groups that will miss out are the domestic and recrational users.
The single mother who has to bath her kids will end up paying more for water than the farmer who uses it to irrigate is fields.
and iwi? Don’t think so millsy but keep on your bandwagon because it says so much about you and that is good – at least you didn’t threaten to kick the shit out of them lol
Actually, colonial weka, nobody is “our earner” anymore. We are completely and utterly part of a globalised economy so no sector “earns” anything for “New Zealand”, we all just earn for ourselves, independently and individually.
This whole idea that somehow farming pays for NZ is complete and utter bunkum.
There’s talk about how farmers have to change their methods – one useful thing would be to stop over-stocking their land and sucking water from the river system to serve the excess animals. Another would be to link into Lincoln University lucerne and other feed research more.
And the most useful, IMO, would be to replant the native forests and leave them there. Don’t get anywhere near as much evaporation from the floor of a forest as you do from wide open farm land which means our subterranean aquifers wouldn’t deplete as they would get more water into them. Unfortunately, the capitalist paradigm sees forests as unproductive land because it’s not making some rich dude richer.
Or/and mimic natural grazing cycles. Allow grass or pasture to grow to maturity before allowing it to be grazed. As well as building up soil health and mass (which in turn sequestrates carbon), water retention is markedly increased and because roots have time to grow to their full extent (eg deeper), the grasses become more resistant to drought.
He was initially lucky that his private members bill was selected in the ballot process. So was Louisa Wall. Not casting aspersions on either MP, but there are other Opposition MPs who would have made equally as good a fist promoting their bills had they got lucky. Even so, congratulations to both of them.
David Clark is Excellent!
English and Key, not so much…
RNZ- English, on “Extended Government Assistance for farmers; there shouldn’t be expectations of long-term assistance.”
Key / English: regardless of the referendum signatures Asset Sales will go ahead (Shearer has registered) and “sure as little green apples, majority of signatures will turn out to be bogus”; might as well have a big book burning while they are at it; according to Waikato schools the methods of teaching / assessing reading and writing are not effective anyway.
on this Bank Fees class action; an expected return of 1-17c in the dollar (Lawyers 25% if win), Three years to action and according to Dom hard-copy (not on web-site, tricky) a win far from guaranteed.
from “60 Minutes”-China’s domestic residential and retail property investment across peak (may have something to do with o /seas investment initiatives), while domestically, commercial property investment still growing.
(Stuff TV news sometimes, when the first item is Stuart Bloody Wilson; freakin’ voyeurs!
Fish and Game on the RMA water management reforms; local body politicians will defer to farmers on Water Conservation Orders; “changes will wreck waterways”.(Fizzy Lime anybody?)
Wonder how many of those who have ‘Registered and Interest’ in Mighty River Power shares, actually intend to buy any?
Now that the hype and hysteria is subsiding – and folks start to get a handle on how truly SELFISH they are being, to buy into the sellout of electricity assets, when SO MANY Kiwis can’t even afford to have a heater on in winter?
INVESTORS BEWARE!
Seen this?
“Press Release, Molly Melhuish, Energy Analyst
22 February 2013
Prospective investors are warned
Investors are warned that Mighty River Power is no longer a safe, utility-type investment prospect.
For years, New Zealand’s generator-retailers enjoyed a predictable revenue stream from captive residential consumers. This enabled them to build so many new power stations that there is now a glut of wholesale electricity. Wholesale prices have fallen by a quarter or even more.
Mighty River Power’s power purchase costs fell by 22% in the last six months, yet they hiked retail prices by 2%. They had to, to maintain the dividend stream expected by their shareholder.
Residential consumers will no longer tolerate rising prices at a time when wholesale prices are falling. This is not market pricing, it is price gouging of captive consumers.
Investors are warned that consumers dispute the pricing process that made our prices rise “to enable new generation to be built”, but fails to give us the benefit of market pricing in an electricity glut.
Comment no.1, directly under the article, goes some way to providing an answer to the question ‘what is so bad?’ about such a ‘thoughtful’ one eyed piece exhibiting, by now bog standard, obvious features of selective amnesia
A: Deliberately written a dumbed down article
B: Lied
C: Has no idea about the complex reality of what is happening in the ME
D: Not read any/enough about the well writen (including MSM), analysis about the Syrian/ME situations
E: Drunk the juice
F: All of the above
It astounds me, but does not surprise me, given the amount of material available not only about Syria, but Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia et al, Jane Young manages to write this simplistic, one eyed drivel.
McFlock, is the ‘rolly eyes’ a reference to something muzza has said in the above comment or just to the fact that muzza has commented? If it’s the former, then I for one would appreciate a bit of clarity on exactly which part of what muzza said you’re referring to. If the latter, then it’s bully-boy bullshit and has (regardless of any previous disagreements or whatever) no place here. 🙂
It was a response to muzza providing half a dozen assertions without a single piece of supporting evidence or indeed a clear assertion of what muzza assumes the facts to be. With a bonus on the reference to juice.
Mind you, prism seems to think that they got all the info they needed, so what do I care?
McFlock you are showing yourself to be pretty short on wit my friend!
My evidence is the appaulingly simplistic, misleading, one dimensional article I linked to from JY on pundit.
The *half dozen assertions* were points made having read her article, your request for evidence goes against the numerous articles linked to and posted on this site and elsewhere about the Syrian conflict, there has been many a discussion here.
Go trawling, you know exactly the sort of reports about the Syrian *conflict* that I’m talking about, the telegraph, guardian etc and even some of the yank establishment MSM commenting on what have become well known analysis, which Jane Young makes no reference to, the 6 points are some options as to how this managed to happen.
Your response above is a weak response to Bill calling you out!
Yeah whatever dude.
Frankly I thought the article a bit light, but then it’s not exactly a geopol or ME specialist site. Hardly fair cause for your crowing.
Secondly, you were apparently explaining why you were “astounded but unsurprised” to someone who had not trawled the internet (a remarkably apt expression, btw). In the obvious absence of shared knowledge, explaining in depth your belief as to what the facts are, and some nice trawling grounds where someone might get an accurate and unbiased précis of the situation, would be useful.
Further weak comments from you McFlock, it matters not what the sites specialty is, which is generalist in any case given the varied contributers at pundit.
The point is, there is no excuse for such uninformed writing on such a complex, serious issue. Either do some reading, at leadt attempt to build an informed picture, then write, or dont bother.
You may recall Michael Valley writing on this site about the Syrian situation, his articles were absolute rubbish, and he got pulled to bits here over it, and has not been seen here writing about the ME again, after the 2 or 3 attempts he did have.
No excuse McFlock, not by people who call themselves journos, which Jane Young does!
Lol. You still haven’t bothered to point out where you think her summary of the situation was incorrect.
I wouldn’t ask for or expect an in depth summary from a non-specialist journo on a “generalist” site. I would expect it from a site dedicated to e.g. international affairs.
It does actually matter what the site editors’ focus is. For example, one might be shocked and appalled at the lack of attention authors here give to celebrity pregnancies. And everyone else would call them a dick for expecting such coverage on TS.
McFlock – I don’t need to point it out, the summary speaks for itself, and ive been over this ground many times on this site, and have referred you to the Michael Valley posts, to assist you in some further TS reading.
Go away, do some reading, then report back, until then , see ya!
It might be a shock to you, but not everybody bookmarks or even visits the entirety of the multitude of links placed here by people of varying political perspectives and grasps on reality.
Whereas you, who obviously rate the issue quite highly, would be reasonably expected to have appropriately sourced links to hand to provide “cliff notes” for those of us who haven’t done the extensive research that you obviously believe you have done.
Seriously, what JY claim, specifically, was misleading or incorrect? Or is the entirety of your criticism simply that the analysis was too simplistic because the article wasn’t long enough?
Thanks muzza – I think your answer was very full and rounded. I waded through the Young article that in a shorter form would be okay to appear in a women’s magazine that likes to carry occasional serious items to give them some gravitas. I’ll read more and learn more about this conflict. I obviously need to get a bigger picture.
Hi Prism, there is plenty of MSM analysis around the Syrian situation, and also Libya, and the ME in general. Take the time to read as much as you can, because its criminal what has been going on.
One of the places in Libya most awash with such weapons in the most dangerous of hands is Benghazi. It now appears that Stevens was there — on a particularly risky day, with no security to speak of and despite now copiously documented concerns about his own safety and that of his subordinates — for another priority mission: sending arms recovered from the former regime’s stocks to the “opposition” in Syria.
Listening to Jokeyhen talking about Solid Energy’s strategic decisions – he is very demeaning. The whole thing about having SOE’s is that they can make business decisions without having politicians pulling the reins. I think that is a bit dangerous but that has been the ideology.
And now Jokeyhen is pecking away at them because they tried to introduce new ideas to deal with future needs. But Key was looking at the money being produced, not the investment into national energy infrastructure needed. Basically the guy doesn’t want to move into the 21st century but to stay in a time warp close to 2000 that doesn’t stray beyond 2008.
Do you think prism that it is significant that up until today the Ministers involved with Solid Energy had nothing really to say and avoided interviews. But when Don Elder says he will meet with the Select Committee and give open and frank answers, then suddenly Key and English open up and lay what seems to me groundwork for how hard the Ministers worked to prevent Solid Energy disaster.
No doubt the next step will be to demand that Solid Energy would be better off in private hands. Watch this space.
John Key’s mind is locked on the pre-GFC price of his Bank of America shares compared to what they’re worth today (they’ve lost around 80% of their value since 2008) and he’s been in mourning ever since.
The Amazing Rise and Fall of Presumption Of Innocence
March 11, 2013 “Information Clearing House” –
The most bizarre part of Section 1021(b)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is that almost no one has heard about it.
And whoever has heard about it, doesn’t want to talk about it. It’s almost as if someone took Dr. Goebbels’ “The bigger the lie, the more it will be believed” dictum and mutated it into a 21st century super weapon: “Tell the truth, but make it so shocking that no one wants to hear about it.”
No one wants to hear about the military having the power to detain you on American soil, without due process, indefinitely, at the discretion of the President. It sounds too Stalin. It reeks of conspiracy theory. Besides, it’s clearly unconstitutional. So let’s go get some lunch.
That’s why on December 4, 2012, the new NDAA passed the Senate with a 98-0 vote. Almost everyone was out at lunch.
Except seven individuals who decided to sue Obama instead. But other than that, the resulting rumpus was minor.
Since February 13th, “The Seven” are on their way to the Supreme Court. But no one wants to hear about it. A few individuals against the United States government sounds too Matthew McConaughey, unless you’re a natural-born activist.
Former New York Times war correspondent Chris Hedges, the leading plaintiff in the case against Obama, writes about “NDAA and the Death of the Democratic State.” But no one wants to really read about it. Most aspiring journalists and independent minds who become curious about NDAA find that there is a deafening silence around the topic. When they try to raise questions, the silence deafens them further.
Then there are the conspiracy buffs. They distance the problem from the main stream audience even further. No one wants to be associated with folks who think that the President could be a reptile.
Could be interesting tomorrow, Wednesday 13 March 2013, at the Auckland Town Hall, 10am, when the Auckland Council Performance and Accountability Committee meets?
Will ‘anti-corruption whistle-blowers’ Gary Osbourne and Penny Bright be granted ‘speaking rights’ at Public Forum – or not?
Councillor Richard Northey
Chair of the Performance and Accountability Committee,
Auckland Council
RE: Your refusal to grant speaking rights to Gary Osbourne.
“I decline speaking rights for this meeting on the grounds that this issue was addressed by the submitter at the Governing Body on 28 February.
Cr Richard Northey”
From: Judith Moore
To: ‘Gary Osborne’
Cc: Jason Marris ; Warwick McNaughton
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 11:24 AM
Subject: RE: Speaking Rights
Good morning Mr Osborne
Further to your request to speak to the Accountability and Performance Committee 13 March 2013, I have forwarded your request to the chair of this committee including the updated information you have given to me. I am in receipt of this response from the chair:
I decline speaking rights for this meeting on the grounds that this issue was addressed by the submitter at the Governing Body on 28 February.
Cr Richard Northey
Regards
Judith Moore | Democracy Advisor
Democracy Services
Supporting: Cr Noelene Raffills and Cr Cameron Brewer.
Involved in the following committees/subcommittees:
Accountability and Performance, CEO Review.
Ph. +64 9 307 7288 DDI| Extn. (40) 7288 | Mob. +64 21 708 401 | Fax +64 9 30 77579
Auckland Council, Level 14, Civic Building, 1 Greys Avenue,
Councillor Richard Northey – may I respectfully suggest that you reconsider your above-mentioned decision?
Gary Osbourne has arguably SIGNIFICANTLY new subject matter to raise on this issue – unless of course you think that a request to the Minister of Local Government for an inquiry into the authorisation by the CEO of Auckland Council, blocking of correspondence between concerned citizens is effectively a ‘non-event’?
Perhaps you could remind me of the last time the Minister of Local Government was formally requested to inquire into a matter concerning Auckland Council?
Please be reminded that this is the PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE of Auckland Council?
This is a SERIOUS matter of PERFORMANCE and ACCOUNTABILITY – is it not?
I look forward to your confirmation that both Gary Osbourne and myself ,( I have yet to have my request for speaking rights confirmed), have been granted 5 minutes each speaking time, as requested at Public Forum, Performance and Accountability Committee, Auckland Council, Wednesday 13 March 2013, 10 am at the Auckland Town Hall.
This is a formal request for speaking rights at ‘Public Forum’ at the
upcoming meeting next Wednesday morning 13 March 2013, 10am Auckland Town Hall – Accountability and Performance Committee.
The Accountability and Performance Committee will have responsibility for:
• Monitoring the performance of the Council against the Long Term Plan and Annual Plan;
• Monitoring, setting policies and reviewing the performance of the CCOs against
organisational, CCO and SOI’s targets;
• Considering the Councils Annual report and recommending to the Governing Body for
adoption;
• Financial performance of Council functions; and
• Delegation of powers to subcommittee(s).
The Committee will be supported in its work by the following:
• The Council Controlled Organisation Strategy Review Subcommittee;
• The Chief Executive Review Subcommittee; and
• The Tenders and Procurement Subcommittee.
Relevant legislation includes but is not limited to:
Local Government Act 2002;
Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009;
Port Companies Act 1988; and
Companies Act 1987
1) The total amount of money spent to date by Auckland Council on legal fees/ costs relating to all Court proceedings arising from or pertaining to Occupy Auckland prosecutions, and related matters.
2) Why I believe it is totally inappropriate/ unlawful for the CEO of Auckland Council, Doug McKay to investigate himself, regarding the complaints I and others have made about his role in authorising the ‘blocking’ / filtering / effective censorship of emails from some citizens going directly to elected representatives.
3) Progress (if any) on ‘opening the books’ and making publicly-available the following details of ‘contracts issued’ by Auckland Council and Auckland Council CCOs:
a) NAMES of contractors / consultants.
b) SCOPE of contracts issued.
c) TERM of contracts issued.
d) VALUE of contracts issued.
4) Progress (if any) on transparency and accountability of Auckland Council elected representatives and staff responsible in any way in the awarding of Auckland Council or CCO contracts, in the form of a publicly-available ‘Register of Interests’, in order to minimise possible ‘conflicts of interest’.
……
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Looking forward to the lawful democratic rights of citizens, plus commonsense prevailing.
Kind regards,
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
Appellant, Occupy Auckland vs Auckland Council Appeal.
Armstrong’s piece is the first shot in the Beehive’s excuse making that despite (or rather because) of austerity there will be no surplus before the 2014 gemeral election.
No surplus.
Not due to economic incompetence on behalf of Double Dipton – that grossly over-rated and grossly over-promoted ex-treasury tea boy – and the rest ofwideboy economic dunderheads like John Key. Oh no. It’ll be the drought. After the earthquake. After the GFC.
Because if we’ve learnt one thing from Don Elder it is that he and the others in the frat boy elite like John Key and Bill English are never, ever actually responsible for anything.
Poor old Populuxe1 is not the only one to uncritically buy into the campaign of denigration against an official enemy. Evidently one Justin Timberlake is not just a musical genius, he is also a thoughtful and discriminating person who thinks for himself. Oh yes. …
Justin Timberlake rubbishes Hugo Chavez
That well known wit and erudite political commentator, Justin Timberlake has seen fit to rubbish Chavez on Saturday Night Live using Elton John’s ‘Candle in the Wind’ as his vehicle.
The song contains such hilarious lyrics as, “You lived your life like a candle in the wind… if a candle could pull out two pistols at a press conference.” You want more? Okay. “You said the US causes earthquakes and you outlawed Coke Zero. And on your shoulder stood your parrot with a matching red beret.”
Just as well we don’t live deep within a system that is rife with propaganda, innit? And that Justin Timberlake is simply, albeit tastelessly, excercising free speech and freedom of expression; the right of any free mind.
Hmm, not quite. There’s them that merely echo official and dominant themes (Timberlake and Gibson) and thems that use them as foundations on which to build ever more twisted and sinister edifices. (KKK, ADL, Breivik…)
Irony-free Radio
Radio New Zealand National, Tuesday 12 March 2013
Recently some old fool from Grey Power has been making like Winston and sounding off against immigration. Of course, plenty of National Radio listeners are concerned about the “problem”. Just after the 3:00 news, Jim Mora read out a letter from a listener, expressing grave concern that “immigrants might be coming from countries which have corruption, nepotism and little concern for the environment.”
Mora read that out without even the slightest hint of irony.
Jim Mora is incapable of finding much wrong with the way things are in New Zealand, or anything really. I do grant this – he’s ignitable about poor grammar and bad manners.
Old Jimmie’s real missions in life are; (1) to be extraordinarily well paid as befits he who talks like the unthumbed pages of a dictionary, and (2) to be acknowledged for his prodigious intelligence, and (3) the former and the latter goals met (of course), to being fulsomely, terminally, “affable”.
I do grant this – he’s ignitable about poor grammar and bad manners.
Even then, he’s extremely selective about what passes for good and bad manners. He said nothing one day when Dr Michael Bassett said that Nicky Hager is a Holocaust-denier. And neither did the other guest on “The Panel” that day.
So flagrant, shameless lying and defamation is not bad manners, at least as far as Jim Mora is concerned.
on the Q.T;
Poorlah-‘31% of Gateway assessments-emotional, psychological and behavioural dysfunction http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQutPF0Q-wo
(you can never go back to the scene of a perfect crime; go back (not) and fix that you mofos)
meanwhile, back in NZFirst (last, Winston, very sad man, even Grey Power are split over your dog-whistling) Race-Card on Chinese immigrant / parent ratio categories; strong upward trend in in parent category trend from China :); just to repeat, even Grey Power is splitting chairs over this…
Woodhouse-“it’s about skilled migrants (wealthy as well) and their parents meeting the “criteria” Ha Ha Winston. and then, and then, Horans’ junk starts sinking on the same tide…
N.Smith (a Doctor of What?)-let’s increase urban sprawl in Ak (and fuel some more oil import consumption while we are at it aye!)
Tolley- on recovery of assets from crime; “nobody should profit from misery in the community” (unless you’re a brewer Baron or a liquor outlet…)
Hipkins, Machiavellian Manouevres aside, appears to be dogged (that Coleman appears a contemptible un-cool-man) while Chippie flustered the Speaker as well. “Disorder” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PldpBJEn4vQ
Attorney General Bio-Security Report (how long before these things reach the “house” ?
-the MPI “under-prepared for significant Bio-hazard Incursions, and as O’Connor pointed out, NZ more dependent on bio-security than any (most) other countries. 🙁
I’m leery of the info and the calculations in that first linked image.
Firstly, it says information used in the chart was sourced from the UN economic commission for LA and the Carribean. Obviously not true as the USA is not located in either of those areas.
Secondly, it is trying to tell a story about equality using (it claims) stats about income while utterly ignoring wealth which is, well…a far more accurate measure of equality/inequality.
Thirdly, the underlying message it is sending is that there is nothing wrong with inequality (ie, greater equality equates with greater numbers of people living in slums)
Found the source Bill and the images were from a Habitat for Humanity post on global poverty and I doubt were intended to mean that there is nothing wrong with inequality.
The source is the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean annual Statistical Yearbook, which was released January 10. All numbers are for 2011, except Bolivia (2009), El Salvador (2010), Guatemala (2006), Honduras (2010), and Nicaragua (2009). The U.S. figure comes from Census Bureau data cited by Congressional Research Service [PDF].
The Ombudsman’s office says it is struggling under its heaviest workload ever, and wading through a backlog of thousands of complaints.”
Worrying 3mins on RNZ about the Ombudsman being swamped with complaints to the point of being unable to deliver, and NAct politicians exploiting this. No increase in funding has been forthcoming despite public warnings from the ombudsman’s office a year ago.
The speaker says ‘the public will judge’ when they don’t answer questions, the MSM have their tongues up John Key’s anus, and the public can’t get a response from the OIA in time. Who’s holding the government to account?
If New Zealand was genuinely the ‘least corrupt country in the world’ (along with Denmark and Finland according to the arguably bogus and non-transparent Transparency International 2012 ‘Corruption Perception Index’ – we should arguably be the most transparent?
If the Public Records Act 2005 was implemented in a proper way, there should be FAR more information publicly-available.
If that were the case – people wouldn’t have to then request this information via the Office of the Ombudsman?
Wow……..what’s happened with Mr Bean’s mouthy wee cuzzy Patrick Gower ?
3 News tonight – “In my opinion the politicians are gutless (latter word angrily)………it’s up to the people to decide whether Liu (Shane Jones/immigration fame) should be a New Zealand citizen.”
So if he’s an activist all of a sudden can we expect him to fish below John Key’s Crosby Textor sophistry (to glamorise it) ? Another mark of how these up-themselves dorks fancy they’re part of the story.
Present the facts tele-goon. I’ll make up my own mind !
further from the “box”
-droughts gonna effect the prices of green veges (onions not so much); good to be growin’ ones’ own.
-English on the drought-“a significant effect; will affect the economy for a couple of years to come; nothin’ like all your cows in one herring-bone, or rotary for that matter (where have i read that before?)
next? power rationing from low hydro-electric reserves
-resistance to anti-biotics-“pose a catastrophe threat (may set medicine back a century) as no new anti-biotics been developed in the last 25 years (due to a market failure); the ol’ “science priests”aye.
🙂
and Eugenie Sage was helpful in Q.T also.
that “notorious tr*ll” is not anonymous; he’s the son of a former band member…
-Key in South America? “no big bang announcements” (other than our continued role in the trafficking of coke i spose…
-meanwhile in ChCh, regarding psych. health; “optimism is starting to run out”; “complexity of cases has increased”-CDHB
LOOKS LIKE THERE WILL BE A ‘BUNFIGHT’ AT THE AUCKLAND COUNCIL PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE, WED 13 MARCH 2013, 10 AM AT THE AUCKLAND TOWN HALL:
Please be advised that I WILL be taking Speaking Rights, having now been declined on what I consider to be an UNLAWFUL basis. NOT a good look for Auckland Council – especially in election year? SPEAKING RIGHTS DENIED: 3:51 PM (10 minutes ago)
(REPLY FROM AUCKLAND COUNCILLOR RICHARD NORTHEY – DENYING ME SPEAKING RIGHTS)
Good afternoon Ms Bright
Further to your request to speak to the Accountability and Performance Committee 13 March 2013, I have forwarded your request to the chair of this committee. I am in receipt of this response from the chair:
These 4 matters have either been recently considered or dealt with by the Governing Body or by an appropriate Council Committee at the Submitter’s request or else are the subject of an LGOIMA Request by the submitter.
Therefore the request to present in public input is declined.
Cr Richard Northey
_____________________________________________________________________________
COUNCILLOR CATHY CASEY SUPPORTS MY RIGHT TO SPEAK:
Hi Penny
I support your right to speak.. If the Committee Chair does not allow you to address us, I will move that we suspend standing orders and allow you to have your five minutes. I need a seconder.
Happy Tuesday!
……
Dr Cathy Casey
Councillor, Albert-Eden-Roskill Ward
Governing Body, Auckland Council
_____________________________________________________________________________
Penny Bright MY REPLY TO COUNCILLOR CATHY CASEY: 13 March 2013.
Thank you Cathy.
I am not particularly looking forward to going back to the ‘bad old Auckland City Council days’?
After 22 arrests, it ended up 21 -1 to me, and a number of District Court judgments which ‘fine-tuned’ the LGOIMA process, to defend the basic democratic rights of citizens.
If Councillor Richard Northey were to exercise his ‘judgment’ based upon the LAW and previous legal judgments, in my opinion, we wouldn’t be having this problem.
I am getting SO sick of some elected representatives and senior Council staff – just MAKING IT UP – when it comes to the lawful rights of citizens?
Looking forward to confirmation of a number of Councillors, queuing up to second your motion.
Even better, Councillor Richard Northey, exercising rather more sound judgment based upon the LAW, and reconsidering his (unlawful, in my opinion) denial of 5 minutes speaking rights at the Public Forum of Auckland Council Performance and Accountability Committee.
Kind regards,
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’.
Occupy Auckland Appellant (in my own name).
2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
_____________________________________________________________________________
WHAT I WILL BE SPEAKING ABOUT:
_____________________________________________________________________________
1) The total amount of money spent to date by Auckland Council on legal fees/ costs relating to all Court proceedings arising from or pertaining to Occupy Auckland prosecutions, and related matters.
2) Why I believe it is totally inappropriate/ unlawful for the CEO of Auckland Council, Doug McKay to investigate himself, regarding the complaints I and others have made about his role in authorising the ‘blocking’ / filtering / effective censorship of emails from some citizens going directly to elected representatives.
3) Progress (if any) on ‘opening the books’ and making publicly-available the following details of ‘contracts issued’ by Auckland Council and Auckland Council CCOs:
a) NAMES of contractors / consultants.
b) SCOPE of contracts issued.
c) TERM of contracts issued.
d) VALUE of contracts issued.
4) Progress (if any) on transparency and accountability of Auckland Council elected representatives and staff responsible in any way in the awarding of Auckland Council or CCO contracts, in the form of a publicly-available ‘Register of Interests’, in order to minimise possible ‘conflicts of interest’.
……
_____________________________________________________________________________
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
Appellant, Occupy Auckland vs Auckland Council Appeal.
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
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Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor Former opposition leader Matthew Wale has been announced as the second prime ministerial candidate ahead of the election in Solomon Islands tomorrow. He will face off against former foreign affairs minister Jeremiah Manele, who was announced by the Coalition for National Unity and Transformation ...
The Government’s spending cuts are again targeting support for Māori with proposed reform of the agency charged with advising on Māori wellbeing and development. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Douglas, Honorary Senior Lecturer, UNSW Aviation., UNSW Sydney The history of budget jet airlines in Australia is a long road littered with broken dreams. New entrants have consistently struggled to get a foothold. Low-cost carrier Bonza has just become the industry’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rosalind Dixon, Director, Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law, UNSW Sydney Australia is finally having a sustained conversation about violence against women and what we can do about it. It is more than time. Australian women and girls continue to experience ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne stockfour/Shutterstock Preliminary bulk billing data released this week shows a 2.1% rise in bulk billing up to March. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Schulz, Senior Lecturer, University of Adelaide Australia is once again grappling with how we can stop gendered violence in our country. Protests over the weekend show there is enormous community anger over the number of women who are dying and National ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University AnastasiaDudka/Shutterstock What if the government was doing everything it could to stop thieves making off with our money, except the one thing that could really work? That’s how it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Harrington, Senior Lecturer in English and Cultural Studies, University of Canterbury The Conversation It seems to be a time of old favourites. This month our experts have recommended two new seasons – the second season of Alone Australia (although ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland A bright Eta Aquariid meteor photobombed this photo of comet C/2020 F8 (SWAN) in May 2020.Jonti Horner Meteors – commonly known as shooting stars – can be seen on any night of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Flannery, Honorary fellow, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Current concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in Earth’s atmosphere are unprecedented in human history. But CO₂ levels today, and those that might occur in coming decades, did occur millions of years ago. ...
Winston Peters has been keen to dismiss speculation on our involvement in Aukus but will give a speech tonight on the direction of our foreign policy, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Usmar, Lecturer in Critical Media Literacies, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images With the coalition government’s ban of student mobile phones in New Zealand schools coming into effect this week, reaction has ranged from the sceptical (kids will just get ...
A new report on protecting journalism and democracy in New Zealand recommends a levy be charged on global platforms like Facebook and Google to fund media firms undertaking public interest reporting. It also calls for the reinstatement of a powerful Broadcasting Commission to distribute public funding for journalism and other ...
On International Workers' Day, also known as May Day, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi and the wider union movement are celebrating the proud history of the labour movement during a tough time for working people. ...
From bills to beards, a walk through the former Green co-leader’s time in politics. After close to a decade in politics, James Shaw is preparing to bid farewell to parliament. Tonight will see the former minister deliver his valedictory address, certain to be a speech filled with Shaw’s trademark wit ...
Two months ago, MPs unanimously voted to give themselves a week off in Efeso Collins’ honour. On Tuesday, most were too busy to give even an hour of their time. The day Fa’anānā Efeso Collins died, parliament felt different. In a building that operates at a breakneck pace, everyone stopped ...
India’s election involves hundreds of millions of people and is a months-long affair. Here’s how voting works and what’s at stake.The biggest-ever election in world history started on April 19, with more than 10% of the world’s population eligible to vote. Elections in India, the world’s most populous country ...
Opinion: The impression from the carpark is very inviting. The area is well fenced but barred so there is easy visibility of loved ones. Inside, the spaces are welcoming and clean and staff are friendly and clearly comfortable. I am greeted by ‘Kim’. She has worked here for three years, ...
After the Christchurch earthquake, the then-national civil defence boss compared his experience to “putting a team on the rugby field who have never ever played together before”. Now, eight years later – and following a damning inquiry into the emergency response of cyclones Gabrielle, Hale and the Auckland anniversary weekend floods – ...
“I had just come off the end of a major robbery case which I had been working on for six months when I got a call on the afternoon of September 1, 1992, that some remains had been found at a building site in Devonport, so I drove over with ...
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Comment: Journalists are very good at telling other people’s stories, but they fall well short when writing about their own profession. Perhaps that is why it is so undervalued. Every successive poll on the public’s attitude toward journalism is more alarming than the last. In the last month we have ...
Opinion: A young Māori woman and her Pacific partner arrive at their local hospital by ambulance. She has gone into labour at just under 24 weeks, but the couple haven’t recognised the symptoms – and don’t know the risks of premature birth for their baby. By the time they arrive, ...
Behind closed doors, NZ First will be arguing fiercely against any watering down of the ministerial decision-making powers in the Bill The post Bishop backtracks after fast-track backlash appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Emotional scenes played out in the Invercargill courthouse on the first two days of the coronial inquest into the death of Gore toddler Lachlan Jones, in which the boy’s mother was accused of disposing of her son’s body. The second season of Newsroom’s award-nominated podcast The Boy in the Water ...
Asia Pacific Report A Pacific civil society alliance has condemned French neocolonial policies in Kanaky New Caledonia, saying Paris is set on “maintaining the status quo” and denying the indigenous Kanak people their inalienable right to self-determination. The Pacific Regional Non-Governmental Organisations (PRNGOs) Alliance, representing some 15 groups, said in ...
Koi Tū New Zealand cannot sit back and see the collapse of its Fourth Estate, the director of Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures, Sir Peter Gluckman, says in the foreword of a paper published today. The paper, “If not journalists, then who?” paints a picture of an industry ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Foreign investment proposals with implications for Australia’s strategic or economic security will face tougher scrutiny, under a policy overhaul to be announced by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Wednesday. At the same time, the government ...
A Waitangi Tribunal inquiry report has warned government that a repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act could cause harm to children in care. ...
The Treasury has published today three new papers covering government consumption multipliers, automatic stabilisers and the impacts of global shocks on New Zealand’s economy. ...
Asia Pacific Report The Pacific state of Hawai’i’s House of Representatives has joined the state’s Senate in calling for a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza, becoming the first state to pass such a resolution, reports Hawaii News Now. In March, the Senate passed a ceasefire resolution with a 24–1 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Ferrie, A/Prof, UTS Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research and ARC DECRA Fellow, University of Technology Sydney PsiQuantum The Australian government has announced a pledge of approximately A$940 million (US$617 million) to PsiQuantum, a quantum computing start-up company based in Silicon Valley. Half ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hunter Bennett, Lecturer in Exercise Science, University of South Australia Cameron Prins/Shutterstock If you spend a lot of time exploring fitness content online, you might have come across the concept of heart rate zones. Heart rate zone training has become more ...
SPECIAL REPORT:By Eugene Doyle He is the most popular Palestinian leader alive today — and yet few people in the West even know his name. Absolutely no one in Gaza or the West Bank does not know him. That difference speaks volumes about who dominates the media narrative that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Will McCallum, PhD Candidate – School of Communication and Creative Arts, Deakin University Earlier this year, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of not supporting Operation Sovereign Borders – the military-led border security operation that has “closed Australia’s borders ...
By Melyne Baroi in Port Moresby A Papua New Guinea MP, Peter Isoaimo, who had been ousted by the National Court in an alleged bribery case, has been reinstated by the Supreme Court on appeal. A three-member Supreme Court bench found that the National Court had erred in finding that ...
Publisher Chris Holdaway reflects on the unique project of collecting the work of the late, terrific poet Schaeffer Lemalu. One of the nice things you can do as a truly independent publisher is to make the books that writers want to make, whatever they happen to be. That’s how I’ve ...
Those profiled in the stamp series served on overseas deployments from 1995 onwards, and all have been awarded theNew Zealand Operational Service Medal. ...
Last night’s dismal poll result for the coalition government shows the limits of trying to govern as an opposition, argues Joel MacManus. There’s a quote from the American political activist Barbara Deming: “Vengeance is not the point; change is. But the trouble is that in most people’s minds, the thought ...
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A defendant charged by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has pleaded guilty to four charges of obtaining by deception in relation to a mortgage fraud scheme. Sentencing has been scheduled for 14 August 2024. ...
What to say when pesky journalists ask gotcha questions like ‘can you name a single book you’ve ever read?’ and ‘did you read it, or did you just see the movie?’This week, Act Party arts spokesperson Todd Stephenson foolishly agreed to an interview with Newsroom’s Steve Braunias regarding his ...
Explainer - What will a ban on cellphones in schools achieve? Can students use them during lunch breaks? And what happens if you need to contact your child? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jodi Rowley, Curator, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology, Australian Museum, UNSW Sydney Jodi Rowley, CC BY-NC-ND In winter 2021, Australia’s frogs started dropping dead. People began posting images of dead frogs on social media. Unable to travel to investigate the deaths ...
In the year ended March 2024, 0.4 percent of home transfers were to people who didn’t hold New Zealand citizenship or a resident visa, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wasay Majid, Research Assistant , University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau New Zealand’s accommodation supplement scheme is facing scrutiny, with Social Development Minister Louise Upston recently saying “there is merit in considering whether the current settings are fair and sustainable long-term”. The ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor The first prime ministerial candidate has been announced in Solomon Islands and it is not Manasseh Sogavare. The man of the hour is Jeremiah Manele, the MP for Hograno/Kia/Havulei constituency in Isabel Province, who served as minister of foreign affairs in the last government. ...
Protesting the removal of bins by leaving piles of your dog’s shit for others to deal with doesn’t make you a hero – it’s precious and entitled behaviour. You haven’t truly lived until you’ve stood on the shoreline of Auckland’s Cheltenham beach, desperately trying to scoop increasingly liquid dog shit ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon will be alert to the factors driving the dire polling, but won't be waving the white flag just yet, RNZ political editor Jo Moir writes. ...
Writer, teacher and academic Vincent O’Sullivan died on Sunday 28 April. Here we gather tributes from friends, colleagues, and students who remember his extraordinary contributions. I went down to the garage tonight. There was a bird shrieking out in the bush, in the dark, maybe a kākā. Miraculously, through the ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a burnt-out corporate escapee explains how she gets by ‘working as little as possible’. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.Gender: Female Age: 31 Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: Contractor in ...
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http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/8410852/Wilson-made-calls-to-penpal
.
Wilson was jailed for 21 years in 1996 after being convicted of 22 sex charges against women and children between 1971 and 1994.
Police visited the woman the day after one of his phone calls in late February, and told her that Wilson had been grooming her.
”I don’t think he was going to harm me, but I think he wanted to have a contact with a female. I had no intentions of contacting any of his victims.” They had been swapping letters for years, she said.
”It was very peaceful letters. There was no bad language or anything involved. It’s not my job to the judge. It’s God’s job.”
He should not have been recalled to prison, she said.
”That’s a waste of taxpayers’ money and very vindictive and very nasty.”
So….
– she doesn’t “think” he was going to harm her (like all groom subjects) despite his history
– she considers upholding bail conditions that were presumably put in place to keep the public and the previous victims safe a “waste of taxpayer money”
– and she has apparently no empathy with Wilson’s victims who may feel deeply betrayed by her communicating with Wilson
– neither does she have any insight about how Wilson could gain sexual gratification or power by learning about his previous victims via her
– she has disengaged critical thinking ”It’s not my job to the judge. It’s God’s job.” which would likely to lead to bad decision making. Like sending a present under an alias for example.
Clearly she has been very well groomed with Wilson using her natural compassion and forgiveness to his advantage. TG the police revoked bail before this woman was harmed because she clearly is a risk to herself and others as she is emotionally involved and unable to excercise impartial judgement over the situation. Thank God they picked up on the contact.
She sounds like a wet, cold flannel. There are some women so timid in their opinions and defence of their own persona that they might not like to disagree with anything a particular man said in an authoritative manner. They have no strong principles and can be mind-captured by a man who disrespects them, but the women will rationalise all negative behaviour.
Because men always have strong principles and never rationalise negative behaviour.
http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2012/11/29/creating-an-upscale-service-economy/
http://clients.squareeye.net/uploads/compass/documents/Progressive%20Protectionism%20Thinkpiece%2072.pdf
Export led growth is a fiction.
The usual
nonsense of imagining that the future lies in
the rich countries outsourcing
manufacturing, while the clever creative
stuff stays in Europe was utterly
undermined by the programme’s symbolic
visit to an animation company.
Britain likes to call itself the design capital
of the world, yet even animation for the
London Olympics is being made in China
by sharp young Chinese who don’t see
themselves as labourers. They have set
their sights on the clever creative stuff that
at the moment is mostly done in Europe
and North America. Paxman concluded
that this was not how complacent western
governments saw things developing and he
could see no easy way for the current
imbalance of trade to be equalised. Rather
the reverse.
That’s always been true. For it to work requires a far higher demand than is physically possible especially with the huge amount of productivity increase we’ve had and keep getting.
Giovani Tiso:
http://bat-bean-beam.blogspot.co.nz/
…In this, the dusk of the neoliberal era, the storyline is so common that it has become difficult to muster any real outrage. That manager who is forced to resign by the catastrophic effects of his hubris or incompetence might keep drawing his seven-figure salary and look forward to a seven-figure severance, while all around him the lowly employees of his unravelling company are laid off without entitlements, no longer surprises us. Deep down, or more frequently right on the surface, we all know that the much celebrated risk-takers seldom take any risks. They are a caste more than a social class, insulated from the consequence of their actions; rewarded for failing as much as for succeeding….
Note to Draco.
The above link appears to go to the front page of bat-bean-beam. Despite having the blog piece open when I copied the link. There is an alternative link in the ‘feeds’ column
Corporate Memory
The easy way to tell if you’ve correctly copied the address in most blogs is to see if the name of the post appears in the link that you paste.
And always click on the title of the post, then use that URL to cut and paste (unless you are on Tumeke, which has some bizarre set up).
Try the date of the post – that works
That’d be the time at the bottom of the post marty.
I see Tim Selwyn is back writing more, will have to catch up.
oops yes indeed, the time at the bottom
Is this really one of the supposedly more informative radio programmes in NZ I’m suffering through this morning? Asking a farmer if he has any idea what the weather will be; an earthquake thingee jiggy machine; dusty roads and phlegm…seriously?!
I wasn’t listening this morning – but on the farms and drought issue there are plenty of more informative stories out there to be told, rather than just asking when it’s going to rain.
I’ve been off the grid for a few days, and visiting some rural areas in the North Island. It’s an eye-opener for a townie like me to see and hear first-hand how the drought is biting out there – it’s a key fact of daily living.
It’s not just the endless sight of brown grasslands, but the reality of living on septic tanks; people already buying in water for daily use, with the sights of water tanks doing their deliveries; farmings having to stop milking because they can’t provide the vast quantities of water that cows need to produce milk; farmers worried about the already pregnant cows and autumn calving; farmers collaborating to release waters into local streams via dams; inside walls of houses cracking as the house dries out…. etc, etc
Blinglish is right to talk of a change to farming practices – there’s a clear difference in how green the fields of drought resistant grass still looks. But surely there needs to be a more in-depth discussion about changing the kinds of food produced in drought-prone areas? Dairy farming is water intensive.
Yes it is – between 15x and 20x more water is needed for a dairy farm than for a sheep and beef operation.
I don’t believe that this drought is the worst n the North Island’s history. I think the water gap has been caused by far more farmers needing far more water now than they did even say 10 years ago.
Root cause once again being capitalism, btw. Looting the land, rather than working with it.
A+
Plus the increase in commercial crops that need a lot of water. The water tables are already getting salinated which in turn will increase the problem even if there is no severe drought.
Love It
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/chinas-top-political-advisers-pledge-fealty-to-communist-party-reject-western-democracy/2013/03/11/e53a64a4-8ac7-11e2-a88e-461ffa2e34e4_story.html
Love It
Love It
Blinglish is part of NACT’s disgraceful attitude to NZx and the main enterprise of the country. He says that the government isn’t going to do much for needy farmers, but NACT has been prepared to overturn democratic decision makers over water around Christchurch close to his own close-knit farm area connections, and have also supported the risk investors in the poorly-run SCF still in the same part of the country.
I think that looking at farms of different sizes and ownership will show that the hard-working family farmers on their own property are getting different treatment to these farm investors who are onto a good thing sitting at home and virtually having a contractor to run the place for them, and likely to run the workers into the ground too. That’s what Crafar was after too but just couldn’t bring it off.
There is an obvious need for feed in the North Island, and it needs to be available cheaply and allocated fairly. Yet there seems no interest from Blinglish in moving his well-clad bum to help out. There needs to be A Feed Allocation Officer from government working with Federated Farmers, and an offer from Kiwi Rail our very own public railway to provide relief transport with some assistance from the transport community too at cost.
The help to the farmers seem to be limited to the very worst off, ‘to keep food on the table’.
Federated Farmers need to be doing more stressed farms and farmers apart from suicide counselling. Yet what I’m hearing is that old stuff about resilience blah blah and how farmers are used to droughts, they are just part of the weather cycle. A 60 year one, and with knowledge that this will occur again. What the Fed Farmers are on about now is to manipulate legislation so they have free reign to all the water in NZ.
Farming is our major earner in this country and we always hear how skilled our farmers are, so when they are in dire straits we can’t afford to let these clever businesspeople go down the drain. There’s talk about how farmers have to change their methods – one useful thing would be to stop over-stocking their land and sucking water from the river system to serve the excess animals. Another would be to link into Lincoln University lucerne and other feed research more. We probably have most of the answers to our feed and water questions in published papers or the knowledgable brains of professional thinkers.
Deal with the farm debt issue, and make sure it never repeats, and destocking land will not be a problem.
And how did that farm debt come about?
It didnt help that the Rural Bank was flogged off…
Why?
Some good points there, prism. Chris Trotter has published a post on the Nat Party agenda to grab water – on The Daily Blog today.
karol That was a very forthright and to the point piece by Trotter. I have copied some of it from The Daily Blog as we all need to get these points clear in our minds. And some bolded ones to be even clearer.
The conservation groups attempting to protect New Zealand’s water resources from over-exploitation and pollution are caught in a vice. On one side, the Government is strengthening the power of central government to over-ride the rights of those affected by the plans of private industry. On the other, it is giving the ultimate responsibility for conserving (or not) our lakes, rivers and streams to local government.
In the areas most likely to be affected adversely, these bodies are dominated by the local representatives of large-scale farming and commercial interests. The Government’s proposed changes deny conservationists the right to challenge these local councillors’ decisions or seek to have them overturned in the Environment Court.
And if, in the unlikely event of a local authority ending up with a majority of councillors determined to resist the demands of local farmer and business elites, well, this government has already demonstrated its willingness to dismiss such irritatingly literal executors of the people’s willand replace them with appointed bureaucrats absolutely bound to do their masters’ bidding.
Dirty thieving greedy farmers and their political lackeys.
Let the farmers live in their shit and run out of water. Who gives a shit when they run out of water after stealing it.
Fuck their attitude and approach to the rest of the country.
You reap what you sow – and looky at that, the farmers have run out of water……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
There is a desire from an unholy trinity of farming, business and iwi to monopolise our water assets and the groups that will miss out are the domestic and recrational users.
The single mother who has to bath her kids will end up paying more for water than the farmer who uses it to irrigate is fields.
and iwi? Don’t think so millsy but keep on your bandwagon because it says so much about you and that is good – at least you didn’t threaten to kick the shit out of them lol
Well would you look at that there is marty mars playing the man and not the ball again. What a surprise.
fuck off stalker-turd
Actually I think tourism might be our major earner.
Actually, colonial weka, nobody is “our earner” anymore. We are completely and utterly part of a globalised economy so no sector “earns” anything for “New Zealand”, we all just earn for ourselves, independently and individually.
This whole idea that somehow farming pays for NZ is complete and utter bunkum.
And the most useful, IMO, would be to replant the native forests and leave them there. Don’t get anywhere near as much evaporation from the floor of a forest as you do from wide open farm land which means our subterranean aquifers wouldn’t deplete as they would get more water into them. Unfortunately, the capitalist paradigm sees forests as unproductive land because it’s not making some rich dude richer.
Or/and mimic natural grazing cycles. Allow grass or pasture to grow to maturity before allowing it to be grazed. As well as building up soil health and mass (which in turn sequestrates carbon), water retention is markedly increased and because roots have time to grow to their full extent (eg deeper), the grasses become more resistant to drought.
Good gravy did David Clark just get lucky or what.
He gets his first career Members’ Bill through, without a fight, and without the Government stealing the policy, on a hugely popular issue.
David Clark just got us more holidays.
Does this guy have hard work in his political muscle or was he just sensationally lucky?
According to Sun Tzu, it should be difficult to tell the difference 🙂
Ha! Good on DC (the younger).
He was initially lucky that his private members bill was selected in the ballot process. So was Louisa Wall. Not casting aspersions on either MP, but there are other Opposition MPs who would have made equally as good a fist promoting their bills had they got lucky. Even so, congratulations to both of them.
David Clark is Excellent!
English and Key, not so much…
RNZ- English, on “Extended Government Assistance for farmers; there shouldn’t be expectations of long-term assistance.”
Key / English: regardless of the referendum signatures Asset Sales will go ahead (Shearer has registered) and “sure as little green apples, majority of signatures will turn out to be bogus”; might as well have a big book burning while they are at it; according to Waikato schools the methods of teaching / assessing reading and writing are not effective anyway.
on this Bank Fees class action; an expected return of 1-17c in the dollar (Lawyers 25% if win), Three years to action and according to Dom hard-copy (not on web-site, tricky) a win far from guaranteed.
from “60 Minutes”-China’s domestic residential and retail property investment across peak (may have something to do with o /seas investment initiatives), while domestically, commercial property investment still growing.
(Stuff TV news sometimes, when the first item is Stuart Bloody Wilson; freakin’ voyeurs!
Fish and Game on the RMA water management reforms; local body politicians will defer to farmers on Water Conservation Orders; “changes will wreck waterways”.(Fizzy Lime anybody?)
just Killing ‘Em Softly http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/killing_them_softly/
(groovy soundtrack)
Wonder how many of those who have ‘Registered and Interest’ in Mighty River Power shares, actually intend to buy any?
Now that the hype and hysteria is subsiding – and folks start to get a handle on how truly SELFISH they are being, to buy into the sellout of electricity assets, when SO MANY Kiwis can’t even afford to have a heater on in winter?
INVESTORS BEWARE!
Seen this?
“Press Release, Molly Melhuish, Energy Analyst
22 February 2013
Prospective investors are warned
Investors are warned that Mighty River Power is no longer a safe, utility-type investment prospect.
For years, New Zealand’s generator-retailers enjoyed a predictable revenue stream from captive residential consumers. This enabled them to build so many new power stations that there is now a glut of wholesale electricity. Wholesale prices have fallen by a quarter or even more.
Mighty River Power’s power purchase costs fell by 22% in the last six months, yet they hiked retail prices by 2%. They had to, to maintain the dividend stream expected by their shareholder.
Residential consumers will no longer tolerate rising prices at a time when wholesale prices are falling. This is not market pricing, it is price gouging of captive consumers.
Investors are warned that consumers dispute the pricing process that made our prices rise “to enable new generation to be built”, but fails to give us the benefit of market pricing in an electricity glut.
Ends
Contact: 04 568 4873, 027 230 5911
________________________________________________________________________
BOYCOTT MIGHTY RIVER POWER!
PLEDGE NOT TO BUY ANY SHARES!
WE ALREADY OWN MIGHTY RIVER POWER!
HELP DRIVE DOWN THE PRICE OF MIGHTY RIVER POWER!
Switch Off Mercury Energy!
Penny Bright
A Spokesperson for the Switch Off Mercury Energy community group
Reading and Writing
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/8411359/Schools-distrust-key-reading-writing-tests
(making Stuff up )
following on from Bernard
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/8406518/Hot-house-prices-may-force-rate-rise
rates picked to rise (amid a weak job market as well; Deutsche Bank; freakin lying NAct pollies)
http://pundit.co.nz/content/the-responsibility-to-protect-syrians
Jane Young – Pathetic!
Is this the level of journo mindset which prevails in NZ!
She writes a thoughtful piece. muzza what is so bad?
Comment no.1, directly under the article, goes some way to providing an answer to the question ‘what is so bad?’ about such a ‘thoughtful’ one eyed piece exhibiting, by now bog standard, obvious features of selective amnesia
Agreed. Comment #1 was more worthy of being called journalism than Jane Young’s piece.
Hi Prism, hope you’re well.
JY, appears to have…
A: Deliberately written a dumbed down article
B: Lied
C: Has no idea about the complex reality of what is happening in the ME
D: Not read any/enough about the well writen (including MSM), analysis about the Syrian/ME situations
E: Drunk the juice
F: All of the above
It astounds me, but does not surprise me, given the amount of material available not only about Syria, but Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia et al, Jane Young manages to write this simplistic, one eyed drivel.
Poor in the extreme!
🙄
Hey McFlock, chin up me old china plate
McFlock, is the ‘rolly eyes’ a reference to something muzza has said in the above comment or just to the fact that muzza has commented? If it’s the former, then I for one would appreciate a bit of clarity on exactly which part of what muzza said you’re referring to. If the latter, then it’s bully-boy bullshit and has (regardless of any previous disagreements or whatever) no place here. 🙂
@ Bill
+1
It was a response to muzza providing half a dozen assertions without a single piece of supporting evidence or indeed a clear assertion of what muzza assumes the facts to be. With a bonus on the reference to juice.
Mind you, prism seems to think that they got all the info they needed, so what do I care?
McFlock you are showing yourself to be pretty short on wit my friend!
My evidence is the appaulingly simplistic, misleading, one dimensional article I linked to from JY on pundit.
The *half dozen assertions* were points made having read her article, your request for evidence goes against the numerous articles linked to and posted on this site and elsewhere about the Syrian conflict, there has been many a discussion here.
Go trawling, you know exactly the sort of reports about the Syrian *conflict* that I’m talking about, the telegraph, guardian etc and even some of the yank establishment MSM commenting on what have become well known analysis, which Jane Young makes no reference to, the 6 points are some options as to how this managed to happen.
Your response above is a weak response to Bill calling you out!
Yeah whatever dude.
Frankly I thought the article a bit light, but then it’s not exactly a geopol or ME specialist site. Hardly fair cause for your crowing.
Secondly, you were apparently explaining why you were “astounded but unsurprised” to someone who had not trawled the internet (a remarkably apt expression, btw). In the obvious absence of shared knowledge, explaining in depth your belief as to what the facts are, and some nice trawling grounds where someone might get an accurate and unbiased précis of the situation, would be useful.
Further weak comments from you McFlock, it matters not what the sites specialty is, which is generalist in any case given the varied contributers at pundit.
The point is, there is no excuse for such uninformed writing on such a complex, serious issue. Either do some reading, at leadt attempt to build an informed picture, then write, or dont bother.
You may recall Michael Valley writing on this site about the Syrian situation, his articles were absolute rubbish, and he got pulled to bits here over it, and has not been seen here writing about the ME again, after the 2 or 3 attempts he did have.
No excuse McFlock, not by people who call themselves journos, which Jane Young does!
Lol. You still haven’t bothered to point out where you think her summary of the situation was incorrect.
I wouldn’t ask for or expect an in depth summary from a non-specialist journo on a “generalist” site. I would expect it from a site dedicated to e.g. international affairs.
It does actually matter what the site editors’ focus is. For example, one might be shocked and appalled at the lack of attention authors here give to celebrity pregnancies. And everyone else would call them a dick for expecting such coverage on TS.
McFlock – I don’t need to point it out, the summary speaks for itself, and ive been over this ground many times on this site, and have referred you to the Michael Valley posts, to assist you in some further TS reading.
Go away, do some reading, then report back, until then , see ya!
It might be a shock to you, but not everybody bookmarks or even visits the entirety of the multitude of links placed here by people of varying political perspectives and grasps on reality.
Whereas you, who obviously rate the issue quite highly, would be reasonably expected to have appropriately sourced links to hand to provide “cliff notes” for those of us who haven’t done the extensive research that you obviously believe you have done.
Seriously, what JY claim, specifically, was misleading or incorrect? Or is the entirety of your criticism simply that the analysis was too simplistic because the article wasn’t long enough?
Thanks muzza – I think your answer was very full and rounded. I waded through the Young article that in a shorter form would be okay to appear in a women’s magazine that likes to carry occasional serious items to give them some gravitas. I’ll read more and learn more about this conflict. I obviously need to get a bigger picture.
Hi Prism, there is plenty of MSM analysis around the Syrian situation, and also Libya, and the ME in general. Take the time to read as much as you can, because its criminal what has been going on.
Here is one to get you started
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/exclusive-we-believe-that-the-usa-is-the-major-player-against-syria-and-the-rest-are-its-instruments-8082457.html
Cheers
Hi Prism,
I agree with muzza. For a little background on intervention in Syria, I suggest that you read up on Benghazi.
https://ajmacdonaldjr.wordpress.com/2012/11/06/more-benghazi-details-emerge-but-questions-persist/
One of the places in Libya most awash with such weapons in the most dangerous of hands is Benghazi. It now appears that Stevens was there — on a particularly risky day, with no security to speak of and despite now copiously documented concerns about his own safety and that of his subordinates — for another priority mission: sending arms recovered from the former regime’s stocks to the “opposition” in Syria.
Listening to Jokeyhen talking about Solid Energy’s strategic decisions – he is very demeaning. The whole thing about having SOE’s is that they can make business decisions without having politicians pulling the reins. I think that is a bit dangerous but that has been the ideology.
And now Jokeyhen is pecking away at them because they tried to introduce new ideas to deal with future needs. But Key was looking at the money being produced, not the investment into national energy infrastructure needed. Basically the guy doesn’t want to move into the 21st century but to stay in a time warp close to 2000 that doesn’t stray beyond 2008.
Do you think prism that it is significant that up until today the Ministers involved with Solid Energy had nothing really to say and avoided interviews. But when Don Elder says he will meet with the Select Committee and give open and frank answers, then suddenly Key and English open up and lay what seems to me groundwork for how hard the Ministers worked to prevent Solid Energy disaster.
No doubt the next step will be to demand that Solid Energy would be better off in private hands. Watch this space.
ianmac
You’re right on it I reckon.
John Key’s mind is locked on the pre-GFC price of his Bank of America shares compared to what they’re worth today (they’ve lost around 80% of their value since 2008) and he’s been in mourning ever since.
Rumor has it that Slippery’s 50 mill has now shrunk to 45 off of the back of the Global Financial Crisis…
Only lost $5 million? I guess that’s the benefit of being on the inside…
To big to prosecute the large financial institutions have attained sovereign state status.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/06/eric-holder-banks-too-big_n_2821741.html
.
been a soon time comin’; NWO anybody?
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34253.htm
The Amazing Rise and Fall of Presumption Of Innocence
March 11, 2013 “Information Clearing House” –
The most bizarre part of Section 1021(b)(2) of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is that almost no one has heard about it.
And whoever has heard about it, doesn’t want to talk about it. It’s almost as if someone took Dr. Goebbels’ “The bigger the lie, the more it will be believed” dictum and mutated it into a 21st century super weapon: “Tell the truth, but make it so shocking that no one wants to hear about it.”
No one wants to hear about the military having the power to detain you on American soil, without due process, indefinitely, at the discretion of the President. It sounds too Stalin. It reeks of conspiracy theory. Besides, it’s clearly unconstitutional. So let’s go get some lunch.
That’s why on December 4, 2012, the new NDAA passed the Senate with a 98-0 vote. Almost everyone was out at lunch.
Except seven individuals who decided to sue Obama instead. But other than that, the resulting rumpus was minor.
Since February 13th, “The Seven” are on their way to the Supreme Court. But no one wants to hear about it. A few individuals against the United States government sounds too Matthew McConaughey, unless you’re a natural-born activist.
Former New York Times war correspondent Chris Hedges, the leading plaintiff in the case against Obama, writes about “NDAA and the Death of the Democratic State.” But no one wants to really read about it. Most aspiring journalists and independent minds who become curious about NDAA find that there is a deafening silence around the topic. When they try to raise questions, the silence deafens them further.
Then there are the conspiracy buffs. They distance the problem from the main stream audience even further. No one wants to be associated with folks who think that the President could be a reptile.
And then there is Noam Chomsky…..
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34253.htm
Wow!
What has Shane Jones ever done for the Labour Party, the labour movement/left, and/or Maori?
Carries on the overall theme of Labour wanting to be a “hands on Govt”… Ill get my coat.
He voted for David Shearer.
I thought he had things well in hand.
Could be interesting tomorrow, Wednesday 13 March 2013, at the Auckland Town Hall, 10am, when the Auckland Council Performance and Accountability Committee meets?
Will ‘anti-corruption whistle-blowers’ Gary Osbourne and Penny Bright be granted ‘speaking rights’ at Public Forum – or not?
_____________________________________________________________________________
12 March 2013
‘Open Letter’.
Councillor Richard Northey
Chair of the Performance and Accountability Committee,
Auckland Council
RE: Your refusal to grant speaking rights to Gary Osbourne.
“I decline speaking rights for this meeting on the grounds that this issue was addressed by the submitter at the Governing Body on 28 February.
Cr Richard Northey”
From: Judith Moore
To: ‘Gary Osborne’
Cc: Jason Marris ; Warwick McNaughton
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 11:24 AM
Subject: RE: Speaking Rights
Good morning Mr Osborne
Further to your request to speak to the Accountability and Performance Committee 13 March 2013, I have forwarded your request to the chair of this committee including the updated information you have given to me. I am in receipt of this response from the chair:
I decline speaking rights for this meeting on the grounds that this issue was addressed by the submitter at the Governing Body on 28 February.
Cr Richard Northey
Regards
Judith Moore | Democracy Advisor
Democracy Services
Supporting: Cr Noelene Raffills and Cr Cameron Brewer.
Involved in the following committees/subcommittees:
Accountability and Performance, CEO Review.
Ph. +64 9 307 7288 DDI| Extn. (40) 7288 | Mob. +64 21 708 401 | Fax +64 9 30 77579
Auckland Council, Level 14, Civic Building, 1 Greys Avenue,
_____________________________________________________________________________
Councillor Richard Northey – may I respectfully suggest that you reconsider your above-mentioned decision?
Gary Osbourne has arguably SIGNIFICANTLY new subject matter to raise on this issue – unless of course you think that a request to the Minister of Local Government for an inquiry into the authorisation by the CEO of Auckland Council, blocking of correspondence between concerned citizens is effectively a ‘non-event’?
Perhaps you could remind me of the last time the Minister of Local Government was formally requested to inquire into a matter concerning Auckland Council?
Please be reminded that this is the PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE of Auckland Council?
This is a SERIOUS matter of PERFORMANCE and ACCOUNTABILITY – is it not?
I look forward to your confirmation that both Gary Osbourne and myself ,( I have yet to have my request for speaking rights confirmed), have been granted 5 minutes each speaking time, as requested at Public Forum, Performance and Accountability Committee, Auckland Council, Wednesday 13 March 2013, 10 am at the Auckland Town Hall.
_____________________________________________________________________________
‘Open Letter’
10 March 2013
Dear Judith,
This is a formal request for speaking rights at ‘Public Forum’ at the
upcoming meeting next Wednesday morning 13 March 2013, 10am Auckland Town Hall – Accountability and Performance Committee.
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/AboutCouncil/meetings_agendas/committees/Pages/accountabilityandperformancecommittee.aspx
TERMS OF REFERENCE
The Accountability and Performance Committee will have responsibility for:
• Monitoring the performance of the Council against the Long Term Plan and Annual Plan;
• Monitoring, setting policies and reviewing the performance of the CCOs against
organisational, CCO and SOI’s targets;
• Considering the Councils Annual report and recommending to the Governing Body for
adoption;
• Financial performance of Council functions; and
• Delegation of powers to subcommittee(s).
The Committee will be supported in its work by the following:
• The Council Controlled Organisation Strategy Review Subcommittee;
• The Chief Executive Review Subcommittee; and
• The Tenders and Procurement Subcommittee.
Relevant legislation includes but is not limited to:
Local Government Act 2002;
Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009;
Port Companies Act 1988; and
Companies Act 1987
_____________________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT MATTER:
1) The total amount of money spent to date by Auckland Council on legal fees/ costs relating to all Court proceedings arising from or pertaining to Occupy Auckland prosecutions, and related matters.
2) Why I believe it is totally inappropriate/ unlawful for the CEO of Auckland Council, Doug McKay to investigate himself, regarding the complaints I and others have made about his role in authorising the ‘blocking’ / filtering / effective censorship of emails from some citizens going directly to elected representatives.
3) Progress (if any) on ‘opening the books’ and making publicly-available the following details of ‘contracts issued’ by Auckland Council and Auckland Council CCOs:
a) NAMES of contractors / consultants.
b) SCOPE of contracts issued.
c) TERM of contracts issued.
d) VALUE of contracts issued.
4) Progress (if any) on transparency and accountability of Auckland Council elected representatives and staff responsible in any way in the awarding of Auckland Council or CCO contracts, in the form of a publicly-available ‘Register of Interests’, in order to minimise possible ‘conflicts of interest’.
……
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Looking forward to the lawful democratic rights of citizens, plus commonsense prevailing.
Kind regards,
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
Appellant, Occupy Auckland vs Auckland Council Appeal.
2013 Auckland Mayoral Candidate
Looks like John Armstrong has been briefed and got his orders – http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10870637 – on the latest excuse from this government for it’s economic failure.
Armstrong’s piece is the first shot in the Beehive’s excuse making that despite (or rather because) of austerity there will be no surplus before the 2014 gemeral election.
No surplus.
Not due to economic incompetence on behalf of Double Dipton – that grossly over-rated and grossly over-promoted ex-treasury tea boy – and the rest ofwideboy economic dunderheads like John Key. Oh no. It’ll be the drought. After the earthquake. After the GFC.
Because if we’ve learnt one thing from Don Elder it is that he and the others in the frat boy elite like John Key and Bill English are never, ever actually responsible for anything.
Poor old Populuxe1 is not the only one to uncritically buy into the campaign of denigration against an official enemy. Evidently one Justin Timberlake is not just a musical genius, he is also a thoughtful and discriminating person who thinks for himself. Oh yes. …
Justin Timberlake rubbishes Hugo Chavez
That well known wit and erudite political commentator, Justin Timberlake has seen fit to rubbish Chavez on Saturday Night Live using Elton John’s ‘Candle in the Wind’ as his vehicle.
The song contains such hilarious lyrics as, “You lived your life like a candle in the wind… if a candle could pull out two pistols at a press conference.” You want more? Okay. “You said the US causes earthquakes and you outlawed Coke Zero. And on your shoulder stood your parrot with a matching red beret.”
We came, we saw, we didn’t laugh…
http://members5.boardhost.com/medialens/msg/1363022838.html
Just as well we don’t live deep within a system that is rife with propaganda, innit? And that Justin Timberlake is simply, albeit tastelessly, excercising free speech and freedom of expression; the right of any free mind.
Yes, just like the Ku Klux Klan, the ADL and Anders Breivik/Nevil Gibson.
Hmm, not quite. There’s them that merely echo official and dominant themes (Timberlake and Gibson) and thems that use them as foundations on which to build ever more twisted and sinister edifices. (KKK, ADL, Breivik…)
Irony-free Radio
Radio New Zealand National, Tuesday 12 March 2013
Recently some old fool from Grey Power has been making like Winston and sounding off against immigration. Of course, plenty of National Radio listeners are concerned about the “problem”. Just after the 3:00 news, Jim Mora read out a letter from a listener, expressing grave concern that “immigrants might be coming from countries which have corruption, nepotism and little concern for the environment.”
Mora read that out without even the slightest hint of irony.
Sounds like they’re worried about ex-pats returning home… 🙂
Ha!
Jim Mora is incapable of finding much wrong with the way things are in New Zealand, or anything really. I do grant this – he’s ignitable about poor grammar and bad manners.
Old Jimmie’s real missions in life are; (1) to be extraordinarily well paid as befits he who talks like the unthumbed pages of a dictionary, and (2) to be acknowledged for his prodigious intelligence, and (3) the former and the latter goals met (of course), to being fulsomely, terminally, “affable”.
Oh yay ! Can’t even pronounce “Hone” correctly.
I do grant this – he’s ignitable about poor grammar and bad manners.
Even then, he’s extremely selective about what passes for good and bad manners. He said nothing one day when Dr Michael Bassett said that Nicky Hager is a Holocaust-denier. And neither did the other guest on “The Panel” that day.
So flagrant, shameless lying and defamation is not bad manners, at least as far as Jim Mora is concerned.
morrissey
😀
Now Joyce has found the money to set debt collectors on teachers overpaid via Novopay ….. unbelievable monsters.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10870792
Which debt collectors and what’s the ministers connection to them?
Imagine the current National Party trying to run a election campaign based on honest governance like they did in the 60s…
http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2013/03/democracy-national-style.html
on the Q.T;
Poorlah-‘31% of Gateway assessments-emotional, psychological and behavioural dysfunction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQutPF0Q-wo
(you can never go back to the scene of a perfect crime; go back (not) and fix that you mofos)
meanwhile, back in NZFirst (last, Winston, very sad man, even Grey Power are split over your dog-whistling) Race-Card on Chinese immigrant / parent ratio categories; strong upward trend in in parent category trend from China :); just to repeat, even Grey Power is splitting chairs over this…
Woodhouse-“it’s about skilled migrants (wealthy as well) and their parents meeting the “criteria” Ha Ha Winston. and then, and then, Horans’ junk starts sinking on the same tide…
N.Smith (a Doctor of What?)-let’s increase urban sprawl in Ak (and fuel some more oil import consumption while we are at it aye!)
Tolley- on recovery of assets from crime; “nobody should profit from misery in the community” (unless you’re a brewer Baron or a liquor outlet…)
Hipkins, Machiavellian Manouevres aside, appears to be dogged (that Coleman appears a contemptible un-cool-man) while Chippie flustered the Speaker as well. “Disorder”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PldpBJEn4vQ
Attorney General Bio-Security Report (how long before these things reach the “house” ?
-the MPI “under-prepared for significant Bio-hazard Incursions, and as O’Connor pointed out, NZ more dependent on bio-security than any (most) other countries. 🙁
And you know what they say about pictures and words.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BFG7CCzCQAEQIJr.jpg:large
http://billmoyers.com/2013/03/10/two-new-films-address-american-poverty/
Here’s the trailer.
http://www.takepart.com/place-at-the-table/film
Jesus Wept joe, where will it end?
I’m leery of the info and the calculations in that first linked image.
Firstly, it says information used in the chart was sourced from the UN economic commission for LA and the Carribean. Obviously not true as the USA is not located in either of those areas.
Secondly, it is trying to tell a story about equality using (it claims) stats about income while utterly ignoring wealth which is, well…a far more accurate measure of equality/inequality.
Thirdly, the underlying message it is sending is that there is nothing wrong with inequality (ie, greater equality equates with greater numbers of people living in slums)
Here’s a vid linked to from the Bill Moyers site – wealth distribution in the USA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPKKQnijnsM
And here’s the Mother Jones article it’s based on
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/income-inequality-in-america-chart-graph
Found the source Bill and the images were from a Habitat for Humanity post on global poverty and I doubt were intended to mean that there is nothing wrong with inequality.
. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/27/us-income-inequality-wors_n_2561123.html
http://thisisadamsblog.com/post/41220961868/take-the-annual-income-of-the-wealthiest-20
The source is the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean annual Statistical Yearbook, which was released January 10. All numbers are for 2011, except Bolivia (2009), El Salvador (2010), Guatemala (2006), Honduras (2010), and Nicaragua (2009). The U.S. figure comes from Census Bureau data cited by Congressional Research Service [PDF].
http://habitatlac.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/hechos-e-imagenes-de-la-pobreza-en-el-mundo/
(holdin’ off readin’ the Book of Revelation for a bit 🙂 )
Well done to Russell Norman @ question-time today.
“Ombudsman office at crisis point
The Ombudsman’s office says it is struggling under its heaviest workload ever, and wading through a backlog of thousands of complaints.”
Worrying 3mins on RNZ about the Ombudsman being swamped with complaints to the point of being unable to deliver, and NAct politicians exploiting this. No increase in funding has been forthcoming despite public warnings from the ombudsman’s office a year ago.
The speaker says ‘the public will judge’ when they don’t answer questions, the MSM have their tongues up John Key’s anus, and the public can’t get a response from the OIA in time. Who’s holding the government to account?
If New Zealand was genuinely the ‘least corrupt country in the world’ (along with Denmark and Finland according to the arguably bogus and non-transparent Transparency International 2012 ‘Corruption Perception Index’ – we should arguably be the most transparent?
If the Public Records Act 2005 was implemented in a proper way, there should be FAR more information publicly-available.
If that were the case – people wouldn’t have to then request this information via the Office of the Ombudsman?
Commonsense really.
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
Wow……..what’s happened with Mr Bean’s mouthy wee cuzzy Patrick Gower ?
3 News tonight – “In my opinion the politicians are gutless (latter word angrily)………it’s up to the people to decide whether Liu (Shane Jones/immigration fame) should be a New Zealand citizen.”
So if he’s an activist all of a sudden can we expect him to fish below John Key’s Crosby Textor sophistry (to glamorise it) ? Another mark of how these up-themselves dorks fancy they’re part of the story.
Present the facts tele-goon. I’ll make up my own mind !
further from the “box”
-droughts gonna effect the prices of green veges (onions not so much); good to be growin’ ones’ own.
-English on the drought-“a significant effect; will affect the economy for a couple of years to come; nothin’ like all your cows in one herring-bone, or rotary for that matter (where have i read that before?)
next? power rationing from low hydro-electric reserves
-resistance to anti-biotics-“pose a catastrophe threat (may set medicine back a century) as no new anti-biotics been developed in the last 25 years (due to a market failure); the ol’ “science priests”aye.
🙂
and Eugenie Sage was helpful in Q.T also.
that “notorious tr*ll” is not anonymous; he’s the son of a former band member…
-Key in South America? “no big bang announcements” (other than our continued role in the trafficking of coke i spose…
-meanwhile in ChCh, regarding psych. health; “optimism is starting to run out”; “complexity of cases has increased”-CDHB
however, the good news; Agnetha Faltskog’s come-back; “A” 🙂 🙂 🙂
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/abbas-agnetha-faltskog-releases-single-427208
Fukushima, they knew.
http://www.gregpalast.com/fukushima-they-knew-2/?
LOOKS LIKE THERE WILL BE A ‘BUNFIGHT’ AT THE AUCKLAND COUNCIL PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE, WED 13 MARCH 2013, 10 AM AT THE AUCKLAND TOWN HALL:
Please be advised that I WILL be taking Speaking Rights, having now been declined on what I consider to be an UNLAWFUL basis. NOT a good look for Auckland Council – especially in election year? SPEAKING RIGHTS DENIED: 3:51 PM (10 minutes ago)
(REPLY FROM AUCKLAND COUNCILLOR RICHARD NORTHEY – DENYING ME SPEAKING RIGHTS)
Good afternoon Ms Bright
Further to your request to speak to the Accountability and Performance Committee 13 March 2013, I have forwarded your request to the chair of this committee. I am in receipt of this response from the chair:
These 4 matters have either been recently considered or dealt with by the Governing Body or by an appropriate Council Committee at the Submitter’s request or else are the subject of an LGOIMA Request by the submitter.
Therefore the request to present in public input is declined.
Cr Richard Northey
_____________________________________________________________________________
COUNCILLOR CATHY CASEY SUPPORTS MY RIGHT TO SPEAK:
Hi Penny
I support your right to speak.. If the Committee Chair does not allow you to address us, I will move that we suspend standing orders and allow you to have your five minutes. I need a seconder.
Happy Tuesday!
……
Dr Cathy Casey
Councillor, Albert-Eden-Roskill Ward
Governing Body, Auckland Council
_____________________________________________________________________________
Penny Bright MY REPLY TO COUNCILLOR CATHY CASEY: 13 March 2013.
Thank you Cathy.
I am not particularly looking forward to going back to the ‘bad old Auckland City Council days’?
After 22 arrests, it ended up 21 -1 to me, and a number of District Court judgments which ‘fine-tuned’ the LGOIMA process, to defend the basic democratic rights of citizens.
If Councillor Richard Northey were to exercise his ‘judgment’ based upon the LAW and previous legal judgments, in my opinion, we wouldn’t be having this problem.
I am getting SO sick of some elected representatives and senior Council staff – just MAKING IT UP – when it comes to the lawful rights of citizens?
Looking forward to confirmation of a number of Councillors, queuing up to second your motion.
Even better, Councillor Richard Northey, exercising rather more sound judgment based upon the LAW, and reconsidering his (unlawful, in my opinion) denial of 5 minutes speaking rights at the Public Forum of Auckland Council Performance and Accountability Committee.
Kind regards,
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’.
Occupy Auckland Appellant (in my own name).
2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
_____________________________________________________________________________
WHAT I WILL BE SPEAKING ABOUT:
_____________________________________________________________________________
1) The total amount of money spent to date by Auckland Council on legal fees/ costs relating to all Court proceedings arising from or pertaining to Occupy Auckland prosecutions, and related matters.
2) Why I believe it is totally inappropriate/ unlawful for the CEO of Auckland Council, Doug McKay to investigate himself, regarding the complaints I and others have made about his role in authorising the ‘blocking’ / filtering / effective censorship of emails from some citizens going directly to elected representatives.
3) Progress (if any) on ‘opening the books’ and making publicly-available the following details of ‘contracts issued’ by Auckland Council and Auckland Council CCOs:
a) NAMES of contractors / consultants.
b) SCOPE of contracts issued.
c) TERM of contracts issued.
d) VALUE of contracts issued.
4) Progress (if any) on transparency and accountability of Auckland Council elected representatives and staff responsible in any way in the awarding of Auckland Council or CCO contracts, in the form of a publicly-available ‘Register of Interests’, in order to minimise possible ‘conflicts of interest’.
……
_____________________________________________________________________________
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
Appellant, Occupy Auckland vs Auckland Council Appeal.
2013 Auckland Mayoral Candidate
AUSTRALIA:
Tasers used on children despite being against manufactures recommendations:
Stun guns have been deployed 149 times against juveniles in NSW alone since 2008 with the youngest offender just 10 years old.
Nearly half of the juveniles were under 17, one quarter were under 16, 18 were under 15 and six under 13.
http://www.news.com.au/national-news/police-can-set-tasers-on-children/story-fncynjr2-1226604074278