An avowed socialist, a champion for raising the minimum wage, campaigning on recalling all overseas troops, and campaigning on climate change. And raising taxes on the rich, and controls on banks.
The opposition parties in this country should be taking notes.
It’s a typically poor analysis. Obama was winning in pledged delegates by about 60 when they went into the convention – so the superdelegates seeing the “voice of the people” swapped to his side.
Sanders is unlikely to have the pledged delegates lead in this race – so the superdelegates will see the “voice of the people” calling for Hillary and stay where they are.
For this outcome to be credible, Sanders would have to win New York and Pennsylvania. This is not very likely. But we will all actually know in a week.
Sanders claims 7 out of the last 8 primaries, but they are mostly small caucus run primaries comprising of party activists. It seems in the US, as with left wing parties elsewhere, that the activist membership is much more left than the general public who are inclined to vote left.
Interestingly, at least in NZ and Australia, that seems less true of centre-right parties. The activists pretty much mirror the voters who are vote for their parties.
We have seen one success of the last 30 odd years, that you lot are not quick to champion, and that is massive disillusionment with the political process. Your so called centre-right is about what, 1/3 of the population – if we lucky? Begs many questions, and yes of the labour party as well.
That said, I find it funny that the narrative keeps changing on Sanders to fit your world view. Congratulations for not asking him to stand down, at least that old chestnut has stopped. I’d like him to win, then we would see what the centre looks like again. Because lets face it – Bernie is nothing if not centre.
Also are you trying to deflect from the fact that many independents vote in the party primaries? And these people are not leftist on the whole, as you claim. Yes some are, some are even greens. But the overwhelming majority of these Americans see something is rotten in their system – that being corporate money in politics, and are voting against it.
Good luck with your narrative Wayne, but more and more people are becoming disillusioned with a system set up to enrich the already rich, at the expense of the poor and middle class.
Bernie will not persuade a single super delegate by trying to say that all those who don’t vote would support him, or that he can dramatically improve voter turnout in the general election.
Whoever wins, wins. Bernie cannot make a loss mean a win. He actually has to win on the votes.
I’d say Bernie has done really well in getting disillusioned voters to vote. And independents are a group we don’t understand well in New Zealand.
I don’t think Bernie has ever said he represent those who have not voted. Can’t think of a time when he has.
I look at New York with much interest, it has been rather enjoyable to watch Bernie been written off so many times, only to see him come back stronger.
But if Sanders loses, he will be following the spectacular fall of the left’s vote that has occurred in Australasia and Europe for a decade. It’s bad for your reflux to hope and risk so much on so little. You may have to learn to settle.
I’m glad I don’t have to wake up in the morning and wrestle with that kind of tortuous logic coming from my own head Ad. 😉
A guy who stood on a centrist (statist) programme, began at 5 or 10% (something like that) and will, at worst, run Clinton close. And that’s a ‘spectacular fall of the left’s (statist’s) vote’?
Still shaking my head here trying to get a grip on the thought processes behind your conclusion.
“But if Sanders loses, he will be following the spectacular fall of the left’s vote that has occurred in Australasia and Europe for a decade. It’s bad for your reflux to hope and risk so much on so little. You may have to learn to settle.” Ad
Getting a wee bit previous there, aren’t we Ad? Be careful you don’t peak too soon. And blow the whole scam.
Ad, the left’s vote has fallen for the very reason you are promoting, the Tony Blair’s and the Roger Douglas’s and the Kevin Rudd’s who have taken their parties to the right, disillusioned their support base.
Personally I think you are being a bit premature suggesting that the Labour Party go down this path this early in.
Bernie Sanders genius, is in ignoring all this “accepted wisdom”.
As I said before; it is my opinion that Labour, (and the Greens) would be well advised to take a lead from Bernie Sanders and start openly promoting similar and even more radical left policies.
Let’s see how the electorate responds.
Like Bernie Sanders they might be pleasantly surprised at the support they receive.
And, what have Labour got to lose, they seem to be on a downward spiral at the moment.
For this outcome to be credible, Sanders would have to win New York and Pennsylvania.” WAYNE
Though it is contained within the link. I didn’t, make any comment on the outcome.
It is my opinion that it is a pretty foregone conclusion that the establishment will close ranks to avert the threat from their left posed by Sanders. (Probably more effectively and with more determination than they will to oppose the threat from their right.)
What is noteworthy is the thirst for openly expressed Left wing policies by the American public.
Which seems to go against all accepted wisdom. Or so we are told.
Just watch this space:
When the Labour Party lose the next election, (which seems from all polling quite likely), I expect a huge hue and cry will be raised from the media and all the establishment pundits, (even from those within their own Party) that for Labour to win they need to be more like National and John Key, and even more conservative than they are now.
The real lesson of Bernie Sanders will be buried under an avalanche of right wing columnists and editorials and ernest to-camera monologue’s, urging Labour to move rightward.
The best Prime Minister New Zealand almost didn’t have.
Norman Kirk, as leader of the Labour Party lost two elections before he was elected Prime Minister.
The best Prime Minister New Zealand will never have.
David Cunliffe lost one election and was tumbled in an undemocratic coup by a right wing cabal inside the Labour caucus calling themselves the ABC group.
It can be strongly argued that Labour lost the election not because of David Cunliffe’s leadership but due to the fact of his very last minute promotion (over the objection of the ABC cabal) that the die had already been cast. That and the fact that David Cunliffe had to make some unpopular compromises with his right wing dominated caucus.
It is my opinion that David Cunliffe could have turned Labour’s fortunes around if he had been given the chance during this election cycle.
Instead from where we are now it looks certain that Labour is looking down the barrel of another defeat.
It is all water under the bridge now. But the sacking of David Cunliffe compared to the retention Norman Kirk, is a good example of how the conservative establishment do their best to make sure that Business Continues as Usual.
So how can this situation be remedied.
I would strongly suggest that Andrew Little start listening to David Cunliffe and promote him to a senior role in his shadow cabinet, and that Andrew Little needs to show more ABC neo-liberal hardliners where the door is.
This would be a good organisational start. But more than this Andrew Little needs, contrary to the advice of Wayne and others like him, take on board the lesson of Bernie Sanders.
“It seems in the US, as with left wing parties elsewhere that the activist membership is much more left than the general public who are inclined to vote left.”
And yet Sanders does appreciably better than Hillary in all of the one-to-one match-ups with the various possible Republican nominees (interestingly, that’s also true in the New York State Polls).
So all the world’s rich bankers and wankers avoid their tax all over the planet…
… meaning that the people’s representatives (the government) does not receive proper tax income for use in that society….
… so how about this for a means of raising income for the government…..
Abandon tax.
Government issues its own money as a proportion of the economy each year and uses that. That hits the entire economy equally across the board – fat cats, bankers and wankers, everyone, especially those with wealth and richness, who then suffer the proportionately same amount as the cleaners, drivers, teachers and preachers.
Of course there would inflationary / deflationary and other effects as well, but that cancels itself out.
So – no more tax.
Government issues its own money, at a set proportion of the economy each year, and spends it into the economy as necessary.
With these two actions we make hoarding money worthless.
We would, of course, bring natural monopolies back into government ownership and make it so that they cannot be sold. In fact, no government service will be provided by private businesses. They’re government services for a reason or three: More efficient, benefit from economies of scale but are limited to the people in the nation (i.e, extending outside the nation doesn’t extend the scale), Everyone benefits from them.
Limit income to $100k. Anything over $100k will be taxed at 100%. Really, no one needs an income greater than $100k and so anything more than that is just greed and greed is destroying our society and the environment.
These will make it so that no one will own major assets at all and remove the incentives to own ever more minor assets.
Ban offshore ownership. This will keep the prices in NZ within the bounds of those living in NZ. As far as owning housing and businesses go the market is local, not global.
That’s for starters. Haven’t got time to too much in depth but my posts and comments on TS cover quite a bit.
Under your system Draco what incentive is thier to be industrious, innovate, efficient ( ie the opposite of monopolies) , etc. How competitive would NZ be as an economy if we went with your prescription over time, Would our best and brightest stay, would we evolve or end up like eastern Europe under communism living in a time warp as the west moved on in nearly every human endeavour
I mean tax the economy. Don’t tax the people – they are too tricky…
The economy would effectively be taxed because the additional money issued would lower the value of the existing money in the system. This would happen equally and across the board. Kinda like a flat tax – so it doesn’t address the “progressive tax” issue…
But taxing people is all too hard. I was trying to think of a way to tax something inert and large and unable to be individually fiddled.. and something that applies across everyone….
… which is f course the whole lot of it…. the entire economy …. just take slice of the economy each year to pay for the essentials etc … and a slice can be taken by issuing more money….
Just print money and trust the politicians, who decides essential, when does can’t be bother just print me money become an essential. Both Draco and yourself fail to appreciate human nature in your prescription assuming we just all live in one big homogenous hippy community re our values, goals, aspirations and motivations,likewise we are totally disconnected from of the rest of the world, thus no unintended consequences ie every one chose to stay in our little paradise
On Martyn Bradbury’s Waatea TV last night Nicky Hagar gave an example of an Indonesian billionaire who burned down the rainforests for palm oil and all the profits were channelled through paper companies in untraceable tax havens so he paid no tax in Indonesia to benefit the local population. Or anywhere.
Meanwhile, as a result of this destructive industry orangutangs die (and the NZ dairy industry imports the palm kernel for cow feed). These are the stories we should be told in the mainstream media.
yep, Waatea is how the news should be, not great quality video for obvious reasons but it is way more bearable than clear images of “Hosko” and the rest of the Nat brown nosers
Tolley office “Molotov firebombing”–anyone got any updated info on this?
the PM smeared the TPPA movement via TV and other media on 5 Feb after the impressive actions of 4 Feb, by attempting to link TPPA protests to graffiti and an apparent attempted fire setting in one of Anne Tolley’s four electorate offices (one is shared with another Nat MP)
no statement from Police or Nats since, Tolley’s office is situated in an alley near a bank, with various security cams in place so some idea should have been gained as to the perpetrators
another cold case? it is frustrating that the Nats get a nationwide “hit” on the TPPA movement for free
This Waatea Fifth Estate panel discussion with Winston Peters, Grant Robertston and Nicky Hager on the Panama Papers is excellent – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7F54KgYjkQ
I don’t get it. This morning on National Radio a man was describing how careful his firm is before accepting Trusts from overseas. But why are, say English rich, putting their money in NZ Trusts? Why do they not put their Trusts in their own country like the Honorable John Key?
Oh. And no one has ever asked his firm for Trust details. Not IRD or anyone else!
His views are more relevant to the UK situation, and are superficial at best. I really hate the word ‘Islamophobia’, but I think that many who are dragging up his comments are guilty of just that. Its less about Muslims and more about the source of the Muslim immigrants.
Just do the maths: India (133m Muslims), China (133m Muslims), Indonesia (196m) Muslims, and so on. How many terrorists come from these populations? Many people from these Muslim populations are already well settled and reasonably well integrated in NZ and Australia.
The common thread in the Islamic terrorists, lack of integration and so on in European countries (with a few exceptions) are more related to Middle Eastern and Bangladeshi immigrants. Most of these have had to make a quantum change from poverty, oppression and so on.
Don’t tar all Muslim immigrants around the world with the same brush.
Superficial? He’s the former chair of the EHRC, a former leader of his student union
“When I was chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, I played a principal role in the creation of UK laws against religious discrimination — and it was a report that I commissioned exactly 20 years ago that first introduced the term Islamophobia to Britain”
I think he’s well qualified to talk about this subject
You are part of the problem and that’s why I hope that our refugee intake isn’t increased unless we give equal measure to other religions because I don’t want NZ to become like Europe
You are part of the problem and that’s why I hope that our refugee intake isn’t increased
Lol
You want to determine immigration policy based on Peter’s comments? sounds rational. /sarc
As for your idea of a quota system to allow equal representation of other religions, we could probably do with more Zoroastrians and Satanists in the country, although agnostics and atheists should be recognised, too. But is this consistent with your previous stance on Labour’s so-called “man ban”?
I’m ok with adding atheists and agnostics in as well but its more that why does one religion seem to get more publicity then any other religion (or indeed those without religion)
ISTR watching John Oliver a while back, and he made a persuasive case that “muslim” refugees (and refugees in general) have a lower crime rate than the population into which they flee.
Just food for thought, should you decide to think.
Not, the proposition wasn’t that there was no crime associated with immigrants. Just that the crime rate, even of the “muslim” immigrants who scare you so much, is lower than the general population they flee to. So a higher proportion of slave trafficking rings would be ruin by non-muslims, similarly with other sexual assaults. And your link to the school was about the local school princopal being as racist as you.
Like I say, if you want to start actually thinking, there are places you can go for help.
What do you think is happening in europe and aus, first?
Let’s say criminals in a population are like alcohol concentration: if you take a drop of wine and put it in a bottle of whiskey, is the resulting concoction more or less alcoholic? Wine is refugees, whiskey is the population they flee to.
Wow so adding child like xenophobia to your list of faults Puckish Rouge.
Desperate for a distraction from you corrupt and bent mate John Key.
Woken up the fact that this national government is possibly the worst in our history have we, so looking for scape goats and new things to raise false flags about.
What a sad, sad human being you are.
Look the Alpha programme may help, let me know where you live and I’ll see if we can infuse some love into your heart.
That’s an astronomical price for a 124 square metre house on 360 square metres of land. Who’s going to be fool enough to buy that?
I thought it was bad enough around our way. One developer has been trying to flog off 124 square metre houses in an MDH project. 30 units crammed onto a hillside, with the plan that they will be developed in 3 stages. Well, they started out on stage one two years ago with the units being marketed at $465K. It went up to $485K, then to $494K and now they are $508K. 3 units have sold from the first stage. The first purchase was 18 months ago and none of the units have been completed yet. Developer logic is “houses won’t sell, raise the price”.
Time will tell how any of of these SHA’s around the country will contribute to the stock of “affordable homes”. I’m not holding my breath for the Wellington region. Our council has a disturbingly cosy relationship with developers.
The SHA is another government farce and botch up – in Auckland they are selling for 1 million in Huapai.
It really is some sort of Marie Antoinette moment of the government.
Thanks for those ‘affordable’ houses Key. Neoliberalism really works! A bit like how NZ is ‘not a tax haven’ for his offshore buddies even though we are mentioned 60,000 times. sarc.
I guess the issue is, from what I’ve read, is that the offending is at the lower end of the scale so there’s no other physical evidence to back the complainant up so it comes down to their word against his and since you need to be sure beyond reasonable doubt…
Which is always the case with the nature of this type of offending. It’s so easy for offenders to get away with it, they have the immediate advantage of a lack of physical evidence of their offending, over their victims.
I worry that these girls, alongside thousands of others that have gone before them, won’t get the justice they deserve.
Yes but only if what they say is true of course (I’m inclined to believe them as their stories seem to corroborate each other but of course I haven’t sat in on the case)
Firstly why would two young girls lie and put themselves thru the wringer,
And secondly if you were going to lie to get someone in the shit wouldn’t your allegations be of a more serious nature than these ones are?
Yes, well I guess the girls thought it would be a real hoot to make something up, make a police complaint, talk to adults about intimate parts of their bodies that a young girl is only getting used to the idea of, spend ages waiting for it to go to trial and then have their experiences laid bare to strangers and cope with a defence that rips them to shreds and belittles them.
Totally in it for the lols.
So yes, I do have a bias to support girls and women who make such allegations, knowing how often such experiences are never reported and how much strength and courage it takes for a person to go through this process. So if I’ve got my blinkers on, it’s for good reason.
Comments above show why similar cases often end with Jury stalemates.
In any group of 12 jurors there is highly likely to be at least one who believes the victim/s would not make the claim unless it was true, and at least one juror who believes that an accusation without evidence cannot possibly meet the test of ‘beyond reasonable doubt’.
if neither is prepared to shift their position, Jury is stalemated. I was involved in one of those juries once, and before dismissing us the judge informed us not to feel bad because we were the third jury to be ‘hung’ on the same case.
So the victims and accused had been through the wringer 3 times….and the expense to taxpayer was?
Personally, I would rather see such cases be tried purely by a Judge.
Very good point The lost sheep, thanks for making It.
I feel being a prom…… in NZ and being tried in your home base,Judge along wound been mandatory, does anyone now were the law stands, will the defendant choose.
But there are also cases of where men have been unjustly complained against, and had their lives ruined.
Im not saying that in this case at all (I havn’t been watching it that closely) – but I do know that cases like this people need ALL the information and blinkers (from any side) – are harmful.
however, you obviously have some history – and I can understand that impacts your view on things – which is only natural. So can understand (as much as I can) where you are coming from.
But there are a lot on here that want him found guilty – simply because of the damage it could do to [you know who].
Honestly – I just hope that justice prevails – whatever the outcome and that people can accept the verdict from people who have heard all the facts.
Note – if he is guilty – I hope they throw the book at him.
You know what? I do know of one man who was accused of attempted rape and he was actually innocent. The complainant had a certain motivation against this man. I do know how his life was affected for quite some before the charges were dropped.
However, the issue is that, to quote a completely misunderstood politician, “family and sexual violence is perpetrated overwhelmingly by men, so the first message to men out there is to wake up, stand up man up and stop this bullshit”.
Key word is “overwhelmingly”. So you know the odds are stacked against women and children.
I think it was quite normal to be suspicious of the man in this case, given our statistics in NZ. But he has been not found guilty. That has to be accepted.
But there are a lot on here that want him found guilty – simply because of the damage it could do to [you know who].
You believe that, your fucken idiot.
To many prominent people are getting away with this heinous crime, and you Mr are politicizing this, their is censorship, so I will stop here for the moment.
I think we are more interested in seeing Key’s tax returns for the last 8 years he has been PM.
Nothing to hide nothing to fear and all that.
Plus John Key is sooooo honest, cos he tells us that. And gives all his salary to charity. NZ is not a tax haven and he his blind trusts are irrelevant. I’m sure he doesn’t have quillions in his kids names around the globe.
Oh you poor blind, deluded fool (and I don’t mean that harshly) you and others like yourself have so much irrational hatred for John Key built up that you’re just like a dog barking at any passing car in the forlorn hope that’ll finally be the issue to bring down John Key
Most people will see it for what it is and that’s just a cheap, meaningless political stunt.
They’ll think that they wouldn’t want their tax returns published so why should John Key
They’ll think of course John Key has trusts because he’s wealthy (he’s never hidden it) and they’ll think they’d do the same if they were in his position
They’ll think as long as he’s following the rules then its ok
and then they’ll think of Labour and all they’ll think of is spite, negativity and malice
That’s what we want to know!
What is it that he is desperately trying to hide?
Remember that this is the result of only one of the four largest firms dealing in this sort of stuff. It implicates 140 politicians around the globe avoiding tax in their own countries or worse.
We know Key has “blind” trusts.
The chances are he is as heavily implicated in this sort of shinanagans as the rest.
Or in other words, it’s not good enough for our public officials to merely be honest. They must be demonstrably honest.
That’s one thing I learned from my security days – someone checking up on me wasn’t that they didn’t trust me, it was so that if shit happened in a high risk environment, they could vouch that I’d done everything properly.
Seems only fair that the people know whether the person who railroaded through the changes that made NZ a tax haven (and then ignored advice on seven separate occasions to rectify the problem) benefitted personally from those changes.
that is what we want to find out!
We know he is a lying bastard – especially where his personal trusts are concerned. He has been the one driving, the new zero tax regime for foreign investors (quid pro quo?), and he is the one who has appointed the sham Shewan to do a whitewash of the whole affair. His actions speak of one giant arse cover-up!
yes. Because numbers get their meaning and importance from their context. 60 is a number. $60 in your pocket is pretty good. 60 charges against you in court is pretty bad. But your IQ of 60 should get you off most of those charges due to mental incompetence.
The meaning and importance comes from the context.
@ Mcflock 60 is a number. $60 in your pocket is pretty good. 60 charges against you in court is pretty bad. But your IQ of 60 should get you off most of those charges due to mental incompetence
60 is pretty good or pretty bad? And this from someone who once claimed that… “75,000 might or might not be significant”
It’s all in the context….and the context is what suits you at the time as far as I can see.
Fuck 75,000, 75 million might be insignificant: 75 million tonnes of gold or 75 million gold atoms would have significantly different value, no?
But you’d argue that 75 million gold atoms (a tiny fraction of a gram) is just as a significant amount of gold as around 100 times all the gold ever mined. Because you’re a moron.
context is what suits you at the time
No, context is “the parts of something written or spoken that immediately precede and follow a word or passage and clarify its meaning.” Learn english, fucko.
“If he has nothing to hide he should show his returns”
Because hes done nothing wrong or been shown to have done anything wrong or theres been nothing to link him to anything wrong because you’re just fishing for evidence…any of the above really
How long have these documents been out for…over a year, I’d bet Nicky Hagers already had a look so if there was anything it’d be known about already
Unless of course Nicky just sits on it until about 4 weeks out from the next election like the little creep he is
There’s really only one response to that, and that’s a quote from Frank Marvin, the late editor of Mountain Scene, my local paper.
“If you don’t want it on the front page, don’t do it”
Frank was a top man, and utterly fearless in his reporting of the goings on around Queenstown and always had plenty of material. He was very effective at keeping the place in order. His world view was quite different to Hager’s though.
Every year since 2006 MP’s have been required to declare their Financial Interests
MP’s should also be unaverse to declaring their tax returns as well if they have nothing to hide. They are the ones who set the taxes – they should show they they are above board in that regard as well.
When you cry wolf all the time, when most of what you say is a lie, and sorry Puckish Rouge, but your track record is quite bad – especially when you parrot the party line.
So here is some hints; Try not lying, try being reasonable, try not ranting with hyperbole some time, and we may listen.
Then again in this case the national government dropped the ball, they created a tax haven, tarnished our good name and besmirched us all.
The problem is national party supporters like yourself rather than own up to that, go on the attack. Engage in dirty politics and then moan about it when we call you on it.
The poor me routine is very bloody tiresome. As is the distractions. I see your boy Brash decided Racism was the distraction the government needed this time.
So quite frankly Puckish Rogue, a amoral punter like yourself, could take a look at the lack of morals shown in the last few days or you could just carry on moaning.
Exactly – I’ve sat on the jury one of these sort of cases and after 2 weeks of evidence and a whole raft of “prominent NZers” giving “evidence in support” of the accused – convicted and discharged.
Anyone else would be in the big house.
I suppose we have to accept the jury decision. Assuming he is innocent it will find it hard to be left alone with other people’s kids. Stigma is not always fair.
There’s a difference between that and doing it socially. Although I’m prepared to accept it might be a cultural variation I have, but the only people I’ve given or received social massages from have been folks with whom it added a little frisson of enjoyment to both. Just as Tony Rockyhorror should have known.
Regardless of this case, all too often, the “privileged” are able to manipulate outcomes in court hearings, justice, sometimes, appears to be a commodity.
See, here’s the thing. I don’t believe you, Mr “Prominent Man.” I think you were grooming the girls so you could keep sexually abusing them. I think that’s why you were buying them things. I think it was going to get worse – as one girl said, she was scared you were going to rape her – and I think the best outcome of this whole travesty is that the girls actually got it to stop.
I was up against a Public Service superior years ago who was terrorising me (no, not sexually but something equally as frightening) both in the workplace and beyond. I reported him to the management. He lied to them. They believed him because of his superior position. My career ended in tatters but at least the terrorising stopped.
My wife had a similar experience with one of her previous employers, at the final hearing, the employer thought they had the case wrapped up, my wife is not good at defending herself, so knowing the circumstances of the case, I spoke up and put forward a couple of very pertinent questions surrounding the validity of the accusations against my wife, these questions resulted in a win for my wife, but if I hadn’t been there, the employer would have won, he had tried to pay off our lawyer with a bribe as well, I’m just glad Iv’e got a big mouth and a willingness to challenge the BS.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 17.1.3.2.3.2
It’s the firm his lawyer works for now. So likeliest explanation is that Key’s lawyer held the deposit for something in trust (the firm’s trust) for a short time, as is usual when making decent sized financial transactions. One example – many here bought a house? The usual process is the deposit is held by your lawyer in a trust until settlement.
Keep in mind the declarations for this register were made before 31st Jan 2016 – it’s not like Key has suddenly declared this transaction in the wake of the Panama Papers.
Unfortunately, it’s not a smoking gun. This appears to be just a financial “interest”, held in trust by a lawyer, acting on Key’s behalf, for some as yet unknown purpose.
There appears to be no tax avoidance or evasion that we can see. He was required to declare it and was right to do so.
Despite the attempts by Patrick Gower et al to suggest that the funds held are suspect by association with the company the lawyer now works for are a bit much.
To have Key caught out would a delight but alas – but I will be watching this space
Not sure any legitimate poster here has suggested this is a smoking gun. BM and his right wing allies are suggesting the socially conscious left believe it to be a smoking gun but that is not the case.
Given the current attention around New Zealand being a soft touch for secretive funds, this is what the media says it is – embarrassing for John Key.
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The Prime Minister says he's really comfortable with us not knowing the reoffending rate for his boot camp programme.They asked him for it at yesterday’s press conference, and he said, nah, not telling, have to respect people's privacy.Okay I'll bite. Let's say they release this information to us:The rate of ...
Warning 1: There is a Nazi theme at the end of this article related to the disabled community. Warning 2: This article could be boring!One day, last year, I excitedly opened up a Substack post that was about how to fight back, and the answer at the end was disappointing ...
This may be rhetorical but here goes: did any of you invest in the $Libra memecoin endorsed and backed by Argentine president and darling of the global Right Javier Milei (who admitted to being paid a fee for his promotion of the token)? You know, the one that soared above ...
Last week various of the great and good of New Zealand economics and public policy trooped off to Hamilton (of all places) for the annual Waikato Economics Forum, one of the successful marketing drives of university’s Vice-Chancellor. My interest was in the speeches delivered by the Minister of Finance and ...
The Prime Minister says the Government would be open to sending peacekeepers to Ukraine if a ceasefire was reached. The government has announced a $30 million spend on tourism infrastructure and biodiversity projects, including $11m spent to improve popular visitor sites and further $19m towards biodiversity efforts. A New Zealand-born ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler “But what about when the sun doesn't shine?!” Ah yes, the energy debate’s equivalent of “The Earth is flat!” Every time someone mentions solar or wind power, some self-proclaimed energy expert emerges from the woodwork to drop this supposedly devastating truth bomb: ...
This post by Nicolas Reid was originally published on Linked in. It is republished here with permission.In this article I look into data on how well the rail network serve New Zealanders, and how many people might be able to travel by train… if we ran more than a ...
Hi,Before we get into Hayden Donnell’s new column about how yes, Donald Trump is definitely the Antichrist, I wanted to touch on something feral that happened in New Zealand last week.Members of Destiny Church pushed and punched their way into an Auckland library, apparently angry it was part of Pride ...
Despite delays, logjams and overcrowding in our emergency departments, funding constraints are limiting the numbers of nurses and doctors being trained. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, February 18 are:A NZ Herald investigation ...
Now that the US has ripped up the Atlantic alliance, Europe is more vulnerable now than at any time since the mid-1930s. Apparently, Europe and Ukraine itself will not have a seat at the table in the talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin that will ...
Olivia and Noah and Hana are going to the library!It is fun to go to the library. It has books and songs and mat time and people who smile at you and say, Hello Olivia, what have you been doing this morning?The library is more fun than the mall. At ...
New World Orders: The challenge facing Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins is how to keep their small and vulnerable nation safe and stable in a world whose economic and political climate the forty-seventh American president is changing so profoundly.IT IS, SURELY, the ultimate Millennial revenge fantasy. Calling senior Baby-Boomer and Gen-X ...
“This might surprise you, Laurie, but I reckon Trump’s putting on a bloody impressive performance.”“GOODNESS ME, HANNAH, just look at all those Valentine’s Day cards!”“Occupational hazard, Laurie, the more beer I serve, the more my customers declare their undying love!”“Crikey! I had no idea business was so good.” Laurie squinted ...
In 2005, Labour repealed the long-standing principle of birthright citizenship in Aotearoa. Why? As with everything else Labour does, it all came down to austerity: "foreign mothers" were supposedly "coming to this country to give birth", and this was "put[ting] pressure on hospitals". Then-Immigration Minister George Hawkins explicitly gave this ...
And I just hope that you can forgive usBut everything must goAnd if you need an explanation, nationThen everything must goSongwriters: James Dean Bradfield / Sean Anthony Moore / Nicholas Allen Jones.Today, I’d like to talk about a couple of things that happened over the weekend:Brian Tamaki’s Library Invasion and ...
New reporting highlights how Brooke van Velden refuses to meet with the CTU but is happy to meet with fringe Australian-based unions. Van Velden is pursuing reckless changes to undermine the personal grievance system against the advice of her own officials. Engineering New Zealand are saying that hundreds of engineers ...
The NZCTU strongly supports the Employment Relations (Employee Remuneration Disclosure) Amendment Bill. This Bill represents a positive step towards addressing serious issues around unlawful disparities in pay by protecting workers’ rights to discuss their pay and conditions. This Bill also provides welcome support for helping tackle the prevalent gender and ...
Years of hard work finally paid off last week as the country’s biggest and most important transport project, the City Rail Link reached a major milestone with the first test train making its way slowly though the tunnels for the first time. This is a fantastic achievement and it is ...
Engineers are pleading for the Government to free up funds to restart stalled projects. File Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday, February 17 are:Engineering New Zealand CEO Richard Templer said yesterday hundreds of ...
It’s one of New Zealand’s great sustaining myths: the spirit of ANZAC, our mates across the ditch, the spirit of Earl’s Court, Antipodeans united against the world. It is also a myth; it is not reality. That much was clear from a series of speakers, including a former Australian Prime ...
Many people have been unsatisfied for years that things have not improved for them, some as individuals, many more however because their families are clearly putting in more work, for less money – and certainly far less purchase on society. This general discontent has grown exponentially since the GFC. ...
A listing of 34 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, February 9, 2025 thru Sat, February 15, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report shows worsening food poverty and housing shortages mean more than 400,000 people now need welfare support, the highest level since the 1990s. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and ...
You're just too too obscure for meOh you don't really get through to meAnd there's no need for you to talk that wayIs there any less pessimistic things to say?Songwriters: Graeme DownesToday, I thought we’d take a look at some of the most cringe-inducing moments from last week, but don’t ...
Please note: I’ve delayed my “What can we do?” article for this video.The video above shows Destiny Church members assaulting staff and librarians as they pushed through to a room of terrified parents and young children.It was posted to social media last night.But if you read Sinead Boucher’s Stuff, you ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is sea level rise exaggerated? Sea levels are rising at an accelerating rate, not stagnating or decreasing. Warming global temperatures cause land ice ...
Here is a scenario, but first a historical parallel. Hitler and the Nazis could well have accomplished everything that they wanted to do within German borders, including exterminating Jews, so long as they confined their ambitious to Germany itself. After all, the world pretty much sat and watched as the ...
I’ve spent the last couple of days in Hamilton covering Waikato University’s annual NZ Economics Forum, where (arguably) three of the most influential people in our political economy right now laid out their thinking in major speeches about the size and role of Government, their views on for spending, tax ...
Simeon Brown’s Ideology BentSimeon Brown once told Kiwis he tries to represent his deep sense of faith by interacting “with integrity”.“It’s important that there’s Christians in Parliament…and from my perspective, it’s great to be a Christian in Parliament and to bring that perspective to [laws, conversations and policies].”And with ...
Severe geological and financial earthquakes are inevitable. We just don’t know how soon and how they will play out. Are we putting the right effort into preparing for them?Every decade or so the international economy has a major financial crisis. We cannot predict exactly when or exactly how it will ...
Questions1. How did Old Mate Grabaseat describe his soon-to-be-Deputy-PM’s letter to police advocating for Philip Polkinghorne?a.Ill-advisedb.A perfect letterc.A letter that will live in infamyd.He had me at hello2. What did Seymour say in response?a.What’s ill-advised is commenting when you don’t know all the facts and ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff has called on OJI Fibre Solutions to work with the government, unions, and the community before closing the Kinleith Paper Mill. “OJI has today announced 230 job losses in what will be a devastating blow for the community. OJI needs to work with ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is sounding the alarm about the latest attack on workers from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden, who is ignoring her own officials to pursue reckless changes that would completely undermine the personal grievance system. “Brooke van Velden’s changes will ...
Hi,When I started writing Webworm in 2020, I wrote a lot about the conspiracy theories that were suddenly invading our Twitter timelines and Facebook feeds. Four years ago a reader, John, left this feedback under one of my essays:It’s a never ending labyrinth of lunacy which, as you have pointed ...
And if you said this life ain't good enoughI would give my world to lift you upI could change my life to better suit your moodBecause you're so smoothAnd it's just like the ocean under the moonOh, it's the same as the emotion that I get from youYou got the ...
Aotearoa remains the minority’s birthright, New Zealand the majority’s possession. WAITANGI DAY commentary see-saws manically between the warmly positive and the coldly negative. Many New Zealanders consider this a good thing. They point to the unexamined patriotism of July Fourth and Bastille Day celebrations, and applaud the fact that the ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: and on the week in geopolitics, including the latest from Donald Trump’s administration over Gaza and Ukraine; on the ...
Up until now, the prevailing coalition view of public servants was that there were simply too many of them. But yesterday the new Public Service Commissioner, handpicked by the Luxon Government, said it was not so much numbers but what they did and the value they produced that mattered. Sir ...
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and ...
In a moment we explore the question: What is Andrew Bayly wanting to tell ACC, and will it involve enjoying a small wine tasting and then telling someone to fuck off? But first, for context, a broader one: What do we look for in a government?Imagine for a moment, you ...
As expected, Donald Trump just threw Ukraine under the bus, demanding that it accept Russia's illegal theft of land, while ruling out any future membership of NATO. Its a colossal betrayal, which effectively legitimises Russia's invasion, while laying the groundwork for the next one. But Trump is apparently fine with ...
A ballot for a single member's bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Employment Relations (Collective Agreements in Triangular Relationships) Amendment Bill (Adrian Rurawhe) The bill would extend union rights to employees in triangular relationships, where they are (nominally) employed by one party, but ...
This is a guest post by George Weeks, reviewing a book called ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin AshtonBook review: ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin Ashton (2015) – and what it means for Auckland. The title of this article might unnerve any Greater Auckland ...
This story was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Within just a week, the sheer devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires has pushed to the fore fundamental questions about the impact of the climate crisis that have been ...
In this world, it's just usYou know it's not the same as it wasSongwriters: Harry Edward Styles / Thomas Edward Percy Hull / Tyler Sam JohnsonYesterday, I received a lovely message from Caty, a reader of Nick’s Kōrero, that got me thinking. So I thought I’d share it with you, ...
In past times a person was considered “unserious” or “not a serious” person if they failed to grasp, behave and speak according to the solemnity of the context in which they were located. For example a serious person does not audibly pass gas at Church, or yell “gun” at a ...
Long stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, February 13 are:The coalition Government’s early 2024 ‘fiscal emergency’ freeze on funding, planning and building houses, schools, local roads and hospitals helped extend and deepen the economic and jobs recession through calendar ...
For obvious reasons, people feel uneasy when the right to be a citizen is sold off to wealthy foreigners. Even selling the right to residency seems a bit dubious, when so many migrants who are not millionaires get turned away or are made to jump through innumerable hoops – simply ...
A new season of White Lotus is nearly upon us: more murder mystery, more sumptuous surroundings, more rich people behaving badly.Once more we get to identify with the experience of the pampered tourist or perhaps the poorly paid help; there's something in White Lotus for all New Zealanders.And unlike the ...
In 2016, Aotearoa shockingly plunged to fourth place in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. Nine years later, and we're back there again: New Zealand has seen a further slip in its global ranking in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). [...] In the latest CPI New Zealand's score ...
1. You’ve started ranking your politicians on how much they respect the rule of law2. You’ve stopped paying attention to those news publications3. You’ve developed a sudden interest in a particular period of history4. More and more people are sounding like your racist, conspiracist uncle.5. Someone just pulled a Nazi ...
Transforming New Zealand: Brian EastonBrian Easton will discuss the above topic at 2/57 Willis Street, Wellington at 5:30pm on Tuesday 26 February at 2/57 Willis Street, WellingtonThe sub-title to the above is "Why is the Left failing?" Brian Easton's analysis is based on his view that while the ...
Salvation Army’s State of the Nation 2025 report highlights falling living standards, the highest unemployment rates since the 1990s and half of all Pacific children going without food. There are reports of hundreds if not thousands of people are applying for the same jobs in the wake of last year’s ...
Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Correction: On the article The Condundrum of David Seymour, Luke Malpass conducted joint reviews with Bryce Wilkinson, the architect of the Regulatory Standards Bill - not Bryce Edwards. The article ...
Tomorrow the council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee meet and agenda has a few interesting papers. Council’s Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport Every year the council provide a Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport which is part of the process for informing AT of the council’s priorities and ...
All around in my home townThey're trying to track me down, yeahThey say they want to bring me in guiltyFor the killing of a deputyFor the life of a deputySongwriter: Robert Nesta Marley.Support Nick’s Kōrero today with a 20% discount on a paid subscription to receive all my newsletters directly ...
Hi,I think all of us have probably experienced the power of music — that strange, transformative thing that gets under our skin and helps us experience this whole life thing with some kind of sanity.Listening and experiencing music has always been such a huge part of my life, and has ...
Business frustration over the stalled economy is growing, and only 34% of voters are confidentNicola Willis can deliver. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 12 are:Business frustration is growing about a ...
I have now lived long enough to see a cabinet minister go both barrels on their Prime Minister and not get sacked.It used to be that the PM would have a drawer full of resignations signed by ministers on the day of their appointment, ready for such an occasion. But ...
“The ACT Party can’t be bothered putting an MP on one of the Justice subcommittees hearing submissions on their own Treaty Principles Bill,” Labour Justice Spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...
The Government’s newly announced funding for biodiversity and tourism of $30-million over three years is a small fraction of what is required for conservation in this country. ...
The Government's sudden cancellation of the tertiary education funding increase is a reckless move that risks widespread job losses and service reductions across New Zealand's universities. ...
National’s cuts to disability support funding and freezing of new residential placements has resulted in significant mental health decline for intellectually disabled people. ...
The hundreds of jobs lost needlessly as a result of the Kinleith Mill paper production closure will have a devastating impact on the Tokoroa community - something that could have easily been avoided. ...
Today Te Pāti Māori MP for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, released her members bill that will see the return of tamariki and mokopuna Māori from state care back to te iwi Māori. This bill will establish an independent authority that asserts and protects the rights promised in He Whakaputanga ...
The Whangarei District Council being forced to fluoridate their local water supply is facing a despotic Soviet-era disgrace. This is not a matter of being pro-fluoride or anti-fluoride. It is a matter of what New Zealanders see and value as democracy in our country. Individual democratically elected Councillors are not ...
Nicola Willis’ latest supermarket announcement is painfully weak with no new ideas, no real plan, and no relief for Kiwis struggling with rising grocery costs. ...
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Ngāi Tahu wants to introduce contamination charges to address contamination in Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere, the High Court has been told.In the second week of the two-month case against the Attorney-General over wai māori (freshwater), Dr Elizabeth Brown, the Rangatira of Taumutu, which sits on the lake’s edge, told Justice Melanie ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra ASIO chief Mike Burgess has warned that over the next five years Australia’s security environment will become more dynamic, diverse and degraded, with “more security surprises” in the second half of the decade than in ...
There is certainly plenty of room for better police training for dealing with protest activity that starts with a rights-based approach to ensuring people can fully exercise their human rights. ...
“We are thrilled that this Bill is making its way through the House and looks set to become law,” said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Isaac Gross, Lecturer in Economics, Monash University Gumbariya/Shutterstock The Reserve Bank’s decision to cut interest rates for the first time in four years has triggered a round of celebration. Mortgage holders are cheering the fact their monthly repayments are now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Housing supply in Australia will be a key battleground in the election campaign. With home ownership more and more out of reach for young and not so young Australians, red tape and low productivity are ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Korolev, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, UNSW Sydney The United States and Russia agreed to work on a plan to end the war in Ukraine at high-level talks in Saudi Arabia this week. Ukrainian and European representatives were pointedly ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karleen Gribble, Adjunct Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University BaLL LunLa/Shutterstock Sleep is the holy grail for new parents. So no wonder many tired parents are looking for something to help their babies sleep. A TikTok trend claims ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ranjana Gupta, Senior Lecturer, Accounting Department, Auckland University of Technology Jirsak/Shutterstock The profit made on every breakfast bowl of weet-bix is tax exempt, giving Sanitarium Health Food Company, owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, an advantage over other breakfast food companies. ...
A closer look at some of the homegrown talent currently commanding television screens around the globe. The new season of The White Lotus hit our screens this week, and with it a familiar face in New Zealand actor Morgana O’Reilly. To secure a role in one of the world’s most ...
"This is a crisis of the Government’s own making and the unit is another sign of desperation," said PSA acting national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Francesca Perugia, Senior Lecturer, School of Design and the Built Environment, Curtin University Australia’s housing crisis has created a push for fast-tracked construction. Federal, state and territory governments have set a target of 1.2 million new homes over five years. Increasing housing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ash Watson, Scientia Fellow and Senior Lecturer, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock When we’re uncomfortable we say the “vibe is off”. When we’re having a good time we’re “vibing”. To assess the mood we do a “vibe check”. And when the atmosphere in ...
What’s up with the man from Epsom? The leader of the Act Party has been in plenty of headlines in the last two weeks, ranging from a controversial letter to police on behalf of constituent Philip Polkinghorne (written before David Seymour was a minister) to an attempt to drive ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Stephenson, Deputy Director, Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, Australian National University Newly published research has found clear evidence that openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, and queer+ (LGBTIQ+) Australian politicians were disproportionately targeted with personal abuse on social media at the ...
Gilmore Girls, Schitt’s Creek, even The Vampire Diaries – they’re all set in tight-knit neighbourhoods where everyone knows everyone. So what is it like to actually know your neighbours? My favourite television shows are set in tight-knit neighbourhoods where everyone knows everyone. Characters attend town meetings where they debate local ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yanyan Hong, PhD Candidate in Communication and Media Studies, University of Adelaide IMDB On the surface, Ne Zha 2: The Sea’s Fury (2025), the sequel to the 2019 Chinese blockbuster Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child, is a high-octane, action-packed and ...
Wellington travellers say their buses are so hot they’re often forced to get off early and walk. Shanti Mathias explores the impact of non-functioning air conditioning on public transport. When Bella, a young professional living in Wellington, thinks about taking the bus, her first thought is “Ugh”. The bus might ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Annette Kroen, Research Fellow Planning and Transport, RMIT University The cleanup is underway in northern Queensland following the latest flooding catastrophe to hit the state. More than 7,000 insurance claims have already been lodged, most of them for inundated homes and other ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Subha Parida, Lecturer in Property, University of South Australia Carl Oberg/Shutterstock Houses and fire do not mix. The firestorm which hit Los Angeles in January destroyed nearly 2,000 buildings and forced 130,000 people to evacuate. The 2019–20 Australian megafires destroyed ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania Tasmania has been burning for more than two weeks, with no end in sight. Almost 100,000 hectares of bushland in the northwest has burned to date. This includes the Tarkine rainforest ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Martin Loosemore, Professor of Construction Management, University of Technology Sydney This week, the Productivity Commission released its much-awaited report into productivity growth in Australia’s housing construction sector. It wasn’t a glowing appraisal. The commission found physical productivity – the total number ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pascale Lubbe, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Molecular Ecology, University of Otago Royal spoonbills are among several new species that have crossed the Tasman and naturalised in New Zealand. JJ Harrison/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA When people arrived on the shores of Aotearoa ...
Stats NZ’s head is stepping down over the agency’s failure to safeguard census data, and more officials may soon be in the firing line, writes Catherine McGregor in today’s extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. An ‘absolutely unacceptable’ failure Stats NZ chief ...
Health NZ is under greater government scrutiny, with the new health minister setting up a unit he says will "drive greater accountability and performance". ...
A year ago – who had even heard of Bernie Sanders?
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/sanders-become-democratic-nominee-even-if-clinton-leads-in-delegates_b_9657952.html?
Bernie Sanders Will Become Democratic Nominee Even If Clinton Leads in Delegates
____________________________
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
Great point. Penny.
An avowed socialist, a champion for raising the minimum wage, campaigning on recalling all overseas troops, and campaigning on climate change. And raising taxes on the rich, and controls on banks.
The opposition parties in this country should be taking notes.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/poll-flag-flop-fails-dent-governments-popularity
It’s a typically poor analysis. Obama was winning in pledged delegates by about 60 when they went into the convention – so the superdelegates seeing the “voice of the people” swapped to his side.
Sanders is unlikely to have the pledged delegates lead in this race – so the superdelegates will see the “voice of the people” calling for Hillary and stay where they are.
Penny and Jenny,
For this outcome to be credible, Sanders would have to win New York and Pennsylvania. This is not very likely. But we will all actually know in a week.
Sanders claims 7 out of the last 8 primaries, but they are mostly small caucus run primaries comprising of party activists. It seems in the US, as with left wing parties elsewhere, that the activist membership is much more left than the general public who are inclined to vote left.
Interestingly, at least in NZ and Australia, that seems less true of centre-right parties. The activists pretty much mirror the voters who are vote for their parties.
Sanders was 10 points behind in the last NY poll, so he has that in the bag.
Those who vote Wayne.
We have seen one success of the last 30 odd years, that you lot are not quick to champion, and that is massive disillusionment with the political process. Your so called centre-right is about what, 1/3 of the population – if we lucky? Begs many questions, and yes of the labour party as well.
That said, I find it funny that the narrative keeps changing on Sanders to fit your world view. Congratulations for not asking him to stand down, at least that old chestnut has stopped. I’d like him to win, then we would see what the centre looks like again. Because lets face it – Bernie is nothing if not centre.
Also are you trying to deflect from the fact that many independents vote in the party primaries? And these people are not leftist on the whole, as you claim. Yes some are, some are even greens. But the overwhelming majority of these Americans see something is rotten in their system – that being corporate money in politics, and are voting against it.
Good luck with your narrative Wayne, but more and more people are becoming disillusioned with a system set up to enrich the already rich, at the expense of the poor and middle class.
Adam,
As I said we will all know within a week.
In a literal sense only those who vote count.
Bernie will not persuade a single super delegate by trying to say that all those who don’t vote would support him, or that he can dramatically improve voter turnout in the general election.
Whoever wins, wins. Bernie cannot make a loss mean a win. He actually has to win on the votes.
Wayne,
I’d say Bernie has done really well in getting disillusioned voters to vote. And independents are a group we don’t understand well in New Zealand.
I don’t think Bernie has ever said he represent those who have not voted. Can’t think of a time when he has.
I look at New York with much interest, it has been rather enjoyable to watch Bernie been written off so many times, only to see him come back stronger.
But if Sanders loses, he will be following the spectacular fall of the left’s vote that has occurred in Australasia and Europe for a decade. It’s bad for your reflux to hope and risk so much on so little. You may have to learn to settle.
I’m glad I don’t have to wake up in the morning and wrestle with that kind of tortuous logic coming from my own head Ad. 😉
A guy who stood on a centrist (statist) programme, began at 5 or 10% (something like that) and will, at worst, run Clinton close. And that’s a ‘spectacular fall of the left’s (statist’s) vote’?
Still shaking my head here trying to get a grip on the thought processes behind your conclusion.
Hope can be terrible.
We can see the backlash ready if Trump loses.
Same on the left, with less blood and more handwringing.
Check out thus weeks’ Economist; it tracks the decline of the leftie vote.
Try this on for size then Ad
I hope you can live with the establishment.
Hope:
Getting a wee bit previous there, aren’t we Ad? Be careful you don’t peak too soon. And blow the whole scam.
Ad, the left’s vote has fallen for the very reason you are promoting, the Tony Blair’s and the Roger Douglas’s and the Kevin Rudd’s who have taken their parties to the right, disillusioned their support base.
Personally I think you are being a bit premature suggesting that the Labour Party go down this path this early in.
Bernie Sanders genius, is in ignoring all this “accepted wisdom”.
As I said before; it is my opinion that Labour, (and the Greens) would be well advised to take a lead from Bernie Sanders and start openly promoting similar and even more radical left policies.
Let’s see how the electorate responds.
Like Bernie Sanders they might be pleasantly surprised at the support they receive.
And, what have Labour got to lose, they seem to be on a downward spiral at the moment.
@Ad, more “Sensible Talk”
http://www.dailykos.com/blog/Tom%20Tomorrow/
Which recent state win did Bernie have recently where only days before the polls had him 20% behind Clinton?
Which state win did Bernie have recently where only days before the polls had him 20% behind Clinton?
Though it is contained within the link. I didn’t, make any comment on the outcome.
It is my opinion that it is a pretty foregone conclusion that the establishment will close ranks to avert the threat from their left posed by Sanders. (Probably more effectively and with more determination than they will to oppose the threat from their right.)
What is noteworthy is the thirst for openly expressed Left wing policies by the American public.
Which seems to go against all accepted wisdom. Or so we are told.
Just watch this space:
When the Labour Party lose the next election, (which seems from all polling quite likely), I expect a huge hue and cry will be raised from the media and all the establishment pundits, (even from those within their own Party) that for Labour to win they need to be more like National and John Key, and even more conservative than they are now.
The real lesson of Bernie Sanders will be buried under an avalanche of right wing columnists and editorials and ernest to-camera monologue’s, urging Labour to move rightward.
The best Prime Minister New Zealand almost didn’t have.
Norman Kirk, as leader of the Labour Party lost two elections before he was elected Prime Minister.
The best Prime Minister New Zealand will never have.
David Cunliffe lost one election and was tumbled in an undemocratic coup by a right wing cabal inside the Labour caucus calling themselves the ABC group.
It can be strongly argued that Labour lost the election not because of David Cunliffe’s leadership but due to the fact of his very last minute promotion (over the objection of the ABC cabal) that the die had already been cast. That and the fact that David Cunliffe had to make some unpopular compromises with his right wing dominated caucus.
It is my opinion that David Cunliffe could have turned Labour’s fortunes around if he had been given the chance during this election cycle.
Instead from where we are now it looks certain that Labour is looking down the barrel of another defeat.
It is all water under the bridge now. But the sacking of David Cunliffe compared to the retention Norman Kirk, is a good example of how the conservative establishment do their best to make sure that Business Continues as Usual.
So how can this situation be remedied.
I would strongly suggest that Andrew Little start listening to David Cunliffe and promote him to a senior role in his shadow cabinet, and that Andrew Little needs to show more ABC neo-liberal hardliners where the door is.
This would be a good organisational start. But more than this Andrew Little needs, contrary to the advice of Wayne and others like him, take on board the lesson of Bernie Sanders.
@ Wayne
“It seems in the US, as with left wing parties elsewhere that the activist membership is much more left than the general public who are inclined to vote left.”
And yet Sanders does appreciably better than Hillary in all of the one-to-one match-ups with the various possible Republican nominees (interestingly, that’s also true in the New York State Polls).
Abso-bloody-lutely
Was Unaoil one of the oil industry lobbyists for New Zealand deep sea oil concessions?
Serious questions need to be asked in parliament by opposition MPs of the government and the Labour Party.
The two biggest companies and only individual named so far in the New Zealand Shell company tax haven scandal,
Mossack Fonseca (Tax evasion)
Unaoil (Bribery)
And their Kiwi Frontman Ian Taylor (Gun running)
Have all been raided by the police, and are facing serious investigation, in overseas jurisdictions.
Have any government, (or opposition) MPs ever met with agents of Mossack Fonseca, Unaoil, or Ian Taylor?
So all the world’s rich bankers and wankers avoid their tax all over the planet…
… meaning that the people’s representatives (the government) does not receive proper tax income for use in that society….
… so how about this for a means of raising income for the government…..
Abandon tax.
Government issues its own money as a proportion of the economy each year and uses that. That hits the entire economy equally across the board – fat cats, bankers and wankers, everyone, especially those with wealth and richness, who then suffer the proportionately same amount as the cleaners, drivers, teachers and preachers.
Of course there would inflationary / deflationary and other effects as well, but that cancels itself out.
So – no more tax.
Government issues its own money, at a set proportion of the economy each year, and spends it into the economy as necessary.
No more hiding from tax.
Kinda. The government would create the money that it needs to fully fund itself every year. None of this proportionate BS.
But can we abandon tax? I’m not sure on that one. I think it would be more that we would be changing what, when and how things are taxed.
We would be looking at demurrage. And we’d make it progressive so that the more money you had in the bank the more you would pay.
We would be looking to decrease interest rates to zero.
With these two actions we make hoarding money worthless.
We would, of course, bring natural monopolies back into government ownership and make it so that they cannot be sold. In fact, no government service will be provided by private businesses. They’re government services for a reason or three: More efficient, benefit from economies of scale but are limited to the people in the nation (i.e, extending outside the nation doesn’t extend the scale), Everyone benefits from them.
Limit income to $100k. Anything over $100k will be taxed at 100%. Really, no one needs an income greater than $100k and so anything more than that is just greed and greed is destroying our society and the environment.
These will make it so that no one will own major assets at all and remove the incentives to own ever more minor assets.
Ban offshore ownership. This will keep the prices in NZ within the bounds of those living in NZ. As far as owning housing and businesses go the market is local, not global.
That’s for starters. Haven’t got time to too much in depth but my posts and comments on TS cover quite a bit.
Under your system Draco what incentive is thier to be industrious, innovate, efficient ( ie the opposite of monopolies) , etc. How competitive would NZ be as an economy if we went with your prescription over time, Would our best and brightest stay, would we evolve or end up like eastern Europe under communism living in a time warp as the west moved on in nearly every human endeavour
Yes, comical.
Lots. People aren’t motivated the way that RWNJs think that they’re motivated and, in fact, they fuck up badly when paid more.
Massively so.
Yes they would as they would actually have something to challenge them rather than being forced into being a bloody farmer.
What’s destroying NZ is RWNJ ideology. In fact, it’s destroying the environment and all other societies as well.
Not convincing Draco, sorry and F
Draco and others…
I mean tax the economy. Don’t tax the people – they are too tricky…
The economy would effectively be taxed because the additional money issued would lower the value of the existing money in the system. This would happen equally and across the board. Kinda like a flat tax – so it doesn’t address the “progressive tax” issue…
But taxing people is all too hard. I was trying to think of a way to tax something inert and large and unable to be individually fiddled.. and something that applies across everyone….
… which is f course the whole lot of it…. the entire economy …. just take slice of the economy each year to pay for the essentials etc … and a slice can be taken by issuing more money….
conceptually I think it works…
Just print money and trust the politicians, who decides essential, when does can’t be bother just print me money become an essential. Both Draco and yourself fail to appreciate human nature in your prescription assuming we just all live in one big homogenous hippy community re our values, goals, aspirations and motivations,likewise we are totally disconnected from of the rest of the world, thus no unintended consequences ie every one chose to stay in our little paradise
If the UK required one single set of tax laws across its Caribbean protectorate we would start narrowing further the Rabbit holes of the 1%.
I suspect the UK review will broaden to this.
Protectorates
Very few would trust the government to have this amount of power.
I wouldn’t.
Winston Peters was excellent this morning on RNZ. The interviewer was very cynical and didn’t know his stuff, Winston schooled him.
Yes winnie runs rings around these jonolists we have.
The opposition in general need to treat them as the shills they are to wrest back the narrative from CT spin lines
On Martyn Bradbury’s Waatea TV last night Nicky Hagar gave an example of an Indonesian billionaire who burned down the rainforests for palm oil and all the profits were channelled through paper companies in untraceable tax havens so he paid no tax in Indonesia to benefit the local population. Or anywhere.
Meanwhile, as a result of this destructive industry orangutangs die (and the NZ dairy industry imports the palm kernel for cow feed). These are the stories we should be told in the mainstream media.
yep, Waatea is how the news should be, not great quality video for obvious reasons but it is way more bearable than clear images of “Hosko” and the rest of the Nat brown nosers
It was a great episode – Grant Robertson, Winston Peters and Nicky Hager – worth watching they all came across really well.
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/04/11/waatea-5th-estate-the-panama-papers-special/
Thanks again, saveNZ
Tolley office “Molotov firebombing”–anyone got any updated info on this?
the PM smeared the TPPA movement via TV and other media on 5 Feb after the impressive actions of 4 Feb, by attempting to link TPPA protests to graffiti and an apparent attempted fire setting in one of Anne Tolley’s four electorate offices (one is shared with another Nat MP)
no statement from Police or Nats since, Tolley’s office is situated in an alley near a bank, with various security cams in place so some idea should have been gained as to the perpetrators
another cold case? it is frustrating that the Nats get a nationwide “hit” on the TPPA movement for free
thats the first i hear about it. don’t think the ‘hit’ went that far.
This Waatea Fifth Estate panel discussion with Winston Peters, Grant Robertston and Nicky Hager on the Panama Papers is excellent – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7F54KgYjkQ
I don’t get it. This morning on National Radio a man was describing how careful his firm is before accepting Trusts from overseas. But why are, say English rich, putting their money in NZ Trusts? Why do they not put their Trusts in their own country like the Honorable John Key?
Oh. And no one has ever asked his firm for Trust details. Not IRD or anyone else!
He finally got it, 20 years too late but he finally got it. Will NZ repeat the mistakes of Europe?
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/04/trevor-phillips-is-finally-discovering-the-pitfalls-of-the-term-islamophobia/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3533161/This-life-death-struggle-stark-analysis-former-equalities-chief-reveals-extremist-ideas-allowed-flourish.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2996235/At-man-dares-tell-truth-race-Ex-race-tsar-says-silencing-debate-devastating-harm-Britain.html
Finally a leftie with the courage to speak out…theres a lesson there somewhere
His views are more relevant to the UK situation, and are superficial at best. I really hate the word ‘Islamophobia’, but I think that many who are dragging up his comments are guilty of just that. Its less about Muslims and more about the source of the Muslim immigrants.
Just do the maths: India (133m Muslims), China (133m Muslims), Indonesia (196m) Muslims, and so on. How many terrorists come from these populations? Many people from these Muslim populations are already well settled and reasonably well integrated in NZ and Australia.
The common thread in the Islamic terrorists, lack of integration and so on in European countries (with a few exceptions) are more related to Middle Eastern and Bangladeshi immigrants. Most of these have had to make a quantum change from poverty, oppression and so on.
Don’t tar all Muslim immigrants around the world with the same brush.
Muslim population data:
http://www.islamicweb.com/begin/population.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Phillips
Superficial? He’s the former chair of the EHRC, a former leader of his student union
“When I was chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, I played a principal role in the creation of UK laws against religious discrimination — and it was a report that I commissioned exactly 20 years ago that first introduced the term Islamophobia to Britain”
I think he’s well qualified to talk about this subject
Being a former head of his student union is relevant how exactly?
Former head of EHRC does not mean his views now are correct, any more than his views then were correct.
Its superficial in that he treats all muslim immigrants as though they are of one mind.
You are part of the problem and that’s why I hope that our refugee intake isn’t increased unless we give equal measure to other religions because I don’t want NZ to become like Europe
Lol
You want to determine immigration policy based on Peter’s comments? sounds rational. /sarc
As for your idea of a quota system to allow equal representation of other religions, we could probably do with more Zoroastrians and Satanists in the country, although agnostics and atheists should be recognised, too. But is this consistent with your previous stance on Labour’s so-called “man ban”?
Not quite sure how you’re linking man-bans with religion but that does remind me of something, where’s Tracey got to?
I always enjoyed reading her posts
I’m just intrigued as to why you favour a quota for religion but not for gender.
I’m ok with adding atheists and agnostics in as well but its more that why does one religion seem to get more publicity then any other religion (or indeed those without religion)
You sure it’s not more why some people get their knickers in a bigger twist over one religion than they do over many others?
I don’t mind saying that I’d like to stop all Muslim refugees from entering NZ from this point on if that’s what you’re getting at
There are plenty of refugees out there we can take from many religious beliefs or none at all
ISTR watching John Oliver a while back, and he made a persuasive case that “muslim” refugees (and refugees in general) have a lower crime rate than the population into which they flee.
Just food for thought, should you decide to think.
So what?
I’m sure a case can be also made for child sex rings run by Muslims:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotherham_child_sexual_exploitation_scandal
As can cases for random bombings (far too many to link to but I’m sure you’ll agree that I don’t need to prove it)
Or the dangers school kids face:
https://www.rt.com/news/270214-bavaria-muslim-school-clothes/
Or how about this: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/cologne-attacks-what-happened-after-1000-women-were-sexually-assaulted-a6867071.html
So yeah bring in our quota of refugees but lets leave the Muslims to other countries
Not, the proposition wasn’t that there was no crime associated with immigrants. Just that the crime rate, even of the “muslim” immigrants who scare you so much, is lower than the general population they flee to. So a higher proportion of slave trafficking rings would be ruin by non-muslims, similarly with other sexual assaults. And your link to the school was about the local school princopal being as racist as you.
Like I say, if you want to start actually thinking, there are places you can go for help.
No McFlock, we have enough problems in NZ without importing more, known, problems into NZ
What makes you think that whats happening in Europe and, recently in Australia, can’t happen here
I know you’re that naïve so what is it?
What do you think is happening in europe and aus, first?
Let’s say criminals in a population are like alcohol concentration: if you take a drop of wine and put it in a bottle of whiskey, is the resulting concoction more or less alcoholic? Wine is refugees, whiskey is the population they flee to.
Wow so adding child like xenophobia to your list of faults Puckish Rouge.
Desperate for a distraction from you corrupt and bent mate John Key.
Woken up the fact that this national government is possibly the worst in our history have we, so looking for scape goats and new things to raise false flags about.
What a sad, sad human being you are.
Look the Alpha programme may help, let me know where you live and I’ll see if we can infuse some love into your heart.
Well, whatever happened to the Special Housing Areas being for “affordable” homes?
The first one to come on stream in the Wakatipu hits the market with a house package at $755,000.00 More like special developer profits
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/379362/entry-level-home-755000
That’s an astronomical price for a 124 square metre house on 360 square metres of land. Who’s going to be fool enough to buy that?
I thought it was bad enough around our way. One developer has been trying to flog off 124 square metre houses in an MDH project. 30 units crammed onto a hillside, with the plan that they will be developed in 3 stages. Well, they started out on stage one two years ago with the units being marketed at $465K. It went up to $485K, then to $494K and now they are $508K. 3 units have sold from the first stage. The first purchase was 18 months ago and none of the units have been completed yet. Developer logic is “houses won’t sell, raise the price”.
Time will tell how any of of these SHA’s around the country will contribute to the stock of “affordable homes”. I’m not holding my breath for the Wellington region. Our council has a disturbingly cosy relationship with developers.
The SHA is another government farce and botch up – in Auckland they are selling for 1 million in Huapai.
It really is some sort of Marie Antoinette moment of the government.
Thanks for those ‘affordable’ houses Key. Neoliberalism really works! A bit like how NZ is ‘not a tax haven’ for his offshore buddies even though we are mentioned 60,000 times. sarc.
Hmmm. Stalemate.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/78824702/prominent-new-zealander-trial-jury-at-stalemate
I guess the issue is, from what I’ve read, is that the offending is at the lower end of the scale so there’s no other physical evidence to back the complainant up so it comes down to their word against his and since you need to be sure beyond reasonable doubt…
Which is always the case with the nature of this type of offending. It’s so easy for offenders to get away with it, they have the immediate advantage of a lack of physical evidence of their offending, over their victims.
I worry that these girls, alongside thousands of others that have gone before them, won’t get the justice they deserve.
Yes but only if what they say is true of course (I’m inclined to believe them as their stories seem to corroborate each other but of course I haven’t sat in on the case)
Firstly why would two young girls lie and put themselves thru the wringer,
And secondly if you were going to lie to get someone in the shit wouldn’t your allegations be of a more serious nature than these ones are?
I don’t know and that’s why we have trials
Its happened before.
You are assuming that he is guilty. It may be that the people who have heard the evidence think he isnt (well enough of them to cause this stalemate).
It could be that he is innocent – so no justice to the girls is required. Just the opposite in fact.
I guess we have to wait for the jury decision to know huh.
Yes, well I guess the girls thought it would be a real hoot to make something up, make a police complaint, talk to adults about intimate parts of their bodies that a young girl is only getting used to the idea of, spend ages waiting for it to go to trial and then have their experiences laid bare to strangers and cope with a defence that rips them to shreds and belittles them.
Totally in it for the lols.
So yes, I do have a bias to support girls and women who make such allegations, knowing how often such experiences are never reported and how much strength and courage it takes for a person to go through this process. So if I’ve got my blinkers on, it’s for good reason.
Its good you have your blinkers on and the stats are skewed against complainants but its still innocent until proven guilty
Peter Ellis may have a different view though
Comments above show why similar cases often end with Jury stalemates.
In any group of 12 jurors there is highly likely to be at least one who believes the victim/s would not make the claim unless it was true, and at least one juror who believes that an accusation without evidence cannot possibly meet the test of ‘beyond reasonable doubt’.
if neither is prepared to shift their position, Jury is stalemated. I was involved in one of those juries once, and before dismissing us the judge informed us not to feel bad because we were the third jury to be ‘hung’ on the same case.
So the victims and accused had been through the wringer 3 times….and the expense to taxpayer was?
Personally, I would rather see such cases be tried purely by a Judge.
Pretty sure that’s why we no longer go for unanimous jury decisions.
Or is that still in the too hard basket for National?
Very good point The lost sheep, thanks for making It.
I feel being a prom…… in NZ and being tried in your home base,Judge along wound been mandatory, does anyone now were the law stands, will the defendant choose.
I can understand that Rosie.
But there are also cases of where men have been unjustly complained against, and had their lives ruined.
Im not saying that in this case at all (I havn’t been watching it that closely) – but I do know that cases like this people need ALL the information and blinkers (from any side) – are harmful.
however, you obviously have some history – and I can understand that impacts your view on things – which is only natural. So can understand (as much as I can) where you are coming from.
But there are a lot on here that want him found guilty – simply because of the damage it could do to [you know who].
Honestly – I just hope that justice prevails – whatever the outcome and that people can accept the verdict from people who have heard all the facts.
Note – if he is guilty – I hope they throw the book at him.
Agreed, if found guilty then he needs to be named while suppressing all details of the victims and his relationship to the victims
He’s been found not guilty. Stuff still have the story under the original heading:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/78824702/prominent-new-zealander-trial-jury-at-stalemate.html
You know what? I do know of one man who was accused of attempted rape and he was actually innocent. The complainant had a certain motivation against this man. I do know how his life was affected for quite some before the charges were dropped.
However, the issue is that, to quote a completely misunderstood politician, “family and sexual violence is perpetrated overwhelmingly by men, so the first message to men out there is to wake up, stand up man up and stop this bullshit”.
Key word is “overwhelmingly”. So you know the odds are stacked against women and children.
http://areyouok.org.nz/family-violence/statistics/
I think it was quite normal to be suspicious of the man in this case, given our statistics in NZ. But he has been not found guilty. That has to be accepted.
To james
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/78821057/labour-leader-andrew-little-to-release-tax-records-back-to-2010-but-key-refuses
– Wow a publicity stunt from a Labour leader…theres no way this could backfire
Little said he could not speak for his finance spokesman Grant Robertson. “He tells me his tax affairs are more boring than mine.”
A publicity stunt and a mention of Grant Robertson… this is smart from Andrew Little
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/snapper-review/9065298/David-Shearers-dead-snapper-stunt
Do you think thats little trying to push robertson under the bus?
Well anything’s possible and he is a lawyer but in this case I’m thinking it wouldn’t be the first time Mr Robertson has set up a rival
I think we are more interested in seeing Key’s tax returns for the last 8 years he has been PM.
Nothing to hide nothing to fear and all that.
Plus John Key is sooooo honest, cos he tells us that. And gives all his salary to charity. NZ is not a tax haven and he his blind trusts are irrelevant. I’m sure he doesn’t have quillions in his kids names around the globe.
Lets find out if he is telling the truth?
Oh you poor blind, deluded fool (and I don’t mean that harshly) you and others like yourself have so much irrational hatred for John Key built up that you’re just like a dog barking at any passing car in the forlorn hope that’ll finally be the issue to bring down John Key
Most people will see it for what it is and that’s just a cheap, meaningless political stunt.
They’ll think that they wouldn’t want their tax returns published so why should John Key
They’ll think of course John Key has trusts because he’s wealthy (he’s never hidden it) and they’ll think they’d do the same if they were in his position
They’ll think as long as he’s following the rules then its ok
and then they’ll think of Labour and all they’ll think of is spite, negativity and malice
It’s not really all that irrational.
I have meet people who still think saint key gives all his pm wages to charity so at least it would clear that little myth up.
Most people will see it for what it is and that’s just a cheap, meaningless political stunt.
This, especially when Littles tax records are just his pay slips for the time he’s been a MP.
Obvious political stunt is obvious.
I can see this has clearly rattled a nerve with our Troll Key Cheerleaders.
Not really irrational when David Cameron is releasing his tax returns.
And the Icelandic PM has had to resign.
But Key still claims NZ is not a tax haven he himself advocated for when NZ is mentioned 60,000 times in the Panama papers.
Not really irrational when David Cameron is releasing his tax returns.
And the Icelandic PM has had to resign.
What has that got to do with John Keys tax?
That’s what we want to know!
What is it that he is desperately trying to hide?
Remember that this is the result of only one of the four largest firms dealing in this sort of stuff. It implicates 140 politicians around the globe avoiding tax in their own countries or worse.
We know Key has “blind” trusts.
The chances are he is as heavily implicated in this sort of shinanagans as the rest.
Has John Key been implicated?
Apparently that doesn’t matter, he just looks guilty
If he looks guilty and he is not – then he should prove that he is not.
Or in other words, it’s not good enough for our public officials to merely be honest. They must be demonstrably honest.
That’s one thing I learned from my security days – someone checking up on me wasn’t that they didn’t trust me, it was so that if shit happened in a high risk environment, they could vouch that I’d done everything properly.
“If he looks guilty and he is not – then he should prove that he is not.”
I think you may have had an intimate relationship with a farmyard animal because you look guilty of it, please provide proof that you haven’t.
*Just as an example of why that line of reasoning is not a good one to use
Or I think you have child pornography on your computer.
If you don’t hand over your computer so we can check it out, you’re obviously guilty.
Maybe someone should run that one past Andrew Little, see how he reacts.
Seems only fair that the people know whether the person who railroaded through the changes that made NZ a tax haven (and then ignored advice on seven separate occasions to rectify the problem) benefitted personally from those changes.
that is what we want to find out!
We know he is a lying bastard – especially where his personal trusts are concerned. He has been the one driving, the new zero tax regime for foreign investors (quid pro quo?), and he is the one who has appointed the sham Shewan to do a whitewash of the whole affair. His actions speak of one giant arse cover-up!
Yep, in the panama papers NZ has 60,000 mentions.
I’m sure with all those long holidays in the US, that is probably the tax haven of choice for Key though, and with friends there to protect him.
60,000 mentions out of what, 1.1 million documents?
So mentioned in 0.55% of them? Amazing.
Ooooooh another who can do arithmetic
WOW
I’ve seen much higher percentages (falls in Labour polling for example) dismissed on this forum as not important.
yes. Because numbers get their meaning and importance from their context. 60 is a number. $60 in your pocket is pretty good. 60 charges against you in court is pretty bad. But your IQ of 60 should get you off most of those charges due to mental incompetence.
The meaning and importance comes from the context.
Hi ranfurz,
You might want to check your arithmetic.
1,100,000 documents. 60,000 mentions. Think about it.
Here’s a clue: 60,000 is 1% of 6,000,000
More than 1 in 20 documents, on average, mentioned New Zealand.
(Of course, presumably some documents mentioned New Zealand more than once.)
@ Mcflock
60 is a number. $60 in your pocket is pretty good. 60 charges against you in court is pretty bad. But your IQ of 60 should get you off most of those charges due to mental incompetence
60 is pretty good or pretty bad? And this from someone who once claimed that…
“75,000 might or might not be significant”
It’s all in the context….and the context is what suits you at the time as far as I can see.
That’s because you can’t see very far at all.
Fuck 75,000, 75 million might be insignificant: 75 million tonnes of gold or 75 million gold atoms would have significantly different value, no?
But you’d argue that 75 million gold atoms (a tiny fraction of a gram) is just as a significant amount of gold as around 100 times all the gold ever mined. Because you’re a moron.
No, context is “the parts of something written or spoken that immediately precede and follow a word or passage and clarify its meaning.” Learn english, fucko.
Oh stop with the poor me routine BM, it was tiresome days ago. Today it just a bit sickening. Add to the conversation.
If you want to winge, go over to whale oil, I’m sure that hate munger will wallow in crap you are spinning.
I really don’t see what the fuss is about. If dear Leader has got nothing to hide he should simply roll out his tax returns.
Fuck, we ask for more from someone who is simply applying for an unemployment benefit after they lost their jobs.
If he has nothing to hide he should show his returns.
“If he has nothing to hide he should show his returns”
Because hes done nothing wrong or been shown to have done anything wrong or theres been nothing to link him to anything wrong because you’re just fishing for evidence…any of the above really
How long have these documents been out for…over a year, I’d bet Nicky Hagers already had a look so if there was anything it’d be known about already
Unless of course Nicky just sits on it until about 4 weeks out from the next election like the little creep he is
There’s really only one response to that, and that’s a quote from Frank Marvin, the late editor of Mountain Scene, my local paper.
“If you don’t want it on the front page, don’t do it”
Frank was a top man, and utterly fearless in his reporting of the goings on around Queenstown and always had plenty of material. He was very effective at keeping the place in order. His world view was quite different to Hager’s though.
Every year since 2006 MP’s have been required to declare their Financial Interests
MP’s should also be unaverse to declaring their tax returns as well if they have nothing to hide. They are the ones who set the taxes – they should show they they are above board in that regard as well.
Seriously, some on the right comment on something dumb a Labour leader does and its taken as we’re rattled
So let me guess if we don’t comment on something dumb the Labour leader de jour does then that also proves we’re rattled?
When you cry wolf all the time, when most of what you say is a lie, and sorry Puckish Rouge, but your track record is quite bad – especially when you parrot the party line.
So here is some hints; Try not lying, try being reasonable, try not ranting with hyperbole some time, and we may listen.
Then again in this case the national government dropped the ball, they created a tax haven, tarnished our good name and besmirched us all.
The problem is national party supporters like yourself rather than own up to that, go on the attack. Engage in dirty politics and then moan about it when we call you on it.
The poor me routine is very bloody tiresome. As is the distractions. I see your boy Brash decided Racism was the distraction the government needed this time.
So quite frankly Puckish Rogue, a amoral punter like yourself, could take a look at the lack of morals shown in the last few days or you could just carry on moaning.
That’s nice dear
I see you went for moaning.
It would be nice, if there were the slightest chance that you’d stop with the lies and distractions and derailments.
More product in railing against the wind, I fear…
But when one thinks of Key and Trusts – all one can think of is lying and feathering his own nest
Andrew Little has just tabled his Income Tax Records in the House. Now where is Key’s?
Everyone already knows Andrew Little’s tax record, MP’s salaries are public knowledge.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/78824702/prominent-new-zealander-trial-jury-at-stalemate.html
“Prominent New Zealander trial: Not Guilty”
Any one really surprised ?
Since I wasn’t on the jury and didn’t hear the evidence, I’m neither surprised nor unsurprised.
“I’m neither surprised nor unsurprised.”
clearly some kind of nihilist….
edgy !
Not really. Tough on the kids.
Still, I doubt that many people who know him would now ask him to be a child-minder.
Prominent Kiwi sex charge case: Not guilty to all charges
Helps so much if you are protected by people in high places, what career you used to have and expensive lawyers to plant seeds of doubt.
Exactly – I’ve sat on the jury one of these sort of cases and after 2 weeks of evidence and a whole raft of “prominent NZers” giving “evidence in support” of the accused – convicted and discharged.
Anyone else would be in the big house.
He was found not-guilty based on the evidence.
and far from a whole raft of “prominent NZers” giving “evidence in support”
It sounds like it was more the evidence of the girls not being backed up, or changing.
You were not there, nor did you hear all the evidence – so its stupid, to suggest that anyone else would be in the “big house”.
I suppose we have to accept the jury decision. Assuming he is innocent it will find it hard to be left alone with other people’s kids. Stigma is not always fair.
Fuck, I avoid being left alone with kids anyway, and haven’t been accused of a damned thing.
Massaging kids is a bit weird (regardless of everything else), too.
Physios, fucking deviants.
There’s a difference between that and doing it socially. Although I’m prepared to accept it might be a cultural variation I have, but the only people I’ve given or received social massages from have been folks with whom it added a little frisson of enjoyment to both. Just as Tony Rockyhorror should have known.
It always means something…
“Massaging kids is a bit weird ”
we had a teacher who did exactly that at my primary school many many years ago….
he was arrested, charged and did 18 months…
I wonder how it would have panned out had it been a teacher giving massages to kids?
Will the guy get his old job back…will they want him back?
I wonder if he’ll be [r0b: deleted for obvious legal reasons] now?
History repeating it’s self, ignoring evidence from children, because their children, and therefore lack credibility.
that’s one of those comments that you expect to be replaced by modface bold reasonably soon…
Aye!
That has to be close to be breaking suppression orders.
Mods may want to make a call on that one.
Indeed.
Ooops, apologies!
Regardless of this case, all too often, the “privileged” are able to manipulate outcomes in court hearings, justice, sometimes, appears to be a commodity.
http://thehandmirror.blogspot.co.nz/2016/04/making-him-stop.html
Excerpt:
I was up against a Public Service superior years ago who was terrorising me (no, not sexually but something equally as frightening) both in the workplace and beyond. I reported him to the management. He lied to them. They believed him because of his superior position. My career ended in tatters but at least the terrorising stopped.
Anne
My wife had a similar experience with one of her previous employers, at the final hearing, the employer thought they had the case wrapped up, my wife is not good at defending herself, so knowing the circumstances of the case, I spoke up and put forward a couple of very pertinent questions surrounding the validity of the accusations against my wife, these questions resulted in a win for my wife, but if I hadn’t been there, the employer would have won, he had tried to pay off our lawyer with a bribe as well, I’m just glad Iv’e got a big mouth and a willingness to challenge the BS.
Yeah, fucking Doug Graham and Bill Jeffries buying their convictions.
“Prime Minister John Key has declared a short term deposit to a company specialising in foreign trusts.
The latest register of MPs pecuniary interests listed the Antipodes Trust Group Limited as a debtor in Key’s entry. The register was released today.
On its website, the Antipodes Trust calls itself a specialist provider or trustee and associated services for foreign trusts using New Zealand as their jurisdiction of choice.”
Anyone know what this means? Good or Bad?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/78838228/prime-minister-john-key-deposited-money-with-company-specialising-in-foreign-trusts
It’s the firm his lawyer works for now. So likeliest explanation is that Key’s lawyer held the deposit for something in trust (the firm’s trust) for a short time, as is usual when making decent sized financial transactions. One example – many here bought a house? The usual process is the deposit is held by your lawyer in a trust until settlement.
Keep in mind the declarations for this register were made before 31st Jan 2016 – it’s not like Key has suddenly declared this transaction in the wake of the Panama Papers.
Its not like he declared it publicly himself either in all those interviews he’s done since the Panama papers came it. It must have slipped his mind.
Unfortunately, it’s not a smoking gun. This appears to be just a financial “interest”, held in trust by a lawyer, acting on Key’s behalf, for some as yet unknown purpose.
There appears to be no tax avoidance or evasion that we can see. He was required to declare it and was right to do so.
Despite the attempts by Patrick Gower et al to suggest that the funds held are suspect by association with the company the lawyer now works for are a bit much.
To have Key caught out would a delight but alas – but I will be watching this space
Not sure any legitimate poster here has suggested this is a smoking gun. BM and his right wing allies are suggesting the socially conscious left believe it to be a smoking gun but that is not the case.
Given the current attention around New Zealand being a soft touch for secretive funds, this is what the media says it is – embarrassing for John Key.