How cynically undemocratic is this NAct government? …. determined to push ahead with it’s programme assisting corproates, at home and abroad, to fleece Kiwis of their hard earned assets and rights:
The Government will not delay the passage of the bill allowing share floats of state-owned enterprises until after the Waitangi Tribunal has held its urgent hearings on the matter.
Ministers are insisting such sales would not affect the rights and interests of iwi and will not set aside any shares for future settlement.
But SOE Minister Tony Ryall says the Government could be prepared at a later stage to “stand in the market” and buy shares for some iwi as part of Treaty of Waitangi settlements.
When will the media hold the government to account, and challenge their way of treating democracy like a business enterprise where rights and social justice are just products and services to be bought and sold in the marketplace?
John Armstrong is beginning to give it a go, and not for the first time. He’s been having a few digs recently. It seems like he’s getting a cynical about this self-serving government (unlike his colleague Fran O’Sullivan).
The talk about contraception was designed to get John Key’s controversy-plagued Government back on the front foot and regain control of the political agenda for the first time in weeks.
It wasn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last, welfare reform is wheeled out to perform that function.
Rosy, don’t talk to me about the blind Fran O’Sullivan who has all the discernment of a weed! Yes, I think we can call her “dear John” a weed, anyway! Fran’s problem is not being able to find a way to “fall out of love” with that handsome stag (sorry – I changed the analogy from weed)!!.
But whatever his problems, TV News continues to consult JK on anything and everything. He looks sublimely happy with that.
RT is playing the very forthright documentary The War in Iraq over the next few days, May 11,12,13. It is a compelling and well researched investigation into the ideas and ideals behind the illegal invasion and ongoing destruction of Iraq. In short it is a terrifying exposé of the manipulation and deceipt that is contemporary Geo-Politics.
Muzza What against poverty.This is the same attitude they had in southern states of the US last century Eugenics.Divide and conquer the human right commission should get into Paula Bennett.
Every body should be treated as equal.
Thats right Mike E – The playbook is simply a rehash, the agenda nothing new…I was trying to point out the ease at which the medias complicity to relaying the messages can be called out!
Everyone equal….LOL, yes they will all be forced vaccinations if this gets off the ground…Not for the decision makers of course….just the cattle!
Another option is that the government thinks it’s taking a hit on the poverty-related kiddie-illness issue. It can blame kids eating slops on bad parenting, but disease is not so easily dismissed.
So rather than spending money on making doctors more accessible, or reducing overcrowding, or making sure homes are warm enough, I think they figure that forcing beneficiaries to immunize is an easy and free (if not cost-positive) way to drop vaccine-preventable diseases by 5-10%. And making it easier for them to fuck the economy for another three years.
As for me, I think that addressing inequality and housing, alongside beefing up the education system, would do a lot mre to prevent communicable diseases than compulsory vaccination to catch the tail-end of nutbars.
Although there might be something to be said for restricting school and ECE attendance to vaccinated kids only, but that might just be a first-stage response to an emerging epidemic.
Under these arrangements, an American corporation, for example, would be given far more extensive rights against our government than any New Zealand company would ever have. It would mean that a future government, perhaps elected to change policy in an area like environmental protection or health and safety (smoking comes to mind), could be threatened with a crippling lawsuit unless it backed off.
I heard Tony Ryall on the radio yesterday reassuring us Lanth. He said that there was no way that we would lose our sovereignty and that what Government would sell our rights away in a Treaty? So that’s alright then.
Sheesh, anyone watching the Nation this morning? The introduction piece about Shearer gagging DC and preventing him from coming on to debate asset sales – fear of stepping on Parkers toes. Parker cant compete with National MP’s on this issue- he simply is not powerful, intelligent and articulate enough. Labour are like a really shit AB’s line up right now, the players are in the wrong places – I cringe when they hit the public field.
Fancy Shearer appointing Parker Finance Spokesperson. If promotions are merit based then Cunliffe should be the finance spokesperson. He should at least be allowed to debate things publicly occasionally.
And it looks like the leaks are continuing. Someone high up has told Garner that Cunliffe was gagged. If Labour really wants to look like a Government these leaks need to stop.
Shearer gagging Cunliffe wouldn’t surprise me especially after the speech that Cunliffe gave a few weeks ago which seemed to be almost totally against what Shearer has been saying.
Utterly odd that with Shearer AGAIN muzzling Cunliffe, there was no-one to go on The Nation this morning to hold the Government to account.
So instead Tony Ryle as Minister of SOE’s got what amounted to an Opposition-free hall pass to talk about the great asset selloff.
And here we are less than 2 weeks away from the Government’s budget, so where the hell is the supposed Opposition Finance Spokesperson David Parker? Utterly absent, from the guy who five months ago who wanted to lead the entire Labour Party.
And not to put too fine a point on it, Cunliffe has done the only effective set-piece speech from Labour since the election.
Great Labour can go “me too” to absolutely every political scandal going in the let month, but when it comes to leading the attack, they are simply willful eunuchs. Shame on Shearer – grow a pair man.
@patrickgowernz
Cunliffe no-show on @theNationtv3 clearly shows he’s been gagged by Labour hierachy fearing he appears up for leadership challenge
This could be a good sign though, that finally Shearer is starting use some authority. If he can keep building on that – and if the party visibly unites behind him – he can let the spokespeople do their thing – next year is plenty of time to develop that.
You have to be joking. A senior member of the Labour Party being prevented from going on TV to take the fight to the Government? What are Labour going to do? Not say or do anything just in case the leader feels threatened?
A real leader would support his spokespersons getting media traction and arguing Labour policy. Helen certainly did.
No, I doubt very much that Shearer is the type of guy who would try to dumb down his front bench spokerspersons. Goff seems to have done that to get his personality popularity figures up: they all know that didn’t work.
Shearer is a tall man and hopefully a MAN. He would have learned from the mistakes of the Goff strategy. He would definitely be encouraging all of his team to front-up and make strong speeches that push the Labour brand. I hope his replacement of advisors and office staff works out for the better.
“Waiting for Copernicus: On the Slow-Death of Neoliberalism”
“It’s happening in Buenos Aires. It’s happening in Paris and in Athens. It’s even happening at the World Bank headquarters.
The global economy is finally shifting away from the model that prevailed for the last three decades. Europeans are rejecting austerity. Latin Americans are nationalizing enterprises.”
“Argentina is by no means the only country in the region to roll back the privatization mania. The Brazilian government increased its control over the oil company Petrobras a couple years ago. In Bolivia, the government of Evo Morales recently renationalized the electricity grid, which had also been in Spanish hands. This move comes after the nationalization of hydroelectric facilities and telecommunications. Venezuela, under Hugo Chavez, has made enlarging the state sector a populist rallying cry. And Ecuador has followed suit with laws to allow the government to seize oil and gas companies that don’t comply with national regulations.”
The rest of the World except the U$$$$ (Also known as the Banana republic of the US$$$) and the UK$$$$ have woken up to the disaster that is NeoLiberalism. Alas though Shonkey and his mates haven’t and they’re making the ordinary kiwi pay for their willful blindness and stupidity continuing with the Privatisation impoverishment rort which only benefits their class mates.
Privatisation and Austerity are major ideological planks for National. Can yo see them backing off? When you pull a few scaffolding planks away the structure would fall.
The sort of outrageous abuse of consumers one gets with Privatisation example in the UK$$$:
“£130 a year on your gas and electricity bill: British Gas owner threatens rises… as it approves a £9m pay package for its bosses
Household bills could reach record highs
Shareholders don’t back pay deal for chief exec”
Profit has always been on the backs of the consumers. That’s why the politicians and corporates push higher and higher consumption even though it’s not sustainable and why, interestingly enough, they both treat the average person as drain rather than as a person.
I heard Winston Peters on Radionz Wed-Fri I think on Morning Report dissing Whanau Ora and Tariana Turia giving a spirited defence of it.
Government and people need to get beyond having a hissy fit every time something goes wrong with Maori initiatives. She made the point that when working for and with people who have been on the bottom strata of society there would be times when there were unsatisfactory outcomes.
And I think this is inevitable so let’s face up to it and set up good monitoring and scrutiny and not use the bad to stop good from being encouraged. And the bad can’t be prevented completely – we can only work out regular checks so they get caught early and then the good that is happening can reach out to all levels of Maori society faster.
After all the whites aren’t so good either, if Maori are supposed to look at the white wealthy as towers of aspiration, we had better step up to our lofty myths and act to stop pakeha business and charitable scams. And the unregulated permissive business and government practices with casinos, jobs for our friends without tender, etc etc (fill in this gap with your own examples) smooths the way to dishonesty and contempt of probity.
So the one sure way to prevent adequate spending programs on Maori social, employment and SME development, of a legal sort, is to explode with disgust any time that associated wrongdoing comes to light and throw out the baby with the bathwater. Result is a big -0.
Good on old Winnie, the crafty old bugger, he’s always putting a cat among the pigeons.
“Why would the Government pay for a TV programme [ The GC ] that shows Kiwis earning high Aussie wages while living a degenerate party lifestyle?
“We are all sick of the chardonnay-sipping liberals creating this sort of rubbish – we need to put people on the NZ On Air board who show a bit more intelligence than those who chose to fund this brain-dead show.”
NZ On Air funds programmes with cultural value, and Mr Peters says that’s rubbish as well.
“The much-hyped Maori cultural content is virtually non-existent. Just showing a few scribbles on their faces hardly satisfies the requirement.”
24th of May, Thursday week, is budget day. The National Party had a free run on the Nation this morning. The Labour Party declined an invitation. WTF. Tory Ryall got away with murder on selling our Assets: no Labour person there to challenge him. WTF. Who is responsible and accountable for business management in the Labour Opposition?
Well Balanced – Could the people demand a by-election on electorates of Opposition members who aren’t doing the job we are paying them for? A very adequate income indeed these days. Never heard of it but they are being paid while they are in Parliament and they are expected to be holding the government to account not playing pretty positional and psychological games choosing when to expose themselves and their programs and beliefs to scrutiny.
In sport coach positions are reviewed quick smart when their team doesn’t perform. We people are supposed to be the backbone of the democracy, the real job creators with our tax money and investment of savings and work skills, so we should have more to say and more control over our political agents in the way that investors in paid sports sectors have.
It may be a good idea to hold fire for now, let Government Ministers shoot their bolts and keep the Opposition powder dry until the blowup of the Budget itself. Let the Minister hoist their own petards and dare them to damn the torpedoes in the winter of our discontent after the Dreaded Budget.
Ianmac – Yes I see your point but it seems necessary to make a show up so that people know they have a sparking Opposition. If they have definite policy trends that they believe are important, even if they can’t actually carry every policy that would be beneficial, then they could refer back to that trend. The comment would illustrate how government was not achieving good change with the latest thrash of programs. It would be a broken record approach – ‘But how will that return us to more employment and full-time jobs allowing discretionary spending?’for instance.
We still haven’t seen Joyce being held to account for whatever this big Ministry of Big Business and Screw You All is supposed to deliver.
Duncan Garner should do a show with Joyce versus Cunliffe, and see where we really are toe to toe.
Actually the next set piece speech I want to see, once the smoke is cleared from Greece, is about The Economy and The Environment. Something about biosecurity and agricultural risk, something about our future as a food producer, and something about the necessity of the Greens to New Zealand politics.
Strange we don’t hear the Labour leadership ready and willing to work with the Greens.
Would the Greens leadership want one bar of Labour? Greens have all the intelligent policies, where Labour seems unable to come up even with UNintelligent policies, none at all!
Who knows who’s in charge these days. I won’t vote for em in this state, and Shearer to me? a big mistake making him leader. Cunliffe should have been there to keep the crap to a`minimum, where was he ????
If one decile of 400000 people has more babies than another decile of 400000, then yeah, they have more births. It’s not a conspiracy, it’s a fact.
My guess is that deprivation is largely proportional to age, and probably reproduction itself (DINKs vs 2.4kids). Just controlling for age would probably be interesting. Also if there’s a gender skew in the dep06 indices, that might be an issue. If it were really dissected, we might just find that people most likely to be poor are young women.
Ianmac: the Labour Brand today was very weak. And it will be even more so tomorrow if the Front Bench does not Front-up. Where was Shearer, Robinson or Parker? A week out from the be budget and you suggest we give them a free run!! We need to get all our best front bench people making appearances on these opinion forming forums. Every MP hold have Pre-Budget scene setting speeches or newsletters out in their electorates to set a context in which voters can hear the budget. Every MP should have a Post-Budget speech booked or newsletter planned that will highlight the deficiencies.
Ianmac, if we are not shaping the story, the Nats will. Take your pick. Mine is that we shape the the story. Today we failed abysmally. The responsible Labour Party manager should get a written warning. The accountable person should prepare to replace the poor performers.
Slater is quoted as saying they didn’t come from a burglary but won’t say where they came from.
I refuse to give his site the traffic of following this up but assume others here may have seen what Slater’s been doing and could guess as to why he’s doing this? Personal? Professional? Insane?
Slater is of course not divulging where he acquired the data, but its likely to have come from Blomfield’s stolen computer and therefore Slater could be looking at a bit of jail time…
I keep an eye on Whaleoil but have avoided looking at this in any detail, it’s an alleged business related scandal in Auckland, not somewhere I want to spend any time looking, especially if information is illegally obtained – which if true don’t help Whale’s very mixed reputation.
The number of comments on those threads started high but dropped fairly quickly, I don’t think it’s riveting for most of his audience.
There seems to be a lack of desire from the Police to test the new anti-hacking laws. They’re pretty specific except for the bit about knowledge which is subjective;
“252 Accessing computer system without authorisation
(1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years who intentionally accesses, directly or indirectly, any computer system without authorisation, knowing that he or she is not authorised to access that computer system, or being reckless as to whether or not he or she is authorised to access that computer system.”
If the emails are from a stolen computer then I would think that Slater would then be an accessory to a crime. In that scenario the emails look to have been accessed in the manner described above. It might be called anti-hacking law but it’s not expressed as such, it clearly applies equally to accessing someone’s computer directly.
Not sure. I think that was one of the reasons they brought in the new legislation, digital content created some ambiguities on the law front that gave the defence lawyer plenty to argue against. The computer was stolen but if data was copied from it was the copied data still stolen goods? Also.. how can you prove that copied data came directly from the stolen computer; could have come from a hacked PC, backup device or other unknown source.
Just saw Jonathan Young, the National MP for New Plymouth, park in a metered parking space and walk into a nearby cafe without even looking at the meter. It appears the rules don’t apply when you’re an MP. Hope he gets a ticket 😉
Weird editorial in the Dompost today.
Making vaguely complimentary noises about mothers who look after children.
Are they trying to send all women back to the kitchen or are the Nact focus groups showing women to be dead sick of all the attacks being launched on them and/or the children?
Student loans & allowances interest free were very popular when introduced not only with the students but parents and grandpaprents. Is this going to unravel Nact support some more?
Making vaguely complimentary noises about mothers who look after children.
Are they trying to send all women back to the kitchen
That seems a bit of a stretch, Red Baron! Mothers look after children and ought to be allowed to! Saying every mother should work outside the home, is a good line for bene bashing, and reminds me that Rosemary McLeod of all people had a column in North & South or Metro in the 80s, in which she speculated that a lot of the hatred of DPB mothers was simply jealousy that they got to stay home and actually look after their children!
I know I am a cynic, but what in heaven or earth would it take to unravel Nact support in a country whose brightest and best are wallowing in Australia? Those of us (unfortunately) remaining do not rate highly in discernment of human beings (if that is what Tories are).
We take the Fran O’Sullivans of the country for our models!!
“”A coeducational Christian college, Y1–13, of over 1500 students. Our emphasis is on applying biblical principles to all aspects of school life. Commitment to the college’s special character and a willingness to take part in related instructional programmes are a condition of all appointments””.
A State integrated school, (Tax funded) ad for a TECHNOLOGY teacher.
Can’t anyone see what is wrong with this?
If you want a job you must participate in brainwashing kids with unproven irrational beliefs.
If you want a job you must participate in brainwashing kids with unproven irrational beliefs.
Sorry, I think you’re wrong – your comment shows a very strong bias the other way, and would you be so angry if the advert was for a Muslim school, a Steiner school or a Jewish one? I can’t see an atheist applying other than to create a huge fuss…
State schools should be secular. Not pushing religious beliefs.
If religious believers want to pay for their own schools to brainwash their kids I can’t stop them.
But schools funded by all of us should not be allowed to discriminate in their employment practices on the grounds of willingness to help with the brainwashing.
At least sanity is prevailing. Less and less people participate in religion every year.
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Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Wilmot, Senior Lecturer, Film, Deakin University Among the many Australian who served during the second world war, there is a small group of people whose stories remain largely untold. These are the Muslim men and women who, while small in number, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
A leaked document shows the Canterbury/Waitaha arm of health agency Te Whatu Ora is scurrying to save $13.3 million by July. The “financial sustainability target”, which was “allocated” to Waitaha, is consistent with what’s happening in other districts, says Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. ...
A look at the state of the previous government’s affordable housing scheme, and what could come next.Remind me: What’s KiwiBuild again?First announced in 2012, KiwiBuild was a flagship policy of the Labour Party heading into both its 2014 and 2017 election campaigns. With Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, ...
Labour in opposition will be shocked to learn which party had six years in power but squandered any chance to make real change. Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech was a predictably entertaining trip down memory lane. The acid-tongued incoming Otago University chancellor administered a sick burn to the coalition government. He ...
Opinion: It has been announced that nine percent of roles at Oranga Tamariki will be disestablished, presumably to help fund the tax cuts promised by the coalition Government. I am reminded of the graphics used to illustrate pandemic events, where five thousand people are standing in a field and then ...
After more than two sleepless days, running through savage terrain, Greig Hamilton didn’t know if he was going to finish one of the most gruelling psychological assaults in sport. He was metres away from the finish line, a yellow gate made famous in a Netflix documentary; a race he’d dreamed ...
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The following interview with former Green Party MP Sue Kedgley came about because she features in the new memoir Hine Toa by activist Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku; the two knew each other at the University of Auckland in the early 70s, when they were both took on leadership roles in the ...
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is seen some as its ‘silicon shield’ against invasion – but how will overseas expansion affect that protection? The post The state of Taiwan’s silicon shield appeared first on Newsroom. ...
There’s relief for building owners bending under the weight of earthquake strengthening rules – and costs – that came into force seven years ago. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a scheduled 2027 review of the earthquake-prone building regulations will now start this year. Owners will also get ...
COMMENTARY:By Murray Horton New Zealand needs to get tough with Israel. It’s not as if we haven’t done so before. When NZ authorities busted a Mossad operation in Auckland 20 years ago, the government didn’t say: “Oh well, Israel has the right to defend itself.” No, it arrested, prosecuted, ...
NEWSMAKERS:By Vijay Narayan, news director of FijiVillage Blessed to be part of the University of Fiji (UniFiji) faculty to continue to teach and mentor those who want to join our noble profession, and to stand for truth and justice for the people of the country. I was privileged to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Lowry, Ice Sheet & Climate Modeller, GNS Science Hugh Chittock/Antarctica New Zealand, CC BY-SA As the climate warms and Antarctica’s glaciers and ice sheets melt, the resulting rise in sea level has the potential to displace hundreds of millions of ...
The government's plan to reintroduce a three strikes regime is being strongly opposed by lawyers, who argue there is no evidence it reduces crime or helps people rehabilitate. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Jerker B. Svantesson, Professor specialising in Internet law, Bond University Do Australian courts have the right to decide what foreign citizens, located overseas, view online on a foreign-owned platform? Anyone inclined to answer “yes” to this question should perhaps also ask ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey caught the headlines yesterday, courtesy of a blistering speech condemning the latest GST carve-up. New South Wales, he claimed, would be A$11.9 billion worse off over the ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra Shutterstock An important principle was invoked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week in defence of the government’s Future Made in Australia industry ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Security forces reinforcements were sent from France ahead of two rival marches in the capital Nouméa today, at the same time and only two streets away one from the other. One march, called by Union Calédonienne party (a component of the ...
A poll last August found that just 16% of New Zealanders oppose bringing back the ‘Three Strikes’ law. The nationwide poll of 1,000 New Zealanders was commissioned by Family First NZ and carried out by Curia Market Research. ...
The solo show from Ana Scotney is both sprawling and intimate, and a must-see, writes Mad Chapman. In the opening moments of Scattergun: After the Death of Rūaumoko, writer and performer Ana Scotney lays out the groundwork, literally. Silently moving around the square stage, Scotney is not so much dancing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Burridge, Professor of Linguistics, Monash University Who makes the words? Why are trees called trees and why are shoes called shoes and who makes the names? – Elliot, age 5, Eltham, Victoria Good question Elliot! Let’s start with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne at amRawpixel.com/Shutterstock Roles of health professionals are still unfortunately often stuck in the past. That is, before the ...
COMMENTARY:By Malcolm Evans Last week’s leaked New York Times staff directive, as to what words can and cannot be used to describe the carnage Israel is raining on Palestinians, is proof positive, since those reports are published verbatim here in New Zealand, that our understanding of the conflict is ...
In the case of New Zealand, the results confirm that there is no popular support for the vicious austerity program being imposed by the National Party-led government, which is backed in all fundamental respects by the opposition Labour Party. ...
The ‘Vampire’ singer has never visited our part of the world, but that might all be about to change. We assess the evidence.Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour is pulling in massive crowds as it whips around the US and Europe, even helping to catapult regular supporting act Chappell Roan ...
Testing of drinking water in rural Canterbury over the weekend by Greenpeace revealed that several public town supplies were reaching levels of nitrate above 5 mg/L - the threshold which a growing body of scientific evidence has linked to increased ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rohan Fisher, Information Technology for Development Researcher, Charles Darwin University It may come as a surprise to hear 2023 was Australia’s biggest bushfire season in more than a decade. Fires burned across an area eight times as big as the 2019–20 Black ...
Responding to the Government’s announcement of changes to resource management laws, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said: “These changes are a step in the right direction in terms of removing ideological and unworkable ...
More than two years after the Human Rights Council called for the establishment of a national human rights commission, such a body has yet to be formed. ...
Comment:An emergency management system with wide variations in performance, significant capability gaps, funding shortfalls and above all a setup that is not meeting the needs of New Zealanders at times of crisis. The Government’s inquiry into the response to Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events in the North ...
Welcome to the whirring wonders of one brain trying to align its actions with its beliefs within a system it thinks is evil. My brain has been spiralling in a woke conundrum ever since I found out a bookshop I’ve never been to was shutting down. Good Books, a bookshop ...
We repeat our call for criminal justice policy to be based on evidence, something the three strikes regime neglects to recognise – with no evidence that it either reduces crime or assists with rehabilitation. ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor in Honiara With only four more seats in the 50-member Parliament yet to be officially declared, there is no outright winner in the Solomon Islands elections. As of Monday, the two largest blocs in the winner’s circle, independents and the incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh ...
How cynically undemocratic is this NAct government? …. determined to push ahead with it’s programme assisting corproates, at home and abroad, to fleece Kiwis of their hard earned assets and rights:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10805345
When will the media hold the government to account, and challenge their way of treating democracy like a business enterprise where rights and social justice are just products and services to be bought and sold in the marketplace?
“When will the media hold the government to account …?”
Carol, i am going to go with never!
John Armstrong is beginning to give it a go, and not for the first time. He’s been having a few digs recently. It seems like he’s getting a cynical about this self-serving government (unlike his colleague Fran O’Sullivan).
And Joyce’s Student Loan adjustments unsupported by any paperwork or rationale. Off the cuff as a cynical distraction?
Rosy, don’t talk to me about the blind Fran O’Sullivan who has all the discernment of a weed! Yes, I think we can call her “dear John” a weed, anyway! Fran’s problem is not being able to find a way to “fall out of love” with that handsome stag (sorry – I changed the analogy from weed)!!.
But whatever his problems, TV News continues to consult JK on anything and everything. He looks sublimely happy with that.
They have murdoched our media
http://rt.com/programs/schedule/
RT is playing the very forthright documentary The War in Iraq over the next few days, May 11,12,13. It is a compelling and well researched investigation into the ideas and ideals behind the illegal invasion and ongoing destruction of Iraq. In short it is a terrifying exposé of the manipulation and deceipt that is contemporary Geo-Politics.
The Government is considering requiring beneficiaries to immunise their children
Wow what a shock, pretty sure the playbook was called the other day that this was something the govt would use as a move toward forced vaccination!
EDIT: My comment was about the contraception and forced injections, but it took four days for the article above to appear
Who else wants a copy of the playbook ?
Muzza What against poverty.This is the same attitude they had in southern states of the US last century Eugenics.Divide and conquer the human right commission should get into Paula Bennett.
Every body should be treated as equal.
Thats right Mike E – The playbook is simply a rehash, the agenda nothing new…I was trying to point out the ease at which the medias complicity to relaying the messages can be called out!
Everyone equal….LOL, yes they will all be forced vaccinations if this gets off the ground…Not for the decision makers of course….just the cattle!
Another option is that the government thinks it’s taking a hit on the poverty-related kiddie-illness issue. It can blame kids eating slops on bad parenting, but disease is not so easily dismissed.
So rather than spending money on making doctors more accessible, or reducing overcrowding, or making sure homes are warm enough, I think they figure that forcing beneficiaries to immunize is an easy and free (if not cost-positive) way to drop vaccine-preventable diseases by 5-10%. And making it easier for them to fuck the economy for another three years.
And what about you McFlock?
Musing about the possible facist intentions of the current government, could lead one to thinking that you could find some common ground with them….
In fact having read your posts on the other vaccine thread, it seems you might could well be quite the little tyrant in your own mind!
At least I’m only one person in my own mind.
As for me, I think that addressing inequality and housing, alongside beefing up the education system, would do a lot mre to prevent communicable diseases than compulsory vaccination to catch the tail-end of nutbars.
Although there might be something to be said for restricting school and ECE attendance to vaccinated kids only, but that might just be a first-stage response to an emerging epidemic.
TPP
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10804415
I heard Tony Ryall on the radio yesterday reassuring us Lanth. He said that there was no way that we would lose our sovereignty and that what Government would sell our rights away in a Treaty? So that’s alright then.
Tony Ryall’s reassurance counts for nothing. He has zero credibility.
All of National has zero credibility.
Sheesh, anyone watching the Nation this morning? The introduction piece about Shearer gagging DC and preventing him from coming on to debate asset sales – fear of stepping on Parkers toes. Parker cant compete with National MP’s on this issue- he simply is not powerful, intelligent and articulate enough. Labour are like a really shit AB’s line up right now, the players are in the wrong places – I cringe when they hit the public field.
Actually its deliberate sabotage of the party…
Parker is a complete lighweight, non entity, so why is he being left in that position…
Parliamentarians for Global Order , all of them!
This is so crazy.
Fancy Shearer appointing Parker Finance Spokesperson. If promotions are merit based then Cunliffe should be the finance spokesperson. He should at least be allowed to debate things publicly occasionally.
And it looks like the leaks are continuing. Someone high up has told Garner that Cunliffe was gagged. If Labour really wants to look like a Government these leaks need to stop.
Shearer gagging Cunliffe wouldn’t surprise me especially after the speech that Cunliffe gave a few weeks ago which seemed to be almost totally against what Shearer has been saying.
Utterly odd that with Shearer AGAIN muzzling Cunliffe, there was no-one to go on The Nation this morning to hold the Government to account.
So instead Tony Ryle as Minister of SOE’s got what amounted to an Opposition-free hall pass to talk about the great asset selloff.
And here we are less than 2 weeks away from the Government’s budget, so where the hell is the supposed Opposition Finance Spokesperson David Parker? Utterly absent, from the guy who five months ago who wanted to lead the entire Labour Party.
And not to put too fine a point on it, Cunliffe has done the only effective set-piece speech from Labour since the election.
Great Labour can go “me too” to absolutely every political scandal going in the let month, but when it comes to leading the attack, they are simply willful eunuchs. Shame on Shearer – grow a pair man.
If Labour cannot or do not want to front up, then another spokesperson from the opposition should be there, eg Mana, NZ First or Greens.
If Labour want to give the role of major Opposition to one of the other parties, I’m sure the other parties will gladly take the ball and run with it.
We know the PM shoots blanks but is it clear that Labour has balls?
How on earth could Cunliffe NOT seem totally against what Shearer is “saying”!
And Bloody Farrar is now running the story. He also says Shearer’s office gagged Cunliffe.
Labour get your shyte together. Cunliffe is your biggest asset. Use him.
Not just him saying it.
This could be a good sign though, that finally Shearer is starting use some authority. If he can keep building on that – and if the party visibly unites behind him – he can let the spokespeople do their thing – next year is plenty of time to develop that.
You have to be joking. A senior member of the Labour Party being prevented from going on TV to take the fight to the Government? What are Labour going to do? Not say or do anything just in case the leader feels threatened?
A real leader would support his spokespersons getting media traction and arguing Labour policy. Helen certainly did.
While Natz are trying to cut the economy out of the doldrums and telling tall stories, let’s hope Labour are not trying to cut down tall poppies.
No, I doubt very much that Shearer is the type of guy who would try to dumb down his front bench spokerspersons. Goff seems to have done that to get his personality popularity figures up: they all know that didn’t work.
Shearer is a tall man and hopefully a MAN. He would have learned from the mistakes of the Goff strategy. He would definitely be encouraging all of his team to front-up and make strong speeches that push the Labour brand. I hope his replacement of advisors and office staff works out for the better.
“Waiting for Copernicus: On the Slow-Death of Neoliberalism”
“It’s happening in Buenos Aires. It’s happening in Paris and in Athens. It’s even happening at the World Bank headquarters.
The global economy is finally shifting away from the model that prevailed for the last three decades. Europeans are rejecting austerity. Latin Americans are nationalizing enterprises.”
“Argentina is by no means the only country in the region to roll back the privatization mania. The Brazilian government increased its control over the oil company Petrobras a couple years ago. In Bolivia, the government of Evo Morales recently renationalized the electricity grid, which had also been in Spanish hands. This move comes after the nationalization of hydroelectric facilities and telecommunications. Venezuela, under Hugo Chavez, has made enlarging the state sector a populist rallying cry. And Ecuador has followed suit with laws to allow the government to seize oil and gas companies that don’t comply with national regulations.”
Link:http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/05/09-1
The rest of the World except the U$$$$ (Also known as the Banana republic of the US$$$) and the UK$$$$ have woken up to the disaster that is NeoLiberalism. Alas though Shonkey and his mates haven’t and they’re making the ordinary kiwi pay for their willful blindness and stupidity continuing with the Privatisation impoverishment rort which only benefits their class mates.
Privatisation and Austerity are major ideological planks for National. Can yo see them backing off? When you pull a few scaffolding planks away the structure would fall.
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/05/09-10
Apologies this is the correct link for the above article “Waiting for Copernicus…”
The sort of outrageous abuse of consumers one gets with Privatisation example in the UK$$$:
“£130 a year on your gas and electricity bill: British Gas owner threatens rises… as it approves a £9m pay package for its bosses
Household bills could reach record highs
Shareholders don’t back pay deal for chief exec”
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2143260/130-year-gas-electricity-British-Gas-owner-threatens-rises–approves-9m-pay-package-bosses.html#ixzz1ubYzlnsb
“British Gas profits are expected to rise from £522million in 2011 to £592million this year.”
Profits off the backs of consumers and still the price rises keep coming!
Profit has always been on the backs of the consumers. That’s why the politicians and corporates push higher and higher consumption even though it’s not sustainable and why, interestingly enough, they both treat the average person as drain rather than as a person.
I heard Winston Peters on Radionz Wed-Fri I think on Morning Report dissing Whanau Ora and Tariana Turia giving a spirited defence of it.
Government and people need to get beyond having a hissy fit every time something goes wrong with Maori initiatives. She made the point that when working for and with people who have been on the bottom strata of society there would be times when there were unsatisfactory outcomes.
And I think this is inevitable so let’s face up to it and set up good monitoring and scrutiny and not use the bad to stop good from being encouraged. And the bad can’t be prevented completely – we can only work out regular checks so they get caught early and then the good that is happening can reach out to all levels of Maori society faster.
After all the whites aren’t so good either, if Maori are supposed to look at the white wealthy as towers of aspiration, we had better step up to our lofty myths and act to stop pakeha business and charitable scams. And the unregulated permissive business and government practices with casinos, jobs for our friends without tender, etc etc (fill in this gap with your own examples) smooths the way to dishonesty and contempt of probity.
So the one sure way to prevent adequate spending programs on Maori social, employment and SME development, of a legal sort, is to explode with disgust any time that associated wrongdoing comes to light and throw out the baby with the bathwater. Result is a big -0.
Maori rip off $20,000 all hell breaks loose
European rips off millions get to become prime minister
Good on old Winnie, the crafty old bugger, he’s always putting a cat among the pigeons.
“Why would the Government pay for a TV programme [ The GC ] that shows Kiwis earning high Aussie wages while living a degenerate party lifestyle?
“We are all sick of the chardonnay-sipping liberals creating this sort of rubbish – we need to put people on the NZ On Air board who show a bit more intelligence than those who chose to fund this brain-dead show.”
NZ On Air funds programmes with cultural value, and Mr Peters says that’s rubbish as well.
“The much-hyped Maori cultural content is virtually non-existent. Just showing a few scribbles on their faces hardly satisfies the requirement.”
24th of May, Thursday week, is budget day. The National Party had a free run on the Nation this morning. The Labour Party declined an invitation. WTF. Tory Ryall got away with murder on selling our Assets: no Labour person there to challenge him. WTF. Who is responsible and accountable for business management in the Labour Opposition?
Well Balanced – Could the people demand a by-election on electorates of Opposition members who aren’t doing the job we are paying them for? A very adequate income indeed these days. Never heard of it but they are being paid while they are in Parliament and they are expected to be holding the government to account not playing pretty positional and psychological games choosing when to expose themselves and their programs and beliefs to scrutiny.
In sport coach positions are reviewed quick smart when their team doesn’t perform. We people are supposed to be the backbone of the democracy, the real job creators with our tax money and investment of savings and work skills, so we should have more to say and more control over our political agents in the way that investors in paid sports sectors have.
It may be a good idea to hold fire for now, let Government Ministers shoot their bolts and keep the Opposition powder dry until the blowup of the Budget itself. Let the Minister hoist their own petards and dare them to damn the torpedoes in the winter of our discontent after the Dreaded Budget.
Ianmac – Yes I see your point but it seems necessary to make a show up so that people know they have a sparking Opposition. If they have definite policy trends that they believe are important, even if they can’t actually carry every policy that would be beneficial, then they could refer back to that trend. The comment would illustrate how government was not achieving good change with the latest thrash of programs. It would be a broken record approach – ‘But how will that return us to more employment and full-time jobs allowing discretionary spending?’for instance.
ianmac. “Keeping your powder dry” applies when you have caches and stockpiles of arms and munitions ready to use at a moments notice.
Where do you think Labour is keeping these.
We still haven’t seen Joyce being held to account for whatever this big Ministry of Big Business and Screw You All is supposed to deliver.
Duncan Garner should do a show with Joyce versus Cunliffe, and see where we really are toe to toe.
Actually the next set piece speech I want to see, once the smoke is cleared from Greece, is about The Economy and The Environment. Something about biosecurity and agricultural risk, something about our future as a food producer, and something about the necessity of the Greens to New Zealand politics.
Strange we don’t hear the Labour leadership ready and willing to work with the Greens.
Would the Greens leadership want one bar of Labour? Greens have all the intelligent policies, where Labour seems unable to come up even with UNintelligent policies, none at all!
Who knows who’s in charge these days. I won’t vote for em in this state, and Shearer to me? a big mistake making him leader. Cunliffe should have been there to keep the crap to a`minimum, where was he ????
Myth-busting rightwing prejudices
I happened to be reading through the Fifth Annual Report of the Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee (PDF) and came across some data that was obviously wrong! Namely the graph on page 20 that makes it look like people in poor areas are having on average more children…
Shit, good job dude.
Congratulations on wading through those statistics and not emerging brain damaged let alone discovering anything substantive from them.
What is that saying about ‘damn lies and statistics’?
Not sure about that.
If one decile of 400000 people has more babies than another decile of 400000, then yeah, they have more births. It’s not a conspiracy, it’s a fact.
My guess is that deprivation is largely proportional to age, and probably reproduction itself (DINKs vs 2.4kids). Just controlling for age would probably be interesting. Also if there’s a gender skew in the dep06 indices, that might be an issue. If it were really dissected, we might just find that people most likely to be poor are young women.
Ianmac: the Labour Brand today was very weak. And it will be even more so tomorrow if the Front Bench does not Front-up. Where was Shearer, Robinson or Parker? A week out from the be budget and you suggest we give them a free run!! We need to get all our best front bench people making appearances on these opinion forming forums. Every MP hold have Pre-Budget scene setting speeches or newsletters out in their electorates to set a context in which voters can hear the budget. Every MP should have a Post-Budget speech booked or newsletter planned that will highlight the deficiencies.
Ianmac, if we are not shaping the story, the Nats will. Take your pick. Mine is that we shape the the story. Today we failed abysmally. The responsible Labour Party manager should get a written warning. The accountable person should prepare to replace the poor performers.
Cameron Slater apparently has published emails stolen from Hell Pizza.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10805338
Slater is quoted as saying they didn’t come from a burglary but won’t say where they came from.
I refuse to give his site the traffic of following this up but assume others here may have seen what Slater’s been doing and could guess as to why he’s doing this? Personal? Professional? Insane?
Are those three options necessarily mutually exclusive?
Well, I’m pretty sure that professional will never apply to Slater 😈
Not sure about Slater’s motivation to publish Blomfield’s private emails there Tigger. Probably just to be controversial to get attention.
Slater receiving stolen property
Slater is of course not divulging where he acquired the data, but its likely to have come from Blomfield’s stolen computer and therefore Slater could be looking at a bit of jail time…
Excellent.
I keep an eye on Whaleoil but have avoided looking at this in any detail, it’s an alleged business related scandal in Auckland, not somewhere I want to spend any time looking, especially if information is illegally obtained – which if true don’t help Whale’s very mixed reputation.
The number of comments on those threads started high but dropped fairly quickly, I don’t think it’s riveting for most of his audience.
There seems to be a lack of desire from the Police to test the new anti-hacking laws. They’re pretty specific except for the bit about knowledge which is subjective;
“252 Accessing computer system without authorisation
(1) Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years who intentionally accesses, directly or indirectly, any computer system without authorisation, knowing that he or she is not authorised to access that computer system, or being reckless as to whether or not he or she is authorised to access that computer system.”
If the emails are from a stolen computer then I would think that Slater would then be an accessory to a crime. In that scenario the emails look to have been accessed in the manner described above. It might be called anti-hacking law but it’s not expressed as such, it clearly applies equally to accessing someone’s computer directly.
Well if they are stolen, and he’s got them. Is that not receiving stolen property?
Not sure. I think that was one of the reasons they brought in the new legislation, digital content created some ambiguities on the law front that gave the defence lawyer plenty to argue against. The computer was stolen but if data was copied from it was the copied data still stolen goods? Also.. how can you prove that copied data came directly from the stolen computer; could have come from a hacked PC, backup device or other unknown source.
Either way he seems to be risking a bit there.
The Renegade Economist
A great series of videos that gives economists who have been sidelined by the corporations a real voice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La4JEwyr094&feature=g-user-s
Whew! Just had a cheeky shaker here in Christchurch. Heard it first, then shake shake shake…
Damn, it has been quiet lately, but…
Just saw Jonathan Young, the National MP for New Plymouth, park in a metered parking space and walk into a nearby cafe without even looking at the meter. It appears the rules don’t apply when you’re an MP. Hope he gets a ticket 😉
Hmm, wonder who pays for the ticket. Can I have three guesses?
Hope you took a picture.
No camera unfortunately but he has his name and National Party logos all over the car.
He could go on the wall of shame were the Standard to have a monthly wall of shame.
Weird editorial in the Dompost today.
Making vaguely complimentary noises about mothers who look after children.
Are they trying to send all women back to the kitchen or are the Nact focus groups showing women to be dead sick of all the attacks being launched on them and/or the children?
Student loans & allowances interest free were very popular when introduced not only with the students but parents and grandpaprents. Is this going to unravel Nact support some more?
That seems a bit of a stretch, Red Baron! Mothers look after children and ought to be allowed to! Saying every mother should work outside the home, is a good line for bene bashing, and reminds me that Rosemary McLeod of all people had a column in North & South or Metro in the 80s, in which she speculated that a lot of the hatred of DPB mothers was simply jealousy that they got to stay home and actually look after their children!
I know I am a cynic, but what in heaven or earth would it take to unravel Nact support in a country whose brightest and best are wallowing in Australia? Those of us (unfortunately) remaining do not rate highly in discernment of human beings (if that is what Tories are).
We take the Fran O’Sullivans of the country for our models!!
Sorry, I meant to add Paul Holmes name to that of O’Sullivan! (That is the male version).
In the education Gazette Today.
“”A coeducational Christian college, Y1–13, of over 1500 students. Our emphasis is on applying biblical principles to all aspects of school life. Commitment to the college’s special character and a willingness to take part in related instructional programmes are a condition of all appointments””.
A State integrated school, (Tax funded) ad for a TECHNOLOGY teacher.
Can’t anyone see what is wrong with this?
If you want a job you must participate in brainwashing kids with unproven irrational beliefs.
Sorry, I think you’re wrong – your comment shows a very strong bias the other way, and would you be so angry if the advert was for a Muslim school, a Steiner school or a Jewish one? I can’t see an atheist applying other than to create a huge fuss…
This is a State funded school.
State schools should be secular. Not pushing religious beliefs.
If religious believers want to pay for their own schools to brainwash their kids I can’t stop them.
But schools funded by all of us should not be allowed to discriminate in their employment practices on the grounds of willingness to help with the brainwashing.
At least sanity is prevailing. Less and less people participate in religion every year.